Category: News (Page 99 of 108)

Microsoft Will Stop Sending HD Cables With the Elite 360

August 18, 2009 / Jeff Morgan

Looks like Microsoft is capitalizing just a little more on the fact that seemingly nothing will scare 360 gamers away. Yesterday we learned that the Microsoft console has an astounding 54.2% failure rate, but for some reason, that’s only scared 3% of Microsoft gamers away. Today Microsoft is wagging its wallet in our collective faces. They’ve decided to stop sending HD cables with the Elite 360.

This is a choice I would totally respect if I was 2006 Jeff. Back then the HDMI thing was mostly the stuff of nerdy dreams. Now, though, you can pick up an HDMI monitor for less than the price of your favorite console. And don’t pretend the games don’t look better on HDMI. They do. They look a lot better. So why not give that to the gamers who are spending the most money on your console? I realize I can get an HDMI cable for right around $4, but shipping one with the console serves as a convenience.

I’m sure there are plenty of people who don’t need the HDMI thinking, “what’s the big deal?” Well guess what – they aren’t going to be shipping component cables any more either. All you get is your SD composite cables. 2006 Jeff would take this sort of news with much indifference. 2009 Jeff is a little pissed.

Mobile Gaming, News, Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360

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Xbox 360 Failure Rate over 50%

August 17, 2009 / Jeff Morgan

Everyone knows the Xbox 360 is a poorly manufactured piece of crap. Don’t get me wrong, I really love the console, but the death rate is alarming, and Game Informer has finally put a number on things.

According to their most recent issue, the folks at GI claim a whopping 54.2% failure rate for Microsoft’s next-gen console. The stat comes from a survey of more than 5,000 console owners, of which only 3.2% said they would never buy a 360 again.

Maybe 50% just sounds bad, right? The other consoles are struggling too from massive usage stats, right? Not exactly. The PS3 has a failure rate just above 10% and the Wii led the group with a measly 6.8%. So the 360 is failing 5 times as often as the console it’s outselling by a mile, and consumers still aren’t fed up enough to stop buying the damn thing. Infuriating as it may be, I have to say, “Nice work, Microsoft.” Really, it’s sort of impressive that they could pull that off.

News, Xbox 360

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Redbox Adds Video Games

August 16, 2009 / Jeff Morgan

If you’re a serious sociophobe when it comes to renting video games you have reason to rejoice today. Redbox, maker of those red…boxes that allow you to be the subject of much animosity as you slowly browse for your DVD of choice, has added video game kiosks to its manless rental station armada.

For now the selection is pretty slim, and the prices are a little steep. Games will run you $2 a night (by comparison, Blockbuster gives you 5 nights for $9 – then again, they’ll also make you talk to someone; is it just me or have Blockbuster employees gotten ridiculously annoying?) for Wii, DS, 360, PS2, and PS3 titles. Of course they did just launch the service, so selection is likely to improve, but price probably won’t. The stations are available now in the Reno, Nevada area.

News, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, PS3, Xbox 360

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Mini Xbox Is The Mother Of DIY Geekery

August 15, 2009 / Jeff Morgan

Bandit5317 from Xbox Scene may have created the greatest DIY on the geek market to date. Over the course of six months he took an original Xbox and trimmed it down to a svelte 1″ thick package.

How did he manage such a feat? Well he removed the optical drive, for starters, and added a 320GB hard drive to turn the little console into the XBMC you’ve been praying for. He also removed the controller ports in favor of some USB and obviously a good portion of the cooling internals. In fact, that may be the one drawback. The smaller frame means the box runs a good bit hotter than you might want.

But she works, and she looks damn good in that tiny black…case. Check his forum post for a gallery of pics.

News

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Psyclone Wiimote Charging Station Gets Recalled

August 14, 2009 / Jeff Morgan

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has sent out a recall on all Psyclone Essentials and React Wii 4-Dock Battery Recharge Stations. Apparently the stations turn the battery packs in your Wiimotes into fire hazards and a fairly serious risk for burning both you and potentially your house. The cause for the recall seems to be six separate consumer incidents in which people reported burned hands.

All told there are around 220,000 of these units being tossed like hot potatoes in public hands. The charging stations were distributed by Griffin International. Remember, this is for all of the stations, not just some. No matter where you picked yours up, it needs to be returned.

News, Nintendo Wii

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