Gaming

Do We Really Need a Slingbox for Video Games?

As I wrote the other day, I can’t say I’m ever happy to see a product or company die. But I just don’t see a place in the world for Spawn Labs. Introduced at TechCrunch50 (video above), they liken their product to a Slingbox for video games. Making them a niche within a niche. The … Read more

Rumor: GameStop & Gamefly to Link Up?

While we rarely speculate on future products or report on rumors here at ZNF, it’s been a pretty quiet week and I haven’t seen this particular item pop up elsewhere. My source is rock solid, but his informants are possibly suspect. So file this under the unsubstantiated rumor category when I say GameStop is in … Read more

Redbox Launches $2 Video Game Rentals

Late last year, our very own Davis Freeberg lamented the lack of a Redbox video game rental kiosk. Hope was renewed this spring when Redbox announced they’d begin testing combo DVD+gaming kiosks and postal mail game rental-co Gamefly launched a self-service machine at Texas Tech University. Now, as the Inside Redbox blog learned, Redbox’s long … Read more

Regarding that Xbox Netflix Streaming Exclusivity

By and large the blogosphere doesn’t seem to have much of a long term memory if the excitement regarding Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Netflix streaming exclusivity language is any indication. A refresher: In addition to the “exclusive agreement” and “exclusive partnership” language found in Microsoft’s July, 2008 press release announcing Netflix streaming on the 360, it doesn’t get any clearer than this:

Xbox 360 will be the only game system that lets users instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix.

Of course, exclusivity deals aren’t necessarily perpetual (just ask AT&T). And we know Netflix has run a few customer surveys and a suggestive employment opportunity pointing towards possible PS3 and/or Wii support. But, for now, Microsoft obviously still has the gaming console space locked up. Which works for me.

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Netflix Streaming to iPhone & Wii?

Multichannel News is out with a compelling Netflix report rumor: The company will soon offer the Watch Instantly video-streaming feature on Apple iPhones and iPod touch devices and the Nintendo Wii gaming console, according to an industry executive familiar with Netflix’s plans. We’ve seen the Wii pop up as a potential Netflix streaming video destination … Read more

Enjoying 1 vs 100 Interactive Xbox Trivia

Not exactly new, although still in beta, I wanted to mention 1 vs 100 on Xbox Live. It’s a console port of the trivia television show, which I’ve never seen but is similar to say a Who Wants to be a Millionaire with audience participation. As I commented on NewTeeVee a few weeks back, 1 … Read more

Managing Your GameFly Queue

Davis Freeberg fired off a tweet yesterday lamenting Gamefly’s shipment of the 17th title in his game queue. I’ve been a member, on and off, of Gamefly, the Netflix-esque video game service, for many years. And before you learn to manage your GameQ, you need to manage your expectations. (Davis knows this – he too … Read more

Digital Media Bytes

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our other blogs: Sony E3 2009 Press Conference Summary The press conference and list of PS3 exclusives shown were better than expected. I’d put it on par with the Microsoft press conference. I was impressed with Sony’s marrying of a motion controller with high-end graphics. Though, as with … Read more