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News

• Mammoth StarCraft II patch in the wild

  From Battle.net chat channels to master leagues, stalemate detection, and a new 'extreme' graphics option, the latest StarCraft II patch is here and it's a doozy.

• Kinect, Wii used to play Call of Duty in gadget mashup hack

  So, you want to play some Call Of Duty on your PC? You could do that the old fashioned way, or you could spice things up a little by hooking your PC up to Microsoft's Kinect and Nintendo's Wii Remote for some added FPS awesomeness, One avid gamer has done just that, sharing the impressive results on YouTube for all to see.

• Nintendo shows off 3DS augmented reality games

  Nintendo's 3DS has another trick up its sleeve for its glasses-free 3D handheld: a deck of augmented reality playing cards included with each game console.

• Nyko brings guns to the Playstation Move's gunfight

  Nyko is bringing the Perfect Shot handgun controller -- similar to the one that launched for Wii in 2007 -- to the Playstation Move. The Move controller slides into the top of the gun shell, which rumbles with help from two AA batteries that last about 20 hours. The Perfect Shot will cost US$14.99 when it launches in March.

• Kinect-like peripheral for PCs coming this year

  I'm betting most of you don't know Kinect's 3D sensing technology isn't owned by Microsoft. The company that does resides in Israel, and they're called PrimeSense. They've been around since 2005, and describe themselves as "a fabless semiconductor company that revolutionizes the way digital devices see the world." Their fancy name for that 3D sensing tech? "PrimeSense Immersive Natural Interaction."

• The Top 10 Video Games of 2010

  Here's my obligatory list of 2010's top 10 video games, in no particular order. Yours would no doubt look different. That's the point of lists, after all: To throw our favorites out there, then stand around comparing and critiquing.

• Microsoft flip-flops on Kinect computer 'hack'

  Shortly after Kinect's launch, it was either hacked or "accessed in a way not facilitated by the designer," depending on your definition of the term. Microsoft's response was swift and disapproving, stating it "does not condone the modification of its products" and implying legal action (or law enforcement) might be in the offing.

• Kinect hacked to work with Windows 7

  Kinect, Microsoft's motion gaming accessory has been hacked -- mere days after its release.

• Kinect could have been Apple's, report says

  PrimeSense, the company behind Microsoft Kinect's camera, initially pitched its motion sensing technology to Apple, according to Leander Kahney of Cult of Mac.

• Leaked Nintendo 3DS hardware specs analyzed

  Nintendo's forthcoming 3D-without-glasses gaming handheld sounds mighty indeed, if just-leaked internal specs prove legitimate.

• Microsoft suspends Xbox gamer for living in Fort Gay

  You've just signed up for Xbox LIVE. You're entering your personal information, and when you get to the city and state fields, you tap in 'Intercourse, Pennsylvania'. A couple days later you get an email from Microsoft notifying you that your account's been suspended. Why? Because you violated the online gaming service's code of conduct by using a term with overtly sexual connotations.

• 'Jedi Mind' tricks don't work on George Lucas

  The force had better be strong with Jedi Mind, Inc. if it hopes to metaphysically magic its way out of this one.

• Hackers claim 'jailbreak' victory with PS3 USB key

  In the four years since Sony's PlayStation 3 has been with us, it's never been hacked to play pirated games--until now, that is, if claims by hacker group PSJailbreak prove true.

• Will Kinect support sign language? No. But maybe.

  The gossip blogs had a field day a few weeks ago, homing in on a patent filing unearthed by GoRumors that implied Microsoft's Kinect motion-control camera for the Xbox 360 might recognize sign language.

• Nintendo profits fall for first time in six years

  Nintendo saw profits fall for the first time in six years in the 12 months to March as lower demand for its Wii and DS devices, a lack of blockbuster games and the strong Japanese yen all put pressure on its business.