Games

This is part of CNET's "Tech Enabled" series about the role technology plays in helping the disability community. Virtual reality and augmented reality are often associated with gaming. For many people, the allure has to do with the ability to visit an alien world or an exotic location -- to go someplace or do something they couldn't do otherwise. Bridging worlds seems to be a sweet spot for these technologies. But VR and AR don't necessarily have to take users to far-off or fictional places. They also can better connect people with vision issues to the everyday world. Most take for granted the ability to sit at a computer at work and read the text on the screen, or freely and confidently walk around their home or office. These technologies aim to help people reclaim some of the vision they may have lost and to make it easier to function in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 246 million people have low vision, which includes blurry vision, tunnel vision or blind … [Read more...] about Forget gaming: VR and AR can help restore sight

Now Playing: Watch this: Xbox One and PlayStation 4: Beyond gaming (The Next Big... 11:51 Awaiting you in this episode: Game consoles almost need to shed the word 'game.' Plasma televisions are our favorite. Too bad they appear to be dying.go snap one up!) 3D printing is in a hype cycle. E-mail me your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks for watching The Next Big Thing. … [Read more...] about Xbox One and PlayStation 4: Beyond gaming (The Next Big Thing, Episode 4)

Will Google be putting its big foot into cloud gaming? That's the question raised by a story in The Information that cites "people with knowledge of the project." It also says that it was intended to launch in time for the 2017 holiday shopping season, though no reasons are given why it never materialized.There aren't many details, such as when or how much, or even what type of games it will run, but both a console and a controller have been mentioned. It also has reportedly been tested running off a Chromecast streaming stick.Twice before we've seen the giant lose high-profile gaming acquisitions -- or possibly let them purposefully slip by -- to other megacorps. At Google I/O in June 2012, it demoed the Gaikai cloud-gaming service streaming gameplay through Chrome; only a few weeks later Sony snatched it up for its PlayStation. Then in August of 2016, Amazon swooped in to buy gameplay streaming service Twitch (to incorporate with its Lumberyard game-development environment), which … [Read more...] about Google ‘Yeti’ revives rumor of cloud-gaming entry, reportedly

Now Playing: Watch this: The best videogames of 2016 2:15 Thanks for all the games, 2016. You weren't good for anything else!In a year that saw two step-up consoles releases, tons of VR and more sequels than you probably wanted to play, 2016 also brought us a wonderful variety of independent and big budget interactive entertainment well worth your time and money. The video above only covers about half of the best games. For the full list browse the gallery below.You won't agree with everything on my list, I'm sure of it. But take a moment to browse my picks and let me know what you think. … [Read more...] about The very best games of 2016