Razer is back at CES 2012 with a bang – and they are offering the Project Fiona concept, a PC gaming tablet that shies away from casual games, since it packs enough processing firepower that will be able to run desktop PC games natively, for a phenomenal portable gaming experience. That is to be expected, considering it packs a third generation Intel Core i7 processor, but other specifications on the hardware are not available. There is no mouse or keyboard for you to manipulate here, but Razer has a plan that might even make you not miss that traditional gaming combination, thanks to an all-new hybrid user interface scheme. Seems to be an advancement over last year’s Razer Blade, eh?
This hybrid user interface scheme will feature integrated dual game controllers with ultra-precise analog sticks, where it will work with ultra-precise accelerometers and a highly sensitive multi-touch screen. This would open up a whole new world of possibilities for game developers to come up with new game experiential opportunities. Not only that, the control scheme is good enough to cater for current-generation PC games without missing a beat, although I am quite sure titles from the FPS and RTS genres would shun away from such a setup. No idea on the exact release date of Project Fiona, but it is tipped to arrive sometime before the year ends this year, and it will be priced at under $1,000.
If you’re interested in finding out what’s under the hood of the upcoming Nintendo gaming console, we might have the answers for you. According to reports online, the specs of the Wii U have been revealed by a developer who claims to have access to the console. The Wii U is said to be using a 45nm PowerPC-based 3GHz processor with four cores. The Wii U processor is also said to be “very similar” to the Xbox 360 processor.
Other details mentioned include the Wii U might get 768MB of DRAM embedded with the CPU but it is shared between the CPU and GPU (said to be a 40nm AMD design). If you’re wondering why the Wii U’s specs aren’t exactly out of this world – it’s a pretty known fact that Nintendo has always focused on the game experience rather than the hardware, so it’s not much of a surprise. Well, regardless of the Wii U’s specs, we’re sure Nintendo will be able to deliver compelling gameplay through the console. What do you think? Are specs more important than the gaming experience to you?
Some people are just so darn handy with their hands – case in point, Ben Heck with his many creations which have proved to be really, really cool over the years. Well, here is yet another hardware mod that was not created by Ben Heck, but it is still some piece of work. A portable NES from the very same person who also did the HandyDuo, Handy Gear, and Nintenduo. Known as the HandyNES, it was constructed thanks to the NES top loader board. The code name? Aptly called “red mushroom”, this is because of it being a portable NES as well as its shape and color.
The project itself took more than a month to complete, and the modder ran into cart slot relocation wires issues along the way. Originally, 3200 mAh batteries were supposed to have been used, but then they proved to be too thick. Of course, saving the best for the last, the modder has the signature hot pink model, where the back half was painted pink in the process. How’s that for the coolness factor?
If you currently own a PSP and have a collection of games that are on UMD discs, we’ve got some good news for you. You’ll be able to play most of those games on the PlayStation Vita when it goes on sale. While the Vita doesn’t have a drive for you to insert your UMD games, Sony will be launching the UMD Passport program that will let you download your UMD games at a discounted price from the PlayStation Network.
Sony will be releasing a PSP app that registers your UMD games (each UMD can only be registered to one PSN account, so you won’t be able to share games with your friends for multiple discounts). After registering the title via the app, you will be granted a discount when you repurchase the game from the PSN (the discounted games should cost between $6 to $13). Sony hopes to make the system compatible with roughly 200 titles by the program’s launch (December 6th in Japan). What do you think of this UMD Passport program?
I’m not quite sure why Sony decided to fire away a post that arrived on my RSS reader that went “Enjoy new savings on PlayStation 3 systems“, but a quick check with Amazon showed that they’re already selling similar systems at the same price point. Perhaps Sony just wants folks to remember them when they spent their Labor Day lazing in front of the computer, wondering just what kind of impulse purchase they should make on the spot as the day passes by.
What we have on the table would be the PS3 160GB system staring right back at you with a $249.99 price tag, while those who prefer a game to come along with the console itself to get you started can always rely on the $299.99 PS3 inFAMOUS 2 bundle, which is a rather sizeable $50 discount off its original price, with the PS3 320GB system accompanied by the inFAMOUS 2 game and a DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller to get you gaming right out of the box.
Last but not least, the PS3 + PlayStation Move bundle will see it retail for $349.99 with a 320GB PS3 system, a DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller, a PlayStation Move motion controller, a PlayStation Eye camera, and a copy of the Sports Champions game amongst others. These seem to be rather attractive in their own right, and would the price points actually cause you to rush out and purchase a new PS3 system?
What’s the best way to sell an almost 5-year-old gaming console, that’s rumored to be replaced sometime soon, but still has some value today? You repackage it as a special limited-edition device of course! And that’s what the folks over at Sony are doing with the aging PlayStation 3. The company has just announced that it will be releasing the “PlayStation 3 NINOKUNI magical edition” for fans of the upcoming fantasy RPG, Ni No Kuni, later this year.
The limited edition console will receive a classy looking coat of pearl paint, and will have the PS3 logo and a character from Ni No Kuni on the top of console in gold. The bundled dual-shock controller will be treated similarly as well, making it one of the most elegant-looking PS3 consoles. It will go on sale in Japan only starting on November 17th for about $443 – so if you plan to get your hands on this limited edition PS3, you better start planning your trip there soon. The Ni No Kuni game will be sold separately for $115.
Still fuming over that 3DS price drop despite the Big N’s conciliatory make-goods? If you happen to be a resident gamer in the UK, tack some 5,000 free WiFi hotspots onto the company’s apology. According to a report from International Business Times, the service, backed by BSkyB-controlled The Cloud, goes live today, bringing users access to all the console’s usual online features and should come in handy when in-game DLC becomes available later this year.
No doubt the move from Nintendo’s British outfit is intended to add a little purchase incentive to the DS’ underwhelming successor, as well as boosting the gaming giant’s own declining earnings. No matter, with twenty free games and gratis WiFi — it’s looking good to be an early adopter.
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Own a Nintendo 3DS and wish that you could do more with it? When we say more, we are talking about getting the most bang for your buck, so mark your calendars for this coming June 7th, as Nintendo 3DS owners will be able to get hold of downloadable extras from Best Buy from that date onwards. This collaboration would mean Nintendo 3DS owners can experience automatic wireless access at around 1,000 Best Buy stores throughout the US, although those will be select locations only.
When you enable this service, you can access bonus content including gaming extras and movie trailers courtesy of the handheld console’s integrated Wi-Fi connectivity in addition to its new SpotPass, instant share feature. Apart from that, Best Buy customers will also be in line to receive special offers via the in-store service.
A Best Buy statement reads, “We want our customers to fully tap into the potential of their Nintendo 3DS device, so we’re pleased to offer free access to special Wi-Fi and SpotPass content in-store.” Will this nugget of information nudge you to make a 3DS purchase anytime soon?
When Razer called their Hydra a “gaming-grade motion sensing controller”, it left us wondering – isn’t the Wiimote the first gaming grade motion sensing controller? Of course, upon reading the fine print (and being more careful with our eyes), we realized that the Razer Hydra is slightly different from other gaming-grade motion sensing controllers because it is powered by Sixense and has been specially built to draw you deeper into your library of PC games.
Razer has made sure that they worked closely with Valve and Sixense in order to churn out exclusive Portal 2 content so that they can showcase the power of the Razer Hydra in making you feel as though you were really part of the game environment. Before we continue, it must be said that Portal 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to 2007′s game of the year, and the full version of the game including exclusive Portal 2 content can be yours – if you decide to pick up a special edition bundle with the Razer Hydra.
Now, the Hydra in folklore is a creature that has many heads – cut off one and another two will regenerate in its place. Good thing you don’t have to grapple with so many heads on this gaming peripheral, but on the other hand if it breaks, you can “regenerate” it by purchasing a new one.
To put it in a nutshell, the Razer Hydra will allow you to extend your natural body motion directly into your PC games. Portal 2 would be the perfect platform to make sure this happens – letting you intuitively reach out, interact with physics puzzles, shoot portals and leap across wide chasms in a complete 3D environment. Of course, you will realize that Razer’s trademark ultra-low latency and highly precise one-to-one tracking to the exact millimeter and degree is also thrown into the mix, hence maximizing your portal testing immersion experience.
Optimized with more than 125 popular PC games out of the box, you can be sure that the Razer Hydra is going to be worth looking into if you’re serious about gaming and want to move beyond the standard mouse and keyboard combo. The question is, would casual gamers be willing to spend $139.99 on this, or use that money for more useless in-game merchandise?
We have featured quite a few different gaming mods and have seen some SNES consoles turned into portable gaming consoles, but now it looks like one company will be releasing a handheld SNES console, called the SupaBoy.
The SupaBoy is being made my game accessory company Hyperkin, and the console is scheduled to go on sale in the US this summer, and it will be compatible with SNES cartridges.
According to the guys over at CVG, the console is still in the prototype stages, but when released it will features a 3.5 inch LCD display and a built in rechargeable battery.
It will also come with A/V Stereo out, which means you can hook it up to your TV for some retro gaming fun, and you can also plug in two classic SNES controllers to it.
There are no details on pricing or availability as yet, as soon as we get some more information we will let you guys know.
