Activision snubs Facebook and App markets

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Video Games,

While other developers and publishers are diving into the burgeoning Facebook and smartphone App markets, Activision would rather not waste their time.

“We don’t view the App Store as a really big opportunity for dedicated games,” said Kotick at the Reuters’ Global Media Summit.

Bold words from Activision, but then again, Call of Duty: Black Ops did rake in enough money to run a small country - $650 million in its first five days.

“It’s a different question assessing it as a business opportunity,” said Kotick. “Right now we don’t see an opportunity for us to participate in that market.”

One can only wonder how much longer their  Call of Duty and World of Warcraft cash cows can be milked before they have to start looking into newer ways to generate revenue amongst a shifting gaming community.  

Read More | Finger Gaming

Playstation Phone spied in Greece

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Video Games, Videos,

Codename Zeus, the suspected PlayStation Phone, made its way onto the Internet via a spy video taken in Greece. The Sony Ericsson crossover device is one half Android (Gingerbread) smartphone and one half PSP. The video doesn’t show much, nor does it show the slide out gaming control pad, but from what we can see it looks authentic enough.

Techblog reports that the gaming phone is called the Sony Ericsson Z1. Check out the video after the jump. 

Click to continue reading Playstation Phone spied in Greece

Read More | Engadget via Youtube

2010 Holiday Gift Guide: Wii Remote Plus

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Video Games, Family, Kids, Techies, Under $50,

When Nintendo announced Wii Sports Resort at E3 a couple years back, it was in conjunction with the Wii Motion Plus add-on, a Wii Remote attachment that sent  much more precise data about how you were moving the remote to the Wii console. It took them a while, but now you can finally ditch that dongle and go with a Wii Remote Plus controller instead. It's the same Wii Remote that you know and (maybe) love, but with the Motion Plus technology built-in, and that's worthy enough of being included in our 2010 Holiday Gift Guide. You can get them from Amazon for $38.99, a 3% savings.

Read More | Wii Remote Plus

Famous characters done up in 16 pixels

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Design, Internet, Video Games,

Have you ever wondered what your favorite video game heroes, cartoon characters, or washed-up TV stars would look like if they were composed entirely of 16 pixels? If you have, then you're either a part of the aptly title blog "4x4 Pixels", or you did a little too much peyote your last time in Vegas. 

4x4 Pixels is an experimental pixel art project by David Stoll that reduces popular characters into pixelated versions of their former selves. 

Can you guess who the above character is? 

Here's a little hint: "Screw you guys...I'm going home!"

Read More | 4x4 Pixels

Newegg Black Friday 2010 sale now live!

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

If you're unfamiliar with Newegg, we suggest you head on over to their Black Friday sale page right now. They've got some of the best deals around, even beating out Amazon. How does an $80 Blu-ray player sound, or new video games for $20 off? That's just the tip of the iceberg - seriously, if you or anyone on your gift list is into technology, this is one of the best places to find fantastic deals on consumar electronics!

Even better, you can combine the deals with some of the coupons from our Newegg promo code page!

Read More | Newegg Black Friday 2010 sale

Canadian Military orders 500 video games

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Video Games,

A Canadian military unit has made a requisition for 500 video games (mostly on the Xbox 360) to which a headquarters spokeswoman even dubbed as "strange". The garrison notably ordered 93 copies of Gears of War (PC), 82 copies of Modern Warfare 2, along with copies of Grand Theft Auto and Assasin's Creed 2. The shipment is to be delivered  "as soon as possible" to the Longue-Pointe Garrison in Montreal. Here's the full list:

• Gears of War (PC)
• Rock Band 2 (Xbox 360)
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360)
• Guitar Hero 3 (Xbox 360)
• Assassin's Creed 2 (Xbox 360)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
• Grand Theft Auto 4 (Xbox 360)
• Gears of War (Xbox 360)
• Mortal Kombat DC Universe (Xbox 360)
• Rock Band (Xbox 360)
• Tiger Woods 2011 (Xbox 360)
• X-Men Origins (Xbox 360)
• Guitar Hero 3 Legends of Rock (Xbox 360)
• Fallout 3 (Xbox 360)
• Assassin's Creed 2 (PS3)
• Ghost Recon (Xbox 360)

Conclusion? I'd say they were using these games as possible virtual sortie exercises, but Guitar Hero 3? C'mon, now.

Read More | Kotaku via Game Politics

2010 Holiday Gift Guide: Alan Wake Limited Edition sale

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Video Games, Men, Teens, Under $50,

Amazon's got a killer deal on the Alan Wake Limited Edition bundle, and we had to pass it on to you guys as a 2010 Holiday Gift Guide recommendation. Alan Wake is a game that plays like a psychological thriller as you take on the role of Alan, an author who seems trapped in his own tale. The game incorporates elements of an episodic television show as well, and is a nice escape from all the typical casual games and shooters out there. The Limited Collectors Edition includes:

• Game Disc in box with unique art
• Exclusive In-Game Audio Commentary and Hints by Remedy
• “The Alan Wake Files” – a 144pg book that includes a short story written by Alan Wake and compiles the FBI dossiers investigating the events in Bright Falls
• Exclusive Xbox bonus disc with special content:
• Exclusive Xbox Theme & Avatar
• PDLC #1 Token
• Video Documentaries/Behind the Scenes:
• The Theme of Alan Wake
• The World of Bright Falls
• The People of Bright Falls
• Alan’s Missions
• Exclusive Audio Disc with Soundtrack and Score

This set typically sells for $79.99, but Amazon has dropped the price substantially to just $29.99! That's an awesome price for a great game like this one - be sure to check out our Alan Wake review.

Read More | Alan Wake Limited Edition sale

Korean gamer murders mother, commits suicide after playing ‘Internet games’

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Video Games,

As if video games didn't get a bad enough rep, now prepare to add more fuel to that fire as a 15 year old from Seoul, South Korea strangled his own mother to death on Monday after she scolded him for playing online computer games. After the strangling, the boy then hung himself. The murder suicide took place in the southeastern port city of Busan. 

The regularity of their fights and the extent of them up until this point is unknown, as is the video game the teen was playing. Though, his younger sister claims that he had been involved in playing "violent" video games for the past two to three years. 

Whether or not video games actually played a part in this horrible act of violence is up in the air. However, South Korea is among the world's most technologically wired, seeing 90 percent of homes having broadband internet access. Furthermore, South Korea estimates that the country has around 2 million people that are Internet addicts. 

Regardless the reason, this serves as a sorrowful reminder of the cruelty of humanity, and our heart goes out to those affected.

Read More | Yahoo News

Wearable LEGO Master Chief helmet

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Design, Video Games,

Ben Caulkins (a.k.a.  Benny Brickster) created this gray LEGO Master Chief helmet from scratch, and yes, it is wearable. Just don't go running around expecting your shields to recharge after a well placed head shot. At least not until they invent bulletproof LEGO blocks.

Read More | Brothers Brick

Kinect built with $56 worth of parts

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Microsoft, Video Games,

The amazing Kinect technology sells at retail for $150, but is comprised of only $56 worth of materials. A teardown analysis performed by UBM TechInsights reveals these materials include chips made by PrimeSense Ltd., Marvell Technology Group Ltd., Texas Instruments Inc. and STMicroelectronics NV. 

The technology used to capture motion is done by both audio and infrared. Allan Yogasingam, a technical marketing manager at UBM TechInsights states:

"The future applications of this technology could be fascinating. I can see this being incorporated into televisions—allowing users to chang the channel by waving their hand,  essentially replacing the remote control."

Read More | EETimes