It is difficult to imagine where the Imation Pro WX Wireless USB Hard Drive fits into the competitive world of mass storage.  Priced too high, with limited functionality and hardware that looks like it was designed in the '90's, it is a product that will be of value to an extremely small subset of users.

Bioware's Dragon Age, an M-Rated title (so not to be played near or by kiddies), may have the greatest writing of any computer game I've ever played. It is the first non-book "page-turner-I-can't-put-it-down" title I've ever encountered - it even has a moral compass.

Last spring the people behind Planet 51 took me on a press trip to Madrid, Spain with other game critics to see the studio where Planet 51 (the movie and the game) was being developed.  Planet 51 is an unusual project in many respects...the movie and game were both being produced simultaneously, in house, by the same company.

With the holidays fast approaching James is taking to TV and Radio talking about games, gadgets, and gizmos that make great gifts.

Like many of legendary game designer Will Wright's universes before Spore, this one is being churned-out into a variety of titles some of which bear only glancing similarity to the original beyond the name. Rather than enriching the series, giving new dimension to an idea found in the original product, Spore Hero Arena cheapens the franchise.

Software for tweens and children doesn't have to be mediocre. More often than not, however, games based on licensed characters fall short of the mark. If the Star Wars franchise was originally marked with innovation, excellence, and compelling storytelling, this game is its dark opposite: dull, repetitive, and often not much fun to play.

Based upon the cartoon series, this Star Wars tale is set just before Annakin becomes Vader. Obi-Wan is still a relatively young Jedi. 

With the World Series behind us, are you looking to continue your baseball high even as the snow begins to fall? One approach is simulation minded - with MLB 09 for the PS3 being your best option.  If you're looking for an over-the-top baseball arcade of fun, The Bigs2 might be just what you need to carry you through to Spring Training.

I was very touched by the movie Up, though it's tug at the heart message is probably more meaningful to adults than children. I was, therefore, very disappointed by THQ's lackluster video game. This is another sad example of a license being slapped on to all-too-familiar videogame forms. As with most of this ilk, the game lacks depth or precision, feeling rushed out the door as just another piece of merchandising.

The last few installments in the Need for Speed franchise have focused more on a dark storyline than the fundamentals of racing and the thrill of going fast. I'm happy to report that Need For Speed Shift (tested here on the Xbox 360) serves up an exhilarating car centered, heart pumping experience.

I have been consistently impressed with the Squeezebox line of wireless music systems.  My first experience was with the Squeezebox Duet and then last year’s Squeezebox Boom.  The new Logitech Squeezebox Radio is a downsized version of the boom.  Sporting mono, rather than stereo, its petite dimensions make it ideal for a nightstand or kitchen shelf.  Unlike its older sibling, the Radio does not come with a remote, though it is available separately.