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The 10 worst games of 2011

Oh, dear. As much as I love presenting my picks for the 10 best games of the year, there's also a certain morbid joy in divulging the year's worst games and trends.

Just like the film industry, a lot of titles get released in a single calendar year. There's a few winners, a whole lot of stuff that falls somewhere in the middle, and a select few that stand out as the worst of the worst.

So sit back, relax, and be proud you didn't buy any of these truly awful games. And if you did, well, I'm sorry. … Read more

The Nintendo 3DS finally gets Game Boy Advance games

How to get Game Boy Advance games on your Nintendo 3DS:

Travel back in time to when the Nintendo 3DS was $250. Buy one. Travel back forward in time to December 16, 2011, look in the Nintendo eShop for "settings," click "your downloads," and collect your 10 classic GBA games.

Back when Nintendo first announced a 3DS price drop, early adopters of the Nintendo 3DS were understandably frustrated. However, those early customers became "Ambassadors" entitled to 20 free downloadable games--10 NES, 10 Game Boy Advance--that Nintendo promised would be available before the end of … Read more

Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Pro launching Feb. 7 for $20

Nintendo 3DS owners who are looking for a right thumbstick will have the chance to buy one in February.

The game company announced yesterday that its Circle Pad Pro accessory, which attaches to the 3DS base and adds a right thumbstick and shoulder buttons, will launch on February 7. The accessory will set customers back $20.

Surprisingly, the attachment will be available exclusively at GameStop stores. Nintendo didn't give any indication why it would offer an exclusive on its accessory, but the move might have something to do with the small number of games that will support the Circle … Read more

Nintendo 3DS gets free airport Wi-Fi

Fasten your seatbelts, proprietors of the Nintendo 3DS.

Boingo Wireless, a provider for Wi-Fi at 42 airports in North America, is now providing free hot-spot Internet access for the 3DS gaming console.

Traditionally, getting on a Wi-Fi connection at an airport through your laptop or tablet is depressing. Many of you have had that experience of wasting dozens of dollars on a mediocre Internet connection only used for a few hours at best.

I always groan when I have to pull out the credit card and type in my financial details into the antiquated wireless authorization system, especially after spending … Read more

Nintendo 3DS update adds 3D video recording

How many pictures have you taken with your Nintendo 3DS? I haven't taken all that many, but I'll admit I'm curious about Nintendo's software update, available today, which finally adds 3D video recording to the 3DS' bag of tricks.

There is a catch: only 10 minutes of 3D video footage can be captured on the system at once. However, the 3DS can also record its video in stop-motion mode. Homemade 3D clay animation on your desk? Yes, except it's not clear if these video files can be exported or shared once recorded.

A few other minor system update tweaks include Nintendo eShop credit card payments for partial purchases (finally), and new updates for the Find Mii and Puzzle Swap games in the Mii Plaza. More importantly, where are the Game Boy Advance free game downloads for Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors? For that, I guess we'll have to wait.… Read more

By sea or by air with Mario Kart 7

The 3DS certainly seems to be on a bit of a hot streak lately with Super Mario 3D Land and now Mario Kart 7. While the franchise has been a Nintendo staple for almost two decades, we were curious to see if MK7 had enough fuel in the tank to impress us all over again.

We've taken our laps with the game and rounded up our final thoughts:

Jeff: Other than the brilliant use of 3D in Super Mario 3D Land, I'm not sure there's a better genre to show off the illusion than racing games. In Mario Kart 7 the effect is fantastic, but perhaps not as vital to the experience like it is in other games. Regardless, MK7 is the next game to buy behind 3D Land, successfully delivering the one-two combo punch the Nintendo 3DS has been so desperately seeking.… Read more

Gaming holiday gift picks

Everyone has a gamer on their list this holiday season, so make sure to give my gaming guide a close look when choosing the right gift.

While Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 remain as the two dominating consoles, there's still a few titles for Nintendo platforms I recommend, including games for the 3DS, which has finally gotten some quality software in recent weeks.

After you've checked out my picks for games on each console, be sure to visit my accessories guide as well for gift ideas for the gamer who already has all the top titles!

Finally, if you're starting from scratch, I've updated my console buying guide for anyone who's just first getting into gaming this season. … Read more

Synology DiskStation DS712+ review: Best dual-bay NAS server to date

If you're in the market for a dual-bay network storage device, Synology's DiskStation DS712+ server will make the best investment.

Priced at around $500 with no storage included, the server is not cheap, but it's definitely worth every penny for those who want (and are able) to get the most out of home or small-business networking.

Like other NAS servers from Synology, the DS712+ runs a Linux-based operating system, called DiskStation Manager, and offers an incredible number of features for both home and business use.… Read more

Could a 3D iPad succeed where the Nintendo 3DS failed?

Would you buy an iPad 3D?

That's the question consumers might have been asking themselves next year, according to a report from Business Insider. But according to the blog's source, Apple decided to nix plans for an iPad 3 with 3D over concerns that the device could become "a gimmick."

Take that rumor, of course, with the usual grain of salt. Apple hasn't confirmed it'll be launching another iPad, nor has the company spoken of an iPad with 3D. And Business Insider's source is a degree or two removed, though the blog says … Read more