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FROM GAMERTELL - Visteon confirms that is it looking into DS and Wii applications for its line of Dockable Entertainments multimeida systems for automobiles.
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Our sister site Gamertell has spotted an interesting freebie at Target retail stores. The chain is putting out a Speed Racer-themed gift card that comes with a 60+ MB USB 2.0 Flash drive built right in. It is one of those gift cards you fill with money to give to someone else, so it’s essentially free if you happen to forget to fill it before you take it home. (*wink*)

The Flash drive is preloaded with 50 MB of promotional files including the usual wallpapers, printable coupons, movie files and a videogame cheat code for the upcoming release of May 6, 2008, release of Speed Racer: The Videogame. You can, of course, keep or delete the files as you wish and simple have a nifty fat credit card sized Flash drive with a Speed Racer skin.

Read [Gamertell]

uWink sounds like the name of an online dating service, but it’s a restaurant concept from Nolan Bushnell, founder of both Atari and Chuck E. Cheese.  So you’d expect arcade games at such an establishment, but uWink takes it a step further and has the games built into your tabletop!  You and your dining companions can have fun playing games while waiting for your food and after finishing your food, and most of the games are free!  Also, large wall projections let patrons from different tables play against each other.  What a great idea for if you want to book the restaurant for a private function, and yes uWink can customize the games too!  I guess that’s where the “wink” comes in, since you can meet people from other tables.

The technology also extends to the food ordering process.  Terminals at each table display the menu along with photos of each item and a list of ingredients, so you know what you’re getting and can order the food to your exact specifications.  This is great for folks with food allergies and other dietary needs.  Everything is done using the terminals, from ordering the food to asking for refills to paying your check.  As for the food itself, you’d think it’s an afterthought, but apparently it isn’t as it’s prepared by accomplished chefs.  So uWink’s got the technology and it’s got the food, I can imagine it’s hard to score a table!  uWink is opening their second L.A. location next month, but it’s a concept other parts of the country could embrace as well.

Read [LAist]

Nokia has finally launched its N-Gage gaming service with high hopes of revitalizing the ailing mobile gaming market. (And possibly earn a few more bucks?) Although an official announcement will be made on Monday, the N-Gage blog took one step in advance and informed the loyal N-Gage followers who were testing the product during its beta stage, that the N-Gage platform is already opened.

The N-Gage is fully compatible with Nokia’s top mobile phone series – the N95, N81 and N82. With Nokia striking a deal with major cellphone game developers such as Electronic Arts, Gameloft and Glo Mobile they should prove to be successful. Nokia hopes to have around 25-30 games available by mid-2008 and add another 25-30 during the second half of the year.

Can the N-Gage re-ignite the dying flames of mobile phone gaming? That remains to be seen.

Read [N-Gage] Via [I4U]

N-Gage First Access, the testing ground for the pre-release version of the N-Gage application where users can try and buy N-Gage games and provide feedback about them is ending its beta on March 27, 2008. Although there was no word yet on the exact date of the official launch of the final version of N-Gage application, the N-Gage site mentions it will be happening in the next few weeks.

Related to this announcement, the official N-Gage blog has issued some reminders for those who participated in the N-Gage First Access run.

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This new PMP made by Gemei, is called the United States X900 and comes with a few cool features that are sure to come in handy wherever you are and whatever you are doing. As you can tell from the picture, you can see a gaming like design. At first glance, it looks more like a gaming controller rather than some sort of PMP. The gaming interface, is just one of the few cool features of this PMP.

Let’s begin with the PMP aspect of the United States X900. It comes with a nice 4.3-inch touch screen, and plays AVI, MPEG4, MP3, WMA, and FLAC. Now, regarding the gaming aspect, the cool thing here is that the game pad is attachable, so if you don’t need it for something, you can easily detach it. It uses an ADI chip, which should allow for NES and SFC gaming. Furthermore, it can even act as a GPS if you add on the GPS receiver. So far, with its audio and video capabilities, gaming, and GPS, it is sure to keep you entertained and keep you from getting lost. Lastly, it comes with an FM tuner, an e-book reader, and it can use SD cards for up to 4GB of memory. Unfortunately, no word on pricing or availability as of yet.

Via [PMP Today]

The Nintendo DS Platform has a number of great games out and just in time for the holidays!  By the end of the year, there will have been more than 400 games released for the DS, which can make shopping for the DS a little difficult.  If you are shopping for a DS gamer and need some suggestions on what to purchase, here are some of the top games you might want to consider!

Some of the classic games, which are those that were released as far back as November 2004 (when the DS was launched) but still offer loads of entertainment for those who might have missed getting any of them, include NEW Super Mario Bros., Pokemon: Diamond Version and Animal Crossing Wild World.

Here are some options for DS games that are targeted specifically for children who own the DS.  These include Chibbi Robo: Park Patrol, Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck (featuring Daffy Duck), and the adventure game Touch Detective 2 ½.

Meanwhile, when shopping for individuals that are specifically interested in adventure or role playing games, gift-buyers might want to consider Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, Luminous Arc or Rune Factory.  Some of the most likely RPG games to drawn gamers in, each of these has a different and separate type of RPG world to display.

And since DS games are not just appreciated by younger audiences, Dementium: The Ward, Ultimate Mortal Kombat and LifeSigns: Surgical Unit are some great options for mature players who are interested in adventure, fighting or simulation games, respectively.

For some more in depth information regarding the games mentioned above check out our sister site Gamertell.

As the PSP gaming console is determined to be a big hit this year, it will be equally important to provide the gamers on your holiday gift list with games that are just as exciting as the Sony console.

When it comes to strategy and RPG games, Jeanne D’Arc is a top contender.  Prior to the release of this game, there was a notable lack of strategy games for the PSP.  With a unique fantasy twist, Jeanne D’Arc is based loosely on the heroine of the past, Joan of Arc.  Another great strategy RPG game to consider would be Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions.

If the gamer on your list is more into horror or thriller games, Silent Hill: Origins may be just what you are after.  The first Silent Hill game made for the PSP, it is a comfort to know that all the characteristics which made the Silent Hill franchise such a success on other consoles are still present and accounted for in the PSP version.  Manhunt 2 is another action game that may interest PSP owners and gamers.

For those players focused on Action, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters is a can’t-miss.  Loaded with fun and wild weapons, Ratchet and Clank travel around the galaxy, mini-games and solid mechanics help to ensure that this game will appeal to virtually any PSP player.  Sid Meier’s Pirates is another Action themed PSP game that may be a great selection for the Action obsessed on your holiday list.

With such diverse options for the selection of PSP games this holiday season, it is possible - and enjoyable - to find the ideal PSP game choice for any PSP owner.

For some more in depth information regarding the games mentioned above check out our sister site Gamertell.

Shopping for gamers can always be a bit difficult if the shopper is not familiar with the available platform games and the specific tastes of the individual.  However, with this helpful guide, shoppers can manage to wrangle up a great holiday gift for any Xbox 360 gamer on their list, getting by knowing only the basics about the types of games the individual gift recipient enjoys.

When shopping for Xbox 360 players, it is important to look at what has happened this year (2007) with Microsoft, since this will help to determine what games are available, how sought after specific games are or have been, and what games are exclusive to the Xbox 360.

After 2 years, Microsoft has made a number of strides with the Xbox 360 console.  Not only outselling PS3 games in Japan, but also managing to make a profit for the first time, gamers of the Xbox 360 platform are likely to love game gifts this season.

Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV are some great action games that are doing well with the Xbox 360.  Not only that, but Microsoft has managed to nab exclusive rights to the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series.  If your gift recipient is one who appreciates tactical maneuvers or car chases and action, these are going to be some potential gifts to consider.

Other games that left Sony to partner up with the Xbox team include Ace Combat 6, Final Fantasy XI and the to-be-released games Resident Evil 5 and Devil May Cry 4.  If you are looking to purchase any of these games, it is important to be aware that the only platform they will be available on is the Xbox 360.

For some more in depth information regarding the games mentioned above check out our sister site Gamertell.

Best Buy currently has a nice offer for those looking for a video game, you can save $10 on purchases of $30 or more. This is very nice deal from Best Buy and I’m sure many will use this coupon. All you have to do is print out the online coupon and bring it with you when you go to the store. This deal is good up until November 28, so you better hurry. Also, there does not appear to be any restrictions as to what games you can buy, unfortunately it is not valid for consoles, special order, or clearance items.

Read [Best Buy] Via [Gizmodo]