Some about content here.
Found at theme parks, state fairs, and arcades, this authentic Water Blast Arcade Game ($11,000) is guaranteed to liven up the atmosphere in your party room or office. It features rapid water-shooting guns, flashing lights, lighted marquee, and arcade sounds, all to be enjoyed while aiming your stream at the bulls-eye while watching your accuracy meter — shown in lights — rise to the top. No quarters (or tokens) required.
Could this no-name device give you more fun than your iPod and PSP combined? Sure sounds like it. The Pocket Retro Game Emulator ($100) plays NES, SNES, GBA, Sega Genesis, and Neo Geo roms, and when you're done with the classics, the device can play movie files, music files, view photos, read eBooks, and more. About the size of a GameBoy Micro, the device features 4GB of built-in storage, a mini SD slot, a 2.8 inch QVGA (320x240) LCD screen, a built-in FM radio, built-in stereo speakers, and an internal rechargeable li-battery.
Sony's struggling handheld gets a much-needed shot in the arm with the new PSP Go ($TBA). Being officially introduced at E3 2009 this week, the slider-gamer sports a 3.8-inch display, 16GB of flash storage, Bluetooth, and a Memory Stick Micro slot. Gone is the UMD drive, making it about 40% lighter than the current PSP. The Go will also offer PlayStation Network support and integration with the PlayStation 3.
Sure, there are plenty of ways to play NES games on the go, but most of them don't take actual cartridges. The Retro Mini Handheld NES System ($50) is like the Game Boy that never was, with a 2.4-inch LCD screen, a top-loading slot for NES titles, AV output, built-in speakers, a headphone jack, and the ability to run up to eight hours on 4 AA's.
Forget trying to keep up with the latest-and-greatest in gaming tech: let your service provide it for you. OnLive ($TBA; Winter 2009) is a new gaming service that promises to let you play the latest games in the cloud. You purchase the service, games, and microconsole from OnLive, which runs the games themselves on their high-end servers, streaming video of the game in progress back to your PC, Mac, or TV. Imagine: no more money wasted on graphics card upgrades, or tricked-out gaming rigs, just games. [via]
Making a website is hard. Especially for those of us who don't know how to code. Sure, you could always hire someone to make your site, but that can get expensive and time consuming. And make no mistake — you need a site. When you don't have time to learn to code, try Squarespace. This elegant service makes creating a professional and handsome website super easy. Pick from one of their many award-winning templates, then choose to leave it be or customize it even further. Even create your own logo or quickly build a secure online store with a shopping cart. Worried you won't get it? Start a trial and the first two weeks are free. There's no credit card required, either. So roll up your sleeves and start building — with only a few clicks.
Bellroy's Nude Approach delivers their slimmest, most sustainable wallets yet. We know that sounds like there might be some kind of voodoo magic at play, but there's a method to their naked madness. A crowd favorite, the Slim Sleeve has evolved even further with The Nude Approach. With a key focus on function and minimalist design, the wallet that started it all has now been stripped down to the essential elements: pretty much just vegetable-tanned leather and thread. It's elegance meets intelligence. There are no linings and less waste; leaving you with a noticeably slimmer silhouette that's also kinder to our planet.
As nice as the combo of Logitech's Driving Force GT Wheel and a copy of Gran Turismo is for recreating the racing experience, you can't beat the new ECCI Trackstar 6000 ($1,000 and up). Featuring aluminum pedals, including an optional clutch pedal, paddle shifters, USB, hi-def potentiometers, an available FLDS steering damper, and more, it's as close as you can come to climbing behind the wheel of a real racer.
Bask in 8-bit and 16-bit glory with the Retro Duo NES/SNES Video Game System ($45). This game console plays original Nintendo and Super Nintendo games, and connects to your TV via standard composite video or S-video. It comes with two SNES style controllers, but you can even use your original SNES controllers if you still have them laying around (third-party accessories might also work). In addition to that copy of Contra you've had on your shelf since fifth grade, the Retro Duo also plays most import games and is said to even work with Game Genie.
Let's face it: As much motion-sensitive, board-stomping gaming fun as the Wii offers, it's still damn enjoyable to download an old classic like Super Mario World and get to work. And the Super Famicom Classic Controller for Wii ($75) is the perfect tool for the job. Made by Nintendo to exact 1990 specifications, it's the coolest Wii accessory yet.
Sure, it's fun to play guitar on Rock Band or Guitar Hero, but it's hard to really rock with the standard guitars. The aptly-named WarBeast Wireless PS3 Guitar ($90) solves this problem with a wicked B.C. Rich design, and tons of extra features like an extended strum bar, dedicated "Star Power" button, a slide switch to choose which game you're playing, a removable face plate, and more.
Bring some drunken carnival fun to your family room with a Personalized Whac-A-Mole Game ($35,000). Though it operates just like the amusement park models, this Whac-A-Mole game can be personalized with molded caricatures of your family and friends (you send in photos of the hapless victims). The whole thing is housed in a walnut veneer cabinet, transforming from bookshelf to the game with the touch of a button. It comes with a hidden liquor shelf, three-digit LCD scoreboard, built-in speakers, and the all-important padded leather mallets.
Add to your retro gaming collection with this Atari 2600 Package ($120). It includes an original, simulated wood grain 2600 console, 20 games including Asteroids, Donkey Kong, the infamous E.T., and Missile Command, two joysticks and two paddle controllers, a power supply, installation instructions and all the necessary hook-ups.
If you do a lot of retro gaming on your Wii (thanks to the wonderful Virtual Console), you might want to consider cutting the cord and picking up the Nyko Wing Wireless Wii Controller ($30). This white wonder runs on 2 AAA batteries, with the option of using rechargeable AA's and charging via USB. Other features include dual analog sticks, four face buttons, and triggers, and the ability to stray up to 10 feet away from the included Wii Remote dongle. [Thanks, Doug]
Step up your living room Lollapalooza shows with the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller Premiere Edition ($250). Feeling almost just like a real guitar, the Rock Band controller has a solid body, real wood neck, metal frets and tuning peg, and a rosewood fingerboard. It has a wireless range of up to 30 feet and comes with a gig bag.
Despite its pornorific sounding name, the Thrustmaster Glow Saber Duo Pack ($35) is for family friendly, Jedi killing fun. Designed for use with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, these replica Lightsabers hold your Wii remote for gameplay and feature a "Laser effect" lighting system. You get a red and blue saber in each pack, both of which employ 17 LEDs each.
The inevitable upgrade to the Nintendo DS Lite has been announced. Besides being slightly slimmer, the new Nintendo DSi ($180) has two 3.25-inch screens (17% bigger than the Lite), better audio, a built-in web browser, an SD memory card slot, and a .3 megapixel (640x480) camera on the outside and one inside on the hinge. The DSi, which comes in white or black, will also have the ability to download games over Wi-Fi. It hits stores in Japan next month, but won't be available here until sometime early next year.
If you use your PC more for gaming than you do for actual work, perhaps you should check out the Pro Gaming Table ($380). This frag-worthy desk sports three different levels of tabletop surface, enough for a full complement of keyboards, steering wheels, flight sticks, monitors, and more. Game on.
Nintendo has announced a new Wii Remote accessory that aims to make your 3-D gaming experience even more lifelike. Attaching to the end of the remote, the Wii MotionPlus ($TBA) "allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player's arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion. Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play." [via]
Time to put your black PS3 up on eBay. When the highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots ($60) hits stores on June 12th, you'll be able to pick up not only the game, but a Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition PlayStation 3 Bundle ($TBA), which includes an awesome gunmetal grey PS3. Gunmetal is literally the new black.
Finally, rumble on the PS3. The Playstation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller ($55) is coming to U.S. shores, following a nasty legal battle and months of waiting. The new PS3 controller offers the same motion sensing technologies as the original Sixaxis controller, but with the added benefit of rumble feedback, and the added weight it brings with it. Perhaps best of all, many of the most popular PS3 titles are already compatible, adding new life to games you might already have.
