Gamertell

For gamers on the go there is a bit of a problem. Laptops don’t really allow much in the way of upgrades, especially with the graphics cards. However, ATI announced that it is developing the first external graphics cards for people who dabble heavily with multimedia and graphics.

The ATI XGP will have to be connected to a laptop via PCIe 2.0 port connection and will take a laptop from everyday computing to hardcore gaming capabilities. To start,…

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CNet begins its CES gaming wrapup by stating, “CES 2008 wasn’t a very big show for gamers.” Screw that and your anemic wrapup. I wasn’t even there and I know there were plenty of game related goodies to be viewed this year. Big deal if there weren’t a lot of game developers. This isn’t even their expo.

For my CiN Weekly magazine column that printed this past week (January 16, 2008), I listed many of the more noteworthy game-related announcements from CES 2008. Like most, I included Nyko’s wireless Nunchuck attachment for the Wii (though it was not my top item, like every other friggin’ wrapup), a laptop or two and a monitor mention, but there was much more than that…

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Everyone likes a good prank once and awhile, but when that prank gets out of hand it becomes annoying and eventually down right mean.

But I must admit when someone hands me a gadget with the potential to create havoc, well monkey business is bound to ensue. That’s what happened when the crew of Gizmodo were given a device to play with at this year’s CES 2008. A device called the TV-B-Gone from Make Magazine that is capable of shutting off any LCD Television nearby at the push of a button.

The prank was the random outages of display screens throughout CES2008 disrupting gaming competitions, speeches and presentations. See for yourself below:

Though some found Gizmodo stunt funny at the time, others seemed unimpressed according to John Biggs blog on CrunchGear.

“I didn’t want to weigh in on this because I know all the parties involved, I used to run Gizmodo, and I understand the impetus behind this prank. This is a nasty hack performed by punchy, hungover kids that, as we see, got the CE world’s attention,” Biggs wrote. “… I may just say I’m a blogger next year just so I can avoid the scrum at the press room where thousands line up to get free lunches and read email (international journos with spotty credentials fighting for crappy lunch boxes, I would say, is more despicable than Gizmodo’s actions but, as we know, journalists love them some free lunch).”

Biggs called Gizmodo’s latest post entitled Confessions was a bit of a “calculated risk.”

Gizmodo’s conefession explained their prank resulted in not being able to stop playing with the TV-B-Gone clickers.

“And when MAKE offered us some TV-B-Gone clickers to bring to the show, we pretty much couldn’t help ourselves. We shut off a TV. And then another. And then a wall of TVs. And we just couldn’t stop,” Brian Lam posted on Gizmodo. “It was too much fun, but watching this video, we realize it probably made some people’s jobs harder, and I don’t agree with that (Especially Motorola). We’re sorry.”

Read [Gizmodo] Read [Crunch Gear] Site [Make Magazine Store]

At CES 2008 the Music Wizard Group showed off their newest innovation, the Guitar Wizard. Guitar Wizard, which will work with real guitars and computers, is an educational game designed to teach people to play a guitar. The item shown at CES 2008 was a prototype, as the official product is scheduled to be released in Fall 2008.

Guitar Wizard allows people to use their own accoustic or electric guitar with the game. The package will come with the SoundTech Ediface Digital Guitar Interface, the Guitar Wizard program, labels and an attachment for a guitar the user already owns. Users simply install the two programs on a laptop or desktop and follow the on screen instructions on their real guitar. The Guitar Wizard program teaches how to play the guitar and the SoundTech Ediface Digital Guitar Interface digitizes the music. A price for the product has not yet been announced.

The Guitar Wizard program will most likely be very successful. Especially with people familiar with the Guitar Hero games. It seems like initially the instruction will start out relying on the user’s hand-eye co-ordination to follow the on-screen cues, until the user becomes familiar with the necessary motions.

“Editor’s Note: The item prices and previous image with this post was
incorrect and have been updated.”

Read [SFGate.com] Also Read [Engadget] Site [Music Wizard]

The Wii has revolutionized the world of home consoles with its highly interactive motion-sensing controllers. Now, a Wii-inspired system might change the face of the advertising industry.

This new game system called WaveScape was unveiled at the recently concluded Consumer Electronic Show. The technology is supposed to make advertising displays more immersive by offering interactive game content. The device, developed by Reactrix Systems, has sophisticated motion sensors allowing anyone to play video games on advertising displays using body movements.

This game system is not restricted to advertising displays but is also compatible with LCD TVs. Matt Bell, the chief scientist at Reactrix, made it clear during the product launch that the first application of this new technology was going to be “advertising and interactive signage.” Reactrix plans to make the game system public with its launch across 150 Hilton hotels during the second half of 2008. The system will not only provide the hotel visitors with riotously fun games but also interactive information.

WaveScape’s capabilities were demonstrated on an imposing Samsung large-format 570DX display. During the demonstration Matt Bell stood in front of the gargantuan display and knocked-out a Panda in a round of boxing, with every bare-fisted punch being recorded by a motion sensing device attached to the Samsung display. Then he and another bloke played a game of volleyball.

Read [SFGate] Also Read [Gizmodo]

No one wants to own more controllers than necessary for their games. It’s can be a hassle to unplug one controller for another just to play a game especially with the PlayStation 3 console.

So when a new compatible “Front Man” guitar was announced that could be used with both Rock Band and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, fans of both games were pleasantly surprised when Nyko unveiled the product a CES 2008.

Nyko Technologies, founded in 1995, develops and manufactures peripherals specializing in interactive entertainment, computing, consumer electronics, portable audio, as well as online and wireless technologies.

The tentative release date is in March 2008, according to 1UP. If legal matters between Rock Star and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock are not solved by then, gamers may never get a chance to use the new guitar.

The features of the “Front Man” are impressive . Other than being compatible with Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Rock Band it also includes:

• Up to 80 hours of continuous play time from three AA batteries
• Wireless technology for cordless gaming up to 25 ft. away
• Built-in tilt sensor & responsive whammy bar
• Bi-directional strum bar
• Responsive and durable fret buttons
• Interchangeable pick guard for custom look
• Unique directional pad design for convenient menu navigation
• Effects switch for Rock Band play

Read [Kotaku] Read [1UP] Site [Nyko Technologies]

Yahoo Tech has just posted their latest CES discovery – a new website for parents called WhatTheyPlay. Offering game advice and information to parents in the form of reviews and editorials, Yahoo points to the site’s greatest strengths: its community features (the comments sections allow parents to ask and answer questions) and objectivity.

It’s a fantastic idea – a place where parents can go to get unbiased information without the mainstream media’s tendency to demonize games (and blame them for all of society’s ills). Parents who are concerned with content and ratings can be sure they’re buying age appropriate titles, and folks who would like to play with their kids can also find a wealth of information (the yahoo piece cites a recent article “Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Miis” as a good example).

WhatTheyPlay was actually co-founded by former 1up editorial director John Davison, so you can be sure the content is coming from a well-informed source.

Read [Yahoo.tech] Site [WhatTheyPlay]

One of the coolest displays at CES 2008 displayed the awesome powers of the Retro Duo and Gen X consoles from Innex. Okay, cool for people who were born sometime in the 1980s. The two consoles are the thing of dreams for gamers who owned the original Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Master System or Sega Genesis, and want a chance to relive those glorious days.

Each of the system focuses on one of the two major branches from the period that started in the late 1980s and ended in the middle of the 1990s. The Retro Duo handles Nintendo cartridges and the Gen X handles the one Sega Genesis and NES cartridges (Thanks Ron!). Both systems allegedly have full compatibility with all existing cartridges. Both systems also have top loading, like the last NES model, SNES and Genesis, which helps reduce the necessary cart blowing to make cartridges work.

Wired reports that the reason these systems are legal is that the patents the original systems had expired. Even so, I doubt the FBI and police are going to come knock on your door for buying a working machine to play games you already own. Already some of these consoles are popping up on eBay, so if you’re interested they’re worth a look.

“Editor’s Note: The article has been updated to note that the Gen X handles Genesis and NES cartridges.”

Read [Wired] Via [Kotaku] Product Page [eBay]

Sony announced at CES 2008 that it is thinning the herd of available PlayStation 3s in Japan. The 20gb and 60gb PS3s, which were still being sold in Japan, are now extinct. The company will only be distributing the 40gb PS3. This isn’t the first time that Sony has cut down its ranks, as the 60gb PS3 was eliminated overseas as well.

The move was made for a number of reasons. The 40gb PS3 is supposedly the most popular. The Boston Globe also reports that Sony representatives stated that the 40gb PS3 is most energy efficient. It also will undoubtedly be more cost effective for Sony to just focus on producing a single system rather than many. Currently 40gb and 80gb PS3s are available in North America. There was no announcement made concerning the future of the 80gb PS3.

Now if only Sony would smarten up and restore backwards compatibility. It seems so utterly pointless to have two consoles when one is capable of being adapted to play all the games. I’d be willing to pay more for that feature.

Read [The Boston Globe] Also Read [Bloomberg.com]

At CES 2008 (January 7-10, 2008) Alienware was representin’ with an uber wide format monitor running a modified version of Crysis. The prototype Alienware DLP RPTV is a 42-inch wraparound monitor with 2880x900 resolution and is curved inward to allow for peripheral vision.

The screen uses OLEDs (organic light emitting diodes) and can be used with any ol’ computer software. Of course, some of your stuff might be a bit warped if it isn’t adapted to be used on such an uber wide format.

There is no official release date for this monitor but it’ll likely carry a huge Alienware style price tag. Reports from the floor also indicated that the screen seemed a little washed out and had a couple vertical lines, indicating it might actually be multiple monitors in one housing.

Read [Engadget] Also Read [InfoSync] Also Read [Wired]