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Mad Catz Pro Circuit Controller (Xbox 360)

Submitted by Casey White on Mon, 01/30/2012 - 21:35
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Overall Feeling: 

The customizability of the controller is simply unprecedented. No controller has been able to offer as much customization as this one, providing the opportunity for gamers to have a truly personalized gaming experience. While the controller itself comes with multiple options out of the box, there's sure to be plenty of more options down the road for additional stick designs, d-pads and especially aesthetic changes with the magnetic faceplates, available to consumers online (and in store) as the controller evolves.

The Pros: 

+Unparalleled options for customization.

+Tournament ready wired controller design for zero latency.

+Multiple options for customizing the controller within the box. 

+Snazzy little travel-case that makes storing/carrying the controller simple.

The Cons: 

-Corded controllers might be an issue for the casual gamer (though the name itself implies this isn't really for them anyways).

-The locking mechanism for the cord at the top of the controller is long enough that it feels awkward and causes some issues with the overall balance of the controller.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Ever since the release of the Fightstick Pro, three years ago, Mad Catz has built up their company from one that produced bargain controllers for consoles, to one that represents top-tier gear for modern consoles and professional level gaming. The Fightsticks has become all but standardized in the realm of professional-level fighting games/tournaments, and to expand on that success Mad Catz has now partnered up with the MLG (Major League Gaming) to produce a series of fully customizable controllers for both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.

Velocity G1 IZ68 Gaming System from Memory Express

Submitted by Casey White on Wed, 10/19/2011 - 13:13
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Overall Feeling: 

The bottom line is that the system is definitely worth the price-tag. It will slaughter every game currently on the market with ease, and chew up your daily computer-centric routines. If you have always been interested in having a superior gaming rig, but don't trust yourself to build one, or just want someone else to blame when things inevitably go wrong, then you can't really ask for much more than this. 

The Pros: 

+Optimized performance

+Serious bragging rights

+Ability to smoke any game currently on the market

+Support staff behind it, should anything go wrong

The Cons: 

-Rather pricey build

-Caters to an unusual crowd (enthusiasts that don't DIY)

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

Over the last couple of weeks I've had the honour of test-driving Memory Express' first over-clock PC build. It was left in my 'capable' hands to try and break the thing, while also testing out what kind of performance it could deal out as both a home computer (handling my day-to-day tasks like editing podcasts, writing, video editing, and other such boring-talk), as well as a gaming rig. Fans of gaming rigs in general are likely to appreciate everything that went into this, but it was also a phenomenal improvement to my work-life, increasing my workflow about 50 times over...

Killzone Series 1 DC Direct Figures [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Thu, 07/21/2011 - 10:10
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Overall Feeling: 

Once again DC Direct has offered a solid line of figures that don’t stray from the source material and manage to have more detail than you would expect given the price point.  Fans of Killzone will surely appreciate the design of the Assault Infantry and Sniper figures as both look as they do in the video games. The lack of a few additional details in the helmets and somewhat restrictive battle poses is a slight bummer, but aren’t detrimental to the overall quality of the figures. 

The Pros: 

+ The design of the figures is nearly perfect as they capture the essence of how the characters look in the games.
+ There’s a plethora of tiny design touches on both figures.
+ Unlike other figures on the market, the price point for the Series 1 figures is really affordable.

The Cons: 

- Not being able to put the figures in different poses is slightly disappointing.
- There’s just something missing in how the glowing Helghast helmet eyes are portrayed.
- Having a second accessory or decorative display stand would’ve been a nice touch.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Compared to when the video game industry once again hit its stride in the mid-1990s and later boomed in the early 2000s the business is completely different in every possible way.  Video games are no longer solely an interactive experience as some brands extend to more “normal” forms of entertainment like novels, comic books, films and in some cases action figures.  In a way video games and toys go hand in hand as they allow us to see something cool and at one point in our lives when we were younger, playing with toys like G.I.

V-Moda Cross Fade LP Headphones [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Fri, 07/01/2011 - 07:07
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Overall Feeling: 

The V-Moda Cross Fade LP headphones turned out to be a huge surprise for me as not only was using the headphones fun due to the sound quality, but they simply look cool as well.  I’m not the fashionable type that likes to accessorize with headphones, but I was still amazed at the overall quality and design touches of the Cross Fade LP which combined with the perfectly crystal clear sound quality made it hard at times for me to take them off since all I wanted to do was listen to music.  Compared to almost static headphones that look like they were chiseled out of the same bulk of plastic as the hundreds of other products on the market, the Cross Fade LP headphones are the definition of stylish and actually have the tech know how to sound good as well.

The Pros: 

+ The design touches such as the leather patterns and color accents are extremely nice.
+ I loved the durability of the headphones which despite having a steel frame weren’t too rigid or uncomfortable on my ears, even during long listening sessions.
+ Opting not to rely on pushing out heavy bass effects, the sound quality of the Cross Fade LP headphones is stellar and really balanced.
+ The bonus of having a proper hard shell travel/holding case is a nice as is the Kevlar sound chords.

The Cons: 

-  No noise cancelling is a bit of a downer.
-  The sound chord remote for Apple products is a nice idea but the execution is lacking a bit.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

When it comes to headphones I’ll be honest in saying that I can be an easy guy to please.  For me the most important part about a pair of headphones is whether or not they fit my massive head and ears and that they sound good.  I like to feel comfortable when I listen to my buttery beats or crude jokes on XM Radio so if it’s possible for my ears not to feel crushed when listening to something for extended period of time then I’ll be extremely happy.  With the V-Moda Cross Fade LP headphones the comfort factor is definitely achieved but I was amazed by something else as well:

WWE All Stars BrawlStick [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 05/03/2011 - 14:27
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

The WWE All Stars BrawlStick from Mad Catz may not allow gamers to customize their button layouts or insert new faceplates, but what it does offer is a well-rounded arcade stick that is comfortable and highly responsive.  Don’t let the obvious product tie-in fool you into thinking the BrawlStick is only good when playing WWE All Stars. While playing THQ’s new arcade wrestling game with the BrawlStick is fun and responsive, the BrawlStick manages to be as good with faster paced games like Mortal Kombat.  For the gamers out there looking for an arcade stick that’s affordable and shows your WWE pride, the BrawlStick is definitely the way to go.

The Pros: 

+ The price point is terrific given the build and overall quality of the arcade stick.
+ Both the joystick and the buttons feel really responsive and are perfect to smash upon during intense fights.
+ The WWE art featured on the stick looks good and is tastefully done.
+ Thankfully the USB chord for the BrawlStick is long so it’s easy to sit at a nice distance away from the TV/console.

The Cons: 

- I would’ve liked if there was a bit more spacing in between the buttons.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

A lot of you out there know by now that I’m a huge arcade gamer.  Not only do I love arcade style video games like the Burnout franchise, but I also love arcade gaming as a whole. A lot of my early years gaming were spent at local arcades around the Chicago land area and I guess playing games like Terminator 2, Virtua Fighter and Revolution X (yes, I will admit to playing that and loving the hell out of it) has influenced my gaming sensibilities today.

Marshall Headphones Deliver Big Sound, Style and Comfort. [S#!T YOU WANT]

Submitted by Michael-Sean on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 04:00
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Overall Feeling: 

Some of the Best Portable Headphones that can hold up to our everyday torture.

The Pros: 

+ Sexy simplistic style (with or without you attached)

+ Great sound, especially when cranked just like Marshall amps should be

+ Amazing price

+ Surprisingly little volume leakage (transit Dj's need not apply)

The Cons: 

- "On-ear" design can cause ear fatigue after extended use.

- Low input volumes cause the sound to flatten out.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

The number of headphones I have gone through in my years riding transit is ridiculous. In fact, it's a bit embarrassing. Weather it's ear buds, the overpriced studio headphones, or the Bose I saved up for (that broke in three weeks), Any headphone purchases I have made in recent years has had an element of anxiety attached to it.

PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 03/07/2011 - 08:26
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Overall Feeling: 

The PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter may not completely change the way we play games with the PS Move, but the device is a nice addition for those who like to play games with Sony’s motion controller.  While I may not have had the definitive experience when using the Sharp Shooter when playing Kllzone 3, Sony’s new peripheral isn’t just a cheap gimmick and actually has a lot of potential if the software out there is engaging.  With a reasonable price ($39), there isn’t a huge barrier of entry for the Sharp Shooter aside from the amount of worthy action centric PlayStation Move games currently available on the market.  If the amount of thrilling games increase, then the Sharp Shooter is definitely something you may want to look into if you’re an avid lover of motion gaming or want to recreate the vibe of playing arcade lightgun games.

The Pros: 

+ The design of the Sharp Shooter is brilliant and doesn’t feel like a cheap plastic shell.
+ There’s a nice weight to the gun, especially once the PlayStation Move and Nav Con are inserted.
+ Holding the gun and using the Nav Con feels entirely comfortable.
+ Using the Sharp Shooter for games like Time Crisis: Razing Storm or Dead Space: Extraction is really fun.

The Cons: 

- The Square and Triangle buttons are a bit small, at least for my massive fingers.
- When used with Killzone 3, I really didn’t find things to be amazing.
- I wish the secondary fire trigger had more of a click to it or more resistance, if only to prevent accidental firings during certain occasions.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

A lot of things have changed over the years as we play games and the industry continues to evolve.  The games we play get bigger, better, more pleasing from a visual perspective and the way we play games has changed as well.  If you told anyone during the heyday of the PS2 era that one day we would have three different consoles that would all support motion gaming in various forms, I think someone would tell you to stop smoking whatever it was you decided to take a puff of.  But here we are, in the bright and always optimistic (ok, sometimes optimistic) year of 2011 and the v

Stash Your Playstation Move Controllers in Style With Nyko's Charge Station.

Submitted by Corey Rollins on Mon, 02/28/2011 - 13:49
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

The slickest Move charger we've seen so far. Works just as good as it looks!

The Pros: 

+ Very slick looking.

+ Super convenient.

+ External power supply.

+ Very easy to tell when controllers are charged.

+ Fast charge times

The Cons: 

- Rare occasion of flickering from white to red on fully charged controllers.

- Like anything with a glossy finish, it is prone to dust gathering (but easy to clean).

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

One of my biggest annoyances with the Playstation Move is controller management. The round design of the controllers makes them awkward to store and charging them is a huge hassle. If you have a newer PS3, you only have two USB ports, so charging four controllers is not possible, and having to rely on a PC or other USB source for charging is not so convienent. Thankfully Nyko has developed an incredibly slick solution to your PS3 Move controller woes . 

Tritton AX PRO Dolby 5.1 Headset & Custom Skins Offer Killer Sound & Style [Review]

Submitted by Corey Rollins on Wed, 02/23/2011 - 05:37
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

With eight fully controllable speakers and true optical Dolby Digital surround sound performance, it's pretty clear why Tritton AX PRO headsets are becoming industry standard among professional and hardcore gamers. Great for immersive movie viewing as well.

The Pros: 

+ Amazing true Dolby 5.1 sound via 8 speakers.

+ Light weight but extremely durable feeling.

+ Replaceable / changeable head pad and ear cups.

+ Stylish design with the choice of "Headset Skinz" to personalise.

+ Inline controller makes it easy to view and tweak Dolby 5.1 settings on the fly.

The Cons: 

- Requires a lot of cords that can be a little hard to stylishly organise.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

If you've ever been to a gaming event, convention or poked your head into a professional gamming cafe, chances are you've seen the ominous orange glow of Tritton Headsets. Now a part of the MadCatz umbrella of brands, Tritton is a leader in the gaming industry and yet another example of the modern day MadCatz doing things right.

Xpand 3D Glasses - The Best Universal 3D glasses We've Seen Yet [Review]

Submitted by Corey Rollins on Tue, 02/22/2011 - 03:04
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Anyone who is serious about 3D or has experienced "eye fatigue" while watching longer 3D experiences needs to try these glasses.

The Pros: 

+ Reduced eye fatigue considerably.

+ 3D is so good it made Avatar the game fun to play. 

+ Near instant synch to almost any Active Shutter ready TV.

+ High level of comfort with interchangable nose grips.

+ Stylish as far as 3D glasses go.

The Cons: 

- Price point may scare off "casual" 3D viewers.

- Won't work for any Passive Shutter 3D (Most theaters still use passive RealD).

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Let me start by saying I am not a huge fan of 3D. While it is an interesting tech and will inevitably be standard one day, I have always seen it as a gimmick. I also happen to be one of the few that find it hard to sit through feature films presented in 3D. I wear contact lenses and I often need to take a few 30 second breaks throughout really intensive 3D experiences. So needless to say, for me to give anything related to 3D a 9/10 is a huge comment in itself.

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