However, the story takes a turn for the humorous when the source of the infection is hinted at. Based on responses from unnamed government sources, the virus that infected portions of their drone fleet is the same kind that have been known to infect non-savvy social network gamers who enjoy games like Mafia Wars and Farmville? According to a report that appeared in Wired.com’s Danger Room (via Boing Boing):

The malware “is routinely used to steal log-in and password data from people who gamble or play games like Mafia Wars online,” noted the Associated Press, relying on the word of an anonymous defense official. That official did not explain why drone crews were playing Mafia Wars or similar games during their overseas missions.

One can imagine edicts of “no more Facebook games while on duty” being issued to drone crews everywhere. As for the virus’ impact, it sounds as if it was minimal, save for the embarrassment quotient.

The virus, first detected nearly two weeks ago by the military’s Host-Based Security System, has not prevented pilots at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada from flying their missions overseas. Nor have there been any confirmed incidents of classified information being lost or sent to an outside source.

Removal of the malicious file(s), however, has not been as easy. If the various sources are to be believed, the virus “keeps coming back” after its been removed. Perhaps the Air Force should consider using partnering with Malwarebytes, which is one of the most effective malicious software removal packages — even the freeware version — this author has had the pleasure of using.

The Air Force has also released statement concerning the infection. You can download it if you’d like, or you can simply read the quoted text:

Flying operations of remotely piloted aircraft unaffected by malware

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – To correct recent reporting, the malware detected on stand-alone systems on Creech Air Force Base, Nev., in September, has not affected Remotely Piloted Aircraft operations.

On 15 September, 24th AF first detected and subsequently notified Creech AFB regarding the malware on their portable hard drives approved for transferring information between systems. It was detected and isolated by the 24th Air Force using standard tools and processes for monitoring and protecting Air Force computer systems and networks. The Air Force then began a forensic process to track the origin of the malware and clean the infected systems.

The malware was detected on a stand-alone mission support network using a Windows-based operating system. The malware in question is a credential stealer, not a keylogger, found routinely on computer networks and is considered more of a nuisance than an operational threat. It is not designed to transmit data or video, nor is it designed to corrupt data, files or programs on the infected computer. Our tools and processes detect this type of malware as soon as it appears on the system, preventing further reach.

The infected computers were part of the ground control system that supports RPA operations. The ground system is separate from the flight control system Air Force pilots use to fly the aircraft remotely; the ability of the RPA pilots to safely fly these aircraft remained secure throughout the incident.

“It’s standard policy not to discuss the operational status of our forces,” said Colonel Kathleen Cook, spokesperson for Air Force Space Command. “However, we felt it important to declassify portions of the information associated with this event to ensure the public understands that the detected and quarantined virus posed no threat to our operational mission and that control of our remotely piloted aircraft was never in question.”

“We continue to strengthen our cyber defenses, using the latest anti-virus software and other methods to protect Air Force resources and assure our ability to execute Air Force missions. Continued education and training of all users will also help reduce the threat of malware to Department of Defense systems.”

For more information contact Air Force Space Command Public Affairs at (719) 554-3731.

While the drone infections will, in all likelihood, go down as little more than embarrassment, imagine if the malware did exactly what it was designed for; that is, steal login and password information. If that happened, the entire fleet, or at least the software controlling it, would have to be scrapped and redone. Perhaps the Air Force could outsource this to Sony, a company that has miles of experience dealing with account-stealing attacks.

A new online game is causing quite a stir, as its gameplay involves destroying the zombified versions of various conservative and Tea Party icons with a slew of different weaponry – from AKs and Uzis to crowbars and knives.

The game is called Tea Party Zombies Must Die and is a creation of StarvingEyes Advergaming, an online viral gaming company whose site states that they make “games for online viral campaigns.”

The game itself is a first-person shooter that takes you through different levels including the Fox News studio, the Trailer Park, and Koch Industries. The gameplay is a little clunky and the graphics leave something to be desired, but in the end it feels like DOOM with Republican zombies.

Before you start the game, there is a “meet the zombies” sections that shows you all of the different zombie characters in the game. The list includes zombified versions of Presidential candidates Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, zombie Sarah Palin, zombified Fox News contributors Mike Huckabee, Brit Hume, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck.

Along with the famous Tea Party-involved Koch Brothers, the game also includes generic characters like “Pissed Off Old White Guy Zombie,” “Pissed Off Stupid White Trash Redneck Birther Zombie” and “Expresses Racist Views Anonymously On The Internet Modern Klan Zombie.”

During gameplay, when you complete a level, it presents the player with a blip about Fox News or the Koch Brothers and their ties with the Tea Party -

It should come as no surprise that people on the right are a little upset about the new game. Brent Bozell, president of conservative media organization Media Research Center, had this to say to the Telegraph -

The liberal media have been preaching for years that conservatives are the ones who invoke violent imagery and rhetoric. Yet in the space of two days, the radical, pro-Obama left calls us ‘son-of-a-bitches’ and says they want to ‘take us out.’ And they follow that with a hideously violent game where they do just that – depicting ways of shooting prominent conservatives, presidential candidates and journalists. The news media would be in an uproar if violence had been incited against liberals. Their silence disgusts me.

“Any propensity towards amusement is immediately stricken from my imagination the instant I picture the indignant media firestorm that would undoubtedly arise if the growling death targets resembled, say, Barack Obama,” saysTownhall’s Guy Benson.

And here is where I find myself conflicted.

I have always been a staunch defender of video game free speech, and laugh at the assertion by some that violent and provocative video games are some sort of blight on our culture. In my mind, that’s bullshit and always will be. A game is a game in my mind, and nothing more. Plus, the concept of a double-headed Koch Brothers zombie is just plain funny.

But I must admit, Guy Benson has a point. Can you imagine the type of firestorm that would erupt if President Obama or Joe Biden were the zombies in this game?

Do I think that Tea Party Zombies Must Die is actually going to result in any real violence against Newt Gingrich or Sarah Palin? No. Do I think that people have a valid reason to be upset by the game? Yes.

What do you think? Harmless fun? A poor precedent to set? Let us know in the comments.

 Dynamic Logic’s Stats On Women And Ads
(Photo Credit: DynamicLogic.com)

Dynamic Logic recorded a "Purchase Intent" figure of 3.7 for 18- to 34-year-olds.  The number rose to 4.2 for women between the ages of 35 and 44, and reached 4.4 for women 45 and older.  "Brand Favorability" was also appreciably higher among women in this last group.

Jack Loechner writes, "Since Brand Favorability is typically a difficult metric to move through advertising because consumers often wait until after they have tried the product to form an opinion, it’s notable, says the report, that CPG advertising on Gaming sites is able to persuade women ages 45+ to form an opinion before trial/purchase."

Advertisers are likely to act on this information; due to the iffy economy, everyone’s looking for even more of an edge than usual.  And online advertising has already been identified as a somewhat safe investment.

Dynamic Logic’s data was based on information collected from 23,205 respondents over the course of three years, so it should, by the way, pass all the usual tests for statistical significance.

World of Warcraft China Logo
(Photo Credit: WoWChina)

Allison Luong, Managing Director of Pearl Research said, "The year 2007 exceeded expectations with the market growing more than 60%, driven by compelling and diverse content, free-to-play games, and rising demand for leisure and technology products. Chinese-themed and advanced casual games are expected to drive revenues in 2008 and beyond."

China’s most popular online game, Netease’s "Fantasy Westward Journey" has 1.66 million users followed by Giant’s "Zhengtu Online" with 1.52 million users. Game operator Giant Interactive generated the majority of its $209 million revenues from one title, "Zhengtu Online."

Game operators in China had solid revenue growth in 2007. The biggest gainers were game operators Shanda (up 49 % to $388 million), Giant (up 274% to $209 million), The9 (up 30% to $175 million) and Perfect World (up 593% to $95 million). Along with the revenue growth was a number of initial public offerings (IPOs) by game operators Giant, Perfect World, NetDragon and KingSoft.

"A key trend to track in 2008 is rising average-revenue-per-user (ARPU). Certain online games are reaching $7 to $12 a month in average-revenue-per-user, significantly higher than past averages of $5 or less per month," said Luong.

"I believe there is still room for average-revenue-per-user to grow, as game operators enhance monetization efforts from free-to-play games."
 

It is the first time that RDF has developed online games for its television programs. The creation of the online games is part of RDF’s new strategy to increase revenue by adding more digital properties for its shows," said Max Benator, head of digital media for RDF USA.

"The new model of a production shop is, once you grow to become a larger producer, you can’t survive off the margins of a budget for a show. You need to make it a brand and develop digital properties," he said, TV Week reported.

For the "Don’t Forget the Lyrics" game online participants can upload a video of themselves singing for the chance to be a contestant on the show. The game will be available on Fox.com. The mobile game for "The Two Coreys" is planned when the second season airs in the spring.

Along with creating online properties for its shows, RDF and its network partners are developing programs for the Web. Benator said RDF recently wrapped up production of an online show called "Fender Bender Strassen" for ComedyCentral.com. "We will go into TV production if it’s successful," he said.
 

Majority Of Kids Play Online Games

The percentage of boys and girls who played online games was almost the same, 77 percent vs. 78 percent respectively. Boys were more likely to go online to find "cheats" for their gaming. Twenty-five percent of boys versus 5 percent of girls say they went online to get cheats for their gaming.

Other popular online activities among children are doing homework (34%); listening to music (28%); watching videos (26%). Girls are more likely than boys to have listened to music online in the past 30 days (33% vs. 24%). Boys are slightly more likely than girls to have watched videos online (28% vs. 23%).

Twenty-nine percent of children have their own email addresses. A larger percentage of girls than boys (32% vs. 26%) report they have their own email address.

"Online gaming is clearly firmly entrenched as a pastime in the lives of most American kids," said Anne Marie Kelly, Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Planning at MRI.

"The wide gap between the percentage of boys and girls using cheats could suggest boys are more engaged with their games, an insight of interest to marketers targeting kids. Moreover, the level of personal e-mail addresses among kids speaks to how dramatically e-mail has changed, and will continue to change, the way we communicate."

Well, more or less – I can’t promise that those exact scenarios will take place.  But an article in The Guardian indicated that the search engine giant is moving in this direction.  “Google has drawn up plans to compile psychological profiles of millions of web users by covertly monitoring the way they play online games,” wrote David Adam and Bobbie Johnson.

The plans are evident in two recent patent filings (one each in America and Europe); they indicate that Google might not only look at “user play” (as imagined in the first paragraph), but also at “user dialogue” – what you would say to another player or non-player character.

Creepy, no?  And some privacy advocates feel the same way, but Search Engine Land’s Bill Slawski noted, “To me, this is just like the Gmail ad debate, which has died down since they first launched.”

The search engine company has also assured gamers that there’s no reason to worry.  “Google said it did not have any plans to roll out the technology in the near future,” testified Adam and Johnson, “and that it was just one of a large number of patents that it has filed in recent months.”

So don’t worry.  Your search engine and email provider – the giant corporation that has the government’s ear – isn’t coming to view you as a homicidal maniac – yet.