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Microsoft's Marc Whitten: SmartGlass is the 'enabling technology' of IE on Xbox 360
We just had an opportunity to sit and chat with Microsoft's Marc Whitten, corporate vice president of Xbox Live, about the history and future of Microsoft's SmartGlass. It's one of the highlights of the show for us and so we were curious about its origin. Namely: was SmartGlass created to allow easy text entry into the upcoming Xbox 360 version of Internet Explorer? It's the opposite, says Marc. Microsoft has toyed with ways to bring IE to the Xbox for years now but always shelved the project due to control issues. It was only when they came up with the idea of SmartGlass 12 months ago -- being able to connect your phone or tablet to your Xbox and use it as a controller, among other things -- that a browser on an Xbox started to make sense. Great controls, he said, were the key to building the "great web experience" they were looking for.
NBA Baller Beats adds a real basketball to your Kinect arsenal, we attempt to go hands-on (video)
Forget what your mum told you. Soon, you'll be bouncing a real basketball in your living room in order to strengthen your ball handling skills via your Xbox 360's Kinect. Majesco has developed NBA Baller Beats, a gaming title that will ship with the requisite ball so that you don't have to go searching out in the garage to get started. Don't get too excited, though -- the package won't include any sort of hardwood court-esque add-on for the feel of taking Kobe to the hole at the Staples Center. However, the soundtrack that drives your dribbles and cross-overs (and determines level of difficulty) should be just enough to embarrass you at some point. Think about this way: it's like Guitar Hero for sports fans. Well, we won't stall any longer. Head on past the break to catch a glimpse of a tech editor's best shot at a quick demo of the software here at E3 2012.
Razer rolls out Taipan ambidextrous gaming mouse, we go hands-on
It's not the mouse we expected to see here at E3, given what slid through Uncle Sam's FCC fingers a few weeks ago, but Razer has unveiled its new Taipan gaming mouse here at E3 2012. Apparently, Razer has learned to love lefties from the jump with its most recent rodent, as the Taipan is an ambidextrous unit suitable for any gamer. The outside of the Taipan is swathed in tactually-pleasing matte black plastic, with a glowing Razer logo in the palm rest and a clickable scroll wheel ringed in similar neon green lighting. It's got nine programmable buttons in all: right and left click, the clickwheel, plus two buttons just south of the scroller and two more embedded in each of the Taipan's flanks.%Gallery-157358% In addition to its ergonomic design, it's got one 8200 dpi sensor under the hood to precisely track two-dimensional movements, plus a second optical sensor for z-axis tracking -- so it knows when you've lifted the mouse off your desk and keeps your cursor right where you left it. Furthering this focus on ultra precise mousing, the Taipan is a 32-bit peripheral and has a 1,000Hz polling rate, which means your cursor moves exactly when you want it to. Naturally, it uses Razer's Synapse 2.0 technology, so after initial set-up the Taipan brings your settings to any new PC as soon as you plug it in. It goes on sale next month for $79.99, and if you're lookin to learn more in the meantime, check out the PR after the break.%Gallery-157361%
ROCCAT's Lua and Kone XTD gaming mice shown off at E3, we go hands-on
Before the craziness commenced here in Los Angeles, ROCCAT got its E3 party started with announcements concerning two gaming mice. The outfit unveiled the three-button Lua and the more high-end Kone XTD to suit gamers who prefer a truckload of programmable options and those who fancy a much simpler set-up. We grabbed some hands-on time with the pair on the show floor to see just how the two stacked up. We were particularly impressed with how both felt in the hand and how comfortable they were to use for all our gaming-related movements during the mini session. For a close look at both the Lua and the Kone XTD, stop by the gallery below or head on past the break for a few thoughts on the gaming peripherals. %Gallery-157345%
One day, Portal 2 in motion DLC will come to PS3, it's such a shame the same will never happen to Xbox
Remember Razer's Hydra controller that came with a motion-controlled version of Portal 2? PS3 owners will be receiving those same levels as a DLC later this year with added support for the PlayStation Move. Players will be able to manipulate objects in order to solve puzzles with more flailing limbs than you can shake a stick at when it arrives later this year.
Editorial: Engadget on Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo's E3 Keynotes
Live from Microsoft's E3 2012 keynote! Live from Sony's E3 2012 keynote! Live from Nintendo's E3 2012 keynote! It's early June and we're in Los Angeles, and that can only mean one thing: it's time to get our game on at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. The show is now in full force, the floor having opened up yesterday at noon Pacific Daylight Time. But even though the convention just kicked off, much of the big news is already out of the way. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have each had their time to shine with pre-show press conferences. So, how did the big console makers perform? Is this an E3 for the record books or just a year of lackluster demos? Our editors sound off after the break.
Mad Catz unleashes the Wii U accessories at E3, we go hands-on
Eagerly awaiting the launch of the Wii U? You're not alone. Mad Catz is ready, as the outfit has recently announced a set of accessories for the aforementioned console. Here at E3 2012, we were able to get a closer look at the entire family from the charging docks right on down to the TRITTON Kunai headset. While only the set(s) of cans is a finalized design, the outfit says the stands that will recharge your controllers that we saw are nearly complete. However, the FlipCover that we viewed was still a working prototype -- the same goes for the FPS controller that we were able to sneak a peek at. So, what about pricing and availability? The company is only offering that the Kunai for Wii U will set you back $50 when it ships. If you're looking for a quick rundown, hit the gallery below or venture beyond the break for a few impressions. %Gallery-157284%
GAEMS G155 Sentry suitcase for Xbox 360 hands-on
Gamer on the go? Sure, Nintendo's 3DS or Sony's PS Vita might get you by, but neither can quite deliver the full-bore experience of a home console. To get their fix, Xbox 360 gamers with room for one more carry-on will want to turn to GAEMS. The company is showing off its G155 Sentry "personal gaming and entertainment environment" at E3 this year -- a so-called PGE. It's basically a suitcase into which you strap an Xbox 360 before connecting it to the integral LCD and more powerful stereo speakers (complete with Bose-style bass channel). That LCD is a 15-inch, LED-backlit 720p model with pretty terrible viewing angles, just like the older G155. In fact, we're hard-pressed to see many differences here between the currently available G155 and this beyond what looks to be a shinier logo on the back -- which you can replace with custom ones for a bit of customization. It does appear to be very well constructed, a suitably safe way to lug your console about. Check out some more pictures in the gallery below, and tune back in soon when we check out the so-called Project Vanguard, which we're told is a properly all-new design. GAEMS G155 Sentry suitcase for Xbox 360 hands-on Gamer on the go? Sure, Nintendo's 3DS or Sony's PS Vita might get you by, but neither can /quite/ deliver the full-bore experience of a home console. There's nothing like the real thing, and Xbox 360 gamers with room for one more carry-on will want to turn to GAEMS. The company is showing off its G155 Sentry "personal gaming and entertainment environment" -- a PGE, they call it. It's basically a suitcase into which you strap an Xbox 360 before connecting it to the integrated LCD and stereo speakers (complete with Bose-style bass channel). That LCD is a 15-inch, LED-backlit 720p model with pretty terrible viewing angles, just like the older G155. In fact, we're hard-pressed to see many differences here beyond what looks to be a shinier logo on the back -- which you can replace with custom ones for a bit of customization. Check out some more pictures in the gallery below, and tune back in soon when we check out the so-called Project Vanguard, which we're told is a properly all-new design.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 E3 keynote video is now available for replays online
The pre-E3 briefing is crucial for all major videogame companies, and if you missed Microsoft's noontime keynote yesterday you can relive it live and in HD on Xbox.com. The stream is up on Xbox.com for your viewing pleasure to be shocked (again) that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 and Halo 4 are going to involve shooting things, or marvel at how much time Microsoft spent highlighting the Xbox 360's non-gaming prowess with fitness or video applications. Check in with Major Nelson and the crew at the source link below, although we're sure it could use some SmartGlass tie-ins with our liveblog coverage.
Sony PlayStation Move Racing Wheel hands-on (video)
After Sony's PlayStation keynote last night here at E3, PlayStation.Blog made a sort-of-surprise announcement when it officially detailed the $40 Move Racing Wheel -- something we only caught passing glimpses of during our liveblog. Naturally, we decided to drop by Sony's booth to find out whether the peripheral might potentially pass muster for you serious virtual racers out there. Our verdict after some racing in LittleBigPlanet Karting? Definitely not, but it sure is interesting despite a few quirks. Join us past the break where we'll break it down with text and video. %Gallery-157252%
Sony PlayStation Wonderbook hands-on (update: video added)
Last night, we caught a demo of PlayStation's new Wonderbook during the company's E3 press event. Today, we grabbed a few moments of hands-on time with the new PS Move peripheral at the Sony booth. As we learned last night, the first title for the new tech is a collaborative effort with J.K. Rowling, entitled Book of Spells. The kit makes use of an augmented reality book in tandem with the Move hardware to project images and animations (basically the game itself) right on the pages. Consisting of only six spreads (12 pages), the software will track your progression through the chapters, and beginning a new quest simply means heading to back to the front of the book. We got a closer look (free from last night's demo fail), so have a peep at the gallery below and head on past the break for some impressions. Update: We've added a video of the hands-on just beyond the break for your viewing pleasure. %Gallery-157207%
Razer unveils Artemis prototype controller for MechWarrior Online, we go eyes-on
Over that past couple years, we've found that Razer's usually good for a surprise or two at any trade show it attends, and today at E3 we got to lay eyes on the latest product to emerge from the company's skunkworks. Called Artemis, that lovely bit of kit you see above is a prototype Razer's cooked up for MechWarrior Online aficionados. It features modular construction with one section housing 12 mechanical keys and sliding throttle input, a central unit housing an 8-inch LCD display (to serve as a secondary screen during gameplay) and an adjustable force-feedback flight stick module.%Gallery-157237% Naturally, what we saw on the show floor wasn't functional, but Razer told us that all of the controls are integrated and will be fully customizable -- so key/button combos can be used -- when it hits the market. Razer informed us that, while they do plan to sell Artemis in some form, for now they are simply soliciting feedback on this initial design so that it can be tailored to player preferences before being sold. The prototype took around five months to construct, so with the iterations that are likely to ensue after E3, it's safe to say that Artemis won't go on sale anytime soon. But, the game it's built for isn't even out of closed beta yet, so it makes sense for Razer to take its time and get it right. While you wait for version 2.0, check out our gallery of pics above and the press shots and promo video after the break.
Nintendo clocks Wii U controller life in at three to five hours on a charge
Nintendo wasn't particularly forthcoming with the specs at its keynote earlier today -- and, well, some things are probably best not mentioned when attempting to hype up your new console. Like, say, the three to five hour battery life on the Wii U GamePad. That's the word coming from a spec sheet posted by the gaming giant. Of course, that usage depends on factors like the brightness of the screen, and Nintendo warns that things may end up being shorter in the end. The slightly better news here is that you can plug the controller in to charge while playing, so that's something, right?
Nyko Free Fighter arcade joystick hands-on
Nyko's Free Fighter joystick was unveiled earlier today, and now that E3 2012 has officially begun, we decided we'd head out to the show floor and get our grubby mitts on the thing in person. Anyone who's spent time in an arcade will feel right at home laying hands on Free Fighter, as it uses authentic Sanwa Denshi components -- the buttons provide a pleasant, loose clicking sensation when pressed, and the stick itself is fluid, yet precise. We got a chance to play a bit of Soul Caliber with a pair of Nyko's controllers, where we found the programmable macros and turbo functions to be quite useful, given our meager digital fighting skills. Setting macros up is easy peasy: simply press and hold one of the keys until it changes color from red to blue, then input over 20 directional or button commands as you like. Custom turbo creation is similarly simple, just press both the turbo key and button you want turbo-fied, then tap chosen button up to five times in the cadence of your choosing and you're good to go. These two features will appeal to novices, as they make fighting games more accessible, but it'll also help pros rack up combos, too. And for those who aren't into one-on-one combat, Nyko informed us that because of the Free Fighter's modular design, the company may make a compatible flight stick or other controller modules in the future.%Gallery-157190%
Visualized: the Videogame History Museum's touring exhibit
Granted, this week is all about looking forward to the latest and greatest bits of video game technology, but it never hurts to turn your attention to history for a moment, to remember how far we've come. Not that one has to twist any arms to get gamers on-board with a bit of nostalgia -- not if all of the throwback 80s gaming t-shirts around the LA Convention Center are to be believed, at least. The Videogame History Museum staked out a space on the E3 show floor this week, to take people on a trip down home console memory lane. The traveling collection is a mix of the familiar and some strange and wonderful little rarities. It's all part of an attempt to promote the museum, which is working to build a research and reference space -- one that will also be an interactive exhibit. More info on the effort can be found in the source link below. In the meantime, take a trip down memory lane in the gallery below. %Gallery-157209%
Nyko's PlayPad and PlayPad Pro Android tablet controllers (hands-on)
There's a great video game land rush happening on the mobile front, as developers and hardware manufacturers work map out precisely how users will play with their smartphones and tablets. We've seen plenty of peripheral makers give it a shot, hoping to transform decidedly clunky touchscreen gameplay into something more akin to devoted consoles. Some, like Ion, have taken a fairly whimsical approach to the process, giving the world the iCade, a tablet controller shaped like a small arcade cabinet. Nyko's going a much more straight forward route with PlayPad and PlayPad Pro, Bluetooth controllers that intend on bringing console gaming over to the mobile side. The PlayPad is the smaller of the two devices. It ships in a spring loaded eyeglasses-style case. Also inside is a small stand that you can unfold to prop up your Android tablet in portrait or landscape. The controller itself is quite small and fairly light. It has two circle pads on the front, a d-pad, four face buttons, shoulder buttons and a giant home button in the center.%Gallery-157181%
Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video)
Nintendo's pre-E3 media briefing has wrapped up and the doors have opened, doors containing the latest and final revision of the Wii U hardware. Reggie & Co. failed to give us any concrete launch details beyond "holiday" this year, so we can't quite be sure of a date or a price or, really, much of anything. But, we do know about more of the launch titles. NintendoLand is, apparently, the premiere title, a sort of touchscreen-friendly version of Wii Sports that digs up many of the company's storied brands and squeezes them into mini-game format. How does it play? And, how is the new, refined Wii U controller? Join us after the break to find out! %Gallery-157144%
Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3
Every June, Nyko outs all sorts of gaming peripherals at E3, and this year is no different. It's latest is the ambidextrous Free Fighter arcade-style joystick for PS3 that can be set up for either left- or right-handed gamers. It can be further customized to suit button-mashers of all styles with two variable-speed turbo keys and four programmable macros to let you perform complex combos with a single press. Plus, every button's backlit, and the whole thing comes with a detachable, expandable base to keep it from sliding around in your lap while you're hurling hadoukens and slinging sonic booms. It'll hit store shelves in September with $180 price tag, but if you can't wait until then, check the gallery of press pics below and stay tuned for our hands-on from the E3 show floor.%Gallery-157090%
Nintendo confirms Wii U shipping 'this holiday'
Nintendo has just confirmed what we've expected all along. Its next generation console, the Wii U, will be launching this holiday. As Nintendo mentioned earlier, there's no definitive word on pricing, quite yet. The company did confirm, however, that the touchscreen-friendly console will launch with the new multi-player NintendoLand title.%Gallery-157140%
Engadget pre-event broadcast from E3 - Nintendo
We've made it to the last of the big three pre-show events -- it's Nintendo's turn. As our liveblogging juggernaut stirs to action, ready to spit out news nuggets as fast as Nintendo can fire, why not reacquaint yourself with what we reckon the gentle Japanese giant's going to show us. Our pre-event broadcast is uploaded and ready for consumption, right after the break.
