By John Beck

I usually consider myself to be a bit of a tech head, but now and again something comes along which makes me realise how low I really rate on the universal scale of geekery.

The latest blow to my sense of nerdy self worth is SurfaceScapes, a project dreamt up by students at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Centre, which aims to create a proof-of-concept for playing tabletop role-playing games on Microsoft’s Surface Table.

Basically, this provides players with a digital environment, which they can interact with using real objects (such as painstakingly detailed miniatures), and also provides automated calculations and visual and audio feedback for actions performed by characters in the game. If that takes your fancy, then watch the video and allow the nasal voiceover to explain things far better than I ever could.

So far, only Dungeons and Dragons is up and running on the prototype system, but fortunately for those whose proverbial boat is not floated by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson’s magnum opus, the team say it could be expanded to other games in the future.

[ SurfaceScapes ]

Gaming keyboards have come a long way since the original G15. All the G-keys and the use of LCD to show player stats are ingenious additions that have become an indispensable tool for WoW fans, hardcore CoD4 players, and macro-happy gamers. Since then the market has definitely saturated. (Even MS has two gaming keyboards.)

Despite the stiff competition, Logitech hasn’t lost its edge. The new G19 gaming keyboard is the first major upgrade since the G15 revision. Improvements to the Logitech’s flagship product include full color LCD (including YouTube and VLC compatibility); intuitive creation of powerful macros; support for six simultaneous keypresses; customizable key backlighting; and two self-powered USB 2.0 jacks. Impressive features demand high price and higher power requirement, which is why the G19 costs $200 and why the G19 is the first gaming keyboard that needs an AC adapter (warning: bulky). Everything USB’s reviewer is so impressed with the G19 that any hardcore gamers with $200 to spare should run out and get one. Those who don’t take fragging too seriously should really look elsewhere.

[ Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard Review @ Everything USB ]

By Ian Chiu

Four years after the inception of the famous G-series peripherals, Logitech surprisingly hasn’t made one gaming headset, until now. The Logitech G35 is the company’s first foray in the highly competitive gaming headset market. So what makes the Logitech any different than say a pair of regular USB headsets or a pair of 8-driver cans? For starters, the Logitech G35 is powered by 2nd-generation Dolby Headphones – a glorified term coined for virtualized surround sound. Dolby Headphones 2.0 is now able to simulate 7.1-channel audio (up from 5.1) through just two drivers. It also supports Dolby Pro Logic II audio tracks (for DVD movies), and its voice morphing (which can be activated through one of the G-keys) allows you to easily mask your voice behind one of six filters.

Everything USB has recently reviewed it and has a rather mixed view on the G35 gaming headset. While the sound quality is simply breathtaking, the voice morphing is a lot of fun and the Dolby Headphone effects are actually better than the reviewer could have ever imagined for virtual surround sound, the fact that G35’s surround sound option only works with 60% of the games tested is a let down. And at a MSRP of $130, the G35 USB headset constitutes a ’serious investment’ for any gamers. Read on for the full review which includes a comprehensive compatibility chart and a voice morphing demo.

[Logitch G35 Gaming Headset Review @ Everything USB]

By Shane McGlaun

Turtle Beach has been making nice gaming headphones for the PC and the Xbox for a while. The line has been a bit scant on headphones for the PS3 though. I have used several of Turtle Beach’s PC surround sound headphones and they work pretty well.

The company has now announced a new set of gaming headphones called the P21 for the Sony PS3 console. The P21’s feature a USB powered inline amp to provide deep bass. A mic boom allows players to take advantage of in game chat functions.

The amp features independent control for volume levels of the chat and game audio. Bass boost allows for deeper explosions and better music in movies. The P21 will also work with a PC when used with the optional RCA to 3.5mm adapter. Turtle Beach will sell the P21 headphones for $79.95 online and in major retail outlets.

[ Turtle Beach ]

By Shane McGlaun

Logitech has been making force feedback controllers for PC and console gamers for years. One of the best force feedback racing wheels ever made, the G25, comes from Logitech. Flight simulations are one of the areas where force feedback is most interesting but Logitech has never offered a force feedback joystick until now.

Logitech has announced its Flight System G940 that includes a joystick, throttle, and rudder pedals. There are more than 250 programmable buttons thanks to shift modes to ensure virtual pilots never have to take their hands off the controls.

The force feedback joystick has a two-stage trigger, six programmable buttons, an 8-way hat switch, and analog trim controls. The throttle is a split design that can operate multi-engine aircraft and features push button interlocks. The included rudder pedals are inspired by the pedals in jet fighters and feature an adjustable resistance knob for customization. The G940 system will ship in September for $299.99.

[ Logitech ]

By Shane McGlaun

Keeping the games, controllers and game console tidy and stored out of the way when not in use can be a big issue for some users. Entertainment centers are often too small often leaving a tangled mess of wires and games lying around.

A new storage product for game consoles and accessories called Game On has been unveiled. The device can be mounted to the wall and has an upper shelf that holds games and a lower shelf that holds the game console itself.

On the sides of the storage center are brackets that can hold up to four controllers or guitar accessories. Game On is available in black, white, green, blue, red, and yellow for $59.99. Exactly how the system mounts to the wall isn’t made clear, I would assume it screws in. I just hope that the Game on attaches securely, it would really suck for it to fall off the wall and break your console.

[ Game On ]

By Shane McGlaun

I have played my share of Rock Band and I actually enjoy the game very much. One particularly eventful night a friend even bought in his Halloween fogger machine and smoked up his entire house. Alas, his wife put a stop to Rock Band night after the fogger debacle.

As much as I like Rock Band and Guitar Hero, I can’t get as excited about the idea of a DJ game. If you feel differently, you may like the new Scratch Deck controller form Numark and Genius specifically made for DJ games. The Scratch Deck will be shown for the first time at E3 next month.

The deck has a free-spinning and touch-sensitive turntable with a crossfader and five Akai Pro MPC-style drum pads. The drum pads let players customize tracks by triggering samples that are pre-loaded into the game or from records that ship with the software. The deck is compatible with standard game controls for console game systems and has an ambidextrous design. The Scratch Deck will ship this fall.

[ Numark ]

By Shane McGlaun

I’ve played my share of skateboard games over the years, the most recent of which was Skate It on the Wii. The game was supposed to allow control of the skateboard via the Wii Fit balance board, but that was nearly impossible to do. I hope the new Tony Hawk Ride game has a better controller.

We have mentioned Ride before, the game will ship with a motion sensing skateboard controller that looks like a skateboard minus the wheels and trucks. The first time we will get a glimpse of the game in action is at E3 next month.

GameStop has announced that the game will ship on October 13. You can pre-order now if you want, but be prepared. The game isn’t cheap with the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 version selling for $119.99 each. I didn’t pay much more than that for my Xbox and my Wii. That controller better be worth the money.

[ GameStop ]

By Shane McGlaun

For many people when it comes time to exercise they simply walk out their front door and go for a walk. Walking is one of the most popular forms of exercise and there is all sorts of gear designed to help people who like to walk get the most out of their workout.

A new software offering for the Nintendo DS and DSi is being announced called Personal Trainer: Walking. The software works with the DS or DSi portable consoles and includes a pair of wireless activity meters that can each store about 7 days worth of data.

The data can be wirelessly sent to the DS or DSi where it is stored and charted to show walkers statistics on their walking activity over time. The card inside the Nintendo DS can store up to five years worth of walking data. The walking data is charted automatically to find “life rhythm” patterns that let users see when they are most active and watch for periods of inactivity to eliminate to get healthier. The software will launch on May 26 for $49.99.

[ Nintendo ]

By Shane McGlaun

At one time, we have all played a game of dodgeball. The game is for some the first experience in the survival of the fittest nature of the world. At my school there were two types of dodgeball players, the sort who aimed for the testicles, and the sort that tried to hide behind the fat kid.

Game publisher SouthPeak Games has announced the availability of a new dodgeball game for the Wii that uses the motion based controls of the console to hurl balls at the enemy. As the title suggests, you can pit ninjas against pirates or chose from other groups of characters including robots, zombies, aliens, and some sort of mushroom men.

The game offers eight different dodgeball arenas and offers a single player mode as well. The good news is you don’t have to be weary of another dude hurling balls at your face while you play this dodgeball game. At least most of us don’t have to worry about that. The game is available now and is rated E10+.

[ Pirates vs. Ninjas ]