Gadgets Blog

Looking to get some quality time with dad?  With the new software coming later this year, you have just enough time to get hooked on Electronic Arts’ Left 4 Dead ($27.99), an interactive zombie shooter with great graphics and four campaigns.

You can play alone with three computer associates or online with three friends.  Fighting for your survival, you are surrounded by Infected and must shoot or blast your way out.  Dim lighting, creepy graphics and spooky audio make for intense exploration of dark rooms and corners that can very well be hiding a super mutant.

Make it to a safe house and take a break from this action-packed horror-filled universe, but guaranteed you’ll want to jump right back in.  No puzzling plot lines or deep character development, zombies are simple-minded folks.  They’re set to kill and their eyes are on you.  Get your shotgun and a couple friends and have a blast.  What better way to bond with dad than fighting your way out of a zombie apocalypse?

If you haven’t played this yet, you might be the only one.  I even know parents who have joined the virtual world of Paladins, Mages, Taurins and Undead because of this multi-player RPG.

The World of Warcraft Battle Chest by Blizzard Entertainment ($36.99) includes the base game software and the Burning Crusade expansion pack so it’ll keep you busy much longer than the 14-day guest pass that’s also included.  It allows for thousands of online gamers to interact and play in the same world at the same time.

Be warned though, WoW is addictive and you’ll find yourself coordinating schedules with your new online buddies to run instances, explore dungeons and battle with other guilds.  Choose your side, good or evil, and customize not only your character’s appearance, but his skills when you choose his profession.  This online gaming world will soon become your second life, especially if your aim is to work up through level 70.

Get them both from Amazon and get free shipping on purchases over $25.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more video games and software.

Kinda cool…

New in the gadget gaming world, this handy-dandy item might be a solution for WoW partiers everywhere.   Just announced last week, it’s like the gamer version of the scrapbooking tote…

Don’t laugh… I have one.   In black… okay, go ahead, laugh.

What?   I’m a multifaceted hobbyist.

For about grand, you too can dominate at your next LAN party without unplugging your tower and lugging your setup over to your friend’s place or risking total annihilation if you slam on the brakes and send it flying forward…ouch.

That’s always the problem, schlepping monitor and case out the door and then finding enough table space for everyone to set up their systems and still have crucial arm’s length access to chip-n-dip.  Yeah, yeah, you could use a laptop.  It’s lighter and less trouble to transport, but sometimes it’s just not enough power to support the habit.

From iBUYPOWER.com:

“BUYPOWER Launches LAN Warrior – Small-Form Factor PCBuilt for LAN Party Battles

iBUYPOWER announced its first small form factor (SFF) system – LAN Warrior. Unlike previous attempts at SFF gaming systems, the LAN Warrior offers enough firepower to stand toe-to-toe with even the most advanced gaming systems, with room for up to two full-sized dual slot video cards, up to 24GB of Triple Channel DDR3, and a 1000W power supply.

Enthusiasts will appreciate the LAN Warrior’s overclocking features and the SupremeFX X-Fi solution, which enhances the gaming experience with realistic sound effects. iBUYPOWER also includes a carrying strap and harness system for taking the LAN Warrior on the road.”

The liquid cooled Core-i7 based LAN Warrior has room for two dual slot video cards and up to 24GB of DDR 3.

LAN Warrior specs:  Intel Core i7 920, 940 or 965, up to 24GB RAM, ASUS Rampage Gene II X58 motherboard, up to 2 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 or 2 ATI Radeon 4870×2, up to 4 HDD with up to 6TB capacity, 1000W power supply, Wi-fi, NZXT Rogue case design, and keeps its cool with up to 5x 120mm ventilation fans.

So there you have it, for the gamer on the go. They say it’s just as powerful as systems twice it’s size… so, anyone want to spot me $1,000?

Image Source: engadget.com

This week in gadget blogs and news from around the Net:

• Check out the interior of the Chevy-Volt! - Jalopnik
• Apple to make a Mac Tablet? Files for patent - Machines that Go Bing
• A driveable Star Wars Landspeeder - Gizmodo
• Coca-Cola preparing a 100 flavor soda fountains - Engadget
• Make your own portable Atari game - OhGizmo!
• Zune Bug concept - Ubergizmo
• Ashton Kutcher to launch Blah Girls - TechCrunch
• Wii PC Casemod - Technabob

And this week in the Smarter Gadgets Blog we talked about:

• GamePodunk.com is Giving Away a PS3 and Madden 09
• Men Dress Up Like Fairies, Race across Azeroth
• Radio Shack Coupon: Save 15% Off $75 at Radio Shack
• Steve Jobs’ Obituary Accidentally Published
  

I sometimes wonder about certain people.

For instance, these two guys. They decide to dress up like little elf men, or whatever, who are on their way to a rave. Cardboard swords and all. The test? To see how tired they would get if they had to run through a virtual world. So where does this marathon take place? On Azeroth, in the World of Warcraft.

It’s kind of amusing the amount of humility these guys will put themselves through for their little experiment.

My favorite line is from the one with the green, Oompa Loompa wig:

“My Heart is at 220. Is that bad?

Of course it’s not. Well, not as bad as dressing up like a drag queen.

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