Games

It wasn’t all that long ago that rhythm-based games were sweeping all before them and plastic guitar controllers and drum kits were popping up in living rooms and bedrooms around the world at an astonishing rate. It seems many of those controllers are now gathering dust, leading Activision to announce it will “disband” its Guitar Hero business unit and discontinue development on its Guitar Hero game for 2011. Read More

Those that think video game controllers are already complicated enough with their array of joysticks, direction pads, face buttons and triggers might balk at the sight of the N-Control Avenger but, despite its imposing appearance, the device is actually designed to make accessing a controller’s various buttons easier and faster. Not only that, the device allows users to customize hair triggers and reach all a controllers face buttons with the exception of the A button without taking their thumbs off the analogue sticks. Read More

Getting caught up in the game depends just as much on immersive audio as it does engaging visuals. Gaming specialist Razer reckons that it's come up with a pair of portable gaming speakers that offer listeners room-filling, omnidirectional sonic enjoyment in a very compact package. The new Ferox speakers feature a rising resonance chamber mechanism, which is sure to prove a talking point in addition to providing some bass oomph. Read More

Sony unveiled the successor to the PSP at its PlayStation Meeting in Tokyo today. While Sony spokespeople continually referred to the device by its codename of Next Generation Portable (NGP), it's not yet clear whether this will be the name of the device when it is brought to market. Read More

Most men at one time or another (hopefully when they were merely boys) have enjoyed a spot or two of “sword fighting” in school toilets – just to clear up any misconceptions members of the fairer sex may have about such activities, this involves the clashing of streams, not appendages. One of the unfortunate side effects of these duels can be fair degree of spray ending up where it isn’t supposed to, creating extra work for those whose job it is to keep such facilities clean. Now Sega is bringing restroom gaming into the 21st century with a video game that makes use of a pressure sensor built into the urinal to entice urinators to keep their pee on target. Read More

Nintendo has announced that its much-anticipated 3DS, which offers glasses-free 3D gaming, will launch in Europe on March 25, closely followed by a U.S. release on March 27. This comes after the previously announced February 26 release date for Japan, where it will retail for JPY25,000 (approx. US$305). In the U.S. the device will be priced at US$249.99, while pricing outside these markets will be set by local retailers – UK retailers are quoting a price range of UKP219 to 229 (approx. US$350 to $366). Read More

Retailers, hotels and real estate agents have been using aromas to entice us to part with our cash for years now and there have even been a few attempts to transmit smells via the internet and mobile phones. California-based company Scent Sciences is now looking to bring an olfactory dimension to computer games with its ScentScape personal digital scent delivery system. Read More

Yearning to relive the golden days of arcade gaming but can’t afford a full sized arcade console? Then the iCADE arcade-style controller for iPad could be the next best thing. Originally appearing as an April Fools joke on ThinkGeek last year, the fictional device garnered so much interest ThinkGeek has partnered with ION to turn the concept into a reality. The resulting unit packs a full-sized joystick and eight arcade buttons in a mini arcade cabinet form factor. Read More

One of the more interesting – and futuristic looking – 3D pieces of tech on show at CES 2011 is Sony’s prototype personal 3D headset. Looking like something out of Tron or an early iteration of Geordi LaForge’s visor from Star Trek:TNG, the 3D headset overcomes the problem of crosstalk experienced on 3D TVs with active shutter glasses by incorporating two OLED displays – one for each eye – offering 1280 x 720 pixels each. Read More