Google has announced that its Google Voice service is available to everyone — no invite required. I’m a huge, huge fan of Google Voice. The service allows you to use a single number that hits multiple phones, make cheap international calls, and manage/send text messages from a web browser. If you have a Google Android phone, the integration is super tight. I encourage all of you to snag a Google Voice number and try it out.
The Green Hornet Trailer: You Buying Heroic Seth Rogen?
I’m going to see this movie because Seth Rogen cracks me up and the guy playing Kato is cool, but I’m totally not sold on Seth Rogen as a hero. Check out the trailer and share your thoughts (please)!
Coffee Talk #162: 10 Things I Missed at E3 2010
It’s impossible for one person to see all the cool games at E3, but this year’s show was exceptionally difficult. Most of my friends at the show agreed that E3 2010 was much more interesting than E3 2009. It’s great for the gaming business, but bad for a single attendee. Here’s a list of things that I wish I saw at this year’s show.
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the “mystery” RAW general manager, the French being French in the World Cup, or Antonio Tarver fighting at heavyweight Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
It’s impossible for one person to see all the cool games at E3, but this year’s show was exceptionally difficult. Most of my friends at the show agreed that E3 2010 was much more interesting than E3 2009. It’s great for the gaming business, but bad for a single attendee. Here’s a list of things that I wish I saw at this year’s show.
- Journey: Everyone that saw thatgamecompany’s (Flower) next title raved about it and said it was easily one of the best things they saw at the show. Unfortunately it was only being shown behind closed doors at Sony’s booth and I didn’t have time to pester my way into a demo. I loved Flower and I love what I’m hearing about Journey…though the game’s name makes me think about “Separate Ways”, “Don’t Stop Believin'”, etc.
- Portal 2: It hurts that I didn’t get a chance to see this game.
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution: This one also hurts. Ouchie.
- Rage: The graphics in id Software’s upcoming shooter are supposed to be amazing. I wish I got to see them.
- Mortal Kombat: A lot of people were interested in the new MK after seeing the trailer. People that got to see it at E3 were even more excited. It looks like an excellent throwback.
- WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011: The lines for this game were ridiculously long — I’m talking Nintendo 3DS long. Rumor has it that the guy that wrote two of the best storylines in SvR 2010 has returned for two more plots in this year’s game.
- Dr. Mike Capps: I had a nice chat with Epic’s Mark Rein. I spent some quality time with Cliff Bleszinski. I didn’t see Epic’s Mike “Busta” Capps. My Epic dealings felt incomplete without Mikey C.
- Rock Band 3: I’m hearing wonderful things about the “pro” instruments. Whether it’s Devo or Europe, I want to get my keytar on!
- Dr. Ray Muzyka: Unlike Epic’s Dr. “Busta” Mikey C, BioWare’s Dr. Ray is a real doctor, not some computer doctor. It was brilliant spending time with Dr. Greg, but it would have been nice to see Ray too. They’re both excellent people. Besides, Ray has the cooler name.
- Don Daglow: The man is one of gaming’s living legends. Plus, he’s just warm and makes you feel good. I wish we got to bump into each other.
Part of me wishes E3 took place in Las Vegas. The convention center is superior and it’s a much better city for a trade show. If I didn’t spend so much time walking between West Hall and South Hall, I could have seen some of the games on my “miss” list. Las Vegas is also more compact than Los Angeles, so it would have been easier to bump into some of the people I missed. Oh well, there’s always next year!
Microsoft Store Lists Xbox Kinect for $149.99
The Microsoft Store has listed the Kinect Sensor for Xbox 360 as $149.99. When GameStop and other retailers listed Kinect at the same price last week, Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg tweeted:
No Kinect price announced yet, retail price estimates are purely speculative, final price & pack-in details are not yet determined.
So I guess the Microsoft Store is speculating on the retail price too. *shrug*
Source via Chris Kohler
Xbox 360 Kinect Produces Mixed Results on Jimmy Fallon
Xbox Kinect and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon have some history. Microsoft’s Kudo Tsunoda showed the device on Late Night when it was known as Project Natal. He recently returned to show the updated hardware and some new games. The results were mixed. The crowd seemed to dig it (or the applause signs were really effective), but the lag issues were obvious.
Check out the video above and let me know what you think of Kinect’s performance on Late Night (please). Remember, Natal is due out in November so there’s plenty of time for Microsoft to tighten the bolts. The question is, should the company be showing it off when it’s lag city?
John Dvorak Predicts That Xbox Kinect Will Fail
PC Magazine columnist John Dvorak — one of the most respected tech pundits in the biz — believes that Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect is “doomed to fail”. In a recent column, Dvorak wrote:
Game play is typically a sedentary activity. You typically play games while already pooped out from the day’s activities. The last thing you want to do is jump around like some ninny. The device is never going to catch on with the general gaming community for this reason alone. Kinect is also limited by what it can actually do. Serious gamers get into fine control with specialty controllers that can execute elaborate and accurate action. This will never happen with full-body control—it would be too hard to make it work, and no coders will ever put in the effort much past, “it kind of works. Ship it!”
I respect Dvorak and have enjoyed his writing for more than a decade, but I’m not sold on his prediction just yet. Gaming is outside his realm of expertise. Hell, even within his realm of expertise he’s had his fair share of bad predictions.
Still, it’s an interesting talking point. After seeing video of Kinect and its games, are any of you sold on it? Do you believe it’s doomed to fail? Or are you going to wait before you pass judgement (my personal suggestion)?
New WWE Champions and Bryan Danielson Launches New Site
In case you missed last night’s WWE Fatal Four Way pay-per-view event, Sheamus is the new WWE Champion and Rey Mysterio is the new World Heavyweight Champion. I love that Sheamus has the strap again; he has a unique look and cuts fun promos (I love it when he calls someone “fella”). I’m not as jazzed by Rey Rey winning a belt. WWE could have done more with previous title holder Jack Swagger. Hopefully Rey is just a transitional champion.
In other news, Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan in WWE) has launched a new web site. He was released from the WWE under murky circumstances and has several indie bookings lined up. I am tremendously bummed that WWE released Danielson for seemingly idiotic reasons. I’m also bummed that he never really got to show what he could do in WWE. Since Shawn Michaels retired, Danielson and Chris Jericho were the two main reasons I wathced WWE programming. Sadly, it’s down to Jericho.
In order to honor Danielson, I think I’ll download an excellent Ring of Honor episode on Xbox Live (they’re under HD Net). I believe there’s an excellent match between Danielson and my pal Austin Aries available. Thankfully a very kind and very smart reader hooked me up with Microsoft Points yesterday. I think this will be my second purchase with said points.
Sony’s Kaz Hirai Dismisses the Nintendo 3DS
In an interview with Sankei Biz, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai brushed off portable 3D gaming. While he didn’t call out Nintendo’s 3DS handheld by name, it was easy to see his target. Hirai said:
Based off internally conducted research, naked-eye 3D for portables does not have high precision, and at present there are limitations.
He surely has a point, but he’s also comparing apples to oranges. Most experts believe that the 3DS will cost under $200. Playing stereoscopic 3D on your PlayStation 3 requires a $2,000 television and $150 glasses. While the PS3 will certainly provide a superior 3D experience, these are two entirely different product categories and price points. That said, it’s always fun when CEOs try to layeth the smack down.
What do you think of Hirai’s comparison? Is he just confident that the PS3 will have the better experience? Or is he threatened by the buzz the 3DS received at E3 2010?
Source via Andriasang
Get Your iPhones Ready: iOS 4 is Available Now
Apple has released iOS 4 today. If you’re running an iPhone 3G or 3GS that isn’t jailbroken as well as the latest generation of iPod Touch media players, then you should download it straight away to take advantage of the new features. If you get a chance, let me everyone here know what you think of iOS 4.
Do You Care About Sitting Down and Using Xbox Kinect?
The Internets (there are several of them) have been buzzing about reports that Xbox Kinect doesn’t work while you’re sitting down. Some developers have said that it’s difficult for Kinect to track your skeleton while you’re sitting down. Microsoft has refuted this claim, saying that Kinect can work while you’re sitting down or standing up — it’s on a game-by-game basis.
Some writers are going nuts over the matter. Some have said that not being able to do simple things — navigating menus, for instance — while sitting down is a major flaw with Kinect. Personally, I don’t see what the big deal is and see it more as a minor nuisance than a major flaw. What do you guys and dolls think? Is it a deal breaker? Or are some people overreacting?