VideoGames

Turtle Beach Announces their XP400 Wireless Gaming Headset

by David Novak on Tue, 2012-01-17 14:38

Turtle Beach announced some of the new XBOX 360 and PS3 gaming headsets at CES last week, one of them, the XP400. It's Turtle Beach's flagship gaming headset, featuring adjustable Dolby 5.1 virtual surround sound, a non-AD2P dual-pairing Bluetooth radio for picking up phone calls during gaming sessions, a 15 hour rechargeable battery and dual-band 2.4/5GHZ built-in WiFi. The actual over-the-ear pieces have a much better layout from previous models, though there are almost as many buttons as there are on the controller with volume up / down, chat volume up / down, mute, Bluetooth pairing, limiter button and tone buttons. The included dual-band WiFi adapter that connects to your gaming console of choice is small and pretty minimalistic in design. The adjustable surround angles feature is a nice edition.

The XP400 has a crisp and loud sound, and noise-cancellation also worked well. Turtle Beach also announced the XP300, a stereo version of the XP400. They're essentially the younger siblings of the company's PX5-rooted XP500, featuring a similar design with totally wireless connection to the Xbox 360, thanks to TB's Xbox Chat Adapter, and a dual-pairing Bluetooth radio for taking calls while gaming. Both headsets improve upon the XP500's in a few key areas including better button placement on the earcups, a new 2.4/5GHz dual-band WiFi 2.4GHz transmitter to avoid interference from nearby wireless devices and an included 15-hour rechargeable battery.Read more

Best Buy Holiday Deal: Purchase Two Video Games, Get One Free and More Savings

by jessica on Tue, 2011-12-06 10:15

Do you have a gamer on your gift list? Head to your local Best Buy retail store or online at www.BestBuy.com from now until December 10, 2011 and when you purchase two games priced at $29.99 and above, get the third game free (pre-owned games too!). Best Buy is offering deals on gaming systems and select HDTVs as well.

Gaming deals:

Xbox360 250G Kinect Gaming System and a Best Buy $75 gift card for $399.99
Microsoft Kinect Sensor for $99.99
Nintendo 3DS and a Best Buy $50 gift card for $169.99
Nintendo Wii and a Best Buy $20 gift card for $149.99

TV deals:

Toshiba 40" Class LCD 1080p HDTV - $379.99 - as featured in Best Buy's TV spot airing nationally beginning Sunday, Dec. 4
Sharp 60" Class LCD 1080p HDTV - $899.99
Insignia 24" Class LED 1080p HDTV -$179.99

You can also visit BestBuy.com/dealoftheday all week long for special daily deals.

And remember, Best Buy's price match guarantee will match lower prices from other Best Buy locations or other local retailers until January 24, 2012.

Update Gives Xbox 360 Voice Control

by jessica on Mon, 2011-12-05 14:18

Microsoft is bringing voice control to the Xbox 360 system with an update that launches tomorrow (December 6, 2011).

The update will allow the Kinect motion sensor and Bing search to work together to turn your voice into a remote control. Using Bing on Xbox, you will be able to use your voice to find games, movies, TV shows and music by simply saying what you're searching for. You can even use your voice to pause and rewind movies and TV shows.

Starting December 6 and over the coming weeks, Bing on Xbox voice search will initially be available in English in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. for Zune video, Xbox LIVE Marketplace and select content partners. For those who do not have a Kinect for Xbox 360, text search will be available in Xbox LIVE markets.

"A new era in entertainment begins where all your entertainment is together in one place — your games, movies, TV shows, music and sports," said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "With this update, Xbox 360 system owners will experience Kinect voice control integrated with Bing search, making your TV and entertainment experiences more social and personal than ever."Read more

SUBSONIC Gaming Accessory- Racin' Pro

by David Novak on Thu, 2011-12-01 10:14

Europe's SUBSONIC has a cool new gaming accessory out called Racin' Pro.

The Racin' Pro is compatible with PS3 and PC games and platforms, and features a padded, upholstered seat, steering wheel and pedals adjustable for height, depth and inclination. Other product highlights include DualShock3 compatibility with two vibration feedback motors for realistic circuit shocks and bends, programmable buttons and pedals and a portable design that transforms into a bag for convenient mobility and storage.

"The launch of the Racin' Pro fills a void in the marketplace for a high-quality product to maximize gaming experience in the racing genre," said SUBSONIC's partner FAME CEO Alison Morrison. "The scrupulous levels of quality control and attention to detail by the SUBSONIC team of designers and engineers will be made evident from the moment the player sits in the seat until they store the product away for later use."Read more

It's Like Kinect for the iPad- "Fuego's River Adventure"

by David Novak on Wed, 2011-11-30 14:15

Would it surprise you that iPad game developers are starting to emulate Microsoft's Kinect module with new games that use body motion as the controls? Introducing the world's first iOS game played using your body's own motion, without any added hardware. It's called "Fuego's River Adventure" and it's the story of Fuego, who crashes in the jungle while on vacation. He builds a raft and floats down the river, dodging obstacles and crocodiles, while grabbing gold and food to trade with the locals.

It's the technology, however, that really blows you away. By using the front facing camera of the iPad 2, Crimson Apps (the company behind it all) created software that runs the camera and captures the motion of the player while you play, turning it into movements on the game itself. And while it's only for the iPad 2 currently, there's no reason this technology couldn't be brought over to the iPhone 4 and 4S, which also have the front facing camera.

The game is on sale right now for launch for $1.99 here. This is a huge game changer for the iOS gaming world, and Crimson Apps agrees. They'll be putting the technology out as an SDK in the very near future.Read more

Sneak Peek of Microsoft Kinect 2 Reveals Ability to Read Emotions and Lips (video)

by David Novak on Tue, 2011-11-29 14:14

If you own an Kinect module for your Xbox 360, you've probably found it useful to control a movie or play a game using voice and gestures. I still marvel at this technology, and have considered the Kinect device a gadget that will springboard many new technologies like it in 2012 and beyond.

There are now reports that the next-generation Kinect 2 will be able to detect emotions and read lips as well. Essentially, it will monitor a user's mood by combining facial expressions with the volume and pitch of the user's voice. Eyebrow and mouth movements are already supported through Microsoft's Avatar Kinect software, but the technology is limited, and is a fraction of what is possible.Read more

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Video Game Officially Announced

Details of Successor to the Critically Acclaimed War for Cybertron Game Revealed in Upcoming Game Informer Magazine Cover Story

October 6, 2011 – Gamers will finally experience the epic battles that shaped the history of the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS with the fall 2012 release of Activision Publishing, Inc.’s TRANSFORMERS: FALL OF CYBERTRON. Currently in development by the acclaimed team at High Moon Studios, TRANSFORMERS: FALL OF CYBERTRON takes fans through the final, darkest hours of the civil war between the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS as they fight for control of their dying planet, ultimately leading to their storied exodus from home.

More information about the upcoming game can be found in the November 2011 cover story of Game Informer magazine on sale beginning October 14, which will feature never before seen artwork and dual, limited edition covers. Eager fans can visit www.GameInformer.com for updated news, features, interviews and videos throughout the next few weeks.

"High Moon Studios is an extremely talented development team having raised the bar of gameplay and TRANSFORMERS authenticity in their games," said David Oxford, Executive Vice President at Activision Publishing. "TRANSFORMERS: FALL OF CYBERTRON is an extraordinary project both for the studio and the TRANSFORMERS gaming legacy – the stakes are higher and the scale much larger than ever before, and we absolutely cannot wait for fans to see all the new characters and epic action that awaits them."Read more

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PlayStation 3 UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception Bundle Announced

by jessica on Fri, 2011-09-23 05:00

Earlier this month Sony announced a special UNCHARTED Dual Pack for the PlayStation 3 to get you ready for the upcoming release UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception. Now they have announced that when the game is released on November 1, a new limited edition bundle will be available, consisting of the UNCHARTED 3 video game and a 320GB PlayStation 3 system.

But that's not all. With the purchase of the PlayStation 3 UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception Bundle, Sony is throwing in a month of PlayStation Plus, their premium subscription service that offers added features such as automatic downloads and online storage for game saves, free games, discounts, exclusives, early access to demos and priority beta invites, and full game trials.

The PlayStation 3 UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception Bundle will be available for $299.99.

Cool that Computer (and that goes for your PlayStation, too!)

So much for humor.…! Whether it's the hard drive in a multi-media computer or in an office PC, losing programming and data is nothing to laugh at. The computer is becoming part of the home theater, and, as such, needs cooling as much - or more than - the receiver and satellite box. But like other home theater equipment, computers (and video games) are increasingly being put "out of sight" into enclosures that interfere with ventilation.

The result is frequently erratic (or no) operation due to overheating. Computer fans are effective at moving the heat from the hottest internal components out of the case, but if the hot air is then trapped in a cabinet, it gets pulled back into the computer, causing temperatures to spiral upwards.

We've written other papers on cooling mid-size and large enclosures full of audio-video gear (available at www.activethermal.com/technical _info) but here we'll discuss the small enclosure, no larger than about ten cubic feet. Frequently, this enclosure holds only a computer, keeping it quiet, keeping it out of sight, and keeping it warm.

Whether the computer is part of a home theater, used for playing games, or earns its keep with Word and Excel, we can't breathe easy until the computer can, too.

A note: we'll refer to computers in this discussion, but the following also applies to small music systems, Play Stations, etc.Read more

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Best Buy Announces Gears of War 3 Midnight Launch Event September 19

by jessica on Fri, 2011-09-16 08:20

One of the most buzzed about video games of the year – Gears of War 3 - will be hitting store shelves next week. Best Buy and Microsoft will be kicking-off the release of this Xbox 360 game with a midnight launch event at the Best Buy Theatre in New York City on Monday, September 19. For fans outside of the New York area, Best Buy will be opening doors at midnight at more than 800 additional locations.

The fun at the Best Buy Theatre in New York City starts at 8:00 p.m. and lasts until 1:00 a.m. EST with tons of activities including:

Exclusive Gears of War 3 midnight sale and pre-order pick-up
The first several hundred fans in line will have access to the Best Buy Theater for an opportunity to get into the action and play the game first.
Meet-and-greet with Epic Design Director Cliff Bleszinski, executive producer Rod Fergusson and other Gears 3 developers
Musical performance by VMA Best New Artist nominee, Big Sean
Meet Paul Jr. from Discovery's American Chopper, get his autograph and check out the Gears of War 3 inspired chopper
A limited edition Gears of War 3 comic book cover will be available as well as a signing by its illustrator, Pop Mahn
Get into the action outside the Best Buy theater with a first to play experience, appearance by Major Nelson from Xbox Live, exclusive giveaways, and a live radio with Hot 97's Dj Cipha Sounds