Facebook AI turns real people into controllable game characters

Facebook's AI Research team has created an AI called Vid2Play that can extract playable characters from videos of real people, creating a much higher-tech version of '80s full-motion video (FMV) games like Night Trap. The neural networks can analyze...

Atari 2600 Returns as Handheld Console and New Plug-and-play Joystick

If you want to relive some of that ’80s gaming glory you had on the Atari, there’s are a couple of new ways to enjoy that, courtesy of PQube. For starters, the Atari Retro Handheld system features a 2.4″ LCD screen, looks inspired by the classic console, and comes packed with 50 games inside.

When you want to play on a bigger screen it has a TV output as well. For those times you’d rather play with the traditional control, the Atari Retro Plug and Play Joystick looks and feels just like the old joystick from the console days. It has an integrated TV output as well.

The launch for both systems will be October 19 with Funstockretro.co.uk offering the handheld for £34.99 (~$45 USD) and the joystick for £24.99 (~$32 USD). Pre-orders get a limited-edition Atari Centipede collectible coin with their purchase.

Each system comes pre-loaded with the following classic (and not so classic) games from the Atari 2600:

  1. 3D Tic-Tac-Toe (31 in 1)
  2. Adventure
  3. Air-Sea Battle
  4. Asteroids
  5. Black Jack
  6. Bowling
  7. Breakout
  8. Canyon Bomber
  9. Casino
  10. Centipede
  11. Circus Atari
  12. Crystal Castles
  13. Demons to Diamonds
  14. Desert Falcon
  15. Dodge ’em
  16. Double Dunk
  17. Fun With Numbers
  18. Golf
  19. Gravitar
  20. Haunted House
  21. Home Run
  22. Human Cannonball
  23. Maze Craze
  24. Millipede
  25. Miniature Golf
  26. Missile Command
  27. Night Driver
  28. Off the Wall
  29. Pong – Video Olympics
  30. Quadrun
  31. Radar Lock
  32. Realsports Football
  33. Realsports Tennis
  34. Realsports Volleyball
  35. Sprintmaster
  36. Steeplechase
  37. Stellar Track
  38. Street Racer
  39. Submarine Commander
  40. Super Baseball
  41. Super Breakout
  42. Super Football
  43. Swordquest: Earthworld
  44. Swordquest: Fireworld
  45. Swordquest: Waterworld
  46. Tempest
  47. Video Checkers
  48. Video Chess
  49. Video Pinball
  50. Yar’s Revenge

Using your body to control a drone is more effective than a joystick

If you've ever been chastised for throwing your entire body around during gaming (because physically leaning into track corners definitely helps somehow), here's a bit of science-backed vindication. Researchers in Switzerland have discovered that usi...

Scuf Vantage PS4 Controller Lets Players Customize to Their Heart’s Content

The PlayStation 4 is getting a new officially-licensed controller, with a shape is closer to an Xbox One controller rather than the familiar DualShock that fans know. The Vantage controller from Scuf Gaming offers many customization possibilities, and looks like a great option for PS4 players looking to get more out of their joysticks.

Among its capabilities, the new controller features adjustable triggers with extenders and stops, customizable thumbsticks, a paddle system and other features that give players an edge in all of their favorite games. Chck out the diagram below for a breakdown of everything that’s included.

Here is a rundown of some of the features:

  • Side-mounted right and left ‘Sax’ buttons – designed to fit the natural placement of a player’s fingers and provide additional configurability
  • Removable faceplate – makes it easy to change thumb sticks & personalize the controller
  • Advanced audio control for wired connection – a simple swipe of the audio touch bar adjusts the volume while players can keep their hands on the controller
  • Removable vibration modules – players can reduce the weight of the controller and lessen hand fatigue
  • Paddle control system with four removable back paddles
  • A quick-access remapping switch
  • Customizable thumbsticks with 3 different heights in either a concave or convex configuration
  • Adjustable Hair triggers
  • Trigger stops and extenders
  • Choice of D-pads
  • Interchangeable magnetic faceplate

For an additional $30, you can personalize your controller with a variety of color options, including a selection of faceplate, button, and trigger colors.

The wireless version costs $200, while the wired version is $170, though that one doesn’t include a travel case. The Scuf Vantage controller should be available late in summer 2018. I’m a DualShock guy, but to be honest, this is very tempting.

[via Comicbook]

Giant Working PS4 Controller: Controlzilla

Look at this massive PS4 controller. It not only looks awesome, it actually works. You can play games with it. If Godzilla were a gamer, this is the controller he would use. This massive DualShock 4 controller is located in the Sony Interactive Entertainment Building in Tokyo.

This is exactly where an irradiated iguana would go if he felt like playing some video games. All the buttons on the controller actually work, though sadly the thumbsticks are not usable. I’m not sure why they could make everything but those thumbsticks work.

Godzilla will have to slum it with the D-pad buttons instead of the thumbsticks. It’s not clear if that giant touchpad area works or not. The video shows the massive gamepad being used to play some Parappa the Rapper – a game which has no need for thumbsticks anyway. Kick! Punch! Chop!

[via Kotaku]

First Xbox One Tech Series Controller Looks Great

If you don’t like the Xbox One’s stock controllers, maybe it’s time to see what else is out there. You could certainly use a more stylish gamepad. The latest offering from Microsoft is the new Tech series, and the first in this line looks pretty tactical and cool.

The Recon Tech Special Edition comes in a dark military grey, and adds some cool gold accents and insignias on the gamepad’s face, and rubberized grip areas on the back. It also has the standard wireless controller’s Bluetooth capability to hook up to Windows 10 and Samsung Gear VR, along with increased signal range. Other than that and the grips, this stuff won’t give you an edge with your gaming, but it is sure pleasing to the eye. It is all about style, after all.

The new controllers will be available starting on 4/25/17, and are priced at $69.99(USD) each. They’re available for pre-order now from the Microsoft Store.

[via XBox Wire via Engadget]

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Has an Easter Egg

As you may or may not know, the Nintendo Switch’s Pro Controller is partially translucent, so you can look inside the guts of the accessory and see cool stuff. But there are some secrets within that are still hard to spot.


It turns out that there is a little easter egg that you’ll need to look closely to see. Most people would probably miss this. If you look directly above the right stick, you will see a special message that reads “thnx2 allgamefans!”


Pretty cool huh? You’ll have to look hard for it though. Pull the right thumbstick down and have a look.

If it looks a little funky, that’s because it’s actually printed on the circuit board inside the translucent shell (photo via @Gozilu)

[reddit via Kotaku]

Sony Pro-Gaming PS4 Controllers Coming

Serious PS4 gamers are going to love this news. Sony has been lacking any pro-gaming “elite” controllers for the PS4, but now they are remedying this by licensing two separate companies to make pro-controllers: Razer and Nacon. Both will be launching the controllers later this year.

razer_raiju_ps4_controller_1
The Razer Raiju looks like a natural, although beefy version of the DualShock 4, with PlayStation blue thumbsticks and grips. It also has hair triggers on the back.

razer_raiju_ps4_controller_2

The Nacon Revolution features thumbsticks that are diagonal instead of parallel, which Xbox-familiar gamers might like. It also has an 8-way directional pad, adjustable triggers, a 3.5mm headset jack, four short-cut buttons, and more buttons on the back.

nacon_revolution_pro_controller_ps4

We don’t have any release dates or pricing yet, but they will probably sell in the $100-$150(USD) range based on the price of the Xbox One Elite Controller. Choose wisely…

[via Nerdist]