games

Video gamers outperform nongamers in vision test

Ladies and gentlemen, may I now present your deep thought of the day: People who play video games are better at playing video games than people who don't play video games.

OK, new findings out of Duke may be a bit more complex than that, but there's not much of a spoiler alert to this one. Hours spent at a gaming console seem to translate directly to a test, taken at a computer, of how the brain tracks visual stimuli, according to a new study at the Duke School of Medicine.… Read more

Xbox One and PS4: Two peas in an E3 pod

Who won E3 so far? Was it the Xbox One? Or, was it the PS4 that kicked its butt? Did Sony dominate, totally smack down Microsoft, and run away with Best in Show?

All I know, from a distance, is this: boy, the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 look a lot alike.

The picture above is from a classic "Star Trek" episode featuring two different alien races that fought bitterly but were more alike than they dared to admit. Sound familiar?

The moment the PS4 was unveiled, in its boxy glory, you couldn't help but be reminded … Read more

Game of Drones: Where UAVs meet paintball

Mucking around with monarchical politics and swords is all well and good, but a remote-controlled toy drone involves around 98 percent less decapitation and at least 54 percent more fun. At least we assume that's part of the reasoning behind Game of Drones, a collective of artists, inventors, robot builders, video producers, and designers who modify drones for a bit of friendly competition.

In the past, the team has created an "unbreakable drone" and a teeny-tiny drone fitted with a rocket launcher. But the most recent drone allows its pilot to play paintball -- via remote control. … Read more

Nvidia: Next-gen consoles still can't keep up with our chips

Nvidia doesn't seem happy with news that Advanced Micro Devices has all but won this generation's console cycle.

The company pointed out Wednesday in an interview with The Verge that, while the next-generation consoles are notably more powerful on the graphics side, they still can't compete with the chips Nvidia is producing on the PC side.

"I'm glad the new consoles are here," Nvidia Senior Vice President Tony Tamasi told The Verge. "If for no other reason than to raise the bar." He also pointed out to The Verge that his company'… Read more

PlayStation history shows PS4 can beat the Xbox One (video)

Sony stunned the gaming world this week by divulging that its new PlayStation 4 console will be significantly cheaper than its major rival, the Xbox One. But does it stand a chance against the might of Microsoft?

To find out, watch as we plunge headlong into the rich history of the PlayStation, from its humble beginnings as a failed co-project with Nintendo, to the might of the all-powerful PlayStation 2.

Along the way we'll slap you about the cheeks with nostalgic treats, from old-school adverts to one particularly creepy T-Rex. Spinning up to the present day like an educational … Read more

The Playroom shows off PS4 augmented reality, motion control

A brief YouTube video showing off an unannounced PlayStation 4 augmented-reality game called The Playroom just might make you giggle.

The video, released by Sony's Japanese PlayStation division Tuesday, shows how the upcoming PlayStation Eye camera can track the DualShock 4's "light bar" to provide a PlayStation Move-esque motion gaming experience. Judging by the video, The Playroom features a series of interactive augmented-reality minigames ranging from a souped-up Pong to a close encounter with a floating orb that may -- or may not -- virtually light your hair on fire.… Read more

E3 2013: PS4 scores against Xbox One

CNET Update is keeping score:

This episode of Update breaks down the battle between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 at the E3 video game conference in Los Angeles. It hasn't been pretty for Microsoft, as Sony priced the PS4 $100 cheaper -- and it won't put restrictions on playing used games or require an Internet connection.

CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under three minutes. Watch Bridget Carey every afternoon for a breakdown of the big stories, hot devices, new apps, and what's ahead. Subscribe to the podcast via the links below.

Subscribe:

iTunes (HD) |&… Read more

Dell powers up three new Alienware gaming laptops

Dell has beefed up its Alienware series with three new laptops equipped with some seriously high-end specs.

Unveiled on Tuesday at the E3 show in Los Angeles, the Alienware 14, Alienware 17, and Alienware 18 are designed for hard-core gamers who need laptops packed with lots o' power.

Starting at $1,199, the Alienware 14 offers a 14-inch screen (1,366x768 or 1,920x1,080 resolution), as much as 16GB of RAM, and up to a 512GB solid-state hard drive. Starting at $1,499, the Alienware 17 is equipped with a 17.3-inch screen with a resolution as high as … Read more

Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, new Donkey Kong Country coming to Wii U

LOS ANGELES -- This isn't a normal E3 for Nintendo. For the first time in recent memory, the company has decided to forgo a traditional press conference in lieu of a more intimate experience.

While Microsoft and Sony continue to exchange unpleasantries, Nintendo is using the opportunity to give the media a behind-closed-doors look at some of its upcoming Wii U titles, some of which are completely unannounced.

I got to sit down with these games and get some hands-on time to see what Nintendo has planned for the Wii U, a console that has undoubtedly stumbled out of … Read more

Apple eyes better iPad gaming with joystick controller patent

Apple is eyeing a better way to play on its toys.

Dubbed "Clickable and tactile buttons for a touch surface," a patent published Tuesday by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office envisions a gamepad and joystick for iOS devices.

Mobile gaming is a surging area of growth, something puttting console makers ill at ease. Last year an NPD Group report found that games for mobile devices account for almost half of all game downloads.

The patent describes accessories that simply stick on the touchscreen of an iPad display and engage the touch-sensitive areas with buttons and a … Read more