Gaming on smartphones and tablets is increasingly popular, but the proliferation of stick-on joysticks would indicate that people miss the tactile feed back of a physical controller.  The iControlPad goes beyond a simple stick-on joystick and adds a full controller to your smartphone.  The controller has “dual analogue nubs, digital D-Pad, 6 face buttons and 2 rear buttons,”  and it connects via Bluetooth to devices with HID keyboard, joystick, and gamepad modes.  It’s compatible with many emulators, including NES, SNES, Megadrive/Genesis, MAME, PC-Engine, MSX, Gameboy, Amiga, C64 and more.  With an iPhone, you can play 30 iCade games from the app store, with no jailbreaking required.  It has an internal 1360mAh battery for many hours of gaming, and you can even use the iControlPad to top off your iPhone’s battery.

There’s an adjustable metal clamp that holds your smartphone in place as you play, and it’s compatible with a wide variety of smartphones.  You can stow or remove the metal clamp and use the iControlPad with your tablets.  The firmware is upgradeable, too.  Learn more about the iControlPad and the BluTrol iOS app that let’s you map controls to iOS games at the iControlPad website.

The iControlPad is $62.49.

Filed in categories: Android related, Bluetooth Gear, Gaming Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Gaming controller

iControlPad Bluetooth Gaming Controller for Smartphones and Tablets originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 3, 2012 at 10:00 am.

Instead of hiding your Nintendo gaming controller in your coffee table with your remotes, the Nintendo Controller Coffee Table from TheBohemianWorkbench Etsy shop is the controller.  This table is made of maple, mahogany and walnut with dovetail joinery and mid century modern legs, and it functions as a Nintendo NES controller.  A floating glass top protects the controller while it’s not in use, and lifts off for game play.  Four versions are available to suit most budgets.  For example, there’s a version made of composite materials and painted to match the real NES controller.  You can also choose a non-working model.  The functional, premium hardwoods version shown here sells for $3500.  These custom tables are made after you place an order, so you should expect a wait of 4-6 weeks while your table is made to your specifications.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Furniture, Gaming controller, Nintendo NES

This Gives Hiding Your Gaming Controller in the Coffee Table a Whole New Meaning originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 14, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

ROCCAT says their Savu gaming mouse is “a competition device that ‘fusion welds’ an ideal blend of performance and customizable features into a robust, perfectly-balanced, medium-sized design.”  The Savu optical mouse has a Pro Optic sensor that delivers up to 4000 dpi, and the “latest R3 sensor also delivers lag-free gaming without any interpolation and provides ultra-precise feedback during even the fastest movements.”  Easy-Shift technology lets gamers set two functions for each mouse button and the scroll wheel, and Easy-Aim automatically reduces the dpi setting when in sniper mode for pinpoint accuracy.  You can select a single color, from 16.8 million, to display on the light bar, pulse in a single color, or cycle through colors.  The ROCCAT Achievement Display is an application that “compiles user data, provides a range of statistics for analysis, and hands out trophies when exceptional milestones have been reached” and let’s you share your accomplishments on social networking sites.  The Savu will be available in early May, but no pricing information is available yet.

Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear, Gaming Gear, Laptops and Gear, News

Tagged: Gaming gear, USB optical mouse

ROCCAT Savu Mid-Size Hybrid Gaming Mouse originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 13, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

Julie asked the Gadgeteer Kid and me if we would like to do a joint review of the Nintendo 3DS portable gaming system. As many of you may know, the 3DS is Nintendo‘s latest and greatest handheld gaming device. Not being a video game player at all, I agreed with a bit of hesitation hoping the GK would bring a younger person’s perspective to the review. I will be bringing the (boring) older non-gamer, parental point of view.

My commentary will be in normal black text and the Gadgeteer Kid’s will be blue italicized.

For the kids out there, I will do my best to bring the 10 year old gamer (who loves video games) point of view.

The Nintendo 3DS has been available for nearly a year now, released into the US market in late March of 2011. It’s very similar in size and shape to its predecessor, the DSi and DS Lite (which I find to be a positive fact, as the XL is too big). Nintendo engineered some major upgrades into the 3DS (from the DSi): gray ‘joystick’ on the left, better main screen, motion sensor, gyro sensor and integrated glasses-free 3D game experience.

The 3DS measures 0.83″ high x 5.3″ wide x 2.9″ deep and weighs approximately 8 ounces, which is nearly identical to the DS Lite’s physical specifications. The lower screen is approximately the same size as the Lite’s as well, with both being about 3 inches. The 3DS’ top screen is wider than the DS Lite’s. It is a 3.5-inch display with a resolution of 800×240 pixels (400 pixels are allocated to each eye to enable 3D viewing).

Package Contents:

• Nintendo 3DS portable games system
• Charging cradle
• AC adapter
• 3DS stylus
• SD Memory Card (2GB)
• AR Card(s) (view the cards using the outer cameras to play supported AR games)
• Quick-Start Guide
• Operations Manual (including warranty)

Features:

• 3D screen: enabling 3D view without the need for special glasses and the ability to adjust or turn off 3D effect with the 3D Depth Slider
• Stereo cameras: that enable users to take 3D photos that can be viewed instantly on the 3D screen
• New input interfaces including the Circle Pad, motion sensor, gyro sensor
• SpotPass, a feature that lets Nintendo 3DS detect wireless hotspots or wireless LAN access points and obtain information, game data, free software, videos and so on for players even when the system is in sleep mode
• StreetPass, a feature that lets Nintendo 3DS exchange data automatically with other Nintendo 3DS systems within range, even in sleep mode once this feature is activated by the user. Data for multiple games can be exchanged simultaneously
• Convenient features that users can access without stopping game play such as the HOME menu, Internet browser, Notifications, etc
• Built-in/Included software such as the Nintendo 3DS Camera, Nintendo 3DS Sound, Mii Maker, StreetPass, Mii Plaza, AR Games, Activity Log, Face Raiders, etc
• Nintendo eShop where users can view trailers, software rankings and purchase software
• System Transfer which enable users to transfer already purchased software from one Nintendo 3DS system to another. DSiWare purchased for the Nintendo DSi or the Nintendo DSi XL can also be transferred into a Nintendo 3DS system
• Compatibility functions where both new software designed for Nintendo 3DS and most software for the Nintendo DS family of systems can be played
• Parental Controls which enable parents to restrict game content by ratings as well as use of specific wireless connectivity, 3D functionality, etc

Specifications:

• Size (when closed): 2.9 inches high, 5.3 inches long, 0.8 inches deep
• Weight: Approximately 8 ounces (including battery pack, stylus, SD memory card)
• Upper Screen: Wide-screen LCD display, enabling 3D view without the need for special glasses. Capable of displaying approximately 16.77 million colors. 3.53 inches display (3.02 inches wide, 1.81 inches high) with 800 x 240 pixel resolution. 400 pixels are allocated to each eye to enable 3D viewing
• Lower Screen: LCD with a touch screen capable of displaying 16.77 million colors. 3.02 inches (2.42 inches wide, 1.81 inches high) with 320 x 240 pixel resolution
• Cameras: One inner camera and two outer cameras. Resolutions are 640 x 480 for each camera. Lens are single focus and uses the CMOS capture element. The active pixel count is approximately 300,000 pixels
• Wireless Communication: 2.4 GHz. Enabling local wireless communication among multiple Nintendo 3DS systems for game play and StreetPass. Enabling access to the Internet through wireless LAN access points (supports IEEE802.11 b/g with the WPA™/WPA2™ security feature). Recommended distance of wireless communication is within 98.4 feet. This can be shorter depending on the environmental situation. WPA and WPA2 are marks of the Wi-Fi Alliance
• Input Controls:
  1. A/B/X/Y Button, +Control Pad, L/R Button, START/SELECT
  2. Circle Pad (enabling 360-degree analog input)
  3. Touch screen
  4. Embedded microphone
  5. Camera
  6. Motion sensor
  7. Gyro sensor
• Other Input Controls:
  1. 3D Depth Slider (enabling smooth adjustment of the 3D level effect)
  2. HOME (HOME button brings up the HOME menu)
  3. Wireless switch (can disable wireless functionality even during game play)
  4. POWER button
• Connectors:
  1. Game Card slot
  2. SD Card slot
  3. Cradle connector
  4. AC adapter connector
  5. Audio jack (stereo output)
• Sound: Stereo speakers positioned to the left and right of the top screen (supports virtual surround sound)
• Stylus: Telescoping stylus (approximately 3.94 inches when fully extended)
• Electric Power: AC adapter (WAP-002 [USA]). Nintendo 3DS Battery Pack (lithium ion battery) [CTR-003]
• Charge Time: About 3.5 hours
• Battery Duration: When playing Nintendo 3DS software about 3-5 hours. When playing Nintendo DS software about 5-8 hours. Battery duration differs depending on the brightness setting of the screen. The information regarding battery duration is a rough standard. It can be shorter depending on what functions of the Nintendo 3DS system are used.
• Game Card: Nintendo 3DS Game Card. The size is approximately the same as Nintendo DS Game Card

As described above, the Nintendo 3DS has the classic dual screen configuration that many of the recent generation of DS owners know and love. The touch screen input, A/B/X/Y Buttons, + Control Pad, L/R top-Buttons, and START/SELECT buttons are more or less the same as on the DSi/Lite. Regarding game control, Nintendo has added the ability to input movements with motion sensor, gyro sensor, and the ‘Circle Pad’ which enables 360-degree analog input. As a non-gamer, I find the Circle Pad much easier to use than the + Control Pad.

One disadvantage to native DS players is they’ll have to get used to the ‘Circle Pad’ because Nintendo moved the regular +Control Pad down making it more difficult and less comfortable to use. But a positive change is that Nintendo moved the Select and Start buttons. They are easier to get to and they added a Home button so you don’t have turn it off then back on again.

The back of the 3DS is not very notable, other than the serial number sticker.

The top of the 3DS has the game card slot, power plug port, IR transmitter, and stylus slot…plus the left and right forefinger control/trigger buttons.

The base of the device has the power and charging indicator lights and earplug port.

The right side has the volume control and SD card slot which already has an included 2GB SD card within. These side pictures nicely illustrate the blue tri-color scheme.

The left side has the wireless switch, indicator light and 3D slider control. These pictures also show how chunky and thick the 3DS is.

The 3DS comes with a relatively nice charging cradle to keep your gaming device from getting banged around on your kid’s desk, dresser, or playroom.

The front facing dual, 3D cameras located on the lid are adequate for a gaming device but definitely do not take the quality of picture that many of us have become accustomed to on the latest smartphones.

Here are a few pictures I took with the 3DS to show the image quality. The 3D effect is pretty good/cool when looking at them on the actual device.

You can click on the above thumbnails to see the actual picture from the 3DS. The image resolution is 640 x 480, picture quality is fair, and it had issue with low light.

Like previous DS’s, there is a player-facing camera and small, but adequate, pair of stereo speakers built into the lid of the device.

(3D) Game Play:

Operationally, the 3DS can use all the old game cartridges that the DS Lite and DSi can. In addition to those, the 3DS has its own line of cartridges that are engineered/designed to use the new 3D technology built into the device. The 3D depth slider control enables the user to tweak just how extreme they want their 3D experience. So, even though you might be using a 3D game, you can just turn off the 3D effect if you so choose.

The GK and I splurged and picked up Mario Kart 7 to truly see how well we like the 3D experience. I have to admit its pretty cool. Although, I did have to hold the device/screen at just the right distance and angle to really see the holistic depth of the 3D effect. A piece that I found disturbing is Nintendo gives the warning that no one under 7 should use the device in 3D mode specifically or that it should not be used more than an hour.

I usually play in 2D because it really annoys me sometimes when you have to put the 3DS right in front of you horizontally for 3D or else it gets blurry.  Also, it makes your eyes hurt to play too long in 3D. Another con of the 3DS is that you can’t use 3D while multi-player.

Nintendo and other gaming designers are developing more and more 3D games for the 3DS. There is a relatively large selection of 3D games, ranging from Mario Kart 7 to Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic and everything in between.

As stated above, the 3DS can use old games but the reverse is not true. There is a notch on the 3DS cartridges that the new handheld can accommodate but the older ones can not.

Built In Software (add-ons I thought worthy enough to mention):

Mii Maker: Very similar to the Wii’s console Mii interface, the Mii Maker enables you to create avatars (Miis) for use with various software and games. Miis can be made from scratch or with the help of a photograph.

Even I thought this was a great feature Nintendo migrated from the Wii and integrated into the 3DS system.

Mii Plaza: The StreetPass feature allows users to “invite” other Miis residing on other nearby 3DS consoles onto their handheld devices. Miis will automatically transfer over and “live” in the Mii Plaza.

Also in Mii Plaza you’ll find there are ‘play’, ‘accomplishments’, ‘settings’, your Mii’s name and ‘Go to Plaza Gate!’ features.  In ‘play’ there is ‘Puzzle Swap’ & ‘Find Mii’. In ‘Find Mii’ your Mii is king/queen and is captured! You have to use cat creatures, using two Street pass tokens hire them, to save him/her in this Pokemon-like game. In ‘Puzzle Swap’ you use two Street Pass tokens to get puzzle pieces to finish the jigsaw puzzle. In ‘accomplishments,’ you get to see all of your achievements. Settings is where you change how much other people see when they come into your StreetPass. ‘Go to Plaza Gate!’ is where you get to see if anyone has ‘played’ in your Mii Plaza.

Activity Log: The 3DS records various statistics such as how many, which, and long games were played.  This is a great feature for parents. You should have seen the GK’s face when I showed him how long and what he had been previously playing.

Nintendo eShop: Nintendo has created an AppStore-like place to download games and applications.

Also they include some games like Face Raiders or AR Games. In AR games you can do many activities like graffiti, fishing, AR shoot etc. using the card. With the five character cards you can do Star Pics which enables you to take pics of Link, Mario, Kirby, Metroid  &  the yellow, blue and red Pikmin in various positions. But before unlocking those mini games, you have to do the archery game. In AR Games what annoys me is that you have to be perfectly still for it to calibrate to the distance you’re at (unless you’re in the 12”-16” area, then it’s a lot better). Face Raiders lets you take a pic of someone and well, their face gets stolen and gets turned into a boss.

 Build Quality:

While the Nintendo 3DS is made of plastic, its construction is surprisingly good. I say this from not only holding and playing with the device but seeing countless kids use, drop, and manhandle their individual DSs. The GK takes good care of his tech but many of his friends beat the cr@p out of theirs and they keep on working. That said, from a bigger picture point of view….I see fewer and fewer kids the GK’s age playing with their DS’s. What I do see is them playing on their iPod Touch, iPad, iPhone, Android smartphone … devices more and more. If you take gaming out of the equation, the 3DS can do most of what these other devices do but not nearly well or as easily/seamlessly.

The 3DS is available in black, red, blue, and just recently released pink. While originally debuting for $250, the Nintendo 3DS currently costs $169.

Performance:

The 3DS is a responsive and zippy device with good graphics (definitely not iPhone or iPad great though) depending on the game. Some games take a few seconds to load, but we’ve yet to experience any massive delays. Compared to previous DS handhelds, the 3DS battery life is lack-luster. The GK and I found Nintendo’s spec of 3 to 5 hours (depending on screen brightness) to be right on the money. I find this surprising…..as with all tech, the battery life should improve as the device evolves.

It takes the 3DS roughly 3.5 hours to fully charge.

Comparative Size:

Pictured on the right is the GK’s well-taken-care-of, but definitely used, DSi XL. Thankfully there is a screen protector on all four screens you see (believe it or not, that picture was taken AFTER I had cleaned the XL’s screen). I HIGHLY recommend screen protectors, especially on a surface that your child is tapping on with a stylus tip countless times. While the extra screen real estate is nice on the DSi XL, it is a much bigger device and not nearly as pocketable.

The 3DS  screen is smaller than the DSi XL but is better looking. As I was getting used to the 3DS I realized that the bottom is  thicker than the DSi XL base which is a definite downside.

From a dollars and cents, tech-parental standpoint, I have to say Nintendo needs to change its consumer market plan. With an increasing number of kids and young adults carrying sleek, powerful smartphones or tablets with HD display and all-the-time connectivity, the 3DS seems like it will soon go the way of the BlackBerry or dinosaurs. When anyone with an iOS or Android device can download the latest HD game for under $10, or better yet $0.99, I do not see how a device of this size, capabilities, and cost to play will be able to survive. Seems like Nintendo needs to just see the writing on the wall and begin offering their games for other more popular devices.

I agree with Dad because I’ve already seen DS games like ScribbleNauts and Sonic & Sega All-Star Racing in the AppStore for $0.99, so if this keeps happening, the Nintendo 3DS might not survive.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, Kid Gadgets, Portable and Console Gaming, Reviews

Tagged: Nintendo, Video Games

Nintendo 3DS Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 9, 2012 at 11:00 am.

At our house, a mission to complete Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars on the Wii has been undertaken by my son and me, with assistance from my daughter (Mom’s not so into it).  As you might imagine, this tends to drain a lot of Wii controller batteries.  Rather than waste a small fortune buying standard batteries, I’ve started to convert to rechargeable battery packs and chargers, like the Revolution 2 Universal Controller Charger by LevelUp.  Let’s have a look!

Packaging

The exterior packaging illustrates the product inside the box pictorially.  While I realize it may not always be practical or cost-effective, I do prefer gadget packaging to have a window or some way to actually see what is inside, particularly if it is sold in a retail store setting.  The packaging is cardboard and so is recyclable.

Unboxing

The Revolution 2 contains:

• 2 battery packs
• 2 Wii battery pack adapters
• 2 XBox 260/Playstation 3 battery pack adapters
• Charger base unit
• AC power wall adapter
• Instruction manual

The Product

The Revolution 2 Universal Controller is a system for charging game console remote controllers.  It is called “universal” because it can charge controllers from what are arguably the three most popular consoles, Nintendo Wii , Microsoft XBox 360 and Sony Playstation 3.   It can charge two controllers at a time or a combination of them by using two sets of adapters, one set for Wii controllers and one for XBox 360/Playstation 3 controllers.  The battery packs and adapters are shown below.

Below is a shot of the one of the battery packs snapped into each of the two types of adapters, the Wii adapters on the left and the XBox 360/Playstation 3 adapters the right.

And a shot of the above components, but flipped over to show the undersides:

Below, a shot of the two battery packs and XBox 360/Playstation 3 controller adapters.  On the left, the battery pack is partially snapped into the  adapter, on the right, it is completely snapped in.  Contacts are only present on the near end of the battery pack, so it is fairly simple to determine the correct orientation of the battery pack in the adapter.  It is easily inserted and locks in securely.A small tab on the opposite end from the contacts allows the battery pack to be removed should you need to snap the batter pack into a different adapter.

A shot of both battery packs snapped into the Xbox 360/Playstation 3 controller adapters:

At our house, we have a Wii only, so I installed both battery packs into the Will controller adapters, as seen below.

Once the battery packs have been installed into the adapters, the entire assembly locks down into the Will controller easily, as shown below.  I suspect that the black color scheme may have been designed to visually match the current generation of Wii systems, which is all black.  However, functionally they are fully compatible with both the older and newer Wii systems.

Just for giggles, I’ve shown what the battery pack looks like when installed in the Wii controller, but without the adapter.  It is possible to use it in this way; the battery pack locks securely into the Wii controller even without the adapter.  But it is a bit ugly and a uncomfortable to hold while gaming.  Make note of the three contact pads on the battery pack and the indentation in the center; we’ll come back to these in a bit.

Below, a shot of the charging base itself.  The three small wires are actually spring-loaded contacts that touch the three contact pads on the battery pack.  In addition, the protrusion just below the three wire contacts fits into the similiarly-shaped protrusion in the battery pack, ensuring alignment of the controller when docked in the charging base.

A shot of the charging base with both Wii controllers docked on it, and the AC wall power adapter plugged into the back of the base.

The one drawback to the Revolution 2 is its large footprint.  I have seen other charging bases that allow the controllers to stand vertically while charging, which minimizes the footprint area required.

It took a few attempts at docking the controllers in the charging base before getting the feel of it, but then it became quite easy, as it just clicks in place.  As the instructions note, the charging base has two red lights which indicate the charging status, one for each controller.  This is a fairly clear indicator but could be made to be a bit more obvious and visible.

The longevity of the battery packs, at least through several full charge/discharge cycles, seems to be comparable to a fresh set of non-rechargeable batteries.  How quickly they begin to acquire a “memory” and how this affects the overall ability to hold a charge remains be be seen over the life of the product.

Conclusion

The  Revolution 2 Universal Controller Charger performs as advertised, charging two Wii, XBox 360 or Playstation game controllers at a time, or a combination of them.  The battery packs and adapters are easy to install and easy to dock into the charging unit.  The battery longevity depends on how heavily you are using your game controllers of course, but seems to be comparable to standard batteries, and at least you won’t have to continue to feed them batteries.  The only drawbacks I found were the large footprint area required, which takes up a fair amount of space, and that the charging indicator lights could be a bit more obvious.  In all, not a bad product for the $29.99 price tag.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Charger, Video game accessory

Revolution 2 Universal Controller Charger Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 8, 2012 at 9:00 am.

You’ve gotten your beautiful new Sony PS Vita, and now you need a way to keep it protected while it’s traveling in your bag.  Check out these three new PS Vita Cases from WaterField Designs.  On top is the PS Vita Gear Pouch Pro, which has dividers inside to protect your Vita from the cables and other gear you can also fit inside the case.  It’s available in green or tangerine nylon or in a silver, enviromentally-friendly metallic material.  They’re available now for $45.00.  On the bottom left is the PS Vita Suede Jacket, a minimalist case made of Ultrasuede fabric that protects your device from scratches and can be used to clean its screen, too.  The Jacket has an optional pocket on the outside for your cables or earbuds.  It’s available now for $12.00, or $15.00 with the pocket.  The PS Vita Case (bottom right) is made of ballistic nylon with a double-layered leather flap and a scratch-free, interior liner.  There’s a stretchable, zippered pocket on the back for accessories.  You’ll be able to choose a black, brown, green, or kiwi-colored, naturally-tanned leather flap.  The PS Vita Case sells for $49.00; you can pre-order now for shipment on April 1.  (Click the picture for a better view of these great cases.)

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Cases and covers, PS Vita

WaterField Designs Introduces Three Sleek New Cases for the Sony PS Vita originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

A couple of days ago, we told you about the new Sony PlayStation Vita.  Gaming gear can take a lot of abuse, and Decal Girl is ready with some skins to protect your Vita.  Decal Girl skins are made of premium automotive-grade cast vinyl; the adhesive resists the formation of air bubbles during application and removes with no residue left on your device.  There’s a variety of designs for the PS Vita Skins, and they’re available with a fingerprint-resistant matte finish or a high-gloss finish that rivals the shine of glass.  You also get screensaver/background art that completes the design on the front of your device.  PS Vita Skins are $12.99.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Gaming gear

Protect Your New Sony PS Vita with Decal Girl Skins originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 23, 2012 at 10:00 am.

With the PlayStation Vita from Sony, you’ll be able to continue your PS3 play – uninterrupted – between your PS3 and the Vita with compatible titles.  You can even store a game in the cloud for access from anywhere.  The PlayStation Vita has an Arm Cortex A9 (4 core) chip, a 5″ 960 X 544 OLED (16:9) multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, and a “six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer), three-axis electronic compass.”  It also has 802.11b/g/n WiFi,  3G connectivity through the AT&T Mobile Broadband Network on some models, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (A2DP/AVRCP/HSP), front and rear cameras, a built-in microphone, and built-in stereo speakers.  In addition to the dual analog sticks on the front, there’s a multi-touch capacitive touchpad on the back of the Vita to control gameplay.  The release date is 2/22/12, and you can still pre-order from Sony.  The WiFi model is $249.99, or you can pre-order the Launch Bundle with a WiFi/3G PlayStation Vita, 8GB memory card, one-month 250MB AT&T DataConnect Session Pass, and a free PlayStation Network game for $299.99.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Gaming accessory for iPhone/iPod touch, PlayStation Vita, PS3

Sony’s PlayStation Vita – Never Stop Playing originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 20, 2012 at 12:00 pm.

I remember the day I eagerly unpacked my first Nintendo DS.  At the time it was revolutionary–a touch screen gaming platform.  I inserted my first game (Nintendogs!) and picked up the stylus for the very first time.  It was then that I noticed said stylus had apparently been sized for a toddler instead of an adult.  Thus began my issues with gamer’s claw–grasping a teeny tiny stylus for so long your hand cramps up in a claw shape.  I thought I had made that affliction up, but the good folks at GreenBulb luckily suffered from the same problem and set out to fix it.

The XStylus Crayon began its route to my DS as a funding campaign on IndieGoGo (similar premise to Kickstarter).  300 gamers saw a need for the innovative stylus and chipped in, allowing it to go into production.

So what is it?

DS stylus in front; XStylus in back

Out of the package, the XStylus Crayon is a bit smaller than the Nintendo stylus.  However, once it’s flipped open and locked into place, it widens and becomes the comfortable to use XStylus.  The Crayon is meant to simply give a gamer a wider grip at its base, thus preventing any cramping (or Gamer’s Claw).  It’s also intended to fit on board the DS in place of the Nintendo stylus.  At its sweet spot it’s roughly the same width as a Bic pen.

Bic pen vs XStylus vs Nintendo stylus

So I mentioned that sweet spot–there is really only one way to hold the XStylus, which is with the index finger across the top of the widest spot and the bottom resting against the first joint of the middle finger.  Nothing should be blocking or touching that middle gap.  It’s a bit like trying to master chopsticks, but once you find the spot, the hand cramps just melt away.

When it’s in the closed position, the stylus does slide and snap in to the stylus slot in the DS fairly seamlessly.

The XStylus is pretty successful in accomplishing what it’s meant to do.  It’s both comfortable to hold and convenient to store.  However I found the top half above the base a bit flimsy.  It easily bends and didn’t feel as solid in my hand as the base.  Depending on the game I’d be playing, and the death grip I’d have as a result, the bending was sometimes a bit of an issue and I did manage to accidentally snap one of the crayons during play.

The other weird thing is that it’s called the Crayon and is packaged to look like a Crayon–but that paper sleeve must be destroyed to actually use the stylus.  There is no other crayon-type branding anywhere on it.  I was kinda bummed about that.

Each pack of XStylus Crayons come with one each of white, red, black, and blue plastic styli.  It is compatible with all existing versions of the Nintendo DS and 3DS.  The XStylus Crayon 4-pack for DS can be purchased through GreenBulb for $19.99 shipped worldwide.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Nintendo DS accessory, Stylus

XStylus Crayon for Nintendo 3DS/DS Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 7, 2012 at 2:00 pm.

Plug the GamePad controller from 60beat into the audio jack on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, and you’ll be able to control your game play with a multitude of buttons, joysticks, and controllers.  (There’s an audio splitter, so you’ll still be able to hear your game sounds.)  The GamePad has 2 analog joysticks, a D-pad, and 10 action buttons (including the two joysticks).  The ergonomically-designed controller doesn’t require batteries, and it’s compatible with both versions of the iPad, the iPhone 4 and 4S, and the 4th generation of the iPod touch.  There are only a couple of compatible games at the moment, but 60beat promises that a full collection of games for the GamePad will be added in February 2012.  The GamePad is $49.99.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Gaming accessory for iPhone/iPod touch, Gaming controller for iPad

Get a Full Game Console Experience with the 60beat GamePad for iOS Devices originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 2, 2012 at 9:14 am.

The JXD S7100 is a 7 inch Android 2.2 device with built in gaming controllers. Install Mame or another gaming emulator and this would make a great little gaming device. It’s available from isharegifts.com for $139.99. There’s a video on their site showing it in action and it does support English and other languages.

Filed in categories: Android related, Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Android, Gaming

JXD S7100 – Android Powered Gaming Device originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 24, 2011 at 11:45 am.

Can’t find a headset/mic combination you like?  Do you have a favorite pair of headphones but no mic?  Wouldn’t it be great to just add a microphone to your own headphones anytime you like?  You may remember my own attempts at using a hot glue gun to attach a microphone to my own comfy headphones…  Fortunately, the AntLion Audio ModMic detachable boom microphone solves this problem.

Oh, THAT'S an antlion

Made in Oregon!

Specs:

• Jack: 3.5mm
• 
Pattern: Omnidirectional
• Sensitivity: -26 ± 3 dB
• Response: 30 Hz–17.5 kHz ± 3 dB
• SNR: 58+ dB
• Impedance: 2.2 KΩ
• Operating Voltage: 1 to 10V
• Max current at 2.0V: 500 µA
• Max input SPL: 110 dB
• Boom Length: ~5 inches (~12.7 cm, stock), ~6 inches (~15.2 cm, maximum length)
• Clasp Height: 0.5 inches (1.27 cm, attached), 0.2 inches (0.5 cm, detached)
• Microphone Weight (mic and clasp): 4 grams (0.14 ounces)
• Total Weight (mic, clasp, and cable): 20 grams (0.71 ounces)

The NeoClasp magnets have a peel-off adhesive on one side, and a four-pronged “tooth” system that lets you adjust the mic angle.  If you unscrew the cap, you can adjust the length of the mic boom.

Closeup of the NeoClasp magnet

Length adjustment

To attach, simply attach the adhesive NeoClasp magnet to your favorite headphones.  You’ll need a flat surface, since the magnet itself is flat.  In my case, my Sennheiser PX100-II folding headphones don’t have a flat surface, so I cut a tiny piece of double-stick foam tape to do the trick.

Favorite headphones + boom mic = goodness

How does it sound?  Sounds great!  I called up my brothers-in-law, who I usually use to try this sort of stuff out with, and they could not tell I was using something that was essentially completely custom.  Voices sounded almost booming, as if the mic was too close.  The 6mm electret capsule condenser microphone at the end of a 5″ long boom is flexible, so you can move it closer or further away from your mouth.  The cable is a VERY generous 11.5 feet long to reach the back of your computer.

If there’s one thing I would improve on is the design of the magnet “teeth”.  Because there are four teeth, you can only rotate the mic at 90 degree increments.  Perhaps 8 or 16 teeth would have allowed a more usable coarse adjustment for mic-to-mouth alignment, while the bendy bit works for fine tuning.

Now I have no excuse for NOT having my favorite pair of headphones to use for that next Skype session or fragfest!

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Gaming Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Gaming, Headset, microphone, skype, VOIP speaker/mic

AntLion Audio ModMic Detachable Boom Microphone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 23, 2011 at 11:00 am.

This YINLIPS Android Game Console and WiFi Tablet from ishareGifts packs a lot of functionality in a small package.  It emulates NES, SNES, GB/GBC/GBA, Mega Drive, MAME, N64, PSX, Flash 10.X games.  It also functions as an Android 2.2 tablet with which you can surf, listen to music, watch videos, use apps, read ebooks, and more.  It has a 1.2GHz cpu, 512MB RAM, and supports microSD cards.  It can even output full HD 1080p video.  It also has a “gravity sensor”, stereo speakers, and a 5MP camera.  Read more about the YINLIPS Android game console and see the list of supported file types at the ishareGifts website.  The YINLIPS is available in black or white for $125.95, and it ships worldwide.

Filed in categories: Android related, Gaming Gear, News, Tablet Computers and Gear

Tagged: Android tablet, Gaming console

YINLIPS Android Game Console and WiFi Tablet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 12, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

If you find the battery on your Nintendo 3DS just isn’t powerful enough for your needs, get a PowerSkin Gaming Case for Nintendo 3DS.  This PowerSkin  case has a built-in, 2000mAh rechargeable battery that doubles your battery life and promises up to 12 hours 3D gaming and 18 hours 2D play.  LED status lights can warn you when the reserve power is running low.  The case is 100% recycled materials, and it can protect your Nintendo when it’s dropped.  The case is available for pre-order now.  It’s available for $69.99 ($10 off the normal price) and will ship 12/15/2011.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: External battery, nintendo 3ds

Extend Your Gaming Time with a PowerSkin for Nintendo 3DS originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 10, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Logitech is one of the premier manufacturers of technology peripheral devices. They make some of the bestkeyboards, mice and their Harmony line of remote controls is fantastic. One of their newest products is the Logitech Wireless Headset. I’ve spent the last few days using the headset with a variety of devices and it has performed quite well.

While the headset was formally introduced as the “Logitech Wireless Headset for iPad” it works as audio headphones with every Bluetooth-enabled device I’ve tried. I actually found it a better PC/Mac peripheral than I did with mobile devices. I may not have been the only one to discover that as it appears that the Logitech marketing people have dropped the “for iPad” from the official name.

I did encounter one problem throughout my testing involving mobile devices and the microphone that relates to the wacky world of Bluetooth standards (or non-standards), protocols, stacks and drivers. I tested the headset with two Lenovo ThinkPad laptops (running Windows 7), an Apple Mac Mini (OSX Lion), Apple iPad (iOS 5.0), Apple iPod Touch 2G (iOS 4.21), Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 (Android 2.2.2), T-Mobile G2 phone (Android 2.3.4) and an Asus Transformer tablet (Android 3.2.1).

The Logitech Wireless Headset paired quickly with every device used for testing and the headphones worked well. The sound quality was good, better than I expected. The high-end was okay albeit a bit clipped, midrange not too bad, and while the lows were a bit lacking and a tad muddy at times the sound was very reasonable for this type of device.

Volume level was also okay, although even with full volume on both the source and the headphones I wasn’t able to get things really “cranking”. In all cases the sound quality was far superior to that produced by the internal speakers on the iPad, iPod Touch, and Android devices, but nowhere close to that of my Grado SR 225 or even my Grado SR 60 wired headphones. Logitech doesn’t list the audio specifications for the headphones (frequency response, impedance, distortion, etc.), and if that’s what is important to you I’d suggest looking elsewhere.

On the other hand, Ray Charles’ “Georgia” sounded like Ray Charles, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” sounded liked Freddie Mercury and Queen, Eric Burden and War’s “Low Rider” sounded like Eric Burden, and Whitney Houston’s “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” sounded, well, like what Whitney Houston used to sound like. I listened to several hours of random music (classical, rap, country, pop, and rock) and throughout I found the sound to be good and not tiring.

I’m not an audiophile and my ears have been through way too many concerts where the amplifiers were cranked to 12. So, as with any review of a speaker/headphone if that’s really important you need to try a pair and listen for yourself.

I was also pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the headphones were. When I pulled them from the box I thought they were a bit cheap feeling and stiff. They’re very light (3 ¾ ounces/105 grams), made of plastic and are the “supra-aural” style (foam earmuff). After several hours though they still hadn’t become bothersome to wear, perhaps a benefit of their low weight. The headphones adjust with a “ratchet-style” slider and fit over my large melon as well as my wife’s much prettier head. They were even usable on my six-year-old’s head although they’re really sized more for teens through adults.

I also put them through a bit of stress test, folding and unfolding, stressing and twisting them and didn’t hear any “creaks” or groans nor was there any signs (visual or auditory) of damage. It would be nice if Logitech included a second set of foam ear pads as I have no doubt their lifespan is going to be limited.

Battery life is stated to be approximately six hours. While I didn’t run a dedicated battery test my experience gives me no reason to doubt that number. Charging the lithium-ion battery is done with a USB cable (included). I was able to charge the headset from a computer or any phone charger that had a micro-USB connector. The device charges quite quickly. The headphones do not come with their own charger, just a cable.

The headset will remember pairings with up to eight devices, but will only connect with one device at a time. The first time you pair the headset you just turn it on and its ready to connect, after that it’s a typical “Vulcan” button press procedure (hold mute and volume up until the power light blinks rapidly) to initiate the process. This isn’t difficult, but it does mean you have to remember which keys start pairing.

Back of the right ear-piece contains the power switch, mute, indicator light and charging port. The volume is controlled by pressing the top or bottom of the ring on the right side.

So far all good stuff for the Logitech Wireless Headset.  I then began testing the microphone functionality. As I stated earlier, I don’t think many are going to buy this headset purely for its audio qualities. You buy this because you want a headset (headphones and a microphone). This means you should be able to use this with applications like Skype, FaceTime, standard phone calls, game oriented communication like Ventrillo or dictation/voice recognition apps like Vlingo (I don’t have an iPhone 4S to test Siri), Dragon Dictation and, of course, audio recording.

The “boom” noise-cancelling microphone is attached to the right earpiece (not reversible) and rotates down to run along the right side of your face. Much like the headphones, if you’re planning on heading into a recording studio to belt out an aria you’ve got the wrong device, but they did a good job with standard speech and didn’t do badly at ignoring background noise. Everyone I called with Skype using the device agreed that they could hear me clearly. Most commented that while the audio quality was fine they would have preferred I hire someone more pleasant to perform the testing (I get no respect).

I was able to successfully use the device on the Windows and Mac machines for any software that needed a microphone. The problem came into play when I started trying to do with the same with the iPad, iPod, and Android devices. Once again, I don’t believe this is the fault of the headset at all. It’s a problem inherent with the Bluetooth technology and implementation within these devices. I’ll list some of the devices and the issues I had. I believe the problems are going to be different depending on the device you’re using, what version of its operating system you have and the application you’re trying to use.

iPod Touch 2G: This iPod Touch doesn’t include a built-in microphone like later versions, but it is possible to use applications like Skype if you plug a standard headset in (like the iPhone earbud/microphone). Unfortunately, when I tried a few apps like Skype and Voice Recorder neither of them recognized the microphone on the device.

iPad 1G: Pretty much the same results here although it was harder to tell as the iPad does have a built-in microphone. After isolating myself (standing in the bathroom while the iPad was in my office) with the headphones on I was convinced that neither Skype, NetTalk, Glee (game), Dragon Dictation, Vlingo or Voice Recorder was recognizing the microphone on the headset.

Android Devices: My experience here was a little better, but that’s only because it’s possible to download apps that specifically look for a Bluetooth-enabled microphone and then will work with it.  I was able to get the microphone to work with apps like Bluetooth Recorder. Skype would only use the device’s internal microphone. Vlingo not only didn’t seem to pick anything up from the headset’s microphone it became unresponsive until I shut it off. Google Voice Search seemed to listen to both the internal microphone and the headset, the same goes for SwiftKey’s vocal input.

When paired with my Android-based T-Mobile G2 phone the headset did work properly. To answer an incoming call you press the mute button, disconnecting was accomplished by holding mute for three seconds. I couldn’t find any button that would allow me to initiate voice recognition on my phone. It also served as a media headphone allowing me to listen to the audio from Pandora, Netflix, Crackle, etc. As with the iOS and other Android devices I had problems using the microphone with some apps.

Logitech states that the headset will work for FaceTime calls with the iPhone 4+ iPod Touch 4G and the iPad 2. I would suggest that unless an app specifically tells you it works with the specific Bluetooth microphone that you have don’t expect it too. The Bluetooth drivers that are available for Windows and MacOSX won’t have any problem working with the headset.

The documentation included with the headset is really quite minimal. It’s a Bluetooth headset so it really shouldn’t need all that much more than pairing/connecting information, but during my testing I noticed the power/status light in several different modes and while some were mentioned there are still some that were a mystery. I’d also like to know how to reset the headset to factory condition and remove all previous pairings.

All in all, the Logitech Wireless Headset is a nice, relatively inexpensive product ($69 MSRP) that does what it says it will do and quite a bit more relatively well. It’s not a great set of audio headphones, but it’s not bad. It’s not a great microphone, but if you’re working with a PC it’s more than adequate for gaming, VOIP, voice commands, online conversations and the like. It’s lightweight, and comfortable to wear for long periods. The battery life, standard micro-USB charging port, and ability to fold up make it a solid choice for travelers.

Update 10/27/2011: It has been about a week and I’ve used the headset off and on with a 2011 Mac Mini. After a few days the headset stopped connecting with the Mac Mini and re-pairing the device wasn’t helping. There wasn’t much help available in the Logitech forums on this headset aside from one rep suggesting that it wouldn’t work with anything but the iPad or iPhone. I decided to try deleting the device entirely from the Bluetooth settings on the Mac and completely repairing and that seems to have worked. If you just try to re-pair without deleting the old profile the Mac states that it will delete and re-pair, but its possible that isn’t happening. I then went back and re-tested it with a number of my other devices and all went well. I’m not sure if the loss of connectivity is a Mac Mini Bluetooth issue (The Mini is running the new 4.0 version of Bluetooth) or an issue with the headset. I will update this review if I have any further issues or discover what may have caused the problem in the first place.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, Gaming Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Wireless

Tagged: audio gear, bluetooth headset, iPad accessory

Logitech Wireless Headset for iPad Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 4, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

Nintendo will be adding a few new features to their 3DS eShop.  This November update will include downloadable add-on updates to existing games, limited-play demos, sleep mode downloads and a web based eShop.  I’m really excited about the web based eShop.  It will be so much easier browsing the increasingly growing number of titles in the eShop versus the endless scrolling and searching on the small 3DS screen.  It seems like Nintendo 3DS will be getting lots of updates this November.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: 3DS, eshop, Nintendo

Nintendo improves the 3DS eShop originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 29, 2011 at 1:30 pm.

The Dingoo A380 is a handheld gaming console that will let you relive your favorite games from years gone by. It has built in wifi that supports 2 player gaming and wireless controllers. It also has AV out so that you can play games on a big screen TV. The Mini Game King can play ROMs from quite a few old systems such as GBA, Mega Drive, Neo Geo, CPS1, CPS2, GBC, Master System, Game Gear and more. It has 4GB of memory built in and offers a MicroSD slot to add even more games. The A380 is priced at $125.95 and is available from I Share Gifts. What is your all time favorite handheld game system? I loved the original Gameboy and was also a big fan of the Atari Lynx.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Video Games

Dingoo A380 Mini Game King – Is it the Ultimate Retro Handheld Video Game System? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 26, 2011 at 8:27 pm.

Nintendo announced another update for the 3DS.  And it’s a pretty impressive update.

1) The 3DS will be able to capture 3D video.  You can shoot up to 10 minutes of 3D video at a time.
2) You’ll be able to transfer batches of data from one 3DS to another.
3) Nintendo added stop motion photography.
4) StreetPass will get an update with map feature and also a sequel to the Find Mii game.
5) HuluPlus will be added for those that don’t like the selection in Netflix.

This free update will roll out in November.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: 3DS, Nintendo

Nintendo 3DS getting another big update originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 23, 2011 at 9:00 am.

It seems like upsizing is flavour of the day at the moment.  First there was the 23″ Android Tablet and now there’s the giant Game and Watch hack. Seems appropriate since we did an article on the original Nintendo Game and Watch recently.  The unit is capable of playing the games found at Pica Pic.

I suspect if we had one in our reception area, most of the staff wouldn’t actually make it to their office

See more details at House4Hack.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Video Games

Game and Watch – It’s Huge originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 28, 2011 at 10:30 am.

The Xbox 360 Avenger Controller is like no other controller that I’ve seen before. It looks more like a weird spider or something. In reality, it’s a special housing for your stock Xbox 360 controller. Just snap it in and you’ll now have a controller that has been designed so that you don’t have to remove your thumbs from the joysticks. Your fingers can easily manipulate finely tuned arms that are connected to the other buttons. Everything can be fine tuned to get just the right touch. There’s also a built in stand to rest the controller on hour chest or leg as you play your favorite first person shooters. The Xbox 360 Avenger Controller is available from GamingZap for £49.95 (approximately US $79.21). What do you think? Cool or too complicated?

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: XBox

Is this the ultimate Xbox 360 controller? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 10, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Most gamers would agree that having a left and right circle pad is necessary on a game controller.  The problem is that Nintendo released the 3DS with only one circle pad.  It works fine for most games but now game designers are making more complicated games that require a second circle pad.  And that’s why Nintendo decided to make a circle pad attachment for the 3DS.

As you can see from the magazine photo.  The problem with the circle pad attachment is that it’s hideous.  The attachment makes the slick looking 3DS bloated and seemingly uncomfortable to hold.  Plus it looks like the circle pad is smaller which means extended periods of gaming will be uncomfortable.

I just hope this is a prototype version and that Nintendo will make a better looking attachment.  Any Japanese readers want to help translate and summarize that magazine article?

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: 3DS, Gaming, Nintendo

Nintendo’s 3DS Circle Pad Attachment originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 9, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Are you tired of buying an app or a game only to find you don’t like it at all or you tire of it quickly?  Wish you had a way to try it before you buy it, even for apps that don’t have a free version?  Do you have an Android device?  If you answered yes to these questions, AppScribe is the service you’re looking for.  AppScribe is in beta now, but this service will allow you to purchase 5 or 10 slots monthly that you can fill with any of the games and apps in their library.  You can keep them as long as you keep your subscription current, or you can clear out a slot and add a new app whenever you like.  There’s no information about pricing yet, but you can sign up to be kept up to date with AppScribe news.  The home page also says they are accepting beta applicants.

Filed in categories: Android related, Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Android, App subscription service

AppScribe Premium Subscription Service for Android originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 8, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

Apparently Atari was pleased with the reception received by their iCade controller done in conjunction with ThinkGeek.  They are introducing their own Atari Arcade – Duo Powered Joystick for iPad.  Atari is apparently working with Discovery Bay Games to make/sell the controller.  There isn’t much information available at Discovery Bay – just that it’s coming soon.  No price is listed.  It’s designed to work with the Atari’s Greatest Hits iPad app, which is available for free in the iTunes app store.  It should be noted that the app gives you access to 100 of Atari’s games, but you’ll have to purchase them.  You can buy 25 collections of four games for $0.99 each or get the entire collection for $14.99.  The game is available now.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related

Tagged: Atari, Gaming controller for iPad

Atari Arcade – Duo Powered Joystick for iPad originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 6, 2011 at 9:00 am.

It might have a goofy name, but the Cideko Air Keyboard chatting looks like it might be a worthy input device for your home theater computer. It’s a wireless keyboard with an integrated 3D motion sensing mouse, earphone, and microphone. It’s rechargeable and is compatible with both PCs, Macs and Linux computers.  Instead of using arrow keys or a trackball, you just move the keyboard around in the air to move the on-screen cursor. It’s currently available from Amazon for around $87.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Desktop Computer Gear, Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Keyboard

Cideko Air Keyboard Chatting – Wireless typing and chatting for your PC originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 5, 2011 at 4:58 pm.

The motion-sensing Wizard Stick from Genius connects wirelessly with your PC (USB connector included) and lets you play games using more realistic motions.  With the Wizard Stick with G-Sensor, you can move like you’re actually swinging a tennis racket or golf club or steering a car, for example.  With the bundled AIWI gaming platform, you can even convert your iOS or Android mobile device into a motion joystick.  The gaming platform will also let you play 16 Flash online games, and you’ll get a copy of the SEGA Virtual Tennis 2009 game.  You can even use the Wizard Stick as a computer mouse with the “air mouse” mode.  Sorry Apple fans, the Wizard Stick only works with Windows 7/Vista/XP.  The MSRP is $59.90, and it available in the US and Canada now.

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, News

Tagged: Gaming gear

Add Some Motion to PC Games with the Wizard Stick from Genius originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 26, 2011 at 9:18 am.