Now, don’t get me wrong: I’ve got nothing against slicing and dicing watermelons in “Fruit Ninja” or getting triple-word scores in “Words With Friends” on my iPhone 4, especially while I’m stuck in a crowded subway car.

But sometimes, I want a real gaming experience—that is, a deep game with cutting-edge graphics, hours of complex gameplay, and precision controls, something that even the best iPhone and iPad games can’t quite offer.

Up until now, I’ve gotten my gaming fix from the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 in my living room (yes, I have both—for work, I tell you!), but here’s the thing: in about a month, my wife and I will be the proud parents of a baby girl, and something tells me that blasting away bad guys on my 46-inch HDTV, mere inches from the crib, isn’t going to fly anymore.

And that’s why I couldn’t be happier the PlayStation Vita is sitting in my hot little hands.

A handheld gaming powerhouse

Slated to make its official debut February 22 (a “first edition” bundle went on sale on the 15th), the Vita ($250 for the Wi-Fi version, or $300 for the 3G/Wi-Fi model) easily ranks as the most powerful portable gaming system ever released.

Armed with an eye-popping five-inch touchscreen, a roomy rear trackpad, front- and rear-facing cameras (intended more for “augmented reality” games than for taking photos), a series of motion sensors, and a souped-up, quad-core processor (think four processors on a single chip), the Vita is capable of churning out graphics approaching those of the current crop of home gaming consoles.

More importantly, the Vita comes equipped with an arsenal of physical buttons and triggers, plus a pair of joysticks similar to those on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers.

Thanks to the twin joysticks—as opposed to, say, the sloppy, slippery “virtual” joysticks you’ll find on too many iPhone and iPad games—gaming on the Vita feels awfully close to playing on a full-size console.

Sure, you can also use the Vita’s touchpads and motion controls, just like you would on an iPhone; frankly, though, I mostly stuck with the old-school thumbsticks.

Stylish and substantial

Unfortunately, all those controls plus the jumbo five-inch screen adds up to a device that won’t slip into your pocket like an iPhone. Weighing in at about nine ounces and measuring a relatively bulky 7.2 by 3.3 by 0.7 inches, the Vita demands a tote bag, a purse, or even knapsack; good luck cramming it into a jeans pocket.

So yes, it’s big—compared to a smartphone, anyway—but the Vita also boasts a stylish, substantial feel that’s matched by its sleek, friendly home screen, complete with a matrix of bubble-shaped icons and even a soothing, Muzak-style soundtrack. (Some gamers say the Vita’s home-screen music is driving them nuts; my wife, on the other hand, thinks the soundtrack is lovely—and the more she likes the Vita, the more I get to use it. Besides, you can always muzzle the tunes via the Vita’s settings menu.)

Navigating the Vita’s menus is a simple matter of tapping and swiping, just like on an iPhone or Android phone. To launch an app or a game, you first pull up its “LiveArea” page, which includes help and update information, alerts about any “trophies” you’ve earned for a given game, and a “Start” button. To close a LiveArea, you just peel it off the screen with a swipe of your finger. Nice.

Speaking of apps, the Vita boasts a music player for tunes, a media player for renting movies, a custom version of Google Maps, and “Near,” a social app that lets you find and compare scores with other nearby Vita gamers. Near also keeps track of your daily travels and even lets you trade “game goods” with your fellow players—pretty neat, although you can also keep your identity and location hidden if you’re feeling shy.

Of course, a gaming console is only as good as its games. I’ve only played a handful of the Vita’s 20-odd launch titles so far—but what I’ve played, I’ve liked.

Bring on the games

Take “Uncharted: Golden Abyss,” a tongue-in-cheek adventure game that cheerfully plunders “Raiders of the Lost Art” and “Tomb Raider.” A Vita-ized version of the popular PlayStation 3 franchise, “Uncharted” plunges you into a lush, detailed jungle complete with roaring waterfalls, swinging vines, treacherous rope bridges, and dozens of armed baddies—and I have to say, it looks great.

Yes, the graphics look a bit “jaggy” compared to the smooth graphics in the PS3 editions of “Uncharted,” but “Golden Abyss” still manages to create an engrossing, immersive world, with characters that look, act, and react realistically, acres of jungle to explore and a slew of puzzles to solve. You can also tap the screen to leap across a ravine or shimmy up a vine by swiping the rear touchpad—but if you’d rather just use the buttons and joysticks to control Nathan Drake, the hero of “Golden Abyss,” you’re perfectly free to do so.

Then there’s “Wipeout 2048,” a thrilling, futuristic racing game that puts you in the driver’s seat of a souped-up hovercraft. Hurtling around a racetrack that looks like something from a “Star Wars” prequel, you’ll face off against computer-controlled and online opponents, and it’s an exhilarating ride. As with “Uncharted,” the graphics aren’t quite as smooth and detailed as those in the PS3 versions of “Wipeout,” but they’re awful close.

The most impressive Vita game for me so far is one I’d least expected: “Virtua Tennis 4,” a tennis simulation that lets you match rackets with the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, and Serena Williams. “Virtua Tennis” comes with quick “arcade” modes as well as full-on tournaments in stadiums from Flushing Meadows to the All England Lawn Tennis Club, and it looks amazing: we’re talking silky smooth graphics, from realistic models of famous faces from the game to the scuff marks on the court. I know how I’m spending my weekend.

There are plenty more Vita games to explore, from big-name titles such as “Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3” (a fighting game starring Spider-Man, Captain America, and Doctor Strange) and small but intriguing games like “Escape Plan” (an atmospheric black-and-white adventure that makes clever use of the Vita’s touch controls). Keep in mind, though, that the Vita’s catalog of games is only in its earliest days; indeed, it can take years for a given console to rack up a deep, satisfying collection of titles.

The Vita’s hidden cost: memory cards

What are the biggest complaints about the Vita—besides its $250-and-up price tag, that is? As I described in an earlier post, there’s a hidden cost to the Vita: its proprietary memory cards, which are required for saving game data and cost anywhere from $20 for a 4GB card to a whopping $100 for a 32GB card. A garden-variety 32GB memory card for a digital camera, on the other hand, only goes for about $40.

Then there’s battery life—just four to five hours, depending on the game you’re playing. That’s fine for a quick gaming fix while the baby naps, but not ideal if you’re taking the Vita on a trans-Atlantic flight.

And then there’s the games themselves, which run anywhere from $10 to $50 a pop—far more than most iPhone and Android games, which rarely sell for more than $10 each.

Is the Vita right for you?

So, should you get the Vita? Well, for me, it’s a no-brainer. The Vita promises console-quality gaming in the palm of my hand, whether I’m on call with the baby or cooling my heels at an airport terminal.

The Vita is pricey, no question, and its full potential probably won’t be realized for a few years while we wait for a deeper slate of games. But as a soon-to-be-parent who’s about to see his Xbox 360 and PS3 use seriously curtailed, the Vita couldn’t have come at a better moment.

But what if you’re a more casual gamer who’s happy with “Angry Birds” and “Cut the Rope”? In that case, there’s no need to drop $250 on yet another device—or at least, not until the perfect Vita game for you comes along.

Have questions about the Vita, or any impressions of your own you’d like to share? Post ’em in the comments below!

Note: The PlayStation Vita that I reviewed is, in fact, my own. Specifically, I purchased the $350 “First Edition” bundle.

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But while I’ll admit to being an eager participant in such gore-fests as “Gears of War” and “Call of Duty,” I’m not a fan of letting little ones join in the M-rated fun.

The good news for parents with pint-sized gamers (and I will be one of those parents very soon, by the way) is that all the big-name consoles—including the Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3, and the Xbox 360—come with a full arsenal of parental controls that will lock out specific games according to their ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) ratings.

What’s an ESRB rating? Similar to MPAA ratings for movies (you know, “PG,” “PG-13,” “R,” and the like), ESRB ratings are assigned to video games depending on their content, ranging from EC (Early Childhood) all the way to AO (Adults Online). In-between, you’ll find E (for Everyone), T (Teen), and M (Mature).

Related: The 10 hottest holiday video games: a cheat sheet for parents

While the gentle action in a new Mario Bros. game will surely arrive with an E for Everyone rating (for, say, “cartoon mischief”), a game like “Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception” will warrant a T rating (for “language” and “violence”). Meanwhile, last year’s fun (for adults) but blood-soaked “Battlefield 3” merited a well deserved M rating, for “blood and gore, intense violence” and “strong language.”

Set your game console to block games rated “T” or higher, and your kids will have no trouble playing Mario Bros. on the Wii or the adorable LittleBigPlanet for the PS3—but they’ll have to enter a PIN to blow things up in “Call of Duty.” No PIN? No explosions. (Of course, setting the parental controls on the console in your living room won’t stop determined tykes from playing violent games at a friend’s house, but that’s another story.)

All right, so how do you activate parental controls on the Wii, the Xbox 360, or the PS3? Just follow these steps.

Nintendo Wii

• From the main Wii menu, tap the Wii button and select “System Settings,” then click the blue arrow to browse to “Wii System Settings 2.1.”
• Select “Parental Controls” button, then follow the prompts to create a passcode and a security question (in case you forget your PIN).
• Next, click the “Game Settings and PIN” option and “The Highest Game Rating,” then select the maximum game rating you’d like your kids to be able to play.
• All set? Click “Confirm,” then “Settings Complete” (or “Other Settings” if you’d like to change the parental controls for other content on your Wii).

Sony PlayStation 3

• Turn on your PS3, then navigate to Settings on the main menu; scroll almost all the way down and select Security Settings, then choose Parental Control.
• Next, enter your PIN. (If this is your first time setting parental controls, enter “0000” as your PIN code.)
• Now, you’ll have to pick a security level, ranging from 1 to 11. How do the level numbers correlate to ESRB ratings, you ask? You can find the decoder ring here, but I’ll go ahead and spell it out for you. (Why didn’t Sony just list the ESRB rating equivalents in the on-screen setting menu? Great question.)

• Level 2: EC (early childhood)
• Level 3: E (everyone 6 and up)
• Level 4: E10+ (everyone 10 and up)
• Level 5: T (Teens 13 and up)
• Level 9: M (Mature, 17 and up)
• Level 10: AO (Adults 18 and up)

• Once you’ve picked a level, a page will appear confirming your choice.
• You’ll also get the option to block and game without a rating; check the labeled box to enable to option.

Microsoft Xbox 360

• Fire up your Xbox 360, then navigate to Settings, Family.
• Up at the top of the next screen, turn the Content Controls setting to On.
• Next, select Change Pass Code, Set Pass Code (to create your four-digit PIN and a security question), and then follow the prompts. Once you’ve set up your PIN, select Done to return to the main Content Controls menu.
• Next, select Ratings and Content, Game Ratings, then choose the maximum allowed rating for your kids, from EC to M.
• Click your game controller’s “B” button to back up to the main Content Controls menu, then select Save and Exit—or, to set parental controls for other content, select “Ratings and Content” again.

Have more questions about the parental controls in your gaming console? (There are many more settings, by the way, regulating everything from movie rentals to web browsing.) Let me know.

Note: This updated and revised post was first published in June 2011.

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So, first things first: what is the PlayStation Vita, anyway?

 
It’s a handheld gaming console that sits roughly in the same category as the Nintendo 3DS (the two-screened gaming device that’s all the rage among the younger set) and the older PlayStation PSP (the Vita’s predecessor).

Related: Hands-on review: Sony PlayStation Vita, and why parents who game will love it

Huh. So is the Vita just an expensive toy, then?

 
Well, no, or at least not according to the hard-core gamers eager to get their hands on it.

Armed with a five-inch, 960 by 544-pixel touchscreen, dual cameras, a motion-sensing accelerometer and gyroscope, and a powerful quad-core processor (that is, four processor cores on a single chip), the Vita packs in more horsepower than just about any smartphone or tablet currently on the market. According to those who’ve seen it in action, the Vita churns out the most eye-popping graphics ever seen on a handheld device.

How big is the Vita itself? Will it fit in my pocket?

 
Measuring 7.2 by 3.3 by 0.73 inches, the Vita makes for a fairly hefty piece of hardware compared to a smartphone. Is it small enough to fit into a purse or knapsack? Sure, but it’s probably too big for a pocket.

How much does it cost, and when does it go on sale?

 
The Vita is slated to land in stores February 22, and like the iPad, it’ll come in two versions: a 3G/Wi-Fi model for $299, and a Wi-Fi-only version for $249.

Also, Sony is offering a $349 “First Edition” bundle that includes the 3G-ready PlayStation Vita, a carrying case, a 4GB memory card (more on that in a moment), and an earlier release date—February 15, to be exact.

I can already play tons of great games on my iPhone/iPad/Android phone, so why would I need a Vita?

 
Great point—and indeed, the Vita is probably overkill for the average user who just want a few minutes of “Angry Birds” or “Words With Friends” while they’re on the go.

But while touchscreen devices like the iPhone and iPad excel when it comes to inexpensive “causal” games, they’re not so hot when it comes to games that require precision control or state-of-the-art visuals. The iPhone, for example, lacks the physical joysticks that you’d need to get the most out of a first-person “shooter” like “Call of Duty,” and it must also divide its processing resources among a host of other core functions such as email, calling, text messaging, and any other resource-hungry apps that happen to be running.

(Now, don’t get me wrong; there are some iOS games, like the superb Infinity Blade II, that push the envelope in terms of console-quality graphics and gameplay, but they’re relatively few and far between.)

The Vita, on the other hand, boasts a pair of physical joysticks, same as on the controller for a home game console, and it can dedicate the lion’s share of its muscular processor and roomy memory to games, and only games—a key factor for game developers looking to get the most out of the Vita’s horsepower.

What kind of games are we talking about, and how much will they cost?

 
Among the 25-odd titles set to arrive on launch day are games that’ll sound familiar to console gamers, including “Wipeout 2048” (a futuristic racing game), “Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus” (think fast and furious ninja action), EA Sports FIFA Soccer, and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (a fighting game that pits such Marvel superheros as Spider-Man and Hulk against classic Capcom characters).

Perhaps the most anticipated Vita game on Day One, however, is “Uncharted: Golden Abyss,” an all-new “Raiders of the Lost Ark”-style adventure based on the PlayStation 3’s “Uncharted” series. Those who have played “Golden Abyss” say it’s like playing a full-on PS3 game in the palm of your hand.

Very nice, but unlike the bargain games you can scoop up for iPhone and Android (typically $10 or less), Vita games will cost you a pretty penny. “Uncharted: Golden Abyss” goes for a hefty $50, while even the cheaper “casual” titles like “Hot Shots Golf” will run you $30.

What else can the Vita do besides games?

 
You can also browse the web, provided you’re connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi or 3G; you’ll also be able to pinpoint your location on a map, post updates to Twitter and Facebook, rent movies and TV shows, and find other nearby Vita gamers. Just don’t expect the breadth of social and productivity apps that you’ll find on Apple’s App Store or Google’s Android Market.

What are the biggest criticisms of the Vita?

 
Early reviewers of the Vita aren’t wild about its battery life—just four to five hours, which means you’ll need to need to keep the Vita’s (proprietary) power cable handy if you plan on indulging in a lengthy gaming session.

The Vita also requires a removable memory card for storing games and data—and no, you can’t use the same memory cards that work with your digital camera. Instead, you’ll have to pony up for a special Vita storage card, and they’re not cheap: think $20 for a 4GB card, all the way up to $100 for 32GB. Ugh.

Last but not least, there’s the price of the Vita itself: $250, the same as the cheapest PlayStation 3 home console.

Should I buy one?

 
Well, that all depends on how you feel about games. If you have a PlayStation 3 or an Xbox 360 at home and yearn for playing console-quality games while you’re on the go, the Vita could end up being your Holy Grail. If, on the other hand, you’re perfectly content with casual games on your iPhone or Android phone, there’s probably no need to cough up the cash for yet another device.

Even if you are a devoted gamer, you might want to think twice before cracking open your wallet on launch day. Why? Because many industry watchers think Sony will chop the Vita’s hefty $250-plus price tag before the year is out.

Wait, I still have questions!

 
No problem—just post ’em in the comments below. And keep your eyes peeled for my hands-on review later this week.

Update [2/15/12]: And look what arrived on my doorstep today! I’ll be testing the Vita for the next few days; if you have any specific questions in the meantime, just let me know.

Update [2/17/12]: And here’s my review!

So, anyone out there champing at the bit for the Vita, or are you just as happy playing games on a smartphone?

Note: Please read the community policy before posting a comment. Questions and constructive comments are always welcome, but flames from game-console fanboys will be deleted on sight.

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The official Xbox Support account on Twitter posted an update Wednesday afternoon that some gamers “may see issues” logging into Xbox Live following the massive update, which now lets users with the Kinect motion-control camera steer their way around the Xbox 360’s Dashboard interface by waving their hands and saying things like, “Xbox, Netflix!” (It’s a neat trick, when it works.)

Indeed, I’ve been having plenty of trouble with Xbox Live myself today, with the network initially refusing to let me sign on, and later insisting that I wasn’t a paying “Gold” member of the service. Luckily, everything seemed to be working again later in the afternoon—fingers crossed.

So, how can you tell if something’s amiss with Xbox Live—or whether your own console is to blame?

First step: check the Xbox Live status page, which will give you a detailed breakdown of which Xbox Live services and apps are up and running—and which aren’t

Another good idea: Follow the Xbox Support feed on Twitter, which posts real-time alerts on Xbox Live service disruptions and other snafus. You might also want to follow Larry Hyrb, a.k.a. Major Nelson, Microsoft’s spokesperson for Xbox Live.

Last but not least, you can test your Xbox 360’s connection to your local network and Xbox Live itself. From the Dashboard, navigate to the Settings menu, then select System, Network Settings, pick your local network from the list that appears, and select Test Xbox Live Connection.

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Drawing a blank? If so, read on for a parent’s guide to the season’s hottest video games, ranging from the PG-rated calisthenics of “Dance Central 2” to the gruesome, bone-rattling explosions in “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.”

Batman: Arkham City

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3

Rating: Teen (13 and up)

Movie it most resembles: “The Dark Knight”

What’s fun about it: Considered one of the best video games about a comic-book hero ever made (and having played several hours myself, I can attest to that), Batman: Arkham City boats a huge, so-called “open world” where players are free to essentially choose their adventure. And what a world it is: a huge, sweeping cityscape, with hundreds of streets, back alleys, rooftops and buildings to explore.

What you’ll like about it: The villains in Arkham City are ones that you’ll recognize—you know, the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler, and so on. They’re also way over the top, adding a touch of humor to the otherwise grim proceedings. And while Batman throws a mean punch and delights in knocking bad guys unconscious with the gadgets on his utility belt, he never uses a gun.

What you won’t like about it: The gloomy, never-ending night of Arkham City could give nightmares to kids (or anyone, for that matter) afraid of the dark. You may also frown on the brutish, sexist thugs who continually hurl the “b” word at female characters like the buxom Catwoman, who’s practically falling out of her skin-tight jumpsuit.

Related: Shield kids from “Call of Duty” and other violent video games using parental controls

Dance Central 2

Platforms: Xbox 360

Rating: Teen (13 and up)

Movie it most resembles: “Step Up,” “Footloose,” etc.

What’s fun about it: C’mon, get off the sofa and dance! Packed with 100 tracks from the likes of Lady Gaga, Usher, Donna Summer, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, and Rihanna, Dance Central 2 will put your dance steps to the test. To play, you’ll need Kinect, the motion-sensitive camera for the Xbox 360 that lets you play games with your body rather than a controller.

What you’ll like about it: Lots of singing and dancing, and no shooting. Also, the motion-controlled fun of Kinect is like catnip for those who normally couldn’t care less about video games; even my mother-in-law got into the action when we played Kinect bowling last Thanksgiving.

What you won’t like about it: Some of the computer-generated dancers aren’t exactly dressed for church, and you’ll probably hear a few suggestive lyrics. (Welcome to pop radio!) Other than that, though, there’s little in the way of objectionable content here.

Battlefield 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3 (Battlefield 3); Xbox 360, PS3, Wii (Modern Warfare 3)

Rating: Mature (17 and up)

Movie they most resemble: “Black Hawk Down”

What’s fun about them: Boys (and even some girls) love to blow things up, and both Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 serve up generous portions of mayhem, complete with AK-47s, bazookas, remote-detonated explosives, grenades, pistols, knives, sharp sticks, you name it. In Modern Warfare 3, the emphasis is in close-quarters urban combat, and the experience is akin to getting an adrenaline shot to the heart. In Battlefield 3, the online multiplayer “maps” are much larger and demand a more strategic style of gameplay; you also get to fly helicopters and jets.

Battlefield 3

What you’ll like about it: Uh, well…I’m thinking….

What you’ll hate about it: Let’s not sugar-coat this: Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 make for two of the most violent, blood-soaked, and realistic-looking military “shooters” ever made—and indeed, if the sight of blood and bullets makes you queasy, you might want to leave the room before your favorite gamer fires up one of these titles. (Full disclosure: I’m crazy for Battlefield 3, much to my wife’s horror.) Not for kids, if you ask me.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Platforms: PlayStation 3

Rating: Teen (13 and up)

Movie it most resembles: “Raiders of the Lost Ark”

What’s fun about it: Think Indiana Jones crossed with Lara Croft, and you’ll get the basic idea of the “Uncharted” series. The star of the show is wise-cracking Nathan Drake, who bears a striking resemblance to a certain globe-trotting archaeologist played by a certain Harrison Ford. When he’s not shooting and punching the baddies, Drake is scaling walls, shimmying across narrow ledges, swinging on vines, and solving head-scratching puzzles.

What you’ll like about it: Unlike Batman: Arkham City, Uncharted 3 mostly takes place in the great outdoors, making it a much more cheerful experience. Nathan Drake himself has a breezy, Han Solo-like attitude that’s a breath of fresh air, and the women of Uncharted are (for the most part) tough, strong-willed, and perfectly capable of taking care of themselves.

What you won’t like about it: While the violence in Uncharted 3 is far less graphic than in, say, Call of Duty, there’s still a lot of shooting and killing going on, not to mention an explosion every five minutes or so. Might be OK for teens, but I’m not so sure about the little ones.

Gears of War 3

Platform: Xbox 360

Rating: Mature (17 and up)

Movie it most resembles: “The Road Warrior” crossed with “Predator”

What’s fun about it: A thrilling bullet-fest that features more blood per square inch than any other game this year, Gears of War 3 follows its hero, Fenix—a gruff, hugely-muscled soldier from the future—on a quest (a surprisingly sentimental one, as it turns out) to find his long-lost dad. Great fun? Totally (or I thought so, at least, although my appalled wife doesn’t exactly agree). Good for kids? Ah, no, but your older teens will be clamoring for it.

What you’ll like about it: There is some father-son bonding going on—after about 3,000 murderous lizards have been slaughtered, anyway.

What you’ll hate about it: One of the primary weapons in the game is … well, a chainsaw. You get the picture.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Platforms: Wii

Rating: Everyone

Movie it most resembles: “Willow”

What’s fun about it: I admit to being pretty much in the dark as far as the Zelda games go, but what I do know is that this beloved series of fantasy games has been thrilling gamers both young and old for a quarter-century (yes, it’s been that long), and the latest chapter has been winning raves from critics.

What you’ll like about it: An involved story, beautiful graphics, and no blood. If you’ve got a young, Wii-playing gamer on your list who’s old enough for, say, “Harry Potter,” then you won’t go wrong putting “Skyward Sword” under the tree.

What you won’t like about it: Your little one may disappear into the world of Zelda for hours at a time.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Rating: Mature (17 and up)

Movie it most resembles: “Lord of the Rings”

What’s fun about it: Considerably more mature and adult-minded than Zelda, “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” delivers a beautiful, spectacularly detailed world of snow-capped mountains, grass-covered fields, windy streams and dark canyons to explore. There be dragons, oh yes, as well as hungry packs of wolves, giants, walking skeletons and fireball-flinging mages, not to mention hundreds of “quests” and a backstory so complicated that it’ll make your head spin.

What you’ll like about it: Measured, cerebral gameplay, plus a glorious orchestral soundtrack.

What you won’t like about it: Watching players get riddled with arrows or sliced by battle axes.

Madden NFL 12, NBA 2K12

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii

Rating: Everyone

TV shows they most resemble: Monday Night Football, any professional hoops broadcast

What’s fun about them: If you haven’t seen Madden or the latest NBA 2K games on the Xbox 360 or PS3 yet, prepare for your jaw to drop. (They don’t look too shabby on the standard-definition Wii, either.) From the picture-perfect stadiums and life-like players (so life-like that they’re a bit creepy, actually) to the realistic camera angles, Madden 12 and NBA 2K12 are about as close as you can get to the real thing.

What you’ll like about them: No one gets killed, although there might be a concussion or two.

What you won’t like about them: You’ll have to drag your kids, spouses, and other sports addicts away from the console.

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Orb’s $19 “BR” disc has been on sale for a couple of months now, and I actually got a preview of the thing back in January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. There’s also a $10 Orb Live app that streams videos directly to the iPhone and Android devices, as well as a $99 set-top device that connects to any TV with composite or component video inputs.

I’ve finally had the chance to try the Orb disc with my own PlayStation 3 console, and yes—it works as advertised, although you’ll have to jump through some hoops to get your free Hulu.

Just insert the Orb disc into your PS3 console and press play.

Here’s how the Orb system works in practical terms. First, you insert the Orb BR disc into your PlayStation 3’s Blu-ray drive (an Orb disc that supports other Blu-ray players is supposedly coming soon) and press play.

Next, you install the free Orb Caster software onto your PC or Mac, create an account (the on-screen setup process takes only a few minutes), and leave the application running on your machine.

Last but not least, you use the (free) Orb Controller software—versions are available for PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android handsets—to control the video playback. Nope, you can’t use your regular TV remote to take command of the Orb streaming software.

Once you start the Orb Controller, you’ll get the option to stream music, videos, and photos from your system (the one with the Orb Caster software running on it). You can also connect to Internet radio services like Pandora and Last.fm, or watch videos from YouTube.

Not bad, but the option that has everyone excited about Orb is Hulu, which offers free videos on the web but normally requires an $8-a-month Hulu Plus membership if you want to stream its shows on your TV, the iPhone, or the iPad.

Waiting for the video to buffer...

But with the Orb Caster software on your PC and the Orb BR disc in the PlayStation 3 (both of which must be connected to your home Wi-Fi network, by the way), you can watch Hulu’s free web-based videos on your TV for the low price of zero.

Wait a minute … is this legal? Well, I’ve had this discussion with Orb co-founder and CEO Joe Costello a couple of times now, and he swears it is. Why? Because of the Orb Caster software running on your PC, which is merely streaming the video from Hulu’s web site from your desktop to your TV.

Of course, the suits at Hulu probably don’t see it that way, but thus far they’ve done nothing to block their videos from Orb’s software. Yet.

So, that’s how the Orb BR disc is supposed to work. But does it really work?

In my brief tests, the answer is yes, more or less. The setup and operating is a hassle, namely because the Orb software must be up and running on your PC any time you want to stream video to your PlayStation 3 or one of Orb’s mobile apps.

...success!

You’ll also have to be patient, as Orb-streamed videos (from Hulu or elsewhere) can take up to a minute to “buffer” before playback begins, depending on the speed of your Internet connection.

Video quality can be a little blocky and choppy—don’t count on HD, especially for Hulu—and the Orb Caster software on my PC occasionally crashed, meaning I had to get up off the sofa, go back to my office, and re-start the Orb client on my system.

So, is it all worth it? That depends on how much you mind having to turn on your TV, your PlayStation 3, your computer, and potentially your iPhone, all just to watch a little free television.

Personally, Orb isn’t my cup of tea—too clunky, if you ask me. That said, it does works, and it’s definitely cheap.

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Yes, meet the R2-D2-ized version of the Xbox 360 from the Limited Edition Kinect “Star Wars” Bundle, complete with the same white-and-blue panels, circular “eye,” and even the little red dot (what is that for, anyway?) that decorate our favorite glob of grease.

Tagging along with the Xbox R2-D2 360: a gold, C-3PO-colored Xbox 360 controller. Of course!

Other goodies in the “Star Wars” Xbox 360 bundle ($449, on sale starting December 31—yeah, that’s a bit of a wait) include a 360 GB hard drive and an off-white Kinect motion-control camera (which matches the R2-D2-themed console).

Also in the box: the upcoming “Star Wars” Kinect game, which lets you duel Sith lords with your lightsaber and pilot a hurtling pod racer (among other interstellar activities and mini-games) by waving your arms in the air.

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Well, Roku just refreshed its entire line of TV set-top boxes, with the new devices getting sleeker shells, more robust Netflix features (including support for English subtitles), and—best of all—casual video games, starting with the ridiculously popular Angry Birds.

On sale starting today, the low-end Roku 2 HD still sells for just $59, and it’s still capable of displaying 720p HD video (a slight step down from the full-on 1080p video quality you’ll find in most big-screen HDTV sets) from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon.

You’ll also be able to watch live Major League Baseball, NBA, and NHL action, as well as stream music from Pandora and display slideshows from Flickr. In all, about 300 media “channels” are available.

Up next is the Roku 2 XD ($79), which adds 1080p video support, while the $99 Roku 2 XS boasts a port for plugging in a USB memory stick loaded with videos, music, and photos, plus a couple of bonuses sure to quicken the pulse of Angry Birds fans: a free copy of the ubiquitous, bird-slingshotting smartphone game (now tailored for TVs), as well as a gaming remote that you can wave in the air, à la the Nintendo Wii. (The remote even comes with a wrist strap to keep you from accidentally flinging the thing across the room.)

The Roku gaming remote will also be available separately in the “coming weeks” for $30, meaning you can pick up the $59 Roku 2 and snag the new remote for a grand total of $89.

Pretty nifty, but I have to say: even forgetting the Angry Birds business, the Roku still makes for a tempting buy, especially for anyone who wants to start streaming Netflix or Hulu on their TVs without breaking the bank.

You can check out the new Roku 2 boxes for yourself right here.

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Starting Friday—tomorrow—about 21,000 of the company’s 27,000 kiosks will be stocked with the latest Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 games, including such recent releases as “L.A. Noire,” “Infamous 2,” “Red Faction: Armageddon,” “Brink,” “Lego Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “Just Dance 2.” (If you haven’t heard of any of these games, don’t worry—your kids have.)

Redbox video game rentals will set you back $2 a night, twice as much as nightly DVD movie rentals. (Blu-ray rentals at Redbox kiosks remain $1.50 a night.)

Worried that video games will hog kiosk space that would be better suited for movies? Don’t fret. According to the L.A. Times, each Redbox kiosk will only stock between 22 and 28 games, leaving room for about 200 DVDs and Blu-rays.

Want to find a video game-packing Redbox kiosk near you? Just visit Redbox’s game page, select a title, and enter your ZIP code to search.

Source: Los Angeles Times

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Among the other findings from the Entertainment Software Association’s survey: the average gamer is 37 years old, about 42 percent of gamers are women, 55 percent of gamers are playing games on their phones (“Angry Birds,” anyone?), and 45 percent of parents say they play games with their children (hopefully kid-friendly games like “LittleBigPlanet” rather than “Call of Duty”).

So, fellow grown-ups: Do you consider yourself a gamer? Do you play games mostly on your cell phone, or do you prefer a game console like the Nintendo Wii, the Xbox 360, or the PlayStation 3? Last but not least, do you worry about the video games your kids are playing, or do you trust them to avoid “Grand Theft Auto” and the like?

Leave a comment below, or send me an email right here.

Source: Entertainment Software Association (via CNET)

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