Microsoft changed, forgive the pun, the playing field when it released the Kinect which has been reported Apple passed on the technology when brought to it first. Now the Kinect has come to the iPad 2 by using the built-in front-facing camera. Bringing a bit of Pitfall to your iOS device, Fuego’s River Adventure pits Fuego on a raft against crocodiles and other obsticles to dodge using your body movement. The video above shows the came in action and how from children to adults it makes for a new entertaining way to use your iPad 2.

Crimson Apps, the author of this Kinect-like game, is releasing this game changer on sale for $1.99 as an introductory price. It plans on putting the technology into an SDK so you can expect more iPad 2 and even iPhone 4 and 4S compatible games coming soon.

What started off as an April Fools joke has turned into an actual product, the iCADE. ThinkGeek brings you the ability to play your installed video games with a joystick and in 80s retro style. Reminiscent of the old arcade floor models of the 1980s, iCADE brings nostalgia and easy game play to your iPad via Bluetooth. While I LOVE the idea behind iCADE, I do not like the price before it. $100 is a lot of money to ask for a joystick in my opinion. Additionally, it only works with the Atari gaming suite at this point. I’ll wait for these to appear on eBay at a discount, like half, before picking one up.

Press Release
FAIRFAX, VA – June 27, 2011 – ThinkGeek is proud to announce the availability of one of its most anticipated April Fools’ products to date, the iCADE gaming cabinet. This sturdy, retro-styled cabinet is designed specifically to house an Apple® iPad® or iPad® 2 and will transport users to the days when they spent endless hours playing classic arcade games!

“We partnered with ION Audio to make our vision of the iCADE a reality,” says Ty Liotta, head of ThinkGeek’s GeekLabs. “After it was announced as an April Fool’s Day joke back in 2010, thousands of our customers wanted it and we’re excited to make it a reality through this partnership.”

The iCADE is a desktop-sized arcade game cabinet that features a fully-functional gamepad, complete with retro arcade joystick and buttons. Gameplay is made simple by just sliding an iPad into the built-in cradle and connecting it to the iCADE via Bluetooth. The iCade is powered by two AA batteries. The ThinkGeek iCADE also features the original April Fool’s Day retro style graphics.

Users can play classic Atari games available now for download from the Apple App Store℠. In preparation for this release, Atari released 100 of its Classic games for use with the iCADE. Atari was able to configure the games for compatibility with the iCADE, including beloved games like Pong, Asteroids, Centipede and many more.

The iCADE now joins ThinkGeek’s other April Fool’s Day pranks that have made it into the real world, including the Tauntaun Sleeping Bag, My First Bacon, Unicorn Meat, Personal Soundtrack Shirt, and the 8-bit Tie.

I loved the Super NES, or SNES, when it was out in the day and I kinda miss all those games from my youth. Now if you kind find all your old cartridges, then you can once again play them. Portablely! Score. Here’s the deets.

Press Release
Hyperkin, a rapidly growing 3rd party developer of video game peripherals, has announced the upcoming launch of the SupaBoy Handheld Video Game Console designed for SNES game cartridges. Equipped with a 3.5” screen, the SupaBoy is designed to look like one of the original SNES controllers and has a port built into the top that plays original 16-bit SNES cartridges. SupaBoy is supa’ cool! 
 
The SupaBoy will play original SNES cartridges on a built-in 3.5” LCD screen and is designed to emulate an original SNES controller including a D-pad and buttons on the front as well as right and left shoulder buttons. Hyperkin has even included two front loading ports that are compatible with full-size SNES controllers and video/audio out, allowing up to two players to play the SupaBoy on a regular TV screen. How supa’ cool is that!
 
SupaBoy will be compatible with multiple SNES titles including: Super Mario™ RPG, Starfox™, Super Mario™ World, Donkey Kong™ Country, Zelda™, Noah’s Ark 3D™, Aerobiz™ and others.

 
“The SupaBoy is by far one of the coolest products we’ve developed,” stated Steven Mar, Hyperkin’s Business Director. “Not only does it look similar to an original SNES controller, it’s also compatible with original SNES cartridges. You can even run it through your TV to play it with a friend!” Mar continued: “The SupaBoy is going to blow people away.”
 
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
·         Innovative lock feature holds game cartridge securely in place

·         Two seven-pin ports in front for wired controllers

·         SNES controller design

·         SNES Super Scope

·         Super Multitap

·         Mario Paint Mouse

·         Screen size (diagonal): 3.5 inches

·         5.5 Hours battery life

·         Measures: 8.5 x 4 x 1.5 inches

·         Weight: 11.5 ounces

·         Stereo sound

·         AV Out

·         Headphone jack

·         Adjustable volume control

·         Launch Date: Summer, 2011

·         SRP: $79.99

What started off as an April’s Fool joke has turned into a bonifide product from the crazy folks at ThinkGeek. The idea was to place an iPad into a miniature arcade game console and turn the iPad into an actual retro gamers paradise. Well, response was overwhelming and ThinkGeek figured that since they came, we’ll build it. Teaming up with Atari and it’s Greatest Hits package of yesteryear games, ThinkGeek will allow you to play Asteroids, Centipede, and nearly 100 games just like you did in the old days with a five-position joystick and rounded buttons. Now what geek that grew up in the 80s wouldn’t want this for their iPad? Heck, what geek wouldn’t buy an iPad just for this?

I was hot to place the iCADE into my shopping cart until I saw the price. $100. Yikes, for a joystick, a few buttons, and Bluetooth connectivity? Oh ya, the “wood” case and graphics. Dude, that’s a bit too pricey for my taste. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure I’d even grab one for half the price. Well, maybe.

I’m curious how well this will sell, especially when that’s a tank of gas to most people today, in this tough economy. Still, it’s a great idea that I hope sticks around so that when I can afford it, I may just get it to relive those glory days in the local arcade.

If Angry Birds has left you feeling like you need a new addiction then take a look at Evil Bricks. A game that reminds me of Minesweeper, Evil Bricks requires you to tap bricks to bring matching colors together to rid the screen of bricks. The above trailer shows you just how easy – and addictive – this game is. Give it a try…and don’t blame us for lost hours of your life.

Press Release
ONDON (March 8, 2011) — Portable Pixels has launched a colorful, fast-paced puzzle game for iPhone. In Evil Bricks, users enjoy a simple-to-learn but difficult to master game of matching colors on a wall of sliding bricks. Players swipe rows of multi-colored bricks to change their positions. When five bricks of the same color are lined up, they explode – but new bricks are spawned, some of which are Evil Bricks which can only be destroyed with a Bomb Brick.

Evil Bricks’ bright, colorful graphics make it engaging to users of all ages with swipe gestures which take full advantage of the iPhone’s touch screen. The game also integrates Apple’s GameCenter, which uses Leaderboards and Achievements.
Features of Evil Bricks include:
· Multiple game modes: Classic, Time Attack and Timed.
· Game Center integration with Leaderboards and Achievements.
· Optimized graphics for iPhone 4.
· The ability to share scores on Facebook and Twitter.

Evil Bricks is available in the App Store for US$.99. It is also available in German and Italian versions. A video demonstration of the game can be viewed at www.evilbricks.com.

About Portable Pixels

Portable Pixels is one of the UK’s leading iPad and iPhone developers with clients including Audi, Wallpaper magazine, Imperial College London and Lord Darzi. For more information, visit www.portablepixels.com.

Sadly, I do not have time for games. While my iPhone is filled with such favorites as Shift, Madden Football 2011, and the classic Wolfenstein, they rarely are even opened. Like Andy’s chest home to a collection of plastic and fabric that longs to be played just one more time in Toy Story 3, my Games folder cries to be tapped. Sudoku lives in the Puzzle Games folder (I even have multiple game folders to keep things in order I don’t use,) and now I will be able to finish that game in a hurry. Sure, I’ll need another iPhone or an Android phone to do it, but at least the game will be completed faster than a missile sinking a boat in Battleship within my Board Games folder. Using the new Google Goggles, you’ll be able to do a lot of stuff like look up similar articles from snapping a picture of a newspaper, or finding out information on a landmark before you, or just searching the web by clicking a photo of a dress. But just “because we can”, Google also has added the power of its algorithm to solving Sudoku games for you as well.

Download it from the Android Market Place or iTunes App Store today.

ThinkGeek is proud to announce a new upgrade for the white-hot tablet gaming market. The JOYSTICK-ITTM Arcade Stick is a solid aluminum joystick that attaches to any tablet gaming device to provide precision control of touch screen games.

“Out of the box, the JOYSTICK-IT works with thousands of different game apps,” says Ty Liotta, head of ThinkGeek product development. “We chose to use solid-milled aluminum because it was lightweight but also provided the most realistic arcade gaming feel.”

Invented at ThinkGeek, the patent-pending JOYSTICK-IT requires no batteries to operate. The device works with any device which features a capacitive touchscreen, this includes the iPad™ and many Android™ tablets. When not evading ghosts or striking fear in the heart of other 8-bit monstrosities, the JOYSTICK-IT is easily removed from the screen.

Priced at $24.95, JOYSTICK-IT will be available in limited quantities by the end of January. Consumers can sign up for product updates and read more about JOYSTICK-IT on ThinkGeek’s website.

Press Release:
With hypertension affecting almost 25% of the world population , blood pressure measurement can help to save lives. However, until now, taking your blood pressure required the use of complex devices with multiple manipulations, mathematical operations and data recording procedures. Self-measurement has been recommended by the medical profession for many years , but no one had yet found concrete solutions to expand its use.

This is why Withings chose to rethink the blood pressure monitor and turn it into an attractive, user-friendly connected device.

With the Withings Blood Pressure monitor, measuring and understanding your blood pressure couldn’t be easier. All data is recorded and saved to the user’s secure online space for easy measurement access and retrieval through their iPhone, iPad or other screen connected to a user-friendly interface.

Self-measurement is made simple by the Withings Blood Pressure monitor. It improves the reliability of readings and offers the option to share them with relatives, healthcare providers or medical professionals.

Through the Withings API, specialist partners can interface with the platform to offer additional services, as Withings has already proven with its WiFi Body Scale and partners such as Google Health, Microsoft HealthVault and numerous health & sports coaching websites such as DailyBurn.com, RunKeeper.com, FitOrbit.com, gymtechnik.com, aujourdhui.com, Strands.com, Danholt4mac.com, Jogmap.de…and many more.

Says Withings co-founder Cédric Hutchings: “Apple revolutionized the world of smartphones by making them more user-friendly than ever before. By adding connectivity to high-tech devices, we simplify their usage and enrich them with extra services. Our goal is to take the drama out of using devices that can promote healthier lifestyles for all. We have achieved this with our Withings body scale, and are now repeating our success with the Withings Blood Pressure monitor”.

The Withings Blood Pressure monitor works together with an iPhone / iPad / iPod touch. The Withings Blood Pressure monitor, priced 129 euros or $129 US, will be available in January, 2011 on www.withings.com

How to use the Withings Blood Pressure Monitor:
Connect the cuff to the iPhone; the Withings application launches automatically. Simply slide on and tighten the armband around the arm above the elbow, then touch the start button on the iPhone to begin.
The Withings Blood Pressure Monitor automatically averages measurements to produce significant results.
Simply flip the iPhone to access measurement history and averages.
For later retrieval, simply access your secure online space at withings.com or launch the Withings application on your iPhone/iPad/iPod.

Ten One Design, creator of the first capacitive touch-screen stylus for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, has announced its revolutionary tactile game controller for iPad – Fling. This patent pending device adheres to the iPad’s screen over the directional pad of any applicable game to deliver ultimate control and superb response for full gaming immersion. Fling’s unique spiral design creates actual physical resistance so gamers are assured of greater directional control.

Fling works with any iPad game with a directional pad, or virtual joystick, including Meteor Blitz, Across Age and Super Megaworm, among many other First Person Shooter and RPG titles.

To use Fling, launch the game of your choice, secure Fling’s center control over the game’s directional pad. Then simply place your thumb on the center control to navigate easily through the game.

Fling’s unique transparent and flexible design provides an unrestricted view of all on-screen action. Plus, the suction cups allow simple attachment and detachment for spontaneous gaming sessions. Click here to see full video demo.

The included microfiber bag is ideal for on-the-go storage and doubles as the perfect screen cleaning cloth to eliminate unwanted smudges and fingerprints.

Available with Ice, Ninja and Ultraviolet accents, Fling can be pre-ordered now at www.tenonedesign.com for just $24.95 and will begin shipping at the end of January.

Turtle Beach, a leader in premium gaming headsets and audio entertainment accessories, announced today the latest innovations for 2011. The Ear Force PX5 Programmable Wireless Surround Sound Headset – the most technologically-advanced headset ever designed for PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360 gaming, the Ear Force P11 Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset for PS3, and the XC1 XBOX LIVE Communicator Headset, will all debut during the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 6-9, 2011 at the Turtle Beach booth, South Hall 1 # 20428.

Ear Force PX5 Programmable Wireless Surround Sound Headset

The PX5 is the most technologically-advanced headset ever designed for PS3 and XBOX 360 gaming, incorporating a programmable digital signal processor to allow independent customization of the chat, game and microphone signals. Custom settings stored in the headset as presets can be selected during specific parts of the game to emphasize sounds like footsteps or reloads that might otherwise be difficult to hear. It can even be programmed to disguise a gamer’s voice or to enhance the voices of online players to be heard when the game gets louder. These personalized presets will be possible with software available from the Turtle Beach web site that allows the user to adjust the settings on a PC and transfer them via a USB connection to the headset.

The PX5 is also the first headset to incorporate dual radios—one for immersive, Dolby Digital surround sound game audio and a second for chat on the PlayStation Network via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth feature also supports stereo audio streaming for listening to music while playing a game and can accept a phone call while wearing the headset.

“Turtle Beach has always been recognized for technological innovation. We pioneered the console gaming headset industry by launching the first stereo XBOX headset, were the first with wireless gaming headsets and the first with innovative features to enhance the gaming experience, like Chat Boost™. With the introduction of the programmable PX5, we’re poised to again revolutionize the gaming headset market.” says Carmine Bonanno, President and CEO. “By allowing gamers to customize their audio environment, the PX5 gives them an opportunity to take charge of their console gaming experience in ways that have never before been available.”

MSRP: $249.95
Availability: Spring 2011
URL: www.turtlebeach.com/px5

Turtle Beach Ear Force P11 Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset

The Turtle Beach Ear Force P11 Gaming Headset, designed for the PlayStation 3 and also compatible with PC/Mac, raises the bar for affordable gaming headsets. Powered directly through USB with its 50mm high fidelity speakers and amplified stereo sound, the P11 headset gives the player an immersive audio experience. With independent volume controls for chat and game audio, you can ensure that you won’t miss out on a single footstep or a warning from a teammate. The P11 delivers crisp audio while providing hours of comfort with its oversized fabric mesh ear cushions and adjustable headband, ensuring your competitive edge during those long gaming sessions.

MSRP: $59.95
Availability: Spring 2011
URL: www.turtlebeach.com/p11

Turtle Beach Ear Force XC1:

Designed specifically for the XBOX 360, the Turtle Beach Ear Force XC1 XBOX LIVE Communicator combines audio performance and a streamlined design to create a headset far above the standard communicator headsets. With a unique slotted ear cup design, the XC1 allows you to hear external game sound and internal chat at the same time, so you will never miss out on any of the action. The fully adjustable, single ear lightweight design fits comfortably on either ear and is perfect for long gaming sessions.

MSRP: $24.95
Availability: Spring 2011
URL: www.turtlebeach.com/xc1