Advisory: You Should Probably Take Breaks

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Nintendo’s 3DS, the handheld console that’s supposed to revolutionize the gaming experience, was gobbled up in the tech market during this week’s launch. Not only does the wide screen on top (800×240 pixel resolution) allow the user to play visually eye-popping games, but also its two outer cameras augment reality, displaying our 2D existence as an interactive 3D world.  However, there’s a bit of a snag. Many users have been complaining of eye discomfort and headaches while playing the 3D games. So you don’t need glasses to play the 3DS, but you might feel like you need them by the time you’re done playing.

“The problem with it is that if you’re not looking at the system straight on, then your perspective is changing, tiring your eyes. This is ultimately going to give you a headache,” said gamer Kara Zisa.

Our visual perspective changes every time we move, so our eyes are constantly re-adjusting to the 3D. And while the headaches and eye irritation are short term, it’s an annoying side effect to what’s supposed to be a fun new way to use the technology.

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Turn Your iPad/iPhone Into a Basketball Court!

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The YouTube sensation, “Dude Perfect”, have inspired the newest interactive trick basketball game on Apple devices.

The college guys who became famous for their unorthodox shots can now be found in a cartoon “Dude Perfect” App for the iPad and iPhone for $2.99 and $.99 respectively.  This simple game is fun and addictive.

Pick a “Dude Perfect” person to play as, or the unlockable Panda mascot, and begin to paw a basketball and try and get it to bounce off of anything interesting before scoring in the hoop.  Points will continue to rack up as more and more difficult shots and bounces are implemented with the touch of a thumb to the touchscreen.

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Guitar Hero’s Dead, Long Live The Kitara

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As a guitar player, I’ve never been fond of instruments on the tech market. Pressing the little colorful plastic tabs (not unlike a children’s toy) on video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band never did it for me. There was nothing out there for the modern shredder looking to venture into the electronic world of music, that is, until the Misa Kitara.

A new instrument, the Kitara is a digital stringless guitar, which includes a touch screen and an interface that allows the player more control over sound. That’s right, no more plucking or calluses. Instead, the sleek 24-fret neck contains buttons for each note one would normally find on an electric guitar. When playing, press the button for the desired note with your left hand and use your right on the touch screen to manage the sound and digital effects like distortion, modulation, and delay.

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PSP2 Coming Soon With Touch Controls, Dual Analog Sticks and Huge Screen

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If you haven’t heard all of the internet rumors yet I’ll fill you in.  Sony is working on the new PSP2 and they’ve added some cool features.  As far as I can tell it’s all just rumors still but here are some of the supposed new features; dual analog sticks, bigger screen and touch controls.

The touch controls are whats really creating a lot of buzz around the new PSP2.  Many sources have said that the controls will be on the back of the device.  We don’t know what exactly the main function of the touch controls will be and some have even said that Sony is leaving that up to the game developers.  The people at Kotaku have said that the touch panel will look like a big mouse pad track-pad.

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Sony Announces PlayStation Move

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Now, Sony isn’t making a move with the PlayStation. They are making you move with the PlayStation Move.

At this week’s San Francisco’s Game Developers Conference, Sony announced the new Move controller. It’s basically the company’s answer to the Wii Remote (or Wiimote). It took them a few years. However, Sony says this will crush all competitors, because it’s especially precise. That means all of your flailing should translate into game moves pretty darn quick.

Using the Sony Eye gaming webcam, the controller specifically works with the PlayStation 3 for high-def gaming goodness. The package will include the camera, one game and the Move, which looks like a more colorful Mr. Microphone. All of that should be priced under $100. The Move controller operates on wireless Bluetooth and features a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery.

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Surface Tension Arcade Coffee Tables

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Live like an adult, play like a kid! A ton of us fondly remember the tabletop arcade games of the 80s and have probably entertained the idea of having one in-house now that we’re all grown up. Of course, much like action figures, the classic arcade table would stand out like a childhood dinosaur in a room of adult decoration (and may be a hard sell for your Crate & Barrel loving girlfriend). Someone over at Surface Tension likely had a similar thought and put the ingenuity forth to create a modern styled coffee table with arcade games — and more! — delightfully hidden inside.

With the Arcade Coffee Table built exactly to your needs delivery may take a couple of months, but it looks to be worth the wait. Each arcade game table is fully equipped with solid retro-gaming components (fully customizable in any colors you’d like), ready to go for both one and two players (and if your buddy isn’t around, you can always look for a second player online) and stocked with 29 games; if the bundled bits aren’t enough for you, the table is MAME-compatible so you can add whatever retro games you’d like! The table conceals a Dell PC to power all of your favorite goodies — including iTunes (ready to stream wireless to your speaker system with AirPort), Firefox for web surfing, Apple QuickTime to view movies, Windows XP Picture Viewer to flip through all of your photos, and ports to connect all of your peripherals.

The table comes in three different finishes — brushed, glazed and grain — for a hefty £3295 directly from the manufacturer (for Americans, basically double that price for the dollar conversion with the exchange rate as it is these days) you can add one of your own to the living room. What price making your friends green with envy, right?

iNo the Interactive Music Game System

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Yes, we’re on a bit of a game kick this week, but ’tis the season to dust off your favorite games as friends and family come home to roost (and get their butts kicked). If your life is dotted with music afficionados or you happen to be a bit of a music snob yourself, the iNo could keep someone unbearably smug… or might knock them off their throne.

Here’s how it works — iPodders gather around and plug their own iPods into the central iNo dock where each player takes turns queuing up songs from their playlists. The other players, using one of four wireless remotes to “buzz” in, do their best to guess the name of the song, artist or album (pick your poison) til the group can’t take it anymore and the player with the highest score makes off with the Music Genius title. The iNo unit features a built in speaker, color coded remotes with matching LED scoreboards, and comes ready to play with iPod connectors for you and your foes — and when you’re not in the playing mood, it’ll sit there quietly and charge up your iPod. Sad word of caution though: for some reason the designers only thought to make the iNo compatible with the 30GB, 80GB, and Nano iPods, so any other models aren’t allowed to play. Still, for $79.99 from Target, it’s a great game buy that’s only available online (so don’t bother scouring through your local store, they just won’t have it).

Playseat: The Evolution of Gaming

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You’re no casual gamer satisfied with $30 controllers while sitting on the couch, right? Ok good, because otherwise you’d just think this was… indulgent.

If you’re serious about racing games and want the real driving experience without having to endure the arcades, it’s time you met the Evolution. According to Henning Solberg of the Ford Rally team, “It’s the best car game accessory ever made, even I can use it for training and it really gives you a feeling of actually being in the car.” it’s so good, in fact, that the Dutch A1 racing team is an official sponsor and uses it with all of their drivers.

With its totally renewed design and double stitched black/white vinyl seat (that easily folds for storage), the Playseat Evolution is made of fully adjustable oval piping steel construction and is compatible with all of the major gaming and computer consoles, including their accessories like racing wheels, pedals and shift lever sets (or you can go one better and buy some official Playseat accessories to complete the package). Available for £229, get ready to make your friends green with envy.

PS3 Price Cut, Big Networking Plans

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Sony, surely feeling some Nintendo heat (Wii is still outselling the PlayStation 6-to-1), has finally dropped the pricing on their current PS3 model, making the 60 gig wunder-toy available immediately for $499. Be on the lookout next month for an 80 gig version for $600. $100 for another 20 gig? Yeah, but you also get a copy of MotorStorm, so enjoy your expanded drive and cliff-flying driver simulation game.

The excited press release also promises more than 120 new software titles to be delivered this year (just in time for the holidays, we’re sure), including titles like a new Dynasty Warriors, Grand Theft Auto IV, SOCOM, and Tom Clancy spinoffs. Additional games and services will be developed for release through the PlayStation Network including PlayStation Home, a “state-of-the-art 3D online community that serves as a meeting place for PS3 users around the world, as well as numerous downloadable games including the highly-anticipated title PAIN.”

With this announcement, and that of Yahoo’s new networking service “Mosh” in the rumormill, looks like everyone’s trying to capture the online social networking model-to-money. Good luck!

Illuminate Your Nintendo Wii

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Illuminate your Nintendo Wii with the Wii Crystal Cooler. A special stand which not only adds a high velocity fan to the underside of your console, but also adds extra-bright blue LED illumination around the base of the system, giving it an otherworldly glow.

The device has two main functions, to cool down your system when in standby or in use and more importantly to make your console look cooler than any of your friends plain old white Wii’s.

It retails for a modest $19.00 at Brando.