Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Razer's Atrox arcade stick still exists, pre-orders open May 21]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/razers-atrox-arcade-stick-still-exists-pre-orders-open-may-21/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/razers-atrox-arcade-stick-still-exists-pre-orders-open-may-21/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/razers-atrox-arcade-stick-still-exists-pre-orders-open-may-21/#commentsRazer's Atrox arcade stick still exists, preorders open May 21 Gaming hardware manufacturer Razer has wrapped up the beta testing phase for its long-in-development Razer Atrox Arcade Stick for the Xbox 360, and will begin accepting pre-orders next week.

We had a look at a prototype version of Razer's controller at TGS way back in 2011, where the concept made a strong showing. Razer previously announced that it would be working closely with the fighting game community throughout the Atrox's development, and the finished product will ship with tournament-grade Sanwa buttons and multiple interchangeable ball-top and bat-top sticks.

Razer has developed the Atrox with modding in mind; the hatch-like surface can be opened with a button press, allowing for easy maintenance and design customization. Once opened, the Atrox boasts a spacious interior with compartments for replacement parts, tools, and the fat wads of cash you'll pick up from underground Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 money matches.

Atrox pre-orders will open at Razer's website on May 21. The Atrox will retail for $200.

JoystiqRazer's Atrox arcade stick still exists, pre-orders open May 21 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 May 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoryarcade-stickcontrollerfightinghardwaremicrosoftrazerrazer-atroxxboxFri, 17 May 2013 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo: 3DS software sales up 52% year-on-year in US]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/nintendo-3ds-software-sales-up-52-year-on-year-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/nintendo-3ds-software-sales-up-52-year-on-year-in-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/nintendo-3ds-software-sales-up-52-year-on-year-in-us/#comments Nintendo's 3DS is holding on strong to its place in the hardware charts, backed up by some successful software - and by "some" we mean "2.1 million first-party titles" in the first four months of 2013, in the US only. This is an increase of 52 percent over the same period last year.

Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins sold 94,000 physical and digital copies in the US since its launch on April 24 and hit No. 9 on the April NPD chart. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon sold 140,000 units in April, for a lifetime total of 530,000 in the states.

Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter expected the 3DS to be the only major console with sales up from April 2012, with the Wii, Xbox 360, PS3 and Vita down year-over-year. Pachter found the Vita down 57 percent, while the 3DS was up 46 percent with 185,000 sales.

Continue reading Nintendo: 3DS software sales up 52% year-on-year in US

JoystiqNintendo: 3DS software sales up 52% year-on-year in US originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dshardwarenintendosalessoftwareThu, 16 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Microsoft set-top box in prototype stage, supports Kinect [Update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/rumor-microsoft-set-top-box-in-prototype-stage-supports-kinect/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/rumor-microsoft-set-top-box-in-prototype-stage-supports-kinect/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/rumor-microsoft-set-top-box-in-prototype-stage-supports-kinect/#comments With the next Xbox reveal just ten days away, it's as good a time as ever to revisit a report that dates back to November 2012: Microsoft's reported interest in developing a set-top box, or "Xbox TV." Anonymous sources recently told the Wall Street Journal that Microsoft has come as far as producing working prototypes of said media device. Those prototypes reportedly work with Kinect, and are built to provide streaming services for viewers.

The Wall Street Journal also noted that it's unclear whether Microsoft will introduce the as-yet-unannounced device at all. We've contacted Microsoft for comment and will update as we learn more. In the meantime, we recommend that you take a ten-day nap, because the rampant speculation leading up to the Xbox reveal on May 21 probably won't go away.

Update: A Microsoft spokesperson got back to us with the following: "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation."

JoystiqRumor: Microsoft set-top box in prototype stage, supports Kinect [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwarekinectmicrosoftset-top-boxstreaming-videoxboxXbox-TVSat, 11 May 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tearing down an Ouya: iFixit finds it to be easily repairable]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/tearing-down-an-ouya-ifixit-finds-it-to-be-easily-repairable/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/tearing-down-an-ouya-ifixit-finds-it-to-be-easily-repairable/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/tearing-down-an-ouya-ifixit-finds-it-to-be-easily-repairable/#commentsTearing down an Ouya iFixit finds it to be easily repairable The Ouya team sent the gentlehands at iFixit a retail unit of the tiny Android console to rip apart and gauge its openness and repairability. IFixit found only one moving component, the fan, in the entire little box and remarked on the hardware's "very clean and simple layout."

The Ouya scored a 9 out of 10 on iFixit's Repairability scale, because it uses standard-head screws, no weird glues, and most of its components are easily removed and replaced. IFixit factored in the Ouya controller to its score, knocking it for having the joysticks soldered to the circuit board, meaning a broken stick may necessitate an entire board transplant.

JoystiqTearing down an Ouya: iFixit finds it to be easily repairable originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidhardwareifixitmobileouyarepairteardownWed, 08 May 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation 4's DualShock 4, Eye camera detailed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/playstation-4s-dual-shock-4-eye-camera-detailed/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/playstation-4s-dual-shock-4-eye-camera-detailed/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/playstation-4s-dual-shock-4-eye-camera-detailed/#comments Sony has revealed some more specifics regarding the PlayStation 4's new DualShock 4 controller, as well as the new, double-camera PlayStation 4 Eye peripheral announced during tonight's event.

Six-axis controls return in the DualShock 4, as do the familiar array of face/shoulder buttons and direction inputs. New additions to the unit include a PlayStation Vita-esque touch pad on the front of the device, which is capacitive and can register two points of contact at a time. The pad itself can also be clicked as a button, from the sound of the press release tucked away after the break. Start and Select buttons have had their functionality reassigned to a new "Options" button.

Meanwhile, a "Share" button allows the player to access the PlayStation 4's wealth of social options, which include live-streaming through services such as Ustream and the sharing of videos on social networks. Additionally, an LED "light bar" on top of the controller illuminates to communicate various information to players, such as a character's current health status, for instance.

That light bar also communicates with the PlayStation 4 Eye, the latest version of Sony's storied camera peripheral. This time around, the Eye features two cameras capable of a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800 each, in addition to a four-channel array of microphones. The cameras have the ability to "cut out the image of the player from the background, or to grasp players' position in front and behind," which sounds rather familiar if you ask us. Users can use the Eye to log into their PlayStation 4 via facial recognition, in addition to the PlayStation Move implementations you'd expect from the device point.

Continue reading PlayStation 4's DualShock 4, Eye camera detailed

JoystiqPlayStation 4's DualShock 4, Eye camera detailed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>detailsdual-shock-4dualshock-4eye-4facial-recognitionhardwareplaystation-2013playstation-4playstation-eye-4ps4sonyspecsWed, 20 Feb 2013 21:33:00 EST<![CDATA[PS4 has x86 CPU, 8GB onboard memory, local hard drive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/ps4-built-on-x86-has-8gb-onboard-memory-local-hard-drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/ps4-built-on-x86-has-8gb-onboard-memory-local-hard-drive/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/ps4-built-on-x86-has-8gb-onboard-memory-local-hard-drive/#comments Update: Additional details on the hardware can be found on this post.

On stage at today's PlayStation event in NYC, lead system architect on PS4 Mark Cerny revealed some technical specs on the upcoming PlayStation 4. It's built on an x86 CPU, with an enhanced PC GPU and 8 gigabytes of fast onboard GDDR5 memory. Cerny also confirmed there would be a local hard drive.

Cerny also confirmed a secondary chip that handles all downloading, so that downloads can be performed in the background. PS4 titles are also playable as they're being downloaded.

JoystiqPS4 has x86 CPU, 8GB onboard memory, local hard drive originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwareplaystationplaystation-2013playstation-4playstation-event-2013ps3ps4tech-specstechnical-specsx86Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Valve fires dozens of hardware, Android staff [Update 2]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/report-valve-fires-dozens-of-hardware-android-staff/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/report-valve-fires-dozens-of-hardware-android-staff/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/report-valve-fires-dozens-of-hardware-android-staff/#comments Valve hardware designer outValve let go "several" employees on Tuesday, Gamasutra reported, following a tweet from hardware designer Jeri Ellsworth that read, "Yup. Got fired today. Time for new exciting projects."

Initial reports from employees included the phrases "great cleansing" and "large decisions," and a few claimed as many as 25 people were affected, though this number is unconfirmed, Gamasutra reported. The layoffs hit more than one department, including Android and hardware staff.

Ellsworth, at least, confirmed her own firing. She began working on next-gen gaming hardware at Valve, specifically living room PC controllers, in 2012. Ellsworth was concerned with transforming keyboard and mouse controls to a gamepad in a way that wouldn't interfere with current Steam game designs, or turn off those more comfortable with a traditional controller.

Valve's recent focus has been on the Steam Box, a hardware system that allows PC streaming and gaming on living room TVs. Ellsworth worked on controller prototypes alongside the launch of Big Picture Mode, a Steam interface designed for controller navigation.

We've contacted Valve for more information about the layoffs.

Update: Develop reports that Valve's Director of Business Development, Jason Holtman, left the company. Valve has yet to respond to requests for comment.

Update 2: Valve's employee page changed significantly sometime in the past month, as demonstrated by this comparison from Garry's Mod creator Garry Newman. There are eight names gone in the latest version: TF2 art lead Moby Francke, former Weta man Keith Huggins, Half-Life 2 programmer Tom Leonard, Portal team member Realm Lovejoy, Half-Life man Marc Nagel, ex-Lord of the Rings animator Bay Raitt, engine programmer Elan Ruskin, and Jason Holtman, mentioned above.

JoystiqReport: Valve fires dozens of hardware, Android staff [Update 2] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controllerfiredhardwarejeri-ellsworthlayoffsmacpcSTEAMsteam-boxvalveWed, 13 Feb 2013 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Logitech to phase out production of console gaming accessories]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/logitech-to-phase-out-production-of-console-gaming-accessories/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/logitech-to-phase-out-production-of-console-gaming-accessories/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/logitech-to-phase-out-production-of-console-gaming-accessories/#comments The third quarter of fiscal 2013 wasn't especially awesome for Logitech, despite the fact that I personally spent 30 of my own dollars on a wireless keyboard within that time frame. Whereas the same period last year saw a net profit of $55 million, Logitech posted a net loss of $194.9 million in its most recent earnings report.

As a result, some of Logitech's divisions will be scaled back, while others will be discontinued altogether. "We have initiated the process to divest our remote controls and digital video security categories, and we plan to discontinue other non-strategic products, such as speaker docks and console gaming peripherals," said Logitech president/CEO Bracken P. Darrell.

While Logitech's console peripheral business will disappear, the company's PC gaming offerings will remain unchanged. We've also been able to confirm that Logitech console accessories that have already been purchased will continue to exist, and will not crumble into piles of dust. These cost reduction measures are expected to take place "by the end of Calendar Year 2013."

JoystiqLogitech to phase out production of console gaming accessories originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesconsolecontrollersfinancialsfiscal-2013hardwarelogitechmicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3Q3Q3-2013racing-wheelwiixboxSat, 26 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve's Gabe Newell talks 'turnkey' living room hardware]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/valves-gabe-newell-talks-turnkey-living-room-hardware/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/valves-gabe-newell-talks-turnkey-living-room-hardware/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/valves-gabe-newell-talks-turnkey-living-room-hardware/#comments
With the recent launch of Steam Big Picture, it hasn't taken long for the words "Steam Box" to enter the collective gaming community's brain space. Valve boss Gabe Newell reignited that discussion when speaking on the red carpet at last night's Video Game Awards ceremony about the company's plans to enter the hardware business.

Newell told Kotaku that he sees multiple companies entering the hardware space, and that "most customers and most developers are gonna find that [the PC is] a better environment for them." His reasoning is that consumers "won't have to split the world into thinking about 'why are my friends in the living room, why are my video sources in the living room different from everyone else?' So in a sense we hopefully are gonna unify those environments."

The Valve boss suggested that companies would launch PC bundles in 2013 designed to run Steam in the living room and compete with next gen consoles. Newell added that Valve is one of those companies, and its efforts may not be as open-source as some might expect:

"Well certainly our hardware will be a very controlled environment. If you want more flexibility, you can always buy a more general purpose PC. For people who want a more turnkey solution, that's what some people are really gonna want for their living room. The nice thing about a PC is a lot of different people can try out different solutions, and customers can find the ones that work best for them."

JoystiqValve's Gabe Newell talks 'turnkey' living room hardware originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-picturebig-picture-modegabe-newellhardwarepcSTEAMsteam-boxvalveSat, 08 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: 'Xbox TV' set-top box in progress, to debut pre-holiday 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/rumor-xbox-tv-set-top-box-in-development-to-debut-pre-holida/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/rumor-xbox-tv-set-top-box-in-development-to-debut-pre-holida/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/rumor-xbox-tv-set-top-box-in-development-to-debut-pre-holida/#comments Microsoft is developing a set-top box that provides access to its entertainment features, made as a low-cost alternative to its full console, The Verge reports, citing anonymous sources.

The device, dubbed "Xbox TV," supports "casual" games and runs on Windows 8, with an "always-on" chipset that allows for quick boot-up and resumption of programs, the report says. Xbox TV would be part of a broader attempt to scale its products, making them available on a range of devices, such as Microsoft Surface, SmartGlass (for iOS pictured above) and smartphones. It is expected to be revealed before the holidays next year, The Verge says.

Microsoft provides the following statement regarding any future set-top box plans: "Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend the console lifecycle by introducing controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention."

That's certainly not a "No, we'd never do that" kind of statement.

JoystiqRumor: 'Xbox TV' set-top box in progress, to debut pre-holiday 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwarekinectmicrosoftset-top-boxxboxXbox-TVWed, 21 Nov 2012 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii U GamePad: Console gaming with no TV required]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/wii-u-gamepad-console-gaming-with-no-tv-required/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/wii-u-gamepad-console-gaming-with-no-tv-required/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/wii-u-gamepad-console-gaming-with-no-tv-required/#comments The hallmark feature of the Wii U is its tablet controller, the GamePad. It promises to foster some interesting, asymmetrical gameplay innovations, but one of its best features is a bit more obvious. The GamePad's screen is a perfect gaming display, and many Wii U games can be played directly on tablet itself, no television required.

Handheld gaming is certainly nothing new, but the ability to play full-fledged console games without hogging the TV is a surprisingly delightful feature we've become addicted to. Once you try it, you may begin to wonder how you lived without it. See a round-up of our own experiences with the feature after break.

Continue reading Wii U GamePad: Console gaming with no TV required

JoystiqWii U GamePad: Console gaming with no TV required originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamepadhardwarenintendowii-uwii-u-gamepadwiipadTue, 13 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Wii U: Joystiq gets up close and personal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/the-wii-u-joystiq-gets-up-close-and-personal/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/the-wii-u-joystiq-gets-up-close-and-personal/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/the-wii-u-joystiq-gets-up-close-and-personal/#comments
Joystiq's Wii U review unit has arrived, and we've taken far too many pictures and gotten far, far too intimate with the hardware, as seen in the video above. Give it a watch and then peruse the gallery below, featuring lots of sexy shots and the vitally important size comparison to the Sega CDX.

Gallery: Wii U (Hardware)

JoystiqThe Wii U: Joystiq gets up close and personal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwarenintendowii-uWed, 07 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve looking for hardware testers, rate how well you like Valve first]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/valve-looking-for-hardware-testers-rate-how-well-you-like-valve/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/valve-looking-for-hardware-testers-rate-how-well-you-like-valve/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/valve-looking-for-hardware-testers-rate-how-well-you-like-valve/#comments HIT 1ST Valve conducting surveys, may let you test hardware prototypesValve is seeking people to test out some of its hardware prototypes, along with released and unreleased games. Right now its looking for people around Valve's offices, in the Seattle or Bellevue area, but it may conduct remote testing in the future, so everyone is invited to fill out a playtester survey.

The survey asks, among other questions, how many years you've been playing games, for your favorite game, which difficulty you typically play on, your overall impression of Valve games, if you get motion sickness when playing first-person shooters and who the beneficiary on your life insurance policy is. OK, we made that last one up, but coming from the company that created Aperture Science, it's not too outlandish.

Looks like Valve is getting the ball rolling on its oft-rumored hardware-distribution arm. Which might in fact be a real arm that distributes hardware. You just never know with Valve.

JoystiqValve looking for hardware testers, rate how well you like Valve first originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApertureBellevuehardwarepcPlaytestplaytestingseattleSTEAMtestvalvewashingtonTue, 09 Oct 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New PS3 model torn apart, internals exposed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/new-ps3-model-torn-apart-internals-exposed/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/new-ps3-model-torn-apart-internals-exposed/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/new-ps3-model-torn-apart-internals-exposed/#comments New PS3 model torn apart, internals exposedThe probing, ever-busy fingers of iFixit have done it again, this time disassembling the freshly redesigned PS3. Apart from a sticker, a security screw and a tricky power supply, the site dubs the super slim PS3 fairly easy to take apart (and potentially repair). Head over to iFixit for the full teardown. Just be warned that it might not be safe for work; this PS3 gets awfully exposed.

JoystiqNew PS3 model torn apart, internals exposed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolehardwareplaystationps3ps3-super-slimredesignsonyteardownWed, 03 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony would consider bundling Vita with PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/sony-would-consider-bundling-vita-with-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/sony-would-consider-bundling-vita-with-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/sony-would-consider-bundling-vita-with-ps3/#comments Sony would consider bundling Vita with PS3While it hasn't confirmed any concrete plans to do so, Sony would at least entertain the idea of bundling the PlayStation Vita together with the PlayStation 3. Sony would "have nothing against [a bundle] whatsoever," Fergal Gara, managing director of PlayStation UK recently told CVG. Fergal added that it could conceivably happen as early as this Christmas, if Sony wanted.

Such a bundle would be a natural candidate for games that feature crossplay functionality, he said, and could also include PlayStation Plus, which now functions across both devices. With Sony trying very hard to push the interconnectivity between Vita and PS3, a bundle would certainly make sense, and it sounds like Sony (at least in the UK) isn't opposed to the idea.

Should the concept come to fruition, the only question is whether or not consumers feel the same way.

JoystiqSony would consider bundling Vita with PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 20:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundlefergal-garahardwareplaystationplaystation-vitaps3sonyukvitaMon, 01 Oct 2012 20:37:00 EST<![CDATA[First Valve hardware to go into beta next year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/first-valve-hardware-to-go-into-beta-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/first-valve-hardware-to-go-into-beta-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/first-valve-hardware-to-go-into-beta-next-year/#comments Valve in-house hardware hacker Jeri Ellsworth told Engadget that she hopes to hold an external beta test, tied to Steam, for the company's first hardware product next year. Internal beta tests within Valve are already ongoing.

She wasn't clear on what the device would be, but the stated goal is "to make Steam games more fun to play in your living room." The new hardware is some kind of input method to improve playability of PC games using Big Picture Mode. It could be a controller, or it could be some kind of keyboard/mouse combination.

Or it could be maracas. Maracas have proven perfect for every game we've tried them with, including Samba De Amigo, and ...

JoystiqFirst Valve hardware to go into beta next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-picture-modehardwarejeri-ellsworthpcsteamWed, 19 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Astro launches A50 Wireless Gaming Headset]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/astro-launches-a50-wireless-gaming-headset/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/astro-launches-a50-wireless-gaming-headset/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/astro-launches-a50-wireless-gaming-headset/#comments Astro introduces A50 Wireless Gaming HeadsetThe audio aficionados at Astro are an impatient bunch, launching into their own next generation of hardware ages before console manufacturers are ready to take the plunge. Today, Astro Gaming has released the A50 Wireless Gaming Headset - a Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound, 5.8GHz behemoth for use with the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Mac "and more."

According to Astro, the A50 has a 12+ hour battery life and includes a separate wireless transmitter - which features KleerNet tech to keep audio lossless over its wireless connection.

Acoustic authority comes at a hefty price, however, as the A50 is tagged with a staggering $300 price point. Hey, no one said hearing the falling tears of your enemies online would be cheap! The hardware is currently available on Astro's website and select retail locations.

Gallery: Astro A50 Wireless Gaming Headset

JoystiqAstro launches A50 Wireless Gaming Headset originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Astro-GamingHardwaremacmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxTue, 24 Jul 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft announces Surface tablet at Los Angeles event]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-announces-surface-tablet-at-los-angeles-event/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-announces-surface-tablet-at-los-angeles-event/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-announces-surface-tablet-at-los-angeles-event/#comments Microsoft announces the Xbook at Los Angeles eventThe Microsoft Big Announcement Speculation Game can finally come to an end, as the company announced a new tablet device called Microsoft Surface this afternoon during a Los Angeles press event. Microsoft calls it the "companion hardware innovation" for Windows 8, an OS that was designed to work on mobile devices specifically.

The Surface includes a kickstand built in to the device, as well as an optional cover that contains a touch-typing, super thin keyboard and a multitouch trackpad. Because the device runs a full version of Windows 8, it presumably will run any games that work on that OS, but we'll have to wait and see how those games play. We can also presume that the Surface will work right alongside any other Smart Glass features to be announced for the Xbox later on. We'll have more on Surface in the future, so stay tuned.

Continue reading Microsoft announces Surface tablet at Los Angeles event

JoystiqMicrosoft announces Surface tablet at Los Angeles event originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwaremicrosoftmobilepcsteve-ballmersurfacetablettechtouchscreenwindowswindows8Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo predicts combined Wii U and Wii console sales of 10.5 million by March 31, 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/nintendo-predicts-combined-wii-u-and-wii-console-sales-of-10-5-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/nintendo-predicts-combined-wii-u-and-wii-console-sales-of-10-5-m/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/nintendo-predicts-combined-wii-u-and-wii-console-sales-of-10-5-m/#comments Nintendo isn't breaking out hardware or software sales predictions for the Wii U just yet, unlike its other consoles. Instead, it's masking said predictions by mixing them in with those of the Wii. Bizarre? Yes, bizarre.

Anyway, Nintendo's looking at a combined total of 10.5 million hardware units moved between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013 for the Wii U and Wii. While we can't parse the numbers, we can speculate based on the last fiscal year's Wii hardware sales. So! Nintendo sold 9.84 million Wii units in fiscal 2012, meaning the Japanese console manufacturer either expects a sharp dropoff in Wii sales (likely) or a not-so-hot holiday for the Wii U (less likely).

The same bizarre conflation applies to software sales, with Nintendo predicting approximately 70 million units sold across both the Wii U and Wii consoles. And last year? The Wii moved 102.37 million software units. Not too shabby! So, again, Nintendo either expects a massive dropoff in Wii software sales (likely), or for Wii U software to not do super great between the console's holiday launch and next March.

JoystiqNintendo predicts combined Wii U and Wii console sales of 10.5 million by March 31, 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiscal-year-2013hardwarenintendosalessoftwarewiiwii-uFri, 27 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve job listing points to hardware plans for 'whole new gaming experiences']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/valve-job-listing-points-to-hardware-plans-for-whole-new-gaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/valve-job-listing-points-to-hardware-plans-for-whole-new-gaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/valve-job-listing-points-to-hardware-plans-for-whole-new-gaming/#comments ImageYes, there are employees at Valve right now who are working on some form of gaming hardware. What that gaming hardware is, however, remains to be seen. A job listing discovered by Engadget this week offers more clues as to what that hardware could be, specifically pointing to job skills like "hardware design, prototyping, testing, and production across a wide range of platforms."

Getting more direct, the "electronics engineer" position entails working "with the hardware team to conceive, design, evaluate, and produce new types of input, output, and platform hardware." Wait, platform hardware? That sounds an awful lot like the Steam Box rumors we heard earlier this year (rumors that were later semi-shut down).

But don't get your hopes up just yet - just because Valve is experimenting with different types of hardware doesn't mean that it's looking to produce a piece of consumer hardware any time soon. We've reached out to Valve for further clarity, but aren't expecting much beyond silence.

JoystiqValve job listing points to hardware plans for 'whole new gaming experiences' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electronics-engineerhardwarehiringjob-listingmacpcsteam-boxsteamboxvalvevalve-softwareFri, 13 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft goes baller with chromed out 360 controllers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/microsoft-goes-baller-with-chromed-out-360-controllers/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/microsoft-goes-baller-with-chromed-out-360-controllers/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/microsoft-goes-baller-with-chromed-out-360-controllers/#comments ImageWhen we're not busy ghostridin' the whip or gettin' that skrilla, we're making sure to accessorize with chromed out bling. We also spend quite a bit of time looking up how to awkwardly use terms from terrible rap songs.

Given that, you'll understand our excitement this afternoon over Microsoft's announcement of chromed out Xbox 360 controllers. Better yet, said controllers feature the updated D-pad that Microsoft added in a new 360 controller back in 2010.

As of now, the "Special Edition Chrome Series" wireless controllers will run $54.99 ($5 more than the usual wireless controller price) and are expected to be available at some point in "mid-May." Colors and availability vary by region, according to Major Nelson. Why anyone would want something other than what you see shining above, however, is beyond us.

Gallery: Xbox 360 Special Edition Chrome Series Wireless Controllers

JoystiqMicrosoft goes baller with chromed out 360 controllers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrome-serieschrome-series-controllerscontrollerhardwaremicrosoftspecial-editionxboxxbox-360-controllerMon, 02 Apr 2012 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefield 3's rendering architect details his dream specs for the next generation of consoles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/battlefield-3s-rendering-architect-details-his-dream-specs-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/battlefield-3s-rendering-architect-details-his-dream-specs-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/battlefield-3s-rendering-architect-details-his-dream-specs-for/#comments During the Game Developer's Choice awards, DICE took home the prize of "Best Technology" for its Frostbite 2 engine. After accepting the award on behalf of his team, we asked DICE rendering architect Johan Andersson what the next generation of consoles would need to include for Frostbite 2 to work 'perfectly and as intended on high-end PCs.' To Andersson, the answer is "pretty easy to answer."

"There's two things: memory and processing power," he said. "We need lots and lots of processing power. The more you can cram into a machine, we'll take advantage of that." While 'more power' is the obvious answer -- both on the CPU and GPU side -- we wondered what wouldn't be 'enough' to work with.

"Two gigabytes would not be enough when it comes to RAM [random access memory]" Andersson said. "Four gigabytes would work. Eight gigabytes? Yeah. I think that would be perfect when it comes to memory." Recommended system specifications for Battlefield 3 call for 4GB of RAM.

Continue reading Battlefield 3's rendering architect details his dream specs for the next generation of consoles

JoystiqBattlefield 3's rendering architect details his dream specs for the next generation of consoles originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-3dicefrostbite-2gdc-2012hardwareJohan-Anderssonnext-genFri, 09 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[February NPD: Hardware sales up over January, everything down year over year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/february-npd-hardware-sales-up-over-january-everything-down-ye/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/february-npd-hardware-sales-up-over-january-everything-down-ye/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/february-npd-hardware-sales-up-over-january-everything-down-ye/#comments The numbers for February are in, and while hardware performance was better than it was in January, both hardware and software sales are seeing significant declines when compared to figures from February 2011.

With hardware and software combined, total new video-game sales rang up at $1.06 billion for last month; a 20 percent decline from the $1.33 billion spent during the same period last year. Breaking that total down, hardware sales accounted for $381.4 million of all moneys spent in February, down 18 percent year over year, while software sales accounted for $464.4 million (down 23 percent year over year) and accessories sales brought in $215.2 million, down 16 percent year over year.

Despite those year over year declines, hardware sales increased 62 percent over January, Vita sales notwithstanding. Factoring in Sony's new handheld boosts that figure all the way up to 87 percent.

On the software front, the Vita's best-selling launch title was Uncharted: Golden Abyss, earning a spot among the month's top 20 overall best-selling titles. The top ten best-selling titles for February can be found after the break, with Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning being the only new IP to make the list.

Continue reading February NPD: Hardware sales up over January, everything down year over year

JoystiqFebruary NPD: Hardware sales up over January, everything down year over year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsFebruary-2012hardwaremicrosoftnintendoNPDpcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3pspsalessoftwaresonytop-10video-game-salesvitawiixboxThu, 08 Mar 2012 19:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo in February: Mario Galaxy passes 5 million, Wii and 3DS move more than 200K each [Update: corrected]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/nintendo-in-february-mario-galaxy-2-passes-5-million-wii-and-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/nintendo-in-february-mario-galaxy-2-passes-5-million-wii-and-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/nintendo-in-february-mario-galaxy-2-passes-5-million-wii-and-3/#comments With February's NPD numbers upon us, Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy 2 has joined a prestigious club. The portly plumber's Wii title has now crossed the 5 million sales mark. Nintendo notes that the Wii has now amassed nine titles that have passed 5 million in sales, which it says is "nearly twice as many 5-million sellers as competing current-generation consoles combined." The company added that Just Dance 3 is quickly approaching the 5 million mark, with 4.61 million copies sold to date.

On the handheld front, two other Mario titles, Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land, both moved more than 100,000 units. In addition, Nintendo notes that Pokemon Black and White have surpassed 4 million units in combined sales.

In hardware, Nintendo sold 228,000 Wii consoles, 262,000 3DS units and 135,000 DS units.

Update: It's actually Super Mario Galaxy, the first one, that just hit this sales milestone.

Continue reading Nintendo in February: Mario Galaxy passes 5 million, Wii and 3DS move more than 200K each [Update: corrected]

JoystiqNintendo in February: Mario Galaxy passes 5 million, Wii and 3DS move more than 200K each [Update: corrected] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdshardwarenintendonpdsalessoftwarewiiThu, 08 Mar 2012 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft sold 426,000 Xbox 360s in February, 14th month in top console spot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/microsoft-sold-426-000-xbox-360s-in-february-14th-month-in-top/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/microsoft-sold-426-000-xbox-360s-in-february-14th-month-in-top/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/microsoft-sold-426-000-xbox-360s-in-february-14th-month-in-top/#comments Ahead of the NPD officially revealing its February numbers, Microsoft is already tooting its own horn. The console manufacturer claims to have sold 426,000 consoles in February, more than any other console. That makes for 14 consecutive months with the Xbox 360 maintaining the top sales position among consoles. Microsoft also notes that the console has maintained more than a 40 percent market share in the current generation of consoles for 12 straight months.

Additionally, consumer spending on hardware, software and accessories bested other consoles as well, totaling $383 million. According to Joystiq's resident financial analyst, the figure is "a lot." We'll have complete NPD numbers shortly.

Continue reading Microsoft sold 426,000 Xbox 360s in February, 14th month in top console spot

JoystiqMicrosoft sold 426,000 Xbox 360s in February, 14th month in top console spot originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessorieshardwarekinectmicrosoftnpdsalessoftwarexboxThu, 08 Mar 2012 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony VP in UK and Ireland talks Vita pricing, says bigger memory cards on the way]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/sony-vp-in-uk-and-ireland-talks-vita-pricing-says-bigger-memory/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/sony-vp-in-uk-and-ireland-talks-vita-pricing-says-bigger-memory/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/sony-vp-in-uk-and-ireland-talks-vita-pricing-says-bigger-memory/#comments Sony's Vice President and Managing Director from the UK and Ireland, Fergal Gara, talked with Eurogamer at the PS Vita launch last night in London, and said there's a lot more in store for the new handheld console. The current pricing and memory concerns are the results of "early days."

On price, for example, Gara says that the system is priced as low as Sony could get it on launch day, "not a lot above an iPod and a hell of a long way below a good tablet." Given the hardware included, Gara says Sony "priced it as attractively as we could afford to, frankly," with an eye toward creating a lasting product over the next few years.

Gara also admitted memory is a concern, with hefty downloadable games filling memory cards up quickly. Having learned from the Japanese Vita release, he says, Sony is already securing memory, chips and deals to release bigger cards in the UK, and presumably in North America as well.

JoystiqSony VP in UK and Ireland talks Vita pricing, says bigger memory cards on the way originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fergal-garahardwarememorymemory-sticksplaystationplaystation-vitapricingps-vitasonyukvitaWed, 22 Feb 2012 23:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget evaluates Razer Blade performance]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/engadget-evaluates-razer-blade-performance/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/engadget-evaluates-razer-blade-performance/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/engadget-evaluates-razer-blade-performance/#comments Our fellow bloggers at Engadget have gotten their hands on the Blade laptop from Razer (the very first commercial fruits of that "Switchblade" concept seeded so long ago), and the unit gets some high marks, despite some significant flaws. The worst issue with the laptop seems to be the audio (the built-in speakers are so bad that Engadget suspected their unit was broken somehow), but in general the problem with the Blade seems that it's tuned for a mix of portability and performance, which means neither gets to be perfect.

Yes, the Blade is sleek and super thin for a PC laptop, but it trades on that build by being a "gaming" unit that doesn't play StarCraft 2 on its highest settings perfectly. (see update) For the sticker price of $2,799, Razer traded a little too much performance for the admittedly impressive form factor.

But while Engadget doesn't recommend the laptop wholeheartedly, the site does praise the Blade's "bright and delectably tactile" LED buttons. The article surmises we'll see those types of controls again soon, either in Razer hardware, or units from other device manufacturers.

Update: Engadget has discovered that they didn't have the latest drivers for the graphics card, and with those, apparently Skyrim runs much better. Engadget is working on updated benchmarks for all of the Blade's performance aspects.

JoystiqEngadget evaluates Razer Blade performance originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bladebuttonshardwarepcpc-gamesrazerrazer-bladerazer-switchbladereviewWed, 22 Feb 2012 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Vita torn down, deemed easily repairable due to modular design]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/playstation-vita-torn-down-deemed-easily-repairable-due-to-modu/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/playstation-vita-torn-down-deemed-easily-repairable-due-to-modu/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/playstation-vita-torn-down-deemed-easily-repairable-due-to-modu/#comments We here at Joystiq like modules quite a bit. As you'll see to your right, our website is adorned with more than a few of them, so we were glad to hear about just how modular the PlayStation Vita's design is, as discovered in a teardown of the device by iFixit. In fact, due to its modular design (among other things), the device was given an 8 out of 10 "repairability score" by the site.

Beyond the thrilling news about the Vita's internal architecture, the site also points out that, despite needing a fancy baby screwdriver, the Vita's internal battery is "definitely serviceable by the average user." It also doesn't hurt that the internals won't cost a ton of coin to replace, if something does break. Should you be interested in all the gory details regarding the Vita's internals -- gory details that our dummy brains can't properly contextualize -- iFixit is more than happy to accommodate you right here.

[Image credit: iFixit]

JoystiqPlayStation Vita torn down, deemed easily repairable due to modular design originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryhardwarehardware-architectureifixitmodularmodular-designmodulesplaystationplaystation-vitateardownvitaFri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[January NPD: Sales down without big launches, Skylanders a hit for accessories]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/january-npd-sales-down-without-big-launches-skylanders-a-hit-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/january-npd-sales-down-without-big-launches-skylanders-a-hit-f/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/january-npd-sales-down-without-big-launches-skylanders-a-hit-f/#comments Both hardware and software video game sales were down by a great deal in January, according to the latest report from NPD. Both categories dropped 38% year over year in the US, and video games sales in total dropped from $1.14 billion in January of 2011 to $750 million this past month. NPD's Liam Callahan attributes the drops to a lack of new launches: Last January, Microsoft's Kinect propped up hardware sales, and Dead Space 2, LittleBigPlanet 2, and DC Universe Online did the same for software, but there weren't equivalent launches in the market this year.

The full list of the top ten titles is after the break. Just Dance 3 held down the number two spot, again landing in front of the very popular Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Zumba Fitness 2 also made it into the top ten, but Activision's Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure is likely the most important game for January.

In addition to landing on the list at 8th, Skylanders is seeing huge sales in the accessories category, making up 22% of total accessory sales overall. The game's single character pack was also the best selling accessory during the month of January, and these numbers should bode well for the series and its future iterations.

Finally, despite that big drop in hardware sales, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg points out that the Xbox 360 has remained the highest-selling console on the market, selling 270,000 units with a 49% market share.

Continue reading January NPD: Sales down without big launches, Skylanders a hit for accessories

JoystiqJanuary NPD: Sales down without big launches, Skylanders a hit for accessories originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwarejanuary-2012microsoftnpdplaystationps3salesskylanders-spyros-adventuresoftwaretop-10video-game-salesxboxThu, 09 Feb 2012 18:51:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Vita cost estimated at $160 in report]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/playstation-vita-cost-estimated-at-160-in-report/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/playstation-vita-cost-estimated-at-160-in-report/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/playstation-vita-cost-estimated-at-160-in-report/#comments We've got a PlayStation Vita from Japan, sure, but we're not taking it apart all willy-nilly like some people. But if we did, and we also had a keen eye for the price of specific electronics components, we might have already realized the pieces comprising the device could add up to $160 in total.

Unsurprisingly, the display and touchscreens are said to account for the bulk of the estimated cost at $50, while no other piece of the device even crests the $20 mark. Of course, none of this pricing includes the cost of research and development, testing, shipping, manufacturing, marketing, etc., so it's not exactly a perfect representation of the investment Sony has made with its latest handheld.

It does, however, give the Japanese hardware giant approximately $140 of space to work with on making the more expensive Vita (the $300 3G one) profitable from the jump, not to mention the 3G-less $250 model.

JoystiqPlayStation Vita cost estimated at $160 in report originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwaremanufacturingplaystationplaystation-vitapricingteardownubmubm-techinsightsvitaFri, 20 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Wii Fit Plus bundle headed for UK]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/black-wii-fit-plus-bundle-headed-for-uk/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/black-wii-fit-plus-bundle-headed-for-uk/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/black-wii-fit-plus-bundle-headed-for-uk/#comments The blackest of bundles For years, you've been left out of the Wii Fit craze. Not because you're unwilling to put in the requisite physical effort, but because the Balance Board simply doesn't match the sleek black lines of your entertainment center. In a month, that all comes to an end -- in the UK, at least -- as Nintendo will soon release a black Wii Fit Plus console bundle, which looks to retail for £99.99 ($155), though Zavvi.com has it listed for £73.85 ($114).

Arriving October 7, the bundle includes a black Wii console with Wii Remote Plus, a black Balance Board and a copy of Wii Fit Plus. And, as an added bonus, new Balance Board adopters can soon belatedly take part in another fad: Never using the Balance Board again.

We've contacted Nintendo to see if the new bundle is headed to North America as well.

JoystiqBlack Wii Fit Plus bundle headed for UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balance-boardbundlehardwarenintendowiiWii-Fit-PlusMon, 26 Sep 2011 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Toys R' Us offering 320GB PS3 for $249]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/toys-r-us-offering-320gb-ps3-for-249/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/toys-r-us-offering-320gb-ps3-for-249/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/toys-r-us-offering-320gb-ps3-for-249/#comments Toys R' Us has quite the appealing offer for folks looking for a gaming console with an obscene amount of hard drive space. For an undisclosed amount of time, the 320GB PS3 is marked down to $249.99 at the giraffe-branded retailer.

Continue reading Toys R' Us offering 320GB PS3 for $249

JoystiqToys R' Us offering 320GB PS3 for $249 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolehardwareplaystationps3sonytoys-r-usThu, 15 Sep 2011 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony shares price and details on PlayStation certified Tablets S and P, coming later this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/sony-shares-price-and-details-on-playstation-certified-tablets-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/sony-shares-price-and-details-on-playstation-certified-tablets-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/sony-shares-price-and-details-on-playstation-certified-tablets-s/#comments Sony tablets s and p Sony has confirmed prices and dates for its two PlayStation certified tablet computers, both coming out later this fall. The Tablet S is the more traditional tablet, with one screen and 16 or 32GB of storage, and will be out in September starting at $499. But the Tablet P is the more interesting option, offering two 5.5" display screens hinged together. Both tablets will use the Nvidia Tegra 2 chip architecture, sport dual cameras, and run Android-based software.

They'll also be fully compatible with Sony's services, including Video Unlimited and Music Unlimited, and they'll both play games from the Android Marketplace as well as run PSOne titles released for PlayStation-certified hardware. Both will come standard with Pinball Heroes and Crash Bandicoot ready to go, though the P will put controls on the bottom screen, leaving gameplay up on top.

The Tablet P will hit European shelves in November - North American details haven't been announced just yet. You can get a closer look at both devices in the gallery below and head over to Engadget for hands-on impressions of the Tablet S.

Gallery: Sony Tablet S and Tablet P

JoystiqSony shares price and details on PlayStation certified Tablets S and P, coming later this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwareplaystationps3psonepspsonysony-tablettablet-ptablet-sWed, 31 Aug 2011 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Vita's Near, LiveArea and other social features outlined]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/playstation-vitas-near-livearea-and-other-social-features-outl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/playstation-vitas-near-livearea-and-other-social-features-outl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/playstation-vitas-near-livearea-and-other-social-features-outl/#comments Between its Near, Party, LiveArea and Activity social features, there's a whole lot going on under the hood of the PlayStation Vita. SCEE R&D exec Phil Rogers broke down those capabilities at Develop last week: Near, for instance, will allow Vita owners to look at the favorite games of nearby players, and allow players to drop and pick up "gifts," which could range from special in-game items to high score challenges.

Rogers explained that Party will give players cross-game chat capabilities, allowing them to invite friends to groups and launch games directly through the UI, which all party members will be invited to. The LiveArea is a tad more esoteric: it will display information about software as it is launched, and will allow users to "comment on people's activities within the game as well as publish your messages." Sounds like the perfect receptacle for smack talk.

Finally, the Activity feed will show the in-game accomplishments of friends (including high scores and Trophy unlocks) in real time. The feed can also be updated by publishers and developers, though Rogers suggested, "it's important not to spam users too much and to use it sensibly." We pray that Rogers' advice is heeded.

JoystiqPlayStation Vita's Near, LiveArea and other social features outlined originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activitycross-game-voice-chathardwareliveareanearpartyphil-rogersplaystationplaystation-vitaps-vitapspsonyvitaTue, 26 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Target offering $100 gift card with purchase of Xbox Kinect bundle this weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/target-offering-100-gift-card-with-purchase-of-xbox-kinect-bund/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/target-offering-100-gift-card-with-purchase-of-xbox-kinect-bund/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/target-offering-100-gift-card-with-purchase-of-xbox-kinect-bund/#comments Target is offering up a pretty solid deal on an Xbox 360 Kinect bundle, if you need one for the garage (you know, the one place in your house where you actually have enough room for the thing to work). For this weekend only, you can get the standard Kinect setup for $299, and the Targe will throw in a $100 gift card as a bonus.

Unfortunately, that bundle only includes 4GB of memory, so you might have to pay out for an upgrade if you want to download a lot of XBLA titles. But perhaps that extra Benjamin you'll have picked up can help with that.

Continue reading Target offering $100 gift card with purchase of Xbox Kinect bundle this weekend

JoystiqTarget offering $100 gift card with purchase of Xbox Kinect bundle this weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gift-cardhardwarekinectmicrosoftsaletargetweekendxboxFri, 24 Jun 2011 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Vita's rear touch panel almost got bumped]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/playstation-vitas-rear-touch-panel-almost-got-bumped/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/playstation-vitas-rear-touch-panel-almost-got-bumped/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/playstation-vitas-rear-touch-panel-almost-got-bumped/#comments It seems as if Sony wasn't quite feeling the PlayStation Vita's rear touch panel at first. Speaking to Famitsu (as translated by Andriasang), Sony's president of worldwide studios, Shuhei Yoshida, revealed that the portable's most groundbreaking feature was nearly stricken from the final design due to cost concerns. Specifically, Sony wasn't sure that the effect it would have on gameplay was worth its part of the sticker price.

That changed, though, after people actually got their hands on it; it went from questionable to being a must-have feature. Yoshida said in the same interview that while the touch panel is definitely a keeper, some small elements of the Vita's design are still subject to change. We're guessing he means minor cosmetic tweaks, since the hardware we saw at E3 seemed pretty much final. Whatever gets altered, it'd better not involve removing the ultra-spiffy PlayStation icon pattern on the touch panel.

JoystiqPlayStation Vita's rear touch panel almost got bumped originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwareplaystationplaystation-vitaps-vitashuhei-yoshidasonytouch-panelvitaWed, 22 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[These are the Old Republic Razer peripherals you're looking for]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/these-are-the-old-republic-razer-peripherals-youre-looking-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/these-are-the-old-republic-razer-peripherals-youre-looking-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/these-are-the-old-republic-razer-peripherals-youre-looking-for/#comments Razer has announced that it will be producing four peripherals tailored for Star Wars: The Old Republic. The peripherals come packing the (ahem) sharp design that Razer is known for, along with a few slick technical features. The neatest of the bunch is the keyboard, which features a multi-touch LCD panel with a set of adaptive keys similar to those seen on the Razer Switchblade device. The backlit keys can even be converted to the Star Wars language of Aurebesh, which is neat, if not exactly useful.

The SWTOR Gaming Mouse features seventeen programmable buttons, twelve of which rest directly under the thumb. A 5.1 surround sound headset is also in the works. Finally, there's the mouse pad, which features "performance-grade" surfaces and a "non-slip, anti-reflective, abrasion-resistant hard coating." Presumably, you can drag a mouse on it real good. All can be customized to show either the Sith or Republic faction insignia as well.

The mouse and headset will run for $130, while the keyboard will command a hefty $200 price. If you just need something Old Republic, the mouse pad is the cheapest option at $50 but, then again, it's a mouse pad. All the peripherals will be available when The Old Republic launches, which remains as much of a mystery to Razer as it does to everyone else.

Check out pics of the hardware in the gallery below and a trailer after the break.

Gallery: Razer Star Wars: The Old Republic Gaming Gear (Hardware)

Continue reading These are the Old Republic Razer peripherals you're looking for

JoystiqThese are the Old Republic Razer peripherals you're looking for originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2011eahardwarepcperipheralsrazerStar-Wars-The-Old-RepublicThe-Old-RepublicWed, 08 Jun 2011 05:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a closer look at the Wii U's crazy controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/take-a-closer-look-at-the-wii-us-crazy-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/take-a-closer-look-at-the-wii-us-crazy-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/take-a-closer-look-at-the-wii-us-crazy-controller/#comments You've seen the press conference, you've read all about the games in development for the Wii U, and now we've got our first hands-on with the Wii successor's enormous, crazy controller. We'll have a full writeup for you as the day goes on, but we figured you might wanna take a closer look at the pseudo-tablet right now.

Gallery: Wii U Controller (E3 2011 - Hardware)

JoystiqTake a closer look at the Wii U's crazy controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controllere3-2011hardwarenintendotabletwiiwii-uTue, 07 Jun 2011 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Now hear this: Sony's wireless PS3 stereo headset arrives in September]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/now-hear-this-sonys-wireless-ps3-stereo-headset-arrives-in-sep/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/now-hear-this-sonys-wireless-ps3-stereo-headset-arrives-in-sep/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/now-hear-this-sonys-wireless-ps3-stereo-headset-arrives-in-sep/#comments If you've found the official PlayStation 3 Bluetooth headset a little too monaural (or small) for your liking, listen to this. Sony will be releasing the PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset this September, offering one more audio channel and a much larger, over-the-ear form factor for a cool $100.

It's not actually a Bluetooth device -- the headset comes with a USB dongle needed to make it work, so getting that USB hub you've been thinking about would be a good idea if you want these cans. In addition to delivering "virtual" 7.1 surround sound and a fold-away boom mic, the rather hefty-looking accessory appears to include a PS2 Slim console over either ear. Weird, right?

JoystiqNow hear this: Sony's wireless PS3 stereo headset arrives in September originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 May 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardwareheadphonesheadsetplaystationps3q3-2011release-datesceasonywirelesswireless-stereo-headsetFri, 27 May 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 sees record fiscal Q3 sales, Kinect sold 2.4M units in quarter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/xbox-360-sees-record-fiscal-q3-sales-kinect-sold-2-4m-units-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/xbox-360-sees-record-fiscal-q3-sales-kinect-sold-2-4m-units-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/xbox-360-sees-record-fiscal-q3-sales-kinect-sold-2-4m-units-in/#comments Microsoft reports results were up across the board in its fiscal-year third quarter (ending March 31, 2011), with the Redmond giant's Entertainment & Devices Division (EDD) -- that's Xbox and other stuff -- one of the standouts, enjoying 60 percent growth year-over-year. The group generated $1.94 billion in revenue and saw $225 million in profit in Q3, up 50 percent from the same period last fiscal year.

2.7 million Xbox 360 units were sold during the quarter, a new record for the console in Q3 sales (and up 70 percent over last year). Kinect sales followed suit with 2.4 million units sold in the quarter -- and passed the 10-million mark to boot. Microsoft expects revenue growth of at least 25 percent for the EDD during Q4, with "more to be shared at E3 in June."

Overall, thanks to strong sales of Windows 7, Microsoft recorded Q3 revenues of $16.43 billion and a net income of $5.23 billion.

JoystiqXbox 360 sees record fiscal Q3 sales, Kinect sold 2.4M units in quarter originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earningsfinancialfinancialsfy-2011hardwarekinectmicrosoftq3salesxboxFri, 29 Apr 2011 10:25:00 EST