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PopCap Titles Life-Savers

Posted by Zonk on from the not-many-games-can-claim-that dept.

GameSetWatch has a humorous look at a recent press package they received from PopCap Games. From the article: "'Earlier this summer I had a terrifying situation where an unexpected interaction of two new prescription medicines sent me into a panic attack so severe it made me attempt suicide. When I got home from the hospital that night, I sat there playing the endless version of Bejeweled 2 for most of the night, while the last of the overdose I had taken worked its way out of my system.' This, kind readers, is why casual games are actually pretty hardcore."

41 comments

  1. Not a serious attempt. by grub · · Score: 2, Insightful


    a panic attack so severe it made me attempt suicide. When I got home from the hospital that night

    If the hospital sends you home "while the last of the overdose [you] had taken worked its way out of [your] system" then it wasn't much of an attempt so much as a whiny cry for attention. At the least they'd make you swallow a disgusting charcoal drink or pump you out and keep you for psychiatric evaluation.

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    1. Re:Not a serious attempt. by davez0r · · Score: 1

      you're not hardcore until you die. from playing the game. this guy is hardcore.

      noob.

    2. Re:Not a serious attempt. by Mmm+coffee · · Score: 4, Interesting

      My mother had a major stroke at the beginning of the year. After taking a few tests and shrugging their shoulders they sent her home. While trying to get her into the car she was obviously very disoriented and it took ten minutes to get her in because she couldn't understand even the simplest of commands. I trusted the doctor. My mistake.

      When we got home it took half an hour to get her inside and into bed because she couldn't understand how to walk. After a few hours she shat herself, and we called the ambulance again. They could not believe that the hospital sent her home, and they drove her to the same hospital. The nurses on that shift took one look at her and said "Oh yeah, that's a HUGE stroke. We're surprised she survived."

      While walking outside to get a breath of fresh air I noticed a billboard on the wall of the ER. On it was a graph on a huge poster proudly showing that the amount of time patients spent at the emergency room was well below quota. As if this was a good thing.

      This was a hospital in Wichita, Kansas, USA. From personal experience, it doesn't matter if you're having a cough or an obvious life threatening stroke, if they can find even the slightest reason to send you home then they will. In my mother's case, the tests said nothing was wrong even though something was visibly wrong.

      This story is entirely plausible.

    3. Re:Not a serious attempt. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I understand your cynicism, but I think you're misinterpreting the ER sign. First of all, they're probably including the patient's waiting time which certainly needs to be minimized. Second of all, the ER is for providing stabilizing treatment as quickly as possible. Stabilizing treatment pretty much that they do what they can to keep your condition from getting worse and afterwards they'll either send you home or send you to a hospital room for further treatment.

  2. Tetris by mknewman · · Score: 1

    This reminds me back in the 80's when Tetris came out, it was by Alexey Pazhitnov, a Russian. It spread like wild all over the US, and the rumor was that it affected the GNP of the US the year it came out. I for one love Bejeweled 2. Thanks PopCap.

    1. Re:Tetris by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      rumor was that it affected the GNP of the US the year it came out

      Wow, what a non-statement. Of course Tetris affected the US's GNP. Some people were less productive at work because of Tetris. Some people probably came up with ideas that improved efficiency at work. People playing Tetris drove demand for purchasing computers or game machines. People having their computer on to play tetris used electricity, and so caused higher sales for energy and oil companies. Some video games were purchased less because people's game time was spent playing Tetris. Some video games were purchased more because people got hooked into video games by playing Tetris.

      An INTERESTING fact or even rumour would say that "Tetris significantly (Where minimum significe is statistically defined) increased the GNP in the year that it came out." Then examining the major sinks and sources for capital provided by the existance of the video game Tetris. Otherwise I could just come out and say "bottled water affects your lifespan" in which case I'm not helping anyone by imparting that information. Could be that bottled water encourages people to drink more water, which leads to better hydration which leads to better health which leads to a longer life span. Could be that certain minerals found primarilly in bottled water slow down aging processes or prevent cancer. Could be that bottled water contains toxins that shorten your lifespan. Could be that the stress of living a lifestyle which allows bottled water to be regularilly purchased will shorten your lifespan. Could be that.. whatever. The phrase "bottled water affects your lifespan" is a non-statement, as well as the phrase "[Tetris] affected the GNP of the US the year it came out."

    2. Re:Tetris by jclast · · Score: 1

      Which Popcap do you play games at. This Popcap's game demos last for 60 minutes. You can play the watered-down web versions forever, but the deluxe version demos have a time limit on them.

      --
      e2 | LJ
    3. Re:Tetris by Retroneous · · Score: 1

      I think the phrase "rumor was" before the statement indicates that the poster picked it up from somebody/something else.

      Therefore, your point is moot.

      --
      My Mind Is Rewired. Is Yours?
    4. Re:Tetris by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      Cool as your explaination may sound, according to one of the original Russian developers, Tetris was made purely as a game, not any kind of academic reason.

      The "team" was also involved with psychological projects, but they were unrelated to their game efforts.

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  3. Tetris by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 1, Informative
    Tetris was developped for brain studies. Some study found some interesting effects on brain waves whenever a subject played Tetris.

    That said, Popcap is a very good company with good products. You can play the demo versions as long as you want (they are not crippleware), and they are almost as good as the payware versions, which only offer more levels and playing offline.

  4. Games are no cure all by SalaciousPucker · · Score: 1, Insightful

    You never hear of World of Warcraft players addicted to heroin. You just don't have time to be depressed while playing Halo. You can feed all that anti-social rage into GTA. Seriously, outside pure escapism , games do nothing good. The fact is that video games are far more likely the cause of, or add to mental problems, rather then do anything to help them.

    1. Re:Games are no cure all by darkmayo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Just like watching movies, seeing plays, listening to music, reading novels etc.

      Right?

      --
      "I am a kernel in the linux army"
    2. Re:Games are no cure all by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      It's also a fact that eating leads to obesity... obviously eating is no good.

    3. Re:Games are no cure all by FooAtWFU · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Seriously, outside pure escapism , games do nothing good.

      Sometimes a few ounces of pure escapism can be a good thing, you know? Keep you from going slightly crazy, work out your anger nondestructively...

      --
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    4. Re:Games are no cure all by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I dont really understand your reasoning here. You say that people who play games are not addicted to heroin and dont have time to be depressed. Well that sounds like a good thing to me. Id rather be destructive in GTA then take heroin and be destructive on my own body. As for not being helpful, playing games improves hand eye coordination. As far as being anti-social people who play online games feel they have a community where they can all be "anti-social" together, join clans, make friends. Its as close to real world friends as anything. I play games but I have a social life too.(Which explains why I am answering threads on a website :/)

      ---Bored at work---

    5. Re:Games are no cure all by C0rinthian · · Score: 1

      I'm shocked that this was modded insightful. Play is an essential part of our mental and physical development. (Just like any other complex animal) It's just that human forms of play have evolved to include physical skills and cognitive skills, and the benefits are less direct because of the increased complexity.

      Of course like anything, moderation is key. Indulging in any one activity to excess will be detrimental. But saying that games do nothing good is rediculous.

  5. You've never been there... by hackwrench · · Score: 2, Informative

    Unfortunately in my case, the build up in my system was so slow that it wasn't immediately obvious that the medications were the problem, and I had to deal with the effects for quite some time until switching meds cleared things up.

    1. Re:You've never been there... by TubeSteak · · Score: 1

      I had an allergic reaction to a med I was on.

      After two weeks: BAM.
      I itched.

      The worst part was that it moved around.

      It took two weeks for the med to clear my system, and I itched every single day. I woke up itching and went to bed itching. Sometimes the insides of my ears itched.

      I took to carrying around a tube of cortisone cream with me everywhere I went.

      If it had kept up for another month, there's no doubt that would have had serious effects on my mental health. He's lucky it was a one-time thing.

      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    2. Re:You've never been there... by servognome · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately in my case, the build up in my system was so slow that it wasn't immediately obvious that the medications were the problem, and I had to deal with the effects for quite some time until switching meds cleared things up.

      I had a similar case, where I had a slow allergic response to medication. The medication caused my immune system to start destroying my red blood cells.
      I was taking the medication for a month, just feeling more and more tired. I even would have blackouts that I thought were just heat exhaustion since they occurred while playing sports. Eventually I realized something was really wrong when I blacked out walking up a flight of stairs.
      Wound up in the hospital two weeks while they stabilized me. Scary to think how close to death you can be without realizing it.

      --
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  6. the death of RTFA by Bootle · · Score: 2, Funny
    The entire damn article (almost) was quoted in the summary!

    What can we say instead of RTFA??? The end is nigh (for our attention spans at least).

    1. Re:the death of RTFA by Cheapy · · Score: 1

      Eh, stop your comp -- What?

      --
      Would you kindly mod me +1 insightful?
  7. That being said... by hackwrench · · Score: 1

    once he was playing the game, the crisis had long passed, so I don't see what GameSetWatch was so enthralled about.

  8. Har har! by cornface · · Score: 3, Insightful

    GameSetWatch has a humorous look at [...]

    had a terrifying situation where an unexpected interaction of two new prescription medicines sent me into a panic attack so severe it made me attempt suicide.

    Har har! Overdosing on drugs and trying to kill yourself is funny!

    I hate you, slashdot.

    1. Re:Har har! by pnice · · Score: 2, Funny

      had to do it

      --
      My Xbox Live Gamer Card
    2. Re:Har har! by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      GameSetWatch has a humorous look at [...]

      had a terrif [...] i [...] c [...] interaction of two [...] c [...] o [...] medi [...] an [...] s.

      See, if you quote out of context even further, it's funny again :)

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    3. Re:Har har! by cornface · · Score: 1

      I don't think I quoted anything out of context, but you have the superior post.

      Kudos!

  9. Addicting games by CyberZCat · · Score: 1

    Their games can be quite addicting for some people. My brother used to have a hard time going more then a day without opening up Bejeweled or Zuma. It's practically a drug by itself, since it can cause lost relationships, health problems etc. if abused.

    1. Re:Addicting games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      exactly the crap that gives drugs a bad name. i believe you mean: "its practically an addiction etc".

    2. Re:Addicting games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well that's just, like, your opinion, man!

    3. Re:Addicting games by steveo777 · · Score: 1
      My mother and her fiance don't go more than a few hours at their house without playing Zuma (the one with the frog that shoots balls out of its mouth, right?). Before that it was spider solitair. Every time I go over there that's what one of them is doing. The other is watching TV. The most boring life I can think of...

      Oh, yeah, the game was entertaining the first time I played it. Not enough thought required though. I likes me strategy games. I never really liked Bejeweled, either. I guess Pop Cap games are not for me.

      --
      This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
    4. Re:Addicting games by superpulpsicle · · Score: 2, Funny

      You people are hyping up bejeweled big time. I downloaded a free demo and find it disappointing to have it not be as addicting as heroine.

    5. Re:Addicting games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I'm addicted to Go.

      I played casually against the computer (jago and gnugo) for quite some time. Hell, I still can't beat gnugo on a 19x19 even giving the computer a 6 stone handicap. I can beat it regularly with a 7 stone handicap, though.

      In the past couple of weeks, it's become frighteningly addicting. I can't go a day without playing five or more games, sometimes on yahoo games (I'm still provisional there), but mostly against gnugo (yahoo games people can be rude).

      I find myself daydreaming about Go, Go problems, etc. Watching law and order, I imagine a game of go where the criminals are one player and the law enforcement the other. Each move either of them makes I correspond to a move in my head..

      I find Go situations popping into my head when I try to sleep, when I'm driving, or during lectures.

      All that said, it's a serious mental exercise. It does to good in that it increases pattern recognition and problem solving. It's not just a placating device.

      It is kind of sad how it's taken over my life. Compared to my last addiction however (WoW and alcohol), I'd say it's a step up.

    6. Re:Addicting games by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but opening up a Zuma looks like it would be kind of fun, if not that fast. (Zumas are BWs in Canada.)

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  10. You are assuming not "socialized medicine" ... by AHumbleOpinion · · Score: 1

    If the hospital sends you home "while the last of the overdose [you] had taken worked its way out of [your] system" then it wasn't much of an attempt so much as a whiny cry for attention. At the least they'd make you swallow a disgusting charcoal drink or pump you out and keep you for psychiatric evaluation.

    You are assuming he is not in a nation with socialized medicine. ;-)

    1. Re:You are assuming not "socialized medicine" ... by grub · · Score: 1


      I'm in a nation with socialized medicine, that's exactly what happens here. (.ca)

      --
      Trolling is a art,
  11. Puzzles are Hardcore? by DavidHOzAu · · Score: 1

    This, kind readers, is why casual games are actually pretty hardcore.
    Casual games can be relaxing, but I find puzzles frustrating. I've tried my hand at sudoku and I find that one boring; adding another 16 letters for word-games just doesn't do it for me. I'm sorry, but word/puzzle games are not "hardcore".

    I have however been playing this game which you can get here. It's much better than those 60-minute games, and it is far more addicitive. (and free!) All that's its missing is the obligatory blood^H^H^H^H^HTux mascot...

  12. Played ALL NIGHT on drugs? by neo · · Score: 1


    What did you score?

  13. Remember Kids! by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    It's down the block not across the street!

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  14. Miracle! by furiouscommie · · Score: 0

    I'm so happy she pulled through. I'll say a prayer for you tonight to help against your fight with Satan's tool, depression. Remember that Jesus loves YOU!

  15. Interesting by protektor · · Score: 1

    Thought I would legt everyone know that a few hours after this press release was posted that Pop Cap retracted the original press release of "it saved my life" with a press release of something a little more mundane. If you go to the original press release it says the press release has a "correction" and has no mention of the "life saving article" at: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT= 106&STORY=/www/story/11-10-2005/0004213712&EDATE=