Xbox 180: Microsoft Changes its Stance on Xbox One

In a major turnaround, Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business president Don Mattrick announced that the company will not require an Internet check every 24 hours for Xbox One. Gamers will also be able to trade, gift, sell, and rent games freely. Here are the relevant bullet points from the announcement:

An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games — After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.

Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today — There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

During the week of E3 2013, Microsoft was getting slammed by enthusiast gamers and the videogame press for the Xbox One’s Internet connection checks, DRM policies, $499 price, and heavy Kinect use. Sony highlighted Microsoft’s issues during its press conference and a series of viral videos. While some believe that Microsoft had no choice but to pull a 180, others are surprised by the quick reversal. While Microsoft had a horrendous PR week during E3, it’s nice to see that it’s making changes that will make gamers happy.

With all of that in mind, it’s poll time! Are you down with Xbox One now that some of the DRM silliness has been swept under the rug? Or are you still uninterested because of the price and Kinect integration? Kindly vote in the poll below when you have a chance and share your thoughts on the Xbox 180 in the comments section (please!).

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E3 2013: Razer Blade Gaming Laptop Interview

I stopped by Razer’s E3 2013 booth to check out the new Razer Blade and Razer Blade Pro. The former is a thin-and-light gaming laptop that doesn’t sacrifice power for portability. It’s a 14-inch model that features top-of-the-line chips from Intel (Haswell) and Nvidia (GeForce GTX 765M). The second iteration of the Razer Blade Pro features the same chips in a 17-inch body. It features the Switchblade UI for added flexibility. Switchblade has been updated to include features for professional applications like Maya and Photoshop. For those that lament the loss of the 17-inch MacBook Pro, the Razer Blade Pro is a compelling alternative.

Check out the video above for more details on the stylish and powerful gaming laptops.

Thanks again to Rich Brown for his great camera work!

Street Fighter Bobble Budds…Round 2!

Last year I was charmed by Multiverse Studio’s Street Fighter Bobble Budds. I was thrilled to see that the company is back for a second round of Street Fighter Bobble Budds. The news toys include adorable renditions of Cammy, Guile, Ken, and Zangief. Check out the images of Street Fighter Bobble Budds Round 2 below and let me know what you think of them. Continue reading “Street Fighter Bobble Budds…Round 2!”

Random Thoughts on NBA Finals Game Six

The sixth game of the 2013 NBA Finals was the best in the series. The level of play was crazy high, there were a ton of dramatic shots at the end of regulation, there were some key rebounds and blocks at the end of overtime, and it was a game to remember. Here are some random thoughts on this classic game, as well as a photo gallery from RPadholic 1ceman. As always, I want to hear your thoughts on the event that had many of us shouting, “I love this game!!!”

The Return of the King: For the first three quarters, LeBron James was in Duke James mode. He was playing better than 99 percent of the NBA, but not at a level that would make you think that he was among the best players ever. In Q4, it was as if he remembered that, “Hey, I’m the best player in the frickin’ league and one of the greatest of all time!” He went into King James mode and pretty much beat the Spurs by himself. It was a stellar performance, offensively and defensively. He seemed especially effective after Tim Duncan knocked his headband off. Speaking of which….

Duncan Turns Back the Clock…For Two Quarters: Wasn’t Timmy just breathtaking in the first half of the game? He wanted this one badly and left everything on the floor. Unfortunately, his game dropped in the third quarter and he looked gassed in the fourth quarter. These things happen when you’re a 37-year old man in professional sports. That first half though…man. He obliterated Bosh (and anyone else that dared to challenge him with their primitive skills) in the post and snatched up rebounds like a Dyson vacuum cleaner. It was an amazing effort from the player many writers have dubbed “The Best of His Generation,” but I wonder how much he’ll have left in game seven. Yes, he has the heart of a champion (which you’re never supposed to underestimate according to Rudy Tomjanovich), but did he use the last of his powers in game six?

Living Here in Allentown: Pat Riley looks like a genius for signing Ray Allen and Ray Allen looks like a genius for bailing on the Celtics, don’t you agree? His fantastic game five (two four-point plays!) was overshadowed by Danny Green’s ridiculous shooting and a loss (duh). Last night he showed exactly why the Heat wanted him and gave more ammo to those that call him the best pure shooter in the history of the NBA.

Mike Miller’s Shoe: I got a kick out of Miller hitting a three with only one shoe on. Too bad he’s not overly superstitious. I would have liked to have seen him play the rest of the game with one shoe.

Manu’s Turnovers: After a fantastic performance in game five, Ginobili had eight turnovers in game six. You can’t do that in the NBA Finals.

Dwyane Wade and Flow: It’s interesting that LeBron was able to go into full eff-you mode while Wade was on the bench. It’s also interesting that the game tightened up in Q4 when he played again. Yes, he’s old and injured, but there are many times when he hinders the Heat’s flow.

The No-Call Conspiracy: Manu Ginobili was fouled towards the end of the game and it wasn’t called. Danny Green was fouled at the very end of the game and it wasn’t called. Conspiracy theorists believe that these no-calls were part of a David Stern mandate to ensure a game seven. Other people believe that the referees just sucked last night. Then again, Joey Crawford was part of the referee crew and he does have a shady history with Tim Duncan. Hmmmm….

Call It: In addition to your thoughts on the game, I want your pick for game seven. Will the Heat’s talent and home-court advantage win the day? Or will the Spurs’ system, poise, and experience win the 2013 NBA Championship? Shout it out in the comments section (please)!

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Mika Brzezinski Loves Russell Brand! (Morning Joe)

Here’s an excellent clip from Morning Joe featuring two of my favorite people in entertainment: Russell Brand and Mika Brzezinski. As many of you know, I have a man-crush on Brand and a…uhm…crush-crush on Ms. Brzezinski. The clip shows Brand as this best — funny, intelligent, and utterly charming. It’s funny how his act goes over with Brzezinski; at first she doesn’t know what to make of Brand, then she gets a little uncomfortable, and by the end of the clip she’s charmed (despite being called a “shaft grasper”). This is the Russell Brand that I believe is on the cusp of unforgettable greatness.

E3 2013: Nvidia Shield Interview

Nvidia made quite a splash when it announced its Shield portable gaming system at CES 2013. At E3 2013, I interviewed James Wang from Nvidia product marketing to get more details on the system and got some hands-on time with the console. Shield will be the first Tegra 4 device on the market, according to the company. Nvidia’s latest and greatest mobile chip should take mobile gaming to the next level. In addition to being able to run Android games, Shield allows gamers to stream PC games (GeForce GTX 650 or higher required). Of course it runs non-gaming apps as well, which is handy for people that want to update their Facebook status with one of the most menacing Android devices ever created.

Shield sports a solid gamepad that will feel familiar to most gamers. The buttons and sticks are solid, but I needed a few minutes to get used to the flat feel of the system. It was very much a mental thing on my part; I know that portable gaming systems are supposed to be flat, but Shield’s shape and color scheme reminded me of Xbox 360 so I was thinking curves. Of course I need to spend more time with the controller and use it with a variety of games before I can judge it, but my initial feeling was like, not love.

While Shield has a lot of power and a lot of features, it also has a lot of competitors — traditional handheld systems, Android phones and tablets, and several other Android-based consoles. It’s certainly unique, but I’m not sure what the demand will be for a $349 portable Android gaming system. That’s where you come in! As always, I want to hear your thoughts on Nvidia Shield, now that you have more info on it and have seen more footage of the system. Share your feelings like a Care Bear in the comments section when you have a chance (please).

E3 2013: Sunflex UNU Tablet Interview

At E3 2013, I spent some time with Sunflex vice president of business development Nicki Repenning to talk about the UNU tablet. At a glance, this seven-inch tablet is one of the most unique and diverse Android devices I’ve seen. In addition to being able to use it as a standard tablet, UNU comes with software and accessories that help you use it as a smart TV or videogame console.

On the smart TV side, it uses docks and an air-mouse controller. The controller is particularly novel. It features motion controls for menu navigation and for casual games (think Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja). The back of the controller has a QWERTY keyboard for a familiar and comfortable typing experience. One dock and controller are included in the standard UNU tablet bundle, which will retail for $199.

For hardcore Android gamers, there’s a $249 bundle that includes a full-sized gamepad, a travel pouch, and everything in the standard bundle. The controller has a good feel, thought not as impressive as the Nyko PlayPad Pro 2 that I tried at E3 2013. The gamepad makes sense for Android users that play a lot of traditional games ported to Android.

On paper, UNU looks like an inexpensive Android tablet that does many things very well. However, I want to spend more time with Sunflex’s custom UI and learn the exact chipset under the hood before I pass judgement. Hopefully I’ll get to do so before the product’s late-summer release. I’m intrigued by UNU, but I want to see more!

How about you guys and gals? Any of you interested in the UNU tablet?

[Thanks again to Rich Brown for his great camera work in this video!]

E3 2013: Sunflex UNU Tablet Interview

At E3 2013, I spent some time with Sunflex vice president of business development Nicki Repenning to talk about the UNU tablet. At a glance, this seven-inch tablet is one of the most unique and diverse Android devices I’ve seen. In addition to being able to use it as a standard tablet, UNU comes with software and accessories that help you use it as a smart TV or videogame console.

On the smart TV side, it uses docks and an air-mouse controller. The controller is particularly novel. It features motion controls for menu navigation and for casual games (think Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja). The back of the controller has a QWERTY keyboard for a familiar and comfortable typing experience. One dock and controller are included in the standard UNU tablet bundle, which will retail for $199.

For hardcore Android gamers, there’s a $249 bundle that includes a full-sized gamepad, a travel pouch, and everything in the standard bundle. The controller has a good feel, thought not as impressive as the Nyko PlayPad Pro 2 that I tried at E3 2013. The gamepad makes sense for Android users that play a lot of traditional games ported to Android.

On paper, UNU looks like an inexpensive Android tablet that does many things very well. However, I want to spend more time with Sunflex’s custom UI and learn the exact chipset under the hood before I pass judgement. Hopefully I’ll get to do so before the product’s late-summer release. I’m intrigued by UNU, but I want to see more!

How about you guys and gals? Any of you interested in the UNU tablet?

[Thanks again to Rich Brown for his great camera work in this video!]

Coffee Talk #589: Bungie, Destiny, Insomniac, and Sunset Overdrive

At E3 2013, I had at least ten conversations that went something like this:

Me: So what did you think of Destiny?

Colleague: *yawn* It looks like a Bungie game.

Me: It should. It’s being made by Bungie.

Colleague: No, I mean it feels and looks too much like Halo.

Me: There are a lot elements in the game that are nothing like Halo, but I guess there are some visual similarities. But so what?

Colleague: I’m just tired of them doing the same thing game after game.

At E3 2013, I also had at least ten conversations that went something like this…more

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, Samsung and Jay-Z teaming up for (allegedly) $20-million, LeAnn Rimes’ crew visiting my favorite vape shop, or Rob Van Dam returning to WWE, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

At E3 2013, I had at least ten conversations that went something like this:

Me: So what did you think of Destiny?

Colleague: *yawn* It looks like a Bungie game.

Me: It should. It’s being made by Bungie.

Colleague: No, I mean it feels and looks too much like Halo.

Me: There are a lot elements in the game that are nothing like Halo, but I guess there are some visual similarities. But so what?

Colleague: I’m just tired of them doing the same thing game after game.

At E3 2013, I also had at least ten conversations that went something like this:

Me: So what did you think of Sunset Overdrive?

Colleague: *excited* It looks like an Insomniac game!

Me: It should. It’s being made by Insomniac.

Colleague: No, I mean it looks like what I expect from them. Resistance didn’t look and feel like an Insomniac game. This is more like it!

Me: I guess the tone feels more like what the company has done prior to Resistance, but I don’t mind when developers try different things.

Colleague: Yeah, but this is what I love about Insomniac.

In one case, people are criticizing Bungie for (supposedly) going to the well again. In the other case, people are lauding Insomniac for (supposedly) going to the well again. It’s funny, isn’t it? I’m not sure what the deal is — it’s like you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. Destiny is pretty ambitious, but some people are down on it because it has some artistic and tonal similarities to other Bungie games. Sunset Overdrive is also ambitious, and it’s getting praised because it has some artistic and tonal similarities to other Insomniac games. In my head, this kind of inconsistency is causing game developers to sing Adam Lambert’s “Whataya Want From Me?” on an hourly basis.

There’s something comforting about creators — of any kind, not just game developers — using familiar elements. There’s also something exciting about creators trying something new. The results of both approaches can be good or bad. I get that. What I don’t get is the inconsistent pigeonholing game journalists and gamers are doing with these two titles. Why is it good for one developer to use a similar style and bad for another?

Don’t get me wrong. I respect the hell out of Bungie and I’m a huge Insomniac mark. I just think it’s unfair that Bungie is getting dinged and Insomniac is getting praised for the same reason.

Perhaps you can explain it to me. Are these judgements just? Are they inconsistent? Leave your thoughts on the matter in the comments section (please!).

Random Thoughts on NBA Finals Game Five

After missing the last two games of the 2013 NBA Finals because of that E3 thingie, basketball has my full attention once more. Game five was a fantastic game to come back to. It was full of exciting runs, improbable performances, and Manu Ginobili’s glorious bald spot/receding hairline. Here are some random thoughts on last night’s game between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs. As always, I’d love hear what you thought about the game.

Manu Rises: After sucking for the first four games of the series, Ginobili errupted for 24 points, 10 assists, two rebounds, and a steal with a +/- of +19. He kicked things off with a three-pointer and it was all classic Manu from there. At times he was out of control and at other times he was glorious. He had several drives and shot attempts that had fans going, “No! No!! No!!!” just before the shot and, “Yes!!!” when it went in. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker had strong games too, but it was reemergence of Manu that made the difference. Well, that’s not entirely true. Danny Green had a monster night too.

Danny Green’s Night in Pictures: Green continued his torrid three-point shooting, going 6-for-10 from downtown. In the process, he broke Ray Allen’s record for three-pointers made in an NBA Finals series. It went something like this:

Next, Ray Allen’s face went like this (GIF by @cjzero):

Spurs fans around the world felt like this:

It was glorious.

Tony Parker’s Quiet Excellence: Aside from some bursts in the third quarter, I didn’t notice Tony Parker doing anything too noteworthy. His hamstring is obviously bothering him and he isn’t his usual 48-minute jitterbug self. Ginobili starting helped alleviate some of his ball-distribution responsibilities, allowing him to pick his spots to put the pedal to the metal. Still, I was shocked to see that he finished with 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting. It sure didn’t seem like it. It’s impressive when someone has a great game and you barely notice it. If Ginobili doesn’t start game six, I wonder if the added ball-handling pressure (*giggle*) will lower his efficiency, given his ailing wheel.

Duke James: 25 points, eight assists, and six rebounds would be a stellar playoff game for 99 percent of the league. For LeBron James, it’s not enough. After being monstrously efficient for most of the year, his 8-for-22 shooting was poor. He seemed too deferential. His first rebound came in the third quarter. His team needed him to go into eff-you mode, but he was determined to play unselfishly. We’ve seen him take over several playoff games this year and James needed to be in best-player-in-the-league form in Q4, but it just wasn’t there. Most all-time greats seem to have an on-off switch when it comes to raising their level of play. Was LeBron’s broken last night?

Chris Bosh: Dude had two strong playoff games in a row. Let’s go crazy!

Favorite Stat of the Night: Udonis Haslem played for nine minutes and had a +/- -20 for those nine minutes. That’s so bad it’s impressive…and also makes you wonder why Chris Andersen was glued to the bench.

Your Take: Now it’s your turn! Please let me know what you thought of last night’s game. Any predictions on game six? (And no, copying Mr. T’s prediction of, “Pain….” doesn’t count.) Will the Spurs wrap it up? Or is this series going to a game seven?