E3 organizers set the fuzz on OUYA over parking lot cheekiness

E3 organizers set the feds on OUYA over parking lot cheekiness

The next-gen console war is truly on and E3 is the battleground. As IGN found out, though, fighting spirits have extended beyond the walls of the Los Angeles Convention Center, where Android console-makers OUYA and the ESA (which runs E3) are embroiled in an ongoing tussle. It started when OUYA decided to attend E3 “on its own terms,” setting up a stand in a parking lot opposite the Expo to attract attention without paying E3 fees. The ESA responded by renting its own parking spaces and using trucks to obscure OUYA’s stand. But for every patch, a hack is soon to follow, and OUYA then rented additional spaces in front of the trucks to put up some banners. The ESA then called the cops, who turned up on their monster Segways to see what was what. After checking OUYA’s permits, the LAPD were satisfied nothing illegal was going on and split. Apparently, OUYA founder Julie Uhrman has contacted the ESA to talk it out, but hasn’t received a response. Perhaps the association is too busy planning its next attack, but Uhrman is prepared: “If ten more trucks show up, we’ll come up with another idea. I have a few up my sleeve.”

[Image Credit: IGN]

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Source: IGN

Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 4D headphones ears-on

Mad Catz FREQ 4D headphones earson

In keeping with its propensity toward acronymed products, Mad Catz today showed off its F.R.E.Q. 4D headphones. The peripherals are notable for a couple of reasons: first is that the company dumped the line’s mic arm for an internal version — without, the company promises, sacrificing sound quality. Even more notable are the included ViviTouch actuators, which bring rumbling feedback directly to your ears, so you can feel those explosions where it really counts.

We tried the headphones on, and while they were pretty comfortable, we can’t say that we were particularly impressed with the promised rumbling delivered via a bass test. Perhaps it was the sound being used — or that the headphones are still in beta — but ultimately we didn’t feel all that much. We’re sure Mad Catz will have that figured out for the final version — if not, however, they may just serve as cool-looking head massagers.

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Nyko’s Smart Clip brings the second screen to your controller (hands-on)

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With Microsoft and Sony making big pushes toward a second screen experience via smartphones and tablets, yet another space is opening up amongst third-party peripheral manufacturers. After all, supplemental information is great and all, but how to access it while gaming? Nyko thinks it’s got a solution in the form of the Smart Clip. At first glance, the device looks a fair bit like those bluetooth gaming controls we’ve already seen en masse. Instead, the add-on clips your phone to your controller so you can, say, check out a map via Smart Glass or the PlayStation App without fumbling for your phone.

We played around with the clip a bit, and while if folds in quite nicely, the prototype still has a ways to go, a gentle jostling knocked the Nyko rep’s phone right out. Sorry about that. The rear of the arm has an adjustable device, so you can attach all manner of handsets to your controller. There are also two knobs on the bottom to tighten the arm in place — nice, as it was a little bit wobbly when we first picked it up. Naturally, Nyko plans to have all the kinks worked out when it launches the Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions later this year for $14.99.

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Virtuix Omni VR treadmill shows up at E3, we go feet-on (video)

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I’m a little nauseous and a bit sweaty. This was my first time using the Oculus Rift. It’s the sort of thing you’ve got to ease into, really — sitting stationary, letting your brain adjust to the whole experience. Or you could just pop the thing on and run in place on a treadmill in a downtown Los Angeles hotel suite. Your call, really. Just don’t come crying to me when you’re having a bit of trouble standing up straight, as you attempt to step down from the slippery surface at the end of your session. Have I seen the future? Hard to say, of course, but whatever it was that just happened was neat — and if you were one of the 2,000 or so folks who got in on Virtuix’s Kickstarter, it’ll be heading your way in January.

The company’s CEO, Jan Goetgeluk took me through the paces of the system, a stationary design he settled on after toying around with a more traditional treadmill model. The Omni is really quite a simple thing at its heart, a concave, slick surface attached to two bars that converge in a circle. The company’s designed special soles, as well — plastic pieces raised at the heel and ball of the foot, with a fabric friction surface on the toe. Walk around and your feet slip. That’s about it, really. Of course, it takes some getting used to, and Goetgeluk stood aside as I learned to walk again: lean forward, step down on the heel and let the rest of your foot slide with it. It took a few minutes, and I’m still not exactly an expert

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Mad Catz Arcade Fightstick for Xbox One eyes-on (video)

Mad Catz Arcade Fightstick for Xbox One eyeson video

The M.O.J.O. may be Mad Catz’s star of this year’s E3, but the peripheral-maker’s pretty darn excited to show of its latest massive gamepad, if for no other reason than the fact that the controller made a rare appearance at Microsoft’s press conference, the other day — in fact, during our time in the company’s booth, a Redmond rep popped by and gave it a thumbs up (and casually mentioned that Mad Catz happens to be the only company other than his own that happens to have the Xbox One it its booth).

The controller, as you can no doubt tell in the above image, is a bit of a beast — you may well need both hands to onto it. Along the top, you find six buttons in two rows and a joystick, as well a mystery panel on the top — something Mad Catz apparently isn’t ready to talk about. The controller has a detachable cord on the back and will open up use a button on the front, making it easier to change artwork on the thing. Between the buttons and the sides, there’s a lot glowing space on the FightStick. Check out a video of that and more, after the break.

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Nyko’s Xbox One and PlayStation 4 Charge Base peripherals (eyes-on)

Nyko's Xbox One and PlayStation 4 Charge Base peripherals eyeson

All right, all right, so it’s not the sexiest thing in the world, but let’s face it, those wireless controllers need to be charged. Nyko’s got the jump on the next generation of battery drainers, rolling out out new Charge Bases for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The two peripherals look fairly similar: strips with two charging ports. The Xbox One version comes packed with two batteries, and the PS4 edition uses a little dongle for charging. In both cases, the systems are just drop and go. Once they’re in place, a little display will illuminate an image of the controller to let you know that it’s doing its job. No word on pricing on either, but you can treat yourself to a gallery of both below.

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Microsoft Xbox One gaming roundup (hands-on)

It’s a black set-top box. It’s a media streamer. It’s dependent on an internet connection. It’s a living room hub. It wants to be your everything. But really, the Xbox One (or any new, next-gen console for that matter) is nothing without launch games. To get a real sense of that lean-in experience on the Xbox One, we spent some time in Microsoft’s (very green) E3 booth playing the various available demos. So join us then, as we deliver some brief impressions of what to expect when you boot up that Day One edition console later this year.

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The Daily Roundup for 06.11.2013

DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Nyko Xbox One, PlayStation 4 Charge Bases eyes-on with NVIDIA SHIELD bonus

If you were wondering how it is that Nyko is bringing charger bases for both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4‘s controllers – look no further. We had a quick chat with the folks at Nyko at E3 2013 this afternoon and got the quick once-over on how their unique technology works. Here well

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Xbox One’s Ryse: Son of Rome live gameplay eyes-on

As Sony’s presentation last night appeared to center on the game Destiny, so too are we seeing Microsoft bring the heat today with the game Ryse: Son of Rome. This game is developed by the folks at studio Crytec, the same folks that brought the world Crysis. Here with Ryse: Son of Rome, Microsoft’s Xbox

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