Daily Bits

video game consoles

Atari’s Asteroids on the iPad

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asteroidsThere is something to be said about retro consoles and games. While this sector has made leaps and bounds, and consumers are demanding more (graphics, game play, etc.), a trip back to the past is always a welcome change every now and then.

Ion – that manufacturer responsible for “high tech turntables” – has come up with a new dock that will satisfy the nostalgic feelings of every gamer out there. The dock is meant for the iPad and will turn this ultramodern gadget into a console reminiscent of the past. It will allow you to play Atari’s Asteroids and even give you realistic buttons and knobs.

Just to refresh your memory, Asteroids was released as a video arcade game in 1979. The two dimensional game has a simple premise that it easily caught on and soon became the best selling game of all time. The idea is that the player controls a spaceship that flies through fields of asteroids. Flying saucers also come into the screen. The player has to shoot at the asteroids and flying saucers with the aim of destroying them without crashing into them.

Drooling now? Watch the demo video below, and I am sure that you will be wanting the dock for your iPad.

XToaster360: Putting That Old Toaster to Good Use

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Got an old toaster or two that is merely collecting dust in the corner? If you are a candidate for that reality TV series The Hoarders, then you might want to put one of those toasters to good use – just like what this guy who calls himself ncarouso11 did.

Basically, he got a four-slice toaster, took out its innards, and then replaced (carefully, I bet) them with the stuff that you find inside of an Xbox360. Here’s how it looks.
xtoaster360

In case you’re wondering how you get the game CD in, here’s the answer.
xtoaster360_2

Here’s a video of the toaster slash Xbox360 in action in case you need more convincing that it is for real.

You have to admit, there is something to be said about the boxy thing with glowing blue lights coming out of it. It may not be as sleek and sexy as the Xbox360, but not everyone can say that they own something like this and actually play games on it, can they?

If you can’t be bothered to create your own XToaster360, or you simply do not have the skill to do so, then prepare a couple of hundred dollars (US) and bid on this cool mod on eBay. The starting bid is $150 and as of this writing, there are 6 days 12 hours left to bid. If you win, you get the following:

  • XToaster360
  • Power cable/brick
  • AV cable
  • Ethernet cable
  • Xbox360 Controller
  • Xbox360 Headset
  • (Only has 256MB internal memory card but can easily be improved with the use of a thumb drive)

UK Gamers Love the Xbox 360 S

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First it was the PlayStation 3. Now it’s the Xbox 360’s turn to get downsized – physically at least. The Xbox 360 S was launched in UK stores on Friday, and it looks like the British gamers are loving the changes.

According to MCV UK, the launch was the biggest for a “revised home console.” Selling for £199.99, the console was welcomed by gamers with open arms. In fact, some stores even opened their doors at midnight just to make the console available to their customers. More from the report:

“[The Xbox 360 S] surpasses the launches of both PS2 Slim and PS3 Slim and recording over two days around the same as the original Xbox 360’s launch sales total back in week 48, 2005.

This is even more impressive when you take into account that the original Xbox 360 was launched across two versions (Pro and Core).”

So what’s hot about the new Xbox 360? This version is basically slimmer and sleeker than its predecessors. It has a built in 250 GB of storage plus Wi-Fi. This is really not a surprise as anything that comes with less than 250GB and without Wi-Fi will probably not make any impact today. As an added value, the console is supposed to run on “whisper quiet,” which will make the whole experience better. More so, the Xbox 360 S is ready for Kinect, which Microsoft is touting as the turning point in the history of gaming.

Just so you know, there has been news of dissatisfied customers returning their brand new Xbox 360 S the very next day. Apparently, this new version isn’t free from the bugs and errors that Microsoft has become known for. This shouldn’t deter hardcore Xbox fanboys from purchasing the new console, though.

Atari Files for Bankrupcty, Childhood’s End!

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Atari
Atari

Anyone who was a kid (or a teenager for that matter) in the 80s would have at least a slight attachment to Atari. At the very least. For many, the attachment is more likely the kind of ties that make you want to go back to the times when you didn’t face the problems you do today.

No matter what the degree of your feelings towards Atari are, I am pretty sure you will be saddened by the news that the iconic brand in the gaming industry has filed for bankruptcy. [Read more…] about Atari Files for Bankrupcty, Childhood’s End!