As an overall experience, the OnLive MicroConsole asks quite a bit out of me as a user. Not the service itself, I have no beefs with the service. The OnLive MicroConsole is a box roughly the size of a DSi. It is designed to bring PC gaming to your television or monitor without the need of a computer with reasonable specs, or a computer at all for that matter. There is a lot the OnLive MicroConsole has to offer the world in terms of a cheap and affordable PC gaming experience brought straight to your living room. It’s hard to imagine a world where they could even live up to a fraction of such lofty goals and promises

All it asks is that you have a TV or monitor with an HDMI port, an Ethernet port to plug into nearby, and at least 2 MBPS out of your ISP to experience their service. This is where I ran into some issues. I’ve got power sockets and death squids all over the place, so that’s no problem. My TV is HDMI ready, so no need to drop 30 bucks on a component adapter, and I can handle the MBPS needed. But I’m clearly not the person they had in mind for the MicroConsole. The service allows for computers to connect via WiFi, however the console does not. The console requires you to connect either with an Ethernet cable or through various bridge techniques.

So, as it stands now, my only option is the grab a big ol’ Cat5 that I still have from when I wanted to play some PS2 online and went to work. The problem with this scenario is that I’m too uninterested in crafting any sort of bridge solution, so I’m just stuck having this MicroConsole sitting on the floor with cables strewn about as I try and figure out the best possible way for this to work.

It doesn’t work.

It just sits there.

Neither on my entertainment center or anywhere else useful, it becomes a deathtrap. Ready for my dogs to wander in, trip over, and unplug at any second. But I powered forward. Obviously the best solution for me is to just use my home computer if I really wanted to use OnLive effectively. But hey, this unit was free. I’m going to use it.

After that, it’s all gravy.  The unit boots up in a flash. First time start up is simple enough. Quick sync of the controller using the included USB cable gets your rolling. Speaking of included cables, considering they hand these things out like samples at Costco, it’s pretty impressive that it comes fully loaded with all the cables and accessories you would need. You get your network cable, power cable, USB cable for controller charging, a rechargeable battery, a battery pack that takes double-A batteries, even a pair a Duracell double-A’s to get you started, and surprisingly a rather nicely sized HDMI cable. It really is a fully loaded package.

Once you log in using your OnLive account, you discover that the dashboard is exactly the same as the PC experience. The OnLive MicroConsole is not it’s own unique user experience in any way. Outside of using a unique OnLive crafted controller, it is identical no matter how you are using their service.

A unique part of this system is the controller. Most conventional wisdom would just assume that, considering this is ostensibly a PC, that they would either A) pack a simple but branded USB keyboard and mouse with the unit or B) tell you that you can just use most any USB accessories you need. But they don’t.

Instead they took a rather surprising route. They included a controller unique to the console. What can only be described as a some sort of insane alchemic formation that is a cross between a 360 controller, a PS3 controller, and a Wii Classic Controller Pro. You get your traditional ABXY buttons, left and right triggers and bumpers, a D-Pad that doesn’t suck (this is important to note), and concave thumbsticks that are laid out like a PS3. There’s also an interesting media row, which allows you to record and control what OnLive has dubbed “Brag Clips”, which is just PR speak for gameplay videos you can record and show off to other OnLive users. It’s a rather nice inclusion.

You look at the controller though, and it gives off bad vibes. Aesthetically it looks like a third party controller you’d buy for your PS3 or PC that is both a game controller and a multimedia remote wrapped up into one package. However, its build quality is superb. It has a nice weight to it, and all the buttons, triggers and pads just feel solid. I should note that the OnLive MicroConsole fully supports most USB keyboards, mice, USB hubs and various other third party controllers, including the XBox 360 controller. Check it out below. I lined it up with the 360 and the PS3 controller for quick comparison shot.

I’m not going to spend too much time talking about the service of OnLive, since the service itself is free these days and easy enough to just jump in and try out. Most of the games feature 30 minute timed demos, so if you want to put the system through it’s paces, it’s easy enough to see if it’s for you and if you find it’s stream of Arkham Asylum up to your standards. The biggest worry, and a rightful one at that, is that this service does run through the Internet. You are essentially playing a video of a game with a wireless controller. There is a lot to go wrong in that equation. But I can tell you from first hand experience that it’s a virtually non-existent issue. I’m not so one with the machine that I recognize any sort of lag between pushing the button and having the action happening. It’s a very seamless. There are only a few times when you feel like you’re not actually playing the game directly, and that usually comes from video hiccups or a quick notice of controller lag. I’m not running a particularly fast network at my home, but it’s enough to get things rolling. The image I’m putting out is just barely above standard definition, however I have used the service on much better networks than mine and can say from first hand experience that the image quality can really be superb.

That previous thing I said. About using it on a better network? That’s another great little thing about the console.  It’s actually quite portable. The console is itty bitty. Pocket sized even. The controller is a little bulky, and the amount of cables you’ll need is a little much, but if you’re going to be gone for extended periods of time and you REALLY want to get in on that hot Deus Ex action, than this is an adequate solution.

But here is where I always find myself coming back to when thinking about or talking about the MicroConsole. The question here is WHY would you do that? The OnLive home computer client is more than acceptable. In fact, it’s the exact same service. So, taking the console around with you is just silly when you will likely just have your laptop with you. It makes sense using it at home, but it not being wireless can really kill the convenience factor. I’m sure I’m in the minority here, but not very many people I know have their router within earshot of their television.

There isn’t a room with a TV in my house that this will work with unless I implement a bridge, which is just silly for me to bother doing when, again, I can just use any of the computers in my house and hook up my laptop to the TV. A bridge isn’t a difficult thing, it’s actually quite simple, but an inconvenience for someone like me that simply wants to power up and go. It’s not elegant by any stretch of the imagination, and I will suspect that if things really take off, we’ll be seeing a WiFi version of the console or perhaps a peripheral. The controller is great, but I can easily just use a third party controller on my home PC and get the same exact experience. Yeah, it’s not on my big screen TV, but it has to get to the point where you will just wind up saying “Screw it, I’m buying an XBox” and get on with it.

The MicroConsole is not a replacement for a PC. It’s not even a replacement for a home console. I’m really in their demographic for this thing. I’m both a console gamer and a gamer that would like to play some PC titles, but just don’t have the rig for it. The console itself is virtually useless to me, because I’m just not in a position to use it like an average console. In reality, the BEST demographic for this console is someone who wants to game on a budget. The console is a hundred dollars straight up, but there are plenty of deals where just pre-ordering a game will snag you one at no cost.

For that hundred bucks, you get a decent sized catalog that has regular sales (I just picked up Arkham Asylum for a dollar), and even the option to subscribe to a Netflix like service that lets you play a large catalog of games ranging from the original Deus Ex to Braid for just 10 dollars a month. It’s a great console and a great service that has come a long way since it’s subscription based beginnings. If I had the appropriate set up for this console, It’d be another welcome addition to my gaming shelf. But given all the hoops I’ll need to jump through, I really will just be better off using the PC client.

Despite my personal issues, I have the console and the less than ideal or elegant ways of making getting it online without being in close proximity to my networks router (and I’m sure I’m not some outlier on that scatter plot, am I?). The hardware is top notch, well built and well worth owning if you feel like OnLive is the kind of thing you could really sink your teeth deep down into.

Well good day there fellow gaming geeks and geekettes. The Applemonkey here and I’m going to chit chat with you kids about a thing I always enjoy doing: collecting accessories. Today’s hunt will be on the Super Nintendo. From the Super Gameboy controller to the Miracle Piano, hunting for SNES accessories is always a tantalizing experience. I’m going to talk about three unique items that you just might want to hunt for. Go grab yourself some animal crackers and Yoo-hoo, sit back and enjoy!

Item #1: Hyperbeam by Konami

What a perfect accessory for any collection. Unlike the amazing DUAL TURBO (by Acclaim) providing two wireless controllers and a straightforward sensor, the Hyperbeam comes with one controller and a satellite dish for a receiver. Being packaged within a precut Styrofoam will make finding this in pristine condition hard.

Item #2: Wireless SNES Controllers w/ Limited Edition Lunchbox by Messiah

Oh, how I miss Messiah. I have used several different wireless controllers and Messiah created some of the best ones on the market. The distance, the feel and the reaction of these controllers are just stellar. Added bonus, they have created a small quantity of limited edition metal lunchbox sets for sale. It’s a darn shame that Messiah only existed for such a little time period. No other company will ever have their passion on quality.

Item #3: Supaboy ‘Portable Super Nintendo System’ by Hyperkin

At the present moment, this item is still in the prototype phase. After stating that… what a swell system! A portable SNES system that doubles as a home console. With features like an LCD screen, rechargeable battery and the compatibility to use original controllers, the SupaBoy is just a must have. Now having a SNES handheld to test carts while game hunting makes it easier to purchase games in the wild. Hyperkin hasn’t officially announced the release date, but I have a strong feeling it will be ready and in stores for this year’s holiday season. Start making your holiday wish list!

Honorable Mention: X Band by Catapult Entertainment

What a concept… being able to play against your friends without leaving your home. With a small monthly fee, X Band allowed you to live that dream. Unfortunately, game developers never were on board causing a limited number of games that are capable to be used which in turned cause the X Band to disband. The X Band was only on the market for a short period of time.

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What a crazy list, right fellow game cadets?! You can easily obtain these items on auction sites, but it’s worth it to find on a hunt or at your local retro gaming expo. Trust me, finding items on a hunt is just a thrill. I hoped you enjoyed the following and those animal crackers with Yoo-hoo. If you have any questions or if you just want to talk gaming with me, follow me on twit twit @TheApplemonkey or let’s be friends on Facebook. Until the next segment….

It’s hard to say at this point. Nearly everything was conceptual. While a lot of the things shown off were fun, if not novel at least, it was also tough to get excited about ideas over actual games. It was in pretty stark contrast to last year’s E3 when Nintendo revealed the 3DS. While most of what they showed was just trailers, nearly all of them represented actual games that would definitely be made. I suppose it can be argued it’s a lot more difficult to show Wii U’s potential with commitment to specific games, whereas all the 3DS needed to show off was its glasses-free 3D. Nevertheless, what matters most with any hardware is the games it has, so as neat as some of the Wii U demonstrations were, you’ll forgive me if I sound less than excited.

For this demonstration, everything was about the Wii U controller (which so far doesn’t have any special name). Nintendo was reluctant to really show off or go into detail about the console itself, to the point that some people reportedly thought the controller was the system itself. The major focus of the controller is its 6.2″ LCD touch screen. While this already opens up all sorts of possibilities for play control, the controller still features all the same buttons you’d find on the Wii’s classic controller, though arranged a little differently. There is also a front facing camera. The top of the controller stores the stylus pen, the AC adapter port and has a headphone jack and volume control. The bottom of the controller contains an elongated port of presently unknown use. The back of the controller has a protrusion along the upper area to rest on your fingers while you hold it. There are also a could grooves in the back that one of the Wii U hostesses, I suppose you’d call them, speculated could allow for a stand. Finally, the controller has a built in accelerometer and gyroscope.

With the generous touch screen on the front, there are a wide variety of ways it can complement games. Concepts shown off included it being used as a map and an inventory system. It is also possible to play the games directly on the controller’s screen, assuming you have people over who want to watch something else on TV. Despite being loaded with tech, however, everything on the controller is streamed from the system; there is no hardware in the controller to play games on it separately from the Wii U. It also sounds like Nintendo doesn’t intend the controller to stray too far from the console, so it won’t really double as a portable gaming device (though with any luck it can make it as far as the restroom, eheh).

Despite its rather large size, the Wii U controller is very light, and surprisingly comfortable to hold. At no point with the various demonstrations I tried did I feel any awkwardness reaching for buttons or get any strain or pain. It worked remarkably well, and there were a number of unique ways available to use it. I tried the following concept demos:

Measure Up – The first game I was directed to, since it tended to have the least amount of people at it. It was a very simple concept the demonstrate drawing on the touch screen. The game instructed you to draw various shapes; a circle with a two inch diameter or an 80 degree angle, and so forth. After drawing, it measured how accurate and near you were able to draw the requested shape. I opted for a competitive match with the Nintendo hostess, who was certainly better after hours of having to demonstrate the software. Despite how basic it was, I felt an intriguing sense of fun in trying to draw a shape and seeing how close I could get just eyeballing it. I could see Measure Up working as part of a Brain Training or Wii Fit style game.

Super Mario Bros. Mii – I was determined to get to this next, since how well classic Super Mario Bros. plays could very well determine if I want this system. And wouldn’t you know it, it felt terrific. I may as well have been playing on the Wii remote, because there was nothing awkward about the controls. Even shaking the controller to give Mario that extra lift in jumps worked fine. The only thing that was odd was trying to play the game off the controller’s screen, which got a little disorienting. I’m not sure if this is just a concept or the beginning of a legit game, and I personally think the idea of injecting Miis into a Super Mario Bros. game is a bit weird. Nevertheless I am happy to know the Wii U will support my classic gaming habits just fine.

Chase Mii – A five player game set in a maze. Four players play with Wii remotes and chase the person using the Wii U controller. The “chasee” had the benefit of an overhead map and the ability to see where the four chasers were. The chasers could see how close they were, but had to rely on communication to track down the chasee. This game worked better for the chasee, since running around in 360 degrees with the Wii remotes D-pad is a bit tricky. I loved this demo, and playing as the chasee was very exhilarating. Incidentally, both of the multiplayer demos used just one Wii U controller, and it seems Nintendo is intending that only one Wii U controller is all the system will need (local multiplayer games will prefer Wii remotes).

Battle Mii – Another competitive game with a curious Mii meets Metroid style. Two Miis controlled by Wii remote ran around on foot, while the Wii U controller player piloted a spaceship. The soldiers could shoot anywhere the Wii remote was pointed, could charge up to fire a bomb, and could roll a la Samus’ morph ball. The ship player, meanwhile, had more life and a rapid fire gun. The objective was to hunt each other down, but this time the advantage was to the players on foot. The ship was needlessly complex to operate, and pretty slow as well. I don’t think I saw a game where the ship beat even one of the soldier players. Still, it was a pretty interesting concept. I could see this and Chase Mii together as part of some sort of “Wii U Play” type game.

Shield Pose – A game meant to demonstrate the Wii U controller’s gyroscope. This was a pretty fun Rhythm Heaven style game, although the Nintendo hostess made it clear it has no relation to the Rhythm Heaven series. On the TV screen, a pirate ordered his henchman to launch arrows at you in rhythm to some music. Following the beat, you would hold up the controller like a shield to block them, then shake to knock the arrows off. However, arrows could come from different directions, and moving the controller around like it were a moveable window you could see other ships in the distance to the right and left. There was virtually no noticeable latency in scanning around with the tablet; it was very impression.

HD Experience – There were two demonstrations that exhibited the Wii U’s graphical prowess. I only watched one, which was themed with The Legend of Zelda. In the short rendered movie, Link enters a temple and is attacked by a giant spider. The movie then repeats with the lighting changed to night (though you could change the lighting in either case). It was also possible to change the camera angle, and switch the movie between the TV and the controller’s screen. I’m really no connoisseur of graphics, but the demonstration looked detailed and sharp, both on the TV and on the controller. I would definitely say it looked as good as about anything on either the 360 or PS3.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online – This demonstration was headed by an Ubisoft representative. The game was in a very early build, and truthfully I’m not at all familiar with the series. However, the controller functions were very intriguing. I started off by customizing my character’s weapons by sliding around options on the controller. In the actual game, the controller served as a map. With the gyroscope, it was possible to move the map around like a 3D structure. I could also tap on the map to set beacons for players to regroup at, and use radar to identify enemy locations (which were just automated turrets in the dem0). I really liked how many possibilities there were for strategic cooperative play.What’s more, the representative said Ghost Recon Online would be fully online, with its own system of user accounts and friends, essentially similar to what you’d expect with the 360 or PS3 online infrastructure. I asked if this was via the Wii U’s own online capabilities, or if it was a special network setup for the game itself. The representative told me the online network was something Ubisoft specifically required from Nintendo for the game to work.

All in all I am mostly impressed with what the Wii U controller is capable of. It opens a lot of doors for new and interesting console experiences. I think one thing I don’t much see the point of is playing on the Wii U controller to free up the TV. I see where Nintendo is going with this, but we live in an age where most households own more than one TV. Furthermore, it would probably be in Nintendo’s better interest to have a system where people would rather come together and play its games as opposed to offering TV as an alternative to playing for some people.

It’s an intriguing gamble. When Nintendo came out with the Wii, they really had a vision for a new direction of gaming, but most third parties didn’t jump on board. With the Wii U, I feel that Nintendo is letting third parties have their way now, while Nintendo themselves continues to carry their expanded audience on their own (which they essentially did with the Wii). Good questions to ask would be: will the expanded market want a Wii U, or will the Wii be good enough for them? Likewise, will core gamers find the need to jump ship from the 360 and PS3, which is likely to carry many of the same third party games the Wii U gets?

As I said before, the games are what it will really come down to. I am impressed by Wii U, very impressed. But I’m not yet sold.

Samus has had a rough go finding work after the implosion of Other M.

When Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies came out a few weekends ago, everyone in my household played their respective copies non-stop for the first two days. Everything was going great at first, but then I started to get a horrible headache.

I started to notice that my hands were killing me. I realized that I was squinting the entire time I was playing, and the small size of the console was increasingly uncomfortable in my hands.

It was time to give in, admit that I am an old man, and grab a Nintendo DSi XL.

I’ve had the DSi XL for about a week now. I have noticed the soreness in my hands has started to go back to its normal levels caused by working a day job of web development.

I have pretty bad eyesight, and the advertised “93% Larger Screen!” was one of the things that intrigued me about the system in the first place. The resolution is obviously the same as the regular DS and DSi, so the images are just being stretched to the larger screen size. Because of this, it can sometimes make things, particularly text, look a little blurry. The only time it is really noticeable is on the DSi’s standard welcome screen where there is a lot of white. I never noticed it during gameplay.

I tried out Dragon Quest IX first, since it was the game that motivated me to buy the console. The use of 3D within the game already has some jaggies, and they were even more apparent on the larger screen. The game by no means looks bad. It’s probably the best use of 3D graphics on the DS so far.

Next I put in New Super Mario Bros., and was pleasantly surprised to see that its graphics look just as smooth as when I played it on my DS. The larger screen had no ill-effect on that games aesthetics. Finally, I tried Contra 4. The sprite work looks fantastic on the larger screen.

The buttons on the XL are the same size and just as responsive as on its smaller counterparts, but having them spaced apart was much more comfortable for me, especially in the high level of action that Contra provided. Also, I could finally see those damn bullets!

The buttons feel a lot more clicky than on my DS Lite. This is nice, as I am a big fan of having tactile feedback in my games (suck it, Apple’s hatred of real buttons). They are easy to press down, so finger fatigue has not been an issue either.

The DSi XL cameras are still about as good as your standard cell phone. So, not great. The best use of the DSi cameras so far has been Photo Dojo, which you should go buy if you have any version of the DSi.

The DSi XL comes pre-loaded with a few pieces of software. The webbrowser (which is still the terrible Opera browser), a clock, and a couple of brain training games. These are Brain Age Express: Math and Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters. Just like their retail counterparts, they are more of little math and word puzzles designed to get your brain working more than they are standard games. This goes along with the fact that the XL line was designed for older gamers. It is also the reason they come in Burgundy and Bronze (aka poop brown). Sure, there is a young hip blue color, but that defeats the purpose.

All in all, the DSi XL is a solid device. It is likely a little too large for younger players, but if you are like me and are getting into your thirties, you might want to consider it over it’s smaller counterparts.

THE UNBOXENING!! Photos:

Compared to the standard DSi

"Accomplishes it's purpose and works exactly how it sounds."

Although this review is about the Wii2HDMI adapter, I’ve also been using the VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler Processor quite heavily the past few weeks. In this review I will be comparing the two devices.

Size

When I received the Wii2HDMI adapter, I was very surprised how compact it is compared to the VD-W3. After doing a bit of research, I quickly realized the Wii2HDMI is able to afford its compact size by omitting an upscaler.

Measurements:

• 1.3″ x 2.8″ x 0.5″
• 33 x 72 x 13 mm

"Wii2HDMI (left) vs VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler Processor (right)"

Function

The primary purpose of this device is to convert from analog to digital so that you can use HDMI or DVI. Because there is no upscaler, there’s no real improvement or difference in image quality over the use of component cables. If you have been using composite cables, which max out at 480i, you will see a huge difference in image quality.

For me, the biggest advantage is the ability to connect to a computer monitor. The monitor I’m using doesn’t have an HDMI input, but does have DVI. I was able to use a $5 HDMI-to-DVI adapter from monoprice for this. Thankfully, there is a mini-audio 3.5mm jack on the Wii2HDMI as well for outputting audio, since DVI doesn’t transmit audio.

Since there’s no upscaling, you’re monitor needs to support 480p (and 480i for some older games) video mode. All TV’s equipped with HDMI inputs are required to support 480p video mode, so that shouldn’t be an issue.

Looking through posts on various forums before ordering, some users were worried this device might cause some lag in video display resulting from the conversion from analog to digital. From experience, I have not noticed any lag whatsoever.

Head to head comparison

Pros:

• Much smaller than VD-W3
• Doesn’t take up a USB port like the VD-W3
• $20 cheaper than the VD-W3

Cons:

• No upscaler
• No color enhancement settings or function
• Image quality no better than Component Cables

Conclusion

All things considered, both products are really great. I’m very happy with both.

If you are looking for a solution to hook up your Wii to a computer monitor, or have a spare HDMI port, and you are happy with the way the colors look without any enhancement, this is a great solution.

If you’re TV or Monitor has a terrible upscaler, or feel the colors are muted, and have no adjustment settings, you may want to consider the VD-W3. In which case, you’ll want to read Jesse’s review of the VD-W3. Your decision will most likely be based on your budget and the model of TV or Monitor you are using.

This review is based on the adapter provided to us by Neoya. The Wii2HDMI can be purchased at Neoya for $39.95.

My first day at E3 was essentially all about getting my feet wet.  I didn’t line up to play games so much as I explored the premises and got a good idea what was around.  It’s been a pretty lively event, and one that only got busier as the day wore on.  But one thing I did manage to take a stab at, the one thing I was prepared to do when I knew I was going to E3, was trying out Nintendo’s 3DS.

The 3DS was shown off in red, teal, black, purple, and orange colors, and they all had a metallic finish, which surprised me a little. Holding the device in my hand, the 3DS felt pretty much like my DS Lite, though perhaps a bit “sturdier”. I wish I had brought my DS Lite to compare, though.

The 3DS is built pretty much like the previous DS entries. The start and select buttons are now beneath the bottom screen, and there is a home button between them. The volume control is on the left side of the device, and on the right side, by the top screen, is a slider to control the depth of the 3D effect. The headphone jack is on the bottom, directly centered. I didn’t notice any other card input other than the one at the top, so I imagine 3DS game carts are roughly the same shape as DS game carts.

To get right to the thing I’m sure everyone is wanting to know about, the 3D effect the system accomplishes is neat, but it wasn’t mind-blowing, and at times it was even a little annoying. I should mention I’m someone who hasn’t “gotten along” with 3D in the past, and watching 3D movies tends to give me a headache.

While it’s definitely nice not to have to use glasses, in some of the demos it seemed like my eyes had a hard time finding what to focus on, and after playing a few, I did feel like I was getting a slight headache. Even one of the Nintendo representatives admitted to feeling a little cross-eyed when she used it.

Overall, the effect wasn’t that great. It definitely added a sense of depth to the visual, but I didn’t really feel like things were flying off the screen at me. But it seemed about as good as most 3D movies I’ve seen (I consider the best to be Terminator 2 3D at Universal Studios, incidentally). One other thing, though. You have to look at the screen dead on for the effect to work. If you deviate too much to an angle, things will just get blurred as the stereoscopic image becomes undone.

The first demonstration I tried was basically a selection of “tests” meant to get the user used to the 3D effect. It was very Nintendo. The first thing it shows you is two strawberries, one in 3D and a flat one, and you have to pick which you think is the 3D strawberry. After that, you can pick one of four more tests. The one I tried showed three mine carts set on tracks that interwove between each other, and you had to pick the one that would get to the diamond at the end. My partner also did tests for finding which hole a ball was in, and counting how many children moving around on the screen were in 3D.

Next, I saw a trailer for a CG animated movie called Legend of the Guardians. Again here, the 3D was a quaint attraction, but I didn’t feel like it was flying out at me. I will note, however, that the movie quality seemed very sharp, and while I don’t know what the specific screen resolution is, I’d hazard to say the movie seemed like it was HD. While I know it was a movie being played directly off of a cartridge, and I also know movies on smaller screens tend to look sharper, I’d say if streaming content on the 3DS could look as good as this trailer did, it’d be a pretty big feature.

After the trailer, a Nintendo rep let my partner and I try out the 3DS’s 3D photo capability. She admitted it worked best when the object you focused in was about 1-2 meters away. After you take a picture, you can “focus” it using a slider on the touch screen, which lets you set the best manageable 3D effect. I held my arms out in my picture, and my friend held up his camera, and you could definitely get a sense of the depth.

Next, I watched a trailer for Resident Evil Revelations, which was rendered in real time. This was the only demo I played that let you use the analog stick on the 3DS; a new feature. All it did, though, was slightly change the orientation of the cinema playing, as if you were looking around. The A and B buttons let me zoom in and out, and X let me pause the movie.

The analog stick feels very solid; way better than the one that’s been on the PSP models before. However, as a personal preference I wish it weren’t on top of the D-pad, as I prefer the D-pad to be directly horizontal to the other major buttons. This was the first demo where I noticed the 3D effect was starting to bother my eyes a little.

After that, I watched a demo for Paper Mario. Given the simple visuals, this game actually looked the best to me in 3D, and had nice features like Mario peeling away parts of the BG and walking back into the coves it revealed.

Then I watched a trailer for the new Kid Icarus game, though I wasn’t completely sure if it was a movie or being rendered in real time. This was another demonstration where the 3D effect started bothering me, and in some segments, like the Sin and Punishment-esque shooter parts, I had a tough time keeping my eyes trained on Pit. But I will say that this game and others before looked stunning. In a lot of cases, I turned off the 3D to see how the demos looked, and they were pretty much just as good. The visuals in Kid Icarus easily looked on par with a Wii game.

The last demo I tried was for Nintendogs + Cats. This was the only real interactive demo I tried. I could change costume items on the puppy, as well as select different toys for it to fetch and bring back. The toys were thrown by sliding them across the touch screen. It was a quaint little game, and while I’ve never played Nintendogs before, playing this made me miss my dogs back at home.

I do think I’ll go one more round with the 3DS if I get a chance. There were a lot of demos shown off, but your time in the demo area was limited, and unfortunately there weren’t any good indicators showing which demos were where.

Overall, the 3DS stands out to me as the next evolution of the DS, rather than being a new system (such as how the Virtual Boy was an entirely different beast than the Game Boy). I imagine this is why Nintendo stuck with the 3DS name.

I’ll reiterate, the 3D is a nice gimmick, but it didn’t wow me. But as someone who personally doesn’t care much about 3D either, this fact doesn’t bother me a lot. Since the 3D effect can be a little wearing on the eyes, I’m glad Nintendo had the good sense of letting you tone it down or turn it off entirely. It may seem counter-intuitive to be able to turn it off, but it’s good in making sure the 3D doesn’t get in the way of enjoying the game.

The 3DS still seems to have all the great features of the DS before it, and some new ones like better visuals and the analog stick. With the amount of content already in the works, I’d say Nintendo’s 3DS is going to be a pretty big contender.

Photographs taken by Cheston Tang

"Is this our Wii HD holy grail solution?"

With the increasing number of HDTVs in homes, many Wii owners have cried out for a “Wii HD”; something that could make their games shine with all the P’s the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 have been enjoying. In all honesty, I don’t think the Wii HD will ever happen. I feel brave (or stupid) enough to say that right before E3.

Our only non-emulator based HD solution for Wii seems to lie in the VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler Processor.  But does it actually work?

First off, let’s get some details out of the way. The device itself costs $59 and can output 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p for TVs and 1280×1024, 1440×900, and 1680×1050 for monitors. The adapter will take up the Wii’s normal AV slot as well as one of the USB slots. From there, the HDMI cable (sold separately) plugs from the upscaler right to the TV. Or if you’re using a monitor, you may need to order their DVI/HDMI converter. If you want to use audio other than HDMI, there is a 3.5mm audio jack on the adapter.

All my testing was done using a Vizio VX32L HDTV10A model TV. Using the dip switches on the bottom of the adapter, I tested every combination of TV resolution (I did not test monitor settings), display mode, and color mode. I tested several games, focusing mainly on Monster Hunter Tri, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle.

My first concern was checking to see if the jagged edges I’ve come to expect from Wii games would be lessened. I tested a variety of situations, switching back and forth between component cables and the HDMI adapter.

Unfortunately, under no circumstance did I ever feel the jagged edges looked better. The best I could do was make the edges look “different”, but not better. In fact, certain settings arguably made edges appear worse than with the component cables.

But the biggest improvement I had heard about in the legendary tales of the device was its color enhancing properties. This is where needing to test different games became especially important. The first thing I noticed was that, while there is a dip switch to toggle whether or not color enhancing is enabled, the colors were always more saturated using the adapter.

The Color Mode switch has two settings, “Normal” and “Enhance”. However, a more accurate label would read “Saturated” and “Even More Saturated”. Games such as Super Mario Galaxy 2 are already full of vibrant colors. Using the adapter on either setting looks poor. Colors begin to bleed and detail is lost. It was time to boot up some games with muted tones.

Monster Hunter Tri was the title I had heard it worked especially well with. This is where most of my testing was done. I found that, while the device managed to give the colors more life, things also became much darker. I had to adjust my tv’s brightness a bit to compensate. The problem was most noticeable in dark areas such as caves.

There was a brief period of time where I was convinced the device would be useful for enhancing Monster Hunter Tri‘s colors if nothing else, but while playing No More Heroes 2, I discovered something. My TV’s color saturation settings could produce the same result that the upscaler could.

Immediately, I started testing the idea on Monster Hunter and, sure enough, I was not only able to replicate the vibrant colors without the aid of the adapter, I was actually able to do it with LESS loss in detail and bleeding with my TV’s saturation settings than with the upscaler.

After several hours of testing with numerous adapter and TV settings, I’ve come to the conclusion that the VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler Processor does nothing that my HDTV can’t do better natively. It could still potentially be a good solution for those needing to hook a Wii up to a monitor with HDMI or DVI, but a Wii HD this is not. Perhaps the most valuable lesson I’ve learned from all this is that Monster Hunter Tri looks a lot cooler when I turn up my TV’s color saturation settings.

The VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler Processor can be purchased at VDIGI Electronics for $59.

I am a sucker for shiny things that I do not need. When I saw the first pictures of the special edition “The Beatles: Rock Band” guitars, I decided that I needed one. I ended up picking up the John Lennon Rickenbacker 325 because its design was the closest to the Rock Band 2 Stratocaster that I was already comfortable using.

The Rickenbacker 325 was one of the most recognizable guitars played by John Lennon, and MadCatz totally nailed the look and feel of the classic axe. From the faux-wood neck to the chrome plating around the whammy bar, this is by far the most detailed Rock Band peripheral out there.

Picking up the guitar for the first time, the first thing I noticed was the lack of rounded edges around the body of the guitar, making it a little uncomfortable in comparison to the Rock Band 2 Strat. Otherwise, the guitar is a complete blast to play. The effects switch is more subtle and less likely to get bumped while you’re playing, which was one of my biggest complaints with the other Rock Band guitars. The strum bar feels just slightly tighter than the Rock Band 2 Strat, which for me make the super fast strumming sections a bit tougher to pull off.

The guitar has an overall sturdy feel. Unlike some of the previous Rock Band equipment, I’m not constantly feeling like I’m going to snap it in two every time I activate overdrive.

My two biggest complaints are focused on the start and back buttons. The back button is placed just out of the reach of my palm, so in order to activate overdrive, I have to either tilt the guitar or reach down with my little finger. This isn’t really a big issue for those who prefer to tilt the guitar to go into overdrive, but I almost always use the back button, so the button placement makes things a little awkward

My number one complaint is the start button, and the fact that it barely works. It takes about 10 seconds of holding the button down for it to actually pause the game. The same goes for the 360 guide button. I have to press it as hard as I can for it to open the guide, and it only actually works about half the time. Hopefully this is only an issue for my guitar and not something anyone else had to deal with, but it is still very disappointing, especially after the exceptional performance of the Rock Band 2 Strat.

Altogether, this is the one of the best fake guitars I’ve played. The $100 price tag was a bit too steep though, especially when the $80 Wireless Stratocaster is available pretty much everywhere. If you’re a hardcore Beatles fan, though, it is worth it to be able to play with such an accurate, detailed representation of Lennon’s famous guitar.

"Please leave your dignity at the front counter"

I’m not normally the type to buy accessory kits, but there are few things I “geek out” about as much as Mega Man. Originally, I was trying to win this kit (among other things) in a contest the nice folks at The Mega Man Network were throwing, but I didn’t end up placing. After a short, internal debate, I decided to go ahead and buy the kit.

The kit comes in both DSi and DS Lite variations and retails for $19.99. I picked up the DSi version since that’s what I’m using these days. The price seems a bit steep, but the package contains some legitimately useful things aside from unleashing your inner ten-year-old’s desire to trick out your DS.

One of the justifications for the price of the kit is that it comes with a 1GB SD card. You can get SD Cards pretty cheap online these days, though, so if that’s the only reason you’re interested, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

The protective casing is made of clear plastic and is thick enough to be quite durable without hindering the system’s ability to fit in my pocket. There are holes and flaps in all the needed sections so there is no access blocked to any of the DSi’s features. It definitely added weight to the system, but it still feels comfortable to hold. At first, I was a bit worried because my fingers were forced to be slightly further back to use the L and R buttons due to the added thickness of the casing on the top of the system. Thankfully, my worries were put to rest as I put in the most L/R button intensive DS game I know, Mega Man ZX, and found the controls to still feel quite comfortable.

"Put an outline on each insert? What? Do you think we're MADE of outlines?!"

I found it a bit strange that the lineart of the drawing is on the case itself while the colors are on the insert you select. Lining the insert up with the outline on the case proved to be a more difficult task than I had anticipated.

"This was my best effort in lining up the outline with the insert"

Though I decided to go with the insert that showcased the version of the game I purchased, the kit actually comes with six total. The cards themselves are very thin, but once they are in place behind the plastic, there is really nothing to worry about. Each of the inserts have a hole for the DSi camera and in my testing I failed to see any obstructions when trying to take a photo.

"Will you choose blatent flashyness or subtle colored patterns?"

The feature that really took me by surprise is the ability to store three DS cartridges and two SD cards under a locking flap in the back of the system. It adds more thickness to the bottom of the system, but for such a useful feature I think the sacrifice is worth it.

"Quite possibly my favorite feature"

If you feel compelled to have more than four games and 3 SD cards (including the ones in the system slots) on your person, the kit also comes with three plastic cases that can each hold a single game cartridge and SD card simultaneously. Personally, I probably will never use these as the only time I would ever want that many games on me at once would be when I would be using a much better game case already. Regardless, it’s a nice addition to the package.

"Never leave the house without 7 games and 6 SD cards!"

One of the “eye catchers” for me was the 8bit Mega Man attached to the wrist strap that functions as a screen cleaner. The Capcom logo is printed on the wrist strap so you can show off your fandom and the cleaner seems to work just fine.

"So majestic"

Finally, we have a light blue stylus. I couldn’t find any difference between the standard DSi stylus and the one contained in the kit aside from the color and the fact that the blue stylus didn’t have Nintendo’s logo engraved onto it.

"If you can find a difference between the 2 besides the color and logo, you get a cookie!"

Overall, I’m satisfied with kit. Having a convenient way to clean my often smudgy screen while being able to easily store a few games and SD cards on me feels legitimately useful. Though I’d rather see it priced somewhere around $15 (remember the 1GB SD card!), the $19.99 list price really isn’t all that bad and honestly, I expected it to be higher. You can check out the full gallery here. Now it’s time to boot up the game. So long, suckers!

If you are like me, then you love the Xbox 360, but hate the horrible D-pad on the controller. Sure, there are ways to crack open that bad boy and mod it to work better, but since this is me we’re talking about, I know the disaster that would likely follow.

Enter the Madcatz Street Fighter IV Fightpad.

When Street Fighter IV first came out, these little guys were nearly impossible to find either in stores or online. Unless of course, you were willing to pay three times the $39.99 retail price on eBay.

Now that they have been out for a little while, I was able to pick up two of them. Pictured above is the Akuma pad I found online and last night I grabbed the Chun-Li themed one.

Since I have been gaming for years, the Madcatz name still makes me nervous. They used to be synonymous with shoddy, cheep rip-off controllers. I am happy to report that lately, their stuff has been solid from the Rock Band 2 gear to these fightpads.

The D-pad is fantastic. It is very accurate and feels a lot like the old Genesis controller. In fact, the whole pad feels heavily inspired by Sega’s old Genesis 6-button controller and Saturn era controllers. The ergonomics feel pretty good. In extended sessions, my hands did start to get a little sore, unlike the standard 360 controller which is probably the most comfortable controller I’ve ever used.

If you play either fighting games or old school games, I would recommend tracking down one of these fightpads. It will give you the best experience for d-pad related gaming on the 360.

Update: I picked up Street Fighter IV last night and played with the controller, and they work like a charm. Good for fighting games confirmed.