YouTube heads to the Wii and Playstation 3

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on January 15th, 2009

YouTube heads to the Wii and Playstation 3YouTube has enjoyed tremendous success, but like all superstars, things can get lonely at the top. It’s a service that’s been stuck on the computer. The internet to be exact. Sure, it gets tons of hits, lots of people enter it’s doors every day. But it gets lonely. People just watch and post their videos. No one stops to talk.

Anyway, YouTube wants to start socializing more. So it’s getting off the computer and onto your TV, through video game consoles. YouTube is coming to the Sony Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. It flips Xbox 360 the bird for now. PS3 and Wii owners can just go to www.youtube.com/tv to get a specially-formatted version of the site for your TV.

Xbox 360 with a cool Domo-kun paint job

Posted in Xbox 360 by Conner Flynn on December 29th, 2008

Xbox 360 with a cool Domo-kun paint jobWhile this isn’t the most mind blowing console mod we’ve ever seen, this paint job gives your Xbox 360 a bit of Japanese flair. It was painted by deviantART member Ricepuppet and it looks like a pretty faithful Domo-kun themed console.

The console is pretty cool all by itself, but it even has it’s own matching controller, which we assume is functional. Hopefully the user won’t mess up the paint job while playing a shooter. It looks hungry and I bet it’s eyes seem to watch you while you are playing.

VR3 Bluetooth Steering Wheel Console for hands free chatting

Posted in Automotive by Conner Flynn on December 28th, 2008

VR3 Bluetooth Steering Wheel Console for hands free chattingIn many states you aren’t supposed to hold a cell phone while driving. It’s the law. I once saw a teenage girl talking on her phone while driving a pick up truck, run straight into a parked car. There was nothing else around her for miles. She was simply distracted and didn’t have her focus on driving. This VR3 Bluetooth Steering Wheel Console might help those who have trouble doing two things at once.

It gives you hands free wireless chatting directly in front of you, with a design that keeps your hands on the wheel for safety. Sure, it’s ugly as hell, but so is an ambulance ride or a mangled corpse. It’s only $99.99.

PS3 to get 3D enabled with Blitz Tech

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on December 22nd, 2008

PS3 to get 3D enabled with Blitz Tech3D technology will soon will make it’s way into the PS3 game console. Apparently a source has revealed that Sony has a plan to support stereoscopic 3D gaming and Blu-ray 3D movies on their PS3 game console next year with Blitz Games Studios’s Blitz Tech 3D engine. Neil Schneider, President and CEO of Meant to be Seen, the “world’s first and only stereoscopic 3D certification and advocacy group,” was told by Blitz Games Studios, the company creating and licensing the 3D engine, that Sony “fully intends” to use stereoscopic 3D for their games and blu-ray movies beginning in 2009.

Schneider says that “console support will only need a bios upgrade to work. We are told that the ability to add this capability via bios may be unique to Sony PS3 versus the other console solutions.”

More details on Tectoy’s Zeebo 3G gaming console

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on November 16th, 2008

More details on Tectoy’s Zeebo 3G gaming consoleLast week we told you about Zeebo, a new 3G network-based gaming console that’s launching in Brazil soon. At the time there wasn’t a ton of detail, but now more info has come to light. Tectoy will be partnering with cellular carrier Claro, whose 3G network will carry the free-of-charge connection, and also Qualcomm, who owns 43 percent of the company.

The Zeebo will apparently run on a BREW-based OS, with an ARM CPU running at 528MHz, a Qualcomm Adreno 130 graphics core, 1GB NAND flash memory, 160MB RAM, 128MB DDR SDRAM and 32MB stacked DDR SDRAM. Who are they setting their sights on? The “growing middle class” of developing countries. The Zeebo will launch in Brazil and developers think that the downloadable-content format should help combat piracy. The cost of the system should be about $264 US and games will cost betwee $3-13 US.

Tectoy’s Zeebo gaming console

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on November 12th, 2008

Tectoy’s Zeebo gaming consoleTectoy has announced the Zeebo, a 3G network-based gaming console that will launch in Brazil in July of 2009, then show up in other markets after a few months. Apparently the idea is that the console forever connected to a 3G network. That conection won’t cost the gamer anything, with all the games and content paid for and downloaded through the network.

Action Hero 3D, Evil Prey, and Quake will come preloaded on the console. Yeah, not some of my first choices either, but they aren’t dead set on competing with the Wii, Xbox 360 or PS3 obviously. They’re trying to appeal to those who can not afford expensive consoles and games, despite a crazy $599 price tag itself. Games will cost between $10 and $30. Fail.

Hyperkin SG/FC plays NES and Sega Genesis games

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on November 4th, 2008

Hyperkin SG/FC plays NES and Sega Genesis gamesThis Jekyll and Hyde system is called the Hyperkin SG/FC. It can play both Nintendo NES and the SEGA Genesis console games. It’s basically just a console with both game slots built in. It connects to your TV via an RCA composite video output, and offers stereo audio output. The bundle includes a pair of joypads in the box, so you will be able to start playing all your favorite old school games right away. An eBay search should find you the system for $35 to $45 bucks.

Evo Smart Console is Linux-based

Posted in Games by Conner Flynn on October 22nd, 2008

Evo Smart Console is Linux-basedThese days it’s unusual to hear about a new game console that isn’t from Sony, MS or Nintendo. But it looks like we have a new contender from Envizions Computer Entertainment. This is their first console, the Evo “Smart Console” which is available for pre-order. Interestingly, the console itself is basically a Linux-based computer.

Some specs include an overclocked Athlon 64×2 5600 processor and an ATI Radeon 3200 graphics card. Envizions sees the console being used as a development platform with a “cloud” computing system. What that means is that developers would have to make games specifically for the Evo “Smart Console.” Could that happen? They think so. The new console should ship on November 20th for about $600 and you can pre-order one now with a $100 deposit.

2011: A Wii HD Odyssey?

Posted in Wii by Conner Flynn on October 1st, 2008

2011: A Wii HD Odyssey?Cue 2001 theme, but think “2011: The Year Wii Makes Contact”. 2011 is three years from now. So you would expect a new Wii by then right? HD would be nice on a new console. Word is that they are showing off a Wii-HD to developers and publishers, who’ve nicknamed it “Wii HD”. Reportedly, the followup will stick with all of the motion control goodness and amp up graphics, digital distribution, local storage and even be backwards compatible.

The only hard evidence was cited by What They Play, and that is the fact that Nintendo’s R&D spending has grown greatly since the Wii’s launch. I don’t see that that makes the case for a new Wii by itself, but it’s not a stretch as they are surely looking toward the future of the Wii. Many of us would like to see some improvements now rather then later. Like storage for instance.

Screaming Skull cover turns your PS3 into a horror movie

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on September 14th, 2008

Screaming Skull cover turns your PS3 into a horror movieYou can choose from many skins for your PS3, some cool, some tacky. But if you really want to feel like you are in the center of a horror movie, the Screaming Skull Protective Mask Cover may be for you. It makes your PS3 look like a screaming skull that’s trying to burst it’s way out and kill you dead. Which is totally original. I mean we haven’t seen that in a hundred movies.

It’s probably good for some Halloween gaming though. And you can tell your little brother that this is what happens to the souls of those who lose to you. The Screaming Skull Protective Mask Cover retails for only $10.99.

Spice X-1 phone with dedicated gaming console

Posted in Mobile Phones by Conner Flynn on August 7th, 2008

Spice X-1 phone with dedicated gaming console
Spice Mobiles Limited unveiled their latest for the market in India. The Spice X-1 is a gamers mobile phone with a dedicated gaming console. The phone sports a big 2.4 inch screen, 2-GB expandable memory card, and comes packed with pre-loaded games and a gaming console. Just what games come with it, I have no idea, but look, a motorcycle.

You can also play games without the console using the dedicated gaming keys on the handset. That’s not all that you get. It also includes a 2 MP camera, Yamaha-amplified 3-D surround sound, FM radio with record and play feature and Bluetooth. It retails for $210.

Blaze Sega Megadrive handheld console

Posted in Handheld Entertainmnet by Conner Flynn on July 27th, 2008

Blaze Megadrive handheld console
Back in the day Sega’s Megadrive boasted superior graphics to the NES, not that Mario and Luigi seemed hurt by it. Now Blaze will be unleashing a 16-bit Megadrive handheld this month, so you can relive your youth and play Sega Megadrive classics like Sonic and Knuckles, Golden Axe, Shinobi and Ecco the Dolphin.

Other games include Alex Kidd - Enchanted Castle, Alien Storm Altered Beast, Arrow Flash, Crackdown, Decap Attack, Dr Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, Ecco Junior, Flicky, Gain Ground, Jewel Master, Kid Chameleon, Sonic Spinball and Shadow Dancer. It’s powered by 3 AAA batteries and will retail for £29.99.

NES console inside of a light gun

Posted in Nintendo by Conner Flynn on July 21st, 2008

NES console inside of a light gun
Much like the guy who stuffed an NES inside of an NES controller, this modder managed to stuff a Nintendo NES 8-bit game system into a light gun controller. Instead of hacking up an actual NES system he used the NOAC(Nintendo on a chip) system.

The down side is that there’s no cartridge slot, so you have to play the games built into the NOAC board. Luckily the chip came from the Super Joy III which has 76 games. The setup is powered by 3 AAA batteries that fit snugly into the handle.

Retro Duo NES & SNES emulator

Posted in Nintendo by Conner Flynn on June 25th, 2008

Retro Duo NES & SNES emulator
Some of us have an obsession with Classic Nintendo games, more specifically the NES and SNES systems. But a lot of nerds gamers don’t like to use their actual precious cartridges since they reside in a shrine somewhere in their mother’s closet. If that’s the case, this will do the trick.

It is both a NES and SNES emulator in one butt ugly console, that will play most titles and Super Famicom games. Plus it’s compatible with the original SNES controllers. Features standard AV RCA sockets,S-Video, and Famicom cartridges will work without adaptors. They’re working on original NES controllers and a light gun to work, too. It will cost you $45.99.

Holy Triforce: SNES Zelda mod is awesome

Posted in Nintendo by Conner Flynn on June 8th, 2008

Holy Triforce: SNES Zelda mod is awesome
As far as I can tell from this guy’s French converted into my bad english, he was inspired by the Japanese version of the console. And of course, inspired by the Zelda games. Notice the beautiful blue light coming out from beneath making it look like it’s on some alien pedestool, the nicely rounded edges of the case and Link’s sword, yes Link’s sword sticking out of the case like Excalibur.

The creator also gave it a super slick mirror-like finish. I have to say, all that shiny Zelda green and gold makes for a dramatic effect. That my friends is a job well done. It belongs in a Nintendo museum somewhere.





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