PLANETLYNX: June 2010

Michael Jackson the King of Pop in a new video game to be released this holiday season by Ubisoft Entertainment.

The as-yet-unnamed game will be among the first to use new motion-detecting camera systems to be available later this year for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. The announcement was made Monday at the E3 video game show in Los Angeles.

The game will also work with hand-held controllers on Nintendo's Wii and on the smaller Nintendo DS and PSP portable console from Sony.

The game's launch will roughly coincide with the planned sale of a new album containing unreleased Jackson recordings in November.

Ubisoft marketing vice president Tony Key says as part of the game, players will learn how to mimic the late Jackson's signature moves. Key says, "You are going to learn to moonwalk."

DIMENSIONS (when closed)
5.3 inches x 2.9 inches x 0.8 inches

WEIGHT
8 ounces
TOP SCREEN
3.52 inch widescreen display / 800x240 resolution (400 pixels for each eye during 3D gameplay)
BOTTOM SCREEN
3.02 inch touch-screen display / 320x240 resolution
CAMERAS
Three cameras, two on outer casing, one above top screen / 640x480 resolution (0.3 megapixel)
STORAGE MEDIUM
Cartridge slot for both 3DS and DS cards (3DS cards have a 2GB capacity "at launch", suggesting larger sizes to come) / SD memory card slot
WIRELESS
2.4ghz / 802.11 wi-fi / Can communicate with other consoles or internet when in sleep mode / wireless can be switched off to preserve battery life
CONTROLS / INPUT
Touch-screen / D-pad / 360-degree "Slide Pad" (the analog stick) / motion sensor / gyro sensor / 3D "depth slider" can reduce (or even disable) 3D effects in games
STYLUS
4-inch stylus (when full extended)
AUDIO
Stereo speakers (includes stereo headphone out jack)
BATTERY
Lithium ion battery (lifespan details TBA)
PARENTAL CONTROLS
The 3DS will include parental controls