Computer maker Dell is teaming with the newly-formed Championship Gaming Series (CGS) to launch the College Gaming League (CGL), which will act as an amateur counterpart to the professional CGS.

The CGL will have its own servers and tournaments and offer hardware discounts to students and faculty members, all of whom are eligible to join.

There will also be a national championship and “play with a pro” nights, offering members the chance to go head-to-head with pro gamers.

Top CGL players can take part in a tournament and be offered entry into the Championship Series draft.

CGS chief executive and

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Source: Digital Trends – Video Games

Accessory and peripheral maker Turtle Beach has rolled out another entry in its line of gaming headphones in the form of the Ear Force X4 headset for the Xbox 360. Billing the cans as the most advanced wireless headphones ever build for console gaming, the X4s promise to bathe users in 5.1 Dolby surround sound while offering unique features like the ability to duck game sounds during chats.

“The addition of Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound in our new X4 expands the game action all around you,” said Turtle Beach marketing manager Mike Carducci, in a statement. “Unlike stereo headphones, you can hear every 3D sound cue

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Source: Digital Trends – Video Games

Last week, Sony was forced to pull version 2.40 of its PlayStation 3 firmware after receiving reports that, in some instances, the update was “bricking” PS3 consoles, making them inoperable after users applied the update. Now, Sony has posted version 2.41 of its PlayStation 3 firmware, claiming to have solved the problem.

Sony describes problems with the 2.40 firmware as impacting a “limited number of users;” however, as yet, the company has made no public statement on how (or whether) it will he

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Source: Digital Trends – Video Games

When the cartoonishly stylized MySims game launched for Wii back in 2007, it looked like EA had simplified its staple Sims games for a younger Wii audience. But as it turns out, the popularity of the new version has led the company to port it back to the brand’s original platform, PC. EA announced on Monday that MySims would make it to PC along with a few extra features catering to the different system.
Along with the story-based elements that made MySims a hit on Wii, the PC version will get an online mode that allows players to share user-generated content with up to seven

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Source: Digital Trends – Video Games

Just two days after Sony released version 2.4 firmware for its PlayStation 3 gaming console, the company has withdrawn the update following numerous reports the update was “bricking” PS3 consoles—rendering them inoperable and unusable. Customers would report installing the version 2.4 firmware.

Sony describes the problem as impact as “limited” and reports o

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Source: Digital Trends – Video Games

 
Updated: 7/2/08 3:47 PST
Sony has announced that it will release the new firmware update for the PS3 – it’s 2.40, in case you were counting – on July 2. Under it, players will be able to use the XrossMediaBar (XMB) to communicate with a vastly increased range of friends, now up to 100 contacts, as well as several other things, without leaving a game.

Users can press the PS button to pause the game, or set their status to “not available” when they don’t want to be distracted.
The other XMB changes include being able to mute the game soundtrack and substitute customized music

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Source: Digital Trends – Video Games

Back in the old days, collaboration between the video game and music industries used to be limited to the selection and crafting of soundtracks, but with the seemingly unstoppable popularity of franchises like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, the industries seems to have hit upon a formula for success: spawn new game titles, and encourage fans to continue purchasing music content for their games.

To that end, MTV Games does not intend to let its Rock Band franchise rest on its laurels, announcing that Rock Band 2 will initially be available for the Xbox 360 platform this September—with PlayStation 3 support coming later in 2008—and that the title will be full compatible with

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Source: Digital Trends – Video Games

Reports in The Hollywood Reporter and elsewhere, partially confirmed by sources in retail channels, have Microsoft getting ready to take $50 off the price of the 20 GB version of its Xbox 360 gaming console, dropping the price to $299 in time for this month’s E3 trade show.

Microsoft most recently dropped the price of its Xbox 360 gaming consoles in August 2007, hoping to drive purchases as the company prepared t

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Source: Digital Trends – Video Games

As computer and console games march forward with better graphics, more intuitive controls and innovative new game concepts, mobile devices are getting a few leftover favorites from yesteryear. Electronic Arts announced on Tuesday that it would bring Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars and Road Rash to mobile phones, while iPods will soon have Monopoly and a new title, The Sims DJ.
Of course, none of the games will be exact ports of their equivalents on other systems. Tiberium Wars will lose its real-time control system for a “phased” version more suited to mobile phones, and players will also be li

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Source: Digital Trends – Video Games