Nintendo 3DS: Extended Play Impressions (Star Fox is Back!) [Nintendo 3ds]

While earlier today we had a quick hands-on with the 3DS, I’ve now had the chance to play a number of actual games. My verdict? It’s a clever, occasionally brilliant system. And no, you haven’t seen anything quite like it. More »

The Nintendo 3DS Is Real, and Doesn’t Need Glasses [3ds]

This is the Nintendo 3DS. It has two screens: a 3.5-inch widescreen on top, and a standard screen on the bottom. It also has a Slide-Pad, and it has a two-tone color scheme. Best of all, no glasses. More »

Project Natal to cost $149 by itself, $299 with 360 Arcade, according to latest rumors

Here we go with those trusted sources again. Edge has it on good authority that Microsoft’s midlife rejuvenator for the Xbox 360, Project Natal, will cost a cool 149 bucks when purchased as a standalone accessory, or $100 when bundled together with the $199 Xbox 360 Arcade console. That’s a mighty steep hill for early adopters to climb, but Microsoft did warn us that Natal will not be an impulse buy. An October 26 date is also proffered for the official launch, but that might shift, leaving us with the same window of expectation as before. Interestingly, the Natal name is expected to definitely change for the final retail product, which we should be learning a lot more about at E3 in a couple of weeks.

Project Natal to cost $149 by itself, $299 with 360 Arcade, according to latest rumors originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 18:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |  sourceEdge  | Email this | Comments

Nintendo CEO: battle with Sony is over, Apple is the ‘enemy of the future’

Backing away from a previous position, are we Nintendo? Just a month after Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime claimed that the iPhone OS (you know, that operating system used on the iPod touch, iPhone family and the iPad) wasn’t a “viable profit platform for game development,” along comes the company’s president to say that, in fact, Apple is the primary “enemy of the future.” That’s according to Times Online, who says that the Big N’s CEO (Satoru Iwata) feels that the battle with Sony is a “victory already won,” and who clearly believes that the next wave of gaming won’t be of the traditional sit-on-your-coach-and-slam-buttons variety. ‘Course, the PSP never has been able to hang with the DS family, but even the Wii has a ways to go before it catches the mighty PlayStation 2 in terms of global sales. Going forward, the company is purportedly looking to revive the element of “surprise” in Nintendo products, but it might be best served by simply catching up to the competition and supporting this wild concept known as “HD gaming” over “HDMI.”

Nintendo CEO: battle with Sony is over, Apple is the ‘enemy of the future’ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTimes Online  | Email this | Comments

Nimbus 64: the latest in a long line of gorgeous portable N64 mods

For whatever reason, the last great game console to utilize a cartridge over a disc is finding itself in yet another portable form factor, and of course, the Nimbus 64 has been crafted by one of Ben Heck‘s most loyal followers. One cndowning is responsible for this beaut, and it’s actually his second homemade portable; this particular miniaturized Nintendo 64 uses a custom vacuum formed case, D-pads and control sticks from used Game Cube controllers, a Zenith PS1 display and plenty of nuts and bolts that only the hardcore modders in attendance would understand. Per usual, we’d recommend heading down to the links below for more details and images, the latter of which are likely to make you exceedingly envious of the DIY skills exhibited here.

Nimbus 64: the latest in a long line of gorgeous portable N64 mods originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Nowhere Else  |  sourceBen Heck Forums  | Email this | Comments

How would you change Nintendo’s DSi XL?

It’s bigger, it’s bolder, but is it really that much better? Nintendo’s heralded DSi line grew in more ways than one late last month, and now that you’ve had a handful of weekends to toy with yours, it’s time to answer one majorly important question: how would you change it? We found in our review that the DSi XL was a solid option for those without a DSi of any kind, but we didn’t feel that it was worth the $190 if you were just upgrading. For those that bought in, do you find yourself agreeing? Is the new size something you’re into? Would you have made it a touch larger / smaller? Is the screen up to snuff? Do you think Nintendo went far enough with the advancements? Open up in comments below — just keep it clean, okay? Your kids are probably reading.

How would you change Nintendo’s DSi XL? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 May 2010 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 firmware 3.30 sneaks in remote play from PC, bitstream audio options

Additional trophy sorting and 3D gaming readiness should have been enough to satisfy and PS3 owner after the latest v3.30 system update (hey, at least it didn’t take anything away this time) but there’s a couple other surprises in store. If you’re the kind of person who loves (or hates) their beeps and bloops, there’s a toggle for Bitstream Direct (output audio with the original digital signal prioritized) or Mix (mixed with sound effects such as button sounds and then converted to bitstream format) on Blu-ray movies, while future VAIO PC owners can get a taste of remote play without any PSP intermediary. Other, unconfirmed, reports include updated Flash compatibility, enhanced region free Blu-ray movie playback, the usual complaints of bricked or otherwise busted consoles as well as erroneous claims of an updated EULA that maintains Sony can update your PS3 whenever it wants (newsflash – it’s always said that.) Sure, you can always wait for a custom build from Geohot instead, but we’ve got a Fat Princess to rescue.

PS3 firmware 3.30 sneaks in remote play from PC, bitstream audio options originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PS3Blog.net, TheSixthAxis  |  sourcePlaystation UK  | Email this | Comments

Nintendo 3DS may launch in October, say ‘UK industry sources’

How the mighty have fallen. Where just last year companies like Apple and Nintendo were renowned for their ability to keep completely silent about impending hardware, these days the thrill of exposure and some media pressure go a long, long way. Now, if Computer and Video Games‘ sources are to be believed, Nintendo’s had another leak: an October release date for its autostereoscopic 3DS handheld in the UK. That’s well within the original “before March 2011” timeframe, and apparently a surprise for game publishers currently planning software for Holiday 2010. Besides, since Europe typically gets Nintendo systems after the US and Japan, some lucky dogs might get the system even earlier — we’ll let you know when we see it ourselves at E3 this June.

Nintendo 3DS may launch in October, say ‘UK industry sources’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceCVG  | Email this | Comments

Microsoft gives us a look through Project Natal’s eyes (video)

Ilan Spillinger, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 VP, was on hand in Tel Aviv yesterday for a showcase of Project Natal. Although there wasn’t much in the way of groundbreaking stuff, the resulting video does show off the motion control system’s gender recognition (done through Natal’s facial recognition … you filthy child) and ability to track two players within the frame at the same time. A tipster from the audience tells us that earlier lag issues have been eradicated, although some jitter was indeed apparent when the second person stepped into Natal’s field of vision. Either way, it’s looking like Microsoft’s Xbox 360 peripheral is progressing well toward its release near the end of this year. Go past the break to see for yourself.

[Thanks, Roy]

Continue reading Microsoft gives us a look through Project Natal’s eyes (video)

Microsoft gives us a look through Project Natal’s eyes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNextGen-News  | Email this | Comments

Hitachi 3.1-inch 3D IPS display is another Nintendo 3DS contender

Step aside Sharp, Hitachi has a parallax barrier 3D display all its own that likewise doesn’t require special glasses to view. While not as bright (400nits vs. 500nits) or big as Sharp’s 3.4-incher, Hitachi’s contribution brings a 3.1-inch IPS panel to mobile 3D devices pushing the same 480 x 854 pixels and 1,000:1 reported contrast. While the image above won’t make much sense outside of Japan, here’s the gist: a series of vertical slits in the IPS LCD directs light to the right and left eyes to give the 3D effect — no special glasses required. Remember, both Hitachi and Sharp have a long, and sometimes dubious, relationship with Nintendo so don’t be surprised to see either (or both) announced as partners when Ninty unveils its 3DS handheld console at E3 in June.

Hitachi 3.1-inch 3D IPS display is another Nintendo 3DS contender originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourcehitachi  | Email this | Comments