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Top Feature Street Fighter IV Arcade Stick Roundup
You need an arcade stick to get the full Street Fighter IV experience at home. We take sticks from Mad Catz and Hori out for some spinning pile-driver and shoryuken fun. continue »
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Major Nelson clears up some Gamertag and Windows Live ID issues
- Posted Feb 20, 2009 11:22 am PT
- 8 comments
Good ol' Major Nelson has a public service announcement up regarding Microsoft's Windows Live ID and Gamertag dormancy/cancellation policies. The post reads like a problem off of the LSAT - lots of contingencies, and interrelated account policies that sound confusing. Here's the original text:
What happens:
In the rare case that you DO NOT sign in to Xbox.com or another website that uses Windows LIVE ID (like Hotmail) it is possible that your Windows LIVE ID expires (goes dormant.) An Xbox LIVE Gamertag is unrecoverable from the system only when the associated Windows Live ID has become dormant and the Gamertag has been deleted from all Xbox 360 consoles.
Members with dormant Windows Live IDs can continue to enjoy the benefits of their Xbox LIVE Gamertags on their Xbox 360 consoles, including earning Achievements; however, they will not be able to use their expired Windows Live IDs for activities such as account management on Xbox.com.
It is important to note that an Xbox LIVE Gamertag is unrecoverable from the system only when the associated Windows Live ID has become dormant and the Gamertag has been deleted from all Xbox 360 consoles.
What you can do to prevent having any problems:
We recommend that people log into their Windows Live ID on Xbox.com or Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web at least once every four months.
What we're doing:
We are actively working on an update that will allow you to link your Gamertag to a new Windows Live ID if one becomes dormant.
Our translation - Your Xbox Live Gamertag is safe unless you delete it from your console. Don't worry about logging in every month or so to keep it active. Nothing will happen to it. The Windows Live ID, on the other hand, suffers from the Hotmail affliction. Use it or lose it. Log in at least once every four months to keep Microsoft happy. In the case that you've tied your Windows Live ID to your Gamertag and let the Windows Live ID go dormant, you won't be able to do any online account management or tie your Gamertag to a new Windows Live ID. Microsoft is addressing that last bit as we speak. That should be it, unless we missed a point in there. Carry on.
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Nintendo DSi coming April 5th
- Posted Feb 18, 2009 11:22 am PT
- 9 comments
The Nintendo DSi will finally hit American soil. Japan got to play with the DSi last November and they've been gobbling it up since. The DSi marks the third incarnation of the DS, and probably the most drastic change to date. Nintendo's upcoming handheld system includes new hardware functionality, new software, and an updated menu system, in addition to several physical design changes. We detailed the upgrades and changes in a feature during the Japanese launch. Expect to find blue and black colored DSi's in stores on April 5th with an MSRP $169.99.
Nintendo representatives recently showed up to trot out the US version of the DSi. It's basically identical to the Japanese version except it has an English menu system. Unlike the last time around, we could actually read and explore the menu and options. In particular, we got a better look at the main menu, camera, and sound options.
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Razer Mako 2.1 Speakers
- Posted Feb 6, 2009 5:42 pm PT
- 12 comments
Razer products have style. Starting with the Boomslang from years ago, the company always kept an eye on form, presentation, and functionality. The Mako 2.1 speaker system doesn't veer away from the company's roots in the least. Like other Razer products, the Mako has looks to kill and sound quality to match. Priced at $399, the Mako doesn't exactly sit alongside budget computer speaker setups, but it more than justifies the price tag.
Simple, refined, and understated the Mako satellites sit easily on your desk, happy not to make a nuisance of themselves. The two matte-black, bowl-shaped speakers sit low enough to plunk down directly underneath an LCD should space be a concern. The downward firing design of the satellites makes them great for desks. By using a table to reflect off of, the sound becomes more diffuse, which makes it harder to obfuscate. Consequently you get a fuller sound across the room rather than just directly in front of you.The subwoofer looks like a large black mushroom on the floor, acting as the central point for all connections as well as the source of bass.
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