A Sneak peek At The Xbox 360 Project Natal
January 19, 2010 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Following hot on the heels of the Wii's motion sensing technology, Microsoft hope to take this one better with Xbox 360 Project Natal. Revealed during 2009's E3 meeting, this add-on accessory for the Xbox 360 is said to allow completely controller-free interaction with games, sensing movement and translating that as controls in the title.
Xbox 360 Project Natal is said to be available around the end of 2010, and Microsoft hope that the accessory will become a vital part of all existing Xbox consoles. They also confirm that this revolutionary technology will stretch the active life of the 360 considerably, and is, for all intents and purposes, a next-gen accessory.
The accessory includes a depth sensor coupled with an RGB camera, which hands the Xbox 360 Project Natal a 360 degree arc of recognition. The recognition is so cutting edge that even tiny facial expressions can be interpreted and converted on-screen. The range of recognition can also be extended or shortened as the gamer wishes, with the possibility of including surrounding objects like tables or cabinets.
Along with movement, the Xbox 360 Project Natal also has the ability to interpret sound. The multi-array microphone within can be employed to recognise sound and relay vocal information on the television. These elements mix to offer total interactivity between gamer and videogame.
As the technology employed to create both Natal and the titles it will interact with is reasonably unique, Microsoft have said that current Xbox 360 titles probably will not support Natal, and that a brand new range of titles are in progress. Some technical demos shown at E3 saw Space Invaders Extreme and Paint Party, a game in which pots of paint are manipulated by the gamer to paint canvasses.
Time will tell as to whether the Xbox 360 Project Natal will instill the awe Microsoft are looking for. Whilst the specs are clearly revolutionary and due to trump even the Wii's signature card, Microsoft need to announce more engaging titles to gain increased customer interest. With the right titles coupled with it, the Xbox 360 Project Natal could actually be the future of videogaming!
What To Expect from Nintendo DSi Features
December 19, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Nintendo DSi features are made up of fantastic multimedia capabilities, a clear improvement on previous incarnations. These features, for example the SD card, enables players to store pictures, downloads, and AAC music on the SD (as a removable storage). The wonderful Nintendo DSi Sound will definitely attract many fans to record your voice, play music (if it's mp4, 3GP or m4a), adjust pitch and playback, and control filters while you are listening to the music.
Another noteworthy improvement - you can listen to the audio output while your DSi is closed. You could even be an MC if you like, just use the built-in microphone to record audio or vocal messages ( limit is eighteen clips up to ten seconds in length ) and apply them to the audio files you have in your list.
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More Nintendo DSi features are made up of a dual camera, with software that allows you to change and adjust your photos. You have 10 variant lenses at your disposal, so you are able to pursue your photo creativity. The Nintendo DSi features let you manipulate pictures captured by the camera, together with imported materials and real time feeds too. You can link the pictures you save with Wii, facebook and other social websites.
Internet connectivity is also a very important inclusion to the Nintendo DSi features. The console can easily be connected to the Internet, with a speedy connection through 802.11b/g Wi-Fi built in.
Lastly let's remember that WEP, WPA and WPA2 wireless encryption is employed by the Nintendo DSi features and that game-players around the world will surely be pleased to see it!
What Can Xbox Live Offer You?
November 5, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Xbox 360 currently offers gamers the opportunity to communicate with each other, using the add-on feature known as Xbox Live. If you're an Xbox Live user, you are instantly part of the chat list. Therefore, you are able to chat and discuss anytime with your friends and family through the Xbox 360 headset. Moreover, you can interact and organize a gaming throwdown with countless other Xbox users. Xbox Live also allows you to buy content in Xbox Live Marketplace, download additional videogame content and even watch preview videos.
If users are enticed by these functions and wish to become an Xbox Live member, then there are two memberships to choose from, classified into two distinct services - gold and silver.
Up first, the silver service is just the basic version of Xbox Live. Going for this version, users can easily get online and download gaming titles. On top of this, you are given the capacity to use their own voice to talk and meet with other Xbox Live users. However, this is all Xbox Live silver provides subscribers with. If you're searching for the optimum Xbox Live experience, Xbox Live gold is what you must go for.
Secondly, the Xbox Live Gold option has various features that make it an awesome way to play on the internet. Apart from the incredible Xbox Live features, it provides gamers with a host of additional add-ons. There is improved chat compatability, as well as interaction with a host of Microsoft products, including messenger and further chat and video programs. The most prominent feature of Xbox Live gold is the manner in which your online avatar is shown to the world. Every account is free to create a distinct 'motto' showing to other gamers online, even linking to Facebook. Furthermore, you're also able to hold a record of your accomplishments. As you play more and more you gradually forge a reputation, and if users like you they are able to rank you positively, making it easier to avoid interacting with users holding bad outlook.
Players can also build a contact list which will list all of your selected chums. It'll also inform you when any of your buddies come online. There is also a recent player list that will record the last fifty friends that you have met.
Xbox Live is as good as Xbox gaming gets. It not only offers great gaming but also provides you with the chance to share your experience with other users!
Xbox 360 Failure: What To Do Next
September 16, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
We all have a standard fear in our everyday lives; the possible failure of various machines we use. We just don't want it to be happening to us, especially if that machine is our sparkly Xbox 360. However, you don't need to fear even in the event of an Xbox 360 failure. If you know the reason then part of your issues are solved. An Xbox 360 failure is a common blight experienced by many videogamers all around the globe.
The Xbox 360 failure is generally indicated by red LED bulbs on the console itself. So how do you know what blunder you hold in your console by having a look at the lights? The explanation follows;
If it's 2 red lights popping up on your console, then the probable cause for this Xbox 360 failure might be overheating of the motherboard. The easiest way to beat this Xbox 360 failure is by shutting down your machine for some time so that the motherboard can settle down.
If you see 1 or 3 red lights appearing on your console then this is generally some recognised hardware and software problems which can be overcome by fixing the console.
The most dreadful Xbox 360 failure that you can find is signified by a red circle of light on your console. This crash is something that falls in the 'fatal error' category. This generally occurs due to an inner structural failing in your Xbox. This simply means that the makers did not put a cooling device of adequate size within the console. Therefore overheating has a tendency to bring down the game processing unit and causes an Xbox 360 failure.
There's no call to panic, though, because some easy precautions can make sure that your Xbox 360 will not fail.
As the majority of the failures spring from overheating it's ideal to keep your console in a spot where there's open movement of air, and no more heat-emitting sources in the vicinity. It may be tough for avid game players, but a sensible thing to do could be to allow your console regular rest spells and avoid long continuous videogaming sessions. That way one can also rest your eyes and hands and start with a fresh fervour some other time.
But if you have indeed experienced an Xbox 360 failure you need not ship it off to Microsoft in a rush. You can purchase some Xbox repair guides from the Internet, which might save everyone a lot of time and cash. Be sure not to overpay for these and also try to go for one which has been tried and tested by others. If you can get your hands on a good guide then you can be your own Xbox mechanic! If all else fails though, keep in mind it's your right to have a working machine- you paid for it after all- so don't hesitate to contact Microsoft if you are in doubt.
So the next time you encounter an Xbox 360 failure, you know where to go next!
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How To Make The Sony Playstation 3 More Affordable
August 22, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Many people are looking for the best Sony PS3 deals in the market today. It will be a good bet to say that even devout Microsoft 360 gamers are considering owning a PS3 console.
Who wouldn't want to own a Sony Playstation 3, after all? It's a superb computer game system that's capable of so many things. With enough processing power to actually scare jail officials into outlawing PS3 units in numerous jails all over the country because a learned convict can basically dismantle the same and create a tool tough enough to bring down the whole penal system, the Sony PS3 is truly a work of art. Not only is it able to play the most technologically advanced games today, the console is also a multimedia beast that will store and play movies and music, scan the web, and stream photos for your eyes to enjoy.
The set-back: the Sony Playstation 3 is the least affordable console on the market. With a $400 price tag, as of this writing, the Sony PS3 is way beyond the budget of most casual buyers.
Thus, the high demand for amazing Sony PS3 deals. Here are a few tips on how to take the sting out of that hefty price tag.
- Wait for sales. As a general rule, retail multinationals conduct a sale per quarter. When the computation for these quarters start is where retail conglomerates change. It is safe to say, however, that sales should be predicted by the end of summer and right around October, just before the Christmas season starts. Sales may not present the best Sony PS3 deals possible, as Sony itself has stayed firm on the price tag for the system.
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- Try the secondary market. The Sony PS3 is a particularly hardy machine. There are no 3RLs or E74s here. A second hand PS3 is almost certain to be in good working condition. Additionally, you can find glorious Sony PS3 deals in the second hand market and you can even get a unit for 20% of its original cost.
- Use vouchers. Studies indicate that, if folks would only use the vouchers found in newspapers, mags and store circulars, they can save up $2,000 every year. Collect the acceptable coupons and stop waiting for the best Sony PS3 deals to come your way. Instead, make your own Sony PS3 deals via coupons!
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Nintendo Wii Price Drop: Is it Possible for 2009?
July 14, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
As of this article, the Nintendo Wii price is pegged at $249.99 SRP. Not bad at all, really, for a console that is dominating the sales charts and has the largest library of titles amongst the current generation of gaming consoles.
But many are still hoping for a Nintendo Wii price drop in time for Christmas of 2009. After all, the machine is in its 3rd retial year – which, in industry terms, equates to the system currently enjoying the peak of its expected 5 to 7 year life cycle – and now is the best time to own one.
Currently, Nintendo has not called any announcements, nor has it made any indications, that a price reduction for the Nintendo Wii console is forthcoming in the near future. Therefore, any take on the matter will merely be an opinion based on prevailing market factors at the moment.
Possible reasons why a Nintendo Wii price drop should not be expected this year:
- Excluding the Xbox 360 Arcade edition (naked version of the console, not ideal for first time owners), the Nintendo Wii is the most affordable current generation console in the market. Therefore, Nintendo don't even need a price drop to remain competitive in the market.
- The Nintendo Wii has always ruled the sales chart considerably. Hence, the company wouldn’t consider a Nintendo Wii price drop is necessary as the consumers obviously concur with the set price given the console’s dominance of the sales charts.
- It’s too soon. Normally, consoles offer price drops roughly halfway or to the tail end of the system’s market life. For the current generation of consoles, that period is pegged at 6 years.
Why a Nintendo Wii price drop is actually quite probable for 2009:
- Declining economy. Nintendo may benefit from making their flagship console more accessible to increasingly hard-off public. In a down economy, the ideal way to increase sales is to offer value at a cut price. The Nintendo Wii has proven that it packs value, but that may not be enough anymore.
- Nintendo already enjoys a massive base of users. It should be able to afford a Nintendo Wii price drop as vast majority of profit will now come from software sales, anyway.
- The public are asking for it, and Nintendo would do well to stay in public favor!
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Tiger Returns- PGA Golf Tour 10
April 8, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Developers EA Sports have been very consistent with their Tiger Woods games over the last few years, releasing them at a rate of roughly one each year. Their latest offering, PGA Tour 10, comes to the Wii this year. PGA Tour 10 is a title that promises to address the many complaints that have arisen over the last few games, varying from gameplay niggles concerning the swing meters and drive force, to an unambitious outlook on in game graphics. From what we've seen so for, EA look set to make good on their promises.
To address the lacklustre approach to graphics and realism, EA have gone for an almost complete overhaul of the previous system. The aim is to pay much more attaention to the little details which will all mount up to craft a visually appealing and life-like dynamic. Everything is being catered for, with trees and ponds being given their own set of animations, to act independantly and realistically in relation to the surrounding environment.
A brilliant new feature being added exclusively to the Wii title is a weather system that works in tandem with the Wii forecast channel itself. The game has been designed to mimic the information generated through the Wii forecast channel and reproduce it in-game. This means that the game you're playing will actually respond to the real weather outside, so if you're in the middle of a game and you begin to hear raindrops on your window, the game will follow suit and rain will begin to pour. This element is set to include all weather conditions, ranging from sunshine, wind, rain, sleet, fog- anything you would imagine. This is not just a flashy gimmick either, as the in-game weather will effect the way to game is played, with the ground become sleek with rain and winds affecting the course of the ball etc.
Graphics and features improvements are all well and good, but what Wii players are really concerned about is the Wii motion sensing, which has been notoriously poor in recent PGA games. The draw and fade elements have been quite inaccurate, with players complaining that the motion sensing was just too sloppy or unresponsive. Enter the new WiiMotionPlus peripheral, a vast improvement to the earlier motion sensing as it actually reads the players movements on a 3D level, mapping out the entire dynamic structure of the participant to generate a much more accurate reading. EA are confident enough to state that this feature allows for 100% accuracy, and hopefully that's what we'll get!
The PGA games have always been a hit with fans, the fact that it has reached such a high level of installments is testament to just how popular they are. As popular as they have been however, they have always been let down by small problems that frankly should have been fixed by now. PGA 10 promises to right the wrongs of the past, and hopefully EA can deliver the truly perfect game that fans have patiently waited for.
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Arcade Awesomeness with Xbox Live
February 27, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Many people are dismissive of the downloadable games that are available on the consoles, as it is relatively new to this generation of consoles. When people see games for $10 - $20 (roughly £5 - £10) they expect it to be an inferior game, whereas if they save up for a $50 - $60 game, they have something that is worth their money. However, as a gamer yourself, you know that this isn't always true. Here we have 3 of the best downloadable games available from the XBLA on the Xbox 360.
#3: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
After successful iterations on both the Nintendo DS and the PSP, Puzzle Quests developers decided to port the excellent puzzle game to the Xbox 360, so it is now formatted to your TV and is shown in glorious HD.
Puzzle Quest combines role-playing and puzzle solving skillfully into a demanding and enthralling game that you won’t be able to put down. You navigate through a World-Map, exploring, talking to people and accepting quests, gaining experience, leveling-up, as well as gaining new equipment. But where the game gets really engaging is when you build your own city and attack surrounding enemy fortifications.
Lastly, there is the combat itself, this is a mash between Bejeweled and Final Fantasy. In each fight, you put your strengths and your opponent’s weaknesses to your advantage, as you and your opponent perform actions on the same Bejeweled-like board. Simply put, you move the pieces around until you line up skulls and do damage to your opponent. You can also perform spells, as well as other moves, which is determined by your character's profession and level. If you are into addictive games, then you can go wrong with Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords.
#2: Portal: Stay Alive
Portal: Stay Alive is an expansion on the original game Portal (the download includes Portal too). If your head has been in the clouds for the past couple of years, Portal is a first person puzzle game created using the Half-Life 2 Source engine, and was released as part of Valves, The Orange Box. The game consists of mind-warping puzzles that you must get your head around to solve, with the help of your trusty portal gun. Portal: Stay Alive is, admittedly, short, however it is cheap and still remains one of the most engaging game out there. You must play Portal, period!
#1: Braid
Braid received massive amounts of attention from the press after its release on XBLA. To its credit, it deserved every bit of it. Perhaps the thing Braid was praised most for was its story, but this was not the only thing Braid has going for it. Braid was specifically designed to pose some very complex and intricate puzzles, in a way that is not frustrating for the player to solve.
Your main ability to help you solve these puzzles, is the ability to manipulate the flow of time, and is essential for solving certain puzzles. Each world in the game provides a different variation of this mechanic and the way you control it to keep the challenge the whole way through.
The game consists of five worlds in all, each containing 12 puzzles. It is not necessary to complete all 60 puzzles, however, it is highly recommended to, as it unlocks an ending that must be seen.
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Sonic Revived?
February 25, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
The Sonic franchise has long been a gaming stalwart, giving rise to one of modern cultures most recognisable videogame characters and spanning several gaming generations and consoles. The first two or three Sonic games were extemely popular and well loved, cementing the character as the poster boy for Sega. However, as time went on sonic struggled to get to grips with new technology, as the side scrolling formula gave way to 3D adventures, Sonic lost his footing and declined in popularity. Some say the games were overly ambitious and frenetic, overloading the screen with visuals and gameplay too difficult to follow. The latest Sonic Unleashed game hoped to right some of these wrongs and return Sonic to the top, but it met with nonplussed reviews.
However, Sega refuse to let the old hero go out without a fight, and the Wii exclusive game Sonic and the Black Knight looks like it just may be a game that succeeds in a few vital areas where the rest have failed. Dispensing with the repetitive storylines of the past, namely dredging up the villain Dr Robotnic again and again, Sonic is summoned by the wizard Merlina in her time of great need. This attracts the attention of a fresh new antagonist; The Black Knight.
Another area in which the new game hopes to improve upon Unleashed is the combat. Unleashed featured Sonic turning into a hulking 'Werehog' in a gambit which Sega hoped would be the key selling point. Instead, this feature was heavily criticised, as gamers didn't take well to their usually spritely and lightning fast hero being reduced to a slow, cumbersome monster. In Black Knight, Sonic wields a sword which he can use whilst on the trot, giving rise to highly inventive gameplay as you speed through levels and dispatch foes in one fluid motion. As Unleashed was a game that had been ported to the Wii, the motion controls struggled with the system and most gamers simply opted for using a joypad. This isn't a problem for The Black Knight, as being a Wii exclusive the controls have been developed and mastered from the outset.
Will Sonic and the Black Knight restore the age old franchise to its former glory, or will it be just another disappointment in a long line of lacklustre titles? We only have a couple of weeks to wait and see...
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Console Buying Guide
February 25, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
With a number of console giants available on the current market, it can be a daunting task choosing one as a gift for someone else. Whilst most of the top three consoles share a lot of games and features, there are certain important aspects that also set them apart. Here we present a quick guide to buying the right console as a gift for someone you know.
One of the first things to consider is not just the starting cost, but also the long term cost of a console. Game and accessory prices for consoles are steadily on the rise, with most new Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 games starting out at around £40. The Wii offers games slightly cheaper, but tends to utilize a number of add-ons and inclusive packs that can add to the base price. Most add ons for consoles are not compulsory and so wouldn't normally need to be considered, but with the Wii some of the best games need a number of specific controllers and add ons from the outset.
You may also want to consider gthe recipient, and the type of gaming console that may best suit them. Nintendo have always held a family friendly policy, favouring games that are low on violence and instead concentrating on game that appeal to a younger audience. This isn't to say that mature content isn't available to the Wii, it's just on a smaller scale. Conversely, the Xbox and Playstation counterparts are much more geared towards catering for the mature gamer, with popular yet violent titles such as Gears of War and Resistance.
Is the recipient a fan of any particular developer of company? If he has experience with games on older Nintendo systems, the games on Wii like Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy, and Metroid Prime 3 may be familiar and fun. However, if he's allowed to play more violent games and enjoys shooters and whatnot, the Xbox 360 has a better offering in that area. Not that he won't find good shooters on the Wii, but they are not as readily available as on the 360, or the PS3 for that matter.
All three consoles have access to online play and additional content that can be downloaded through a console specific marketplace. Most additional and downloadable content comes a small cost. However, whereas gaming online with the Playstation 3 is completely free, the Xbox requires a subscription fee which is renewed every few months. Over time this charge can start to mount up, and seems ludicrous when compared to the Playstation equivalent which is free of charge.
Lastly, it's worth considering taking out some form of care plan for your new console. Xbox 360 in particular has been plagued with bugs and breakdowns since its release, and has become somewhat infamous in that area. It is an extra cost, but offers better peace of mind when you know that great big expensive piece of hardware is at least covered.
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