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SteelSeries Spectrum 5XB Headset Review

Submitted by Quinn Sullivan on Wed, 02/16/2011 - 16:43
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Overall Feeling: 

The SteelSeries Spectrum 5XB is a headset for your Xbox 360 (and PC) that is built for the professional gamer. The headset lets you separate your online teammates’ voices from the sounds explosions, gunfire, planes flying overhead, the whole nine yards. So, if your teammate is barking orders your headset will turn down the games audio automatically through the LiveMix.

The Pros: 

-The AudioMixer is a great addition for any kind of gamer.
-Headset doesn't roast your ears like a oven.
-Comfortable and light.
-Nearly indestructible
-Still fits with glasses

The Cons: 

-Not an ideal headset for a living room where your TV is far away from your couch.
-Not Wireless.
-Hard to set up with TV's that are mounted.
-Hard to plug in AudioMixer in some PC's.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

After years of perfecting their gear for the professional PC gamers over in their platform; SteelSeries has finally released a console entertainment headset with the Spectrum 5XB Xbox 360 Gaming Headset. SteelSeries has gained a reputation of creating nearly indestructible gaming hardware. From keyboards you can smash between a door to a gaming mouse you can throw against the wall and it will be ok. The 5XB is no exception to the reputation that the gear company has gained.

God of War Kratos statue from Sideshow Collectibles [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 11:20
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Overall Feeling: 

The barrier for entry may be high to the point where folks could buy a used PS3 and a copy of God of War 3 for a far more reasonable price, but the God of War Kratos statue from Sideshow Collectibles is one superb piece of art and video game memorabilia. Kratos has never looked better and the statue is something that is a must have if you’re a hardcore GOW fan or are a collector of video game related products. Aside from wanting to see Kratos in a more action oriented pose, there’s essentially nothing wrong with the statue aside from the $250-260 price point, which is normal based on the quality that’s being provided.

The Pros: 

The sculpting and attention to detail on the statue is incredible and accurately portrays the look and feel of Kratos. Standing tall at 17” inches, the statue is very imposing in a good way. It may be heavy, but the base and statue itself feels very sturdy and is of the highest quality at the given price point.

The Cons: 

While he’s in an imposing pose, it would’ve been cool if there were a few extra hands like one holding a gorgon head or something equally brutal.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
10

Over the years as we’ve seen videos games gain popularity amongst the mainstream we’ve bared witness to the ever growing business model that encompasses major video game franchises.  Sure, the video game is the base of the foundation for a company, but often a series of additional levels are built on top which includes products more accessible to gamers and consumers like t-shirts or in some cases themed beverages.  Some of the video game tie-in products we’ve seen over the last few years have ranged from questionable kitschy fair like PlayStation mints to stuff one would expect l

Official Super Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition - Chun Li [Review]

Submitted by Casey White on Thu, 09/23/2010 - 06:39
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Overall Feeling: 

Takes a little getting used to, compared to a pad or even american arcade sticks, but once you get a handle on the sensitivity and response of this stick... well there'll be no stopping you.

The Pros: 

Satisfying button feel/sound. Super sensitive control stick reads. Gorgeous artwork. Slick new semi-transparent wall-design. Easy to open/mod design means changing anything you don't like (or have a preference for) is quick and simple.

The Cons: 

The square-gate may take a little getting used to (American consoles rock a eight-way or circle-gate generally). Chun Li is NOT Ibuki.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Header Photo By Cynthia Griffiths

A couple of weekends ago the Shogun Gamer crew was offered the opportunity to head down and check out the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX Prime) and report on the events there-in. Of course we jumped on the chance, being that PAX (both East and West) have been so good to us in the past. This year’s show was definitely one of the best there has been, and a big part of that was the connections that we were able to make. 

PlayStation Move [Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Mon, 09/20/2010 - 15:59
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Overall Feeling: 

It may still only be an infant, but the long term potential of the PlayStation Move already looks good. The PlayStation Move provides excellent motion tracking that features no lag or iffy pointer situations that will leave gamers angry. Aside from getting the calibrations set, the PS Eye provides a flawless experience that is actually beneficial to games. The moniker of the PS Move being a Wii rip-off may not subside anytime soon, but the device certainly surpasses the Wii in some respects and as a whole provides gaming experiences that are completely original.

The Pros: 

The controller is extremely comfortable to hold. From a tech perspective the PS Move lives up to its potential as I didn’t encounter any major lag or control issues. The 1:1 motion tech truly is amazing to see in action especially for the games available in Sports Champions. Design wise the PS Move is once again a sharp looking piece of hardware from the gurus at Sony.

The Cons: 

The placement of the face buttons takes a while to get used to. Setting up the PlayStation Eye may be a pain for some as a clip/stand isn’t provide to place the Eye atop the TV. The wrist strap could be a bit bigger.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Last year the rumors were ablaze that Sony would be entering the motion control market, specifically to battle the Nintendo Wii.  After seeing countless patents that pointed to such a thing, we were officially introduced to Sony’s foray into the motion control market at E3 2010.  The device, which was unnamed and didn’t have the immediate snazzy appeal of Microsoft’s showing of Project Natal, was far and away a success based on the potential it showed.

Sony Metal Gear Solid W-Series Walkman [Product Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Wed, 07/21/2010 - 11:28
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Overall Feeling: 

The Metal Gear Solid W-Series Walkman isn’t a shameless tie-in product as it’s an excellent MP3 player. Featuring good sound quality and a small size that makes it easy to transport, the W-Series Walkman is an absolute steal if you're looking for a new MP3 and wish to expand your MGS collection.

The Pros: 

The sound quality is superb. Even though they may be camouflage, the design of the headphones is very nice and aren’t cumbersome or awkward to wear. Having five songs from the MGS Peace Walker soundtrack is a very nice bonus. Really good portability and battery life. The 2GB storage space is nice given the compact size of the headphones.

The Cons: 

During long listening sessions the earbuds can become a tad uncomfortable. The headphones may not have enough of an MGS theme for some. It would’ve been nice if a small bag or case was included to store the headphones when not in use.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

Even though video games are massively popular it’s still surprising to see the type of products or cross promotions that are created for big franchise games. One video game franchise that has always maintained a fair level of consistency amongst their products has been Metal Gear Solid.  Despite being one of the most popular and recognized video games ever created, MGS has kept things relatively low key with the standard action figures, limited edition t-shirts and a few themed peripherals.

EA Sports 5-in-1 Gamer Kit for the Nintendo DS [Product Review]

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 10:28
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Overall Feeling: 

The EA Sports Gamer Kit may not be the sleek DS accessory pack some desire but if you’re a baseball fan then it’s a gold mine. Featuring a nice case and skin for your DS, the package knocks it out of the part in terms of the value as it’s one of the nicest themed DS accessories packs I’ve laid eyes on.

The Pros: 

The carrying case is well made and sturdy. Headphones sound solid though the comfort level may not be quite there. Applying the DS skin is easy and more importantly it looks nice once applied.

The Cons: 

Headphones are a bit too small. The overall style maybe a bit too kid centric for some older gamers.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

It’s said that baseball is the national past time of the U.S., a sport that for well over a century has become ingrained in the nation.  Despite a somewhat shaky history in the past few years, baseball is still as popular as ever, especially with the World Series almost upon us.  So what better way to combine ones love of baseball and video games than with the EA Sports baseball Gamer Kit for the Nintendo DS.

Kontrol Freek's Speed Freek and FPS Freek [Product Review]

Submitted by Casey White on Mon, 05/17/2010 - 18:17
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Overall Feeling: 

The FPS Freek can help you improve your accuracy, but will throw off your timing for fast-paced combat. The Speed Freek doesn't seem to offer any improvement what-so-ever.

The Pros: 

The FPS Freek will definitely help you with tweaking your accuracy, and on the PS3 it improves the feel of the rather small controller.

The Cons: 

On the Xbox the FPS Freek pushes just beyond the comfort zone, and provides a reduced reaction time. The Speed Freek feels awkward, and doesn't seem to offer any benefits to game-play what-so-ever.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
4

Over the last few weeks I’ve been feeding my need for action with a heavy portion of FPS and Driving games. During that period I opted to try out a couple interesting little products from the fine people over at Kontrol Freek. Those two being: the stick-extending FPS Freek, and the half-pipe-inspired Speed Freek. Each accessory is dedicated to specific needs for specific game types, but does adding $14.99 worth of plastic to your Xbox/PS3 controller make a world of difference?

[Product Review] Able Planet True Fidelity NC300B headphones

Submitted by Ian Fisher on Fri, 03/05/2010 - 11:53
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Overall Feeling: 

The Able Planet True Fidelity NC300B headphones may not have a snazzy name or feature but that doesn’t mean they don’t sound good. The True Fidelity headphones deliver some sharp audio that sounds terrific while listening to music and playing games. With a reasonable price point the NC300B’s are definitely worth checking out if you’re in the market for some new headphones.

The Pros: 

They’re really comfortable. The sound quality is really staggering while playing a game and the headphones maintain a nice level of quality while listening to a layered musical track. It may not matter but the packaging is sleek and it’s an added plus that a travel case is provided.

The Cons: 

Some may be annoyed that a battery (which is included in the package) is required to power the headphones. The size, while small and not uber large, may still put some off since they’re not miniscule ear buds.

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

When it comes to purchasing a good pair of headphones things can become a bit confusing. Unless you’re an audiophile or know exactly what you’re looking for down to precise details nabbing a good pair of headphones can be a bit difficult this day and age. After all aside from the popular brand names like Sony and Bose there are new fangled “celeb” headphones from the likes of music legend Dr.

[Review] Gelaskins Protective Removable Covers

Submitted by Corey Rollins on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 20:35
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

A great way to protect and stylize your devices. Cost might be a barrier for some consumers.

The Pros: 

Durable. Protects device from dust and scratches. Easy to apply (and re-apply). Huge selection of art. Can design your own.

The Cons: 

Some of the larger skins can get pricey, but over all good value. Apple logo indent can be seen after application (may be a pro for some?)

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
8

Covering up or altering your electronic devices can be a touchy subject. A lot of devices these days are sexy and sleek by design. So, covering up your device with a “sticker” or skin brings the inevitable potential of being tacky. At CES we were able to meet up with Gelaskins and get a sample of their product to find out how they stack up.

[Product Review] Are the Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition night vision goggles worth the money? Find out!

Submitted by Casey White on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 18:37
Posted in
Overall Feeling: 

Arguably the best special edition bonus ever created to this date. It's a little pricey for everyone to budget but those who didn't even blink at the price tag won't be upset with their purchase.

The Pros: 

Looks and feels like a pro set of goggles.

Plenty of options for customization with color, intensity, and fit.

Includes a bust of “Soap” MacTavish to display the goggles

Great addition for any collector of gaming items.

The Cons: 

No real depth perception. It's hard to walk around

Would not want to use these for any activities (i.e. Paintballing is a no go...sorry guys)

ShogunGamer.com Rating : 
9

**NOTE** This is a review of the items that come with the Call of Duty 2 Modern Warfare Prestige Edition. Game review coming soon!

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