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Avatar: The Game is 30 November 2009 17:04:56
The game version of James Cameron's new blockbuster Avatar comes out this week and has already received a glowing review from the Mirror.
Avatar: The Game is released on December 4th in the UK on PS3, Xbox, Wii and PC formats as well as DSI and PSP. Parts of the game can be played in 3D if used with a stereoscopic TV.
The review said it was the visual aspect of the game that really stood out as a highlight.
"The depth and colours were absolutely stunning: the world in which you play is full of vivid greens and blues," said the review.
It also praised the games attention to detail across a whole alternative universe and notes that the game was actually created alongside the film and released before it, rather than being an afterthought of the movie.
The game follows a separate story line to the movie with players able to take control of either a member of the native Na'vi or a gun-toting human soldier for the Resources Development Administration intent on exploiting the natural resources of the Na'vi's home world.
However, the storyline is secondary to the visual aspects of the game. "It’s so visually arresting, with foliage almost within touching distance and missiles whizzing past your head as you battle through the jungle," the Mirror said.
British designer's £1.92 million iPhone30 November 2009 15:13:33
An iPhone costing ?1.92 million has been created by a British designer.
Steve Hughes, from Liverpool, took ten months to produce the iPhone 3GS Supreme after it was commissioned by an anonymous Australian businessman.
The world's most expensive iPhone features a front bezel housing 136 diamonds, totaling 68 carats and casing made with 271 grams of 22 carat solid gold.
A further 53 diamonds were used for the Apple logo on the back of the phone and the front navigation button is made from a single seven carat gem.
Mr Hughes told the Telegraph: "The iPhone is the phone with the most tricks on the market. What possibly could we do to trick it up more? Bless it with the finest precious metal and jewels.
"Most of the ten months was spent trying to source the diamond for the navigation button."
The phone will be shipped to its new owner in 7kg chest made from a single block of granite and Kashmir gold with a Nubuck leather lining.
Rumours have also begun to spread that Apple is soon to release a new version of the iPhone. A developer noticed analytic results for a new app it was testing showed it had been used by an iPhone 3,1. The current iPhone is identified as iPhone 2,1.
iPlayer for Xbox delayed30 November 2009 12:06:07
A deal to launch the BBC's iPlayer on the Xbox has hit a stumbling block which looks likely to delay the project indefinitely.
An argument has arisen between the two companies over Microsoft's policy of charging a subscription for its Xbox live services.
But the BBC is unable to charge the public for access to its iPlayer as this is already included in the licence fee.
A source close to the BBC said: "Microsoft only wants to offer its users access to platforms it can charge for as this is the model it is pursuing.
"This does not fit with the BBC's model and Microsoft will not budge at the moment. It is really frustrating for those involved on the BBC side who want to make sure iPlayer is rolled out on as many popular entertainment platforms as possible."
iPlayer is already available on the PS3 and has recently re-launched on the Nintendo Wii. Earlier this year the BBC announced that iPlayer viewings through the PS3 accounted for ten per cent of total usage.
Microsoft recently updated the Xbox to allow direct access to Facebook and claimed that 2 million had accessed the social networking site from the console in the first week of its launch.

