simulation

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

My idea of hunting is watching Bugs and Daffy torture Elmer Fudd. ("Wabbit season!" "Duck season!") So I can't muster up too much excitement about Deer Hunter 3D for iPhone and iPod Touch, other than to say it entertainingly simulates the cruel act of shooting defenseless animals.

I say that as someone who enjoys--nay, relishes--games that simulate shooting zombies, aliens, people, and head crabs. So, yeah, I'm a hypocrite. The difference is, I don't relish shooting these things in real life. Now, if you'll excuse me, I see a tree that needs … Read more

First things first: racing cars of any sort is an expensive, time-consuming sport. Many drivers begin their training when they outgrow their Big Wheels (although a previous CNET post shows that size doesn't matter when it comes to Big Wheel racing), but just because you weren't born into a racing family or started karting when you were 6 doesn't mean it's too late to become a professional race car driver.

Volkswagen has teamed up with iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations to develop an online racing simulator video game of its SCCA Pro Racing Jetta TDI Cup series. … Read more

The worst of the global-warming effects can still be reversed, if proper steps are taken fairly quickly to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to an analysis by the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

A team led by Warren Washington, a senior scientist at NCAR's Climate and Global Dynamics Division, ran various climate-predicting scenarios with a Community Climate System Model run through a global supercomputer. Most notable is the simulation of what would happen in a world continuing on a path of unchecked human-made emissions of greenhouse gases versus one in which emissions are cut globally by 70 percent.

The … Read more

Update 12/21/2009: Since this product preview was written, CNET has reviewed the highest-end member of Mitsubishi's Unisen line, the LT-249 series. It features 2 more speakers than the 151 and 153 series described below, and also includes a few other enhancements (namely support for Vudu), but we still expect its audio and video quality to be very similar to the step-down models. For more information, check out the full review of the Mitsubishi LT-249 series.

Not to be outdone by LCD TV makers touting LED backlights, 240Hz refresh rates, and stratospheric prices, Mitsubishi brings its own twist to the game of HDTV step-up-oneupsmanship with its Unisen models, each of which sports a new 16-speaker audio system.

Nestled below the pursed lips of the simulated image above, you'll find 16 speakers, an array that even when turned off should impress visitors to your living room.

When turned on, according to Mitsubishi, the "intelligent speakers...direct perfectly balanced audio waves beside and behind you to reproduce 5.1 surround sound and create an unprecedented depth of sound experience." We haven't tested the system, but on paper it sounds a lot like the principle employed by virtual surround speakers like the Polk Surround Bar.

If Unisen performs as well as such speaker systems, it will certainly represent the best TV sound we've ever heard. The question, of course, is whether it's worth it. The Polk bar above costs about $1,000, and less expensive options like the Zvox 325 ($299) are also available that do a solid job of simulating surround.

Then there's the myriad true surround systems out there with actual rear speakers--although they're not direct competitors to Unisen, since the biggest benefit of simulated surround is lack of rear speakers, wires, etc.

Mitsubishi's three series of Unisen models include 40-, 46-, and 52-inch sizes, and the least expensive, the 40-inch LT-40151, costs a suggested retail price of $1,799. Compared with competing 120Hz LCDs, like Samsung's LN40B650 ($1699) or Sony's KDL-40V5100 ($1499), that's not a massive premium.

On the surface, Mitsubishi's new sets look pretty appealing for people who want better sound from their TVs, and perhaps the company's picture quality has improved over last year's models, such as the LT-46148. We'll know more when we can get one in for review.

All of Mitsubishi's Unisen models will be available in May. Pricing and step-up details follow.… Read more

At first blush, an air-traffic control simulator sounds about as much as fun as a podiatry theme park. But Flight Control is an absolute gem of a game, a perfect five-minute diversion that's perfectly priced at 99 cents.

The gameplay unfolds on a single screen containing two runways and a helipad. As aircraft appear from the periphery, you must guide each one in for a landing while avoiding mid-air collisions. It's pushing tin, iPhone-style.

To steer an aircraft, you just tap it and drag a flight path with your finger. Jets go to the red runway, prop planes … Read more

Intel is back, pitching its processors for gaming graphics.

The chipmaker will attempt to promote its silicon for sophisticated game effects at the upcoming Game Developers Conference in March, as it strives to make a case for quad-core processors in lieu of graphics chips from Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices.

The pitch goes like this: "Learn how to easily add real-time 3D smoke, fog and other fluid simulations to your game without using up the GPU." That's according to an Intel Web page entitled Intel at Game Developers Conference. (The CPU is the central processing unit, or … Read more

While the video game industry has been far outperforming many others in the economic downturn, and has even appeared recession-proof as sales have soared, there have been a number of layoffs and studio closings.

Now, according to Gamasutra and VentureBeat, as part of its move to cut 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months, Microsoft has axed hundreds of positions from its game division.

The main victim was ACES, a wholly owned studio producing the venerable Flight Simulator franchise.

A Microsoft representative confirmed on Friday that ACES will be shut down but added that the company remains committed to … Read more

Turing machines are abstract symbol-manipulating devices that can simulate the logic of computer algorithms. As such, they're useful for classroom demonstrations. This neat little application makes creating and executing such devices a snap.

Tuatara Turing Machine Simulator launches a well-designed interface with a variety of buttons and icons--all of which could be daunting to the layman, but should prove easily understandable to experienced mathematicians. This free application performed very well for us during testing. A well-crafted Help file clarified the purpose of buttons and icons and led us through the steps of creating and executing a Turing machine simulation. … Read more