News written by Matti Robinson (May, 2006)

The recent dashboard update prepared Xbox 360 for upcoming camera peripheral, Xbox Live Vision. According to Aaron Greenberg, the group marketing manager of Xbox Live, this device which will add "eyes to Live" will have a simultaneous launch for Europe and North America on September 19.

Xbox Live Vision will be compatible with both PC and Xbox 360, but Greenberg claims that this camera has been specifically designed for Xbox 360 and other webcams won't work with the console. Neither PC or Xbox 360 won't require additional drivers.

The camera features more than just support for interactive gaming, it also lets Xbox 360 users to set and interact with dashboard background for example waving hands to make a watery effect react. Also the Xbox 360 music player will be able to use the camera to capture what is going on in the room and visualize it with "psychedelic" effects.

Games such as Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas and World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions will use the camera for creating both portrait and profile models from the player's head. The camera will also be used for gesture-based games as well as some other Xbox Live Arcade games.

AMD announced two new dual-core processors, Athlon 64 FX-62 and Athlon 64 X2 5000+, both based on the AMD's new socket AM2. These two processors will be the flag bearers of the new AM2 socket which will replace the socket 939. This new AM2 platform will feature improvements in memory support for up to DDR2-800 and new AMD Virtualization, technology which allows users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single system.

The Athlon 64 X2 processor line will be available for socket AM2 as well as the mainstream Sempron processors, which will be converted from socket 754 to this new platform. AMD has also released Athlon 64 X2 4000+ to fill out the AM2 lineup. The new processors are not pin-compatible with the socket 939 or other Athlon 64 sockets and therefore require an AM2-compatible motherboard.

The processors are already listed in an online store, but the high-end technology has a high-end price, the Athlon 64 FX-62 is sold for $1,031 and the cheaper Athlon 64 5000+ for "only" $682.

Source:
GameSpot

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Nintendo has announced the launch of DS Lite in Europe, the new and improved version of its hugely successful DS. The portable will arrive in Europe on June 23 and will be available in both black and white. The Lite version will retail for around £99.99 (approx. $187). Nintendo DS has sold over 4 million units in Europe and over 16 million units worldwide, and the DS Lite is expected to continue the success.

DS Lite is a lighter and brighter version of Nintendo DS. The handheld has dropped weight nearly 60g and is much slimmer than the original. DS Lite isn't just smaller, it has been improved by relocated microphone, adjustable screen brightness and more comfortable stylus. DS Lite features the same dual screens with advanced touch screen technology, voice recognition and Wi-Fi as does the original DS.

Nintendo DS Lite will also get several new releases during the summer, Dr Kawashima's Brain Traning: How Old Is Your Brain? and New Super Mario Bros. will launch in June and Electroplankton and Big Brain Academy in July.

Source:
Press release

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Microsoft brought up the subject about an external HD-DVD device for Xbox 360 at E3 last week. The company didn't reveal any information about the pricing of such peripheral. However, yesterday Gamesindustry.biz reported that retail sources had informed them about Microsoft planning on a HD-DVD add-on for Xbox 360 which combined with the console would be cheaper than upcoming PS3.

In the UK, Sony's PlayStation 3 is estimated to hit the price spot around £400, while Xbox 360 retails for £279 and the Core System version for £209. This gives Microsoft £130 (approximately $250) for the HD-DVD player. The Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive uses the Toshiba's next-generation DVD standard, while the Blu-Ray drive built-in PS3 uses Sony's competing HD-DVD standard, which is expected to win the war, due to its strong support from movie studios.

Several analysts have commented on the HD-DVD subject, and for example Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities, a respected industry analyst, has suggested that the success of Blu-Ray drive will very much determine the success of PS3. If the Blu-Ray becomes "an expensive and unappealing component" it'll be a big burden for the whole lifespan of the console.

The Los Angeles Convention Center was the stage for the year's biggest electronic entertainment event. This year's Electronic Entertainment Expo hosted a whopping over 60,000 attendees, including industry's leading professionals. With nearly 1.5 million visitors on the official new site, E3Insider.com, this year's event adds to most exposure in E3 history, not only in Los Angeles but all over the world. This was the twelfth consecutive year for the Entertainment Software Association owned trade show, Electronic Entertainment Expo.

"E3 is the one and only venue where all of the world's leading interactive entertainment companies convene to launch the industry's next evolution," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of ESA, the association that owns E3, "E3 remains the most important gathering of interactive entertainment industry professionals on the planet, offering attendees unparalleled networking and business opportunities."

E3Insider.com, "the official virtual gateway to E3", received 1.5 million visitors from around the world, this being double to what the site received in E3 2005. E3Insider.com featured E3 events live on the Internet, including DVD-quality video broadcasts, 360-degree tours, exhibitor news and more.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is almost ready to open its doors in Los Angeles Convention Center for tens of thousands of game and technology professionals, developers and journalists alike. The Conference Program starts the show tomorrow May 9th and the Expo follows the next day lasting three days. There are hundreds of companies worldwide attending the E3 including the leading distributors, developers and manufacturers.

The Conference Program follows the progression of high-speed connections into the home, wireless devices and games taking a leap into the music, movies and TV industries. The conference focus is in several key topics featuring portable gaming's future view, gaming adapting to the all-digital entertainment ecosystem, the new generation of home consoles and technology in mobile communications and its future in wireless gaming. Over 30 conference sessions are held during the three days from May 9th to May 11th.

The Expo will feature approximately 400 exhibiting companies from 80 countries all around the world. Most likely this year's E3 isn't going to be different from the previous and exhibitors will brings hundreds of video games and related products out to the public. "During E3 2005, exhibitors debuted more than 1,000 computer and video games and related products."

The long anticipated Nintendo's improved version of the popular portable gaming device has been announced to hit US in June 11. DS Lite was released in its home country, Japan, in March and was sold out immediately. DS Lite is a lighter version of the original Nintendo DS which has sold millions of units.

The delay in shipping was because of huge demand of units in Japan, but Nintendo was finally able to increase the production. The DS Lite will make its debut in US as "polar white", while the two shades of blue are not yet promised to hit the shelves, however as in Japan, they could come week later. The Lite version will have a price tag of $129.99, the same amount as the original DS.

There aren't any major releases targeted at the debut week, at least not yet. Many thought that a simultaneous launch with new Super Mario Bros. would give both the game and the DS Lite a boost, but while the game is released in May 15, the handheld is waiting in line. However DS Lite isn't all alone, games, including THQ's Cars and Nintendo's Big Brain Academy will be released the week earlier.

DS Lite release dates outside US haven't yet been confirmed.

Source:
GameSpot