Wait, so HOW long has Nintendo been making game consoles?

The poor fools over at TechTalk radio exposed my idiocy to the Chicagoland airwaves again and our conversation wandered into the history of video game consoles. Specifically, exactly how long Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have actually been making consoles -- and what was the only generation of home gaming rigs that this trio entirely sat out.

Fortunately the balance of the show was spent discussing more substantive matters, like why -- exactly -- Snapchat thought Facebook's $3 BILLION buyout offer was too chintzy to accept. The parts where I'm not talking are certainly worthwhile, so give a listen.

If you've not suffered enough, the unabridged history of my podcasted buffoonery is listed here.

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What 2 modern game console rivals almost collaborated on a single game system?

Image by Andrew-LGP via FlickrOnce again, I posit a question in the form of Geek Trivia in not one, but tow different formats. You can learn which of the modern console-cranking triumvirate -- Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft -- almost tag-teamed the video game market in efficient text form in my latest Geek Trivia column on TechRepublic's Geekend blog.

If you want to auditorially luxuriate with the question, check out my TechTalk radio version of the tidbit, with additional content on Bitcoin, public education and other web-based minutia of interest.

Why was the Compact Disc standardized at 120 mm wide?

Image via WikipediaMy daughter is home sick and I'm behind on all three of my jobs, so let's just acknowledge the 28th birthday of the public release of compact discs with this CD-related Geek Trivia I wrote a few years ago:

Philips and Sony co-developed the CD, with much of the technology derived from Philips’ existing (though ultimately unsuccessful) LaserDisc video efforts. When the first compact disc rolled off the assembly line on Aug. 17, 1982, that line was at a Philips plant in Germany.

The two companies collectively developed and agreed on the specifications found in IEC 60908, but the basis for at least one of those specs — the 120-mm diameter of the CD — was somewhat controversial, especially when you hear the possible reasoning behind it. 

WHY IS THE COMPACT DISC STANDARDIZED AT 120 MM WIDE?

Get the answer here.

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Nerd Word of the Week: Motion gaming

Image by Dekuwa via Flickr

Motion gaming (n.) - A subset of video games that use the physical movements of the player as the primary basis for game controls. The concept is a crude implementation of a gestural interface. Motion gaming is often more intuitive for novice players, as their physical movements are directly emulated in the game environment, sparing players the need to abstract the game controls through buttons, joysticks, or other conventional input devices. The Nintendo Wii is the first major home video game console based around the motion gaming concept.

I bring it up because: The power gamers just joined the motion gaming revolution this week at E3 2010, with Microsoft unveiling Kinect for the Xbox 360 (formerly known as Project: Natal) and Sony debuting the Playstation Move for the PS3. Both employ some version of the motion gaming paradigm pioneered by the Wii -- though Kinect does so without a physical controller -- bringing us one inching step closer to the eternal dream of a personal immersion holodeck. Call me when the augmented reality gamer glasses get here.

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