Games and Gear
Microsoft Sidewinder X4 early review: Ain't afraid of no ghost 
What do hardcore gamers fear most? No, it's not being told to get out the house and find a job -- although that can be pretty terrifying. The correct answer is ghosts. More specifically, ghosting: the unpleasant gaming phenomenon when a keyboard can't handle the amount of keys being pressed down, and fails to register any additional inputs.
When performing the kind of nimble-fingered hand gymnastics most gamers find essential, a crucial key press failing to register can be fist-through-screen frustrating. Microsoft's Sidewinder X4 exorcises this problem -- an unconventional wiring setup means you can hit up to 26 keys at once without any hits failing to register. Continue reading...
World of Warcraft Auction House app coming soon to iPhone
In olden times, a player's World of Warcraft experience ended when they dragged themselves away from their PC. Thankfully those dark and miserable days are long gone, as game-creator Blizzard has announced it will shortly be expanding its hugely successful Armory app to include an all-new mobile version of the in-game Auction House, where players buy and sell the items they find and make.
The existing Armory application allows players to check out characters, statistics and achievements from their iPhone. The coming expansion will build on that by giving gamers access to the game's virtual marketplace, Pocket-lint reports. The mobile version will reportedly feature all the functionality of the 'real' Auction House, and will allow iPhone-equipped players to continue their financial wheeling and dealing on the move. Continue reading...
Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection: Mega Drive your iPhone
Nothing warms our cockles like a spot of retro gaming, but, busy as we are, whipping out the old Sega Mega Drive is a lamentably rare occurrence. The Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection iPhone app, which takes its name from the US branding of the venerable gaming great, is due to launch in February and looks to rectify this damnable state of affairs.
Some Sega games of yore are already available on Apple's handset -- we loved Sonic the Hedgehog, for example -- but this will let you buy more games within the app itself, bundling them all up in a marvellous little package. The app is free and will come with one game included -- Space Harrier II. If you want more, you'll have to cough up the readies. Continue reading...
Nintendo DSi XL early review: Big-screen geriatric fun
Not content with selling puzzle machines to half the world's geriatrics, Nintendo is ruthlessly hunting down the more decrepit half with a giant new DSi. Wonderfully, the DSi XL is so massive that even the most squinty-eyed codger will be able to see a word and yell what colour it is. Europe's old timers can get their papery hands on it on 5 March, but we got the chance to have a play with the Japanese version.
Now, our understanding of Japanese is frankly Shizuoka, so we apologise if we have no idea what the Hokkaido is going on in this 'early review'. We're just going to prod it and see what happens. We can tell you that the ginormous hardware is identical to the European version, with its 107mm (4.2-inch) screens, SD card slot and dual cameras. Continue reading...
Peregrine gaming controller: Smell the glove
After attending parties in Las Vegas nightclubs, spotting weird stuff is the most fun to be had at CES. While the Peregrine gaming glove looks oddly familiar at first, it may not actually be such a crazy idea. Wearing the glove, you can do anything from fragging an enemy to creating a new layer in a Photoshop image.
Stainless steel spring contact wires run through the breathable fabric glove to metallic contact points placed around your hand: five on each finger and two on the thumb, as well as one large palm contact point. Simply tap your thumb against any point on your fingers, or tap a finger to your palm, to execute a pre-programmed action. It's rather like the gauntlets worn by Christian Bale's Batman in Batman Begins. Continue reading...
Beamz: Theremin hero
You'll never convince us that being a bit handy at Guitar Hero makes you any more musical than the average potted plant, but we're not averse to a helping of music-based gaming fun. It was larks-aplenty, then, when we spotted the Beamz here at CES.
The Beamz is kind of a cross between a theremin and that bit with the lasers and Catsuit Zeta-Jones in Entrapment. Beamz' roadies insist it's a proper musical instrument, but that's rather like saying Bob the Builder is a proper musician. Continue reading...
Parrot AR.Drone: iPhone-controlled helicopter brings Airwolf to AR
We've flown a £21,500 radio-controlled chopper and crashed a model P51-D Mustang on the streets of London, but throw in an iPhone and the ability to shoot at our friends, and we're insanely excited about the Parrot AR.Drone helicopter.
The AR.Drone connects to the iPhone or iPod touch over Wi-Fi, and uses the phone's accelerometer so you can fly it by moving the handset. The best bit: an on-board camera beams the bird's-eye view to your phone's screen.
Continue reading...
Vote for your favourite games of the year in GameSpot's Best of 2009 awards
It's the time of year when we're most likely to be found sitting in front of an open fire, warming our cockles with a glass of Tactical Nuclear Penguin, fuzzle-headedly reflecting on 12 months ill-spent. In that spirit we're delighted to wholeheartedly recommend our sister site GameSpot's Best of 2009 awards, in which you can pontificate to your heart's content over your favourite electronic entertainment of the year. Continue reading...
Games you can't afford to miss this Christmas
It's the time of year we like to spend with friends and family, so we thought it was only fitting to talk about some of the ways you can be antisocial and completely ignore them. We're talking, of course, about the best videogames to buy, or be given, this Christmas.
Each console has one killer game you absolutely must consider ignoring your family to play this year. So whip your nog out and let's get going. Continue reading...
Hot Xmas deals for Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii
If you've been as naughty as us Cravers this year -- perhaps riding a stolen lawnmower at midnight while dressed in a kimono in deepest, darkest Sweden -- then it's unlikely that Santa will be bringing you anything as delightful as a games console. Don't fret, though -- we've been trawling the Web for the best deals on Wiis, PlayStation 3s and Xbox 360s, and we think we've found some absolute stonkers that even delinquents such as yourselves can afford.
Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite
Surveys tell us that the 360 may not be the most reliable console of the three, but it's still a CNET UK favourite. The Elite version is the pick of the bunch, as its 120GB of storage offers the most room for music, high-definition movie downloads and -- for those who want to reduce optical-drive noise and decrease load times -- installing games directly to the console. Continue reading...
