Switched

Geriatric Wii Tournament Crowns 84 Year-Old Winner

Alon Avdi — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Video Games, Gamer, Jock/Sports Fan, Wii

Don't look now, but it appears that even the AARP digs the Nintendo Wii gaming console. Want proof? TG Daily reports that a Washington, D.C.-area retirement community recently held a Wii bowling tournament that culminated in a matchup between 79-year-old real bowling champion and an 84-year-old Wii-prodigy challenger. Nancy Davies beat Hal Winters 202 to 182 at the Riderwood Retirement Community in one of many Wii tournaments held at the geriatric complex. While Winters is an actual bowling expert, Davies only began bowling only a year ago, exclusively on the Wii, which makes the upset so shocking.

Since several Wii units were received last March, the plaid-loving residents have flocked to play and challenge each other in shooting and hockey games in addition to bowling free-for-alls. This item of news marks the unique marketability of the Wii toward demographics heretofore unresponsive to the gaming world, groups including the elderly, female and middle-aged populations. Now if we can just get Grandma to talk trash we'll be getting somewhere...

From Engadget Via TG Daily and Examiner.com

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Geriatric Wii Tournament Crowns 84 Year-Old Winner originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our Computer Monitor Pick: Samsung Syncmaster 245T

Switched Staff — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:35:00 EST

Filed under: Audio/Video, Computers, Advice, Editor's Picks, TV, Switched Video, Gamer, Video Junkie, Creative Type, $1000 and Under, Holiday Gift Guide, Reviews, Featured Stories

It's crisp. It's colorful. It's widescreen and it swivels. Plus, the Samsung Syncmaster 245T has HDMI inputs in addition to standard DVI and analog inputs. A 24", better-than-1080p TV, computer monitor and swivel head all for $800? Looks sweet to us.

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Our Computer Monitor Pick: Samsung Syncmaster 245T originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Breaking: Nintendo To Offer Wii 'Rainchecks' for Out-of-Stock Consoles

Joshua Fruhlinger — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:17:00 EST

Filed under: Audio/Video, Video Games, Gamer, $250 and Under, Gift News, holiday gift, Holiday Gift Guide

Today, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime announced that due to massive demand for the Nintendo Wii, the company will offer a rain check program for those who can't get the console.

The program, announced by Fils-Aime on a conference call with Switched.com and others in the gaming press, will be offered via Gamestop retailers on December 20 and 21. If the store is out of stock, you can buy a "rain check" for a Nintendo Wii that you are guaranteed to get in the month of January. You will have to pay for the rain check in full at $249 and pick up the Wii by January 29.

So, even if you can't get the actual Wii on Christmas, maybe you'll get a little piece of paper that says you'll get one some time in January.

Also, Fils-Aime promised that "six major retailers" will have Wiis this weekend, so... good luck!

Breaking: Nintendo To Offer Wii 'Rainchecks' for Out-of-Stock Consoles originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'I Am 8-Bit' Guitar Straps for 'Rock Band' or 'Guitar Hero'

Evan Shamoon — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:36:00 EST

Filed under: Video Games, Style Maven, Gamer, Music Hound, $50 and Under, Gift News, Holiday Gift Guide

The folks at I Am 8-Bit (you may remember them from such art shows as this one) and a design company called Couch (great name, eh?) have put their collective pixels together to create some nice Space Invader-inspired guitar straps, particularly for those of you with 'Rock Band' and/or 'Guitar Hero' gee-tars.

The vinyl strap comes in either blue or black, and will set you back $33, or approximately six tickets to see Tesla on its forthcoming reunion tour.

From Couch

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'I Am 8-Bit' Guitar Straps for 'Rock Band' or 'Guitar Hero' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slash Talks Guitar Hero III, 'Slash' (the Book), and Gadget Gifts

Terrence O'Brien — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:23:00 EST

Filed under: Computers, Video Games, Interviews, Celebrities, iPod, BlackBerry, Gamer, Music Hound, $50 and Under, $100 and Under, Holiday Gift Guide, Featured Stories

Slash is a busy guy. In fact, we're not sure he's had any down time since recording what may be the greatest debut album in the history of Rock 'n' Roll, the Guns n' Roses classic 'Appetite for Destruction.' After the disintegration of the band and the hijacking of the name by a corn-rowed Axl Rose and a band of impostors ( whose next album 'Chinese Democracy' should be out some time before Armageddon), Slash went on to form Slash's Snake Pit and play guitar on tracks for dozens of artists from Michael Jackson to Insane Clown Posse. And he just keeps adding to his repertoire. In addition to being the lead guitarist for Velvet Revolver, the top-hat-wearing axe slinger just co-authored a book (with Anthony Bozza) entitled 'Slash' and appeared as a boss character in 'Guitar Hero III.' The rock legend was kind enough to sit and talk with us a bit about the book, Guitar Hero, and of course whether he prefers PC or Mac.

Switched: So what made you decide to write a book now?

Slash: I put the book out to sort of set the record straight on a lot of the story having to do with why I quit Guns 'n' Roses, and the band reuniting, and a lot of other subjects having to do with that band. Basically that's what influenced my decision to write a book. Prior to that I had no interest in writing a book, even though people keep asking me. But after seeing all the attention that Guns 'n' Roses has garnered of late, all the misinformation that's available to people, and all of the other, you know, falsehoods that are going on about a lot of different things, I just figured probably the only way I'd be able to do myself and the story any justice is to write it myself.

So it was less a thing of nostalgia and more, almost cathartic?

Well, you know, cathartic in a way. I don't know how cathartic it was really, for myself, personally, but I think it'll put some people's minds at rest, especially people who are huge Guns 'n' Roses fans or who are fascinated by the phenomena that is Guns 'n' Roses.

It's coming out just on the heels of the release of 'Guitar Hero III,' which you star in. Is the timing accidental?

(Laughs) It's all accidental. I was working on the Velvet Revolver 'Libertad' record, when both these things... well, I started writing the book during the making of the record, and actually did the Guitar Hero thing a little bit prior to that. But they were all sort of done at the same time and they're all coming out at the same time.

So how did you get involved with 'Guitar Hero III?'

Activision [the game's publisher] came up with the idea to have somebody in the rock world represent the game and they chose me to be their rock legend guy, which I thought was really flattering. And I was really overwhelmed and excited about the prospect of doing it because I'm a huge fan of the game. So I met with them and we shot some ideas back and forth and we rolled with it and it came out great. I got to write some music for it, I put some guitar solos on it, and I got a caricature of myself in the game. It's way left-field for what I normally do, but at the same time it's very relevant, and I'm really honored to be on the box, so to speak.

That sort of answers our next question, which is how much involvement was there really in making the game? It sounds as though it was more than just "walk in to the studio, get some pictures taken for the model, and go home."

No, there were plenty t of hours spent outside my comfort zone to get this done properly. But, you know, it was an experience and it was fun as well.

Obviously, you've played the game, you said you enjoyed it. Did you find it tough to transition from playing the real guitar to playing Guitar Hero?

I'm not very good at it. I played it a little while ago this afternoon. And I played 'Guitar Hero 2' and I had a lot of time to sit with it and learn how to do it and I got pretty good at it until I beat the game. But I didn't beat it on expert -- I beat it on hard. And that took a lot of work. I think there's something innately awkward about being a guitar player trying to playing 'Guitar Hero.' I think you play it by ear more than you do so by sight, which is the way that normal people play it. There really is that correlation between your fingers and what you're looking at on screen, and I think for guitar players the way that you relate to it is really by ear and feel, which somehow doesn't make your fingers land at the right place at the right time.

So what are you planning on getting the wife and kids for the holidays, gadget- or tech-wise this year?

I've been so busy, and everybody on my side of the fence has been so busy, what with touring and all the other stuff that's going on right now. We haven't really gotten into Christmas. We just escaped Halloween with me traveling all over the place and what not. So we haven't really focused on Christmas yet.

Don't even bring that up, you're scaring the shit out of me.

(Laughs)

Is there any gadget that's got you excited that you really want to get your hands on?

I'm not a huge gadget guy. I just got a new BlackBerry, you know, and I'm happy with that. And I just got a new Xbox 360 not too long ago and we were looking at some new games the other day just to see what's out there. I got my new 'Guitar Hero' finally... I can't think of anything off the top of my head, outside of some recording gear that I'm really looking out for getting.

Does the aversion to technology and gadgets extend to the music? Are you a Pro Tools guy?

NO, no, I'm really simple, and I don't... I'm one of those people that if it's something you don't need, I can pretty much stay away from it. But as far as just toying around with technology for toying around's sake, I'm not like that. I'm basically all about the simplest approach possible. The fewer manuals I have to read, the better and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. So I use a lot of pretty much old gear and what not. The only thing I do need for recording is something simple that's efficient, sounds good, can be taken on the road -- that's what I'm starting to shop for at this point. And something small that I can carry.

Is there anything that you carry with you, on tour or every day, like a BlackBerry or an iPod, that's just attached to you 24/7?

Well the BlackBerry, as much as I hate to admit it, is an appendage for sure. And as far as the iPod goes... you know...I have an iPod and its got 1000 some-odd, if not more, songs on it. But I find that I like to just have, like, a handful of good CDs and use those. I haven't really graduated to the iPod school of thinking (laughs). I think it's too much of a song selection for me to figure out what I want to listen to.

We often find that's true. You spend 15 minutes trying to decide what to listen to, and only five actually listening to anything.

Exactly... that's my take on that.

One last simple question. Mac or PC?

Um.. I have both.

I feel comfortable with both, I carry my Mac around and have a PC at home.

OK, so Mac Book? Mac Pro?

Mac Pro.... Oh wait, wait, wait. No, you know what, I take that back. It's a Mac Book. I almost got a Mac Pro, but I knew I wasn't gonna use it to its full potential. so...

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Slash Talks Guitar Hero III, 'Slash' (the Book), and Gadget Gifts originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Joshua Fruhlinger — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: Video Games, Gamer, $100 and Under, Holiday Gift Guide

This new game for the PlayStation 3 gives gamers a little bit of everything: some adventure, some gun play, and a whole lot of tropical adventure. Call it a happy meal, but not so small, and without that grody feeling you get after eating it. Imagine the perfect mix of Gears of War, Tomb Raider, and a little Mario and you have Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Pick this one up for the gamer who has played everything and wants something new. Gorgeous high-definition graphics and a compelling story round this one out into one of our favorite games of the year. You won't see production values like this in just any game, and it's brought to you by the same people who made the Jak and Daxter series.

From Sony

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Samsung Graphics Chip Will Be Fastest in the World

Alon Avdi — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: Computers, Video Games, Gamer

For gamers who live by the technological adage, "Better, Stronger, Faster" - well, your world just got a whole lot more exciting. Digitimes reports that Samsung has announced the development of the GDDR5, a new video memory chip that will be fastest graphics data processor of its kind in the world. This type of graphics memory chip is an integral part of a computer's video card, the component by which images and video from your favorite games are processed and transmitted to the screen.

The GDDR5, a series 5 double-data rate memory chip, transfers data at an astounding 6-gigabytes-per-second (GPps) and images at 24 GBps. Besides being about four times faster than today's widely used GDDR3, the new chip operates at 1.5 volts, which means that it uses about 20% less power than its slower contemporary. To put these numbers in perspective, the chip uses less power to be faster than your PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. In other words, he GDDR5 promises to increase it and make your favorite state-of-the-art games more seamless and fluid. on big screens.

Samples have been sent to the top graphics processor firms, and mass production is expected to begin in 2008, with GDDR5 chips expected to be available sometime in the coming year. By 2010, Samsung claims the GDDR5 will capture about half the PC gaming market and be the standard for gaming memory chips. What does this mean for gamers? It suggests that the GDDR3 will soon be obsolete, and that the GDDR4, which has gotten positive reviews but has not been as ubiquitous as the GDDR3, won't be the top dog for long either. Customers who want the best, most fluid graphics will wait until the GDDR5 is available in video cards before making their next purchase. Sorry, gamers, but the bad news is that taking gaming to the next level will have to wait until next year sometime.

From Digitimes Via Engadget

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New Samsung Graphics Chip Will Be Fastest in the World originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Optoma HD 65 Projector

Evan Shamoon — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Audio/Video, Video Games, TV, Gamer, $1000 and Under, Holiday Gift Guide

Optoma's newest 720p projector is a redesigned, resized version of the popular HD70 -- and gamers should love it. It's still busts out 1600 lumens (mmm...lumens) with a 4000:1 contrast ratio. But now it's 15 percent smaller and almost a third lighter, having trimmed its weight from six to four pounds -- making it easier to mount in your living/cinema /dorm room. The HD65 also includes HDMI 1.3, so can get the very best color from your Playstation 3, and keeps the price point stable at $1000 -- a great deal for a great projector. Granted, it's not 1080p, but you'll be amazed at the HD image quality of a good 720p projector like this one, especially with a good screen (or some of Goo Systems' awesome Screen Goo painted on your wall (and for a much cheaper price).

From Optoma

Optoma HD 65 Projector originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Blackbird 002 Ultimate Gaming PC

Evan Shamoon — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:45:00 EST

Filed under: Computers, Video Games, Editor's Picks, Gamer, $5000 and Under, Holiday Gift Guide

HP has come a long way in the high-end gaming PC market. The Blackbird 002 is one of the fastest PC's out there, with record-setting performance in most categories. And in terms of looks, it makes all other gaming PC's look like the tacky machines that they are -- this is one of the best-designed PC's around, gaming or otherwise (practical little touches, like the media card reader and a handful of ports that pop up from the top of the unit, underline the point). It's highly upgradable, highly sought-after, and highly-priced (anywhere from $2,500-$7,000, depending on configuration). If you can afford it, though, this is the PC to have. Your gamer (and his or her games) will love you for it (and vice versa).

hp.com

HP Blackbird 002 Ultimate Gaming PC originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 Halo 3 Edition

Evan Shamoon — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:27:00 EST

Filed under: Audio/Video, Video Games, Gamer, $500 and Under, Holiday Gift Guide

Halo fanboys probably already own an Xbox 360, but not one of these Xbox 360s -- the Halo 3 Special Edition Console, that is, which (for $400) comes complete with a Halo 3 Green Wireless Controller, Halo 3 20GB Hard Drive, Halo 3 Wired Headset, Component HD AV Cable, Ethernet Network Cable, Play & Charge Kit (but, oddly, not a copy of Halo 3). The Special Edition Spartan green and gold finish will impress the metallic green pantaloons off of any space marine, and the exclusive Halo 3 Gamer Pics and Theme, which are available via Xbox LIVE, ice the cake (we're guessing it's green frosting).

From Xbox

Xbox 360 Halo 3 Edition originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Halo Mimobots

Evan Shamoon — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Computers, Gamer, $100 and Under, Holiday Gift Guide

For those among us with a severe case of Halo 3-itis (which seems to be about seven trillion and counting), the new limited-edition Halo Mimobots ($55-$115) make a great stocking stuffer. These USB Flash drives come in sizes ranging from 1-gigabyte (GB) - 4-gigabytes (GB), and you have your choice of either Master Chief (pictured), or blue or red Spartans. They come preloaded with a bunch of Halo content, including the mimobot soundByte[TM] application (featuring Halo sound effects), artwork, excerpts from the upcoming Halo novel, and a special episode of 'This Spartan Life.' Uber-fans can even stick them into the front USB ports of their limited-ish edition Halo 3 Xbox 360 to impress -- uh, themselves? And maybe their friends. But not their girlfriend. Really.

From mimoco

Halo Mimobots originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer Lachesis Gaming Mouse

Joshua Fruhlinger — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Video Games, Gamer, $100 and Under, Holiday Gift Guide

This sexy mouse isn't your every day point-and-click device. Oh, no. Razer has been in the gaming peripheral business since day one, and their newest gaming mouse, the $80 Lachesis, uses a 4000 dot-per-inch laser to track every minute movement. The gamer in your life will be sniping, gunning, and casting spells with the best of them if you put this under the tree (or Hannukkah bush). Complete with spooky glowing blue lights, exceptional drivers, and compatibility with both Mac and PC, this is the gamer mouse to get this holiday.

From Razer

Razer Lachesis Gaming Mouse originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rock Band (under $250, Gamer)

Evan Shamoon — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:19:00 EST

Filed under: Audio/Video, Video Games, Editor's Picks, Gamer, $500 and Under

If you don't already know, now you do: This is the must-have party game of the year. Rock Band takes the Guitar Hero concept (it's made by the folks who created the first two Guitar Heroes, Harmonix), and merges it with Karaoke Revolution and a sophisticated drumming simulation. It comes complete with virtual guitar/bass, drum set, and microphone -- and 58 songs (Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", David Bowie's "Suffragette City", and The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" to name a few. It's ridiculously fun with four other players -- the $170 version for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 comes with mic, guitar, and drum set peripherals -- and can be even be played online if you don't have enough friends to, you know, form a Rock Band. Welcome to your newest addiction.

From Harmonix

Rock Band (under $250, Gamer) originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Folklore Charms on the PS3

Joshua Fruhlinger — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:38:00 EST

Filed under: Video Games, Gamer, $100 and Under, Reviews, Holiday Gift Guide

I waited a bit to write this review, mainly because I wanted to give 'Folkore', a new role playing game for the PS3, a chance to go bad. It hasn't happened yet. In fact, I'm in love with this game. Yes, I'm weird.

Numerous reviews have panned 'Folkore' for being repetitive, confusing, and for making players read text as opposed to listen to voice overs. Reviewers complained about weird characters who say bizarre things and they howled about uneven play -- so much to the point that I was ready to hate this game.

Give me a moment to vent.

Since when is a deep story a bad thing? Did we forget the hours we spent reading lines of text in 'Zelda' and 'Final Fantasy'? And when did "weird" become such a bad word? Did we forget the goofy characters from 'Dragon Quest'? Have cinematic, realistic war games turned us into a bunch of mindless action seekers? Can game makers no longer tell a story without voice overs and fast-panning 3-D scenes? Have we become that shallow as gamers?

I feel better. Nothing wrong with mindless action, by the way. I love a good run and gun as much as the next guy.

Maybe I'm weird (my friends would confirm this), but I found in 'Folklore' a beautiful soundtrack, an intelligent story, characters I actually care about, a witty sense of humor, and a creative surrealism. Playing 'Folklore', for me, was akin to reading a good novel. When I put my controller down, I found myself thinking about its worlds, characters, and developing story.

Imagine a mix of old-school seek-and-find adventure with third-person action and you have an idea of what 'Folklore' is all about. The pacing goes from dialog and mystery in the town of Doolin to control controller whipping action in fantasy-laden dungeons. While this may come off as uneven to some, I found it a nice change of pace. Playing this 'Folklore' felt as if I was playing two games in one.

'Folklore' has you play through a deep paranormal mystery, broken up into chapters, as two characters. One, a young woman seeking personal answers in her life, plays like a rogue. The other, a jaded journalist, is your classic fight brawler. You can choose to play each character's story from beginning to end, but I chose to do a chapter as one character followed by the other in order to keep recent events fresh in my mind. This may come off as repetitive to some, but to me, it was a fascinating exercise in alternative perspectives as the characters' stories developed and intertwined.

Control is unique here, as well. As you finish off enemies, you capture their "Ids" by yanking the SIXAXIS motion controller -- like hooking a fish. It's a satisfying end to fights, and a welcome use of the PS3's motion controls after some failed attempts in 'Lair'. As you capture Ids, you also gain their fighting techniques for use later on. By the end of the game, you are managing dozens of Ids that do unique things to different enemies. This nets out in a fun spin on the traditional role playing game party system.

In the end, I loved 'Folklore'. But then again, I was a bit of a strange child. I didn't like 'Rambo' -- I would have rather watched 'The Goonies'. If you're all about shoot 'em ups and constant action, you may want to move on. If you're turned off by surrealism and fantasy, move on. Then again, if you're looking for something different, spooky, and novelesque, 'Folklore' is for you. Join me at the geek table while the other kids play 'Halo'.

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Folklore Charms on the PS3 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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