GeekSugar

Diamond Encrusted PS2 Controller Chain: Love or Leave?

GeekSugar — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 09:00:40 -0800

Here's the ultimate piece of geeky jewelry for Playstation fanatics. Made of 18k solid white gold and covered with over 68.34ct of black diamonds, this controller pendant is one hundred percent bling. Given as a gift to Boy Genius' friend, you can't help but wonder how much it was and how much it weighs! I can't say I'll be adding it to my Christmas wish list, although maybe it'd be kinda cute and cheaper with sparkling rhinestones instead! What do you think?Source

Exercise While You Game With Gamercize

GeekSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:00:51 -0700

Just hearing the word "Gamercize" made me think of the good ol' days when Jazzercize classes were still hip. Unlike Jazzercize where you get your dance on, Gamercize is used with the Playstation 2 to get your heart rate pumping while you play your favorite video game.

When I spotted this device on Coolest-Gadgets I thought it was another fad that wouldn't be nearly as effective as the Wii for physical activity. Then I learned that the Gamercize GC Sport's controller will disconnect from the PS2 as soon as your pace slows. Once you get moving again, the game will resume - basically forcing you to get your butt moving!

There are two Gamercize products, the Power Stepper and Endurance Cycle, which range in price from $159.99 to $179.99. You can purchase them from Think Geek.

Next Guitar Hero List Announced - 80's-o-rific

GeekSugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 11:00:13 -0700

Just months after Gene Simmons from the popular hairband KISS get nostalgic to promote the launch "Guitar Hero 2" for Xbox 360, the game's maker, Activision, has announced Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s. The PlayStation 2 exclusive will feature some of the sweetest tunes to ever hit the airwaves. The complete lineup hasn't been released, but the teaser includes:

I Wanna Rock (by Twisted Sister)
I Ran (by Flock of Seagulls)
Round and Round (as made famous by Ratt)
I Want Candy (as made famous by Bow Wow Wow)
Metal Health (as made famous by Quiet Riot)
Holy Diver (as made famous by Dio)
Heat Of The Moment (as made famous by Asia)

The game is set to be released July 18. My karaoke party, where I will be performing the sexiest rendition of "I Want Candy" that this world has ever heard, is tentatively scheduled for July 19. What is Guitar Hero? Just read more

Guitar Hero is a music video game for the PlayStation 2 video game console - although it was recently released for Xbox as well.

It features a guitar-shaped peripheral (resembling a miniature Gibson SG) as the primary controller to simulate the playing of an electric guitar. It's quickly gained a reputation as one of the best rhythm games to come around in awhile.

The game gives you all the excitement and thrill of being a rock star without leaving your living room, bedroom or office, and features unique characters and concert venues that grow in size as your music career progress. The title includes more than 30 licensed rock songs including tracks made famous by such legendary artists as Boston, Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Bowie, Sum 41, Ozzy Osbourne, Audioslave, White Zombie, Franz Ferdinand and The Ramones.

The officially licensed Guitar Hero SG Controller was designed specifically for use with Guitar Hero. This guitar-shaped controller is held just like a real guitar and features five responsive fret buttons, a durable strum bar, a working whammy bar, and stylized START and SELECT buttons that resemble a guitar's actual volume knobs.

Source

Not An American Idol? Karaoke Instead

GeekSugar — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:39:07 -0800

Japanese video game maker Konami Digital Entertainment has released a Karaoke game that will have you busting out with your Human League impressions daily. Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol works when you plug it into your Sony PlayStation.

The game lets you sing along to 40 new songs, including hits from the show, and compete from auditions to performances on center stage in your quest to become the next American Idol. My favorite part is, after you sing you can be critiqued by digital versions of the American Idol judges.

You can customize your character, or use the EyeToy USB Camera (for PlayStation 2) to put yourself into the game. I'm not an American Idol fan, but I could do karaoke all day long. Get Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol for $39.82.

Special Edition Pink Playstation 2 Makes Aussie Debut

GeekSugar — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 04:33:40 -0700

This fun special edition bubble gum pink PS2 has already been making its world wide jet setting tour. Starting last November, it was first on the scene in Europe and the UK and now it is making its way to Australia on March 15th. I think its great that gaming consoles are taking on a new style of femininity. They are also hitting a totally new demographic - women and people of all ages. Take the Nintendo Wii for example, its popularity keeps soaring as it is easy to use and gets alot of people engaged. With fun playstation games like karaoke Singstar, this gaming console will be another user-interactive success. Keep checking back for US availability. Price has yet to be released.

[via Shiny Shiny and Kotaku ]

Skate 2 Review: Frustrating, Then Totally Addictive

GeekSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:02:13 -0800

The first time I popped open my copy of Skate 2, I knew I was in for a different kind of skating game. Not only are you able to get a crash course in boarding trickery at the local skate park, but you can also roam free around the city of New San Vanelona - jumping curbs, popping ollies, accepting challenges and running from the police Burnout Paradise style. I later found that Skate 2 kept me entertained, but at times it would make me oh-so-frustrated.

Skate 2 starts with you getting released from prison. Your friend Al picks you up and immediately takes you to Slappy's skate park to reclaim your place at the top of the skateboarding food chain. If you played the first installment of Skate (I didn't), you'll find that your city has been taken over and "rebuilt" by a mega-corporation and all your old favorite skating spots have been deemed useless. Plus, the police take skateboarding seriously and if you're caught skating on public property, you might get pinched if you aren't quick.

There are many things I liked about Skate 2, and some things that had me cursing the skating gods. To see what I mean, read more.

In Skate 2's career mode, you are climbing your way back to being the best skater in San Vanelona and reclaiming the city for your comrades. Doing so involves taking on different challenges from other skaters, racking up high scoring tricks, and participating in magazine photo shoots. All of this is easy peasy if you get the moves down. And that's a big if.

So when I tell you that learning the tricks in the game can be frustrating, it's only because I was sloppy at my timing or my control combos. It's funny cause I've seen kids around my old neighborhood doing these exact tricks, so I feel like it should be easy, but it's not. Just like in real life, if you aren't popping your board at the right second, you fail. You either land (hard) on your rear, or you just simply jump off your deck. But once you get it, it's really, really fun. Plus, there's a cool feature in Skate 2 that allows you to mark the beginning of your trick so that if you fail (which will probably be often), you can go back to that spot and try, try again.

Exploring the city is awesome since almost anything you see is "skateable", and you can engage in different challenges along the way to increase your score. You are also super strong (must have been all those gym hours in the Big House) and can move almost any object with ease to make your own little skating heaven anywhere you find a spot. But watch out for the police - those dudes are everywhere. Overall, Skate 2 is entertaining, engaging, and addictive. Even at my most frustrated times, I just wanted to keep going so that I could learn just one more trick. Although I could do without the citizens of San Vanelona getting in my way when I'm trying to race (Hello? I'm trying to race here), but I suppose that is how it would be if I were a real life skating bad ass, which will probably never happen.

Skate 2 is available today on your XBox 360 and Playstation 3 consoles.

Source

Daily Tech: PlayStation 3 Is Down to $349

GeekSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:25:00 -0700

Sony's 80GB PlayStation 3 is on sale for $350 on Amazon today. - CrunchGear
Apple's new MacBook Pros get unboxed. - Engadget
The iPhone 3G S will go on sale at 8 a.m. at Apple stores and 7 a.m. at AT&T stores on June 19. - CNET
HP's Power to Change widget helps you reduce energy consumption and save money. - Chip Chick
Find out some of the funniest people Twittering today. - Switched
Samsung's gorgeous 12.2-megapixel HD camera arrives next week. - Gizmodo
China addresses its new mandatory Internet filtering software. - USA Today

Best Buy Kicks Off $10 Video Game Sale

GeekSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:00:48 -0700

Just in case you didn't get the memo, Best Buy has a sweet deal happening right now where sixty-six video game titles are on sale for $9.99 each. There's a variety of games for PCs, the Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and the Wii. My advice: If you were waiting to pick up Rock Band or any Sing Star games, now's a good time to scoop one up.

PS3 Firmware Update 2.60 Available Today!

GeekSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:00:44 -0800

Have you been downloading your PS3 updates? Just like computers, your gaming console needs updates to remain healthy and fresh, and this new Playstation 3 firmware update brings some pretty cool upgrades to your console's photo galleries. Update 2.60 lets you browse through your photos by color, date, facial expression, age, number of people in your snapshot, as well as what camera the photos were taken on.

Not only that but you can now build slideshows and set them to music to show off at your next gathering. The update is free (natch), but you'll need to run the firmware update first, then install the gallery update by heading on over to your photo section and pressing X. Check out a walk through on the Playstation Blog.

Daily Tech: Google's Quick Search Box Comes to IE

GeekSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:32:50 -0800

Windows users can now access Google's Quick Search Box by installing the Google Toolbar in Internet Explorer. - Lifehacker
Here's a helpful list of 10 reasons to buy a Kindle 2 and 10 reasons not to. - CrunchGear
With the current economic situation and global environmental issues, primary focus is now on renewable energy, especially geothermal energy. - Forecast Earth
Here's a new one. Some people who have been playing PlayStation for three or more hours a day are getting a skin disorder which consists of blisters on their hands and feet. - Switched
Designer Harold Terosier has created this Product Red MP3 Player concept device, which features recycled plastic, Bluetooth, a dock station, and a USB port. - Yanko Design