Microsoft, Sony – Where is my Virtual Reality?!
This holiday season, Microsoft will be offering the Kinect for Xbox 360. Not to be outdone, Sony also plans to debut Move for PlayStation 3. These peripherals will immerse gamers a little deeper into the game where every move and gesture of the hands and body will be the controller. The Kinect and Move will also bring augmented reality to the table as an entertainment experience. While these devices show a lot of promise and potential, somehow I don’t think this is where gaming should be for the 21st century.
Video gaming has come a long way since the days of the Atari 2600 console. Graphics are now rendered in 3D with textures, effects, and environments that, at times, seem to blur the line between watching a live action movie and computer generated images (CGI). As we have entered the 21st century, gaming has become more immersive and interactive: replacing the one-button wired joystick with wireless controllers that seemed to have more buttons than you could handle and motion-detecting wands and cameras.
Review – Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Now with Onslaught Mode
This week developer Dice gave their recent hit Battlefield: Bad Company 2 an adrenaline shot. Onslaught mode was made available for purchase on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. What was already an action packed game filled with intense combat action for online play, just got beefed up even more. For the price of $9.99 on PSN, or 800 points on XBL, Onslaught mode is now available for download.
Onslaught allows four friends to team up together to capture objectives while fighting against an extremely aggressive, intelligent, and constantly re-spawning AI. Some of the enemy units have been seen to behave a lot like other players behave in multiplayer, without the cognitive thinking, of course. Most of the time, enemy units are not standing still to shoot at you, making for a harder target at which to shoot. Additionally, enemy units don’t wait for you to come to them, or for you or your team to be spotted; they are actively and aggressively seeking out you and your team.
First Impressions – Transformers: War For Cybertron Multiplayer Demo
Yesterday, the multiplayer-only demo for the highly anticipated game Transformers: War For Cybertron was released on Xbox Live. Within just two hours of going online, as many as 3,000 gamers had already joined the fray. The game is an exciting prospect for fans, both young and old and promises to be the Transformers experience they’ve always wanted. Being a total fan of the franchise since it’s introduction in the U.S. in the early 80’s, I wasted no time getting to XBL to download the demo.
The demo allows you to choose between Team Deathmatch or Conquest modes. Once you have been teamed up with other players, you can choose between playing as a Scout or a Soldier. All other play modes and character types have been reserved for the full game. You are allowed a few options in customizing your character with a few weapons, but the developer, High Moon Studios, promises that there will be many options for the customization of your character and more game modes to choose from, once the full version of the game is released.
Windows 7 SP1 Beta slated for July 2010 release
It seems like only a few months ago that Microsoft released Windows 7. That’s why some were surpised to hear the operating system’s first Service Pack (SP) is expected to be released in its Beta form in July 2010. Luckily for Microsoft (and users of the OS), the SP1 release isn’t based on the need to fix a multitude of problems, as was the case with Windows Vista SP1.
Instead users can expect a rollup of Windows Updates released, since the initial release of the OS last year. One new feature that is significant in Windows 7 SP1 is the addition the Remote Desktop client that supports changes released in Windows Server 2008 SP1. Because the SP1 Beta doesn’t include any critical fixes that weren’t already provided through regular Windows Updates, many users may opt to hold off on installing it, since the final release version is likely to be released within a few months.
Kontrol Freek gives serious gamers a new edge
In the never-ending quest to be the best gamer out there, a new company brings to the public a new gadget that just may give you the upper hand….or thumb, in this case. Enter Kontrol Freek with their two snap-on accessories for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers: FPS Freek and Speed Freek.
FPS Freek and Speed Freek are universally-fitting, snap-on attachments for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 controller. While Kontrol Freek touts some pretty strong hype about their products, it seems to be able to back it up with many favorable customer reviews.
Dual Triggers: A surprisingly functional accessory for PS3
As an avid gamer and a PlayStation 3 aficionado, I’m always looking for tips, tricks, gadgets, and trinkets to heighten my gaming experience and give me an extra edge when playing online against other human minds. Sadly most add-ons do not live up to their hype, but I have found one that does: Dual Triggers for the PlayStation 3 controller from Performance Designed Products (or PDP).
Released in November 2009, Dual Triggers is a set of two concave attachments that snap on to the L2 and R2 buttons of the PlayStation Dualshock 3 controller. Dual Triggers are just as easily removed as they are installed, if you find it doesn’t suit your needs. Once attached, they give you the feel of a rather large gun trigger in place of the rounded-off buttons, which is ironic, in name and function, since most PlayStation 3 shooters use L1 and R1 as primary or secondary weapon’s fire.
Dual Triggers with L2 attached
The Telephone Company: Giving more than just a “voice” to customers
For most people, hearing the words “telephone company” brings a relatively drab image to mind of your typical phone line in your home and a crusty lineman climbing the aged and weathered telephone pole in your back yard. Many people may even think of the DSL line connected to their home computer and hope the phone company is doing something to keep their “technology” up-to-date. But what most people don’t know is that the local telephone company or ILEC (Independent Local Exchange Carrier) is much more than DSL service or the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) to which they’re accustomed. Your ILEC is indeed at the forefront of existing and emerging communication technologies that you may or may not know about.
Does it work now? How 'bout now?
Sprint Announces Preordering and Sets Official Release Date for the HTC Evo 4G
In a GSL post published April 13, 2010 on the HTC Evo 4G and Windows Phone 7, discussion centered around whether or not either would be successful enough to gain a statistically significant share of the smartphone market. A month later, it seems that Sprint (NYSE: S) is ready to see if they can make the dream become a reality.
According to a Sprint News Release dated May 12, 2010, the wireless carrier will officially release the HTC EVO 4G on June 4, 2010. Pricing is set at $199.99. What’s the catch? Customers must also sign a two-year contract with Sprint and submit a $100.00 rebate request, via mail. In addition to the regular monthly charges, it seems customers will also have to pay an additional $10.00 for a WiMax plan, which will enable them to have access to the full, 4G stream. Those who don’t wish to purchase the plan will still be able to use the device but will be limited to speeds associated with 3G coverage. Additionally, a separate charge of $29.99 (shareable among up to eight devices, on the same account) will be included for Sprint customers who wish to use the company’s mobile hotspot capability.
HTC Evo 4G from Sprint
Gamers on the Move: Reviewing the potential of motion controllers
In November 2006, Nintendo introduced the Wii. The state-of-the-art gaming console quickly distinguished itself from previous generation consoles, with its accelerometer-equipped, wireless controllers and infrared sensors to determine its position in 3D space. This made for a great family experience in the family rooms around the world.
Suddenly, players were able to hold the controller like a tennis racket and actually feel like they were playing tennis in their homes. The fun didn’t stop there. Games like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Mario Galaxy, and the various Guitar Hero titles took us from playing the game to actually being in the game. While the Wii was an instant hit and still is a top-seller among gaming consoles, it wasn’t long before talk on the street suggested that people weren’t using their Wii lightsabers, tennis rackets and guitars quite as often. For the parents and the hardcore gamers, the Wii quickly seemed to lose its charm. Was it a graphics or game play issue? Was it a content issue? Ultimately, I think it may have been a combination of all three.
Nintendo's Magical Wii Controller
Leveraging Social Media: A Success Story for the Regular Guy
Around the World Wide Web, information and opportunities abound. Everywhere you look there exists the potential to make friends, find a job, or give to a charity. If you need something, you can find it. For that matter, you can find anything. If you are a philanderer, there’s even an outlet for you. Yes, you can find a one night stand or an extra-marital affair. Sickening. I know. The point is that there is virtually no limit regarding the availability of information.
But what if you’re a regular guy who actually needs something or just wants something that you don’t have the means to acquire? Well, there’s hope for you, too. A good example the potential for finding help through the internet is a man that wanted a house. In July of 2005, Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald started off with a red paper clip. His method was to trade for something bigger and better. His goal: a house. Did it work? You bet your boots it did. About a year and several trades later, he got his house. Because of his unique endeavor, you can now easily Google his name or find him up on Wikipedia.
