Mar 16

Game on the iPad with an NES Controller and RoboTouch

Posted in: diy, gaming, ipad, Robots Robotics, Today's Chili, video games, Weird News

RoboTouch

RoboTouch isn’t so much a commercial product as it is a pet project of some folks at ProtoDojo who were looking for a way to combine their favorite console controller (the NES controller,) with their favorite touch-screen gaming platform (the iPad.) 
The gadget is actually a series of small robot arms that accept controls from an Arduino board that the NES controller is plugged into. Press the A or B buttons and different arms tap different parts of the screen. Use the directional pad and different arms on the other side of the iPad tap the screen there corresponding to your character’s movement controls. The video behind the jump shows one of the inventors using RoboTouch to play a game of Reckless Racing. 
Admittedly, the arms would have to be repositioned around the screen and re-tested depending on the game you’re playing. If you have a virtual on-screen joystick that requires you move your finger in a circle or requires constant contact to work, it might be tricky to use. Still, RoboTouch isn’t the kind of project you should expect to see on store shelves anytime soon: but if you love DIY projects and would get a thrill out of playing iPad games with an NES controller, this is the project for you. 
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Mar 16

EA President: Nintendo Wii is Outdated

Posted in: nintendo, Today's Chili, video games, wii

 

Red Nintendo WiiThe head of mega game manufacture EA had some choice words about the Nintendo Wii. Frank Gibeau believes that the console is outdated, and it’s time for a new strategy for the company. Here’s what he had to say,

When you look at Nintendo, for a while there, it was all about the Wii being the biggest entertainment platform ever and capturing the mass market, and it faded away. Now, they are coming back with a second act. I think they know that. They are very self-aware as an organization. Nintendo understand[s] the dynamics and the fact that HD consoles is a booming part of business right now. Legacy platforms like PS2 and the Wii have dropped off significantly. They are going to figure something out. They are going to come back at it

Wii sales have dropped off in the past year, but Nintendo has not confirmed any new plans for Wii 2. Microsoft and,Sony has made major gains on Nintendo as of late, which doesn’t bode well for the Wii. 

Via X Bit Labs

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Mar 16

Nintendo Launches First US 3DS Commercial

Posted in: 3ds, gaming, nintendo, Today's Chili, video games

3DS.jpg

Until the 3DS launches on March 27th, most of us have no idea what the 3D graphics will actually be like. To help assure consumers that it’s well worth their time–and money–Nintendo launched its first North American 3DS commercial, showing off a representation of the 3D gaming experience.

Thus far, 3D, other than in the theater, has had on a rather rocky road. People haven’t exactly been falling all over themselves to buy 3DTVs, especially with all of the price and compatibility issues for glasses. But Nintendo is emphasizing that the 3DS will feature “3D games, photos, entertainment, and more, no glasses required.” As goes the gaming industry, goes the rest of the tech industry? Did the commercial help convince you?

Also to help get the public on-board the 3DS bandwagon, Nintendo set up Demo Pods in four cities (Chicago, New York, San Fransisco, and LA), so consumers can test out the 3DS for themselves. But, if you’re already sold, you can pre-order a 3DS for $249.99.

Check out the video after the jump.

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Mar 15

Dragon Age Player Says He Was Banned for

Posted in: gaming, Today's Chili, video games

ragon2.jpg

Bioware.com forum user v_ware apparently isn’t a big fan of EA, and he probably didn’t change his mind after his Dragon Age II account was suspended. He said he was banned from the game for 72 hours because on an external website detached from the actual game, he referred to the game’s publisher as “the EA devil.”

When v_ware complained about not being able to play his newly purchased game, Bioware responded with a rather blunt response, saying, “Because the BioWare community now operates under the same umbrella as all EA Communities, community members here have all explicitly agreed to abide by and be governed by both sets of rules. Consider it an added incentive to follow the rules you say you’re going to follow … End of line.”

Via Kotaku

But then the story started going viral, and wouldn’t you know it? Bioware stepped up and made a complete change of face.

In a statement sent to Kotaku, Bioware community manager Chris Priestly said that in this case, “There was an error in the system that accidentally suspended a user’s entire account. Immediately upon learning of the glitch, EA restored the user’s macro account and apologized for the inconvenience.”

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Mar 15

Zynga Games Raise Over $1 Million for Earthquake Relief

Posted in: Games, Miscellaneous Tech, Today's Chili, video games

Zynga - Aid for Japan

You have to hand it to Zynga: one moment they’re the game company you love to hate for selling all of your personal information, and the next moment they’ve managed to draw over a million dollars from their customers for charity. 
Facebook gamers who play titles like Farmville, Cityville, and Frontierville on Facebook have collectively donated well over $1 million to Save the Children through a partnership between the charity and Zynga to aid victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Zynga has expanded donations to its other titles and mobile games, like Words with Friends. 
The key to Zynga’s success here is that the company is using specific in-game items to fuel its charity and relief efforts. For example, in Cityville you can buy a sweet potato crop, and in Frontierville, players can add a Kobe cow to their farm. Daikon radishes have appeared in Farmville, and more depending on the game. 
When players buy items for their farms, cities, and towns with real money, they buyer is actually donating to charity. Zynga says that 100% of the money they get from the special in-game items will go directly to Save the Children.
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Mar 15

Angry Birds Marketing Head Talks Death of Consoles

Posted in: nintendo, Today's Chili, video games
toy fair 2011 angry birds pig.jpg

Earlier this month, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata told a crowd at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, “The value of games does not matter to them. The fact is, what we produce is value, and we should protect it.” Iwata was clearly taking a shot at Angry Birds and like-minded casual titles that have helped elevate platforms like Android and the iPhone into portable gaming machines. 

A number of folks immediately took Iwata to task for his comments, most notably industry analyst Michael Pachter, who told the press, “Long-term, Nintendo is doomed. He’s under full frontal assault by Apple.”
Peter Vesterbacka, the marketing head for Angry Birds creator Rovio (who, let’s face it, has never been particularly afraid to speak his mind), took a shot against console gaming in general at South by Southwest this week, stating that the industry is “dying” thanks to the rise of simpler games like Angry Birds. 
Vesterbacka added that larger developers with larger budgets aren’t capable of being as nimble or innovative as smaller upstart developers like Rovio. 
Come on kids, words can only get you so far. Time to break out the slingshots. 
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Mar 14

UK charity opens gaming visitor center / gaming gadget incubator for the disabled

Posted in: game, Games, gaming, Today's Chili, uk, video games, VideoGames

Disabled gamers currently form a small, but growing portion of the gaming community, and the folks from the UK’s SpecialEffect video games charity are seeking to get a lot more of them gaming. SpecialEffect — with an assist from UK Prime Minister David Cameron — just opened a Video Games Visitor Centre to give those with disabilities a place to experience cutting-edge gaming tech designed for the disabled, like eye-controllers, in its GamesRoom. The Centre also has a GamesLab where “games and hardware are tested for accessibility” so game devs can adjust their wares to get even more people dishing out pwnage than ever before — bring it on!

UK charity opens gaming visitor center / gaming gadget incubator for the disabled originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 05:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Register  |  sourceSpecialEffect, GameBase  | Email this | Comments

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Mar 11

PlayStation 3 Ban in Europe Lifted

Posted in: gaming, lawsuit, sony, Today's Chili, video games

ps3slim120.jpg

Last week we noted that thanks to a dispute between Sony and LG, sales of Sony’s PlayStation 3 console were abruptly halted in the EU. The move was part of a court -ordered halt of PS3 sales while the court weighed arguments between the two companies over the console’s ability to play Blu-Ray discs. Yesterday, Sony successfully appealed the injunction, won court costs and damages from LG over lost sales, and perhaps most importantly, PS3 consoles are back on store shelves in the EU again. 
At the heart of the matter, LG claims that Sony has infringed on some of its patents (and owes LG royalties) with the Blu-Ray playback technology in the PS3. They’re confident enough in their claim that they’ve taken it to the ITC (International Trade Commission) and filed suit in civil court, asking for undisclosed damages. 
This particular case is over, but it’s likely that LG will continue their legal challenges in attempt to get royalties from Sony. The only thing for sure at this point is that we haven’t heard the last of this. 
[via InsiderGamer (Dutch)]
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Mar 11

Nintendo Wii Game We Dare Is Pulled From UK

Posted in: nintendo, Today's Chili, video games, wii

 

WeDare.jpgNintendo has pulled a Ubisoft Wii game called We Dare from the UK market, due to risqué commercials within the title. 

The commercials hit the Internet a few days ago, showing spanking, and other acts deemed more mature than the game’s PEGI 12 rated audience. Once the videos circled to UK, the local Government demanded it be pulled due to the inconsistent rating given by PEGI.

The commercials have since been banned in the US, but are still on Ubisoft YouTube channel being listed as private. No word on if other European countries will allow We Dare to be released.

Via Ars Techica

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Mar 10

Kinect Gets Guinness World Record, Is the Fastest Selling Consumer Electronics Device Ever

Posted in: kinect, Tech Toys, Today's Chili, video games

XboxKinect.jpgEarlier we noted that Microsoft’s Kinect gaming peripheral had topped 10 million units sold, but one bit of news that came shortly afterward is that Guinness World Records has certified the Kinect as the Fastest-Selling Consumer Electronics Device, topping gadgets like the iPhone, the iPad, the Nintendo Wii, and every other device you’ve seen people line up for outside of stores in the pouring rain to get their hands on. 

Guinness says Kinect sold an average of 133,333 units per day, and hit 8 million units sold in the first 60 days it was on sale, beating out all rivals not just in the gaming category but all consumer electronics in general. The award was confirmed yesterday, and the new record will be included in the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition book. 
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