I’ve done the bean bag thing. I’ve even done the rocking gaming chair thing. While those were relatively comfortable, I could use something a bit more sophisticated in the living room. Which is why the Jump Seat Ottoman, announced yesterday by Salamander Designs, is quite appealing.

When closed, the Jump Seat would allow me to masquerade as an adult with a fairly refined ottoman. When open, the kids can continue to kick my butt on Xbox Live. I also appreciate the recessed compartment to store my wireless controller and headset. Hopefully it’s as comfortable as it is practical.

Salamander’s PR rep tells me availability and pricing will be announced at CES. Though, each ottoman will be a custom order (type of leather, color, accessories) and prices will vary - I expect each Jump Seat to run at least several hundred dollars. (more…)

You know those faulty Rock Band guitar reports? Unfortunately, I can confirm them on both the PS3 and Xbox 360… Two guitars have up and died in the last week.

At our company holiday party, Blake and I attempted a Rock Band guitar duet on the PS3 when he claimed his guitar stopped working. Yah, right. I’m fearsome on the plastic axe and he was just intimidated (ha!). After all, that particular guitar was working fine for me. As it turns out, the guitar functioned properly strumming in the downward direction (as I do), but the guitar had stopped responding to up-strumming (as he does).

After exchanging my first Xbox 360 Rock Band set due to a sticking blue drum pad, the replacement sat unopened for several weeks until yesterday. About half a dozen guitar solos in last night, the strum bar stopped working (in both directions). I’ve found that if I really hammer it, it’ll work for another few notes before dying again. That’s obviously unsustainable (and un-fun) — fortunately I had a Guitar Hero III controller handy to satisfy those Metallica Song Pack urges.

I wasn’t looking forward to a support phone call today, and was pleased to discover EA’s automated Rock Band hardware replacement webpage. In under ten minutes, the site verified my credit card is good for a $125 charge and scheduled a replacement guitar to be shipped via two day air - they even provided the UPS tracking number. EA will include a shipping label for the faulty guitar that I need return within 28 days (before being charged that $125). Let’s hope the process really is that efficient. And that I receive a more reliable unit.

As Dave pointed out earlier, when prices go through the floor on high-def DVD players, it’s easier to ignore the HD format war and pick up some hardware for a little extra HD viewing pleasure. However, I wouldn’t have guessed that a large percentage of folks get their high-definition DVD playing capabilities as merely a bonus feature in some other investment. According to the Inquirer (via CrunchGear), a full one third of HD-DVD players sold in the US are add-on drives for the Xbox 360. (And of course that doesn’t even compare to the three quarters of Blu-ray players sold as PS3 consoles)

It’s kind of like when DVRs invaded the market in low-cost, subsidized form from your local cable operator. Bundle it up at a low cost with something else consumers want, and high-def DVD players could achieve mass-market saturation yet.

Sony may not be winning with gamers, and lags rival Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE Marketplace in the race to own the living room media hub. But they’re not sitting still either: Word came earlier this year that Sony intends to offer Playstation 3 video downloads, and that day has nearly arrived… in Japan.

According to Variety, Sony will launch its on-demand HD service for the PS3 - in Japan only - early next year. Sadder than the restriction to Japan, however, is the content that will be available at launch. The service will start with car-racing videos and a “BBC car documentary,” all meant to drive interest in Sony’s “Gran Turismo 5 Prologue” game. As popular as NASCAR is here, I doubt that teensy selection of content would generate much interest in the US. One wonders if the Japanese will find it compelling, and, more importantly, when Sony will expand its content to reach a larger audience. The price for Sony’s video downloads is set to begin at $1.85.

Theoretically, Sony is in prime position to own the home entertainment market given its successful consumer electronics brand and the fact the company has a studio ripe with content. But somehow they haven’t managed to put the pieces all together yet.

I was fired up when I read about Sony’s new PSP web-based game download service last week. In fact, I’d expected Sony to take advantage of the PSP’s WiFi connectivity much earlier to provide both game downloads and video downloads, leveraging their catalog of movie and television content. But, therein lies the rub… The new game download service doesn’t utilize WiFi. In light of the iTunes WiFi store and Kindle’s EVDO connectivity, PSP’s Windows helper app seems a bit archaic for a new service. However, I did install it and intended to check out some of the game downloads: several PS One classics and two PSP titles ranging from ~$6-$15/each. Turns out my Memory Stick isn’t large enough for any of the games and I’m not motivated to upgrade it given the current catalog. I’m considering holding onto my PSP a little longer with hopes Sony does something more interesting… via WiFi. If they do, I might even downgrade my router to support 802.11b.

Ah yes, it’s that time of year again. I’m told these winter traditions were once about family, related to historical and religious events. But I’m only aware of breaking out the plastic to get some serious shopping done.

Today, once referred to as Thanksgiving, is Black Friday Eve - when merchant circulars showcasing tomorrows deals hit - and in keeping with tradition, I do give thanks. Many specials have been leaked online in the weeks leading up to the big event, but what’s new this year is that many deals are available via the web (as early as: RIGHT NOW) without waiting for that blasphemous Cyber Monday.

So what are we getting? (more…)

I’ve learned to take my camera with me whenever I hit the local King of Prussia mall — every few months something interesting pops up. This weekend it was a new Sony holiday display. Display is probably too mild a word as the footprint of this thing is probably two thirds the size of my house. The big showcase is the Sony Blu-ray theater, complete with Walt Disney and Pirates of the Caribbean branding. However, there are also a bunch of PS3 stations (still battling the Wii and the Xbox) with shoppers trying their luck at different games. Click to enlarge the additional pics:

Major Nelson, the voice of Xbox LIVE, is taking a hard line and reminding folks not to share accounts or tamper with acheivements:

As you can imagine, we know how to find out if you do this and we do take action. Even worse, you might have your account and/or console banned from Xbox Live.

I’m all for fair play but, in the grander scheme of things, who really cares how Achievements are met? Especially in light of Microsoft’s much bigger Xbox LIVE problem… I’m talking about the profanity. It’s primarily a verbal problem, but I’ve also encountered questionable Gamertags. Dropping F-bombs in the heat of battle doesn’t bother me (parents may feel differently) and I know I’m guilty of the occasional curse word slip, but hearing tweens/teens repeatedly using the N word or from others wanting to kill Jews and homosexuals is just unpleasant. Regardless of intent (No, Junior. You’re not funny.), it takes away from my gaming enjoyment. I wish I could say these incidents were unusual but, in a casual calculation, 1/4 - 1/3 of Shadowrun Live rounds contained a notable amount of adult language and/or verbal unpleasantries. In fact, if I had children, I wouldn’t let them anywhere near Xbox LIVE with a headset.

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