I just got my power bill for Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, and while I was ready for a big number after switching from oil to a heat pump, I'm wondering if my PS4 and Xbox One weren't the real culprits. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, I can expect to pay $150 in the next five years on the Xbox One alone.
It's hard work seeing many ways in which Wii U games can best those found on consoles from 2005-06, at least visually, but there's one area the Wii U is trumping Microsoft and Sony's machines: power consumption.
The harsh Soviet winter of 1941 saw temperatures drop as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature at which human skin freezes in minutes. Axis and Allied forces alike suffered tremendous casualties due to the extreme cold. Relic Entertainment harnesses this deadly force of nature with Company of Heroes 2's ColdTech …
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vylFaDdm--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17r7viprise63jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--p0B5fXJ_--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17r7viprise63jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--58dPCIk9--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17r7viprise63jpg.jpg, (large)])
We often think of video games and hardware in terms of units sold, or money made. We don't usually think of them in terms of how much they weigh, or how much crap needs to be dug out of the ground to make them. Which is why this infographic is interesting reading.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--pOdR9m9m--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j11sc8o8pvxjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--cfUmUKN7--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j11sc8o8pvxjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--cPSGYb95--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j11sc8o8pvxjpg.jpg, (large)])
Back in March, PR firm TrashTalkFCM thought it'd be a good idea to promote upcoming shooter Homefront by releasing a ton of balloons. It wasn't.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--iQRkTMDL--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j1x70wgek0fjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--w8SYVVpr--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j1x70wgek0fjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--BHmcWjlC--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j1x70wgek0fjpg.jpg, (large)])
Okabu knows it's not easy being green, but they sure do make it look appealing.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--9fejb77g--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j2aqjg85xsnjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--EhexADYx--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j2aqjg85xsnjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s---up16lAR--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2aqjg85xsnjpg.jpg, (large)])
This is the last printed manual you'll ever see for an EA Sports game. The publisher has joined Ubisoft in releasing games without an instruction booklet, and will instead include a version of instructions that gamers may page through from within the game.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Xst77Ka8--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j2bqftgw10ojpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Q3I3aVoH--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j2bqftgw10ojpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--l9-kl0KP--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2bqftgw10ojpg.jpg, (large)])
The man that brought Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and countless important men with kidnapped families to life takes a stab at game design, helping game studio Talkie create Ecotopia, a Facebook city building game that's all about going green.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s---sLtVhfe--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j2khb61bwahjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--gNgk9cJ7--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j2khb61bwahjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--JVKgFfc1--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j2khb61bwahjpg.jpg, (large)])
By the time it really hits you that flash-based tower defense game Rizk is actually teaching you about climate change, you might be enjoying yourself too much to care.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8w-C5BdK--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18hdv042cyewjjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--O00Z4g-A--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18hdv042cyewjjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--aUQSUHqz--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hdv042cyewjjpg.jpg, (large)])
It may sound nuts, but a new bioplastic being developed by Japan's NEC Corp. using cashews could change the way electronics are manufactured in the future.
After showing us through the magic of 3D how human beings could potentially screw up an entirely new planet, James Cameron has signed on with NASA to help show how the agency is keeping us from screwing up our own.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--jyH2XyKw--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j3atx943j5hjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--eDUyXIR1--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j3atx943j5hjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--Hvqur02f--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j3atx943j5hjpg.jpg, (large)])
Three years ago someone built a solar-powered video game console. It was a novelty. You couldn't really say it was ahead of its time, because that assumes such a time will come.
If you play the Nintendo DS puzzle game Picross 3D long enough, you unearth some advice about how to be more eco-friendly. But the advice is a little weird. Have a look.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--eRXdYduk--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18he9bczxpre5jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vYMM2MKS--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18he9bczxpre5jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7zKhhc1s--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18he9bczxpre5jpg.jpg, (large)])
It seems we may have been a little premature in declaring the death of the printed manual, with one of the world's biggest publishers going on record saying that there's life left in the printed word yet.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--39A9FeTG--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j3qa61lwjjwjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--sPlSCes0--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j3qa61lwjjwjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--O-UH4WQP--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j3qa61lwjjwjpg.jpg, (large)])
Computing giant IBM will later today unveil CityOne, which is basically SimCity, except IBM made it instead of EA, and the focus is on sustainable cities instead of rampaging UFOs and reticulated splines.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--xjNLLtrQ--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18heebofsv99pjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--35cq2Gb0--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18heebofsv99pjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--MbmzhEmw--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18heebofsv99pjpg.jpg, (large)])
A great report over on GamePro today takes a look at the environmental impact of the video game industry. Those yearning for a brighter future (and can take solace in incremental improvements), you'll like what you see.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5ZK6P29w--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18heow3l6pg2hjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--SnZGnwv9--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18heow3l6pg2hjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--bpggGyCd--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18heow3l6pg2hjpg.jpg, (large)])
Doesn't look like cutting a bunch of plastic out of the standard game cases did much for anyone's Greenpeace ratings. The environmental advocacy group released its quarterly rankings of electronics companies, again tsk-tsking Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--m4QSPI3F--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j4597alhq5kjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--j4ZgUC31--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j4597alhq5kjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--th3fJ30B--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j4597alhq5kjpg.jpg, (large)])
The TIE Fighter-Wing looking "green" game cases have been out for Xbox 360 since most November releases. Go Nintendo has an image of what they'll look like for Wii games, beginning with Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--egmVCtWR--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18hf06e15u0k5jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--cd8awFjd--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18hf06e15u0k5jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--i_xaQ7Bt--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18hf06e15u0k5jpg.jpg, (large)])
Measuring the 500 largest corporations in America, Newsweek found no video game maker in the top 100 and even rated Activision behind environmental bogeyman ExxonMobil.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--bf9tK5L_--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j4k84lo5w5wjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--O2cDKLqd--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j4k84lo5w5wjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--uYagpCPj--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j4k84lo5w5wjpg.jpg, (large)])
Three console manufactures. Microsoft. Nintendo. Sony. Three ways of packaging the cards sold in GameStop that contain redemption codes for points used on the consoles' online stores. Which one do you think the planet likes best? Get a closer look:
