The New Xbox Experience: Is Microsoft Trying Too Hard?

Last week, Microsoft introduced gamers to the New Xbox Experience, or NXE.  The NXE is a complete overhaul of the previous “blade” UI (user interface) gamers were accustomed to with the Xbox 360.  While there were many reasons for the NXE, one of the largest and most important was the growing Marketplace library.  As more [...]

Xbox 360 now supports 1680 x 1050

To the joy of many gamers, and chagrin of others, the mandatory New Xbox Experience or “NXE” update has been released.  The first thing you’ll notice with the NXE is its radical depature from the well-established “blade” layout the Xbox has been known for, instead replacing the UI with a slick, Cover Flow-esque look.  While [...]

Super Mario Galaxy Review: A new Nintendo classic?

Princess Peach has been kidnapped again, but this time, Bowser has dragged the poor damsel into space for a Mario adventure like no other.  I must confess, when I first heard of Super Mario Galaxy’s premise, I was a bit nervous.  Would the radical change suit the platforming plumber?  Would we miss out on the [...]

Growing up – the video game industry’s move towards mass appeal

With E3 now over, it’s customary for people to declare one company a “winner” of the show.  However, this year, the winner isn’t Microsoft, Nintendo or Sony, the winner, or winners, are consumers, specifically, “casual” gamers.  If one thing was apparent during this year’s E3, it was that casual games have become big business [...]

Why the iPhone/iPod touch isn’t suitable for motion-controlled gaming… yet

After several kinks and a great deal of frustration, the iPhone 3G is finally out, along with the iPhone 2.0 software update.  Along with these two big releases is the equally significant (perhaps even more significant) release of the highly anticipated App Store.  The App Store gives developers an easy and streamlined way to get [...]