Video Games
Microsoft to Show Off Project Natal on MTV June 15th
May 16th
June is almost here and that means a couple of things: school is almost over, summers almost here, the NBA Playoffs are in full gear, and the major video game conference E3 is almost upon us.
This year’s E3 looks to truly be epic, with promises of more info on the Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Move, Xbox 360 Project Natal, and who knows what else! Now as we’ve done in years past, we’ll have all the info on all the awesome, need-to-know stuff out of E3. But for those of you who want to follow one of the biggest announcements live, Microsoft and MTV are teaming up to broadcast the whole Project Natal announcement featuring CIRQUE DU SOLEIL commercial-free on MTV, Tuesday, June 15 at 3:30 PM ET, and will be replayed on MTV’s other networks– Nick at Nite, mtvU, MTV Hits, and Logo– Tuesday, June 15 at 9 PM ET.
MTV’s other network, Spike TV, will also be showing off other Microsoft Xbox 360 announcements such as demos of games like HALO: Reach, Gears Of War 3, and Fable III. Called “Xbox 360: The Future Revealed” that show airs LIVE on Monday, June 14 from 1:30 – 3 PM ET.
Madden This Year or Backbreaker?
May 7th
Another year, another Madden and frankly, I’m getting bored. Sure, this year promises new features and “under-the-hood” tweaks, but is it enough to keep us interested?
Backbreaker, a new football game for Xbox 360 and PS3 and created by 505 Games, hopes to dethrone Madden from being king of football video games. Since Madden still has exclusive rights to the NFL, Backbreaker won’t be able to use the teams and players of the NFL. However, that’s just a small hindrance once you see the trailer for Backbreaker (which you can find after the break). This fledgling game makes use of the “Euphoria” engine, which promises the most spine-cracking, bone-bending tackles of all time.
And the best part? Since all the tackles are calculated on the fly based on mass and velocity (physics…. ugh), every tackle is new and action packed. Forget seeing the same boring tackle over and over. Get ready to see running backs fly, and quarterbacks flip as defensive linemen ram straight into them. Here’s a trailer so you can see what I’m talking about. So, are you sick of Madden too? Let us know. Backbreaker hits shelves on June 1st.
Nintendo Announces the Black Wii– Now with Wii MotionPlus and Wii Sports in the Box!
May 3rd
Thinking of getting a Wii? Then listen up– Nintendo today has dropped word on a really nice update to Wii bundle. Now, not only do you get the Wii with a Wiimote and Nunchuck controller and Wii Sports, but also the Wii Sports Resort and the Wii MotionPlus add-on, all in a new black color! This is all in addition to the current white Wii (which should also get the updated bundle), and in probably the best news here– the price stays the same at $199.99 when this starts on May 9th (only a few more days away– so hold off on that Wii just a little longer!).
Here’s what we want to know: is a new color and a much-improved standard offering and cheaper price gonna make you wanna go with a Wii over a Xbox 360 with Natal or PS3 in 3D and with PlayStation Move? Let us know in the comments.
Everything You Need To Know About God of War III
Mar 15th
Lovers of blood, gore, and killing the Greek gods are waiting anxiously for next Tuesday, March 16. That’s the day that God of War 3 is coming out and this game will conclude the biggest and toughest path to revenge that has ever been written into a video game. Click to read more on what’s new, whats old, and what is just plain awesome in God of War 3.
Sony Officially Announces the PlayStation Move Motion Controller
Mar 10th
We saw a brief glimpse of it last year at E3, and we have not seen much of it since. However, last night at the Game Developers Conference in San Fransisco, Sony unveiled new details about the upcoming PlayStation Move– Sony’s wireless “wand-like” motion-sensing controller.
The Move will be made up of two parts very similar to how Nintendo has it with the Wii– the main “wand” (the one in the pic above with the wrist strap and giant glowing circle on top) is officially known as the Move, and will have smaller wand like controller (seen on the left) called the sub-controller. As you can tell these look very similar to the Wii’s Wiimote and Nunchuck, and they function very similarly but are also very different. For example, unlike on the Wii, these are going to be used in both casual as well as much more intense games such as the upcoming SOCOM 4 (which, as anyone who has played SOCOM before knows, it’s no Mario). So how else are they different? Well…
- The PlayStation Move uses the PlayStation Eye video camera (which Sony has had around in some form since the PS2) to track your movements and motions, and couple with that circle on top of the Move, look to provide a very accurate sense of exactly what your doing.
- The Nunchuck part of the controller, will not connect to the Move. Instead it will utilize the PS3′s built in Bluetooth to wirelessly sync up with the Move and the PS3 (unlike the Wii’s Nunchuck which needs to be connected into the Wiimote).
- The circle on top of the Move isn’t just to help the Eye sense where you are– it also changes color depending on what game you are playing and how fast your moving your controller (as seen above with the blue).
- Sony also has unveiled a list of starter games, and one in particular is called Sports Champion– which is like Wii Sports just a lot better looking. The next version of Sony’s hit SOCOM series– SOCOM 4– which is slated to be released this fall, is going to support the use of this controller, which should definitely put a new spin on the SOCOM experience, and looks to be the first real test for this new controller to see how it handles itself in an intense game.
Sports Champions on the PS3
Like Microsoft’s Project Natal for the 360, the PlayStation Move will be launched sometime around the holiday season (Sony, again like Microsoft, is viewing this like a major console launch) in either a bundle with a new PS3, by itself, or in a “Starter Kit” bundle with a PS Eye, controller and game for under $100 (which if you ask us looks to be a very solid deal).
One thing that I can’t though seem to wrap my head around is why Sony put an extra X and an extra O on the sub-controller, considering the Move already has them? I guess we will just have to wait to find out what their purpose is for when E3 rolls around June 3rd, and more info on the Move is sure to be announced.
If you want to see the first trailer for the PlayStation Move or more pix, check out Joystiq’s post on the Move here
Info and pix from Joystiq
![PSN Down? [Update-- All Looks to Be Working Again]](http://teenstalktech.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/psnetwork-150x150.png "PSN Down? [Update-- All Looks to Be Working Again]")
PSN Down? [Update-- All Looks to Be Working Again]
Mar 1st
If you haven’t been able to get any trophies, load any data (or lost any data like trophies or saved games), sign onto the PlayStation Network, or even play any games on your PS3 over the last 24 hours then you’re probably confused as I was initially and pretty upset. What happened? Its because you have a “fat” PS3, otherwise known as any PS3 that is not a PS3 Slim. The error (Error 8001050F for those who want specifics) is why us ”fat” PS3 users have noticed that our date has gone back into the past to the mystical year of 1999, or 12/31/99 to be exact. Y2K anyone? This internal clock error has been the cause of failed PlayStation Network logins, and even the inability to play certain video rentals and games! Sony has given updates saying that they are working as fast as they can to fix this problem, and are predicting this error to be solved by tomorrow morning. Has your PS3 caught the time traveling bug or are you still here with us in 2010? Leave a comment below. We will post any updates that come our way on this post.
Update (8:30 PM EST): People have been testing out their PS3′s and they are running fine. Not everyone’s PS3 has lost trophies and other game data, but if you did then here’s what you do to get it back: just launch the game that has lost trophies, and the game automatically links with your PSN account online and all your trophies should reappear. You also can go to Settings and Date and Time and set your PS3 to sync the date and time online. Sony also has officially confirmed on their PlayStation Blog that PS3′s should now be good to go, and judging from the amount of people that are playing Uncharted 2 online, we’re gonna go ahead and say its once again safe to turn your PS3 on.
Nintendo DSi XL Coming to US March 28th
Feb 24th
The new DSi XL in Burgundy
Have you been craving that super sized DSi LL Nintendo released for Japan last year? Really wanted to get a DS with 93% bigger screens than the DS Lite but was stuck in the US? Well, those days will soon be over my friends, as come the end of next month, Nintendo will have answered your prayers: it is releasing the DSi XL on March 28th here in the US for $189.99 (only $20 more than the current DSi). Oh, and European readers– don’t worry, you guys will be getting this a few weeks earlier on March 5th.
The DS Lite compared to the DSi XL
On top of the standard features of the DSi (such as the 2 cameras, SD card slot, music playback, and photos app with ability to upload to Facebook), the slightly thicker new DSi will pack 2 4.2 inch screens (over the DSi’s 3.25 inch ones), a bigger, full size stylus, and will come preloaded with 2 Brain Age games (Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters and Brain Age Express: Math & Photo Clock), as well as the DSi Browser and Flipnote Studio. Intially, the DSi XL will launch in either Burgundy or Bronze colors, though knowing Nintendo and previous DS’s, it probably won’t be long till this comes in any color you like. Also at launch will be two new DS games, America’s Test Kitchen: Let’s Get Cooking, and WarioWare: D.I.Y– and while they will work on all DS systems, Nintendo says games like these will demonstrate the “enhanced experience” available with the DSi XL.
Considering this thing sold over 100,000 units in the first 2 days of launch in Japan (yes, that’s 100,000– in 2 days!), any one out there going to hold off on that new DS purchase just a tad longer to get the DSi XL?
To learn more about the DSi XL, visit Nintendo’s site here.
Live ESPN Coming to the Xbox 360?
Jan 24th
What with Facebook, Netflix and Twitter already playing on Xbox Live, and with a new Halo and, of course, Project Natal coming out later this year, you’d think Microsoft has done enough to pump up 360 owners for another great year. Well, for all us 360 owners who love all things sports and ESPN, things look to be getting even better.
According to the New York Times, Microsoft is having “super secret” meetings with Walt Disney Co. (the owners of more than Disney land and Disney channel—they also own ABC and ESPN) in order to bring live streaming of ESPN to the 360 (think kinda like the current ESPN360, we know—a perfect name, that lets you watch live games on you computer).
The rumors also say that, unfortunately, this may require some sort of subscriber fee, though if its any consolation, it might be live streaming and some interactive games. Of course seeing as neither Microsoft and Walt Disney haven’t said anything on the topic, take this as an awesome rumor for now.
And I believe this very well could happen. Microsoft over the past couple of years have pushed something called IPTV, or TV over the internet, with the 360 helping drive its case. Getting ESPN and perhaps other Disney-owned channels would be a great way to really build this service up and really make the case for people to ditch their regular cable or satellite.
What you think? You think/want this to happen? You watch any movies or do other things with your 360 beyond gaming? Do you want the 360 to become your “cable box?” Sound off in the comments.
Info from the New York Times. Pic from Engadget
Half Life 2 Shown Playing on Project Natal
Dec 30th
It’s almost 2010, and for the video game world, that means that Microsoft and Sony are preparing to release their motion controllers for the Xbox 360 and PS3, respectively. Now while we know the PS3′s looks and acts like a more accurate Wiimote that works better with hard core games, Microsoft’s Project Natal has remained far more ambiguous, especially as to how it will handle particularly intense games like Halo or Call of Duty.
Until now.
A leaked video has popped up on the internet over the past 24 hours showing off EA’s Half Life 2 running on Project Natal. Anyone who’s played Half Life 2 knows that it definitely goes up there in that “intense games” category, so this is a pretty big step showing that Natal will be able to play these more intense games without the need for a traditional 360 controller. How well does it play? We can’t really judge conclusively based on the brief 1 minute video, but from my take the graphics look traditional Xbox 360 awesome (the video is on a decent-looking camera and the game is said to only be in the early stages of development), and after getting used to them, the movement and controls should take you into games on a whole new level– particularly as this all gets refined and finished up before release.
Who else out there hoping Madden 11 and Halo 4 are Natal capable?
Video of Half Life 2 on Natal after the break.
Batman AA 2, Medal of Honor, and Force Unleashed 2 in 2010?
Dec 14th
Last night were the Video Game Awards and among the surprise winners and losers, Modern Warfare 2 did not win Game of they Year. In addition, we were informed that 2010 will be a very fun year for gamers especially if you’re a batman fan like me. Read on for more More >
