GeekSugar

4 Reasons We Can't Wait to Play Harry Potter For Kinect

Laura Marie Given — Sat, 26 May 2012 09:02:00 PDT

There's a book series, a film series, a Florida amusement park, a London studio tour, and, coming this Fall, there will also be the Harry Potter For Kinect video game! Based on the eight films, the game gives diehard fans a chance to experience the movies' most memorable moments for themselves, whether as a character or as their own avatar. Check out the top four reasons we're excited to play:

Pretending we're wizards: Thanks to hands-free and voice-recognition technology, users can cast spells using physical maneuvers or by calling out spell names. We're already practicing our "Expelliarmus!" technique.
Flying (sort of): It's a dream come (virtually) true. Gamers will have the opportunity to fly on a broomstick for their very own Quidditch match.
Walking in Harry's shoes: With the game, users can experience some of Harry's classic moments, like choosing a house at Hogwarts, visiting Ollivanders, and confronting He Who Shall Not Be Named in a final, dramatic battle.
Some friendly competition: Select co-op gameplay to connect with wizardly friends, and master lessons so you can challenge other opponents in competitive minigames.

Do you plan to buy Harry Potter For Kinect?

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Game Boy Gear For iPhones

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:08:19 PDT

If we weren't so used to gaming on large and colorful smartphone screens, you bet we'd still be playing a Game Boy on the daily commute. Now we can have the best of both modern and retro worlds with these Game Boy and video game controller iPhone cases from Yamamoto Industries, purveyors of everything cool in Japanese electronic accessories. Even better? They're currently on sale through JackThreads. Check out the gear in the slideshow.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 Launching in August

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:11:01 PDT

Nintendo announced that New Super Mario Bros. 2 will launch in the US in August for the 3DS. There were few details given for the next level in the Super Mario Bros. series, but we know that it will feature Mario, Luigi, and "loads of other favorite characters." It's likely that we'll get a peek at the game in action at this year's E3 expo, but until then, check out the few screenshots in the gallery!

Do You Turn Off Your Gaming Consoles?

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:22:29 PDT

A new study shows that 68 percent of the consumed US game console energy happened while in idle mode in 2010, meaning players simply walked away from the console instead of powering down after a session. While this may be more convenient for you, it's costing you an arm and a leg in energy costs; $1.24 billion total nationwide.

Even better than powering down your consoles? Unplugging them altogether to save even more dough when not at home.

Are you guilty of leaving your gaming console on instead of powering down?

Source: Flickr user PseudoGil

Score Big With These Vintage-Inspired Video Game Movie Posters

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:48:45 PDT

The idea of video games getting the feature-length treatment isn't revolutionary, but these video game movie posters from Etsy artist Ron Guyatt are. Combining a vintage feel with a propaganda-inspired esthetic makes titles like Tetris, Halo, and Deadspace look like they'd be pretty badass on the big screen.

The prints are 13 inches by 19 inches, which can make a nice addition to your wall, but combining a few in one area can create a bold art instillation for any video game fanatic. Ron Guyatt's shop has a smashing deal going on right now - buy six posters for just $60. See? Perfect timing.

Check out a few of our favorites in the gallery!

5 Movies We'd Like to Play On Kinect

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 06:30:27 PDT

Our long wait for the Kinect Star Wars game is finally over! Landing on store shelves today, non-Jedis can now use the Force to battle Darth Vader himself, fly through pod races, and dance the Clone War battles away in groovin' competitions.

After months of waiting, we're excited for the motion-based Star Wars game, but it has us wondering what other movies would make thrilling Kinect games. We're adding these movies to our Kinect dream list; what movie would you like to play a part of in Kinect?

Harry Potter - There's an amusement park in Florida and a studio tour in London, but for fans that can't travel to these destinations, casting spells and vanquishing Dementors the Kinect way would be just as wizardly.
The Hunger Games - A story with the premise of adolescents killing other adolescents as part of a nationwide reality TV show is disturbing, and any video game would be just as gruesome to imagine. However, just the talents exhibited by Katniss, like archery and hunting, could make for interesting interactive role-play.
Lord of the Rings - Enter Mordor? No problem in Kinect form! If you've read all the books and obsessively watched all the movies, a Kinect game of the hobbits' journey is the last step in a complete Middle Earth adventure.

See two more movies we'd like to play on Kinect after the break.

Forget Online Dating, Try Online Gaming Instead

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:13:44 PDT

If the promise of more sex more often doesn't get you into online games, maybe this will: gaming could be a great way to meet guys. According to a new study by Online University, the odds of you scoring a date with someone who is committed and honest are higher if you're playing World of Warcraft than if you're trolling through hundreds of "matches" on dating sites. The study shows that online gamers spend more time on gaming sites than online daters spend on sites like Match.com and eHarmony (which means you have better odds of meeting more people more often), and WoW players are more likely to share personal information and feelings about themselves with fellow gamers than their "real-life" friends.

The cold, hard fact is there are 12 million people playing World of Warcraft online vs. dating sites, which boast just one million members. That translates to about three percent of the United States population playing online games. A bigger sea means more fish to catch with your button-mashing prowess. Game on!

Digital Motivation: 3 Social Games to Inspire Working Out

Anna Monette Roberts — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:52:00 PST

Many women love social gaming and spend countless hours watering their virtual crops via Farmville or taking care of their Sim. Prominent brands are attempting to tap into this digital game obsession by providing customers with games that reward them for their physical activity. Take a look at the social games that Striiv, SELF magazine, and Nike have developed to motivate you to train, and let us know which game you are most likely to play.

6 Retro Board Games For Your iPad

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:21:26 PST

I don't know about you, but board games were an important part of my childhood. Hours and hours could be spent sinking battleships, spinning wheels, and passing go outside on hot Summer days and indoors during the rainy Winter months. Needless to say, these new iPad versions of my favorite retro board games pull a bit on my heartstrings and take me back to simpler times when I could take all your play money and totally p0wn you on the Boardwalk. There's no crying in real estate.

Get into the game with these retro board game iPad apps. Which is your favorite?

Retro Arcade Accessories For Your iDevices

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:30:31 PST

Thinkgeek is the place to go when you need a little retro gaming fix. But rather than buying an old-school arcade, you can transform your modern iPhone and iPads into vintage gaming consoles you can take anywhere. Need proof? Just click through the slideshow to see more.