Cross-posted from Technically Motivated – Original Link. Techie Jinji and Crimsonshade are the same person.

After multiple rumours, not to mention several hints by the company in recent weeks, it’s now confirmed that Valve is working on its own gaming computer to offically bring Steam – its popular gaming platform that brings a gaming library, store, acheivement system and storage (all online) into one convenient package – to the living room. And thanks to discussion from computer manufacturer Xi3, who are working on the custom PC, we now have some details regarding the planned product – codenamed “Piston” – and what will be going inside.

Given Valve’s public snubbing of Windows 8 for various restrictions over the sale of apps targeting the system’s new interface; and the launch in December of a beta version of Steam for Linux; it should come as no surprise that the system is expected to run a Linux-based Operating System – though which of the various kinds out there it will be, is as yet unclear – which will have Steam pre-installed and setup to run in Big Picture mode by default, offering a very TV-centric interface. As for asthetics, Piston will be coloured in the familiar charcoal grey typically associated with Valve’s software. The form factor, however, is unlikely to be anything typical, and may possibly consist of a four-inch cube-like shape with easily accessible and upgradable components – something of a hallmark of Xi3, who specialise in “developing micro-size modular computing without performance tradeoffs”.

Being designed to plug into a TV for use in the living room, the Piston will have a 1080p HDMI output jack for connecting any HD display. It will also contain eight USB ports, four using the old USB 2.0 standard and another four utilising the newer, faster 3.0 standard quickly finding favour in modern tech. In an interview with games site Polygon, Xi3 chief marketing officer David Politis also revealed that Piston will offer up to one terabyte of internal storage; and is based on the company’s X7A system.

The X7A system retails for $999 in the United States, which roughly equates to £622 at current rates; however, it’s likely Valve will attempt to lower this price in line with its own specifications; though the company has suggested they expect the computer to sell at a premium. Given the value of other computers within the same line from Xi3, however – the most basic of which being the entry-level X5A at $499, it’s unlikely the final price point of the Piston will be below a $500 or £300 level. So, would you pay that much for something like this?

The multifaceted device that first greeted the world at gamescom 2012 under the name “snakebyte eins” is now celebrating its world-premiere at CES 2013 in Las Vegas, as well as a new name, “unu^TM”. The pre-release version will be playable for the duration of the event.

What is unu ™ ?

unu™ is entertainment. unu™ is gaming. unu™ is different. Unlike previously announced and currently available Android-based gaming platforms, unu™offers a truly multifaceted experience. Whether in your lap as a tablet, in the docking station on the TV or right in front of you on the table, unu™ goes where you go, ready to be used wherever and however you want. Games, videos, music, apps, mobile surfing and email – unu™ provides the total package. Developed and designed entirely in Germany, unu™ draws on fifteen years of experience in the games industry.

With perfectly balanced components, unu™ enables users to experience their familiar media and games in totally new ways. The heart of unu™ is the tablet and its custom-coded user interface. But there’s more to the package: unu™ comes with a docking station, a game controller and an air mouse, opening up optimal gaming, media and smart TV experiences. Thanks to the docking station, the unu™ tablet can be quickly connected to the TV so that users can enjoy movies and music as well as games on the big screen. With the tablet docked, the user interface can be operated by the game controller or the air mouse.

The unu™ air mouse makes it possible to intuitively and comfortably interact with the user interface while sitting on the couch, just as easily as if you had the tablet in your hands. No other smart TV manufacturer has been able to offer that kind of ease of use. Touch-based games like Angry Birds can be comfortably played on the TV while relaxing on the couch. A full-fledged keyboard for surfing, writing email and posting to social media is integrated on the back of the unu™ air mouse.
When it comes to intense gaming experiences, the unu™ game controller has all the bases covered. Games optimized for controllers can be played as though they were real console games. snakebyte has been designing and manufacturing gaming peripherals for more than fifteen years and that wealth of experience shines though, reflected in the high-quality components employed. There are already many games with controller support and the number is continually growing. Thanks to an integrated button mapping app, games without native controller support can also be enjoyed with unu™ and the game controller.

Tablet. Gaming Console. Smart TV.
unu™ unites the worlds of tablets, gaming consoles and smart TVs. The heart of the unu™ concept is diversity. unu™ isn’t just a stationary gaming console like its competitors, unu™ is also a tablet that can be used while on the go, out in the back yard or curled up on the couch. But unu™ isn’t just a tablet. With its docking station and game controller, unu™ delivers a 100% authentic console experience on the TV. And thanks to its multimedia features and the wealth of digital content providers, like Netflix and Maxdome, unu™ is the television of tomorrow – a truly smart TV.

unu™ at CES 2013

Every day during CES 2013 in Las Vegas, unu™ will be playable at the snakebyte booth (LVCC, South Hall 2, Booth 25200). Appointments for personal presentations are also available.

You’ll find more info on Facebook on the official unu™ page:
www.facebook.com/Unutablet

Watch the CES 2013 trailer on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqwlOHVP9q4

Early Adopters Receive NINJA MASTER’S Game Card, While Supplies Last!

FUNSTOCK (in partnership with BLAZE)  today announced the NEOGEO X GOLD Limited Edition entertainment system for the European, Australian, Russia, Africa and Middle Eastern Territories is in-stock and shipping now. The NEOGEO X GOLD Limited Edition will include a limited edition game card to accompany the 20 classic NEOGEO® AES games already pre-loaded on the NEOGEO X Handheld, at no additional cost.

Early adopters and fans who order now will receive the highly anticipated NEOGEO X GOLD and a limited edition NINJA MASTER’S game card for use with the NEOGEO X Handheld (while supplies last).
Originally released in arcades and on the NEOGEO console in 1996, NINJA MASTER’S features 12 playable characters, and lightning-fast 2D fighting action that allows players to switch between hand-to-hand and weapon-based combat on the fly, offering huge combo counts and multiple styles of play. Choose the fighter that suits your skill level and play style and defeat all challengers in this ninja-themed fighter from ADK and SNK.

The NEOGEO X GOLD Limited Edition includes:

• The NEOGEO X Handheld – 4.3” LCD screen, stereo speakers, 16:9 and 4:3 display options
• The NEOGEO X Station – houses NEOGEO X Handheld for charging and audio/video output capabilities via HDMI and composite cables (for a true “classic” experience)
• One NEOGEO X Arcade Stick – Authentic arcade experience, for use with the NEOGEO X Station
• 20 Pre-Loaded Classic NEOGEO® AES games:Limited Edition Bonus: NINJA MASTER’S NEOGEO X Game Card

3 COUNT BOUT
ART OF FIGHTING
ALPHA MISSION II
BASEBALL STARS II
CYBER LIP
FATAL FURY
FATAL FURY SPECIAL
THE KING OF FIGHTERS ‘95
KING OF THE MONSTERS
LAST RESORT
LEAGUE BOWLING
MAGICIAN LORD
METAL SLUG
MUTATION NATION
NAM 1975
PUZZLED
REAL BOUT – FATAL FURY SPECIAL
SAMURAI SHODOWN II
SUPER SIDEKICKS
WORLD HEROES PERFECT

About the NEOGEO X GOLD:
Following the 20th anniversary of the ground breaking NEOGEO AES console, the NEOGEO X GOLD entertainment system provides players with all of the features of a home arcade and the convenience of a handheld gaming device. The NEOGEO X GOLD Limited Edition is available NOW for a suggested retail price of E199(Euros) in the European Union and £175 (pounds) in the United Kingdom .
The NEOGEO X GOLD Limited Edition is available from BLAZE’s official UK partner http://www.funstock.co.uk/retro-gaming/neo-geo-x  NOW.
Distributors in key territories such as Spain and France will make their own announcements. Please note that BLAZE has official distribution arrangements for France, Spain and Switzerland, so please see www.neogeox.com for details of how to order from those territories.
For the latest news as it is released, distributors  and for additional information regarding the NEOGEO X GOLD entertainment system and the NEOGEO X Handheld, please visit: www.NEOGEOX.com.

Doom 4, which is expected to be the next big first-person shooter from seasoned developer id Software, seems to be headed to both Sony and Microsoft’s next-generation consoles.

Lead programmer Brian Harris hinted at the game’s development through, of course, his Twitter account. His Linkedin profile has him down as the lead behind Doom 4 until January 2012, when he moved over to Doom 3 BFG. A single Tweet seems to suggest that he’s now back on the game.

“Currently home taking care of a new baby girl,” Harris said when asked about his current work situation. “When I get back, I’ll help port the big project to new platforms.”

While he never actually typed out “Doom 4,” his Tweet makes it sound like he’s moving that game from current gen to what’s coming next. So, it may be a launch title that straddles the technological fence.

We’ll have to just wait and see if this comes be at a later date.

Are you excited to get your hands on Doom 4? If so, would you rather play it on a new set of consoles, or what you have? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below!

Worldwide simultaneous release for the first ever 3D Pokemon games, coming to the 3DS in October.

Nintendo has just announced Pokemon X and Y, two brand-new entries in the main Pokemon series coming to 3DS worldwide in October.

These are the first ever 3D entries in the main Pokemon series, built around the features of the 3DS hardware. A short video of the game was shown in a Nintendo Direct broadcast today, showing off three new starter Pokemon, colourful 3D environments and some old favourite monsters rendered in 3D.

The three new starter Pokemon are grass-type chipmunk-with-a-hat Chespin, fire-type foxy Fennekin and water-type frog-thing Froakie. This is massively exciting for anyone into Pokemon – we’ve been waiting fifteen years for a real 3D Pokemon adventure.

Iwata also announced that Pokemon X and Y will be coming to gamers worldwide at the same time – October 2013 – dispensing with the long localisation times that have traditionally gone hand-in-hand with the series.