TriMount Turns Your TV Into an Ugly But Organized Gaming Nirvana

Once upon a time, it was possible for hardcore gamers to ply their avocation inconspicuously, their games and controllers stored in boxes, and their consoles tucked away behind the doors of their entertainment center or component cabinet.  These days, however, motion is A Big Deal, and as a result, taking full advantage of a modern console requires placing a sensor of some kind out in the open, usually on top of your TV.  But HDTVs only have so much real estate on top of their ever-slimmer frames, and naturally the big three console makers have no interest in making it easy to use a competitor’s sensor in addition to their own, so the number of consoles a gamer can use effectively becomes limited by how many sensors one can haphazardly stack on top of one’s TV.

Well, multi-platform gamers need fret no longer, because the dreamGEAR TriMount is here to solve our sensor-placement woes for good.  Attaching easily to most HDTVs via an adjustable screw or to a wall via a wall mount, the TriMount provides space for the Xbox 360 Kinect Sensor, the PlayStation Eye, and the Wii Sensor Bar.  The resultant amalgamation of cameras and sensors ends up looking like some sort of dystopian Big Brother surveillance device, but at only $29.99 it may be just what the doctor ordered, presuming that your doctor’s last name is “Mario”, “Robotnik”, or “Wily”.

The TriMount is currently available for pre-order at the dreamGEAR website, and will begin shipping on 8/15/2011.

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REVIEW >> Japanese News Confirms Nintendo’s New Controller to Have Touchscreen, Camera

 

A Japan-based newspaper has reported that Nintendo’s upcoming gaming system, which is codenamed “Project Cafe,” will have touchscreen controllers with built-in cameras. This report has confirmed, or at least given more credibility, long-running rumors about the next-gen Nintendo Wii.

Nikkei added that the controller will have a six-inch touchscreen display and camera, as well as tablet-like functionality. Thinking about it, the console might look like a Wii being controlled by a slimmer Nintendo DSi. How that would work? We will have to find out.

Nintendo is set to unveil this new gaming gadget at this year’s E3 next week.

Source: Nikkei, via CrunchGear

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REVIEW: Real Racing 2 HD Update Steals Wii U’s Thunder

 

The Nintendo Wii U may be an innovation in gaming, but it won’t be the first one to introduce the touchscreen controller system to consumers. Real Racing 2 HD, a popular race app on iPad, has announced an update to its previous one that enables users to play the game straight to the TV while using the tablet as the controller. This time, there will be no need for wires to connect the iPad and the TV as users could simply use AirPlay technology to beam every turn straight to the television screen. Users would need an Apple TV or other Mac device connected to the television for this wireless gaming to work. Also, this update would only be made available once iOS 5 is released around fall.

In the meantime, you can download Real Racing 2 HD for $12.99 from the Apple App Store.

Source: Firemint

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REVIEW: THQ uDraw GameTablet Gives Xbox 360 and PS3 the “Wii U Experience”

 

The introduction of Nintendo’s Wii U gaming system may have made some people wondering whether Microsoft and Sony would create their own touchscreen controllers, much like how the two companies created the Kinect and PlayStation Move, respectively, in response to Nintendo Wii’s motion gaming. Actually, they have, but with a gaming device created by a third party.

THQ comes up with the uDraw GameTablet, a slate device that would cater to both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Like the Wii U controller, it has a touchscreen display that also can be used for drawing and handwriting. However, it is noticeably thinner than the Wii U counterpart mainly due to the lack of a Wiimote holder, something the two other consoles do not need.

So far, both Xbox 360 and PS3 have yet to unveil games that will support the uDraw, but the device itself features uDraw Studio and Pictionary, which are bound to leave you busy for hours. Both versions of the THQ uDraw GameTablet will be available in November for less than $100.

Source: Engadget

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REVIEW: Nyko Reveals Gear for Nearsighted Kinect and Longer-Lasting Nintendo 3DS

 

Gaming gear maker Nyko unveils an array of helpful accessories for your gaming devices at this year’s E3. First of the bunch is the Zoom for Kinect, a clip-on spectacles that is set right in front of Kinect’s sensor bar, allowing you to get 40 percent closer to the device with no loss of function. This makes motion gaming with Kinect a whole lot of fun even in smaller spaces.

Meanwhile, the Nyko Play Clock (pictured, left) is a charging dock for Nintendo 3DS that also functions as an alarm clock. Why you ask? Perhaps someone out there would rather use his 3DS as an wakee-upper rather than the iPhone, the iPod, or let alone an actual alarm clock.

Finally, Nyko rolls out not one, but three new extended battery packs for the Nintendo 3DS for longer battery life. The Shock n’ Rock brings triple battery life, vibration feedback, and four speakers. The Power Grip is an external battery that not only triples the battery life, but is also ergonomic to handle. And the Game Boost (pictured, right) is a simple snap-on accessory, giving your 3DS an extra hour or two of gameplay.

All of these accessories still have mysterious prices and availability dates, so you better keep an eye here for more updates.

Source: Engadget

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REVIEW: Nyko Play Clock For Nintendo 3DS

With the Nintendo 3DS becoming a popular portable gaming console, other accessories may tend to give it some added useful features. There’s the Nyko Play Clock that would give your 3DS a unique feature while you are charging it. It might be reminiscent of those docking stations made for smartphones.

The Nyko Play Clock is a charging dock for the Nintendo 3DS that features more than just a charging facility for your portable gaming device. It also features an alarm clock as well as an AM/FM radio. It comes with its own powered stereo speakers that allow users to access music files stored on their 3DS and listen to it on the Nyko Play Clock. It also features a line-in port that allows users to access music files from their smartphones, MP3 players and more. The Nyko Play clock is now available at Nyko for US$40.

Image Source: Nyko

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REVIEW: Nintendo Unveils Wii U Gaming Console

 

After weeks of speculation, Nintendo has finally unveiled its latest generation of gaming console. The Wii U features a large, touchscreen controller with buttons similar to current Wii controllers. The Wii U controller is just as motion-sensitive, but I doubt you would use it like a sword or tennis racket, but thankfully plain ol’ Wii controllers work just fine on the new console.

The big deal about the touchscreen is that players can switch the game to the controller and change the channel on the TV in case other people in the room are not as excited about watching the Wii U. The touchscreen also works as a means of displaying a game’s inventory without having to switch menus back and forth on the TV. It can even be used as an aiming device, thanks to its built-in accelerometers and gyroscope. The touchscreen even seems to recognize handwriting, judging from the demo.

But what make Nintendo Wii U a standout is its games, with its higher-quality graphics and more mature themes. Initial titles include Aliens: Colonial Marines, Ghost Recon, and even a bloodier Ninja Gaiden.

The Nintendo Wii U (as in “unique,” by the way) is expected to arrive in 2012.

Source: CrunchGear

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REVIEW: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii, what is better

 

Here are three top consoles nowadays that you can choose from. Sony PlayStation 3 the next generation console that continues a glorious path of PlayStation and PlayStation 2. Xbox 360: the next console from Microsoft is created in continuation of Xbox. Finally Nintendo Wii the least expensive and shows the least performance.

So we are going to review and compare them on several parameters, so that you can decide which is better for yourself.

Hardware

Xbox 360 is on the second place by hardware parameters. First of all there are two models that you can buy. One of them is a regular white Xbox 360 with wired controllers and no hard drive. The upgraded model has wireless controllers and a 20 GB hard drive to save photos, videos and audio files. It also has a standard DVD optical drive that allows the console to show HD videos. The last thing that should you should be notified is that Microsoft will upgrade your Xbox 360 for free for it to support full GD 1080p video output.

Sony PlayStation 3 is in the first place if judged by hardware. It has Blue-ray drive that is not available on basic or premium Xbox 360 (You can buy it for additional $ 200 which makes Xbox 360 cost just like PS3.) Besides, the 20 GB hard drive comes in basic model and 60 GB drive comes in upgrade model. Besides the premium version of PS3 has WiFi built in.

Nintendo being the least expensive has the worst hardware built in therefore it shows the least productivity among Xbox 360 and PS3. It has a DVD drive but there is no ability to play DVD movies on it. However, it has WiFi built in to surf the web.

Games

Xbox 360 and PS3 are somewhat even in this classification because the number and the quality of games that are out there on the market are pretty even. PlayStation 3 is supposed to be better in graphics however there are still no games that would show the full possibility of this console.

Xbox 360 will run most of the games that have been created for Xbox but not all of them. On the other hand PlayStation 3 will run all the games of PS and PS2. However, these possibilities will have only the North American and Japan versions of PS3 but not the European version.

Nintendo supports all the games made for earlier consoles: GameCube, NES, SNES and Nintendo 64. However the graphics quality of the games is not that good as it is in Xbox 360 and PS3 games.

Multimedia

First of all I would like to say that Nintendo does not support big movies playback or storage, so we will leave this console out of this part of comparison. Although you can view photos, MPEG and QuickTime movies, MP3 music files on this console; and all that only from SD storage.

The real battle comes between the two mega consoles: Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 here. Fist PS3 was the only console that supported full HD, 1080p, but now Microsoft will upgrade all the Xbox 360 consoles to the same HD. So that evens them out.

Blu-ray drive gives an advantage to Sony PlayStation 3 in storing videos and any files on the disc as they can store much more info and a better game will fit on a bigger Disc.
HD Media Center Extender of Xbox 360 beats PS3 in everything that they can offer. It can show live and recorded HDTV over your network, besides it can download movies and TV shows from the web. The other thing that gives Xbox 360 an advantage is a support of Apple's iPod and Sony PSP. It is the only console that supports video and audio streaming from PC.

Audio support: PS3 has a 5.1 Dolby Surround sound which is not bad until you hear that Xbox 360 has a Multi-channel system that supports up to 256 discrete channels. Wii on the other hand supports Dolby Pro-Logic II.

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REVIEW: Price of Nintendo Wii Slashed to US$150

 

Nintendo has dropped the price of its popular Wii game console by US$50 to $150 in anticipation of the company’s launch of the successor to the game system by next year.

Beginning May 15, the newly-priced Wii system will also come in either black or white with a Mario Kart Wii game and a Wii Wheel accessory, thus replacing the previously included Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort.

This was the second time Wii’s price has been cut since it was launched in 2006 at $250. A playable model of the next-gen console, which was announced by Nintendo last April, will be unveiled at the Electronics Entertainment Expo on June 2011.

The company has also announced that a number of Nintendo games will be sold at a suggested retail price of $20, including The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mario Super Sluggers, and Wii Sports.

Source: Boston Globe

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Nintendo Wii

Nintendo Wii's biggest and most obvious appeal is the ability to use its motion sensing controller to play Nintendo Wii specific games. Nintendo Wii's release lineup includes the highly anticipated Legend of Zelda, Twilight Princess and the addictive pack in party game Wii Sports, as well as a variety of more traditional third party titles (many of which have been enhanced to use the Wiimote control). But while you're waiting for some more innovative Wii titles to arrive, there will still be plenty of games to play.

Nintendo Wii is fully backward compatible with the Nintendo GameCube and includes four built-in GameCube controller ports and two GameCube memory card slots for gamers who want to enjoy their last gen games. To play those older games, you'll need at least one GC controller (best choice : the wireless WaveBird) and (if you want to save your progress) a memory card. Truth be told, though, the list of truly great GameCube titles is short and sweet.

If Nintendo Wii and GameCube games aren't enough, Nintendo Wii also features Nintendo's Virtual Console, a library of games from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super NES, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and Turbografix 16 systems. Games can be purchased and downloaded over Nintendo's online Wii Store, where they are stored on Nintendo Wii's system memory or SD card.

Virtual Console game purchases are tied to the Wii's network ID, so you can't pop your Virtual Console games onto an SD card and take them over to play them on a friend's Wii. On the bright side, Nintendo is pledging that already purchased games can be downloaded again free if you accidentally lose or delete your data. Games are purchased with Wii Points, which can be purchased via credit card or gift card (100 Wii Points equals one U.S. dollar) the system is essentially identical to Microsoft's tried and true Xbox Live Marketplace (Sony's fledgling PlayStation store will denominate purchases in real currency, but is functionally the same).

NES games will cost the equivalent of $5 (500 points), Turbografix 16 games $6, Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis games $8, and Nintendo 64 games $10. While Nintendo Wii's controller is very advanced and innovative, its processing power is not. The system uses a more powerful version of the Nintendo GameCube's processor, and it doesn't have nearly as much polygon pushing power as the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3.

While Microsoft's and Sony's consoles support high definition outputs of up to 1080p, Nintendo Wii can hit only the GameCube's ceiling of 480p, and even that mode can't be used with the Wii's included composite A/V cables. (Most if not all of the Wii's games will, however, be optimized for wide screen TVs.) Nintendo Wii also lacks advanced surround sound, instead sticking with the GameCube's Dolby Pro-Logic II matrixed surround (based on a stereo signal, not native 5.1). In other words, if you're looking for state of the art eye candy, you're going to want to opt for the PS3 or the Xbox 360 either of which will take a significantly larger chunk of your bank account.

Is the Wii worth picking up? It all depends on what you're looking for. If you've been clamoring for an all purpose next generation multimedia box with blinding HD graphics, Nintendo Wii will be a disappointment. But Nintendo didn't intend to compete in that arena anyway Nintendo Wii is focused squarely on delivering fun and innovative gameplay, leaving Sony and Microsoft to battle it out at the high end.

The Wiimote and its motion sensing, pseudo virtual reality controls are the biggest draws of the console, and its online capabilities, Wii Channels, Virtual Console, and GameCube backward compatibility are just a thick, sweet layer of icing on an already tasty cake. Likewise, Nintendo Wii is the only home console that lets you play games featuring nostalgic Nintendo only franchises such as Mario, Zelda, and Metroid. With a price tag of just $250 far less than those of its competitors and the included Wii Sports disc that provides mindless fun out of the box, Nintendo Wii won't disappoint.

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Nintendo DSi

Nintendo DSi is the third iteration of the DS, which was originally released in November 2004. In June 2006, the company refreshed the system in the form of the DS Lite, which dramatically changed the device's overall design and vastly improved screen performance. Rumors of a second redesign proved to be a reality when Nintendo announced the most recent, and what we believe to be the final rehash of the system, Nintendo DSi. This upgrade adds two small resolution cameras to the portable, slightly larger screens, and an SD card slot.

The Game Boy Advance slot found in both previous versions has been removed. While current DS Lite owners may want to think twice about upgrading, Nintendo DSi does offer plenty of innovative media features and online functionality that may warrant a purchase. Those who still have the original DS should definitely consider the step up as well but if you've been holding out on a DS purchase up until now, Nintendo DSi is certainly the way go. If you own or have held a DS Lite, the first thing you'll notice about Nintendo DSi is its sturdiness.

It definitely feels more robust than Nintendo DSi Lite. That said, you'll find it isn't any heavier as both weigh just under half a pound. While Nintendo DSi Lite is coated in a shinny plastic, Nintendo DSi is covered in a matte, almost rubberized outer layer. While we didn't scuff it up during our testing, it appears this covering will be more prone to such cosmetic scratches. Size wise, Nintendo DSi is only about 4 millimeters thinner than the Lite and just 5 millimeters wider.

Side by side, you won't notice much of a different in appearance. The two LED lights found on the right hinge of the Lite are gone, replaced by a set of three on the left hinge of Nintendo DSi. They're also labeled this time around, with symbols for power, charging, and Wi-Fi activity. Every button on the system has been changed as Nintendo has opted for buttons that click more, as opposed to the softer experience had with the Lite. The X, A, B, and Y buttons aren't as deep, thus they require less of a pressing motion. The same can be said for the L and R rear buttons, too they are now much more springy, and require much less of an effort to engage.

Even the select and start buttons have gotten a similar treatment we found them especially difficult to press with Nintendo DSi Lite. Moving along to the D-pad, we experienced the same sort of click responsiveness. The DS Lite's D-pad, a carbon copy of the one found on a Wii remote, was a bit looser. The power button has been moved to the bottom left of the lower touch screen. A long tap will power the device on and off, while a short tap (when Nintendo DSi is on) with give you a soft reset, something you could not do on any other DS.

Microphone placement remains the same, although the internal camera is now centered with the mic just to its right. Nintendo DSi's two screens are noticeably larger, especially when switching back and forth between systems. That said, we could not really detect huge improvements in overall brightness and color performance. The unit's two stereo speakers, located on either side of the top screen, seem to have been lowered about half an inch. On the outside of Nintendo DSi you'll find a few more noticeable changes.

First off, the Game Boy Advance slot has been removed, so fans of that handheld platform are out of luck. While we believe this omission helped shrink the device's thickness, we wish it had survived the update. We'd gladly give up the 4 millimeters to be able to play any Game Boy Advance game. The headphone jack remains in the same spot, but the volume slider found on the Lite's front left edge has been moved and converted into a push button format on the left side.

We'll agree with the movement of the controls, but we definitely prefer a slider as opposed to buttons. It's much easier to mute the device by sliding your thumb compared with holding down a button for a few seconds. The device's SD card slot is located on the right edge. As mentioned earlier, Nintendo DSi has two 0.3 megapixel cameras : one located on the inner hinge, the other on the outside front cover. A pink LED light glows when the outer camera is active. The outer casing also abandons the vertical square DS logo modeled in the plastic found on the DS Lite. The included stylus is mounted in the same rear location as the DS Lite, and Nintendo supplies you with a spare.

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