Posts filed under 'Console Gaming'
Joytech has announced its new line of accessories designed specifically for the Xbox 360.
Available this fall, Joytech’s product line up will include the first Microsoft-endorsed Xbox 360 audio-visual control center, as well as Xbox 360 racing wheel, controller and faceplates.
Joytech is one of a select group of companies to hold a coveted license with Microsoft for Xbox 360 third-party accessories at launch. Built from the ground up for the new console, the product line has the look and feel of Xbox 360 and will offer the same high-quality, innovative designs at competitive prices that have made Joytech the leader in third-party peripherals in Europe. Other future Xbox 360 console products from Joytech include the Headset Communicator, as well as HDTV compatible digital AV and VGA cables.
“Joytech’s official Xbox 360 endorsement by Microsoft gives us a competitive edge,” said Lee Guinchard, President, Joytech North America. “We are excited to unveil a product line that will allow gamers to immerse themselves in this revolutionary new console. We’ve put our years of expertise designing award-winning, market-leading products into these new and exciting peripherals.”
Neo Se Controller
Joytech’s Neo Se Controller offers style, comfort and unmatched feel, plus instant access to movies, music and games on Xbox 360 via the back-lit Xbox Guide button. Ergonomically designed left and right shoulder buttons give an unprecedented level of control, while high-intensity dual-vibration feedback, two analog pressure point triggers and an eight way directional pad provide an incredibly realistic gaming experience. The controller also features an expansion port and a ten-foot break-away controller cable. MSRP is $29.99.
Nitro Racing Wheel
This aggressively styled wheel provides a driving experience guaranteed to maximize and intensify popular racing games. A full rubber wheel head provides a secure, comfortable grip and precise steering. Additionally, four wheel-mounted paddles, sequential stick-shift, high-intensity dual-vibration feedback and four preset steering sensitivity modes allow gamers to customize the experience to suit their personal taste. The wheel is Xbox Live online game service compatible and includes a back-lit Xbox Guide button for instant access to digital music, game and movie libraries. MSRP is $79.99.
Control Center
The first Microsoft-endorsed audio-visual control center for Xbox 360, Joytech’s high tech control center allows users to organize and customize their gaming experience. A high-quality removable faceplate provides the option of customization, while a backlit LCD screen shows the name of each input channel for simple navigation on the programmable display. The control center’s LCD characters rotate automatically, allowing the center to be used horizontally or vertically.
The system also includes electronic switching and remote control, connections for HDTV ready component video, S-Video and composite AV, four digital optical inputs for digital sound and a removable faceplate. For reliable Internet connection, the center features a built-in five port 10/100 Ethernet switch. In addition, advanced signal technology regulates the output channel and automatically compensates for weak signals. MSRP is $99.99.
Faceplates
Interchangeable faceplates for customization of the Xbox 360 and the Joytech Control Center make it easy and fun to change the look of the console. With several designs to choose from, gamers can tailor their setup to match their personality, mood and unique sense of style, creating a one-of-a-kind entertainment center. The faceplates are created for easy switching and allow gamers to maintain full functionality of Xbox 360 and Joytech’s Control Center. MSRP is from $9.99 for the single pack and from $14.99 for the double pack.
October 20th, 2005
The Australian High Court has ruled that it is not illegal to modify an Aussie-bought Playstation 2 so that it can play games imported from cheaper regions.
The modification involves soldering a chip onto the main circuit board. It not only allows the playing of legitimately purchased games from other regions, but also backups and counterfeit discs.
Sony’s case hinged around the counterfeit side of things, alleging that it broke Australian copyright law. The court rules that although the modification allowed the playing of copied games, it did not, in itself, allow the game to be copied.
The ruling is in contrast with that in the EU where the chips have been made illegal.
October 6th, 2005
Ah, bless Microsoft. Just as TechSmec.com was considering switching our ‘mega-corporation of the month’ allegience from Sony to the halls of Redmond’s favourite tennant, we discover that that they are planning on region-coding games for the Xbox 360.
Of course, this should be of no surprise to us as the orignial Xbox was similarly hamstrung, but recent activity from Sony (they didn’t bother to region code games on the PSP) had given us some hope that a new precedent had been set.
Nintendo?
Source: TeamXbox
September 20th, 2005
Showing Sony how European gamers should be treated, Microsoft has announced an almost simultaneous worldwide launch of the Xbox 360.
The much-hyped new console will launch in Tuesday, November 22 in North America, Friday, December 2 in Europe, and Saturday, December 10 in Japan. Mass production is already under way.
Launching the console in the same time frame in three major markets proves that it is possible to meet worldwide demand and avoids the antipathy that Sony has felt from European gamers in particular over the 9 month delay in getting the PSP into their shops.
“This holiday season, gamers in Japan, Europe and North America pining to experience jaw-dropping high-definition graphics, unmatched online play and compelling digital entertainment features of Xbox 360 will finally have the chance,” said Robbie Bach, chief Xbox officer for Microsoft. “Renowned development studios around the world are busy putting the finishing touches on their Xbox 360 games. We expect a strong portfolio of titles on launch day and through the holidays that will appeal to fans of every genre and gamers in every region, and with more than 200 games currently in development, continuous new additions to the library are on the way.”
September 15th, 2005
Despite the ongoing war of words between Sony and Toshiba over the next-generation optical storage format, the argument has, up until now, focussed on the merits of the two competing standards, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.
Noticeably, neither camp has made any predictions as to the outcome of a head-to-head fight in the marketplace, save only to agree that it would not be best for consumers. That’s all changed with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president, Benjamin Feingold, confidently predicting a victory for Blu-Ray over HD-DVD within 12 months of hitting the shops.
“I think in 12 months it’s going to be clear,” he said. “The combination of Blu-Ray and PlayStation 3 machines is going to overwhelm any HD-DVD presence and all studios will have to support Blu-Ray.”
For what it’s worth, TechSmec.com has to agree. Only Microsoft stepping into the fight and adding HD-DVD to the Xbox 360 can save the lower-capacity format now.
September 14th, 2005
Sony has recalled the external power adapters from 3.5 million PlayStation 2 consoles sold between August and December 2004.
The problem, which reportedly involves the power adapter heating up to a point at which it could cause damage to surrounding materials, is a global one and affects markets as far afield as North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Oceania and Japan. In one case, the adapter allegedly melted.
The model numbers to look out for if you think you may be affected are SCPH70002, 70003 and 70004. Sony has launched a website, www.ps2ac.com to help you check whether your PS2 is one of the unlucky ones.
Do not take your adapter back to the place that you bought it as they probably won’t be able to accept it. Instead, go through the official Sony channels to claim your free replacement and get a postage-paid label to send your faulty adapter back.
This is not the first time this year a major console manufacturer has had to issue a product recall. Microsoft had problems in February with over-heating power cables that provoked the replacement of 14.1 million Xbox power cables.
September 13th, 2005
The Xbox 360 hype is picking up after Microsoft announced the prices and final product specs at a convention in Germany.
There will be two packages on sale - the basic Xbox 360 core, and a more fully featured Xbox 360.
The core system will sell for $299.99/€299.99/£209.99 and includes the console itself, a wired controller and an AV cable. This will enable you to play games, watch DVDs and not a lot else. It’s fully expandable to ‘media center hub’ configuration, but you might be better off buying the Xbox 360 package which has $200 of extras for only $100 more.
The Xbox 360 (confusing this isn’t it? Perhaps Microsoft should have come up with a catchy title for the enhanced version?) will sell for $399.99/€399.99/£279.99 and includes the following components.
* Xbox 360 console - three powerful core processors are poised to pump out 720p/1080i output, 16×9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound and DVD playback right out of the box.
* Xbox 360 Hard Drive. 20 GB and detachable, the hard drive allows gamers to store their games, music, downloaded trailers, levels, demos and community-created content from Xbox Live Marketplace.
* Xbox 360 Wireless Controller. Hassle-free high-performance precision wireless gaming features the Xbox Guide Button for quick access to digital movies, music and games libraries as well as a range and battery life of up to 30 feet and 30 hours of life on two AA batteries.
* Xbox 360 Faceplate.
* Xbox 360 Headset. This lets gamers strategize with teammates or trash-talk opponents while playing games on Xbox Live.
* Xbox 360 Component HD-AV Cable. This connects gamers to the world of Xbox 360 games and graphics through high-definition and standard-definition connections.
* Xbox Live Silver membership. With this, gamers can chat with friends online, send and receive voice and text messages, and access new content from Xbox Live Marketplace demos such as trailers and casual games from Xbox Live Arcade.
* A bonus Media Remote: Included for a limited time, the integrated control center for the entire digital experience lets consumers play DVDs, movies and music, as well as access their Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-based PC’s controls with a single remote.
Meanwhile Microsofot have been talking to PCmag.com about the Windows Media Connect functionality of the Xbox which allows it to access media files stored on your (networked) desktop PC. A beta release of Windows Media Connect to take advantage of the Xbox 360 is scheduled for the end of the year.
August 18th, 2005
Microsoft has signed an exclusive agreement with Marvel to create online multiplayer games involving characters from the rich Marvel universe. The agreement applies only to the Xbox 360 and will see fan favourites such as Spiderman, the X-men and the Hulk appear in an MMO game by 2008.
“This is our one and only [ MMO deal ],” Tim Rothwell, worldwide president of the Consumer Media Group at Marvel Enterprises, told Reuters.
“Online gaming is reaching a point of acceptance. We will use as many of the Marvel characters as we can in the MMO game,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of worldwide marketing and publishing for Microsoft’s Xbox.
A Marvel MMO game will have the fanboys wetting themselves. Marvel owns a library of over 4000 characters, most of them pretty obscure, and Microsoft will have fun incorporating as many as possible into the game. Whether gamers will be able to play as the major characters is unclear - after all, there’s only one Spiderman - so expect the game to take the form of allowing a user to choose their superpowers and build a new character from scrawny loser through to all-powerful uber-super.
July 14th, 2005
In what might be the shrewdest move by a console manufacturer since Sony came up with the Playstation concept, Microsoft are chewing over the possibility of licensing the Xbox OS to third party developers.
This opens up the extraordinary prospect of playing Xbox games directly through your TV, on a handheld, or even on a PC. The possibilities are endless and third party manufacturers would have the time and energy to bring such niche products to market.
What the rumours don’t tell us is whether we are talking about the existing Xbox software, or the new Xbox 360. Neither is it clear whether Microsoft will maintain strict branding controls (likely).
This goes against all the ‘rules’ of the console market where manufacturers and software developers are one and the same and where the name of the game is trapping a user into buying your hardware and your hardware alone.
June 30th, 2005
If Toshiba will be pushing for one thing from their new partnership with Microsoft, it will be for the Xbox 360 to contain an HD-DVD drive. Only by getting HD-DVD technology into such a potentially massive-selling product will they be able to compete with Blu-Ray, already slated for inclusion in the Playstation 3.
Today Bill Gates has offered Toshiba just that possibility. “The initial shipments of Xbox 360 will be based on today’s DVD format,” said Gates. “We are looking at whether future versions of Xbox 360 will incorporate an additional capability of an HD-DVD player or something else.”
The ’something else’ might worry Toshiba, but as using Blu-Ray is probably not on the cards, that could only leave either HD-DVD or some other next-gen technology such as holographic disc, which seems far-fetched to say the least.
The extra capacity of an HD-DVD drive would probably only be used for movie playback and not for games, as any releases on HD-DVD would not play on older machines.
June 28th, 2005
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