Gadget Addiction Round-Up: Microsoft Edition

Zune HD Gets Gamey

You’ve got an NVIDIA Tegra processor, oodles of music, and some videos. It ain’t exactly a recipe for maximizing your assets. And so it’s high time some developers took advantage of the raw power. Six new titles were recently released, some of which were designed to push the Zune’s graphic, certainly more so than the first round of 2D throw-away titles. Games like Lucky Lane Bowling and Vans Sk8: Pool Service actually add a degree of replayability, while upping the ante in visuals department. ...

The PSP Go

It wasn’t always this way. Once upon a time companies would release a gaming device, be it portable or home console, and that would be the sole iteration until the next generation. Sure, there were add-ons and peripherals; gaming gloves, motion-sensing hexagons, infra-red guns. But these plug-ins generally complimented the original experience, rather than cordoning off a new area where only the most up-to-date consumers may enter. That trend began to shift, perhaps with Nintendo’s N64 Expansion Pack all those years ago, which rendered some games exclusive to the physical upgrade. Now it’s become a common trend. The Gameboy ...

The Beatles: Rock Band

In many ways, the Beatles started it all. So, it’s somewhat ironic that after Guitar Hero and Rock Band have exhausted so many music genres that, at long last, we arrive at the beginning with the most famous band of them all. Up until the release of these 45 Beatle tracks and their custom instruments, it had been a growing debate on just how one should distribute the likes of Let it Be and Norwegian Wood. But now those questions can be laid to rest, for The Beatles: Rock Band is a resounding success.

Part of the success of the release comes from the simple fact ...

Sony’s PS3 Motion Controller

Hot on the heels of Microsoft’s big ‘Natal’ E3 reveal is Sony’s motion-tracking rebuttal [pictured above is an image from Sony's patent filling late last year]. Since Microsoft had the advantage of going first, the question analysts and amateurs are asking themselves is; how does the PS3 Motion Controller (yes, it’s actually called that, for the time being at least) stack up against Natal? In these early, carefully curated demonstrations it’s difficult to produce anything remotely conclusive. And so in my Natal write-up I emphasized the word ‘potential’ ...

Microsoft Debuts full 3-D Motion Tracking Peripheral for Xbox 360

Live from E3 it’s mind-blowing innovation from…Microsoft?

Yes, I gave into the allure of Xbox’s E3 Press Conference. With rumours of previously exclusive titles coming to the Xbox (360 owners were offered instead of a port, a brand new Metal Gear game) as well as anticipated sequels (Forza 3 and Crackdown 2 made appearances) it was hard to resist. But Microsoft already had me, hook, line and sinker when they refused to quell rumours of a motion tracking device similar to that of the Wii. Hours into the press conference yielded only trailers and live-gameplay, leaving me curious if all the peripheral-hype ...

Rumour: Xbox 360’s Unusual Approach to Motion Control

When it first became known that Nintendo’s Wii would feature motion-sensing remote controls the response from its competitors ranged from dismissive to downright imitation (though still no one at Sony will admit that it is the highest form of flattery). But as the sales of Nintendo’s latest console continue to climb Sony has to be wondering if their tilt-sensing SIXAXIS controller is going to be attractive enough to innovative developers. And Microsoft, well they might just have to reconsider their whole perspective on the matter and if the persistent barrage of rumours over ...

The Future of Videogames?

It wasn’t all that long ago that if you used the words ‘Cloud’ and ‘video games’ in the same sentence you were obviously referring the titular hero of Final Fantasy VII and nothing else. But if Rearden Studios have their way ‘cloud gaming’ just might be the future of the burgeoning billion dollar industry. Making its debut at this year’s Game Developers Conference is OnLive, an ambitious project that would see PC games streamed over networks to televisions across the United States.

Prior to GDC ’09, OnLive was virtually unknown. The concept was ...

Zen Bound for the iPhone/iPod Touch

Every once in a while there comes a game that just completely embraces its’ medium. This isn’t about blockbuster titles but instead it’s about taking what’s available and making the most out of it. Every platform has these games; Goldeneye for the N64 redefined the FPS genre, LittleBigPlanet reinvented the platformer, and Zen Bound, while not as expansive, is no less impressive.

You’re not going to find a written description of Zen Bound that does the gameplay ...

OLED Explained

There are a million tech terms out there from the newest G3 to the hype in CFL, and most of the time I have no idea what they mean. OLED is just the newest in a long line of up-and-coming technologies with snappy acronyms, but what is the OLED display and why is it so much better than regular LCD (liquid crystal display) technology?

LEDs are very well known for their recent use in Christmas lighting, but OLEDs ...

The Trend in Intelligent Furniture

When you picture the future of furniture, what comes to mind? Maybe bold colors and art nouvae design. Whatever the future looks like, what will be more important is what’s hidden from view.

Intelligent furniture, that is furniture with built-in electronics capabilities, is becoming more and more popular as home electronics become sleeker, smaller, and easier to integrate. One of these is the MECO, or MediaCore, a home entertainment mecca of sorts, consolidating your PC, DVD player, TiVo, digital ...