From www.viewsonic.com:

The PJD6220-3D supports up to the native 1024 x 768 resolution at a true 120Hz frame rate. A bright, professional-level 3D projector, the product can easily display up to 25 ft (diagonal 3D) high-definition images. Advanced DLP technology with BrilliantColorTM provides stunning, vibrant colors on screen. The PJD6220-3D also offers a 2000:1 contrast ratio and an integrated 10W audio system to complete an immersive, blur-free 3D gaming experience.

The projector is, unfortunately, not full HD, but does offer a reasonably high natively 4:3 resolution and does accept HD sources. That means that if standard 852×480 DVDs still look great to you, this projector will be perfect. Now all we need is more content available in a compatible format and an easy-to-use player that can interface with this projector and we’ll all be enjoying the next 3D feature film at home!

Home Gaming

Saitek Aviator Flight Stick

If you’re a fan of flight simulators like I am, then you know the pain of trying to find a working flight stick for a console gaming system. Sure there are a bazillion different ones available for PCs, but I want to be able to sit back on my couch and comfortably  enjoy a decent flight sim on my HDTV.

Finally, Saitek steps in, making the new Aviator PC flight stick that also is compatible with the XBox 360 and Playstation 3!

From ces.cnet.com:

Just in time for upcoming titles like Tom Clancy’s HAWX, Saitek is introducing the Aviator, a flight stick fully tested to work Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games. That said, Saitek claims the Aviator will also perform well with the Blazing Angels series of games released earlier on.

Available for both platforms, each Aviator will also have the ability to work with PC games as well, doubling the compatibility. The Xbox 360 version (pictured) not only has the familiar silver Xbox guide button, it also has room for a headset connection in order to chat with other players during aerial dogfights. The PlayStation 3 Aviator features a Home button for access to the cross-media-bar while playing.

Both Aviator flight sticks are scheduled to ship this month for $50.

I miss the days of playing X-Wing, Tie Fighter, Red Baron, and Strike Commander on my old 386 machine. I can only hope this flight stick enables me to have that kind of fun with the incredible graphics and sound found on today’s home consoles.

1 vs. 100 on XBox Live

This was the only announcement that came out of Microsoft’s presence at CES that I found to be interesting. During Steve Ballmer’s presentation, a demo of this game was presented. 

From ces.cnet.com:

Demoing Xbox Live Primetime, a place for live interaction. Demo is 1 vs. 100, an Xbox game show where people can win real prizes. Microsoft talked about it briefly at E3, but this is the first demo, I believe.

I think this is one of the first games that will actually engage a large audience of casual gamers. I enjoyed the TV show 1 vs. 100 during its run and will definitely be tempted to join in the fun online as part of the “mob,” especially if I could potentially win real prizes. My guess is that those prizes will be XBox 360 themes, gamer pictures, or maybe even some Microsoft points.

Mad Catz Street Fighter IV branded FightPads and FightSticks

I’m really excited about the upcoming release of Street Fighter IV and very tempted to replicate the arcade experience at home using one of these joysticks.

From ces.cnet.com:

To celebrate the release of Street Fighter IV, Mad Catz has teamed up with Capcom in order to roll out a collection of branded FightPads and FightSticks emblazoned with various Street Fighter characters.

The FightPad and FightStick will be available for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms in addition to the Tournament Edition FightStick which features the exact hardware found in arcade cabinets.

Mattel Mindflex

And rounding out my CES picks is a mind-controlled game. Yes, you read that right: mind-controlled.

From ces.cnet.com:

Mattel’s new Mindflex game lets you control the height of a floating ball with your mind as you navigate it through hoops, cages, and hurdles on a circular racetrack. The goal is to move the little orb around the customizable course as quickly as you can (you control the speed of rotation with a hand-operated knob). The device keeps score for several people.

[…]

Control is by brainwave. A headset measures the level of your concentration, and the more you concentrate, the faster a little fan spins that’s blowing the ball up in the air, which controls its height.

[…]

Mindscape will be $80 when it ships this Fall. He also told me that future games might respond not just to concentration, but to fear (wouldn’t want to to be the lawyer representing that one), anxiety, happiness, or frustration. “We’re always looking for the newest way to control things,” he said.

I don’t want to own this – at all – but I would like to try it out just to see if it really does work.

Do you have a pick?

If you saw or read about something at CES 2009, write about it or post a link in the comments.

Thanks to CNET and Engadget for their incredible CES ‘09 coverage.