Protective skins for Guitar Hero 4 "World Tour" Drum set

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I like the look and the protective skins work well in "protecting" the drums. Only problem I have is with the decals staying on around the corners and edges. Bubbles get underneath after a while and you have to rub them down to keep them fully attached.

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PS3 DJ Hero Renegade Edition Featuring Jay-Z and Eminem

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List Price: $199.99
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This is a great game, but i have a few things i want to cry about. My biggest issue is the turntable. Its too small. I tried first to play with the default settings, that place the buttons on the left close to the fader, and within minutes my wrist was killing me. Luckily you can change this so the buttons are on the outside. But the biggest problem for me is trying to scratch with the blue button, its so close to the middle of the turntable im moving the whole unit. I was using the stand that came with the Renegade Edition, wich is actually pretty nice and sturdy, then i tried it on my lap and then on an ottoman with pretty much the same results. Its not so bad i wont play, but it can be frustrating. I hope they come out with a bigger one, say 10" compared to the 7" or 8" this one seems to be. So, other then that, I'm really enjoying this game. The tutorial with Grand Master Flash was a great way to get a feel for what level i wanted to start playing at. (im sticking to medium for now) Tons of stuff to unlock, you can customize what samples you want (to an extent) and the music is just awsome. There aro so many great mixes on here its silly. My favorite so far is Bel Biv Devoes Poison, and Cameos Word Up. The carrying case is well made and as i said before is pretty sturdy when converted into the stand. It holds the game the turntable and the legs for the stand. The Jay-Z and Eminem cd has some good songs on it. Was it worth the extra 70 bux? As of right now... yes. As with most limited edition things i buy, ask me in a few months and my answer might change =) but it always seems like the thing to do at the time right? There are 5 levels of difficulty and anyone can play this game. Beginner mode a 5 year old can do while on expert i personally need an extra hand, (stupid fade spikes) Im not sure if this will have the following that guitar hero has but if you ever wanted to be a dj but never got around to it, this is a game i think you will enjoy.

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The DJ Hero Renegade Edition is worth the extra money. The unit it self looks awsome and is better looking then the regular unit. The case, stand, and Jay-Z/Eminem cd is good to. DJ Hero game is fun to play and easy to learn on any level. The song selection is great from all your favorite DJ's. The case is sturdy and will protect your investment. The stand that is basicaly the case turned into a stand after you add the legs is pretty sturdy as well, none of that plastic crap. The stand can be ajusted for any hieight, I'm 6' 4" and it works for me when I am standing. The only problem I had, was one of the legs for the stand would not adjust. Overall DJ Hero is as close as you will get to working the real one's and two's without having to spend thousands of dollars.

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Very fun game. The soundtrack features many 70's and 80's rock songs mixed with newer tracks. They are all original mixes done for this game specifically. For example Queen "another one bites the dust" mixed with daft punk "da funk" and Gorillaz "feel good inc" mixed with Blondie "atomic". Things I would never have thought of but they work well in this game. If you've ever played around on real turntables (my old roommate was a techno DJ) or think you might like it, you should at least give it a try at a store demo. As far as the renegade edition, it comes with a case that doubles as a DJ stand with adjustable legs. It's worth the money to have the controller at the right height. Especially if you're an older gamer such as myself. A sore neck or back can result otherwise. As far as the bonus cd's.. I haven't listened to them yet. I finished UC2 and am waiting for MW2. This will keep me busy in the meantime. peace out.

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Love the game, it is really a blast. The ease of swap for left-handed users is great too. It was somewhat disappointing the find that this special edition only included two extra audio cd and doesn't offer any gameplay content. Also I felt the crossfader on the DJ table was a bit cheap feeling. One cool thing about the game is the ability to add a PS3 guitar to play along!

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I was surprised how much I enjoyed DJ hero. The renegade edition's stand is a very nice add-on that makes playing more comfortable. The turn table is a high quality accessory that I can't imagine breaking unless you're simply clumsy or rough with stuff.

The Only complaint I have deals with the fade switch. In songs you have to fade the tracks in and out using a shifting switch on the left side of the turn table. This works fine except that when you're playing a song you don't have time to look down so your left hand is set on that switch waiting to shift it left, right, or middle. Middle is the default position but without looking it is hard to figure out where the middle is and you'll often break perfect streaks due to pushing the fade switch just a little over the middle section. There is a slight 'bump' you can feel when you're over the middle but it's not significant and if you're playing a faster song it's super easy to miss. I simply wish they would have made a more defined way to move the switch around. Considering there are only 3 spots it can sit there was almost no reason to make a free sliding switch.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Care Package)

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Okay the box is amazing it is hard nice plastic with cool designs on it, although it is not to scale of a real care package it resembles the size of a small toy chest. Opening it everything is nicely packaged. There are two cardboards boxes with nice designs, then on the inside they hold the controller and the Quadcopter which is a huge let down. The medals are metal and are nice with cool artistic designs on them and they have a code on them to redeem the nuketown map. To the left of it is the game case. It is a standard PS3 case but plated with metal over it with cool design of a guy holding a gun on the front and on the back a girl with flames behind her. Inside is the disk and a bunch of papers to redeem more things like the soundtrack. Now onto the Quadcopter the worst thing ever. I am an experienced Quadcopter flyer I have a real one and have flown for years. When I turned this on it worked fine expect you CANNOT turn the copter around!! you can lift it high into the air sway it left and right but you can not do a 360, a bunch of crap so you can fly straight back left and right. On a real Quadcopter and helicopter you can turn it around so you can fly behind you not the case. You can still fly around everywhere but if you want to turn back around you have to back the Quadcopter up instead of turning around and facing the direction. It is like if you had a car and you wanted to go to the opposite side of the lane you have to go forward move your car to the left/right and then drive backwards! Terrible design and the control is terrible, cheap plastic and the stick that controls the helicopters movements gets stuck on the edge of the plastic a lot making it hard to maneuver. The only thing it is good for now is sitting on my stand looking pretty. Also the small little gun you see attached to it does not stay on when you fly it is only stuck onto the display so when you lay the copter on top of it it looks like it is part of the Quadcopter, but it is not. Do not waste $100 extra just for the Quadcopter and the case, but get the hardened edition instead only $80. It is only $20 more than the original and has everything except the nice care package and the terrible Quadcopter. Hope this helps.

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**THIS IS NOT A REVIEW OF THE GAME, BUT RATHER OF THE CARE PACKAGE AND THE CONTENTS.**

I will review the game itself later.

While the game could be better, the Care Package really does look really nice.

So, what do you get with this?

-Care Package box

-Steelbook case

-MQ-27 Dragonfire (Quadrotor) RC with Controller (obviously), batteries, manuals, stand, and "repair stickers"

-Nuketown Zombies

-Nuketown 2025

-Soundtrack (Digital Copy)

-PS3 Dynamic Theme (Turbine from Multiplayer)

-PS3 Dynamic Theme (Zombies' TranZit)

-Nuketown 2025 playercard background

-Nuketown Zombies playercard background

-Weapon Camo

-2 exclusive "Challenge Coins" used to unlock "exclusive content"

The Care Package box itself is really big, and contains 2 big boxes and one cardboard display showcasing the Coins and Steelbook. The box is made of a thick plastic, which makes it pretty durable. I use mine to store my Call of Duty collectibles.

The Quadrotor is made of styrofoam, which makes it really light, and possibly very weak in terms of strength. You can fly it up, down, left, or right, but you cannot turn it in mid-air. Meaning, you cannot rotate it 90 degrees while in flight. You can charge it from the controller or use the small USB cable that comes with it to charge it using your computer. It may take about 30 minutes, depending on the battery level. Yes, batteries are supplied this time, unlike in Black Ops 1's Prestige Edition. For some reason, I was only given 3 batteries, when the controller needs 6. The Quadrotor has a decent battery life as well.

Nuketown Zombies takes place in the 1960's Nuketown, and it also takes place during Moon's Easter Egg, which explains the nuke explosion. (You'll frequently hear radio transmissions from Richtofen as rounds progress) It's a really small map, and it's fairly easy. You can only play Survival, and you can play as the CIA or the CDC. It's really fun with 4 players, but it's also fun on Solo too, once you get used to how the map works. One interesting note about this map is that the M27 (AR) and the LSAT (LMG) can be earned from the Mystery Box, whereas you cannot get these weapons in Green Run. Why these guns are exclusive to this map I do not know. Also, buy the Black Ops 2 Season Pass and you'll get NTZombies once it's released to the public.

Nuketown 2025 is basically Nuketown from Black Ops, just re-designed with new buildings and environment. The map still contains campers (hell ,what map DOESN'T?). If you want to play this map, you'll have to go to Chaos Moshpit or select it in Private Match. Treyarch will have NT2025 24/7 playlists during "special events".

The soundtrack is a digital copy, which means it's a download. It is not a download from iTunes, but rather from the Call of Duty website. It contains 49 songs, is composed mainly by Jack Wall. Other artists include Trent Reznor, Brian Tuey, and even Mozart. I haven't really listened to most of the soundtrack, so I can't really say whether it's good or not.

The themes are pretty cool, one showcases Turbine, and the other showcases TranZit from Zombies. Since the themes are dynamic, theme is well, animated. The turbines spin, the Zombie Bus has flashing lights, ashes fall from the sky, etc.

The weapon camo is really a Digital-style camo, with random orange patches on it. Looks good on most weapons, and is instantly unlocked. If you want to equip it, go to "Personalize Weapon", and go to the "DLC" tab and you'll find it.

The Playercards are used for Multiplayer, and are instantly unlocked. One is a background of Nuketown 2025 and the other features Nuketown Zombies. The Zombies' playercard however is really just a picture of a bunch of Zombies packed next to each other. But, each look nice and are in the DLC tab (when selecting a playercard)

The Challenge Coins are actually coins (a friend of mine told me how one of his friends thought they weren't actual coins or something), with Black Ops 2 icons/pictures on them, such as the Dragonfire, Skull, etc. Now, only one of the coins contains a code, and that code has to be redeemed online, NOT on PSN. (You can also tell because there are more than 12 characters, and PSN codes are 12.) One of the papers in the Steelbook case tells you what website you have to redeem it on. The code contains the Camo , Playercards, and Soundtrack. You will need an ELITE account to redeem it though. Once you create an account/sign in, you'll be asked to enter the code and the content will be given to you.

The Steelbook contains the game (obviously) and features two different covers. One side (the front) is an alternate artwork to the Standard Edition cover, and the other side (the back) contains a Zombie-themed background featuring Misty (female) holding a shotgun and a skull. Inside the Steelbook, you will find vouchers for the Nuketown Zombies, Nuktown 2025, Themes, and Challenge Coin redemption instructions.

I'm not entirely sure whether $180 is reasonable price or not, but that's your judgement. If you want the Quadrotor and/or Box as collectibles, then sure, go ahead and buy it. If you don't want to spend the extra $100+, then get a Standard or Hardened Edition.

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Came well packaged and contained all items listed in the care package box, the quality of the box is really nice and look forward to using the box for storing gaming equipment in and transporting to friends places.

The quad-copter was undamaged and all parts were intact worked straight out of the box. Only let down with the quad-copter was the controller which was slightly wierd as a previous reviewer has mentioned you can only go forward backward left and right and only one at a time due to the plastic stoppers which I recently removed to have greater control during flight.

I'm in Australia and was concerned purchasing a US version of the game to use with my AU playstation and AU account, the game works fine but for me to use the DLC codes or get the season pass I needed to create a US playstation account to redeem and download the content for my disc. Once downloaded I can easily switch back to my main account and still use the DLC content so no major let downs just a minor problem.

Other than that well worth the extra money and look forward to heaps of hours of enjoyment :)

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Thought it would a bit more durable but the construction is very poorly built. Was fun while it lasted I guess but think again before shelling out 150 bucks. Get the harden edition instead.

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The game is good by itself, but the hardcore gamer would purchase this "Care Package" edition of Call of Duty: Black Ops II for all the extras. The care package container is large, and built with enough quality to be able to be used at home for storage of your gaming accessories; the only part of the extras that isn't up to par is the remote controlled drone. The drone itself is made from cheap foam, and it doesn't fly that well; it's better off as a display piece.

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Great Battles Medieval (PS3)

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this game is like command and conquer with knights and archers, great for the arm chair general in all of us

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This goes into my top 10 list of worst games ever made!! I made it through like a half hour of it before I quit and never turned it back on!

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I know it would be hard for strategy games being adapted into PS. and gave it a try but did not turn out as good as expected..

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The game is fun and farely easy to play. I just forget to use the battle cards. I mostly like that as the game progresses you can upgrade the units in different ways and add more units to your army. Great strategy game just wish they had castles.

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I would recomend to any one ,its afun game to play go buy it the time is great as well as the game play

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FIFA Street 3

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I didn't go into FIFA Street 3 with very high expectations. In fact, I've been burned by EA BIG before. But believe it or not, this game was just plain fun from the jump. You really can just sit down, turn it on, and just start playing. Combine that with my very casual understanding of the international soccer scene, and the fact that this game remained fun and enjoyable speaks volumes for it's replay value and staying power in anyones game library.

STAND-ALONE: I really felt like I could have just played match after match until my eyes turned to dust. The controls are easy to learn and adjust to, and the competition stays challenging without becoming impossibly difficult to overcome.

MULTI-PLAYER: Well, what can I say...the opportunity to set up a match online between America and Germany that actually involves someone from AMERICA and GERMANY just has a coolness factor all it's own.

Definite rent-to-own title. Don't miss out on an opportunity to play one of the best straight-outta-da-box games so far this year. Instant fun!

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I was rather surprised when I began playing this game. The graphics are good for a sports PS3 game, and the music is excellent. Gameplay is easy to learn, regardless of any age or skill. Lots of replay value as you can unlock different players and teams. You can also play online against people from all over the world; this was a humbling experience. It is defintely a solid street ball game for the ps3.

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Very, very good!

My six-year-old son enjoyed it very much and had a lot of fun.

I've received the game OK. Everything was OK: disk, box, manual...

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Many scratchs and finger stamps on the surface of game disk, the outside case seems very old with colour changed, game can be used.

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A week ago amazon was selling this game for $60. Now it's close to $40. I found it at Wal-mart for $30. Haven't played it yet so can't give it a real rating star-wise, but will after my son gets it for his xmas gift! Just wondering why amazon had it SO overpriced. I've noticed that lately shop around, people. Amazon is no longer the best deal on the block.

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Dante's Inferno Divine Edition

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Make no mistake, this game is pure guilty pleasure, hack and slash, dim the lights and camp out on the couch, eye candy goodness. It's LOOSELY based on the poem and isn't about to change your life in any profound way, unless you really love graphics and design work I guess. They basically use the structure of Hell that Dante established and build their own descent from there. The thing about their design that I am absolutely beside myself about is that they had Wayne Barlowe doing the concept. The man is amazing and has basically built his career out of conceptualizing Hell and you can find his books of Hell re-imagined on Amazon as well, which I highly recommend if you're a Dante (the actual poet) fanatic like myself.

His work here is amazing and the graphics are astounding. My only complaint, really, is that you can't actually angle the camera yourself. Which tends to become a bit of a nuisance at best when you're trying to admire the terrific landscape and at worst when you're trying to fight and your enemy moves out of sight. Having the camera adjust itself can really become a thorn in your side at times, but overall, it's an issue I'm willing to overlook in light of all I enjoy about the game. As they've stated multiple times on their production videos, they use a pretty high framerate (believe it's 60 fps) and it definitely shows. The flow is fantastically smooth and seamless. The animated clips are a bit on the cheese side, but the CGI cutsceens are pretty high quality. They also don't make the mistake, like a lot of current games do, of overburdening the game with these cutsceens. For me, they can become a major hindrance to the game's flow very quickly, as I like to play my games, not watch a glorified cartoon. Luckily, Dante does not suffer from this in the least.

The graphics and sound in this game are truly impressive, however. Honestly, the attention to detail is simply fantastic. The walls made of trapped sinners, Minos shouting out verdicts in the background as you approach, the screams of sinners, a man calls out for Ulysses in the bowels of Charon's boat, the detailed backgrounds such as a giant skull spitting out the corpses of the damned at the start. It's simply on a massive, grand scale and if you've ever read Dante and lived to see his Hell brought to the big screen... you will NOT be disappointed playing this video game. From the second I heard they had Barlowe I knew they were interested in the details and the audio and visuals couldn't be more captivating. The soundtrack, which is included with the PS3 version, is really quite great as well. Sets the moods perfectly and makes the whole experience engrossing and just a lot of fun... which is what games are supposed to be.

Gameplay / Controls are easy to learn and have a pretty good configuration. You upgrade your Scythe and Holy Cross talent trees to learn new combos and I'm very pleased with the ease of picking up these new combinations. Again, some games can really go overboard in this area, to the point where you basically have to pause and look up the combo sequence every time you want to execute it. None of that here and I'm exceedingly glad for it, because once they become too convoluted, it really hinders gameplay, flow and inevitably spoils my fun. Along with your two upgradeable trees, you have Magic talents, the ability to dodge, block and jump. While those might seem like minor options, recently playing Darksiders and having to be perfectly still to block, or else it DASHES you across the room, was a HUGE inconvenience and annoyance to me. As well, being able to jump, as silly as it seems, can break a game if it's not an option. I hate feeling restricted in my character's movement and after playing a no-jumping-allowed Demon's Souls (one of PS3's BEST games hands down) for more hours than I wish to reveal, it's nice to have jumping back on the controller.

Also, having come from playing copious amounts of Demon's Souls, I think it's fair to mention this game has pretty frequent save points and when you die, you restart at the beginning of whatever encounter you were on. So, if you're at the boss and die, you start over at the boss, not back at the save point. I know for some it's more of a nuisance to be dropped off at the start of the level / last save point after death, so rest assured, you pick up essentially where you left off / failed and get right back to it.

Last, but not least, this is definitely not for kids. Violence and Nudity are basically the name of the game here, so if you have concerns regarding either of those two things, either don't bother or rent first.

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First off I'd like to say that I don't review games unless I have completed the game. How can someone review a game with only playing it for an hour? I was very excited for this game; the graphics are great, creepy atmosphere, good story, lots of blood and guts, spectacular controls, great stuff. Unfortunately there were a few things about this game that really sucked. It was only 6-7 hours long. That was a huge disappointment. Also, the first 3 levels were very good, but the rest seemed to be lacking in development including enemy variety. Also, the puzzles were really not that interesting and just seemed to slow you down. I did really enjoy the game, and would definitely recommend it, but I wish I had rented this game first. $60 is a lot of money to spend on a game that you only play for 12 hours tops. The games that are really good I play at least 30 hours.

Pros

1) Graphics and sound

2) Creepy and Grotesque atmosphere

3) Controls

4) Battle is fun

Cons

1) Way to short 6-8 hours

2) Recycled enemies

3) Puzzles

4) Some level designs

Conclusion

I feel this was a very entertaining game and I had a good time playing it, awesome graphics and sound, disturbing and gross, and fun battle scenes. Because it was so short and the enemy's were recycled I wish I had rented the game instead of buying it.

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Okay, I picked this game up and it has exceeded my expectations. It plays like God of war and it has a very interesting story line. The only thing I would take out of the game is all of the blatant sexual inuendo. I am an hour into the game and I have seen babies explode out of pus filled nipples with tongues, huge golden penis statues, vagina wall entrances and last but not least, the flaming rectal sphincters. Yes, I said flaming rectal sphincters. Who thinks of this stuff? Seriously, I think the game could have done without that, but it is truly disturbing and it adds hellish authenticity to the game. After seeing this depiction of hell I think I am going to start going to church again! The game plays very well, just make sure your kids dont walk in on you when you are playing it because it makes for an awkward moment. I actually pushed the off button on the console to make the nipples squirting babies out of them dissapear so my kids did not see it. I ended up having to retrace the level because I did not save before that. With all of that said, the game is a solid 4.5

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First of all I want to address the God of War aspect. For you people complaining about the GoW fanboys dissing Dante's Inferno...

IT PLAYS LIKE GOD OF WAR!!!! Take Kratos, make him a Crusader in a monotheistic world, and chuck him into hell. Basically, picture a blatant ripoff of the level where Kratos is in Hades from the first GoW and throw in several bloated disembodied sexual organs.

This game feels so...disjointed. First, I sew a cross-shaped tapestry into my chest, then I take down dozens of humans with a giant pole arm right before a wussy jabs me in the back with a dagger. I then face death and steal his scythe...and then move on to save my wife...who's named after a cow.

There are little mutant babies that pour out of a giant evil woman's nipples...sphincters that erupt flame while you swing past them on intestines...and succubi that have giant female...uh...organs...that they fling out and smack you with. Apparently the succubi also have a screaming case of gonorrhea because they can squirt it out and splash you in the face with it, which stuns you. The best badguys are the big fat gluttons who fart when they walk and barf all over the place.

My biggest gripe with this game is the rappelling. I want to take this game and drive to the house of whoever thought it was a good idea to take a game with imperfect camera control and somewhat inaccurate controls and then make it to where you have to hit certain areas in JUST the right spot or you fall to your death and then I want to ram the game sideways right up his fire-spurting sphincter.

I also wish a serious case of syphilis on whoever thought it would add to the game to make me hit the "O" button REALLY REALLY fast whenever I want to drink from or "open" a fountain. What the hell? I stab my cross down onto a fountain and then... What? Does pressing the "O" button mean I'm praying REALLY hard? If I could take true control of Dante I'd jump up, squat down, and drop a big giant deuce right in that fountain so that whoever came along next had to stare at what came out of MY flaming sphincter. Pray over that you a-holes!

The game is alright if you have an X-Box 360 but if you have a PS3 rent or borrow but do not buy. I don't care how butthurt the fans of the game get. You have a PS3 for Pete's sake...and Pete says wait for God of War III.

I want to add that I've given this game an extra star to offset the morons that automatically gave it one or two stars. There was some dipstick spouting retarded crap in the forums and though I feel this game isn't a work of absolute perfection it certainly doesn't suck...it just has a few quirks that annoy the ever loving crap out of me.

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Graphics: A

Gameplay: A+

Mechanics and Controls: B+

Storyline: B+

Artwork / Visual Design: A+

Originality: B

Fun Factor: A+

**First and foremost, THIS IS AN ADULT GAME, NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN.**

Storyline: The original Inferno is basically a guided tour through the nine circles of Hell itself. Dante tells the story of his journey, what he sees, and who he encounters in each circle. While this makes level design a breeze, and could make an excellent movie, video games require more interaction, so some tweaks are needed. The end result is that the poet Dante has been replaced by the crusader Dante, a skilled and powerful knight who has stitched a red cloth cross onto his chest. While this is a far cry from the reality of the man, he makes for an amusing character and it certainly makes for better game play. The overall storyline is a pretty typical rescue the damsel in distress scenario, though Hell makes for a unique setting. The literary purists out there will not be thrilled with the changes made, but from a gameplay standpoint, they are fairly necessary. The developers could have approached it a bit differently, by naming the main characters something else and having them explore Dante's vision of Hell, perhaps with Dante as the guide. Personally, though, I'm not enough of a literary purist to be bothered by this.

Gameplay / Mechanics: Anyone that has played God of War will be familiar with the gameplay mechanics of this game. Personally, I don't think that's a bad thing. The combat is smooth and familiar, and you can pick it up and start playing right away, without having to familiarize yourself with a new system. Leveling is actually improved here, in my opinion. You have two paths of abilities to upgrade, holy and unholy. Both paths have different levels of abilities, which are advanced by punishing or absolving enemies of their sins. As you fight your way through the level, you will earn souls to purchase new abilities. The advantage here is that you get to pick specifically which abilities you want to unlock or upgrade, rather than simply which weapon. You also meet and get to judge some famous historical and mythological characters, and pass judgment on their sins, which certainly adds an interesting element to the overall theme of the game.

The gameplay mechanics are not quite perfect, however. I was disappointed by some of the mini games. In order to use a health fountain, you are required to button mash O. Many of the absolution finishes and some of the punish finishes require the same. If you were bothered by the tank and helicopter mini games in Prototype, this will annoy you. It's not a huge problem, but it feels unnecessary. After all, there's not even really any skill involved in simply mashing a button repeatedly.

Graphics/Artwork: This is one of the areas in which this game truly shines. It is amazingly conceived and detailed, and while beautiful might be the wrong word considering the subject matter, you will quickly find yourself immersed in the hell swirling around you. The levels and the enemies are minutely detailed and stunning to behold. The artwork and the world that is created here definitely adds a lot to gameplay. Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of some of the cut-scenes, many of which feature old school animation, and frankly feel like a plug for the Dante's Inferno movies that they released alongside the game.

The bottom line to this game is simple. If you like God of War style gameplay, you aren't going to be offended by the subject matter, and you're not a literary purist, buy this game. It's not for kids, and it isn't strictly true to the Inferno storyline or Dante the man, but it is definitely a fun, enjoyable game, and it does take you Inferno's nine circles of hell, which makes for quite the trip.

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Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon

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After a couple of disappointments in the series, I bought this Spyro game for my daughter in the hopes that it would get a new look on the PS3. It most definitely does, with not only gorgeous visuals and breathtaking locations, but a surprisingly different take on the interface: this game has the same mechanics as the God of War series. You have light and heavy attacks, combos that involve simple button-press sequences, and a "level-up" capability that involves collecting special crystals and then choosing which abilities to funnel them into. The buttons even map exactly the same. I played this for a bit with my daughter, then out of curiosity I switched over to God of War when she was out of the room, and it felt pretty much the same--the flight mechanic even resembles God of War's "Icarus Wings".

Unfortunately, this new interface won't resonate with everyone who is a fan of the Spyro games. For example, camera control isn't always 100%--sometimes it's taken out of your hands. I'm used to the God of War series having none at all, so I don't find this as jarring in this title as others might. Not every special ability or chaining action is simple to pull off--but believe me, any 10-year-old will pick this up fairly quickly. The new "grab" mechanic that lets you seize hold of your opponents is surprisingly easy to do, but requires you to make some decisions in the middle of a pitched battle--there's a time when grabbing is a good idea, and a time when it's a bad idea. Flying is extremely fun, but not always perfect: there are times when the wind direction (which you can see) will limit your actions. You have to follow the lines that show you the direction of the air flow, so this won't be easy for the under-10 set. In fact, I almost think the "ages 10 and up" rating is more for a child's capability of understanding the game than it may be about the content.

Here's what makes Dawn of the Dragon tons of fun, though: it has sharing loosely coupled to the story. Gameplay is like a "prison escape" movie cliche--you have two heroes, and they're tied together. They have to work together to get through the story (often referred to in gamer circles as "two-player co-op"). Thankfully the magical "tether" tying Spyro to Cinder is a pretty long one, letting you rather freely move about. The game sticks two dragons together and not only lets a single player jump on-the-fly from one to the other, it also lets you switch in and out of two-player mode with a couple of button-taps. If a sibling wants to join in on the fun, they can take the reins of one of the two dragons. If they get bored and want to stop playing, just pause the game and select "one player" again and the game will resume exactly where it left off. Kids can share together without having to start over, reload, or commit to both of them finishing the level. Dawn of the Dragon also adds some fun for girls: while the previous Spyro entries have been boy-oriented, my daughter was thrilled at the chance to play Cinder, the girl dragon. Her abilities are different (and just as important) and she even seems to be a bit better at flying.

That said, the Spyro series doesn't just have kids in its fan base--there are "elite bosses" and hidden secrets that are more for an adult player looking to get the most out of their gaming experience. There are character cutscenes with a longer story and dialogue, and you may be surprised to know that some top-drawer talent lend their voices to the series: Elijah Wood (as Spyro) and Gary Oldman (as Ignitus). The elite bosses and secrets are optional parts of the game, and it may take some explaining to younger players that certain bad guys don't have to be defeated: they can be skipped. I'd recommend skipping them the first time through because the two that we've uncovered so far have turned out to be impossibly hard to battle. If you want to cut down on frustration, don't try to level every skill to the top, and definitely steer clear of the Elites.

If you have children who enjoy the Spyro series, chances are they will find this one fun, but they'll need to understand that it's not exactly the same as the rest of the series. They should also play it all the way through once before trying to master it all and beat the Elites. Consider it more for ages 8 and older, with 10 and up getting the most out of it. If you're an adult who likes the Spyro series and also enjoys God of War style games (like Heavenly Sword and Dante's Inferno), then there's a good chance you'll enjoy this makeover just as much as the younger fans will.

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Good Fun & Entertainment from an Old Friend!

I remember Spyro from the late 90's when he made his debut on the PS1. Here we are ten years later and he is still going strong. Yes, the last few Spyro titles have been a disappointment, but for some reason Activision did it right and churned out a great game. I have to admit that since Spyro landed on the PS2 and the Gamecube including the Wii that the games have been a bit of a let down. The games were still playable, but missing that certain something quality that made the original first three games so much fun. The magic from the original creators had faded away.

Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon is probably one of the most beautiful Spyro games to date. It's simply gorgeous. This is also the first time that Spyro can fly in a game. I think the Spyro the character has really matured a bit and there is a certain grown up element to this game.

I wouldn't call it a boss battle, but one of the big monsters in the first level is a bit on the scary side and the way the game plays reminded me a little of God of War. I would say this game isn't complete 3D like Mario. Spyro is restricted to what is visible on screen and the 2nd analog stick doesn't function the way I would like it to. The second analog stick has always been used to rotate the camera angle around the screen 360 degrees, but because of the fact you are restricted to semi 2D/3D layout that one can only move the camera to what the game lets the player see, so its pretty much a 180 degree turn. I didn't find this to be a BIG problem, but it was a bit annoying at times.

Other then that small annoyance i actually found the game to be quite entertaining. It brings back some of the magic from the original Spyro games that were lacking on his PS2 days. This is definitely a title you want to add to your library and its hours of fun with a familiar face.

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This is my second Spyro game and I really like this one. Here's why:

-The graphics are absolutely beautiful. In Avalar Valley, when Spyro and Cynder are free-flying around, you can see individual blades of grass, each leaf on the trees, and there is so much color! The environments are very passionate and have a mood that relates very closely to the storyline.

-The breaths are powerful and vivid. Spyro's fire breath lights up the whole screen! They have an instant effect on enemies and are very gratifying to use.

-Medium difficulty level. I am currently playing this with my seven-year-old sister and we both have no problem getting through puzzles and fighting enemies. I have definitely played easier games, but this was not the hardest. I've only died twice and I am halfway through the game. Contrary to earlier reviews, jumps don't have to be perfect; there is some margin for error.

-Runs smoothly. This game never gets choppy and I have yet to see a glitch (and I'm halfway through!). When Spyro and Cynder are flying and one wheels about, the camera moves without any hiccups. This makes the experience feel more lifelike and immersive.

The problems I have with this game include the following:

-The camera constantly drives me insane! Pushing really hard on the right analog stick makes the camera drift only a very small amount. This seems confining, especially in a game with such rich environments, puzzles, and intense combat.

-May be hard for some players. Some parts can be a bit confusing, and combat can drain life quickly, but this isn't a problem if you have some time and patience! Finding all the health and magic upgrades is constantly irking me as I can't seem to find any! The armor is a nice touch, and looks pretty cool, but finding all of it could be difficult.

OVERALL, this is a wonderfully made game with few hiccups and many hours of deep, bright, colorful gameplay that involves puzzle, platforming, and fighting elements. I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who has some money to spend and a few hours to play!

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My son loves this series. It is vastly superior to the previous release, being more intense and heavy in graphics. The story line is a bit more complex, as well.

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The game is somewhat confusing when I get to certain levels. But I will manage to get thru. I just put it away in cabinet until I have more patience to deal with it.

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Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition

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while I think this is one of the best FPS/RPG hybrids ever made,

this is a crime that they couldn't put the DLC ON THE DISC and instead included a lousy voucher for all four packs.

I bought this to get everything on the disc like most GOTY editions (I already owned the regular ed.) so I felt a bit jipped however it

comes with a great full map of pandora and that's nice. if you have the regular edition no need for this BUT

if you haven't bought Borderlands yet this is THE BEST DEAL!

and a heck of a game with 4 player online co-op, two player split screen

and single player as well as playthrough the full game with or without friends once and then access PLAYTHROUGH TWO WITH HARDER ENEMIES AND VASTLY SUPERIOR LOOT!

a must buy game without doubt. I'm just miffed they were too lazy to

do as dragon age or the like (fallout 3 anyone?) and put the DLC ON THE DISC ugh. oh well it's still some of the most fun to be had.

and as of this writing it's EASY still to this day to find online games and players. a FIVE STAR TITLE ALL THE WAY

I took one star off the GOTY ed. due to no DLC ON DISC...

it's not that tough to do. :(

EDIT: as of this edit 2/4/11 gamestop is confirmed carrying

the new version of the disc with the DLC ON THE DISC NOW!! and even Gearbox

confirmed this on their forums. I also bought another copy (yeah I love it that much!) and lo and behold you pop the disc in and highlight it and on the XMB you'll see another disc with the DLC!!! now a worthy Purchase!

still, they should have done this from the very beginning but to their credit, they could have ignored the issue entirely OR create an expansion disc such as the pc and xbox 360 versions are getting.

MORE INFO HERE AT THIS LINKBorderlands regular ed (Ps3 only)

Borderlands

Borderlands GOTY ed.

Borderlands Game of the Year Edition

Borderlands strategy guide

Borderlands Signature Series Strategy Guide (Bradygames Signature Series)

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I'm treating this as a supplemental game description; others have adequately reviewed the gameplay elsewhere. For those wanting a one-sentence summary: the DLC does appear on newer discs, but as of Jan 2011 it is difficult to tell if you're getting a "new" DLC-on-disc version or the older version with just a voucher. (Maybe the content is on all GOTY editions and an update will unlock it one day?)

I was torn before ordering from Amazon, but pulled the trigger on a buy 2, get 1 free sale. I'm new to the ps3 as of this Christmas and am having fun buying up older, established games for cheap. Borderlands fits perfectly into this category, so if you're on the fence and want a quick push either way: BUY IT if this type of game is your thing.

The DLC is now on the disc. I was VERY skeptical that it would be, as the (almost) unanimous consensus online said otherwise. Only a few recent posters claimed it was on there, and I dismissed them as trolls or uninformed. I bought anyway. The front cover of my game says very clearly at the bottom "Voucher for All 4 Add-On Packs." On the back, in a yellow band? "Add-on game content requires a connection to Playstation Network and 4.41 GB of storage space to redeem SINGLE-USE VOUCHER."

I was bummed. I held out opening up the disc, on the chance that maybe a newer version had come out, and Amazon had sent me an older one. If some (newer) copies did have the DLC, I wanted that one! But I couldn't find anything online about a new cover, omitted text, or anything else pertaining to the voucher.

I opened up the game and popped it in and there it is. Below the Borderlands game icon in the XMB (Playstation menu, NOT the game menu.. where I first looked). There's a little disc icon that turns into an orange, one-wheeled robot labeled "BONUS CONTENT."

Sure enough, all 4 add-on packs appear here. The smallest is about 550MB, the largest is 1.6GB. No code needed... but a voucher code is still included. Mine was behind the map, before the instruction manual. I have not used it, but I did install the expansions to test they install with no code and appear in-game (the menu tells you they're available and you need to go to a fast travel station to get to them).

As of this writing, the "most helpful" one-star reviews bash the decision to not include the 4 expansion packs on disc. I can understand this, considering other games (Fallout 3 GOTY, which I purchased along with Borderlands GOTY) DID put the content on there. It made the game feel disposable once your voucher was used up, your resale is the same as the regular BL game. I am thankful for all those who complained. I can't help but think someone somewhere heard your logic and agreed.

Here's the problem as of now, there's no way to tell what version you're getting. I bought mine from Amazon so I can confirm that at least one batch of theirs has it but that's not to say everyone will get a "new" version. Same in-store. There was nothing physically on the outside that told me I was getting bonus content on disc. So until all of the old stock is purged, there are going to be some disappointed consumers. Even after that, there's sure to be fraudulent after-market sales of used GOTY editions.

Good luck in getting the version you want, and enjoy the game I'm pretty stoked about the hours in Pandora front of me.

-------------

Until it becomes established knowledge that there are in fact "on-disc" versions, check Gearbox & 2K's forums for official word. As of Jan 2011, I still feel things are speculative among the online community of BL players, even though I can personally confirm vouchers are not needed for the newest printings. This is what you get when game developers waffle, but I thank the powers that be for getting it right; sorry to those who "suffered" for the rest of our benefit. ;)

Buy Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition Now

The game itself is incredible, one little qualm though. I bought the GOTY edition because I wanted it all in one swoop, there was an issue. You need a coupon code that comes with the game. I got the coupon code, unfortunately it is only one time use. I guess I was second... This is only for the PS3 Borderlands GOTY edition. So, if you want to buy the GOTY edition; get it new.

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Amazon needs to change the description of this product, or else the sellers need to be sure that they are selling the On-disc version. Like the two previous reviewers, the copy I purchased on 3/20/13 is the Voucher version. It's ridiculous, because the game description explicitly states TWICE that the Add-ons are on the disc, and the image clearly states it's the On-disc version. Absolutely the epitome of FALSE ADVERTISING.

Thanks to information on this page I now know that the UPC code I should be looking for is 7-10425-37983-3, so I at least did not open the game and will be returning it for a full refund.

Original (Vocher) UPC: 7-10425-37881-2

New (On-disc) UPC: 7-10425-37983-3

Amazon, considering all these negative reviews this excellent game has gotten, can't you folks get your act together?

EDIT 3/29/13: Sorry, should have edited this post earlier. This is also in response to the first responder to my post. After returning the game, I actively sought out vendors who were selling this to find out whether they were selling the voucher version or the on-disc version. The key is providing them with the UPC code -that makes it very easy for them to check. I got mine successfully from NYC Electronics. Most others didn't have the on-disc. The one I purchased from Shark Distributors was the voucher version.

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I bought "Borderlands 2" a couple of months ago because of a friends recommendation. I like it enough that I wanted the "Borderlands: Game of the Year" Edition. I saw the negative comments about some people receiving the old version that requires the add-ons be downloaded with a voucher something I no longer do because of bugs and glitches I have experienced with DLC, in the past.

None-the-less, I ordered the game hoping to get lucky, and was thoroughly dissappointed when I received the voucher edition from "BIG GAME VENDOR". I double checked the listing and the package shown is clearly the new version because it does not mention a voucher on the front cover (the older version I received says "Voucher for All 4 Add-on Packs" on the front cover, while the new version says "Complete Collection: ...All 4 Add-on packs). Furthermore, the "Product Features" section exactly states "Includes all 4 add-on packs released to date (on disc)". I also noticed the manufacturers production ID number was covered by a seller sticker, which blocked it from view (I carefully peeled it up to confirm this is an old version).

I immediately returned the disc and spoke with customer service. I suggested, at the very least, that Amazon take down their advertisement, since it is misleading. I also recommended that Amazon dissolve its partnership with "BIG GAME VENDOR" to avoid the problem of "BIG GAME VENDOR" misleading buyers.

Since the old packaging included an obvious reference to the voucher edition, and many other people reported this same issue, I must conclude that "BIG GAME VENDOR" knew about the problem, but was more interested in moving the out dated product, than in taking care of their customers. It would be easy for them to ID the voucher version in their stock, and segregate it from the advertised product why didn't they?

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Playstation 3 OEM Bluetooth Wifi Board CWI-001

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Needed to replace the bluetooth board as the one my PS3 burned out ... once I figured out the problem, googled the part and here it was. Upon delivery cracked open the PS3 to find my model used CWI-002, so now its held in by just one of the two screws, but whatever it works and I'm happy Sony wanted $129+ shipping to diagnose and fix the PS3 this part cost $1.30 + shipping instruction for how to replace the part are all over the internet so, need I say more .

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I had a local guy fix my PS3 when I got the YLoD a few months ago. He again fixed it when a power surge screwed up the power supply. But I couldn't justify bringing it back in when my machine got into an update loop. After some Googling I discovered that a possible culprit was faulty hardware. Just before the looping started I noticed that my controllers would not work over Bluetooth. Putting two-and-two together I figured it couldn't hurt to see if swapping the Bluetooth board would solve the issue.

One special screwdriver and a simple guide from iFixit () and we're now back in business. The only problem now is we bought a new PS3 Slim while the old machine was out of commission. Sure fixing it allowed us to get some old data backed up and off the machine. But now I'm not sure what to do with the machine. =/

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Playseat Evolution Replacement Seat Cushion (Black)

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I had the Playseat EVO and enjoyed it for several years. When I upgraded to the rSeat V3 I found the cushion to be quite unsubstantial. I tried using foam from my local fabric store but I felt it in "the end."

I compared the shape of the cushion in my old Playseat (which I was getting rid of) and the shape required for the rSeat, whatya know, it was a pretty good fit.

So I ordered a new Playseat cushion to use in my rSeat rig. Works like a charm!

Regardless of your application this is a nice seat as the foam is quite dense, probably close to automotive quality and the cover on my original held up very well.

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This cushion is a great back up at a good price for your Playseat evolution. Well made and feels good on the butt!

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PS3 FragFX v.2 Controller with Mouse Pad

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Basics: This is a controller, made by Splitfish, specifically for the PS3. It only works on the PS3. You can checkout their site, it is limited but adequate. The basic premise of this controller is to have the right analog stick replaced by a mouse. Obviously, this is to bring PC controls to the PS3. While the mouse could be used for anything, it is clearly an FPS device.

The Fragfx v.2 hooks to the PS3 by a 10 foot USB cord. No Bluetooth here, my friends. The PS3 powers the controller, so the Fragfx v.2 cannot turn on the PS3. The 10ft cord goes into the back of the left-handed "Fragchuck" (I did not invent this term). Also emerging from the back of the Fragchuck, is the cord going to the mouse. You also receive a pretty good mouse pad with your Fragfx V.2, although I ended preferring my lap desk. Anybody hardcore is going to end up on a desk or table.

The mouse is right-handed and optical. R1, R2, and R3 are represented by the left, right and center mouse buttons; with the "start" button behind the center R3 button. The triangle, square, circle, and X buttons are on the left side of the mouse, under your thumb.

The Fragchuck is left-handed. It has an analog stick on top, used most often to represent the left analog stick on the PS3 controller. Think Wii nunchuck with a bunch of extra controls. The D-pad is behind the stick. Also on top of the Fragchuck are the Select and PS buttons. The Fragchuck has 3 front "triggers". The uppermost trigger is the "Frag" button. Under that are L1 and L2. L3 is the top of the analog stick, same as a PS3 controller. On the right side is a sensitivity dial. Finally, the Fragchuck is your sixaxis controller in this setup.

Bells and Whistles: This controller comes with many extra options. The first is the "Frag" button. When you hold this, the sensitivity on the mouse drops and your sight moves only a little with large moves of the mouse. This is to allow you to make sniper shots more easily. The second extra control is the sensitivity dial on the side of the Fragchuck. This was my favorite feature. By adjusting game sensitivity and then the sensitivity dial, you can fine tune exactly how much action you get on the mouse. You can even change it on the fly.

Additionally, the controller will let you set buttons to rapid fire. You can adjust the sensitivity of the motion controls, and their calibration. You can "switch" the mouse to represent the left PS3 stick on the fly (the Fragchuck analog stick will represent the right PS3 stick in "switch" mode.) You can flip it to "mouse" mode and use it with the web browser. Finally, you can program the motion control to double as any button except, Frag, PS, Select, and Start.

Functionality: Plugging the Fragfx V.2 in for the first time, I immediately saw how easy it would be to drop the darn thing. Not quite as nice as flopping down on the couch and punching the PS button on a dualshock. The 10ft cord was just about right length, I have to sit pretty far from my sports-bar-obscenity-only-an-American-would-own TV. USB extension cords are cheap, so I do not see this as a problem regardless.

I am a freak because the PS3 is my first console. Mouse and keyboard is what most of you learned FPS on; I was coming at this backwards. It was a bit like learning to drive stick after automatic. Initially a mess, but ultimately a more responsive set up. I noodled around with the browser and a couple of other games, but Killzone 2 was the central game in testing. At first I had the sensitivity way too high and got nauseous when one large mouse move executed a 360. Within 30 minutes, my aim was better with the mouse than it had been with 30 hours on the dualshock. I could now weave about while keeping my sight on a moving target. My firing in general had less of a sweeping quality and stayed on enemy heads more of the time. My effectiveness with the starting assault rifles improved. Keep in mind that improvement for me is NOT Barry Bonds using steroids. This is much more like HIV patients using steroids to maintain muscle mass. I am moving from hopeless to decent, not good to Lazlo-quality sniper. During my initial "plug and go" sessions, it was hard to get the sensitivity to the point where I could turn quickly, yet maintain control of my aim. One or the other would suffer, yet it was still better than a dualshock.

What really made the difference for Killzone 2 was the firmware update from the Splitfish website. It really made the sight less jittery and gave me a smooth feel with the game sensitivity at max and the Fragchuck dial at about 4. I could turn like an F18 in the alleys, yet pull up the sight and plonk off a pretty good burst at somebody's favorite head.

Overall, Fragfx v.2 good. The Frag button works but did not magically make me a sniper god. I am not a General in the game, so sniping was limited to single player and skirmish modes. The dial was my favorite feature, allowing me to adjust to circumstances. I could turn it up when on a fixed gun and cover the area nicely. I could turn it down when engaging via the M82 rifle sight. When I tried going back to the dualshock, I went right back to captain-sweepy-shot. The Fragfx v.2 really let me stay on the target better.

Other Options: I tried the Fragfx V.2 on mouse mode, and it works OK. Honestly, I prefer the regular PS3 controller with a keyboard attached (I like the keyboard, but I do not use the touchpad "feature" on the keyboard, that "feature" is a Goddamned nightmare, I freaking well dare you to get the cursor down from the top of the screen, I freaking well dare you).

I do not really have a game to test "switch" mode. This swaps the mouse and joystick. It looks like it is geared for GTA4 and the like, allowing you to use the mouse for the steering wheel or the gun. I don't think switch mode can fully compensate for left-handed people. Even if you switch, the buttons remain the same. You can't use the mouse left handed, the "shape" buttons are no longer under your thumb.

Reassigning motion control is fun. You can make shaking the Fragchuck do almost anything. After programming, shaking the Fragchuck can throw a grenade, reload, swing a rifle butt, etc. It does not work well for any continuous function, like running. If you get the correct download off of their site, you can remap all buttons... except R3 and L3. I would love to remap L3 into oblivion, but c'est la vie.

More than a year later: This review has been edited now that I have had the thing more than a year. It has good durability, still works great. I managed to yank it accidentally once and L2 popped off, but it popped back in and works like it never happened. Two times I have fired up the system and the mouse has not registered. Restart and everything was kosher, so that it a mighty fine track record.

I still can't tell you if this device will move you from good to God. It moves me from bad to decent. I am old and 14 year-olds literally have 500 milliseconds on me at all times. What are you gonna do? I think some folks want a mouse to make them telepathic and able to aim bot anything they see. No product is going to do that.

The price has come down. My initial review said this was not worth it at 80 bucks but was worth it at 50 bucks. The time has come. The cost is similar to a dualshock and this makes a far more interesting backup controller. Give it a shot. Even if you splurge for a XIM and PC and fragenstein setup, if you suck you will still likely suck.

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The Splitfish Fragfx v.2 allows you to play like a pc gamer on the PS3. However, the lack of quality of the product will only slightly improve your overall accuracy if you're already good with the dual shock 3 controller made by Sony.

The product works as advertised (no software necessary) and feels very close to using a mouse for FPS games on the PS3. The mouse and the left grip controller are very light weight and made of very cheap plastic. The mouse is optical, not laser. I cannot even compare this product to a real gaming mouse like the Logitech G5 or the Copperhead, they're in completely different leagues. However, the Fragfx will definitely feel more comfortable to use for gamers coming from the pc gaming platform over to the world of playstation.

Splitfish claims that you can have the DS3 controller and the Fragfx plugged in simultaneously. However, I found that if the original controller is connected, plugging in the Fragfx will not automatically work; it will only recognize the left grip controller and not the mouse. You must first turn off the Sony controller completely (not just unplug it) and then connect the Fragfx, and push the ps button on the Fragfx: THEN the mouse will be recognized and you're good to go.

The Fragfx v.2 can be programmed as advertised, and now has a rapid fire feature (usually called a turbo) that allows you to fire a single shot weapon as if it were a machine gun. However, please note that COD4 and COD5 have disabled this feature in the game, so don't be shocked if your G3 only fires one shot per second with the turbo/rapid fire turned on. Besides, we don't want to be cheating now do we?

Overall, I'm very pleased with the concept of combining a mouse with a controller. It's a brilliant idea! I just wish it was made better and used laser instead of optical technology in the mouse. If you're frustrated with the DS3 sony controller and hate using joysticks, this is a great alternative until something better comes out.

Update Aug 9th 2009: Disappointing

----------------------------------

They claim that the tweak utility works in Windows Vista...

I've been playing around with the "tweak utility" program available on the Splitfish website. Splitfish claims that this utility allows the user to remap the buttons and adjust the button pressure...

Well no matter what I did, I could not get it to save the new button arrangements to the fragfx. Not only that, but every time I click on the tab for the button pressure adjustment feature, my entire computer becomes unresponsive, and I have to force a reboot. I tested this on Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit, and Windows Vista Ultimate 32 bit: it just doesn't appear to work at all.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Splitfish has released any updates for this product since my first review: The tweak utility is still in beta, and the firmware hasn't changed either. I'm very disappointed as I desperately need to change the buttons for certain games.

Buy PS3 FragFX v.2 Controller with Mouse Pad Now

I currently own the v1. and have used the v2. I noticed the same problem on both for a pc gamer like myself the mouse buttons are sometimes un responsive. Yes you can adjust the sensitivity and that will help. For the average user just looking to play easy this will most likely not be a problem. However if you are a hardcore gamer (i myself am in between.) you will need to fix this issue. However i have the solution. The basics of the mouse are simple all the buttons are pressure sensitive. This is where the issue lies. If you pull apart the mouse (5 screws) the board you see for the main mouse buttons (l-click r -click) have 3 terminals with a black band. this band is the pressure sensitive interface. To fix your problem you have 2 options the easy and the expert methods.

The easy method

use a fine screw driver and gently and slowely scrape the black substance from the terminals making sure not to remove the underlying contact. Re assemble and adjust your sensitivity to 5 10 for active. Now every time you hit the button your sensitivity is full and you wont have any issues however you loose pressure sensitivity on that button (i only preformed this on my left button because of some games utilizing pressure sensitivity and left is shoot)

The expert method (which i prefer because i like tacticle click of a mouse)

after removing the black band proceed to your electornic supply store (most likely not a radioshack) and purchase a surface mount momentary tac switch. (lowest ms recovery possible) all you need is a two terminal no need for a third ground. also make sure the base is non conductive. all you want is two conductive leads. This switch should match the general size of the rubber push button piece minus the little nub that goes in the button post. if you go too small you will need to rig up something to extend the post too big and you wont be able to re assemble the mouse. Solder this to the terminals (going from left of the buttons 3 terminals) 2 & 3 . Re assemble the mouse and now you have a clicking button where you put the switch. This will work on all buttons in the mouse however you will loose pressure sensitivity.

You will need to adjust the minimum pressure because now it will have residual conductivity and will show pressure. Just adjust for the 5 10 range and you will be set.

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Read Best Reviews of PS3 FragFX v.2 Controller with Mouse Pad Here

14 years of pc gaming experience and very meticulous when it comes to aiming.Near 1 year on the fragfx version 1 on ps3. I just recently got the version 2 this was the outcome on KILLZONE 2. I hope this is just bad luck or a firmware issue it is up to date by the way. It showed me jitters and lack of micro moving. Version 1 gets 5 stars but till I try another version 2 I cannot give it more than a 2 which is pushing it since it was very jittery while trying to move slow it would jump 10 pixels sporadically.

Version 2 special edition is much better.

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I have been playing FPS games on the PC since the early days of Doom. The only Console FPS game that I was heavily addicted to was Goldeneye and since then I have never found any enjoyment from using a controller to try and aim on screen. That is not to say I cannot do it, I just do not enjoy it as much as feel like I am having to put up with horrible controls to enjoy console shooters.

I have been keeping an eye on the Frag FX since first hearing about it and all the issues with the V1. I held off on making the purchase simply because of all the negativity that I would hear about the controller.

Killzone 2:

When I got the Frag FX V2 I plugged it in and immediatly setup a skirmish in Killzone2. I played with the adjustements until I found a smooth setting that gave me fairly quick turning. I have found that killzone is a pretty bad game to test this controller because it appears that GG designed the game to make it difficult to use this type of controller.

This controler increased my ability to aim while on the run and to hit targets that were on the run. I noticed that if I had someone behind me I had trouble spinning fast enough due to the "weighted" design of the game.

Bioshock:

I then put in Bioshock and I can see how this controller is designed to work now. I had a lot of fun playing with this controller in Bioshock and I am finally decided that it would be enjoyable to work on the survivor difficulty.

Once I got everything adjusted and smoothed out, I felt like I was playing this game PC style. I tend to like my mouse controls loose and quick on the PC so this controller feels a tad bit sluggish and slow. It is 1000 times better than using a standard controller to aim with.

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If you are a PC gamer and love FPS games... you will enjoy using this controller. For me it injected some fun into games that were getting a bit stale to me due to the hassle of the controls.

I was able to get my top 1% ribbon in Killzone 2 and 100% the trophies prior to getting the Frag FX and now with this new controller I have a reason to play the game again... FOR THE FUN OF IT!!!

Hope this reviews helps some of those PC gamers on the fence. I think 90% of the "HATE" reviews are based off on people whole play online and do not want an even playing field.

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After a lot of time with the Frag FX I found that the controller was not able to achieve the speed and quickness that I wanted. I purchased the FragNstein to test out a different controller and found that the ability to adjust that controller was a thousand times greater than the options I had with the FragFX. I also had my FragFX mouse buttons stop working and had to mail the controller to Canada in order ot get it replaced. SplitFIsh did replace it no questions asked!

I am sure that now Splitfish has released products that are closer in quality to the Bannco FragNstein, but the build quality, customer service, and software flexibility (deadzone in particular) of the FragNstein makes it the better choice.

My next possible purchase will be the Eagle Eye to test out a converter rather than trying another controller.

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Playseat Seat Slider Kit

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $39.73
Today's Bonus: 21% Off

No instructions come in this kit other than a sticker on each side that states: "Srew (sic) this side to seat with this end facing front" Like others have stated it is not all that apparent which way the Allen Screws face. With that said, it is only the total lack of instructions that keep this from being a 5 star product. It works as well as any car seat slider.

Here are some handy tips for install:

1) remove the seat via the 4 Allen screws (careful it will want to tip back when the last screw is removed)& place it up-side-down over the edge of your couch. (read step 10 now... I didn't, but you may want to...)

2) Push an allen screw in the end so that the threads hang over the elongated hole nearest the sticker end (front). The screw will not fall into place nicely, but if you just poke at it from the other elongated hole above it, it easily falls into place.

3) Put your Allen wrench in the screw to hold it in place as you line it up over the front seat hole. The metal tabs that hold the release bar should stick in toward the center of the seat, not out toward the sides, and if you can still read the sticker you have it up-side-down. The sticker should be facing the seat bottom.)

4) Screw it in only 1/2 way & then repeat the procedure for the other side. Tighten all screws after all are in place.

5) The release bar is held in place by it's own spring tension so all you have to do is line up a hole near the bar end to the single pin shaped metal tab and then compress it enough to fit the other hole over the tab on the other side, but be careful for 2 reasons... First, make sure you attach the release bar such that the bend tips down away from the seat bottom and not up towards it. (This gives you as much space as possible between the seat bottom and the release bar.) !!!AND SECOND...!!! It is very "springy", so try not to let it pinch your fingers!!! The bar should now be resting firmly between the double tabs and the single tab through the hole.

6) (Greasy Finger Warning) Before trying to attach the seat to the base see if you can use the release and move the slider rail forward a few inches, thus exposing the two front elongated holes. This may take 2 persons if it is a tight fit, but mine moved rather easily. Try to get both rails extended the same distance.

7) With the holes exposed you should be able to easily place the seat onto the base and drop an allen screw in each side. Place a nut on the bottom and tighten.

8) Now carefully slide the seat forward enough to expose the back 2 elongated holes and repeat the process.

9) I suggest moving the seat back to the center position (no rail sticking out either forward or back) and fit it to your body by moving the playseat's original adjustment (the main tube tightener) into your comfortable "playing" position. If many persons will be using it fit it to a middle sized person.

10) Why no locking washers? I don't know, but you could add them yourself or tighten the screws periodically. Happy Racing!

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Pros:

Does exactly what it claimsmakes it easy to slide chair forwards and back to allow for friends/guests to use the seat. To use it, you sit on the seat, pull up on the handle and slide the seat forward and back.

Cons:

No instructions apart from the white stickers attached to the unit. So it is a bit of a brain teaser to assemble.

A previous reviewer provided an excellent set of detailed instructions for the assembly. It was a bit difficult to visualize the overall process, so I am supplementing that with the following less detailed overview of the main steps. Also I uploaded some pictures I took of the process of assembly as well as an assembly diagramHope this helps.

Overall steps then are:

1. Remove seat from metal base of Playseat.

2. Attach slider bars to bottom of seat. The labeled side should face the bottom of the seat and the arrow on the label should point toward the front of the seat.

3. Attach the handle bar. This takes some muscle doing. When attaching the handle bar, make sure it is angled downward relative to the seat, rather than upward or else you won't have enough clearance to pull up on the handle when you are finally sitting on it. See diagram.

4. Attach seat to the metal base of the playseat. This is trickiest and it will be easier if you had an extra hand to depress the handle bar when you are putting in the screws because you are going to need to slide the bars in and out to insert the screws. This is where you should read the former reviewers instructions for additional details. This is probably the least intuitive part of the assembly.

Additional tips: ignore the circular holes on the slider. You will only use the elongated holes.

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When I got the Playseat I ordered all the accessory that appeared to make sense. Being able to slide the seat back and forth sounds like a cool thing.

Unfortunately the quality is pretty low. One side works, the other side is locked and only glides when using excessive force. My kids can't use it without me and even I have trouble getting it to work.

It also comes without instructions whatsoever. It's not a huge deal, I figured it out in 2 minutes but many will have trouble. The actual installation is not as easy at it seems, kind of tricky to get the screws in place.

But most of all it is not a necessary thing to have. The Playseat is designed to be very easily adjustable so the sliding seat doesn't really add anything. In reality you will have to adjust the pedals and wheel base anyways to make it work for a child.

Maybe I have a bad unit, but it's too much hassle for me to unmount it and pay for the shipping back to get a replacement which will cause even more time to get it in again. Either way, you really don't need it, it works just fine without it and even my 7 year old can use the seat without this slider.

Read Best Reviews of Playseat Seat Slider Kit Here

As others said, it comes with no instructions. Thanks to those provided instructions, and greater thanks to the person uploading the screw/nut diagram.

It works exactly like what you have in a non-powered manual slider in cars. If you are using for yourself, then you don't need this. But if have others trying it out, then you need it. Combine it with the standard adjustments on my Playseats Evolution, I can let me 6 year old boy who's 42 inch tall to reach the pedal!

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If you have multiple players (kids and adults) playing on your playseat, this is a must have so that you don't have to change the settings for the pedals every time. We can set the seat for 7 years old kids up to 6"1 adults, so that's a pretty good range.

Mounting is a little bit annoying but straightforward (no instructions).

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Birds of Steel

Customer Ratings:
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $31.86
Today's Bonus:

This game has taken the PS3 to the next level and shows what this system is capable of with the right innovators with great attention to detail. Graphics are beautiful, making you feel like your right there experiencing it hands on. Storyline is astonishing with amazing history and historical missions. Gameplay is spot on letting the user be a youngster or a retired war veteran picking up a controller and going to town. Wireless Controller is easily handible but for a real experience plugging in a Flight Stick puts you right in the cockpit with an option menu allowing for over 10 compatible joysticks. I am currently using a Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X Flight Stick sold online for $50 that is perfect and smooth but I'm sure most compatible flight sticks will be just as good. The Online gameplay is ridiculous where you can join quick 4 player missions, head to head, 16 player battles and many others including dynamic missions where you can work on completing missions with partner online. The fact that you have 100 authentic planes makes this game just even more jaw dropping with obviously some planes being more ideal than others. During dogfights there are times when you may clip your wing with another plane and next thing you are spinning down and crashing into a building that explodes upon impact... So Real! The Replay is breathtaking being able to change to what seems a limitless amount of views and feeling like your watching a movie. This game does not disappoint for one second. The amount of work that was put into a game that has a lesser fan base is just insane. I give the developers mad props and know even thought it may have been released under the radar it will soon pick up popularity through word of mouth. So if hanging on the fence on purchasing this one do yourself a favor and purchase it, you won't look back even if like myself and not your normal genre you will find this disc always being left inside your PS3 when powered on.

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I`ve never been to Wake Island. I think, before playing this game, that I didn`t even know that it is located in the pacific and it is so small that maybe 1000 people couldn`t live in it.

But now I know all of this (is that really something?) and, if the images of Wake Island depicted in this game are true, I wish I could visit this tiny piece of land.

The sea around Wake Island looks so beautiful with its blue/green colors and reflections all over its surface that I dare anyone tell me what other game has better images of the sea than Birds of Steel.

Nor only does it depicts all the pacific islands very vividly during the WWII, but it also drops your jaw to the floor and leaves you yearning for more.

This game is that beautiful.

After completing the second level of the Wake Island missions, I got happy just to know there wasn`t anything else to do and that I could just fly all over the place and watch, mesmerized, all the details put into the game`s visuals, before landing my aircraft.

I`m not kidding: when I bought it, I wasn`t expecting it to be better than IL 2 Sturmovik, a game that I love. But it is. It runs on a 720p resolution. It does not have the 1080p resolution option, but, baby, it runs butter smooth. Dozens of planes all around the sky, lots of explosions and things happening? No problem, it runs smooth, framerate is there, steady as ever, steadier than Sturmovik.

I don`t want to extend myself too much, nor is my intention to comment every aspect of this experience. I just wanted to drop by and pay a visit for all you guys that are thinking about buying this game: you won`t be disappointed, there are many, many modes like having the possibility of changing History and editing missions the way you want them to be played (climate, enemies numbers and experience in combat, war scenarios, day time, plane types, altitude where the fights will happen, etc) 100+ planes that you can customize, the possibility of editing every button of your controller the way you wish is there too... It plays like Sturmovik, which is a real plus, and the framerate this time does not drop... oh, well... I`m going back to playing it, I`m just taking a brake.

If you liked Sturmovik, don`t miss this one. If you are only interested in flying games, buy it too. You won`t regret it.

Buy Birds of Steel Now

First let me say that I don't like spending $60 on a game that you beat in a few hours and there is no replay value at all. I like to feel i am getting my money's worth in a game, which is why i usually buy used. After playing the demo, I decided to check this game out and was shocked to learn it was only $40! I'm not a huge expert on the flying genre, but I do enjoy a good ACCURATE flying sim. First and foremost is the graphics in this game, speaking about the planes and the water. i don't remember seeing the ocean recreated in a game like it is in this game. The planes look so amazing and accurate in details. After an intense air battle, it is cool to spin the camera around your plane to see the actual bullet holes and gapping holes ripped into the sides. (Battles are INTENSE!) Sometimes the battle is over and on your way back to the carrier, engine damage will cause your plane to finally die out and you fight to stay airborne to reach the carrier. The missions make you feel like you are right there, really in the thick of these intense air battles. Your mission might be to bomb a carrier and in route I find myself switching to rear gunner to knock the bandits of my tail, then get back to the mission at hand, only to get more and more bandits tailing me. Meanwhile ships are firing anti-air fire at you. Love the intensity of the battles and makes you feel outnumbered just as the actual historical battles were. Then, you can watch a replay of your entire battle and even save it to view later. You really get so much for your money in this game. There are a ton of missions in the historical campaign, then you can switch to dynamic campaign which gives you the chance to play out the battles your way and change history. Each battle will reflect on the next and so on. Then there is a mission editor to create your own scenarios. You really get your money's worth out of this game. If you have any interest in flying combat sims or WWII or just a solid fun game that is a STEAL at $40, you gotta check this one out.

Read Best Reviews of Birds of Steel Here

Birds of Steel is a very worthy sucessor of the best WWII aircraft simulator / arcade game for the PS3, IL-2 Sturmovik (2001, ported to the PS3 in 2009). The graphics are improved. The lighting effects are superior. And the multiplayer modes have been greatly expanded. The sound effects have also been improved, with added outside noise (plane panels, wind, etc) adding to the realism. While some may find the gameplay to be repetitive, the missions are not, with a wide variety of scenarios in both the Mediterranean and Pacific campaigns, that are challenging in any mode. Actually, if you played IL-2 before, you will love this game. When you approach an enemy destroyer, and AA shells are exploding all around you in Dolby stereo, without any loss in the frame rate, you will be completely hooked. You might even play this title for years. It's that good.

Like IL-2, this is not just an arcade game. It has a forgiving simplified flying mode, but also a realistic mode that elevates the experience to flight simulator status. You can even customize aspects of the simulation to create your own custom realism level, and use those settings in hosting an online battle.

This title goes far beyond Il-2 Sturmovik in terms of the number of aircraft available. This game has trainers, fighters, fighter bombers, and bombers representing five nations (USSR, USA, UK, Japan, and Germany, plus a bonus sixth nation, Australia). You unlock the planes mainly by playing online. I don't consider myself to be a fan of online gaming, because the mini games and action there is usually repetitive. But in Birds of Steel there are cooperative modes that are excellent, AI aircraft that seem fairly smart and challenging, as well as fleet battles in which getting through enemy defenses and bombing ships can earn you big points and level-ups. There's also an unlockable tournament mode and bi-weekly online challenges (think of the weekly challenges in FIFA 12), which so far, very few players seem to use.

You can gain credits and seniority quickly in online play, which allows you to buy exciting new planes. It might take gamers just 10 hours or so of online play to earn a B-17 or P-38 (one of the highlights in this game). The bombers can be personalized with decals such as insignia, slogans, and pin up girls, which is a really nice touch.

Birds of Steel lives up to the standard set by its predecessor and I think it is off to a strong start as one of the best Blu Ray PS3 titles of 2012. If you are looking for an engrossing, realistic, WWII flight simulator, this is a "must" for your collection.

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I really wasn't impressed with the demo of Birds of Steel, but I watched a lot of gameplay videos and decided to go ahead and buy it. It was a risk, for sure, but it completely paid off. The demo, as often is the case, highlights the game's weaker points boring tutorials, painfully slow storytelling, and very little in the way of a manual.

The game's strengths are in the untethered gameplay and the visuals and atmosphere. The score is also awesome, but short. The studio struck a beautiful balance in difficulty settings; Simplified, Simulator, and Realistic are each progressively more real and less forgiving. One completely undocumented feature of this game is the ability to save a replay of a match, watch it back, and screencap scenes. I have a beautiful pic of my STUKA barely pulling out of a dive, its wheels bumping an enemy tank's turret.

Online play is where its at. 8 on 8 dogfights are intense, especially the Battlefront Domination game mode where bombers can win the round by destroying the enemy airfield. This turns into a more strategic game than head-to-head a team can field a pair of dive bombers or one heavy bomber, if it wants to win quickly, but a balance must be struck between defending home and escorting the bombers into enemy territory. Its hairy. Often times, your team will either be clueless or simply not care but this is a complaint with all online games.

Overall, I have twenty hours in the game, and I'm ranked in the Top 500s. I definitely recommend this either as an arcade shooter or a true to life sim, it works great as both.

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