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

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Wii ZapperToday, during their media briefing, unveiled what Reggie says is the “first offspring of the Remote and the Nunchuck” - the Wii Zapper. That’s right, think back to Duck Hunt and Hogan’s Alley. Third parties are currently working on titles that will take advantage of the new device, like Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Medal of Honor, and Ghost Squad. Expect to see the Wii Zapper packaged with a currently secret first party Nintendo title later this year for $19.99 USD.


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PlayStation 3 80GB specsThe once mammoth 60GB PS3 has had its sticker shock peeled, if only partially. At $100 lighter - effective immediately - the urge to grab one is getting harder to resist, and Amazon sales seem to indicate that I’m not the only one who feels that way. Big spenders aren’t being ignored, either—the new new 80 gig PS3 (now with 100% less Emotion Engine, the component that allows hardware to power backwards compatibility) hits store shelves next month at $599, packaged with MotorStorm for free.

Unfortunately, things aren’t as rosy for Sony elsewhere. The often-rumored-to-be-going-multiplatform Metal Gear Solid 4 seems to be doing just that, at least according to Kazumi Kitaue, Konami’s North American and European COO, in an interview with Reuters. Though no specific consoles were named (few choices exist when speculating), the executive questions the impact that the price drop could have, and how the so-far unspectacular sales of the PS3 will hurt their bottom line if they remain exclusive. “With $500, you can buy a personal computer. I don’t expect a substantial impact.” Amazon begs to differ…

In regards to the yeti that is the Xbox 360 port of MGS4, it remains uncatalogued. For now.

Read More | 1UP

Sonic the HedgehogAnnounced during Microsoft’s press conference not long ago, Genesis classics Sonic The Hedgehog and Golden Axe are now available for Live Arcade. Sweetening the surprise is the pricing; they’ll only cost you five bucks (400 Microsoft Points) each, exactly three dollars less than their $8 Wii Virtual Console counterparts. Sega’s giving 360 owners a discount.

Also announced via the same Live Arcade footage reel was Marathon: Durandal. Development is being outsourced to Freeverse, a smaller Mac-focused outfit who’ve decided to remove the “2” in the games title. This is no mere re-branding: what was shown reveals a major visual overhaul. All of the games sprites and textures have been re-painted, resulting in a more polished version of what staunch Mac addicts got down on twelve years ago. No price or release details, but it’ll have a good home when it arrives: a Bungie classic reborn should sit well with the audience.


E3 Microsoft Bringing It Home

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend E3 this year – instead, I’m on vacation in Cape Cod, using awful hotel Wi-Fi to watch streamed press conferences. Not the most glamorous way to take it all in, but exciting announcements, great games and new details are welcome no matter how you hear about them.

Here’s my personal transcription (in very brief form) of all the announcements and showings, along with some reflection on what Microsoft had to show.

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


DescriptionFor all of you out there that HAVEN’T been furiously searching through the Xbox Live Marketplace for new content, the fact that the Blue Dragon demo is now live may have passed you by. Well, that’s why we’re here. Don’t you love us?

Downloads seem to be a little slow right now (I’m at about 11%), and the fact that tons of new video content from Disney is also available now probably isn’t helping. Speaking of which, on an aside rant, how in the HELL did Microsoft convince Disney to allow HD Disney content on Xbox Live? I mean, Disney is staunchly pro-Blu-Ray, putting them in the camp of top Microsoft competitors Sony and Apple. And Steve Jobs is on the board of directors of Disney for chrissake! I guess all that D Conference “Steve Jobs and Bill Gates sittin’ in a tree” stuff wasn’t just for show.

Anyway, yeah… go downlad the Blue Dragon demo now!

Read More | Xbox.com

Xbox E3 2007

We hope you guys are ready, because while E3 may be quite a bit smaller this year, the announcements coming from all the game companies should still prove to be large. The Microsoft briefing is right about to start, and we expect to see and hear some fairly exciting announcements. Halo 3 anyone? Fable 2 FTW? Any unannounced exclusives? Check back here in 30 minutes for the full scoop.

UPDATE: Alright guys, hit the break for the news!

Click to continue reading E3 2007: Live Notes From Microsoft Media Briefing


Sega E3 2007 Mario Sonic

SEGA sent us a listing of all the titles they plan on showing off at this year’s E3 Media and Business Summit, and it seems like they are betting on thirteen titles to turn heads this year. One of the more unique concepts stars Mario and Sonic at the Olympics, Virtua Fighter 5 with online play, and one we have our eyes on, the return of . You can take a peek at the full list after the break.

Click to continue reading E3 2007: SEGA Unveils Their E3 Line-Up


Xbox 360 Chatpad

Those of you who have been waiting for the Xbox 360 Chatpad, we finally have more news on the impending release of the device. Over on the Xbox website, the Chatpad Messenger Kit has been given it’s own product page, which indicates that the package, which includes the Chatpad along with headset, will retail for $29.99 USD. You’ll have to wait a couple more months for the pleasure though, as the Chatpad Messenger Kit isn’t scheduled to hit stores until September 4, 2007. While you’re waiting, check out our Chatpad image gallery.

Read More | Chatpad Messenger Kit Product Page

Trauma Center 2 Screenshot

For those of you that just haven’t gotten enough of carving pentagrams into people you’re operating on, Nintendo brings you Trauma Center: New Blood. The original Trauma Center on the DS was a surprise hit (although I have to say, I found certain levels ridiculously difficult - I never made it past “It Never Ends”), and the remake on the Wii met with generally favorable reviews. While this new title doesn’t exactly count as a port, it still seems like another way to milk the Wii cash cow with another cheap-to-produce game. Hopefully Nintendo’s got some other big announcements of original, not-a-port, not-a-direct-sequel games up their sleeves for E3. Or at least a hardware announcement? Come on guys, don’t let me down.

Trauma Center: New Blood will feature co-op play, new characters, and new missions, with a decidedly Trauma-Center-1-looking interface. Price and release date aren’t available yet, but we’ll keep you updated!

Read More | Famitsu

Lara Croft It’s no secret that I love me some Tomb Raider, so when Eidos announced that the remake of the original game, titled Tomb Raider: Anniversary Edition would only becoming to last-gen (read: PS2) and “new-gen” (read: Wii) consoles, I was a might bit disappointed.

Well, it looks as if Eidos has changed their mind, so color me giddy with anticipation. TR: Anniversary will now be coming to the 360, so you can finally see Lara’s original adventure in all its bump-mapped, pixel-shaded, bloom-lit glory. The really interesting part is exactly HOW the game will be coming to the 360. In its first iteration, TR: Anniversary will be hitting the 360 as downloadable episodic content, starting in September for those that own the excellent TR: Legends. Why? Well, my guess is that they’re meeting MS’s download size requirements by using the in-game engine of Legends, so essentially the Anniversary download will just be new map packs and outfits for Lara. Of course, those of you without the original Legends, or not on Xbox Live will be able to purchase Anniversary as it hits meatspace later in the year in DVD form.

Read More | 1up.com

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