iZ3D 22-inch Widescreen 3D Monitors on NewEgg.com

iZ3D 22-inch Widescreen 3D Monitors Now Offered via NewEgg.com

Popular 3D Monitors Now Available at New Introductory Price

iZ3D, LLC, designer, developer, and marketer of advanced 3D visualization systems, is pleased to announce that the award-winning online retailer www.newegg.com now offers the iZ3D 22-inch widescreen 3D monitor at retail. Offering commercial-grade image quality and display brightness, the monitor is designed to replace standard 2D monitors and provides users an immersive 3D viewing experience. The iZ3D monitor will be available for purchase at www.newegg.com beginning February 15 at an introductory price of $699.99.

“The addition of Newegg.com as an iZ3D channel partner is a significant step forward for not only iZ3D, but is a sign of the growing trend towards the immersive 3D viewing experience. We feel the added exposure at www.newegg.com will provide more recreational gamers and 3D video buffs the opportunity to enjoy the rich 3D graphics that popular off the shelf games and 3D movies have to offer,” remarked Thomas Striegler, CEO of iZ3D, LLC.

The iZ3D 22" monitor offers the first S-3D drivers to be compatible with popular dual output cards, including the NVIDIA GeForce 8 Series and the ATI FireGL™ V3600 workstation graphics accelerator. These drivers also are optimized to take advantage of Intel’s® latest Core™ 2 Duo and Intel® Core™ 2 Quad processor technologies. (iZ3D also features drivers that support Microsoft® DirectX® 8 and 9 graphics in both Windows® XP and Microsoft® Windows Vista™.)

"Adding the iZ3D monitor to our offerings is in line with our constant effort to provide our customers with access to the latest technology and offer a well rounded product selection," commented Michael Amkreutz, vice president of product management at Newegg.

iZ3D monitors incorporates advances in technology that creates significant competitive and technical advantages over other display systems. Graphic artists have embraced the iZ3D monitor as an essential tool for 3D modeling. It is difficult to design in 3D while viewing the design in 2D. iZ3D developed this unique technology to create an adjustable 3D environment without causing eyestrain, spatial disorientation, or headaches. In 3D mode, viewers can see clear, bright, sharp 3D images and videos simply by wearing any of a variety of passive polarized glasses. Also, its smart capabilities allow it to be changed at the push of a button from the breath-taking 3D experience to the more mundane 2D viewing for regular office tasks or surfing the web.

The unit is easily powered by any existing PC equipped with a dual-output video card. Specifications include: 1680 x 1050 resolution; up to 170-degree 3D viewing angle; 5ms response time; 700:1 contrast ratio; and 16.7-million colors. The iZ3D 22” widescreen, 3D gaming monitor is available now via newegg.com. The monitor is also available on the iZ3D.com website for $799.

EVE Online presents the 5th Alliance Tournament on Mac

EVE Online presents the 5th Alliance Tournament

CCP Games, the developers of the award winning massively multiplayer online (MMO) game EVE Online, is proud to announce the 5th Alliance Tournament. The contest will take place over two consecutive weekends beginning February 29th and ending the weekend of March 7th.

The bravest capsuleers have once again been called to battle for fame, honour and fortune. This legendary event is sure to set ablaze the gloom of space with the explosive glory of combat. Expect the same great commentary as last year's tournament, as each round of warfare is dissected by knowledgeable members of the EVE community.

A specially prepared in-game arena hosts the Alliance PVP Championship, which demonstrates the best of the high stakes ship combat that's at the core of EVE's popularity. Ships introduced in the Trinity patch will be eligible for competition for the first time in an Alliance Tournament. The community response to the tournament signup was so enormous that a televised draw was required to determine which Alliance teams made it into the top-40.

16 matches will be hosted per day and streamed from CCP's studio in Reykjavik, Iceland. This is a multi-stage championship, similar to the FIFA World Cup. The 40 teams are divided into 8 groups, with the two victors from each group progressing to a knockout phase compromised of four single-elimination rounds. A firm winner will be determined after this elimination round.

After weeks of player feedback many of your suggestions have shaped the new tournament rules. "We want this to be as entertaining to watch as it is to participate in" said Petri Räsänen, Senior GM and member of our tournament committee. "This championship is the very essence of EVE. To win you'll need teamwork and a flair for tactics. Building ship setups will be at the heart of a team's possible success. Change and adaptation are keys, as is expected in war."

About the Alliance PVP Championship
For details of the rules and regulations of the Alliance Tournament, please visit http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=674637.

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning PC video Game

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning PC Video Game

Zone Overview - Avelorn

The verdant realm of Avelorn is among the most ancient of Ulthuan’s kingdoms. A vast, magical forest bathed in the warm light of eternal summer, Avelorn is land of great cultural significance to the High Elves. Since the dawn of time, this idyllic land has been ruled by a line of queens who are counted among the most beautiful Elf maidens ever to draw breath. When Aenarion the Defender took his place as the first Phoenix King, he chose Astarielle, ruler of Avelorn, to be his Everqueen. Since that time millennia ago, each queen of Avelorn has fulfilled the same role, keeping alive one of the most important and ancient traditions of the High Elves.

The trees, glades, rivers and even the earth of Avelorn are suffused with potent magic. These wards and spells, many of which are nearly as old as Ulthuan itself, serve both to protect the woodland kingdom and also to preserve its verdant beauty. The forests are filled with growth and life, and when their hearts are troubled, it is in the tranquil glades of Avelorn that the High Elves seek spiritual renewal.

The forests of Avelorn are not without peril. Where the Winds of Magic are strong, Chaos inevitably follows. In the Age of Reckoning, there are dark places in the deep woods where Beastmen hold dominion. Daemonic minions of the Ruinous Powers dwell in cold, forbidding marshes or deep caves beneath ancient, rotting trunks. The High Elves of the wood must be vigilant, lest these dangers threaten the Everqueen and her court.

But the danger that these scattered pockets of Chaos pose to the wardens of Avelorn pales in comparison to the growing shadow of war. The Dark Elves have returned to Ulthuan, and their hearts are filled with malice and vengeance.

Though their true objective is the Phoenix Throne in Lothern, the enchanted forests of Avelorn hold a great opportunity for the invaders. The Dark Elves know that Alarielle the Everqueen and her court will seek refuge deep in the woods, hoping to elude the encroaching legions of Naggaroth. If she can be found, her captors would have quite a prize to present to the Witch King. Moreover, the forest itself is of great importance to the High Elves. To ruin and despoil the ancient woods of Avelorn would strike a crippling blow to the spirit and morale of Ulthuan’s noble protectors.

As their treacherous kin scour the forests for any trace of Alarielle and her retainers, the High Elves find themselves confronting an unexpected crisis. The Everqueen has disappeared, and not even her closest advisors know where she has gone. Meanwhile, as the armies of Malekith continue their campaign to destroy and pollute the forest kingdom, the powers of Chaos are on the rise. The despoilment of Avelorn has attracted the vile attentions of Nurgle, the foul Lord of Decay. The agents of the Great Changer are also present in increasing numbers, for the spies of Tzeentch watch all that the enemy does with cold, unblinking eyes.

Is it possible that the disappearance of Alarielle and the rise of Chaos are somehow linked? If so, then the High Elves must find their lost matron quickly, or they may never see her again.

The attack on Avelorn has raised the stakes in the battle for control of Ulthuan. Far more than just a land of pastoral and timeless forests, Avelorn is an ancient and magical kingdom that is sacred in the hearts of nearly all High Elves. Its loss would be unbearable for the noble heirs of Aenarion, and as the Dark Elves press further into the woodland deeps, they will see the full fury of their kinsmen brought to bear.

If Malekith’s warriors wish to lay claim to Avelorn and the Everqueen, they will learn that there is a heavy price to be paid.

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress For The PSP

NAMCO BANDAI Games Announces NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress For The PSP System

World Class One-on-One Ninja Combat Returns to the PSP System with a Massive Interactive Storyline, New Character Upgrade System and Intense Multiplayer Action

Leading video games publisher and developer, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., announced today that NARUTO™: Ultimate Ninja Heroes™ 2: The Phantom Fortress™ will launch exclusively for the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system this summer in North America. Developed by CyberConnect2, NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress continues the frantic, action packed one-on-one battles the series is known for. The game also introduces a new storyline based on the popular NARUTO™ animated series, rated T for Teens, from VIZ Media, as well as a roster of more than 20 characters and frantic head-to-head multiplayer action with game sharing capabilities.

The storyline of NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress revolves around a mysterious phantom castle that has suddenly appeared over the Hidden Leaf Village, draining the townspeople’s life energy. When Naruto infiltrates the castle to find out who is behind this terrible scheme, he finds himself confronted with threatening illusions, visions of the past and a strange masked woman with a vendetta against the Leaf Ninja. Joined by his friends, it will take all of Naruto’s courage to unravel the puzzle behind the castle and defeat this powerful new enemy.

In NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress, players take a custom party of four NARUTO characters through over 100 floors of the castle, experiencing fierce one-on-one battles, exciting mini-games and dramatic story twists in an all-out game of survival. Along the way, players will be able to power-up each party member in a new character customization system, equipping abilities and items to gain a decisive edge in battle. Updating the series’ trademark fast-paced combat system, players will be able to pull off acrobatic flying attacks, flashy combo strikes and unstoppable jutsu skills with ease. Additionally, players can customize their game experience by choosing to play through the full game with English or the original Japanese voices.

Players will also be able to hone their fighting spirit against their friends in the game’s intense multiplayer mode. An incredible variety of team configurations are available as players do battle to see who has the strongest ninja jutsu. NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress supports game sharing for multiplayer action on two PSP systems with just one copy of the game.

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress will launch exclusively for the PSP system this summer. For more information please visit: www.namcobandaigames.com and www.naruto.com/.

Logitech Unveils Official Wheel of Gran Turismo for Sony PLAYSTATION 3

Logitech Unveils Official Wheel of Gran Turismo for PLAYSTATION 3

Logitech Driving Force GT Wheel Delivers Powerful Force Feedback, Brake Bias and Traction Control Adjustment

Today at the Game Developer’s Conference (GDC), Logitech the world’s leading developer of force feedback gaming wheels, announced the Logitech® Driving Force GT racing wheel, the official wheel of Gran Turismo™. Featuring powerful force feedback and an innovative 24-position real-time adjustment dial for on-the-fly control of brake bias, traction and damper settings, the Logitech Driving Force GT gives gamers the most accurate and authentic PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) racing experience.

“We’re excited to be working with Polyphony Digital again to deliver a wheel that will satisfy the needs of car enthusiasts, like me, around the world,” said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech’s director of product marketing for gaming. “People who love the striking realism of the Gran Turismo racing series will discover that Logitech’s latest wheel will allow them to experience the cars the way they were meant to be driven. With the Logitech Driving Force GT, you’re not playing games anymore – you’re racing!”

Logitech’s latest racing wheel was meticulously designed by Logitech and Polyphony Digital, Inc., the developer of the Gran Turismo series. The companies worked together to add the unique real-time adjustment dial, a first for force feedback wheels, allowing people to fine tune the car’s balance by adjusting the brake bias, traction control and damper settings. Now Gran Turismo drivers can have precise control over the car’s setup to achieve maximum performance.

“The Gran Turismo series has always been designed for racing enthusiasts,” said Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital. “The Driving Force GT racing wheel was designed to perfection by our team, specifically for the next generation of Gran Turismo.”

Logitech’s newest force feedback wheel simulates understeer, oversteer, and traction loss with frightening accuracy. While the full-size gas and brake pedals deliver precise throttle and brake response, racers can use either the sequential stick shift or the wheel-mounted paddles to race through gears. The wheel also features a large 27.9 cm (11-inch) wheel with rubber-overmould rim, providing exceptional comfort and control.

The Logitech Driving Force GT turns 900 degrees lock-to-lock allowing drivers to navigate hairpin turns with greater accuracy. And with anti-backlash gearing, there is no slack in the steering response, making any race a smooth, realistic experience. In the centre of the 27.9 cm (11-inch) wheel, the Driving Force GT features an illuminated horn button with the official Gran Turismo logo. Using the authentic sounds of the car being driven, racers can quickly alert other cars when they are approaching fast. Or when playing online, people can simply use the horn to taunt other players as they speed by.

The Logitech Driving Force GT wheel is engineered for use with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue on PS3, which will be available on Blu-ray Disc (BD) and as a download on the PLAYSTATION Network in North America on April 17 and in Europe on March 28. The Logitech Driving Force GT wheel is also compatible with Gran Turismo™3 and Gran Turismo 4 on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Driving Force GT wheel is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in May. The suggested retail price is $149.99 (U.S.).

10 million Microsoft XBox games users may share games

Taking online multiplayer console gaming to the next level, Microsoft, architect of the Xbox Live gaming service, announced the formation of a "Creator's Club" that will allow hobbyists and amateur game developers to be able to play and share their games with the 10-million-member strong Xbox Live community. The company has said that all games created by a developer of any level will be up on the Live service to be played, but games will be reviewed for objectionable content and pulled down as and when necessary.

Talks about such community-driven gaming had been on since last year, and the issue came to the fore at the Game Developers Conference 2008 in San Francisco.

Source: Tech Tree

10 more Nintendo Wii Balance Board games in development

Spread your weight over at least ten titles.

Unlike the single focus of the costly set of wired baby rattles you bought for Samba de Amigo on the Dreamcast, it appears a sure thing that the Wii Fit’s Balance Board is going to be your interface into more than just a world of pretend weight loss. Speaking to IGN, President of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime has confirmed that there are over ten titles on the horizon that utilise the board’s unique control capabilities.

News had already surfaced that Namco Bandai's Family Ski, originally destined to be controlled only by the Wii remote and Nunchuck, would be modified prior to its release to be compatible with the board. This, coupled with Reggie’s revelation, means that the daunting prospect of parting with another wad of cash for a peripheral of limited use is somewhat less worrying. There are currently no announcements on what the other Wii Balance Board compatible games will be.

Source: Palgn Au

Nintendo to launch Wii Fit virtual gym

Video game players are traditionally to be found hunched over their computers but Wii Fit, which will hit European stores on April 25, is designed to give them a proper workout.

With obesity reaching critical levels in the UK, the Wii Fit may provide some people with an enjoyable alternative to visiting the gym. As it is designed to be used in the comfort - and seclusion - of a person's home, it allows the unfit to get back into shape without the embarrassment of attending exercise classes as a beginner.

The games console, which plugs into any TV, comes with a balance board, about the size of a pair of bathroom scales. Once stepped on, this board calculates a player's bodymass index based on their weight, height and age. The player then carries out a few basic balance exercises on the board to gauge their rough level of fitness.

More from The Guardian

Its good news for Mac gamers. Neverwinter Nights 2 for the Mac has been released.

Its good news for Mac gamers. Neverwinter Nights 2 for the Mac has been released.

Its being done by the guys over at Aspry and will be availble soon. I love computer games and although I can't afford every single one then more the better. Hopefully game companies will see the Mac as a viable gaming platform and start developing games natively.

In the mean time, Neverwinter Nights 2 boasts a story line in which you rise from peasant status into a fully fledge hero as you defend the Realms against one of the greatest threats of the age! You can build a character that suits for style of play including being good or evil, chaotic or lawful, with any number of skills, feats and professions available at the click of a button.

It sounds fun and I can't wait to try out the demo. From the site you need:

Minimum System Requirements:

Operating System: 10.4.11 (Tiger), 10.5.1 (Leopard)
CPU Processor: Intel Chipset
CPU Speed: 2.0 GHz
Memory: 1 GB
Hard Disk Space: 6.5 GB Hard Drive Space
Video Card (ATI): Radeon X1600
Video Card (NVidia): Geforce 7600
Video Memory (VRam): 128 MB
Media Required: DVD Drive

Multiplayer Requirements:

Internet(TCP/IP) or LAN play supported
Internet play requires broadband connection

Recommended System Requirments:

CPU Speed: 2.33 GHz
Operating System: 10.4.11 (Tiger), 10.5.1 (Leopard)
Memory: 2 GB
Video Memory (VRam): 256

Supported Video cards:

NVIDIA GeForce 7600, 8600
ATI Radeon X1600, X1900, HD 2400, HD 2600

Its not a low end spec and you will need a powerful computer to run the game, my Macbook pro can just about handle it.

Source: MacTricksAndTips

PC games rivals form alliance against consoles

Gaming consoles like Sony’s PlayStation 3 have taken up too much of the spotlight and PC companies are taking notice. At this year’s Game Developers Conference, arch rivals like Intel and AMD are putting aside their differences to wage war against consoles. The aptly-named PC Gaming Alliance or PCGA already has an impressive list of members like Acer/Gateway, Activision, Dell/Alienware, Epic, Microsoft and Nvidia.

Randy Stude is Intel’s director of the Gaming Program Office and represents the company is the founding member. The PCGA is an open organization and membership is available to anyone who has the money to pay dues. Advocating PC games is the group’s primary function and Stude said the public needs to know that computer games aren’t going away and provide a gaming experience that equals or surpasses console games.

“We’re trying to get rid of the fallacy that PC gaming is dying,” said Stude.

To prove his point, Stude cited market research figures that showed US PC gaming revenues growing 12% to $2.7 billion last year. He added that PC game revenue make up 30% of the entire game market.

Educating consumers on system specifications will be one of the primary challenges for the PCGA. Stude said consumers are often confused about minimum system requirements for graphically challenging games. Fellow PCGA board members agreed that consumers can be easily led astray because they automatically think an expensive computer will play the top games. “It’s easy to get an $1,800 boat anchor (of a computer),” one member said.

But you just can’t educate consumers to get the message out and Stude says his group will also work with developers to streamline their minimum system requirements. To us it almost sounded like the will develop a rating system (similar to ESRB) that will score games according to performance requirements.

Stude agreed with reporters that cooperation between members could be somewhat difficult, but he describes board meetings so far as amazingly “harmonious”. Looking at the membership roles, you’ve got a strange alliance between two discrete graphics card makers Nvidia and AMD/ATI with integrated graphics champion Intel.

Source: tgdaily