NES controller pressed into service to Android overlord (video)

Perhaps the worst, and least repairable, shortcoming of touchscreens is their failure to act as viable game controllers. Keyboard-equipped smartphones alleviate that pain a little (particularly if you pair them with a Game Gripper), but ultimately we'd all prefer real controllers for our real games. Such was clearly the thinking behind the homebrewed setup here, which combines an HTC EVO 4G -- with Android and an NES emulator inside -- with an Arduino board, a BlueSMiRF Bluetooth module, and a classic NES control pad. The result might look like a mess of wires, but who cares when you can rock Super Mario 3 the way Nintendo surely intended?

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NES controller pressed into service to Android overlord (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iFixit tears apart the Nintendo Famicon

Do you remember the Nintendo Family Computer, or Famicon? Well, you might not -- it came to earth in 1983 and was Japan's version of the NES. Now, continuing its week of vintage teardowns, iFixit's gotten its hands on one of these colorful gems and done what it does. The Famicon is pretty easily dismantled, and simple inside, as well. As you can see, there's almost nothing going on in there! There's one more photo below, but hit up the source link for the full set.

Continue reading iFixit tears apart the Nintendo Famicon

iFixit tears apart the Nintendo Famicon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Nintendo Famicom All Pulled Apart [Teardowns]

Before there was the NES, there was the Nintendo Family Computer AKA Famicom, an early version of the ultra-popular console sold in Asian markets starting in 1983. So, wanna see what the guts of a video game revolution look like? More »

OpenFeint PlayTime brings cross-platform multiplayer gaming to iOS, Android

OpenFeint PlayTime brings cross-platform multiplayer gaming to iOS, Android originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect Voice Control Not Available In Some Countries Until Spring 2011

Bad news for Microsoft Kinect fans who don't speak English, in a recent interview, Microsoft's PR and Event Manager has said that the Kinect will not support voice control in all regions when it's launched this November. Voice control will only be available in the US, UK, Mexico, and Japan. Apparently it isn't just about speaking English, as voice control will actually be disabled in countries such as Spain, France, Germany, and Italy at launch, and they will have to wait until a spring 2011 update that will enable voice control in order to enjoy the feature. Users who do have an Internet connection will apparently be able to get the update via "other solutions that do not involve an additional cost". Bummer. At least we know that voice control will arrive if you're patient enough.

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Xbox 360 slimster made over in white, just for the hell of it

Missing your oldie Xbox 360's bright and airy white finish? Well, Microsoft's still not willing to sell you a slimmified 360 in any color other than black (excepting the limited edition Halo gear), but at least you can gaze upon the singular example of what a white one may look like above. This seemingly repainted Xbox 360 250GB (to give it its official, and ridiculous, name) has been lovingly put together over in China and really makes us wonder why Microsoft is depriving us of such snowy good looks. Perhaps it wanted to draw a clear between the old and the new? Either way, hit the source for the cheapest way to peek an all-white slim 360 without giving the Colorware crew a call.

[Thanks, Anthony]

Xbox 360 slimster made over in white, just for the hell of it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect won’t support voice recognition in some countries until 2011, putting on airs won’t help

"If you see it, just say it," says Microsoft's Kinect, but only in the US, UK, Mexico and Japan to start -- those are the only four countries that will support Kinect voice control by the motion-sensing peripheral's November launch. So said Microsoft PR manager Lidia Pitzalis in an interview with Eurogamer Spain, adding that Germany, Italy, France and even Canada and Spain would have to wait for a Spring 2011 update for additional language support. Microsoft claims it's a matter of accents throwing off the voice recognition, as the company's already had to build separate software versions for US and UK English, but if you're an Italian who can fake a good Cockney, you're still out of luck, as Microsoft's reportedly disabling voice control entirely in said regions until it can formally support it. And game companies wonder why we try so hard to hack those DVD drives...

Kinect won't support voice recognition in some countries until 2011, putting on airs won't help originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony 3D Blu-ray playback update for PS3 has been delayed

Sony’s IFA press conference in Berlin did reveal some rather disappointing news for those who are looking forward to enjoying 3D Blu-ray playback on their PS3s - simply because the planned firmware update has been pushed back to an October release instead of rolling out this month. While it might just be one month, it will certainly be an agonizing wait for a select bunch, while the rest of the world decides to move on and enjoy their new iPods. Something tells us that future iPod devices will come with stereoscopic 3D capability - what say you?

Permalink: Sony 3D Blu-ray playback update for PS3 has been delayed from Ubergizmo | Hot: iPhone 4 Review, Droid X Review, BlackBerry Torch Review

Epic’s spectacular Unreal Engine 3 tech demo free at iTunes App Store

Did you oooh and ahh at the fantastic gaming graphics that accompanied today's Apple keynote? You won't have to wait for next week's iOS 4.1 to get a taste of those textures for yourself. Though the full-on gladiator dueling of Epic's "Project Sword" may be a while off, you can get your hot little hands on "Epic Citadel" right now, a 82.2 megabyte download that explores a beautiful medieval castle town. Oh, and did we mention it's free? Even id Software's mindblowing 60FPS Rage demo must be quaking in its boots right about now.

Epic's spectacular Unreal Engine 3 tech demo free at iTunes App Store originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple claims 50 percent of portable gaming market, iPod touch ‘outsells Nintendo and Sony combined’

Nintendo famously called Apple the enemy of the future in the video gaming space, and by golly, it looks like the Japanese giant was right; Steve Jobs just told an audience that the iPod touch alone outsells Nintendo's DS and Sony's PlayStation Portable combined, worldwide. How many games iPod touch users actually play and for how long wasn't discussed, but Jobs said 1.5 billion "games and entertainment" apps have been downloaded -- again, on the iPod touch alone, never mind all those iPhones.

Check out our liveblog of the keynote event right here!

Apple claims 50 percent of portable gaming market, iPod touch 'outsells Nintendo and Sony combined' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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