CES - Gaming

As the only vendor currently producing CPUs, GPUs, and motherboard chipsets, AMD is uniquely positioned to market its entire product line as a unified PC gaming platform. It began this effort last year with its Spider platform (the original Phenom X4, Radeon HD 3000-series CPUs, and its 700-series chipsets), and with today's launch of its new Phenom II desktop chips, AMD also announced its new Dragon platform. Dragon marries Phenom II with the Radeon HD 4800-line of 3D cards and AMD's 790-series chipsets into a complete, AMD-made gaming PC.

The big news with Dragon is really the Phenom II chips. Available as the 3.0GHz Phenom II X4 940 and the 2.8GHz Phenom II X4 920, these new quad-core CPUs are AMD's first 45-nanometer desktop processors, and they finally bring AMD in line with Intel's 45-nano manufacturing process, used in its Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, and Core i7 chips.

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When we reviewed the Nyko Kama Wireless Nunchuk our biggest complaint was that it required two AAA batteries. That aside, we really enjoyed the luxury of removing the wire that normal tethers your Wii remote to the nunchuk.

Nyko has responded to some of our gripes with the Kama Charge Kit, a rechargeable version of the Kama nunchuk that docks and charges in a special cradle molded for it. The kit also adds a rubberized backing to the wireless nunchuk--a feature we really liked included with the original Charge Station.

In addition to storing and charging the Kama nunchuk, there'… Read more

If there's one accessory we'd label as a must-have for the Nintendo Wii, it would be the Nyko Charge Station. The company also recently released a Quad Charge Station, allowing you to simultaneously store and charge up to four Wii remotes.

At CES, Nyko has announced a successor to the Charge Station, the EX. However, the only real upgrade is the addition of a battery meter on the actual charging dock designed to take the guesswork out of potentially premature charging. The Charge Station EX will also come with custom grip battery controllers just like the original.

Either … Read more

In an effort to trump the existing Nintendo Wii remote controller, Nyko is introducing what the company is calling the most advanced Wii remote yet.

The Nyko Wand looks a lot like the Wii remote we're all used to, but instead can output commands and even vibration through the controller's port at the bottom of the device. Using what Nyko calls Trans-Port technology, the new interface will allow compatible devices to take advantage of functionality not always available in current Wii remote accessories.

For example, a new pistol grip for The Wand will allow not only full force-feedback, … Read more

The immortal PlayStation 2 undergoes yet another transformation, this time courtesy of Audiovox. This almost 9-year-old system is now officially going on the road. You may have seen a PlayStation 2 in a car before, but not like this.

The premier model is an all-in-one overhead unit that appears to look like an in-car DVD system but with the inner working of a PS2. Additional features include accessories such as a 16-channel wireless FM modulator, full color 16:9 wide screen, 10.2-inch display, two wireless game controllers, two fold-flat wireless IR headphones, and a wireless DVD remote control.

Audiovox … Read more

We mentioned AMD and iZ3D's stereoscopic 3D approach earlier, and now we get to take a look at Nvidia's solution with the announcement of its GeForce 3D Vision. Unlike AMD, which is merely a beneficiary of iZ3D offering ATI Radeon customers a deal on drivers for its specialized 3D LCDs, Nvidia's stereo 3D hardware is homegrown, and it's also one of the few products that Nvidia itself is distributing to retail.

For $199, GeForce 3D Vision gets you a set of battery-powered, wireless glasses, as well as an infrared emitter that acts as a go-between for … Read more

Article updated 1/9/08 at 1:45 p.m. PST with details on set-top boxes and a correction about the relationship with Wii. Article updated at 3:41 p.m. PST with more details on how to acquire the SDK. Correction, 10:55 a.m. PST: This story misstated the day the Opera announcement was made. It was Wednesday.

Opera has thrown a little more love at device developers by announcing an updated version of its software development kit on Wednesday at CES.

In a broad sense, the SDK will be available to all developers of consumer electronics that … Read more

iz3D, makers of 3D-capable LCDs, is showing off a few prototypes of its technology on the CES show floor. This news is actually from the end of December, so we're playing a bit of catch-up, but as you'll find out throughout the show, stereoscopic PC gaming may finally gain some traction this year.

Specifically to iZ3D, according to a news release, it will have three prototypes on display. From the release (PDF):

"New iZ3D Immersion Series that gives users an incredible total 3D effect. It is a Triple iZ3D monitor setup with a flight or racing game … Read more

Logitech announced several new member of its G-Series line of PC peripherals today. We'll tackle them one at a time, starting with the G35 Surround Sound headset.

When it's available in March, the Logitech G35 Surround Sound headset will cost approximately $130 for the benefit of its simulated 7.1 channel audio output. It includes an adjustable, noise-canceling boom mic, as well as three buttons on the left ear piece dedicated to what Logitech calls "voice morphing" in its press release. This sounds like a simple voice-effect overlay, and we're confident your World of Warcraft guildmates or whoever might be on the receiving end of your chat software will want you to use these effects over and over and over and over. You get volume and mute buttons built into the ear piece as well, and Logitech also gives you three different headbands to use with the G35, a welcome nod towards customization.

Logitech is not the only peripheral vendor with a 7.1-channel headset on offer. Razer's Megalodon was announced in 2008 and is also scheduled to launch sometime in Q1 2009. We're skeptical as to whether it's worth getting too excited over 7.1-channel audio simulated over headphones, but we'll withhold judgment until we can give either headset an actual listen.

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