Tattoo Mendem: announcement

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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

"OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL" BEGINS PRODUCTION IN MICHIGAN

Walt Disney Pictures’ fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, went in front of the cameras at the brand-new Raleigh Studios in Pontiac, Michigan, on Monday, July 25, 2011, boasting a stellar cast that includes Academy Award® nominee James Franco (“127 Hours”) as the young wizard, Golden Globe® nominee Mila Kunis (“Black Swan”) as the witch Theodora, Academy Award® winner Rachel Weisz (“The Constant Gardener”) as Kunis’ sister Evanora and two-time Oscar®-nominated actress Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Blue Valentine”) as Glinda, the Good Witch.

The cast also includes Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Zach Braff (“Scrubs,” “Garden State”), who will play Franco’s circus assistant as well as lend his vocal talents to one of the CGI creatures in the story — Finley, the winged monkey who accompanies the magician on his journey to Oz; and 12-year-old actress Joey King (“Ramona and Beezus”), who will voice another CGI character in the story, China Girl, who also joins the futureWizard on his excursion through Oz.

“Oz The Great and Powerful” imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

The film will be produced by industry veteran Joe Roth, along with executive producers Grant Curtis (the “Spider-Man” trilogy, “Drag Me to Hell”), Philip Steuer (“The Chronicles of Narnia” series) and Palak Patel. The screenplay was written by Mitchell Kapner, (“The Whole Nine Yards”) and David Lindsay-Abaire (“Rabbit Hole,” “Robots”).

Raimi has assembled his own band of technical wizards and movie magicians on the project, which includes cinematographer Peter Deming (“Mulholland Dr.,” “Drag Me to Hell”), two-time Academy Award®–winning production designer Robert Stromberg (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Avatar”), Oscar®-winning film editor Bob Murawski (“The Hurt Locker,” the “Spider-Man” trilogy), veteran Oscar®-nominated costume designer Gary Jones (“Spider-Man 2,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley”), visual effects Oscar® winner Scott Stokdyk (“Spider-Man 2,” “Spider-Man”) and Academy Award®–winning special makeup artist Howard Berger (“The Chronicles of Narnia” series), who will create the looks of several of the unique denizens of Oz, including creatures such as the Whimsies, the Tinkers and the Winkies, as well as the ghastly look of the Wicked Witch of the West.

Production on “Oz The Great and Powerful” will take place entirely on site at the new Raleigh Michigan Studios, the 200,000 square foot sound stage facility in Pontiac, Michigan, once the location of General Motors’ Centerpoint business campus and truck manufacturing plant.

“Oz The Great and Powerful” will be released through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on March 8, 2013.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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VUDU Fully Integrated On Walmart.com

Demonstrating its commitment to
e-commerce and goal of offering customers “one continuous shopping” channel, Walmart today announced the integration of its popular movie streaming service, VUDU, on Walmart.com. Customers can now shop for thousands of digital VUDU titles, including the hottest new releases, and purchase and/or rent them directly on Walmart.com at www.walmart.com/vudu.

As customers shop for movies at Walmart.com, they now have the option to select the digital VUDU title and/or the physical title (DVD or Blu-ray Disc). Those who select the digital title complete their transaction through Walmart.com’s checkout, and then can easily stream the movie directly from Walmart.com, VUDU.com, or from one of more than 300 VUDU-enabled devices, including select HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc players and the PlayStation®3.

“At Walmart, one of our key priorities is to provide a continuous channel for our customers, from our stores to our powerful e-commerce and social media platforms,” said Steve Nave, SVP and general manager, Walmart.com. “With VUDU becoming increasingly popular among our customers, we’re providing them more access to enjoy this digital entertainment experience directly online at Walmart.com.”

“This integration allows us to introduce more Walmart.com customers to digital entertainment and give them access to thousands of new release and popular movie titles immediately through VUDU’s high-quality streaming service,” said Edward Lichty, general manager, VUDU. “By incorporating digital movie content into the Walmart.com entertainment shopping experience, we’re enabling customers to easily choose how they want to enjoy their entertainment content – whether that be through a physical DVD, digital streaming or both.”

Customers Vote for this Friday’s 99-cent Movie of the Day

To celebrate this launch on Walmart.com, VUDU is inviting fans on Walmart’s Facebook page to vote for a new release title that will be available to rent for only 99 cents. The titles to choose from include:

· “Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules” (PG)

· “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” (PG-13)

· “Gnomeo and Juliet” (PG)

Customers can vote now by “liking” their pick at www.facebook.com/walmart. The new release title with the most votes by 5 p.m. EDT tomorrow will be available to rent for just 99 cents on Friday, July 29.

The integration on Walmart.com is one of many ways VUDU is introducing Walmart customers to digital entertainment. VUDU recently launched the first digital movie card, which allows customers to purchase a VUDU movie in Walmart stores and view the movie digitally through VUDU. The streaming service is also available on almost all of Walmart’s Internet-capable HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players, with several models featuring a “one touch” VUDU button on remote controls.

About VUDU

A leader in HD streaming, VUDU offers the world’s largest selection of HD movies, including thousands of blockbusters, Hollywood classics and indies available in stunning HDX 1080p with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound. Movies are available the same day they are released on DVD or Blu-ray, and can be rented or purchased without a subscription. VUDU is available on Internet-capable HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players from FUNAI Electronics (Magnavox, Sylvania), LG Electronics, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, SANYO, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba and VIZIO, and on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system from Sony. VUDU is a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart Stores, Inc., and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA. For more information, visit http://www.vudu.com/.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at 9,029 retail units under 60 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

National Coffee Week KRUPS Giveaway

While the official dates of National Coffee Week are somewhat debated, this week is being heralded as National Coffee Week by caffeine lovers across the country. KRUPS, the leading manufacturer of coffee and espresso machines, is happy to celebrate coffee at every opportunity, and is hosting a Facebook and Twitter giveaway for a KRUPS KM4065 Coffee Machine in honor of this beloved holiday.

Celebrate your love for coffee by entering to win this new coffee machine. Starting Tuesday, July 26^th and ending Tuesday, August 2^nd at 5 PM EST, tell us why you love coffee on our Facebook wall - KRUPS USA http://www.facebook.com/KrupsUSA or Twitter page - http://twitter.com/Krupsusa to enter for a chance to win the blender.

KRUPS KM4065 Coffee Machine ($89.99)

100 watt powerful heating element.

· Easy access control panel is angled with intuitive controls and a bright LCD screen.

· Oversized shower head delivers a shower of hot water to ensure even flavor extraction.

· Programmable clock to set the daily start time with auto-off and dual auto-on presents.

· Water reservoir detection shuts unit off automatically if empty.

· Flavor control aroma selection.

· Duo Filter water filtration system.

· Stainless Steel finish.

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Sylvan's Seven Summer Learning Wonders

Summer is here, and among the usual camps, trips to the pool and visits to the local theme park, deciding on original places to take children during the summertime can often be difficult for many parents. If there’s a way to link vacation activities with what children learn in school – history, geography, math, the environment, technology – all the better.

Dr. Rick Bavaria, senior vice president of education outreach for Sylvan Learning, North America’s leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring at home to students of all ages, grades and skill levels, suggests the following destinations that mix summer learning with fun. Each of the suggested Summer Learning destinations below has a tie-in to school subjects such as science, history and technology, and also offers opportunities for some great back-to-school stories to share with classmates!

The Newseum, Washington, DC

http://www.newseum.org/

A well-planned family field trip to a museum can yield all kinds of benefits and fun. The Newseum, the “museum of news” in Washington, D.C. is highly interactive, has lots of fascinating exhibits that will appeal to all ages in any family, and covers all facets of news, from up-to-the-minute headlines, to sports, to the most intriguing stories of the past. You can even be a television journalist on the set of your own news program. Additional benefit: some of the best views of famousPennsylvania Avenue and the Capitol in town! Make sure you have your cameras ready!

Tip for parents: Ask kids to recount their favorite news stories and then talk about the historical period in which they occurred.

Alcatraz, San Francisco

http://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm

If you’re visiting San Francisco, a trip to Alcatraz gives you an up-close and personal view of the infamous penitentiary where bad guys like Al Capone spent years of their lives. Alcatraz is on an island from which it was considered “impossible to escape,” so learning about various escape attempts is especially exciting for kids. There’s plenty of history to learn about – the American Indians’ takeover of the island in the 1970s is particularly interesting – and plenty of things to do. Get “locked up” in one of the prisoner cells, roam the island, and visit the mess hall. The boat ride from the city is fun, too. Windy, though. Hold onto your hat!

Tip for parents: Do some “research” ahead of time to learn about infamous Alcatraz prisoners, so you’ll feel like an expert when you’re there. Ask your children to come up with their own story of “an adventurous escape!” after they’ve visited Alcatraz.

The Art Institute, Chicago

http://www.artic.edu/

Kids love the Art Institute’s renowned collection of Impressionists and Post Impressionists – especially Van Gogh – as the art is especially accessible and familiar to them. There are also other world-famous, iconic paintings likeAmerican Gothic and Nighthawks that everyone will recognize. Visit the website ahead of time, find in the “pathfinder floor plan” section the sights you don’t want to miss, and learn about some other exhibits you may not know about. Pay particular attention to the buildings themselves – the new modern wing, for example, offers breathtaking art as well as views of the city.

Tip for parents: Get some inexpensive post cards of your favorite works of art. Put them in an album. Ask your children to imitate their style or use them as a starting-off point for your own style.

Sports Arenas

Kids enjoy summer travel centered around visiting major sports arenas in the U.S.and around the world. Many children enjoy putting together photo albums of their visits to baseball and football pro sports stadiums, college arenas, and even overseas sites for soccer and cricket. They collect tee shirts, jerseys, pennants, and other memorabilia. Kids of all ages particularly enjoy sports arenas and learning about games, the players, and the history associated with these places.

Tip for parents: Sports arenas are ideal places to encourage learning about math, statistics, geography, and local history. You don’t need to point out to kids that they’re doing “school stuff,” though.

Hershey’s Chocolate Museum, Pennsylvania

http://www.hersheys.com/discover/museum.asp

Hershey’s Chocolate Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania will make your mouth water. Who can resist a museum of chocolate, on Chocolate Avenue, no less? Learn about chocolate’s history, its manufacture, its fascination. There’s even a Chocolate Lab for hands-on learning. Yum!

Tip for parents: Use what you learn at the Chocolate Museum when you get home. Create some tasty chocolate recipes of your own. Don’t forget to share!

State parks

Most state parks have lodges and cabins you can rent. Spend some family time in beautiful natural surroundings. Hike, swim, fish, or kayak! Tell scary or funny stories around a campfire. Learn about local plants and animals. Take pictures and make maps of your adventures. Keep a family nature journal, recording the activities you’ve had, and the interesting plants and animals you’ve seen. Discuss environmental issues. Google your state’s name and “state parks” for lots of information and suggestions.

Tip for parents: Keep a family journal where each person contributes something every day or so – a poem, a sketch, a few sentences about how the experience reminds you of something. One page per day, that’s all. This journal will become a family keepsake.

Outdoor concerts

Most communities, cities, towns, and states have summer music programs, many of them free. Concerts range from old-fashioned Sousa marches and patriotic music to more contemporary sounds. Local colleges, universities, music schools, and even high schools often have free concerts – good practice for their musicians, good listening for the community. Google your state or community and “outdoor concerts” to learn about times, prices, and venues. Teach each other about your favorite kinds of music, share memories, talk about favorite performers.

Tip for parents: Everyone should pitch in to plan a picnic, the menu, the makings, the packing. Use math – how much to make, how to measure, how to make sure everyone has enough.

Parents looking for additional resources can visit the Parent Resources section atwww.SylvanLearning.com

·        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SylvanLearning
·        Twitter: http://twitter.com/sylvanlearning
·        MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/sylvanlearning
·        YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/sylvanlearninginc

About Sylvan Learning
Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels. With 30 years of experience and more than 900 centers located throughout North America, Sylvan’s proven process and personalized methods have inspired more than 2 million students to discover the joy of learning. Sylvan's trained and Sylvan-certified personal instructors provide individualized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. Sylvan helps students develop the skills, habits and attitudes needed for lifelong success. Visit www.DrRickBlog.com to share your personal academic experiences and comment on academic trends. For more information, call 1-800-31-SUCCESS or visit www.SylvanLearning.com.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Friday, July 22, 2011

X-Men: First Class - DVD Trailer Released

WITNESS THE BEGINNING.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

The Ultimate Blu-ray and DVD Experience Arrives on
First Class Friday, September 9^th

WITNESS THE BEGINNING.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
The Ultimate Blu-ray and DVD Experience Arrives on
First Class Friday, September 9th

BONUS OFFER:

First 1,000 Fans to Pre-Order A Blu-ray or DVD

During San Diego Comic-Con Receive a

Limited Edition X-MEN: FIRST CLASS T-Shirt!

Summary: Before they were superheroes, the fate of humanity depended on an extraordinary group of youngsters who went on to become X-MEN: FIRST CLASS. Based on the international bestselling Marvel Comics franchise, this box office hit bursts onto Blu-ray and DVD Friday, September 9 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. For the first time ever, “X-Men” fans will have the power to choose a side between Professor X and Magneto with two versions of premium collectible Blu-ray packaging. Also exclusively on Blu-ray, fans receive access to over two hours of special interactive features PLUS ten Marvel “X-Men” Digital Comics including a never-before-seen “X-Men: First Class” backstory - redeemable through each Blu-ray’s unique packaging code.

Director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Kick Ass) tells the true origins of the multi-billion dollar film franchise, guiding exceptional performances by Golden Globe® nominee James McAvoy (Atonement), Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds), and Golden Globe® winner Kevin Bacon (“Taking Chance,” Mystic River). A “rare movie event that balances an intelligent story with solid performances, first-rate action and top-of-the-line special effects” (Ben Lyons, E!), X-MEN: FIRST CLASS has drawn an impressive $150 million at the domestic box office and nearly $350 million worldwide.

Before Charles Xavier (McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr (Fassbender) took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time, working together to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. The film features a star-studded supporting cast, including Academy Award® nominee Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone), January Jones (“Mad Men”), Rose Byrne (28 Weeks Later), Zoë Kravitz (“Californication”), Nicholas Hoult (A Single Man), Lucas Till (Walk the Line), and Emmy Award® nominee Oliver Platt (“The West Wing”).

The first 1,000 fans to pre-order their Blu-ray or DVD copy of X-MEN: FIRST CLASS during San Diego Comic-Con (July 21 - 24) will receive a free limited edition T-shirt, showing their support for either “Team Charles” or “Team Erik.” Fans can pre-order their copy in person at the Fox booth #4313 or online atwww.FoxConnect.com. During this time, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS will be available on Blu-ray and DVD at the exclusive price of $25.00 for Blu-ray and $18.00 for DVD.

Special features on the X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Blu-ray include:

• 10 Marvel “X-Men” Digital Comics with exclusive “X-Men: First Class” Backstory Comic

• More than two hours of never-before-seen extras, including:

º Cerebro Mutant Tracker: The complete interactive Mutant Database with interactive videos
giving fans the ability to learn about their favorite mutants in the X-Men film franchise

      º Children of the Atom: An eight-part behind-the-scenes featurette, charting the film from
        pre-production through post-production, including visual effects techniques and cataloguing
        “X-Men” transformations through prosthetic make up and costume design
      º “X” Marks the Spot: An interactive feature allowing viewers the opportunity to learn more
        about specific scenes with talent interviews and behind-the-scenes footage
      º Extended and Deleted Scenes
      º BD-Live Portal with additional Cerebro Mutant Tracker profiles
      º Composer’s Isolated Score
      º Theatrical Trailer

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Blu-ray (Catalog # 2275094)

Street Date: September 9, 2011

Pre-book Date: August 10, 2011

Screen Format: 2.40:1 (16:9)

Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

(some special features in 5.1 DD or 2.0 DD)

Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital

Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

U.S. Rating: PG-13

Total Run Time: 4 hours, 55 minutes

Closed Captioned: Yes

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS DVD (Catalog #2275087)

Street Date: September 9, 2011

Pre-book Date: August 10, 2011

Screen Format: 2.35:1 (16:9)

Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital

(some special features in 2.0 Dolby Stereo)

Spanish 2.0 Dolby Surround, French 2.0 Dolby Surround

Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

U.S. Rating: PG-13

Total Run Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Closed Captioned: Yes

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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Bring Your Best Ideas Forward

How many of us have had the spark of something wonderful: a business selling your own calligraphy skills for handwritten invitations, or hand-sewn baby mats with washable, lively prints, only to dismiss it because we’re not ‘business’ people? Especially those of us who devote most of our resources to raising children?

Michael C. Hill is a venture capitalist and small business advocate who realizes that there are millions of people who have fantastic, creative, practical ideas—but not the knowledge or resources to really pursue them. So, he has put together something remarkable: a business idea contest where the winner receives one million dollars in seed money to fund their idea.

Why is he doing this? Well, Hill also gets that what the economy really needs for a boost is new jobs. New jobs come from new businesses. So, his venture capital company is providing the seed money for the selected winner. And! Runners up receive thousands of dollars in seed money as well, in addition to all the planning resources necessary: accounting info, planning advice, etc. It’s basically a win-win for all.

So, enter the contest here: www.youreinbusiness.com, and then come on back and tell us what you submitted!

Baby Einstein Teams Up with K.I.D.S. to Help Children in Need

I wanted to share with you an exciting new initiative that Baby Einstein is doing in conjunction with K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations), a non-profit organization that provides brand new books, toys, and products to children in need in local communities. Now through August 19^th, Baby Einstein will donate $1 worth of Baby Einstein product to K.I.D.S for every new “like” on the official Baby Einstein Facebook page, up to $10,000. We are really looking forward to putting a smile on children’s faces with brand new toys and giving them something special to be excited about as they go through a difficult time in their lives.

For more information, please visit Baby Einstein’s Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/BabyEinstein?sk=app_221714481198323

K.I.D.S. Official Site: http://www.kidsdonations.org

Baby Einstein Official Site:

http://www.babyeinstein.com/home

Baby Einstein Official Blog:

http://www.baby-einstein.net

Baby Einstein Official Twitter Page:

http://twitter.com/babyeinstein

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Crorey Creations, Inc. Launches My Ribbon Barrette Maker Exclusively on QVC

Crorey Creations, Inc., creator of the popular children’s product My Friendship Bracelet Maker, will launch its new product, My Ribbon Barrette Maker, exclusively on QVC July 24. Don’t miss the sneak peek to see why ribbon barrettes are the new must have for fashion forward fun!

My Ribbon Barrette Maker, a return of the popular 80’s barrette-making trend, is a craft project that both moms and their daughters alike will love doing together. My Ribbon Barrette Maker has already won three top industry awards, including Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Toy Award, 2011 Tillywig Best Family Fun Award and the 2011 Creative Child Magazine’s Kid Product of the Year.

Not only will My Ribbon Barrette Maker bring back fond memories for mothers around the world, but it will also provide an opportunity for mothers and daughters to create lifelong memories together as they weave. The new ribbon barrette maker kit makes the process of creating fashionable and fun barrettes a cinch. The QVC exclusive – which includes 16 barrettes, 64 ribbons and 256 beads – also comes with a built-in storage drawer, making this kit great for traveling, sleepovers and rainy days.

“We are always focused on finding fun ways to inspire creativity, crafting, friendship and social involvement in children,” says David Crorey, Founder and CEO of Crorey Creations. “Why not give them the opportunity to create something of their own while having fun at the same time? We think My Ribbon Barrette Maker does just that and are thrilled to be able to introduce our new product this month on QVC!”

For more information on My Ribbon Barrette Maker or My Friendship Bracelet Maker, please visit www.myfbm.com or call (866) MYFBM4U (866.693.2648).

About Crorey Creations:

Crorey Creations, Inc. manufactures and markets the innovative craft kit called My Friendship Bracelet Maker® and several other products in the MyFBM collection. Invented by David Crorey, a retired auto industry executive, for his granddaughters, My Friendship Bracelet Maker offers an easy, organized and portable way to create friendship bracelets, a favorite craft tradition of girls and teens. Because friendship bracelets have long been an international symbol of friendship, Crorey Creations has established quarterly Choose Friendship campaigns encouraging support networks between kids across the country. After great success with the “Red, White and Blue, Kids Serve Too!” campaign where kids sent in red, white and blue friendship bracelets to children of military families, Crorey Creations has launched the “Pink and White, Kids Join the Fight!” campaign as way to support kids in families dealing with breast cancer, and "Embracing You With a Circle of Blue"; reaching out to young people living with Type 1 diabetes. For more information on Crorey Creations, My Friendship Bracelet Maker or the Choose Friendship campaigns, please visit http://www.myfbm.com.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

ESRB Video Game Rating App Now Available on Microsoft Windows Phone 7

The award-winning video game rating app from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is now available for Microsoft Windows Phone 7. This free mobile app, from the organization that assigns age and content ratings for computer and video games, allows easy access to video game ratings and detailed rating summaries. For parents, it’s as simple as snapping a photo or typing the name of a game to quickly determine if it is right for their family.

“Summertime can mean video game time for many families, whether playing in the car, on the plane or in the living room. But just like movies, not all games are appropriate for every child,” says ESRB president Patricia Vance. “So before buying a video game for a child it’s important to check the game’s rating and understand its content to determine if it’s the right choice. Today we added our ESRB app to Windows Marketplace, further expanding parents’ access to a game’s rating or rating summary, anytime, anywhere.”

The ESRB mobile app offers easy access to ESRB rating information for over 20,000 titles by either taking a photo of the game box or typing in the name of the game. Rating summaries, which are not displayed on game boxes like the ESRB ratings and content descriptors, provide parents with a detailed, straight-forward explanation – including specific examples – of the content that factored into a game’s rating. The ESRB app is a great way to put this information in parents’ hands right from the video game store, where it is often needed most. Rating summaries are available for games rated since July 1, 2008, which means that most of the games on kids’ wish lists will have rating summaries.

“Microsoft is very excited to offer parents this new free tool to help them find the information they need about the games their kids want,” said Aaron Kornblum, Director of Security Policy for Microsoft Corporation’s Interactive Entertainment Business. “Whether using the built-in camera or keyboard, Windows Phone 7 empowers shoppers by delivering this important ratings guidance whenever and wherever they may need it.”

Since their inception in 1994, the ESRB ratings have become a trusted resource for parents when choosing computer and video games. According to the latest research conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates and commissioned by the ESRB, 85% of parents with children that play video games are aware of the ESRB ratings, two-thirds use them regularly, and over three quarters consider the rating system “very helpful” in allowing them to choose games for their children.

In addition to the mobile app, parents may also want to check out ESRB’s Facebook page or follow ESRB on Twitter (@OKtoPlay). Ratings information, including rating summaries and additional resources for parents are also available on the website, ESRB.org, and mobile website, m.esrb.org.

The ESRB rating search app is developed by Point About and the image recognition and visual search is powered by IQ Engines. In April 2011, the ESRB mobile app received a Parents’ Choice Gold Award.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Exciting News from ESRB

ASK THE ESRB COMMUNITY

Through the end of July parents are encouraged to submit questions about their kids’ video games– via twitter @OKtoPlay or questions@esrb.org – that may in turn be shared with the ESRB’s community on Facebook.

The goal is to develop a conversation around the issues of most importance to parents, be it whether a particular game is right for their child, how to manage online game play, or how much game time is appropriate. We’ll pick one question and one answer each week and the submitter of each gets a $50 GameStop gift card. Further details are at: http://on.fb.me/pl9juu.

ESRB VIDEO GAME RATING APP NOW AVAILABLE ON

MICROSOFT WINDOWS PHONE 7

Broader Access for Parents to Get Detailed Information about Video Games before They Buy

NEW YORK, NY – The award-winning video game rating app from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is now available for Microsoft Windows Phone 7. This free mobile app, from the organization that assigns age and content ratings for computer and video games, allows easy access to video game ratings and detailed rating summaries. For parents, it’s as simple as snapping a photo or typing the name of a game to quickly determine if it is right for their family.

“Summertime can mean video game time for many families, whether playing in the car, on the plane or in the living room. But just like movies, not all games are appropriate for every child,” says ESRB president Patricia Vance. “So before buying a video game for a child it’s important to check the game’s rating and understand its content to determine if it’s the right choice. Today we added our ESRB app to Windows Marketplace, further expanding parents’ access to a game’s rating or rating summary, anytime, anywhere.”

The ESRB mobile app offers easy access to ESRB rating information for over 20,000 titles by either taking a photo of the game box or typing in the name of the game. Rating summaries, which are not displayed on game boxes like the ESRB ratings and content descriptors, provide parents with a detailed, straight-forward explanation – including specific examples – of the content that factored into a game’s rating. The ESRB app is a great way to put this information in parents’ hands right from the video game store, where it is often needed most. Rating summaries are available for games rated since July 1, 2008, which means that most of the games on kids’ wish lists will have rating summaries.

“Microsoft is very excited to offer parents this new free tool to help them find the information they need about the games their kids want,” said Aaron Kornblum, Director of Security Policy for Microsoft Corporation’s Interactive Entertainment Business. “Whether using the built-in camera or keyboard, Windows Phone 7 empowers shoppers by delivering this important ratings guidance whenever and wherever they may need it.”

Since their inception in 1994, the ESRB ratings have become a trusted resource for parents when choosing computer and video games. According to the latest research conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates and commissioned by the ESRB, 85 percent of parents with children that play video games are aware of the ESRB ratings, two-thirds use them regularly, and over three quarters consider the rating system “very helpful” in allowing them to choose games for their children.

In addition to the mobile app, parents may also want to check out ESRB’s Facebook page or follow ESRB on Twitter (@OKtoPlay). Ratings information, including rating summaries and additional resources for parents are also available on the website, ESRB.org, and mobile website, m.esrb.org.

The ESRB rating search app is developed by Point About and the image recognition and visual search is powered by IQ Engines. In April 2011, the ESRB mobile app received a Parents’ Choice Gold Award.

About Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

The ESRB is a non-profit, self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). ESRB independently assigns computer and video game content ratings, enforces advertising guidelines, and helps ensure responsible online privacy practices for the interactive entertainment software industry. Visit www.esrb.org for more information.