The Consumer Electronic Show used to be where video game folks showed their latest and upcoming wares, but then E3 came along. Still, there were a few related gadgets to be found, and here’s your handy checklist.
So most folks I spoke to were non-plussed by this year’s event. And it’s true, there was stellar stand-out, nor stuff that many were expecting, like Samsung’s Galaxy S4. Hey, at least they had that WiFi enabled fork.
But since it was my first CES, plus my first time in Vegas, I was more than satisfied (as well as overwhelmed). Plus they even managed to have a few game related goodies! Like…
Nvidia’s Project Shield
Nvidia, which is mostly known for creating graphics chipsets, took everyone by surprise by unveiling a brand new gaming handheld. It’s not a stand alone machine, but an accessory; it plays PC games that are streamed from your normal rig. The device can also be hooked up to your TV, via HDMI, and you can also theoretically play your PC games anywhere, on the go, thanks to the cloud. Oh, and it also plays Android games and is supposed to cost just $100.
Though it’s also hella ugly looking and no one is convinced that anyone will buy it. Including me.
The Razer Edge
Razer
At least year’s CES, gaming peripheral maker Razer unveiled a gaming pad called Project Fiona that was supposed to merge the form factor of the iPad with the power of the most tricked out PC imaginable. One year later and it’s almost here, with a new name, plus a slight hardware redesign. Before it used to sport goofy looking handles on both sides, which are now part of the option dock (there’s also a new, optional keyboard as well; both can be seen at its homepage).
So it’s basically one of the billions of other Windows 8 tablets that are on the market today, and hence why I didn’t really bother to give it a spin. Sorry.
The Steam Box
Polygon
As reported a few times already, Valve, which operates PC gaming’s most popular game distribution ecosystem, is producing a game console. The reason is so people can finally enjoy PC games on a TV in a manner that they feel will be the best, and if anyone can do it, Valve sure as hell can. But also, Valve is not a fan of Windows 8, which they believe has the potential to drag all of PC gaming down with it. Hence why this new device is being built with Linux.
Apparently a number of hardware manufactures will be make Steam Boxes; what you see above is the one coming from Xi3. Because it was not on the show floor, I wasn’t able to check it out first hand. But Polygon has plenty of beauty shot. Though another thing that was behind closed doors that I did get to check out was…
Oculus Rift
Yes, I know I’ve posted the video above already, but there’s honestly no new footage of the thing, let alone a way to proper show the thing in action. But I was able to give it a spin and all I can say is, as someone who has been a skeptic of anything 3D, I was absolutely blown away by the demo. For years, various folk have tried to do virtual reality gaming, and my God, the Oculus Rift folk got it right.
And here’s the craziest thing: as someone who suffers from motion sickness when playing FPSs, I had no issues! Was told by the inventor that it’s different from everyone; those who have motion sickness have no problems with the thing, while those who normally have no such condition cannot last more than five seconds.
It’s definitely weird, plus hardly perfect (and the Oculus Rift people know this, hence why they’re still busy working on it). But it’s basically the Holodeck, version 0.01. No joke, this is the future of video games, period.
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