Modern Warfare 3 preview: Spec Ops Survival mode

Neither the single-player nor multiplayer modes of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 are playable at this year’s E3, but Activision is running a demo for a brand new version of co-op that Infinity Ward is calling Spec Ops Survival. I say Infinity Ward is calling it that (and they are, because that’s its name), but given that this is multiplayer, it was probably developed in conjunction with Sledgehammer Games and/or Raven Software. Activision wasn’t completely clear on just how the co-development work is being divvied up, so we’re not sure who to credit for

made it, Spec Ops Survival is a brand new mode for co-op in the Modern Warfare series. Spec Ops missions are still available (though those weren’t being shown off at all), but Survival is a new mode that can be played on any of the maps being used for actual multiplayer. The map used in the demo was called Dome, and well it’s Horde, basically — waves of enemies show up on the map, and you and a partner have to take them

to begin? Survival can be played online with a buddy, of course, or split screen local, or even solo (where it’s just you against the incoming troops). The basic goal, again, is just to survive as long as possible. But as you play this match, you earn money (actual virtual dollars, not COD points as in Black Ops multiplayer) that you can then spend at a series of in-map stores. After the first match, a gun store opens up, and then a few matches later, an equipment store appears, and finally an “air support” store shows up as

earned in the match (for kills, teammate revives, and various other actions) can be spent in these stores on all of the various things a Modern Warfare soldier would usually carry. The gun store holds a number of weapons which you can not only buy, but then upgrade with various sights or add-ons. There’s also an option to re-purchase ammo, in case you run out. The equipment store is packed in with things like frag grenades and tripmines, and even turrets and

air support store is probably the most interesting — for a significant amount of money (and after it opens up on the map, around wave 3), you can buy some air support attacks, including a new reward called “Delta Squad.” When used, that will summon a group of four AI soldiers to the map via helicopter that serve as your allies, shooting alongside you for as long as they

of these purchases are governed by progression level, and I was told that this time around, Spec Ops has its own experience and level progression, completely separate from the multiplayer progression. While the balance and rewards on that aren’t completely locked down yet, one of the highest level rewards was the option to buy a “Riot Shield Squad” in the air support store, which means you’d be calling down riot shield officers rather than just

will probably need everything you can buy and then some — the enemies start out with just shotguns (which you can grab off the ground to upgrade your starting pistol), and get harder from there. Guard dogs are back in the mix again and not one but two assault helicopters showed up about five waves in. Later, there are soldiers equipped with C4 that explodes when they die, and after that there are dogs equipped with the same rigs. That’s right: Dynamite dogs. And on the very last wave that we made it to, I learned that the Juggernaut, the blast suit-wearing badass from Modern Warfare 2, is

well across waves (getting headshots, rocking a solid accuracy rating, and taking less damage) gets you more money to spend on in-match items, and Survival also has two onscreen challenge meters to try and fill. The Rampage challenge, for example, rewards you when you kill a bunch of enemies in a row, both with extra cash and with an actual visual explosion of dollar bills in the game world. When you fill up a meter by pulling off Rampages, the reward goes up. Don’t pull off Rampages, and the meter will slowly drain out. I also saw a Kill Streak challenge (where you fill the meter by killing multiple enemies without being damaged), and there are a few others in the mix from round to

can share money with your co-op partner if they need some extra cash, and you can revive them if they happen to fall (fallen players can summon their partners to help by pressing Y). There are at least a few difficulty levels to play with, though it wasn’t clear how many. And on one more mysterious note, there was an armor value at the bottom of the screen that started at 100, and fell as I got shot. It’s unclear whether that’s something just for this mode or if it’s a gamewide thing, but the Activision rep didn’t provide

not a ton of innovation in the actual mode itself, but of course it is Horde mode painted with the Modern Warfare brush. As one part of the much larger scheme of Modern Warfare 3, Spec Ops Survival is a good fit.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Assassin's Creed: Revelations Signature Edition with GameStop pre-order

Assassin's Creed: Revelations pre-orders for Xbox 360 and PS3 at GameStop — who, by the way, notes the game will arrive November 15 — will automatically be upgraded to the “Assassin's Creed Revelations Signature Edition,” Ubisoft announced this morning. The Signature Edition will grab pre-order investors a bonus singleplayer mission, an exclusive multiplayer character, weapons capacity upgrades, an animated short film and an Assassin's Creed: Revelations original game score soundtrack Some leftovers from all that GameStop goodness accidentally rolled over to Best Buy, which will give you an “exclusive multiplayer character” with your pre-order. They'll also toss in a look of shame for free. Oh yeah, Ubisoft also launched an AC:R Avatar fashion collection on the Xbox Live Marketplace if you're interested, since the PC version always has the tendency to get delayed at the last minute.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Wii U Assassin's Creed details loosed at Nintendo roundtable at E3

After just barely revealing that an Assassin's Creed title is in the works for Nintendo's Wii U, Ubisoft reps took to the Nintendo roundtable this evening and spoke to some of the features we'll see in the still untitled game (we're calling it “Assassin's Cwiihd”). Well, okay, first Ubisoft wanted to talk about the console itself. First and foremost, the Wii U has “powerful multi-core architecture” which allows Ubisoft to port its engines and assets directly over. And if you're anything like us, you're all about graphical shaders — you'll be happy to know, then, that the Wii U is totally capable of handling that. Beyond that, the game will, like previous AC titles, have the usual Eagle Vision sense ability. Specific to the Wii U, however, is an interactive map and database — presumably for use with the WiiPad — as well as some form of "alternative" puzzles solving. Ubi wouldn't confirm whether the title will be Assassin's Creed 3 or a Wii U version of Revelations or something else entirely.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Wii U Console Features Tablet Controller

The upcoming Wii U console was introduced by Nintendo at the E3 Expo last week. The new console will bring new controller with a 6.2-inch screen. Featuring an accelerometer and a gyroscope, the new controller can display information on its screen that does not appear on the TV and also offers the player a different experience than those looking at the TV. Other features include an inward-facing camera, a microphone and speakers. And don't worry the Classic Controller™ button scheme - two analog Circle Pads, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons also available.
source: Trendy Gadget

TriMount Turns Your TV Into an Ugly But Organized Gaming Nirvana

Once upon a time, it was possible for hardcore gamers to ply their avocation inconspicuously, their games and controllers stored in boxes, and their consoles tucked away behind the doors of their entertainment center or component cabinet. These days, however, motion is A Big Deal, and as a result, taking full advantage of a modern console requires placing a sensor of some kind out in the open, usually on top of your TV. But HDTVs only have so much real estate on top of their ever-slimmer frames, and naturally the big three console makers have no interest in making it easy to use a competitor's sensor in addition to their own, so the number of consoles a gamer can use effectively becomes limited by how many sensors one can haphazardly stack on top of one's TV.

Well, multi-platform gamers need fret no longer, because the dreamGEAR TriMount is here to solve our sensor-placement woes for good. Attaching easily to most HDTVs via an adjustable screw or to a wall via a wall mount, the TriMount provides space for the Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor, the PlayStation Eye, and the Wii Sensor Bar. The resultant amalgamation of cameras and sensors ends up looking like some sort of dystopian Big Brother surveillance device, but at only $29.99 it may be just what the doctor ordered, presuming that your doctor's last name is “Mario”, “Robotnik”, or “Wily”.

The TriMount is currently available for pre-order at the dreamGEAR website, and will begin shipping on 8x15x2011.
source: The Gadgeteer

Duke Nukem Forever reviews pour in, game is a flop

Duke Nukem Forever had the rare chance of living up to everybody's expectations. The game was literally vaporware until Gearbox and 2K games picked it up and decided to finish the game that started development way back in 1997.

You've seen trailers for Duke Nukem Forever and by and by, the game looked pretty humorous and satisfying. Unfortunately, in an FPS world dominated by the likes of Call of Duty: Black Ops, Modern Warfare, BioShock and Battlfield 3, there's simply no room for a game with “Shrinkage” even if Duke's squeaky voice is adorable.

According to Metacritic, Duke Nukem Forever is averaging a review score of 68% on PC, 60% on Xbox 360 and 58% on the PS3. I'm not big on numbers, but I tend to think anything below 75% is below average and not worth my time. While reviews aren't the be-all-end-all for what can be an enjoyable game, it does give you a sense of whether the game is worth your time and money. In DNF‘s case, many reviewers are saying it's not.

Don't care about reviews or you've been holding out for eternity and still have your old pre-order slip (GameStop is honoring all decade old pre-orders)? The game drops tomorrow in the U.S. with plenty of NSFW scenarios for your matured tastes.
source: Ubergizmo

Sega: Wii U is coming spring/summer 2012

Last week's E3 coverage for Nintendo's Wii U console and controller was insane. On stage, Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aimes showed off the new controller with a built-in 6.2-inch touchscreen, dual analog Circle Pads and the ability to beam content directly from the TV to its screen and vice versa. Needless to say, the crowd walked away rather impressed. We even liked it (check out our Wii U controller preview here). So when will the console come out?

Concerning the actual hardware console at the reveal, Nintendo remained mum on specifics, namely pricing and release time. While Nintendo only said the Wii U would be out in 2012, Sega's executive vice president of marketing Alan Pritchard might have let it slip when the Wii will ship: spring/summer 2012.

To most prospective buyers, the sooner the console lands, the better right? Wrong. If the Nintendo 3DS is any indication, a console needs to be supported by strong games at its launch and during the months following it. If there isn't steady of good games with the launch, then selling the system early will leave it hanging dry.

Nintendo knows this, that's why it's working with publishers to schedule its own first-party games around third-party ones. A spring/summer release would also be strangee because it misses the holiday shopping season – a time when shoppers are more likely to buy new hardware. What can we make of all of this? Not much except the fact that the Wii U is still on track to be shipped in the second half 2012.
source: Ubergizmo

Nintendo 3DS finally reaches 1 million in Japan

You can now let out that sigh you've been holding in since the Nintendo 3DS launched in late February because after 13 strenuous weeks, the 3D handheld has finally managed to move 1 million units – in Japan. Although the 3DS was not the runaway success Nintendo had hoped it would be, a strong lineup shown off at E3 including the likes of Mario Kart 3DS, Super mario 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising and the very special announcement that Super Smash Bros. is going to be developed for both the 3DS and Wii U should have brought up the geek-o-meter.

To put the 3DS' 13 weeks to hit 1 million units sold into perspective, the original DS took four weeks, DS Lite and DSi took eight weeks and the DSi LL (XL in the U.S.) took 25 weeks to reach the same goal. So while the 3DS is off to an extremely slow start compared to the original DS, it's still selling faster than the most recent DSi XL.

Anyone who's been keeping up knows that this is not shocking news. Here's a full list of reasons on the Japanese aren't snapping up the 3DS off store shelves like little hyper maniacs.
source: Ubergizmo

New Xbox 360 SoC reduces its power consumption, keeps it cooler

In a rather quiet move, Microsoft announced that new Xbox 360 (slim) consoles will come with a new System on a Chip that will bundle the CPU, GPU, system memory and I/O logic on a single slice of silicon. The advantages to the new design that supposedly took five years to produce will mean new Xbox 360s will be quieter, have an even smaller power brick and generate less heat – all good things.

Although the Red Ring of Death issues that plagued the original Xbox 360 consoles was virtually eradicated in the new slim consoles that debuted last year (the red LED lights were also removed!), the even newer consoles should be hitting store shelves soon. Aesthetic-wise, the Xbox 360 slim will remain unchanged. Microsoft's expected to make more profits using the new SoC which could in term be used for further development for Kinect or new technologies for a successor.

Either way, the Xbox 360 seems to get better with time. E3 brought about a huge slate of Kinect support and a new revamped Xbox dashboard that resembles Windows Phone 7′s Metro UI. With Kinect Fun Labs, the Xbox 360 looks to be able to stand the test of time and face off head to head with Sony's 10-year plan for its PS3.
source: Ubergizmo

Computex 2011: Hanson introduces two new multitouch Wireless Keyboard and Android Base DivXBox

This is my dear reader is our latest new regarding Computex 2011! Sure Computex was AMAZING and to be faire with you I whish I had 10 people with me during Computex to be able to cover everything, still let's share today the latest items I really enjoyed at computex with Hanson new Multitouch Wireless Keyabords and the Android 2.2 Base DivXBox SurBox 500.

The first ones are the Feltouch bonepad and Feltouch Classic a pair of wireless Keyboard that comes with motion gesture, a large multitouch area that can be used either as a Trackpad or as a Keyboard. If personally I am more interested in the Fletouch Classic, the Feltouch bonepad can be better suited for anyone who needs a larger keypad area or feel more confortable having a "Gamepad" like device in hands.

The Latest item introduced by Hanson was the SurBox 500, an Android 2.2 base DivX Box that will turn your TV into a real mini computer and let you access to Internet Services, Games and other Online Media as well as allowing you to play most of your SD and HD Videos including VOB and MKV ones.

The SurBox 500 is powered by an ARM Coretex A8 CPU at 1GHz, comes with 512MB of RAM and 2GB of Flash memory as well as a SDHC Card reader and USB port.
source: Akihabara News

Bethesda hacked, we wonder who is next

Being a gamer isn't that much fun these days with all the hacking that is going around. Starting off with Sony's much publicized downtime for their PlayStation Network (PSN) as well as Qriocity service (which incidentally has been brought online just recently), not to mention having Codemasters and Epic Games being breached (in addition to more than 200,000 Citibank credit card account information being retrieved in a hack), we can just do nothing but sit back and wonder just when all the madness is going to stop. The answer? Not anytime soon, as the latest victim to fall under the hacking wave is Bethesda, who confirmed that websites related to their new first-person shooter Brink were breached during the weekend, with the hackers most possibly carting away some personal information. Bethesda reassures their customers that all relevant financial information remain safe, so that ought to help you sleep better at night.

What migth ahve been compromised, however, would be "user names, email addresses, and/or passwords," so it would be prudent to start changing those passwords if you happen to own an account on any of Bethesda's sites.

Hacker group Lulzsec is proud to be responsible for the hacking, touting over their Twitter account that they did so because they could and Bethesda did not stop them, "Bethesda, we broke into your site over two months ago. We've had all of your Brink users for weeks. Please fix your junk, thanks!" What a start to the week, no?
source: Ubergizmo

EA boss declares Battlefield 3 vs. Modern Warfare 3 as 'the beginning of the war'

EA boss John Riccitiello has directed a fresh barrage of taunts at Activision in the aftermath of the Battlefield 3 showing at E3, declaring the conference "the beginning of the war" between Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3.

In reality, the war started months ago. Riccitiello and Kotick have been at each other's' throats since late last year. The latest exchange was started by Bobby Kotick's comments on the Battlefield 3 E3 showing, which also sum up his feelings on the PC as a platform.

"Well so far I've only seen Battlefield 3 shown on a PC, so I haven't seen it on a console which is where the bulk of our business is," he says. "If it's just a PC title as it looks like today, that's a very small audience to participate."

"The product that we're about to release, Modern Warfare 3, is the result of an enormous amount of audience research," he added. "It is what our tens of millions of players are saying they'd like to see in their next action experience, so we're very confident about its launch."

Riccitiello responded quickly. "The very fact that he's trying to cast doubt on our game is a perfect example of how we got his goat. In terms of where this goes, we think our PS3 game is better than their Xbox game and our PC game is better than their PC game.

"If that's all he's got to say, it's obviously going to evaporate as we launch all three. If you went to our press conference, you saw the PS3 footage and the Xbox footage. If Bobby thinks that is PC footage, he's in real trouble."

"We're going to have a clash of the titans this fall," he told Reuters.

A "senior informant" told CVG that Kotick tried to get into EA's booth to see Battlefield 3 at E3 last week, but was told a behind closed doors showing "would not be possible." Activision denied that Kotick's request, delivered by an assistant, was turned down, but CVG's informant remains "100 per cent adamant that he witnessed it."

DICE gameplay designer Gustav Halling explained on Twitter that "[Kotick] wasn't on our invited list so he have to stay in line as everyone else at E3 =) EA said No to Kotick."

"They think they can go in unannounced before the hundreds of people queuing? =) We have invited people only who can do that."

Battlefield 3 did its level best to try and win E3 with a spectacular eight minute in-game demo of a single player tank mission, a trailer showing the Operation Metro multiplayer map, and an impressive demo Frostbite 2 tech demo.

Meanwhile, Modern Warfare 3 was shown at the Microsoft press conference, and Game Trailers got their hands on thirteen minutes of in-game footage.

The war of words between Kotick and Riccitiello is set to continue throughout the summer. Battlefield 3 is out on October 25, Modern Warfare 3 is out on November 8.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Time magazine lends its cover for Call of Duty promotion

Time magazine has got to have one of the most recognizable covers of a magazine all over the world. The iconic red border and matching four letters as its header: TIME. Well, the magazine has been the subject of controversy due to a promotion stint the company is doing with Activision, the publishers of hit video game: Call of Duty. In an attempt to reach out to the younger demographic, Time magazine agreed to allow its red-bordered cover as a mock poster for the upcoming CoD game: Modern Warfare 3.

The cover poster features an image of Wall Street devastated by war, with buildings burnt and damaged, and the subtitle: World Stands On The Brink. Now to people who don't know about CoD: MW3, they would probably think it was an authentic issue of the magazine, which has led to some confusion and controversy over the whole issue. Apparently people have a problem with the magazine selling itself to a video game company to advertise itself. It is notable that this is the first time ever that an authorized Time cover has been created to promote a commercial product.

I can't say if such an advertising stint will work on the young male demographic and encourage them to pick up the magazine (unless they promise CoD content inside the issue i.e. cheat codes, tips) but personally - I don't think it's going to attract customers who don't buy Time magazine in the first place. The magazine is big enough to without having to resort to advertising stints in order to move issues. This will probably help CoD sell more than push Time to the younger audience. How do you feel about Time magazine being used for such a purpose? Does it affect your perception of the magazine?
source: Ubergizmo

Nintendo's Reggie says Wii U can actually support two tablet controllers

Unveiled at E3 last week, Nintendo's Wii U console and touchscreen tablet controller stole everybody's attention near and far. The one bit of bummer news that we left with from E3 was that the Wii U would only be capable of connecting with one Wii U controller and up to four additional Wii Remote/Plus controllers as well as a Wii Fit balance board. It appears Miyamoto's statement that although the Wii U will come standard with only one Wii U controller, it is possible for at least two of the new 6.2-inch, gyroscope enabled tablet controllers to be connected at any given time.

Or at least that's the claim gaming analyst Michael Pachter told IGN. So, here's the deal: Nintendo president of America Reggie Fils-Aime told Pachter that the Wii U can support two Wii U controllers and then Pachter told IGN. Hopefully, something didn't get lost along the way and Fils-Aime was quoted incorrectly.

In our preview, we speculated that the Wii U would only support one Wii U controller mainly because of bandwidth beaming limitations between the console and the controller (we noticed no noticeable lag), but perhaps Nintendo has managed to solve that problem as well and can allow two Wii U controllers at once. Until solid details are revealed, it's all speculation, but it'd be nice to have the option to use two Wii U controllers – although a higher MSRP is likely due to its large touchscreen.
source: Ubergizmo

Microsoft teases 3D capabilities coming soon to Xbox 360?

Microsoft's Israeli research and development team may have recently teased an upcoming Xbox 360 feature that is sure to interest a few gamers out there: 3D. Late last month, Microsoft's R&D team posted a link from its official Twitter account pointing to a Hebrew-language Gadgety.co.il post about an interesting rumor. In a nutshell, the rumor suggests that Microsoft is currently prepping a software update for the Xbox 360 that will enable HD stereoscopic 3D. Included with Microsoft's tweet was a question that translates to: “what do you think of a 3D console?” Now, companies don't typically draw attention to baseless rumors, so we're thinking someone at Microsoft got a little excited and might have slipped up, especially when considering the playful question posed alongside the link. The initial report suggested Microsoft's 3D feature would be introduced at E3 2011, but that obviously didn't happen, possibly because the software was not yet ready to be shown off. We have a feeling Xbox fans could be in store for a treat soon, however, and an announcement in the coming months definitely wouldn't surprise us. A screenshot of Microsoft's tweet can be seen after the break in.
source: Boy Genius Report

Nintendo announced Red 3DS in Japan

Nintendo announced that it will start selling in Japan from July 14 a new Red 3DS as well as a new Wii Bundle includes two Wii remote and Wii Sports Resort in both Black and White.

The new RED 3DS will be sold at the usual price of 25,000 Yen while these new Wii bundle will be available at around 20,000 Yen.
source: Akihabara News

Star Wars: The Old Republic trailer shows Eternity Vault raid

What makes MMO successful is the quests and raid, and well a new video has popped up on the Star Wars: The Old Republic official site showing the first footage of one of The Old Republic's raids. It's a mission to seal the Eternity Vault, which is packed full of creatures and criminals that should never be let loose on the galaxy. Now, it's going into meltdown.

The only solution is to form an eight man team with a variety of tank, DPS and healer characters, and put the prison back into lock down using both force, and The Force to take out the giant robots and powerful monsters within.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Nintendo stock loses another five percent

Nintendo's new console the Wii U is getting some mix feelings, which has caused their E3 lineup to go from a 1-hour queue on the first day, to a 5-hours queue on the second day, and to a "Sorry we're full" sign on the third day.

Though E3 attendees may be crazy for it, investors are continuing to express their displeasure with the Wii U. Nintendo's stock lost another five percent after a similar fall on Tuesday, the first day after the new hardware was announced at E3. At the time of this writing, the stock is down to 16,170 yen per share on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, another 800 yen loss from the previous day's close of 16,970.

That is, however, a slight climb from the day's low of 16,040 earlier in the day. Company shares haven't been this low since before Nintendo's massively successful Wii console was released in 2006. Are you okay there, Nintendo?
source: 2DayBlog.com

Nintendo's New Wii U Console Powered by AMD Radeon

AMD put out a press release last night confirming rumors that they are making the GPU for Nintendo's new Wii U console.

To many this was largely expected since ATI, which is now owned by AMD, collaborated with Nintendo on developing a GPU for the Gamecube and the first generation Wii.

The press release was rather short on technical details, only stating that the Wii U would contain a custom "AMD Radeon HD GPU" which provides "high-definition graphics support; rich multimedia acceleration and playback; and multiple display support".

Some of the more plausible rumors suggest that the GPU found in the Wii U will be based on AMD's R700 GPU architecture, though this is far from being confirmed.

IBM is said to be providing a 45nm PowerPC based CPU. The Wii U is expected to be released in 2012.
source: 2DayBlog.com

SteelSeries introduces Diablo III Headset and Mouse

While we might not be getting an official release date for Diablo III anytime soon, we can only hope that the sign of D3-licensed products could only mean that it's coming closer (hopefully). One of the most highly anticipated games in the world now has two officially licensed products inspired by it.

SteelSeries has just introduced the Diablo III Headset and Diablo III Mouse. Designed for gamers looking to spice up their gaming peripherals with hardware branded by their favorite RPG won't have to look any further than these SteelSeries accessories. The Diablo III Headset features 50mm drivers, a retractable boom mic for in-game communication, 18 LEDs that can be turned on to show the world you're hardcore even in the dark, and a braided cord that should solve cable tangling issues when you've packed up the headset and you're on the go.

The Diablo III Mouse is an ambidextrous mouse, fitted with a glowing Diablo III logo, a subtle gothic design decorating the mouse, a glowing scroll wheel and of course 7 buttons for your gaming needs. Program them to all your favorite macros and special moves to make slaying demon an even easier task than before. It has a 5,000 DPI sensor for speed and accuracy. Diablo III Mouse Pads also sweeten the whole deal, giving you a complete set of matching accessories.

No word on release date yet, but the headset will set you back $119.99, while the mouse will carry a price tag of $69.99. Keep those fingers crossed if you're hoping this means that D3 is just around the corner.
source: Ubergizmo

Nyko Zoom Kinect Lens lets you enjoy your Kinect in a smaller room

While the Microsoft Kinect is one amazing piece of technology that brings gaming to a whole new level of immersion, it does have one drawback: you need quite a lot of space to use the controller properly. Stand too close or too far away and it'll have problem recognizing your movements, which is a problem for people who want to play with their friends but don't have a room that's large enough.

Well. The folks over at Nyko have come up with a solution to the problem. Called the Nyko Zoom Kinect Lens, this useful gadget fits over the Microsoft Kinect and lets it zoom into the action, increasing its zoom level and therefore reducing the amount of space required for the Kinect to function by 40%. With this device, there's no longer any need for you to fight with your family/housemates to get a bigger room just to play your favorite multiplayer Kinect games.

The Nyko Zoom Kinect Lens is on sale now for $53 (£32.95).
source: Ubergizmo

Logitech Optical Gaming Mouse G400

The Logitech Optical Gaming Mouse G400 will continue where the MX518 left off, which incidentally, the latter is one of the best-selling gaming mouse to date from the company. Logitech claimed that during the G400′s conception, their main goal was to take the best of the MX518 and “make it even better” – sound advice, but doesn't every other company do that as well with their products? Logitech did not meddle too much with its form factor, tracking consistency, button layout, and legendary durability, and even managed to introduce improvements without increasing the price point.

First of all, the most notable improvement would be upgrading its sensor to hit a higher resolution – 3600 DPI. This will let you accomplish high-speed turns without the need for wide hand sweeps or even losing fidelity by increasing the cursor speed in the Windows control panel. All DPI levels can be adjusted on the fly (to 400, 800, 1800, and 3600 DPI) without having to install additional software. The report rate has also been increased from 125 to 1000 reports per second.

Apart from that, the optional button programming software has also been improved upon, where the mouse will be able to offer gamers the extra edge via its button and tracking configuration capabilities. With Logitech Gaming Software v8.0, it will throw in profiles for 210 games. Expect the Logitech Optical Gaming Mouse G400 to retail for $49.99 when it arrives Stateside this June 19th onwards.
source: Ubergizmo

Flare Red Nintendo 3DS ready to usher in wave of colors

It has begun – ever since Nintendo realized that we gamers are suckers for special editions as well as a variety of colors with the Game Boy, they decided to release different colors and tie-ins with other franchises, video game ones especially, only to see sales of their hardware get boosted all the more. You know what they say – if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and that is exactly what Nintendo will be doing with their latest 3DS portable console as well. The Japanese gaming giant will be rolling out its first color variation a mere 3 months plus after its release, offering “Flare Red” to capture your attention (and your hard earned money, of course).

If you have fallen prey to Nintendo's simple yet brilliant marketing strategy in the past, will you do the same with the 3DS range? After all, don't you think that you've gotta collect ‘em all? You have been warned, so it is time to start saving up for the inevitable tsunami of color variations that will hit in the future.
source: Ubergizmo

Razer 4G Dual Sensor technology announced

Razer has just announced its latest 4G Dual Sensor gaming-grade tracking technology that will see action in the next generation versions of the Razer Mamba (as seen above) and Razer Imperator gaming mice. The 4G Dual Sensor System will not only use an optical sensor, but it will also utilize a laser sensor that will enhance tracking accuracy, where Razer envisions this to deliver the next level of competitive edge in gaming.

Guess phones aren't the only ones that are taking the 4G route, no? Both the Razer Mamba and Razer Imperator will also enter the 4G realm, albeit of a different manner since they will now sport the 4G suffix in their names with the new technology inside.

More on the 4G Dual Sensor System – as mentioned, it will merge the optical and laser sensors, theoretically delivering double the level of tracking precision. By letting the calibration of the mouse to your mousing surface, it will be primed to optimally track your swipes more rapidly and accurately, resulting in the best in-game performance to date. Remember, if your gaming performance does not get any better with this, you know that the tools are not to be blamed.
source: Ubergizmo

T-Mobile and WildTangent to bring games rental to Android

If you're a fan of the games rental system you might be wondering when you'll get the chance to rent games on your phone. Well, according to the folks at T-Mobile and WildTangent, it'll be pretty soon. At E3 this week, the two companies unveiled a games rental service, designed for gamers who don't want to waste money purchasing games they don't like on their phones.

Since the 15-minute trial period on the Android Market is usually not long enough to fully test a game to see if you like it, the WildTanget service will let users have the ability to rent a game for a day. And if users enjoy playing the game, they can then purchase the full game, with the rental fee deducted from the final price.

The app will be available on Android phones later this year and prices will vary, depending on the original price of the game. One-day rental fees can even be as cheap as $0.25. Sounds like a good way to get games out to consumers, though we wonder if it'll catch on, seeing how most games only cost a few bucks, unlike PC/Console games rentals that work because games are much more expensive.
source: Ubergizmo

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier – Gunsmith Trailer

A new trailer ‘Gunsmith' for the upcoming Ghost Recon: Future Soldier has just been released by Ubisoft. You could check it out after the break. As mentioned before, this tactical shooter video game is scheduled to hit PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii, NDS and PSP in Q1, 2012.
source: TechFresh

Sony “May Never Know” What the Hackers Stole, Who They Were

The Sony PlayStation Network is back online, but it was hacked back in April. Sony's servers were breached and over seventy million accounts were compromised. Sony still doesn't seem to be any closer to nabbing the individuals who carried out the attack.

“We do know that the information was accessed,” Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai said in a recent BBC interview. “We don't know which part of the accounts were taken from our servers.” The hackers might have stolen first names or just the last four digits of telephone numbers.

“It could be the entire account information,” Hirai added. “We just don't know.”

That's not all Sony doesn't know. Hirai said that the intruders were “very good” at covering their tracks on their way out of Sony's servers.

“We may not know for a very long time or we may never know,” said Hirai, who added that Sony's learned it needs to be “very vigilant” with credit card info. That's comforting.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Lara Croft Models Will “Never Happen Again”; Origin Story Movie Will, and a movie is coming

“That will never happen again,” Tomb Raider's Karl Stewart says. “We want to create a visceral experience. We want people to look at Lara and see the psychological aspect of her character.

“Having a real Lara out there doing cartwheels kind of destroys that.”

So we won't be seeing a Croft model rolled out to help promote what is quickly becoming one of my most anticipated games of 2012, despite the fact that the women who voices her is an actress. But that doesn't mean that all fiction surrounding this reinvention of Croft as a more relevant character will be limited to the Tomb Raider game.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (the writers behind Children of Men and Ironman) will be writing the screenplay for a new Tomb Raider Movie. The movie is expected to come out in early 2013, well after the game hits.

While it won't be a movie that recreates the game's story, it will be one inspired by the game's new vision of Croft as a young woman shipwrecked on an island.

“They bought into the vision of taking a 21-year-old girl on her first adventure,” Stewart said. “We're excited that the movie will be about Lara going down that same path.

“We had the opportunity to go out and look for partners for the movie. I think we've picked the right partner to cement something very solid. They've done some phenomenal things in the past.”
source: 2DayBlog.com

Nintendo Wii U

E3 2011 was very exciting, and there were a lot of very good demos and announcements. However, it is fair to say that for a lot of people, including myself, Nintendo was the most innovative hardware company this year. Its upcoming Nintendo Wii U and the new controller have made headlines, but after coming back from E3, I found that a number of people were confused about some details, so I thought that gathering the information in one place, would help. This is the complete story of the Nintendo Wii U and its touch-display controller.

Wii U, what is it?

The Wii U main "box" that hosts all the processing power

Wii-U (for Wii-you) is a completely new game console, running on new hardware. At E3, Nintendo was demonstrating a few internal games running on Wii-U, but the production process was not advanced enough to share it with all developers yet. This should come very soon. Nintendo itself has acknowledged that some of the demos shown at their E3 press event were not actually rendered on the Wii-U, and might even have been Xbox 360 or PS3 footage. The point of those demos was to convey a sense of how powerful Wii-U would be, and what type of games it could run.

From the demos that we were shown, it is fair to expect something *at least* as powerful as PS3 or Xbox 360. Depending on how much Nintendo chooses to invest, it could use technology that is well beyond today's consoles and still stay within a manageable budget. That may give them a 2 years lead before the next-generation Sony and Microsoft consoles show up, but this remains to be seen.

Wii U Technical details

Although Nintendo has been relatively silent about the internal specifications of the Wii-U, it is known that IBM will provide the main multi-core processor. This CPU will contain on-chip memory, possibly all the memory (RAM). We don't know yet how much but IBM says that it is “a lot”, whatever that means.

The silicon technology is interesting, but the software is where the real value is

Watson-smart? Some media have been quick to report that IBM uses “Watson-like technology” in the Wii-U processor (Watson is a super computer that did beat humans playing Jeopardy). It's true that the silicon technology used in the Wii U is the same one used in Watson, but the same technology is also used in a number of other totally non-sexy semi-conductor products as well. Also, what makes Watson truly smart is its software, not how its transistor are built. Don't fall for this marketing stunt.

GPU: On the graphics side, Nintendo has selected an AMD graphics processor (GPU). If you remember, the Nintendo 64 had a GPU made by a talented team called ART X. This team was then bought by ATI and revived their GPU efforts until this day. Obviously, the GPU will be fast enough to handle 1080p in-game graphics. With today's technology, a medium-range GPU can do that without sweating too much. Watch the graphics demo that Nintendo has used at E3:

Storage: Nintendo has said that its Wii U system would use 25GB discs. Although this would make anyone think “Blu-Ray” (BR), Nintendo has not disclosed that piece of information. It is technically possible that Nintendo would use a non Blu-Ray technology, although it would seem dumb at this point, as users could not watch BR movies.

And while all the attention has gone to the Wii U controller, the little white box that's actually doing all the work as received little attention. The Wii-U box (as it is today) is very small, much smaller in fact than a PS3 or an Xbox 360. This means that there is little cooling (compared to XB360 and PS3), and this is always a good indicator that this machine has not been designed to be a “performance monster”.

Finally, the “specs” say that the Wii U can read both “high-density” 25GB dics, or current Wii discs. This would hint to a backwards compatibility with current Wii titles.

Wii-U Hardware Highlights

IBM multi-core processor (how many?), with embedded RAM (how much?)

AMD Radeon GPU

Internal storage: flash memory. Unknown quantity.

12cm, 25GB discs (Blu-Ray?). Can also read Wii discs

Size: Approximately 1.8 inches tall, 6.8 inches wide and 10.5 inches long.

4X USB ports and USB external storage support

SD Card support

Up to four Wii Remote Connected

Support for all Wii controllers and input devices

1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i video resolutions supported.

Box will contain HDMI, component, S-video and composite cables

Nintendo innovates again by introducing something truly new

It's not a tablet!

The first thing that we need to be clear about is that the Wii-U controller is not a tablet. It looks like a tablet, it feels like a tablet, but all the smartness is in the Wii-U box, and that's a huge difference when compared to the iPad, Galaxy Tabs, Playbook and others… It's not a tablet as most people understand the term today.

All the images that we see are rendered in the box, then streamed over a local network connection to the Wii-U controller. The controller itself is just an array of sensors, and a display.

It's not multitouch

This is an important factor: because the Wii-U controller has a stylus-friendly display, it looks like Nintendo chose a touch technology that is not compatible with multi-touch support. This is a big deal because it means that many forms of multi-finger gestures simply won't be possible on the Wii-U.

First impression

In our Wii-U controller preview, we have noticed that the controller is incredibly light (maybe because the battery was missing? They were wired ). Note that the controller presented at E3 still has a “prototype” status and could change before the official launch. The controller is very comfortable and it does not slip from “sweaty” hands, even after a good gaming session. Read our preview if you want to know more.

Only one touch controller

Because the Wii-U console has to render and stream real-time images to the controller, only ONE controller can be connected at any given time with the Wii-U. Again, this points to the fact that the

Wii-U Controller Hardware Highlights

6.2-inch, 16:9 touch screen (rumored resolution = 854×480)

HDMI and Wii Remote access port

Traditional button controls + two analog Circle Pads

Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons

Accelerometer, gyroscope

Camera Microphone, 3.5 mm audio jack

Speakers Stylus

Sensor Strip, IR port

The Games

The overall plan is to continue providing casual games that are typically associated with the Wii, while at the same time adding games that have been too power-hungry to run on the original Wii system. Game developers will be able to port current games to the Wii-U relatively easily as its performance should match, or exceed, Xbox 360 and PS3. Will that save Nintendo? Possibly. Read my take in Nintendo Wii-U: a Savior?

Conclusion Wii-U is set to either profit from, or disrupt the 10-year life cycle of the Xbox 360 and the Sony PS3. Executives from both Sony and Microsoft have pledged that their consoles would have such a life span, but beware, it does not mean that they won't release a new console before then. After all, the PS2 is very much alive and selling.

That said, it seems unlikely that Sony and Microsoft would release a new console next year, so that would give Nintendo a lead of one, or possibly two years with a fresh platform. This doesn't sound bad, and in the short term it's quite exciting for Nintendo and its fans.

However, it remains to be seen how Nintendo will resist in the longer term. When the Wii controller came out, I expected Sony and Microsoft to copy-cat it quickly and I was wrong. I predicted that without high-powered graphics, Nintendo would get into trouble. I was right, but my timing was terrible. Nintendo legitimately had time to “milk” the Wii, as it was profitable from day 1. It looks like Wii-U has been designed to be just like that as well.

How long will it take for Microsoft and Sony to respond to the touch-screen controller challenge? If both companies have learned from the Wii lesson: pretty quickly. In the meantime, it looks like Nintendo has once again used agility to escape a direct “brute force” confrontation that would end up being costly.

The Wii-U will come in 2012.

Links Official Nintendo Wii page, more stories about wii-U, more stories about Nintendo, E3 Coverage
source: Ubergizmo

Nintendo unveils new Wii-U console

Nintendo has just unveiled its new 2012 Wii-U console. The new console will have a speedy IBM Power-based multi-core microprocessor, internal flash memory, HDMI and many new features. But the main attraction of the Wii-U console would be the new controller. The new controller has a built-in 6.2 inch touch screen along with the standard button controls plus two analog circle pads. But that's not all, it also includes a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, rumble feature, camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, a sensor strip and a stylus.

That's some super duper controller. But you might ask what would it be used for? Nintendo demoed a game which plays like hide and seek tagging. The player with the new controller has a top down view of the map area and runs around and hides from the other 4 players with the regular Wii controllers. The other 4 Wii controller players will be viewing on the tv screen trying to seek out their hidden friend.

The new controller can also act as a stand-alone gaming unit which makes it feel like a big screen gaming tablet. Apple better watch out...gaming with buttons still trumps multi-touch screens.

It's a pretty interesting way of gaming and I can't wait to see how it is going to change the way we interact within the games.
source: The Gadgeteer

Unity Technologies reveals SHADOWGUN trailer

Let's be clear. The game itself looks like a dull-as-ditchwater Gears of War clone, but the technology behind it is clearly rather clever and interesting. The below images are taken from a trailer for SHADOWGUN, a game in which you are John Slade and you shoot things, etc etc and so on.

But developer Madfinger Games claims this will run on Tegra 2 powered Android devices, thanks to the Unity engine's cross-platform development environment, which is damn impressive indeed:

There's a full-size MP4 trailer online here if you'd like so see more. We couldn't work out how to embed it. It's probably already on YouTube, but we're not interested enough in being a space marine and shooting things to check. Here's the press release:

Unity Technologies Storms WWDC 2011 and E3 2011 with SHADOWGUN Trailer

Unity Technologies today unveiled a stunning new gameplay trailer for SHADOWGUN a Unity powered action title set to storm iPad 2, Tablets and Smartphones in 2011. SHADOWGUN will support 60FPS on iPad 2, 30FPS on iPhone 4 and 3gs and iPad as well as Android mobile devices powered by the NVIDIA Tegra super chip.

Developed by Madfinger Games, creators of Samurai II: Vengeance, SHADOWGUN showcases next-gen graphics and immersive gameplay authored in the Unity development platform. SHADOWGUN was highlighted on stage at Apple’s WWDC 2011 at their Graphics State of the Union talk and is being previewed at E3 2011 to press and analysts.

Authored with the Unity development platform, SHADOWGUN combines tactical combat with third person harrowing action, ushering in a new visual standard for handheld gaming. SHADOWGUN puts players into the role of John Slade, a professional bounty hunter in the year 2350. Slade’s mission: hunt down Dr. Edgar Simon, renowned geneticist and former employee of the trans-galactic corporation Toltech Enterprises. Players must lead “shadowgun” John Slade as he infiltrates Dr. Simon’s mountain fortress and fights his personal army of mutants, cyborgs, and genetically-enhanced humanoids. Using state-of-the-art weaponry, ships, and the assistance of S.A.R.A.—Slade’s personal android assistant. The story is written by award winning author Micah Nathan who has joined the MadFinger team as executive creative consultant for SHADOWGUN.
source: Eurodroid

Nintendo shares fall 5-year low after announcing Wii U

Are you impressed when Nintendo unveiled their new generation console gamer, the Nintendo Wii U with the rather-odd and massive controller? I was somewhat skeptical about the practicality of this new gaming method, and well it seemed that some people agree with me. It appears that Nintendo's shareholders aren't very convinced with the product. Nintendo's market shares dropped to pre-Wii levels after the reveal of its upcoming Wii U console at E3 2011, and that's a really big drop.

The Wii U is aiming to win back the hardcore gamers it lost with the previous family-oriented Wii machine. Investors are worried that Nintendo is putting too much focus on hardware and ignoring the industry shift over to social networking.

“Although some experts seem to like the new device, I expected Nintendo to move more into the social networking business,” said Mitsuo Shimizu, deputy general manager at Cosmo Securities in Tokyo. “It's a warning from investors that the company should reconsider its business strategy and move more aggressively into social gaming operations.”

Reuters reports that Nintendo shares closed down 5.7-percent in Japan on Wednesday, reaching low levels not seen since before the launch of the original Wii in late 2006. But Nintendo seems stuck to its guns in addressing the hardcore gaming audience this time around despite complaints of a lack of social networking features by critics and the press.

“It's not that we're negative about the network, but if we ignore those customers who don't link their game consoles up to the Internet, that goes against our strategy of expanding the games market,” Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata told reporters in a roundtable. “We are just trying not to shrink our own market.” He also pointed out that the company's hit games had always been social.

The Nintendo Wii U is currently still in development, and is not slated to hit the market until sometime between April and December 2012. Sony's handheld PlayStation Vita, on the other hand, is slated to arrive this holiday season sporting PlayStation 3 graphics and 3G connectivity.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Nintendo's Wii U game highlights were composed of Xbox 360 and PS3 footage

All eyes were on Nintendo this week as the company finally unveiled the Wii 2, or Wii U as it is now known. With so many people watching, it's only natural Nintendo would feel a certain amount of pressure to impress.

So, along with a list of upcoming Wii U games, Nintendo showed a highlight reel containing exciting game footage. However, while it may not have been immediately clear at the time, that footage was actually from the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of those games.

Speaking to GameTrailers, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils Aime made no secret of the fact that the highlights reel featured contents from Xbox and PlayStation titles.

“Now, you showed a sizzle reel of a lot of third part games. That was footage from Xbox 360/PS3 versions in most cases,” GameTrailers pointed out.

“Absolutely,” replied Reggie. “Because we're talking a year away from when the system is gonna launch.”

“So are the games going to look that good when it comes out?” GameTrailers asked. “Is it going to look better?”

“Absolutely,” Reggie replied, adding, “In terms of how good it looks; it's going to be driven by what the individual developers do. The system's gonna be 1080p, right? It's gonna be high definition,” he said. “Now it's about what is the new experience that we're gonna bringing.”
source: 2DayBlog.com

DSJ 2011: Sega ToyLets 'Hands-On'

I am sure that you all remember Sega's amazing new Gaming Console the "ToyLets" that has been introduced to the world last December 2010. Today we stumble upon this "particular" Gaming Console for Toilets at Digital Signage 2011 and could not resist giving it a try, well actually we have been allowed to really try it per se but at least we could shoot a small video of ToyLets in action just for you! My personal favorite is when ToyLets tell you how much "fluids" you evacuated from your body at the end of the game, priceless!
source: Akihabara News

Mad Catz Wireless Force Feedback Wheel

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. today announced a new licensed Wireless Force Feedback Wheel for the Microsoft Xbox 360 console. This gaming controller is compatible with all Xbox 360 racing games including Forza Motorsport 4. The Mad Catz Wireless Force Feedback Wheel is expected to ship in time for the holiday 2011 season.
source: TechFresh

Ubisoft teases us again with Revelation's singleplayer and multiplayer walkthrough

Assassin's Creed Revelation won't be available until 15th of November, but if the awesome cinematic trailer isn't enough to tame you down, here's two new videos posted by Ubisoft at their Facebook fanpage. The walkthrough videos show the singleplayer and multiplayer of Revelation, which seemed quite impressive. The new hook blade is also demoed in the singleplayer campaign walkthrough as Ezio's hidden blade was destroyed when he arrives in Masyaf, and well it's a good improvise since Leonardo isn't around.

Razer announce new 4th generation dual sensor technology, available on Mamba and Imperator

Razer today introduces their new 4G Dual Sensor System that takes advantage of both an optical and a laser sensor. The first Razer mouse that uses such technology would be Razer Mamba and Razer Imperator.

The 4G Dual Sensor System combines the best of both worlds – an optical and a laser sensor, to deliver twice the level of tracking precision. By allowing calibration of mouse to the surface you're using, it is primed to optimally track your swipes more rapidly and accurately for the best in-game performance you can actually feel. It also lets you determine the cutoff height for tracking to stop when the mouse is lifted from the surface. This is especially important for gamers who pick up their mice to accommodate wide swiping motions, such as low sensitivity FPS gamers.

“I'm really excited by the leaps and bounds we've come in developing the world's most precise and advanced sensor technology. We worked closely with many pro-gamers to fine-tune the sensor under intense gaming conditions, ensuring it achieved a level of tracking accuracy that met their high-level demands.” said Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff, President, Razer USA. “The mouse is core to any gaming setup. It's where our roots are, when we pioneered competitive gaming and developed the world's first gaming mouse. Today, it is still one of the key areas for our R&D and it's quite exciting to bring such a significant sensor evolution to gamers worldwide."

With a slew of new features like two sensors in one system, surface calibration, lift-off distance customization, and ten times faster surface detection than any sensor from the previous generation, the 4G Dual Sensor System in the new Razer Mamba and Razer Imperator reaffirm these gaming mice as unrivalled benchmarks for weapons of superior competitive-grade performance.

"I must say, I'm quite impressed," said Jan "mouz|Bishop" Koch, veteran Counter-Strike: Source™player, mousesports. "I have never had a nice lift-off feeling like this."

"No matter which mat I've tested the new sensor with, the tracking was super precise and the cutoff very accurate and immediate," said Maciej "srs|av3k" Krzykowski, Quake Live™ legend, Serious Gaming.

"Anyone who uses the Razer Mamba or Razer Imperator is getting an undeniable competitive edge when these mice's new sensor delivers a crazy high level of tracking precision, said Kim "MYM|SaSe" Hammar, StarCraft II™ champion of The Road to Korea tournament in Sweden.

The flagship pride of the Razer brand, the Razer Mamba harnesses everything that the greatest gaming mouse would need to take gamers to the stratosphere of win. Featuring a 2.4Ghz gaming-grade wireless technology for unhindered swiping freedom, an all-new 6400dpi 4G Dual Sensor System for blisteringly accurate tracking and customization of lift-off tracking distance, and longer battery life, the Razer Mamba makes legends of gamers who dare to strive for immortality.

Price: US $129.99 / EU €129.99

Availability:
Razerzone.com - June 2011
Worldwide - July 2011

Product Features:

Gaming-grade wireless technology
6400dpi 4G Dual Sensor System
Dual mode wired /wireless functionality
1000Hz Ultrapolling /1ms response time
Multi-color lighting
Up to 200 inches per second* /50g acceleration
Approximate size: 128mm x 70mm x 42.5mm
Battery Life: 16 hours (continuous gaming usage)


With its special contoured design, the Razer Imperator delivers exceptional ergonomics that reduces strain during extended gameplay. Now with an all-new 6400dpi 4G Dual Sensor System for blisteringly accurate tracking and customization of lift-off tracking distance, and an improved rubberized side grip for aggressive mousing movements. The Razer Imperator provides maximum comfort and control so you can take on the gaming world fearlessly.

Price: US $79.99 / EU €79.99

Availability:
Razerzone.com - June 2011
Worldwide - July 2011

Product Features:

6400dpi 4G Dual Sensor System
Rubberized contoured thumb grip for added control
Ergonomic right-handed design
Adjustable side buttons
Razer Synapse Onboard Memory
Up to 200 inches per second* /50g acceleration
Seven independently programmable Hyperesponse buttons
On-the-Fly Sensitivity adjustment
Approx. size in mm; 123(l) x 71(w) x 42(h)
source: 2DayBlog.com

Nyko Play Clock for Nintendo 3DS

I've seen a lot of clocks that act as charging docks and speakers for various MP3 players, but Nyko has the first one I've seen designed just for a hand-held game console. The Play Clock is a clock radio that can wake you to an alarm or music. It can playback music from the built-in AM/FM radio, from MP3 players attached to the line-in, or from your docked 3DS. Dock your 3DS in the Play Clock for a charge while you sleep. The Nyko Play Clock is also compatible with Nyko's PowerPak+ for 3DS. The Play Clock is $39.99. Check Nyko's Play Clock page for a retailer near you.
source: The Gadgeteer

Real Racing 2 HD Update Steals Wii U's Thunder

The Nintendo Wii U may be an innovation in gaming, but it won't be the first one to introduce the touchscreen controller system to consumers. Real Racing 2 HD, a popular race app on iPad, has announced an update to its previous one that enables users to play the game straight to the TV while using the tablet as the controller. This time, there will be no need for wires to connect the iPad and the TV as users could simply use AirPlay technology to beam every turn straight to the television screen. Users would need an Apple TV or other Mac device connected to the television for this wireless gaming to work. Also, this update would only be made available once iOS 5 is released around fall.

In the meantime, you can download Real Racing 2 HD for $12.99 from the Apple App Store.
source: Gadget.com

iBUYPOWER Gamer Supreme 922SLCK Gaming PC announced

iBUYPOWER is no stranger to the computer gaming scene, what with their collection of souped up gaming computers in the past that have kept gamers staying up late into the night thanks to their powerful machines pumping out super fast frame rates. Their latest model, the Gamer Supreme 922SLCK Gaming PC, has just been announced to arrive at Tiger Direct on an exclusive basis. Underneath the hood, you will find an unlocked Intel Core i7 2600K 3.34GHz processor, NVIDIA's GTX 580 graphics card that is one of the most powerful at the moment, being Direct X 11-compatible that delivers future-proof performance.

All the internal specifications will be housed within the Cool Master HAF 922 mid-tower case, and to make sure that everything inside runs just fine and dandy without missing a beat, it will rely on a liquid cooling system. Other hardware specifications include 8GB of DDR3 memory, a 1TB hard drive, an 800-Watt power supply, half a dozen USB 2.0 ports with a couple of USB 3.0 ports to usher you into the future without batting an eyelid.
source: Ubergizmo

THQ uDraw GameTablet Gives Xbox 360 and PS3 the “Wii U Experience”

The introduction of Nintendo's Wii U gaming system may have made some people wondering whether Microsoft and Sony would create their own touchscreen controllers, much like how the two companies created the Kinect and PlayStation Move, respectively, in response to Nintendo Wii's motion gaming. Actually, they have, but with a gaming device created by a third party.

THQ comes up with the uDraw GameTablet, a slate device that would cater to both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Like the Wii U controller, it has a touchscreen display that also can be used for drawing and handwriting. However, it is noticeably thinner than the Wii U counterpart mainly due to the lack of a Wiimote holder, something the two other consoles do not need.

So far, both Xbox 360 and PS3 have yet to unveil games that will support the uDraw, but the device itself features uDraw Studio and Pictionary, which are bound to leave you busy for hours. Both versions of the THQ uDraw GameTablet will be available in November for less than $100.
source: Gadget.com

Diablo III Headset from SteelSeries

The first illuminated headset designed by SteelSeries, it will offer players ON/OFF illumination and 3 levels of pulsation options. Coming from a total of 18 LED lights throughout the headset, the red glow is seen in two places each on the right and left side – surrounding the edge of each ear cup, and the three Diablo slashes. The Headset MSRP will be $119.99 / €119.99.
source: Trendy Gadget

Angry Birds cookbook filled with egg recipes coming soon

So, there are only about a gazillion and one Angry Birds merchandises out there, official and unofficial, so what more can you add to plush toys, gadget casings, t-shirts, and so many more? An Angry Birds branded cookbook, and no, no birds - or pigs - will be harmed. The cookbook, announced by Peter Vesterbacka, Head of Marketing and Business Development, Rovio, will feature all sorts of egg recipes.

Announced at the Open Mobile Summit in London, the cookbook will be targeted at families and include mostly egg-based recipe. The title will be self-published and likely to be distributed by Amazon, Apple and Barnes & Noble and will be available as an eBook or the real book.

Angry Birds, developed by Rovio, is already available on multiple devices such as Apple, Android, Nokia and such, and have nearly accounted for 1.2 billion hours of usage – that's just in the U.S. alone. The company has sold more than 3 million plus toys and 30 million t-shirts, so will this egg-centric cookbook be as successful as the game and official merchandise from the company?

How did Angry Birds get related to a cookbook, I'm don't know. But I do know that the egg recipes in the cookbook can be related to those 'bombastic' eggs used in the game to destroy woods and even concretes. Hey if the white bird is ok with using her egg to blast at pigs, then I'm sure they're ok with you cooking their eggs too.
source: 2DayBlog.com