What’s exciting about this product is simply the idea and the concept. It’s not the typical assemble and play with it kind of a toy but it literally puts your mind to work.

For our readers who haven’t read our last post about Mettel’s Mindflex, Mindflex is a game which lets your brain control the game. A headset loaded with sensors scans your brain-waves and convert them into enough energy to get the ball moving through several loops to complete a lap.

Watch the video below to see the game in action…

The game is all set to release this fall, get a hands on experience of this fantastic game before you queue up to buy this game at a toy store. So, if you are one of the thousands of attendees at New York Toy Fair this year make sure you check MindFlex out.

The fair starts Feb 15-18 at New York’s Javits Ceneter. Click here to register and attend or go to MindFlexGames to learn more about MindFlex.

It’s a simple and easy to follow success story. Ethan started working on this game in his spare time; he released a free version of the game which at a point suggests the player to buy the full version of the game for $2.99. Out of 2.4 million users who downloaded the free version, 320,000 users bought the full version of the game.

This put the App on the #1 spot for about 3 weeks and helped Ethan make about $37,000 in one day. This not only highlights that the iPhone App success stories are here to stay and we will see many more of these in the time to come.

Ethan who worked with Yahoo! Publishing Tools team as a lead engineer was the original author of the Swing-based Yahoo! SiteBuilder web design application he also worked on developing JAXX, and XML-based user interface for creating Java desktop applications, even this was done during his spare time at Yahoo!. Ethan quit this job at Sun Microsystems after his App made a fortune for him.

These days Ethan is busy answering and tipping his followers on Twitter (Follow TNerd on Twitter) on how to be better at iShoot and replying to e-mails he receives from other iPhone game developers asking for his suggestions.

The original paid version of the App “iShoot” was released in Oct 2008 but only witnessed a limited number of downloaded before it faded away, this is when Ethan decided to release a free version hoping it will revive the original app. That’s what happened exactly!

What Ethan tried as an experiment is turning out to be a guide for the individual App developers as they are all set to release a free version of their paid apps.

Click here to Buy iShoot or here to iShoot-Lite (free version) and watch the video below to see the game in action..

Freaking awesome isn’t it?

Google launched Adsense for Games, a market which is growing rapidly is bound to attract attention. According to ComScore 25% of the internet users play online games. Calculations of time spent on these sites could run into millions of hours a month which is exactly what all the companies are eager to capitalise on.

This is still a new market for a lot of major players like Yahoo and Microsoft and the market is clearly open for the one who figures out the best way to serve ads and pay better, the later part is arguable but Google certainly knows how to serve ads.

Using Adsense for Games, advertisers can place Video, Image and Text ads in the games.

You’ll be able to show these ads in placements you define, such as interstitial frames before a game, after a level change, or when a game is over. – Google

To use Adsense for Games to place ads on your Gaming site you should have 500,000 thousand game plays per day with 80% of the traffic from US or UK and must be capable of SDK integration. If you are one of the lucky ones click here to apply for Adsense for Games.

Brands that are currently associated with this program are Playfish, Konami, Mochi, HeavyGames, Demand Media Inc., Grab.com, etc..

Watch the promotional video by Google Adsense for Games

Video below give you a better sense of how ads will be placed in games.

Enjoy!

The game was posted on 18th September 2008 and already has more than 86,000 clicks. This speaks for the popularity of the game.

This article is all about video game consoles, it talks about everything from the first PlayStation to the latest Wii. When I was 10, I remember torturing my dad to buy me a third generation Video Game Console (ATARI). Did I say a Third Generation Video Game console?

Let’s see what a Third Gen Video Game console is.

Flashback on Video Games

The introduction of Video Games first happened in the Year 1971 and they had become an important part of the entertainment industry in US, Japan and Europe. The video game industry had a disastrous collapse in 1983 and a subsequent rebirth two years later.

The video game industry has seen growth and matured for over two decades to become a $10 billion industry. Over a period of 3 decades the Video Game Industry has seen consoles of different generations from the First Generation (1972 – 1976) till the present one i.e. the Seventh Generation (2004 – Till Date).

Today there are different kinds of Video Games Consoles available in the market. I have tried listing down the best in the market and what their features are. Xbox 360

  The Xbox 360 is Microsoft’s second creation in video game consoles and is the successor of Xbox and its competitors are Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii. The Xbox 360 was developed in cooperation with IBM,

ATI and SiS. The Xbox 360 was first released on November 22, 2005 in U.S & Canada. In its first year in the market the system was launched in 36 countries and also it was launched a year before Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii. The integrated online service that Xbox provides is known as the Xbox live service.

The console connects to the service via Internet through a built-in Ethernet port or a wireless accessory and helps the user to download content such as HD movies, demo games, arcade favorites, TV shows and also lets the player compete online.

The Xbox 360 comes in three different versions:

• Xbox 360 Arcade
• Xbox 360 Pro
• Xbox 360 Elite

Xbox 360 Arcade Preview The Xbox 360 Arcade model is ideal for traditional gamers who are more interested in the "old-school" and lighter side of gaming. The Xbox 360 Arcade was priced at $279.99 and early this week Microsoft reduced its price to $199.99 which has doubled the sale in the US.

The Xbox 360 Arcade console was the first one Microsoft launched. Arcade is everything you need to begin playing right out of the box, including Family Settings that allow parents to restrict game access for younger players. It comes with a wireless controller.

The Xbox 360 Arcade console combines a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector and a 256 MB of on-board memory for storing games and entertainment content. The Xbox 360 Arcade can plug into an HDTV-based home entertainment configuration and display game content at 1080i resolution, although the limited storage capability may send some Xbox 360 Arcade owners looking for a hard drive add-on peripheral.

The games included with Xbox 360 Arcade are full versions and not demos as listed below.

• PAC-MAN Championship Edition
• UNO
• Luxor 2
• Boom Boom Rocket
• Feeding Frenzy

Hardware Specifications General

Processor

Memory / Storage

Video

Audio

Input Device

Power

Features

• Amplify your music, photos, video, and TV. Watch progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box.
• Rip music to the Xbox 360 hard drive and share your latest digital pictures with friends
• Xbox LIVE Marketplace-Keep your favorite games fresh with instant access to new content. Accessible to Silver and Gold members, Xbox LIVE Marketplace lets you personalize and extend your experience, on demand. (To know more about the silver and gold membership, please visit the Xbox website)
• Xbox 360 redefines what games look like, sound like, feel like, and play like to engage you like never before
• Every Xbox 360 title supports 720p and 1080i high definition resolution or 480p standard definition resolution, in 16:9 widescreen, with anti-aliasing so you enjoy smooth, movie-like graphics and multi-channel surround sound

Where to Buy?
You can buy your Xbox 360 Arcade at several places across 36 countries. To buy your console you can click here.

Xbox 360 Pro

Preview The Xbox 360 Pro model was priced at $349.99 and with the recent drop in prices last week The Pro model is now available at $299.99 and is much smaller than its predecessor. It measures approximately 3.3 by 12.2 by 10.2 inches and weighs 7.7 lbs.

It is equipped with three powerful core processors capable of producing the best in high definition (HD) entertainment (up to 1080p for gaming), 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, and high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) output.

The 60 GB detachable hard-drive is the feature of this console that makes it a little better than the Arcade. You can save your games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, levels, demos, and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The unit also has a 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM drive, which plays both the game media and progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box.

Xbox 360 can accommodate up to four wireless controllers which has a range of up-to 30 feet and a battery life of up-to 30 hours on two AA batteries and has three USB 2.0 slots to use for wired controllers or for streaming your digital media from digital cameras, MP3 players, and any Windows XP-based PC. Microsoft has also created a video-conferencing camera, sold separately, that will work with this system.

The Xbox 360 Pro also comes with a headset which lets friends and family around the world chat while playing games, watching movies or sending voice messages on XBOX Live.

 Hardware Specifications General

Processor

Memory / Storage

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Power

Features

• Personalized entertainment. Xbox 360 is the most powerful next-generation gaming system. Featuring high-definition (HD) graphics and multichannel digital sound, the Xbox 360 heralds the new era of gaming.
• Games. Xbox 360 is home to the best, highest-rated and most varied library of games for everyone to enjoy.
• Xbox LIVE. Xbox LIVE is where games and entertainment come alive. Connect your Xbox 360 console to a broadband connection and get instant access to Xbox LIVE with an Xbox LIVE account.
• Xbox Gamer Guide. Press the Xbox 360 Guide Button on your controller at any time – while you’re playing a game, watching a movie or listening to music – and the Xbox Gamer Guide heads-up display will slide into view.
• Family Settings. The new, more robust Family Settings features in Xbox 360 help parents control the online and offline game experiences of their children

Where to Buy?
To buy your console you can click here.

Xbox 360 Elite

Preview The Xbox 360 Elite model was priced at $449.99 and now available at $399.99 is the premier console package with a massive hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console.

It also comes with a black wireless controller and Xbox LIVE headset. It has an excellent selection of games, including many 360-only exclusives; all games are in native high-definition; user-friendly Dashboard interface; supports wireless controllers and accessories.

Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a whole library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows, movies, music, and more available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

The huge 120GB detachable hard drive allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, extra game levels, demos and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

New to Xbox 360, HDMI lets you get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.

Hardware Specifications
General

Processor

Memory / Storage

Video

Audio

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Miscellaneous

Power

Features
The features are a combination of the previous Xbox versions.

Where to Buy?
To buy your console you can click here.

Play Station – 3
  The PlayStation 3 is the third Video Game Console produced by Sony officially marketed or commonly known as PS3 and is the successor of PlayStation 2.

The PlayStation 3 was first released in Japan on November 11, 2006 and in North America on the November 17, 2006. At the launch there were 2 versions of the PS3 available, a basic model with a 20 GB hard drive and a premium model with 60 GB Hard drive with a lot of additional features. PS3 faces competition from Microsoft’s XBOX 360 and the Nintendo’s Wii.

The PlayStation 3 combined with an online gaming service, known as the PlayStation Network which is Sony’s free online service provided with their PlayStation 3. Some of the other features of the console include its multimedia capabilities, connectivity with the PlayStation Portable, and its use of a high-definition optical disc format, Blu-ray Disc, as its primary storage medium.

The PS3 was also the first Blu-ray 2.0-compliant Blu-ray player on the market. The option of playing DVD’s made the PlayStation 2 more than a game machine; however the robust multimedia features make the PlayStation 3 an even more versatile home entertainment machine. Some features that PlayStation 3 carries are as mentioned below.

• Video chat
• Internet access
• Digital audio and video

These features make your PlayStation 3 the central component of your media set-up. Do not forget, it is first and foremost your powerful gaming console. Though they are 5 products in this series, the ones we would discuss here are:

• Sony PlayStation 3 (40 GB)
• Sony PlayStation 3 (80 GB)

Sony PlayStation 3 (40 GB) Preview The option of playing DVD’s made the PlayStation 2 more than a game machine; however the robust multimedia features make the PlayStation 3 an even more versatile home entertainment machine. Some features that PlayStation 3 carries are as mentioned below.

• Video chat
• Internet access
• Digital audio and video

These features make your PlayStation 3 the central component of your media set-up. Do not forget, it is first and foremost your powerful gaming console. Priced at $399.99 the PlayStation 3 (40 GB) features IBM’s “Cell” Processor and a co-developed Nvidia graphics processor that makes the system able to perform two trillion calculations per second.

It also boasts an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port, which delivers uncompressed, unconverted digital picture and sound to compatible high-definition TV and projectors. The system is capable of 128-bit pixel precision and 1080p resolution for a full HD experience.  

The PlayStation 3 (40 GB) model comes in a swanky design and all the games are in high definition. It has an easy to use interface like the PSP and at the same time, The PlayStation 3 can play High Definition Profile 2.0 Blu-ray movies. It has a built in Wi-Fi and this model comes with a 40 GB hard drive on which you can save games, music and much more. You can play online on the gaming community also.

Hardware Specifications
General

Game Console

Processor

Memory / Storage

Video

Input Device

Miscellaneous

Power

  Features

• Includes Spider-Man 3 movie.
• High-Definition Blu-ray player for the best movie experience
• Plays DVDs and CDs.
• Includes SIXAXIS wireless controller. HDMI output for 1080p resolution.

Where to Buy?
To buy your console you can click here.

Sony PlayStation 3 (80 GB)
Preview Priced at $499.99 the PlayStation 3 (80 GB) has almost the similar features and specification as the PlayStation 3 (40 GB) does. So what is the difference between the both? Is it just the Hard Drive? No, that is not the only difference between the both.

The 40 GB hard Drive can be swapped any day. Below mentioned are some of the differences that I have been able to gather based on my research. The PlayStation 3 (80GB) offers an incredible graphic quality, stunning game-play, improved audio and visual fidelity that PS3 games are known for by maintaining the PlayStation 2 backwards compatibility through software instead of hardware.

The PlayStation 3 (40GB) does not have PS2 backwards compatibility, although it does maintain backwards compatibility to PlayStation 1 which the PlayStation 3 (80 GB) also does.  The PlayStation (80GB) PS3 has 4 USB ports and also memory card slots whereas the PlayStation 3 (40GB) has 2 USB ports and No memory card slots.

Hardware Specifications
General

Game Console

Processor

Memory / Storage

Video

Input Device

  Features
Do I need to mention anything more?

Where to Buy?
To buy your console you can click here.

Nintendo – Wii Wii pronounced as “We” is the fifth Video Game Console created by Nintendo and is the successor of Nintendo Game Cube. It competes with both Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 as a part of the Seventh generation Video Games Console.

Nintendo’s Wii was released in North America on November 19, 2006 and after that in Japan on December 2, 2006. A must know feature of the Wii is the Wii Remote, which looks like a TV Remote and can be used as a handheld pointing device and detects movement in three dimensions. Unlike its competitors the Wii does not have an internal hard drive, but uses 512 MB of internal Flash memory and also includes support for removable SD card storage.

Wii is the only seventh generation console not utilizing High Definition with a Maximum graphics output of 480p. It is also the first Nintendo console i.e. backward compatible with previous Nintendo consoles, where it can play all GameCube games and supports up to four GameCube controllers and two memory cards, along with Virtual Console which supports games from older systems.

Preview
A question you may ask yourself before buying a Wii would be, is it worth buying the Wii which does not have today’s Seventh Generation Video Console graphics? Nintendo never intended to compete in that arena, the Wii focused on innovative way of playing the game and having fun.  The Wii Console invites players who are young or old, expert or beginners. Wii players will use the Wii remote and you may notice a flick of the wrist to swing a tennis racket or a backswing and follow-through to send a golf ball flying over.

The Wii Remote, its online capabilities, Wii Channels, Virtual Console and Backward compatibility make this console so popular that it remains difficult to stay in stock. Are video games not supposed to be by default equal to couch potatoes? Well that’s not the case with Wii. It really is amazing to have a game which actually expects you to move and be active.

You do not have the luxury to lounge back and gain pounds here while playing games. People also call the Wii “A Little Box With Plenty of Power”. This Little Box priced at $249.99 has a 512 MB of flash memory with USB 2.0 ports and also a slot for SD memory expansion.

It uses a processing chip developed with IBM and code-named "Broadway" and a graphics chipset from ATI code-named "Hollywood" — deliver stunning performance. Instead of the traditional tray, Wii uses a single, self-loading media bay that plays both 12-centimeter optical discs used for the new system, as well as Nintendo GameCube discs.

Hardware Specifications
General

Game Console

Processor

Memory / Storage

Memory Card

Video

Audio

Input Device

Miscellaneous

  Features

• Wii Channels: Wii is changing the way people play games. Wii is far more than just a game console. Explore Wii Channels and you’ll find them packed with entertainment and information that the whole family can enjoy.
• Virtual Console
• Wii Ware: A new family of games for Wii, available from the Wii Shop Channel. Experience genre-defying gameplay, new takes on old favorites – and much more. WiiWare games are downloadable directly to your Wii in exchange for various levels of Wii Points. Just make sure your Wii is connected to the internet, and you can play new Wii games in seconds.

Where to Buy?
To buy your console you can click here

Alright that was everything you needed to know about Gaming Consoles. Learnt something new today?

[Image source:Kristenlanea]

Sharkrunners is a game close to reality. It is all about tracking Sharks in real time and collecting data for research purposes. The more data you collect the more money you earn with which you can hire more crew members and buy sophisticated equipment for making the most out of the shark encounters.

The game is developed by area/code and is currently in its second season, Australia – The Great Barrier Reef. Twenty sharks are being tracked in this season of the game, 10 Tiger Sharks and 10 Grey reef sharks.

Here is how it really works:
Your role in the game is of marine biologists and at the time of registration you are required to join one of the three institutions

• I.M.O.P. (The International Marine Observation Project)
  A high-tech research institute run by no-nonsense marine scientists looking for hard data.

• The Piermont Group
  A media-savvy philanthropic organization that is equally interested in scientific data and dramatic images

• FIN
  A hard-core ecological activist group devoted to protecting and preserving sharks at any cost

Once you get through the registration you can take a 21 slides tour/tutorial which runs you through the details of how the game is played. Or you can get to the game right away by clicking on the boat and setting waypoints and get as close to sharks as you can for an encounter.

Once you reach close to a shark you will receive an alert on the screen then an e-mail or an SMS based on your selection. Depending up on the money you have earned or the crew members you have you can choose from multiple techniques of gathering data from the shark encounter.

Remember it’s a game with a pinch of reality so the pace of the game is understandably slower than the regular ones, but the it sure is exciting to get into a shark encounter and gather data about a specific shark, while you are at it you get to see pictures and short videos of the sharks.

Shark lovers will be happy to know that the Shark week is hitting Discovery. It starts with Mythbusters special on Sunday, July 27th, at 9pm on Discovery and runs through August 2nd. Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharkrunners for more info.

Visit SharkYourSelf.com to get your picture with shark teeth.. Like the one on the right!

Click on the image below to see a bigger screenshot of the game.

Create your own games online with few clicks. For those of you who always wondered how do people create those games where Bush is punching Kerry or Bush Dancing? here are 7 online resources which will let you create your own games instantly.

All of these sites offer flash based games creation. Few of these sites offer template based game creation and few offer a clean slate for creating games were you can design/create/import objects and create the game from the scratch and publish it.

Creating your own games wouldn’t have been so easy it if wasn’t for these sites. I have created a game using one of the sites on the list, do give it a try.

• Sploder.com
  Spolder offers an option of creating two games and it offers complete inventory of objects that can be used for creating a game. The interface is very intuitive which makes creating your own game a peace of cake.
• Pictogame.com
  ads Pictogame offers a variety of games to choose from. Once you decide which game you want to create all you have to do is upload a picture of someone you want to see in the game. Thats all you are done! Register with the site, save the game and start sharing it with family and friends.
• Simscarnival.com
  Simscarnival also offers a similar functionality to create your own game. Choose a game you want to create, run through the wizard, answer a few questions and BANG! you are done… simple and easy.

  [Update: Team Simscarnival - Received an update from the Simcarnival team about the 3rd way of creating a game. Please read through.. (Thanks for the update Sparkle]

  "1) The Swapper where you can take any game on the site and swap in your own pictures/photographs/art.

  2) The Wizard, which you mention, which is a template that guides you in the creation of a game.

  3) We also have the Game Creator which is a down-loadable piece of software which gives you the opportunity to build a game completely from scratch using either your own art and music, or by using art and music from the libraries we have provided to help you get started. The Game Creator is a great way for our users to build games which are more individual and unique."

• Mygame.com
  asd Mygame does not offer much in terms of customizing and altering the game. You can create a game in two steps 1) Upload a picture and 2) Adjust your picture … that is all it takes. Start playing the game.
• Fyrebug.com
  as Fyrebug is not any different, choose your game customize the object, upload the picture and save the game.
• Playmygame.com
  Playmygame is yet another simple and easy to use interface for creating games. Woks on the same template based approach. Upload your picture, Adjust and start playing and sharing the game.
• Gamebrix.net
  This is the most advanced online game builder among the ones I have listed. You can create a game from the scratch by importing new objects, adding your own music, creating logics and more.. It took me a while to understand how the entire process works.

  Gamebrix has recently released its new version of interface and games engine in closed beta. You can register with Gamebrix and test their new interface.

Here the the game I created using Pictogame.com game builder. Enjoy shooting me

Wii Fit is the new video game which combines Fun and Exercise using Wii Balance Board for a new experience. The game offers training modes such as Yoga, Balance Game, Strength Training and Aerobics.

(Check the Video out at the end of the article)

Wii Fit offers several games under each of these training modules, for example Balance Game offers Soccer Heading, Ski Slalom, Ski Jump and Table Tilt and Yoga offers Tree Pose, Warrior, Half Moon and Deep Breathing. Wii Fit currently offers 40 such games but you should certainly expect more of these games hitting Wii Fit.

Wii Fit measure a user’s weight and center of gravity using the balance board, it also calculates body mass index once the height of the users if feeded into the system. The game maintain seperate channels of each users and tracks their progress and fitness regime.

Game was released during the third quarter of 2007 and has sold close to 700,000 by May,2008. Wii Fit is available on Amazon for about 170$, grab one before its all sold out.

See Wii Fit in action in the video below:

Grand Theft Auto is a rated game. Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) issued a press release alerting parents to be cautious about the ratings of the game. ESRB has banned GTA for sales to anyone under 17 years of age.

Click on the following links to buy Grant Theft Auto IV, Buy GTA IV.

• Buy Grand Theft Auto IV – $59.99
• Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition $89.99

Following Image shows the rating of GTA IV from ESRB.

IGN has posted their review of Grand Theft Auto IV, scoring it a 10 out of 10.  Click here to read the review.

Rockstar Games is also running an offer which offers added benefits to GTA fans who registers for a copy of GTA IV before 29th of April.

Early adopters who register for the Rockstar Games Social Club BEFORE April 29th 2008 will be rewarded by being automatically entered to win a special once-in-a-lifetime prize for true GTA fans: your portrait custom drawn by Rockstar Games in the signature art style of Grand Theft Auto IV’s illustrations.  Visit the Rockstar Games Social Club for more information, rules and legal.

www.rockstargames.com/socialclu

Grand Theft Auto IV will be simultaneously available for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and  PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

Click on the Following Links to order/pre-order your copy now!! Be the FIRST to get it. Buy GTA IV

• Buy Grand Theft Auto IV – $59.99
• Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition – $89.99