Mar 10

Pigs Beware: ThinkGeek Unveils New Jumbo Angry Birds Plush

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

Angry Birds Plush

There are Angry Birds toys, Angry Birds cakes, even an Angry Birds board game, but now you can order your very own Angry Bird, thanks to the folks at ThinkGeek. 
This Jumbo Angry Birds Plush will set you back $49.99 list, but provide you endless hours of cuddling, squeezing, and pig smashing fun. The plush is of the ubiquitous Red Bird and comes in at a radius of 15 inches: big enough to topple your friends when they get too close to your eggs and look imposing on the couch when you have guests over. 
The Red Bird is all alone at the moment, but he’s in stock and available now. Thanks to a licensing agreement with Rovio, ThinkGeek is planning additional Angry Birds merchandise in the future, including huge plush pigs for the birds to fight, and some of the other birds from the game.  
Check out a video of the Angry Birds Plush behind the jump.
No Comments
Mar 10

Sony Wins Against LG In Europe

Posted in: blu-ray, LG, sony, Today's Chili, video games

 playstation-3.jpg

As noted earlier, LG sued Sony in Europe over patent infringement. While the European Government did block all Sony PlayStation 3 units from entering, it ended up ruling in favor of Sony.

The court ruled that all Sony PlayStation 3 units to be released to retail stores, leaving LG to pay all the court fees of €130,000. If LG does not, the court will charge the company €200,000 per day until it pays up.

No word yet on the lawsuit that Sony filed against LG back in the States.

Via Engadget

No Comments | Tags: ,
Mar 09

Xbox 360 Kinect Tops 10 Million Units

Posted in: kinect, Microsoft, Today's Chili, video games, xbox 360

 

XboxKinect.jpgMicrosoft is making up serious ground in the console wars. This time it is the ever popular Kinect system that is for Xbox 360. Since the November 2010 release, the Kinect has sold over 10 million units.

According to Microsoft, six million of those units were sold in the first two months.It’s a new record, taking Apple down as the fastest selling electronic ever. The Kinect has found success in the Nintendo Wii ruled world we live in.

Microsoft has plans to grow the sales even more. Recently, the company announced that many hardcore games will be released for the Kinect in the coming months. The Kinect is also slated for a PC edition to be released this year.

Via Beta News

No Comments
Mar 09

Microsoft Prepping Xbox 720

Posted in: Microsoft, Today's Chili, video games, xbox 360

xbox-360.jpg

Is Microsoft readying its next generation console? Well, yes. Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be? The company’s plans have gotten a little more real, thanks to a series of LinkedIn job postings that went up this week. The software giant’s Interactive Entertainment Business is looking for a number of positions, including an Audio/Video Hardware Architect, Audio Architect, and a Graphics Architect.

Microsoft is looking for folks who will be “responsible for defining and delivering next generation console architectures from conception through implementation,” according to the postings.

Another recent listing for a Wireless DC Engineer called for someone who would play “a key role in the development and verification of the Xbox and future platforms.” So go ahead, apply. Just remember who tipped you off to the gig, when you’re making video games and sipping on that delicious Seattle coffee. 

No Comments
Mar 08

Smell Your Video Games with Sensory Acumen and Scent Science’s New Gaming Gear

Posted in: gaming, peripheral, Today's Chili, video games, Weird News

Scent Gaming

Smell-o-vision has been a long-standing joke about television technology: something that in the early days of television every futurist thought would come true, but simply never made it into reality, partially because it’s a ridiculous idea. Still, that hasn’t stopped two companies, Scent Science and Sensory Acumen, from showcasing their new devices that both use atomizers and a connection to your computer or game console to spray specific smells into the air that correspond with the games that you’re playing. 
For example, if you’re playing a racing game, the gadgets will spray the scent of burning rubber into the air so you feel like you’re at the racetrack. In fact, this was the example both companies used at the Game Developer’s Conference last week when showcasing their devices. 
Both devices would allow users to load cartridges that contain the essential oils required to create smells for specific games. This way game publishers could sell the newest Gran Turismo game, for example, with a scent pack that smells like rubber and gasoline. 
As interesting an idea as this is, it’s doubtful if it will ever catch on. Both companies claim their devices would retail for between $60 and $70, but cartridges will have to be sold separately. Also, racing games are great, but I don’t know too many people who would want to buy the cartridge for a game like Dragon Age or Duke Nukem Forever. Still, the cartridge for Cooking Mama would probably be a treat. 
[via DVice]
No Comments | Tags:
Mar 08

Microsoft Will Release Hardcore Games For Kinect

Posted in: kinect, Microsoft, Today's Chili, video games

 

Xbox-Kinect.jpgThe Kinect for Xbox 360 has turned into a rather lucrative property for Microsoft. Naturally, the company is pushing to have more games developed for the peripheral. .

A handful of Kinect games for hardcore gamers will be released this year. Senior producer of Microsoft’s gaming department, Kevin Unangst, stated that this is just the “scratching the surface” for hardcore gamers. Ubabgst added that, unlike the Wii, however, Microsoft isn’t targeting all of its games for the Kinect.

Nintendo abandoned the hardcore gamers with the Wii. That was fine for families, children, and older players, but ignored those games who made Nintendo what it was. Microsoft appears to be trying to avoid that mistake.

Via X Bit Labs

No Comments
Mar 07

Nintendo is Doomed – Analyst

Posted in: nintendo, Today's Chili, video games
satoru_iwata.jpg

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata seemed pretty positive his company’s future, as he addressed a crowd at the Game Developers Conference last week in San Francisco. Iwata also used the occasion to slam the competition–namely the ever-growing presence of casual smartphone and social network-based games, which have taken a bit of the wind out of console sales.

Iwata didn’t pull any punches this time out, telling the crowd, “The value of games does not matter to them. The fact is, what we produce is value, and we should protect it.” 
Iwata’s critics were equally pointed. Here’s what industry analyst Michael Pachter had to say, “Long-term, Nintendo is doomed. He’s under full frontal assault by Apple.”
Brian Reynolds of Zynga, the company behind Farmville and other social media-based properties (which, let’s face it, is exactly who Iwata was talking about), opted for the defensive, “I expected better from Nintendo. They are missing the point of what we are doing, We are making games that everyone can play and socialize on while playing.”
Reynolds seems to come out looking the best in this situation–staying away from the hyperbole on either end. There are enough gamers in the world for there to be room for both (not to mention the more hardcore folk who spend their days in front of Xbox 360s, PS3s, et al). Iwata’s pointed rhetoric was a bit surprising, given how focused his company has become on social gaming for the whole family.
No Comments
Mar 04

N64oid brings Nintendo 64 emulation to Android devices

Posted in: Android, nintendo, Today's Chili, video, video games, VideoGames
There’s not exactly a shortage of video game emulators for Android devices, but there has been one notable, 64-bit exception. That’s finally been rectified with the just-released N64oid application, however, which finally brings emulation of Nintendo 64 games to the platform — and, like the other emulators from developer Yongzh, it’s conveniently available right in the Android Market (for $5.99). As you might expect, there are a few glitches and hiccups to be found even on high-end phones like the Nexus S, but it does seem to run remarkably well for an initial release and, as Download Squad points out, you can also use a separate, freely-available app to add some Wiimote controls to the proceedings. Also, it means you can play Goldeneye on your phone. Video after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading N64oid brings Nintendo 64 emulation to Android devices

N64oid brings Nintendo 64 emulation to Android devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 20:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAndroid Market, Download Squad  | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Mar 04

SteelSeries Unveils Siberia v2 Headsets for Gaming and Mobile Devices

Posted in: gaming, mobile, MP3 Digital Audio, Today's Chili, video games

SteelSeries Siberia v2 Headset

At CeBit this week, SteelSeries took the wraps off of the Siberia v2 Gaming Headset for the PS3, which is compatible with the PSN chat service, but also works with the XBox 360, Mac OS, and Windows. 
The all-black headset features completely closed earphones for immersive sound and passive noise reduction, a retractable microphone that extends out from the bottom of the left earcup, and a suspended headband that allows you to adjust the shape of the headset to fit your head. It also comes with in-line volume and mix controls so you can quickly mute your microphone, adjust the volume, boost the bass, or tweak your audio settings. 
The new Siberia v2 for PS3 compliments SteelSeries’ release of the Siberia v2 Headset for iPod, iPhone, and iPad – an all-white model with many of the same features, but features microphone support through a single 3.5mm jack instead of the separate cables used on the console and PC version. This version of the Siberia v2 works with any mobile device, not just iOS gadgets – and also features in-line volume and mute controls so you can listen to music on your mobile device or take calls with the retractable microphone. 
The console version of the Siberia v2 headset will be available in Q3 of 2011 for $119.99 retail price. The mobile version will hit store shelves around the same time, and retail for $99.99.
No Comments | Tags: , , ,
Mar 04

Sony To Sponsor Major League Gaming Players

Posted in: sony, Today's Chili, video games, xperia

 

Thumbnail image for sony xperia play.pngSony is gearing up for the launch of the new Sony Xperia Play phone, by sponsoring pro gamers for the 2011 season. The company will support MLG (Major League Gaming) Pro Player Dave “Walshy” Walsh and MLG Coach Andy “JT Bravo” Dudynsky. Sony will also release a video for MLG about “must have” video games, along with apps.

The company has been trying to fit in with mobile gaming for a while now. Between Nintendo DS, and smartphone gaming, Sony has a lot of catching up to do. The Xperia Play is certainly a good start.

The company is also releasing the Sony NGP (PSP2). The company is helping to make 2011 the year of mobile gaming.

Via Hot Hardware

No Comments