With video game consoles becoming more and more commonly found in households the world over, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now drafting plans to include game consoles in its Energy Star program. A quick look through the Energy Star 5.0 draft has revealed a few of the requirements needed for consoles to pass the Energy Star specs. Hit the jump for details.

Todd Greenwald, an analyst for Signal Hill, has told investors in no uncertain terms that the "Xbox 360 needs a real price cut." While Microsoft did drop the price of the console in the US by US$ 50, the analyst believes that it isn't enough in the face of the competition. To find out what else he had to say, head on over to the full article.

The movie industry has had few and far between when dealing with issues of the game industry. It is the biggest and most mature sector in the entertainment front since music. While most bickering over the next-gen console wars happened in-house, the movie buffs were unmoved by the fans' enthusiasm for their favorite consoles and the companies backing them.

Unforgiving critics themselves, entertainment media mogul Entertainment Weekly took a step back to review their impressions of today's next-generation consoles: the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Sony PlayStation 3. And it appears that they were no more excited for any of the consoles than they were the first time around.

The Xbox 360 hasn't changed in grade at all, with their midterm impressions not changing from their first encounter with the console. They leave the grade at A- in anticipation of a price cut this year, although they do agree that the Wii may take the throne soon. They note that a strong game lineup and a good online network will keep the Xbox 360 as "the console to beat," although it must be fair to point out that it just celebrated its first anniversary while the other two are still starting out.

The Nintendo Wii, according to Entertainment Weekly, is the probably the biggest disappointment to them - dropping from a high B+ to a low B- - after a drought of really good games had the console giving off the first signs of "Wii-nnuii." The lackluster lineup of titles has outweighed the console's growing sales numbers and the lack of truly online games tip the balance against the Wii's favor. Even one of Nintendo's big three titles is enough to bring their Wii-nthusiasm back, but as they say, "no one's likely to care."

The PlayStation 3 is a technological marvel to the movie critics, especially because they are fans of the high-definition movie experience. The HDMI and the Blu-Ray DVD experience is one thing to behold in the CELL-powered console, something that even the Xbox 360 Elite lacked without a packaged HD-DVD add-on.

The game lineup for the PlayStation 3 isn't any more varied than the Wii, and Sony's lack of a "bold executive decision" to slash prices left the reviewers no choice other than to dip the grade. But just in case Sony does drop the price just once before Christmas, they're temporarily notching the score at a B- from their first impression of a B.

 

It's another year of new gadgets and toys for the modern man, and PC World's Top 100 Best Products of 2007 listed stuff you don't wanna miss. Among all the techy stuff, Nintendo Wii climbed its way up to third place and manifested its domination.

Apple's jack-of-all-trades when it comes to media streaming hardware, Apple TV, took 11th spot. Playable formats may be limited, but this convenient and easy to use entertainment package is worth the money you'll put on it.

Wii is not the only console on the list, Xbox 360 Elite also got its share of fame. Its HDMI 1.2 connector and massive 120GB hard drive gave it a boost to the 18th spot. When talking about gadgets, it's pretty hard not to include iPod in the conversation. The hefty 80GB Apple iPod took 26th place, followed by the smaller 8GB iPod Nano on the 45th.

To see the entire list, click on the Read link below.

Who says Sunday mornings have to be a bore? This weekend is bound to be exciting as Target has posted an ad saying that they'll have the Xbox 360 Elite and the Nintendo Wii in stock in the morning. Go Nintendo posted the ad image in their site and it's bound to stir up Xbox 360 and Wii fans everywhere. Have a look:

 

The Xbox 360 Elite has been anticipated by consumers because it packs in a 120GB hard drive to handle all your downloads and has HDMI for high-definition visuals. It also sports a black finish which makes its sleek frame all the more stylish. The Wii, on the other hand, doesn't carry anything new. Tremendous demand, however, has exhausted Nintendo's stock and made it hard to find, triggering a more desperate search for the hottest console currently out there.

Target will officially start selling the two hot machines at eight o'clock in the morning, so you better come real early if you want yours secured. Just don't get mugged on your way home.

Sacre bleu! Could it be true? Nintendo is facing off the competition with a new version for the Wii, allegedly named 'Wiivolution'. This was the buzz from Game-X-ray, and reported by French site Game Focus.

According to the unnamed source, this would be in direct response to Microsoft's announcement of the much hyped Xbox 360 Elite. Hmm... we never really thought Nintendo would be coming after Microsoft. Curiously enough, the Wiivolution will sport a black casing as well, and would house a hard disk of 160 GB. Compare it to the Elite and that would mean 40 GB more than Microsoft's. Dreamy, eh?

But that's not all! There would also be an HDMI port as well as a DVD player with 1080i upscaling enabled. But what would actually be the revolutionary part in the Wiivolution is the Wiimote for -- get a load of this -- the feet! Yep, the good ol' Wiimote crushed under your soles or on your ankles.

This is all but a rumor (Note: we're leaning towards April Fool's Joke here, folks) for now. Nintendo has not said anything about this secret Wii HD, nor can we say that the anonymous source from where this originally grew is entirely reliable. But just the same, it can't be too bad imagining the possibility of such a console to exist, right? At least for laughs.

A couple of weeks ago, we ran an article titled "Seven reasons to love the PS3." This time, Insomniac head honcho Brian Hastings raises the bar and gives us 10 reasons why he believes the PS3 will yet win this generation's console war. These are his reasons in no particular order:

1. Home & LittleBigPlanet
2. Free online
3. 50 GB games
4. Casino Royale
5. HDMI
6. Standard HDD
7. The Wii fad will fade
8. PS3 has a major CPU advantage
9. PS2 still outselling 360
10. Something for everyone

In addition to those reasons, Hastings also took a swipe at the Wii, explaining that the communal factor will fizzle in time and at the end of the day, will be a non- issue. Insomniac Games is the creative force behind the marquee platform series Ratchet and Clank.

If you want to read a little tale spun by the outspoken Insomniac head, you can follow the read URL.

Heads-up! We got wind that a couple of Blaze and Xploder accessories are now available for the PS3 and Wii. What are they? Read on to find out!

Blaze Component Cables: Yep, that's right, component cables (to give your game's picture and sound quality the needed boost) for the Wii are up for grabs. We heard that they have gold-plated connections as well, "to satisfy even the keenest eyed and eared gamers out there."

Silicon Skins for the Nunchuck and Wiimote: These ones were made to protect your handy Nunchuck from dirt and all that shebang, plus, it keeps your Wiimote safe and snug in your hands. Now, who says silicon is just made for breast implants?

Xploder HD Movie Player and Media Manager: This one's made for the PS3, and enables users to convert, manage and transfer your digital and conventional music, video and image files for the PS3 and PSP. There are a couple of "high-quality cables" for Sony's latest console:

• S-VIDEO
• Component
• HDMI

If you want to get hold of these accessories, you might want to order now, so they can be sent to you on the 18th of December.