The mobile gaming space is shifting from the dominant casual titles such as Angry Birds to hardcore games such as Shadowgun and Grand Theft Auto III. As smartphones and tablets become more powerful, games are becoming more complex as well. Unfortunately, both device categories have a major flaw where gaming is concerned: touch controls. Using a touchscreen and accelerometer is extremely limited, and in many cases frustrating as well. A number of third-party accessories look to solve the problem, but now it looks like Apple may be working on an OEM option. During its iPad review, AnandTech briefly mentioned that Apple is working on a physical gaming controller for iOS devices. “I know of an internal Apple project to bring a physical controller to market, but whether or not it will ever see the light of day remains to be seen,” the site said. “As smartphones and tablets come close to equalling the performance of current game consoles, I feel like the controller problem must be addressed.” While no other details are given, previous Apple patents have suggested the Cupertino-based company is taking gaming very seriously.

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Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox will use controllers that have “an HD screen surrounded by the traditional 360 buttons and sticks,” according to Xbox World Magazine. The magazine claims Microsoft’s tablet-like controller will have shape closer to Sony’s PS Vita than Wii U’s “bulky unit”. The next Xbox “will be a matte-black media hub with a mission to bring games to life in your living room with augmented reality, directional sound, and a four-player, finger-tracking Kinect.” The new controller will apparently also be used as a remote control when watching TV, a browser for the Internet or for extra buttons while playing a game. Earlier rumors suggest that the next generation console may be six times more powerful than the current Xbox, however it is not expected to launch this year. The publication speculates that the console could be priced over $600. “Microsoft are playing it safe with the CPU and GPU but running wild with the functions that will change how you play, but it won’t be cheap,” the site claimed.

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GameStop recently began carrying several Android Honeycomb tablets pre-loaded with seven free games. It was originally rumored that the game retailer would begin selling its own custom Honeycomb tablet, although it appears that is no longer the case. GameStop currently lists the Acer Iconia, Acer Iconia Tab A500, ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, Motorola XOOM, ViewSonic VPAD7 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in stock with prices starting at $300. The seven free games include Dead Space, Madden NFL, Monster Madness, Sonic CD, Re-Load, Riptide GP and Cordy. GameStop is also bundling a special tablet-friendly own-brand Bluetooth controller with its slates for an additional $39. The devices are currently only available in 200 of GameStop’s stores, although you can also purchase one directly from the company’s website.

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U.S. video game retailer GameStop will soon sell its own GameStop-branded Android tablet, president Tony Bartel recently told GamesIndustry. The company is not building a device from scratch and will instead re-brand an existing model. GameStop has not disclosed which manufacturer it partnered with but the company is testing the device in Dallas, Texas where Samsung Mobile is also based. “I don’t see any need to create a new one with the three hundred or so on the market already,” Bartel said. “We have a refurbishment center and we can bring in the product and pre-load certain games onto it. It’s an Android device.” The tablet is currently being called a “GameStop-certified gaming platform.” Read on for more.

“There’s not a lot of tablet/Android-based games for the consumer that are designed to use an external controller,” Bartel added, noting that the company has created a special controller that may be used with the device. “As it stands now, I think we’re seeing developer interest in developing immersive games that use the controller as well, but our first foray is to really be working with developers to create an install base of devices with the controller to allow them to develop immersive games.” The tablet will initially run mobile games but Bartel hopes to eventually stream console titles to to the device, too. GameStop expects to begin selling the tablet next year.

[Via TechCrunch]

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Microsoft is being sued for patent infringement over motion-sensing technology used in its blockbuster gaming accessory, the Microsoft Kinect. Ohio-based Impulse Technology has filed a complaint alleging that Microsoft’s Kinect controller infringes on seven of its technology patents. One patent referenced in the lawsuit covers “wide variety of games where the movement of a player is tracked in three dimensions…and certain exercise games where the motion of the player is tracked to effect movement of a virtual avatar, and the exertion of the user is monitored, including where the tracking of the player is done by the use of a camera.” A separate patent describes an “education system challenging a subject’s physiologic and kinesthetic systems to synergistically enhance cognitive function.” Impulse Technology is seeking a permanent injunction to block the import and sale of Microsoft’s Kinect, and it is also suing Electronic Arts, Konami and Sega for developing Xbox 360 games that utilize Kinect and infringe on its patents. Impulse is seeking damages, treble damages, interest, and attorney fees from Microsoft as well. The Kinect motion-based video game controller has been a smash hit for Microsoft, having set numerous sales records since its launch. This past March, Microsoft announced that it had sold 10 million Kinect controllers since the device’s launch just before the holidays last year.

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In a recent interview with Forbes, Nintendo of America’s president and chief operating officer Reggie Fils-Aime was asked how his company will market the new Nintendo Wii U console — given that the existing Wii will still be on the market. Fils-Aime responded by noting that the console will not launch until after April 1st of next year — a date we hadn’t heard yet — and that, historically, Nintendo has sold multiple devices side by side. Fils-Aime pointed to the launch of the Nintendo DS alongside the Gameboy Advance, and also said that the Wii was on the market at the same time as the Game Cube. He also discussed cross-platform play, which could allow users to play against one another using different Nintendo machines “We have one key developer with a very strong relationship to Nintendo, the same developer who created Smash Brothers, that is envisioning a Smash Brothers experience that will be cross platform between Wii U and 3DS,” Fils-Aime said. Nintendo took the wraps off of the highly anticipated Wii U during the E3 tradeshow early last month, but has yet to announce a price for the console.

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OnLive — the popular gaming service that allows you to purchase, subscribe, or rent games and play them on your television —  has now announced that it’s extending its gaming support to mobile devices. Later this summer the company will debut a new controller, as well as applications for iOS and Android. OnLive basically streams the game your playing, which means you don’t need to have an insane amount of hardware muscle on your device just to play Duke Nukem in all of its glory while on the road. We had a chance to go hands-on with OnLive running on the iPad, HTC Flyer, and Motorola XOOM, and the experience was virtually the same across all three devices; we were blown away at the performance. The custom controller, which will also launch later this summer, felt a lot like an Xbox 360 controller, and we felt right at home. Check out our gallery below, then hit the jump for the full press release.

OnLive Unveils iPad/Android Tablet App that Far Outperforms New Consoles iPad, Android Tablet Instantly Becomes Touch/Motion Controller or Standalone Cloud Gaming System with Touch/Motion or Game Controller Seamless Integration of Tablet with or without HDTV First Touch/Controller Game from Major Publisher Unveiled for OnLive Unparalleled Multiplayer Mobile or In-Home Experience Available in Autumn 2011 in US and Europe

Los Angeles (E3 Expo 2011) — June 7, 2011 — OnLive, Inc., the pioneer of cloud gaming, is pleased to report that gamers throughout the world can immediately experience the seamless integration of tablets and HDTVs with high-end gaming. Their current iPad or Android tablet and current HDTV will not only provide this experience in 2011, but will provide it with far higher performance, richer gameplay and deeper social integration than any console announced for 2012, with more than 100 games available today.

OnLive is pleased to announce the OnLive® Player App for iPad and Android. Like the recently announced consoles, the OnLive Player App will enable gameplay of virtually all OnLive games on an iPad and Android tablet with touch or OnLive’s new Universal Wireless Controller. In addition, the OnLive Player App allows the tablet to be used as a touch and motion controller combined with an HDTV (or PC/Mac® if preferred), and allows both synchronized or independent video on the tablet and HDTV screen, enabling combined gameplay with tablet and HDTV, or separate gameplay on tablet and HDTV.

Full voice chat-enabled multiplayer is supported, both in-room and with others throughout the world, providing a complete multiplayer experience whether at home or on the go with a mobile device.

Core patent-pending exclusive OnLive cloud gaming features such as massive spectating of live gameplay throughout the world, instant no-obsolescence gameplay, Facebook integration with Brag Clip™ videos, etc., will work seamlessly on both tablets and HDTVs and will continue to distinguish OnLive from consoles, both in 2011 and beyond.

“The power of the cloud is definitely the theme this week, displacing what had been assumed to be platforms that could never be displaced,” said Steve Perlman, Founder and CEO of OnLive. “The OnLive Player App for iPad and Android shows how with the power of the cloud, the question is not whether cloud gaming will be able to catch up to consoles, it will be whether consoles will be able to catch up to cloud gaming.”

OnLive is excited to demonstrate the first game from a major publisher supporting both OnLive’s iPad/Android tablet touch and game controller, as well as running seamlessly on an HDTV, PC and Mac, to be released later in 2011. Come to OnLive’s booth (South Hall, Booth #801) for a demo.

For gamers preferring a smaller screen, OnLive will provide the exact same functionality on iPhone and Android smartphones, allowing them to be used both as game systems themselves with touch and the OnLive Universal Wireless Controller, or as a controller to an HDTV (or PC/Mac), for simultaneous or independent play.

OnLive is also unveiling as part of this experience the first 10 gigabit cloud-based full-featured browser for iPad, Android and HDTV; bringing the full richness of the Web loading from ultra-fast 10 gigabit/second Web connections to OnLive’s cloud-based servers, including support for full-featured Flash and video sites. Mobile and home devices will no longer be limited to the speed of their local connection for Web browsing or Web plug-in compatibility, opening up access to Flash games and social gaming for tablets and HDTVs.

All OnLive games played using the OnLive Player App will play seamlessly across all OnLive-compatible devices, including iPad, iPhone, Android, on HDTV via the OnLive Game System, on connected HDTV and Blu-ray/media players and on PC and Mac.

The OnLive Player for iPad and Android is being showcased live at OnLive’s booth (South Hall, Booth #801) and will be available later this year. For a video presentation please visit http://www.onlive.com/corporate/pressroom.

We just stormed the show floor at E3 and strong-armed a few people to get right up close and personal with Nintendo’s brand new Wii U controller. The demo game required a lot of movement on the user’s part — there was a lot of shaking involved with controlling the character on the screen — but the interaction definitely looked like nothing we’ve seen before. The large touchscreen display was bright, too, and the controls are all comfortably within reach of your thumbs. We dig the white color of the controller as well, and it absolutely looks like a substantial high-end device. Hit the gallery below to see the rest of our hands-on images!

After all of the rumors and speculation, we now finally have a name and details for Nintendo’s next-generation Wii console… the Wii U! Nintendo just announced the new Wii U at its keynote presentation from the annual E3 conference. As the rumors suggested, the Wii U controller features a 6.2-inch touchscreen centered between a d-pad and an analog stick on the left side and a second analog stick and buttons on the right side. The controller also features a microphone, stereo speakers, a camera, an accelerometer, and even a gyroscope — in fact, the controller can act as a console itself! Moreover, the controller becomes a second window into the game being played, showing different views of the current scene, plays and options in sports games, items in a players cache… the possibilities are endless. Nintendo also stated that all current Wii games will work with Wii U and the new Wii U controller. The console supports High Definition gaming, online gaming much like the solutions offered by Sony and Microsoft, and even social networking integration. Nintendo states that the goal of its Wii U console is to serve the avid gamer and casual gaming communities alike, with a single console. From the look of things, they might just be able to pull it off. The Wii U console will launch in 2012 and pricing has not yet been announced.

Sony Ericsson’s Xperia PLAY is the company’s first smartphone focused on bringing serious gaming and a powerful handset to the masses. The slide-out PlayStation-style game controller is innovative and it enables you to interact with games on your smartphone in ways that just aren’t possible on a touchscreen-only device. With that said, there are some obstacles in the way — PlayStation Suite offers limited games, and there are some pretty big bugs even on the stock Android handset. Do the positives outweigh the negatives, though? Jump past the break to find out.

Hardware / Display

The Xperia PLAY’s hardware is, for lack of a better word, interesting. Closed, the device feels like a reasonably thick Android handset. With glossy black plastic and glossy chrome finish, the PLAY doesn’t exude high-end fit and finish, but it doesn’t feel cheap either. It’s deceptively well-weighted, even when opened, and the only complaint I have about the hardware when holding and using the phone is that the left and right triggers on the top of the handset can get in the way when the device is being held one-handed.

The display on the Xperia PLAY is great. It’s crisp, it’s clear, and the colors seem to accurately display anything I can load up on it. It’s one of my favorite displays, to be honest. Sony Ericsson has a beautiful screen with a touch sensitivity that can almost rival Apple’s perfected digitizer and screen. I really can’t say enough about this touch display, it’s probably my favorite of any Android handset, even more so than any qHD displays I’ve seen and used. It’s something Sony Ericsson has just got right, and it’s really refreshing to see.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY doesn’t fall short in the button department, either. On the front of the device you’ll find the four traditional Android menu keys, and while these are meant to serve as the primary navigation keys for the device, I can’t help but think Sony Ericsson could have implemented something better. Besides being difficult to press in some scenarios, they are ridiculously close to the display itself, and I’ve found myself accidentally tapping the display when I’ve been trying to hit the back button, for example. The layout isn’t ideal, but that’s more of a personal preference.

On the left side of the handset, there’s a 3.5mm headset jack and a microUSB port for syncing and charging. On the top of the device there’s a power on / off button, but the button isn’t on the display part of the sliding mechanism, it’s on the main middle frame. It’s a little niggle, but it would have been great if the power button was on the display piece as it would make it much easier to press when using the device one-handed. A nice touch is that there’s a notification light built into the power button that will let you know of any unread message or alerts, however. On the right side of the PLAY you’ll find left and right trigger buttons with a volume up and down rocker placed in between them.

Something that’s been truly irritating is the lack of an ambient light sensor on the Xperia PLAY. It’s one of the only smartphones in the last few years I have ever seen that lacks this feature, and while it’s not a show stopper, it’s inconvenient to have to go into the device’s setting to manually change the brightness level of the display in different lighting environments.

UPDATE: The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY does in fact have an ambient light sensor, it’s just not user-controllable in the settings, and it doesn’t perform too, too well, thus the reason for mistaking it’s existence.

PlayStation Controls

There isn’t a bunch to say here… the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY is the first smartphone to feature an actual gaming-grade gamepad, and it’s pretty close to being amazing. There’s enough tactile feedback on every button to make it feel fantastic while playing games, and the button layout is perfect. Compared to add-on third-party attachments for the iPhone or Android devices, the Xperia PLAY really sets the mobile smartphone gaming bar. One of the best parts is the ability to take a third-party app and assign the gamepad buttons to the game or emulator.

Phone / Battery

I have had serious connectivity issues with the Xperia PLAY on Verizon Wireless. I’m not sure if it’s just this review unit in particular, but in places that normally have 3G reception, I was stuck on 1X, and the phone kept on holding a 1X signal instead of switching back to a 3G one. Additionally, the signal level reported by the PLAY was much lower than other Verizon Wireless devices in the same room on the same desk. While this isn’t a scientific method by any means, it’s a little frustrating to see just one or two bars on a Verizon handset in and around New York City — especially when other Verizon phones were getting full signal just a few inches away.

Battery life is pretty decent despite the reception issues, and were completely acceptable for a CDMA smartphone. The Xperia PLAY powered through a day of moderate usage including emailing, web browsing, light calls, and hours of game playing. Your mileage will obviously vary, but all in all the battery on the Xperia PLAY should suit most people’s usage just fine.

Conclusion

The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY is one of the most enjoyable game-focused smartphones I’ve ever used. With a solid slide-out hardware gamepad, a fast processor, and stock Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the PLAY is truly in a league of its own. That’s not to say I haven’t had my share of frustrations with the handset. The power button seem glitchy as far as the software is concerned — the phone just won’t turn back on sometimes after the screen is locked, and it’s incredibly frustrating. Verizon’s solid voice and data network didn’t agree with my particular unit, and while I’m not positive this is an across-the-board issue, signal reception and connectivity were probably the worst of any Verizon handset I’ve used in recent memory.

I like the overall concept of the Xperia PLAY — one of the only companies in the world that could pull off a pure gaming handset is Sony Ericsson — and this is a valiant first effort in the space. But in the end, the Xperia PLAY is a little chunky and it feels like it needed a little more time in the oven. If Sony Ericsson decides to introduce a follow up handset, I have no doubt it will be a formidable mobile gaming smartphone that few if any devices could rival. The current iteration is more a concept than a full-fledged gaming device and platform, though if you’re a hardcore gamer, you probably won’t be disappointed with the Xperia PLAY. For general consumers, I’d probably recommend waiting for the follow-up version, however.

Listen up gaming fanatics. It looks like Nintendo’s Project Café, otherwise known as the Wii 2, has been caught on video thanks to a sneaky developer and their utter disregard of non-disclosure agreements. Aside from slides that showcase the “Screen Stream“ controllers, we see the Wii 2 console projected and lurking in the background as well. There appears to be a docking accessory — most likely for controller recharging — shown on the screen towards the end of the clip, although it is hard to tell as an audience member’s head obfuscates our view. The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is scheduled for next month from June 7th to 9th; don’t be surprised if the Wii 2 gets a lengthy preview from the folks at Nintendo. The video is waiting for you after the break.

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On Monday, Nintendo released a statement confirming that it will reveal the successor to the original Wii during the E3 Expo tradeshow in Los Angeles — which takes place June 7-9, 2011. The new console, currently codenamed “Project Cafe,” may feature a new “Screen Stream” controller option that will provide each individual gamer with their own touchscreen display, although Nintendo did not disclose any of the console’s new features in its statement. The Japanese gaming firm also announced its earnings for the fiscal year ending March, 2011. Net sales of ¥1,014 billion ($12.35 billion) were down 29.3% year-over-year and Nintendo’s net income fell 66.1% to ¥77.62 million ($946,110). Hardware and software sales for the United States, Nintendo’s largest market, also fell year-over-year. Nintendo sold 15.08 million Nintendo Wii units, 3.61 million of its new Nintendo 3DS devices, and 17.52 million of its Nintendo DS portable gaming consoles in the States. By contrast, the firm sold 20.5 million Wii units in the U.S. last year. Globally, the firm sold 171.26 million Wii units, 120.98 million DS devices, and 9.43 million Nintendo 3DS units. Hit the jump for Nintendo’s earnings release, as well as its official statement on E3.

April 25, 2011

To whom it may concern:

Re: Wii’s Successor System

Nintendo Co., Ltd. has decided to launch in 2012 a system to succeed Wii, which the company has sold 86.01 million units on a consolidated shipment basis between its launch in 2006 and the end of March 2011.

We will show a playable model of the new system and announce more specifications at the E3 Expo, which will be held June 7-9, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Sales of this new system have not been included in the financial forecasts announced today for the fiscal term ending March 2012.

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Nintendo’s next generation Wii console — currently codenamed “Project Cafe” — could land later this year, and it may sport a new controller with a touchscreen display. A user in the NeoGaf forums has posted several images that provide additional details on Nintendo’s rumored system. According to the photos, “Screen Stream takes the 1080p image and pushes each rendered quarter to the player’s personal TV screen,” which is on the controller itself. So if you’re partaking in a four-player game, for example, you’ll be able to view your slice of the HDTV screen directly on your controller. Similarly, we imagine instances where a gamer could manage his or her character’s traits or abilities directly from the controller itself, without having to pause the game for everyone to access game menu options. IGN says the Nintendo Wii 2 will likely cost between $350 and $400, will offer 1080p output with possible support for stereoscopic 3D, and will run a newer version of AMD’s R700 GPU. Hit the jump for more images.

[Via Slash Gear]

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Today Microsoft’s Larry Hyrb, also known as Major Nelson, announced that Microsoft has added Netflix support to the Xbox 360 Kinect accessory. Using Kinect, you’ll be able to browse your Netflix queue by waving your hands or speaking out loud, which means you won’t have to go searching for your Xbox 360 controller just to watch a movie. Controls include the ability browse, play, pause, fast forward and rewind, and you can perform any of those actions using your voice or gestures. Hyrb said the update is available now and that Kinect users should expect to be prompted to apply the patch the next time they launch Netflix.

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During Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show this evening, Microsoft confirmed some pretty outstanding sales figures for the Kinect sensor. The company’s initial projections at launch time set Kinect sales goals at 5 million units by the end of 2010. Today, Ballmer confirmed that Microsoft not only exceeded that projection — the company crushed it. Over the Kinect sensor’s first 60 days of availability, over 8 million units were sold. Xbox 360 users have spoken… Kinect is a smash hit.