Time flies. It's been a full 12 months since the Metro Dashboard arrived on Xbox 360. There was an update this October, but it didn't fix the same problems many CVG readers, Redditors and Xbox.com forumites have had with Microsoft's next-generation user interface. One year since its release, and the Metro experiment is regarded by many as a failure.
Xbox 360 originally launched with the famous 'blades' Dashboard with individual pages for System, Media, Games, Xbox Live and, later, the Marketplace. It was neat on the surface but did a pretty lousy job of presenting the information players needed, and buried DLC and Live Arcade stuff beneath layer after layer of obfuscating menus.
Microsoft's New Xbox Experience Dashboard fixed all those problems in 2008 with an interface styled after Windows Media Center, but fixed yet another 'problem' by freeing up space for advertising and promotion. When people fondly recall the old blades it's usually because it was so free of advertising.They forget that downloadable content was ordered alongside everything else in one giant alphabetised list and that the 360 had no support for Kinect, streaming TV or any of the 360's modern media functions. NXE fixed that, then fixed it again with Kinect support which never quite worked, but all of it was merely a stop-gap for Metro, which everybody hoped would provide the ultimate home media centre for Xbox owners.
Officially, it's not 'Metro' any more. Microsoft has been advising developers against using the Metro name since July with rumours of a trademark dispute with German wholesalers Metro AG. It's now 'Microsoft Design Language', and is used on Windows Phone, Windows 8, Surface and 360.

METRO-FLEXIBLE

MDL works well on Windows-powered phones and on Microsoft's new Surface tablet where the bold panels display information simply and can be activated with a touch. Windows 8 users have their own problems with the interface, mostly tied to the accessibility of the classic Windows desktop and how it's designed more for fingers than a mouse, but those problems pale in comparison to 360's.
On Windows Phone, Surface or Windows 8 you can build your own homepage with the apps you most commonly use. On 360, the Dashboard is laid out by Microsoft. It's not your UI; it's theirs - how else could it turn Xbox into an ad delivery machine? The latest version of MDL adds a search panel to every page but misuses a colossal amount of screen space.The three left-hand squares are the only practical panels on each page. Less than 15% of the screen is available for things you use regularly; the rest is reserved for advertising. It's a fundamental component of Microsoft's modern business strategy. Even Windows 8's default apps are ad-supported. Delta Airlines appear in the News app and Pantene intrudes on the Weather app, but on PC you can dump Microsoft's apps for third-party equivalents.
The same isn't true on 360's closed system where you're stuck with what Microsoft gives you. In a Facebook poll, 70% of Xbox World magazine readers said they 'hate' the modern 360 Dashboard. "It's good on touch screens, mediocre at best for Kinect, and useless for mouse or controller," says XBW reader Steve Abramo. Ryan Clayton agrees: "It looks cool but it's a pain to navigate with a pad.
"Games are buried under menus too, but the thing I hate most is the advertising for Nike trainers over the thing people use their console for most: games." So how can it be fixed? "Get rid of the ads," says Chris Wells. "On every other online service, Premium = no ads. Reduce the number of pages and leave it at Home - Profile - Apps - Settings. Has anyone ever used the Bing bar?"
Phillip McLean agrees: "I'd remove all the freaking ads for paid users, first off, then I'd make everything on the one home hub: games, music, movies, apps etc." MDL isn't bad in its concept, the problem is Microsoft's handling of the user interface and their insistence on making Xbox an advertising platform.
"Anyone who owns a Windows Phone knows how customisable the tiles are," says Jamie Jones. "Just give us a 'my page' option where you can place game shortcuts, apps, even a direct link to a friend's Gamertag."
"The interface itself is nice," says Mark Marling from the XBW Facebook group. "The problem on Xbox lies in how it's been implemented. There are too many layers and ads cluttering the dash, but dismissing Metro as a UI is throwing the baby out with the bath water."

SQUARE-PUSHER

The perfect 360 Dashboard? A simple homepage with nine bold panels, easily 'touchable' with Kinect or controller - we've mocked up our own version, stripping the 360's UI down to bare essentials and making everything accessible on one page. Games, video, music, friends, apps and system settings are instantly available, and online friends are visible from the minute you boot up.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...tro-dashboard/ ...

Wii U has already sold out at multiple UK retailers.
A number of unnamed retailers told MCV that their launch allocation of the new console has been completely taken by pre-orders one week ahead of the Wii U release date of November 30 in Europe.HMV is hosting the official Wii U UK launch event in London. The retail chain claims it has 'secured extra stock' to sell on the night without customers needing to pre-order the system.
CVG understands that on launch day there will be less than 30,000 consoles on sale across the UK - though Nintendo has a plan to replenish stock frequently.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ead-of-launch/
...

Game designer Tadhg Kelly has an article discussing the direction the games industry has taken over the past several years. Gaming has become more of a business, and in doing so, become more of a science as well. When maximizing revenue is a primary concern, development studios try to reduce successful game designs to individual elements, then naively seek to add those elements to whatever game they're working on, like throwing spices into a stew. Kelly points out that indie developers who are willing to experiment often succeed because they understand something more fundamental about games: fun. Quoting: 'The guy who invented Minecraft (Markus "Notch" Persson) didn't just create a giant virtual world in which you could make stuff, he made it challenging. When Will Wright created theSims, he didn't just make a game about living in a virtual house. He made it difficult to live successfully. That's why both of those franchises have sold millions of copies. The fun factor is about more than making a game is amusing or full of pretty rewards. If your game is a dynamic system to be mastered and won, then you can go nuts. If you can give the player real fun then you can afford to break some of those format rules, and that's how you get to lead rather than follow the market. If not then be prepared to pay through the nose to acquire and retain players.

http://games.slashdot.org/story/12/1...-in-most-games ...

Sure, Ultrabooks and Windows 8 tablets are flashy gift options, but it's extras like the ones found here that really make 'em sing. Whether it's a desktop or portable storage solution, a smart thermostat or a secondary camera for those more experimental shots, we've got you covered. This collection of high-tech add-ons will surely snag the attention of anyone on your holiday shopping list, so mosey on past the break to start perusing.
On the cheap

TWELVE SOUTH BOOKARC

If you're in need of a cozy resting spot for that new MacBook Pro or Air, Twelve South has you covered. The company's BookArc stands sport the same metal stylings as the tech they're made to cradle. The heavy-gauge steel construction nestles a soft insert to keep scratches at bay while your machine is tucked within. In an effort to further tidy up that workspace, the BookArc features a cable management system that ensures the display, headphone and power cords stay put.
Key specs: MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, steel construction, built-in cable management, cushioned insert for secure fit.
Price: From $40 on Amazon
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Logitech Touch Mouse T620

What better way to welcome Windows 8 to your holiday party than with a touch mouse that supports the new operating system's gesture controls? Logitech's T620 does just that. The peripheral implements proprietary 2.4GHz wireless tech (and the transceiver will need to occupy one of your Ultrabook's USB ports).
Price: $50 on Amazon

Apple Lightning Adapter

If you're lucky enough to receive one of Apple's recently unveiled handhelds or slates, you'll likely need some extra help if you want to use your current speaker dock. This little fella allows all of those newfangled gadgets to connect to 30-pin-wielding chargers and accessories, and minimizes a few headaches in the process.
Price: $29 from Apple


Mid-range

LACIE RUGGED USB 3.0 THUNDERBOLT

A little added protection for that portable HDD you'll be lugging around never hurt anyone. Luckily, the folks at LaCie are quite familiar with the heavy-duty storage devices. Its latest, the Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series, packs quite a punch in its familiar, orange-lined digs. As the moniker suggests, the drives offer both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt connections, and the SSD version transfers at speeds of up to 385 MB/s while the HDD offering clocks in at 110 MB/s. You won't need to pack a power supply for these bad boys, either.
Key specs: USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt connectivity, up to 1TB capacity, SSD and HDD models, Mac and Windows compatibility, sturdy frame.
Price: $249 on Amazon
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Nest Learning Thermostat

The original Nest Learning Thermostat arrived on the scene about a year ago, but a new version of the household gadget recently broke from cover, offering a slimmer design and support for about 95 percent of heating and cooling systems. New features like System Match and Auto-Away pad the capabilities of the dapper, in-home temperature gauge.
Price: $250 on Amazon

Cinetics miniSkates video dolly

If the funds required to snag the CineSkates are too much to commit to your best mate's video habits, perhaps a smaller version will do the trick. The miniSkates video dolly is a rolling mount that secures both smartphones and cameras of up to 1.5 pounds. The complete set includes a GorillaPod that contorts to capture the perfect angle.
Price: $130 from Cinetics


High-end

LYTRO CAMERA

When it first arrived on the scene, we were quite impressed by the Lytro camera's after-shot refocusing and intuitive UI. Now, the handsome kit has added manual ISO and shutter controls to pilot the f/2.0 8x optical zoom lens alongside a host of accessories for keeping the unit safe in your backpack. You'll be able to snap 350 holiday photos with the 8GB model and 750 images of that ski trip with the 16GB model, and the entire lot plays nice with Windows, too.
Key specs: Post-shot focus, manual ISO / shutter controls, 8GB or 16GB of storage, f/2.0 8x optical zoom lens, simple UI.
Price: $399 on Amazon
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Western Digital My Book VelociRaptor Duo

If that special someone needs a safe depository for all those high-res images, HD videos and 3D renders, look no further. The My Book VelociRaptor Duo wields two 1TB 10,000RPM drives capable of SSD-esque speeds of 400 MB/s.
Price: $850 on Amazon

Apogee Quartet

Looking to get super serious about that recording habit? Add this USB audio interface to your wish list. The command center packs four channels of analog / digital conversion, six balanced outputs, a headphone jack, monitor controls, MIDI I/O, full-color displays and QuickTouch pads for sorting through all those connections.
Price: $1,295 from B&H

...

We hope our readers are familiar with the vast number of ROM hacks for the original 1st-gen Pokemon games. With certain sequences of button presses, it’s possible to duplicate items in the player’s inventory, get infinite money, or even catch a glimpse of the elusive MissingNo. [bortreb] is familiar with all these hacks, but his efforts to program a Game Boy from inside Pokemon is by far the greatest Pokemon glitch ever created.
This ‘total control’ ROM hack was inspired by [p4wn3r]‘s extremely impressive 1 minute and 36 second long speed run for Pokemon Yellow. The technique used in [p4wn3r]‘s run relies on the fact the warp points in Pokemon Yellow are right after the item list in the Game Boy’s memory. By corrupting the item list, [p4wn3r] figured out how to make the front door of his house warp directly to the end of the game resulting in the fastest Pokemon speed run ever.
Realizing this ROM hack is able to control the CPU with only the player’s inventory, [bortreb] wanted to see how far he could push this hack. He ended up writing a bootstrapping program by depositing and discarding items from the in-game PC, and was then able to reprogram the Game Boy with a number of button presses on the D-pad, select, start, A and B buttons.
The resulting hack means [bortreb] can actually make Pong, Pacman, a MIDI player, or even a copy of Pokemon Blue. In the video after the break, you can see all of [bortreb]‘s speed run along with the finale of playing a MIDI file of the My Little Pony theme song. [bortreb] has a really amazing hack on his hands here that really pushes the definition of what can be done by tinkering around with a Pokemon ROM.

http://hackaday.com/2012/11/24/progr...aying-pokemon/ ...

Wii U has already sold out, retailers have told MCV.
Multiple games buyers have told us their launch allocation of the Wii U has been completely taken by pre-orders from eager early adopters – one week ahead of the console's November 30th launch.
In fact, some retailers have told us their already taken orders against future Wii U shipments.
Nintendo already told MCV last month that it is working hard to supply the channel with fresh stock as quickly as possible ahead of the Christmas holidays. However, it did admit there was likely to be short supply on day one.
HMV announced this morning it has secured some extra stock for its official midnight opening next Thursday.
The platform holder has been reaching out to potential buyers with an extensive nationwide sampling
tour, giving consumers the chance to try out the unique GamePad controller.
It also kicked off a mammoth marketing plan in October, backed by a budget that exceeds that of the
push behind the original way.
As with the 3DS last year, Nintendo has planned for a launch that extends beyond the initial surge of
the early weeks. Its launch window stretches from November 30th to the end of March, with promising
titles such as Pikmin 3 and LEGO City Undercover due early next year.
MCV has contacted Nintendo for further comment.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/uk-re...-out-3/0106954
...

The online retail giant has mirrored its counterparts across the pond by offering heavy discounts across a number of its products.
What initially began as a US tradition on the back of the Thanksgiving holiday has quickly become a global event and more retailers are looking to benefit from the hype.
Unlike other retailers, Amazon extends its sales period outside of the typical one day sales period, continuing its Black Friday event over the weekend until Sunday 25^th.
Customers face fierce competition for the products on offer as deals are announced around the clock. Users have a specific time limit to place their order for these selected products and details of the items availability are displayed, which highlights how many other bargain hunters have already gotten there hands on the product.
Possibly the highlight of Amazon’s sales event is a discounted price on its flagship Kindle Fire device, which is priced at just £99 throughout the event.
Other tech offerings, including a host of Windows 8 enabled PCs and laptops, as well as HD TVs and accessories are also available at discounts of up to 70 per cent.
Those interested in snapping up a potential Christmas bargain can do so here at Amazon’s UK site.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...y-deals/029675 ...

Leading psychologist Dr Aric Sigman has stated that the devices may produce increased levels of dopamine within the brains of kids.
It follows growing concerns around the world that youngsters are being exposed to PCs, TVs and other technology too young.
As a result, support has been mounting for more research to be carried out on the topic as currently, there is no conclusive evidence to support the claims.
"80% of adult brain size growth occurs during a child's first three years, when they may be most vulnerable to the effects of screen media," states Sigman.
"There should be a buffer zone in the early years, whereby this stage of child development is "cordoned off" from premature exposure to screen media"
The concerns come at a time where more children are using media devices than ever.
In a report released this week, the average age for a child to own their first piece of tech is just 9 1/2.
Many parents have found the lure of devices such as tablet PCs and smartphones to be appealing as their ability to host a range of content from TV shows and games offers a viable method of entertaining children almost anywhere.
It's not just health concerns that are a worry for parents, as with any web-connected devices, there's always the inherent risk of youngsters stumbling across content unsuitable for them.
It's hard to imagine that many parents will alter their child's media interactivity based on this report, however, it will be interesting to see if any further research will be conducted on the subject and what its findings may be.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...ologist/029678 ...

GameFly has posted its sales for Black Friday and Cyber Monday on digital PC games, and there are quite a few healthy discounts in there, on big PC titles from this year and last. And even beyond the prices on the website, you can use the code NOV20OFF for an extra 20 percent off these already discounted titles. We've got deals on deals here, people!

You can look through the whole list of prices on GamerDeals, but the standouts are probably XCOM: Enemy Unknown for just $37.49, Dishonored for $29.99,Torchlight 2 for just $14.99, and Spec Ops: The Line and The Darkness 2 for $7.49 each.

Only on Black Friday, you can grab Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning also for $7.49, and Hotline Miami is that same price on Saturday. And on Friday and Monday only, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is $24.99. All those prices are before the code discount, too, so if you need to stock up on PC titles, GameFly seems like one of the best ways to do so.

Gamefly PC Digital Download Black Friday - Cyber Monday 2012 Deals!Save up to 83% off PC titles including Skyrim, Borderlands 2, Battlefield 3 Premium Edition, Sleeping Dogs, Torchlight 2, Dishonored & more!Black Friday - Cyber Monday

Darksiders II - $16.99
The Sims 3 Seasons - $19.99
Torchlight II - $14.99
XCOM: Enemy Unknown - $37.49
Darksiders II Season Pass - $6.80
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - $29.99
Borderlands 2 - $44.99
Dishonored - $29.99
Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Edition - $14.99
The Sims 3 Refresh - $14.99
FIFA Soccer 13 - $19.99
The Sims 3 Supernatural - $19.99
Command & Conquer: The Ultimate Collection - $24.99
Doom 3: BFG Edition - $14.99
Endless Space - Admiral Edition - $20.09
Mafia II - $7.49
Spec Ops: The Line - $7.49
Sleeping Dogs Digital Edition - $24.99
Borderlands 2 - $44.99
The Darkness II - $7.49
Mass Effect Trilogy - $29.99
Two Worlds II: GOTY - Pirates of the Flying Fortress Edition - $9.99

Black Friday Only

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - $7.99
Syndicate - $4.99
Galaxy on Fire 2 Full HD - $9.99

Black Friday & Saturday Only

Hotline Miami - $7.49

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Only

Battlefield 3 Premium Edition - $29.99
Medal of Honor Warfighter - $29.99
Need for Speed Most Wanted - $24.99
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - $29.99
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD - $6.69
The Amazing Spider-Man - $33.49
Prototype 2 - $19.99
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron - $40.19

On top of all this, use the 20% OFF coupon code NOV20OFF. This coupon code applies to digital PC titles including new releases like Assassin's Creed 3 and Far Cry 3.
http://www.gamefly.com/download-game...#axzz2Cu63Xaew ...