Microsoft demos Project Natal for Xbox 360 at E3

At their press briefing at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Microsoft introduced Project Natal. Project Natal brings controller-free gaming and entertainment using a 3D camera to the Xbox 360. The rumors, which started when Microsoft purchased 3DV Systems, are true.


A tech-demo game that uses real 3D physics.


A story of a boy and his 3D camera...


Microsoft's full concept video

Video games 'can improve vision'

Playing action video games can boost an aspect of adult vision previously thought to be fixed, a US study shows.

Researchers found playing the games improved the ability to notice even very small changes in shades of grey against a uniform background.

Read the full news story on BBC News.

Amazon.com's New Video-Game Trade-In Program

Amazon.com announced a new program for customers to trade in used video game titles in return for credit at Amazon.com. The program is launching with around 1,500 titles, all of which can be filtered and searched by platform. Once users have picked out the games they own and would like to exchange for credit, Amazon provides a pre-paid label that covers the cost of shipping. Amazon is offering those who trade in their games for credit a 10 percent markdown on games or video game accessories in the next two weeks.

Visit Amazon's Video-Game Trade-In Program for more details

Xbox 360 NXE Coming November 19

See all the new features of the 360's new UI as 1UP News Editor Phillip Kollar and GameVideos Associate Producer David Ellis take it for a spin.

Xbox 360 'New Xbox Experience Walkthrough'

Guitar Hero: World Tour Features a Music Studio

Guitar Hero: World Tour will feature a new music studio that lets you create, edit, and share your own songs. It'll even have an online community where you can download and rate other songs from other users.

Guitar Hero World Tour - Now with Drums

Activision recently released a new video showing off the new drumset that will play a major part of the upcoming game in the Guitar Hero series. I have to say it looks a lot cooler than the Rock Band drumset. It'll be interesting to see how they incorporate the velocity sensitivity into the game.

Yet Another Grand Theft Auto IV Review

This time it's from 1up.com and it scores an A+.

IGN Posts First Web Review of Grand Theft Auto IV, Perfect 10

Toyota Matrix Xbox Guitar Hero III All-Nighter

Xbox, Toyota, and Peavey have teamed up to bring you the coolest prizes in the history of Xbox.com for the upcoming All-Nighter: Crafted from a real-wood, life-size Peavey guitar and modified for play with guitar-based music video games, this custom Peavey AG RiffMaster guitar controller features the sleek finish, dimensions and feel of a real Peavey guitar to provide a truly authentic music video game experience. For more details about one-of-a-kind Peavey AG RiffMaster guitar game controllers, check them out online at Peavey.com.

For contest details, visit xbox.com

Reviews of Grand Theft Auto IV starting to come in

The highly anticipated next entry in the Grand Theft Auto video game series is just around the corner. Set to be released on April 29, the game is expected to be the biggest blockbuster of the year. Reviews are just starting to trickle in. According to metacritic.com, Official Xbox Magazine UK gave the game a perfect 100/100. They called it "Utterly stunning in every respect". [May 2008, p.79]

Video and screenshots of Guitar Hero: On Tour for the Nintendo DS

The Bitbag has fresh video and screenshots of the upcoming Nintendo DS version of the wildly popular Guitar Hero game from Activision. Check it out over at The Bitbag.

VR Head Tracking using only a camera

At the Game Developers Conference, Sony was showing off a head-tracking system that uses only the PS3's EyeToy camera. The system definitely has a lot of potential but no games using the technology have yet been announced.

First, here's a look at a more conventional head-tracking technique presented by Johnny Lee.


Now, Sony's camera-only system.

[via Joystiq]

Video Game Technical Demos from GDC

The 2008 Game Developers Conference wrapped up last week. There are some interesting videos of some of a few of the more impressive technical demos floating around in Cyberspace.

Epic Games -- Unreal Engine Tech Demo


LucasArts -- Star Wars: Force Unleashed - Tech Demo


Eden Games -- Alone in the Dark 5 - Real World demo

Emotiv to Unveil Consumer Neurosystem Headset

Emotiv Systems plans to unveil a consumer version of their impressive neurosystem headset at the upcoming Game Developers Conference.

According to the literature, the headset is described as containing "a high fidelity neuro-system that redefines the realm of human-computer interaction", and a special presentation showing its applications in creating "a new horizon for interactive gameplay" is promised.

The company's website also adds that licensed developers will have access to the Emotiv SDK in March 2008, and it consists of The Expressiv suite, which can identify facial expressions in real-time, the Affectiv suite, which measures players' discreet emotional states, and the Cognitiv suite, which detects players' conscious thoughts.

Via [Gamasutra.com]

Fight the New Mexico Video Game Tax

A video game tax has been proposed in New Mexico, that says video games purchased in the state may become subject to an additional tax like cigarettes and alcohol. The tax has been proposed by the Sierra Club of New Mexico who believe that video games should be taxed in order to fund a government campaign to promote outdoor education among kids.

This proposed video game tax not only levies a burden onto to video game enthusiasts and the growing game industry in New Mexico, but if any game tax bill were to pass into law, it would set a very dangerous precedent. The Sierra Club also wants to tax televisions as well, so why limit it to TV and video games, as they could also set their sites on movies and books?

It is unconstitutional to single out video games and video game enthusiasts with a "special tax." Why should they be taxed any differently than other forms of entertainment, like movies, books, and music? By singling out video games, these interest groups and politicians are passing judgment on our preferred form of art and entertainment. Let's leave the parenting to parents, not new government programs which once again unfairly target video games. Help prevent this dangerous precedent from being set, spread the word now.

Spread the word to your Friends and Family in New Mexico!

McDonald's Blames Childhood Obesity on Videogames

Speaking to The Times Online, Steve Easterbrook, the chief executive of McDonald's UK, blamed video games for childhood obesity.

From the Times Online:

“I don’t know who is to blame,” Mr Easterbrook says. “The issue of obesity is complex and is absolutely one our society is facing, there’s no denial about that, but if you break it down I think there’s an education piece: how can we better communicate to individuals the importance of a balanced diet and taking care of themselves? Then there’s a lifestyle element: there’s fewer green spaces and kids are sat home playing computer games on the TV when in the past they’d have been burning off energy outside.

Surely, Happy Meals can share part of that blame, right?