Is a Farmville for Dummies book really necessary?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Internet, Video Games,

How do you justify the existence of a book that lays out the concept and strategy to succeed in Farmville? Especially when there are sites that can help you free of charge. Co-author Kyle Orland of Farmville for Dummies sat down with Ars Technica to make an argument for putting the casual Internet game into layman's terms.

"Sure, Farmville isn't a particularly difficult game—it practically holds your hand in telling you how to play, and there's a limited amount of strategy to playing," Orland told Ars. "Some of the sections of the game—especially the farmer's market and some aspects of animal tending—require multiple, time-lapsed steps to complete successfully, and the game only gives one screen of text-heavy explanation for how to go about them."

Click to continue reading Is a Farmville for Dummies book really necessary?

Tech Deals of the Day: Walmart clearance, Best Buy game sale

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Hot Deals, Video Games,

Here's today’s Deal of the Day list, where we bring the the top discounts on gadgets and consumer electronics for the day. The highlight for today is a huge clearance sale at Walmart (they've got thousands of items marked down) alongside a Best Buy video game sale:

• Walmart Clearance Sale
• Best Buy Buy 1, Get 1 50% off video game sale
• 8 GB iPhone 3GS - 1 cent + free shipping
• Literati eBook Reader - $40

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread.

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Android PlayStation phone Super Bowl commercial

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds, Video Games, Videos,

The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY becamse very real last night, as it was highlighted in a very cool Super Bowl XLV commercial that featured the Google Android robot getting a back-alley body modification to add thumbs to his arms so that he could get his game on. This Xperia PLAY is the world's first PlayStation certified smartphone, and we're looking forward to February 13th, when all the details will be revealed. Check out the commercial after the jump.

Click to continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Android PlayStation phone Super Bowl commercial

Gadget Deals of the Day: Creative 30% off site-wide sale

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hot Deals, Movies, PC / Laptop, Storage, Video Games,

Here's today’s Deal of the Day list, where we bring the the top discounts on gadgets and consumer electronics for the day. The highlight for today is a site-wide sale at Creative offering 30% off all items with a coupon code:

• Creative 30% off sitewide with coupon code VALTINES
• Lenovo G460 Core i3 LED laptop - $499 + free shipping
• Seagate 1 TB external drive - $60 + free shipping
• The Incredible Hulk: The Complete Series - $25 + free shipping
• Gamestop: $15 off 2 new games

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread.

Halo: Cryptum excerpt

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Video Games,

Buy Halo: Cryptum on Amazon now.

THE FORERUNNER STORY-the history of my people-has been told many times, with greater and greater idealization, until I scarcely recognize it.

Some of the ideals are factually true. The Forerunners were sophisticated above all other empires and powerful almost beyond measure. Our ecumene spanned three million fertile worlds. We had achieved the greatest heights of technology and physical knowledge, at least since the time of the Precursors, who, some say, shaped us in their image, and rewarded that image with their breath.

The tugging threads of this part of the tale-the first of three-are journey, daring, betrayal, and fate.

My fate, the fate of a foolish Forerunner, was joined one night with the fates of two humans and the long world-line of a great military leader . . . that night on which I put in motion the circumstances that triggered the final wave of the hideous Flood.

So be this tale told, so be the telling true. 

Click to continue reading Halo: Cryptum excerpt

Read More | Kotaku

Top 10 Gear Live Videos of 2010

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, Smartphones, Features, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Microsoft, Video Games, Videos,

2010 will come to an end in just a few short hours, and we are just in time with our annual top 10 list of the most-watched Gear Live video episodes. Over the past year, as expected, there was a bunch of Apple gear that made the list, but Microsoft gets the top two spots with our Xbox 360 dashboard tour, and the an unboxing of the new Xbox 360 slim. Also getting an honorable mention is the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the Popcorn Hour Popbox, among others.

Oh, and if you wanna be sure to get our new video episodes as they come out in 2010, be sure to subscribe to us in iTunes, on YouTube, or in your RSS reader!

Also, you can check out the top ten videos from 2009, 2008, and 2007!

Click to continue reading Top 10 Gear Live Videos of 2010

Playstation Phone to be called ‘Xperia Play’

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Rumors, Video Games,

While 'PlayStation Phone' seemed to be the way to go for what is essentially a PlayStation phone, the device is most likely going to be branded 'Xperia Play' by Sony Ericcson. 

This comes after learning of a number of .com, .net, and .org domain names registered as XperiaPlay by a PR agency known as Jung Relations, whose long list of clients includes Sony Ericcson. 

Xperia Play is set to launch at MWC this February, but won't reach retail store shelves until April.

Read More | Xperiax10

XIM3 brings precise mouse and keyboard control to Xbox 360

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Accessories, USB, Peripherals, Video Games,

PC gamers have always had a leg up on us console shooters as far as precision goes. There's no match for a mouse and keyboard, even though the Xbox 360 controller managaes to get the job done quite well. Previous mouse/keyboard translators failed to mimic the true PC control feel through console because of the unique levels of "aim-assist" that console shooters incorporated. However, the Xbox Input Machine (XIM3) boasts what they call "Smart Translator" technology that manages to override the console aim schemes and reproduce true precision aiming just like true PC shooters. XIM3 includes a touch-screen display that is much more sophisticated than previous models, and can also connect with any Xbox 360 controller. Hopefully this will mean that the XIM3 is both easier to configure and cheaper than past XIMs.

XIM3 is configured to run with such popular FPS console shooters as Halo: Reach and Call of Duty: Black Ops. Check out the video of how it works on Halo: Reach below.

• Game on your Xbox 360 using your favorite PC gaming-grade hardware
• Mice, Keyboards, Joysticks, and Gameboard compatibility
• Unsurpassed in-game feel thanks to advanced Smart Translator technology
• Simple configuration through an on-board full-color LCD screen
• Firmware upgradable
• Active community forum

Click to continue reading XIM3 brings precise mouse and keyboard control to Xbox 360

Read More | XIM3

Kinect in stock at Amazon

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Video Games,

Real quick - if you've been scouring the Internets and your local stores for a Kinect and have been coming up short, Amazon just got a grip of them in stock. Hurry though, they are gonna go quickly.

Read More | Kinect on Amazon

Deal of the Day: Big Amazon video game sale

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hot Deals, Video Games,

If you've got any gamers on your holiday shopping list, our Deal of the Day should be right up your alley. For a limited time, you save $10 plus get a $20 Amazon credit when you buy 2 video games. Eligible products must be sold and shipped by Amazon.com, not by third parties. FREE shipping on orders over $25. Key deals:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops for Xbox 360 for $49.99
• Disney Epic Mickey for $39.54
• Donkey Kong Country Returns for $39.99
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 for Xbox 360 for $39.95
• Pac-Man Party for Nintendo Wii for $29.99
• Sesame Street: Elmo's A-to-Zoo Adventure for Nintendo Wii for $29.99
• Shaun White Skateboarding for PlayStation 3 for $49.99

Amazon video game sale

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread.