sims

iPhone steering wheel, for those who take racing apps too seriously

I'm not what you'd call a fan of chintzy, plastic, snap-on video game peripherals. I've got enough plastic guitars and controllers cluttering up my living room already without taking up more space with snap-on shells that make my Wii Remote look like the world's shortest golf club. However, I take my racing sims seriously, even on the iPhone. Which is why the CTA Digital Steering Wheel for iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch is interesting to me.

CTA's wheel is basically a plastic shell that snaps onto your iPhone, iPhone 3GS, or first- or second-generation iPod Touch to make the devices feel like a small steering wheel. The design doesn't block the screen, so you can still access virtual buttons for braking, nitro, and such. CTA offers two versions of the wheel, one with a suction cup mount and one without.

I think this is a cool idea for two basic reasons. Firstly, the bigger radius of the wheel's grip can help ease hand cramping caused by prolonged playing for people with big hands. Additionally, the suction cup mount means that iPhone racing games can be played with one hand, which is great because, well, I'm lazy like that.

I haven't been able to find pricing on CTA's Web site, but expect the iPhone wheel to be priced similarly to the company's $19.99 steering wheel for Wii.

This definitely isn't a product for everyone and I can't see myself busting this wheel out on the train as I commute to work. However, if you've ever spent more than an hour at a time racking up points playing Need for Speed: Undercover or Ferrari Challenge, then check the cheesy video after the jump to see the CTA Digital iPhone steering wheel in action.… Read more

EA posts sizable loss, but touts big Sims 3 sales

There may be an economic recovery in the works, but video game giant Electronic Arts has a way to go before it joins the party.

That seemed to be the message Tuesday, when EA reported its first-quarter results, the highlights of which were mixed: On the one hand, it reported a quarterly net loss of $234 million, or 72 cents a share, compared with a loss of $95 million, or 30 cents a share, for the same quarter a year earlier. But on the other hand, its big summer release, The Sims 3, appears to have gotten off to a … Read more

EA to take Sims 3 on new adventures

Sims players will soon be able to journey to countries such as China and Egypt, search for hidden treasures, and meet fellow Sims along the way.

Electronic Arts announced Monday that it's developing the first expansion pack for its popular Sims 3 game. The new pack, Sims 3 World Adventures, will take players on a journey to real-world locales, says EA, from ancient tombs in Egypt to romantic getaways in France. While trekking across the globe, players can take on new challenges, develop different skills, and interact with other Sims.

"We're thrilled with the global success of … Read more

Digital postcards and an online flight sim: iPhone apps of the week

Of all the great enhancements, fixes, and goodies in iPhone OS 3.0 (video overview here), I quickly realized there was one glaring omission. With the useful addition of a Voice Memos app, an old problem reared its ugly head. The update put the Voice Memos app icon on the home page, pushing whatever lone app icon that sat in the lower right of the homepage onto its own screen on the next page. This meant that in order to maximize my use of page space (I have a lot of apps!), I now had to rearrange my apps on … Read more

Live a virtual life and race against the clock: iPhone apps of the week

In addition to the big Apple announcements of new laptops and the iPhone 3G S at this weeks WWDC, other well-known developers used the conference as an opportunity to release some big name iPhone applications. I usually try to balance my coverage of iPhone apps by talking about one game and one useful utility, but with this week's big releases, I'm going to talk about two games. These games are both $9.99, so with the higher price point, I think it's worth it to give you the rundown of both so you can decide if you … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 994: Simlish out loud

It's all girls and me today, which leads to hilarious consequences including an outbreak of Simlish. We also figure out the solution to the world's water problems. Molly hates on AT&T some more. And Veronica promises to drink her own pee.

Listen now: Download today's podcast Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video) EPISODE 994

Facebook to open up personalized URLs http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029471,49302580,00.htm?s_cid=33

Hackers make progress towards pwning Palm Pre http://www.precentral.net/pre-developer-rom-uncovered-could-lead-hackingcustomization http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/06/10/124241/Palms-webOS-Root-Image-Leaks-Out… Read more

The first drop is a doozy!

Rollercoaster Rush Free is a free seven-level preview of Rollercoaster Rush, a fast-paced arcade game in which you pilot roller-coaster cars on a series of precipitous tracks through jumps, loop-the-loops, and other obstacles. The game lets you brake, accelerate, or (by doing neither) let the cars roll on their own, and the interface gives you two choices for control: either pressing the left or right side of the screen to brake or accelerate, or using your iPhone or iPod Touch's accelerometer for right and left tilt controls. Your brave passengers like a fast ride, which earns you smiley-face "… Read more

Sims 3 sets franchise sales record

Electronic Arts may get criticized in the press for its reliance on long-running franchises, but if the record first-week sales of The Sims 3 are any indication, gamers aren't concerned with such matters.

The game giant reported Tuesday that The Sims 3, the latest full iteration of the storied Sims franchise, sold 1.4 million copies in the first week following its June 2 release. That made it, according to EA, the best launch of a PC game in the company's history.

In the newest version, as in the previous iterations, players can create sims--lifelike simulated people with … Read more

Logitech introduces 'simulator-grade' flight controller

Flight-sim enthusiasts take note that Logitech has unveiled the $299 Flight System G940 at E3. It's the company's first force-feedback flight simulation controller, and Logitech says that its design and control were inspired by military and commercial planes and helicopters.

Available in September, the G940 is compatible with most popular PC flight simulators, including Microsoft Flight Simulator X, IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 and Lock On: Modern Air Combat X-Plane 9. Logitech says the force feedback technology allows you to "control your aircraft with confidence as you feel its movement as well as its reaction to air, turbulence, and g-forces."

Check out the video after the jump:… Read more

'Sims 3' ready for prime time

LOS ANGELES--Start saving simoleans, everyone: "The Sims 3" has finally launched.

The latest full iteration of the famous "Sims" franchise--"The Sims" launched in 2000 and became the best-selling PC game of all time, and "The Sims 2" released in 2004--the new game presents a chance for its publisher, Electronic Arts, to bolster its bottom line, even while trying to push the boundaries of what game players are used to.

The original "Sims," from the hit-making game designer, Will Wright, was a game in which players could control a household … Read more