Buy Diablo III - Playstation 3

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The majority of console titles being released nowadays are either first person shooters or sandbox games. Isometric Action RPGs, a genre so basic, so essential, I never thought would become scarce, hasn't seen a decent release on the current console generation in almost 7 years. Not one. Back in the PS2 era, the golden age of console action RPGs, we had the holy grail. Baldur's Gate: Dark alliance, and its more than worthy successor, Dark alliance II. The genre was so in vogue, even the Everquest universe brought a worthy contender to the table with the release of Champions of Norrath, and Champions of Norrath 2: Return to Arms. Oh, those were the days. I used to sit on the couch with my girlfriend (nowadays my wife) and play together for hours on end. Just us, exploring dungeons, marveling at the prospect of a dropped piece of armor or sword, which we would immediately pick up and analyze in order to compare to the one we were wearing. Since the current generation of consoles was released, we have waited, and waited, and waited for a worthy successor of one of these games. And there hasn't been any. There have been flops like Sacred, or Dungeon Siege's console version but none that were remotely decent (with the exception perhaps of Lord of The Rings: War in the North. Technically NOT an isometric RPG but a brilliant coop action RPG game nonetheless, which filled somehow the void we carried as gamers for over 6 years). Enter The Lord of Destruction.

The wait is finally over. Diablo III is that game. That worthy successor to Baldur's Gate: Dark alliance we had waited for (for more than half a decade mind you). From the moment you pick up the controller you can tell Blizzard nailed this port. It doesn't even feel like a port. It's like the game was designed with this control scheme in mind from scratch. Movement is fluid, combat satisfying. Everything is there. The search for better and shinier loot is just as fun as it was back in the PS2 with Baldur's. The co-op action is flawless. Minimap, skill trees, chests, weapon racks, everything you may have possibly missed is there, and then some.

If there is maybe one department where the game takes a hit vs. the PC version are the graphics. They're not bad. They do feel a bit...cartoonish. But they're totally current gen. You just can't compare the graphics of a current PC (even a mid-range one) with the graphics of a game, running in 720p on a console like the PS3, released 7 years ago, and already on it's way out. If you have never seen the PC graphics, these will look totally OK to you. Nothing to write home about but not bad by any stretch of the imagination. And my only other gripe with the game (now, this is a minor thing and I'm definitely nitpicking), is that I wish 2 players playing local co-op could enter their inventory at the same time instead of player 1 having to wait while player 2 compares 10 different kinds of armor in order to be able to enter his inventory, or at least, there should be an option to enable this. I'm rocking a 55 inch screen, there's plenty of room for both player's inventories. If a player has a small screen they could disable this option. The upside is when my wife is going through her inventory, I get to see everything she's carrying and sometimes a weapon or piece of armor catches my eye so she gives it to me and viceversa so it's not like it's super boring or anything like that. Like I said, I'm definitely nitpicking. This game is seriously awesome. I can't wait to see what Blizzard does with this game on the PS4. Even if it's just a graphics overhaul, I'll buy the PS4 version in a New York minute and play it all over again (Heck I intend to play the PS3 version all over again several times). Just take my money Blizzard. Keep releasing games like this on the console and keep taking my money. And I hope this game sells like hotcakes so publishers realize there IS a market for this genre on the consoles, and that gamers like us will buy anything you release in this genre as long as it plays this nicely.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love first person shooters as much as the next guy, but sometimes a gamer needs a break from that. No online lobbies, no 8 years olds yelling at the top of their lungs threatening to quickscope me or anything like that. Just me, my girl, the couch and the dungeons (wait, that sounded a bit kinky. But I digress). Sometimes you just want to sit on the couch with a friend, relax, and just have some fun. Sometimes, we need to get back to basics. And what a glorious playground Diablo III is for that purpose. Welcome home Lord of Destruction. What is thy bidding my master?

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As ports from PC to systems go, there haven't been too many successful examples. Most games suffer from trying to take the PC/Mouse controls and set them up on a system controller. Or suffer from the limited graphic capability on systems. (Or are like Starcraft on the N64, one of the very worst PC to console ports of all time, and the last time Blizzard tried to do this).

I'm happy to report, Diablo III bucks this trend in a BIG way, and is a must-purchase for RPG and loot fans.

Controls can't get much simplier then what Blizzard accomplished on the PS3. Move with the left stick. Look around with the right. Attack buttons are mapped to the face buttons on the controller. No gaming mouse required! You'll get into the flow of battle and wonder how you ever survived using a gaming mouse or keyboard; it's that intuative.

Naturally, the graphics do take a hit, but it still looks better than you would expect a port has any right to.

Another thing you will notice is the Inventory interface is a little clunky, but that's a minor gripe.

If by some chance you've never played any Diablo games, it's a very simple concept. Slash and hack anything that gets in your way. Mix in a little magic. Grab the loot that drops at random. Rinse and repeat.

The bottom line is this game has at least 30-50 hours (or more) of gameplay and if they release the PC expansion as DLC you can take another 5-10 onto it as well.

As I stated in the open, most PC to console conversions are poor or worst, a complete abomination of the game. Diablo III is neither of those, and if you're the type who love Borderlands for the loot, you will adore Diablo III as well.

The grades:

Presentation: 8

Graphics: 8

Controls: 9

U/I: 7

Replability: 10

Overall: 9/10

Best Deals for Diablo III - Playstation 3

Of course this game is going to get bouts of negative reviews. Because it sucks right? No. No it does not.

Diablo III has been a huge subject of gaming controversy since its release last year on PC. A lot of people were sorely disappointed and as a result, the Diablo fanbase has turned into a giant swarm of hate. And thus, because this is Diablo III, the negative reviews are piling up.

Please ignore the negative reviews. They are not credible. Why? Because even if someone hates the PC version of D3 for completely legitimate reasons, THIS IS NOT THE PC VERSION. The console version of Diablo III is not a mere port of the PC game.

This version has been touched up and fine tuned specifically for consoles. Not only that, but every single PC patch that was released to enhance the original game has been include in the console game's content. Thus, the console version is a far more polished game and is undoubtedly a five-star experience.

The two biggest topics of controversy on the PC version (the Real Money Auction House and the Always-Online connectivity) have been completely removed from this version of the game. Now, the main reason for this was because neither of those things were even possible to replicate on consoles, but nevertheless, they are gone. And because of this, there is no more lag or server errors. And the loot drops have been fine tuned and enhanced since the Auction House can no longer be used to buy better gear.

Believe me, I've heard the countless stories about how much of a let down the PC version was. I'm not saying that I don't believe the players who have the PC version that it isn't a let down. But to come onto a product page of a revamped version of the game and give it a 1 star rating just because you are upset at Blizzard is not only childish, but it's about as silly as those people who negatively review products because of a late delivery from their mail provider.

Enough. Diablo III is a great game. If you hate it, more power to you. But don't review this one poorly just because you're offended by Blizzard's mistakes.

(Now if you ACTUALLY hate the console version for legitimate reasons, then that's another story...)

Honest reviews on Diablo III - Playstation 3

Whew, it has been a long wait! I thought Dungeon Siege 3 would be the best we could hope for on the PS3. This is a terrific game from the company that invented the "Diablo" genre. I have not played it on my Macintosh and I am glad that I waited. A few pros and cons:

Pros:

*Multiplayer is great with no dumbing down of secondary (not player 1) players.

*Eight difficulty levels within each "Master" difficulty level (Normal, Hell, Nightmare, and Inferno) that can be changed at any time.

*Lore is audio based as well as text based.

*No two button finger maneuvers for effects. I have never seen a game do the button mapping better.

*Intelligently designed-this is an understatement.

*Fun (another understatement).

*Random dungeons, leveling up, and replay-ability.

*Thank goodness we did not have to wait for the PS4 version.

Cons:

*Local multiplayer only allows one player at a time in their wonderfully engineered and easy to understand inventory screen.

*Expansions will be delayed for the console.

*No in-game keyboard chat like Diablo 2.

I love this game-it does so much right and is a kick in the pants to play. My two recommendations for future patches:

1.) Allow 2 players in inventory at the same time.

2.)Allow USB keyboard chat.

Thank You Blizzard for bringing this masterpiece to the Playstation 3--I appreciate your outstanding product.

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First Impressions

I wanted to share some of my findings with the Console version of Diablo 3 since I've been playing on the PC version since beta. On my pc Diablo 3 account, I've leveled each class to 60 (except my wiz who is 57) and have played my monk and witch doctor to paragon levels above 60. I share this info because I feel it's important that you know that I speak from some level of familiarity with the game.

I am a PS3 Noob

Diablo 3 is the very first game I've played on a PS3 console. Frankly, I purchased the PS3 and the game on the same day. I read some reviews on the console version of the game and wanted to try it out. I know, it's a lot to spend for a simple game play-thru, but I figure since I'm single and don't need the money to buy jewelry, I can use it for Beer and video gaming.

Control

I found controlling the characters quite simple. The controller layout is shown in the game menus so you can see how it's originally laid out. You can set the game (in menus) to elective mode, which allows you to assign any spell or ability to any controller button. I found this a big help. On PC, D3 is a point and click title where you hit the spells and special abilities with buttons 1 thru 4 if they're not bound to your mouse. With the Console version, you pound on X for your primary attack. Blizz did an admirable job of making the transition from keyboard to controller as it relates to PS3. There is no keyboard mode for this game that I'm aware of on PS3, so keep that in mind. Moving your characters (at least to me) was extremely intuitive. I found using the joystick to move your character to be simple, smooth and accurate. No complaints. I was also pleased to find an "evasion" ability added to each class that is bound to the second control stick. Each character can now roll or strafe to avoid damage.

Graphics

I've read a number of comments where people were displeased with the graphics on the TV. I'm actually glad I read those before firing up my copy because I was pleasantly surprised by how good the game looked. I was expecting something less than HD quality, but found extremely good color, contrast and visual effects. I'm playing on a 42 inch 1080P TV. Nothing special, I think I paid $500 for it. All the lines were smooth and all the colors sharp and crisp. I am using the HDMI cable directly into my TV.

Sound

I love the game sounds of Diablo 3. Many go all the way back to the very first Diablo for PlayStation (which I still have by the way, and no. .you can't have it). The voice characterizations, background sounds and other audio candy is wonderful in this game. Having the surround sound on your TV certainly makes this game come to life.

Game Play

The play through itself has been a blast. The learning curve (for me) on the controller ended when I got through Act 1. After that, I was hammering buttons and firing off skills like I actually knew what I was doing. The monster fights are very similar (to pc) with some modest exceptions. The differences are subtle and noticeable if you've played on PC, but not largely different, and equally as fun. Quest rewards sometimes provide gear due to the lack of an auction house as was available (and will be till March 2014) on PC. Crafting is also much the same except the requirements have been reduced to compensate for lower drop rates of items you salvage for crafting materials.

Item Drops

This has been a huge point of discussion which led me to want to try the title myself. "Magic Find" or "Farming" is a significant part of the game play with the Diablo franchise. The quest for better items and increasing your character stats can quickly become an obsession. The PS3 version of Diablo 3 doesn't disappoint in the item drop category. Granted, you don't get as many items as you do on the PC, but from my limited experience I can tell you that the items are better suited for your character and for the level of your characters progression on the console than on the PC. I did not have to buy any items for my character from the vendors (although you certainly can) for leveling. I was able to play comfortably and effectively with items that I found on my play through. The key difference here between the PC and the console (for me) was that with PC, you rarely (if ever) found a direct upgrade for a piece you were wearing after you got past level 30 or so. With the console version, the upgrades don't fall like rain, but they will fall. I had a great deal of luck exploring every nook and cranny of each zone before leaving to the next. And for those that were waiting for it, yes. . . unique items do drop on the console version. And they aren't what I would consider over-blown for your level. My experience (yours will vary) was the unique items I found were level appropriate and replaced within 3 or 4 more levels with better blue or yellow gear. I got my first unique at level 13. It was a 15 dps upgrade and I used it for 2 levels. Finding shiny items is why we play Diablo 3, and the console version delivers. I've not played at level 60 yet because I'm still leveling. My hardcore monk is level 22 and my hardcore witch doctor is level 57.

Vendors

Some vendors sell yellow items mixed in with the typical blues. This is random so each game the items and vendors selling them will vary. The farther you proceed into the game, the more items they seemingly offer. Again, I didn't need to purchase any (and gold is still tough to get) so I didn't bother. But I can confirm they are there.

Followers

These guys seem to do more damage in the Console version, but I can't be certain. I did let my follower pound on some mobs a few times and they did die, so I definitely think there's something to this. Another neat feature is that you can respec your follower. So if you want to try other follower talents, feel free. You can change them whenever you like. On a personal note, the Scoundrel is still the funniest one to listen to when you're questing.

Game performance

This is a bit of a sticking point with me. I bought a brand new PS3 and a brand new copy of D3. There seems to be a great deal of disc thrashing with this game, but I'm not sure if it's this title or just the PS3 in general. I have a 250GB hard drive so space isn't an issue. Since D3 is the only game I've played on it, the drive is empty, less the space taken by saved characters. It doesn't make the game unplayable, and it's not a rubber-banding type of issue, but my game does hesitate at times when the mob density is highest. It recovers quickly and moves on, so I don't know if this is something to do with the game or the system. I did a little research and from what I've read, the game plays strictly from the DVD and cannot be uploaded to the hard drive (I've not verified this) so that may be a factor. Although since it can be downloaded from the PSN store, I'm not sure why you cant upload it to your drive from the DVD. Again, I'm a PS3 noob so I could be wrong here.

Crafting

This seemed to turn out more upgrades than I typically experienced on the PC version. Granted, all of my crafting has been done below level 60 so far (57 and 22) but I did have some luck.

Character Leveling

This part of the game on the PC became a chore, but it's pretty fun on the console. The difference here really lies in the ability to find level specific upgrades for your character. On the PC, my experience was that all upgrades need to be purchased from the auction house or needed to be crafted. With the console version, my experience so far (both toons I'm playing) have been able to manage very well with the gear they find on their journey. Again, unique items did drop for me, making leveling seem more like low level magic finding than an actual grind to level 60.

Loot 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 ?

I've read too much on this topic so I'll just summarize. More item drops (while leveling) are usable in the console version than the PC version. Unique items don't drop like rain on the console, but you will find them. As I shared, I got my first at 13. Used it for a few levels and dusted it for a yellow. The game (per blizz) was made to allow you to level without the need for an external source to obtain items and gear. So far, I've found this to be an accurate account based on my limited experience. Again, we play Diablo 3 for the pretty glowing items that drop in the hopes that they will benefit our toon (or at least one of them). So far, my loot experience has been fun. I am not worried about obtaining upgrades because I know that I will. So far so good.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read) Review

Like many, the luster of the PC version wore off for me. I was reluctant at first to try the PS3 version of Diablo 3, but I'm very glad I did. Diablo 3 for the console is fun. Loot falls and in many cases was an upgrade for my toon (yes. unique items drop too). Using the controller is simple and intuitive. I play Hardcore, but losing a character doesn't hold the same negative connotations as it does on the PC because I know I can find gear to replace what I've lost during the course of leveling up. The sound and graphics were quite enjoyable for me. If you've enjoyed this title on the PC, you'll really enjoy it on the console. The game itself is very much the same, with the added benefit of knowing that you will find shiny new items. Feel free to comment or ask questions.

dom

Discount XBOX Mortal Kombat Klassic Fightstick

Customer Ratings:

Been playing MK since i was 5 back in 92. and I just bought back a piece of my childhood. Great feel and look to this controller.

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Right out the box. No setup needed. Feels just like the arcade from the 90's. box is heavy so it won't jerk and cause a misdirection. Recommended!

Best Deals for XBOX Mortal Kombat Klassic Fightstick

This thing looks like a $500 piece in person. Comes with a DLC for all the games. Exact Arcade replica with all Suzo-Happ components. You can open it and everything inside is serviceable, will last forever.

Honest reviews on XBOX Mortal Kombat Klassic Fightstick

This thing is solid. It's like someone sawed off a piece of the arcade machine and gave it to you. Even though you pay for it, it still feels like someone gave it to you. And it feels exactly like the arcade. You'll never have to play with some crummy d-pad and weird button config again. It works with MK9 and the original trilogy which is included with this Klassic version of the stick. I can't vouch for it working with any other MK games, but let's face it, if you're like me and interested in the Arcade Kollection, you probably don't care about the other MK games.

While the hardware is EXCELLENT (Shang Tsung claps enthusiastically in the background) the Klassic stick unfortunately lacks the hinged opening case which was a great feature of the MK9 stick; which opens for storage and access to the inner workings for repair purposes (yes I've already had to replace one HAPP switch on my MK9 stick and opted to replace the A, B, X, and Y buttons with their respective colors to make training on Xbox a little easier to learn) so I tend to use this one less often than the MK9 stick because I want to keep it running nicely since repairs won't be quite as easy.

My only complaints are minor, and in regards to the software, so Ed Boon, if you're listening, please take note...

First of all there are a few glitches that some may try to argue were in the original game, but I am positive they were not. The awesome Goro music in MK1 cuts off after a few bars and you're left to fight the monster in anticlimactic silence. There's also some weird echoing of the fanfare on the Vs. screen in MK2. There are probably a few others, but these are the most noticeable so far...

The button config could have been a little easier to use, namely that RB should have been the "start" button because that tiny xbox start button is impossible to find in the heat of battle when Dan Forden pops out and says "toasty" on the Portal stage in MK2 and you're trying to hit start so you can fight Smoke. The RB button is in the right place for where the start button was on the arcade console, and would have been a much more natural placement for arcade fans who know by feel where the start button should be for Random Select. Clearly the software was designed with only the standard xbox controller in mind, and therefore favors people who casually dropped a mere 10 bucks for a cheap game download, and slights hardcore fans who lovingly spent $130 (original price) for the full Mortal Kombat Arcade experience. How hard would it have been to add a different control preset?

And personally, I would have loved the option to play regular MK3 and not just the George Lucasized Ultimate MK3.

Anyway, the game has some bugs but is still playable, and unfortunately since the video game industry is so screwed up, they probably will never be patched.

But obviously it's the hardware that's of interest here, and it's definitely worth getting. Xbox controllers work on PCs, so even if you don't have an Xbox, get one to play MK on your computer!

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Really great, feels great. If you're a Klassik Mortal Kombat fan or love the New Mortal Kombat as well. This is tone perfect product for you.

Buy PlayStation 4: Launch Edition

Customer Ratings:

I purchased the launch version at 12:15 Friday night of the 15th. I'm glad I did. Got up the next morning and looked online and they were already sold out.

With prime shipping it arrived Monday afternoon. I was worried that I was going to get a bad unit like a lot of other reviewers on here. Got everything hooked up and hit the power button... It flashed blue... I was worried for a second, then the light turn white and the PS logo appeared on the screen. Sigh of relief. First thing I did was run the latest firmware update. It updated without any issues.

Once you're at the home screen you're welcomed by soothing music and a clean feeling menu. After a couple of days I got tired of the menu background music so all I had to do was go to the settings and turn that off. Everything seems very snappy. My first real impression was how fast the PS store opened. On the PS3 it seemed to take forever, but on the PS4 it was almost instant.

Installed my first game (Battlefield 4) and once I inserted the disc the game immediately started to install itself. Within seconds it was ready to play. When I first entered the game I was told that to access the games network features I would have to install an update for the game. But for offline campaign mode I could immediately jump into it. I played the campaign for a few minutes then backed out so I could run the update and use the network stuff. The PS4 alerted me that it had started the download of the update and once complete that it was ready to install. It installed without a hitch and I was able to get into the game and access the multiplayer features.

Went ahead and installed the other two games I had purchased (COD Ghost and Need for Speed) both installed without issue. Got notified that they too needed updates so I went ahead and ran them. This being a launch system and as new as the games are I wasn't too surprised with all the updates.

It was getting late so I didn't get to get into much game play that night. Fast forward to now and I must say i'm quite impressed so far. I've been playing battlefield mostly and the graphics are phenomenal. Compared to the PS3 its a great improvement. I would have to say it give the PC a run for its money.

One thing I was really impressed was this. A friend was watching a movie on netflix. I came into the room and he wanted to show me something on COD. In a matter of seconds he went from netflix to game play. You hit the PS button and your back a the main menu... He had already played the game earlier so it was on standby. He selects the game, hits enter and the game came up almost immediately and he was back to where he left off. After watching him play a bit I was impressed with the quality of this game as well. Found a few glitches in the game, but I expect those will be fixed over time. I know Battlefield was having issues with some of its multiplayer maps. I guess thats what you get when you buy launch day consols.

Overall I'm liking it so far. But knowing Sony and the PS3 more is to come. I was disappointed in them not including the DLNA features because that was one of the main things I used on the PS3. I have a feeling that Sony will add this soon.

Those of you who are thinking about buying one this holiday. Wait till amazon or the stores get them back in stock. Don't buy one for $600-$1000 its not worth that cost. Plus by the time there back in stock the should have more of the bugs worked out.

I hope my review was helpful. To those who got bad units and are hating on Sony: Don't disqualify the PS4 yet. Get your replacement and give it another shot. I think you'll be glad you did.

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I don't even know where to begin with my review. I guess I could say that I love the Playstation 4 or that it works perfectly and I've had no issues (apart from the Playstation Network being down a bit as it was getting hammered by all the new PS4 owners). I guess I'll just do a list or Pros and Cons:

PROS:

-The system itself looks awesome. Very architectural. It was actually the first thing my girlfriend commented on and said she loved the way it looked.

-The User Interface is basically an upgraded XMB. If you liked the XMB, you'll like this interface. It is also incredibly snappy and responsive.

-Getting in to and out of the Playstation Store is seamless. Not like on PS3 where it takes 30 sec to a minute to load. It loads instantly and is integrated in to the UI.

-Resogun is awesome in all its old school shoot-em-up glory.

-Killzone: Shadowfall is beautiful but I haven't had too much play time with it yet.

-Knack is surprisingly fun, despite what all the reviews say. It looks like a Pixar movie at points. Drop in co-op is a blast. It's so much fun with me as regular Knack and my girlfriend as Robot Knack. She is actually better at beating up baddies than I am.

-Updated trophy support. Rarity of trophies is a fun little data point to look at.

-Playstation APP/offscreen capabilities are nice. Typing using a touch screen is so much nicer than using a gamepad.

-DualShock 4 (the controller) is nice to hold. Trigger shoulder buttons are a marked improvement over the DS3 R2/L2 buttons.

-My favorite feature: VITA REMOTE PLAY! Works like a dream. Almost no perceptible lag. I was playing Resogun on it (a game that requires little to no lag or you'll die) and it ran so smoothly.

CONS:

-UI is barebones. That's actually fine with me but many people these days demand a more robust UI.

-Unable to delete unused Apps in the movie/tv section. If there is I haven't figured out a way to do it. Granted, I haven't tried that hard since I've been having too much fun playing games.

SUMMARY:

It's a great gaming system with some great games and a promising future. The interface is bare bones (which I like) and incredibly responsive but may not satisfy people who love a more robust UI. The remote play of the vita and second screen capabilities via Playstation App are nice additions that will get a lot of use out of people that own a Vita/Playstation App compatible phone. It is a device made to play games and does so wonderfully.

Best Deals for PlayStation 4: Launch Edition

I let the dust settle a bit on this before writing the review on the machine. Have had for a week and love every min of gaming on it! Bought Battlefield 4, Knack and Killzone for it and they all look amazing on it. Especially going from Xbox 360 to this on battlefield. On the 360 the game would freeze every 20 mins and you would have to restart your xbox every time. Ultimately would get annoying and just the wish to play anymore. The 5 min load time every time would kill the mood to know would freeze 15 mins later. Also, the graphics are night and day, understandable that the machine is a upgrade (much needed) from the 7 year old console. But, the interface is much different from xbox and easier in my opinion to navigate. Also, do not have ads on every page (which is a plus for me). Great to have the machine install things on the back end while playing games and on standby.

Now, I understand that there is alot of tension between the 2 consoles right now. Which is understandable, people have a preference to their style. I have compiled a list of reasons the I went with the PS4 being a former Microsoft enthusiast. And, please for the love of God! If you did not buy from Amazon, don't post a review on here!

The hardware although better slightly in some areas is better in all the right areas (memory, video card). Playstation went with GDDR5 and Microsoft went with DDR3 ram on the board, which they are sharing with the 3 Operating systems. In turn means this is being spread out to 3 OS's and can be taxing on resources. The GDDR5 is VIDEO RAM not Local ram, which is video centric focusing on the memory of the graphics processor. Since these machines are essentially CPU/GPU taxed there is no need to focus on anything else like a PC.

Game centered.... I did not care about all the NFL and TV add on BS that came with the Xbox one. If you are the kind that did great. But, to me this round, Microsoft seemed to cater too much to making the Xbox a HTPC and not a GAMING console.

Did not want the kinect. Did not like the first version and never used it. Plus, the online pass for Sony is 10 dollars cheaper a year than Microsoft.

And, Finally...I have 2 Xbox 360's that have both been serviced twice BY MICROSOFT in the past 2 years. That is a total of 4 repair and a total of 400 dollars in repairs, for faulty hardware that they REFUSE to acknowledge when I essentially sent in for repairs. Would send in for an optical drive failure and would die a year later on both machines. Sure, I have the technical skills to repair it myself but was same price for parts as was for repair and did not void warranty. Ironically the SAME issues are rearing their ugly heads on the new consoles with the Xbox one.

Ultimately, this all boils down to what YOU the consumer want. I went for this machine because again, it focused on gaming and that was it. Also, the thing I did forget to mention, on Playstation plus you get cooler free games a month than you do on live.

Honest reviews on PlayStation 4: Launch Edition

Yes, this is a fantastic game machine.

SONY has already released the patch 1.51 for it, which got rid of the ONLY circumstance that I could crash it:

The Amazon video app seemed to have a memory leak or something. I could seamlessly switch out of a game (Assassin's Creed, Killzone, NFS, or Knack) and suspend the game while watching movies on Netflix, Crackle, or go online with the web browser or the PS Store. Not so when I used the Amazon App the first few days. My movies on Amazon App would also freeze all within the first 10 mins or so and the machine would lock up when i'd try to exit that circumstance.

After the 1.51 patch, delivered yesterday on 11/20 , Amazon app works fine and i'm unable to get the machine to lockup at all!!!!

So, the ONLY complaint I had since buying it is now gone.

I hope Amazon won't censure this for telling the truth about how it WAS, and is now fixed, because it involved their name, we can hope.

The GREAT:

SONY released an update to their developer's code library that let every game available speed up and become sharper (much like a PC might get a driver or Direct 3D update). So, by my count, ALL PS4 games are running at 1080p, with Need For Speed being the only one at 30fps instead of 60fps because the developers wanted it that way to ensure it looked the same on both machines. Most XBO Games are if you check around only running at 720p, and that's the honest truth. I don't spend more money on a LESS capable machine, so, it's PS4 for me only.

DualShock 4: The controller is Fantastic and a very nice update/refinement of SONY's tried and true pad. This feels like a professional gaming controller. I don't know HOW third parties are going to sell their own, this is really a wonderful thing, matching up VERY well with my Saitek P900 and P2900 wireless and wired PC game pads. Those look funny but I consider them my favorite controllers. Until now, the PS4 controller certainly channels the best desires of gaming designers and gamers needs.

Design: It's gorgeous, and, the angles and panels lend itself to getting designs and skins put on it. You get a nice dark kit that disappears into your home theater setup, but, if you want, it can be decorated with slipcover or sticker skins that could make it look striking. It's very small and light. I can't imagine a PS Four years down the road that is alot smaller and lighter, it won't seem right!

Launch Games: SONY didn't front load all of their first party studios with launch day deadlines. If you have a PS3 there's still amazing games that have come out and still coming out. SONY doesn't brick their last gen system when the new one comes out. The games are coming and the games we do have today are great. The games NOT made by SONY from EA, UBI Soft and Activision et al are all BETTER on the PS4, if not in gameplay due to the controller then just because they have 2x the fidelity of the XBO version. It's just the truth!

My Verdict: The ONLY MUST HAVE Game System at the moment.

Get a WiiU if you need game of the year, because, it might just be Super Mario 3D World from the review's i've just seen, but, make that your second system over this, because the games i've played on the PS4 are superb and the best Day One experience i've ever had with a game system!!!

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Was abit worried about getting a DOA system but arrived in Australia fault free been working fine for a solid three days. Great console alot faster and snappier than the old PS3 cheers!

Discount Barbie Groom And Glam Pups - Nintendo Wii

Customer Ratings:

While I am not a diva myself, I am a diva dad and I am surrounded by a diva world. With this in mind, this game was one that I knew that my daughters would love, though I did not think that I would spend much time with it myself.

In getting the game to review the girls were very excited. Just think, 2 girls, a Barbie video game... what do you think the response was...you guessed it... high pitch screaming... We put the game on, and my eldest, Diva-J jumped right in. She wanted to jump in and start to work with the dogs. I found that the game's graphics were ok, not the best of all WII games, but definitely not the worst. The game was entertaining and my girls were spellbound!.

There were some fun parts within the game for me, especially the training component. It required a bit of dexterity, but alas we were able to figure it out and now Diva-J plays it like a pro.

Overall a fun game for girls!

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My 4 year old daughter received this as a Christmas gift and she loves it. It's been over a month and she still enjoys picking it up and playing in.

The controls and gameplay are designed so younger children can understand how it works. The game also does not talk down or punish the player for getting something wrong (as some other games can do). When it is done correctly then the dog gets a boost by learning a trick or loving the player more.

Reading is available for gameplay, but not necessary as Barbie will narrate everything that is written and the control instructions are clearly illustrated whenever necessary.

The basic idea of game play is that you groom, dress, and train your dog/s. The dogs then can walk the runway, perform a dance, and do a photoshoot.

Grooming the dogs properly makes the dog give you more affection, which allows them to perform better.

Training allows the dogs to perform the tricks better and earn more money.

Money allows you to buy more clothing and accessories for your dogs.

And performing unlocks previously unavailable clothing, dog breeds, grooming tools, and tricks.

However, grooming and training is not necessary to be successful in the game. There is no limit to how many shows your dog can do in a row or how frequently so the dogs can just perform over and over again and money will still be earned.

My only complaint is with how the developers handled the unlocking of the locked breeds. Almost all of the locked breeds are unlocked all at once as a very early reward. The last breed, the poodle, then takes forever to unlock. This isn't a big deal on it's own, but my daughter would get repeatedly frustrated because of how long it did take to unlock that last one. If they had released the locked breeds one by one, it really wouldn't have been that big of a deal.

If your child is into dress up and is younger, this is a good game to get especially at the price. :)

Best Deals for Barbie Groom And Glam Pups - Nintendo Wii

I bought this game for my daughter for Christmas and she really enjoys playing it. If you have a daughter that is a girly-girl and loves animals, they will like this game. I do however, highly regret paying $50 for it when it first came out. It is not a $50 game. If I had to do over again I would pay $25, tops.

Honest reviews on Barbie Groom And Glam Pups - Nintendo Wii

Got this for my 4 year old for valentines day and she absolutely loves it! This game obviously does nothing for me, but for young girls who love fashion and dogs, it's perfect! She quickly learned that competing in the dog shows earned money to unlock clothes, accessories, and more dogs. Even with everything unlocked and available she still loves playing this and begs to play it every day. Not an educational game, but great fun for her and I love that she can play it by herself without me having to step in every 5 minutes like other childrens games!

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Really cute game for little girls... My daughter is 5 and really has fun dressing up and training the puppies! The only problem I had with it was I couldn't figure out how to save the things that she did and the points she earned when exiting the game... idk, I'm not super savy when it comes to video games... but she does love it!!!

Buy Mars: War Logs

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $6.79
Today's Bonus: 66% Off

In some ways this was similar to Fallout 3. But there are major differences too and this game is no where near as good though I still wanted to finish it.

The main combat mechanic of the game is OK once you start using it. The combat interface uses a radial dial interface. Sometimes this style interface is great, other times not. This time it is pretty good owing mostly to the fact that when using the talent selector, time slows way down which gives you plenty of opportunity to decide on your next move. It also makes for some cool video as you can watch everyone's moves in slow-mo if you want to relax and take the action in. Indeed, this slow motion effect can make it too easy. I found that it was possible to hit the Q key (combat radial) such that I could make several moves in quick succession. At first this was to toss grenades one after the other. Later it was to activate various buffs at the beginning of battle. With the grenades there was no need to wait for the first grenade to explode before you toss the second. A fast way to take down bosses. I could easily get six off at a clip if necessary though it was not often necessary. With the buffs my combat damage went way up. For ranged attacks, you use the combat radial to slow time, then use the middle mouse button to "lock on" to a target and then scroll through targets with line of sight, then pick your action. But ranged weapons are not enough. Most enemies will close on you so you will eventually be in melee combat but you can always roll out of this to get some distance.

There are two significant disappointments for me though neither of them detracted a lot from game play. First is that the skill tree which is composed of three sets of skills, does not open up the "magic" skill tree till act 2. In the end though this was not a problem as it is not necessary to have all skills maxed to be quite powerful and some skills seemed of less value than others. On the other hand this was a good way to get you to invest in the other skills before magic as some of these other skills are quite valuable. You will have to decide how deep you want to go into different parts of the skill trees as you won't be able to do all skills and you will have to invest a minimum of skills in order to unlock the next tier of skills in a tree (there are four tiers of skills in each tree and each skill can be buffed twice more after initial activation). You can choose to cherry-pick skills and their buffs from each skill tree or simply ignore one of the skill trees and bulk up on the other two. Which brings us to the second let down. There is no real manual or guide. Thus there is little way to know what each of these skills does till you use it. But in the end I seemed to manage it well enough. There is no complicated scoring taking place and the explanations of the skills is reasonable when you look over them.

I found four bugs, but none of them caused lost play time thanks to the auto-save feature. Bugs included sound error which self corrected, falling off the game universe into empty space which required a reload and careful positioning of my character second time around, quest locators were not always evident on the map, and there was some inconsistency in the interface (the appearance of doors often told what the door did but not always and this was annoying). I found no bugged quests as are indicated by others reviewing the game so I am guessing a patch fixed these. Save and Load and Startup and Exit times are very quick. Right mouse click is also very handy for skipping scene change animations and for advancing dialog in you decide to reload a prior save in order to try out different options. I experienced no crashes to desktop and no installation issues either so the game is pretty solid overall software wise. Nice to see a vendor taking the time to QA their work themselves rather than letting the customer community do it. Kudos.

The crafting system is limited but quite easy to figure out. There are few weapons (about 10) and armor (about 8). But if you get the abilities that let you upgrade, the upgrades make significant differences. You can craft better armor and weapons than your enemies will have. If you are looking for a diablo style crafting system this is not it. But the simplicity pays off if you want a more casual game in this area rather than having to try and figure out all the rock/paper/scissors dynamics common in other games.

Travel in the game does not require the sometimes huge crossing of expanse that other games make you go through, and game areas were limited in their layout such that as in many game designs, you don't have too many ways to go. The early maps are a bit more open than the later maps for whatever reason. This is done by the typical door way offerings and ultimately one path to the current quest goal. Eventually I started using the overlay map options (tab/M key) and after that I figured out I had to move between locations to see quests come up on the map. This made travel and questing much easier.

Video I thought was good overall and yet it does not require a 400$ video card in order to get it. The game does use PHYSX if your card supports it. I highly recommend PHYSX if you got it though I also admit there are no great moments like there were in Fallout 3. Was nothing like seeing a Raider's head roll its way down a hill into a lake. But with this game's slow motion you can see things like the nails from your nail gun making their way to their target so that was pretty good.

Missing from the game is a lot of game lore. You don't read stuff to learn what happened and you don't get a lot of history on anything. I am guessing maybe some of this is on purpose in order to make a sequel worth playing (so you can find all this stuff out (why are people on Mars anyway?, who are the mutants?, etc.)).

Overall this is a somewhat dumbed-down but quite solid 30+ hours of gaming. If you want it, look for a sale.

Hail Flavius!

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First off this is NOT a cyberpunk genre game. Steam punk would be a better term.

Pros:

Interesting story

Cons:

Very Linear

High learning curve

The game is an RPG vice a shooter. Also, the combat system takes a bit of getting used to. You can free shoot but there is no reticule so it takes some practice to do it. Melee combat seems to be the main combat form and again nothing revolutionary there. If you time you blocks properly you will automatically riposte. Much of what you can do it based on what you have unlocked. Many of the unlocks are confusing. For example, I had the one that gives 100% stealth when not moving in stealth mode. This should mean that as long as I'm not moving I cannot be seen even if an enemy walks right up to me. That is not true. If you're out of cover they will see you. It just seems to reduce the distance they see you at. The only reason I'm giving this three stars is because of the story. I'd recommend getting it if you can pick it up for $10 or less.

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When I first started playing I was worried that the game would be short lived, but it isn't at all. It has a decent skill tree for you to explore 3 different combat styles and pretty neat perk system. Advertising for you it made it seem like there was deeper character development, but it's characters are pretty interchangeable. Combat is crazy hard which I love, bu this is mostly due to the fact that it is usually 5 vs.1 (you being the one) and even if you do get a team mate they aren't going to much expect die or hurt you.

Overall I liked the challenge this game had to offer.

Honest reviews on Mars: War Logs

I tried this game on a whim because the cover caught my eye and I am so glad I did! A great story, satisfying battles, beautiful graphics, it has it all. It's not as intense as other games in its genre but for entrainment value, I was very pleased.

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I bought this on impulse from steam and regret my rash action. The game starts

slowly and tapers off so I don't believe I will finish this game as it is just too tedious.

The pros:

Hmm

The Cons:

mediocre visuals

endless and needless, cut scenes

voice acting that makes you cringe

horrible interface that cannot be remapped

a clunky combat system

a ranged weapon you cannot aim, it automatically aims at the nearest enemy

There were a few good reviews on steam but I believe they were from the

developers.

Cheap Mushihimesama HD

Customer Ratings:

First, note that this is not the same game as Mushihimesama Futari. If you're looking for the Limited Edition of Futari, go here: Mushihimesama Futari Ver 1.5 [Limited Edition] [Japan Import]

The Limited Edition version of Mushihimesama comes in a box with alternate artwork, a music CD, and comes with a DLC card to unlock 1.5 arrange mode (also called "Matsuri" mode in arcades). When buying a used copy, I highly suggest asking the seller if the DLC card has been used or not, because this arrange mode is extremely good.

Both versions of Mushihimesama (limited edition and standard edition) are region locked for Japan only, and will not work on North American or PAL consoles.

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Review of Fight Night 2004

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $15.98
Today's Bonus: 20% Off

This game is A+. By far, the best boxing game out and I've played them all. Don't be scared by the total punch control. It takes all but an hour or two to get a feel for it and it is so much more rewarding than button mashing your buttons so that you need a new controller every month.

Career mode is indepth. You start out with 4 fights a year, then down to 3 and so on until retirement. You have your choice of opponents and in some cases you will be presented the opportunity to schedule a fight against someone that is much higher ranked or lower ranked than you. Purses are realistic and increase as your ranking improves. The level of realistic difficulty is back and so is strategy. No more automatic first round KO's by going in and just punching non stop. If you try to do that here, you'll find yourself out of steam quick and needing to recharge and block punches to regain it. This game is not easily mastered overnight like Knockout Kings, or HBO boxing.

Use your money earned to buy different clothing, equipment, entrance gimmicks liky pyrotechnics, entourage (women in skimpy clothing that lead you into the ring). There is so much to this game. Before each fight, you will schedule a bout first. Next, you train. There are 4 different rotating training sessions.

1. Heavy Bag

2. Sparring

3. Combo Dummy

4. Hitting the Mitts

You will only be allowed to do one per fight and depending on your success...you will be given attribution points to improve your fighter. Note: Each session allows you to improve on 2 attribution categories. There are 8 total...IE. Power, speed, stamina, body, chin, heart, agility, cuts:

After training, you will go fight your fight. You can spend money on new attire, equipment etc in between fights. You can view your rankings, in depth rankings of other fighters. There are tons of unlockables that you will unlock as you win bigger fights opening up new sig punches, attires, entrance music, et in the fight store.

After each year, awards are given out and you will see a list of fighters that retired, which will be replaced obviously by fresh ones.

In between rounds, various stats will be shown, and they are different from round to round. Three judges score on the 10 point must system.

Last comment: Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but take my word for it, the soundtrack is not that annoying nor is the announcer. It gets old after awhile, but you would have to be nuts to not buy a great boxing game because you don't like hip hop. Trust me, neither do I! If you play any video game long enough the music gets old. Sorry If I jumped around a bit, but I wanted to give you as much detail as I could. If you are a die hard boxing fan, this is a must.

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I just put five dollars down to reserve the game and received a free demo disk. I have played the demo disk a total of 40 minutes and here are my observations.

First I cannot totally judge the game because the demo has inverted controls (move your stick to the right and the boxer moves left)and a close-up angle, plus it only allows a two round fight with double time. I am always perplexed as to why they screw you on a demo since ultimatley it will be the thing which may cause you to buy the game. I wish the options to change view as well as undo the invert were activated. I can see someone playing this demo for 5 minutes and giving up before truly understanding the game..just ridiculous.

That said, the mechanics of the new engine were my real area of interest. As someone who first got into videogames simply due to hoping for a great boxing game (I fell in love with 4D Boxing for the PC back in the early 90s, which is the best boxing game ever created), this game represented a hope for me after the horrid Knockout Kings 2002 in which EA produced a generic button masher with a career mode that resembles something you would find in Tecken.(I should add that Knockout Kings 2001 on PS2 is actually an awesome game that any boxing fan should purchase.)

Well, my first 10 or so rounds were spent trying to figure out the use of the total punch control. This uses one of the analog sticks as the means to throw all the punches (you can also use the buttons if you are traditional). Pushing the stick to the upper left throws a left jab. Pushing to the upper right throws a straight right. Throwing hooks, uppercuts and body blows are more complicated (the demo had no instructions)but as I played I found them to suddenly become more intuitive. The demo allows you to be either Roy Jones or James Toney with the other boxer being your opponent. I am not sure of the difficulty level, but I have not actually gotten the better of my opponent yet. But, as I have played I have begun doing better and that really gives you a sense of learning the game.

So what do I think of the new system? Well, the punching is so precise that you can bring back the ctick to throw a hook, hold the punch until your opponent throws a shot, and then time your counter. My timing still needs work, but it is very evident that this new engine will soon become so intuitive that you will truly feel like you have total control. This is the first boxing game in which counter punchers can win a fight. I am very interested in playing as Winky Wright as I feel this type of control is perfect for him.

I have to admit to being skeptical on the new total control system, thinking that not using any buttons would be awkward and less fluid. I was totally wrong. In fact, in one fight I went back to using the buttons (each is assigned a punch like in previous games)and felt much more awkward. It was simply amazing how fast the new control won me over.

So I am very happy to report (after the disastrous KO Kings 2002) EA is back in the boxing business. Rather that simply giving us a generic boxing game they have created a product which truly make beomce a landmark in boxing video games. I have to stress I have not played the final product, and do not know how good the career mode is, but based on my initial tests I would reccomend this game to anyone interested in a game in which you actually have to think and not button mash. Very impressive!

Best Deals for Fight Night 2004

You know...there IS something cathartic about beating the stew out of someone. One of the great things about this game is there's no threat of a civil suit!

EA Sports continues to dominate the sports sim genre with this entry. I'll confess I'm an "old" gamer (started with Pong and grew up on Defender & Asteroids--though Dig Dug was my masterpiece), but I really enjoyed the entirely new concept of joystick-only controls. I find it far more intuitive and is better than being out-mashed (as in "button mashing") by my son who's memorized the triangle/circle/triangle...etc. secret code.

My son & I get a great laugh out of beating one another without actually resorting to physical blows. We can talk thru an issue, taunt one another, knock each other out, and get up with nary a scratch or bruise. Some of you out there may not consider the Sweet Science to be father-and-son fodder...so don't buy it.

Highly recommended. While I agree with some other reviewers regarding the paucity of Big Name boxers, EA probably saved us each $5 by not having to pay hefty endorsement fees. If you don't like that Hector is missing, you can always make him yourself with 100's across the board.

Definitely a knockout!

Honest reviews on Fight Night 2004

I'm in afghanistan and belived or not this game is our real pay per view here, is a great game to enjoy with friends.

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Fight Night can be alot of fun, but it's certainly not the best boxing sim I have ever seen.

I actually still prefer KO Kings 2001, to this game. KO King 2001 had clinching, 4 types of cheat punches, realistic cuts, realistic fighter entrance music, realistic commentary(From Teddy Atlas and Max Kellerman), and realistic and fun special punches...

Fight Night just isn't a realistic boxing sim. Cuts open way too easy, there is no clinching, the commentary from Big Tiger is horrible. Whoever decided to hire Big Tigger instead of real boxing commentators should be beaten with a crowbar.

This game is overrated, but for good reason. EA's last 2 boxing games were horrible. Fight Night is certainly a step back in the right direction.

I sold my copy of Fight Night. It just gets boring after a while. I am going to wait for FN 2005. If EA doesn't have Big Tigger, I will probably purchase the game....

Graphics=4.5

Commentary and Music=2

Control=5

Fun Factor=4

Replay value=3.5

Total=3.8

Best Playseat Floor Mat Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $48.11
Today's Bonus: 4% Off

I originally wanted to get something to protect the carpet while sliding the unit in and out of the way, and I thought this would look cleaner than a Home Depot DIY special. I am really glad I purchased this, as it really is a high quality item (edge Stitched, embroidered, and rubberized bottom) Because the bottom is textured rubber I can't just pull the carpet to move the whole rig, but the clean look and the fact that it protects my Berber carpet from getting picked would cause me to buy it again.

Why did I give it 4 out of 5? It's not a required toy, more a nice to have. Quality and Value is 5 out of 5

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This mat is quality made, thicker/firmer than your ordinary mat and looks really cool under the Playseat!

A Good buy, worth the monsy!

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I tried various mats and foam pads but none gave such a matching look as this mat for the Playseat (duh). I am using it to prevent scratches of moving my Playseat on the hardwood.

Previous reviews indicated this mat slides on the bottom and not good for securing on hardwood. My order came and it's made to not slide at all. So apparently improvements were made.

In my case, I actually need it to slide on the bottom. It's on hardwood, but when not using it's placed on the side. When ready to put in use, I have to slide it in position. With non-slide bottom, the seat just slide off the mat. So I got four flat head (1" diameter) screws to secure the mat to the seat, and cover the flat head with round chair pads that can slide.

There are alternatives but they are usually not perfect fit or color matched. A good mat are not cheap either. So if you are buying a good mat, this is worth serious consideration.

Honest reviews on Playseat Floor Mat

I bought this mat because my Playseat Rig is in a room with a hardwood floor. I was a little apprehensive about purchasing the product because of it's price. The first thing I noticed when I unrolled the mat was that it was not cut straight it has more of a rhomboid shape rather than a rectangular shape. Other than that it does its job of damping sound and vibrations from the Playseat rig. It has the design of an oversized automotive floor mat which is quite nice and solidly put together; if only it weren't so poorly cut I might be able to make an argument for its price. If you are apprehensive because of the price, like I was, I suggest you pass on this product. A section of carpet or rubber mat will do the same job for a lot less.

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If you have a hardwood floor you need this. Even if you don't have wood floors get it anyway! The price is right

Discount 18 Wheels of Steel: Haulin' - PC

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $7.20
Today's Bonus: 64% Off

I wasn't to impressed with Convoy which had some stability issues. Haulin continues (leaps over Convoy) the incredible style of the 18WoS series in a tycoon game that certainly is in a very thin class of terrific tycoon games. Haulin allows you to drive and pick up cargo in the United States and Canada. If you can accumulate enough money you can hire drivers, buy more trucks as well as trailers and retire to the office.

The driving laws are slightly tighter in this game meaning the cops will certainly get on your case if the meter showing your calious regard for driving laws such as running red lights, crossing the divider, and having an accident. The fines are stiffer. The minor issue is if a gas station, a service station, and/or a company is on the opposite side of the street when you cross the divider even with your turn signal on, the red meter starts moving.

So you're a truck driver going to over 40 cities to pick the cargo that you want to haul. The price is next to it and the farther you have to go for a drop off, the more money you make. It also varies whether you want to take a chance and haul precious cargo, overweight cargo or fragile. At the time of this review, I was hauling overweight coal from Phoenix to Montreal for $38k. Ive hits lots of traffic and caused 2 accidents lol. Already, I've been fined up to $12k. With Haulin, the traffic is more diverse, more traffic jams, and the traffic lights seem to last slightly longer but still can be very fast. The AI traffic is slightly better but beware of those quick lane changes. Just like in real life, expect the unexpected. The 18WoS series seems to add a little more with each passing title.

Minor issues: Would like to see more cities, roads, highways/expressways, inclusion of parkways (you hear in real-life a lot of trucks going on parkways when there not suppose to and get stuck which would add more realism), live people (the streets are empty with no movement of people), diverse traffic signals, turn signals at busy intersections, larger cities, dont cross/cross signals for people crossing the street, your character being able to get out of the truck and go into diners, truck stops, motels, and interact with other truckers, mechanics at service stations, more lively gas stations (getting out of your truck and pumping gas) buying food and drinks (water of course), being able to open the hood of your truck, checking the engine, for leaks, filling fluids ect. How about the option of owning a home and buying office property with a dock to park your truck, and go into the office and give the paperwork of the jobs, hiring secretaries as well as other truckers in your company. Being able to get off work and drive off to your home and relax. Actually driving home not those unappealing cut scenes that say 'Next Day". I would also like to see active places all over like seeing other trucks and cars parking in parking lots either at truckstops, gas stations, service stations ect. Sometimes going to mechanic and he cant work on your truck immediately. Dual core processors are mainstream now, lets optimize the next 18WoS title to use it.

In short, this game is quite addictive and one of the best buisness simulators and truck driving games. It has the potential to go even farther if more content can be added. Many games are coming out on DVD's or are already out (for example: The Sims2) to add more content and add totally more realism, the future of this truck driving buisness sim should be released on DVD.

You need a good processor/video card/ and at least 2GB ram to run this game. Im running mine at the time of this review on a Core2Duo E6300 (Dual core 1.66GHZ) and presently 2GB of Ram (one stick died and I RMA'd it) a Saphire x1900xtx and it runs great. Be careful with onboard graphics.

I wonder if the makers of the 18WoS series will add an online version which can allow players to interact with each other on the CB, meet at gas stations, diners, motels, at a truck stop ect. People can buy homes , cars, truck dealerships, service stations with actual moving bays when your truck goes on a lift, gas stations vibrant and working pumps either self or full serve, auto parts stores within cities (where you can actually park on the street or in parking lots) , or work in the office of the trucking company. One can only hope. I think I might be the only one, lol. After Haulin, I'm hoping the graphics will be updated and new content is as well.

*Please Note*

If you own this title, you will not need American Long Haul. It's 99 percent the same. Extreme Trucker is totally different.

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I have to say that more i play haulin. more i love it.

Driving distances are soooo coool! I almost need cafe on thermosbottle in my desktop when driving. And when there are no time limits on delivering cargoes, i just pull my truck to truckstation and watch when other truck's go by. I can honestly say that this is really really gre8 game from scs!

I would like to congartulate the team who created the 18Wos Haulin`. The game has a very

solid presence and is very enjoyable

Best Deals for 18 Wheels of Steel: Haulin' - PC

18 Wheels of Steel Haulin' is unlike any other trucking game out there. For one thing when you earn enough money hauling goods all across America and Canada, you can use your cash to buy your new truck from a truck dealer or order one from the order truck part of the notepad on the game.Also in the game is the part where you can order trailers for your trucks. To find out more about the game,be sure to buy this game. If the video cards on your computer are not updated,be sure to update them so that the game works better. I had to do that and I can tell you that it works much better than it did before. 5 stars for this game,and thanks to those people who helped put this game together. One game play point, when you hire drivers for your trucking company,you have to assign both a truck and trailer to the driver.

Honest reviews on 18 Wheels of Steel: Haulin' - PC

I bought this game for my son who is mentally challenged. It is easy enough to learn quickly and keeps him entertained for hours. He owns 2 of the 18 Wheels hauling series. Now wants the 3rd.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for 18 Wheels of Steel: Haulin' - PC

This game, as mentioned in the title, needs some minor to semi-major improvements. Yes, the graphics were improved from Convoy, which by the way was horrible. But I would have liked to see even more improvement. But I guess SCS Software makes a few changes at a time. There were not that many roads changed from Convoy. Now, I will compare the two. In Convoy, the player could not save the game while transporting something. The police system in this game is slightly stricter. In Convoy, there were a lot of special missions, which I did not care for myself. I like Haulin because it is a trucking game, not a bus or car game, which are two vehicles you get to drive. Haulin is a better game, by far, than Convoy, in even more ways than listed. Also, I want to mention the map. I do not like the placement of it in Convoy. It is in the bottom left corner like in Bus Driver, another game from the same company. Bus Driver does not need to have a detailed map. But for a trucking game, where I rely more on the map, I like to have a good one. The one in Convoy is small and zooms in and out by itself, a feature that I feel is not good for a trucking game. Gas stations, service stations and the like, are marked as circles in different colors. In Haulin they are marked as squares with letters, which are easy to remember and make more sense. The Convoy map rotates too. I like the map in Haulin more. It is simpler, but better. It is a moving, detailed map that has two zoom levels, which can be changed by the player. Anyway, 18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul has many of the same things as Haulin, but with Mexico added, graphics updated, more gas and service stations added, and more. One thing that I can't stand is the traffic. The player can be driving normally on the road, and the car in front of them can suddenly stop. I do not believe that cars in real life can actually stop that quickly, considering the fact that they are going highway speed. They fixed that in American Long Haul, but still even so, it needs improvement. This game's graphics are plain and boring, just like American Long Haul's. And the fact that this game doesn't have Mexico, nor does it have many other things, makes it a very weak 3 star game. I want to mention that the police system is not that great, or, the game setup is not, you decide. If you have to go to a gas station that is located across the road, when you cross that road to get gas or anything else, your legal status bar gets red, which means that you are close to getting a ticket. And in this game, there aren't enough gas stations for you to go to the one on the other side of the road, without losing fuel. In American Long Haul, that is not such a problem. So I really don't recommend either game. If you want a game that makes sense, buy German Truck Simulator, available on Amazon. It is a much better game. But if you want something better than this, get 18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul.

Discount Fable 2 Platinum Hits -Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:

Let me be the first to say that this is not a game for the casual gamer who wants to just pick something up and button mash. It's a mix of action & role playing with an added twist...moral consequences for your actions. Meet people, find treasure, start a family, gain power, customize your appearance, learn new abilities, become loved as a hero or feared as a villian....there are limitless variables which accompany the main storyline. Granted I didn't play Fable on the original XBOX, but I've never played anything quite like this. I really like the fact that despite the games complexity, you don't need a strategy guide....things are intuitive and the game will lead you in the right direction (using the "golden trail".

I'd guess I'm currently over halfway through the main quest. I have maintained a fairly moral path. I look forward to playing the game through again making immoral choices and gaining renown through villiany. Yes, I haven't completed the game yet and am looking forward to playing again.....high replay value IMO.

The Platinum Hits edition comes with both expansions, which make it the best value for someone who doesn't own a previous release of the game. This one has been worth every penny.

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Fable II for those who don't know is an Xbox only open world RPG which sends the player through the beautiful peaceful yet corrupt kingdom of Albion.

For starts the Game play is very fluid yet youll have to get used to it.

unlike most RPG titles your character does not "level up" , but instead using another system of doing so.

after killing any kind of target victim in the game they will leave behind orbs of experience which you must accumulate by holding RT.

Experience is divided into four categories : Strength , General , Will , And Skill. Strength improves the usage of any melee weapon , Skill improves the usage of any range weapon , will improves use of magic , while general helps with all kinds of combat.

skill and strength experience is used to buy new kinds of talents for melee and ranged weapons while will XP will be used to buy new magic talents , any kind of talent has more than one level.

Combat being a big aspect of the game if your traveling is pretty simple and straight forward.

the X button stands as your melee attack which if mashed continuously your character will perform basic swinging attacks , The Y button stands as your ranged attack , Hold or press B to use Will (magic).

like most RPG games Fable will have a line of main quest along with many optional side quest.

one major aspect of fable is the simulation of true life in the game think "The Sims" meets W.O.W.

For starters your player has an expression wheel ranging from Social , Fun , Flirty (not available when interacting with children) , Scary , and insulting which will affect how people look at you make some hate you others love you , expressions can be used during any point of the game.

your character will also be able to become fat or stay physically fit by eating certain kinds of foods (Steak pies against tofu fish celery) being fat will make you appear ugly to most people making it harder for them to like you.

through use of the right expressions your character can fall in love with another one which you can marry and start a family...which will involve SEX pretty simple don't wear a condom you might get an std or get your wife pregnant so for the sake of my character i always use a condom.

lastly the graphics of this game have their own look almost makes you think of Shrek cgi while the graphics are very good they still have a less realistic cartoonish side that makes the game look awesome.

the world of Albion while very beautiful and rich..i never had the ambition to explore it freely as i would in fallout or elder scrolls

overall this game is well worth twenty dollars and is an awesome addition to anyones 360 collection I would highly recommend buying this whether or not you have or haven't played the first one.

P.S. hope i wasn't to boring!

Best Deals for Fable 2 Platinum Hits -Xbox 360

Pros: To start with the game is beutiful. the style is the closest you will get to playing a charles dickens novel. and except for the abrupt ending the game has a pretty great story that manages to hook you in the beginning take into account your actions through the game. the way your characters appearance changes based on how you fight, moral choices, the type of food you eat is pretty awsome.

Cons: secrets tend to hide worthless items. Money is so easy to come by that you won't struggle buying anything, and vendor equipment is typically better than the legendary equipment you find out in the world. bassically the game gives you all kinds of optional puzzles to solve, but all they give you for finding and completing them is a Pie or a gold necklace. The game is short for an RPG.

Honest reviews on Fable 2 Platinum Hits -Xbox 360

The title of the review says it all, Fable II was a massive achievement for the Xbox 360 community in many ways more than just a few improvements. This is a must have action/adventure game that deserves more than it has earned(pertaining to the retarded 4 star rating this game has gotten on Amazon.)

And before anybody gets their pantys in a wad, let me clarify something; This is NOT an RPG(Role Playing Game)

It may be listed under the RPG genre category, but in order to not be let down by the pedestaled expectations that everyone had for this game in 2008; you have to think of this game as an Action/Adventure with some RPG elements sprinkled on top.

But enough of the Yada Yada's. Once again, lets get into the meat & potatoes.(No spoilers)

Graphics: 10/10

Let me just say, that out of all the games I have played in my life, not one oozes style as much as Fable II does.

This game is absolutely gorgeous, from the lush grass in the fields of Albion, to the creatures & enemies that roam the lands. This is one of the many upgrades that has improved from the original game ten fold.

Combat/Gameplay: 9/10

Melee: The melee system has greatly improved in my opinion. less clunky, more swift & agile like movements than the previous games combat system. Augments to improve your weapons also make a return from Fable.

Range: Range combat has a few new additions to the weapon selection. Bow & Arrows have been scrapped and replaced with Firearms, rangeing from Pistols, Turret Rifles & Muskets. Crossbows however have made a fully upgraded return from the original game.

Magic: The magic is the most improved out of the three combat category's in my opinion. Personally, I rarely used magic besides the healing power in the original Fable. But in Fable II, They made it so magic was actully useful and not a chore to use regularly in combat.

Story/Plot: 9/10

The original Fable's plot and inspiration was based off of folklore & fairtytale story's.(hence the name Fable)

Fable 2's story is based off of the period when technology was beginning to take off, a.k.a Then Industrial revolution. This period is known as the Age of Enlightenment.

Familiar towns from the original game have erected into full fledged cities & community's.

The story however, Doesnt have the mystic & enchanting feeling as the original game had. This is not necessarily a bad thing, this is just a different direction of storytelling LionHead has come up with. Instead of the abundance of cutscenes as seen in Fable 1, Fable 2 barely has any. Example: if your having a plot related conversation with a character, you have the ability to skip the dialogue or spin around your Hero, making the game feel less restricted.

The plot starts out fresh and keeps a steady flow of Drama, Action & a sense of exploration throughout the entire game. With the exception of the lackluster ending, which can be overlooked due to the many side quests that are available along with the up to par DLC's available on this version of Fable II. Above all else, a well rounded & entertaining plot and story.

Music/Sounds: 9/10

The legendary Danny Elfman makes a return as the orchestrator of the games soundtrack. The music fits the game like a glove and adds atmosphere to the beautiful lands of Albion. My only grief I have towards the games music is that it can get repetitive at times. I also found myself longing for Fable 1's music truthfully. I don't know what it is but, I found the soundtrack from the original game to be less repetitive to the ears.(my opinion)

Voice Acting: 9/10

The voice acting this time around has been slightly improved, The story driven characters give top notch performances. The citizens voice work however, have been completely upgraded but can get really tiring & old after hearing them a thousand times. And all male & female citizens seem to sound the same depending on their genders. Nontheless a great improvement.

Co-Op/Multiplayer 4/10

And this is where the one big issue of the game comes into play. The awful, awful nauseating co-op mode.

We were promised a well balanced story we could share with a friend. Invite him/her into our world and shape it the way we wanted......Well we got the well balanced story, but what we didn't get is a well balanced co-op mode. The guest in your world is forced to select Pre-set characters, allowing only the host to show off his Hero. And the main issue with the mode is the camera angle. The guest has no camera angle, the host has complete control over what the guest can see and where he/her can travel to. Only allowing about 10 feet of separation from each other before an invisible wall pops up.

Replay Value: High

Game Size: 10/10

The map size has been confirmed to be 10 times bigger than the original game's.

if you want a game to roam and wander, this is your kind of game.

THIS IS A WARNING: If you are confused about which version of Fable II to buy, It is in yours and your wallets best interest to buy Fable II Platinum Hits edition. Or you'll be forced to spend extra money on the games Downloadable Content. Below are the names of the DLC's that come on the disc, not a code on a piece of paper next to the instruction guide; actual on disc content.

1. Knothole Island: a well sized plot extension w/ tons of extra content.

2. See the future: Also a well sized plot extension w/ tons of content. But you are given a small sneak peek to the plot of Fable III.

Fable II is a gorgeous & entertaining game that deserves more recognition then it has been given since its release date. Whatever problems the original game suffered, Lionhead has made it a goal to improve those issues and more. Aside from the Co-op issues, This game is a must have for anybody who likes games that make them feel in control of the world they're exploring.

I rate this game a 5/5

And it remains one of my favorite Xbox 360 games of all time.

Thanks for reading.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Fable 2 Platinum Hits -Xbox 360

To put things concisely I loved the look and feel of Fable II and enjoyed the moderate complexity of the combat but was a bit disappointed by the role playing aspect.

Looks. Goodness is Fable II beautiful. The scenery and buildings are gorgeous. The lighting and change of light throughout the day and in different weather is amazing. The whole experience is stunningly atmospheric. The npc's and enemies are fairly diverse though more variation in facial features (particularly of the female characters which don't benefit from the wide assortment of facial hair varieties) would be nice. As for customizing your own character, Fable II rocks. Furthermore your character's looks change based on what skills you develop and how you behave. Brilliant. It's a little annoying that getting stronger just means getting huge rather than getting more cut and lean muscle and regardless of whether you play a male or female character, but overall this is a really innovative and fun feature.

Combat is fun. I'm not a big video game combat junky and I don't like to have to carefully aim or time everything I do in order to survive a fight. If you like that you have the opportunity to focus on skills that allow it, however. I, on the other hand, enjoyed using easily targeted or area effect will (magic) combat. Overall it's rather satisfying.

Then there is the RPG element. Granted, it's the best I've seen other than Mass Effect and Dragon Age, but those two games seem to blow every other RPG out of the water as far as interactive storytelling goes. Those RPG's feel like a video game choose your own adventure novel. You get to actually have conversations with people and the choices you make can have a huge effect on how people treat you and how the game plays out. I was hoping for something similar with Fable II and didn't get it. I guess that is the difference in what I'd term a 4 star and a 5 star RPG. Certainly worth playing nonetheless.

Review of Anker® 2nd Gen Astro 6000mAh Portable Charger Rapid-Recharge (2A

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $79.99
Sale Price: $29.99
Today's Bonus: 63% Off

This battery pack is beautifully packaged with a black rubberized coated case. The black rubber coating is slightly textured so it is not a fingerprint magnet and it improves the looks of the case and your grip. It is a powerful battery pack rated at 6000 mAh of capacity and the test results were spectacular! I put together a video of the unit and the test results for your review.

The battery weighs in at 4 3/4 ounces. The battery pack has one USB output port that outputs 5 VDC at 2 Amps. It is a smart USB port whose output current will never exceed the capacity of your smart device's current charging capability. The battery is extremely energy efficient and its performance is 10 percent or more above the standard performance of a normal designed external battery. This is because of the superior quality of the battery cells used and the advanced control circuitry within the battery.

During the testing the temperature of the battery pack never even exceeded ambient room temperature. To start your device charging you connect it with the proper cable and the battery pack charging starts automatically. To check the battery pack charge status you have to shake the battery and the LED ring lights up.

This product is outstanding and I rate it at 5 stars. If you are a business person or a student and have to depend on your tablet or smart phone for long periods of time without the ability to get to an AC power source then this is a good battery to own. This is good for those who travel a lot or camp out. Now you can watch your movies or listen to your music on those long airline flights. While this battery pack can put some charge into your tablets it is more ideal for use in recharging your smart phone. Because of its size it is great to drop into a purse, briefcase or a pocket.

You should note that I did not operate my tablets or phones while I charged it but the WIFI and phone transmitter were left on. When I test a battery I do an extensive set of tests that fully charges the battery and then I use it to charge devices and make sure that it is fully depleted when my tests are done. I time each test and document the results as the test progresses. I then calculate the mAh of capacity that the battery supplied and I then calculate its charging efficiency. This process takes from 3 hours to, in very large batteries, about a day for testing. I don't take any short cuts or guess and every battery has these tests performed on it and documented. This is to assure that the battery is tested and it performs well. If a battery has performed poorly I then run the tests again to verify the results.

Items in the box:

* The Anker 2nd Gen Astro 6000 mAh battery

* The battery pack comes with an instruction manual.

* A USB charging cable that is 12 inches long.

* A nice carrying bag for the battery

* You may have to use the charging cable that comes with many of your own devices.

Anker 2nd Gen Astro 6000 mAh External Battery Pack Features:

* Powerful 6000 mAh capacity

* The unit is compact and weighs in at 4 3/4 ounces.

* Attractive design with a black rubberized external coating. The black rubberized coating is slightly textured so it is not a fingerprint magnet and easy to grip.

* The specifications and ports are nicely labeled on the case.

* It has 10 LED status lights in a ring located on the front that indicates the battery charge level. You have to shake the battery and the LED ring will light up and indicate the battery charge level. Each LED represents 10% of capacity.

* This is an ideal size and power of battery to carry in a purse, briefcase or backpack for your smart phone!

* There is one USB power output. It is a USB port rated at 5 VDC and 2 Amps and it is a smart USB port the uses only the current required by your device to properly charge it as quickly as possible.

* When you plug in a device then the charging process of your device begins automatically.

* The battery pack uses Lithium battery technology.

* The battery pack can be recharged 500+ times

* Warranty is 18 months

* The battery pack does not come with an AC wall charger. It is specified to be charged with 5 VDC at 1 amp. It will charge in 5 to 6 hours at 1 Amp input. You can charge the battery using a USB 2.0 port of your computer that is rated at 500 mA but the charging time will be 11 to 12 hours.

* The battery is extremely energy efficient and its performance is 10 percent or more above the standard performance of a normal designed external battery. This is because of the superior quality of the battery cells used and the advanced control circuitry within the battery.

Test charging devices to measure the output capacity:

I charged the battery pack fully before I started my test. I started with a Kindle Fire at 25% and the Anker 2nd Gen Astro was fully charged with 10 LEDs.

* 30 min Kindle Fire at 48% and the Anker battery had 6 LEDs

* 60 min Kindle Fire at 70% and the Anker battery had 4 LEDs

* 90 min Kindle Fire at 82% and the Anker battery had 4 LEDs

* 120 min Kindle Fire at 87% and the Anker battery had 4 LEDs

* 150 min Kindle Fire at 100% and the Anker battery had 4 LEDs

I started with an iPhone 5S at 22% and the Anker 2nd Gen Astro at 4 LEDs.

* 30 min iPhone 5S at 54% and the Anker battery had 3 LEDs

* 60 min iPhone 5S at 84% and the Anker battery had 2 LEDs

* 90 min iPhone 5S at 95% and the Anker battery had 2 LEDs

* 120 min iPhone 5S at 100% and the Anker battery had 2 LEDs

A second iPhone 5S at 79% and the Anker 2nd Gen Astro at 2 LEDs.

* 30 min iPhone 5S at 97% and the Anker battery had 1 LED

* 60 min iPhone 5S at 100% and the Anker battery had 1 LED flashing

I started charging an iPad 2 at 10% and the Anker 2nd Gen Astro at 1 LED flashing.

* In two minutes the iPad was at 12 % and the Anker battery was dead

Summary of charging tests:

* Charge an Kindle Fire 75% x 4400 = 3300 mAh

* Charge an iPhone 5S 78% x 1560 = 1216.8 mAh

* Charge a second iPhone 5S 21% x 1560 = 327.6 mAh

* Charge and iPad 2 2% x 6944 = 139 mAh

* Test result = 3300 + 1216.8 +327.6 + 139 =4983.4 mAh/6000 mAh = 83% efficiency

* That is an outstanding efficiency result for this battery.

Here are some common devices and the amount of mAh of capacity they have when they are fully charged. This is just to give you an impression of how much energy it takes to charge your smart device:

* iPhone 4 battery 1,420 mAh battery capacity

* iPhone 4S battery 1,432 mAh battery capacity

* iPhone 5 battery 1440 mAh battery capacity

* iPhone 5S battery 1560 mAh battery capacity

* iPad 2 battery 6,944 mAh battery capacity

* iPad 3 battery 11,560 mAh battery capacity

* Kindle Fire battery 4400 mAh capacity

* Kindle Keyboard battery 1750 mAh capacity

* iPad 4 battery is 11,486 mAh 3.7 VDC at 42.5 Wh

* iPad Mini battery is 4490 mAh at 3.72 VDC 16.7 Wh

As you can see the Anker 2nd Gen Astro 6000 will not fully charge a totally dead iPad 2, 3 or 4 because it only contains 6000 mAh of capacity. You have to consider the losses in the charging circuits of both the battery pack and the device you are charging. When using an external battery you have to allow approximately 30 % of the battery capacity will be lost to heat, voltage conversion, powering the batteries electronics and the electronics of your electronics device's charging circuits. In addition you have to consider that your device is not truly off like a cell phone is still connected to the WIFI and phone networks and probably receiving emails, etc.

Real world examples of charging capability with this battery pack:

* iPhone 4 approximately 351% of a full charge out of a fully charged Anker 2nd Gen Astro 6000 mAh battery pack

* iPhone 5S approximately 319.5% of a full charge

* iPad 2 approximately 71.8% of a full charge

* iPad 3 or 4 approximately 43% of a full charge

* iPad Mini approximately 111% of a full charge

* Kindle Fire approximately 113% of a full charge

* A normal estimated usable storage is 70% of capacity or .70 * 6000 mAh = 4200 mAh charging capacity available for your electronic devices.

* In my testing I was able to use approximately 4983.4 mAh of capacity or roughly 83% of the 6000 mAh capacity. This is an outstanding result.

I received a sample product for evaluation and I promised to provide a fair and honest review.

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Product exterior -

Main Unit overall the finish has a great feel to it. A very smooth soft plastic that might show some smudges from skin oils if you look really hard but easy to clean off. It has a good weight to it considering it fits in the hand very comfortably. The ends are very glossy and while the end with the usb ports (input and smart) is perfectly clean, the other side with the imprint saying 'Made in China, model number' was a tiny bit scratched up but nothing really noticeable. It does say over here that input is 1A and output is 2A. Ironically the serial number is not listed on this side at all or on the unit. ****The serial number is actually on a the short charging cable. ***Important, for warranty purposes do not remove this sticker..... I admit that I don't like this because usually any large stickers on cables I usually cut off, and also because the serial number should be on the unit itself rather than just the microusb cable.

Microusb Cable The microusb is a very good quality 1ft charging cable. Some people might prefer longer but fortunately it has the high-quality shielded ends that Samsung OEM Cables have. There is a plastic covering over the ends protecting the finish that you can peel off.

Carrying Pouch an interesting sports-like carrying pouch that is double layered and has a closing elastic mechanism. The microusb cable does fit inside with unit while pouch is closed.

Description of use Very easy to install. I simply connected the microusb input on unit to an Anker 2A USB charger (1A or higher is great). I found it was like 80% charged and it charged up to 100% fairly quickly. It works very simply and great. There is no need for a long charging cable and finding an outlet, this solution works even better and is very portable. I still have not yet tested it on iPhones or the newest Samsung Galaxy Tablets but it does it work perfectly with Galaxy S4 and other Android phones. The unit does not need to be shaken to start charging, it simply starts when plugged in. While charging it does constantly blink the light on and out every second which can get annoying but does at least update its amount of battery left. The white ring is divided up into 10 leds. With unit disconnected simply shaking it shows you the charge level.

So far it charges roughly 0.6% per minute on a Galaxy S4. According to 'Galaxy Charging Current' it shows 1900mAh and after a little while drops down to 1200mAh (it does this on stock too). I still need to do more tests though for accuracy and will update later.

UPDATE! 2013-10-19 I have now confirmed that it charges at 0.9% per minute on Galaxy S4 at 2A. So it takes between 90 to 120 minutes to fully charge the phone. The last 10% charges more slowly. I did the test from 1% to 93% in about 96 minutes with minimal usage of screen. Also after using a 100% charged Anker 2nd Gen Astro 6000mAh, I unfortunately was left with 40% battery on that unit so enough for almost two charges on a Galaxy S4.

Ideal users I recommend these Portable External Batteries to anyone with a smartphone with non-removable batteries. With an iPhone I'd expect to the user to get 4 Full Charges with this unit. With a Galaxy S4 about 2 Full Charges. I recommend getting a higher capacity if you are going on a bigger trip and need more than 10 full charges without recharging the unit.

Overall outstanding item and I'm very impressed

I was supplied a sample for test and evaluation, and I promised that my review is fair and honest

Best Deals for Anker® 2nd Gen Astro 6000mAh Portable Charger Rapid-Recharge (2A

After rolling out new 2nd generation versions of Astro 3 (3 outputs) and Astro 2 (2 outputs), now is a turn for Astro with a single charging output. While Astro 3 was very impressive with three outputs and 12000 mAh capacity, it was a relatively large and heavy device, which is expected. Astro 2 shrunk it down to 2 outputs and 9000 mAh capacity with a more pocket friendly footprint. Here with single output Astro and 6000 mAh capacity the size was reduced down to an awesome compact size which you can store even inside of a very small purse. But don't let the small size fool you you still get all new 2nd gen design with every bell'n'whistle of Astro 2 and 3. So let's take a closer look.

Continuing with their environmentally friendly packaging, battery came inside of a neatly packaged box which contained a battery itself, a manual (always very detailed), and accessory box with usb to micro-usb cable and a mesh draw-string storage bag for a battery and a cable. Now let me tell you about the size of this battery its is SMALL!!! Weighting around 130g and with a size of 90mm by 45mm and thickness of 25mm it will easily fit in a palm of your hand where you can make a fist hiding it inside. That's how compact it is. With a new rounded design and smooth edges, the hard plastic shell is lined with a soft touch rubbery finish. You get one micro-usb battery charging port (1A speed to charge the battery itself) and one full usb smart output port for any Android or Apple device. The output supports a maximum charging speed of up to 2A. In my quick test with OEM usb cable I confirmed a charging speed of 1.5A using my Note 2. The speed will obviously vary depending on the cable you use, so keep that in mind and use usb cables with thicker wires.

Just like with Astro 2 and 3, this 2nd gen device uses a new 10-segment circle LED indicator to show you the charging progress of the battery or the remaining charge on the battery in increments of 10% thus giving you a higher precision reading. Most of the other batteries usually include 4 LEDs to indicate 25% increments, but with Astro you are getting a better precision. There is no power button anywhere around smooth surface of this battery. To start the charging or to check the remaining capacity you just shake it and display LED comes alive. Also, considering actual capacity of any external battery is typically 30% less then advertised value, in case of 2nd gen Astro a more efficient conversion circuit is used which gives close to 80% efficiency, so you can count on about 4700-4800 mAh of charging power. Considering super compact shape of this battery, this is very impressive and perfect as a portable emergency charge you can take with you anywhere.

Overall, the design, the efficiency, the charging speed, and compact size of this battery makes it a very attractive package. It is also very unique and sets it apart from competition. Add to that Anker's 18-month warranty and great support with introductory price of $29.99 on Amazon this is one fantastic value. I highly recommend it!

Honest reviews on Anker® 2nd Gen Astro 6000mAh Portable Charger Rapid-Recharge (2A

The Anker 2nd Gen Astro 6000mAh External Battery is everything I was looking for in an external battery pack. It's small, comes with a one foot micro-USB cord, and a travel bag that holds everything neatly. It also has a nice heft and a smooth rubberized finish that makes it a beauty to hold in your hand.

This pack also holds a large charge. I was able to fully charge my Nexus S phone and top off (30%) my Nexus 7 tablet while only using just over a quarter of the battery pack.

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The Anker 2nd Gen Astro 6000mAh Portable Power Bank is made perfectly for those who want to bring power on the go. This battery pack has 6000mAh of power inside which means you can charge your iPhone 5 about 2 twice and a little more possibly. The battery pack has 1 USB port that is rated at 2 amps/5 volts. The USB port is labeled "Smart. The other port is the micro USB port. This port is used to charge the actual battery pack. You can charge the battery pack at 1 amp/5 volts. You can use the wall charger that came with your smartphone. I have charged my iPhone 5 with this battery pack and it worked fantastically.

Box Contents:

-Anker 2nd Gen Astro 6000mAh Portable Power Bank

-Short micro USB cable

-Carry case

-Instruction manual

The battery has a matte feel all around and is glossy on the sides where the USB port is. The battery is a dark charcoal black. The edges are round making it feel like you have a good solid grip while holding it. The sides that are glossy are a fingerprint magnet. This battery uses 10 LED ring to tell you how much power is left for use. This is a neat design and is different than the traditional 4 LED power level gauge. I like that.

Overall, this is an easy to use and excellently designed battery pack. Anker has again made an outstanding product. I recommend this battery pack to someone who needs power on the go for a smartphone like an iPhone.

Watch my video review.

I was supplied a sample for test and evaluation, and I promised that my review is fair and honest.