Gamertell

After reporting its first ever billion-dollar quarter, Silicon Valley-based chipmaker Nvidia has announced planes to purchase chipmaker, Ageia.

While Ageia’s might not be a household name, the company was responsible for the world’s first dedicated physics processor in 2006. The chip was designed to handle real-time physics calculations for more impressive and diverse visual effects in games. Ageia’s PhysX software is also currently being used in all three current generation consoles.

Terms of the deal…

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Epic Games, in their bid to take over the gaming world, has licensed yet another soon to be highly anticipated game which will likely utilize Unreal Engine 3.

Red Mile Entertainment, who up until now has only had a handful of seldom played and badly reviewed titles including Jackass the Game, has acquired the rights to Frank Miller’s Sin City. The game will be based on the popular early-to-mid-90’s film noir-style comic book, which told the tale of numerous characters as they lived, died and battled in the fictional city of Basin City (which makes Gotham look like club-med). Sin City was later adapted to film that became one of the surprise hits of 2005.

No details have been released about the style of game play or which of its numerous staring characters and villains will be featured in the title. You can certainly count on the game following in both the comics’ and film’s highly stylized visual footsteps.

What we do know is that California-based Red Mile has acquired the Unreal Engine 3, developed by Epic Games, making it one of several dozen developers that have switched over to the gaming world’s most powerful development tool.

Read [WRAL] Site [Red Mile Entertainment]

Although the company is best known for its audio chairs, Pyramat has also released the Laptop Sound Booster ($129.95), which is demonstrated at CES 2008 (January 7-10, 2008)

The USB device features a pair of lit 1.5 in. ARX USB stereo speakers that amplifies your laptop’s audio. The until weighs approximately 5 pounds and USB powered. The Laptop Sound Booster ships with a 2-foot USB cable, 3.5 mm audio cable and an iPod universal dock with four adapters.

It’s also been built with heat dissipating material on the bottom and an ergonomic wrist pad. It also includes a volume control knob d audio inputs, so you can connect it to other devices (looks as if it is a 3.5 mm port). When using it as an iPod setup, you use 4 C-size batteries to power the speakers for up to 50 hours. Since it is basically a laptop pad with protruding speakers and wristpad, it can only hold laptops that are 17 in. wide or less.

The USB audio will work with any PC (Mac and Windows) and the input port means you can use it with most other audio devices. At approx. 5 pounds, though, I’m not sure I’ll be lugging this around with my laptop or able to easily fit it in the same bag.

Site [Laptop Sound Booster ] Read [SlashGear]

US-based PC (Mac and Windows) peripheral specialist Wolfking is demoing its latest gaming gear at CES 2008 (January 7-10, 2008).  The lineup, dubbed the MVP Series, includes the Trooper Laser Gaming Mouse and an enhanced version of the Warrior Gamepad. The revamped gear will soon be available in red, blue, or silver accent color over a full matte black finish

The MVP Series 2400 DPI High-Resolution Trooper Laser Gaming Mouse ($59.99) has a programmable frame rate of more than 7,080 frames per second, 2400 DPI High-Resolution, high speed motion detection, onboard LED sensor display and Rapid Fire Switch (selects 1 to 4 shots per click with status indicated by a lighted track wheel).

The MVP Series Warrior Gamepad ($34.99) features a circular layout and polished black audio keys (as opposed to the chrome buttons of the original).

Both the gamepad and mouse are USB 2.0 compatible and currently available, though the new MVP redesigns should be available soon.

Site [Wolfking] Read [Engadget]

For the gadget-filled getaway known as CES (January 7-10, 2008) in Las Vegas, NV, Gateway unveiled its FX lineup of gaming laptops and desktop PCs and its firs gaming laptop.

For the desktop rigs, there is the FX540XT gaming desktop which includes an Intel quad-core Core 2 Extreme QX6850 processor, 1T byte of storage (dual 500 GB hard drives) by two 500G byte hard drives and dual Nvidia 8800 GTX graphics cards (768 MBThe system ain’t cheap at $3,800 it runs Microsoft’s Windows Vista Home Premium OS.

If you want a less expensive option, the FX540 starts at $999 and has only one 500 GB hard drive and one Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor. Slightly more expensive is the FX7020 at $1,099,. Available later this month (January 2008), the FX7020 has an AMD’s quad-core Phenom 9600 processor (2.3GHz), 3G bytes of RAM, a Nvidia GeForce 8800GT graphics card (512 MB), TV tuner with HD-TV support and 500 GB hard drive.

Gateway’s first gaming laptops are dubbed the P-Series starting with the $2,999 P-171XL FX gaming notebook which includes an Intel Mobile Extreme X7900 dual-core processor, an Nvidia GeForce 8800M GTS (512 MB), 3 GB RAM, a 17-inch LCD display, two 200 GB hard drives and 802.11n. The P-Series FX laptops will be available late January 2008 in several retail configurations priced from $1,349 to $1,999.

Read [Washington Post] Also Read [Engadget] Site [Gateway]

Editor’s Note: Laptop image from Wired.

At CES this week (January 7-10, 2008), Pyramat is showing off its new gaming chairs. Each chair is well padded, made of washable materials and have speaker system embedded in the chair. The units on display include the PC Gaming Chair 2.1, S5000 Sound Rocker and the PM450-WR Sound Rocker.

Each of the chairs include audio inputs (and sometimes wireless inputs) so they can be connected to any external device including videogames, TVs, DVD players, stereo systems, MP3 players and handheld game systems.

The PC Gaming Chair 2.1 uses a wireless connection to your PC using a built-in receiver. The built-in system includes two powerful speakers, a Powersub subwoofer, MP3 input, and an armrest mounted mouse wheel with touch controls. The PC Gaming Chair 2.1 is currently available for $249.99.

The PM450-WR Sound Rocker utilizes so-called “Premium Digital Wireless Technology” for wireless audio and is also the first Sound Rocker t o be powered by a rechargeable battery. Pyramat promises the battery will work for up to five hours on one charge. The chair also includes a 2.4GHz digital 8-channel wireless transmitter and the 5.5-inch Powersub subwoofer.. The PM450-WR starts at $249.99.

Also on display is Pyramat’s S5000 Sound Rocker which offers increased lumbar support and an adjustable back rest. The least expensive of the three chairs at $169.99, the S5000 includes speakers and a Powersub subwoofer.

My favorite of the three has to be the PC Gaming Chair 2.1, mostly because it is the only chair with legs. Sure, sitting on the floor is pretty great when you are a kid, but the older gamer in my needs the lumbar support and somewhere to hang my legs so they don’t completely lose circulation. Besides, how cool would it be to have that in your office cube?

Read [SlashGear] Also Read [Techpin] Site [Pyramat]

Now this is some gaming garb I can really get into. TN Games is showing off a series of wearable gaming gear at its CES booth (January 7-10, 2008).

The clothes, titled 3rd Space HXT Gear, includes a couple vests and a helmet. Each uses embedded with a series of pneumatic cells designed to react to directional cues from videogames. In other words, the pockets puff with air and you feel like something hit you (although in a much more polite and less damaging way than an actual bullet or knife).

Positioning of the cells and coordinated puffings helps to give a directional effect. Games will need to have embedded cues (aka 3rd Space technology) in order to be used with the garb and TN is providing a software development kit to game companies.

For now, the gear appears to only operate with PCs and each requires a compressor box that connect to the PC via USB. The FPS vest is available now and works with a limited number of big-name games and the other two are expected to be available mid 2008.

The first vest is…

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The annual Girls of Gaming issue started out as an unusual experiment by Playboy four years ago but has turned into one of the 54-year-old company’s most anticipated yearly issues, one that toyed with the fantasies of millions of lovesick gamers.

In the December 2007 issue of Playboy, featuring Kim Kardashian on the cover, they will again be paying tribute to some of the hottest women of gaming. Included in this year’s issues are, Keaira from Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Church & Black from Jericho, Morenn from The Witcher, Yoko Retomoto from Kane & Lynch, A’Kanna from Conan and Sarah Morrison from Tabula Rasa.

These vixens join the ranks of Rayne, from the Bloodrayne series, Carla Valenti from Atari’s Indigo Prophecy and Darkwatch(s) bad girls, Cassidy and Tala, who appeared in previous issues.

Read [Playboy] Also Read [Kotaku] Site [Playboy Magazine]

Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. has revealed its upcoming 2007 holiday lineup, all fresh with tons of PS3, PS2 and PSP games and hardware bundles to keep anyone entertained during this festive season. Much of the lineup includes first- and third-party products.

“This holiday season we are offering our largest line up of quality software and hardware products to meet every taste, lifestyle and budget,” said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA. “Triple-A masterpieces such as Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and bundles such as the Daxter PSP Entertainment Pack and the SingStar PlayStation 2 Pack.”

Already released are this year’s PS3 heavy hitters including Heavenly Sword, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Ratchet & ClankFuture: Tools of Destruction and the more recent trading card based game The Eye of Judgement to name a few.

For the PSP, there will be several bundles available to include a newly-designed PSP system that include the Daxter and the limited edition Star Wars Battlefront PSP entertainment pack designed to show off the multi-functionality of the newly design PSP.

For those gamers who are fan of party games, a limited edition ceramic white SingStar Pop hardware for the PS2 at a holiday price of $149.99 launches later this month (November 2007). For the casual gamer more titles releasing for the existing PS2 system.

Here is Sony’s complete lineup for the holidays for the PlayStation 3:

First-Party Games

• THE EYE OF JUDGMENT
• Heavenly Sword
• NBA 08
• Lair
• Folklore
• Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
• Uncharted: Drakes Fortune
• Warhawk

Third-Party Games

• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision
• Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Activision
• Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground, Activision
• Jericho, Codemasters
• Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, Eidos
• FIFA 08, EA
• Medal of Honor Airborne, EA
• Rock Band, EA
• The Orange Box, EA
• The Simpsons Game, EA
• Bladestorm: The Hundred Years’ War, Koei
• LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Lucas Arts
• BlackSite: AREA 51, Midway
• John Woo Presents Stranglehold Collector’s Edition, Midway
• Unreal Tournament 3, Midway
• Time Crisis 4, NAMCO BANDAI
• SEGA Rally Revo, Sega
• College Hoops 2K8, Take 2 Interactive
• WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008, THQ
• Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights, THQ
• MX vs. ATV Untamed, THQ
• Assassin’s Creed, UbiSoft
• Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII, UbiSoft
• Haze, UbiSoft
• TimeShift, Vivendi
• Elder Scrolls IV: OBLIVION - Game of the Year Edition, Zenimax

For the PlayStation Network, gamers can enjoy the following games and download packs:

• High Velocity Bowling
• PAIN
• Everyday Shooter
• Go! Sports Ski
• Go! Sports Skydiving
• Mesmerize 1
• Trials of Topoq
• MotorStorm Christmas Livery
• Toy Home
• Twisted Metal 2 (PS One)
• MotorStorm Premium Pack 2
• Resistance: Fall of Man: Map Pack 2
• Operation Creature Feature
• Aquatopia
• Snakeball
• flOw Download Pack
• MotorStorm Vehicle and Livery Pack
• PixelJunk Monsters
• Folklore Download Packs 1 and 2

Holiday line-up for the PlayStation Portable:

First-Party Games:

• Jeanne d’Arc
• NBA ‘08
• SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs
• Tactical Strike
• Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow

Third-Party Games:

• Spider-Man 3, Activision
• Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground, Activision
• Atari Classics Evolved, Atari
• Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Capcom
• Ben 10: Protector of Earth, D3
• FIFA 08, EA
• The Sims 2 Castaway, EA
• The Simpsons Game, EA
• Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, Konami
• Silent Hill Origins, Konami
• Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus, Konami
• Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron, Lucas Arts
• Sonic Rivals 2, Sega
• The Golden Compass, Sega
• Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, Square-Enix
• WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008, THQ
• MX vs. ATV Untamed, THQ
• Beowulf, Ubisoft
• SWAT: Target Liberty, Vivendi
• Aliens vs. Predator Requiem, Vivendi

Holiday line-up for the PlayStation 2:

First-Party Games:

• Buzz! The Mega Quiz
• Buzz! Junior: Jungle Party
• Hot Shots Tennis
• NBA ‘08
• SingStar: Amped
• SingStar: 80’s
• Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror

Third-Party Games:

• Cabela’s Monster Bass, Activision
• Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Activision
• Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground, Activision
• Dragon Ball(R) Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Atari
• High School Musical: Sing It, Disney
• Need for Speed ProStreet, EA
• Rock Band, EA
• Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Zombie Ninja Pro-Am, Midway
• .hack//G.U. Vol. 3: Redemption, Namco Bandai
• PopCap Hits! Vol. 1, Popcap
• Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus, Sega
• Fatal Fury Battle Archives Volume 2, SNK
• Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess, Square-Enix
• College Hoops 2K8, Take 2
• Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Burning Earth, THQ
• SpongeBob’s Atlantis SquarePants, THQ
• MX vs. ATV Untamed, THQ
• Crash of the Titans, Vivendi
• The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night, Vivendi
• Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal, Warner Bros.

Read [Game Career Guide] Site [Playstation] Also Read [Game Shark]

In anticipation for Halo 3, Master Replicas, a company dedicated to providing replica figurines and other collectibles, is bringing to miniature life two popular Halo weapons.  The Battle Rifle and the Covenant Carbine are going to be available for consumer preorder July 19, 2007, for $19.99 each.

While Master Replicas deals with replicas from all facets of the movie business including Harry Potter , Star Wars and The Muppets, they’re just starting to tackle the video game realm.

Both replicas measure 6 inches long with die cast metal construction and a Halo 3 stand.  Take a look at some pictures of each weapon here.  These collector’s items are…

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