Blitz Games Studios achieves a world-first with the public unveiling of its ground breaking, proprietary technology showing true stereoscopic 3D games running on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 at the 3D Entertainment Summit in Los Angeles.

Andrew Oliver, co-founder and CTO of Blitz Games Studios, is the only game developer to be talking at the summit alongside movie industry executives from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group, DreamWorks, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Dolby Laboratories and Real-D.

Blitz Games Studios’ in-house technology demonstrates that current generation consoles can replicate the full HD 3D experience seen in 3D movie theaters with the 3D images ‘popping’ out of 3DTV screens and into living rooms for the first time.

Andrew Oliver, CTO of Blitz Games Studios said:

“This is an incredibly exciting and huge step forward for videogames. Our BlitzTech technology will prove beyond all doubt that we are already doing what some industry experts have said is impossible on today’s game consoles. Our highly tuned engine is capable of producing real-time interactive graphics that are close to offline rendered CG movie quality.

Many TV manufacturers are already selling sets capable of displaying 3D imagery and we envisage that these sets will rapidly gain popularity as content in the form of movies and games becomes available. Our technology allows for our games to run in both 2D and 3D in one version – by simply flicking a ’switch’ between them. It really has to be seen to be believed.”

Oliver states that games are already arguably more immersive than films, but when created in true 3D will be even more immersive.  However, he admits that the games industry still needs to understand design issues and learn lessons from Hollywood studios which are now producing 3D movies in volume for release in 2009 onwards.

I guess this means that the possibility of seeing the womanizing antics of Kratos up close and personal in the near future is not so far fetched. Or imagine, if you will, a rallyracer in DiRT coming out of the screen as if to run you over. Sounds like loads of fun.

(Thanks Kezins)

Not one to just sit around and be outdone by Netflix as it gains customers through Xbox 360, and their recently revealed Rokum– Blockbuster has stepped into the “battle of the boxes” ring.

Yesterday, Blockbuster started selling their MeidaPoint box which, like the aforementioned services, will send movies through your internet connection straight onto your television screen. Unlike Netflix, this new service from Blockbuster does not charge a monthly subscription, but instead will cost the buyer an initial $99 for the box plus between $1.99 and $3.99 to rent a “DVD”. The box comes with 25 pre-paid movies (thus the $99 price tag) and holds up to 5 full length movies, which must be viewed within 24-hours of downloading.

Netflix’s box also costs $99, plus your monthly subscription; however, the biggest selling point for Netflix is that you can rent up to 10,000 movies through their box, unlike Blockbuster’s 2500 “of the best, biggest and most current movies available”. The difference between the two that may sway you one way or the other though,  has to do with the quality and speed differences of the services.

Blockbuster’s MediaPoint box does “progressive playback” instead of streaming, which means that it is downloaded onto the box. With Netflicks streaming service, the video quality is not independent of your broadband’s connection therefore quality may be decreased if your internet connection is slow.

So, on the one hand you can get more movies via Netflix, but better quality through Blockbuster. The choice will mostly boil down to having a fast internet connection. Depending on who your service provider is and where you live, that could be the deciding factor for you. However, if you already own an Xbox 360–both of these products would be a waste of money for you now that you can get Netflix through your console.

Any way you look at it though, it appears as if the days of driving to the video store and trying to find something to watch are eventually going to become a thing of the past. That in itself is a good thing. Convenience and product availability is what matters in the long run, and the old fashioned video store just can not keep up any longer.

North America is being treated to two bright new DS bundles in time for the Black Friday holiday kickoff. Those of you getting up before the crack of dawn can look forward to snagging a red DS emblazoned with an M along with New Super Mario Bros or an Ice Blue bundle complete with Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day with a matching carrying case. The price is right as well with both bundles coming in at $149.99.

Words to the wise… if you need to pick up your first DS or replace an old one, consider your game collection. The new DSi model doesn’t support the older GBA game cartridges.

Able Planet has come out with new game headphone sets designed to deliver optimal gaming sound without the hearing loss that can accompany it. Using the LINX AUDIO micro technology developed for people with mild to severe hearing loss, the PS500MM and TL300 headsets allow gamers to turn the volume down to safer levels without losing the rich multimedia sounds in gaming titles. According to the press release on Business Wire, listening to head phones for even five hours a week a high volumes can cause hearing loss.

“We designed this innovative new headset specifically with PC gamers in mind,” said Able Planet’s chairman and CEO Kevin Semcken. “Gamers tend to spend significant periods of time playing online games and such extended play of rich multimedia sounds puts a cumulative strain on the ears this can cause hearing loss and fatigue. Our technology minimizes this risk so that users no longer have to turn up the volume just to be able to drown out background noise.”

Both headsets come with oversized leather earpieces equipped with noise cancellation built into the microphones. The PS500MM ships with a wireless USB adaptor and two 3.5mm jacks. The TL300 headset features 2.5mm jacks for Xbox compatibility. Both headsets are due out in December. For more information or to place an order visit www.ableplanet.com.

This is looking like a great option for my wife who has a moderate hearing loss. At $99 it’s much more affordable than the LoSt-CaUzE™ Gaming Headphones ($179) and about right for a good headset.

Hhgregg is shoving over the big boys and getting into the game, business that is. Starting Black Friday, November 28th, customers will find console bundles, portable platforms, videogames and accessories lining the shelves of the Indianapolis-based appliance and electronics retailer.

“As hhgregg continues its disciplined growth, we are committed to continually assessing our product offerings to best meet the needs of our customers,” said hhgregg Chairman and CEO, Jerry Throgmartin. “We are pleased to now offer our loyal patrons some of the most popular merchandise in the gaming market today. hhgregg will provide our customers with a convenient, one-stop gaming solution, packaging gaming consoles with its respective games, controllers and other accessories. This customer-friendly gaming package will make a great gift for the upcoming holiday season.”

In case you have any concerns that the staff will be completely unable to help you, according to the press release on Business Wire, hhgregg has started running it’s employees through a training program to educate them about games and accessories. Hopefully they’ll also go over ESRB ratings in detail since the general public seems to not quite grasp them.

Celebrate, homebrew fans — while Sony had managed to evade the attempts of hackers to crack into the latest iteration of the PlayStation Portable, the PSP 3000, it’s finally been accomplished. Sure, we knew it was inevitably going to be cracked since it was released in October, but with the talent of hackers these days, I’m surprised when things aren’t hacked as soon as they’re released.

Of course, this comes at a price — $30, to be exact. A new battery from the England-based maker of Action Replay, Datel, enables users to put the PSP in service mode, reports Maxconsole.net. From there, you’ll be able to downgrade the system’s firmware, thereby allowing you to access all of those wonderful (albeit typically illegal) tools, apps, and emulators you’ve no doubt heard of. The battery features a convenient switch to allow you to jump between service mode and normal mode and functions with both the PSP 3000 and 2000.

The Datel ‘Lite Blue Tool’ battery is being released on November 28 for $30 in North America and $20 in the UK. A technical explanation (containing fancy words such as “de-capsulated”) of how the feat was accomplished can be found at Maxconsole. Those interested in picking up the new battery can find it’s now available for preorder from Datel’s online store.

Your move, Sony.

TechARP has updated its BIOS Optimization Guide bringing it current and adding new features.

This guide serves as a repository of knowledge on various BIOS options. It also serves as a guide on how best to optimize your BIOS. Every system is different and every user has different requirements. What is best for you may not be good for another. So, there’s only one way to decide what’s the best settings for your own BIOS – read the BIOS Optimization Guide and learn how to optimize your BIOS!

BOP v10.2 added or upgraded seven features:

• I/O Interface Security
• Intel Turbo Mode Tech
• Intel Dynamic Acceleration
• SATA AHCI Mode
• LCD Power Saving
• SATA Mode
• SATA Operation Mode

The BOG database now boasts over 350 different BIOS options so chances are you can find a descriptions to help you get your system running at optimal levels. You can consult The Definitive
BIOS Optimization Guide on TechARP.

In today’s world of fad and fashion, there’s no reason for PC gamers not to show their fashion sense or bad taste in bling by decorating their gaming rigs with custom peripherals. PCMag has pulled together a list of 10 “stylish” computer accessories for your consideration.

Laptops have options including LapWorks Laptop Desk Futura which includes a leopard pattern and the Belkin Ceylon Messenger Bag. There are skins for your D-link router and USB hubs and portable hard drives included. There’s a retro webcam the\at looks like an antique camera and hand made custom keyboards from Japan. Some of these items are actually stylish, but most come at a price. For the full scoop on each of these hot options, read the full article on PCMag.

Lately, it seems like the hottest trend in gaming (outside of zombies and fire) has been incentivizing the purchase of new games instead of used ones. Gears of War 2 is a prime example, with each new copy of the game coming with a code to download five free multiplayer maps from the original Gears. Epic Games president Mike Capps recently talked about the practice and offered up a pretty radical type of solution he had heard about previously — something along the lines of forcing those who buy a used copy to pay money in order to fight the game’s final boss.

Nintendo seems to be taking that idea even further with the Wii Speak peripheral — if you don’t buy one new, you won’t get access to the Wii Speak channel. MTV Multiplayer reports that when you buy a new Wii Speak, it comes with a card containing a 16-character code that can be redeemed for the Wii Speak channel, which allows you to chat with others without playing a game. The code comes with a note saying that it can’t be replaced by Nintendo should it be lost or stolen.

Nintendo also confirmed to Multiplayer that you won’t be able to buy the chat channel from the Wii Shopping channel as you might expect. You simply buy a new Wii Speak and get the channel or else you don’t get it. It seems like a pretty bizarre way of encouraging people to buy a new Wii Speak, if you ask us. Hopefully this detail will be made clear enough to the average consumer, just in case some uninformed shopper wanders into GameStop to buy a Wii Speak as a gift and then decides to save a few dollars by picking up a used one.

Anyway you look at it, the PlayStation 3 is a pricey piece of hardware. Yes, it’s got a Blu-ray player, integrated wi-fi, and all that good stuff, but $400 is a lot of cash — especially compared with Nintendo and Microsoft’s cheapest offerings being at $250 and $200, respectively.

Even with that in mind, Sony Computer Entertainment’s UK managing director Ray Maguire doesn’t feel like price will be an issue for the company’s flagship game system this holiday season. At the Gamer 3.0 conference, he spoke with VideoGamer.com, telling them that pressure from gamers isn’t enough to warrant a price drop. “[W]e have a business to run, and we have to make sure we’re doing the right thing for the shareholders as well,” he explained.

Maguire claims that sales of the system in the UK are “absolutely on target,” and cited the quality of games coming out in the coming months as why the PS3’s price won’t present “an issue at all.”

I know a fair number of people who would beg to disagree, but we’ll have to wait and take a look at the sales figures for the last quarter of 2008 before we’re able to draw any conclusions. While you wouldn’t expect Maguire to come out and say it, there’s no doubt that Sony would have liked for the price to be lower in order to more directly compete with Microsoft and Nintendo for gamers in the market for a game console this holiday season who don’t have the deepest of pockets.