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Pixels & Bits: Internet Bandwidth: What it means to a gamer.
Article by: Sean Cahill
Online play dominates the gaming industry today, but what does a gamer need to know in order to ensure that the lag monster stays away? READ FULL ARTICLE...
Machine Guns Vegas
Article by: Dan Keener
Sean and Dan start their CES week with a bang by visiting Machine Guns Vegas! READ FULL ARTICLE...
The history of Star Trek games Part 2
Article by: Sean Colleli
In part 2, Sean trains his tricorder on the rise and fall of Star Trek gaming, and how the future might be even brighter thanks to dedica... READ FULL ARTICLE...

CES 2012: Mitsubishi

by: Dan - posted: 1/16/2012 6:24 AM - Add a Comment
One of my regular stop at CES is with Mitsubishi MEVS, which is the company’s projection division.  This year, they were showing off their most recent home theater projector, the HC7800D.  The projector was first unveiled at CEDIA last fall, but this was the first chance we had to take a good look at it.
 
The HC7800D is a beautiful projector, clad in a piano black finish and is rated at 1,500 Lumens with approximately 5,000 lamp life hours on low setting.  It is 1080p and Mitsubishis first 3D DLP Home Theater projector.  It will also convert 2D to 3D for those that want the 3D experience on all their entertainment.
 
We took in the demo they had on the show floor and you could see how clean the HC7800D was.  The image was crisp and clear and there was plenty of depth.  Once the demo was over, we looked at the actual projector and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the focus and zoom were all controlled manually.  Previous Mitsubishi models had a motor that controlled these functions, but that added to the cost.  The Mitsubishi sales rep confirmed that the motor was removed to keep down costs, plus most people set it once and do not mess with it again.  I have always preferred manual focus and zoom, so to bring the cost down by pulling this motor out is a good thing in my mind.
 
The Mitsubishi HC7800D is available now and looks to be priced right around $2,999.  Glasses can be picked p for $199 a pair, but there is a promotion currently going on that gets you one pair free from select retailers.  We should be able to get a hands on here in the GamingNexus test lab later this year, so stop back in a few months to see how the HC7800D does for gaming.

CES 2012: Razer

by: Sean Cahill - posted: 1/16/2012 1:13 AM - Add a Comment
One of the companies that made a lot of noise at CES 2012 was Razer with the announcement of the gaming tablet that is simply being called Project Fiona.  I had the chance to not only get a little time to look at this gaming tablet, but also spend some time with the Star Wars: The Old Republic accessories and a new gaming mouse known as the Naga Hex.
 
Star Wars: The Old Republic Keyboard
 
This was the main peripheral that I was looking forward to in the Razer booth, having seen the previews of it a week prior to the tradeshow.  This is one of the most unique keyboards you will ever run into, simply due to the addition of the LCD touchpad and ten hotkeys on the right side of the keyboard itself.  With Synapse 2.0 support that allows you to save your profile via a cloud, you no longer have to worry about losing your personal settings anymore.  The hotkeys, as previously mentioned, are integrated with the LCD panel that basically becomes a multi-media hub.  You can bring up a numerical pad if you wish or simply utilize the hotkeys to fully customize yourself in the game itself.  On top of that, if you are a little bored with what’s going on in game or are simply waiting on people in a group, you can also access sites such as Youtube and watch videos on the pad.  It’s that intuitive.
 
You will find over 100 fully programmable keys on the keyboard as well as a nice gold backlit panel for easy viewing on the board itself.  One of the coolest additions to the keyboard doesn’t necessarily do anything but add to the collector’s value of the board is the placement of Aurebesh lettering from the Star Wars Universe.
 
The SWTOR Keyboard will retail at $249.99 and will be available soon.
 
Star Wars: The Old Republic Mouse
 
Keeping with the Star Wars theme, we move to the SWTOR Mouse.  A very smooth and sleek mouse, it is very ergonomic and easy to get used to.  You will find 17 buttons that can be optimized for in-game use no matter the title.  The logo on the mouse itself is interchangeable, so no matter if you follow the Republic or the Empire, you will be able to show your allegiance.
 
The laser works at 5600 dpi and is a dual wired/wireless setup, so you can use it wireless if you choose, but the docking station allows you to easily charge it while you aren’t playing, or simply use the plug-in and use it while it charges for completely flexibility.  Battery life is approximately 12 hours while in wireless mode, so it will last you for those long gaming sessions without failing on you.
 
The SWTOR Mouse will retail at $139.99 and will be available soon.
 
 
Star Wars:  The Old Republic Headset
 
The final piece of equipment in the Star Wars: The Old Republic lineup is the headset.  For those of you who remember my review regarding the Starcraft II branded headset known as the Banshee, I feel that a direct comparison is in order.  The sound quality of the SWTOR Headset is very comparable to the Banshee, which makes sense since the frequency response is the same at 20-20,000 Hz.  The major difference comes in the feel of the headsets.  While I still love the comfort of the Banshee, the SWTOR Headset is definitely lighter, though my quick impression is that it does not feel as solid as the Banshee does, though a true side-by-side comparison is in order for that.
 
The microphone is a set piece of the headset instead of being detachable.  The nice little addition to this, though, is that the microphone actually slides up into the headset and can be tucked away when not being used.  Once again, the faction emblems can be swapped out between Republic and Empire just like on the mouse itself for full customization.  The headset, much like the past Razer headsets, is complete with a braided USB cable for easy plug-and-play capability.
 
The SWTOR Headset will retail for $129.99 and will be available soon.
 
Project Fiona
 
I wish I had more information than I do about this fantastic piece of equipment, but what we know is what was in the press release.  We know that there will be a Core i7 Processor inside of the fully functional tablet that supports both touchpad capability as well as the use of the dual joystick system.  The tablet will support 7.1 surround sound, Bluetooth 3.0, and Wireless B/G/N.
 
Other than that, this product is in the earliest of stages.  We are very eager to see how Project Fiona develops in the coming months.
 
 
Naga Hex
 
Finally, we come to the last piece of equipment on this trip, the Naga Hex gaming mouse.  Sporting a similar look to the design of the SWTOR Mouse, the Naga Hex has a fully customizable six button pad on the left side for quick commands and feels incredibly comfortable in your hand.  There is no real problem transitioning to this piece of equipment as it is perfectly ergonomic.  The 5600 dpi laser is a staple of Razer’s commitment to putting out quality gaming mice, but I believe the best guarantee that Razer gives us is the 10 million click life cycle.  It isn’t very often that you get a guarantee like that from companies regarding their gear.
 
The Naga Hex will debut at $79.99.

CES 2012: Swag-A-Thon Day 2

by: Ben Berry - posted: 1/15/2012 8:39 PM - Add a Comment
Some days it's all about the quality, not the quantity. Today was one of those days where everything went my way, and while I didn't spend much time on the floor, what I got was uber high quality. We'll have at least one Justin Beiber autograph available as a giveaway prize shortly, and one of the USB fridges will be given away tomorrow. And while this was my last day collecting items on the show floor, we have so much coming in after the show that we'll just have tons of giveaways in the next few weeks. CES 2012 was a phenomenal year for swag and I'm definitely looking forward to 2013.

CES 2012: Ben's Journal Day 2

by: Ben Berry - posted: 1/15/2012 8:30 PM - Add a Comment
Normally, I'm fighting for every minute I can spend on the show floor each year, but with the economy as it is, and the cost to set up a booth rising year after year, some of the best stuff wasn't even at the convention hall this year. I spent most of my day in suites along the strip, with one special stop along the way.

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CES 2012: Gameloft

by: Dan - posted: 1/14/2012 10:46 PM - Add a Comment
Although Gameloft did not have an official presence at the 2012 CES, we still managed to connect with Jessica Lewinstein, Gameloft Corporate PR Manager to have a sit down to foster a relationship between Gameloft and GamingNexus.  It is no secret that mobile gaming on Android, Windows and iOS devices is on fire right now, so it is only natural for GamingNexus to want to expand into this realm. 
 
However, I was actually a bit surprised at how many titles that Gameloft has on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, DSi, Wii, PSP and Samsung connected devices in addition to the mobile world.  They also have released games from some of the most well-known brands in gaming including Assassin’s Creed, Brother in Arms, UNO and many more.
 
Sean, Ben and I would like to give a big thanks to Jessica for meeting with us and as Gameloft continues to develop titles in the future, we hope to bring you more coverage from the company.
 

CES 2012: Nukotoys

by: Dan - posted: 1/14/2012 10:15 PM - Add a Comment
One of the great things about CES is being able to meet with someone that has a cool new product that you may not normally come across.  That started right on the first day of the show, as we met with Co-CEO and Founder Rodger Raderman of Nukotoys to get a hands on with the companies upcoming Android and iOS releases Monsterology and Animal Planet.  What Nukotoys has been able to do is blend the traditional card-based games along with iOS and eventually Android to create a seamless way to enjoy the benefits of both mediums.  Their goal was to create games that were fun first and educational second, without realizing hoe much you are learning.  They have accomplished this via their Tap technology, which introduces the physical cards into the digital realm by tapping them on the front of the device.  Although Rodger was not able to share with us how it works, it does not involve the camera and is very slick and something you will want to check out.
 
Monsterology is inspired and taken right from the pages of Templar Publishing’s Ology book series.  While it also has some roots in Pokémon, it is a tactile, turn-based game that uses creature from myth and folklore such as the Cyclops and Kraken.  The demo we received was on an iPad, but the game will also be playable on the iPhone and iPod touch.  The way it works is similar to other trading card games in that you use your Monsters with the best attributes to try and win the different battles.  Rodger showed us a capture-the-flag scenario in which he had to come up with the proper monster and power-ups in order to defeat his AI opponent and capture all areas of the map.  After getting the brief demo, it is clear that Nukotoys has something with Monsterology.  It should appeal to many types of gamers and is rated for those that are six years of age and up.  I particularly was impressed with the integration and the attention to detail the company put into this product.
 
When Rodger started the demo of Animal Planet, it immediately reminded me of the interaction you get with Kinectimals on the Xbox 360.  You can interact with them in a variety of ways, and it’s doubtful you will get bored as there will be 50 exotic animals to collect within the title.  Much attention was paid to the animals themselves to give them as realistic look and actions as possible.  Much like Monsterology, it will ship with two animals and you can add more from retail if you would like to expand.  It is also very educational, as their will be photos and videos that are accessible to players that want to learn more about the animals they are interacting with.
 
One cool feature within the games is that you can take your collectible cards with you and Tap in on a friend’s iOS or Android device.  While you are playing, the Animal or Monster on the card will remain, but will eventually fall off your friend’s device.  So this gives you the ability to take your stuff on the go, but alleviates the worry of having to switch it back to your own device at a later date.  Make sure you tap in the cards to your primary device first, as it is tied to the original device it is set up on.
The cards will be available at Wal-Mart, Target and Toys-R-Us in a variety of packs for both titles.  Pricing is expected to be $1.99 for an intro pack of three collectible cards and $3.99 for a seven-pack.    However, if you do not want to purchase the cards, everything will also be available digitally for the same price points in the applicable digital store.  The Apps themselves will be free for both iOS and Android (when available, probably March 2012), but the cards will be need to be picked up in either digital or physical bundles.  
 
I was very impressed with how both games work and believe this is one of the most innovative ways that a company has intertwined the physical and digital mediums into one big happy family.  The price points on the cards (both digital and physical) are well within reason and I am eager to get my kids involved to see if they will enjoy them as much as I did in my demo.  Nukotoys has promised us the ability to review the titles when they arrive in March, so expect something later this Spring.
 

CES 2012: Polk Audio

by: Dan - posted: 1/14/2012 9:18 PM - Add a Comment
Over the last several years, we have reviewed a number of high-quality products from the folks at Polk Audio that impact the gaming audio experience.  Almost all of these have been speaker bars or the Hitmaster, which were designed to give gamers and home theater enthusiasts a larger and broader audio experience than they could get just form using TV speakers.  This year, Polk Audio had a pleasant surprise waiting for us, as the Speaker Specialists are now getting into the headphone (sport and noise-canceling) business.  They had previously announced both the UltraFit and UltraFocus series last June for a Fall release, but this was the first time I was able to get a hands on with either of them.   Both the UltraFocus 6000 (ear buds) and UltraFocus 8000 (over-the-ear) have really become a necessity for Polk Audio, as consumers continue to move away from the fixed location in their homes to more mobile gaming and entertainment.
 
I will start with the UltraFocus 8000’s as they are just an absolute beast of a noise-canceling over-the-ear headphone from what I can tell.  They fit like a glove and the audio and noise-canceling quality was some of the best I have come across in this class.  Granted, it was in a limited test with a handful of songs, but I really liked what I heard and saw from them.  They have a great look with the Kevlar texture on the top piece and they sound exceptional.  I also liked the 4.5 foot cable and the 8 Hz – 25 kHz frequency response.  I have been using “Ain’t no rest for the Wicked” by Cage the Elephant lately as a test song and the UF 8000’s handled it with ease, hitting the bass lines perfectly and delivering the intricate details of guitar riffs.  With the UF 8000 due out later this spring with an MSRP of $349.99, they will make people think twice about plunking down money on those other brands at that price that deliver an perceived image and status level and not the audio quality that enthusiasts crave.  Expect a full review later this year once we get a pair from Polk to put through the paces.
 
As for the UF6000 ear buds, they are very sleek and look impressive sporting their black finish and tangle-free Planar (flat) cable.  Although they are light, they just have this feel of a high-quality bud due to the design and all of the small details that Polk put into them.  Some of the specs include 56” cable, seven different tips and adapters for Nokia and airlines and they have active noise-canceling.  The in-line controller uses a single AAA battery and has push-to-hear tech built in.  After testing them out in Polk’s suite, you could tell that the rated frequency response of 8 Hz – 25 kHz was spot on from the songs I tested.  Like any ear bud, the bottom line is about comfort, because no one cares how good they sound if they don’t feel good in your ear.  After popping the UF6000’s in and out a few times, I can say that people wearing these may well forget they are in their ear, as they just kind of blend in and do not have any pressure points that I could tell.  We hope to take a look at these in the near future as well, as they hit retail in March 2012 with an MSRP of $149.99.
 
Also on display from Polk were all four of their UltraFit headphones, which are comprised of the UF500, UF1000, UF2000 and UF3000.  These are designed for the active user and although they come in a variety of size, shapes and colors, they all have the Polk quality on the inside.  We also were treated to the current trio of wireless subs and a demo of the absolutely amazing LSiM speaker package (towers and center seen in image below.)

CES 2012: Microsoft gaming on the floor

by: Dan - posted: 1/14/2012 9:00 PM - Add a Comment
Although the 2012 CES has ended, I wanted to put up a quick post on what games Microsoft was demonstrating in the booth to general attendees at what looks to be their last CES in the foreseeable future.  There were a total of 15 gaming stations open to event attendees, as well as several more in the meeting areas above the show floor.  The first six stations were of games that have already been released.  Included in this group was Forza 4, Skyrim, Halo Anniversary, Call of Duty MW3, Batman: Arkham City and Gears of War 3.
 
The unreleased titles that were available to play were two stations dedicated to Microsoft Flight as well as the four titles (I mentioned them earlier) that make up the House Party release on XBLA later this year: Warp, Nexuiz, I am Alive and Alan Wake’s American Nightmare.
 
Finally, there were three areas dedicated to the Kinect, which seemed to feature games already released such as Dance Central 2 and Kinect Sports 2.

CES 2012: Square Enix - Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Hitman: Absolution

by: Sean Cahill - posted: 1/14/2012 2:58 PM - Add a Comment
I had the opportunity during my time in Las Vegas to sit down with the good people over at Square Enix and get a preview of two highly anticipated titles of 2012 in Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Hitman: Absolution.
 
Final Fantasy XIII-2
 
First and foremost, let us say that the development team over at Square Enix has listened to the fans and addressed the biggest complaint from the first title in that it was too linear.  In the demo that I received, which is currently available on Xbox Live and Playstation Network, the world is far more open.  Sure, there is still that entire need to follow Point A to Point B, but opening up the menu itself will show a world that needs to be discovered with plenty of NPCs and such to interact with.  It's going back to the basics for Final Fantasy, the reason that the game has locked in its fans for over 20 years.  Fans should enjoy the more open areas to roam, giving them the feeling that they are truly choosing the direction to go with in the game.
 
The game itself will focus on two characters primarily.  Lightning’s younger sister, Serah, and Noel Kreiss, a time traveler from the future who is the last human alive in his time, attempting to restore the past so he can change his world’s fate.  Lightning will make appearances as a knight in Valhalla, which is a void area in the world.  The battle system has not changed much from the predecessor of the series, keeping the job roles in tact, such as Sentinel, Ravager, Medic, etc.  The third member of the party is used by your choice of 150 monsters that also take on these roles, though their roles are set instead of being changed by the player.  Added into the battle system are cinematic attacks, which fans of games in the past of the franchise can relate it to Sabin’s Blitz system from Final Fantasy VI in which you have to input proper commands in order to execute an attack.
 
Making a comeback in this game as well is Mog, who is a supporter of the group and helps the player find useful items along the way, some of which are absolutely vital to the advancement in the quest.  Little changes have also been made to the HUD in-game, such as the mini map now always pointing north, which was not the case in the previous game and made things somewhat confusing for players as to which direction they were going.  On top of these changes, 360 gamers will no longer feel as though they have an inferior looking product as the graphics have been shored up to look close to the PS3’s Blu-Ray version.
 
Final Fantasy XIII-2will be available in North America on January 31, 2012, just a couple of weeks away.  Be sure to check out the demo yourself in preparation for the launch!
 
Hitman: Absolution
 
While we know plenty about what to expect out of Final Fantasy XIII-2, the fifth game in the Hitman series is one that we know little about.  Hints and teasers go back to as early as 2007, but now that we have official confirmation from both Square Enix and developer IO Interactive that the game is in full development, fans of the series can look forward to the next installment.  I was lucky enough to be treated to an early build of the game as a walkthrough through one of the missions.
 
Those of you who are a fan of the Hitman series will recognize the classic style of gameplay.  Stealth is certainly rewarded as you progress throughout the game, but sometimes you need to be a bit more violent to be rewarded with information.  The game is open enough where it allows you to decide how to eliminate your targets one by one.  The “Silent Assassin” reward is there yet again, given only to the finest players mission to mission, and it is much harder to achieve this than in games past.
 
Enemies that you encounter can be alerted by your presence whenever and however you want, such as throwing objects to gain their attention or just flat out running in front of them to take them head-on.  The alert system gives you an elevated warning system that will allow you to ascertain just how much the enemy is alerted to your presence.
 
Building upon the gameplay system is what was shown at E3 this past year called the Instinct System.  There are varying levels to this, but it will affect you in different ways, such as being able to predict an enemy’s path that he will walk or even slowing things down and giving you the chance to pick and choose your targets carefully for as many bullets as you have at your disposal.  It’s a unique twist to what we have seen in “bullet-time” style shootings, and it is very, very smooth.
 
There is no hard release date for Hitman: Absolution just yet, other than expecting it at some point in 2012.  More information will become available as the year rolls on.

CES 2012: Ion Audio iCade Suite

by: Dan - posted: 1/14/2012 1:58 PM - Add a Comment
While the annual Consumer Electronics Show has plenty of vendors whose entire show is dedicated to gaming, I always like stopping by the booths of folks that continue to offer a few pieces of high-quality gaming products that are not what the company is actually known for.  Case in point is Ion Audio, who in the past has introduced such gaming items as the Drum Rocker several years ago as well as the iCade and Go Pad at last year’s 2011 CES.  This year, Ion surprised us with a whole suite of iCade products.  In addition to the original iCade, this year there was a new and improved iCade Core, iCade Jr and the iCade Mobile. 
 
While the original iCade actually sold well, it was a bit big and bulky and had to be assembled by the consumer.  So the feedback that Ion received from their retail partners and customers led them to develop the iCade Core.  The Core is an almost exact replica of a traditional fight stick, with a joystick and eight buttons, but it has a cradle and cable pass through to hold and charge your iPad.  Like the original iCade, it connects via Bluetooth and is compatible with over 200 games, including the Atari Greatest Hits app.  The Core is actually weighted well and feels pretty rugged.  However, you probably don’t want to go too hardcore with it, as the delicate iPad is sitting in it while you are playing.
 
The iCade Mobile is the one that really caught my eye.  I have seen a few of these devices before (including Ion’s own Go Pad last year) that allow you to convert your iOS device into a more traditional handheld gaming product.  My one complaint since I have had an iPod touch has been that I spend too much time trying to use the right touch control, that I am less focused on the game itself.  Devices like the iCade mobile solve that by bringing back traditional touch controls and allowing you to see the entire screen.  For the iCade Mobile, it sports a decent D-Pad, four button array and four trigger buttons that any handheld gamer can appreciate.  The iOS device can actually be locked into either a vertical or horizontal position, so no matter which way the game is oriented you will be all set.  As of today, there are over 100 games that will work and connect via Bluetooth to the iCade Mobile, and that number is slated to grow even more.  After holding it, you can tell it is balanced nicely to support the iOS device and the placement of the D-Pad and eight buttons feels like you just picked up a PSP again.  It is a bit wider than a traditional handheld, but I do not believe this will be detrimental to the gameplay.  With the iCade mobile, I think Ion has finally found that perfect blend of size and functionality to convert any iPhone or iPod Touch to the traditional size and function of a gaming handheld.
 
The last of the new iCade products was the iCade Jr.  this little guy is designed for iPhones and iPod touches and is meant to be a miniature replica of the original iCade.  Although it doesn’t sport the same amount of buttons, it is made of durable plastic and allows you to play vertical games (think Galaga) the way they were meant to without fumbling through those touch screen controls.  It will work perfectly in a table-top setting, and should be ok for use (maybe a bit awkward) just holding it in your hands.
 
Pricing and availability were not announced, but expect the three new entries in the iCade (Core, Mobile and Jr.) product line to hit normal Ion Audio retail channels later in 2012.

 

CES 2012: Alan Wake’s American Nightmare

by: Dan - posted: 1/13/2012 6:02 AM - Add a Comment
While Sean was getting a hands on with Ubisoft’s I am Alive (coming soon), I happened to run into a familiar face in Microsoft Sr. Marketing Manager of Xbox Live Michael Wolfe.  He was overseeing the four House Party titles that will be available later this year on Xbox Live, of which I am Alive and Alan Wake's American Nightmare will both be a part of.  Mike asked me to take some time and play a bit so they set it up in “arcade mode” to give it a test run.  For anyone that has played Alan Wake, this will be like riding a bike.  The look and feel will be just like the original, so controls will be second nature.  In the survival mode test I played, the premise is to make it to dawn (which is about 10 minutes) without getting taken out by the zombie hordes.  You have flashlights, flares, weapons and your acrobatic skills to assist you.  One thing Mike cautioned me on was being smart with your flashlight batteries, as the light from that and the flares are your best defense to incapacitate the zombies by temporarily blinding them so you can take them out.
 
I quickly learned that you do not want to get cornered anywhere the deeper you get into your wait for the sun to get up, you simply won’t make it.  After playing for about 10 minutes, this game looks to be very fun and should appeal to Alan Wake fans, those that like the Black Ops zombie mode and anyone that digs a good old fashioned survival game.  There is more to the title, but that was all I was able to experience today.  The best part is that the game looks and plays like a full retail copy and not something you expect to find on XBLA.  Check out the 2:00 minute video snippet that shows off some of the gameplay and has a faint overview from Mike about the game and the arcade survival mode if you listen carefully.
 
In addition to Microsoft Game Studio’s Alan Wake's American Nightmare and Ubisoft’s I am Alive, THQ’s Nexuiz and EA’s Warp complete the four House Party titles.  There was no pricing or availability info announced, but they should be coming sometime in the near future.
 

CES 2012: Swag-A-Thon Day 1

by: Ben Berry - posted: 1/12/2012 2:01 PM - Add a Comment
Looking for swag on a show floor is a little bit like an easter egg hunt; almost everyone else is looking too, so you have to work kind of fast, but you don’t want just any egg. Some eggs are rotten or are the candy eggs with the gooey filling I just can’t stand. Now that I’ve beaten that metaphor do death, let’s see how day 1 went:

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CES 2012: Ben's Journal Day 1, Part 2

by: Ben Berry - posted: 1/12/2012 1:29 PM - Add a Comment
Especially in Vegas, the day isn’t over when the show floor closes. Tuesday night saw me headed out for another night of working, walking, and fun. First up was a visit to Showstoppers, which is essentially a slightly lesser version of Digital Experience, but with usually better food and has a wider variety of products.

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CES 2012: Day Two and Three on the floor

by: Dan - posted: 1/12/2012 9:26 AM - Add a Comment
Now that the 2012 CES has officially opened, the appointments fly fast and furious.  We had a pretty full day yesterday, with appointments with companies across the board.  We visited with LG, Mitsubishi, Sony, Able Planet and Polk Audio from the Audio/Video side, so expect some great things over the next few days.  We also visited with Monster, Cables to Go, Razer, NZXT, Gunnar Optics, Fructel, Steelseries and IBuyPower.
 
And finally, Sean headed offsite from the convention center to spend some quality time with the fine folks from Square Enix.  He had almost two full hours checking our Hitman Absolution and Final Fantasy XII-2, so expect some impressions in the near future.
 
Today is our last day at the show, and we will wrap with appoinments with Mad Catz, Westinghouse Digital, BenQ, PowerSkin and SoundMatters.
 
[EDIT: DAN]  And we just added a last minute appointment with UBISoft to check out I Am Alive.
 

CES 2012: Sony Gaming on the Floor

by: Dan - posted: 1/12/2012 9:03 AM - Add a Comment
Sony usually has a large portion of their booth dedicated to gaming, and this year was no exception.  As you can imagine, with the Vita inbound on Feb 22nd, the handheld had a large presence on the floor in addition to the PS3 and the newly announced Tablets and Xperia play phones.  The crowds were heavy and the lines exceptionally long, so I was unable to get any real quality hands on with the Vita and PS3 titles, but I wanted to provide a list of what they were showing off.  Oh, did I mention that the Vita alone had 18 dedicated stations, 10 of which were for games and eight additional ones that showed off the full Vita capabilities.  Here is the list of what I saw being available for play:
 
PS3 Titles being shown:
MLB 12 The Show (both controller and Move versions)
Starhawk
Sorcery (Move controls)
Twisted Metal
Journey
 
PlayStation Vita titles:
Fifa Soccer
Little Deviants
Gravity Rush
Hot Shots Golf
Little Big Planet
MLB 12 The Show
Mod Nation Racers
Unit 13
Uncharted Golden Abyss
Resistance Burring Skies

CES 2012: Swag-A-Thon Day 0

by: Ben Berry - posted: 1/11/2012 10:18 AM - Add a Comment
Welcome to the first post of the 2012 CES Swag-A-thon. This annual tradition is where you learn about what companies, their PR firms, and especially tchotchke makers the world over want us to have when we visit press events, and in return so of which will eventually wind up in your hot little hands as we set forth with our regular giveaways over twitter and facebook.

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CES 2012: Ben's Journal Day 1 Part 1

by: Ben Berry - posted: 1/11/2012 5:16 AM - Add a Comment
After a great end to my first day in Vegas, I was looking forward to my first day on the main show floor. Did I forget to mention in my Day Zero journal that I had left my CES badge and all of the accompanying paperwork back in the drawer in North Carolina? Well, because they’ve got their stuff down pat here, it took only 2 minutes for me to get everything replaced and ready to hit the show.

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CES 2012: Ben's Journal - Day Zero

by: Ben Berry - posted: 1/11/2012 4:19 AM - Add a Comment
Las Vegas is very much thought of by most visitors as a city of lights; the neon of the strip, the soft yellow light of the casino floors that leave you feeling you’re living in perpetual dusk, the brightness of the desert sun.
 
To me, Vegas is a city of music with a soundtrack not unlike that of New York City, or even Los Angeles. In fact, from the minute you get off the plane the “ding ding ding” of the airport slots hit your ears like the opening stanza of a well known tune. While the song isn’t always classic Rat Pack swing or even the sweeping thematic scores of the Bellagio fountain shows, it’s usually a song that is as enticing as it is continual.
 
Sadly for me, the music of my first day was very much a “Bittersweet Symphony”, even before I started my trip. A power outage on Sunday night left me with very little sleep and less than ready for the day to come. A 5 am cab ride ending in a 5 hour flight was not the highpoint of the day to be certain, but things didn’t stop there. On the way to my first meeting of the day, I was knocked down on a stairway by teens being chased by security. The fall wasn’t so bad other than it caused me to rip my pants from stem to stern, if you catch my drift. Amazingly, it wasn’t the kind of rip anyone could see, so I literally sat in my first meeting of CES with the lovely rep from Gameloft in a rather drafty pair of jeans.
 
Thankfully, the mall was very close by, and after some quick shopping I was back ready to take on the day. It’s a good thing, because I still had the walk back to the Excalibur to check in and take advantage of some down time to gamble a bit and relax before heading to Digital Experience.
 
Digital Experience is a smaller event that piggybacks on the draw of CES to get companies in front of press at a much less expense pricepoint. This show is usually a mix of big names that everyone knows, and smaller companies no one has ever heard of. The 2012 edition was no different, with some great discussion about tablet gaming at a budget price point with the Pandigital folks, and a look at the next Star Wars and DC Universe branded flash memory products from MIMOBOT, plus a few more things I’ll be writing about in further detail later in the week. Plus, I got to meet reigning Ironman World Champion Craig "Crowie" Alexander who was representing a new sports earphone product. With the way the day started it certainly ended better than expected.
 

CES 2012: NYKO

by: Dan - posted: 1/11/2012 12:36 AM - Add a Comment
Right before Christmas, NYKO announced a new European partnership, but more importantly hinted at what they had in store for their 2012 CES lineup.  They teased their first licensed endeavor (a “popular children’s brand”) and promised to show off plenty of Sony PlayStation Vita accessories.  After visiting with them this morning, they came through on those promises and had one unexpected surprise under wraps.
 
I will take the suspense out of it with the children’s brand, as NYKO showed off their newly licensed Yo Gabba Gabba! characters for use in their own accessory line.  They had a couple of initial products on display, but both could possibly change slightly with the final designs.  The first was the Brobee Hip Pack, which is a wearable pack that has plenty of storage to hold your gaming needs.  It comes with a Brobee screen wipe and has space for up to a DSi XL in the pockets and hardware storage areas on the inside.  The mouth also detaches, so you can turn that frown upside down and make Brobee smile or be unhappy.  The second product was dubbed Muno Time, which is an animated iOS and DS dock and clock that is also loaded with Yo Gabba Gabba songs.  Check out the snippet of video I shot of Muno Time, I think the kids will love it.
 
The PlayStation Vita accessories are a window into what NYKO has been doing for years, providing a smart solution to something the manufacture did not.  The four announced accessories are the Speaker Stand ($29.99) featuring a keychain remote, Power Kit ($19.99) Starter Kit ($29.99) and Power Grip ($24.99).  Power Grip will feature adjustable grips that swivel and are very similar to how the 3DS Power Grip works.  The last new accessory is the Game Case Pro, which holds several combinations of games and memory cards for the PS Vita.
 
The surprise announcement form NYKO is that they are getting into the Kindle Fire accessory market.  Their first three offerings are the Power Grip ($59.99), Power Kit ($24.99) and Speaker Stand ($29.99) which features two additional hours of charge.  The Power Grip for Kindle Fire adds a couple of smart options including a volume control switch and moving the power button to the front of the device (while in the Power Grip).
 
 
 

CES 2012: Roccat Gaming

by: Sean Cahill - posted: 1/10/2012 10:25 PM - Add a Comment
Beware, PC accessory developers:  Zee Germans are coming!

Roccat Gaming (pronounced like "rocket"), the new kids on the block in North America dealing with PC peripherals, has announced their presence at CES 2012 with their line of products that will complete any gaming rig.  We had the opportunity to sit down with the crew from the Hamburg, Germany-based company to go over their first line or products that will be available in early 2012.  Our focus was on the trifecta of peripherals that completes any gamer's necessary collection:  the Kone Plus gaming mouse, Isku Keyboard, and Kave 5.1 headset.

Starting with the Kone Plus mouse, it first needs to be noted that this mouse boasts a 6000 DPI laser sensor, more than enough to satisfy your needs, whether you are an FPS junkie or hitting the MMO games.  The mouse comes with customizable profiles that can be identified by changeable LED lights on the system itself.  A key component for Roccat was that they believed most mice should be customizable in their look and not just set in one color.  Linking it up with varying gaming profiles makes a huge difference, so you can have a particular setting for an FPS, another for an RTS, and so on.  On top of this, if you aren't happy with a setting, such as the DPI, you can change it on the fly.  By pressing the adjusting button on the side of the mouse, the system will actually speak to you what your current DPI setting is and allow you to change it to a more sensitive or less sensitive setting, a truly innovative addition to a mouse.

After spending some time with the Kone Plus, we moved onto the meat of the peripherals, the Isku keyboard.  This keyboard is not for the faint of heart as it is quite larger than some gaming keyboards already out on the market.  While its size can be a bit overwhelming, what isn't is the customization that is available.  While having over 30 available macro keys to use is fantastic, you have to appreciate the little things that this product has, such as the three small macros that are built into the wrist rest at the bottom that are in perfect placement to be used by your left thumb.  Building on the little things, the backlight is fixed to a blue backlight to make it easy to read the keys.

The final product that we covered was the Kave 5.1 True Surround Headset.  We have to put the emphasis on the word "true" as most 5.1 headsets utilize SRS and not a system that fully immerses you in surround sound.  With three drivers in each earpiece, this headset makes sure there is nothing fake about the sound you are hearing.  While having a bit of size to it may deter some gamers away from the headset, rest assured that its comfort is top notch to go along with the solid noise canceling that is in the earpieces themselves.  The microphone itself has a blue LED light that comes to life when you have muted your microphone, making sure you are well aware that no one can hear you if you have activated it.

All in all, Roccat Gaming is making sure that their first jump into North America is bringing some firepower, and other companies had better take notice.
 
 


 


 
*An error was made in the original publication of this article regarding the backlight on the Isku Keyboard.  We apologize for any misunderstanding with the information that was originally posted

CES 2012: Vizio makes a bold statement by entering PC and laptop market.

by: Sean Cahill - posted: 1/10/2012 9:40 PM - Add a Comment
Earlier this week, Vizio made a huge splash at the start of CES by announcing they were getting into the computing market by introducing their own line of All-in-one PC systems as well as laptops.  This was quite the unexpected move even with Vizio's involvement in the handheld tablet market, but with so many devices now being connected together in the home, it was almost inevitable that a company like Vizio would have to get into the market.  They have done just that, and they are not disappointing.

Vizio's All-in-one PC line is sleek, beautiful, and quite powerful, all wrapped into one neat package.  While there are no specifications to go by just yet, the information that we have is that the All-in-ones will be in two forms:  24 and 27 inches.  The units will feature USB 3.0 as well as two HDMI inputs that turns the gorgeous HD monitor into a package that can hook up cable, satellite, or gaming systems.  The real beauty of this is that the monitor can be used for your multimedia devices without the computer being turned on, which is truly an innovative design.  The keyboard is extremely sleek and the touch pad that acts as your mouse is an intuitive design that makes usage in the home quite unique, especially if you are using the PC as more than just a computer.  With the guts of the computer being kept in the slender base of the monitor, the hinging on the back of the computer is well hidden and gives the user truly a feel of a beautiful product.

The laptop line has garnered just as much attention as the All-in-one PCs, if not more.  With a simplistic, sleek design that rivals that of a Macbook, Vizio isn't just happy to get involved in the market.  They are making a clear statement.  The laptop, again, does not have any specifications just like it's desktop counterpart, so we are limited in what we can tell you.  Screen sizes are fairly standard at 14 and 15.6 inches respectively and have taken a page out of Apple's playbook with the Airbook by making the optical drive a separate portion, making the laptop that much thinner and lighter, as well as easier to transport.

Vizio made the jump into the television market a few years ago by bringing out an affordable HDTV for any consumer.  You have to believe that they are doing the exact same thing since their target audience doesn't change, even if the market does.  We will be watching the press releases very closely as we wait for Vizio to release specifications and price points that are more than likely expected to change the name of the game in the PC world.

 

CES 2012: Toshiba brings glasses-free 3D to gaming laptops

by: Jeremy - posted: 1/10/2012 3:31 PM - Add a Comment
Toshiba has announced that the 3DS isn’t the only system capable of delivering 3D gaming without the need of clunky glasses. The best part is that the technology doesn’t require the purchase of new hardware but rather an update from Toshiba’s Service Station utility.

The update, which is currently available for the Qosmio F755 3D line of laptops, comes as a result of extensive work by engineers at both Toshiba and NVIDIA. The feature makes Toshiba’s Qosmio line of gaming laptops the first to offer the glasses-free experience. The feature is based on auto-stereoscopic display technology; whereas the 3DS requires the user to be focuses in a particular position, the Qosmio utilizes the system’s webcam to track the user’s movement to broaden the viewing zone and change with the position of the user. That 3D sweet-spot is suddenly a lot larger than most of us have gotten used to.

It looks as if this 3D technology is becoming more accessible with each new advancement; maybe the 3D world isn’t as far off as we once thought. 

CES 2012: Mad Catz’s Soul Calibur stick is a thing of beauty

by: Jeremy - posted: 1/10/2012 1:28 PM - Add a Comment
One of the new products that Mad Catz is showing off at CES is the Soul Calibur V Arcade FightStick Soul Edition. The stick, designed to be used with Namco’s upcoming release Soul Calibur 5 will be available for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The gorgeous piece of hardware, pictured below, features the Namco Noir button and stick layout and custom artwork. It looks as if I will have to add a new stick to my collection:

CES 2012: Hulu at Digital Experience

by: Dan - posted: 1/10/2012 10:28 AM - Add a Comment
We stopped by the Hulu booth at last night’s Digital Experience and picked up a bit of gaming related news.  They were unable to provide us with a date other than “soon”, but the Hulu folks did confirm that Hulu+ is inbound for the Nintendo Wii in addition to the Nintendo 3DS (previously announced) later this year.  It appears that the Nintendo WiiU is also destined to get Hulu+, but they were also unable to confirm because it has not been announced yet.  Once it arrives on the Nintendo devices that leaves only the PlayStation Vita as the last major gaming hardware that Hulu plus has not been announced for yet. 

CES 2012: Kelly Clarkson at Sony Press Event

by: Dan - posted: 1/10/2012 9:13 AM - Add a Comment
As I mentioned earlier in the Sony Press Event write up, they brought out Kelly Clarkson to perform Mr. Know It All as part of the entertainment for the crowd on hand.  She mentioned that this was the first performance of the song she has ever done acoustically.  I apologize for the camera gaffe in the middle; unfortunately there was an inadvertent bump by another event attendee during the performance.