Games and gear

Thinking outside the box for graphics

While other companies are trying to cram as many functions as possible into a single device, ASUS is going in the other direction with one of its newest creations. The "XG Station" claims to be the first external graphics card unit for laptops. What does that mean? According to Fareastgizmos, lab experiments showed 9 times faster graphics acceleration. That's probably from the company's literature, but it's still an interesting idea even if the device is mistaken for a dashboard radio hooked up to your computer.

More ways for Wii to fly off the handle

If Hong Kong-based Brando were a little kid, he'd be the one in the back row of the classroom getting everyone else in trouble. That, at least, is what the gadget maker seems to be doing (wittingly or otherwise) with its "Sports Pack" of accessories for the Wii.

The innovative "Wiimote" of Nintendo's new game system has gotten the company in some legal trouble with people who blame the device for gaming-induced injuries. Now Brando comes along with a set of attachments to the wireless remote, including pint-sized versions of a tennis racket, golf … Read more

HDMI-equipped Xbox 360 on the way

It looks as if the Xbox 360 will be getting an HDMI-powered overhaul before it even hits its second birthday. AOL's Engadget sports what looks to be an authentic, leaked, back-panel shot of the next generation of the Xbox 360, which includes an HDMI jack directly below the proprietary A/V port found on existing 360s. According to the story, the new unit--codename "Zephyr"--will also offer a 65nm CPU (said to be less prone to overheating) and a much more spacious 120GB hard drive (perfect for downloading the growing list of HD movies and TV shows … Read more

There's gold in PS3 colors

We suspect that some New Year's Eve merriment was involved in the bidding, but the much-hyped albino PlayStation 3 sold for $1,425 when it finished its eBay run Dec. 31. Nevertheless, the lucrative auction definitely proved that there was a market for the console in custom colors.

Now, we're shocked to find that the same guy who sold the white PS3 will be offering even more colors--shocked because it took an entire three days before it was announced. Joystiq says Michal Berecki of PS3 Center will add red and silver consoles to his repertoire "in the … Read more

Web apps start hitting the Wii

Now that Nintendo's coveted Wii is equipped with an Opera browser, the gaming console is now capable of all kinds of Web-based fun! One of the cool gimmicks that I'm pretty pumped about is the fact that you can now control iTunes with your Wii remote. It's possible thanks to the Dot.Tunes application, which can stream music from your iTunes library to any number of devices: other computers, Web-enabled cell phones, and PSPs. On the Wii, you can use the Opera browser to access Dot.Tunes, which has a Flash interface that you can navigate with … Read more

Roomba, meet the Wiimote

Already bored with playing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on your new Wii? You might try using using the console's already legendary remote to control a household robot.

One person who did just that is a young man named Chris Hughes, who hacked the Roomba vacuum cleaner so that he could make the rugbot do his bidding. And he's posted the modified source code online so that you can do the same.

Hughes, who bears a strong resemblance to Matt Damon, offers a quick intro to the Wii-Roomba hack in a YouTube video that can be found … Read more

The Mario Bros.-Parker Bros. mashup

Remember back in the '90s when that PC-game version of Monopoly was released? I didn't follow its progress too well, but I can imagine that board game enthusiasts were probably up in arms that one of their favorite titles was adopting an electronic form. It must have been like Jedi defecting to the Sith, except for the fact that the Monopoly computer game didn't seem to catch on like its cardboard-and-fake-money predecessor had.

Well, now the reverse is happening. Sort of. Nintendo Monopoly, one of Uncrate's most recent featured products, brings video game characters to a board … Read more

Wii, Wii, Madame

Media sites are watching how we consumers spend our money this holiday season. And it looks like a double victory for the tech world.

First, online sales are up more than 25 percent from last year. Consumers are apparently comfortable now with last minute online buys.

Second, HD flat screens and Nintendo's Wii were both big sellers this season. This week tech gadgets will have to compete with even more heavly discounted general merchandise.

I'm hearing some analysts on CNBC today saying brick and mortar discounters were not even making a profit on the flat screens they sold. … Read more

Nintendo slapped with suit over Wii strap

File this under "c'mon, you had to see it coming." Just days after Nintendo announced that it would voluntarily exchange 3.2 million Wii remote straps due to reports of the parts breaking and even causing bodily harm comes news of a lawsuit against the company.

The nationwide suit seeking class action status was filed by law firm Green Welling in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington. "Nintendo's failure to include a remote that is free from defects is in breach of Nintendo's own product warranty," the law … Read more

Not all game cockpits cost $300,000

After all the ridiculously over-the-top gaming simulators we've seen lately, it's nice to know that some manufacturers are making some setups that are more affordable (if $700 qualifies, anyway).

The "Hotseat Racer GTX" from Hotseat Chassis isn't a full-scale system but does include surround-sound speakers, as well as built-in steering wheel and pedals, according to I4U News. The stand is sold separately, but the cockpit is still costs a lot less than the thousands you'd spend for simulators from Costco or Ford, not to mention the $300,000 monster from FAO Schwarz.

But if … Read more