Hasta La Gadget!

Ever had the urge to crank out some nasty riffs in the kitchen, record them, and then watch as millions of Xbox 360 owners rush to download your jam(s)? Don’t lie. In a move that marks the next logical step of the Rock Band journey, Harmonix has confirmed that an open beta registration of the Rock Band Network will open up later today for Xbox 360 users, enabling amateur (or professional… or novice!) musicians to record, convert and upload tracks to a network where gamers can judge how awesome / not awesome any given song is. Reportedly, those seen as “good enough” will be made available for sale (you can price each tune from $1 to $3), though we’re hearing that the actual conversion process isn’t a lesson in simplicity. In fact, some outfits are offering their services to take recordings from .wav files to ones that the game can understand, but with rates of $500 per minute (of music), we’re guessing that only serious artists will apply. And if you’ve ever heard “that local band” willing to play shows for free, you’ll agree with us when we say that this barrier to entry is probably a good thing.

Rock Band Network beta opening to Xbox 360 users, garage bands see ‘their chance’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If there’s one thing we’re missing when we’re jamming “Cool for Cats” on Rock Band, it’s a Squeeze-worthy display of lights. That’s all about to change, with the introduction of Rock Gear’s HexoLight LED-lighting system, a flashing display of lights to the beat of your tunes. If transforming your living room (or bedroom, or dorm room) into a place that even Jools Holland would be proud to step into is high on your list of priorities, the HexoLight — which boasts an audio sensor to sync up to the beat and is compatible with nearly any stereo source — is probably something you’re going to want to check out. HexoLight is available today for prices starting at $30. Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading HexoLight brings light shows to your videogame concerts

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HexoLight brings light shows to your videogame concerts originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The NPD has released its US video game industry figures for October, which reveal that total monthly revenue from hardware, software and accessories among all manufacturers fell to $1.07 billion, constituting a 19 percent drop from what the American gamer spent over the same period last year. After being toppled from its chart-leading ways in September by a price cut-boosted PS3, the Wii has regained its sales throne by chopping $50 off its own entry fee, making itself buoyant in the US, if not the world. The PS3’s own sales have suffered a slump after the September euphoria, while the 360 is still wearing the dunce cap in third place. Microsoft’s response has been to keep banging that drum about being the only console to show year-to-date growth, but when you’re selling less than half as many consoles as Nintendo, you have to grasp at whatever straws are nearby. Speaking of Nintendo, its DS sales so far this year have continued at such a rate as to threaten its own 2008 hardware sales record — set by the Wii — with ten million units sold. So there you have it: Sony fails to maintain its September lead, Nintendo keeps churning, and Microsoft keeps hoping for better times ahead. Full list of figures after the break.

Read – Wii regains hardware top spot following US price cut
Read – Xbox 360 leads in year-to-date growth
Read – DS poised to break US hardware records

Continue reading NPD: Wii reclaims lead in US sales, but console gaming market shrinks by a fifth

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NPD: Wii reclaims lead in US sales, but console gaming market shrinks by a fifth originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Say what you will about dogs being man’s best friend — they sure can get into a lot of trouble. While our dogs have been limited to eating shoes and shedding on our furniture, Greg Strope of Richmond, Virginia has reason to believe his furry friend has gone the extra mile. While he lay in bed sleeping, his dog Oscar, he believes, purchased 5,000 Microsoft points. The only possible culprit, Oscar left some telltale signs (drool and scratches) on the Xbox controller, leading Greg to blame the $63 purchase on him. We have to admit the dog’s actions rather impress us, though it also makes us nervous about all those times we left our laptop open and unattended around our own tiny beast. Video featuring damning photographic evidence is after the break.

Continue reading Dog buys 5,000 Microsoft points, says he just wanted to check out the Abbey Road DLC

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Dog buys 5,000 Microsoft points, says he just wanted to check out the Abbey Road DLC originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Majesco’s just announced an augmented reality game for the DSi, Ghostwire: Link to the Paranormal. While the Ghostwire title had been previously unveiled, Majesco has apparently just signed on to publish it. The game makes use of the DSi’s camera and microphone so the player can hunt for ghosts in their surrounding, actual environment. Once the ghosts are detected, the player will have to track down objects to bribe them into peacefulness. Ghostwire is expected sometime in 2010, but until then, we’ll just keep walking with our own ghosts.

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Ghostwire augmented reality game coming to your creepy motel room, DSi in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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