The console was the first game system to incorporate a Netflix streaming app. Now it's bringing in live TV from Verizon FiOS and the Epix movie channel to complement current offerings of ESPN and Hulu Plus. And all that content can be accessed with your voice  using the Kinect motion controller.

The move by Microsoft, along with similar ones by rivals, comes as many shoppers this holiday season are looking to take their home entertainment center  over the top. They've grown accustomed to watching video wherever and whenever they want on whatever device  they choose. Yet they still cherish the kick-back-and-relax viewing experience provided by the old reliable home TV.

So, increasingly, viewers are incorporating Netflix and other Internet-based streaming and on-demand content providers, such as Amazon and Hulu, with current broadcast, cable and satellite services to tailor a home TV experience all their own. "What we see is people adding streaming video and maybe cutting down on the premium service, or finding some way to save some money on the pay-TV side," says Norm Bogen, analyst at market research firm In-Stat.

Just a few years ago, connecting a PC  to your TV used to be the chief way to get that over-the-top experience. Now, nearly as many people use a game console as a PC to make their TVs "smart," an In-Stat survey found. "Driving it is the consumer (appetite) for a wide variety of content on demand and the availability of devices that allow them to get that content on their big-screen TV."

This holiday season could be the perfect time to bring these new services to your living room, because there are bargains to be had on Blu-ray players, streaming-media set-top boxes, smart TVs and even video game systems, such as the Xbox 360, that can be a conduit for TV, movies and other Internet content. "Price points have all come down," says Shawn DuBravac, chief economist and director of research at the Consumer Electronics Association.

Read the rest of this entry »

By technical measures, there is a fine line between PC and game console. After all, just about every console released since 1976 is a special-purpose personal computer designed for playing game software. In a time when computers were an expensive and scarce commodity—I speak of the late 1970s—it seemed a monumental waste to own a perfectly good computer (a game console) and not be able to use it for more functional computing tasks like programming, word processing, databases, and the like. (People were also fixated on printing things; in the un-networked 1970s and '80s, any information you produced with a computer was only truly useful if you printed it out on paper.)

That sentiment led to a common marketing promise among game console makers of the late 1970s and early 1980s that their machines' computing power would not go to waste on entertainment alone. After all, what parent wouldn't feel good about buying a game console that promised to one day metamorphose into a powerful educational computer that could help Johnny with his homework?

Around that time, at least five major console manufacturers announced computer add-on units to unlock the untapped CPU power lurking beneath each console's sculpted plastic exteriors. In the following slideshow, you will see ten game consoles that could be turned into fully programmable general-purpose PCs using commercial add-on hardware. While most hail from the 1970s and '80s, you may encounter a more recent surprise that channels the same educational spirit found in its afro-wearing, disco-dancing forebearers.

Read the rest of this entry »

The New York Times reported that a company called Onlive wants you to leave your consoles and PC's behind and take your game experience to your mobile devices.

We all know how comparatively pathetic the processing and graphics power of even the newest mobile devices are compared to even the most mundane desktop computer.  Sure, a stirring game (or 20) of Angry Birds may fill the time sink of the dreaded airport layover but it can't compare with fragging  your friends on your PC or console.

More and more we see mobile devices extending into realms previously unthinkable simply because the price of mobility was reduced capability.  Even the most efficient gaming laptops have to trade processing and graphics horsepower for power consumption and heat management.

So how can your IPAD or Android tablet play Arkham City?  The answer is the almost ubiquitous "Cloud" that's permeated everything from your music collection to productivity apps. Onlive is a cloud based gaming service available to almost any internet connected device including smart phones and tablets.

The simplest way to understand it is to look at the experience as a layer of abstraction between you and the game.  Onlive services require a "player" or app to use their service.  When you connect to their service and select your game you are essentially connecting to a remote host that you control.  If you've ever experienced remote control of your pc via gotomypc or Windows remote desktop then you've got a good idea of how this would work.

The user connects to their game host on the Onlive service via app( mobile devices and PC's ) or a hardware device (TV's).  Then the magic happens.  Since this is a remote connection and only control sequences and screen refreshes are being sent; your device's internet connection is the only hardware to be concerned about.

Read the rest of this entry »

Microsoft on Tuesday strengthened the case for its Xbox 360 video game system to be a star of the digital living room, an all-in-one entertainment set-top box. The console system was the first game system to incorporate a Netflix streaming app. Now it's bringing in live TV from Verizon FiOS and the Epix movie channel to complement current offerings of ESPN and Hulu Plus. And all that content can be accessed with your voice using the Kinect motion controller. The move by Microsoft, along with similar ones by rivals , comes as many shoppers this holiday season are looking to take their home entertainment center over the top.

They've grown accustomed to watching video wherever and whenever they want on whatever device they choose. Yet they still cherish the kick-back-and-relax viewing experience provided by the old, reliable home TV. So, increasingly, viewers are incorporating Netflix and other Internet-based streaming and on-demand content providers, such as Amazon and Hulu, with current broadcast, cable and satellite services to tailor a home TV experience all their own.

"What we see is people adding streaming video and maybe cutting down on the premium service, or finding some way to save some money on the pay-TV side," says Norm Bogen, analyst at market research firm In-Stat.

Just a few years ago, connecting a PC to your TV used to be the chief way to get that over-the-top experience. Now, nearly as many people use a game console as a PC to make their TVs "smart," an In-Stat survey found. "Driving it is the consumer (appetite) for a wide variety of content on demand and the availability of devices that allow them to get that content on their big-screen TV."

This holiday season could be the perfect time to bring these new services to your living room, because there are bargains to be had on Blu-ray players, streaming-media set-top boxes, smart TVs and even video game systems, such as the Xbox 360, that can be a conduit for TV, movies and other Internet content. "Price points have all come down," says Shawn DuBravac, chief economist and director of research at the Consumer Electronics Association.

Depending on the model, Internet-connected players can be found for up to 50% off the suggested retail price. Models that use ethernet connections such as LG's Network Blu-ray Disc Player, regularly priced at $119.99, is available for $67.99 on Amazon.com. And Best Buy has a Dynex model with built-in Wi-Fi for $59.99. The entry-level $49.99 Roku set-top box costs $10 less than last year. Video game systems and new smart TVs are discounted, too.

Also fueling the over-the-top phenomenon is the growth in homes with high-speed broadband Internet connections and wireless networks. Some 59% of U.S. homes have them, up from 54% in 2010, CEA reports. With a wireless home network in place, you don't "feel the pain" when you connect a new device, DuBravac says.

Electronics makers, video game companies and Internet-based services are competing to find ways to get more programming to consumers. While smart TVs may be the easy choice for those in the market for a new set, options abound for those looking for less-expensive ways to upgrade their entertainment options. "When the Internet is connected to my television, it doesn't really matter to me where it comes from," DuBravac says. "The consumer really benefits, because they will be able to find a model that works best for their viewing habits."How the battle for the home entertainment center is shaping up:

•Set-top boxes. These network-enabled digital media devices have slowly caught on since the first Roku hit stores three years ago. About 6 million were shipped to dealers this year, compared with 4.5 million last year, says CEA.

The advantage of these stand-alone devices is that they require no upgrade of other equipment and no monthly fees (except for any subscriptions to services such as Netflix). The newest Roku 2 XS set-top box ($99; www.roku.com) not only delivers Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, HBO Go and movie channels Crackle and Epix, but also has a special version of the game Angry Birds that can be played with the Roku remote. "If all you want is Netflix or Hulu on your TV, the cheapest way to do it is with a Roku" set-top box, says Colin Dixon of market strategy firm The Diffusion Group. Out for a year now, the Boxee Box by D-Link ($179.99; no additional charge but subscription fees for Netflix or sports) connects you to Internet offerings including Netflix, MLB.TV, NHL Center Ice, Vudu and Pandora Internet radio.

Rumors have Apple working on a smart TV successor to its current Apple TV ($99;  wireless device that connects you directly to the iTunes Store and lets you watch what's in your computer's iTunes library as well as what's stored in iCloud. It also incorporates Netflix and sports sites that let you watch out-of-market games with a subscription. AirPlay lets you also stream content from other iOS devices.

•Blu-ray players. Three years ago, LG Electronics brought out the first Internet-connected Blu-ray Disc players. Now, others including Panasonic and Samsung have followed suit. Shoppers should look for Blu-ray Disc players that have built-in Wi-Fi; about 11.1 million network-enabled players were shipped this year, almost half with built-in Wi-Fi, CEA says. "If you need a new player for your DVDs and want something that works better with your HDTV, Blu-ray players are hard to beat," Dixon says. "Whether you've bought in to Blu-ray Discs or not, they're just a great deal."

Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba all have their own players with built-in Wi-Fi, and prices have crept below $80. And most manufacturers also have complete home theater systems with a smart Blu-ray Disc player and surround-sound speakers, such as Sony's 3D Blu-ray Home Theater System ($229.99).

•Smart TVs. LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba and Vizio have begun marketing smart TVs that connect directly to the Internet. Built-in Wi-Fi lets you bypass the Blu-ray player and stream Netflix and other apps directly to the TV screen. About one-third of the 33.4 million digital displays shipped this year are network-enabled. You can find a 42-inch LG Smart TV for $729 on Amazon.com and 50-inch models for less than $1,000.

There are also rumors of new products featuring Google's TV software that uses a special version of Google's Chrome browser for watching and using Netflix and other apps, including Slacker Radio. Sony has dropped prices on its Google TVs, which now start at $499.99 for the 32-inch and $599.99 for the 40-inch set.

•Video game consoles. After building their own on-demand movie and TV catalogs, Microsoft and Sony have brought Netflix, Hulu and other programming — including ESPN (on the Xbox 360) and NFL Sunday Ticket (PlayStation 3) — to their video game systems. Even the Nintendo Wii has Netflix. If you don't have one of these powerful game consoles, it's time to check out their entertainment offerings. "Game consoles are a great platform for delivering video services today," Dixon says. "If a consumer has one, they have probably already connected it to the Internet for multiplayer gaming. So, it's very easy to start watching video on it, too."

Microsoft's latest Xbox Live software update, which just became available to users Tuesday, lets you use the Kinect motion controller to search and play back movies using voice control. New services include Epix, a movie channel from Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount and Viacom. Later this month, Xbox will also add Vudu and music video site Vevo, as well as 26 channels of live TV from Verizon FiOS (Verizon service required). Early next year, the service is scheduled to add Xfinity On Demand (Comcast service required).

The PlayStation Network has had on-demand movies and TV episodes for more than three years. In addition to Netflix, PSN has CinemaNow, Hulu and Vudu, as well as live sports services MLB.TV and NHL GameCenter Live.

Read the rest of this entry »

Microsoft has moved a step closer to turning the Xbox 360 from a game console into an entertainment center with the release of voice-activated search powered by Kinect and Bing across the platform -- a strategy that has been in the works since early 2000.

The new user interface, set to debut on Tuesday, supports dozens of options for watching movies and TV on the console, as well as Kinect-enhanced branded destinations and standard 30-second TV spots within entertainment content, such as "The Today Show" and UFC on Xbox LIVE. Look for Kinect in 2012 to drive NUAds -- interactive ads related to Xbox content. The strategy aims to move the gaming system into the next generation of entertainment, complete with mobile-related capabilities.

Getting back to its roots, the new update integrates the Metro Design language supported through Windows Phone 7 to bring continuity to multiple screens. The idea, based on Microsoft's foundation for making all user interfaces across screens and applications appear similar, will allow consumers to move seamlessly from one device to another without having to relearn new platforms.

The Xbox LIVE landing page will present a series of hubs similar to those on the phone -- allowing consumers to pick and choose icons related to social, videos, games, music and applications. Gestures, voice, or controllers will allow the user to move through the platform to find and use content.

Xbox users will no longer go to the Kinect hub or hold their hand over an arrow on the screen to move from one screen to the next. The cumbersome first version of the technology required time to identify and act on gestures. Microsoft had to make the change before integrating NUAds, natural user ads into the platform for advertisers.

The format presents voice- and gesture-enabled ads made possible through Kinect, expected to launch in spring 2012. The NUAds will turn 30-second stale promotions into interactive TV ad spots.

During the past year, Microsoft sold more than 10 million Kinect Xbox add-ons, Ross Honey, general manager of Xbox Live entertainment and advertising, told MediaPost. The week of Black Friday, the company sold 960,000 Xbox 360s, the biggest sales week for the console to date.

The Kinect technology has already made a major impact on the gaming industry, according to Paul Anthony, founder and CEO at Rumblefish, a company that provides music for video games, user content and movies. He points to Apple Siri as a parallel, adding that people are finally ready for voice-activated services. "It's much easier to interact with games and content naturally, with voice and movement," he said.

For advertisers, it means reaching consumers on the more than 57 million Xboxes sold worldwide -- and 35 million Xbox Live users who spend about two hours daily on the service. About 40% of the U.S. gold members spend more than 30 hours monthly watching television and movie content on the console.

There is no Bing browser yet for the Xbox 360 to search the Internet, Honey said. The box ties into the Internet to download content, but not to search the Web. "We don't think anyone has cracked the code to make a better Web-browsing experience on the TV," he said. "We are focused on delivering a quality experience, and continually think about how to enhance our offering in the future."

The new Xbox 360 interface does bring integration with Facebook and YouTube. When asked about connecting with Google+, Honey pointed to the YouTube deal and said not to rule anything out that would bring a better experience to users. Microsoft closed the deal to add content from YouTube while battling antitrust filings against Google, suggesting that the relationships are built on serving consumers.

Microsoft touted voice activation services in 2010 with the launch of Kinect, hoping that handheld controllers would become obsolete. The future remains in voice commands and the wave of a hand, but not only to maneuver around entertainment consoles. Expect to see more advanced voice-activated features in search engines as well.

Read the rest of this entry »

Roll back the gaming years with something retro for your home this Christmas – I’m talking about the SupaBoy Handheld Video Game Console here. This little puppy was specially designed to look like that of your classic SNES controller for very good reason. After all, your hands would probably gain their old strength the moment they take a grip of the SupaBoy, just like how the character King Theoden from the second part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was told by Gandalf to remember his old strength better when his fingers grasped his own sword. All those classic Street Fighter II combos ought to flow through without you batting an eyelid after a while.

As mentioned, the Supa Sweet Handheld Console is specially shaped like a SNES controller, complete with its own 3.5″ display, not to mention the ability to handle both SNES as well as Super Famicom cartridges. I know that the SupaBoy Handheld Video Game Console has been in development for a long time already, but it is nice to see that the device is finally being launched in time for the Christmas shopping season. More on the SupaBoy in the extended post.

Emulating the original SNES controller in terms of design including a D-pad, face buttons, as well as right and left shoulder buttons, the SupaBoy will also be accompanied by a couple of front loading ports which are compatible with full-size SNES controllers, not to mention video/audio out, so that up to a couple of players can enjoy a button mashing time of blood-free Mortal Kombat on a standard TV screen. I guess there is still some life left in the old school CRT TV that you have stashed away in the attic, no?

Leo Liang, Hyperkin’s National Sales Director mentioned, “There is definitely a nostalgia factor for the SupaBoy for the older generation of gamers who grew up with the Super Nintendo. Yet, at the same time, it introduces and exposes the new generation of gamers to this beloved console. Not only is it compatible with original SNES and Super Famicom cartridges, you can also run it through your television, plug two controllers in, and play with another person. The SupaBoy is a very cool, very fun product, and is a perfect Christmas gift for anyone who loves video games.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Following the U.S. Copyright Office's decision last year allowing users to "jailbreak" iPhones, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is seeking similar exemptions from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) for other devices.

The digital rights advocacy group filed exemption requests to the Copyright Office today to protect "jailbreaking" -- overriding limitations on gadgets to run custom and unauthorized software -- on additional smartphones, tablets, and video game consoles.

Passed in 1998, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act is designed to criminalize the circumvention of security measures, or digital rights management (DRM), protecting copyrighted digital works, such as video games, DVDs, and eBooks.

The law made headlines early this year when renowned "jailbreaker" George Hotz played a key role in circumventing security measures for Sony's PlayStation 3, and published the means to do so online. Sony sued Hotz, accusing him of facilitating software piracy, which Hotz denied. The two parties eventually settled the case.

EFF argues, though, that American consumers should be able to "run operating systems and applications from any source, not just those approved by the manufacturer" on electronic devices they've purchased, and wants to expand legal protections for that practice.

These proposed exemptions build on EFF's success last year in requesting that the Copyright Office absolve consumers who jailbreak their iPhones (another Hotz hardware target) to run unapproved software, or unlock them to work with other carriers -- despite opposition from Apple.

"The DMCA is supposed to block copyright infringement. But instead it can be misused to threaten creators, innovators, and consumers, discouraging them from making full and fair use of their own property," says EFF's IP director Corynne McSherry.

She argues, "Hobbyists and tinkerers who want to modify their phones or video game consoles to run software programs of their choice deserve protection under the law."The Copyright Office will hold its hearings on the proposed exemptions in the spring of 2012, and is expected to present a final rulemaking order in October 2012.

Read the rest of this entry »

The creator of the popular Ultima RPG series has forecast that the games console is heading for extinction. Richard Garriott - aka Lord British - is a respected figurehead in the games industry and he reckons the future is bleak for console manufacturers. "I think we might get one more generation, might, but I think fundamentally they're doomed," he told IndustryGamers.

"I think the power that you can carry with you in a portable is really swamping what we've thought of as a console." Garriott, who now runs social-gaming firm Portalarium, may have a point, but as smartphones get increasingly powerful, so do consoles.

While services such as OnLive and Gaikai offer triple-A titles streamed to a host of devices, you just can't play epics like Skyrim on a phone. And let's not forget, the next generation of consoles, which could be on display as early as next year, are all set to reach out beyond the current crop of game-centric features.

The race is on to become the ultimate home entertainment hub, and while companies like Apple may have tricks up their sleeve with next-gen television sets, the likes of Sony and Microsoft aren't going to give up their piece of the gaming pie without a fight. ®

Read the rest of this entry »

The rise of smartphones and tablets may spell the end of video game consoles like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, changing the landscape of the gaming industry.Video game pioneer Richard Garriott, creator of the role-playing franchises "Ultima" and "Tabula Rasa," said he believes home consoles are "fundamentally doomed." Garriott believes the power of portable devices will catch up to traditional gaming systems, significantly dipping into the in-home market.

Mobile gaming has surged over the past year due to the increasing popularity and power of smartphones and tablets. A combined nearly 1 billion Android and iOS devices have been sold since 2007, and games like "Infinity Blade 2" on the iPhone sport visuals that rival the graphics of recent home consoles like the PlayStation 2.

In addition, traditional portable gaming systems like Nintendo's 3DS and PlayStation's upcoming Vita go one step further, merging great graphics with gameplay that rivals their home console cousins.

The Vita will also reportedly support remote play of PlayStation 3 games, allowing users to play games from the home console on the portable system and further blurring the lines between at home and portable gaming.

However, despite the surge in the volume and power of portable devices, several analysts disagree with Garriott's prediction. High-profile games like "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" are selling faster than ever, and system sales have also been steady. The Xbox 360, in its seventh holiday season on the market, sold more than one million units over the Thanksgiving weekend.

The portable game market may be growing thanks to the quality of the title users can now get on-the-go, but consumers still continue to show a preference gaming on the big screen in their living rooms. The Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii hold a comfortable advantage in graphical strength over current portable devices, and they are all near the end of their life cycles.

A new Xbox and PlayStation could be announced as early as next year, and Nintendo has already confirmed it will launch to the successor to the Wii U in 2012. These new devices will likely build upon the gap in quality that exists between portable and home console games.

Portable devices may eventually evolve to a point where they can challenge home console gaming, but as of right now, no definitive signs suggest Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo should panic.

Read the rest of this entry »

'I think we might get one more generation, might, but I think fundamentally they're doomed,' said Richard Garriott de Cayeux (he got married recently, if you're wondering where the de Cayeux bit came from) in a new interview. 'I think fundamentally the power that you can carry with you in a portable is really swamping what we've thought of as a console.' He added.

He was rather fed the line by website IndustryGamers though, who seemed even keener than him to suggest that hooking your smartphone up to a TV and using it as a controller might be the future of video games. Apart from anything we're not sure that Garriott de Cayeux has ever made a home console game in his life, being best known for seminal role-playing series Ultima and more recently massively multiplayer online games such as City Of Heroes and the failed Tabula Rasa.

Better known to gamers as Lord British he's currently working on a new browser-based game called New Britannia. He's also famous as being one of the few civilian space tourists, having reportedly paid $30 million for a trip to the International Space Station.

As even he says though at least one more generation of consoles is guaranteed at this point, with the Wii U already having been announced and the Xbox 720 expected to be revealed either next year or 2013.

Read the rest of this entry »