Games and gear

Alienware made an interesting announcement today with the news that, "for a limited time," you can order a bare-bones Alienware case directly from the Dell-owned boutique. Just $400 will get you the classic P2 Alienware chassis in either silver or black, complete with an electric-blue lighting kit. It does not come with the custom lighting software that lets you tie the light behavior to various applications, as found on its full-fledged systems. At $400, Alienware's case becomes one of, if not the single most expensive bare-bones kits on the market. Of course, few others look like an … Read more

The British Board of Film Classification has banned Rockstar Games' upcoming Manhunt 2 for its "unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying."

The ban, announced Tuesday, means that the psychological-horror title cannot be legally be supplied anywhere in the United Kingdom. Rockstar, a division of Take-Two Interactive Software, has six weeks to appeal, according to the BBC.

"While we respect the authority of the classification board and will abide by the rules, we emphatically disagree with this particular decision," Rockstar said in a statement released Tuesday. "Manhunt 2 is an entertainment experience for fans of … Read more

It's hard to imagine anything that could be more popular than Guitar Hero, but this could be what tips the scales: a guitar controller modeled after the legendary Fender Stratocaster.

Rock Band--the upcoming Harmonix release that will add bass, drums and vocals to the whole guitar game genre--will feature a licensed Stratocaster controller that, for our money, looks close enough to the real thing. "Like other Guitar Hero controllers, it has colored buttons on the neck and features a pickup selector and three volume knobs like a true Strat does," CrunchGear reports.

This restores at least part … Read more

If you had a hankering to win a contest to make the best short Nintendo-themed film, you're disappointed Tuesday. Unless your name is Jack Paccione, that is.

Paccione's film, Good vs. Wiivil, in which the successful video game console is placed in the middle of a cosmic struggle between right and wrong, won the first-ever Nintendo Short Cuts Showcase film festival. He beat out nine other entrants.

Nintendo was clearly happy about the more than 200 content entries given that each of these works celebrated the company and its work.

"It reinforced our innovation and our own … Read more

World of Warcraft might be the current king of MMOs, but it has one major flaw it simply can't overcome: you have to pay for it. It's $20 for the game, $40-50 for the expansion, and another $15 each month, which adds up to a pretty hefty price tag for your online gaming. Unfortunately, most MMOs go by this system: buy the game, pay more per month to keep playing.

Now you can get your massively multiplayer gaming for free with Dungeon Runners, a new MMO from MMO company NCSoft (of City of Heroes/Villains and Guild Wars … Read more

If you're thinking about summer, but hate sunshine and exercise, we've got you covered (automated lawn mower). If your kid sunburns easily and can't remember to lather on that extra application of sunscreen, we've got you covered (UV-detecting skin stickers). If what you really need this summer is a way to enjoy the air conditioning, we've got you covered there, too (Nintendo). If you like grilling out, don't like mosquitoes, have a swimming pool, avoid cleaning it... you guessed it: We've got you covered! Our wide-ranging collection of summer-specific gadgets will convince you … Read more

Of all the over-the-top racing simulators out there, this one is probably our favorite so far. But then again, we're suckers for anything that sports three LCD TVs. These aren't just any flat screens either, but 37-inch Sharp Aquos displays in full 1080p clarity. And that's just the beginning.

VRX's "Triple Screen Limited Edition 001" is a behemoth that includes "four Xbox 360 Elites, four copies of Forza Motorsport 2, an Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on player, camera/wireless headset, a Zune, force feedback wheel," according to Engadget. The system is built … Read more

When you picked your team on Halo, was there a scantily-clad model present? When you entered your guild on Warcraft, did a Playboy Bunny frolic in the corner? No? Then you must not be among the Championship Gaming Series inaugural draftees. Too bad for you!

To soothe your sorry situation, we suggest you click on the image at left to experience the vicarious thrill of the Carolina, Chicago and San Francisco gamers who convened at Hugh Hefner's infamous Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills this week. Do you think the draft picks will play better knowing the Bunnies are behind … Read more

We have gushed over Razer's gaming equipment before, having been particularly fond of its mouse designs. (Who could resist a name like "DeathAdder," after all?)

So we were more than a little pleased to see that it's resurrecting what Electronista calls one of its best-known models. The "Boomslang Collector's Edition 2007" updates its original design with a titanium finish and a distinctive green glow "that adds an eerie effect and also helps locate the mouse in a darkened room during a game session." No price has been disclosed yet for the … Read more