PS3

HP launches the TopShot LaserJet Pro printer that can scan 3D objects, Netflix finally arrives on most Android phones, and Amazon.com is rumored to be in talks with major publishers to launch a Netflix-like service for books.

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

It's pretty remarkable that year after year, the EA Sports NHL series finds ways to innovate and take the franchise to new levels of ice hockey realism. Even though this year the game runs totally unopposed by any other hockey game, NHL 12 makes improvements across the board, both in gameplay and modes.

Plenty of noticeable tweaks have been implemented into NHL 12's gameplay, which add to the title's overall sense of NHL realism. Goalies are now live within the context of the game, meaning they can be bumped and interfered with. Overall CPU player positioning has drastically been improved, which all but eliminates unnecessary off-sides calls due to out of position computer-controlled players. Wingers and defensemen skate logical tracks up and down the ice and are usually in the right spot to anticipate a rebound or one-time pass.

In addition, there are handfuls of aesthetic tweaks to the game. Nets can come off their moorings, players can get checked into team benches, and the full-contact physics engine has been retooled to react appropriately to players of all different strengths and sizes. Player face re-creations also seem more accurate this year.

NHL 12 also marks a significant tweaking to the overall physics of the puck in game. No longer does the puck seem to unnaturally hover like in years past. Instead it now rolls on end, pops in and out of the net organically, and overall has a much more realistic presence. Fans familiar with the franchise will also notice that game speed has been increased just a bit from NHL 11.… Read more

With the ongoing debates over which is the better current-gen gaming console (PS3 or Xbox 360), it seems Reddit user "timofiend" has his own answer in a custom gaming rig that consists of both.

Timofiend made the device by removing the parts from both an Xbox 360 Slim and an older-generation PlayStation 3. These components were then placed inside a PC tower case and the contraption was born.

Although it's not the prettiest of case mods, it certainly gets the job done. In the new rig, the PS3's temperature peaked at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while the 360 ranged from 100-101 degrees Fahrenheit (both temperatures are lower than usual).

We're guessing both temps will drop with the addition of liquid cooling, which timofiend has left out due to financial constraints. Also, the parts from the PS3 proved too big to fit additional cooling devices.

The modder is now working on creating a set of instructions so that anyone can create a similar setup. Do note, however, that attempting to take apart either gaming console will void your warranty.

(Source: Crave Asia) … Read more

Being stranded on an island during a zombie outbreak doesn't sound like the perfect vacation, but in Dead Island, players are faced with such a situation. We've seen a resurgence of the undead in entertainment lately, so how does Dead Island stack up against the others?

Jeff:After one of the most successful buzz-inducing trailers in recent history, Dead Island has finally seen daylight. Contrary to the aforementioned teaser that led viewers to believe a single family was at the center of the story, Dead Island is actually an open-world action RPG presented in the first person.

At the start of the game, players must choose one of four characters, each of whom specializes in certain areas. From then on, things are mostly left in the player's hands. You can choose to either take on quests that continue the main story or explore the fictional island of Banoi for other side quests, adventures, and scattered luggage to loot.

Even though the game takes pride in the bludgeoning of zombies at close range (which it does quite well), at its core, Dead Island is an RPG first. Players must manage everything from the upkeep of their weapons to the specific skill-tree perks that they self-assign when leveling up. Even your stamina has a meter that must be watched with a careful eye during zombie encounters.… Read more

New Madden games are like football seasons: each one arrives full of promise and hope, and inevitably it's either disappointment or excitement depending on who you are. Anyone who's even slightly confused, apprehensive, or disinterested in the NFL will find no friendly hand of welcome from Madden: at its heart, this is a game for football fans, not football hopefuls. We start with that observation because, unlike last year's efforts to make Madden 11 more accessible for the newcomer, Madden 12 chooses to deepen the deeper parts of its game instead.

Scott:I'm speaking mainly of Franchise Mode, that perennial way for fans to endlessly play out alternative NFL season histories with obsessive detail. Franchise mode now has a deeper free-agent bidding system, between-game practices, and player attributes beyond mere ratings that flux on a per-game basis like a role-playing game, to name a few. My favorite is the more realistic preseason period, where games now cycle first-, second-, and third-streamers more realistically, and cut-down days make you force hard decisions on your rosters just like a real NFL team, turning your preseason into a mini reality show.… Read more

Eleven years since its original inception, the Deus Ex series welcomes a new entry in the form of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. In a world where human augmentations have been commercialized by big business, human beings have the option to upgrade not just their bodies but also their minds. Such an ethical hot topic has created passionate factions on each side of the argument forcing players to find a balance between the two.

A franchise known for mixing RPG and action elements all while giving the player the freedom of choice, we've been anxiously awaiting to see just how such an ambitious collection of mechanics play out on current-generation consoles. Taking a special look at the game on PC is CNET Senior Editor Rich Brown.

Jeff: After just surviving a summer drought of games like the one we just experienced, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a very welcome light at the end of the tunnel. It's an incredibly deep and layered game with a cerebral storyline that will charm even the most jaded cyberpunk enthusiast--a true complement to the game's great Blade Runner-inspired art direction.

The best way I can describe Human Revolution is a cross between Metal Gear Solid and Mass Effect. The team at Eidos Montreal borrowed the best elements from each of these franchises and made it their own, successfully weaving a game that lives up to its series' legacy of giving the player ultimate choice. This concept applies to almost everything Adam Jensen--the game's main character--does, from interrogating a person of interest to infiltrating a testing laboratory.… Read more

While Dan's changing his newborn's diapers, Scott invites his college buddy, David Tze, over to discuss how a discontinued tablet with no current support gets to be the most popular tablet on the market right now. Fox's announcement to delay its program streams on Hulu causes an online piracy upsurge. The NFL Sunday Ticket comes to the PS3 for a price higher than the current price of the console. Lastly, will backward-compatibility on gaming consoles be missed? … Read more

The Avenger is a new snap-on accessory for Sony PlayStation 3 controllers. It features a combination of adjustable levers, a stabilizing stand, and even tension straps for users to perform faster moves without taking their fingers off the analog sticks. And it kind of makes your controller look a bit like a robot spider.

Refer to these videos on how the Avenger works (note that the demonstration is using an Xbox 360 controller). The new PS3 version will be available directly from the peripheral maker's online store in November at $48.99, but it's limited to 5,000 units for now.

Will this unique contraption make playing first-person shooter games on a console easier? I seriously doubt it, especially in terms of precision compared with a PC mouse. Still, it could address some of the quirks and steep learning curve of console controllers for FPS titles.

(Source: Crave Asia via Ubergizmo) … Read more

With both PlayStation 3 models dropping $50 in price, now may be the right time to pull the trigger on the Sony console. While it may not have had the best launch in the history of video games, we think the PS3 has ripened into an entertainment and media hub well worth your hard-earned cash. Believe it or not, the PS3 is now less than half of what the 60GB version cost back in November of 2006.

Not sure if now is the right time to consider a PlayStation 3? Allow us to present five reasons why we think it'… Read more