Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA['Madden' Video Games Give Athletes a Year-Round Field Advantage]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/madden-video-games-give-athletes-a-year-round-field-advantage/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/madden-video-games-give-athletes-a-year-round-field-advantage/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/madden-video-games-give-athletes-a-year-round-field-advantage/#commentsFiled under:

Today's football players, from high school to the NFL, have a distinct advantage over players from long ago. No, it's not just the advances in medicine or equipment (although, those don't hurt). Instead, it's the advances in sports video games that make athletes more prepared to play than ever.

Wired magazine calls it the 'Madden effect.' Essentially, as the gameplay becomes more realistic, players are taking what they learn while playing football simulations (whether that's recognizing a cover two defense or memorizing offensive plays) and incorporating it into how they play on the actual field. For example, Wired mentions a play from this NFL season where Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley drained precious seconds off the clock by cutting across the field at a 90-degree angle before walking into the end zone for a touchdown.

Continue reading 'Madden' Video Games Give Athletes a Year-Round Field Advantage

Switched'Madden' Video Games Give Athletes a Year-Round Field Advantage originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Brandon StokleyBrandonStokleyfootballmaddenMadden NFLMaddenNflnflsportstopvideogamesSat, 06 Feb 2010 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live Shuttered on Original Microsoft Console]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/xbox-live-dies-on-original-microsoft-console/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/xbox-live-dies-on-original-microsoft-console/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/xbox-live-dies-on-original-microsoft-console/#commentsFiled under:

For those video game traditionalists (or cheapskates, depending on how you look at it) who still proudly fire up a big, black Xbox console and play the first 'Halo' with their online friends, we have some bad news. According to a press release, Microsoft will discontinue Xbox LIVE service for all original consoles and games on April 15th (giving us yet another reason to hate that day. It's the end of an era. But why has Microsoft finally decided to make this move? Well, the company says it wants to make changes and upgrades to the online gaming service that just simply aren't compatible with the original console or games. Call it evolution -- a virtual version of survival of the fittest.

Microsoft says it will e-mail Xbox LIVE members who will be directly impacted by the change. Although, we're not sure what they'll say, except, "Buy an Xbox 360 or else lose online capabilities." After all, there's no software update that'll fix this. Now, we can understand folks being upset by not being able to play some original Xbox games online anymore. Some were the foundation of online gaming as we know it. But if you're still playing on the original, bulky console, we have no sympathy for you. Pony up some cash for an Xbox 360 (you can get one for $200), or be left in the cyberdust. [From: Gamerscore]

SwitchedXbox Live Shuttered on Original Microsoft Console originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEGA!
For those eagerly awaiting the Sega video game console that can do what "Nintendon't," keep waiting. In the meantime, gamers will have to make do with the next best thing: the Sega Zone.

The Sega Zone comes equipped with 20 Sega Genesis games and 30 original titles, and sports a cartridge slot, as well, allowing users to play classic Genesis favorites. The confusing amalgamation of a system cribs its looks from the Nintendo Wii, and includes two wireless controllers. We suspect its makers are targeting visually impaired grandmothers on shopping trips, as the Zone is guaranteed to disappoint scores of children expecting Wiis for their birthday.

Continue reading Sega Zone: One Part Wii, One Part Genesis

SwitchedSega Zone: One Part Wii, One Part Genesis originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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My Hand-Made Space Invaders Blanket is the Best Gift Ever

As my girlfriend racked her brain trying to figure out the perfect gift to give me on our five-year anniversary, she decided on two sure-fire tactics: make it kitschy, and make it by hand. The result is the mind-blowing 'Space Invaders' blanket you see after the break. Lovingly crocheted during her morning commutes over the past month or so, the blanket has surprisingly accurate representations of all the iconic gameplay elements, and the score is commemorative of our time together: 220,510 or 2/2/05 - 10.

Best. Gift. Ever. [Ed. Note: We are tearing up over here, Terrence. Too cute.]

Continue reading My Hand-Made 'Space Invaders' Blanket Is the Best Gift Ever

SwitchedMy Hand-Made 'Space Invaders' Blanket Is the Best Gift Ever originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hip-hop and video game marriages don't typically enjoy commercial success or longevity. While rap definitely tends to be underutilized in video games, occasionally a hip-hop artist will create a geeky masterpiece that gives hope to those hip-hop-loving gamers among us.

Even though its name may not be particularly inspiring or intimidating, the group Team Teamwork is developing a reputation for its impressive hip-hop and video game crossovers. The co-operational cohorts have already released one mix tape of hip-hop songs mashed up with 'Zelda' tracks -- known as 'The Ocarina of Rhyme.' The witty Team has now followed that impressive debut with an awesome ode to the 'Final Fantasy' series, specifically the blockbuster 'VII'. Known as 'Vinyl Fantasy 7,' the creative compilation features hip-hop tracks (by heavyweights like Jay-Z, Outkast, and Ghostface Killa) that are dubbed over songs from the 'Fantasy' soundtrack.

Continue reading Team Teamwork Turns 'Final Fantasy' Tunes Into Beats For Rappers

SwitchedTeam Teamwork Turns 'Final Fantasy' Tunes Into Beats For Rappers originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's one thing to vent your frustration with a video game by hurling a controller against the wall. Heck, even we've done that. But it's another thing entirely to do so by performing an act of violence.

According to Reuters, Italian father Fabrizio R. (no last name given) became the target of such an act last weekend after he'd offered his 16-year-old son Mario advice on how to improve his 'FIFA 2009' skills. When Mario didn't take the constructive criticism well, dad turned the TV off. Mario responded by stabbing him in the neck with a 15-inch kitchen knife. He then washed it clean in the kitchen sink, and isolated himself in his room. He didn't struggle when cops came to arrest him.

Continue reading Dad Stabbed After Offering Son 'FIFA 2009' Tips

SwitchedDad Stabbed After Offering Son 'FIFA 2009' Tips originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Have your 'Magic: The Gathering' soirees been lacking that 21st-century flare? Are your Dragon Mages and Hill Giants suffering from an oppressive want of interactivity? Well, researchers from Canada's Queen's University have been developing an immersive technology that will merge traditional board and card games with the dynamic interfaces of your favorite MMORPGs. Professor Roel Vertegaal and colleague Mike Rooke want to turn the game pieces into displays themselves.

In a prototype version, Vertegaal and Rooke used hexagonal pieces of cardboard, a projector, and an overhead camera to play an adapted version of 'Settlers of Catan.' The cardboard pieces essentially become bezel-less screens that not only serve as display surfaces, but also allow for user interaction. The pieces can be moved, rotated, and tapped to navigate the game, as well as communicate with the action happening on other tiles. You can even tilt and "pour" the pieces, allowing game moves like solider deployment, as seen in the video below.

Continue reading Video Games Go Back to the Board(game) With Projection Tech

SwitchedVideo Games Go Back to the Board(game) With Projection Tech originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massage ME Is the World's Most Most Awkward Video Game Controller
There is no shortage of strange and horrible video game controllers in this world. In the early days, there was the infamous Power Glove, and, since, there have controls that involve muscle twitches and streams of urine. Even seemingly mainstream controls like the Wii Balance Board are pretty ridiculous when you think about it. (Q: "How do I play this game?" A: "You stand on this very unstable platform and try not to bust your ass.")

Those gadgets, though, have nothing on Massage Me, which mixes equal parts video games, physical therapy, and foreplay into an awkward-looking vest. The controller, which looks like a prop from a sci-fi film, requires you to knead, press, and rub the back of a companion, translating such maneuvers to onscreen actions. According to Massage Me's Web site, "the best massages come from playing games that require the player to press a lot of buttons and combinations."

Continue reading Massage Me Is the World's Most Awkward Video Game Controller

SwitchedMassage Me Is the World's Most Awkward Video Game Controller originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Every now and then, the News Cycle Gods hand down to us a gem of irony so pure and delicious that, for a fleeting moment, we're convinced that we're all living in a giant Larry David screenplay. This, dear readers, is one of those precious moments.

Police in Polk County, Florida were recently investigating reports of a stolen SUV when they received a tip about the vehicle's whereabouts. After tracking the car down to the home of 30-year old Michael Ray Ekes, they entered the house and found the suspect sitting on his couch and honing his skills on -- you guessed it -- 'Grand Theft Auto.' Police immediately arrested him on charges of drug possession, burglary, and grand theft auto (of the "real" variety).

Continue reading Car Thief Caught... While Playing 'Grand Theft Auto'

SwitchedCar Thief Caught... While Playing 'Grand Theft Auto' originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rickets, a disease that practically disappeared from the developed world in the 19th century, is rising again, reports British scientists. The condition, a softening of bones that leads to painful deformities and fractures, is most commonly caused by severe vitamin D deficiency, which is essential for absorbing calcium. The primary natural source of vitamin D is sunlight (i.e., going outside), so it's not hard to see how our growing fascination with the Internet and video games may be partly responsible for the sudden surge in cases.

Medical experts in the U.K. are now pushing to add vitamin D to food products, such as milk. In generations past, children were often fed regular doses of cod liver oil (rich in vitamin D) to prevent the disease, but chances of convincing the MySpace generation to choke down a spoonful of that swill every day is next to nil.

Some countries, including the U.S., already add vitamin D supplements to some food products, but the real solution to the problem is simple: put down the Xbox controller and get some fresh air. [From: Telegraph]

SwitchedRickets Resurgence in the U.K. Blamed on Video Games and the Internet originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've known for a while now that video games can make players sharper, but only recently have scientists reached a better understanding of what specific parts of the brain actually affect our gaming aptitude.

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Illinois focused on an area of the brain called the striatum, which had been shown in past research with animals to serve as a "learning machine" during habit formation and skill acquisition. To test whether or not the striatum is involved in playing video games, researchers mapped out the brains of 39 human subjects, aged 18 to 28, via MRI, and gave each subject 20 hours of training with an 'Asteroids'-inspired arcade game designed specifically for the study. During gameplay, some players were instructed to focus solely on getting a high score, while others juggled several goals.

Continue reading Do Good Video Gamers Have Bigger Brains?

SwitchedDo Good Video Gamers Have Bigger Brains? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As kids, we spent countless hours parked in front of the TV with a Sega Genesis controller in our sweaty little palms. Unfortunately, Mom sold the console in a garage sale while we were at college (which we're still not happy about), so we've been without our 16-bit fix for some time now.

But, thanks to Apple and Sega, a blast from the past is headed to the iPhone. According to Gizmodo, the 'Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection' app will bring classic games to the mobile device. Hitting the App Store in early February, this official emulator will be free and come with one game: 'Space Harrier II.' If you want to enjoy other Sega titles, you'll have to pay extra to download them within the app. As of now, the list includes: 'Sonic the Hedgehog' ($5.99); 'Golden Axe' ($4.99); 'Ecco the Dolphin' ($2.99); and 'Shining Force' ($2.99). More titles will surely be released in the coming months though. ('Toejam and Earl,' please!).

Continue reading 'Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection' Brings Classic Games to iPhones

Switched'Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection' Brings Classic Games to iPhones originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As you probably know, nowadays you can stream movies or check up on your Facebook friends with your cherished video game console. Seeking to push the envelope yet further, The New York Times reports that Microsoft wants to bring live-streaming sporting events to its Xbox 360 console with the help of ESPN, the self-proclaimed worldwide leader in sports. An unnamed source told the Times that Microsoft and Walt Disney Company, which owns the network, recently held "in-depth talks" about a deal. The details mean users could pay a subscription fee that allows them to watch live games, some of which might only be broadcast through this service.

If this piques your interest, you should check out ESPN 360 first. It's a Web site that uses a similar model and has proven extremely popular with sports fans. With the success of video game sports franchises like 'Madden,' we're sure there are plenty of gamers who would pay for such a service on their consoles, too. [From: The New York Times, via: Joystiq]

SwitchedForget Cable: Live ESPN Events May Stream to Your Xbox Console originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ever since Alexey Pajitnov first assembled the game code back in the 1984, there have been countless versions of 'Tetris' introduced to countless game consoles. With each iteration, developers tried different takes on the original: 'The Next Tetris' included multiple piece previews; 'Tetris: The Grand Master' first allowed you to rotate pieces before they actually showed up on the main screen, and 'Tetris DS' offered a 'Metroid'-themed "Catch Mode," where you rotated entire stacks in lieu of individual pieces.

The new free Web game 'First-Person Tetris' gets high marks for its sheer simplicity. Instead of rotating a piece, the tap of a key rotates your perspective (thus, the 'first-person'). There's only one background (a late '80s-style living room) and four music selections, but the gameplay remains intact. And if you somehow manage to make it longer than 15 minutes without getting a serious case of vertigo, try your hand at the nigh impossible "Night Mode," which presents the pieces against a completely black screen and offers no warning of when they'll hit the bottom. If that doesn't have you dusting off the ol' Game Boy in the back of your closet, we don't know what will. [From: First-Person Tetris via The Daily What]

Switched'First Person Tetris' May Be Fun, But Hazardous to Your Health originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perhaps Hollywood writers are somehow still hungover from that 2008 strike, but lazy and lame remakes of '70s and '80s productions have become increasingly commonplace. While that wearisome and troubling lack of creativity is a plague within the music, movie, and television industries, there is one medium that would actually benefit from an awakening, and reinvention, of forgotten and slumbering classics: the video game.

Budding geeks of the '70s began programming and sharing simple (by today's standards) PC games through the fledgling ARPANET, the network which would eventually become the Internet. Those early programmers, who were typically young and often students, were obviously limited by the computers of the era. The games originally consisted of nothing more than text-based puzzles, but they steadily evolved to incorporate graphics and movable characters.

While the scope and range of the games may have been limited by technology, the genius and creativity which spawned them was not, so many of those classics overwhelmingly deserve to be anointed with next-generation console glory. Some early PC franchises made the transition to consoles (e.g., 'Wolfenstein' and 'Leisure Suit Larry'), but far too many integral and groundbreaking titles remain idle in undeserved obscurity.

So, command yourself to "READ THE LIST," and revisit the games that once captivated millions of geeks. They would undoubtedly do the same again today.

Continue reading Classic PC Games That Should Get a Next-Gen Makeover

SwitchedClassic PC Games That Should Get a Next-Gen Makeover originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akalabeth-World-of-Doomarchondestroyerfeaturesgaminginfidelinfocomkings questKingsQuestlucasartslucasfilmmaniac mansionManiacMansionpc gamingPcGamingpolice questPoliceQuestretrotemple of apshaiTempleOfApshaiThe Hitchhikers Guide to the GalaxyTheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxytopzorkzork infocomZorkInfocomWed, 13 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Parrot A.R. Drone Makes Video Games Real and Exciting]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/a-r-drone-makes-video-games-real-and-exciting/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/a-r-drone-makes-video-games-real-and-exciting/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/10/a-r-drone-makes-video-games-real-and-exciting/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A.R. Drone Makes Video Games Real and Exciting
One of the most original and exciting products making its debut at CES is undoubtedly the A.R. Drone from Parrot. The augmented reality gaming platform incorporates a remote controlled helicopter and a controller app for the iPhone. (One of the engineers on the project told us that it will be coming to other platforms, too.) We decided to head to Parrot's tent outside the Las Vegas Convention Center to get some of the nitty-gritty details, and, of course, to play with the toy ourselves.

First, you need to know that the A.R. Drone is not an augmented reality game in itself. Parrot has developed it as a platform around which other companies can build games. The helicopter sports a front-facing camera that feeds video to your iPhone or iPod touch, and a down-facing camera that (in conjunction with a gyroscope and accelerometer) helps to keep the helicopter stabilized. Parrot happily demonstrated this latter fact to us by smacking it.

Continue reading Parrot A.R. Drone Makes Video Games Real and Exciting

SwitchedParrot A.R. Drone Makes Video Games Real and Exciting originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a.r. droneA.r.Dronearar droneArDroneaugmented realityAugmentedRealityparrottopSun, 10 Jan 2010 09:38:00 EST<![CDATA['Pong' Finds New Life and Form as a Physical, Tabletop Game]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/pong-finds-new-life-form-as-tabletop-game/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/pong-finds-new-life-form-as-tabletop-game/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/pong-finds-new-life-form-as-tabletop-game/#commentsFiled under:

Pong Recreated As a Tabletop Game
If you're sick of Pong news, turn away now. We've seen the iconic paddle and ball game translated to browsers, sweatshirts, a soccer-like video sport, and slot machines. It's even been honored with its own museum. So really it was only a matter of time before someone found a way to make a tabletop game out of the Atari classic.

The blog, Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories, assembled a physical game in which two players smack a metal ball bearing back and forth across an acrylic board. The recreation is surprisingly authentic, down to the control knobs and score display.

Continue reading 'Pong' Finds New Life and Form as a Physical, Tabletop Game

Switched'Pong' Finds New Life and Form as a Physical, Tabletop Game originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DIYfungamespongtable topTableToptopThu, 07 Jan 2010 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual Space Station Sells for $330K of Non-Virtual Money]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/virtual-space-station-sells-for-330k-of-non-virtual-money/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/virtual-space-station-sells-for-330k-of-non-virtual-money/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/virtual-space-station-sells-for-330k-of-non-virtual-money/#commentsFiled under: ,


Lance Bass was once willing to drop a highly publicized $1 million for the chance to fly into outer space. Now, a lesser-known individual has paid a mere $330,000 to own an entire space station... in a make-believe world.

Buzz "Erik" Lightyear is now the deranged lucky owner of the Crystal Palace, a space station on Planet Calypso in the Project Entropia Universe. If you've never heard of the Project Entropia Universe, that's probably because it doesn't exist. It's a virtual platform that launched in 2003, and has since drawn in users by the virtual-spaceship-load. Planet Calypso alone boasts more than 820,000 registered users from 200 countries, and has been making a profit ever since 2004. The volume and scale of the money exchanged in the universe is actually pretty staggering; users swapped a grand total of $420 million in 2008, and several individual transactions well exceeded the $100,000 mark.

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SwitchedVirtual Space Station Sells for $330K of Non-Virtual Money originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystal palaceCrystalPalaceproject entropia universeProjectEntropiaUniversetopvirtual worldVirtualWorldThu, 07 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Floppy Disks and 8-Tracks Aren't Just Obsolete, But Fossils]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/floppy-disks-and-ipods-arent-just-obsolete-but-fossils/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/floppy-disks-and-ipods-arent-just-obsolete-but-fossils/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/07/floppy-disks-and-ipods-arent-just-obsolete-but-fossils/#commentsFiled under: ,

We bristle whenever we hear someone refer to a Walkman or some other iconic device of our (not-so-distant) youth as a "fossil." Sure, they've all been rendered somewhat obsolete, but does that necessarily mean that they're ready for the Smithsonian? Some new art from Christopher Locke answers with a resounding, and depressing, yes.

Locke, a sculptor based out of Austin, Texas, has created a whole lineup of "Modern Fossils"-- replicas of technological "relics" created to look like fossils. Using a "proprietary blend of concrete and other secret ingredients," Locke creates and taxonomically categorizes every "species" from Nintendo controllers (Dominaludus nintendicus) to Atari joysticks (Hilarofustis atarium) to boomboxes (Bombus colaphus). Sure, there's the occasional candidate that's sort of worthy of fossilization (a rotary phone here, an 8-track player there), but there are a few head-scratchers thrown in the mix, as well (the iPod?).

Continue reading Floppy Disks and 8-Tracks Aren't Just Obsolete, But Fossils

SwitchedFloppy Disks and 8-Tracks Aren't Just Obsolete, But Fossils originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artChristopher LockeChristopherLockefossilsculptortopThu, 07 Jan 2010 07:20:00 EST<![CDATA[10-Year Old Gets X-Rated PSP Surprise on Christmas]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/06/10-year-old-gets-x-rated-psp-surprise-on-christmas/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/06/10-year-old-gets-x-rated-psp-surprise-on-christmas/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/06/10-year-old-gets-x-rated-psp-surprise-on-christmas/#commentsFiled under:

All Kade Goodman wanted for Christmas was a PSP game system. Little did he know, however, that he'd be getting two units under the tree this year.

Kade's father, Shon, scoured the Earth for a used PSP, a holiday odyssey that led him to a CD Tradepost in Omaha, where he finally found one at a reasonable price. After opening his golden fleece of a gift, though, 10-year old Kade soon found some, um, "extras" in the device's hard drive -- namely, a picture of another man's genitalia. According to KETV in Omaha, Kade's 13-year old brother actually made the discovery while browsing through some of the background settings on the PSP, and promptly alerted his dad. The photo had apparently been saved by the previous owner, who, we're guessing, simply wanted to mark his PSP territory in the most efficient way he knew how.

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Switched10-Year Old Gets X-Rated PSP Surprise on Christmas originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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