LG was honestly the best booth to visit during CES 2012 for the sheer fact that their TVs had a brilliantly crisp, vibrant, and bright display. Their 3D displays were the most immersive I had seen throughout the convention floor and I honestly hope the images below are able to showcase how freaking awesome the world’s thinnest 55 inch OLED really is. LG’s booth not only showcased their TVs but a few really cool products for both casual and hardcore gamers alike.

 For the hardcore gamers, LG had a lot to offer. Not only will their Smart TV line offer a massive line of apps at your fingertips but you will be able to have two players play simultaneously–in full screen. Yes, I did happen to see other people offer dual screen playing but, again, LG’s display was so clear. It did suck to have to put on glasses but the idea of being able to get the first TV screen real estate again was super exciting! Best part is that it will be built in to every Smart TV, so no need for a new peripheral and it will work with any console. Any. Console.

Additionally, LG is working with Gaikai to bring cloud gaming to consumers. While details were scarce, it was clear that the product was ready for our greedy little hands. The gaming was seamless. Lag was a thing of our imagination, it’s just something that didn’t exist. This was one of the few demos that didn’t have a single hiccup when we reached it. The only questions we had were “When will this be available?” and “What’s the pricing structure?” Both questions that neither Gaikai or LG could answer at the moment. Whatever the outcome may be, if they go with a subscription based approach, this might be an interesting battle with GameFly. However, I don’t see how you can compel folks to run out and buy a new TV just for access to games that they may never actually own. It’s still an interesting concept for anyone thinking about grabbing a new 3D TV. If that sounds like you, then perhaps may want to wait a bit till your next purchase.

And for the casual crew, there was a new peripheral that looked like a Kinect but wasn’t. LG’s 3D Magic Motion Remote is a camera that works with the Smart TV line, mimicking Microsoft’s Kinect while enabling it’s functionality with an numerous apps. The app that was pretty popular for demos of this kind was “Fruit Ninja“. It was cool to see the game being played in 3D but I’m still curious about how this and other Kinect-like peripherals will do. Everyone had one but most, like LG’s, could only work with one person in front of the camera. A serious drawback when the Kinect can handle up to four with most games now. Like always, I’ll stay open-minded but right now this seems too gimmicky, even for the most casual of gamers.

With that said, I still think LG has some interesting stuff down the pipe this year. It all depends on their execution. The cloud gaming is what I will be keeping my eye on. It’s the most innovative thing I saw when it came to gaming that if done right could revolutionize how and where we game.

CES is well underway and today I got a sneak peek at what a handful of the exhibitors had to offer this year. Naturally, I was on the look out for anything gaming related but was pleasantly surprised by what a few booths had to offer. Not only was this year’s CES all about the hardware; but there were a few exhibitors that wanted to help you look good with your new fancy tech devices. I’d like to share the ones that really peeked my interest…

First, let’s cover the Android gamepad Double-Jump became completely obessed with:  the Gametel Controller. This nifty device hooks up to any Android device running 2.1 or higher and allows you to transform your phone in a less frustrating gaming system. Which is awesome but the sad part is that it’s currently only sold in Europe. However, the bright side is that the device is available on Amazon and does ship to the states. Additionally, the controller is easy to attach and appears to be the perfect size for on-the-go gaming with up to nine hours of play time.

Next up was the Advance N900 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router which might be interesting for folks, like myself, that have a vast number of devices connected to their home networks. The problem the Advance N900 addresses is the congestion that’s often caused when you have too many devices connected on the same network. While being geared more towards folks that stream online video content, like Netflix and YouTube, I think this might be the perfect device for those of you out there that are currently streaming your online gaming sessions since it’s able to go up to speeds of 450Mbps. Not really available at the moment but be sure to be on the look out for it later this year!

Equally as interesting were the many headsets and speakers that were available. From The House of Marley, you not only get stylish headsets but you also get the opportunity to supporting the folks at 1Love, the Marley Family charitable organization. With every purchase of a Marley product, a portion of the money goes directly to the 1Love charity. Additionally, they are all made from eco-friendly materials while still providing amazing sound and superior bass performance.

If you’re interested in learning more, I’d suggest you check out The House of Marley‘s website to learn more about their products and the 1Love charity.

But the amazement didn’t stop with them. The folks over at Sonomax were on hand showing off their Scultped Eers. It’s a customized headphone kit that creates your own personalized in-ear headset in just five minutes! Whats included in the kit is a special device which you place in your ears for five minutes to allow it to create your very own customized headset which fits in your ear and won’t fall out even while jogging. While they are not water resistent or waterproof, the Eers are a great solution for anyone who has a constant issue with their in-ear headphones falling out. Best part is, they are available right now!

And lastly, I was extremely astonished by the vast number of fashion items available. Both men and women this year can keep their tech around while looking extremely fashionable. From backpacks to clutches and wallets, the folks at Hex and Case Mate have you covered!

While only being around for a year now, the folks at Hex took their learning from working with retailers like Bloomingdales to come up with a line of cellphone cases, bags, back packs, and even watch cases that not only look nice but conceal your tech devices within them. All reasonably priced with most, if not all, products being under $100. Absolutely perfect for any technophile male in your life!

Case Mate, on the other hand, was geared for the fashionista. With brightly colored phone cases and amazingly crafted wallets, these were definitely more my style. While Hex was totally subtle in it’s style, Case Mate‘s products definitely made a statement. Their wallets had a great little slot which appeared to fit almost any phone while their clutches were stylish enough to hide your cell phone while keeping all your valuables in place.

It’s clear from tonight, that I have a long and exciting week ahead of me and I’ll be sure to share as much as I can for you! For now, be sure to check out our Facebook gallery for all the latest photos from CES 2012!

More About the Author

GamerGal, more commonly known as Dani, is a lover of all things gaming. Her favorite game franchises include Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Kingdom Hearts, Halo, Dance Dance Revolution, and Rock Band. Feel free to contact her on Twitter at RoyalFlushGal or email her at GamerGal [at] RoyalFlushMagazine [dot] com.

]]> http://royalflushmagazine.com/2012/01/09/ces-2012-ces-unveiled-press-preview-highlights/feed/ 0 http://royalflushmagazine.com/2011/10/23/new-york-comic-con-2011-oh-the-cosplay/ http://royalflushmagazine.com/2011/10/23/new-york-comic-con-2011-oh-the-cosplay/#comments Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:57:05 +0000 gamergal http://royalflushmagazine.com/?p=3120

New York Comic Con came and went but the pics remain! A HUGE thank you to all of the cosplayers that were kind enough to stop and let me snap a pic! You guys are my favorite part of Comic Con and every year I’m blown away by the detail and creativity.

And without further ado, lets check out what this year’s Comic Con had to offer by visiting our Facebook page for all the Comic Con goodness!

Last year I complained that there was too little gaming at “New York Comic Con” but this year there was an exhaustive amount of games, artists, and toys to check out! I was totally thankful that I was able to strike up a partnership with @Uriyya from The Show Radio. There was no way little o’ me would be able to check out all the gaming goodness for you guys without his help.

In this episode we quickly run down all the games we were able to get our hands on and highlight a few gems we were able to find.

Be sure to check out the episode after the jump and let us know what you think! And don’t forget to check out The Show Radio as you will probably be seeing them around more often…

This year’s New York City Comic Con was my gaming mecca!

The moment my eyes caught the Square Enix booth I knew what my main objective was: ”Final Fantasy XIII-2″. Playable at this year’s New York Comic Con was an early build of the game, one that was probably discussed by main others, but still filled with tons of goodies that I couldn’t wait to share with you folks.

So without further ado, let’s get on with a run down of what I found out…

Final Fantasy XIII-2 takes several years after the ending of Final Fantasy XIII where some how the events from the first game have caused Lightning to be phased out of existence.

Luckily, Lightning was able to tell Noel Kreiss to find her sister, Serah, and help her bring Lightning back from whereever she has disappeared to. This is where the demo began: Noel and Serah dropping into an area from a Time Rift while attempting to find her lost sister, Lightning.

To now onto the overall gameplay…

If you played through Final Fantasy XIII then you will be familiar with the overall controls in Final Fantasy XIII-2.

The paradigms are still there.

The overall combat system is still the same.

But what was interesting was the fact that Square Enix listened to our overall complaints about Final Fantasy XIII. The liner gameplay is gone, replaced with a more open gameplay straight out the bat. While playing through the game you will be presented with discussion points as shown below.

At these points, the game opens up with different objectives you can complete. These objectives only affect the area you are in and opens up the game to be more strategy based and less reliant on a specific linear plot. Additionally, the map is updated to show the new open objectives and it’s up to you on which one you would like to complete. Completing one objective over the other leads to different consequences and changes the way the story plays out in that particular area.

Gone are the roaming enemies. In is a nifty meter that tells you when an enemies is about to appear within your range. If you manage to attack the enemy before the meter goes red and you’ll be rewarded with a nice little bonus: a preemptive strike with all characters having Haste while all enemies have Slow. Wait too long and let the meter run out and the effects are reversed, you and your team are Slow while the enemies have Haste.

New awesome additions include “Live Events”. During battle you will be able to perform specific moves while pressing buttons that are presented on screen. Perform the sequences on time and you are rewarded with a bad ass move, miss the buttons and you won’t be penialized badly; like get an instant KO. Additionally, players will also have the ability to tame monsters and add them to a team as a third member. The key here is that each tamed monster is assigned to a specific role, like commander, medic, etc. These roles you can’t change but it is cool that you are able to harness the power of a monster for your team paradigm. What’s also cool is the fact that you are able to use your tamed monster’s special ability during battle. When their moves are ready to be used, you simply press a button and follow the on-screen button sequences to perform their move. Just like the “Live Events”, there’s no huge penalty for missing a button.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 was already on my radar long before NYCC and being able to play it only solidified my excitement factor for it’s release! I honestly can’t wait to play the game when it drops early next year…

Let’s face it. Anything we here at Royal Flush can say about this case has already been said by even more tasteless individuals than we could ever credit ourselves as… We’re looking at you Nancy Grace.

Illustration: Kevin McVeigh

Today appeared to be a great day for Batman fans. Not only was the official movie poster for the upcoming “The Dark Knight Rises” released, see the sexy image to the left, but a new trailer for “Batman: Arkham City” was also released, featuring the demented Riddler! The video and more information from today’s press release is available after the jump!

? The Riddler Trailer Revealed
Riddle me this – which Gotham City villain thinks he is smarter than the Bat?

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today released an all-new trailer for Batman: Arkham City featuring The Riddler – Gotham City’s most notorious villain with an obsessive-complusive need for attention. In Batman: Arkham City, The Riddler is raising the stakes and posing a physical threat not only to Batman, but to innocent civilians within Arkham City… will he succeed? Check out the trailer below:

Batman: Arkham City will be available from Oct. 20/21 in the US for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Games for Windows PC and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.

Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com to sign up to receive updates regarding the game and join the discussion on the community site at http://community.batmanarkhamcity.com to participate in forums, read upcoming developer diaries and stay abreast of all the latest Batman: Arkham City news.

without a fight, that is.
Local Congressman and lifelong dick-joke punch line, Anthony Weiner has got it hard these days. Weiner’s penetrating policies have always stroked his Republican opponents the wrong way while his public oral railings have stimulated his popularity among Democrats.

But Weiner now finds himself in a tight spot as a number of racy SEXTing pics have gobbed up the public eye in what is sure to be the money-shot of a promising political career. What with all the angry housewives and the GOPussies clambering for his resignation Weiner stays firm… “I will not resign, but I will give Royal Flush Magazine one last pic.”

To commemorate Sarah Palin’s Northeast American Tour, we the dirt bags at Royal Flush have decided to show our support by posting one of our lil’ Flush Faves…