Videogame boxes have been a yawn for 60+% of the population in the Americas for the past year. For the rest? They are the “A” list of lust. For MS, Sony and Nintendo the Xbox, PS3 and Wii are about percentage points. And bragging rights…serious bragging rights! But Sony drew the line in the sand. They said…”the console war doesn’t start till we say so…”

Like Nicholas Cage in Gone saying he was going to steal 50 cars in one night. Great chest thumpin’ but who cares? For the PS3 and Wii (and last year’s introduction of Xbox 360) it really was…gone in 60 seconds. People camped out in front of stores for days waiting for their chance to get one of the first units. Some didn’t get their box so they punched out, pistol whipped or used other persuasion to make their “purchase.” A lot of the PS3 winners threw theirs up on eBay for a couple of grand. People…it’s a game! You may have money. You may have “taste.” But come Saturday night you’re sitting there with your lowly console staring at a screen.  read more »

Electronic Arts’ newest edition of this sports franchise allows for hours of game play with new improvements on the in-game action. While it may not provide the next-gen sporting game that video game enthusiasts thirst for, it will at least serve as an appetizer.

The greatest advancement in this year’s version of the game is clearly its graphics. On an HD screen, they simply dazzle, making the game look like the real thing more than ever. Shadows, lighting, and textures all closely match their real world equivalents, hinting that maybe this whole next-gen experiment is progressing in the right direction.  read more »

Plantronics has teamed up with Microsoft to stop Halo 2 users in their tracks with a great deal. The GameCom Halo 2 headsets are typically $49.95, but for a limited time Plantronics is offering them for $14.95 online with a portion going towards the Katrina disaster fund. The in-the-ear headset features a noise-canceling microphone and is compatible with both Xbox and Xbox 360.  read more »

Over the past few months, I went through the same experience as many avid video game players: I hunted long and hard to find an Xbox 360, laid down the extravagant asking price for the product, and then powered up my system, expecting to see something amazing. Initially, my expectations were unmet. The graphics were barely an improvement over the original system and I was left questioning what warranted the price boost. My curiosity was left unanswered until I played Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, the newest installment of Tom Clancy’s video game series.  read more »

• by Joel Samen