No knock on Acer, who got here first with the Aspire 5738DG, but it sounds like the ASUS G51J 3D has the technology edge in the nascent 3D laptop category. We’ll have to see it in action to be sure, but the laptop is using NVIDIA’s 3D Vision tech for extensive game compatibility (around 400 games currently work with it), and a 120Hz, 15.6-inch screen paired with some active shutter glasses. We’ve found the shutter method to be typically a more enjoyable 3D experience than polarized solutions, with no knock on frame rate or resolution. The GeForce GTX 260M card with 1GB of DDR3 memory doesn’t hurt either, but that hugegantic USB IR blaster that has to sit on the desk and sync up with the glasses could be a problem for 3D-on-the-go. Of course, the benchmark friendly Core i7-based G51J which this machine is based on (the only real difference is the screen) was never much of one for portability. The laptop will be out soon, with a starting price of $1,700.
Filed under: Gaming, Laptops
ASUS G51J 3D sports NVIDIA 3D Vision with 120Hz display to bring “real” 3D to laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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A supposed leak from closed-door Microsoft meetings in the UK has made its way to MCV, who has all sorts of new details on Project Natal’s launch next year. Rumor is that the device will be released worldwide in November 2010 (we’ve heard “late next year” before), with 5 million camera units ready for day one, included in solo and console-bundled SKUs. Word varies on the price, with some saying “under £50″ (about $84 USD), while others say as low as £30, about $50 USD. Apparently Microsoft is aiming for “impulse buy” territory, and it makes sense to subsidize the unit and make that money back in games sales, like a regular console launch (which Microsoft sort of sees it as, in many ways). There are supposed to be 14 games readied for launch, but no specifics on which developers that’ve signed up for Natal work will be among those on launch day. It all sounds about right, though we of course won’t know for sure until Microsoft goes into tell-all mode, which we expect will be a decent ways down the road if they can’t even confirm a silly WiFi adapter for the holidays without months of hand-wringing.
Filed under: Gaming
Project Natal launching in November 2010, priced for ‘impulse buy’? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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A new, janktastic Wii title dubbed Baby and Me (not to be confused with the new 50 Cent song, “Baby by Me”) is shipping in limited quantities as a special edition that actually includes a doll “accessory” in the box. The regular game is designed to work with the Wiimote attached to any old doll, but in case your child is looking for a premium fake baby experience, we suppose this special edition is the way to go. The actual game play includes motion sensitive baby-rocking, Balance Board support for teaching the child avatar to walk, and the sound of gurgles and burps output through the Wiimote’s built-in speaker. It sounds exactly like caring for a real child.
[Via Switched]
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
‘Baby and Me’ special edition includes Wiimote-ready doll originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Just earlier this month we’d been hearing word from Sony that it was seeing PlayStation Home as more of a “social game platform” than a “social network,” and now we’re hearing that Sony might not be seeing it as much of anything. Peter Edward, the director of Home for Sony, says that the service is “not a priority right now.” Kind of at odds with his other statement that it’s “proved there is a market out there and we’ve got a lot of people that spend a lot of time in [Home],” but we’ll let is slide. So, is this a roundabout way of saying Home hasn’t been as great as Sony thought it would be, or just a different way of saying the emphasis is changing? We’ve never minded Sony’s Home efforts on their own, but in the context of an also-ran multiplayer platform, it’s easy to see why the company should be focusing on other aspects of the gaming experience.
Update: Sony has gone on record saying that this statement as reported by T3 from a talk at the London Games Conference is a misquote, instead saying that Peter was talking about how monetizing Home was not as big a priority as building the platform — which others have confirmed.
Filed under: Gaming
PlayStation Home ‘not a priority right now’ for Sony, most people seem to feel the same way (update: misquote) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s not quite as delicious when Sony (in a rare move) has actually confirmed its console for a release to market, but just because we know the 250GB PS3 is landing in the US on November 3rd doesn’t mean we can’t derive any enjoyment at all by the fact that it’s been spotted at a Best Buy in Houston, all primed for the shelves. Since the shipment’s obviously already been made, we suppose we’ll be seeing a few instances of early stocking of the console over the next couple of days, unless Best Buy has considerably cleaned up its act when it comes to launch dates — doubtful!
[Thanks, anonymous ]
Filed under: Gaming
250GB PS3 spotted in Best Buy backroom, making trouble originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We knew they were coming for the holidays, and now Nintendo’s black Wii gear has some prices and a November 16th release date. The black Wii Remote comes bundled with a MotionPlus add-on — obviously Nintendo doesn’t want to risk too many more people picking up a controller without one — and retails for $50, while the black Nunchuck (shown after the break) is all by its lonesome for $20. Unfortunately, still no word of a black Wii in the US to hang out with these finely tinted accessories.
Continue reading Black Wii Remote, MotionPlus add-on and Nunchuck arrive on November 16th
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Black Wii Remote, MotionPlus add-on and Nunchuck arrive on November 16th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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While Microsoft tries to figure out if it should take Tegra-powered Zune HD in a gaming direction or the Xbox in a portable direction, there are wild rumorings from the underground that claim Nintendo is planning on using Tegra to power a next generation DS handheld. The primary source on this comes from Bright Side of News (which doesn’t have a big track record to judge by), who claims the debut is planned for late 2010 and conjectures that the device could either use the upcoming 40nm 2nd-gen Tegra tech, or the existing, tried-and-true 65nm chip. There were rumors from Yahoo! Games of a Tegra DS afoot at GamesCom in August, with higher resolution screens and full backwards compatibility, and PC Perspective also claims its own NVIDIA insiders are confirming this — the evidence is certainly stacking up. If it turns out to be true it’s going to mean a pretty dramatic jump forward in portable gaming power, but either way this generation of handhelds seems due for a refresh, and there’s plenty of ultra compact silicon floating about to make a graphical leap possible.
[Via PC Perspective; thanks, Fernando]
Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds
NVIDIA Tegra to power next-gen Nintendo DS? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We just got a pretty detailed look at Microsoft’s upcoming Dashboard update for the Xbox, which brings with it the Zune Video Marketplace and Last.fm music streaming, along with Facebook and Twitter social functionality. We were most impressed with Facebook, which includes a feature for spotting which of your Facebook friends have Xbox Live — a great way to grow that friends list and bring a bit of “synergy” to your life. Last.fm was a bit of a downer, since you can’t do anything else while listening to the music, but otherwise there weren’t many minuses to the presentation other than the lack of a firm release date. Check out Joystiq’s full impressions at the read link before, or watch the whole demo on mind-blowing video after the break.
Continue reading Xbox 360’s new Zune, Last.fm, Facebook and Twitter features detailed on video
Filed under: Gaming
Xbox 360’s new Zune, Last.fm, Facebook and Twitter features detailed on video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We saw that new gray 250GB standalone PS3 Slim box the other day, and now we’ve got a shiny press shot of this Europe-bound Need For Speed Shift bundle, which will apparently retail for €350 — only €50 more than its non-bundled 120GB counterpart. We’d heard tell of it before from deep within the bowels of the retail establishment, and it was named in Sony’s original 250GB press release, but we hope Sony has a bit more to say about its much-rumored lineup of bundles for Europe before they spill all over store shelves on some vague, undetermined date.
[Via Engadget Spanish]
Filed under: Gaming
‘Need For Speed Shift’ 250GB PS3 box art spied originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The new 250 PS3 Slim might be listed “in stock” on Amazon.co.uk, but it’s not arriving until October 6th according to the online retailer. This particular model, however, is up for sale right this instant at some unnamed retail store in Europe — even though it’s hanging out behind a rather messy help desk in this particular shot. Either way, folks in Europe with a hankering for hard drive don’t have long to wait!
[Thanks, Alex S]
Filed under: Gaming
250GB PS3 Slim spotted at retail in dapper gray box originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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