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

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 ]

By Shane McGlaun

After being on the market for a long time the Nintendo Wii is finally reaching the level of availability where you can walk into a retail store and find the console sitting on the shelves. The Wii has some great sports games like the Tiger Woods golf game that are very fun with the Wii controls.

EA has announced that it is moving the launch date of the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 game and the Grand Slam Tennis for the Wii to June 8. Wii fanatics may recognize June 8 as the day the Wii MotionPlus accessory is set to launch.

Both the EA Sports titles will be available with the game along for $49.99. However, for $10 more players can opt to buy either title in a bundle that includes the Wii MotionPlus accessory. If you want either of these sports games, that $59.99 bundle will get you about a $10 savings towards the normal retail price of the MotionPlus accessory.

[ EA Sports ]

By Shane McGlaun

One of my favorite Need for Speed games back in the day was Need for Speed Hot Pursuit. I liked being able to play the cop and give people tickets and I liked running from the police as well. I guess EA tried to go all “PC” with Need for Speed ProStreet and took the racing off the streets. The game was cool, but I wanted police chases.

The latest title in the franchise, Need for Speed Undercover, gave me my wish and EA has announced that new DLC for the game is available for the PS3 and coming soon for the PC and Xbox 360. One of the DLC packs is a free offering called the Challenge Series and adds 60 events to the game. Along with new events called Highway Wars and Highway checkpoint races.

Players can also win three new cars in the Challenge Series. A premium content pack is also available for $5 or 400 MS points called the Boss Car Pack. The pack gives all of the cars the level bosses drive in the entire game. I am glad to see EA offering some free DLC for fans of Undercover.

[ Need for Speed ]

By Shane McGlaun

I am a huge UFC fan and have been watching the events since they first started back in the late 90′s. I still have fond memories of one of the early events where the boxer came in with one glove thinking he was going to beat the other guy down only to find himself on his back getting beat like a drum a few seconds later.

I have been waiting for the new UFC 2009 game to come out and it is almost here. The game is set to ship on May 19 for the Xbox 360 and the PS3. Until then THQ has announced that a playable demo is available for download for both game consoles right now.

The demo allows players to fight a match between Chuck Liddell and Mauricio Rua and includes a portion of the full tutorial mode the game will have to teach players how to use the controls. Liddell fans still angry that the Ice Man was knocked out last weekend can get some payback.

[ UFC Undisputed ]

By Shane McGlaun

I never pre-order video games; I don’t like having to pay full price for something that I can’t walk out of the store with. I bet there are many gamers out there who agree with me on that. Perhaps if the pre-order didn’t require me to pay up front I would reserve games.

Target has announced a new game reservation program that lets gamers reserve coming video games for only $1. For the buck, you get a card that looks like a gift card with the game logo on the front. Once the game comes in you pay the retail price and Target gives you a $5 gift card.

The only catch is that you apparently can’t use the $5 towards the game you are buying that day. Target says the card is good on future purchases. However, I guess you could use the $5 gift card on other gaming essentials like soft drinks and Twizzlers or just save it to use for your next game purchase. The Target program is kicking off with reservation cards for Punch Out!! from Nintendo, EA Sports Active from Electronic Arts, Ghostbusters from Atari, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings from LucasArts, and UFC 2009 Undisputed from THQ. I really want that UFC game, it looks really cool.

[ Target ]

By Shane McGlaun

I am a big fan of PC shooters and my favorite all time shooter was Crysis from Crytek. I was almost as giddy as a schoolgirl when I heard they were launching Crysis Warhead. Warhead had great graphics, but the story line wasn’t quite as good as the original.

EA and Crytek announced that they are offering a free trial of the multiplayer shooter Crysis Wars available through Friday April 17. The trial allows players to play all of the games three multiplayer modes and all 23 maps.

The maps each support teams of up to 32 players and have multiple modes of play per map including InstantAction, frantic deathmatch with the nanosuit, PowerStrugle, and two team modes. Crytek also announced that a Crysis Maximum Edition is coming on May 5 for $39.99 that includes Crysis and Crysis Warhead as well as Crysis Wars.

[ MyCrysis ]

by Shane McGlaun

If you are an avid PC gamer or console gamer who likes first person shooters, odds are that you have played a Call of Duty game before. The franchise started out in the World War II setting and by the fourth installment had made it to modern times.

I can honestly say that COD 4: Modern Warfare was the best title in the franchise in my opinion. The game has great graphics and had some of the best online multiplayer action to be had anywhere. When the most recent COD game came out and was in the WWII era again I was saddened. I hoped for another modern setting.

If you felt the same way, you will be glad to hear that Activision and Infinity Ward have announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is coming to store shelves on November 10, 2009. Details on the game are scant and all we really know at this point is that the game will have a modern setting. I have high hopes for the game and you can check out the teaser video at the link below.

VIA [ Infinity Ward ]

By Shane McGlaun

The lazy summer days of my youth were often spent throwing lawn darts with my brother. Honestly, most of those games involved more throwing lawn darts at my brother than with him. Hitting a moving target was much more difficult than that big circle, especially with all the screaming for help and ducking behind trees my brother usually did.

I’m sure kids like me are why you can’t buy lawn darts like we had back then. The company behind the popular golf game Golden Tee has announced that lawn darts are back, at least in virtual form in a new arcade game called Target Toss Pro: Lawn Darts.

The game allows from 1 to 16 players to play lawn darts in four modes including team and tournament play. I’m betting hit the running brother isn’t one of the modes, which is too bad really. The game also features a Raw Talk option that has the virtual players spouting smack much like the drunken relatives from those family get togethers we all remember. The game will be placed in arcades, bars and other locations and will cost $1 per player to play. Check out the game video at the link below.

[ YouTube ]

This post is syndicated with permission from Gadgetoholic.com

I grew up on Atari, moved on to Nintendo and then to PC gaming as the years went by. I am always looking for cool gaming gear that will make games more fun and enjoyable. Driving and racing games are one of my favorite genres and things like force feedback steering wheels make the games much more fun. I am still waiting for full-motion simulators to get affordable so I can add one to my collection of gaming gear.

Gyroxus released what it calls a full-motion video game chair this spring. The chair sold for $489 when it was first launched — not too bad for a full-motion simulator. The Gyroxus price was cut significantly today making the chair now sell for $389. The chair is compatible with the PS3, PS2, Xbox, and Windows PCs. The chair has an adjustable back to accommodate users of different heights and a USB port on the chair so you can plug the controller and chair in with one cable.

What I can’t figure out from the videos on the site or the description of the product is if the chair is motorized or simply leans based on how you move when in the chair. There is no mention of motors, drivers or of needing games with compatibility for the Gyroxus to function leading me to believe you simply lean in the chair. The price also makes me think the Gyroxus is gravity powered, all motorized full motion simulators I have seen run well into the thousands of dollars.

Gadgetoholic