Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 133

i 2 A THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2008 DETROIT FREE PRESS I WWW.FREEP.COM EVEIIY DAY IS 'TECH DAY' IN THE FREE PRESS Charles Boyce WED GUIDE www. www.uconiice.ewn rrp1 hrl TechToa ay Contact us by e-mail at: techfreepress.com GOODS AND GEAR MEITIIE Game producer is one of the top dogs FINPIN9THE EMP OP THE INTERNET, WILl ENCOURAGE OTHER ADVENTUROUS PURSUITS. MORE TECH TODAY PAY phones ARE heading toward extinction, now that half of all Americans have cellular phones. Business, Page 4C police departments would have to pay "six-figure sums" for a patrol car with the technology to withstand high-speed rear collisions, a top federal regulator said. Business, Page 1C On the border www.abcollle.com Border collie fans can visit here for collie-related articles, a photo gallery, herding questions and related links.

Vintage tips www.bordeaux.com Get out a glass and log on here for Bordeaux selection tips, a connoisseur quiz, wine terms and harvest reports. On the ball www.llttleleague.orgmuseum Slide your mouse here for a look at Little League teams in the news, the Little League Museum, Its Hall ot Ex- cellence and other sports links. The shell game www.turtlehomes.org Hosted by the folks at Turtle Homes Rescue this site offers disease prevention tips, adoption answers and pet habitat basics. Coping with cancer http:cancer.med.upenn.edu Is someone you know coping with cancer? Visit here for a look at treatment options, a tip of the day and related resources. Fishing for facts www.goldfishsoclety.org Want to know more about our finned friends? Visit the Goldfish Society of America site for an events calendar and fish-related links.

Salad daze www.watercress.com Learn more about watercress at this site, which includes nutrition tidbits, produce profiles and its history. Makes cents www.pennies.org Here's a place Abe Lincoln could love. Visit the Americans for Common Cents site for the penny's history, research data and pennies in the news. The ring thing www.oldphones.com Phone lovers are sure to find something nostalgic at this site, which features vintage phones, phone-related questions and answers and links. Along came a spider www.giantspiders.com Visit here for a look at tarantulas, their care and feeding, spider-related goods and links.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Jason Rubin has been in the video game business for a dog's age literally at 18 years and counting. And in an industry that counts time in dog years, that's a whole lot of perspective for someone who started producing games professionally on a national level when he was 15. The business has changed a lot since he was a teenager and a student at the University of Michigan, Rubin said. But with his latest game "Jak II," a "Jak and Daxter" sequel budgeted at more than $10 million hitting store shelves this fall and buzz already running high, the cofounder of the Naughty Dog developing company says video games have been nothing but good to him. His first big hit in 1985 was "Ski Crazed," for the Apple 11 personal computer.

He and friend Andy Gavin wrote it during a weekend and planned to put it in a Ziploc bag and sell it around town. That was before Baudville told them they wanted to sell the game nationally. "They put it in a box with our name on it, and we felt like the kings of the hill," he recalled. They made about Naughty Dog TODAY'S PICKS CLICKS Former University of Michigan student Jason Rubin, 33, is cofounder of Naughty Dog, the video game company responsible for the "Jak and Daxter" series. He started in the business at 15.

PlayStation 2. "Jak II" took 52 people, 140 voice actors, two musicians and three sound engineers, plus Sony's internal staff. It has taken two years to make. Simple, repetitive gameplay with crude graphics doesn't cut it any more. The goal is to make nearly every game look as good as an animated movie, and move just as smoothly.

The story's got to be compelling II" offers a storyline with Dark Jak and gives players the chance to control small-fry sidekick Daxter for the first time, according to published reports), the gameplay irresistible but simple to learn and it's got to come in on time and reasonably close to budget to make the holiday buying season, when most of the year's games are soid. i "There is no opportunity for two kids to write a game in a weekend," Rubin said. And for people who want to.get into the gaming industry, picking a discipline is important, he said. You can't just be a developer. You have to choose: Do I want to be a programmer? An artist? An animator? A modeler? A sound designer? "If you succeed in the business today, the rewards materially and spiritually are higher," he said.

Best of all, he said, his grandmother now understands what he does. He describes what she says: "I get it. You make movies. But they don't look that good." Contact HEATHER NEWMAN at 313-223-3336 or newmanfreepress.com. Find her gaming online as "Cbits." GOOFY GREG Actor and comedian Greg Proops talks about his regular role on close to $750,000 in computer equipment.

Both stayed on to continue developing. It been a long time since one of Rubin's games could be developed in a weekend. Before the sale, Naughty Dog had written the popular "Crash Bandicoot" series, which sold more than 22 million www.washingtonpost.comwp-dynllveonllne7navhptop CONTROLLING FOOD CRAVINGS Dr. Neal Barnard discusses what steps to take when certain cravings hit. Noon, http:my.webmd.comcalendar LOOKING AT CHANDLER Join Washington Post Book Editor Jennifer Howard for a discussion about "The Long Goodbye" by Raymond Chandler, this month's book dub selection.

Noon, www.washingtonpost.com PROGRESS IN IRAQ South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson, the only member of Congress with a child in active military duty, talks about progress in the war in Iraq. 3 p.m., http:msnbc.comchat A KEEPER Directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky talk about their film "Brother's Keeper," which was released on DVD Tuesday. 6 p.m., www.usatoday.comcommunitychatchatsked.htm H50U." That was a ton of money. We spent it all on games and computer upgrades." It was the beginning of a long and successful run, including games developed in the basement computer room of his fraternity while he After that, they made "Jak and Daxter, a well-re was at U-M.

By the time Rubin and Gavin sold ceived action-adventure game that -Naughty Dog to Sony in 2000, they had became a Greatest Hits title for i TECH BLOG: Follow Mike Wendland's posts at www.pcmike ce.com Government pi numb er of unii www.frccp.com Log on to our web site for news updates throughout the day. GETTING IT STRAIGHT (USPS 155-500) (ISSN 1055-2758) Published daily by the Detroit Free Press at 600 W. Fort Detroit, Ml 48226 PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT DETROIT, Ml DETROIT NEWSPAPERS But survey finds that millions of kids in U.S. still have no coverage By LAURA MECKLER ASSOCIATED PRESS Home Delivery Service 31 3-222-6500 TOLL FREE Ctasstfied Advertising 586-977-7500 TOLL FREE -600-WANT-ADS Oisplay Advertising All Other Departments ....31 3-222-6400 Telerammunicalkxi Device tor Deal (TDD) FREE PRESS EDITORIAL PHONE NUMBERS Editorial Page ,...31 3-222-6583 Local 3-222-6600 The Free Press corrects all errors of fact. If you know of an error, please call John X.

Miller, public editor, at 313-222-2441 or 800-678-7771 anytime, or write him at 600 W. Fort, Detroit 48226, or send e-mail to For a direct re-, sponse, please provide a daytime phone number. An article in Wednesday's Oakland section about a new Web site to help with the reporting of child abuse should have said that no complaints are thrown out by Oakland County Child Protective Services. In some cases, reports are not accepted for investigation and are referred to other services when the allegations do not meet the legal definition of child abuse and neglect. All reports of suspected child abuse should be referred to the Family Independence Agency.

In some Wednesday editions, information published with a front-page article about the possible use of the Michigan Central Depot as the new Detroit police headquarters should have said Reed Stem is one of the architectural firms that designed the depot. i families. At the same time, private coverage declined. Between 1999 and 2002, a total of 2 million fewer children received health insurance from private insurers as more companies dropped benefits for workers and their families. The data come from a national survey of 40,000 families conducted periodically by the Urban Institute's Assessing the New Federalism Project.

The survey was to be released today by the Covering Kids and Families project, which is beginning its annual effort to enroll more children in public programs. Both the survey and the Covering Kids program are funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a charitable organization that funds many projects related to health care. Medicaid and SCHIP now provide health insurance for more than one-third of all black and Hispanic children. About half of the uninsured children roughly 4 million appear to be eligible for one of these two programs. Absent insurance, these children were three times more likely to lack a usual source of medical care than those covered by government programs.

The good news, researchers said, was an increased awareness among low-income parents about SCHIP. In 1999, 47 percent of these parents had heard of it. That climbed to 71 percent in 2002. The portion of families that understand that nonwelfare families are eligible for the health coverage increased, but 43 percent of those having heard of SCHIP wrongly thought they had to be on welfare to qualify. .....31 3-222-8765 The Way We Entertainment Business Public Editor 313-222-2441 To order Free Press WASHINGTON Government health insurance programs have helped reduce the number of uninsured children, though at least 4 million eligible kids are still not covered, a survey finds.

Overall, 7.8 million children were without health insurance at some point last year, a drop of 1.8 million from three years ago. searchers credit increased enrollment in Medicaid, which provides health care for the poorest families and children, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP, created in 1997 for children from working poor AllOther CourrtJei NEWSPAPER RATES Dally Home Delivery "Metro Area $0.35... (with 7 days) Daily Home Delivery $0.40 Saturday Home Delivery $0.25... $0.50 Minoay Home Delivery (with 7 days) $1.25 r-uay Home Delivery $4. Sunday a HolidayBonus Day Home Delivery" $2.00 FRAME TIZE FREE PRESS baturoaysunoay Holiday Bonus Day Home Dally Newsstands Sunday -r Newsstands $1 .50 $1 .50 Saturday.

Sunday and holiday ediUons are combined editions of i The Detroit News and Free Press." si 2003. Sunday Only snd SsturdaySunday sutertws In metro Detros wM receive the tallowing HoMayBonua Day ediinns ae 20. February 17, Man 18. May 26, Jmy4, Sep-temcer 1 Noiember 27. December 26.

Additional BomnDnva To order reprints of any Free Press page since 1998, or any photo by a Free Press photographer, call the Free Press Bookstore at 800-245-5082. tela Ear implants linked to meningitis REUTERS REUTERS may be added based on story developments or anticipated reader implants, as have an eaual num that, in turn, delivers eWr.nVal CONTACT US ber of adults. The device uses a microphone to pick ud sounds and transfers impulses into the cochlea so they can be relayed to the brain. The surgery and rehabilitation cost All suriacrlpllons are mrrowous. Home delivered rates are suggested retail rates, some areas.

Independent contractor rates may vary "Metro Area Includes Wayne, Oakland, Macorrt.ttashterm.Mori-roe and UvUgston Counee. MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES Within the Stale of Michigan Dalfyand Dally Sunday Sundayt 0nty Only 52 Weeks 4369.20 ..76.80 26 Weeks 164 60 .86 40 13WeekS 13O00 92 30 44 20 them to an implanted receiver aDout $60,000 in children. To start or stop delivery, or for missing papers: To give us a news Op Public editor John X. Miller 313-222-6500 800-395-3300 313-222-6600 313-222-2441 800-678-7771 To get a previous edition 313-222-6876 To submit community listing items 31 3-223-4496 To place a classified ad 586-977-7500 800-926-8237 4 Weeks .40.00. 28 40 13 60 Outside Michigan 52 Weeks $556.40.

4397.80 26 Weeks 278.20. 198.90 92 30 13 Weeks 139.10. 99.45 46.15 4 Weeks .42.80.. 30.60. 14JO Foreign rates furnished upon request Subscription price includes $4.27 per week for the foint Sat- uraay, aunoay ano nouoay issues or Ine Detroit News and Free Press." Subscription price includes $1.12 per week forme joint Sat- i 'i Friday jackpot $34 million Ohio i Wednesday Pick 3 and 4 Midday 887 and 9248 Evening 949 and 7025 Buckeye 5 1-2-9-11-34 Super Lotto Plus 10-18-23-25-27-' 40 Bonus Ball 30' Kicker 7-9-3-3-4-7 LOTTERY Michigan Wednesday Daily 3 and 4: Midday 649 and 4267 Evening 521 and 8929 Ftolldown 6-19-20-21-28 Keno 2,5,6,7,13,16,17,21,26, 27,34,45,47,48,52,54,60,66,71, 73,77,78 WinFall 27-30-31-36-38-43 Mega Millions 1,17,19,32,42 Mega Ball 33 Jackpot winners None BOSTON Receiving a cochlear implant to restore hearing dramatically increases the risk of developing bacterial meningitis, researchers said Wednesday.

The meningitis rate was 30 times higher among 4,264 children who received the implants from 1997 to 2002 compared with the rate in the general population, said a team led by Jennita Reef-huis of the National Center on Birth Defects and Development Disabilities. The center is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventioa Their study, published in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, recommended that no implants be performed until a child has been vaccinated against bacteria that can cause meningitis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the brain. Nearly 10,000 profoundly deaf children in the United States have received implants, allowing most of them to understand normal speech. In all, about 30,000 children worldwide have been given i iiaay ramay issues or -ine uetrofl News and Free Press." The Oetrott News and Free Press Is printed partially on recycled newsprint. StTH5 iimYiTili, Postmaster, please send address changes to: rYYTrrYTTT Man subsenption Department 615 W.

Lafayette Boulevard Detroit, Ml 48226 Wli DETROIT NEWSPAPERS. OFFICERS Heated Seats, Leather Interior, Moonroof, CDChanaer Frank Veoa President. if! I I rr rr -a i Gary Anderson. Executive VP Ran I Austin. VPHuman N.

Smarms Ellwood. VPMkt Ray fiaiis. VPClassified Advertising Find previous Michigan numbers on the Web at WWW.mlchigan.govlottery Find previous Ohio numbers on the Web at WWW.OhiolOttery.com co mmpraey, ar. vrureutation. .31 3-222-2373 BUcKoSltB Joyce Jenereain, VPFinance 4 Controller.

Timothy Kedeher. Sr. VPlabor Relations Teresa uicido, VFAdvertising Keith Pierce. Sr. WOneialiom Michael Ouinn.

VPProrJucbon Robert Suthertart VPCulatort John Totoraihs. vPlnformabon -J.