THE iPhone, iPod touch and iPad have turned into pretty popular portable gaming devices, but some of us are still grappling with the issue of virtual buttons — it can be quite easy to miss them during a frenzied moment of button mashing.

Here’s an accessory that may just change your perspective on portable gaming — the 60beat GamePad. You plug this into your iOS device’s headphone jack, where it instantly transforms your iOS device into a full-featured handheld game controller. The 60beat GamePad comes with dual analogue joysticks, a D-Pad, 10 action buttons in addition to three menu buttons, and a standard 3.5mm audio connector. Best of all, it won’t get weighed down by batteries — it just piggybacks off your iOS device’s battery. Expect to fork out US$49.99 (RM160) for this thrill.

WESTERN Digital has a new remote control app that can improve the navigation experience for WD TV Live and WD TV Live Hub users. How does it do that, you ask? Well, the WD TV Remote app turns your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and even an Android-powered device into an advanced-feature remote control for your WD TV. The WD TV Remote advanced features let you zip through a wide range of digital media, from standard TV shows to leading entertainment services such as Vimeo, Dailymotion, TuneIn Radio, Deezer, Facebook and YouTube.

Expect to see the new WD TV Remote app include the entire gamut of features that can be found on the standard WD TV remote control, in addition to advanced features such as a gesture pad that will help you navigate through menu screens and services, all using intuitive touch gestures. Needless to say, Qwerty keyboard support is also thrown in for good measure for text entry and search functionality. Download this app for free from the Apple iTunes Store. An Android-powered version should pop up on the Android market in due time.

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Japan's game industry in 2011 was characterized by the growth of social network games for mobile phones and smartphones from companies such as Gree Inc. and DeNA Co. But console games are likely to stage a comeback with Nintendo Co.'s 3DS portable device selling strongly in recent weeks and Sony Corp. launching its PlayStation Vita handheld console in December.

"We would like to see the Nintendo 3DS spread explosively and quell reports that game-dedicated devices are coming to an end," said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata at a news conference in late October.

As he predicted, the 3DS console has been drawing brisk demand recently aided by the launch of new titles from popular games series such as "Mario Kart" and "Monster Hunter," with sales topping the 3 million mark in December in Japan, according to data compiled by game magazine publisher Enterbrain Inc.

"Achieving its targeted global sales of 16 million by the end of March is coming into sight," said Etsuko Tamura, an analyst at Mizuho Investors Securities Co., citing upcoming major software titles and strong overseas sales.

Intensifying the competition was the Dec. 17 launch by Nintendo's rival Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. of the successor to the PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld game console, the PlayStation Vita, which sold some 321,400 units in its first two days on the market, according to Enterbrain data.

On the day the Vita was launched, more than 100 game fans lined up at a Tsutaya movie and music rental shop in Shibuya Ward to buy the new gadget. Twenty-six-year-old company employee Daichi Teranishi, who used to play games on the Nintendo Entertainment System, called Famicom in Japan, and the PlayStation, said he understands the popularity of social network games, which are often offered free of charge with further features available for purchase.

But he is also eager to play console games like the Vita as it employs advanced technology including high-definition images and enhanced network functions. "By buying console games, I would like to see the game industry revitalized," he said.

Andrew House, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, told reporters that Sony's game unit wants to see sales of the new console "far" outstrip those of the PSP, which topped 73.10 million units at the end of September.

"There will be a sufficient market for game-dedicated consoles if we continue to offer cutting-edge game experiences," House said. According to Enterbrain, the domestic game market -- combining both hardware and software sales -- shrank to about 494 billion yen in 2010 after hitting its peak of some 688 billion yen in 2007.

In contrast, the social network game market has been growing sharply, reaching 112 billion yen in 2010, a 4.4-fold jump from the previous year. "A generational change took place" in 2011 as social network platforms such as Gree and Mobage became widely recognized with more people starting to play games on smartphones, said Enterbrain President Hirokazu Hamamura.

But Hamamura predicted that console developers will come into the limelight as they try to play the leading role in the game industry. In addition to the 3DS and the Vita, Wii U, the successor to Nintendo's video game console Wii, may become the leading player in the next-generation console market following its scheduled launch in 2012.

A fierce race is expected among game makers to grab players' time, said Hamamura, adding there will be no big losers in the game industry because the customers for console games and for social network games are different.

"A battle to take the spotlight will begin," he said, adding the expected trend is likely to spur the entire game market in 2012. In a bid to outperform rivals, traditional game console makers are trying to diversify their earnings sources by enhancing network functions as well as selling software content.

One model of Sony's Vita, for example, features 3G mobile data connectivity as part of their efforts to enhance the Internet connection. Players will be able to use social network media such as Twitter by downloading dedicated applications via the Internet.

But Mizuho Investors' Tamura said what the Vita console really needs is to expand its corresponding game titles. "For the Vita to be successful, there needs to be a variety of new software," she said.

Nintendo, meanwhile, has introduced in its online shopping content for the 3DS a mechanism which enables users to purchase additional content such as new stages for a game they have bought, though such content is not yet available.

"As software development costs rise due to advanced hardware technology, game console makers need to secure more profits rather than just selling packaged software," Tamura said. "Business models are likely to change for console makers in 2012," Tamura said, citing the spread of download content.

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Andrew Poulter heads up the technical team behind the war-game and said that while back in the 80s and 90s, military simulations were state of the art, today they have fallen far behind commercial alternatives in terms of graphics and plot. With that in mind, the MoD has been investing heavily in what's known as "Project Kite" (knowledge information test environment), designed to bring the training software to the forefront of military shooters.

Some of this is down to the current generation of new recruits having been raised on shooter titles from both the Call of Duty and Battlefield series. This means they've been used to high quality first person shooter games. Taking a step down in graphics and immersion is hardly a way to train a soldier how to react in certain situations.

Another aspect of the software's revamp is that with dwindling budgets due to economic cut backs, virtual training is cheaper than its real world alternative. However, this doesn't mean that it's less effective. The Guardian has a quote from Poulter that claims a commander from Afghanistan considered the training "invaluable. It is being taken seriously. It's not just a game," said Poulter.

This is the part that the MoD is keen to work on. While commercial games "may look graphically beautiful, they have to be entertaining rather than realistic" said Poulter. Simulations like Battlespace2 and its potential sequels are designed to test how soldiers will react in certain situations as well as training them to react quickly to orders.

That doesn't mean it's not fun at all though. "It is certainly a lot more fun than going through lists of checks and box-ticking," Poulter continued. "We want them to think 'I would quite like to do a bit more of that kind of thing'. So they might spend 10 minutes [on a simulation] after reading papers in the morning, or in their spare time."

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Back at E3 of this year, I wandered in to what I like to call the "doldrums." The little booths filled with smaller companies, people attempting to get you to sign up for a credit card amid all the hooplah and confusion. Once in a while, you'll stumble upon something interesting--as was the case with GAEMS G155 Portable Entertainment System. And while I was immediately impressed with the design of this case, and I still am, I can't shake the pricetag or get past the lack of practicality with the G155.

The G155 is designed quite well. It's about the size of a 1970s suitcase and has various padding and such to keep your system all nice and cozy. The case is built out of a strong, durable plastic which is supremely useful for travel whether you're a Major League Gamer or someone who for some odd reason, can't go without playing video games for 5 days. The lack of a shoulder strap is something that I'm still scratching my head about--as carrying around the case with all of my other baggage was a bit cumbersome.

The HD screen is absolutely gorgeous, and I can't say enough good things about it for its size. While it is certainly not going to replace your massive gaming rig at home, it's a good substitute. And while it doesn't produce the most booming sound, you'll probably want to stick to using a headset like the ASTRO A40s or a Turtle Beach if you're gaming in public. Luckily, there are two headphone jacks so you can play with a friend, unless you know, you want to be that guy who plays on this thing alone.

Despite all of this, there's a few things that hold me back in recommending this to the casual gamer. First off, the price. At GameStop, the unit costs 279.99. Youch. You're basically paying the price of a game console, in order to play the game console outside of your house. Second, practicality. I would imagine this would be a wonderful thing to have on the road with you if say you were a WWE Superstar or a serious MLG'er, but with the 3DS, Vita, iPhone and Android devices all providing more than adequate gaming experiences, it's hard to see where exactly this product fits into the average gamers ensemble. Perhaps those glorious midnight launches? But then you'd have to hope there was an outlet nearby.

With peripherals, it's always hard to assign a number to a review. The same can be said for games. Throwing out arbitrary numbers, really doesn't make much sense. So for the G155 we're going to have to say that it's a not smart investment for the casual gamer, and a "maybe" for the road warrior.

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HONOLULU -- Six-year-old Gabriel Reed plays with Legos, while his parents piece together much more. On Dec. 16, Andrea Reed and her two children left their rented Kailua home, no more than 15 minutes later flames consumed the single-story structure. “When I saw the huge flames, just you know travelling up from the air, I knew it would be bad,” said Andrea Reed.

The family is safe this holiday season but the fire destroyed nearly everything -- the children's baby photos, treasured wedding gifts but what still brings tears, is the loss of Ranger, a pet Labrador. “We were just so thankful that we were out of the house but so sad that our family pet was in the house,” said Andrea. However, the Reeds fear what caused the fire poses a hidden danger in other homes. “It was due to an after-market Wii handset charger not a Wii brand product, but an after-market product that we had for over two years,” said Brady Reed.

Fire investigators found the recharging station likely overheated and sparked the blaze. In 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled a similar battery charger for starting fires, leading to injuries. Though the fire investigation is ongoing, the Reeds believe if their device was part of any recall, one way they could have known is by registering the product, something they didn't do.

“I won’t make that mistake again if it’s electronic. Had we registered the product and had the email connection perhaps we would have learned of the recall,” said Brady Reed. Helping the Reeds are their family, friends, churches and military ohana donated toys, who donated food and much more helping make their Christmas special. Also thanks to an angel the family has Hayden, a 2-year-old golden retriever. “The overwhelming amount of love and support we've received is beyond our imagination,” said Brady Reed.

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You don’t need a giant console, a bundle of HDMI cables, and a big-screen TV to enjoy a good video game. Maybe a few years ago, you did, but today’s portable consoles are gaming powerhouses. And — perhaps even better — tablets such as Apple’s iPad and Sony’s S Tablet have opened the door for a wave of cheaper but incredibly fun alternatives.

The grip of the iPad and the rise of all those Android tablets was truly profound, pushing aside Nintendo’s 3DS and forcing outlet after outlet to recognize the legitimacy of tablet gaming. So here, we take a bold step: We’re combining tablet games with traditional portable console games in our year-end portable gaming roundup:

BEST OVERALL GAME: Super Mario 3DS Land

Until 3DS Land came around, Nintendo’s new portable lacked a defining title. And then Mario saved the day. His first 3D foray doesn’t try too hard to prove that it’s 3D, instead focusing on old-school Mario gameplay, and that’s the key to a good portable title. Truth is, Nintendo’s 3D tech is more gimmick than anything; the finest titles on the 3DS play well in both 2D and 3D. Mario’s latest adventure captures all the fun nostalgia of his past entries, while blending in plenty of omigod moments. And yes, it’s a great way to pass an eight-hour plane ride.

BEST TABLET GAME: Jetpack Joyride

The gameplay of this iPad hit was simple — just get some nerd with a jetpack past obstacle after obstacle after obstacle — but developer Halfbrick added plenty of intrigue, letting you pick up creative upgrades, keeping track of coins and including a bevy of achievements to motivate you to keep playing. And just for good measure, there’s a slot machine, too. In a year full of great iPad games, this is far and away the very best.

An added bonus? At the moment of this writing, the game was available for free on Apple iTunes.

MOST UNDERRATED: Shinobi

Sega’s quiet ninja received little acclaim when he landed on the 3DS in November, and that was a mistake. In an era when games get easier and easier, Shinobi is a throwback in the same way that Dark Souls was, blending ultra-challenging gameplay with a few new conventions to keep gamers from getting frustrated.

At its heart, this is an old-fashioned side-scrolling-on-your-tiptoes slugfest past enemy after enemy, but new scoring options keep things interesting, and an underrated story holds your attention. Don’t go get Shinobi unless you’re prepared to die often. But if you’re up for the challenge — or that last person on your Christmas list is — this is well worth your time.

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PS Vita debuted in Japan to 320K unit sales over the first two days of sales. Despite the impressive 5 inch display and a huge roster of launch games, this fell 50K units short of what Nintendo’s 3DS sold during its debut. Are we entering the end game for the mobile game console industry? Are the dirt cheap smartphone and tablet games in the process of toppling the entire proud industry based on selling $200 consoles and $40 games? Yeah, pretty much.

In February 2011, Nintendo‘s latest portable game console had a strong launch in Japan. The 3DS sold 370 K units over the first two days, luring in curious consumers interested in the first 3D game console. But soon, the sales tanked and Nintendo was forced to implement steep price reductions across the globe.

The price cuts combined with the recent launch of the immensely popular Mario Kart and Monster Hunter franchises on 3DS helped revive sales and Nintendo announced 2.37 M units sold by beginning of December. But software sales apart from Monster Hunter have been a bit soft and there is a nagging sense that the early and steep price cut merely lent the 3DS a short term boost.

Last week, Sony launched its crucially important new portable console, the PS Vita. The lack of sell-out performance was clearly a disappointment considering the Vita debut was backed up by Everybody’s Golf, Marvel Vs. Capcom, Uncharted, Ridge Racer, Katamari, Dynasty Warriors and Disgaea, all major franchises. It’s unusual to launch a console with software support this wide and deep – it signals Sony’s awareness of just how crucial Vita is for the company. things don’t look great for Vita right now – at the moment, the console is locked in head-to-head competition against 3DS in positions 7 and 8 in the Amazon Japan video game category.

This is no place to be right after the launch – but Nintendo’s savvy decision to launch its Monster Hunter game directly against the entire Vita launch line-up has clearly paid off. After its massive price cut, the 3DS now retails for 14’000 yen, while Vita is priced at 24’000 yen. We may see Sony slashing that price within three months.

The original PSP and its slightly tweaked updates have sold more than 70 M units globally. Nintendo DS has topped 150 M units sold worldwide, leaving its tabletop console cousins in the dust. These two portable game console franchises are the backbone of Sony and Nintendo’s game businesses. Portable game consoles have traditionally have long life spans, enabling the vendors to build big consumer bases and churn out profitable software titles over a 5-7 year span.

And that is part of the problem. Portable consoles are now competing with phones and tablets, both of which are evolving at breakneck pace when it comes to processing power, display quality and things like video recording capabilities. Six years ago, the display quality of the Nintendo DS was clearly below the quality of best smartphones, but not distractingly so. Right now, the display quality of the brand new 3DS console is already miles away from the quality of iPhone 4S or Samsung Galaxy S2.

Of course, Nintendo has fought and destroyed a horde of technologically superior portable console rivals from Lynx to WonderSwan. But these vanquished enemies were all priced much too high. The new rivals of Nintendo and Sony are competing on a whole different level – the most popular smartphone games sell for $0.99, while Nintendo and Sony are still clinging to $40 price point for their big guns. Zynga has demonstrated the zero price appeal – and we’ll only get a real sense of the earnings power of the company once we see how successful it is in translating its products effectively to the tablet format.

While Nintendo and Sony have clinged to old-fashioned idea of pushing relatively expensive, proprietary hardware and then holding your customers captive, the biggest mobile gaming franchises are reaching for true universality. Rovio, the creator of Angry Birds game, has crossed over from iPhone to Android phones, tablets and the Chrome browser. As a result, the Angry Birds download number has exploded to 600 Million. Nowadays, a video game selling 6 Million units is considered a global blockbuster.

Of course, that $40 video game creates much more early revenue than the $0.99 mobile game. But the ubiquity of the most popular mobile games breeds franchise opportunities – Angry Bird has recently been featured in marketing campaigns of Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Google, Fox Studios, Barnes and Noble, etc. The longevity and universality of biggest mobile games creates the kind of cross-over opportunities video games do not possess. There are few God of War or Uncharted coffee mugs at Walmart or T-shirts at Hot Topic. You don’t see Mario in the Wonderful Pistachio TV spots – you see the Angry Birds.

The consumer attention is shifting from the grand, 10- or 30-year old console game franchises to nimble new mobile game brands. Mobile games that do not require expensive hardware purchases. Mobile games that may be simple and small – but release new levels and characters every 2-3 months. Mobile games tailored to siphon off your time in 5-15 minute sips and your money in tiny, one dollar increments. Mobile games spreading from expensive smartphones to tablets, TV boxes, laptops and cheap, $150 basic phones.

Nintendo and Sony are fighting the old war while the guerrilla attacks from mobile and social game companies steal a few seconds more of the consumer leisure time with each passing day.

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The launch of a Lenovo-backed video game system for China is being delayed again in order to make improvements to the product, according to a spokesman with the company developing the console.

Beijing Eedoo Technology, which is funded by PC maker Lenovo, had originally planned on launching its iSec video game system this year, which was later rescheduled to early 2012. The company, however, has pushed back its launch date again to some time later in 2012, said Eedoo spokesman Victor Wang on Monday.

A source close to the situation however said on condition of anonymity that the launch of the product may be delayed further as the product was not found to be robust enough.

The delay may be a significant setback for Chinese consumers who do not have access to gaming systems like Nintendo's Wii or Microsoft's Xbox 360, and have to turn to the unorganized market to buy these devices. "The product still needs work, and we want to invest more research and development in it," Wang said.

The iSec, which stands for "Sports Entertainment Center" was first unveiled in May and works with a motion sensing technology allowing for controller-free play, much like Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect device. Eedoo said it was to cost more than 3,000 yuan ($472), and be sold initially only in China, which has banned other gaming system like Nintendo's Wii or Microsoft's Xbox 360 from being officially sold in the country. The company was aiming to target 200 million households in China.

Although the company is delaying the launch of its iSec device, Eedoo unveiled another gaming system this past weekend, with its launch date expected after the Chinese New Year next month. (Pictures can be found here). The device, called the CT510, also features motion sensing technology, but will focus on offering exercise-related games, Wang said.

In contrast, the iSec is aiming to include gaming, along with features to turn it into a home entertainment system, capable of surfing the Internet, playing movies and allowing users to sing karaoke songs. Eedoo's CT510 will be priced from 3,000 to 4,000 yuan, but the company is still determining how it will be sold to consumers, Wang said.

The company has previously tried to clear rumors about employees leaving the company and problems with the product's launch. At the same time, Eedoo has tried to lower expectations for the iSec, to emphasize that it is more of an entertainment system than a gaming system.

Last week, Eedoo CEO Jack Luo said in a microblog post, "Our product is not a gaming system. We don't want, nor do we have the ability, to offer large-scale complex games. The iSec entertainment system requires medium level complex games to support."

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Thanks to the greater availability of Netflix, Hulu, and similar services, streaming videos via a game console has grown in popularity over last year, according to a study from Nielsen released yesterday. Surveying more than 3,000 people in the U.S. in October, Nielsen found that video streaming now accounts for 14 percent of all time spent on Microsoft's Xbox 360, 15 percent of time spent on the Sony PlayStation 3, and 33 percent spent on the Nintendo Wii. As a whole, time spent on game consoles has also grown. Looking at metered data, Nielsen saw a 7 percent rise in user time during the second half of 2011 compared with the first half.

But each console still differs in the type of activity that occupies users. Xbox 360 owners spend 34 percent of their time in online gaming, PlayStation 3 users spend 22 percent watching DVDs and Blu-ray discs, and Wii owners eat up around 55 percent of their time playing games offline.Microsoft recently beefed up its Xbox 360 to offer more streaming and video-on-demand options, including a redesigned Netflix app and a Kinect voice search. The company is promising to add more video later this month and early next year, including Crackle, Vudu, YouTube, HBO Go, and MLB.TV.

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Reality Fighters, meanwhile, showcased the Vita’s augmented reality and connectivity. Players can snap a picture of their face and digitally layer it onto a fighter. Two people can battle it out by connecting their Vitas wirelessly. The combat can then be projected on a live “battlefield,” or any flat surface between them.

The augmented reality feature really shines on the new Little Deviants game, which also capitalizes on the back touchpad. The back touchpad, a touchscreen on the back of the device, was most impressive in FIFA Soccer. To shoot on the Vita version of FIFA, for example, you simply visualize the rectangular back pad as the goal, and tap where you want the ball to go. Meanwhile, the front touchscreen lets you simply touch players to pass them the ball or switch to them to defense.

While FIFA is currently EA Sports’ only scheduled release for the Vita, it’s easy to imagine how other sports can make use of the device’s touch capabilities. In short, the Vita is an extremely cool and innovative little handled console. The augmented reality and front and back touch capabilities allow a world of possibilities, as do the connectivity features.

Still, the system is not a must-buy for casual gamers. Consoles and mobile gaming offer enough diversion for boring subway rides. For the more serious gamers, the Vita could be a great purchase — offering truly remarkable visuals and gameplay capabilities in a portable format.

But don’t take our word for it — you can try out the Vita seven days a week at Sony’s Vita Hills Social Club in San Francisco through the end of February. There are also Vita pop ups in near Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Sony also just announced a Vita tour of the United Kingdom for February.

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