On Gear Live: Circuit Breaker: The Tech Newsletter that Elevates Your Gadget Game

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Xbox Live Vision CameraThe free update for Texas Hold ‘em, which rolled out yesterday, included a variety of features – including some really great ones. Bug fixes and updates such as Xbox Live Vision Camera support are the headliners here. And the good part for dedicated fans is that bankrolls won’t be reset with the update.

Poker is the perfect fit for the Vision Camera, and finally we’ll have just that. This’ll likely breathe new life into the game, and luckily it’s the type of game that isn’t just a fad – plenty of people still populate Hold ‘em online as it is. While I wish this had come out sooner (like, not 11 months after it was first released), it’s better late than never, especially when you’re referring to uses for the Vision Camera, which are few and far between.

  • Improved usability such as the addition of Custom Match Lists, which allows gamers to view and select which available Custom Match game they would like to join.
  • Improved rich presence in the game, allowing players to not only see what their friends are up to, but also if they just won that big pot!
  • Improved matchmaking and user results.
  • Scoring and screens are more readable than before.
  • Multi-language support including English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
  • New premium downloadable content allows players to customize the in-game environment, and access new gamerpics and themes.

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Halo 3 special edition Xbox 360 consoleAs we unveiled on Tuesday, we finally know the price point and release date for the Xbox 360 chatpad. At Microsoft’s press conference we saw Peter Moore hold up a new Xbox 360 model – a Halo 3 special edition 360. The console itself will have a green and gold paintjob with a matching wireless controller, a 20GB hard drive, headset, Play & Charge kit, and exclusive Halo 3 gamer pics and theme. The system will be available in September.

Another hardware tidbit was that in October we’ll see several new colors of wireless controllers – pink, dark blue, and light blue – making for a total of five different controller colors. Check after the break for a look at the new controller colors.

Update: Game | Life has some details on the special Halo 3 edition Xbox 360 - specifically, the headset included will be wireless and the system itself will have an HDMI port. And to clarify, the system won’t come with a copy of Halo 3.

Click to continue reading E3 2007: New Xbox 360 Hardware And Accessory Details [UPDATE]


Xbox 360 E3 games release 2007

Over on Gamerscore Blog, a list has been posted with all of the games being shown at E3 that will be available this year. Xbox 360 games, Xbox Live Arcade games, Games for Windows-branded titles, and Games for Windows Live-enabled games. It’s a lot to digest, and with big name games like BioShock, Halo 3, Mass Effect, Guitar Hero III, Sonic the Hedgehog (the original, don’t worry), Puzzle Quest, Company of Heroes: Opposing Forces… let’s just say there’s something for nearly everyone.

Click to continue reading E3 2007: All The Stuff You’ll See On Xbox 360 And Games for Windows In 2007

Read More | Gamerscore Blog

From the Microsoft press conference, we got a much welcomed look at Resident Evil 5, which will be released next year. The graphics are stunning, and the game seems to be following more in the footsteps of Resident Evil 4 as opposed to reverting back to previous entries in the series. That’s by no means a bad thing, since Resident Evil 4 was one of the best games released in the past few years, bar none. We still don’t know who this protagonist is, but he makes another appearance here. My money is on Chris Redfield, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

 


As opposed to the other Halo 3 video which was practically nothing but live action, this video is filled with just over two minutes of Halo 3’s single player – and it looks good. Cortana makes a brief appearance, and what looks to be an array of new Covenant dropships, new armor for the Brutes and a lot of other things only Halo fanatics can really appreciate. Nevertheless, give it a watch and keep counting down the days until September 25.


E3 2007 winnerIt always seems a bit silly to declare a “winner” of E3. It’s just so juvenile. This is a complex industry that can’t be distilled down to the simple question of “who beat whom.”

But we just can’t help it, can we?

Comparing the three keynotes this year, however, really is a grab-bag of possible outcomes. All three offered something interesting, and picking a single “winner” this year more than ever depends how you define “winning.”

My rundown is after the break.

Click to continue reading E3 2007: The Big Three: Who “Won” E3?


PlayStation Portable redesign box

I’m going to come right out and say it: I’m coming away from Sony’s presentation more impressed than I was either Nintendo’s or Microsoft’s. They were very straightforward and showed exactly what we all wanted to see: the games.

In fact, this was one of the more impressive E3 press conferences in recent memory – check inside to find out why.

Click to continue reading E3 2007: Sony’s Press Conference Recap And Impressions


Check Mii Out

While no specific release date was given, once again made mention of their new popularity channel for Miis, Check Mii Out, during their 2007 press conference. Giving a bit more detail than they did when Takeshi Shimada gave back in March, you’ll be able to rate user-submitted Miis, and even import the ones you like onto your console. Slick. Reggie also mentioned that there will be contests held with this channel as well, such as best recreation of a real life celebrity. This one should be available soon.


Shigeru Miyamoto Mario Luigi

As with the Microsoft conference before it, I was confined to my hotel Wi-Fi to take in Nintendo’s E3 press conference. But, unlike Microsoft’s, I’m walking away thoroughly and utterly disappointed. I’m going to go ahead and spoil part of the full story from after the break: there was no mention of Smash Bros. being online. Me = worried much.

Set your expectations low before you view the rest after the break.

Click to continue reading E3 2007: Nintendo’s Press Conference Recap And Impressions


Super Smash Bros Brawl

just announced the long awaited release date for Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the console at their press conference. You’ll be able to get your hands on Super Smash Bros. Brawl in what has to be considered a late holiday release, December 3, 2007. If you haven’t already pre-ordered this title, you may want to do so, because people are going to have this one on their holiday gift lists for sure.

Read More | Super Smash Bros.

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