Nintendo DS and PSP set to go green
Environmentally conscious gamers the world over may soon be able to spread their desire to help the environment to their gaming as both the PSP and Nintendo DS will soon have “green” power alternatives.
Third-party peripheral manufacturer PEGA has recently released the Fast Solar Charger for the redesigned PSP, which includes a 1800mAh lithium battery and a charger that can either power the batter through a typical DC power source, or by solar energy via its polysilicon solar panel. However I should forewarn that I actually received this as a gift this past Christmas, and it is not the most reliable piece of technology. Sitting in direct sunlight for five hours only got me around an hour of battery life. But for $30, it’s a good deal if someone feels they just have to do their part.
The Nintendo DS alternative is slightly more “hands-on”. Designed by GameTech, the Nintendo DS Hand Charger requires you to crank the internal gear for three minutes to get twenty minutes worth of battery life. Unfortunately it makes one of the most nerve-grinding noises you will ever hear while in use.
You’re probably asking yourself why these companies would be interested in making environmentally safe power alternatives for your handhelds. Well, a report issued by Greenpeace in November, 2007 may have to do with the gaming industry’s sudden interest in the “Earth first” initiative. Out of a list of eighteen electronics manufacturers that Greenpeace graded, Nintendo came in dead list with the antonym of a perfect score: a zero out of ten. This grade prompted Nintendo to respond, pointing out their “Green Procurement Standards” which ensure all components on Nintendo devices to meet hazardous chemical standards set by the company.
While “video games” aren’t usually the first thing that come to mind when you think of environmentally friendly industries, many of the “gamer essentials” make video games a very environmentally safe industry. The prevalence of rechargeable NiMH batteries cuts down on the number of batteries that are disposed of, digital download services such as Steam and the PlayStation Store cut back on the number of discs written and ultimately disposed of, and services like G4’s G-Cycle and Best Buy’s Appliance Recycling programs also help to do their part to help you recycle your old handhelds.
Related Posts:
Leave a Reply:
You must be logged in to post a comment. Don't have an account? Register today!
