July 2007

With this year’s E3 in the past, we decided to sit down with Microsoft and have a little chat about a product they debuted before E3 that has some potentially interesting tie-ins to the path that video games seem to be heading, Surface. In case you haven’t heard of Microsoft’s Surface product, it turns an ordinary table-top into a vibrant, interactive surface. It will debut as the first commercially available surface computer from Microsoft and it’s slated to provide effortless access to digital content through natural gestures, touch, and physical objects. The units that Microsoft has today are 30A

Have you ever been sitting at home, playing for favorite video game and be struck by the feeling that what was missing from the experience was a ring, bracelet, or even a body piercing reflecting the very game you happen to be playing? Neither have I.

But for those of you who have the itch that only bling can scratch, Gamer Jewelry is a company based out of San Diego that specializes in creating custom video game themed jewelry.

While only three demo pieces are pictured on the site, including rings reflecting both Prey and Quake, a request form on the site details several games that the company is apparently ready and willing to craft jewelry about should you so desire.

These games run the complete gamut, from the mainstream (Battlefield 2142) to the outright obscure (EyeToy: Operation Spy). There’s even an option for Romancing SaGa… now I’m in for some soul searching. Just how big of a geek am I?

Even so, I’m not sure I can put too much trust in any company, even one that professes to be comprised of well known game developers and content providers, if that same organization can’t spell the name of one of the most popular contemporary video games on the market. It’s four letters people.

Says the website: “Gamer Jewelry designs rings and accessories for gamers and geeks. The company is working on a whole line of jewelry inspired by games like DOOM, Quake, Prey, and HALLO as well by the hacker and computer culture. Our rings are made of sterling silver, gold and other precious metals.”

D3Publisher of America has confirmed plans to bring the unexpected hit Nintendo DS and PSP game Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords to the Wii, PS2, and PC this fall, with a version for mobile phones expected in early 2008. These are in addition to the previously announced version coming to Xbox Live Arcade, which is set to debut “in the coming months.”

D3’s recently acquired development studio, Vicious Cycle Software, co-developer of Puzzle Quest for the PSP, will develop the version for the PS2 and Wii, while the PC and mobile versions will be handled THQ’s ValuSoft and THQ Wireless divisions respectively.

Even before Rockstar’s Table Tennis was released in May 2006 for the Xbox 360, most every seemed to agree that the game was a natural fit for the Wii, and today the studio confirmed that the game is in fact making its way to Nintendo’s console this fall.

In development at Rockstar Leeds with additional help coming from Rockstar San Diego, Table Tennis will bring the game’s deceptively deep and addictive ping pong gameplay to the Wii, this time offering motion sensitive controls that mimic the once screen ferocity. If players were reporting broken wrist straps and airborne remotes with Wii Sports, Table Tennis is an insurance claim waiting to happen.

Sony Online Entertainment has announced the relaunch of its online portal known as The Station, adding free trails for most of the company’s MMO library, as well as more than twenty free games, including the recently released God of War: Betrayal.

Among the other titles now available on the newly redesigned site include PopCap’s Bejeweled 2, Jeopardy!, and Wheel of Fortune, as well as mobile games such as Q*Bert and Snoop Dogg Cruisin’.

In addition, SOE’s Station Pass games are now free as well, and are available to all players. The service’s casual online titles include Tanarus, Cosmic Rift Online and Infantry Online.

The site is currently available in English, French, German and Japanese, with additional languages, services and games planned for release in the months ahead.