The latest wave of gaming consoles to hit our local retail shelves are Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360. While these two push the limits of graphic capability for a console, the lovable Nintendo Wii that has pushed on human interactivity in gaming. Gaming technologies continue to have the potential to keep advancing and impressing us. But what is in store for the PC will once again dominate all gaming consoles. Three Dimensional PC gaming has been introduced, once again, as the next advancement for this generation’s gamers to take bliss in.

Although 3D gaming has been mentioned over and over, this might truly be the year where it becomes widespread. At Nvision 08 I was able to sit down and enjoy a few upcoming PC games. Out of the five game demos available at Nvision, I was able to test out a few: Grid, Spore, and Unreal Tournament 3.  I can safely say that playing a shooter in 3D was an experience I will not forget. A whole new rush comes over a gamer when he or she jumps into an online shooter match in 3 Dimensions. It is quite exciting to experience and see the depth of bullets now literally flying by or the narrowness of halls closing in. Having a chance to play these games in 3D offers a fresh new experience and allows gamers to feel that they are a part of the game more than ever before.

Over 350 titles, which are already on the market, will become available in 3D as the new Nvidia cards begin to roll out. There won’t be any need to wait for updates or patches from developers since the new video card drivers, themselves, will support rendering those games in 3D. According to Nvidia even GeForce 8 GPUs, which are already widespread, will be able to run those games in 3D. We soon can begin to brag about owning computers capable of rendering games in 3 Dimensions; however I still have to figure out how to explain having to wear those 3D glasses.

The NVIDIA GeForce Stereoscopic 3D technology not only opens a 3 Dimensional gaming world that you can dive into, but a sharp and artistic world as well. After all, for all those Unreal Tournament players out there, imagine getting excited about having the Rocket Launcher all over again. The graphics allow for a sharp view of every shot you take, with endless weapons with different capabilities, to be clearly seen in a 3 Dimensional depth now. You can watch the bullet tear through the air and hit the wall that now appears “way out there” and still visually see everything. 3D Gaming has clearly added all new meaning to “diving into an online match” for computer games, but what about other genres of computer games, say one on the other side of the spectrum in this case, say a game that has redefined “a long time coming” gamers, and call it Spore. Playing Spore in 3D, let alone finally, was an amazing and outstanding visual experience above everything else. It truly was able to give you the feeling that you were holding a clay model of your creation, and you could tweak, move, expand, and add to it in any dimensions you wished. Playing this game in 3D, a game that requires a lot of graphical creating that is, gives the illusion that the mouse is able to move in an X-Y-Z plane rather than a boring old 2D plane that reality bounds. Playing Spore also allowed me to understand why it has been taking so very long for this game to arrive. This game, for those who are familiar with Sims, breaks the habit of just being a simulator genre game, and allows you to fully and compulsively create each creature, land, vehicles, weapons, and anything else to your personal artistic desire. I can safely say this game challenges an idea of “infinite gameplay” since you will never be done experimenting.

With all this potential for 3D gaming to expand on what we already love and only bring us closer as a part of the whole experience, aside from 350 titles already announced 3D capable, this is generation of videogames on the horizon of great things.  Soon we will be able to sit comfortably in our homes, play against friends across the world in a 3 Dimensional experience, and bring ourselves closer and closer to the new wave of entertainment known popularly as Video Games.

Earlier today Apple announced the iPhone 2.0 software and the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK). A beta version of the iPhone 2.0 software will be available today, however the finalized version won’t be available to consumers until June. The phone will also be getting much demanded business features such as the compatibility to function with the widely used Microsoft Exchange Servers, which will bring wireless push email, contacts, calendars, and access to encrypted private networks.

“We’re excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community with potentially thousands of native applications for iPhone and iPod touch,” said Steve Jobs – Apple’s CEO.
“iPhone’s enterprise features combined with its revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface and advanced software architecture provide the best user experience and the most advanced software platform ever for a mobile device.”

The iPhone SDK is available for download for free. With the SDK they’ll have access to the iPhone Simulator and all the information they’ll need to create native applications and distribute it through the Application Store for iPhone and iPod Touch owners. Apple boasts that their Multi-Touch interface, Core Animation, storage space, 3-axis accelerometer, and triangular cellular tower locater will allow creation of even more unique and powerful iPhone Apps.

Developers who create iPhone Applications will be able to retain 70% of the sales revenue of the amount sold through the new Apps Store. Developers will also have to purchase either a $99 standard license or a $299 enterprise license. In addition to the SDK-related content, the iPhone will also be getting other heavily demanded features such as the ability to view PowerPoint, Word, and Excel Documents and to mass delete messages. Anyways for the rest of you folks that aren’t interested in make applications but instead using them you’ll have to wait another three months for the final upgrade.

Video: March 6th Event with Steve Jobs
Links: iPhone Dev Program | iPhone Enterprise | Apple iPhone

Earlier today (September 5th) at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA, Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs introduced a bunch of new products. Some of these include a new iPod Nano, iPod Classic (aka Video), and the iPod Touch. The new lineup (picture above): iPod shuffle, nano, classic, touch, & iPhone.

iPhone Updates & Price:
As we are heading backwards though the keynote, the last item Apple touched on was the iPhone. Since the 8GB iPhone was so popular, the price has now been dropped to just $399, which is a $200 price-cut (originally $599). As for the 4GB model, it will no longer be produced or found in stores. The 8GB iPhone will be available at it’s new price online and in Apple and At&t Stores. A new update will also be available soon, which will include support for the Mobile iTunes Store.

The iPod Touch:
The ‘touch’ looks quite similar to the iPhone, has just about all the features, and even features an almost duplicate multi-touch interface, but doesn’t have a the “phone” part. The unit uses a 802.11b/g WiFi signal instead of the 2G At&t network for all its communication needs. Just like the iPhone, the iPod Touch has a Safari browser with built in Google/Yahoo search. Plus while connected to a hotspot or home network, the ‘touch’ allows browsing and playing YouTube content and even purchasing and downloading new songs on the go with the new fully fledged iTunes WiFi music store. The iPod Touch sports a 3.5-inch widescreen display for music, photos, videos, album art, coverflow, web browsing, and features an accelerometer to detect the unit’s upright or landscape orientation. With an ambient light sensor, battery life is conserved by adjusting the brightness to the unit’s surroundings, in result offering 22 hours of music and 5 hours of video playback. The iPod Touch will be available later this month (no exact date set just yet) in capacities of 8GB and 16GB priced at $299 and $399 respectively.

The iPod Classic:
The iPod ‘Classic’ is the successor to the iPod Video. This 6th generation iPod is available in capacities of 80GB and 160GB!, but both models remain slimmer than the previous lineup. The iPod Classic is enclosed in a all new metal-case and has a new interface featuring CoverFlow. Users may now browse content on one half of the screen, while the other half continues to display media. The battery life is also a huge improvement, offering 40 hours of listing to music and 7 hours of watching videos on the 160GB model and 30 hours of music and 5 hours of video on the 80GB. According to Steve Jobs, new games are heading to iPod Classic soon (everyone gets 1 FREE game). Both the 80GB and 160GB models, which come in silver and black, are available as of now for $250 and $350, respectively.

The iPod Nano:
Apple also displayed the completely revamped the Nano during the keynote. The unit, which now looks more like an iPod video, can in fact now play videos, movies, TV shows, and music videos! Nano users can also utilize Coverflow to browse through their library or even play purchased games from iTunes on their bright 2-inch display. The battery life remains at about the same level as the previous Nano, offering 24 hours of music playback or 5 hours of video in this case. Just like the iPod Classic, the Nano too is enclosed in an all-metal stainless steel case. As seen in the image above, the Nano is available in 5 colors. The unit is available TODAY in capacities of 4GB and 8GB costing $149 and $199, respectively.

Same Old iPod Shuffles:
Apple’s smallest family member, the shuffle, remains the same. Instead of introducing a 2GB model as some had anticipated, Apple simply spray painted the same 1GB models with some new colors, one of which is Product (RED). Some rumors indicate a black shuffle with 2GB could still be around the corner.

iTunes WiFi Store and Ringtones:
During the keynote, Apple introduced the new iTunes WiFi store which allows iPhone and iPod Touch owners to download songs directly onto their device when connected to the internet. Songs which are purchased on the go can be synced back to a computer or be re-downloaded. The best part, the pricing on the mobile store is exactly the same as what is available on regular iTunes. This will give Apple a big advantage over other cell providers such as Verizon and Sprint who charge extra fees for mobile purchases. For an additional $.99 a custom 30 second clip from a song can be converted into a ringtone for the iPhone. As for iTunes, version 7.4 will be available soon with plenty of new features.

Links: Apple iPhone | iPod Touch | iPod Classic | iPod Nano | iPod Shuffle
Pre-Order: Amazon (no tax + free shipping)

The long awaited mass-multiplayer game, Warhawk, is finally ready for launch! The game, which is a remake of game on the PlayStation One, now supports battling on foot as well as in jeeps, tanks, and planes. Players connected to the PlayStation Network can create and join arenas with up to 32 others. Warhawk will also truly utilize the PS3’s SIXAXIS motion sensors to perform tasks such as maneuvering aircrafts. Unfortunately this will not be one of of those “Full 1080 HD” games we’ve been waiting for since it will be rendered in 720p like most games on the market.

Anyways as stated in the title the game will be available at the end of this month, August 28th. Sony also stated in there most recent press release that the game would be available online from PSN and in retail stores. The downloadable version will cost only $39 while the boxed retail edition will be priced at $59 since it includes developer interviews, original sketches, trailers, and videos. In addition to the extra digital content the in store edition will include a “free” Jabra BT 125 Bluetooth headset, which normally retails for about $25 – $35, to promote voice chatting.

Pre-Order: Warhawk w/ Headset $59 (FREE SHIPPING)
Links: Warhawk Official Site | PlayStation Blog

For many Wii owners, a long drought of quality games has plagued their leisure time as their shiny new white console gathers dust on a shelf. That drought has ended since Nintendo has shipped out “Super Paper Mario,” the latest installment in the Mario franchise which harkens back to the side-scroll/two-dimensional glory days of the NES. Unlike the previous installments of Paper Mario, the latest rendition somewhat withdraws from the turn-based RPG engine and now makes use of the classic platforming action that made Mario what it was over 20 years ago.

While the turn-based system has been removed, several classic RPG features remain such as experience points, health points, and side quests. To further improve upon their game, Nintendo has not only made it a classic side scroller, but also gives Mario the new ability to shift the fabrics of dimension allowing him to see in the third dimension. While this is incredibly innovative and does lead to many thought provoking puzzles and hidden items, it does have one large drawback. The primary reason it fails to please is that while stomping enemies in the 2nd dimension is quite intuitive and almost instinctive, in the 3rd dimension, trying to crush monsters as thin as paper when one is also as thin is paper can become quite frustrating. Despite this, the overall game play is quite enjoyable. Further interesting interactions lie in the ability to switch between Princess Peach, Bowser (he’s not the villain!), and Luigi as each of them has different skills. Along with their unique skills and physical attributes, each character can use a Pixl, a sort of tool which allows the player to perform feats such as bombing, hammering, or even shrinking.

Arguably the game’s presentation is what gives it an edge over other platformers and any other game that has come out so far in the spring quarter. People who have played previous editions of Paper Mario should be quite familiar with the theme that everything is made out of paper (surprisingly fire techniques are not a one shot kill). This leads to many humorous moments which are even further improved up by the comedic lines that appear in the story. For example, various references to “the player” appear when wiimote usage instructions are shown and the selected character acts confused when hearing of this “player.” The actual use of the wiimote itself is fairly simple, it is held sideways similar to the original Nintendo controller giving the player roughly the same number of buttons as well. The motion sensing of the wiimote is only used when searching for hidden doors, performing certain special moves, or for challenge sequences when certain items have been activated.

Overall, this Wii game is a good purchase and is well worth owning. Renting this game is not recommended as it’s fairly long and it is best played in short bursts. The story and game play both are well created as the developers of this game took cliché elements of an RPG and a platformer and spiced them together with unique writing creating a mentally engaging experience. For any person who has never given the Mario series a shot before, this is an excellent place to start. Super Paper Mario for the Wii is available online and in stores now for $45.

Links: Super Paper Mario – $45 | More Info
Related Posts: Nintendo Wii Play

For those planning on purchasing another remote to accompany your Wii, the “Wii Play” package might be right for you. The package will include a disc with nine mini games (similar to Wii Sports) and a Wii Remote (Wii Nunchuck not included). The regular retail cost for a Wii Remote is $40 and for an additional $10, Nintendo will throw in the mini games listed below.

Wii Play Games:

• Billiards – a realistic virtual wiirtual game of pool
• Find Mii – pick the right Mii in time (where’s waldo?)
• Shooting Range – aim and shoot targets on the screen
• Pose Mii – change your Mii’s shape to match a shadow
• Table Tennis – pretty much Wii Tennis, but on a table
• Laser Hockey – twist remote & shoot a puck for points
• Tanks – drive and destroy enemy tanks to win
• Fishing – catch the most fish or the largest to earn pts.
• Charge – ride a cow and knock down scarecrows (no joke)

In my opinion its always good to have some mini-games such as these around since it is an easy way to entertain guests. (it’s kind of hard to teach someone to play Zelda) All the games have single player and two player modes. Finally, as mentioned in the title, the Wii Play package will cost $50 and will be available online and in retail stores starting this week!

Links: Buy Wii Play | More Info
Related: FREE Wii Replacement Straps

Bill Gates started off the Microsoft CES keynote with his thoughts on the rapid advancement that the technology market has undergone in recent years, and quickly tied it all into the release of Windows Vista and the importance of the new operating system. Other than Vista’s features, the keynote included information about their new Windows Home Server, Live Anywhere, Xbox IPTV, and a big deal with Ford Motors.

Vista’s ShadowCopy:
A neat feature, showcased by Justin Hutchinson, is called ShadowCopy, which in essence provides Vista with another safety net from human error. In short, it allows users who accidentally saved an incorrect version of a document or overwrote the wrong file to “restore previous versions of [the] document with just a couple of clicks” The feature is a lot like the current System Restore, but works on an individual file level. “It’s better than going back in time,” joked Justin (referring to OSX’s Time Machine).

Vista’s GroupShot:
Continuing with Vista, Hutchinson described how the Ultimate version of Vista will include downloadable extras for those of us willing to shell out the extra money for this particular version. One of the more impressive downloadable programs is Groupshot, which allows users to select parts of different pictures and combine them into one for a better overall image. The aim of this program is to fix awkward facial expressions of an individual in a series of group shots, where the face of a person in one image can be transplanted over onto his or her face in another image.

DreamScene Backgrounds:
Another Ultimate Extra is found in the form of DreamScene, which allows users to use full motion video as a desktop background. This feature will probably only be recommendable for those who have enough graphics horsepower to spare after having turned on Aero Glass, not to mention the patience to deal with a distracting video playing in the background.

Virtual Earth 3D:
After a brief Vista discussion, the topic changed to the Virtual Earth 3D technology that’s part of the Windows Live network. Using an Xbox 360 controller, Hutchinson was able to fly a camera around in a fully three dimensional recreation of Sin City. The concept felt a lot like Google Earth with SketchUp, but it’s always nice to see competition.

Windows Home Server:
The next item of interest was the mention of a project that Microsoft has worked on with HP, called Windows Home Server. As the name implies, this will be network attached device that will be available to multiple PCs, Xbox consoles, the Zune music players and any other compatible devices. They can be used for backups or additional storage. Expect to see the HP Media Smart Server in stores later on in the second half of this year.

“Live” Anywhere:
With Windows Vista, Microsoft will be introducing the concept of Live Anywhere, which basically amounts to being able to play a game, like Uno, on your Vista machine with someone else playing on their Xbox 360, and vice versa. In the future the service will support more “hardcore games.”

Xbox 360 Gets TV:
The entertainment experience doesn’t stop with Live Anywhere. Microsoft also plans to provide its customers with a wide variety of TV content, which it will soon be offering in four different ways.

• 1) HD-DVD – the new addon for the Xbox 360 will provide HD video. More units will be shipped out since they are in “incredibly high” demand.
• 2) Media Center PC – recorded and live TV content can be accessed on the Xbox 360 by networking it with one of these PCs.
• 3) Xbox Live Video – the recently launched service allows users to download HD and SD movies onto the console. The service already has a thousand hours of content. And it’s really simple, because the Xbox is already on the internet and, it’s connected to a big [screen].
• 4) IPTV – with just a simple internet connection and a Xbox 360, you soon can receive standard TV channels (live) over the internet. Microsoft is planning on turning the 360 into a Top Set Box soon after gaining support from third-party telephony companies such as AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, C-Com and SwissCom.

The new IPTV service will be able to handle both standard and high definition streaming for a variety of different channels. The software includes picture-in-picture support, recording, and other TiVo-type features. The service will NOT be free, but will be much cheaper than paying regular cable and extra equipment. (great for college students)

Ford Motors:
The final major announcement to come forth from the CES keynote was that Microsoft has partnered up with the Ford Motor Company to offer a “fully integrated, voice activated, in-car communications and entertainment system for mobile phones and digital music players.” This Ford exclusive, called “Synch”, will support Bluetooth, phone book syncing, three way calling, and text-to-speech reading for text messages. Not only will it be compatible with the Zune and the iPod, but as a bonus there will also be a USB port for Flash Thumb Drives.

Watch: Bill Gates’s Keynote (requires Windows Media Player)
Links: Microsoft at CES 2007
Related: CES: Verizon – Mobile TV

If you are one of those lucky enough to get a PlayStation 3 during the first shipment, you may also want plan on which game(s) you plan to get. Luckily Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), last week, announced the 21 PS3 launch titles (listed below) which would be available on November 17, 2006, when the console makes its debut. Note: This is the official list as of 10.22.06, check us.playstation.com for updates.

Our PS3 Game Picks:

• Call of Duty 3 – Activision
• F.E.A.R. – Vivendi Universal Games
• Need For Speed Carbon – Electronic Arts
• Sonic the Hedgehog – Sega
• Ridge Racer 7 – Namco Bandi Games

View The Full List

“Our line-up of PS3 games that will be available through the holidays is unprecedented in terms of volume, variety and innovation, surpassing any previous competitive launch catalog and even our own original offerings for other PlayStation platforms,” said Kaz Hirai, CEO – SCEA

Fortunately there are plenty of games ranging from WWII, Racing, to Shooter which will be available during launch to attract a wider audience. However we do find it funny (read quote above) that SCEA’s CEO boasts about “unprecedented volumes” of PS3 games when there will probably not even be enough PS3 owners to buy them. Most PS1/PS2 owners have enjoyed their consoles, so lets hope this one keeps up the standards.

Links: PlayStation 3 Games | PlayStation Press Release

Full List:
Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII – Ubisoft
EA Sports Fight Night Round 3 – Electronic Arts
Full Auto 2: Battlelines – Sega
Genji: Days of the Blade – SCEA
Madden NFL 07 – Electronic Arts
MARVEL: ULTIMATE ALLIANCE – Activision
Mobile Suit Gundam: CROSSFIRE – NAMCO BANDAI
NBA 07 – SCEA
NBA 2K7 – 2K Sports
NHL 2K7 – 2K Sports
Resistance: Fall of Man – SCEA
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Bethesda Softworks
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 – Electronic Arts
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas – Ubisoft
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 – Activision
Untold Legends Dark Kingdom – Sony Online Entertainment

Developer: Guerrilla | Genre: 3rd Person Shooter | Release Date: 10-31-06

Sequel to the title for the PS2, Killzone Liberation fails to impress. Set in a gritty version of the not too distant future, Liberation pits the player against both man and machine in mortal combat. The game has potential, but the controls need to be re-done from scratch to cooperate with the unusual 3rd person view. Aiming and maneuvering while firing are unnecessarily difficult and tedious. Considering how much of the game has to do with killing (“Killzone”), the poorly designed controls definitely places a significant damper on game play.

After testing out the multiplayer option, we soon discovered that most battles seemed invariably to occur around the health dispensers. Weird huh? As one person would shoot the other, the injured can easily go fill up his/(or her) health and continue to fight. Guerrilla should have installed a method similar to that of Half Life, temporarily disabling health canisters after each use. A little choppy and very repetitive, the Ad-Hoc didn’t seem to add much to game’s “fun level” as we had hoped.

The Good:

• Fun variety of weapons available
• Ad Hoc mode allows playing friends locally
• Realistic collision reactions between characters and weapons
• Nice menu music

The Bad:

• Awkward controls don’t suit 3rd person camera angle
• Ad Hoc mode currently only contains fighting, should include more interesting features such as coop-style missions
• Graphics aren’t shabby, but they certainly don’t stand out
• Characters run a bit too slow, making certain parts of the game take much longer than they probably should

Overall, Killzone Liberation isn’t an awful game, in fact it’s a decent way to pass the time; it simply fails to reach its full potential. Dull sound effects and undistinguished graphics add to the mounting disappointment. However, this was was a “preview review”, so the possibility remains that more in-depth play of the full version may lead us to a different conclusion. As of now, we don’t plan to be rushing out to get a copy on Halloween.

Links: Killzone Official Site
Pre-Order: Killzone: Liberation (PSP)