Nintendo Reiterates Under Six 3DS Warning

Nintendo, the company which builds the Wii and the DS gaming platforms and also creates and publishes video games for them, has said that it is maintaining its message that the upcoming 3DS gaming handheld should not be used with the three dimensional effect on when children under the age of six are involved.

According to Andrei Dumitrescu, the editor of news.softpedia.com, the warning was launched by the company earlier in the year but quickly after that the American Optometrist Association jumped in to say that the warning has no actual value and that all healthy children, no matter their age, can safely watch a three-dimensional powered experience.

Satoru Iwata, Chief Executive Officer of Nintendo, has chosen to reiterate the warning to parents in a new interview, saying that the company has chosen to make the announcement mainly because it will keep the company safe if anyone decides to launch a lawsuit because of the effect of the 3DS.

The AOA says that those who have problems linked to the three dimensional element of the 3DS probably have health issues that are also affecting other elements of their life and should see a specialist in order to receive a diagnostic and treatment.

Both the packaging of the Nintendo 3DS and the instruction manuals included in the game package will offer warnings about six-year-old kids and three dimensional gaming.

The Nintendo 3DS actually has a dial which allows players to quickly change the intensity of the 3D effect.

It's not clear whether the warnings and the public statements will actually be able to protect the company from lawsuits if a parent is decided that the long-term use of Nintendo made hardware has affected eyesight.

The 3DS is a revolution in the world of gaming, mainly because it allows those who game on the go to have access to a three dimensional experience without glasses. This is not currently available to those who play at home on the PC, the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 or the Wii.

FAO Schwarz Joins Other Brands on eBay

Upscale FAO retailer launched an FAO online store venue on Ebay. Consumers will be able to find some of the same FAO's products such as Radio Flyer Retro Rocket listed on the FAO website for $61.99 and free shipping available for sale on the FAO Schwarz eBay Store for $49.99 plus $6.91 for standard shipping.

According to Auction Bytes, FAO Schwarz set up an eBay store in August of 2010 and received more than 300 feedback ratings in December. So far, the store has a 99.2 percent positive feedback rating. The FAO Schwarz eBay store joins other brands such as Timberland, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, and Aldo, which also sell directly on eBay.

The FAO eBay store, found at stores.ebay.com/fao, is powered by ChannelAdvisor, TrueAction (GSI Commerce), and Frooition, reports Auction Bytes.

In the interest of broadening this segment of its business model, eBay has been encouraging larger retailers and designer brands to sell on its site, offering them special pricing and marketing perks such as exclusive email marketing campaigns.

FAO Schwarz joins brands such as Timberland, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein and Aldo in selling directly on the eBay website.

Recession at a Double-Dip, or Not?

Warren Buffett:  "I am a huge bull on this country...We will not have a double-dip recession at all. I see our businesses coming back almost across the board..."

Jolly The Elf Visits World-Class Maria Fareri Children's Hospital

12.25.10- New York, New York - Diane T. Creston, spokesperson for Jolly the Elf, and his sister Jollyette, is pleased to share the details of a fairy tale event that was created just in time for Christmas at the extraordinary, world-class Maria Fareri Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York.

Creston states, "A few children were very shy, and many were wide-eyed in wonder as I prepared to read Jolly The Elf, a very special Christmas story, by Jo Shepherd Ripley. It was touching to note that some of the children arrived with their stuffed toys held and cradled as if the toys were babies. And, to children, they are. We waited while a few of the children in wheel chairs with IVs and oxygen were wheeled into the room.

"I wasn't sure if all of the children knew about elves, so I asked. One little girl, no more than four, answered with 'Oh yes, they help Santa.' When I told her she was very smart, she smiled. Another boy said, 'And one more thing, elves really know all about teamwork.' Even at his young age, he knows the importance of teamwork.

"As I shared a bit of background about Jo Shepherd Ripley, and the fact that she's also the mother of 11 children, the little girl who answered the elf question jumped up and said, 'Oh no!!' When I told them that, word of honor, Jolly is her 12th child, they all giggled. Meanwhile throughout the event, a very tiny Jolly was perched on a high shelf, but the children were not even aware that he was watching.

"Even child, and those unable to attend, received a Jolly The Elf book, and a Jolly, or Jollette of their very own. A little boy asked if he could give his Jolly to his small stuffed dog. That's fine I said as I watched him gently wrap Jolly's arms around the dog's neck. As the boy was leaving, he thanked me and said, 'Now, they will love each other, and they'll never be alone.'"

ABOUT THE BOOK: A Christmas fairy tale, by Jo Shepherd Ripley with illustrations by former Disney illustrator, John C. Blackford.

Jo Ripley's Jolly The Elf story is a delightful addition to the Christmas sagas. It is an authentic family tale and tradition inspired by the most wonderful prompter of invention --a child's curiosity. The text is sweet and wistful, and the illustrations are magical. Yes, Virginia, there is a Jolly The Elf.

--Jack Kerley, New York Times and London Times best-selling author

ABOUT THE HOSPITAL:
In 1995, John and Brenda Fareri experienced the worst thing a parent can ever imagine, the unexpected death of their daughter Maria. Their experiences throughout the week of Maria's sudden illness, spent at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York, led them to ask, 'Why shouldn't there be a world-class children's hospital in Westchester?' With the support of the medical centre's administration and the Department of Pediatrics, the journey began to create a facility unlike any other and a lasting tribute to Maria while helping countless children and their families for decades to come.

Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center is the advanced care pediatric hospital for New York's Hudson Valley region and Fairfield County, Connecticut. Maria Fareri Children's Hospital is part of Westchester Medical Center, the advanced healthcare facility for the same area, and is home to hundreds of clinical and surgical pediatric specialists in almost every medical field.

Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center treats more than 20,000 patients each year. A known leader in pediatric care and a true advocate for children's health and wellness, the hospital operates under a “family-centered care” approach to treating children that involves parents, siblings and family members in every step of a child's treatment. Care is provided in a state-of-the-art building designed specifically from the point of view of children and their families. Maria Fareri Children's Hospital adheres to the philosophy that family-centered care and active family involvement creates an environment specially suited to enable medical specialists to provide the most advanced care to their patients and to facilitate the healing process, regardless of the illness.

For Media Interviews:
Diane T. Creston
President/Creative Director
Creston Advertising & Marketing, Inc.
212-400-8698
info@crestonadvertising.com
www.crestonadvertising.com