Crave

(Credit: Banpresto)

Looking at the Sega Mega Drive-modeled Zippo lighter reminds me of the actual console that I still have on top of my wardrobe. I remember spending a good deal of time on it playing Mortal Kombat and Sunset Riders with my friends. Those were the days when 16-bit graphics were more than enough, and 3D games were almost unheard of.

There's also a Sega Saturn version available, and both lighters retail for $114 each. Give the PlayStation 3 10 years, and I'm sure it'll be inducted into the Zippo game console hall of fame.

(Source: Crave Asia via Gearfuse)

People always talk about dog years, or cat years, but what about video game console years?

It's hard to know what that math is, but one thing is certain: Sony's PlayStation 2 turned 9 years old Wednesday, and it sure feels like the best-selling video game console of all time has been around a whole lot longer than that.

Yet even though we're already more than three years into the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360/Wii console generation, the PS2 is still going strong. Routinely, month after month, its sales are in six figures--146,000 in September in the United States alone, according to The NPD Group--and there's no reason to think the 485 (and counting) developers who have made games for the platform are going to stop any time soon.

The PS2 turned 9 on Wednesday. What's that in video game years, if dog and cat years are equal to 7 human years?

(Credit: Sony)

In large part, that's because there are millions of people for whom the world-beating processing power of the PS3 and the Xbox 360, and the graphics-so-good-you-can-see-beads-of-sweat-on-sports-players'-bodies aren't worth paying several hundred dollars for. For $100, they say, you can get one heck of a good video game playing experience with a PS2.

It "still holds a place in my heart--there's so many great games with huge amounts of replay value," said Michael Steavenson, a public relations professional who bought his PS2 around 2001. "I'm not so interested in blazingly fast processing speeds, graphics that make games look like a movie, or uber-cutting-edge hardware stats. If the game is well-designed, fun to play, and provides me with a good emotional connection, I'll play it forever."

According to Sony, one out of every three U.S. households owns a PS2, and, worldwide, almost 140 million people have one. To date, Americans have bought more than half a billion PS2 games, and all told, nearly 10,000 titles have been released for the platform. Not bad for a machine that has earned the right to be living out its golden years sitting on a porch somewhere, smoking a cigar and grumbling about kids these days.

Uncharted 2 has received unanimous critical acclaim for its immersive story, fantastic visuals, and cinematic presentation. But is the title enough to put Sony back on top? The answer isn't necessarily cut and dry. There's a lot more Sony needs to accomplish for the PlayStation 3 to finish first in the current-generation console war.

If there's one thing that has mostly been overlooked by the mainstream video game media, it's the fact that the slimming down of the PS3 was more than just a price drop. Symbolically speaking, the PS3 Slim was a complete rebranding for the console, forcing consumers to detach themselves from the negatives that the original bulky and expensive PS3 was associated with.

Sony even changed the console's logo from the Spider-Man font to the much more whimsical, airy design emblazoned on the slim and all-current game box art. PS3 commercials have also gotten a much-needed facelift, and we think the latest Uncharted 2 ad is actually quite brilliant.

Sony's PS3 underwent a radical rebranding and price cut, both of which have convinced some analysts that it will have been the best-selling hardware in September. But systems also need games, and exclusive ones at that, to sell themselves. Uncharted found success as a sleeper hit in its first iteration, and in just two years it's been propelled to system-seller status.

It achieves where other Sony franchises on the PS3 have failed; it allows you to "live a movie," so to speak--making the most of what Sony does best and maximizing the mass entertainment storytelling appeal of videogames. Like Sony's commercial boasts, this is a game others will want to watch you play.

On the other hand, Uncharted is a genre game, a platform-adventurer that's not kid-friendly. LittleBigPlanet is a tent pole family game for the PS3, but it launched a year ago. It's important to keep in mind Sony's library as a selling point for the PS3, and LittleBigPlanet does have a long shelf life due to its unique and somewhat timeless design, but Sony could have done with two or three more games on the order of magnitude of Uncharted 2 this holiday--a new Ratchet & Clank doesn't quite cut it.

If Sony wants to treat the PS3 Slim with the excitement of a new system launch, enough games need to come out to overtake the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. Instead of outperforming, Sony is still playing catch-up. Right now, it's only matching punch for punch with Halo 3: ODST and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. That's close, but we're not sure it's enough to push Sony over the top.

(Credit: eBay)

Someone, somewhere, may be willing to pay $1.1 million for an Xbox 360 signed by former governor, former vice presidential candidate, and best-selling author Sarah Palin.

We aren't sure how Palin's name gives a game console cachet, as from what we can tell she isn't much of a gamer (looking up SaraccudaAK as a gamer tag turned up nothing).

Nonetheless, the starting bid on eBay for this thing makes us wonder more broadly about the Xbox. Is it magic now? Enchanted? Cursed? Or is this just about the name recognition? It's certainly a one-of-a-kind item (for now anyway).

I want in on this game. If I can get a celeb to sign my Xbox 360 and sell it on eBay for loads of cash, I could be rich! So I'm going to leave it to you, readers, to tell me who I should get to sign my Xbox. And yes, I'll do it. CNET is owned by CBS, so, you know, I know people who know people.

A new-in-box Wii system for $175 shipped?! Get 'em while they're hot.

(Credit: Dell)

Gone are the days when if you wanted a Wii, you'd have to pay double or even triple the list price on eBay. Dell has Wii systems for just $174.99 shipped.

These are new consoles, not refurbs, and you don't have to mess around with rebates or even coupon codes. That's pretty surprising given that the Wii just got its $199.99 price cut last week.

Of course, rumor has it there's a new Wii system, or at least a new bundle, waiting in the wings, which could help explain this lowest-price-ever offer. Still, the holidays are a-comin', and if you have a kid who might react this way to a Wii under the tree (or menorah), can you really pass up $175?

While you're at it, consider grabbing the new Wii Sports Resort bundle for $59.99, which includes the game and a pair of MotionPlus controller add-ons. That's 10 bucks cheaper than if you bought the game and a second add-on.

This deal's been on Dell's site for at least a day, so I don't know how much longer it'll last (and, frankly, I'm surprised it's not sold out).

What do you think? Will this finally get you on the Wii wagon, or do you think Dell's clearing out inventory to make room for something better? Hmmm. Tough one.

Update: Dell's offer seems to have expired, but check the comments--a few eagle-eyed readers have found a similar deal at Amazon.

(Credit: Brian De Vitis)

Behold! The retro gaming force is strong with this one-of-a-kind R2-D2 replica by PopSci reader Brian De Vitis. The Star Wars droid was meticulously built from a cooler and houses no less than seven discontinued game consoles, a sound system, and a projector.

Based on the controllers shown in the image, our resident gaming guru has identified most of the consoles. They include the original Microsoft Xbox; Sony PlayStation; various editions of the Nintendo Entertainment System, aka NES; Sega Genesis; and Dreamcast. Give us a heads-up via Talkback below if you can recognize the joystick-like controllers and light guns on the extreme right.

A top view of the R2-D2 console droid without the projector.

(Credit: Brian De Vitis)

(Source: Crave Asia)

Could your PS3 also be your Dreamcast?

(Credit: CNET)

A whopper of a leak shot across the Internet Tuesday, reporting of a Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) meeting that discussed the possibilities of rereleasing classic Sega games as compilation Blu-ray Discs and downloads of PS2 games on the PS3. While we discussed this trend--and even suggested a few great franchises to pursue--when the God of War Collection was announced, an even more surprising and exciting bomb was dropped in these purported meeting minutes:

Dreamcast on the PS3.

Top 10 Dreamcast games we'd love to see on the PlayStation Network--photos

From the wording of supposedly leaked August 6 SCEA meeting notes found on several forums including NeoGAF, it sounds like both PS2 and Dreamcast games will soon be available over PSN, much like PS1 games are already. That is big news. With PS2, PS1, and Dreamcast titles under their belts, it could be argued that the PS3 would have a Virtual Console that, while not as retro as Nintendo's, would be nearly unbeatable in offering the best of the late '90s and early '00s. After all, back then, the Dreamcast and PS2 were the biggest, bitterest rivals in town. It hasn't been confirmed that these notes are real, but they certainly seem too detailed and logical to not be. ... Read more