Mad Catz AX 720 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset

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I did this video review to help anyone out there with the same issues I had.

Hopefully this will help gain the insight you'll need to make a decision.

Please leave feedback, did I miss anything?

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--I needed a nice headset for late night gaming. (As to not wake the neigbors, and what not) I searched for the best, which would probably be the Astro headset. However, the price, at almost $300 put me off abit. The tritton 720's, a nice quality headset for a nice price. I bought these for my PS3 only. The features:

1) Sturdy quality

2) Microphone, solid and bendable

3) comfort level is a 9 (headset is a little heavy) but not terrible, no neck fatigue, or head aches, even after long hours of game play, but I do get up to fix drink, rest room...etc.

4) Speaker volume, microphone volume/mute (both are seperately controlled), very nice...sometimes you wanna play with your buds, sometimes you want strangers to shut up. *flip the switch...all you got is game sound!

5) I find the controls and set up very easy to use and manage. Nothing is complicated or cumbersome. *note this is NOT a wireless headset. The wire is nice and long, got the voice control velcroed to the side of my Lazy-boy. Plenty of wire to not compromise my mobility. On a surpising note...I can actually hear other things going on in the house, phone ringing, doorbell, etc... I thought for sure I would be closed off to the world..NOT SO!

6) Head phones are very nice and comfy. Surrounds the ENTIRE ear! One bad note, it seems the padding comes off a little too easy. So far it isn't anoying (yet) But I have to pull the head phones apart then take the set off. Do not recommend that you just pull them off of your head. --this almost cost it a star...it still might.

I have read over many reviews, including Amazon that the next version up of this headset, which is $200, is nothing but problems...that was a main decsion factor in my purchase of this headset. Also finding a PS3 compatible headset seemed to be kind of an issue. Other thoughts:

1) movie watching...very nice, sound quality is good, bass is nice...no complaints. Is it the same as your surround sound set? Hell no! But a wonderful compromise for late night gaming or movie watching in private.

2) Music? don't know, don't care...not the purpose of these headphones. Not what they are advertised for or for what they are intended. I play games and watch/listen to the occasional movie with them. For this purpose, they fit the bill, the price is right, the quality is solid.

Setup:

I found the installation to be easy and straightforward (PS3) Took all of 4 mins to install and play! Literally plug and play! The directions are superb!

Final thought: Two thumbs up. If you are looking for a quality, working, easy set-up gaming head phone, look no further. The price is perfect. These are my first headphones..so I am not sure about the others, but I like these and hope that they last awhile. If they dont, I will be getting the Astro's. I have had these for over two months, so far good so good.

Buy Mad Catz AX 720 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset Now

I've been trying to decide on a gaming headset for Modern Warfare and other FPS for a while and researched many products. I even tried a few. I started out with the Ear Force X41 and while they were great for the surround sound effect, I found the quality very lacking (tinny) and sometimes painful (crackling, popping, hissing, you name it). I also liked that it was wireless... until I used it for a few days. After three, 3-4 hour sessions, the battery was dead. I have plenty of rechargeables but I just didn't like having the headsets go out during a match and then having to find replacement batteries (and getting killed in the process). Being wireless is a convenience and a nuisance at the same time.

Then I tried the Ear Force PX21 because it was able to connect to PC, PS3, and 360, all of which I play on. BUT, there was no surround effect to speak of.. at least none that I could detect. The quality was there but just in stereo. Not much else to say about it.

Lastly, I ordered the Tritton AX 720. What a difference from the PX21 and the X41. It's better than the PX21 because it does have surround and can connect to all 3 systems. It's better than the X41 in sound quality. I'm not an audiophile but these had much warmer lows and cleaner highs that was clearly noticeable from the X41. I immediately returned both of the previous headsets. The surround sound on the AX 720 is there and very noticeable. I found myself instinctively turning toward footsteps before I saw them. The only thing the X41 has is the chat boot feature... but I haven't had any issues talking to my friend in-game with the 720s.

Now, I set about 6 feet away from the TV in my office and the wire from the volume control to the audio processor doesn't get in my way. The wireless headsets out there including the X41 only removes that one wire from the volume control to the audio processor. You still need the volume control and the mic cable to your controller if you're on the 360. Not a big deal for me... the crackling, popping, and hissing was.

Aside for all that, here's the most important reason I like the 720s... I wear glasses and anyone who does can attest to the fact that over-the-ear headsets can be painful! The X41 are a good example. The cups pressed on my rather large ears and onto the stems on the glasses. At first, it was unnoticeable but after a couple of hours, I had to take my glasses off and hang them over the cups so I could still see (at an odd angle no less). My ears and the skin behind them were sore from the pressure. The PX21s led to the same effect.

I don't know what it is with the AX 720s but they designed a great headset for glass wearing geeks. They don't press on my ears or the stems on the glasses AT ALL! Most of the pressure (which isn't much) come from the top rim of the soft cups so the rest of the cup doesn't seem to apply that much pressure. I've gamed for 8hours with my glasses on without any pain. It's a miracle!

Just for those interested, I also was looking at the Tritton AX Pro for the discreet adjustments you can make on each channel. I'm wondering if that would make an even bigger difference in noticing the surround sound effects. Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't sell them directly as well as costing $70 more, and returns with 3rd party sellers are a pain. I also, just yesterday, came across the Sharkoon Xstatic 5.1 which seems exactly like the Tritton AX Pro as far as the audio processor goes down to the volume control module (but about $30 less or $40 more than the AX 720) ...hmmm. They're either a sister company or someone's going to get sued for patent infringement. lol

All in all, you can't go wrong with the AX 720... especially if you wear glasses.

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I never write recommendations, simply because I don't see the point. Ironically, I always look at customer reviews whenever I purchase anything around the $50 or higher mark. Let's just say my strenuous search for gaming headphones ended when I purchased this product.

I initially had just a mic and put my sound through my stereo, but since my girlfriend's hours changed I needed a sound alternative when she was sleeping. I initially purchased the Ear Force PX21 from Turtle Beach for $79.99. Please don't make the same mistake I did; they promise good quality sound but even when I got past the discomfort of the earpieces, the sound was just simply loud, not good quality. So I took them back and searched for a better product around the same price.

I was skeptical at first because I really didn't want to spend an EXTRA sixty bucks. But after reading some the good reviews for the Tritton AX720's I decided to go for it, because if they were as promised--it'd be worth it.

Not a day goes by where I'm not 100% happy that I made that decision. Now I haven't heard the higher-end headphones, but I don't see how it could get any better for how much more expensive they can be.

Exterior, the product has a great look, extremely comfortable headphones, a small amp that is so light it can sit atop another console (I have mine on top my Wii.) And the mic is detachable in case you're playing a one-player game.

Performance, the greatest sound I've heard from headphones. I'm sure they're no Bose, but they are an amazing value. I frequently play Modern Warfare 2 multi-player, and these headphones not only make it a new experience, but also gives you advantages in some situations. For instance, if some one is out of your view but re-loading or walking towards you, you can depict which direction he/she's coming from. IT'S DIGITAL 5.1 SURROUND SOUND AND VIDEO GAMES UNITED!!!

I highly suggest this product for anyone shopping for a sound alternative. I even use these for when I watch Blu-rays. Between these headphones and my 1080p 42" LCD, I won't be headed to the movie theaters anytime soon. I've actually watched some movies again just because of the improved experience. GO OUT AND GET THESE HEADPHONES NOW!!!

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I purchased these headphones to replace my older AX360s because CoD:MW2 no longer has xbox voice chat alone in the center channel, so I could not crank that to hear friends online without blowing out my ears from the other sounds. The 720 has a "true" voice channel for xbox with separate volume controls, which is great.

First, the sound quality is excellent. I was skeptical when I read these are not real multi-speaker surround sound like the AX360s but so far I have been satisfied. Comparing the two the 360s do a better job of surround sound overall but once I learned how the 720s reproduce things like "behind" sound I got used to it. Where "rear" speakers in the 360s truly sounded like they were behind, the 720s "rear" sounds kinda behind and below. Like I said, though, I got used to it and now can identify direction without thinking about it. Unlike the 360s, though, these do NOT have separate volume controls for each channel. I used to turn the "rear" speakers up slightly higher than the front speakers to better identify when people were behind me, and that is not possible on the 720s.

For normal stereo sources like music it seems like the quality of this headset compared to the AX360 is significantly improved. Presumably since this set only has one speaker in each ear for about the same price as the 360s that means the speakers are higher quality than the multiple speakers per cup in the older set. Of course, this is conjecture. They sound clearer in general and have less "hum" than the 360s.

One of the most annoying things to me about the 360s was how they reset their volume every time they were turned on, so you would get blasted when the source was first turned on until you went to the controller box and pressed one of the volume buttons to revert the level back to your preset. I am happy to say the 720 controller correctly saves your previous volume setting, so there is no longer this problem.

My one complaint so far has been brought up by other reviews, and that is the static introduced into the microphone. The jack where the mic cord plugs into the volume controller seems prone to cause static any time it is bumped or moved. I did plug in the USB cable as recommended by other reviews and the problem still persists. Friends have said when I talk they hear a slight buzz in the background but nothing too disruptive. Using the cord clip to fasten it to something (shirt, collar, etc) keeps the volume controller from moving around so much and gets rid of most of the static. If you are not moving around a lot while you play this is a minor issue.

Overall I am very happy with this set and don't miss the AX360s at all. If you are thinking about upgrading to the 720 from 360 know that you are basically trading true surround sound and individual-channel volume controls for much better voice functionality and generally clearer sound. That is a fair tradeoff for me.

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Sony PS3 Controller Decal Style Skin - Camouflage Purple

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Looks even better on my ps3 paddle. Resticks easy enough if you made a little mistake but once you smooth it out its on! Love the colors. Will buy again.

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Portal 2

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(Note: This review contains ZERO spoilers) / Updated April 29, 2011

If you like puzzle games, this is about as good as it gets. There is no other puzzle game like this, and believe me when I say you won't be disappointed. The first Portal game was just an extra; this is a full-length game. The first thing you'll notice is the inclusion of co-op which adds an entirely new layer of fun to the game. Think about what you could do with 2 portals, and imagine how you would complicate the puzzles with 4 portals instead. My friend and I were having an absolute blast trying to figure out just how to position our portals in tandem to set up the solution for these increasingly difficult puzzles. It's challenging and fun at the same time.

There were a few times where we almost gave up, and then the solution suddenly presented itself and we were able to continue. This game is not for anyone who is looking for a relaxing stroll through the Aperture Science Facility. This game WILL test your patience and intellect, and it is significantly more complex than the original game. Don't let that scare you away though, this game is absolutely amazing. New gameplay elements such as funnels, light bridges and gels come alongside the return of the Portal gun and not only do they present some intriguing puzzle designs, but they will test your wit in new ways that surpass even the sharpest minds.

UPDATE: My friend and I have finished the co-op portion of the game and the puzzles spike in difficulty near the end. There are roughly 40 co-op levels in the game, and there are a few trophies to make you come back to a few of the more difficult challenges. The length of the co-op will vary depending on the skill of the player, but my friend and I managed to solve all 40 puzzles in about 11 hours. Some people will say that it takes 5-6, but that's probably on a second or third playthrough. If you've never seen the gameplay elements before, you will have to take some trial and error to figure out how they work before you can think about trying to solve the puzzles.

The single player campaign is excellent, though this also spikes in difficulty pretty significantly about 1/3 of the way through the game, and then again 2/3 of the way through. The game starts off with a quick tutorial, but this game assumes that if you are playing Portal, you already have a pretty good idea of how to think with portals. Some of the puzzles in the middle of the game actually had me turning off my system until the next night, at which point I was able to figure it out in a matter of minutes. One thing that I really love about this game is the fact that it never tells you where you are supposed to go, you have to look around and then figure out how to get there by using everything in your environment. This is ever more evident once you reach a certain point in the game. All of the stops are pulled out and the amount of mind-bending thinking that you have to do borders on insanity. It's never too difficult though, as the solution is always right in front of you. The trick is you have to figure out how to make it happen with varying degrees of complexity. Some puzzles will take you 30 seconds, and others will have you trying things over and over for 30 minutes. All while being incredibly fun the entire time! The single player campaign took me about 15 hours to complete, and I will certainly be playing it again soon.

The voice acting in both single player and co-op is superb, and GLaDOS is even more hilarious than the first time around. It's pretty much a guarantee that you will find the dialog humorous, whether it's listening to GLaDOS telling you that you will fail to solve the next test, or that Wheatley thinks you may have died from a horribly long fall and isn't sure what to do.

The PS3 version of this game also comes with Steam integration and this is a breeze to set up. I managed to log into my Steam account on my PS3 and I was able to see all of my friends and send messages, view achievements, etc. Best part is you can access this all within the game too, and it was very easy to set up. Just type in your name and password, and I was immediately connected. I haven't been able to test out the PC / PS3 playing together yet, but I'll be sure to update my review once I am able to try it out.

UPDATE: Since the PSN has been down since April 20, I have been unable to play online yet. I was quite fortunate to have linked my PSN account to Steam, as players are currently unable to do this right now. When the PSN is restored this game will certainly be received better by the community due to the online portion being completely dead on arrival.

It's been a long time since I've been able to have this much fun with a video game, and one with so much content (apparently Valve is planning on releasing DLC and a map editor for the game to allow creating new levels). The only gripe I have with the game is a lack of challenge maps. One of the best parts of Portal was to see if you could solve the puzzles in the fastest time, fewest steps and fewest number of portals. That is sadly missing from this game, and it would be totally awesome in co-op mode. The story and level design make up for this, but there isn't a whole lot to come back to once you've completed the game. Even still, getting 20-25 hours out of a video game is pretty good for a puzzle game considering the competition these days.

If you're even close to being on the fence about this game, I highly recommend that you give it a shot.

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I absolutely adored the initial Portal game. I was worried that Portal 2 could not live up to the first game's groundbreaking gameplay. I'm pleased to report that if anything Portal 2 is even better than the first one!

You pick up with Portal 2 many years after the initial Portal left off. You're the same person being woken up from stasis by a little floating robot. He is trying to save you, but soon enough you are back in the system, solving puzzles, using your portal gun to create in and out portals. Then it gets even more fun. There are new goo substances that let you do even more amazing things. I won't describe them all because half of the fun is discovering what they do and how to use them. Suffice it to say that it brings gameplay to a whole new level.

The humor is simply spectacular. The subtle comments had me laughing out loud the entire way through. The main character is female and I have to wonder if them only really trigger in a female player's brain. I was playing with my boyfriend and some of the sly comments about weight went right over his head, while I was rolling with laughter at the prods that were being made.

The graphics are great, and when you go through the commentary track you realize just how hard the team worked to get everything to look just right. Their attention to detail is impressive.

The voice quality is also spectacular. The slight lilting of one character's voice, the deliberate pauses and emphasis of another these are voice actors who know what they're doing. It really shows when a gaming company finds the perfect person to embody an on screen character.

There's single player and co-op mode. This could be tough for solo players; they'll have to find someone to play with to get through those. I know several people who get massive headaches at watching the physics-mind-bending portal play on the screen so this might not be as easy as it sounds. Still it's well worth tracking down a fellow player to go through those levels with.

Is there a down side? Well, as mentioned, some people just can't handle watching the gameplay because of it's jumping-from-heights, rotating-quickly-in-all-directions style. It simply makes them nauseous. And it's also worth mentioning that some of these puzzles are *challenging*. They're not meant for four year olds to hop through. They require a great deal of logical thought.

But to me that's the beauty of it. It's almost a shame that walkthroughs are so easily available on the web, for people to give up after five minutes and find the solution. The joy of this game is that it trains your brain to find solutions, to seek out the answer to a puzzle by breaking it down into logical steps. In pretty much every case here, you can see *what* you need to do. You just have to figure out *how* you get to that end point. I strongly believe that this logical puzzle solving ability is a superb thing for all of us to get better at, and that Portal 2 is a fantastic way to boost that skill.

Plus it is just SO much fun from start to end.

Once we finished the game we immediately went through the commentary track and it is even more fascinating. So be sure to check that out!

Highly highly recommended.

Buy Portal 2 Now

Portal is back and better than ever! The tests are as mind bending as ever, and they've added new elements, like light bridges and emancipation gates. The graphics are smooth and attractive, but nothing that's going to make your jaw drop. The controls are as simple and effective as the first game. But then, none of that was what worried me. I had no doubt that they would be able to recreate and expand upon the technical aspects of the first game. My concern was whether or not they would manage to capture and continue the personality and sense of humor of the first game. I am very pleased to report that the sequel does not disappoint. The sequel pics up right where the first game left off, and GLaDOS holds a grudge. Her insults, passive aggressive comments, and general malice will have you chuckling throughout the game. Your new companion and guide robot also adds to the character of the game, though he can be a bit heavy handed at times. If you enjoyed the first game, you will love the sequel, both for its expanded challenges, and its unique personality. As long as you enjoy a good puzzle and have a sense of humor, you will never regret this purchase.

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I didn't play the first Portal, and bought this one strictly based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews. I got the hang of it pretty quickly, and was solving the puzzles in no time. The game commentary that you hear between levels is hilarious and, in my opinion, the best part of the game. This isn't to say that the game itself was not fun, it was. Such a nice departure from a lot of the mindless shooters and sports games that I normally play. Portal 2 does provide a great mental challenge. But after making it through several levels, I couldn't help but get a little bored by the repetitiveness of it all. Granted, new challenges present themselves to inject some variety, but not much.

I appreciated Portal 2 because of how different it was from any of the other PS3 games that I'm used to, and it is by far the funniest game I've ever played. But I couldn't help but think that this felt like a game that I might play on an iPhone or iPad (though obviously with superior graphics). I'm also surprised by the reviewers who suggest that Portal 2 has great replayability. Once you've solved the puzzle, you've solved it. There's no more figuring out to do because you already know how to do it. So, I can't say that I have any desire, whatsoever, to play the game again.

I don't want to make it seem like Portal 2 isn't an enjoyable game, because I did have a good time playing it. I just don't feel it's worth the $60 that it originally sold for, or even the $40 that it's listed for at the moment. It would be a great rental, however.

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Portal 2 is a continuation of the Portal we love but we added touches that make it Valve's best game ever. Harder puzzles coupled with the introduction of Excursion Funnels, Aerial Faith Plates, Thermal Discouragement Beams, Pneumatic Diversity Vents, Repulsion Gel, and Propulsion Gel make soLving a level even more sAtisfying. The graphics are also improveD from Portal 1 alOng with more complex level deSign in the now destroyed Aperture Science facility. I don't want to spoil any of the game but if you played Portal 1, everything will feel very familiar. The PS3 version of the game includes Steam integration so you can play along in co-op mode with PC and use the steam chat feature. Trophies / Achievements are synced with Steam. PS3 buyers get the PC version for free so this is by far the best console version to purchase.

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PlayStation 3 (20GB)

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Once considered the red-headed stepchild of Sony's large, confusing fleet of Playststion 3 models, the news that new models of the PS3 will contain no PS2 compatibility gives this model some extra appeal.

Just like the 60GB model, this system has full hardware backwards compatibility and will play the vast majority of PS2 games very well. Replaying Metal Gear Solid 3 on the system, there was noticeable improvement in some of the game's loading from my old PS2, and the game looked great upscaled over HDMI.

There are three drawbacks I can think of with this modelwhich are easily addressed for the most part.

1. The 20GB Hard drive fills up very quickly on the PS3, even if you're just using the system for gaming and not as a media hub. The game I purchased with the system, Metal Gear Solid 4 took up 4.5 GB on it's own. Thankfully, it's cheap and simple to drop a much larger SATA laptop drive into the system.

2. This is the only Playstation 3 model that does NOT include built-in Wi-Fi and Sony doesn't have an officially supported adapter. That's a pretty big drawback since so many of the PS3's cool features are online. A gaming ethernet bridge does a pretty good job of taking care of this.

3. No media card slotsI can't plug a compact flash card into my PS3 like the 60GB models can... oh, wait. Why would I want to plug media cards into my system anyways? If I did, it would be as simple as buying a $6 hub.

So, if you want a system that plays all your Playstation games and have a wired internet connection, I highly suggest giving this PS3 model a look. It doesn't fetch the premium price that the 60GB units currently are and its drawbacks are easily addressed.

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I'm gonna make this simple , the 20gb , 60gb , and early 80gb versions are the only ps3 models that support ps2 playback, only drawback on the 20gb is there is no built in WiFi .But ethernet allows faster downloads and wifi supposedly makes anything run hotter . I had a 40gb ps3 and its the same except obviously ps2 backwards compatibility and wifi. also there are 4 usb slots instead of 2. If you want ps2 support for your future ps3 get a original model ! But if you can care less get a 40gb , newer 80gb or 160gb .Its all about personal preference ! but get a ps3 .

Buy PlayStation 3 (20GB) Now

We got our hands on an XBox 360, a PS3, and a Wii on launch day. Each is good at specific tasks. Here is a fully unbiased review of how the PS3 performs as a next generation console unit.

To start with, the PS3, like the XBox 360, supports full high definition. The Wii only supports a lower resolution. Since the Wii has a much lower price tag, that is a fair trade-off for people with a tighter budget. Gamers for whom a very high level of graphic detail is important will have to pony up for that ability.

Along the same lines, the XBox 360 supports the HD format of high definition DVDs for movies, while the PS3 supports the Blu-ray format. If you haven't been following the whole format war for high definition DVDs, I have several articles on the topic on my gaming site. In short it's like the VHS/Beta wars when the VCR first came out. Is one better than the other? Will one format win out as the sole survivor? There's no way to tell. People will argue vehemently that one is better than the other. From a gaming point of view, the PS3 has the Blu-ray BUILT IN meaning every game can have 50 GIGS worth of game information. Think MASSIVELY huge maps, types of characters, etc. The XBox 360 only uses "regular" DVDs as its base game holder, which is 7 GIG. That is much smaller. You can buy an add-on HD DVD unit for about $100 but the storage is still smaller than Blu-ray about 30 gig.

People will argue about graphics until they're blue :) A lot of this comes down to how a specific game company *uses* the ability of the system. Looking at graphics on a tetris-like game will be much different than viewing the graphics of Oblivion or Gears of War. I found 360 graphics amazing on Oblivion. I equally found the PS3 graphics quite impressive on Genji's cut scenes (no enemy crabs in sight). Since both are high definition, I think that both have the same potential in real life terms. Both really shine in terms of fluid motion, precise detail and realism. I've seen it on both systems, on certain games. I've also seen junky graphics on both systems. Both are much better than the Wii.

How about sound? All of these can plug into your stereo system. My boyfriend and I are both musicians. We have decibel meters and other sound-sensing tools. All three systems can create amazingly complex sounds, music, and in general a "gaming environment". Again I think it comes down to specific game makers, how they choose to use or not use that ability. It also comes down to how much you the gamer spent on your stereo system :)

Speaking of sound, I do have to comment that our 360 is quite loud when it runs, despite our many attempts to help it be quieter. The PS3 right out of the box is MUCH quieter. Score 1 point for the PS3.

On the general operating system for the units, all three consoles are going for more of a "general use entertainment system" presentation. The XBox has customizeable tabs that let you download new games, manage your environment and so on. The Wii also has channels that let you organize your gaming world. The PS3 has an interface almost exactly like that of the PSP, complete with cool drifting smoke waves in the background. You choose which area you want to work on game, music, internet connection etc., and drop down to alter whatever feature you're interested in.

So on to the on-line aspect, which most gamers are now fully interested in. Where the XBox 360 makes you buy an external connector for wireless, the PS3 has that built-in on the 60 gig model. The 20 gig model still requires an external connector (these run about $100). All will let you plug in a cable if you're still running a wired household.

As a side comment on that, the XBox 360 has a 20 gig hard drive. However, they take up about 12 gig of that with their base system. So really you get 8 gig "free" for other things. Now, 8 gig might sound like a lot. But I still remember when the PS2 first came out and everyone was raving about the 8mb memory cards, how you could never possibly fill one of those up. We now have 8 memory cards and all are pretty much full. I have no doubt that 8 gig or even 20 gig is going to fill quickly. With the PS3 you at least do have that option for the 60 gig and it is really worth it. With the 360 your only option is to get an add-on drive to in essence back up the content you're not currently using and free up the main drive.

How does the online world work on the PS3? The XBox definitely has the advantage here. Until this generation, *only* the XBox had a thriving community in their live world. The XBox 360 connected right into that XBox Live world, and they boast a *huge* community of gamers who actively gain points, play online and form virtual worlds. The PS3 and Wii both have to play catch-up at this point. Even if they have better interfaces, it's a matter of converting over all those players who have clans, familiarity and high point collections on the XBox world. Imagine if a new MMORPG came out right now that had fantastic graphics. Sure it might be wonderful but will you really get all 800 trillion WOW players to drop their world and characters and friends to convert, especially if it costs more? It'll be a hard, slow sell.

My summary? I definitely think all three have great games and that all three are worth owning. Of course I'm in a position that I *can* afford all three, which many people are not in. For example, I *love* the Zelda series, and I *love* the Final Fantasy series. I would be hard put to tell a person "you need to get Zelda instead of Final Fantasy". I would want the person to have both, because both are great for different reasons. If you really truly can only save up for one of the three consoles this holiday season, it isn't going to come down to which console is "best" for all players in some sort of a global way. It is going to come down to which console is best for YOU based on your specific gaming style.

If you're on a really tight budget and just want something better than the previous generation, go for a Wii. It's cheap, the graphics are better, and the remotes are great fun. It has Zelda :) If you have a larger budget and really want the high definition, you're now choosing between the 360 and the PS3. You really do have to look at the specifics of each, and think seriously about your gaming style, to see which matches you best. If I were to make a flip summarization, if you really love online gameplay, I'd go with the XBox 360. Its years of head-start really give it a robust environment here. If you are looking for more of a home-based media center for your MPs3, photos and huge world gameplay, I'd go with the PS3. It definitely has the advantage on large scale games.

Feel free to email me if you have more specific questions, or for screenshots, graphic descriptions, or interface information on any of the three systems.

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I was getting a little worried with a lot of negative reviews I was reading about the PS3. So much so that at one point I actually considered a Wii. Thankfully I stuck with what I really wanted and though it's only been two weeks I'm loving this thing. Sure I wish there were more games out at launch but I know they're coming. Besides at $50-$60 a pop for games it's not like I have the cash to just buy a stack of games at one time anyway. I have Resistance, Madden '07, and Need for Speed: Carbon. I'm happy with what I'm seeing so far. I like the wireless controllers though like a little kid I sit close enough to the TV to use a wired one. The graphics and sound are awesome. I'm curious to see what game developers will come up with when they don't have a strict launch deadline to meet and can really use this machine to its potential. There are a lot more Blu-ray titles available than I thought so I'll pick up a few and test the player more. The unit does produce a lot of heat so that comment I'm sure you've read elsewhere is true. I haven't tried the online network so I can't comment on that. One thing I will note is that the operating software had to be updated before it would play a game so if you don't have a high speed internet connection forget about using it right out of the box. Overall I'm happy I took the plunge. One more point. I don't think you have to have a HDTV to use a PS3 but to really appreciate it you should use something other than a standard tube. I have a 42" Panasonic EDTV so it's not full high def but it can receive up to a 1080i signal and man it makes a difference. Wow.

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Now that the prices on the secondary market have dropped to near retail price the systems are getting returned in record numbers and not just by the resellers, many are being returned by people who fell for the hype and realized that there is just not enough you can do with it right now.

There are really only a couple of games worth playing on the system right now, and really only one of those is PS3 specific, Resistance:Fall of Man. The Blu-Ray is nice but you might want to see how the battle shapes up in Blu-Ray VS. HD-DVD battle before you commit to the Blu-Ray format. This could be the Betamax vs VHS all over again and I would hate to think that in a couple of years time the Blu-Ray is dead and there fewer movies released in the Blu-Ray than HD-DVD. But by that time the price will have dropped and will be great gaming system even if Blu-Ray loses to HD-DVD.

If you do not plan to connect online with the system then I would recommend the 20GB system and you can purchase memory cards if needed. The abilty to use memory cards is still nice and many people with the 60GB system will be using them to. Very convenient to take a game save, on a memory card, over to a friends house. The 60GB is a must if you plan to connect online because there are plans for downloadable content, including games and additions to released games and the 20GB would fill up to fast, probably with one download. But to be honest the 60GB system is not going to be enough if you plan to download content frequently. I suspect you may even see a larger hard drive PS3 down the road, like a 200GB version, especially if the dowloadable content offered by Sony is a big success.

There is no reason to pay more than retail anymore. Considering there were about a fifth of the PS3s available compared to the WII, the PS3 secondary market prices are virtually the same and the WII retails for half of the PS3! PS3s are getting returned in record numbers. If you go to any of the mainstream retailers there is a good chance you will find a system or two waiting for you. Just stand around the service/returns counter and there is a very good chance you will see one returned right in front of you and many times they are still sealed because they are being returned by resellers. If you can I would wait a few months to buy one even if you find it at retail because there just is not enough to do with it right now(unless you've fallen hook line and sinker for Blu-Ray movies because the price is similar to a Blu-Ray player by itself). By this summer the games lineup should double and there will probably be a couple that make the purchase worth while.

The PS3 is still a recommended purchase but don't pay more than retail. Buy it as a Blu-Ray player now and second as a game console. Eventually the PS3 will be worth the purchase as a game console no matter how the Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD battle turns out.

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Silent Hill HD Collection

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This collection is simply awesome! it has everything from the origional games, aside from the new voiceovers in silent hill 3. I enjoyed the new voice overs in 3 and 2 very much, although i still own the original ps2 titles ofcourse, lol! I just hope they release and hd collection for origins, the room and shattered memories. lets cros our fingers for those those!

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Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix

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**This is an edited version of my review for the Limited Edition version (which you can check and see is a verified Amazon purchase of mine). Small side note, usually Amazon combines reviews of products with various editions, yet it seems for this particular game, that is not the case. That being said, I figured I'd just put my review of the product on here as well (as it's basically the same thing, just the limited edition comes with an artbook that I won't cover here). My purpose of doing this is not for ratings, I simply just want to help YOU, the customer, make an informed decision and if that means I have to put up my review twice, then so be it. **

The games included in this product have each been out now for several years on other systems. Rather than review the gameplay and ramble on about my thoughts on the stories, I have decided to simply do a brief Q&A on just what you should expect to find with this particular product itself to try and help you, as a customer, be properly informed. That being said, I hope you find these answers helpful in your decision making process.

Q. What games are included that I can actually play through?

A. There are two games included with your purchase that you can play in full. The first is the original Kingdom Hearts (however this is the Final Mix edition (which, long story short, is a tweaked and slightly renovated version of the original classic that was originally exclusively released only in Japan). The second game included is Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Both of these have been beautifully remastered in High Definition for this release and truly look stunning and also feature enhanced gameplay mechanics. In addition, both games come with their own set of trophies (and yes, two platinums).

Q. Wait...Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories? What about Kingdom Hearts II?

A. Kingdom Hearts II (released in 2006) is NOT included in this product.

Q. What about Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days?

A. You cannot play Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days with this purchase. HOWEVER, there is a "Theater Mode" which will allow you to view roughly 2 hours and 50 minutes of remastered HD footage (in the form of cinematics) from the game (as well as some new additional scenes). Believe it or not, there is trophy support available for this.

Q. How many discs are included inside the box?

A. Both games (included the cinematics for "358/2 Days") are all bundled up into one solitary disc.

Q. Tell me more. What kind of trophy support can I expect from this release.

A. As stated earlier, both Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories will have their own set of trophies that each have their own platinum. To be more specific, Kingdom Hearts will have 56 trophies, and Chain of Memories will have 48 trophies that can be earned. In addition, the cinematics for Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days will also have a total of 6 trophies that can be earned (none of which are platinum).

Q. Is this a good value? Should I purchase this? Can it be purchased on PSN digitally?

A. As far as I know, for the time being of this review (9/10/13), neither as a whole or individually can this game and its contents be purchased digitally through PSN. To my knowledge, and upon further research, there are no plans for now to release these titles digitally (though that could easily change). Is the price of $39.99 a good value for what is involved? Absolutely! Whether or not you should purchase this is purely up to you. If by some chance you haven't played any of these titles, don't worry, I'm not going to sit here and type up a bunch of spoilers for you; I'll let you figure that out yourself. If that's the case, all the information I'll provide you with is that if you like Disney, and if you like RPGs, and if you're familiar with the Final Fantasy franchise, then you'll definitely find this to be highly entertaining. Personally I only played the first game before I headed out to college. For me, this is a great opportunity to not only relive the original classic, but also to experience something new in the sequel. Regardless of my own personal experiences, you'll be treated to both games (and the cinematics for a "358/2 Days") being presented in spectacular and eye-popping HD. Plus, and as mentioned countless times before, if you're a trophy-buff like me, you'll find plenty of those to be unlocked here.

So for now, these are just a few simple questions answered that you may have wondered or were curious to know prior to purchasing. By all means, please feel free to leave any further questions in the comments. I'll gladly answer them (if they are to my knowledge) as soon as I get the chance.

I hope that you find this review helpful in your decision making and whether I am asked questions or not, I will certainly update this review as I have more time to play the game itself.

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Kingdom Hearts was originally released in 2002, and at the time of its release I don't think anyone thought the series was going to be as huge as it was. Originally a lot of people weren't excited for Kingdom Hearts. With so many various Disney characters thrown into the mix there was many a cry of how "kiddy" the game was going to be. Yet in the end it not only turned out to be a success, but also one of Square-Enix's biggest properties. With so many HD Collections coming out recently it's a wonder why it took so long to get a Kingdom Hearts one out there in the first place. It's not entirely what I had expected, but it's still a solid remaster.

There's not much need to go into the story of Kingdom Hearts. Let's just say that of all the games in the series, the first one is by far the simplest as the plot hasn't had too many revelations yet. You'll play as Sora who ends up coming into possession of the keyblade to fight the heartless and uncover the secrets behind them. You'll do this by traveling to various worlds populated by Disney characters. All of these things are remastered in HD and it looks really gorgeous to see some of your favorite characters and worlds. It's also a pretty noticeable and the presentation is really good.

Of all the HD reissues there are few that have the kind of care taken as Kingdom Hearts. The entire presentation has been reworked for a 16:9 aspect ratio and is displayed in wonderful 1080p. Other HD remakes tend to not touch things such as pre-rendered backgrounds, but in Kingdom Hearts even the pre-rendered stuff is displayed in gorgeous HD. You'll hardly spot any blemishes or muddy textures. It all looks brilliant. The fonts are easier to read as well.

It's also nice to know that there have been a couple of changes made to the gameplay to suit some of the features. Originally the camera was a nightmare to deal with in the original game, but now it's relegated to the analog stick and easier to deal with. You may still have a couple of camera issues, but with the camera no longer being set to the shoulder buttons, it's easier to deal with. Likewise, much like Kingdom Hearts II, there are some moments where instead of selecting it in the menu you can just press the Triangle button during a context sensitive moment and perform certain actions. These little tweaks help Kingdom Hearts out a lot. Especially being able to press triangle to do simple things like open doors as opposed to having to select it in the action menu. Likewise, the ability to pause and skip cutscenes is especially nice as this wasn't an option in the original release at all. On subsequent playthroughs you'd have no choice but to watch every cutscene again. Here you can just as easily bypass all that stuff. It's overall not just a good HD upgrade, but also controls better.

Other than that, combat is pretty much the same as you remember. You'll roam around areas, enemies will pop up and you'll have to dispatch them quickly to earn experience points and level up skills. This take on combat is still pretty cool stuff today. Though it lacks some of the refinements of Kingdom Hearts II, it's still fun and simple to play. But most important, the combat doesn't bog things down by constantly having you transition into a battle and then out of a battle so that the story can progress.

There are some things that have not aged quite as well in Kingdom Hearts, however. Chief among them are the gummi ship segments. For the most part many of them are simply long, repetitive and slow paced. Flying to a new world just doesn't really provide a whole lot of fun. It feels counter to the fast paced action of the rest of the game. Some of the platforming segments are also a little off at times. Jumping from one platform to another can sometimes feel like a hassle, especially before you get the abilities that help simplify it. These things aren't really "bad," mind you. At the time of the games original release, it probably didn't matter much but now it stands out a little more. Thankfully, though, Kingdom Hearts is still a blast to play. All the characters, the story and the gameplay is just as fun as it ever was.

Unfortunately, the original Kingdom Hearts is all that's really worthwhile in the collection. While Chain of Memories has a good story (actually a rather great one) the fact that it still has a pretty toned down card based battle system is urksome. The combat simply isn't that much fun. The fact that it also must transition into a battle as opposed to being right there in the action like it is in the first game is also a drag. Granted this is a game that was remade from a GBA title, which certainly plays a part in that, but just the same it's a shame that while some enhancements were made to the original game to make the experience better, this particular game doesn't really have any that do. Chain of Memories is also well known for just not letting you explore a ton or anything of the sort. The story, however, is essential to understanding the overall plot of the Kingdom Hearts series. It links to the second game and actually enhances the experience of that game. It's worth playing through Chain of Memories just for the story alone, but the gameplay isn't all that exciting.

The last bit is Kingdom Hearts 358/2. The game was originally released on the DS. You are NOT actually getting that game, though. All you really get is the cutscenes from that game--enhanced and reworked. They look gorgeous but it's not really all that exciting. Granted, it probably would've been a bit much to remake the entire game in the same manner as Chain of Memories, but what you realize is that much of the cutscenes in 358/2 are quite dull. It's worth watching for the sake of the story at least once. And they're fully voiced and acted, but it's nothing too exciting. For the most part much of it is rather dull.

Even though the Kingdom Hearts HD Remix isn't as good as other collections out there, the price for just the original Kingdom Hearts alone is pretty worthwhile, as the game itself is amazing. Even though there are some aspects that haven't aged that well, the game still looks and plays incredibly well even by todays standards. If you haven't experienced the original Kingdom Hearts or you want to experience it again, this collection is for you.

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At last it is here, the Kingdom Hearts has finally arrived on the PS3 and it brought with it all the enjoyment from the past. It comes with Kingdom Hearts Final mix (was only in Japan), Chain of Memories, and the cinematics for 365/2 from the DS which tells the story between chain of memories and KH2. All three have been redone for HD with Kingdom Hearts being completely redone as they originally lost the source code for the game, so they had to do the whole game from scratch with the original soundtrack, voicetrack, and script. This has an extra boss fight and other Keyblades that was not in the original US edition. I have only played the first hour of the first game, and i already have enjoyed it. Controls are the same so no new learning, just have to remember how things work since it has been so long since I played this. So get this classic set and start playing and remember why you enjoyed this series while we wait for 2.5 remix and of course KINGDOM HEARTS 3!!!!!

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**Before I start my review, I'd like to note that I have not played Re:Chain of Memories yet or watched the 358/2 Days cutscenes. My review so far is based on what I've experienced in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix.**

It's been a few years since I played the original Kingdom Hearts on my now broken PS2, so I was over the moon when I heard the original Kingdom Hearts was going to be re-released for PS3. I'll admit, though, I was afraid the game was going to be a flop. I had heard a lot of people saying the remastering was superficial at best and that Square Enix was simply throwing this together to keep its base of fans from totally losing hope in one of Square Enix's best-selling franchises. However, I am happy to say that I have not been disappointed yet.

The graphics are really good. The characters and game design are sharp and crisp, yet do not stray far from the look and feel of the original version. The addition of the Final Mix cut-scenes also work seamlessly with the game and show crucial scenes foreshadowing KH2.

The switch from L2/R2 camera control to right analog control makes exploring the map much more intuitive, and the special command feature (triangle button) really helps predicting the right moment to use moves like arcanum and strike.

The gummi ship has also been updated into a more prominent feature. The gummi menu and ship designing are more or less the same, but traveling between worlds on normal drive now involves missions. It's essentially KH meets KH2. You get points for shooting heartless gummi ships and for collecting items like blueprints and gummi blocks. There are three missions for each world. To complete all of them, you have to earn a certain amount of points or attach certain blocks to your ship and run the gauntlet without taking damage. New gummi blocks are also available for greater customization.

The diversity of heartless is also really impressive. You'll run into all of the original foes like "shadow", "soldier" and "large body", but you'll also encounter some new ones that originally appeared in the Japanese KH Final Mix. (SPOILER ALERT) One of the new ones is simply an enlarged version of "shadow", but it's a lot creepier having one of them bearing down on you. (ANOTHER SPOILER ALERT) There is another heartless that is a spin-off of the "bouncywild" called the sniperwild. It's name is pretty self-explanatory, but it's one of the more interesting new heartless that I've seen so far.

The list of items you can find is longer now. Stones are now available to us in item synthesizing. They can only be collected by defeating the new enemy types. The only other new synthesis item is dark matter, which is only found by opening chests, winning mini-games and, ironically, item synthesizing. There are two new keyblades you can obtain in KHFM. You must defeat certain Coliseum enemies to unlock them. (I have not unlocked them yet.)

The number of cool new features is pretty long, and I have not listed all of them, but I feel like Kingdom Hearts Final Mix has lived up to the original game's standards. The graphics are clean, the controls and in-game menu are easy to follow, and the amount of new features and items is enough to satisfy the desires of people who grew up on the original game. If you have not played any of the Kingdom Hearts games before or if you wish to relive the experience, I recommend you buy this game. Kingdom Hearts 2.5 will also be hitting the store shelves sometime in future, so keep an eye out for it. Check up on my review from time to time. I will continue to make updates as I make my way through the game.

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I had a wonderful feeling of nostalgia when I first heard rumors of this remix and leapt for joy when it became official. Years ago when the idea of mixing Final Fantasy with elements from Disney and then tossing them into the various animations I grew up watching, I must admit that it seemed like a bad idea. Somehow it worked and I'm glad it did.

Like so many other fans, I had a lot of unanswered questions surrounding this remix. Having played this game for a couple of days now, those questions have been answered. I feel that the best way for me to approach this review is to create two separate sections: one those completely new to Kingdom Hearts and another for those looking to relive an epic adventure.

For Those New to Kingdom Hearts:

Let's start by addressing some of the more common questions that new players would have.

Is Kingdom Hearts a Good Game?

While Kingdom Hearts utilizes characters from Final Fantasy, the gameplay does not match that of Final Fantasy. It's more of an action based RPG in that you fight battles in real time. With that said, it's not the typical button-mashing action game either (assuming you play it on PROUD mode i.e. highest difficulty). Kingdom Hearts requires a different strategy for each mob. So if you like RPG and action games, then Kingdom Hearts is a perfect match.

Is Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Remix worth the cost?

You are getting a total of 2 playable games and 1 game worth of scenes. In essence, three games worth of story in all. So yes, you will get your money's worth.

What Order Should I play these Games In?

The play order of Kingdom Hearts can be very confusing for beginners to the franchise. The reason for the order is due to handheld releases. With that said, the order is actually listed correctly within the game. It is as follows:

1. Kingdom Hearts Remix

2. Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories (sounds like spam email)

3. Kingdom Hearts 358/2

You will need to play all three of these games in order to understand the events of Kingdom Hearts 2.

For Fans of the Franchise:

Now let's move onto some questions that I, as a long-time fan of this series, needed answered.

What exactly is included in Kingdom Hearts 1.5?

The Japan based version of Kingdom Hearts 1 has not only been fully remastered, but some of the content has been tweaked also. For example, some of the treasure contents have been swapped, scenes changed just a little bit, and so forth. The camera has been changed to the right analog stick (fans will remember the horrible L1/R1 camera movement). The Japan version has more content so NA fans can expect to experience both nostalgia and fresh content.

Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories is about the same as the PS2 version with the exception of the remastered scenes.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 is not playable. The remastered content is available via a theatre option. For trophy lovers, you will be pleased to know that you get trophies simply for watching these scenes.

Furthermore, this is all included on 1 disc and before you ask, no there is no huge download required like with the Assassin's Creed trilogy release a year ago. Everything has been fit onto a single disc.

Where is Kingdom Hearts 2?

I would venture a guess and say that if KH 1.5 is successful, then we can expect a 2.5 release in the near future (before KH3). Trust me, you will not be disappointed with KH 1.5 is you are a fan of the franchise.

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PS3 - Charger - Energizer Charge Station For Controllers (PDP)

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I have owned two of these ("fool me twice"). After a few months (or less), they begin to become "positional", they only charge when the controller is positioned exactly. After a short whiled they cease to charge at all.

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this is good if u have more than one controller but still good to have. I have the slim 160gb blacks ops bundle ps3 it only has 2 usb ports.

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Tom Clancy's EndWar Headset Bundle

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I still cannot believe that Endwar has such an amazing voice command system that will pick up on every order your give. You really should invest in the headset bundle to really understand for yourself. Another feature worth listing are the airstrikes and weapons of mass destruction you can call in through your headset to destroy multiple units at once. This game really is a break through in gaming and is worth the extra $$$ for the headset.

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I've been playing RTS games since Warcraft 1. Over the years I've been amazed by improvements in physics and general multi player dynamics of the varying games. I own around 40 RTS games. The online side of this game has elements of Cave Dog's world system; you join one of 3 factions (and get a recruitment bonus if you side with a smaller one) and try to take over the world. The online play is not what makes the game though, the voice control is truly amazing... I mumble and it picks me up perfectly. I hope more games like this come out... this is the way a console RTS should be.

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this game feels average and too basic, with all the basic infantry, armor, and airborne units. i do think that it was done on purpose to get a player like me to remember all the commands. too many units would be difficult. i have played the game, but i can't comment much because i only bought it for the headset. let me tell you this: it totally beats the $90 price tag at other stores. the ps3 bluetooth came in a bulk package in the box, but it works very well.

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I'll be honest I bought this game to get the free headset, as cheap as it was in the Marketplace it seemed silly not to basically get a free game with the purchase of a headset. I tried the game out, at first thinking it would be a pain in the butt to learn everything since it is all done voice command. It's really quite easy, it walks you through it in the single player campaign and before you know you are barking orders like a General and having a lot of fun doing so. It's very competitive and the game is very well put together. Even though you aren't actively shooting at stuff there is rarely a dull moment, you've constantly got something to pay attention to. I would definitely recommend this game, you might not think it's your thing, but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!

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One of the games I can beat the kids at. Took me a bit to get the controls and such, but I did enjoy it

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Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Stand-Alone Software

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We've been fans of GH and RB (Rockband) for a while now. Our first GH adventure was with World Tour and we kept up the many versions since. GH always lagged behind RB in a few areas, mainly graphics. Well, with this release, GH finally has a very competitive product. The graphics are fabulous. The ability to customize your character has become easier you can choose from multiple pre-selected styles (body, face, hair, clothes, etc). Or you can create your own from scratch. (But on the graphics note, I would suggest that GH improve their characters' expressions the still look a bit too stone faced.)

GH Warriors of Rock (GHWR) is much better than its predecessors. The main choices in the game are the Story (formally known as Career) or Quickplay+ (see below for other options of play). I recommend that you start with the Story because you will earn various "powers" through the story that you can use in Quickplay+ to boost your scores. In Story, you are in charge of recruiting rock warriors with various powers to release the ultimate Axe and then release the rock god from his prison by defeating the rock beast. Each rocker has it's own set of requirements for you to unlock their powers. Note that you cannot use your own created character for the story. Whatever rocker you are trying to recruit will be your character for that particular set. You have the flexibility to choose which songs you want to play in a particular set as long as you get the required number of stars (which look like suns) to release the warrior. I loved the use of Rush's 2112 for the release of the ultimate axe. When you get to the "boss battle" with the beast, it gets quite difficult here, but it gets interesting. You have to choose 2 bands made up of the warriors strategy comes into play as you decide which grouping would work best for each of 2 songs. And let me tell you, they are DIFFICULT (Megadeth is a hint). Once you defeat the rock beast (50% of the story), you then unlock another level to the game. But here, you go back through each warrior's set list and strive to get a perfect score on each song. You have to get 400 out of 400 stars by the time you get to the rock god.

GHWR's Quickplay+ enables you to pick the songs you want to play and choose which goal you want to accomplish. Based on your progress in the Story, you can choose from various "warriors" to increase your score (i.e. super star power, extra multipliers, etc). After you choose your goal (of which there are many and similar to those in GH5), your score will be posted and compared to other players. You play as your created character or one of the preloaded characters.

GHWR also includes the familiar Party Play option where you can just jump in and out of songs. You can also play competitively online: Pro Face-Off, Momentum (compete for highest score and your skill level is changed automatically), Momentum+ (Momentum plus ability to attack your competitors with Star Power knocking down their skill level), Streakers (get the longest streak of notes), Do or Die (outlive your opponent by hitting all notes in a section), Elimination (compete to stay alive in each section lowest score loses), Perfectionist (compete for perfection in each section), RockFest (players vote on which game mode to compete against), Band vs. Band (face off against a competitor band for high score).

GWHR includes the Rocker Creator, GH Studio, GH Jam (1-4 players pick any style of music and jam on any instrument), GH Mix 2.0 (create your own music), GH Tracks (download the latest user-created music).

As one who started with GH and then preferred RB, I can say that I am very impressed with GHWR. They've turned the band game into more of a competitive "sport" and increased the fun component. Song selection is decent, but is weighted on the heavy/metal end (which is fine by me), and graphics blow the previous GHs away. I find that these characters actually act more like rock stars with their antics than the characters in RB.

A word of caution to parents who are considering purchasing this game to play with younger children: the warrior characters may be scary to younger children (i.e. under 10)and there are more heavy/metal tunes in this one. A lot of us like to play these games with the family, but I suggest parents consider the age and maturity of younger children for the story. An example: Judy Nails turns into some sort of demonized goddess with hooves, a wing, white eyes, Joker-type mouth .... Obviously this doesn't bother me, but I could see my child having nightmares. (yes, I know the rating is T for teen)

I gave this game 5 out of 5 stars.... now we wait for the RB3 release to see how it compares....

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Ok, I'll admit it, I got this game JUST to play Rush's 2112. That was honestly the biggest selling point of this game for me. But, it didn't take me long to figure out that the rest of the game was awesome...and quite challenging, even on medium. It is really the best GH game out there so far (that I've played) Although normally I'm a Rock Band person, I think this is better than the Rock Band games too. Oh, and I love that it is compatable with my Rock Band set, that saved me a lot of money and space in my small apt :)

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With every other Guitar Hero product we had was for the PS2, but you could play it without having the other "parts of the band". This one you can't even go in to see what songs are available without setting up the whole band including a microphone, bass guitar and drums that we don't have.

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This is pretty much the latest in the now discontinued guitar hero series. Again, nothing new, so yea, if you either hated or loved the past iterations, then nothing in this will change your opinion.

I mainly got the game for 2 reasons, 1 was to expand my guitar hero song library, and 2, so i could fix the annoying thing in guitar hero 5 where the vocalist does not change regardless if the track has male or female lead vocals (i regretted trading in band hero mainly because of this). I did not care much for the track list (although i now have a better appreciation of some tracks there after spending some time with it) or the new quest mode, just mainly concerned with the 2 things i mentioned earlier. The problem is, as of 10/14/11, the in-game music store is still down (and has been down for months according to the forums) and is pretty much the only way for you to import songs from previous guitar hero games onto this one, which brings me to the number 2 reason why regretted trading in band hero. to import guitar hero. Now, the only way to import guitar hero 5 songs onto warriors of rock is to use a band hero disc to enter the code for the guitar hero 5 import and vice versa. so now i pretty much have to buy band hero again (which is thankfully cheap at the moment) for the convenience of having to put in just one disc for the whole library! support from activision has been really nonexistent, which is unacceptable considering this product was less than a year old when i made the purchase

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one of the ones I play the most, thank you activision and amazon, I love the game, no more comments

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Thrustmaster Rally GT Pro Force Feedback Racing Wheel ( 2969085 )

Customer Ratings:
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus:

Well, this one is interesting. I like the fact that it has a shifter and large pedals and isn't extremely sensitive when you turn it a little bit. In other words, the car will only move slightly, not suddenly jerk to the left or right like I've experienced with other wheels. When I received it, the T plate in the middle had fallen off, but that didn't bother me too much. What did was the fact that there's a light in the middle that shines quite brightly and distracted me for the 1st few days until I got used to it. Anyway, after about 29 days of abuse (I play on it a good hour or so a day), I heard a crack and come to find out, I broke a gear inside so now whenever I turn it left, it makes a really annoying squeak. It's not one that can be covered up by using headphones (to hear the sound from whatever game one's playing) and is hear able over loud volumes. Since, I've purchased a new PS2 wheel that works GREAT with PC. Playstation 2 Driving Force Wheel is the wheel I use now. Just install the drivers for the Wingman Logitech wheel and you're all set (be sure to plug it in though, otherwise it won't be recignized by your PC).

Cheers.

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This is the 3rd wheel I've bought in about 5 years. The feedback effects are pretty good, and you can adjust the strength, aggresivivty and static force with a linear slider. I had to buy a new wheel because on my last 2, (Sidewinder and MOMO) the pedals broke, and there is no way to fix them unless you happen to have some custom tools, and the right size springs. That isn't the problen with this one. This time the clamp stripped itself out. they use a metal pin that fits into a plastic screw hole, and the more aggresive you set the effects, the tighter you have to clamp it down. Yes, the shifter is sequential, but I like that personally. It's got 4 wheel mounted shifter levers, and 8 buttons. However programming profiles into it is a mystery. So long as your game has a wheel configuration mode you will be fine. To program it outside of a game is very confusing. There is NO documentation nor help files to guide you through it, so I gave up. Basicall it's a good system with a retarded mounting component. Now I'm off to get another Sidewinder wheel.

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After emailing thrustmaster 2 times we still haven't received an address to return the defective wheel.I am very disappointed in thrustmaster .WE have an online racing team and I have only had my wheel for am month.

the wheel has a 2 year warranty but what is the use if they don't stand by their warranty

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okay..got the wheel in good condition. nothing broken has such. my son played with the wheel and thought it was great, better than the one he had. don't get me wrong thrustmaster people build things to live up to their standard. But the regret i have with the wheel is...why did they did not incorporate the clutch on the same pedal set? is that too hard to ask from them? no..they made it so you can buy another pedal set to put in the clutch. now you have 4 pedals under your feet (which is retarded in my case) just to get a clutch. 2nd...the gear stick goes up and down, not like the logitech g25 which theirs actually works like a real manual stick from a car. has 2 axis, 3 axis and 5 axis (have to program it from their drivers that came with the wheel). that also was dumb how they put that (the gear box). in everything, it has enough buttons to program everything on the wheel. i would have given this 5 stars, if the maker of thrustmaster would have used common sense and put the clutch on the same pedal set, instead of buying another one to activate the clutch. And the gear box, needs to improve abit more, instead of the up and down shifting. i would have bought the logitech, but the logitech is too expensive for its make and it has very little buttons to program (also the buttons are at the gearbox). not a good place to put the buttons in my opnion. the feedback on it only works in some games (and yes it is racing games). the ones i tried it with is..gtr2 (has feedback on that), richard burn rally(also has feedback) need for speed:carbon (has feedback), 18 wheels of steel hauling(has feedback). the only one we not getting a feedback on is the nascar sim racing one. the game suppose have feedback, but we are not getting it here. so if anybody out there know how to make the wheel have feedback on this game, can kindly tell me.

***update*** on looking at the thrustmaster site, i see they heard the cries of customers and of course, trying to beat their competition..logitech with their g25 wheel. they are now sending out a new wheel with the 3 pedals in one (gas,brake and clutch). the gear stick has now chged to the actual shape of a race car gear stick. all in all, they chged a few things on the wheel. according to them the retail price will be $129, that $29 more than the original one they made. it will have the 5 axis still and 4 axis, with the toggle buttton on the wheel.it will be called the Rally GT Force Feedback Pro Clutch Edition. can't wait for this to hit usa sometime next year. if i read right, it will first come out in europe christmas 2006, that gives it 2-3 more months before it hits the USA

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Box and stuff is good, but the wheel have no force feed back,

and have the broken sound when I turn the wheel

(like a small object is inside the wheel)

I need return this to AMAZON.com

I got this today in 5:00pm, and it never works good.

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LittleBigPlanet - Game of the Year Edition Playstation 3

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List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $13.29
Today's Bonus: 56% Off

From all the reviews I've read before purchasing this game I was a little skeptical that it wouldn't be for me. I was wrong. Matter fact I purchased it for my 5 year old boy first, just to keep him away from some of my other games while I'm at work. And you know what? This game stays in the PS3 all day. Not only that, when I get home from work the first thing he wants to do is play Little BIG planet. Its fun for me and him. I was hoping for simplified controls like a Mario plat former with just a jump button. But he's figured out how to use the Dual Shock 3 just as good as me. With the main buttons, X to jump and R1 to grab things, it couldn't be any easier. He also knows how to change their clothes and apply stickers and so on. This game is simple, plain and easy. The only problem he may have is figuring out that the game has some physics involved. Running faster to get further jumps, holding the jump button longer, how to jump on springs like objects to get higher takes a little timing that I even have trouble with. This game has plenty of levels, I play maybe an hour a day since I bought it and still have not finished everything. You can also make your own levels, download levels that others have created online, and play with people online. This game has infinite replay if you get into the community. Also, If you want to teach a child how to be greedy with items than this game is for you. I forgot to say that this game is fun for me too. Glad purchased it and you'll be too. One if the few must own exclusives for the PS3, this is coming from a 360 lover.

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I bought this game because it looked like something my wife and I could enjoy together. The first game we'd gotten for the PS3, Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time, hadn't really appealed to her. And I wanted to get something we'd both like.

At its core, LittleBigPlanet is just another platforming game in the long line going back to the early Mario Bros. games. The gameplay is good, but nothing radically different from earlier platforming games. But there are several things that take LBP from good to great:

i) The detailed artwork and music The visuals and music on the story levels are fantastic. Each level has a recognizable look and feel that is designed to evoke a particular mood. The music is catchy and adds another level to the game.

ii) Sackboy personalization As silly as it sounds, the ability to change the sackboy's outfit, skin, and accessories makes the game a lot more fun. This ability, combined with the fact that additional personalization options open up throughout the game, means that you can spend a surprising amount of time dressing up (and re-dressing up) your sackboy.

iii) The community levels I have been absolutely amazed at some of the levels that so-called amateurs put together. While some of the community levels are poorly conceived, there are incredible gems out there. Many of these levels are just as good as the story levels. If I had the time (and the skill) it would be a lot of fun to build my own level and share with the community.

This is a great game and I highly recommend it. We've gotten hours and hours worth of fun out of it.

Buy LittleBigPlanet - Game of the Year Edition Playstation 3 Now

BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE GOTY EDITION

Play, Create, Share that's the LBP motto and, unlike most marketing empty slogans, Little Big Planet is more than up to the promise.

The Game of the Year edition includes all the paid content made available online since the initial release and more see below:

18 user-created levels developed especially for the GOTY, good but not always up to the polish level of the professional levels

3 sticker packs some paid for these to download, include here

16 new costumes see above

the complete Metal Gear Solid set of levels that includes trophy levels and never-seen-before weapons such as the Paintinator

the key to access the online beta of ModNation Racers (after December 3, I believe)

All of this on top of what turned out to be an already incredible game that stimulates creativity, cooperation, curiosity and celebrates the players themselves, proud creators of over one million levels, published and accessible by all. I don't play the game so much but, when it comes to the kids, this is by far their number one game and they have quite a few to choose from already. They are proud of their creations and they seem to have what seems to be endless fun playing other people's levels online.

REVIEW

Since this is about the GOTY, I will not write a full review of the game itself. I understand that many are new to the Little Big Planet universe but, it turns out, great reviews of the original game have been written by others so simply click on LittleBigPlanet to get an idea of what the game is about. Suffice it to say here that LPB takes advantage of just about every feature and peripheral that the PS3 has or supports and its online interaction is simply unparalleled. For example, you can go to a friend's profile and not only play his or her levels but see what other players levels your buddy liked and get to try those out. Or, you can create some awesome weapons. You can include that weapon inside the prize bubble of a level you create and whomever plays your level can earn the object that you created and use it somewhere else the fun is endless.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Play, Create, Share and, in our case, a lot more. I am not only a (casual) LBP player but also a parent and, to my delight and unlike what 'some' claim, this game has, in fact, made better, smarter kids. And I'm talking about my two boys. They took the 'create' part quite seriously and, after staging duels with custom-made awesome weapons, they began working on their own levels and, to my surprise, they actually asked me to help them learn computer programming which we are doing now. And their grades have actually improved the reason they are getting the GOTY is because they've done well in school so far this year.

EVALUATION AND RATING

If the 'regular' edition was a 5-star in my book, then add 50% to the initial evaluation. It's a definite 'must have'.

For anyone who doesn't own the original LBP, the GOTY is without a doubt the way to go. For owners of the original edition... I don't know if everybody does this but we were able to sell our 'used' (it was in mint condition, actually) copy of LBP for about half of the original price and we used the earnings to partially finance the purchase of the GOTY.

Read Best Reviews of LittleBigPlanet - Game of the Year Edition Playstation 3 Here

LittleBigPlanet is absolutely amazing. I have never seen such a creative game that has so much to offer. This was my first night playing the game and I am hooked. This game is so much fun I played it for about 6 hours straight. The levels are amazing and so full of character. You can unlock tons of upgrades to customize your sackboy or sackgirl. There are also free downloads on the Playstation network for this game from time to time. The game is exciting with so much to explore and tons of vehicles and rides like mine cars, skateboards, roller coasters, ferris wheels, bumper cars, spaceships, submarines and so much more. Your kids will love it!!! I am 29 and I love the game. Plus you can create your own levels and even host them online for others to play. It is a little complicated to create levels but the tutorials do a good job of explaining it. You can also play with and against others online and even chat with them. If you own the playstation eye you can upload your own pics and add them to the levels for a truly personalized experience. I have uploaded several screen shots so you can get a better idea what the game is like.

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It doesn't matter what type of games you play, shooters, RPGs, platformers, puzzle, etc. you will appreciate aspects of LittleBigPlanet and will enjoy what it has to offer as there is no denying this an impressive take on the traditional platformer.

GRAPHICS: Beautiful, the textures are gorgeous and the game runs as smooth as it possibly could, online or off, 4 players or 1. The best graphics I've seen in a side-scrolling platformer. The detail is great though you may not notice things like reflections in the score bubbles at first glance. Technically sound and visually impressive.

GAMEPLAY: Your mom could play this game. There are only two buttons, jump and grab, and you move left to right (or right to left). It is complicated a bit by the 2.5D setting, meaning there are 3 levels of "depth" to the layout, but you get used to it quickly. There is technically nothing "new" added to the platform genre, ie moving platforms, large jumps, and springs that shoot you up in the air, but the level design is so innovative and smart and there will be plenty of times you'll think "Wow that is really cool, they could never do that in Mario." Of course all this pales to the best feature of the gameplay, PHYSICS, which is what gives you that "Mario needs to catch up" feeling. The physics are rock solid, just a hair above realistic to let you do some fun things but when you're swinging from grapple to grapple attached to a bungee cord and your sackboy is holding on for dear life punping his legs to getthat extra inch before you jump, it always feels right. Utilizing objects in the environment is perfect and they move with realistic weight. A light tap of the X button yields a small jump while pressng harder yields a much higher jump.

The only hit to gameplay is that with 3 or 4 players the camera can struggle to keep up with the action, but while this may cause some (very) minor annoyances, it prompts groups to work together, stay close, and leave no man (or woman) behind.

CUSTOMIZATION: For a platformer, the game has an unprecedented amount of customization. Each level is packed with goodies that allow you to alter the appearance of sack boy (or girl), from the simple: changing his color or add polka dots, to the complex: adding a george washington style wig with pilgrim pants and a spear for him to carry (in case the natives attack...). Add to that the customization of your "Pod," which is like your home base, and no one will ever have two setups that are the same. You can add hundreds of decorations and even choose music from your hard drive to play while you wait in between levels. Throw in a level creator that is so detailed you could technically recreate anything that the game developers created, and the overall level of customization is unparalleled in the genre. Keep in mind though, that creating a detailed level will take a lot of time, the tool is very comprehensive but you wont be creating a level in minutes.

CO-OP: Cooperative play is where the game shines, it was built for this and is the single reason Nintendo created New Super Mario Bros. Wii to compete. Online play is a snap and people can jump in and out of your games with ease, up to 4 people on a level at once. Inviting players is easy and co-op works just as strongly offline. Certain parts of levels are only accessible with 2 or more players so there is always incentive to have a friend or 2 or 3 along for the ride.

REPLAY VALUE: The only real knock I agree with on the game is that the story mode is short. I can't disagree, but keep in mind there is a lot of content in each level, it scores you against your friends as well as the world online and will let you know how many items you missed on the level giving you plenty of reason to play through multiple times to get that 100% completed. You WILL want to achieve some of these things. Also, as of now there are tons of detailed user created levels to keep you busy, when the game first released the online community was lacking but as updates have come and users have gotten used to the level creator there are some impressive ones out there, I suggest searching by hghest rated to get solid levels. GOTY edition comes with a few downloadable packs, about 20 total additional levels and a ton of extra stickers, decorations, costumes, and clothes to increase the aforementioned customization.

This game is for EVERYONE. Men take heed, your girlfriend who has never touched a videogame and scoffs at you when you choose to play over spending time with her will be intrigued as soon as you turn this title on. The cuteness of the characters alone will make her ask "what is this?" Women, take note, this is an easy to pick up and play game you can finally share with that Call of Duty shooting, Halo alien fighting boyfriend of yours. There are only 2 buttons, so if that 43-button PS3 controller looks too intimidating compared to the 2 button NES controller you played Super Mario on when you were a kid, rest easy, you only need two buttons to jump and grab, that simple. This is one of the best titles for PS3, hands down, the critics know it, the players know it, now stop reading and go find out for yourself.

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