Videos from “the art history of games” symposium, held at Atlanta in February......

Sony has announced that the PlayStation 3 will get Blu-ray 3D support from October this year. Sony’s CEO Howard Stringer made the announcement at this years IFA in Berlin. The software update that will bring Blu-ray 3D to the PS3 is ready to go, and Sony will start rolling it out in October, although there is no exact roll out date as yet. This is bound to boost sales of the PS3, as new models will ship with the updated software from October, just in time for the Christmas sales. via Gizmo......

RockStar games has announced that it will be launching a version of GTA for the Apple iPad, Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars HD. Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars HD will be available on the iPad from September the 9th 2010, and it will retail for $9.99, which does seem quite expensive. Next week, the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for iPhone and iPod touch will be getting an HD makeover for it’s release on the Apple iPad. In addition to the wide range of features developed specifically for the previous App Store iterations, including intuitive Multi Touch user interface controls, adjusted difficulty levels and iTunes customizable radio station Independence Radio, Chinatown Wars HD comes to the iPad with brand new, updated high definition graphics. Grand Theft...

Here at Zath we have looked at quite a few gaming headsets in the past such as the impressive Zowie Hammer and SteelSeries Siberia v2 but now one of the biggest names in the consumer electronic world have come up with their own two offerings for the gaming world: the Sony DR-GA500 and the DR-GA200. Combining the latest in a whole range of sound technologies both of these have been designed from ‘extensive’ research into the market that they hope to make a mark on and so in theory these should closely resemble what people want from an ideal headset. Firstly we’ll look at the DR-GA500 which is really the flagship model and the one that boasts the most impressive specifications, though I’m afraid you will have to excuse the mostly pointless jargon… this model combines a...

Those of you in the UK, USA, Mexico, Japan and (English speaking) Canada,  can be considering yourselves lucky if you were intending to get the Kinect on it’s release, as it has been confirmed that these are the only countries which will initially support the motion-sensor’s “if you see it, just say it” voice control. In an interview … [visit site to read more] Microsoft Kinect’s Voice Recognition Will Not be Ready in Some Countries Until 2011 is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com...

I first watched this video a while ago, but it seems to be becoming more poignant. Carnegie Mellon University Professor, Jesse Schell of Schell Games dives into a world of game development that is emerging from the “Facebook Games” era. If it’s an area you are interested in, then I recommend reading The Art of Game Design (Amazon US or on Amazon UK). The talk attracted a huge stream of comments. While you may or may not agree with Jesse’s hypothesis that everything ends up being a game to earn points – although some corporate work environments already feel like this – there is much food for thought in what he says. The legendary Farmville app has achieved massive success, outgrowing even Facebook itself, but making a Farmville knock...

Not content with the current state of your Xbox 360 controller? Well Microsoft’s Major Nelson has revealed a new slightly-tweaked official controller design fresh from ‘the lab’. The new controller has taken on a monochrome look with some minor … [visit site to read more] New Xbox 360 controller to feature twisty d-pad is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com...

Sony are up against it again with another PS3 Jailbreak now on the scene, only shortly after Sony was able to block sales of the recent PSJailbreak USB device. The new PSGroove is calling itself the Open Source PSJailbreak and Sony will definitely have their work cut out trying to block the distribution of this jailbreak. The new PSGroove project is still in the early stages of development but can already be used on a USB stick to unlock a PS3 and already run unsigned code. ISO booting is also disabled making it unusable for running copied games, but the keyword there is “disabled” meaning the functionality to do so is already there, it just needs to be re-enabled. More information is available from the PS3Hax website......

One of the most popular games on the iPhone and iPad is Angry Birds, and it is definitely one of the best games available on the platform. Good news for all the Android owners out there, as the developers have announced it will soon be available on Google’s Android platform. There will be a beta version of Angry Birds available for Android from this friday, and you can now sign up so you can test out the game at the following link. If you haven’t heard of Angry Birds before, check out the video below which shows the game in action, it certainly is a lot of fun. via Gadget......

Today HP have unveiled their latest media streaming device the Wireless TV Connect designed specifically for 1080p HD video streaming. HP claim there is no time-lag with the system also supports protected content, something that Intel’s Wireless Display can’t. Check out the video after the jump. No software is required to setup the new system you simply connect a transmitter to your computer via dual HDMI and USB cables and a receiver to your display and you are ready to go. Allowing you to stream 1080p HD video from any HDMI equipped computer to your TV. The HP Wireless TV Connect will be available to purchase in October and retail for $199. Via......

Microsoft has been busy redesigning their Xbox 360 wireless controller and has now released details of its new D-pad innovations. The first design difference you will notice is the colour of the controller. Microsoft has ditched the white and opted for a more sexy silver and black finish. Together with a new twist feature that converts the controllers D-Pad into either a raised or flush control pad for more accurate control. Watch the video after the break to see it in action. The multicoloured face buttons have also been replaced with grey A,B,X,Y ones to keep in with the new silver, black controller colour scheme. The new Xbox 360 wireless controller will be available on November 9 and will only be offered in a bundle with Microsoft’s Play and Charge kit. The new kit will...

The StarCraft 2 game is pretty much impossible to port onto on either the iPhone or iPad due to the huge amount of hardware it requires for the graphics and game play. Blizzard has also said they have no current plans to release such a game for either the iPad or iPhone. So what gives with the title I hear you say. Well one innovative developer has created a StarCraft 2 Gameboard app that allows you to remotely control your Starcraft 2 game from your iPhone, iPad or iTouch device. Including many great features such as mini-map control, detailed unit statistics, and easy touch access to the games most important hotkeys and macros. You can find out more information and FAQ’a over at the SC2gameboard website The Starcraft 2 Gameboard will retail for $2.99  on the Apple App Store....

If you are looking forward to the release of the new Gran Turismo 5 PS3 game it might be time to have a spring clean of your hard drive. As the game is going to need a large amount of your precious storage. First indications show that Gran Turismo 5 will prompt players to download an installation file to their hard drive to make the game run more smoothly. Normally these files are 1or 2 GB is size but the one for GT5 is going to be a whooping 10GB half the size of the storage capacity on the lowest capacity PS3. Sony has clarified that the file will be an optional install, but only those who opt for it will experience the game at its optimum performance. This makes it the biggest single download for the PS3 to date. Via TG......

This news may be confusing for those that have noticed that Xbox Live seems to be generally losing ground to Sony’s PSN service thanks to PSN’s free multiplayer online gaming. That aside, Xbox Live GOLD will start to hit your pocket a little more come November. The monthly price for us UK gamers will increase from £4.99 to £5.99 but, strangely, the annual cost will stay £39.99. Our cousins in the states will be hit both on monthy and yearly membership: from $7.99 to $9.99 and $49.99 to $59.99. Xbox’s Major Nelson obviously thinks that the service is worth every penny: “We’re confident that when the new pricing takes effect, an Xbox LIVE Gold membership will continue to offer the best value in the industry.” Do you think that it’s...

Corsair have just unveiled their new HS1 Gaming Headset with a circumaural, closed-back design to help with extra long gaming sessions. The HS1 headset is also equipped with a unidirectional noise-cancelling microphone and audio controls that are easy to use without distracting you from your game. Fitted with massive, 50mm drivers the HS1 are designed to greatly reduce overloading, that can occur with 40mm headsets and deliver more accurate sound reproduction. Particularly for low-frequency effects and are lee likely to create distortion that can make it hard to discern voices and other important audio cues when in game environments. They are also fitted with surround sound with Dolby Headphone technology, so you can enjoy the multi-channel audio that brings so much to the cinematic...

If you enjoy the Left 4 Dead series you will soon be able to enjoy the experience on your Mac OS X machine in September. This coming Halloween Valve will be launching its much awaited Left 4 Dead games to Mac users. Plus, Mac and Windows players can go head-to-head, since both Left 4 Deads are cross-platform compatible. Mac owners will also be able to host their own servers, just like Windows users have been able to. Mac users will be able be able to download Left 4 Dead and its sequel through Steam for Mac by October, along with the upcoming DLC mission pack, The Sacrifice, which bridges the stories of both titles and is fully playable under either game. Happy gaming. Via Cult of......

With the advent of high end gaming the graphic card industry has grown by leaps and bounds. Gamers are running towards faster and more killer graphics cards in order to attain desired seed. The market is hot and if anyone wants to take lead then that particular graphics card has to be marvelous. With the screen shot of AMD Radeon HD 6870 released around the internet one can easily confirm that AMD Radeon HD 6870 is ready to give a strong fight to its competitors. We should actually be thankful to a Chinese website that was brave enough to leak an image of the AMD Radeon HD 6870 thus helping everybody understand the current specifications of this yet to be launched graphics card. The image depicts the 3D Mark score of 11,500 for the graphics card which is 2500 above the...

The beta Kinect kits, which came with the Kinect itself, Kinect Sports, Kinect Joyride and a smiley-faced instruction placard, have started arriving through people’s post today. When the new hardware is plugged into the beta tester’s Xbox 360, they are prompted to install some software known as Kinect Hub. Kinect Hub is used … [visit site to read more] Beta Kinect kits for the Xbox 360 Arrive For Gamers: Will We Learn Anything New? is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com...

Google [GOOG] has been making a lot of acquisitions recently, mainly in the social networking and gaming arena, its latest purchase is a company called SocialDeck who make games for mobile phones and smartphones. SocialDeck mainly makes multiplayer games that can be played by a number of players accross social networks and hanheld devices like the iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones. There are no details on how much Google paid for SocialDeck, but with all the recent acquisitions by Google, I am sure it wont be long before we see what Google’s social networking plans are, one thing we do know is that it will be focused on gaming. via......

Microsoft [MSFT] has announced that it will be increasing the subscription fees to its Xbox Live gold service from the 1st of November 2010, a move which wont be welcomed by Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Microsoft will increase the yearly subscription fee from $50 to $60, quarterly subscriptions will rise from $20 to $25, and monthly subscriptions will increase form $8 to $10 a month. Microsoft is currently offering Xbox Live Gold subscribers a special deal, which will allow them to get an extra years subscription to the service for just $40, which could give some users a subscription until 2012, the deal will only be available for a short while. What do you guys think about the price increase? especially since playing online on the PS3 and the Nintendo Wii doesn’t require a...

Xbox Live is perhaps the very thing that attracts budding gamers away from the lure of Sony and the PlayStation 3 and to that of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console. Before the latest generation of consoles the PS2 was by far and away the more highly acclaimed console, but since the evolution of gaming into high definition and the inclusion of web connectivity into consoles, Microsoft has taken the bull by the horns and delivered an undoubtedly fantastic service in Xbox Live. However, as always you get what you pay for, so as news emerges that the monthly pricing is going up in the UK, US, Canada and Mexico, is Microsoft well within its rights to jack up the cost? We could sit here all day and debate how much the service is worth, but what is without argument is the fact that the price...

As of the 12th of September Nintendo have revealed they will be cutting the price of two of their DS models. After the company dropped Japanese prices for the handhelds back in June this year. Its thought the drops are to help increase falling DSi sales and also the shelves ready for the launch of the new 3DS. The Nintendo DSi will be priced at $149.99, while the Nintendo DSi XL will be $169.99; the DS Lit will stay at $129.99 as before. Nintendo is expected to reveal more details about the 3DS on the 29th September when availability and pricing will be revealed. The Nintendo 3DS is Nintendo’s latest pocket games console that features glasses-free 3D technology. Via......

Are you a Super Mario Brothers fan? Have you got a spare £280 lying around in a drawer somewhere? If so, you could afford to buy yourself a Nintendo Wii and at least three games starring your pixelated plumber heroes. Or, if you’ve already got all that stuff (and if you’re a true Mario Bros fan, then you definitely have), why not use that £280 to get yourself one of these snazzy zip-up cardigans with Mario and Luigi all over the front? Go on – you’ll be the talk of  the psychological unit…......

So the University of Florida has launched a revolution in higher learning by allowing a PhD candidate named Nate Poling to run EME2040: 21st Century Skills In Starcraft. We say it’s about time! The whole gist of the course is finding ways of applying StarCraft strategies to real life problems. Those who enroll in the class are expected to use what they learned in a business practice or when the Zerg come tearing across the solar system bent on mankind’s destruction. Of course, while we salute the U of F for acknowledging the relevance of RTS games in particular, video games in general, to the modern student body, we find ourselves scratching our heads fitting StarCraft to a business course. Perhaps it’s the juggling of resources, time and strategy that imparts the real lessons. You...

A few months back we ran a World Of Warcraft competition in anticipation of the latest expansion WoW: Cataclysm being released. After seeing how popular that competition was and given we’re still waiting for more new WoW content from Blizzard, we thought we’d give away another World of Warcraft related prize. For this competition, we thought we’d give away another World of Warcraft Keyboard to further aid one lucky WoW player’s online gaming experience. Steelseries’ new World of Warcraft keyboards could come in useful, not only are they great to look at in terms of carrying the Lich King artwork, but more importantly they also allow for more complex, intuitive and precise controls for World of Warcraft. The World of Warcraft keyboard itself actually uses the...

Nike has challenged 78 artists to ‘hack’ its shoes and create something unique and innovative. So Nick Marsh one of the artists decided to create a pair of Wii Nike Air Maxes and install the Wii board mechanics in his Nikes. Check out the video after the jump to see them in action. Nick explains that any Wii Board games are played exactly as they would have been previously, but since you can’t step of the board, you’re required to lift your foot or sit down when you need to back off on the pressure. Via......

This is not the first picture of a gaming controller for the iPhone. Neither is it the first picture of the iControlPad – although it looked a lot different back then. But all of this has been filed in the ‘vapour-ware’ drawer as nothing has materialised apart from good ideas. Well – if you’re getting cheesed-off with having to use your iPhone’s touchscreen for games and are in desperate need of some proper portable gamepad geekahol – the iControlPad will actually be with you soon! For those that have been following the iControlPad’s development you’ll know that it has been worked on for a year or so. Your iPhone slips in between two side clips that hold the gamepad below the phone in landscape mode – just like a...

If you like your FPS game on either the xbox or PS3 then this new controller might be worth a viewing.  The Mag Gun is supported by either the  360 and PS3, and has buttons that correspond to the face and trigger buttons on the controllers. Check out the video after the break to see it in action. This controller has just made its way to the FCC, so it will definitely be a little while before we see the controller appear on shelves. But we will keep you posted on developments. Unfortunately there also no information on expected prices at the moment. Via Crunch......

Microsoft have confirmed today that their chat system will see a major overhaul when Microsoft updates the dashboard in anticipation of Kinect this Fall. The refresh, will come sometime before the launch of Kinect, which is pencilled in for a November … [visit site to read more] Microsoft Confirms Improvement of Xbox Live Chat is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com...

This week the Kinect beta testing program started to roll out after participants received notification via email a few weeks ago from Microsoft. Lucky for us some of the participants are not abiding fully by Microsoft’s terms and conditions and have leaked screen shots of the Kinect beta interface and dashboard. The beta program also includes hardware which is currently “being packed” according to Microsoft, so more information maybe available from the sources when this is received next week. According to sources the beta support site contains information on three games that will be up for trialing: Kinect Adventures, Kinect Sports and Kinect Joy Ride Via......

If you have experienced the crackly voice problems while playing on your Xbox 360, while using voice communications. You will be pleased to know that Microsoft has been hard at work to solve these issues and will be releasing a long awaited update to upgrade the Xbox codec used for voice communications. The original Xbox audio codec were created back nearly eight years ago when 64k Internet connections where deemed fast. Now with the ever increasing broadband speeds available to gamers the low bit-rate codec suitable for 64k connections can be dropped. The new Xbox 360 audio update will be arriving sometime this Autumn/Fall and coincides with the Kinect’s November launch. Via......

The party invites have been sent and everything’s set. Although get ready to invite one more to your Wii Party, as every copy of this Wii Party will come with a white Wii Remote!  With this extra Wii Remote, you’ll be able to enjoy the many multiplayer games with your friends and family when the game launches across Europe on 8th October 2010! Sharing the instant accessibility of titles like Wii Sports and Wii Fit, Wii Party brings more than 80 different mini-games into your home.  The inventive game offers non-stop fun and unparalleled variety as you, your family and friends grab up to four Wii Remotes and try your hand at a host of inventive and intuitive gaming experiences. To add to the enjoyment, you’ll play as your Mii character and see them in action like never before! Wii...

Feast your eyes on this game geeks. Harrison Krix has built himself the coolest video game weapon ever created. The creation is a wooden replica of the M8 Avenger Assault Rifle from Mass Effect. Now cry your geeky little eyes out because you aren’t cool enough to make this thing. Krix is a graphic designer and he showed off his design prowess by starting with some blueprints for the device, and then built the replica from wood. Krix uses a combination of the two different M8 designs from the game artwork to make his creation. The M8 is made from MDF and lots of other wood. I can only imagine the time it took to carve the weapon out as intricately as it is done and then paint it. The finished product looks like a real weapon. Hollywood should hire this......

Famitsu magazine interviewed Teiyu Goto, one of the external designers of the original PlayStation, to get the skinny on how the well-loved CD-based gaming console was birthed. He was amazed when the first demo for the console was showed to him, at how easy it was to use the controls as well as the hardware behind the games. It was then the first gaming foray of Sony so they had tough competition in the form of Nintendo and Sega. They had to get this right to capture a good share of the market. While the actual console was a snap with its simple design that expanded in the center for the disc drive, the controllers were a bit of a challenge. Goto commented, “…the management department didn’t want the controller to be a radical departure [from the current leader, SNES]...

Logitech has been offering speakers and all manner of other computer gear for a long time. The company today has announced its latest 2.1 speaker system for computer users called the Logitech Speaker System Z623. The Z623 is THX Certified meaning that it has had more than 400 tests performed to cover frequency response, power and more. What it means to the user is that the speakers should sound great for gaming and watching movies. The speaker system will ship next month for $149.99. That price is surprisingly affordable considering the THX certification. The system has all the controls for volume and bass on the right satellite speaker. Inputs include 3.5mm jacks and RCA ports. The speakers also have a headphone port for private listening. The speakers can connect to several sources at...

The funny thing with the pinball machine is it has enjoyed more longevity than most game consoles. In fact, the iconic arcade staple has been shrunken down to accommodate an iPhone as part of New Potato’s attempt at revitalizing the art form. Officially dubbed Pinball Magic, this cheeky bit of gamesmanship has just been released and will no doubt cause many pinball devotees to succumb in an instant. Best suited in conjunction with its official pinball app, Pinball Magic adds that extra touch of miniaturized realism with its foldable legs and assorted buttons. These include flippers, a ball-launching plunger and a LED black box. For extra realism, Pinball Magic takes advantage of the iPhone’s motion sensors for those crucial tilting moves that save your game on occasion. Additional...

The iControlPad has been talked about for a number of years but if now finally looks like it has made its way onto a production line. The picture below show the very first iControlPad off the production line. Check out the video after the jump to see the iPhone accessory in action. The iControlpad allows you to add real controls onto your iPhone for the ultimate mobile gaming experience. Just slide in your iPhone and lock into place, no modifications are necessary. Unfortunately no orders are being taken at the moment, but the official launch and orders date will be updated on Craig Rothwell’s Twitter feed. Via Engadget Via......

If you have been a fan one of the 6.5 million players of the Angry Bird games you might be pleased to know that the developer Rovio is currently in discussions to release TV shows, movies, toys and comic books to expand the Angry Bird franchise. Over the past few weeks the developers have been busy visiting investors and studios discussing various options for the development of the brand, according to Variety. Rovio Mobile CEO Mikael Hed said he’d rather exploit the original game’s success rather than try to strike gold again. Which doesn’t sound good if you were hoping to see new game development from Rovio. Rovio has already begun experimenting with telling the “Angry Birds’” story through short cartoons and an animated trailer on Youtube. You can...

This is a tricky one. I can’t remember all the bad games that I’ve played in my time but there are a few that spring to mind. Orphen: Scion of Sorcery is one of my top contenders along with Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness and The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night are just some of the dire games that I’ve played and are definitely in my Top 10 list of “Why the hell did I buy that game?” So why these three? Well mainly down to the shocking control system, being riddled with bugs and hair ripping annoying sounds. I’m a big fan of the Tomb Raider and Spryo games and it’s just a shame that some of the worst games I’ve ever played are from a couple of franchises that I love. The Legend of Spyro trilogy was good in my opinion bar ‘The Eternal...

Most first-person shooters out there are just like hack and slash games, you go in, you pop the first thing that moves by using an insane amount of ammo with ridiculous armament that usually makes you think that the main character is some kind of a camel or a mule. Sometimes you can fill there pockets with an entire cruise ship, crew included. Rare are the shooter games that add a little tactics to the scene and let you use your brain rather than point and shoot. For a budget game Sniper : Ghost Warrior rises up to the challenge! Released June 29th for the Xbox360 and June 24th for the PC, City Interactive plans to give us an insight into sniper realism. Although it lacks in plot, the game more than makes up for it in gaming mechanics and visual design. It’s a...