Thalmic Labs is providing a vision of computing’s possible future — a wrist cuff that can control computers, smartphones, gaming consoles, and other devices with simple hand gestures. The Myo armband reads forearm muscles for cues regarding what the user wants, providing an alternative to both voice and camera-based computing controls. Myo will initially be offered for $149 for the one-size-fits-all model. Continue reading Myo Armband May Be the Next Generation of Gesture Control

Virtual reality has yet to take a stronghold commercially, but a new product might change that. A new VR headset from California startup Oculus VR “costs just a few hundred dollars and puts players inside games like no television set can,” writes The New York Times. Resembling a pair of ski goggles, the headset is a combination of the affordable but high-quality parts made for the mobile electronics market and new technology from Oculus VR. Continue reading Oculus VR Believes the Time has Come for Virtual Reality

More than 10 years ago, Sony executive Ken Kutaragi predicted that one day videogame consoles would become one with a network that linked players together, thus eliminating the physical console and allowing gaming to require only a display and controller. Now, Sony is preparing to reveal its newest PlayStation, on which gamers will be able to stream games via the Internet — one step closer to Kutaragi’s vision. Continue reading New Sony PlayStation to Allow for Streaming Games Online

Columnist Todd Martens avoids violent entertainment unless it comes in the form of a video game. “It’s not because I write about them for a living. It’s because the modern, big-budget game that doesn’t celebrate the art of shooting is as rare these days as an original Intellivision console,” he writes. In other words, if you want to play modern video games, you almost have to play violent ones. Continue reading Video Game Violence: Time for Industry Self Evaluation?

Machinima is one of the largest online video producers. Content on its online channels were viewed more than 20 billion times in 2012. In December alone, Machinima-related properties had 2.6 billion views from 262 million unique viewers. And during the 2012 E3 videogame convention, it earned 14.4 million unique views on just one day; 455 million views during the week. Continue reading Is Machinima Approach to Online Video the Future of TV?

Las Vegas could soon be facing competition from social networks and gaming companies. “Silicon Valley is betting that online gambling is its next billion-dollar business, with developers across the industry turning casual games into occasions for adults to wager,” reports The New York Times. The games are aimed at overseas markets for now, where attitudes and laws regarding gambling are more relaxed and very lucrative. Continue reading Will the Tech Industry Go All In for Online Gambling?

Sony will offer technology that streams games to its next console, according to people familiar with the company’s plans. The new technology is expected to be introduced in New York on Wednesday when the new console is unveiled. Insiders also suggest Sony will announce higher-end cameras for its motion-sensing technology as well as touch-sensing pads on new controllers. Continue reading Sony to Unveil Next-Gen Streaming Game Console this Week

Zynga social game “FarmVille” is getting its own half-hour animated TV series. The news follows Rovio’s announcement that it plans to release short, animated episodes this spring based on its popular “Angry Birds” game characters. “Together, the shows will test whether addictive video games with thin plots can translate into enjoyable programming for children,” suggests Quartz. Continue reading Two Popular Video Games Announce Plans for Animated Shows

The holiday season didn’t go as well as Nintendo had hoped. “Nintendo Co. slashed its sales outlook in the wake of disappointing holiday demand for its new Wii U videogame console, which it had been banking on to rekindle consumer excitement,” reports the Wall Street Journal. Wii U was launched last November and was Nintendo’s first new videogame console in six years. Continue reading Nintendo Struggles with Wii U, Lowers Sales Projections

The adoption of 4K TV technology could be in the hands of console gamers, if the history of HDTV is any indication. In 2005, when few households owned HDTVs, due largely to a lack of available HD content, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 helped transform the industry. “They gave people a reason to buy an HDTV and that gave content producers reason to invest in the formats it supported,” suggests Wired UK. Continue reading Could Success of 4K TV Be in the Hands of Console Gamers?

Time Warner Inc. has selected Kevin Tsujihara as the new chief executive of Warner Bros. Entertainment. As president of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group since 2005, Tsujihara has been responsible for the studio’s home video, digital distribution, video game and anti-piracy efforts. The selection was made by Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes and Barry Meyer, chairman of Warner Bros. Entertainment. Continue reading Digital Future: Tsujihara Named Chief Exec of Warner Bros.

The era of smartphones and tablets has not killed the personal computer, but has significantly impacted the PC industry. Desktops and notebooks no longer serve as the only devices on which people work, and expectations have shifted with advances in technology. Consumers no longer demand the highest power out of computers (since they are powerful enough to do most tasks already), but rather stress the importance of factors such as battery life. Continue reading PCs Are Not Dead Yet, But Could Soon See Significant Change

The Sony Entertainment Network debuted on Friday in North America. Available to European territories since December, the new content hub has expanded to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the U.S. The network collates all of Sony’s media offerings into a single online storefront, featuring full PS3 games, downloadable games, music, movies, TV shows, avatars, add-ons, season passes, special deals and more. Continue reading Sony Entertainment Network Now Available in North America

New York-based interactive entertainment company Atari Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, announcing plans to sell all its assets. The videogame pioneer, with a portfolio of more than 200 games, has filed in an effort to separate from its French parent Atari SA of Paris (formerly Infogrames SA) and secure independent capital. Continue reading Atari Files for Bankruptcy to Separate from Parent Company

Video game players began “speed running,” or playing through a video game as quickly as possible, and posting videos to the Internet for others to enjoy as early as the 1990s. But streaming technology is revolutionizing the speed running community, as Twitch allows viewers to watch players compete live. Just as people enjoy watching sports live rather than on a delay, people find live speed running more compelling. Continue reading Livestreaming Twitch Turns Video Games into Spectator Sport