VIDEO GAME CONSOLE REPAIR BLOG

Introducing the PlayStation 3, typically called PS3 and produced by Sony gaming Entertainment. The PlayStation 3 offers intense competition to Nintendo’s Wii and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 as part of the 7th era of video game consoles. The wireless Sixaxis and DualShock 3 comprise the current PS3 controllers sold currently. 

The term ‘Sixaxis’ is a merging of ‘six axis’ which signifies directional movements. It’s also intended to indicate motion sensitive technology. These wireless PS3 controllers can function for upto thirty hours by charging them to their maximum capacity. The battery is entirely removable and Sixaxis are provided with the notes of the simplest way to go about the method.

An impressive function of Sixaxis PS3 controllers is their ability to read both translational acceleration and rotational orientation along 3-D plains.

Sixaxis PS3 controllers employ finer analog sensitivity than DualShock 2, the immediate predecessor to DualShock 3 mentioned before. They build the 8 bit reception of the DualShock 2 to a ten bit reception. The frame underneath the L2 and R2 commands has been removed and made into triggers. The range of travel decides the level of analog input rather than the range of pressure. There’s a jewel like PS button with the PlayStation logo in the place of the Analog function button which can be discovered on previous dual analog releases. This allows these controllers to change inputs, turn the consoles or controllers on or off, access the home menu, etc .

Next, The DualShock 3 is a vibration feedback pad by Sony for PS3. The DualShock 3 was primarily pioneered as a secondary peripheral for the first PlayStation. An enhanced PlayStation release came with the controller that was originally incorporated in the Sony twin Analog Controller. The DualShock 3 wireless PS3 controllers come with all of the features of Sixaxis along with rumble capabilities.

There are many reasons to make the decision between an HDMI cable and a component cable for your Xbox 360. These include cost, hardware (meaning TV) and level of gaming in which you partake

Cost

• While HDMI cables can be obtained for around $30, to ensure the best performance it’s best to go with the ones that cost $100 or more. Component cables are essentially free, given that the system comes with them. Each can be purchased for $40 from Xbox.com.

Function

• The Xbox 360 renders its graphics digitally. A component cable transfers data in analog format—meaning the data is created, compressed and then expanded. The result is less clear edges and images. HDMI cables transfer images in a digital format.

Usability

• Usually only plasma, LCD and LED TVs contain an HDMI port. Even then, it is not guaranteed. Unless your TV can render 1080p graphics, it might not have an HDMI port. Meaning only component cables will work.

Graphics

• HDMI cables, because they never compress data, render much better and cleaner images. Component images are rough on the edges.

Personal Feelings

• Unless the best graphics are important to you, stay with a component setup. Neither HDMI cables nor component cables will affect game play.

There’s no question that Mass Effect 3 is one of the most highly anticipated games this year.  But now there’s a major advantage to getting the Xbox 360 version – Kinect integration.  And we don’t mean the kind of cheap integration with shoddy motion controls and the kind of targeting that makes it feel like a second-rate Child of Eden.  Bioware wouldn’t dare take such a second-rate route.  Instead, it has put together a system that blends vocal commands with the traditional gameplay that fans have come to know and love.  At a recent event this past week during the Consumer Electronics Show, Bioware showed us just how easy it is.  It’s the same demo we saw back at San Diego Comic-Con, taking place in an outdoor base during an enemy invasion, but it was still cool to try it with a different play style.

So here’s how it works.  There are various sets of commands you can say when you’re in the middle of a game, divided into categories.  Some are directed at Shepard, depending whether they’re exploration commands, combat commands or soldier class abilities.  Others will require you to call for your teammates to do something, requiring you to say their name and then the action you want them to perform.

For instance, let’s say you want Shepard to change weapons.  You can either say “Switch weapons!” and have him go to the default that’s provided as his secondary, or you can actually say the weapon you want him to switch to, and he goes right to it.  You can also activate special abilities, such as “Cryo ammo”, and, provided they haven’t been overused, they’ll activate automatically, without the need to tap a bunch of buttons or go into a sub-menu to set them up.  (You can also say “Activate” to hit panels or open doors, rather than pressing the A button – you know, in case you’re feeling lazy.)

As for directing your parties, you’ll simply say the name of whoever you want to perform the action, followed by the command. You won’t need to do it rapid fire like “LIARISUBMACHINEGUN”, but rather like you would talking to a regular teammate.  So, if you want James to throw a frag grenade at a targeted enemy, line them up in your sights and say, “James, frag grenade!” and he’ll throw it with great success.  Likewise, if you want to use Liara’s Stasis, say, “Liara, stasis!” and the enemy will be floating a second later, leaving them open for attack.  On a side note, if you’re issuing a non-attack command, like “move” or “follow me”, they’ll acknowledge your request by saying something back, so you know they’re listening.

We were surprised by the responsiveness of the Kinect when it came to receiving commands.  We even tried different vocal volumes (first saying, them screaming, then quieter) and found all of our sayings read accurately.  What’s more, the game will support multiple languages, including English, French, Italian, German, and British/Australian English.  And though the game will have a pre-set list of commands (which should either be included with the Xbox 360 game, or released on Bioware’s site), you can always try shouting stuff out for Easter Egg effect.  Who knows, maybe if you say, “Garrus, take a missile to the face!” he might just laugh it off.

One thing we should mention, though – the Kinect integration will only work with the single player Mass Effect 3 mission, and not with online co-op missions.  But, really, you don’t need friends screaming back and forth trying to follow commands, do you?

Want to try out these features for yourself?  Well, you won’t have to wait long.  Bioware also confirmed that it would be releasing a demo for Xbox Live Marketplace on Valentine’s Day, February 14, where you can test out the features for yourself.  (Don’t worry, PS3 owners, you’ll get a demo as well, though obviously without the nifty voice features.)

While some of you may see Kinect integration as a novelty rather than a useful gameplay device, Bioware has included it to great effect with Mass Effect 3, and we’re eager to see how the final game holds up with it.  Be sure to check back for more impressions and the final review over the next few weeks.  Shepard’s saga may be coming to an end, but it’s definitely one worth speaking up about.

For the Wii, it begins and ends with Zelda.

When Nintendo’s console first launched, “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” was the flagship title that helped carry the fledgling system. It was originally planned for the GameCube but adapted for the Wii, but that didn’t hamper the development too much. “Twilight Princess” showed what the system could do.

But now that the Wii is near the end of its life cycle, and the Wii U is on the way, Nintendo is offering up a final hurrah for the popular console with “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.” It’s a fitting send-off for a system that helped turn around Nintendo’s fortunes and changed how we play video games.

It’s quite simply the greatest “Zelda” game ever made. Yes, it even tops “Ocarina of Time.” This latest title is a culmination of previous entries across all Nintendo platforms, combining parts of the original with “The Phantom Hourglass” and everything in between. It’s an ode to the very best of the series.

“Skyward Sword” acts as a prequel to “Ocarina of Time.” In this incarnation, Link and Zelda are residents of Skyloft, an island city in the clouds. They live there with other townspeople, watching over a goddess temple. But on a ceremonial day things go awry. Zelda, who was flying atop these great birds called Loftwings, is knocked off and falls to the Surface. In an adventure with a more mature tone (that’s saying a lot for a “Zelda” game), it’s up to Link to descend beneath the clouds and find out what happened to her.

The gameplay resembles its predecessor “Twilight Princess” except it was tailored for the console. The developers use years’ worth of techniques to get the most from the Wii remote with Wii Motion Plus.

This experience benefits combat the most. It’s more immersive now that “Skyward Sword” tracks one-to-one movement. Swing the Wii remote horizontally and Link does the same. Do it vertically and the hero mimics the move with his sword. It makes fighting foes much more strategic. Players will have to look for openings in a skeleton’s defense. They’ll have to flip over armored spiders by slashing upward during an attack. Each fight is as intense as it is natural.

As for the level design, it’s some of the team’s best work. It’s a happy medium between the mind-numbingly frustrating Water Temple (from “Ocarina of Time”) and well-made dungeons like Turtle Rock (“A Link to the Past”). The reason the new levels work so well is that they have a flow to them. There’s rarely any pointless backtracking, because each temple is laid out so that players instinctively know where to go.

The developers’ guiding hand is there, but it never feels overbearing or misleading. Everything is so simpatico that level design and narrative coalesce like the melody and harmony of a song pulling players in the right direction. At times, it can be surreal, especially during the adventure across the Lanayru Sand Sea. In other moments, “Skyward Sword” impresses players with its intricate inventiveness. The Ancient Cistern with its moving statue was a stroke of genius.

If anyone wants to see how far the Wii and Nintendo have come in five years, look no further than the bookend “Zeldas.” The refinement in the design and the use of control shows that the company hasn’t been resting on its laurels; it has constantly pushed what the Wii can do in terms of gameplay.

The culmination is as impressive as any game to come out in recent memory. It’s an adventure worth savoring because there aren’t many that work as flawlessly or surprise you as much. If “Skyward Sword” unofficially marks the winding down of the Wii, it’s good to know that the system is going out on a high point.

Xbox 360 is a great gaming console that features one of the best graphics. Video games can be displayed on HD on this gaming console. There are various games of different genres that you can play on the Xbox 360. You can play adventure, fighting, RPG, Sports, racing games and other genres of video games with the Xbox 360. And like any other console, you can connect two or more controllers on the Xbox 360 and play with your friends. But if your friends can’t come and play with you, you can still play with other players through the Xbox Live.

Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming that owners of the Xbox 360 can use. Players can play against other players from anywhere in the world. But you do need to connect to the internet. Xbox 360′s first method is to get a Wireless Network Adapter. But the Xbox 360′s Wireless Network Adapter is relatively expensive and you may not be able to buy it. If you do not want to buy it, you need to connect to another source. But how do you set up Xbox Live using another method? The solution to your question, “How do you set up Xbox Live using a different method”, is to connect to a wired network.

How do you set up Xbox Live on a wired network? There are two methods to do this. The two methods depend on where your modem is and where you want to set up your Xbox Live. Here are the two methods:

How do you set up Xbox Live in a wired network in the same room as your computer?
1. If your modem is already connected to a router, and your computer is connected to a router, proceed to step 4. If not, do the following
a. If your computer is directly connected to a modem, then unplug the network cable from the computer and connect it to the router using the port named Internet, WAN, or WLAN.
b. If your computer is connected to the internet, then get a network cable, connect one end on the modem, and connect the other to the router’s Internet, WAN, or WLAN port.

2. Plug in your router and turn it on. See if the Internet, WAN, or WLAN light turns green, which indicates a successful connection. If not, check if your modem is also on and if your network cables are broken.
3. Get another network cable, plug it on any port of the router, and plug the other end of the cable on your computer.
4. Turn your Xbox 360 off. Get a network cable (that is compatible with your Xbox 360) and plug one end on the router, and the other end on the I/O port of your Xbox 360.
5. Turn on your computer and start playing on the Xbox Live.

How do you set up Xbox Live in a wired network on a different room from your computer.

To do this method, you first need to buy a wall-plugged network extender kit. Then do the following steps:

1. If your modem is already connected to a router, proceed to step 4. If not, do the following:
a. If your computer is connected to your modem directly, disconnect the network cable on your computer and reconnect it to the router’s Internet, WAN or WLAN port.
b. If your computer isn’t connect to a modem, get a network cable, connect one end on the modem and connect the other end on the router’s Internet, WAN or WLAN port.

2. Turn on your router and see if the Internet, WAN or WLAN light turns green to indicate a successful connection. If it is not green, check if your modem is off and if your network cables are broken.
3. Get a network cable, connect one end on the router and connect the other on your computer.
4. In the room where the router is, plug one of the wall-plugged network extender kits on a power outlet. Do not plug it on extension cords.
5. Get a network cable and plug one end on the router and the other on the wall-plugged network extender kit.
6. Go to the room where your Xbox 360 is and plug the other wall-plugged network extender kit on a power outlet.
7. Get the Xbox 360 compatible network cable and connect one end on the wall-plugged network extender kit and the other on the I/O port of your Xbox 360.
8. Turn on your Xbox 360 and start playing on Xbox Live.

Moshi Monsters is an online social networking gaming platform much like Facebook that is geared toward children ages seven to twelve. In this game, children adopt and take care of a pet monster. They can buy clothes, food and home decor items for the monster they’ve adopted. There are also books, toys, trading cards, a magazine and now a Nintendo DS game that are available. Moshi Monsters Moshling Zoo is from Activision and was created by Mind Candy.

In Moshi Monsters Moshling Zoo, you are actually caring for the Moshi Monsters’ pets who are called Moshlings. In Moshi Monsters Moshling Zoo, you are the caretaker of the zoo. Your job is to adopt Moshlings and make the zoo the best zoo the world has ever seen.

To play Moshi Monsters Moshling Zoo, you use the stylus to press an arrow left or right to move through each area of the game. Alternately, you can also use the directional key. As you scroll through each area of the game, you will use the stylus to tap on items you find to either collect points or add the item to your inventory. Travelling through the game, you will be told you need some of the items to accomplish something – like an iron to iron napkins or a paintbrush to paint a picture. You will also find things that some of the Moshlings want like a crown for Priscilla Pony. You’ll be given hints throughout the game to help and there is a Monstropedia book with information about each of the Moshlings that can help give you ideas of how to get them to come with you.

Hints appear on the top screen along with how much money you have to spend, how many Moshlings you’ve collected and how many collections you’ve completed. You access your inventory on the bottom screen by tapping the backpack to open it.

As you give the Moshlings what they’re looking for, you are told they would love to be added to your zoo. Once they are added to the zoo, you can visit them there and feed them, clean them up in the pool or play games with them. Each adult Moshling also has a baby Moshling that can be hatched from eggs you find in the game. You put the egg in the daycare and when it’s ready, it hatches and you have more Moshlings in your zoo.

There are 52 different Moshlings to collect in the game and a bunch of fun games and puzzles. Moshi Monsters Moshling Zoo is ideal for someone who is new to video games because the options for movement are limited and the hints are fairly good. Older kids might feel limited by the available options. This game is also a great tie in for kids who are already enjoying Moshi Monsters online. The game even includes an exclusive in game Moshling. There is a card inside with a code to claim it in the online game. Definitely a great starter game for anyone entranced by collecting cute, cuddly animals!

The PS Vita has been available in Japan since December 17, but in only its second week on sale, Sony’s previous generation handheld, the PSP, is outselling it. Not only that, but the 3DS, Wii, and PS3 also sold more units in the run up to Christmas.

A drop off in sales the weekend of Christmas is only natural, but it’s the size of the drop that may have Sony a little bit worried. Where as the launch weekend saw the PS Vita shift 324,859 units, between December 19-25 it only sold 72,479–that’s lower than the 101,121 units the PSP sold for the same period. As a sales drop off comparison, the 3DS shifted 482,200 units during the PS Vita launch week and then only dropped to 357,691 sales last week.

The reason for the huge drop? Most likely a combination of price and a lack of new games. The PS Vita is the most expensive of the four handhelds on the market right now (3DS, PSP, DS and Vita) with only the more hardcore/early adopter crowd willing to pay for the new hardware. Sony’s new device also didn’t see any new games released post launch, which helps to explain why no PS Vita games featured in the top 20  last week, either.

It’s unlikely this situation will stay the same for long. Nintendo had a similar slump following the release of the 3DS due to a lack of new titles. However, now that games such as Mario Kart 7, Super Mario 3D Land, and Monster Hunter 3G have launched, hardware sales are way up. The PS Vita needs a similar rush of popular games, with Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, and Monster Huntergame releases needed. Hopefully they will all arrive next year.

The history of games to movies titles is quite often a highly debatable topic when among gaming buddies, the long line of Hollywood stinkers never fails to amuse but there has been the occasional ray of hope. It’s quite a challenge to pick out some of the best game based movies as there have been a few blockbuster hits that lived up to gamers expectations, then the majority that are about as fun to watch as a paraplegic doing the 100m’s but somehow still manage to please the fans.

Resident Evil If we look for the more obvious success stories most gamers would probably acknowledge the recent success of the Resident Evil movie franchise, releasing a total of 4 movies so far totaling a gross of over $450 million. Although it didn’t follow the earlier games like many had hoped it was clear the movie was going to be huge, it would be very difficult to make such a story driven franchise flop in the cinema especially when your cast is led by big screen poster girl Milla Jovovich.

Mortal Kombat My personal favorite game to movie title has to be Mortal Kombat. A game that offered pure unadulterated violence in my early adolescence the series was loved by millions causing the franchise to pump out 10+ titles based on the Mortal Kombat universe. It managed to include some of the vital characteristics with each of the much loved characters and although the fight scenes were short an unspectacular, it gave the gamers enough of a fix to warrant a second movie.

Street Fighter Sadly a good story and voluptuous female character isn’t always the recipe for success as can be seen in the 1994 release of Street Fighter. Even with the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kylie Minogue and the dangerously attractive Ming-Na the massive arcade hit didn’t really make any huge impact as the movie lacked any real script or even acting abilities for the most part but I’d still buy front row tickets to watch Ming-Na do the splits.

Tomb Raider I tried my very hardest to avoid mentioning the very obvious assets of the extremely gifted Angelina Jolie but if we’re honest, it was one of the best points of the movies. Although this project had quite a severe advantage when compared to the majority of other games to movie titles, in the form of a whopping $115 million budget, compared to a $45 million for the latest Resident Evil movie. The big budget gamble paid off as Tomb Raider managed to do something very few have done, it appealed to regular movie goers as well as the fans of the gaming series.

Final Fantasy It’s difficult to write anything on the Final Fantasy big screen adaptions without filling a paragraph with nasty obscenities and ramblings but the movies did have their strong points. The original computer animated Spirits Within failed to really wow fans and it showed as the movie lost $50 million on production costs, although it was breathtaking CGI at the time and the story did carry some substance, a lot of fans were hoping for something more directly related to the characters they’ve grown to love, enter Final Fantasy: Advent Children. I’m happy to admit that when this movie was announced, I ran around screaming like a teenage girl at a Justin Bieber concert. As with most things Final Fantasy related over the last few years, it was met with disappointment from many and didn’t really bust any records with the critics.

What’s To Come? We’ve seen dozens of game to movie releases since the mid 80’s but a new trend does seem to be forming where the majority that are being released are of decent quality. Other movies like Silent Hill, DOA, Max Payne and Doom all shared minor success in the box office and with rumors of big titles like Halo, Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid the future is looking bright for this corner of the gaming world.

One of the most distinguishing and highly differentiated features of Windows Phone might lose its Windows Phone exclusivity.

A few eagle-eyed Microsoft onlookers happened upon a new job listing at the company’s official website, and it states pretty clearly that Xbox Live functionality is probably going to expand beyond Microsoft’s proprietary mobile platform.

The job description, which is for a software engineer, includes the following function: “define, design and implement Xbox LIVE mobile experiences on Windows Phone, iOS and other platforms.”

“Combining Xbox LIVE experiences together with mobile devices has enabled many new opportunities and interesting user scenarios such as location based gaming and social networking, avatar with presence, etc,” the job ad continues.

Obviously, being able to sign into your Xbox Live account from your phone, earn achievements, chat with friends, and play games side-by-side other Xbox Live gamers is one of the most defining feature on Windows Phone.

So even though expanding Xbox Live is no doubt a great thing for Microsoft’s gaming division, the question is whether it will hurt its mobile division.

In the background, there’s Sony, which is set to roll out an ambitious Android-based mobile gaming platform that will connect to device like the Playstation Vita, and with the limited user base of Windows Phone, Microsoft is likely worried that Sony will become the key player in mobile game connectivity.

However, as this job listing is just now surfacing, it might be a while before this actually amounts to anything.

The battery in your Nintendo DS delivers up to 19 hours of use on a three-hour charge, according to Nintendo. When you begin to notice the amount of game time provided by one charge decreasing, your battery has lost some of its life. When it no longer charges, it will need to be replaced with a licensed Nintendo battery. Nintendo recommends against using unlicensed “generic” brands. Removing the battery in your DS is a part of routine.

Instructions

Things You’ll Need
No. 00 Phillips precision screwdriver

1. Remove all games from the Nintendo DS. Turn off the system and unplug the AC adapter.
2. Unscrew the small screw on the back of the DS with the precision screwdriver. This tiny screw is recessed in a hole. Put the screw in a safe location so it does not get misplaced. Remove the back cover.
3. Remove the battery. Start with the end with the single tab and lift gently out of the DS. Dispose of the battery according to the directions on the battery.