gadget news and reviews

Super Street Fighter IV (Preview) +

During CES 2010, I had to opportunity to play some highly anticipated titles at Capcom’s reception for the media. Amongst the titles present, I was most eager to try the new update to last year’s critically acclaimed title “Street Fighter 4″. One of the developers graciously showed me a few new features and challenged me to a few rounds to show off the new additions to the game.

I was first presented with the updated roster at the character select screen. According to the Capcom’s representative, there will be a gang of eight ‘new’ characters added into the mix from both previous titles and new ones. Despite a controversial decision, the game will now be a standalone installment instead of direct-to-download. There’s plenty of features to justify the decision including the healthy addition of new maps, new ultra combos (now selectable before the start of a match), a tweaked fighting engine, and new online modes. This game clearly would not have been feasible to market as “cheaper” downloadable content. Read More

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 2

Sonic the Hedgehog is finally coming back and at top speed. Sega is bringing the blue speed-demon back to what he does best. This new teaser for the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 4 arcade game shows how the high-octane 2D platformer stays true to its roots. If you’ve been nothing but disappointed with the “next generation” of the Sonic series over the past few years, you aren’t alone. Fans have spoken and Sonic is racing back at top gear to catch up with his loyal followers.

The franchise has struggled to catch up with the current consoles which has resulted in clunky, awkward controls for our favorite blue hedgehog. The new Sonic games have tried hard to look great and expand on the classic gameplay, however flashy changes have proven successful. The introduction of new gameplay elements have proven as overkill, changing the franchise altogether. If any ounce of high-speed gameplay is present in the newer games, it’s only there to tease on how great the game series was. Anybody who still owns a Sega Genesis knows how Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles work at their best.

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Project Voldemort: Building An i7 Gaming Rig +

When I first set out to build a gaming computer I had to sit down and ask myself a few questions. They were questions such as, “How much do I want to spend?” and, “What am I trying to achieve exactly?” These questions and a few simple others led me to the final question, ”What’s dark, snake-like, powerful, and intimidating looking?” AHHHHH! RUN! IT’S GODZILLA… and Lord Voldemort. I decided that instead of building a monsterous and rampaging Godzilla of a computer that a tidy and composed, yet just as powerful “Lord Voldemort” of a computer would suit my style better. My Voldemort computer would need to be powerful, stealthy, and sleek while still having that element of intimidation to strike fear in to those who see it. I progressed with these goals in mind to take the next step of collecting the various horcruxes I would need in order to raise the Dark Lord (without actually killing anyone, of course). Read More

Lost Planet 2 (Preview) +

There were high hopes for the announcement of Lost Planet 2 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC given the success and popularity of the original Lost Planet: Extreme Condition. During Capcom’s Press Event at CES 2010, Skatter Tech was able to take a look at the upcoming sequel and check out the dramatic changes that have been made thus far. After playing the demo and getting a walk through of new gameplay mechanics, I’m pleased to say that all of these changes have added to an already great game.

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Netflix Comes To The Wii! 2

Hey Wii owners, have you ever been mockingly asked “so can your Wii play DVDs yet?” Respond proudly because, thanks to Netflix, now it can do even better. Owners have indubitably learned to settle for less since the console’s raw power lacks in comparison to the competition. A few good games, the Virtual Console, and Wii Ware add more value for the, but it still struggles to compete with other consoles when it comes to handling multimedia. Veterans of the console and more experienced players will definitely be glad to see the Wii spreading its wings and building on its potential. Read More

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom (Preview) +

Games like Capcom’s Street Fighter IV and the remake of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for next-gen consoles have helped in the recent popularity of fighting games. Because of their previous success, Capcom has decided to continue the cross-over fighting genre. The newest addition to the Capcom Versus series for the Wii looks to be the best yet. Skatter Tech brings you an exclusive preview to Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars.
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Mega Man 10 (Preview) +

This is a personal favorite of mine. Mega Man 9 was such a huge success among fans of the “returning” series and the confirmation of a sequel at CES was truly exciting. Mega Man 10 plans to pick up on that 8-bit glory while changing some of the gameplay elements to further improve the overall experience. Mega Man 9 left newcomers crying across the country due to the excruciating difficulty that the series brings back from its roots in the older titles. To them I say, suck it up and earn the M. Buster. Capcom, however, has taken a more sympathetic approach and is bringing you a brand new Mega Man. Read More

CES 2010: The Peregrine +

Gamers rejoice, the inventor of The Peregrine, Brent Baier, has come from the future to bring you the latest in gaming tech. The Peregrine gaming glove is proof that the once thought Sci-Fi technology is coming closer and closer to reality. This device will immerse the gamer into a completely new gaming experience that has only before been imagined. The Peregrine is a comfortable flexible glove that uses innovative technology to completely replace the keyboard. Read More

Holiday Gift Guide: Performance Laptops 1

High end laptops are getting better than ever. This holiday season is a great time to find a good deal on one. I had a chance to browse through a variety high end laptops when I was on the search for one for myself. I’ve picked a few of my favorites. They include a few ranging from sub-$1000, to over $2000. While some of these might just be overkill for the average Joe, I’ve done my best to pick these based of quality, features, and the best bang for the buck.

< $1000: Dell Studio 15

The Dell Studio 15 is a great pick for an affordable performance laptop. For about $700 this 15 inch notebook with a default configuration features Windows 7 Home Premium, a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6600, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500 MHD, and a 500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive.  You can even customize the appearance of the case. This a great deal for someone looking for an affordable entertainment center.

Link: Dell.com Studio 15 | Buy: Dell Studio 15

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Holiday Gift Guide: PC Games +

Best Overall Game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the sequel to the popular game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. It’s been one of the most talked about games this year. After having already sold over 4.7 million copies on opening day and over 9 million copies in the first 5 days, it’s broken just about all sales records for video games.

Buy: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
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