Ever since the release of Avatar it seems like every big budget title needs to be released in 3D. 3D in the home has also been climbing since the demand for 3D enabled televisions are on the rise and the decrease in price over the last two years. Whether you like it or not 3D is becoming somewhat of a standard in production and will soon see it being offered on some of your favorite television programming. For now however not much is offered and the question is what if you wanted to watch your existing 2D programming in 3D? 3D-Bee Home unit looks to be owners solution for enabling any of their 2D programming directly to 3D especially for gaming. So does it work? We’ve tested many of its features especially for gaming on a Panasonic GT-30 and here are our thoughts.

Hardware:

3D-Bee Unit: Has four 3D enabled HDMI ins and one out.

Remote: Has two 3D depth settings.

3D-Bee is a 2D to 3D real-time video conversion unit . Essentially it’ll make anything your watching in 2D into 3D. You maybe asking the question “well my tv already has a 2D-3D feature” but it is not like this. The unit knows how to correctly bring objects seen closer or solely in nature to the foreground while the rest appears in the background but that is just a quick example. Most if not all built in TV’s 2D-3D conversion mode has some deformity in the picture since the process of making it is not manual, it is automatic. The 3D-Bee while not processing anything either is using a estimation technology for the unit itself to produce a high quality 3D image.

Our testing began with some television programming. We watched True Blood, talk shows and sports. The unit has a great way of keeping things in line and giving you clarity in 3D from a picture that was originally 2D. Even golf which gets tricky with the TV’s built in converter since the grass pans across the entire screen, it seems to do well on the 3D-Bee.

Movies tested well for the unit. We tested Iron Man, Transformers and Kick Ass all on Blu-ray. These seem to do better in object separation and had moments of really coming together as a 3D image when converted. An example is when Iron Man was trying to outrun the jet fighters half way in the movie you can clearly see him as the foreground object while the jets were in the background.

Now our most important test was for gaming and the unit did fairly well as some did better then others. Since there are barely any games in 3D period this would seem like the perfect product to take advantage of. The games we tested were Split/Second, Halo Reach, L.A. Noire and Mortal Kombat. Split/Second and Halo Reach seemed to add depth in areas where you wouldn’t think of but in a good way, while Mortal Kombat added little depth with no real advantage of playing it converter.

The biggest advantage you can get from gaming with the unit is since it’s automatically converting to 3D none of the quality is being sacrificed as all the games that are 3D enabled do. That is because those games need to produce a left and right image for the 3D which is essentially processing the game twice and the 3D-Bee doesn’t actually process anything. Play with your Television’s 3D settings along with the 3D-Bee’s two setting to achieve a depth that suits you.

The unit isn’t without its faults and in most cases things that we would have liked to see in it. First thing to mention is that this is not going to replace content that is native to 3D as it does not compare well to the depth of watching something that is already in 3D. The unit seems to merely give you some depth and while there are two settings to add we wished there were even experimental modes of sorts to play around with. What you would want to pop forward or back for different content.

Since there is different forms of content you would be possibly using it for, it would have been great to see modes complement such. A TV, Movie and Game mode would have been great since they would act different. Gaming for example most the time has a fixed object in the center of the screen like racing and FSP’s. A mode where it would know or ask what it was to really pull forward could rival some things that were actually produced in 3D.

We’ve also found that the set-up for the unit should be done in a particular matter. When plugged in to our 3D enabled receiver it would not transfer all the audio sound from the content? So the best solution was to plug it in after the receiver then into the TV. The sound would also cut out on some of the TV content after you enabled the 3D on the unit but this wasn’t all the time. Since this is a new product some of this can actually be avoided in future models or updates.

3D-Bee is for alot of different people that want to enjoy 3D content they either can’t or that are looking for the best way that isn’t natively supported. I have already played some games and watched some movies in full with the unit on and am pleased with the results I get. The unit is currently priced at $399 which may be steep for those wanting 3D that is better then Tv’s built in 2D-3D converter but not near native 3D content. If your into 3D and have alot of content you would like to see that has no 3D options then this unit might be up your ally. I personally am impressed with it as 2D comes to life with the 3D-Bee like never before. I see myself using the unit for quite sometime and hope more options and features become available soon. For more information go to their official website here.

The Nintendo 3DS has been one of the most hyped products in a while, not only is it Nintendo‘s next generation handheld system but it’s also glassesless 3D. The first thing most people will notice about the 3DS is that it physically looks a lot like a regular DS however there a plenty of changes on the system. The top screen is now a wide screen format, a new circle pad is added alongside the traditional D-pad and there is a 3D slider on the right side of the top screen.

The body of the 3DS feels solid, similar to the previous DS. The buttons click down and the d-pad feels like any other DS. The circle pad works really well, it adds a lot better handle on controls. The shoulder buttons also click too so overall the buttons feel good and is an improvement over the regular DS.

The screens on the 3DS have nice look to them, the bottom one is like the previous DS with it’s touch screen. The top screen which is in 3D is widescreen so it looks bigger then the previous DS. The screens are bright and very colorful, the resolution of both screens are both higher then the original DS.

There are three cameras on the 3DS, one front-facing and two rear-facing for the 3D pictures. The cameras are very low in quality and almost always look grainy, but for basic pictures and AR games they are good enough.

The actual interface of the 3DS is a big improvement over the DS the home screen is an expanded version of the DSi’s, players can scroll through the applications and games loaded onto the 3DS. The 3DS comes with a variety of software already loaded a new Mii maker allows you to create a Mii like the Wii, and a new feature called Mii Plaza allows you to use street pass and play a few mini games with your Mii. There are also a few games that come with the 3DS, one is AR Games that allows you to play an augmented reality game using a special card, the other game is FaceRaiders which is a basic shooter that has you shooting at face through the 3Ds camera. Both games are good ways to show of the hardware‘s power but they are tech demos so they won’t keep your interest for too long. One thing to point out about the 3Ds software is that not everything is available yet, the virtual console store isn’t accessible yet as is a few other things Nintendo promises will be coming up soon.

The battery life of the 3Ds is probably it’s weakest point, with 3D enabled you’ll probably get about three to five hours, without 3D enabled you’ll get about five hours however this is definitely on the low end of portable devices, although it’s not very big draw back it you will notice the 3DS drain it’s battery much faster then the old DS did.

The 3D is the big draw of the 3DS of course and it does work, seeing games playing in 3D without glasses is definitely an interesting experience. The 3D effect is different for all people, so you’ll have to play around with the 3D slider which controls the depth of the 3D until you find a good spot for you. But when you effect the 3D screen aligned perfectly the effect is really nice.

Overall the 3DS is a good follow up to the DS but it has some issues, mainly it has a relatively short battery life. Also the price of $250 might be too high for many people, especially considering the launch line up isn’t very strong. However it’s a big technical achievement, the first portable system that gives players 3D games without glasses. The 3DS isn’t for everyone at the moment but if you want to experiences glassesless 3D gaming the 3DS is highly recommended.

Mickey Mouse used to be a very big mascot in video games but he hasn’t seen much action in the past few years. But Disney looks to make a brand new adventure for the Mouse with Epic Mickey. Not only is Mickey back in the spotlight but now he’s in a darker toned adventure that will appeal to both kids and adults who remember the famous mouse from their childhood.

The overall story of Epic Mickey is that Mickey finds himself in a warped version of Disney World called Wasteland, here Mickey’s brother Oswald rules and causes many problems for Mickey. Along with all the problems in Wasteland Mickey has to destroy the Blot a creature that causes a lot of mischief himself. Once Mickey gets into Wasteland he realizes that the place is not only a twisted place but home to forgotten and abandoned characters. Here the story actually gets pretty deep and makes players really think about these characters that they probably never heard of or seen in any cartoon. One of the more interesting aspects of the game is the cutscenes which play usually when showing a new area or character to advance the story. The art style is very unique and fits in well with the overall setting of the story.

The gameplay is where Epic Mickey begins to have some drawbacks, the paint and thinner mechanic that’s been talked about before is interesting but limiting, things can only be painted and thinned in predetermined areas and most times its obvious where the action needs to be done on. There are many choices that players can make in the game that will later make a difference but none of them are that major that the overall story or world will change, most of the differences that are made are fairly small. Also the actual combat is not very exciting, its standard platforming action but there could have been a lot more variety. The bosses are exciting however and add much needed variety and the way you fight them actually has a fairly big impact on how the world gets saved.

The control is also a little loose and doesn’t always work the way you want it to work and can actually hurt the gameplay. This can also be because of the camera, it is one of the main broken parts of Epic Mickey and almost makes a big enough impact to the gameplay that it would hurt it a lot, but thankfully the camera and controls don’t get too bad, but they are noticeable.

The 2D platforming was another main draw to Epic Mickey, players would be able to play through some of the most classic cartoons Mickey had been in. These parts are actually really interesting at first but after a few times they start to lose their interest and eventually becomes just another part of the game. The effort put into them though is apparent however and definitely deserves points for effort.

Overall Epic Mickey is an above average platformer and one of the best games for the Wii this year. There are some technical issues that get in the way sometimes but almost every other aspect of the game is solid. The overall concept of Epic Mickey is really a unique twist, and the graphical style is high up there with some of the best games even outside of the Wii’s library. However it never adds up to being an instant classic which many were hyping the game to be, instead we have a really solid game that many people of all ages can enjoy especially if they are fans of Mickey Mouse.

Overall = 8.4

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Sonic has been on a slow road to recovery in past year, when plans we’re made to bring Sonic back to his 2D roots fans hoped for the best. However Sonic Colors might just be taking a bigger step in the right direction than Sonic 4 episode 1.

Sonic Colors was relatively quiet until it was released a few weeks ago. The game was shown at several events and was talked about a little, however it was easy to ignore the game because at first glance it looked like the other below average 3D sonic games. However Sonic Colors is easily one of the better Sonic games to be released in the last few years.

The story is a very random one, and obviously only exists to setup the game, Sonic finds himself in a space amusement park made by Dr. Robotnik, yes I’m going to call him that, and it’s up to Sonic to figure out what the villain is up to. The story is actually not as bad as the past few Sonic games but unfortunately it’s still close to their annoying level. Either way the story is hardly ever important in a Sonic especially this one.

Sonic Color’s main strength is it’s gameplay as it should be and this title definitely makes a strong attempt. The main addition to the overall Sonic gameplay are Wisps, each one gives Sonic power for some time and each one gives a unique twist in the game. Sonic Color’s is both a 3D and 2D game so there is plenty of variety in the basic platforming as well. Both 3D and 2D parts of the game play relatively well, the 2D is similar to what you would expect from a 2D Sonic game, and the 3D parts focus more on Sonic’s speed. It’s a good balance and plays well even though it might not impress it’s at least done correct which is saying enough for a Sonic game on the Wii.

The graphics and audio are all around average, the levels are really colorfully and have a nice design to them. Although not technically a high powered graphic game it still looks really nice for a Wii game. The audio is similar, the music is catchy and as with most Sonic games done well, unfortunately the funny sounding voice overs are done in Sonic Colors as well.

Overall Sonic Colors is one of the better Sonic games in the past several years, it’s an amazing game but it’s no where near the level of the past few titles in the series. Some parts of the game are actually done really well and might even surprise those who think Sonic Colors is just another below average title for the Wii. If you’ve been waiting for a decent Sonic game then Sonic Colors is worth a look.

Overall = 7.6

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There are now countless third party companies developing controllers, and accessories for the Wii. Most of these products can range from good alternatives to needless and broken. However Snakebyte might have made one of the best deals a third party developer can make with the Premium Wii remote XL.

One of the main aspects about the product that will grab your attention is that this remote has the Wii MotionPlus technology built into it, already making it a good deal. After trying out the controller on a few games we’ve noticed that it works exactly as it should, a feature that is sometimes uncommon with third party hardware. However after opening up the box we realized that the remote came with it’s own batteries and not just the cheap kinds either, the remote is packed in with two rechargeable batteries. The batteries themselves are high quality ones, but what surprised us more was that a usb cord was also packed in with the remote that allows you to recharge the batteries while they are in the remote. This is a clear example that the developer wanted to really stand out from the crowd.

The design of the remote itself is surprisingly close to the design of the actual Nintendo Remote, the buttons don’t feel different even though there are a few minor changes to the design, it’s still close enough that you won’t really feel the difference when using it. One other main thing that caught our eye was that this remote had an external sync button meaning you don’t have to open up the remote to press the button every time you need to sync up the remote to the system, a simple feature that makes a big difference.

Overall the Snakbyte Premium Wii remote XL is one of the best deals you can get when looking for a new Wii remote, it has the Wii MotionPlus technology already built in and has rechargeable batteries. On top of this features its cheaper than the official Nintendo Wii remote making it highly recommended.

A few years ago the Metroid series finished a three part adventure in the Metroid Prime trilogy, the game focused heavily on bringing classic Metroid gameplay to a 3D enviornment and brought Samus back into the mainstream. Now a different developer, Team Ninja looks to expand Samus’s story and give players a new experience that brings old school Metroid gameplay together with her latest 3D adventure.

The first thing everyone will realize when they start up the game is that this is not a typical Nintendo game, while so many of the company’s games keep their general format Metroid: Other M completely branches out, mainly through the fact that it has an expansive story, something that’s almost unheard of in a Nintendo game. The game has a cinematic feel to it from the very start, Samus’s back story is slowly explored as she begins her next adventure right after Super Metroid. Throughout the game in-game and CG cutscenes look back on Samus’s time involved with the military and her relationships with other soliders and her commanding officer. It’s a nice change to see a classic Nintendo character to get a full featured back story and almost feels like players are finally meeting Samus for the first time. One thing to note however is that the voice acting is not always incredibly done, some lines sound forced while others sound very monotone, but overall the story and dialog are done well.

Gameplay is also a significant change from Samus’s previous adventures. The camera angle is fixed to it’s own location so it gives the feeling of playing a sidescroller however the environments are fully in 3D and players can explore in all directions. Metroid: Other M uses a unique control mechanic that hasn’t been used much before, the game limits players to using just the Wiimote. The Wiimote is held on it’s side during regular gameplay, however when you point the Wiimote at the screen the view will go into first person mode and allow players to see through Samus’s eyes. Important to note however is the fact that you can’t walk around in first person, so the ability is usually used to shoot things with precision but not for long battles. Although the controls work well for the most part, switching into first person is somewhat cumbersome, sometimes the Wiimote can get stuck if players don’t point it directly towards the sensor, and even when it does work smoothly it can take a second or two to adjust to the change in perspective. This can slow player’s reaction time dramatically in a fast paced fight.

Graphics are done very well considering the Wii’s limited graphic capabilities, environments look nice and clean and there a few nice details across the game. It’s no where near being on the same level as an HD game but it is definitely one of the better looking games on Nintendo’s machine. Some might argue that the Prime series looks slightly better but overall it’s still a good effort from Team Ninja.

Sound is where things are on different levels, the sound effects are nicely done and the music has some surprises as well, however the voice acting quality takes a dip on several occasions. In a game where the story is the central point the voice acting should be at top quality and several times I found myself very aware of the voice actor’s flaws. Still though points need to be given for effort, this is the first time a Nintendo game has had such an extensive amount of dialogue.

Overall Metroid: Other M succeeds in what it attempted to do, give one of Nintendo’s main characters a back story and explore her emotions. The story has a few twists and although the cutscenes can be frequent at times they are interesting and engaging. The gameplay that accompanies the story is by nature limiting, using the nunchuck would have opened up more possibilities and would have provided a better way of switching from first person to third person view but as it is it still works good. Metroid: Other M provides a unique and quality experience for Wii owners. However its not quite up to the status of other big Nintendo games but is still a very well done game that all Wii owners should check out.

Overall = 8.5

Mario has had a big presence on the Wii more so than possibly any other Nintendo console, with Super Mario Galaxy and New Super Mario Bros. Wii Nintendo has shown that they want the plumber to make his presence known not only to Nintendo fans but to the video game industry.

The original Super Mario Galaxy was a great title that is still considered one of the best games for the Wii, combing classic Mario platforming with gravity phyisics the game made a winning combination. However now Nintendo looks to surpass the original in every way, although many gamers were skeptical that the sequel would not be a significant improvement over the orignal however Nintendo has proven them wrong.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is built off the original’s game engine so everything that made the first game great is still here, however the developers have learned from the few mistakes they made the first time and tweaked them all to near perfection and it’s becuase of this fact the game reaches a level in quality few other games reach on any console.

One of the first things gamers will notice is how streamlined the game is, at the very beginning of Galaxy 2 you’re given control of Mario in a 2D format similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, here the game teaches the controls of the game and begins the events of the story. Also the Hub world is now gone, replacing it is the world map style similar to that of Super Mario Bros. 3. These changes might initally seem like the game is being aimed at casual gamers rather than hardcore gamers but the changes are for the better, anything streamlined doesn’t really feel as if the game is only focusing on casual players but instead just helping them to get into the motions of the game.

The basic gameplay is still the same from the original Galaxy, Mario has his usual platform jumping skills and he must get through a variety of levels that and collect stars along the way. Most of the levels have the gravity engine as the focus, players will be jumping from planets and platforms all with their own gravitational pull for those that didn’t play the first Galaxy, this was a big feat in platform gaming and it could take some getting used to.

The graphics in Galaxy 2 are similar to part 1 which is no surprise, the game isn’t HD by any means but it’s still great to look at and probably the best graphics that the Wii has ever delivered. Nintendo obviously added as much polish as it could so that the game would run smoothly as possible while still keeping it’s graphics pleasant to look at.

Sound is also done with care in Galaxy 2, almost all of the musical scores fit in well with the levels and mood of the game. The music really gives an energy to Mario’s adventure maybe even more so than in previous titles. Sound effects are also nice, non of the characters have any actual lines of spoken dialog but that’s expected from a Mario game, however the sounds of all that’s happening around you is enough to give your ears a treat to listen to.

Perhaps what makes Super Mario Galaxy 2 so good is because it appeals to casual gamers and hardcore gamers. Casual gamers will like how easy it is to get into and since the game only requires about half the stars in the game to actually beat it the game becomes very accessible to anyone. However hardcore gamers will enjoy the game too because of the challenges, some levels are almost brutally difficult to complete and will be a real opportunity for gamers to measure up their true skills.

Overall Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of the best games for the Wii and probably one of the best platforms in this generation of consoles. Everything about the game is polished, presentation, graphics and sound are all well done. However most important the basic gameplay is a solid foundation that the developers have used to make some of the most creative levels and challenges in any video game. If you have a Wii Super Mario Galaxy 2 is highly recommended.

Overall = 9.0

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Trauma Team is the newest entry in the medical series from Atlus, originally started on the DS with Trauma Center the games have expanded to be solid titles for both Nintendo consoles. Now with Trauma Team the developers have added all new gameplay types to vary the experience the series is known for.

Trauma Team is made up of six different gameplay modes each with it’s own main character, the different modes range from fast paced and exciting to slow and repetitive so most players will find their two or three favorite modes and leave the others off until they have to play through them since the game gives you the option to play the missions in any order. As players complete each mission cut scenes are unlocked to push the storyline forward, much like medical dramas on TV the doctors of Trauma Team all have their own personal issues that they must deal with as they go through the daily stresses of being a doctor. The story will feel familiar to those who watch anime, the same types of characters and quirky humor that is usually found in Japanese shows is present in Trauma Team.

The graphics in Trauma Team are fairly simple, the cut scenes are in a comic book style which works fairly well, unfortunately the animations are limited and could have used a little more polish. The actual gameplay graphics in the surgery modes are also simple with only vague colors and shapes representing actual organs and other body parts.

Sound is overall ok, the elevator music in the slower missions fits in well, as much as the exciting tunes during the surgeries. However the voice acting could use some improvement, a lot of the dialog is delivered as if they were being read directly off the script, a little more acting and feeling could have helped the story a lot.

The basic gameplay mechanics for the surgery levels are still the same from previous entries of the series so fans will feel at home with half of the modes right away. Forensics and Diagnostics are more like adventure games where players need to put the pieces of the problem together in order complete the mission. Although these levels were placed in to slow the pace of the game a little they slow it down a little too much which could make finishing each mission a chore. Overall though Trauma Team still delivers on it’s promise in creating a simple doctor simulation.

The biggest problem with Trauma Team is that it could have been a lot better had the presentation been more robust and the slower modes had been refined a little. One interesting thing to point out is that the game is retailed at a budget price of $40 which does help sweeten the deal. As it is Trauma Team is a solid title for the Wii, fans and new comers who are interested in playing doctor or house will enjoy it.

Overall = 7.7

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If you own an Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii its no surprise that with normal use of the controller, the rubber on the thumb sticks start to wear off. Those crisp little buds on the surface of the Xbox 360 controller, ridges of the PS3 and Wii controller will be no worn in only a couple of months. Caps4Stix rejuvenates your thumb sticks with their analog stick covers.

Caps4Stix are soft rubber thumb grips for your analog controllers and due to the soft grippy buds on the ends of the rubber, it will completely eliminate
the problem of your thumbs slipping off the stick during game play. We tested it for several different controls and consoles, our first was the Xbox 360. A snug fit and ideal use for the Xbox 360. It feels much better then the original analog grips, example when playing Modern Warfare 2 it added a little more precision with movements. On the PS3 since the analog sticks come up the buds on the covers pop out. It took us a second to get used to this feeling but again felt better then the original analog sticks.

These covers feel very natural and should have little to no slipping issues. They also work for various different controls on different consoles as well, the nunchuk for the Wii works great as well, however older controller thumb sticks may get stuck around the edges when fully rotating. That is because they evidently make the analog sticks bigger since this is a cover for the existing ones.

Overall these are a must for anyone that want as much precision as possible during gameplay. Whether you have an old or new controller they are definitely better then the factory made analog sticks. They will last longer and even when you get to the point where it will be worn out they are better then the original rubber. For about $1.99 you can’t go wrong with this product.

Pros: Feels great, Better feedback and easy to mount.

Con: Could use more colors

There were plenty of gaming goodies all over the show floor at Pax East 2010. One gaming goodness that stood out to me were Gunnar’s Digital Performance Eyeware. These glasses are designed to ease the relentless stream of information that comes from computers, tvs, and handheld screens to your eyes. We were going to use them for gaming as that is one of their main focuses. I actual bought a pair (the Weezer model) because I was in dire need of lenses to help with my constant eyestrain from monitors and gaming. Were Gunnar eyeware really the new gaming glasses they say they are?

For starters, Gunnar claims that these glasses reduce “Digital Eye Fatigue” and “Computer Vision Syndrome, so let us review the features to familiarize ourselves to understand the full spectrum. In terms of comfortability, they feel very natural when put on. Our glasses were ultra-light stainless steel frames, so they are flexible and can be easily adjusted. They are not heavy and have a very snug fit. Wearing them will help you appreciate the vision you already have and aware of how sensitive they are by reducing the artificial light that comes in.

Gunner utilizes innovative i-AMP Lens Technology. The four technologies used for their glasses are diAMIX lens material, i-FL lens coating, FRACTYL lens geometry and iONik lens tints. Each pair provides its own unique aspect and overall experience. When in use, you will see a difference because they refocus your sight and give everything a magnified appearance. Believe it or not this helps, giving your eyes a break from having to keeping focusing, putting less stress on them.

The lenses have a yellow hue, and is used to help your eyes stay relaxed when viewing monitors at relatively short distance. What make monitors damaging to your eyes is that the artificial light is constanly going through your eyes. What the yellow hue does is when the light passes through, your eyes have a much easier time processing the light. After taking them off, I notice my eyes were dialaiting and watering to refocus which shows how much we go through to process this information.

What makes Gunnar’s glasses so great is how light they are. When I wore them it was easy to forget I had them on (aside of everything looking slightly yellow of course.), my ears don’t feel starined from the weight at all. This seemed perfect as I managed to play a number of games like Modern Warfare 2, Final Fantasy 13, etc. for an extented period of time without feel a hint of eyestrain.

The Gunnar glasses are a vital asset to my gaming experience. Prices range from $70 up to $150. The differences in price vary from style and the quality of the frames, the lense quality are pretty much the same. Any choice would be a wise investment. We all know that prolonged periods of viewing monitors can damage your eyes in the long term. With Gunnar’s glasses, you can rest assure that your eyes are well taken care of. Depending on the kind of gamer or computer user you are, this won’t appeal to everyone but once you try them you will definitely notice the difference.

>Side Note – The glasses can be prescriptioned filled at selected Gunnar retailers, they also have an outdoor edition and have clear lenses as well, to learn more about Gunnars‘s products, go to gunnars.com