gamestop

Google and gaming

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

Google wants to create a social network to compete with Facebook Yahoo Japan chooses Google for internet search engine and advertising Facebook is testing a new instant account destruction feature Google Maps for Android updates to 4.4 with helpful new features Amazon connects with Facebook for gift recommendations Gamestop acquires Kongregate to enhance the gaming experience

30 best iPad games

Editors' note: This post was updated March 26, 2013, with five new games.

Wondering which games to buy for your iPad? Well, we've taken our best shot at putting together a list of top titles that we feel meet the criteria for a good iPad game.

And just what does make a good iPad game? We debated it for a while and narrowed it down to these five factors:

It's gotta be fun (obviously). Ergonomics (Are the gameplay and control scheme well-suited to the iPad?) Uniqueness (Though many iPad games play well as upconverted, higher-resolution versions of their iPhone predecessors, we respect new, iPad-exclusive games.) Value (Some of the best iPad games currently carry high price tags, but we also tried to include titles we thought were simply a good value.) Showoff quotient (Extra points if the game flat-out looks good, or makes efficient use of the Retina display.)

… Read more

Top 30 iPad games we'd like to see

The iPad may not have a built-in camera, multitasking capabilities, or support for Flash, but it does have a 9.7-inch high-resolution touch screen and a faster processor than an iPhone 3GS. Though most games for the iPhone and iPod Touch should run on the iPad, many developers are rapidly creating updated "HD" versions of their existing games to take advantage of the device's improved resolution and slightly altered layout.

From the first moment the iPad was announced, we started imagining which games could benefit most from going XL Apple-style. Of course, it remains to be seen … Read more

Xbox 360-branded USB sticks fool no one

Last week we told you about a pending update to the Xbox 360's firmware that will allow owners to use USB flash drives as additional storage for media and game saves. Reinforcing that news today comes word of Xbox 360-branded USB sticks listed on Gamestop for preorder.

According to CNET sister site Gamespot, drives will be sold in 8GB ($40) and 16GB ($70) capacities, however their pricing raises some concern; it seems the USB flash drives will go for twice what normal ones cost.

So what's the incentive to buy an Xbox 360 USB drive? You'll get … Read more

The 404 426: Where we whisper sweet nothings

Nothing can compare to someone whispering sweet nothings in your ear...unless that person is Wilson Tang...in which case you should probably pick up the phone and quickly dial 911. The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is coming to a close in New York, but there's one more runway show that we don't think got the attention it deserved: the Snuggie! The blanket with sleeves somehow rose to ridiculous popularity and became an actual phenomenon, and the company is trying to continue its revenue stream by introducing a new "urban jungle" line of robes featuring zebra and leopard prints. I managed to get my hands on a a Snuggie of my own and we each take turns trying it on before brainstorming our own ideas for Snuggie customization.

We also lament the passing of 960 Blockbuster video rental stores, all sentenced to die by the end of 2010. The company obviously suffered at the hands of free, legit streaming-video sites like Hulu and even network homepages, but CNET's own Don Reisinger reports that over 18 percent of Blockbuster's stores aren't turning a profit, so the company is practically forced to cut back on locations. We can't say that we're surprised, especially since none of us has actually stepped foot in a Blockbuster in awhile, but there's still hope for the company in the form of small rental kiosks to be placed in stores throughout the country.

The final big news item today is the debut of Google's newest RSS reader ripoff, also known as Fast Flip. As Rafe Needleman reports, the service is essentially a digital version of the old microfilm readers in that the service presents screenshots of news articles in a horizontal landscape layout. Readers can preview the first page of news stories categorized by popularity, recent views, topics, etc... but the odd part is that none of the hyperlinks actually work. Instead, clicking anywhere on the page takes you to the original article landing page. Our initial reaction is wondering about this new relationship between Google Fast Flip and the actual Web publishers. We like the ability to read a quick snippet of news and quickly scroll through several news sites at once, but the horizontal scrolling is too limiting. Listen to the show to hear more complaints without solutions.

EPISODE 426 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

BOL 1042: Attack of the BelBots

We learn that not only is a botnet using Twitter to store some of its data but that botnet follow Veronica. Who is a bot herself. We also ponder why leaked pictures of the Dell smartphone are so blurry. And bad news folks. Looks like no tablet for the Apple announcement, but it sounds like it will be in September.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 1042

Dell’s first phone spied on web http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/08/14/dell_smartphone_pictures/

Apple planning September event? http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10309110-37.html… Read more

Inside CNET Labs 49: My name was Brian McGee

Since Dong is still away in Vietnam, we discuss just how hot he must be right now, and I mean literally temperature hot. We all know figuratively hawt, right ladies? All four of you?

Anyway, I tell a story involving GameStop, a Wii, and bad customer service. Also, why Palm Pre testing is dumb and time consuming.

Dong shows us that he's still the best at putting our audience to sleep as he talks about the Verizon Mifi 2200 Mobile hot spot.

This is our final prerecorded week! Next week, we return live! If by "live" I … Read more

Good-bye games in boxes? Xbox 360 to get full game downloads

Gamestop might be king of the hill today, but it could be Tower Records tomorrow. After its E3 press conference, Microsoft announced during a press lunch that full game downloads will be available on-demand starting late summer. Those games include Bioshock, Assassin's Creed, and Oblivion, all full-disc experiences.

On August, 30 titles will be available at the start of the service. It's not clear yet whether these will be "classic" 360 titles or will also expand to cover newer holiday releases. Considering the bandwidth drain this will already cause, it seems likely the supply will be (… Read more

Bees to GameStop: Stop selling bad 'bee' games or else!

Customers planning to do a little game shopping at a New York City GameStop this weekend were instead welcomed by their future insect overlords.

According to a WABC-TV report, this Memorial Day weekend, employees at a GameStop in New York City's Union Square were trapped inside for several hours thanks to, as they put it, a "bee infestation."

A swarm of bees surrounded the store's entrance and prevented employees from leaving and customers from entering, forcing the workers to close the store temporarily as they waited for help to arrive.

WABC-TV was purportedly given the runaround … Read more