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The Man Behind the Royal 'We' Says 'So Long'

11:00 AM, March 4, 2009 | Comments (12)
knockknock.biz luggage tags. Photo courtesy of justinph . I guess it's finally time for me to level up. It was the summer of '99 when I convinced my then editor to send me on a tour of the U.S. videogame industry. When I finally returned three weeks later,...

A Symposium On Game Reviews. Topic 1: Review Scores, Part IV

9:00 AM, December 29, 2008 | Comments (3)

A Symposium On Game Reviews. Topic 1: Review Scores, Part III

2:11 PM, December 22, 2008 | Comments (3)

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  • CES Blog: Welcoming Our Robot Overlords

    Editors | Jan 11, 2008 02:46 PM

    Brian Braiker files this report from NEWSWEEK's CES Blog:





    What is it?
    A new line of interactive robots

    How much will it cost me?
    $100-$300, depending on the model.

    Who makes it?
    WowWee

    Why should I care?
    Because they're robots! Befriend them now before they enslave us all.

    How would you describe it?
    Mr. Personality has a color LCD screen where his face ought to be. It tells jokes, plays games, and has a personality you can reprogram through a USB connection. If the writer's strike is still underway by the time Mr. Personality hits the market this summer, you'll be happy to plunk down the $250.

    The three-wheeling Tri-Bot also yukks it up--at half the price ($100)--with eyebrows that jag up and down as he tells his goofy jokes. He also plays games that require you to maneuver him in certain patterns. The Tri-Bot takes a page out of the Wii playbook: you steer him with a motion-sensitive remote control that that you simply tilt from side to side.

    Also slated for release this summer is the Femisapien, the voluptuous fembot. At just $100, she'll be marketed to women and girls--especially women and girls who dig wicked bellbottoms, platform shoes and Daft Punk.  She responds to voice commands and even dances when she hears music.

    Slightly more sinister looking--and definitely much cooler--is the Rovio ($300), a surveillance bot with a video camera, microphone, and Wi-Fi capabilities. The three-wheeled Rovio can stream video from its camera to remote locations with a broadband-connected Windows PC or smartphone. Unfortunately it's not invisible, so it's unlikely your mark won't notice he's being spied on.

    When can I get my hands on it?
    The full line of robots will be on sale by late summer.

    What's your verdict?
    Good clean pointless fun.     More
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  • The 'Sandbox Summit:' Tech Toys for Tots

    Editors | Jan 11, 2008 02:43 PM

    Newsweek's Brian Braiker files this report on targeting the younger demographic at the Consumer Electronics Show:

    The Consumer Electronics Show has always been geared to appeal to the little kid in us. Oooh, new toys. Drool. I want. But at this year's CES, 14 companies as well as children's groups are gathering for the first annual "Sandbox Summit." The goal: to figure out how kids—as young as 3—play with technology and what gadgets they're going to gravitate toward as they get older.

    Read the Full Story Here

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  • Level Up's Top Five Gaming Tidbits for Jan 11th, 2008

    N'Gai Croal | Jan 11, 2008 04:57 AM
    1. CON...tempt for enthusiast media continues, unabated 
    2. DO!...want: Rock Band drum kits that take things to next level
    3. RAP...the Vote: Level Up nominates Eric B. for President
    4. ONE...console future plea rears its futile head yet again
    5. RND...Why digital distribution isn't ready for its close-up
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