As technology advances, video games become more and more immersive. When I sit down to play Gears of War on my HD TV, I’m presented with stunning visuals, 5.1 surround sound that makes it seem as though bullets are whizzing by my head, and I get tactile feedback from my controller. So what’s next? How do we improve on the already immersive experience? With the upcoming ForceWear vest from TN Games. PSU did an interview with Mark Ombrellaro (CEO of TN Games) and found out some interesting facts about the upcoming product:

PSU: The vest is customizable, how so?

Mark: The vest will have options to customize its look. At present, there will be versions geared towards shooter games (black tactical jacket and Camo look) as well as a look for racing (flame suit appearance). There will be accessory products for adding additional contact points to arms, legs, and the head. There will also be the ability to add parts to the jacket to
customize its appearance to tie specifically with game content. At TN Games we feel passionately that players be part of the action

The vest is capable of applying 10lbs of pressure to any of it’s contact points. No price has been announced, but the vest will be available in November. So what do you think? Would you like to feel the bullets hit you? Would you spend extra for the add ons for the arms legs and head? Personally I don’t know if I want to feel the headshots.

-MIKE KURZ

IanJ over at the Something Awful forums had some free time on his hands at work today, and he ended up using it to draw a wide variety of consoles as ducks. Yup, ducks. I have no idea what made him think to do this, but I’m glad he did. Go, click the link, and see if your favorite console or handheld underwent the duckification process.

-MIKE KURZ

Electric bill getting higher and higher? Ever wonder how much electricity you’re using to power your new gen console? Well Hardcoreware.net has the answer. They conducted a test on all three new gen consoles and the results were interesting:

• In video games, both the PS3 and xbox 360 were relatively low compared to a mid-to-high range PC.

• The Wii is amazingly efficient, using no more than 18 Watts in any of our tests (although it really shows in visual quality in games)

• Both consoles are power hogs when it comes to playing movies.

• XBOX 360’s Dashboard console is power-hungry (and slow). PS3’s is slick and uses a lot of power, but no more than playing a DVD.

The findings (as well as the tests themselves) are very interesting. It’s nice to know that the Wii isn’t just affordable to buy, but to power as well.

-MIKE KURZ

Bloomberg.com posted the January sales figures for the new gen consoles yesterday (as well as reposting the December sales figures). But what can we really learn from them? Lets start with the sales figures themselves….

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Things are changing. The next gen consoles are now referred to as the new gen consoles. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have all laid their cards on the table, and I see one card in particular that has shown up in all three hands - they’re all losing touch with the gamers they’re trying to appeal to.

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I’m extremely tired of journalists and gamers alike referring to the Wii as a fad. The lack of success of the Gamecube, the low end graphics of the Wii, and the “gimmicky” controls are all cited as evidence that the Wii will be nothing more than a flash in the pan. This is not the case.

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I make a lot of predictions verbally that end up being true, so I’ve decided to start writing them here, so that in the event that I’m correct, I can go back and give everyone else a big “I told you so!”

My Wii prediction is that we’ll see a price drop on the Wii (probably down to $199.99 USD) just in time for the holiday season in 2007. This price drop will likely coincide with the introduction of the DVD capable Wii, which will most likely come in at the $250 price point. I know Nintendo has said otherwise, but I suspect that was all marketing - why would we buy this Wii when a better one is coming down the line?

This seems plausible - just look at their handheld strategy. We got the Gameboy. Then we got the different colored Gameboys. Then we got Gameboy pocket, followed by Gameboy Color, and then Gameboy Advance. If that weren’t enough, the Gameboy Advance SP wasn’t far behind. The only one of those to actually effect gameplay was the jump from Gameboy Color to GBA. My prediction is that they’ll try and migrate that strategy to the living room with the Wii.

AnimeFF, a non-profit anime convention, is running an art contest with the theme “Breast Cancer Awareness.” The contest is open until Dec. 20 (so get drawing right now!) and you could win a PS3 or a Wii! The rules are very loose; it just has to pertain to the theme of awareness. The artwork will be exhibited at the convention, which is held on Jan 13th -14th. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to help a good cause and get a new console!

-JENNI CHASTEEN

We had a special visitor this weekend…. a Wii. We wanted to take a second and say “What’s Up” to the person who visited us from their Wii. How was the browsing experience? Was our text legible on your TV Screen? Was anything hard to get at with your Wii-mote? Unfortunately we are among the Wiiless at this point, so let us know how you enjoyed / hated browsing our site from your Wii.

-MIKE KURZ