Video Games & Gear

The next chapter in the Halo saga greeted millions of eager gamers around the world with promises of new features and a much-anticipated close to the storyline, the heart of the Halo series. Does it live up to the hype?

By Rick Mayda

Sony has managed to generate a respectable amount of buzz for its new virtual world, a program the company calls "Home." But can it take on "Second Life"?

By Josh Clark

Nintendo dramatically changed the interface for video games with the Nintendo Wii. Learn what sets the Wii apart from other next-generation consoles.

By Marshall Brain

For the Xbox 360, Microsoft rebuilt the system and console from the ground up. From the name to the look to hardware and features, the Xbox 360 is a radically different and more powerful machine than its predecessor.

By Robert Valdes

Playstation 3 owners can donate their consoles' processing power to scientific research. What is this research focused on achieving? Find out the answer to that question in this article.

By Tracy V. Wilson

Read our review of this science-fiction shooter game developed by 2K Games, Venom Games and Human Head Studios for the Xbox 360.

Return to the world of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series with Splinter Cell: Double Agent, a multi-platform action shooter game. This time, Sam faces his biggest challenge yet, and you'll face many new challenges, too, as you learn the art of being a double agent.

With built-in surround-sound speakers, amps and subwoofers, media chairs just might be the next big thing in home theater and gaming systems. What makes a chair a media chair?

By Ed Grabianowski

Combining people's love for taking care of fictional critters with the enjoyment of puzzle games, Neopets is a hit. Peek behind the scenes at the creators and owners of Neopets and explore the controversies that surround the site.

By Ed Grabianowski

The Xbox Live network gives players the opportunity to connect with thousands of other gaming enthusiasts online. What do users get out of the experience?

By Ed Grabianowski & Chris Pollette

The Gizmondo is a handheld gaming console -- but it's also an MP3 player, a camera, a movie player, and a GPS reciever. Learn what else the Gizmondo can do and what sets it apart from other portable gaming units.

By Ed Grabianowski

With sales topping $7 billion last year the focus on game ratings will only intensify. Find out how the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) rates games how the ratings are enforced and how ratings affect game sales.

By Ed Grabianowski

The Pistol, the Battle Rifle -- the debate raged among Halo fans as to which gun is best. HowStuffWorks gets to the bottom of this question by going straight to the source.

By Robert Valdes

The PS3 boasts an incredible microprocessor, a brand-new graphics processor and what may be some of the most phenomenal on-screen images ever. Learn all about PlayStation 3 and check out the new controller.

By Robert Valdes

Getting Halo 2 ready for play on X-Box Live was no easy task. Read what it akes to get all of these X-boxes to play together nicely in an interview with Bungie's Chris Butcher.

By Robert Valdes

Are you tired of getting whipped by the Covenant? Learn how they think from the man who created the artificial intelligence for "Halo 2." In this exclusive HowStuffWorks interview, Chris Butcher of Bungie Studios enlightens us.

By Robert Valdes

Pete Parsons explains the new sound design in Halo 2.

By Robert Valdes

Bungie Studios was nice enough to give us a tour of their digs just before the Halo 2 launch. Check out the story of the whirlwind visit and hear about our first peek at the game.

By Robert Valdes

The follow-up to Def Jam Vendetta is good, unclean fun, packed with celebrity fighters. See what you can expect from your first hour of play.

By Robert Valdes

With its widescreen display, powerful graphics and ability to do more than play games, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) stands out in the crowd. Find out what else Sony has packed into the PSP and see how it measures up.

By Ed Grabianowski

With Sony's new portable on its tail, Nintendo's chose not to create a bigger, faster processor, but the Nintendo DS, which stands for either "dual screen" or "developer's system," depending on who you ask.

By Jason Wright

The Phantom was supposed to be launched in 2005, but it never made it to production. Learn about the specs and features of the Phantom game system.

By Tom Harris

Video games are amazing creations, but the fact remains that if you input you can't play. Take a look inside the quintessential game controller and see how it has evolved over the years.

By Tom Harris

Billiards, also known as pool, is played all over the world. But there's a lot more to it than just putting a ball in a pocket. Find out how pool tables are made, and learn about the games that are played on them.

By Jeff Tyson

The pinball machine is an arcade standard that most enjoy having a game or two on. There are also those who have truly mastered its secrets. Find out about the vagaries and nuances of tilt sensors, replays, matches, combination shots and more.

By Shel Brannan