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Johnny Chung Lee joins Project Natal team, puts Wii hacking experience to good use

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jun 12th 2009 at 11:04AM

In this time of economic hardship, it warms the heart just to hear that someone's found any job. But when our main man Johnny Chung Lee lands a position on Microsoft's Project Natal team, it's high fives and handshakes all around. And really, it's a perfect fit -- among the many hacks of his illustrious career, he's put together a VR head tracker (and utilized it in a first-person shooter) for the Wii game console. Apparently, Lee's part of the group that is taking the tech we saw at E3 and getting it ready for prime time. As you'd expect, the man is pretty stoked to have landed his dream job. "The 3D sensor itself is a pretty incredible piece of equipment, he says, "similar to very expensive laser range finding systems but at a tiny fraction of the cost." Congratulations, Johnny! If you should feel the need to leak any product pics, you have our email address.

[Via Joystiq]

EA VP says the Xbox 360 is "maxed out"

by Nilay Patel posted Jun 9th 2009 at 1:26AM

Microsoft might be busy extending and building on the Xbox 360's capabilities with Project Natal and all manner of NXE and Live updates, but it sounds like some of their third-party devs think they're running out of headroom -- in an interview with the Official Xbox Magazine, EA senior VP Patrick Soderlund said that "we've maxed out the 360 but we haven't maxed out the PS3." That's an interesting parallel to what Miyamoto was just saying about the Wii, of course, but it doesn't seem like the situation is entirely dire: Soderlund also said that he's "truly impressed" with the 360 and that he "would have a headache" if he were running Sony. Still, that doesn't bode well for Microsoft's planned 10-year 360 lifecycle if it's true -- we'll see if Redmond has something new for us before 2015 after all.

Miyamoto "not worried at all" about Sony and Microsoft's motion controllers

by Nilay Patel posted Jun 8th 2009 at 4:08PM

Sony and Microsoft certainly turned the motion-sensing heat up on Nintendo at E3 last week, but it doesn't seem like Shigeru Miyamoto is all that concerned at the moment -- he just told the BBC that while he's "flattered" his competitors are "moving in the same direction," he's "not worried at all" about Project Natal or the Playstation motion controller because "they don't have the type of depth that we're able to provide with Wii Motion Plus." Snap. We don't know about that -- we certainly haven't been blown away by Motion Plus -- but we can see why Nintendo's not sweating it just yet: the Wii's a runaway hit and a pop-culture phenomenon, while Natal and the PSMC are still tech demos without announced ship dates or even final names. That said, it's clear that Microsoft and Sony don't intend to just cede this space to Mario and Co., so we'll see how Nintendo fights back -- we'll tell you right now that the Wii Vitality Sensor ain't gonna cut it.

[Via Joystiq]

PSP Go lacks mini USB, compatibility with existing accessories, common sense

by Tim Stevens posted Jun 8th 2009 at 7:11AM

PSP Go lacks mini USB, compatbility with existing accessories, common sense

Confession time: we weren't exactly charmed by Sony's PSP Go when Sony made the thing official. It's not that we're particularly fond of UMD (quite the contrary as a matter of fact), rather we found it a little hard to stomach a slimmer device that offers nearly the same hardware as its predecessor, swapping an optical drive for more storage, yet will cost nearly twice as much. Factor in the cost of all new accessories and things get even less appealing, with confirmation that the Go lacks a standard mini USB port on top, meaning things like PSP keyboards and Sony's GPS accessory are on a fast-track to obsolescence. Even current A/V cables and chargers won't work thanks to a new multifunction port on the base -- but Sony will be quite happy to sell you new ones. Is this the price of progress, or an attempt to boost profit margins? It's not good news for gamers, regardless.

Fatal1ty teams with Fusion-io to launch 80GB ioXtreme PCI Express SSD

by Darren Murph posted Jun 6th 2009 at 11:29PM

Up until now, Fusion-io's glorious creations have largely been priced out of consideration for general consumers. During E3, however, the storage gurus teamed up with Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel in order to debut a consumer-level PCI Express SSD card. Engineered to provide wicked fast transfer rates within high-performance PCs, the ioXtreme is an 80GB PCI Express card that should make your traditional HDD seem absolutely antiquated. Better still, it's slated to ship next month for the not-too-terribly-egregious price of $895, which certainly gets you into the game for a lot less than OCZ's (admittedly more capacious) Z-Drive.

Gallery: Fatal1ty teams with Fusion-io to launch 80GB ioXtreme PCI Express SSD

Engadget Podcast 149 - 06.05.2009

by Trent Wolbe posted Jun 5th 2009 at 5:11PM

As you may soon become aware, this week's podcast is about two hours long. Now, we're aware that this might present a difficult scenario for those of you who like to rent out a sensory deprivation room every week to maximize the experience of listening to Josh, Nilay and Paul babble, so here are some usage ideas for this "wild card" hour of listening to be spent in the real world:

Listen to the first half of the podcast twice
Stand in line for the Pre for an hour and then leave
Teach yourself to juggle Wiimotes
Make a recording of yourself lightly chuckling off and on for an hour

Those are just a few of the things we though of off the top of our heads, we're sure you can improve upon these ideas when the moment of truth comes.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Hotel California

00:03:15 - Palm Pre review
00:49:12 - Engadget & Joystiq live from Microsoft's E3 2009 keynote
00:50:34 - Microsoft announces "Project Natal" motion controller for Xbox 360!
00:51:40 - Project Natal video hands-on, impressions, and further details
00:52:30 - Xbox Live gets 1080p Zune video store, Netflix browsing, Twitter and Facebook integration
01:03:03 - Xbox 360 getting full retail games delivered on demand
01:15:20 - Engadget & Joystiq live from Nintendo's E3 2009 keynote
01:15:35 - Nintendo Wii Vitality Sensor detects your pulse
01:22:40 - Miyamoto: Super Mario Bros. Wii could be better, but the Wii's too weak
01:23:30 - Engadget & Joystiq live from Sony's E3 2009 keynote
01:24:12 - Sony PSP Go announced -- $249, no UMD
01:32:20 - PSP Go first hands-on! (updated)
01:41:20 - Sony announces new PS3 motion controller
01:58:10 - Apple iPhone 3.0 rumor roundup, part II: parental controls and sketchy shots

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Video: White PSPgo hands-on

by Ross Miller posted Jun 5th 2009 at 8:54AM

Sure, speaking with Sony's John Koller was great and all, but one of the real treats with the interview was some quiet hands-on time with a white PSP Go, unfortunately not turned on but with the same build quality and weight as its functional black model (also found tagging along to the Q&A). Our impression of the device is largely unchanged from the initial experience -- a sturdy build that's surprisingly light, although with this go around we didn't find the shoulder buttons to be more comfortable this time. Still, our interest wanes pretty dramatically when we're reminded of its $249 price tag, but enough with our chatter, hit up the break for an up-close video of all its nooks and crannies, and while you're there, stick around for more tidbits from our interview.

Continue reading Video: White PSPgo hands-on

Goodbye E3, WWDC here we come!

by Joshua Topolsky posted Jun 4th 2009 at 11:11PM

Listen, E3, we had some good times. We shook like maniacs for your motion controllers. We jammed with the band (and our resident DJ, Stab Master Arson). We skated all over the place. We liveblogged like crazy. We basically took your news flow and funneled it into a succinct package of mind-blowing media snacks. But that was then, and this is now. We had to hightail it out of town, because a certain someone needs our special brand of tenderness... and that certain someone is Apple's WWDC in San Francisco. We'll miss you E3, but only a little bit.

Seriously guys, gear up for WWDC this coming Monday (June 8th), where some kind of new phone or something might get announced. Here's the page you'll want to plant yourselves at (feel free to bookmark), and here's what time you'll want to do said planting:

07:00AM - Hawaii
10:00AM - Pacific
11:00AM - Mountain
12:00PM - Central
01:00PM - Eastern
06:00PM - London
07:00PM - Paris
02:00AM - Tokyo (June 9th)

Peregrine wires you into a keyboard, we go hands-in

by Tim Stevens posted Jun 4th 2009 at 9:33PM

Got a game with a lot of commands, but are sick of supporting the Big Keyboard industry? Meet your rebel input replacement, the Peregrine. Demonstrated to us at E3, the Peregrine is basically an elastic glove with some wires sewn into it at various points. Connecting one of those points to conductive patches on the palm and thumb creates an electrical circuit, which the glove's brain converts to a keypress. It's like a glove but with power -- a sort of power glove, if you will. The main application is MMOs, where you could touch your thumb and forefinger together to cast a spell in a role-playing game or touch your middle finger to your palm to heal yourself. Or your character, anyway. More impressions and some spec-ops intrigue after the break.

Gallery: Peregrine Glove

Continue reading Peregrine wires you into a keyboard, we go hands-in

Sony working on "good will" program to give digital copies of your UMD collection

by Ross Miller posted Jun 4th 2009 at 7:03PM

We just sat down for an interview with Sony's John Koller, who among many other interesting tidbits and factoids (more on those later) assuaged fears that our giant UMD library would be entirely forsaken. While light on details -- they're still figuring it out, he said -- there will be a "good will" program by which owners of current disc-based titles will be able to obtain digital copies for use on the PSP Go -- "a set number of titles for a set period of time," to be exact. He couldn't confirm all games, or at least all your personal collection, would be transferrable -- that might have to do with the number of digitized games they'll have at launch, which will be at least 300 but not the whole back catalog -- but despite calling it a short-term program he did say, should you receive a new UMD game later down the line, you should still be able to make the digital transfer. As for price, we're still looking to confirm something there, but they wouldn't be putting so much effort into the program if it wasn't at least for a discount, if not free.

If you happen to like your discs, Koller said UMDs aren't going by the wayside so long as the PSP is still around, but he expects digital to start taking an increasing share. Looking to the future, he confirmed all first-party titles and most third-party titles (by the developers' own volition, not a mandate) will be available as digital downloads day and date with the UMD hard copies, and yeah, despite the reduced shipping and manufacturing costs, it'll be for the same price, too.

Creative's Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MkII hands-on, and news of its sequel

by Tim Stevens posted Jun 4th 2009 at 5:36PM

Cans are so hot right now; the bigger and gaudier the better, because nothing says "Don't talk to me" like giant domes covering your ears. Creative's latest set, Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MkII, don't really have much to offer in the flash category and certainly aren't excessively sized, but for serious gamers they seem to be a solid option and just the thing to keep your mom from interrupting your session. Shipping next week for $99, they offer an over-ear design with memory-foam surrounds and a sophisticated but not particularly flashy look that says "I want to look cool while wearing these, but I'll leave the chrome to my CPU fan, thanks." They sport a detachable boom that has not one but two microphones in it and some apparently fancy-schmantsy processing that can discern your howl of war from your dog's howl of neglect, meaning your CS teammates hear only the former. Unfortunately we weren't able to try that out for ourselves, so we'll have to see how well that pans out in the real world. The set uses the standard jumble of 3.5mm audio jacks to connect to your machine, but a Creative rep was kind enough to disclose plans for a USB version that'll work sans-soundcard. That model is due sometime next month for a $30 premium.

Gallery: Creative's Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MkII hands-on

Miyamoto: Super Mario Bros. Wii could be better, but the Wii's too weak

by Darren Murph posted Jun 4th 2009 at 1:31PM

Look, it's no secret that the Wii is comparatively weak. It always has been, and unless some magical, unicorn-approved firmware update hits in the near future, it always will be. The Big N's Shigeru Miyamoto sat down at E3 this year with GameDaily and confessed as much, stating that he "would like to use Wii Speak more, but [in Super Mario Bros. Wii], the Wii processor is already being taxed." He added that this was all "part of being a developer to work with the tools you have to create new and interesting projects," but it certainly makes us wonder just how much more awesome this console could be with a specifications list fit for this millennium. Ah well, maybe we can actually look forward to native 1080p games from Nintendo next decade... if we're lucky.

DJ Hero hands-on

by Ross Miller posted Jun 4th 2009 at 10:38AM

Activision's being pretty guarded with DJ Hero at the moment. Not only is it available only behind closed doors at its E3 2009 booth, but even then we weren't able to get our own hands-on time with the game, relegated instead to playing guitar along with someone else on the deck through that Monkey Wrench / Sabotage mashup. We did, however, get a chance to play take it out of the darkly-lit room and get a good feel of its weight and build quality, which we might add is pretty solid. Click on through for our full impressions and a video showing off the DJ vs. guitar mode.

Gallery: DJ Hero hands-on

Continue reading DJ Hero hands-on

Microsoft's Project Natal roots revealed: 3DV Systems ZCam

by Darren Murph posted Jun 3rd 2009 at 4:21PM

We had a hunch that 3DV Systems' technology -- which we actually toyed with back at CES 2008 -- had something to do with Microsoft's newly unveiled Project Natal motion tracking solution, and today details have trickled in to us confirming as much. As the story goes, 3DV Systems was initially hoping to have the ZCam in the manufacturing process by the tail end of 2008, but Microsoft swooped in and acquired the outfit just weeks after it blew minds in January. At the time, not much thought was given to the pickup; now, however, we're treated to a bona fide ZCam brochure which details the actual specifications behind the Xbox 360's newest friend. Granted, we have every reason to believe that Natal has advanced significantly from what you'll see in the gallery below, but it's still a tasty nugget of behind-the-scenes information. Of note, the former 3DV Systems VP of Business Development was quoted as saying that the target retail price of the ZCam was $100, though it still had aways to go as of early 2008.

Gallery: Microsoft's Project Natal roots revealed: 3DV Systems ZCam

Project Natal video hands-on, impressions, and further details

by Joshua Topolsky posted Jun 3rd 2009 at 1:03PM

We had a chance to go one-on-one with Project Natal -- as well as its steward, Kudo Tsunoda -- and we wanted to give you a little insight on Microsoft's next big play. Plus, how could we pass up an opportunity to show off a video of us essentially flailing around like teenagers on a coffee high?

The first thing to note is that Microsoft is very protective of the actual technology right now, so they weren't letting us film or photograph any of the box itself, though what they had was an extremely rough version of what the device will look like (not at all like the press shot above). It consisted of a small, black box aimed out into the room -- about the size of a Roku Player -- with sensors along the front. It almost looked a bit like a mid-size (between pico and full size) projector.

Continue reading Project Natal video hands-on, impressions, and further details