A new project co-founded by a Carnegie Mellon University graduate student is creating educational games for extremely affordable computers that are gaining popularity in developing nations.

PlayPower grew from an idea Derek Lomas had while attending a conference in India, where he noticed that families were snatching up $12 computer systems right and left. The 8-bit computers are not very powerful, but the processor that powers the PC (the MOS 6502, which powered the Apple II and Nintendo NES) is in the public domain, meaning that development is relatively easy and inexpensive.

Lomas told the Post Gazette, “It doesn't require a $50 million development budget to make a great game.”

The PlayPower team is currently at work on three games, two of which feature the Hindu deity Hanuman. One Hanuman-starring title will teach users how to type, with the hopes that such a skill could translate into better job opportunities, while the second is a multiple-choice quiz-type game. The third title in development will try to raise awareness of malaria.

Lomas added, “I think that many of the more powerful educational effects of the system can be in the way it changes a kid's interest and ambitions.”

Lomas anticipates that all three games can be finished this year. He also hopes to build a relationship with those selling the computers so that PlayPower’s software can be bundled in.

Over 1,000 volunteers from around the world are already on-board to assist in game development. PlayPower also hopes to harness the growing 8-bit retro community for assistance in future releases.

Joystiq has an interview with Trent Reznor talking with the Nine Inch Nails front man about the games he grew up on, how much he sucks at Rock Band and the game character he most identifies with (Link).

Reznor also discussed his experience with pitching a videogame to publishers:

And as first time people in a pitch meeting, it was kind of depressing. Depressing to see that the people in control of those studios and publishers are much the same as the people sitting at record companies.

When asked about any similarities between the indie videogame and indie music industries, Reznor called the iPhone platform “inspiring,” and added that he likes what he sees from the Xbox, noting, “they're providing a place to get indie games and you don't have to hack your system or fight updates to get those games on it."

Indie musician Ryan Adams has also been active lately on the videogame front, writing for The Awl website over the past month. His rambling posts center on videogame titles and systems from the past, while interjecting plenty of obscenities and pop culture references.

A take from Adams on Q*bert:

Anyway, there are two ways I am thinking about Q-Bert now, either if videogames were around when making Exile on Main Street maybe it would have been a single album or that maybe it would have been longer.

Give the creator of this YouTube vid an A for effort as he stretches to pull in patriotic elements to what amounts to video reviews of a pair of NES titles:

• Xenophobe

• Golgo 13

With the Independence Day weekend upon us here in the United States, we note that News4U has posted its list of 5 Patriotic Video Game Moments.

The list is interesting and contains some games that will surprise you. The five patriotic scenes named come from:

• Freedom Fighters
• Animal Crossing
• Fallout 3
• Super Off-Road
• Bad Dudes

From the Bad Dudes (NES) description:

After rescuing the prez [GP: Bush #1], he says the most American thing the developers could think of: “Hey dudes, thanks for rescuing me. Let’s go for a burger…Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” You’re then treated to a scene with the president eating a burger in front of the White House. Apparently it was decided to beef up security after the ninja incident, since there is a wall of Secret Service agents behind both of you as well. Oh, and of course Old Glory is showing her colors the whole time the credits roll.

Check out the video clip at left to see the Bad Dudes ending.

On the one hand, you've got Madden 2009 with its highfalutin player ratings, realistic NFL playbooks and updated team stats. As we have mentioned elsewhere, Madden makes like a ouija board and guesses that the Steelers will win today's big game.

But here at GamePolitics, we'd like something a little more dependable before we risk the kids' college funds. 

Little plastic football players who spin in circles on a vibrating metal platform seem like just the thing to give us more confidence in our wager.

Yes, we're talking electric football here. But where are the Super Bowl predictions from the cult-like world of the old school game?

Electric football die-hards have their own Super Bowl, but we need them to predict the outcome of the real one. Hopefully, before kickoff...