EA’s Celebrity Sports Showdown for the Wii

Are you jumping up and down as Michael Phelps makes his way into history or the fact that the 10 year olds girls… I mean 16 year old ladies Chinese gymnastic team took home gold. Well EA will be releasing around the holiday season a way for you to get a bit active too. Playing as various celebrities from Fergie to Avril Lavigne you will be able to compete in Beach Volleyball, Inner-Tubing, Curling, and many more sports. Celebrity Sports Showdown features 12 outdoor sports games and is the perfect party game for any age. The best part it’s made specifically for the Wii so you’ll burn some calories too along with your celebrity on screen. The game will retail for $39.99 [Read more]

SoulCalibur IV X-Box 360 Review

After a very Disappointing SoulCalibur III, I was under the assumption that the new installment, SoulCalibur IV wasn’t going to be much better. Then one day after flipping though a gaming magazine oh about 6 months ago, there it was, Yoda on the cover. That is all SoulCalibur needed to get my attention once again. Yoda would be exclusive to X-box 360 and Darth Vader to PS3,  so my expectations went up about 10 notches. Then there was months of trailers, screen shots, and there was nothing better then watching the graphics of Yoda just kicking everyone to a pulp. So was I excited like a kid in a candy store when I got my review copy.  I definitely was itching to release the force on someone today.

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Wooden Tetris Desktop Puzzle Reminds Us of Jenga

After ll these years Tetris is still popular with video gamers, old and new a like. Take a look at the new iPhone App Store and you’ll even discover that Tetris is one of the top 25 downloaded apps. So for those, like myself, who are fans of the classic game, you’ll appreciate the Tetris Wood Desktop Puzzle that pays homage to a true classic. It retails for just $7.99 and happens to make and excellent perfect desk decoration.

Steven Spielberg’s Boom Blox for Wii Review

Had a tough day and punching the pillow just doesn’t cut it anymore?  Steven Spielberg’s Boom Blox from EA Games for Wii may be the answer you are looking for.  It’s kind of like old school Jenga, except the purpose of this game is to hit, throw, push and pull until you’ve destroyed everything in your path. So pretty much, it’s like Jenga on crack.

Controls:
Once you have passed training, you continue from one level to the next, earning a bronze, silver or gold status.  Holding down the “B” button allows you to move around the object you are trying to knock down. You hold the “A” button to aim, then throw your arm back and release as if you’re pitching in baseball. The moving around took a few minutes to get used to, but aiming was difficult throughout.  Unless you have a steady hand, aiming at a small space may require two hands: one to hold the button and the other to hold your other hand in place. [Read more]

Sneak Preview at Cool Upcoming Tech from AMD

AMD has some innovative new products and technologies coming out soon and we got a sneak preview at them. First up is the upcoming Maingear Axcess HD Media Center, which isn’t just your average home entertainment media center PC. The Maingear Axcess HD Media Center is not just made to fit in with your AV equipment - it’s made to consolidate much of your AV equipment as well. The Maingear Axcess HD Media Center features the AMD 780G chipset with ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics and AMD Phenom multi-core processors. It’s also got all the important ports you’d expect - firewire, eSata, dvi and HDMI for output of up to 1080p on your TV. The PC will come with Axcess HD which is basically software comparable to Windows Media Center but with a whole bunch of neat tricks up its sleeves: like the ability to view multiple videos all at once on a curved 3D wall, the ability to surf the internet while watching a video simultaneously, the capability to record shows directly to its hard drive like a proper DVR, the power to remotely view recordings (a lot like Sling) and finally, the option to have recordings transfer directly to your iPod or other digital media player by connecting it via USB to the Maingear Axcess HD. The Maingear Axcess HD Media Center will be available in August at MainGear. [Read more]

Gossip Girl Neighborhood on Second Life

Are the new Gossip Girl ads making you wait with baited breath for the new season to begin? Well if you just can’t seem to manage, why not check out the new Gossip Girl neighborhood in Second Life.  Design your own avatar and have them be as stylish and cliquey as you want. The neighborhood where Gossip Girl is, is obviously called the Upper East Side and you’ll get to hang out at all the same hotspots like in the show - and even with the same characters. There is a calendar of events over at the CW that will tell you of all the latest happenings. To get started you’ll have to download the game and be 18 years of age. Come on, you know you want to hang with Blair and Serena - don’t you?

Nintendo Controller Foil Wallet with Enough Room for Some Gold Coins

We just can never get enough of vintage Nintendo here and I guess some retailers neither…Hot Topic more known for their goth and punk stylings has a very trendy Nintendo Controller Foil Wallet. Inside the wallet is a clear ID display and card slot. Certainly not enough room for a high rolling wall streeter but just enough room to fit in mom’s credit card.

USB M.A.D Game Pad is Indeed a Bit Maddening

USB M.A.D. Game Pad is certainly one of the most unique looking gamepads I have ever seen. It does have your standard D-pad and the buttons to smash. However, the buttons aren’t notated with an “O” or “X” or even a “A” or “B”, in fact the entire controller is blank with just white keys on black. But the craziiest part is that this mini game controller even comes with a detachable steering wheel, if you get in the mood to play a racing game. Not all that bad for a controller that is meant for travel but personally I would just throw my X-Box 360 controller in with all the rest of the junk I carry. The downside is that it only works on a PC… and who plays games on a PC anymore… It’s available for pre-order at Brando for $20 and will be released sometime in July.

Q-motions Wireless Skateboard for Xbox 360 & PS3 On Its Way

Back in the days of Xbox and PS2, there were actually a few dedicated surf/skateboard peripherals to use. So we’ve been wondering when a version for Xbox360 and the PS3 would turn up. Well it’s finally here, and this one will be wireless too. The Q-motions wireless skateboard features an Ollie button for kick flips, jumps, air maneuvers as well as its 8 touch sensors that let you perform all sorts of tricks and maneuvers. The board will retail for $99 at RadioShack come Fall. This is totally a must-have accessory for hard-core fans of the Skate-boarding / surf-boarding genre.

Famicase Exhibition Showcases NES Cartridges Designed by Fans

Deep within the tony district of Kichijoli in Tokyo, there is an annual exhibition on display that makes NES fans hearts go a flutter. The Famicase Exhibition is a collection of NES cartridges with designs for games that never really existed. Instead they are the cartridges of fictional games inspired by fans love for NES  other and existing games. For geeks like us, this exhibition is the kind of art we can truely wrap our heads around, it’s just a shame that the exhibition hasn’t been brought state-side. (Source: Geek Monthly, August ‘08)

Mushroom Desk Mini Cleaner Would Make Mario Proud

Have too many crumbs on your desk from that late afternoon snack? Then maybe you need the Mushroom Desk Mini Cleaner from Brando. Resembling mushrooms from our most favorite Nintendo game. The mushroom desk mini cleaner will remove dust, cigerette ashes and even lint from your clothes. Use it on home appliances, computer keyboards or furniture. Available in the colors orange, purple, red and green and costing $12, this will certainly brighten up any dull desk and clean it up too.

StarPex is the First Wooden Guitar for PS2/PS3

Are you ready to mix up your collection of Les Paul Gibson Guitars and Fender Stratorcaster for Rockband and Guitar Hero? Then the Starpex by Peak products may be right up your alley. It is the first Full Size Wooden Guitar for PS2/PS3. It looks extremely realistic, so much so that I think it would make Hendrix proud. The design includes realistic looking strings and tuning pegs.There are frets for normal play and awesome solos as well as easier access to the starpower/overdrive button. The Starpex is also so forward thinking in design that you will be able to customize the guitar since some of its parts will be removable. Available as wired or wireless, the Starpex will cost $179.95 and will be available in late August at Circuit City and various other electronic outlets.

Retro Gameboy and Cassette Purses

What can we say, we can never get enough retro Nintendo accessories. IDontLikeMondays (great name) has a whole bunch of unique purses including a Gameboy purse and a Gameboy Badge. They also have some other non-Nintendo accessories including a Cassette purse, a Ghetto Blaster purse, some space invaders badges, and a bomb badge. The purses retail from $38.40 to $49.90. But if purses or badges aren’t your thing, there is also a neat cassette pillow for $70. (Thanks, Jolene)

Sneak Peaks at MySims Kingdom & Hasbro Family Game Night

Last night we got a chance to take a sneak peak at some upcoming games from EA. Amongst the games that especially caught our attention was MySims Kingdom for Wii and DS, Hasbro Family Game Night and Monopoly.

MySims Kingdom is a followup on last year’s popular MySims game for the Wii. The game is very suitable for kids, but has many qualities that will make it popular with all ages. MySims kingdom employs a lot of the qualities that people love about  the Sims - the ability to easily build, decorate and furnish your home. The game focuses on customization using your own creativity and it takes advantage of the Wii controller to implement your building and object moving skills, as well as your overall puzzle solving skills. Unlike the traditional Sims, MySims Kingdom is also an adventure where the main character sets out to explore different islands where he/she interacts with other characters and develops relationships with them, helps many of them out by using their special talents, and solves puzzles along the way. Many of the puzzles are cool in that there are several ways to solve them. Also, each of the islands have a different theme ranging from a cowboy themed island to another one where a mad scientist works on building a space ship. Overall, there is a lot to discover in the colorful MySims Kingdom. The DS version of MySims Kingdom features similar gameplay elements as well as the ability to play via multiplayer with other MySims Kingdom players.
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New Gadget Round-Up from the Digital Experience

It was a jungle out there, well actually a safari, at the Digital Experience tonight. As we head into summer, this season’s Digital Experience decided to tease us with some summer treats as well as a safari themed event down to the reptiles, and no it was not a new Ugobe robot. Below are a few sneak peeks at upcoming gadgets that especially caught our eye. We got to check out the impressive upcoming Blackberry Bold, Maxtor’s new Central Axis Network Storage hard drive, some fashionista headsets from Plantronics and an assortment of other goodies.

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Dah! I Want Super Mario on My Car

Super Mario Brothers is not just a game but a pop culture phenomenon, and even if Mario and Luigi were icons of the 80s, they still thrive today in the form of games, t-shirts, Wii Mods or now a car. Someone in Russia, loves these Italian plumbers so much they decided to paint their Lada automobile with a scene from the second Super Mario Brothers game. That must have cost of a lot of rubles. The attention to detail is astounding, even if the car it is painted on looks like a piece of junk. [Read more]

Mario, Luigi, and Goomba Squishy Pals

Move over teddy bears and stuffed bunnies, and make way for our new cuddly Nintendo friends. Gadgets.dk has a bunch of fantastically squishy NES pals. There is Mario, Luigi, Goomba, Boo, Piranha Pete and mushroom. Warning: Buying the mushroom might result in the urge to throw it up in the air and hit it with your head. Or if you buy the Goomba, try and control yourself not to stomp out the little guy out of spite.

High Score! Brings Together Two of Our Fave Things, Video Games and Picture Books

Looking for a good coffee table book? High Score: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games goes through the history of video games in pictures - because heck knows that we like to read as little as possible. The book is chock full of photos, advertisements, game box art and arcade cabinets. Old PC games are included as well as your favorite retro consoles. The High Score: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games retails for $79.99 which is kind of expensive but what can we say, we love picture books. (Source: GameInformer, June ‘08)

Order Up! Restaurant Game is Like Hell’s Kitchen for the Wii

Think a little bit of Cooking Mama and Diner Dash and you have Order Up! The games starts you out working in fast food and lets you build up to becoming your own restaurant owner. Your job is to run a successful business, and attract and keep customers. You also get to be a Chef and design your own dishes. And don’t forget to keep the place clean, lest the health inspectors will get you. The game is designed for the Wii, so that means you’ll be serving up food Wii controller style. Set to be released July 22nd this certainly looks like it will be a tasty one. (Source: Game Informer, June ‘08)

Collectors Edition Nintendo Monopoly Features Mario & Friends

Ok, so it certainly seems like Monopoly has been pimping itself out a lot lately. We’ve seen all sorts of cool editions ranging from the Family Guy to Las Vegas, and this latest one will be especially dear to video gamers’ hearts. The Collectors Edition Nintendo Monopoly features Mario, Luigi, Link, Zelda, Kirby, and other NES icons. The box comes with 6 adorable collectible pewter tokens including Donkey Kong’s Barrel, Link’s Iron Boots, Hylian Shield, NES Controller, Mario’s Cap, and a Koopa Shell. We’re especially fond of the NES Controller. The Collectors Edition Nintendo Monopoly retails for $33.00.

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