Sony’s servers have been all over the news recently due to their lack of security, as millions of their PlayStation Network customers’ information was stolen by a group of hackers. Soon after being hacked, Sony attempted to restore its reputation and the PlayStation Network came back online again. However, Sony has failed yet again to protect its customers, as a supposedly different group of hackers has successfully intruded Sony’s network for a second time. Read on for more details on what’s been compromised, as well as some more details on the hackers themselves.

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The series we all know and love is back and better than ever with the 3rd installment of the Modern Warfare series. The trailer for the upcoming game has recently been released to the public and can be found here. It has been confirmed that the game will be released November 8, 2011, as any Call of Duty enthusiast could have predicted. After viewing the trailer, it is obvious that the game will have a variety of settings including: America, Germany, France, and more. Also, the game is continuing the tradition of alternating between developers Infinity Ward and Treyarch. While the trailer does not show off any actual game play footage, it does display breathtaking scenery and beautiful graphics. Also included in the trailer is the altered “MW3″ forming “WW3″ which allows us to infer the basis of Modern Warfare 3. The game will likely be Infinity Ward’s take on a WW3 in every aspect, from locations to weapons.

Modern Warfare 3 is one of the most anticipated games of the year, and is so for good reason. The Call of Duty series has been topping charts over the past years, which definitely puts the pressure on Activision. In addition to this pressure, is the competition of other popular first person shooter titles such as, Gears of War 3 and Battlefield 3. Unfortunately, limited information about MW3 is available to the public, but we do know that we can expect an entertaining new video game in November. Assuming Infinity Ward continues on their usual path, MW3 may have a few glitches at first but will overall be an extremely fun online game, with amazing game play and maps. That’s all for now, but expect an in-depth video review of the game upon release in the next few months.

Be sure to check back soon with more MW3 information after the annual E3 gaming event next month, and let us know what you want to know in the comments below!

It’s a pretty well-known in the video game world that Microsoft releases a relatively big Xbox Live update each fall.  (For those uninitiated, Xbox Live is the online network that let’s Xbox 360 users play games together from anywhere in the world, purchase, rent and watch movies and music, and more.) This year has been no different, as Microsoft released their Fall Update last week, introducing some new tweaks to the user interface, as well as some nice new features that most users will probably appreciate.  From ESPN3 to Netflix’s new abilities, Kinect connectivity to Windows Phone 7 integration, we’ve got it all here for you, so read on to see what we think! Read the rest of this entry »

WOW. So this is insane.  Engadget is reporting that they have reliable word that this is the working (albeit buggy and incomplete) version of the long-rumored Playstation Phone.  With what is essentially a slide-out Playstation controller in place of where many phones have their slide-out keyboards, this phone seems to be the ultimate mobile gaming device.

If you couldn’t already tell from the picture, this is an Android device, and as such should have access to the Android Market’s 100,000+ app catalog.  In addition though, for those looking for the serious games, the phone will also have a custom Sony Marketplace where they’ll sell the games specifically designed for this device.  Just like Sony’s latest portable device, the PSP Go, all the games will be downloaded, so you never have to worry about lugging around cartridges with you in order to get your game on.

While this is a prototype, the specs for this device are a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655, which is basically the same chip as T-Mobile’s blazing fast G2 has, only faster, 512MB of RAM, 1GB of ROM, and the screen is from 3.7 to 4.1 inches.  And while all these stats are certainly subject to change before the actual release of the phone, there is one thing that is supposedly definite, and that is the fact that the Playstation Phone will supposedly have the as-of-yet unreleased Android version 3.0.  This fact, combined with the super fast speeds of its internal tech, are likely to make this phone incredibly fast, and I’d expect to fly off the shelves as even faster.

What do you think? Interested? Will Microsoft be following suit and releasing an Xbox phone?  How much gaming do you do on your phone now, and does this phone make you want to do more?  Tell us below!

Source – Engadget

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What is Move?

A few years ago, the heart of the competition in the video game industry was who could create the best story line for games and what console could provide the highest quality graphics.  However, video games today have advanced to a whole new level of creativity. Aside from the notorious 3D technology, competition in video games today is also fueled by the onset of motion sensor games. Video game companies are still careful to provide excellent story lines and graphics, but the potential for the motion sensor aspect of gaming has really begun to sink in. Companies now will be competing with each other for who has the most responsive motion controller, and the cleanest 3D look along with the story line and graphics. Gaming as we know it is now on the road toward being revolutionized.

The first prominent motion sensor video game console was the Nintendo Wii, which captivated America’s traditional video game players and families alike. The console took gaming to a new level and allowed Nintendo to actively compete with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3. All three consoles generated large sales, but it’s obvious that the Wii has set a standard for motion sensor gaming now. Xbox 360 has created the Kinect motion sensor to compete in the market, which we will look at in another article. Our focus for now is on Sony’s new product, the PlayStation Move.

Sony originally attempted to approach motion sensor gaming with the Eye Toy for the PlayStation 2. The concept was great, but it is safe to say that the quality of gameplay absolutely failed. The response time is exceedingly slow, and the horrible game limitations are just a few problems among the many that exist. It was a bold move by Sony to try motion sensors, but this could negatively effect the Move. Due to the failures of the Eye Toy, some customers may be hesitant to pick up the next Sony motion sensor immediately because they fear that it may turn out like the Eye Toy. Most likely, the Move will crush the Eye Toy in every aspect, including hardware capabilities and developer support.  It will probably generate large profits, but it still must compete with Microsoft’s Kinect. Both Microsoft and Sony have large communities, which will provide for a competition with interesting results.

Now, aside from the history and business information, let’s focus on the PlayStation Move itself. According to IGN, the Move has proven to be one of the most solid motion control items because it has utilized multiple motion tracking technologies that are very powerful. The fine points of the Move’s success are directly related to the camera, controller orbs, inertial sensors, and bluetooth.

The PlayStation Eye

The first large aspect of the Move is the PlayStation Eye, or the camera. Sony has attempted to create the most realistic gaming experience by adding special features to this camera. The camera allows the PlayStation 3 to create realistic applications, measure 3D spaces, and adjust to the customer’s surroundings.  Along with these attributes, the Eye is equipped with a wide-angle lens. This lens is capable of not only a wide view, but a close-up view as well. While using the wide view the lens can capture a 75-degree angle as opposed to the 56-degree angle available in the close-up view. The Eye streams video at either a 640×480 resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate, or a 320×240 resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. Keep in mind that these statistics will vary among the applications being used at the time. As you can see, when the resolution is reduced the refresh rate is increased greatly which provides a more complete motion capture. Finally, the Eye contains a microphone used for the voice-recognition feature. Similar to the Kinect, the Move will contain facial recognition abilities as well.

Controller Orbs

Fixed on the top of the Move controllers is a large orb of various colors. At first glance your question is: why? Well, Sony has included these glowing orbs for a variety of reasons that all enhance your experience with the Move. It uses LED tracking and edge detection to measure the distance between the screen and controller. Unlike the Wiimote’s infrared and inertial sensors used, this LED strategy is much more accurate. The system simply measures the size of the orb in the incoming video to help determine how far away the orb/controller/player is from the screen. Also, the orbs come in multiple colors for both looks, and to help the Eye recognize different controllers in multi-player situations. Not only do the orbs assist the Eye in calculating distance, but they provide us with easier pointer detection.

Inertial Sensors

The inertial sensors inside of the Move controllers include a three axis accelerometer, magnetometer, and angular rate sensor. With all of these sensors working together the Move is able to detect tilt, rotation, velocity, and even the orientation of the controller. These inertial sensors that are implanted in the controllers are responsible for the realistic motion capture of video games, which are said to be “1:1″ or perfectly spatially correlated in the game to where the controller is in real life.

Bluetooth

No cords are necessary between the Move controller and PlayStation 3 because of its bluetooth capabilities. The controller is able to send the motion tracking and input data straight to the PS3 through bluetooth, rather than through a directly connected wire.

Wrap-Up

The PlayStation Move is now available and may have gotten a leg up on the competition because Kinect is not due to be released until early November. The competition will still be an interesting one and I can not wait to hear the final results of this new generation of gaming.  And don’t worry, as soon as we’ve got a review unit, you’ll be hearing our opinions on the real gameplay of Playstation Move.

So which are you more interested in?  Microsoft’s Kinect or Sony’s Move? Tell us in the comments!

Source – IGN PlayStation Move

Source – GameStop PlayStation Move

Source – GameStop Microsoft Kinect

What’s the overused idea in technology right now? 3D. Every movie this summer has been a disgrace (with certain exceptions) and the makers believe that 3D will help enhance their movies. Although, truthfully, the movie is just as awful, if not worse in 3D. Along with the 3D movie rush came the horrible 3D TVs. However, aside from these 3D movies and TVs, another new addition to the 3D family has been announced. It is the Sony 3D laptop.

Sony’s new laptop is due in the spring of 2011 and will allow users to view 3D videos and games at a 1080p resolution. In Berlin, Sony revealed upcoming Vaio laptops that come equipped with their own 3D glasses and a button specifically for 3D. The laptop is one of a kind, in that it is able to display video at 240 frames per second to keep the 3D effect. An avid tech fan would question the graphics chip used, but Sony refused to disclose this information. Along with the presentation of these laptops Sony has mentioned that the PlayStation 3 is going to receive new firmware in the future. This firmware will make the PlayStation 3; yes you guessed it, 3D capable. A few games that will allow 3D game play are: Tumble, Mortal Kombat, Virtual Tennis 4, Killzone 3, The Fight, MLB baseball, and Super Stardust HD. The final new release that Sony is going to offer is a 3D TV channel. The channel is said to display history, children’s programs, science, and movies.

Personally, I believe that the 3D laptop will not be worth the investment. I am not a fan of 3D movies, and would advise only true 3D movie fans to buy this upcoming laptop. For some people, 3D movies are a great experience, and if you would like to be able to take the movies on the go while keeping the 3D effects then Sony’s laptop is the product for you.  Although, when it comes to gaming it is a different story. It is an interesting feature for a laptop to have the ability to play games in 3D, but if you have a PlayStation 3 why not just buy the firmware and play 3D games on that? Aside from the mobility factor of laptops it doesn’t seem worth it. The PlayStation 3 is said to have the best graphics of any gaming platform, which includes computers and laptops. If you are a true gamer, then the best choice is to buy yourself a PlayStation 3. Sony is trying to jump into the sudden 3D technology movement, and it is a good decision because some people will buy and test out these new products. However, I would rather save money and stick to normal movies. The 3D movies in the theaters don’t seem to actually be coming towards your seat, but instead it feels like the movies image is just enhanced and may pop out a bit.  In order to get me to buy these 3D products, companies must create a more intense 3D experience, where items are actually thrown at your seat. Similar to the 3D shows that are extremely popular in Disney World, such as Philhar Magic. I feel like that will keep the experience fun and entertaining for a much longer time.

What’s your take on 3D products? Tell us in the comments!

Source – Sony 3D Laptops

Microsoft has recently updated the Xbox 360 community with information on the release of their brand new controller. The innovative design captivated me immediately. Being an Xbox 360 owner and Xbox Live subscriber, the news of a new controller has me quite anxious. The controller appears to have the same look as past 360 controllers, but there are a couple notable differences.

First and foremost, the controller has finally answered the complaints on the poorly designed original D-Pad. The new and improved D-Pad has the same circle appearance as the old, but there is a hidden feature. You can now twist the D-Pad to the side, which allows the D-Pad’s plus (+) shape to rise and pop out. This allows the player to easily click the directional buttons. Microsoft previously made the D-Pad’s appearance great by making it into a circular disk shape, but this shape had a lack of functionality. However, with this controller, Microsoft provides us with the stylish circle look and functional plus (+) design. Aside from the major D-Pad improvement; there have only been a few minor changes to the controller itself. For example the concave design around the analog sticks has been slightly modified for increased comfort. Also, the A, B, X, and Y buttons are not their usual colors. Instead, they are each slightly different shades of grey to match the boring gray color scheme of the entire controller. Personally, I think that the colors of the buttons helped add a “pop” to the controller, and I am hoping that Microsoft will offer different color scheme options.

The news on this controller has just recently been released, and has informed us that the release date is set to be November 9, 2010. This is the same date that the highly anticipated Call of Duty Black Ops game is going to be released. I predict that the sales of this controller will go through the roof, but not only because of the new design. The release of Black Ops will have many avid gamers out at the stores, and this could help inspire consumers to buy the controller along with the game. It will only be sold with the Play & Charge kit and will only run you $64.99. From the looks of it, Microsoft has done an excellent job and will not disappoint its fans. Please be sure to check back in early November for a full review!

What are your thoughts on the new design? Tell us in the comments!

Source – New Xbox 360 Controller

Source – Call of Duty Black Ops