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Thrustmaster intros two Nintendo DSi accessories

admin — Sat, 02 May 2009 02:26:26 +0000

T-Standee Charger

Accessories maker Thrustmaster has recently introduced two upcoming accessories for the new Nintendo DSi with the T-Standee Charger and T-Strap Charger. The former charges the DSi via a standard wall plug and doubles as an adjustable stand that can hold the device in either landscape or portrait orientation. The T-Strap Charger replaces the standard carrying strap of the DSi and can be removed to charge the portable gaming console from any USB port. The Thrustmaster T-Standee charger is priced at the equivalent of $17 and has a mid-June shipping date in Europe, while the T-Strap Charger is currently available, priced at the equivalent of nearly $11.

T-Strap Charger

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Nintendo DSi Portable Game System

admin — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:01:22 +0000

Nintendo DSi

Nintendo has recently launched Nintendo DSi, the newest evolution in portable gaming. This portable video game system closely follows Nintendo’s new approach of making the consoles less about a certain game and more about the playing experience in general.

Other portable gaming consoles, like the Sony PSP, largely focus on video, high-resolution games, and flashy graphics. iPhone is also rapidly becoming an amazing gaming platform, many thanks to its accelerometer and cool touch features. Nintendo is aiming to make their new release an enjoyable part of your life without packing it up with gaudy features.

Still, the Nintendo DSi gets some major hardware improvements. It allows veteran and new gamers alike to customize and share all their experiences with family and friends. It has two built-in, interactive cameras that let you snap and edit photos. You can also play and manipulate recorded sounds in imaginative and interesting ways. Another huge improvement is the clearer screen. Now, you can also download games straight to the device.

The Nintendo DSi Shop was also launched. It is an online storefront where you can trade in Nintendo DSi Points to download a variety of innovative applications and games. Despite the bleak economic outlook, we can expect the Nintendo DSi to fly off the shelves. It’s available in the US in black or blue at a retail price of $169.99.

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LG Versa Phones Receive Game Pad Module Upgrade

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:25:20 +0000

LG Versa owners will be more than happy to play with that new game pad module which is now available. The game pad can be simply snapped-on the back of the phone and it will slide-out whenever you feel like playing a game. The 8-way directional pad comes with four dedicated SNES-style gaming buttons ready for lots of action. The upgrade will cost you $29.99 but it’s absolutely worth it.

via Verizon

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Sony PS2 console to drop to $100 on April 1st

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:49:39 +0000

Sony’s director of hardware marketing, John Koller, has officially announced that the PlayStation 2 gaming console will begin selling for $99.99 starting tomorrow, April 1st. This represents a $30 price drop from the current price, roughly 23 percent, and may be the source of rumors of a PS3 price cut. Sony has consistently denied any PS3 reductions.

The PS2 was first launched in 2000, and the system is close to doubling the typical five-year lifespan of consoles. Koller attributes the longevity to a wide range of titles, set to reach 1,900 in 2009. New games scheduled to release for the system include MLB ‘09, Ghostbusters, Guitar Hero: Metallica and Motorstorm: Arctic Edge. Earlier this year, Koller also announced that the PS2 had reached 50 million in sales in North America. It is not known when the PS2 will be officially discontinued.

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Sony Denies Rumors of a PS3 Price Drop

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:55:49 +0000

Sony has denied rumors regarding an imminent price drop for the PS3. The specific rumor that elicited the response had suggested the company was preparing for a Tuesday announcement which was believed to include a lower price for the gaming console or a new browser and online content. Analysts, such as Mike Hickey from Janco Partners, still expect Sony to eventually cut prices sometime between April and June.

“As we have stated previously, we do not have plans for a PS3 price drop, and any rumors to that effect are false and are the result of speculation. SCEA remains focused on the long-term momentum of PS3,” Sony’s PR Manager, Al De Leon, told CrunchGear. “With the industry’s best software lineup this year, combined with our most aggressive marketing campaign to date, we remain confident in our approach and the value we’re delivering with PS3.”Hickey argues that a cut of $100 or more will be necessary to invigorate PS3 sales. Without the adjustment, he claims, the console will continue to show lackluster sales and may even drive developers to other platforms.

Sony has maintained that hardware costs have prevented earlier price cuts, as the cost of building the systems would have to drop before the retail tag will change. David Reeves, chief of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, claimed that the company is protecting itself from the difficult economic period which requires a defensive pricing strategy to sustain profitability.

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Nintendo Wii Classic Controller

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:36:41 +0000

Computer games come and go, but the most popular ones usually are etched in a gamer’s memory. The same way happens with classic gaming consoles. Even gamers today look for a way to relive the gaming experience that the classic games and other old gaming consoles once offered.

Along with this longing, some of the newer gaming consoles have tried in their own way to bring back some of the classic experiences of games past into their newer machines. Classic games are still quite popular after all. Consider the introduction of the Classic Controller for the Nintendo Wii. It aims to let new gamers experience they way classic games are being played in the past.

The Nintendo Wii Classic Controller is designed after the controllers used in the older SNES and N64 gaming consoles. Its thin and traditional shape features the usual game control features in the classic gaming systems but can now be directly plugged into the Nintendo Wii. The Nintendo Wii Classic Controller can be used to play Virtual Console games as well as some of the current Wii game titles. For a taste of nostalgia on the Wii, this Classic Controller can be yours for US$20 at Amazon.

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Retro Duo NES/SNES Game System

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:58:24 +0000

For the nostalgic folks, the gaming addicts, the gaming system collectors and those who just have an affinity for 8 and 16 bit displays: rejoice, for our beloved NES and SNES gaming systems have resurrected to fulfill our gaming needs. To make their second coming even sweeter, they’ve come together as one.

That is, you’ll be able to play NES and SNES games in one super cool gaming system: the Retro Duo NES/SNES.

The Retro Duo comes with two top loading cartridge slots (one for each), it also comes with the standard pair of SNES controllers. Some gadget sites suggest plugging in your old pair of SNES controllers for a full-on retro effect, enough to satisfy the most nostalgic of gamers.

On the downside though, it does not come with built-in games or cartridges, so you’re going to have to retrieve your old stock from the attic or basement. If you already disposed of your old ones (shame on you!) try Dkoldies.com.

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Zeebo Promises Game Console With Free 3G

admin — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:46:47 +0000

Zeebo this morning unveiled a self-titled console which it says could bring video gaming and other Internet features to countries that previously haven’t had widespread access to the technology. The system combines a 528MHz Qualcomm MSM processor with a free, 3G link over HSPA that lets the console perpetually remain connected to the Internet without requiring a hardwired connection. Users can buy and download games anywhere the console gets coverage; the cellular link will also allow frequent system updates and, eventually, the ability to share the Zeebo’s connection with computers or other devices that might be relegated to dial-up in developing areas. The hardware will primarily focus on mobile-class 3D games and already has the support of Capcom, EA, Gameloft and other significant developers. About 1GB of flash memory provides the permanent storage, while an SD card slot lets owners add more. Control is more like a traditional TV-attached console with three full-size USB ports and one mini allowing multiple dual-analog gamepads and other peripherals.Reflecting its attention on the developing world, Zeebo the company says its system will first be available in Brazil when it ships next month. Although early pricing in the South American country is set at the equivalent of $199, other countries should get the system for $179. Zeebo hopes that economies of scale will let it push the system price down to $149 by 2010.

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NVIDIA launches PhysX SDK for Wii, PS3 consoles

admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:04:47 +0000

NVIDIA announced on Thursday that it will provide its PhysX software development kit (SDK) for registered Nintendo Wii software developers. The announcement comes just two days after a similar release that has the graphics software and chipmaker also making an SDK available for Sony PlayStation 3 developers. Using NVIDIA’s PhysX engine, developers can bring more realistic game environments to the game consoles, the company says, especially taking advantage of the PS3’s powerful Cell processor that will allow for animating realistic persistent debris such as shattered glass and weapons ammunition, trees that bend in the wind and flowing water. The NVIDIA PhysX software development kits for either gaming console consist of an API and physics engine, letting developers, animators, level designers, and artists author scalable physics in real time. It’s expected the Wii’s reduced processing power would result in a more limited still similar use of PhysX.

Registered developers can download the free binary PhysX SDK and use it on either console as of today.

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Sony PSP Slim & Lite

admin — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:49:27 +0000

Having played around with the revised PSP for a few days, we thought it time we let you know our thoughts. Clearly many areas of the handheld remain identical to the original model and as such we won’t be covering those in particular detail (but you can always check out our original PSP review), preferring instead to focus on the elements that have changed and how these may or may not improve the PSP experience – which, we suspect, is why you’re reading this.

The first thing that strikes you when you slide the new PSP out of its slender 23(L) x 12.5(H) x 8(D) cm box is that it feels too light. Even once you’ve slotted in the new 1200mAh battery (30g compared with the original’s 44g 1800mAh model) – at which point you’ll also note the battery cover may open more easily but it’s also substantially thinner and more brittle – for an overall weight of 190g (compared with 280g), the handheld feels disconcertingly insubstantial.

The sense of unfamiliarity continues once you fire the unit up. It’s nothing to do with the starting sequence, nor the front-end, both of which obviously remain identical (for those that may want to know, Slim & Lite comes with firmware v3.60 installed), but the new flat back is instantly noticeable. As is its enamel-like finish, which in a sense further contributes to the overwhelming cheap plastic feel (as well as showing up fingerprints with remarkable ease – the Ice White model can’t come soon enough).

Give it five minutes, though, and the most wonderful transformation occurs. Because far from feeling too light, too flat, too thin, Slim & Lite suddenly becomes the PSP you’ve always wanted.

Well, within reason, obviously – there’s still no second analogue nub, for a start. The point is, almost immediately the old model feels absurdly heavy and cumbersome, while its successor emerges as fresh and decidedly modern. The difference on paper (and even visually) may seem insignificant, but in the hand the contrast is striking.

In play, the improvements continue. The lower profiled face buttons are noticeable, though not as much as the alterations to the D-pad, which now boasts less travel and resistance, making it a considerably more comfortable proposition during prolonged play. The differentiation with regards to the analogue nub, meanwhile, is less pronounced but again the level of resistance appears to have been reduced, resulting in a perceived increase in smoothness and accuracy – although we’ll reserve final judgement on this particular aspect until we’ve tried out a wider range of titles.

One area more directly assessed concerns the other changes to the design. So, for instance, the UMD tray is now a far simpler affair, opening manually (rather than spring-assisted, as previously) but considerably wider, too. The first time it’s used it will feel a little odd, mainly because the UMD now sits loose against the tray until it is closed, but you soon appreciate the relatively more immediate, less fiddly nature of the new approach.

Similarly, the repositioned WLAN switch now feels more at home along the top edge of the unit, while the speakers appear to deliver better stereo imaging in their revised location.

Which leaves us with one obvious area of interest: the effect of the UMD cache on loading times. We’ll be honest in revealing that we’ve had little opportunity to try out more than a couple of games, but we did notice a two-second reduction in the return to menu screen after finishing a Sega Rally race. Okay, it’s a bit of a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it improvement but it could be related to the game.

Indeed, we’ve seen video evidence online confirming a massive improvement in the in-game transitions of some titles is possible. If the difference in the loading speed of Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII, for instance, is indicative of what we should expect of future PSP titles, we’d have little issue with arguing that alone is enough to justify the purchase of Slim & Lite.

As it is, there are other reasons, too. More intelligent design and better, more responsive in-game control are two but it’s the overall improved feel – an element inherently difficult to quantify – that has us convinced. True, it’s nowhere near as radical an overhaul as Nintendo performed on the DS, but then you could argue the PSP was already a generation or two further along the handheld evolutionary line than DS Lite’s predecessor.

Nevertheless, we can appreciate current PSP owners will be thinking long and hard about whether the Slim & Lite model offers enough to warrant the upgrade when, at a glimpse, little appears to have altered. And, clearly, we can’t tell you what to do.

But if your head is having trouble justifying the purchase, and if it helps, we can at least say this: Don’t try the PSP Slim & Lite. Because the moment you do, you won’t want to go back to the old model.

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Sony PSP

admin — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:39:45 +0000

The era of no-compromises handheld gaming has arrived. Get ready for immersive, 3D gaming on a console that is poised

to change the way we think about portable devices. With wireless internet, video and digital music playback, and incredible data storage and connectivity options, the Sony PSP–or PlayStation Portable–is a complete solution for the mobile digital lifestyle. Sony has hit the mark by combining both horsepower and groundbreaking features into a package that weighs just a hair more than half a pound.

Design
The PSP’s exceptional performance comes from a 333 MHz processor that dwarfs the speed of competing handheld consoles. Add this polygon-pushing muscle to 4 MB of fast DRAM and 32 MB of embedded RAM, and you’ve got a device with graphics rendering capabilities close to that of the PlayStation2. And because no game is complete without audio, the PSP is generously appointed with built-in stereo speakers, as well Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound capability. Sony has also pulled out all the stops with the PSP display. The bright, 4.3-inch LCD sports a 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 272 pixel resolution–plenty of real estate for heavy gaming action and widescreen-format movies. All of this is powered by a removable, and rechargeable, lithium-ion battery.

Screen machine: The 4.3-inch display sports a 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 272 pixel resolution. Movies and games on the go have never been more gorgeous.

From a controls perspective, the PSP is made for gaming. If you’re familiar with a PlayStation controller, you’ll be a pro at the PSP’s controls in no time. Directional buttons, as well as an analog stick are provided. Meanwhile, the familiar left and right shoulder buttons, as well as triangle, circle, cross and square buttons are integrated into the device’s slim case. Finally, home, select, and start buttons give you quick access and control over the PSP’s important functions.

Supported Media
At the heart of the PSP is a new, proprietary media format known as the Universal Media Disc, or UMD. Each UMD can hold 1.8 GB of data, enough room for rich and complex games. UMDs, which are housed in a protective cover, slide into the rear of the PSP. Sony has declared the UMD an open format for developers and media content owners, so movies, music and other media are on the horizon from third parties. Sony has also signed on many popular game developers for the platform, so a deep library of titles is on tap.

While the UMD is great for read-only media such as games and movies, Sony solves the problem of data storage with the addition of a Memory Stick Duo slot. With Memory Stick Duo media, you can store your saved games, downloaded online content, personal video and audio files, and more. When you want access to these files from your PC, simply use the PSP’s USB 2.0 port to turn the device into a fast portable media drive. Then, drag and drop files such as your photos, MP3s, and videos onto the PSP, just as you would any other removable storage device. The PSP ships with a 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, and additional media with higher storage capacities are available.

Connectivity
The PSP blows away the competition in the connectivity department. Indeed, the PSP’s ability to connect to the internet, and to other PSPs and USB-based peripherals, is a real advantage. At the top of the list is Wifi connectivity, or IEEE 801.11b. Use this wireless internet standard to connect to other gamers around the world for hot multiplayer action–all from your couch, or your local Wifi hotspot. As mentioned, the PSP’s USB 2.0 port is great for PC connectivity, but it also opens the PSP up for a whole range of future peripherals. Sony has plans for the PSP in other ways, too; the unit’s infrared port speaks of remote control capabilities in the near future.

A Digital Companion
If you haven’t already guessed, Sony has positioned the PSP to be much more than a gaming device. Out of the box, the device is ready to serve as a portable video player and photo viewer. By using the new H.264 MPEG-4 video standard, Sony obviously has its eyes on making the PSP a robust video device with support for feature length movies and more. In addition, the PSP offers a great way to transport and share your photos in JPEG format. And let’s not forget the music. Load up your favorite MP3-encoded songs onto a Memory Stick Duo and you’ve got a portable audio powerhouse. The device also supports Sony’s ATRAC audio codec, so you can play songs acquired from Sony’s Connect Online Music Store. Sony even ships a nifty pair of earbuds–complete with an inline remote control– with the PSP.

What’s in the Box
PSP device, AC adapter, battery pack, 32 MB Memory Stick Duo, earbud headphones with remote control, soft case and hand strap.

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Sony PlayStation 3 Singstar Bundle

admin — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:14:43 +0000

I have to admit I have been a skeptic of the Singstar franchise. With game after game on the PS2 it didn’t really anything I was ever interested in. Now with it’s new life on the PS3 it is a whole other game. Singstar is without a doubt the best party game available right now on the PS3. It is also a prime example of how much fun community gaming can be.

From the minute you pop the disc in it’s simple to navigate the menu. You esentially have three options. Play Singstar, view gallery, and online. I am going to cover each option so that you can understand how much fun this game is.

Playing Singstar gives you a choice of thirty songs to croon over. The thirty songs are a mix of pop, r&b, and rock. Sorry country fans, your not going to find any of your favorite songs on this disc. Although you only get 30 songs to chooose from there are well over 200 available on the Singstore. More on that later. Now with Singstar you can just have a solo performance or if you have your friends around there are plenty more options. You can actually have contests with up to eight people. The possibilities are really endless. With multiplayer you can either perform a duet or battle others. There are specific songs for duet although every song will let you perform a duet. With a battle you can take on others to try and get the highest score. With the performances they are scored on a scale of 0 to 10,000. There are also difficulty levels if you want more of a challenge. The object is rather simple: Sing at the same tone as the artists. As you sing you really have to make sure you can keep the same level as the musician. On easy it’s rather simple to get a good score. Upping the difficulty level makes it that much more difficult. What makes the performances memorable is that you can record your vocals. Now if your voice is or isn’t very good you can adjust microphone level. What makes Singstar magic is having a USB camera that is compatible with the PS3 or a PS Eye. The camera will record a 25 second video of you belting out your greatest. You can even take the artists voice out of the songs. Of course I wouldn’t advise anyone to do this unless they have a good voice. Now the audio clips, videos, and even snapshots the camera will take go into your gallery.

Now the gallery is what stores your best or worst performances. From here you can let other people see your performance at home. The gallery will store numerous videos, audio clips, and pics. What makes the gallery truly a gallery is that you can upload any of these things online to the Singstar interface.

Online is what takes this game to the next level. The Singstore is what the PSN should be. Immediately you get to choose from over 200 more songs that are available in the store. Each song sells for $1.49 and comes with the video. Not a bad price for some good fun. The Singstore will update with songs every other week. SONY is promising 25 to 50 songs a month. The artists cover a wide array of music genres dating back to the 1960’s to songs that have just been released. I have already found myself downloading numerous songs I enjoy. The new music will keep this game fresh for quite a few months if not years.

The most amazing feature is the Singstar Online feature. From the main menu you can set up your profile listing your favorite song and musician. You can also have a picture taken from your USB camera. From your profile you can also view messages people leave you and check your uploaded videos to see if people are giving you good scores. You can also access other players. Set up like Youtube you can watch players from all around the world perform their best. The interface allows you to watch videos that have just been uploaded. You can also check out featured performances for the week. These are the higher scoring songs. And lastly they have a hall of fame featuring the highest rated most viewed performances. You can score any performance from 1 to 5 stars and even leave comments to the performer. If you really like someones performance there is an easy way to access your friends list and mailbox and request a person to be on your friends list. I have seen some stellar performances and I have also seen your very creative performance. This is a definite incentive to try and make something interesting for everyone to see. All in all this is what I enjoy most about the game.

If I were to sum up Singstar I would say it’s an experience everyone should try. It’s fun, a lot of fun. It’s a great break from other gaming experiences and it’s a good way to invite people over to do some karoke. I think that most who enjoy to sing in the shower or car should purchase this game. Those who have enjoyed it on the PS2 should enjoy it even more on the PS3. Have fun and try to become a Singstar…

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Sony PlayStation 3 (80GB)

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:31:55 +0000

The new Playstation 3 98004 has an 80GB hard drive for over 30% more download storage space than the 60GB model. PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system unleashes a brilliant, high-definition entertainment experience. As its digital soul, the Cell Broadband Engine represents a tour de force in parallel processing, which means a gaming experience that is beyond what you know today. Its built-in Blu-ray Disc drive delivers a whole new generation in high-definition gaming and unmatched digital media storage. Whether it’s gaming, Blu-ray movies, music or online services, PLAYSTATION3 invites you to Play Beyond.

Blu-Ray Is the New Way
Sony’s PlayStation 3 games are encoded onto the Blu-Ray disc media format, which can hold six times as much data as traditional DVDs. This increase in capacity, combined with the awesome power of its processor and graphics card, promises mind-blowing games once developers have learned how to fully harness the new console’s power. The PS3 will also support CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R formats.

In addition, PlayStation 3 system software update version 2.20 and up includes BD Live support. With this you can now play discs that support Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 (BD-LIVE) and you can also connect to the Internet while playing discs that support this format so that you can obtain additional features. Features that are available vary depending on the software in use.

Sensational Controller
New gamers intuitively move the controller while playing, even though that movement has traditionally had no relation to what’s going on in the game. Sony has picked up on this tendency and is using it to bring a new level of control to the PS3. Inside the controller is a high-precision six-axis sensing system that accurately detects fine movements in pitch, roll, and yaw, as well as three dimensions of movement. This means that future PS3 games will be controlled by the movements of your hands rather than just your thumbs. For example, you might be able to steer a car by holding the controller like a steering wheel.

While the PS3 controller looks much like its Dual Shock predecessors, it will lack the force-feedback vibration since that would only interfere with the sensing system. It uses Bluetooth 2.0 wireless technology and can support up to seven wireless controllers at a time. It’s a hot-swappable system, so if your controller is running low on power, just pause your game and connect a USB 2.0 cable. You can continue playing while your controller recharges automatically.

Backwards Compatible

The PlayStation 3 will be backward compatible with most PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games, which means you’ll be able to play your favorite games without keeping all the old systems. The console will have slots for Memory Stick Duo, an SD slot and a Compact Flash memory slot. It comes with a pre-installed hard disc drive, which allows you to save games as well as download content from the internet.

A Slew of New Games
A whole host of game publishers are already backing the PS3 and several have even confirmed games for the console. At the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), more than 30 titles were displayed for the system, including Gran Turismo HD, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Final Fantasy XIII. Previously announced titles include Metal Gear Solid 4, Devil May Cry 4 and Tekken 6.

Online
Sony has stated that the PS3 will have similar online connectivity and services as the next generation of Xbox Live. Calling it “an always on, always connected device,” SCEI’s chief technical officer Masa Chatani said the PS3 would be constantly in touch with a “PlayStation World” network “fundamentally based on community, communication commerce, and content.” Technically, the infrastructure is there to make that connection. The PS3 supports 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T Ethernet, as well as IEEE 802.11 b/g wireless networking protocols.

What’s in the Box?

Game system
Sixaxis wireless controller
AC power cord
Audio/Video cable (HDMI or Component cable sold separately)
Ethernet cable
USB cable
MotorStorm

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Sony PlayStation 3 (40GB)

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:19:33 +0000

As DVD playback made the PlayStation 2 more than just a game machine, hefty multi-media features make the PlayStation 3 an even more versatile home entertainment machine. Features such as video chat, internet access, digital photo viewing, and digital audio and video will likely make it the central component of your media set-up. Still, it is first and foremost a powerful gaming console.

Under the Hood
The PS3 features IBM’s “Cell” processor and a co-developed Nvidia graphics processor that makes the system able to perform two trillion calculations per second. That makes the PlayStation 3 40 times faster than the PS2. Along with the traditional AV and composite connections, it also boasts an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port, which delivers uncompressed, unconverted digital picture and sound to compatible high-definition TV and projectors. The system is capable of 128-bit pixel precision and 1080p resolution for a full HD experience. This console also provides for a sound experience by supporting Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, as well as Linear PCM 7.1. A pre-installed 40 GB hard disc drive allows you to save games as well as download content from the internet. Unlike the other models of the PlayStation 3, the 40GB does not offer backwards compatibility.

Sensational Controller
New gamers intuitively move the controller while playing, even though that movement has traditionally had no relation to what’s going on in the game. Sony has picked up on this tendency and is using it to bring a new level of control to the PS3. Inside the controller is a high-precision sixaxis sensing system that accurately detects fine movements in pitch, roll, and yaw, as well as three dimensions of movement. This means that future PS3 games will be controlled by the movements of your hands rather than just your thumbs. For example, you might be able to steer a car by holding the controller like a steering wheel.

While the PS3 controller looks much like its Dual Shock predecessors, it will lack the force-feedback vibration since that would only interfere with the sensing system. It uses Bluetooth 2.0 wireless technology and can support wireless controllers. It’s a hot-swappable system, so if your controller is running low on power, just pause your game and connect a USB 2.0 cable. You can continue playing while your controller recharges automatically.

A Slew of New Games
A whole host of game publishers back the PS3. Current and future titles for the system, include The Eye of Judgment, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Final Fantasy XIII, Metal Gear Solid 4, Devil May Cry 4, Tekken 6, and Heavenly Sword.

What’s in the Box?

Game system
Sixaxis wireless controller
AC power cord
Audio/Video cable (HDMI or Component cable sold separately)
USB cable

PlayStation 3 40gb Specification:

CPU	Cell Broadband Engine (Cell/B.E.)
GPU	RSX
Sound	Dobly 5.1ch, DTS 5.1ch, LPCM 7.1ch, AAC, others
Memory	256MB XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
HDD	2.5″ Serial ATA	40GB
Communication
	Ethernet	X1 (10BASE-T,100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
	IEEE 802.11 b/g	Included
	Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)	Included
Wireless controller (Bluetooth)	Included
AV Output	Screen Size	480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
	HDMI OUT	1
	AV MULTI OUT	1
	DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL)	1
BD/DVD/CD Drive (Read Only)	Maximum Read Speed	BD 2x (BD-ROM)
		DVD 8x (DVD-ROM)
		CD 24x (CD-ROM)
USB Ports	2
Backwards Compatibility	No
Dimensions	12.75in (W) x 3.86 (H) x 10.8in (D)
Weight	11 lbs

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Sony PlayStation 2

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:48:56 +0000

I have used this for a few years now and have enjoyed my time with it. I have bought the stand to make a vertical system and have some extras like the remote control which I highly recommend if you like to watch DVDs. As a games console the PS2 is the leader and so it has a limitless choice of games, however I will say that for some reason over the past few years there has only really been a handful of solid gaming entries and everything else is mediocre and PC graphics are a way ahead of the PS2 now, so if you are a game player looking for the best gaming experience then the PS2 is not for you. What you need is a new computer and a very good graphics card with an ADSL modem or better. PS2 games can be very expensive (4 top shelf games and you have the price of a PS2 – 20 top shelf games and you have the price of a computer we where just talking about.) If you own a PS2 then a DVD store rental card is a bonus and really that rental store card is what the PS2 is about for you. If you do not have that card then I hope you have lots of money or friends to trade with.

I find myself using this box for mostly watching DVD movies and renting games. I buy a new game once every two months (usually a top shelf game) and that keeps me going. For the PS2 I think the type of game that suits the console best is a 3rd person survival game or something like Grand Theft Auto. Beat em’ ups are good on it as well. However the PC dominates Sims, RPGs and 1st person shooters. Maybe the PS2 has some influence on sports games like SSX and Tony Hawk but everyone knows that the better experience for these games is on the PC. So what games you prefer really has an impact on if you want a PS2 or not. Maybe a PC is really what you need?

I watch lots of DVDs and with the remote control the PS2 plays like a joy including a special region-free disc that you can buy (its dirt cheap) allowing you to watch anything that comes on a DVD. I have found some incompatibility with some movies (2 in 300) but this is mostly the fault of the DVD producers and not Sony. So 99.9% of movies will play on a PS2. That is not bad. The image quality is not the best but pretty darn good all the same. You can also hook up surround sound to the PS2 no problem and play Dolby Digital or DTS. The PS2 does have one drawback in this department though. The internal fan makes a hell of a lot of noise so you need to keep the sound up to send that to the background. It can be annoying at times. As a DVD player the PS2 has really been used to the max and I have only good things to say about that.

I have also used the PS2 to play CD music through my televisions sound system. It has made my hi-fi system now redundant. So as a console it has lots of media options other than just the games console and that is what really makes it worth its while. However as a games console I must say that I have not been let down that much (games like GTA: Vice City, Silent Hill 3, Manhunt, MGS, Devil May Cry, made the console for me) but there could be a lot better first class PS2 games out there by now. I think there are less than 10 really outstanding games on the PS2 and a way more options on a PC for better games.

Anyway what you like in games is up to you. I have had the PS2 now for years and it is a workhorse that still does its job. I have no complaints about this system except maybe to hope that more developers try pushing the limits of what this box can do. I am currently looking forward to the new Resident Evil game.

Pros:
- Relatively cheap console.
- A wide of variety of games to choose from.
- Expandable.
- Great DVD player (with remote control improves this vastly).
- Reliable and rugged.
- A standard that will never phase out.

Cons:
- Games are very expensive.
- The fan makes a lot of noise.
- A PC maybe really what you want.
- It has taken ages for some good games to arrive.

Overall this a great evolution for the games console. If you have the money and want a portable media system that plays games, DVDs and CDs then the PS2 is really convenient and manageable.

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Nintendo Wii

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:04:14 +0000

Nintendo’s Wii video game system (pronounced “we”) brings people of all ages and video game experience together to play. This simple yet ground breaking idea is expressed not only though the system’s evocative name, which is easily pronounced in a variety of languages, and suggests two players side by side, but also through its innovative list of features and extensive list of playable titles.

A Little Box With Plenty of Power
As with every console, much of the buzz surrounds the specs. The Wii boasts 512 MB of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports, and a slot for SD memory expansion. The system’s technological heart — a processing chip developed with IBM and code-named “Broadway” and a graphics chipset from ATI code-named “Hollywood” — deliver stunning performance. And instead of a tray, Wii uses a single, self-loading media bay that plays both 12-centimeter optical discs used for the new system, as well as Nintendo GameCube discs.

Revolutionary Control
No bigger than a small traditional remote control, the wireless Wii Remote is a truly multi functional device. The magic of the Wii Remote’s design lies within; acellerometers inside the controller measure movement in all directions and at all speeds. In a tennis game, it serves as your racket as you swing away. In driving games it serves as a steering wheel, allowing you to swerve to avoid obstacles or pickup power-ups. In first-person shooters, it acts as a firearm that you can point directly at an on-screen enemy. The controller also has a force feedback “Rumble” feature and an expansion port for use with accessories, such as the Nunchuck, which adds an analog thumbstick and trigger buttons. The system allows for up to four controllers to be linked at a time and utilizes standard Bluetooth wireless technology. For those who prefer the feel of a traditional controller an adapter is available that fits over the Wii’s remote.

A Channel for Everyone
More than just a game machine, Wii also provides information and entertainment suitable for every member of the family. Some of the channels available include:

Mii Channel – Miis are cute little caricatures you create to use as characters in a variety of Wii software. Store Miis on your Wii or load them onto your Wii Remote and take them over to a friend’s house to use on their Wii.
Everybody Votes Channel * – The Everybody Votes Channel is packed with national and worldwide polls. Answer interesting questions and have your say. Up to six members of your family can vote. Just choose an answer and check in later to see the results.
News Channel * – Wii might be great for games, but you can also use it to get updates on the latest news from across the Internet organized into easy-to-browse categories.
Forecast Channel * – Your Wii can automatically update you on the weather from around the globe.
Wii Shop Channel * – Download the Opera web browser and access games from classic consoles from the past. All you need is a Wii Points account.
Virtual Console – Every Virtual Console game you download from the Wii Shop Channel appears in the Wii Menu as a separate Channel ready to select and play any time you like.
Wii Message Board – Leave or receive messages for other family members on the calendar-based message board or use WiiConnect24 to send messages to people outside your home.
Internet Channel * – Just download the Opera browser for 500 Wii Points and within minutes, you’ll be a professional sofa surfer, pointing-and-clicking your way around the web with your Wii Remote.
Photo Channel – Show off all your digital photos on your TV. Just insert an SD memory card into your Wii and away you go.
Disc Channel – The Disc Channel is backwards compatible with Nintendo GameCube, so you can play all your new Wii discs, along with all your classic Nintendo GameCube discs too!

The Depth of the Nintendo Game Catalog
Each Wii comes with a game compilation called “Wii Sports,” including tennis, golf, baseball and bowling games, that show off the console’s intuitive new controller, but Wii also plays games developed specifically for it as well as fan-favorite games from Nintendo’s 20-year-old library. Its drive is compatible with GameCube discs, and select Nintendo titles from the original NES of the 1980s all the way through the Nintendo 64 are available for download through the “Virtual Console” for $5 and $10 respectively. To support this backwards compatibility the Wii includes four ports for classic Nintendo GameCube controllers and two slots for Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards. As if that weren’t enough, the Virtual Console will also make available a few titles from SNES console contemporaries, Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx 16.

Also, Wii utilizes Nintendo’s newly-announced wireless feature, WiiConnect24. This worldwide feature allows players to receive content such as Wii Message Board messages sent from other Wii consoles, Miis, e-mails, updated channel and game content, and notification of software updates even while the console is on standby, keeping the fun going even when you are not online.

* Access to some channels may require your Wii needs to be set up with WiiConnect24.

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Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:46:12 +0000

In the wake of the soon to come Nintendo DS, I thought we would take a look at the last handheld released by Nintendo, the Game Boy Advance SP. This little peice of hardware really is “more than meets the eye”.

When former Nintendo monarch Hiroshi Yamauchi stepped down, Saturu Iwata took over as Nintendo CEO. His first order of business was to do away with the childish image many had with Nintendo and its consoles. Being that the Game Boy franchise had long been the biggest breadwinner at Nintendo, Iwata decided to soup up the product line. His goal was simple: Get a Nintendo Game Boy back in the hands of adults.
GAME BOY ADVANCE: SP – GAME BOY GROWS UP

Initials Impressions
At first glance, you wouldn’t know the Game Boy Advance SP was a video game system. With it’s clamshell design, one could mistake it for a high end PDA. Upon closer inspection, you find a small Nintendo logo on the face of the folded device. Open up the unit, and the SP is about the size of a Game Boy Pocket. As far as connections, on back of the SP are power and headphone jacks. You can also use this area to hook up the GBA to Gamecube connector.

On the right side of the unit is the Power switch, with the volume control on the left. Finally, there are two LED indicators – the top is green when powered on, and changes to red when the internal battery is low. The bottom LED glows orange when the unit is plugged into the wall charger, and turns off once fully charged.

As far as control buttons, you have a directional pad, A and B buttons, Select, Start, L and R. To me, the L and R buttons look like they would be uncomfortable where they are positioned since this is such a small unit.

Adressing the problems
With the Game Boy Advance SP, Nintendo sought to fix every complaint consumers had about the original. Earlier I talked about the internal battery. You spoke, and Nintendo delivered. You don’t ever have to buy batteries for the GBA SP. It has an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery and comes packaged with a wall charger.

The Game Boy Advance SP also features a frontlight button. Answering another consumer complaint, Nintendo added a frontlight to the SP. On the original Game Boy Advance, it was tough to use the unit out in the sun or in a dim setting. The frontlight button switches on a glowing light that gives you optimal view in any condition. I guarantee that you will never use this product without the light, which is always on by default.

As for colors, The Game Boy Advance has grown up with the SP. It comes in platinum and cobalt. There are a few “special editions” well. I would not feel the least bit embarrassed breaking any one of these out in public. Nintendo isn’t playing around this time.

Performance
Upon turning on the power, you are greeted by a Game Boy logo on a glowing screen. I tried out the SP with Metroid Fusion as well as Tony Hawk Underground. This allowed me to see how it performed using all the buttons in two totally different gaming environments. I am happy to say that the SP outperformed all my expectations.

The sound is great, considering that this is a handheld system. Although the unit outputs mono from its single speaker, it does deliver stereo sound through headphones (which I did not have). Despite the small shortcoming, the volume makes up for it and the audio can be impressive. It is definitely a step up from previous Game Boy versions.

The control pad feels more sophisticated. The D-pad and face buttons don’t have much leeway in terms of depressing. Instead, it is more of a “click”; a subtle difference, but it adds a bit of speed to the gameplay. As I said earlier, I expected the shoulder buttons to be a bit cramped. I couldn’t have been further from the truth. I have fairly large hands, and playing Tony Hawk Underground (a game which utilizes the L and R buttons extensively) was completely comfortable. I played the GBA for about 10 hours before the internal battery ran out. According to Nintendo, the battery lasts about 14 hours without the backlight turned on. With a rechargeable battery, I see no reason to turn it off. The charge will suffice for even the hardcore gamer.

Finally, Nintendo has been pushing the Gamecube-Game Boy Advance connectivity hard in recent months. The Game Boy Advance SP more than lives up to the challenge. You can now play games that require both a Gamecube and a Game Boy Advance without having to sit in an awkward area of the room to see the GBA screen. The adapter hooks up right between the L and R buttons, but don’t interfere with gameplay in any way.

Final Thoughts
The development of the Game Boy Advance SP is symbolic of Nintendo’s commitment to entering the adult market. As the people who played the original Game Boy grew up, Nintendo failed to grow with them, and thus lost a large portion of its installed userbase. With the release of the SP, Nintendo has now opened the doors to becoming an electronics company instead of just a video games company.

The truth is, Nintendo has become the distributor of one of the hottest must-own portable devices on the market.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Specifications:

CPU: 32-bit RISC-CPU
Size (closed): Approximate 3.3″ height/3.23″ width/0.96″ depth
Screen: 2.9″ (diagonal) reflective TFT color LCD
Light source: Front light integrated with LCD
Resolution: 240 x 160 pixels
Color: Can display 511 simultaneous colors in character mode and 32,768 simultaneous colors in bitmap mode
Weight: Approximately 5 ounces

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Nintendo DS Lite

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:32:35 +0000

Nintendo DS Lite revolutionizes the way games are played with ultra-bright dual screens and touch-screen technology. Connect wirelessly to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and put your skills to the test against players across the room or across the world. With impressive 3D rendered graphics and ultra-bright screens, Nintendo DS Lite delivers cutting-edge portable games for fans of any genre. With the Nintendo DS Headset, you can talk and chat over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or voice command games.

Features

System
With Nintendo DS Lite, dual screens and touch-screen technology allow you to interact with games like never before. Wireless communication allows you to experience real-time multiplayer gameplay, and the free Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service allows you to compete against players from around the globe.

Dual Screens:
Two incredibly bright LCD screens offer one of the most groundbreaking gameplay advances ever developed. Each 3-inch screen can reproduce a true 3D view, with impressive 3D renderings that can surpass images displayed on the Nintendo 64.

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection:
Ready to take on the world? Now, with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, you can connect wirelessly, chat and play with Nintendo DS owners across the globe. All you need to play is a Nintendo DS and a Wi-Fi-ready game. There are no subscription fees — the service is free!

Touch Screen Technology:
The lower screen offers something never before provided by any dedicated game device: touch-screen capabilities. You no longer have to rely on just buttons to move your character or shift perspectives. Navigate menus or access inventory items simply by touching the screen with a stylus or fingertip. The possibilities are limited only by developers’ imaginations. The touch screen features a tougher film cover for durability, and the included stylus is stored in the back of the unit.

Microphone Port:
A built-in microphone port means that with Nintendo DS, you only need to tell your games what to do. The Nintendo DS microphone gives you even more ways to interact with your favorite games.

Wireless Network:
With Nintendo DS Lite, you can connect with a local wireless network of up to 16 players. The wireless range can be an incredible 30 to 100 feet and for some games, multiplayer requires just one Nintendo DS game card.

Note: Nintendo DS Lite wireless communication, including PictoChat, is not private and is not monitored by Nintendo. We recommend that you never reveal any personal information or arrange to meet a stranger.

Rich Stereo Sound:
Nintendo DS Lite sound capabilities allow for greatly expanded use of voices and music, and a richer, more immersive game experience. Stereo speakers allow for virtual surround sound and a plug for headphones transmits stereo sound.

Backward Compatibility:
Nintendo DS Lite features a separate media port for Game Boy Advance cartridges, allowing you to play all your favorite Game Boy Advance games in single-player mode.

Technical Specs:

Size (closed): 133 millimeters (5.2 inches) wide, 73.9 millimeters (2.9 inches) long, 21.5 millimeters (0.85 inches) tall.
Top Screen: A backlit, 3-inch, transmissive TFT color LCD with 256 x 192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colors.
Touch Screen: Same specs as top screen, but with a transparent analog touch screen.
Wireless Communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo’s proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100 feet, depending on circumstances; multiple users can play multiplayer games using just one DS game card.
Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons. The stylus is 1 centimeter longer and 2 millimeters thicker than the stylus of the original Nintendo DS.
Input/Output: Ports for both Nintendo DS game cards and Game Boy Advance game paks, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone. A removable cover for the Game Boy Advance game pak slot provides added protection from dust and other foreign materials.
Other Features: Embedded PictoChat software that allows up to 16 users within local range of one another to chat at once; embedded real-time clock; date, time and alarm; touch-screen calibration.
CPUs: One ARM9 and one ARM7.
Sound: Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software.
Battery: Lithium ion battery delivering five to 19 hours of play on a four-hour charge, depending on use; power-saving sleep mode; AC adapter.
Languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian.

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Nintendo DS

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:17:37 +0000

Since the introduction of the Game Boy, Nintendo dominated the portable gaming market for reasons that go way beyond the fact that they don’t really have much competition in that front. Let’s face it, folks, who wouldn’t want to whip out a gaming system that fits in your pocket and play a game of Super Mario Bros. or even a portable version of Metroid any time you want? Yet times change and the Nintendo went from the Game Boy to the Game Boy Advance SP, but now it’s not alone. Along comes Nokia, bringing wireless communication and gaming with the N-Gage QD and now Sony is jumping into the fray with the Sony PSP. What’s a beloved portable gaming system to do now? How about launch a system called the Nintendo DS and make it one of the coolest things to come out this holiday. So is the Nintendo DS worth your hard-earned cash? Let’s just say that I can’t keep my hands off of it.

The first thing you’ll notice right off the bat is the fact that the system has dual screens that are both bigger than the Game Boy Advance SP screen. Having learned its lesson when Game Boy Advance owners complained that it was hard to see the games in action, both screens are backlit and thus can be played in any lighting condition. Yet here’s the interesting part, the bottom screen uses touch-screen technology and uses this technology consistently since the Nintendo DS allows you to use the system much like a PDA. Yet it doesn’t stop there, you’ll be using the touch screen in various DS games (we’ll get into that a bit later). Using your finger or the Stylus that comes with the system, the touch screen responds quickly and perfectly.

The system’s design is sleek a noticeable bigger than the average GBA (or Game Boy Advance SP, for that matter) so you’ll find it just a tad more difficult to stuff in the pocket of your jeans but it’s light enough that it won’t seem too bothersome while folded. The button layout is similar to that of the Super Nintendo seeing as you’ll find A, B, X and Y buttons along with a Select, Start and two shoulder buttons. There’s a jack for headphones and even a microphone (we’ll get to that a bit later, too) and a directional pad that’s less pronounced than the one the GBA SP possesses. The speakers on both sides of the hardware are powerful.

Here’s another great feature; the Nintendo DS boasts wireless communication, all of that can have you and a friend communicating with each another within a 100-foot radius. What does this mean for gaming? Unlike the GBA you won’t need Link Cables to play multiplayer games – it’s all completely wireless gaming. Depending on the game, you can have multiplayer matches with up to 16 players, all of which are yet to be tested out, but seeing as how smoothly the communication between two DS owners was thanks to the embedded PictoChat feature that allows you to write messages to other DS systems, it’s looking great. PictoChat is basically a communication tool that allows you to draw images and write messages via a virtual keyword. Using your Stylus you can write messages and send them to other DS systems within the range. This is a great addition for those who want to challenge other Nintendo DS owners to multiplayer matches.

At launch time, you’ll find enough games DS games and the good news is that you won’t only find first-party titles but third-party games as well. The Nintendo DS is backward compatible so you’ll be able to play all of your GBA SP games (there’s a slot in the front that fits your old games) but, unfortunately, you won’t get to play any of your old Game Boy or Game Boy Color games. You’ll also have to say goodbye to the multiplayer mode so while you’ll get to play your old games on the system it’s strictly all single-player modes. The slot in the back is strictly for the DS games with a cartridge slot much smaller than the normal GBA cartridge and hold up to one gigabit (it‘s not bad but then again it‘s not great either).

Remember when I said that the touch-screen technology is used during gameplay, well, each game makes full use of the bottom screen in various unique ways. We’ll take Metroid Prime Hunters (since a demo is packaged with the system) as an example of how the touch-screen is used. The top screen depicts the action while the second screen offers vital information like a useful map but with the touch of a button you can switch the controls on the fly and use the touch-screen much like a mouse if that suits you better. Spider-Man 2 uses the screen in a unique way as well. When Doctor Octopus tosses things as Spidey, you can catch them with the touch of your screen. The microphone is also implemented in games, for example, Feel the Magic: XY/XX uses the microphone for voice recognition and you can blow into the microphone when you’re asked to blow out candles in the game. Ah, Nintendo DS, you had me at “touch me.”

How about the graphics, you might ask? Well thanks to the nice size of the LCD screens you’ll get to see lots of details in each game’s graphics. Speaking of graphics, I’ve tested many of the initial launch titles and its hard not to notice how each of the current lineup of titles looks slightly better than the average N64 games. For those who are picky about their graphics, this might be a turn-off, but games like Super Mario DS shows us that the system has much potential and, in the right hands, we might just see developers push the system’s graphical capabilities to its maximum. Sound-wise, the system is capable of showcasing various sound effects and music. What about the battery life, you might ask? Like the Game Boy Advance SP, the DS has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to ten hours per charge via an AC Adaptor.

Having released the system in time for the holiday season, Nintendo is confident that this will be the gift every gamer would love to have. Seeing as it has a number of unique features, and an already interesting lineup of titles to look forward to, the Nintendo DS has all the goods to give Sony a run for its money. The few downsides really don’t hold this portable back from being the coolest piece of hardware you’ll be glad to own so pick this one up.

Pros:

Nintendo managed to release the DS just in time for the holiday season.
The dual screens are big and backlit.
The touch-screen technology is used creatively.
It has a microphone, which opens up new ideas.
It’s wireless, so bid a fond farewell to Link Cables.
The launch games are plentiful and decent.
Third-party support from the get-go.
The battery lasts up to ten hours per recharge.
Lots of potential for some really interesting games.
The $149.99 retail price tag.

Cons:

The bulky package isn’t as stylish as the Sony PSP and it won’t fit in your pocket.
Nintendo 64 graphics can be an eyesore for those who expected GameCube-like graphics.
The side buttons might seem small for those of us with big hands.
Too early to tell if heavy use of the Stylus will scratch the surface of the touch-screen.

Verdict: 9.0
So far the Nintendo DS shows a lot of potential and based on all the ultra-cool features it already possesses, this is one hot portable gamers will be proud to own. With its wireless capabilities, touch-screen technology, backward compatibility, there’s loads of potential here . . . all of which spells portable gaming nirvana for those who like to take their games on the go.

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Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro System

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:07:55 +0000

Xbox 360 sets a new pace for digital entertainment. More than just a cutting-edge game system, Xbox 360 also integrates high-definition video, DVD movie playback, digital music, photos, and online connectivity into one sleek, small tower, and in the process puts true Next-Gen power right at your fingertips.

Under the Hood
Xbox 360 is much smaller than its predecessor–it measures approximately 3.3 by 12.2 by 10.2 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs. It’s powered by custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU with three symmetrical cores each running at 3.2 GHz. It also carries a custom ATI graphics processor loaded with 10 MB of embedded DRAM, 48-way parallel floating-point dynamically scheduled shader pipelines and Unified shader architecture. This is powerful enough to draw 500 million triangles per second. In other words, it makes for great looking games in standard TV definition, and even better thanks to built-in support for HDTV 1080i televisions. It also supports the widescreen 16:9 format.

The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save and media storage, users can choose between the detachable and upgradeable 20GB hard drive, or a separately sold 64MB flash Memory Unit. Along with storing files, the hard drive will make the Xbox 360 backward-compatible with part of the existing Xbox game library.

Control your Gameplay
Xbox 360 uses a refined button layout for its controllers. Back and Start buttons sit at the center of the controller and between them is a new Xbox Guide button, which instantly takes the user to the Xbox 360 user interface. From there, they can check for friends online, access personal digital content like photos and songs, and more. The black and white buttons of the first Xbox controllers have been replaced with new shoulder buttons placed above the left and right triggers. Xbox 360 can accommodate up to four wireless controllers and has three USB 2.0 slots to use for wired controllers or for streaming your digital media from digital cameras, MP3 players, and any Windows XP-based PC. Microsoft has also created a video-conferencing camera, sold separately, that will work with the system.

The Media Experience
All Xbox 360 titles can be played in either standard or high-definition resolution in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing for smoother graphics. Game designers will be able to take advantage of the system’s multi-channel surround sound. The Xbox 360’s digital media allows users to supplement any game’s music from tracks in their own personal library.

Go Live
A built-in Ethernet port allows users to connect their system to a broadband connection for access to Xbox Live. The Xbox Live Silver Membership included with the console lets anyone create a Gamertag and gamer card to express your online identity, chat live with voice chat, and connect to the Xbox Live Marketplace to buy expansions, maps, and other digital items for your games. You can also update to a Xbox Live Gold Membership at anytime for even more benefits. The separately sold wireless adapter supports the common 802.11a, -b, and -g standards.

What’s in the Box?

Xbox 360 Pro console
20GB detachable hard drive
Wireless controller
Xbox Live headset
High-definition AV cable
Ethernet cable
Detachable faceplate
Xbox Live Silver membership
HDMI port
Forza 2 game
Marvel Alliance game

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Microsoft Xbox 360 Premium

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:55:06 +0000

The Xbox 360 was the first mass-market hi-def entertainment system to hit the market, and now three years later it’s hit a price point truly accessible to every household – credit crunch or not.

A few months ago Microsoft reduced the price of its console’s three SKUs – Arcade, Pro and Elite – with almost the entire trio scaling under the £199.99 mark.

Xbox 360 Elite, the 120GB beast complete with a slick black finish, is now on shelves for an impressive £229.99 – £50 cheaper and with more memory than the comparatively-lacklustre 20GB machine launched in 2005.

The HDD-less Arcade console meanwhile, which is packed with a 256MB memory card, wireless pad and five Xbox Live Arcade games, is in the shops for an incredible £129.99 – that’s almost a whole £200 cheaper than a PlayStation 3. Today, Xbox 360 is undoubtedly the best value HD games console on the market.

New Xbox Experience

“Accessible” seems to be the buzzword in the Xbox 360’s story up to 2009. From Wednesday 19th November the completely redesigned backend interface, the ‘New Xbox Experience’ begins streaming onto consoles worldwide as a free, mandatory update.

The new interface is smoother, slicker-looking and yes, makes accessing HD content a lot easier for the ever-lucrative expanded audience, a group which Microsoft’s has firmly in its sights this Christmas.

The redesign isn’t too dissimilar from Windows Media Player; boxes of content slide elegantly on a horizontal line, while indexes such as your Friends list and Video Marketplace – currently the only games console digital download service for movies in Europe – are selected on a vertical list.

As a whole, it’s far more well catered for hi-def displays than the original Xbox 360 backend. Menu boxes and the amount of information displayed by the console’s interface is expanded and spread out in higher resolutions , something that the old dashboard disappointingly lacked.

It looks and works wonderfully, and is certainly a world above the cluttered, sometime sluggish dashboard of the launch 360.

There’s also a ton of feature additions that improve the Xbox 360 as a whole; retail games can now be installed to the HDD for drastically shortened load times, and of course less noise coming from the fan vent on the side of the box.

The Xbox 360 Guide also seems to open faster and browsing through your movie and games collection in the iPod Cover View-style menu is effortless. Mii-like Avatars are also on hand to add personality to the animated backgrounds, which can be stunningly customised by new themes available on Xbox Live Marketplace.

Head to head

So it’s looking slicker and sporting an incredibly attractive new price point, but how does the Xbox 360 compare to the pricier, more technically plump PlayStation 3 after three years on the market? The answer is; very well.

The Xbox 360 may lack the built-in Wi-Fi and Blu-ray drive of Sony’s console (and in fact no HD disc playback at all with the ill-fated HD DVD add-on in the bin) but with currently the only games console movie download service in Europe, and now the ability to install games to hard disk, for gaming especially there’s little reason to feel stung by the Xbox’s lack of Blu’.

The mass of high-quality titles in the Xbox 360’s game library alone too – both on disc and digital – make it a real force to be reckoned with as far as gaming goes – and the 360 versions of many multi-format titles such as Fallout 3, which suffers graphical problems on Sony’s box, are still coming out on top.

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Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:31:21 +0000

Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Elite is here, and this version of the sleek game console offers more than just cosmetic improvements. The unit’s bolstered specs – such as a 120GB hard disk drive and an HDMI 1.2 connector, perfect for today’s high-def TVs – mean more room to store digital content, and a better way to view high-definition content.

This update of the current Xbox 360 won’t make sense for every gamer to upgrade to, but HDMI capability alone makes the Elite a more-appealing option if you’re planning on buying your first Xbox. The new console went on sale in the US yesterday, and retails at $480. To buy it online into the UK currently costs around £350-£400, however.

Our first impressions of this new iteration of Microsoft’s two-year-old game console are generally positive – particularly with regard to the dramatically improved integration of the optional Xbox HD DVD Player, and the improved image quality offered by HDMI (the differences are there, albeit not as striking as one might expect).

The Xbox 360 Elite differs from the current Xbox 360 in ways beyond cosmetic finish. Black, however, really can be slimming – even in the context of an inanimate game console. The matte-black Xbox 360 Elite manages to look more svelte than its off-white predecessor.

Looks aren’t everything, though. While we can appreciate that the Xbox 360 Elite will blend in better with the rest of your entertainment components, we’re more interested in the unit’s bolstered specs and what those new features will let us do. We were also interested to see how the unit handled – especially with regard to high-definition movie playback.

Breezy setup

Initial setup of the Xbox 360 Elite is a snap. Simply choose the language and establish your Xbox Live account or migrate an existing one.

From there, you can select the High Definition Settings option for choosing the optimal audio and video for high definition.

This option is prominently displayed on the console’s screen, and we applaud its inclusion since many users will use the Xbox 360 Elite on a high-definition TV. However, choosing this option is a bit disappointing. It deposits you into the Console Settings panel, directly into the display settings. Adio was just one of many console settings we could adjust below that. We’d expected to go to a menu that unified setting the audio and video for high-def.

The menu showed our current, default setting for the display – 1080i wide-screen. We next drilled down two more levels within the menu, so I could select the HDTV setting. We chose 1080p, to match the resolution of the Pioneer Elite Pro FHD-1 50in plasma display we were using. The menu also has an option to select screen format, but on the unit we tested, that option was grayed out.

We then moved back to adjust the audio settings, to select the digital output. The default setting here was for Dolby Digital 5.1; however, you can also choose digital stereo or Dolby Digital with WMA Pro. The onscreen display warns you that you can get only digital audio output through certain connectors – you must use an Xbox 360 Component HD, Advanced SCART, S-Video, or VGA HD AV cable to get digital output.

Strangely, though, the menu doesn’t make any mention of the HDMI AV cable, despite the cable coming with the Xbox 360 Elite (that inclusion is a nice touch since the cable could be expensive). That omission also means that the unit’s setup makes no mention of what kind of audio you can expect to recieve over HDMI.

(We’re awaiting confirmation on what audio the Elite can support over HDMI; if it’s limited to the same stated specs as within the menu options, though, that would be a major disappointment – especially considering that many HD DVD movie titles have shipped with multichannel Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus audio tracks.)

Specs boost

On paper, the new Xbox 360 has several advantages over the existing Xbox console. Hard drive capacity has jumped from 20GB to 120GB – a huge benefit if you plan to use the Xbox for lots of movie and music downloads via Xbox Live. The unit also now has an HDMI 1.2 interface; HDMI is the optimal interconnect for high-definition video playback, and can present a better image (at up to 1080p resolution) than can component video (limited to 1080i output on the Xbox 360) or VGA (at 1080p).

The system ships with a matching black wireless controller, which Microsoft rates as usable up to a 30ft range. The Xbox 360 Elite also ships with a plethora of included cables: the aforementioned HDMI AV cable; the Component HD AV cable with component, S-Video, and composite audio inputs; an audio adaptor for composite audio and optical audio inputs; a headset; and an ethernet cable.

Trying to transfer content from your current Xbox? You’ll have to procure the Hard Drive Transfer Cable (for moving content from your existing 20GB Xbox to the Xbox 360 Elite). Also missing from the box’s bundled contents: a remote control. You’ll have to buy one separately.

High-def movie playback

We were interested to see how Microsoft handled playing HD DVD movies on the Elite. In our informal hands-on testing of the console with Microsoft’s HD DVD Player add-on drive, we could see some notable improvements over its predecessor, specifically in integration and image quality.

The Xbox 360 Elite and the HD DVD drive enjoy vastly tighter integration which, in turn, results in a far more seamless experience than you might have had with the Xbox 360.

Now, you don’t even have to install a driver disc for the HD DVD drive – just plug it in, and the Elite recognises the drive. Once connected, if you move down to the open tray graphic on screen, it lets you open the tray for the Xbox 360, or for the HD DVD drive.

We found that HD DVD image quality on the movies we tested over an HDMI connection (and at 1080p resolution) appeared slightly better as compared to the Xbox 360 over component video (at 1080i resolution). Images were noticeably sharper when compared with the Xbox 360’s images over component video at 720p resolution.

We noticed that those images were a little bit more crisp, and had a smidgeon more depth and detail in the costumes in The Phantom of the Opera, for example; and a brick wall in Mission Impossible: 3’s chapter 7 – which was a problem spot for the Xbox 360 – rendered smoothly. Some colours seemed off, though; at times, I noticed in both of those movies skin tones redder than I would expect, for example.

HDMI and 1080p resolution may make less of an impact on how games appear than it does on how movies appear. This is because many games were created at 720p resolution; by contrast, all HD DVD movies are encoded at 1080p.

While we’re not yet convinced that the Xbox 360 Elite would match the image quality of a dedicated HD DVD player, we look forward to doing a side-by-side comparison (as well as to checking out how the Xbox 360 Elite handles upconverting standard-def DVDs).

More important, we don’t see anyone buying the Xbox 360 Elite solely for its high-def video playback. Its $480 price tag – not counting the extra $200 or so you’ll pay for a HD DVD Player add-on drive – positions the Xbox 360 Elite squarely at the gamer audience. High-def playback over HDMI may be a nice bonus for movie playback, but only if you intend to buy the Xbox 360 Elite for multiple purposes.

Here’s our first review of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Elite. This version of the sleek games console offers more than just cosmetic improvements.

Specifications

IBM PowerPC 3.2 GHz; 512MB GDDR3 SDRAM; 1MB cache; 120GB hard disk capacity; ATI Xbox 360 256-bit 2D/3D graphics acceleration; 10MB Video RAM; 1,920×1,080 max resolution; anti-aliasing; 16-bit surround sound

Verdict

If you haven’t jumped on the Xbox bandwagon just yet, but had planned to (Halo 3, anyone?), the Xbox 360 Elite merits your consideration. The inclusion of the 120GB hard drive, HDMI, and full 1080p support may make this console pricey, but it’s also a much more attractive option than its predecessor.

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Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:17:09 +0000

The Xbox 360 Arcade is the entry-level model in Microsoft’s game console lineup. It replaces the original Xbox 360 Core console and features add-ins not found in the Core. Priced at $200, the Arcade comes with a wireless controller, a 256MB memory card, an HDMI output port, and five Xbox LIVE Arcade games. Unlike the step-up Xbox 360 “Pro” (60GB, $300) and Xbox 360 Elite (120GB, $400), no hard drive is included with the Xbox 360 Arcade. As a result, in its default out-of-the-box configuration, the Xbox 360 Arcade’s limited storage capacity precludes it from being able to play original Xbox games and download most content (such as demos and videos) from Xbox Live’s online Marketplace.

We cannot fully recommend the Xbox 360 Arcade for the fact that it is missing a hard drive–somewhat of a must-have accessory for the console if you’re interesting in saving game progress or playing original Xbox games. The 256MB memory card is not what we’d call an ample amount of space as the included five Arcade games will be taking up most of that. While add-on hard drives can be purchased for the Xbox 360 Arcade in 20GB ($100) and 120GB ($180) capacities, the combined price of each brings the overall cost of the Xbox 360 Arcade to be higher than that of the step-up models. Instead, you should just steer clear of the Xbox 360 Arcade, and invest in the Xbox 360 “Pro” model (which includes the 60GB hard drive). Doing so will give you the real Xbox 360 experience you’re looking for–not the needlessly stripped-down offering of the Arcade version.

Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade Gallery

Front & Control

Back

Box

Avatar Selection

Marketplace

Photo Party

Community Playdate

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Microsoft Xbox 360 60GB

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:52:57 +0000

Product Features

Edition: Pro 60 GB

White finish
60GB hard drive
Wireless controller
Customizable interface
Go online with Xbox Live

The unit has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. For game-save and media storage, users can choose between the detachable and upgradeable 60GB hard drive, or a separately sold 64MB flash Memory Unit. Along with storing files, the hard drive will make the Xbox 360 backward-compatible with part of the existing Xbox game library.

What’s in the Box?

Xbox 360 console
60GB detachable hard drive
Wireless controller
Xbox Live headset
Standard AV cable
Ethernet cable
Detachable faceplate
Xbox Live Silver membership

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