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Nintendo Wii U To Lack Blue-ray and DVD Drives, To Include Radeon HD4000 GPU

Admin — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 12:16:28 +0000

New, post-E3 details are starting to emerge about the specs of Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U console.

Despite rumors that the console would include a Blu-ray or DVD drive, Nintendo has confirmed that they will instead be using their own proprietary disc format. This does not, however mean that they will be using a lower capacity disc as Nintendo has stated that they will have a 25GB maximum (the same as Blu-ray). The downside is that the Wii U won’t be able to double as a Blu-ray or DVD player (just as the original Wii), but game storage won’t suffer under Nintendo’s proprietary discs. Consumers in looking to watching hi-def content on their Wii U will still be able due to its 1080p out through HDMI.

Nintendo Wii U

We’re also getting to know a little more about IBM’s CPU that’s powering the Wii U. GameWatch, a Japanese gaming site, has found that the Wii U is packing a Radeon HD4000 GPU that supports Direct X 10.1 (released in 2008). This news has come as a slight disappointment to the gaming community because the hardware isn’t as leaps and bounds ahead of the PS3 or Xbox 360 as first imagined (especially after the impressive “Japanese Garden demo” Nintendo showed off). It’s easy to understand why Nintendo would choose to go with slightly outdated tech in this case, as cutting-edge hardware would have severely increased their production costs, putting them in a similar position where Sony was when they released the PS3 in 2006 for US$599.

We’ve come to expect impressive visuals from Nintendo’s first party games, but it’ll be up to third-parties to get the most out of the Wii U’s hardware when it’s released in 2012.

Via: GizmoDigit

Sony’s Next Generation Portable Sony PSP 2 Features

Arun Logesh — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 07:08:37 +0000

Last Thursday, Sony has given us a small preview of the next generation of the portable gaming system PSP. The new product is named NGP (Next Generation Portable Sony PSP 2) and is the successor of the popular PSP or PlayStation Portable Gaming System of Sony.

Sony's Next Generation Portable

It is estimated to be released commercially by the end of the year. Sony has yet not disclosed the exact date of release, Price and the countries where it is expected to be launched.

Sony has however disclosed the following features of NGP:

Multi-touch
Front OLED screen of 5 inch
A Screen resolution of 960-by-544
A multi-touch pad in the back of device
Two cameras : – One on the front and other on the back
3G and Wi-Fi supports
Inbuilt GPS
It has three sensors which detect motion
Accelerometer
Electronic compass
Gyroscope
Inbuilt microphone and stereo speakers

The dimension of this gaming console is roughly 182 by 18.6 by 83.5mm. It is powered by ARM Cortex A9. It can connect to the PlayStation Network. It is also compatible to all previous PSP minis, titles, classics. It can also play comics and video brought from the official PlayStation Store.

Sony Next Generation Portable Sony PSP 2

At its Meeting for PlayStation held in Tokyo, Sony said that it would launch many more franchise with the release of NGP. The name of these franchise are not yet been finalized. These franchises include best selling games like “Call of Duty,”, “LittleBigPlanet,”, “Uncharted,” and several other games. The detail about these games would be released by Sony soon

Sony’s Next Generation Portable Sony PSP 2 Overview, Spec And Features

Chad Faith — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 15:43:16 +0000

On 27^th January at Tokyo, Japan, Sony launched its latest PlayStation titled Sony PSP 2 (PlayStation Portable) with a code name of NGP (New Generation PlayStation). It is based on the concepts of Converging Real and Virtual Reality, a Revolutionary User Interface (UI), the ability for Local Entertainment, the capability for Social connectivity and has the power to be compatible with PlayStation suite.

Sony PSP 2

The PSP 2 will have a monstrous 5 inch touch-screen with an admirable resolution of 960 x 544 and a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9. Instead of the regular single stick, this PlayStation will be equipped with two analog sticks including the facility for operation from the rear. With back and front cameras and Wi-Fi and GPS with 3G modes, this PSP 2 is really geared to set the gaming scenario on fire. It possesses a sensing motion similar to that of the PlayStation Move and is outfitted with a compass being operational electronically. The gaming system is based on flash memory card entirely focused for NGP games.

Sony Unvails Sony PSP 2

With the help of the rear and front screen facility, you can operate with two fingers to grab the gaming object, push and pull the game ball simultaneously. It is an awesome piece of engineered ingenuity which is as powerful as a PlayStation3 with the additional feature of PSP 2 being a portable device. The two sticks, which operate in an easy and fast responsive manner, will be a vast improvement on the usual nubs which never helped you get the right moves. The flash memory cards enable you to store on the card itself the entire software titles or their add-ons. This technology will in future lead to Sony offering flash cards with more capacity.

PSP 2 Hands On

Sony has mitigated the chance of spurious batteries with its non-chargeable battery. This aspect of the battery was also necessitated due to the addition of a touchpad at the rear which has resulted in a tamper proof device. There are SIXAXIS controls which will help your functions of controlling motions as done in smartphones and for traditional gamers there is the regular D-Pad in the cross layout with four buttons and triggers for left – right moves. There is ultra modern software pre-loaded that will enable you to connect with your peers and also to view which game who is playing and what scores are logged in a particular section. Sony is also pre-installing revolutionary software titled “Near” for provision of location based services by virtue of which you will be able to meet your friends in a virtual environment just by sharing gaming data over various distances and dimensions

Sony PSP 2 Screen

The spectacular PSP 2 is loaded with formidable features with a four core ARM® Cortex™-A9 processor and SGX543MP4+ GPU. It is light-weight with approximate dimensions of 182 x 18.6 x 83.5 mm in width, height and depth respectively. It also includes a touch sensitive rear screen with cameras located at the rear and front also. With the microphone being built-in along with speakers giving stereo sound, you can enjoy a near perfect clarity of sounds making your gaming an experience to cherish. It has a six-axis system for sensing motions with three each for accelerometer and gyroscope with a compass electronically operated and also based on three-axis function. It also boasts of a support service for Wi-Fi and GPS locations.

Sony PSP 2

Also, Sony PSP 2 allows for downloads of PSP games from the gaming PlayStation store of Sony. The games have started at the pinnacle of the launch with Unchartered being demoed at the launch. There were other games also showcased, predominant ones being WipeOut and Killerzone, Monster Hunter, Resistance, Hot Shots Golf, Call of Duty and many other popular games. You are welcome to bring your diary of digital games onto this exciting adventurous world of PSP 2 since it is compatible for downloading even digital titles. The superlative OLED screen is very life-like and crystal clear, enhancing the enjoyment and adventure of gaming on a portable PlayStation. Due to the removal of UMD being replaced by flash memory cards, the 5 inch screen monster is extremely light-weight. And it is very comfy to handle, having grips for your hands to fit in. As of the launch date, there are a horde of publishers who have pledged their support for the NGP. These include D3 PUBLISHER Inc., AQ INTERACTIVE INC., CyberConnect2 Co. Ltd., ALVION Inc. and ACQUIRE Corp. out of the 48 companies from Japan. There are another 16 companies from North America and 18 companies from Europe / Pal who also given their support to PSP 2.

Sony's Next Generation Portable Sony PSP 2

Sony also introduced a PlayStation®Suite (PS Suite), targeted for this NGP and is based on the Android™ compatible portables. Thus, the typical mobile user will also be able to use the Sony PSP 2 as will those in search of innovative and cutting-edge technology. Sony is all set to take the gaming scenario to the highest level and plans to do so with its ground breaking products. The myriad buttons enable you to move in a multiple of directions – up or down and right and left as also for circular, cross, triangular or square motions. With two analog sticks – instead of the regular nubs – the PSP 2 comes with buttons for selection as well as volume control. It also commands 3G mobile connectivity function enabling social networking. At the launch, Sony had connected this PSP 2 to external speakers to enhance the sound effects.

All in all, the Sony PSP 2 is a Goliath power-house with the ingenuity of a David!

Purported Nintendo 3DS Leaked Pics Appears On Web

Arun Logesh — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 06:40:39 +0000

The photographs of Nintendo 3DS are seen on many website on the internet. The authenticities of these photographs are yet to be verified. These pictures were first seen on a forum for gamers and the photo shows a 3DS shell which is entirely black in color. But the black version of Nintendo 3DS was already launched by the company last year. Nintendo had also released a model with bezels. Black bezel was found in the top display and blue bezel in the bottom screen.

Leaked Nintendo 3DS image

The new version of 3DS as shown by the leaked photograph has some changes from other versions. For instance the buttons for start, home, and select are now in the bottom of the device covered in plastic. Besides that there are no major changes from the past released models.

3DS Buzz was the first gaming website to post this leak photographs. 3DS revealed the source of the photograph as one of the Nintendo’s factory worker. Also a video was posted on YouTube regarding the device earlier but it was removed soon after the posting. Though other video links were working, it is highly probable that they too be removed by the company.

Nintendo has not made a comment about these photographs yet. It has not come forward to either confirm or deny that these alleged photographs are indeed the latest version of its best selling mobile gaming console. But the design looks like it is the authentic Nintendo 3DS.

The official Nintendo 3DS image

The release date of Nintendo 3DS is February 26 in Japan and March in America and Europe. The exact date for release of 3DS in America and Europe has not been announced. This console can play 3D titles without the need for 3D glasses. The price of this console is set at 300$ and can be pre-order at many gaming stores by paying an advance of 50$.

PlayStation Move Review, Specification And Price

Admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 08:50:18 +0000

We have, for some months now, been witness to the war of words between Microsoft and Sony over their entrance into the motion-controlled video gaming market. Both companies have been punting their offerings as the next big thing (despite the fact that Nintendo has been doing the motion gaming thing for years now) and the addition of such devices to HD consoles certainly is big news.

PlayStation Move

Sony beat Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect to the market this time around, with the release of their Move peripheral. The Move system, at its core, is a combination of a PSEye camera and a controller. The controller is topped with a glowing orb that helps the camera track the user’s movement and the result is excellent. The Move system captures true 1:1 movement, meaning that the user’s movements are accurately tracked by the device and translated to the game.

PlayStation Move Front

The camera is a high grade web-cam that is equipped with a sensitive microphone. We have seen this camera before – it was released a while ago, and is the same one that was used with PS3 games like Eye of Judgement and EyePet.

The controller is a wand-like device that fits very comfortably into the user’s hand. The shape works with a variety of hand sizes, too, allowing easy access to all the necessary buttons. The four face buttons that have been a familiar feature of all PlayStation consoles (and have even been incorporated into logos and marketing) are positioned comfortable around a central “Move” button.

PlayStation Move Back

Their position, relative to one another, has been rotated by roughly 45 degrees, so the familiar “top, bottom, left, right” idea doesn’t come into play. Users will have to get used to the new relative positioning of the buttons.

That said, they don’t come into play much (at least not in early games we have seen.) Instead, the games make use mainly of the large Move button, which is comfortably position for easy thumb access.

PlayStation Move Left

The other button that games make use of is a large trigger mounted at the bottom of the device, well placed for the user’s index finger. This trigger is also used for menu navigation: holding it down will allow the user to flick through menus with relative ease (although getting use to exactly how much motion is required to do this is advised.)

A PS button is also included, located to the bottom for the Move button. It is recessed to avoid accidental activation. Select and Start buttons are located on the sides of the unit. They will generally need a second hand to be accessed.

PlayStation Move Sub Controller

The base of the unit features an expansion slot, for extra peripherals that are planned, as well as a USB interface. This allows the unit to be connected to the PS3 via a USB cable, primarily for charging (the internal, rechargeable battery is a big plus.) The whole thing is rather light, but feels sturdy. The orb, which changes colour according to game needs, is constructed out of a pliable material, to ensure that it doesn’t break if the controller is dropped. Then again, using the included wrist strap is strongly advised.

On the whole, the Move system is a fantastic addition to the PlayStation 3 stable. It delivers good motion sensing, and will open a whole new avenue to game developers and gamers alike. In India it’s available around Rs. 2,499.

Introducing Xbox Kinect for Xbox 360

Admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:58:47 +0000

“Xbox Kinect” is a new, full-body interaction system for use with the XBox 360 game console. It allows players to interact with games in an entirely new way, by using their bodies as the controller. You might remember this line of Steven Spielberg:

“This is a pivotal moment that will carry with it a wave of change, the ripples of which will reach far beyond video games.” – Steven Spielberg

Xbox Kinect For Xbox 360

Only a few years ago, the thought of someone virtually entering the gaming world was implausible. However, with today’s innovative technology, the impossible is gradually becoming possible. Microsoft’s release of the next chapter of gaming through a whole new system, which is called Xbox Kinect, was first introduced at the electronic convention, E3, in June 2009, Microsoft’s one crippling flaw was that its Xbox series only attracted a select group of “hardcore” gamers. Therefore, one of Microsoft’s main goals in creating Xbox Kinect is to attract gamers of all ages and skill levels. By using an interactive gaming experience similar to the Nintendo Wii’s, which is popular among players young and old, Microsoft hopes to achieve the same results by changing their system altogether. The one difference between the Wii and Xbox Kinect is that Xbox Kinect does not utilize any handheld controllers. Instead of a conventional video game controller, Xbox Kinect has an infrared camera that picks up on the gamer’s movements. It also operates with a distinct voice recognition device that will clearly distinguish one player from another.

Know More About Xbox Kinect From Video:

For example, in the popular racing game, Burnout, the gamer steers by holding his or her hands into the air, as if holding a steering wheel and accelerates by moving his foot forward as if stepping on a gas pedal; to use the turbo, the gamer has to do a gear-pumping movement with his right arm. Microsoft’s Marc Whitten credits Nintendo with setting things in motion: “They have done some amazing things and brought new people to the category. This is fundamentally different. It’s (about) my body being the controller (and) being able to communicate with just my voice to the system.” Aside from the confirmation of the product name, some information on a few games was also mentioned:-

Kinect Joy Ride – a racing game which lets players use their hands to hold an imaginary steering wheel.

Kinect Joy Ride-Xbox Kinect Game

Kinect Sports – has six activities including boxing, bowling, beach volleyball, track and field, soccer and table tennis. To serve volleyball, you mimic the real motion; in soccer, you can kick the ball or do a header.

Kinect Sports-Xbox Kinect Game

Star Wars – characters and iconic Disney favorites will be featured in separate new games being developed at Microsoft in conjunction with LucasArts and Disney.

Microsoft Sold 10 Million Kinect In 60 Days: Holds Fastest-Selling Gadget Records

Batman: Arkham Asylum – Video Games Review

Admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:22:36 +0000

There is no doubt that Batman has gained immense popularity over the decades. Be it comics, action figures, animated series, video games or movies, the caped crusader has always managed to deliver loads of action with a more realistic take to the superhero genre. With the release of Batman: Arkham Asylum, gamers were once again itching to take up the role of Batman and foil another of the Joker’s evil plots, and as always, the whole experience is extremely enjoyable.

Batman Arkham Asylum

The game kicks off with Batman transporting the Joker to Arkham Asylum, a mental institution-cum-containment facility that houses some of the most notorious villains in Gotham City. Only after reaching the asylum does Batman realize that the Joker has set up an ingenious trap. The villain proceeds to turn the place upside down after he escapes. It is now up to the Dark Knight to return things back to order while figuring out the Joker’s new devious scheme. The plot holds marvelously in place and incorporates characters such as Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Killer Croc with a finesse that links with the flow of the story very smoothly.

Batman Arkham Asylum

Gameplay

With regards to gameplay, Batman: Arkham Asylum does exceptionally well. Players control Batman from a third-person over-the-shoulder perspective similar to titles such as Dead Space and Gears of War. The plot requires Batman to visit many locations on the island where the asylum is located — including an on-site Batcave — while unlocking useful gadgets along the way. Arkham Asylum features numerous facilities with the penitentiary, medical facility, botanical gardens and the Arkham family mansion incorporated into the adventure. On the other hand, the game does require the player to backtrack quite a bit, but makes each venture quite refreshing by providing unique challenges along the way. In some cases, the player will be ambushed by a gang of thugs, whereas in others, the changing environment itself requires the player to think and plot his way out of the situation. With the game’s brilliant and precise pacing, the gameplay is never too rushed or too much of a drag.

Batman Arkham Asylum

Gameplay is divided into three major segments: Combat, Predator and Detective mode. When taking on a group of thugs, Batman uses martial arts and other non-lethal means to take them down. Combat is handled brilliantly in-game, with Batman’s smooth and precise movements, making his moves seem quite effortless. It centers on attacking the opponents as well as countering incoming moves. By chaining regular and counter-attacks in combos, Batman is able to perform special moves such as throws and takedowns, which apart from being a delight to watch, also racks up some experience points (XP) that can be used to upgrade gadgets and unlock new moves. Fight sequences require the player to constantly stay alert and know when to attack, counter and evade. Though often challenging, fighting hordes of enemies is hardly ever frustrating, which is a testament to the brilliant pacing of these sequences. On some occasions, however, Batman will encounter armed gunmen and even though the Dark Knight is tough, after a few seconds of gunfire, it is game over for him. This is where the Predator mode comes in, which relies on using gadgets and stealth to take down the bad guys. Detective mode basically incorporates cutting-edge forensic tools that identify the many useful objects and tools that aid Batman in his adventure. When activated, it allows the player to see enemies through walls and hidden passageways among other things. An important use of the Predator mode is scouring for secrets in- game. The game subsequently evolves in these events by offering different challenges from time to time, resulting in the experience never being monotonous. On the contrary, this is precisely where the player truly feels like Batman. The game world, though presented in a linear path, allows for exploration at any time. Exploration of the world is prompted by items and clues left on the Island by the Riddler for Batman to find, as well as some scavenger-hunt style clues in almost every area. The Riddler hides these items in very clever locations, and finding them all definitely proves to be a lot of fun besides also rewarding the player with bonus XP, gallery profiles, character trophies and challenge mode missions.

Batman Arkham Asylum

Visual and Sound

Arkham Asylum pulls off visuals and effects with flare. The environments are gorgeous, the characters are highly detailed and the world is intricately designed. While the place may seem like a gothic abode, not all environments are as gloomy, which makes the game environment easier to delve into. Voicing the lead characters are the legendary Kevin Conroy for Batman and Mark Hamill as The Joker, as well as other familiar voices from the animated series. The effects convey the ambience of the asylum very well, be it the inmates shrieks or The Jokers ominous laughter over the PA system. It also depicts the toughness and insanity of the various characters Batman encounters, adding impressive depth to the game.

Batman Arkham Asylum

There have been other games in the past that have used all the other elements that most people expect from a proper Batman game. Arkham Asylum takes the best from them, pieces them together, and manages to create a truly magnificent experience. While the game may not last as long as others, know that this one provides one of the most satisfying experiences to date.

Alienware M11x – A Good Weapon for the Gamers

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