Most Recent: Games
Posted on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 3:01 PM
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Tal PinchTagged as: iPod, Apple, Computer, Laptop, Technology, MacBook, Games, iPhone
iSmacked: The MacBook Backlash has Already Begun
It didn't come with the same kind of bluster accompanying the latest iPod or iPhone, but the recent launch of Apple's latest MacBooks did come with its fair share of hype. Although on paper, it seemed to be warranted. The addition of new high-end Nvidia graphic chips and multi-touch track pads made it look like the world of intense gaming, which requires high-end video components to play sprawling, graphically-intense games, may finally be coming to Mac.
The specs looked impressive but the starting price of $999 disappointed a lot of people in the market who expected more competitive price points. For the people who were looking to get the latest MacBook anyway, it probably didn't mean all that much, but it was still disillusionment enough to make Apple's stock drop. The backlash didn't end there.
Initial reviews of the new Books have so far been not-so gentle. For one, the aforementioned track pad to help navigate your way cannot be replaced if it is damaged, so you?re already in trouble if you get a little physical with your laptop. The keyboard has also proven unpopular. But if you're looking to replace it, you'll have to remove 80 screws, which is probably more trouble than it's worth.
With an adverse response to even a little moisture and some models even reportedly missing important keys (see if you can find the letter b on this model), it hasn't taken long for the MacBook hype to subside. While it seems to run high-impact applications more efficiently, the absence of Blu-Ray indicates this may be more of a gateway model, so you could be best off waiting for the next line of MacBooks, whenever that may be.
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Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 6:37 PM
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Tal PinchTagged as: Games, Sony PSP, Playstation, Electronics, Handheld, Sony, Technology, iphone
New PSP 2 Concept Gets Our Attention
With the recent European launch of the PSP-3000, the once-innovative handheld gaming console got some face time in a cluttered handheld market focusing primarily on phones and media players. Looking identical to the most recent PSP model, the mobile device has additional features like an improved display and a mic.
Not bad, but certainly not enough to divert our attention away from the iPhone/G1 debate. But with a new concept recently unveiled by designer Tai Chiem, the PSP could once again be worth a couple of looks.
While the images are nothing more than a concept for a fictional gaming device, the technology infused in the unit would instantly make the PSP relevant again. The most prominent (and quite frankly, the coolest) feature in this PSP concept is the roll-out, fully-flexible OLED display, ensuring a vivid screen that can be placed snuggly in your pocket.
The screen would be pulled out of a cylinder design featuring speakers on either side that would also double as gaming and camera controls. Chiem also imagines Sony embedding two joystick controls, a feature noticeably missing from the original PSP designs. Just as they have with the array of other, less-inspired PSP design ideas that have been thrown online, Sony has no comment.
But this innovative idea could very well be the future of handheld gaming and a much-needed boost for a product that has been steadily losing face in North America in the age of the iPod.
Sure, the iPhone and other handheld devices have provided some gaming options during our down time (who wouldn?t want to play Double Dragon in the back of a town car?), but most of us haven?t truly enjoyed mobile gaming since the last Gameboy device from Nintendo or the first Sony PSP. Considering there is still a demand for high-end mobile gaming, we?d keep an eye out for this new PSP model. If we?re lucky, they could see the light of day some time in the next five years.
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Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 1:14 PM
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Tal PinchTagged as: Foosball, Games, Home, Airworks XXL Foosball Table, Sports
A Venerable Foosball Buffet
We know foosball is a fun game that brings people together, but this new table from Airworks, believed to be the world's longest foosball table, takes it to an entirely new level. The 24-foot XXL Foosball Table, which obviously fits better in a spacious loft than in your typical condo conversion, features an all-you-can-eat array of 182 men and 46 handles all while setting the stage for the most inclusive and potentially frustrating foos game of all time. It also comes as a bit of a surprise considering Airworks is a company specializing in large-scale inflatable parade-style floats. NEW PARAGRAPH
But what if you?re done doing the nightly foos rounds over at Jake?s Dilemma and would prefer to make your typical Wednesday-night game more of a family affair? Maybe you?re so confident in your foosball abilities that you just want to see if you can play against 10 guys at the same time. Either way, with this $33,000 table, you?re ready to make that jump. And first things first, you?ll need to start planning the kind of foosball matches that can accommodate 46 handles. NEW PARAGRAPH For one thing, your next boys night out has will have a fun and interesting way to get things started. After all, most people?s foosball skills are directly proportional to the presence of drinks. Everyone around the foosball table!
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Posted on Monday, October 6, 2008 at 12:51 PM
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Tal PinchTagged as: Trains, Games, Video Games, Simulators, Fujitsu, Cars and Moto
Ride a Train Through Your Home Without Taking Out Any Walls
We?ve spent a lot of time looking at the latest and greatest flight simulators, but when it comes to trains, the MTA has made us more than a little jaded. From what we've just seen, courtesy of Fujitsu, that?s all about to change. While historically flight simulators have had more technology behind them, the new train simulator has something that even the latest fake-flying software doesn't. The end result is an experiential link to your childhood you probably haven?t had since you last played Tetris (which is still an incredible game, by the way).
With real-life 1080p footage instead of the generic 3D digital images considered standard in home recreational rigs, this automatically becomes one of the most realistic simulator experiences we've seen. Compare it to every other simulator involving wings, wheels, or a dogsled (which we?re pretty sure has been ignored by most gamers) and the competition is suddenly looking sub-par. Forget a 3D rendering that kinda, sorta looks like the real thing. This is as close to an actual train as you can get without running through a dining cart.
If you're expecting a visceral gaming experience on par with the latest Madden game, you'll be sorely disappointed. On the other hand, the simulator fans who know that Madden glory doesn't qualify you for an NFL coordinator?s gig will enjoy the lifelike action. It's also a game-changing experience for the train aficionados who used to build model train sets in their basement (we know who you are). And don't act like you haven't had your own little thoughts about how you'd be a train conductor given the chance. Would you reroute a New Jersey Transit train to someplace (anyplace) other than Jersey? How about a scenic train ride along the East Coast or taking an MTA train out of the city? All of a sudden your next train ride doesn?t seem so stale, and all this from the comfort of your home. With a historic train relic like Grand Central Station in our backyard, it's hard not to appreciate trains every once in a while and this new simulator from Fujitsu sure helps.
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Posted on Friday, September 26, 2008 at 12:19 PM
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Tal PinchTagged as: Atlantic City, Borgata, Games, Gambling, New York City, Travel, Water Club, Chelsea Hotel
With the Water Club already having begun Atlantic City's transition from East Coast gaming mecca to gorgeous non-gaming resort, the fall/winter season will see the next stage of that shift. With the impressive Water Club already leading the way, the new Atlantic City really gets things going with the introduction of the new Chelsea Hotel. While all the gaming properties in town are undergoing a much-needed facelift, the Chelsea brings a welcome breath of fresh air into town, thanks mostly to an easy-going, high-end, and non-gaming backdrop featuring 20 pristine stories overseeing the only full-beach service in town.
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