Review of Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit

Customer Ratings:

I bought the Play and Charge kit (which converts your wireless controller into a wired one while the battery is being charged up) when the X360 launched last year. It does the job, but it takes way too long to recharge the batteries and, while it gave the appearance of charging the batteries while the X360 was in standby mode, that didn't seem to speed the process up all that much. So, I was hyped when I saw that the Quick Charge kit was coming out and I'm glad I picked one up.

Not only can the Quick Charge kit charge up more than one battery at a time, it charges the batteries (at least ) 10 x's faster than the Play and Charge kit. I've had this kit for two weeks now and I can confirm that it does charge up a spent X360 controller battery in about 2 hours and two in about four. Most of mine have charged fast than those times, but I've never let one of the batteries totally die before switching it out (the ring of light flashing that the current battery is dying drives me nuts). The Quick Charge kit comes with one rechargeable battery, so be sure to pick up an extra if you don't already have one. With at least one extra charged battery @ all times, you should be set.

There's not really much else to say about this kit. It works and it works well. I would definitely recommend this kit over the Play and Charge kit b/c A) the Quick Charge kit is SO much faster, B) you won't have a recharging controller plugged into the front of your X360 as you would with the Play and Charge kit, and C) I've had some tech issues with the Play and Charge kit. (Sometimes it says the battery is charged, but when I use the battery and check its strength, the X360 dashboard says the battery is only 1/2 charged. Sure enough, in just a few hours, the ring of light will start to flash again, indicating that the supposedly charged battery is not so charged now. It doesn't happen every time, but often enough to be annoying. The Play and Charge kit also seems to take different lengths of time to charge the batteries. And sometimes, if I leave the controller plugged in, the recharge light will turn back to red after having been green for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Not so good.)

If you own wireless X360 controllers and game a lot, the Quick Charge kit will be worth more to you than 100,000 achievement points. Check it out! wb

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

If you have an Xbox 360, and have wireless controllers, then the Quick Charge Kit will really impress you. First, it comes with another rechargable battery, so that's nice. Second, it allows you to charge the batteries without using your Xbox 360! I know many of the complaints about the first play-n-charge kit was that it used a controller port to charge! No more. This kit plugs into the wall and can charge 2 batteries at once. If you have not yet purchased a rechargable battery for the wireless controller, just get this kit which includes one battery. You will save tons on regular batteries, and it really is a great addition to the Xbox 360 family of products.

Best Deals for Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit

This is an excellent option for people who own the wireless controllers. It will save you money over time. The wireless controller of the XB360 can go through a set (2) of AA batteries in about two week's time, if you play heavily.

This is a well-designed and attractive product. The color of the unit matches the color of the 360 perfectly. It is an excellent addition to your collection of accessories for your 360.

I bought one of these units and tested it. It worked as advertised. The performance of the battery pack is better than a set of rechargeable NiMH (1600 mAH) from Rayovac. However, the battery pack did not perform as well as a set of Energizer Alkalines. The Alkalines lasted slightly longer than the Microsoft battery pack.

I was not surprised that the pack lasted longer than the rechargeable AA. Microsoft even stated that rechargeable batteries should not be used in the controllers. I suspect this is due to the fact that typical nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries are 1.2 volts. Whereas disposable alkaline batteries are 1.5 volts. Even in my Logitech wireless controller, for my PS2, the rechargeables do not last nearly as long as disposable alkalines.

Should you buy this Microsoft Quick Charge kit? Would you be better off buying a set of regular AA rechargeable batteries and a good charger?

I can tell you that a typical Rayovac battery charger will recharge a set of AA batteries faster than this kit can recharge its battery pack. And if you shop around, it will also become obvious that two rechargeable AAs and a recharger will cost you slightly less than the purchase price of this Quick Charge kit. And, as C. Johnson stated in his review further down, you can use your rechargeables for other devices, like a digital camera. So, in terms of versatility and applicability to various applications, you cannot beat a set of rechargeable AAs. However, a set of NiMH AAs will not give you the same performance as this battery pack. And, if you are like me, I want to keep all of my video gaming equipment together, in one place. I prefer not to share my video game console's accessories with other devices.

I make part of my living as a computer technician. Because I own a lot of equipment that require AA batteries, I buy my alkaline batteries in bulk. And I only own one controller for my 360. I am also a solitary gamer. Because of that situation, I gave my Quick Charge kit to my best friend, who is also a technician. He has three controllers. He is also a social gamer. Therefore, he has a greater need for this product. At this point, I am back to using disposable alkalines for my controller.

I consider the Microsoft Quick Charge kit to be a luxury accessory for your XBox 360. It is not necessary, for most people. And there are cheaper ways of avoiding the cost of disposable alkalines. However, this is a very neat and tidy solution. And, if you are one of those gamers who somehow managed to break your controller's original battery holder, then this is a very, very good option for you.

I can also recommend this Quick Charge kit for parents. This will save you from having to make a trip to the convenience store on a Saturday afternoon. Picture this scenario. Your child has company over, and they are playing a game on the XBox. All of a sudden, the controllers stop responding. The next thing you know, the children are begging you to go to the store and get them some batteries. This kit, along with extra battery packs, can help prevent these inconveniences. And, because the battery pack is unique, there is no danger that another member of your household will take it and use it for their digital camera. You are guaranteed to have available a fully charged battery pack for your gaming needs.

Honest reviews on Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit

I am slouched in my computer chair as I type this... bloody, winded, and defeated. A mere shadow of my former, confident self. I have long known that it is folly to wrestle with a blister pack without the benefit of scissors, but just as I always feared... they've finally built a better blister pack.

I cut the top edge. Thinking the fell packaging bested like so many that preceded it, I laid down my scissors, placed my fingers into its open wound, and pulled apart with great force, barely suppressing an animalistic victory cry...

It is a good thing I supressed that victory cry, friends, for had I not I would have looked very foolish (in addition to stressing my intercostal cartilage) when the package refused to yield, and laughed off my efforts.

"Alright", I thought. "I've some more tricks up my sleeve." I reclaimed the scissors and set to work removing the left seam of the package. An unholy snap! My scissors lay broken, and my arm (not my hand, ladies and gentlemen, but my ARM) was slowly welling up dark, rich blood in the deep gouge left, presumably, by the flying bit of brittle plastic which the package had flung at me, to protect itself against my insistent slicing.

I retreated to the bathroom, treated and dressed my wound, and crept back, warily, to the field of battle. The package lay on my bed, looking quite battered, yet smug and very self-satisfied. I live alone. Today, there will be no reinforcements. Knowing that all the hopes of my discharged Xbox 360 controller batteries depended on my efforts and my efforts alone, I crawled to the scissors on the floor, and fell back immediately to a safe distance to plan my next attack.

I decided that where guile had failed, boldness might succeed. I would cut directly down the center of the front side of the package: straight through the heart of the renegade guardian of my Quick Charge Kit. I did so, with speed and precision comparable to that of a feline ninja... or at least a fat guy with a serious grudge against a plastic shell. The gash was glorious. No fewer than 4 inches long, and terminating below the product within, so that even if the package proves unusually hardy, I will almost certainly pry the fault apart far enough to retrieve the device within. I placed one hand on the right seam, and the other near the bottom of the new gash, of which I'd made a gift to my adversary, and pull will all my strength. My ribs glow white hot, filling the room with excruciating brightness and my consciousness with a pain the likes of which I hope never to know again. I drop the package onto the bed, and stumble back to my chair, falling backward into it.

As I lay here, maybe dying, I reflect on that final sequence of mistakes... which ONE, if any, could have saved my life and sanity, had I only not made it... Was it my choice to use scissors instead of fire? Was it my hubris-fueled insistence upon opening the package with my own efforts, just because I am 25 and an adult who should be able to fend for himself, where I might have simply left it aside until I next visited my parents four states away, and then, tail tucked firmly betwixt my thights, I could have asked mommy to do it. Was it my decision to buy this product in the first place? Who can say, for certain?

My musing continues... if I recover from my injuries, how will I respond? Do I launch another assault on the dread unopenable package? Do I crown it the prince of my home, swear eternal fealty, and begin designing a new flag to represent the sheer dominance and magnificence of this mighty blister pack?

But one thing, gentle reader, is certain: you can learn from my experience. Just say no to inaccessibly-packaged consumer goods! It's not too late. *cough* *cough*

Avenge... me...

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit

This item is a must have for the Xbox 360 gamer. You can charge two battery packs at the same time. You'll always have a couple charged up for when you have company come over to play games.

It's easy to use, and it's small enough to be out of the way. The battery just snaps into place, and the lights let you know if it's charging or fully charged. Even if you have a play and charge kit, this comes in handy.

It comes with one battery.

Batteries will charge in just a few hours.

Highly recommended.

Cheap Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Ghosts Ear Force Spectre Limited Edition

Customer Ratings:

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Ever since my son got his first Turtle Beach headset several years ago, it is the only brand he really wants to use. We've tried some cheaper models in the meantime but he always returns to this brand for the following reasons:

Sound: The sound on this headset is exceptional.

Microphone: Wireless chat is easy.

Accessories: Comes with everything you need.

Comfort: It is lightweight and fits comfortably over the ears

While not the cheapest headset out there, it is true that "you get what you pay for". For a serious gamer, this is a great headset with the versatility to be able to be used on different gaming systems as well as with iPod or phone.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program These are pretty good headphones that I'll break down in a minute. But here's the 'executive summary' for those short on attention spans. These headphones excel at flexibility and I really love that about them. It's incredible to have a set of quality gaming headphones that can pipe in your phone, mix in your own music, and work pretty flawlessly across anything you can think of (phone, PS3, XBox, Mac, PC). If you plan on using them heavily for things outside of gaming, you'll probably find them a bit too unbalanced in the lows, but that's completely alright. They should be; games (and voices) sound incredible through them. Think of them more as gaming headphones you can use if you want, not all-around mavericks. And now, details!

BUILD: 3/5

This is the one letdown of the area. For this high of a price, I was expecting higher quality components. The actual build quality is high, but the cans remain fraught with plastic and faux leather. It's really my only sticking point. The 'ears' (?) rotate so they can lay flat, but it would be nice if they had came with a case. I haven't tried to remove the cool-looking Spectre things on the side since I manage to destroy everything I try to take apart.

SOUND: 5/5 for gaming, 4/5 for music

The inline amplifier is pretty slick. It's nice to be able to adjust a bunch of stuff (volume, bass, treble, you hearing yourself, mic volume) easily on the fly. I plugged them into my Macbook to see if I still had the same adjustment while rockin' out and I couldn't. Ahhhh well, looks like they'll remain purpose-driven. Again, a bit disappointing in the lows categories when listening to music, but AWESOME for hearing small things in games. It really makes them come to life!

COMFORT: 4/5

I found them a bit tight. Not so tight that they're uncomfortable, just tight enough to always let you know they're present. The padded headband's a really nice touch.

MIC: 5/5

YES! THANK YOU TURTLE BEACH! I'm tired of terrible boom mics that act like springs and are garbage. Not only is this thing crystal clear for listeners, it's essentially a wire that you can bend and adjust every which way. You should be pitching THIS!

SETUP: 5/5

I added this as a category because I had an older set of Thrustmaster PS3 headphones that you needed an advanced engineering degree from MIT to get up and running. A little 'quick start' guide is included (as well as more wires than you can imagine, though conveniently labeled) to tell you how to wire these beasts to everything. REALLY simple -something not too easy to accomplish for some reason on systems these days, especially the PS3.

In all, I'm pretty happy with them! I'm also hoping that -since they're wired -they'll have an easier time working with the PS4 (yet to be determined), too. If you're a serious gamer that cares about their headphones (and I assume you are or you wouldn't be eyeing a set of $200 gaming 'phones), these should do the trick for quite some time and leave you pretty dag gone happy!

*UPDATE* -This thing rocks so well at voice that I've begun using it for video conferencing/work as well. It really is that good.

Best Deals for Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Ghosts Ear Force Spectre Limited Edition

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program While I typically prefer Turtle Beach's excellent wireless headsets, I elected to give this wired headset a try. In most respects, I'm happy I did.

Setup is a breeze on a PC and a Mac. This is becoming more common, but it's still a huge plus. The challenge is that to get to the point where you can enjoy this simplicity, you nearly become engulfed in a spaghetti monster of wires. Granted that's how wired headsets work, but there are so many wires included it ceases to be a benefit and becomes a real pain.

The sound quality and comfort are where they need to be, but the quality of materials continue a declining trend Turtle Beach has been on. Remember, this is a $200 product. $200 gets you a lot these days, and well, this isn't really it.

Execution is generally solid with lengthy breakaway cords, removable mics, etc, but the mess of these same cords makes a mess of everything. Get the wireless. The sound quality and comfort are on par with this, and if you shop around (look for older models with 5ghz radios, even refurbs) the price is no more--maybe even less.

Honest reviews on Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Ghosts Ear Force Spectre Limited Edition

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program As a DJ and avid gamer I'm always in the market for new and decent quality headphones. I've owned and used many headsets over the years (a few Turtle Beach) and there always seems to be something new for PC, gaming consoles, mobile devices and DJing. As I always enjoy testing out new headphones here are my thoughts on the Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Ghosts Ear Force Spectre Limited Edition Gaming Headset;

Pros

+ Earcups fit firmly and comfortably over your ears.

+ Multi-platform use (XBox 360, PS3, PC, Mac and mobile devices).

+ All volume, treble, bass and mic controls are adjustable via the control box on the cable.

+ Dynamic Chat Boost is extremely helpful when playing multiplayer/co-op FPS games where there are a lot of explosions. Being able to hear an enemy approaching or a teammate warning you in tense combat situations is invaluable.

+ Microphone is detachable which allows use with all of your portable devices.

+ Comfortably padded and easy to wear for long periods, even with glasses.

+ Excellent sound and mic quality.

+ Decent noise isolation.

+ Lightweight and sturdy construction.

+ Lengthy main USB cord.

+ Sleek and nicely designed packaging.

Cons

Build quality of plastic and leather synthetic is a bit disappointing considering the price tag. I would have at least liked to have seen some metal components similar to the V-MODA Crossfade M-100 Over-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone (Matte Black Metal).

Control remote on the cable is a bit larger than it needs to be. It's always falling off of my computer tower at the slightest pull even with it clipped to something.

I found the actual arch of the headset to be a bit too tight after a while which is odd considering I have a smaller head. I can't imagine this being very comfortable for extended periods of time for someone with a larger head.

Steep price point of $199.99.

At the $199 range, the Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Ghosts Ear Force Spectre Limited Edition Gaming Headset for the most part justifies the asking price. The audio quality is excellent and the adjustable controls allow you to find just the right balance to fit your gameplay or listening style. Every video game I've played so far has had crisp and clear highs, mids and lows without ever sounding dull, distant or hollow. I've been playing multiple games (Borderlands 2, Outlast, Bioshock Infinite, Dead Island Riptide) with all resulting in quality sound. I've also used the headset with multiple tablets, mobile phones and portable gaming devices to listen to music and play games with equally respectable sound quality. Finally I thought I'd put them to the ultimate test in sound quality. Good old fashion vinyl on the Technics 1200 turntables. The headset shined here also combined with the ability to adjust the bass, mid and treble on the mixer in addition to the individual headset controls. Using the headset for phone calls was nice and clear so they're easy to recommend for that purpose. I feel that the current asking price for the Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Ghosts Ear Force Spectre Limited Edition Gaming Headset is a slightly high at the moment but justifiable for the sound quality you're getting. Personally I feel that this headset would be a well worthy investment for all your gaming and music needs.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Ghosts Ear Force Spectre Limited Edition

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program

Turtle Beach Ear Force Spectre will make sure you do not miss a sound during those crucial moments. This video is a short comparison of Spectre Vs Turtle Beach Call of Duty: Ghosts Ear Force Shadow Limited Edition Gaming Headset -Microsoft Xbox 360

Review of Zuma's Revenge! with Bejeweled 3 and Feeding Frenzy 2 - Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $12.99
Today's Bonus: 35% Off

My Wife loves the Zuma's Revenge and the Bejeweled 3, not sure if she plays the Feeding Frenzy 2 or not.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Bought this for Bejewled 3 which is a favorite game of mine. Our Playstation 3 was on the fritz so I bought this to use on our xBox 360 to get me by lol. My kids were happy to see their fave games, Zuma and the fish game as they call it, were included just like on our other disc.

Best Deals for Zuma's Revenge! with Bejeweled 3 and Feeding Frenzy 2 - Xbox 360

I purchase this game for my 6 yrs old son. He liked playing it as long as his older brother plays with him. I received my

item quickly. I would recommend seller.

Honest reviews on Zuma's Revenge! with Bejeweled 3 and Feeding Frenzy 2 - Xbox 360

She loves the 3 different games and the different levels and story modes to get all the you need to complete this game.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Zuma's Revenge! with Bejeweled 3 and Feeding Frenzy 2 - Xbox 360

These games are relatively old, but my wife and I still like playing them. Not much else to say about it though.

Best Guilty Party Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $18.15
Today's Bonus: 39% Off

Somehow this gem of a game seems to have drifted under the radar, which is a shame because it is one of the best games of the year.

The game plays out as roughly a videogame version of Clue. After you select your detective (which doesn't change anything but the one liners thrown out during turns), you are settled with a mystery to solve. You can move your character through multiple rooms looking for clues which are shown with big question marks. Searching around the rooms can also find you bonus tokens which can be used to move through more rooms or investigate more items.

Each clue generally launches a minigame, some difficult and entertaining (such as picking locks and breaking combinations), some painfully easily (the bribing minigame is a waste). After you get the clue you try to determine whether it helps identify one of four characteristics of the villian, which can then make a sketch of as you go.

After each turn, suspects move from room to room and bad guys may make things more difficult by turning off lights or locking doors. Playing cards that you earn every turn can help get past such problems.

It can be competitive or cooperative, but the cooperative story mode, which features great and funny dialogue is my personal favorite.

I literally have trouble thinking of a person that wouldn't enjoy this game for a short or long session with others (it could get a bit dry alone). A hearty recommend from me.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Just got this game yesterday and there has been plenty of playing time since then. I have a before and after school daycare and played this game last night to check out how to play. I have to say, it kept my interest long past just trying to get my bearings. The kids are playing now and they love it. You can play the game cooperatively so I have a brother and sister who disagree on everything working together to solve these mysteries. It's stimulating and the mini games are great as well. For me my biggest challenge is finding activities that everyone wants to participate in. I feel like there is a wide range of ages this game appeals to, it is not gender specific and it makes them use their brains. Thumbs up!

Best Deals for Guilty Party

Bought this game a day after it came out, could not find any reviews. Played it with a 13 yr old and 5 yr old GREAT GAME! Both kids love it. The only complaint we have is that it does not seem to save our place in the game. Which means each time we start the game again it makes us play the same scenes over somewhat frustrating but otherwise a great family game.

Honest reviews on Guilty Party

I bought this yesterday the day it came out ! I usually think Wii is good for the kids but I'm never that engaged and they are for a short timethis had the whole family enthralled for ages! It had us on the edge of our seats as we all worked together to try and identify the culprit! Wow what a game, I can't wait till they're home from school tomorrow so I can play again! Kids are 7 and up! Buy it you won't be disappointed! FYI I never write reviews but this was so good I had to tell you!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Guilty Party

I am a 20 year old college student and I thoroughly enjoy this game. It's fun, just challenging enough to make you think, and has a cute storyline. I especially enjoy playing it with my friends on co-op mode. DEFINITELY a must buy for any family with a Wii, and anyone in search of a good party video game!

Cheap Ultimate Xbox 360 XCLAMP Repair Kit - 3 Red Light X-Clamp Fix w

Customer Ratings:

The XCLAMP repair kit includes all the parts necessary to repair an Xbox 360 exhibiting the "red ring of death", or three flashing red lights. After installing the kit, my Xbox was repaired. However, the instructions included with the kit are very poor, and do not include sufficient pictures/diagrams to accurately depict the disassembly of the Xbox. Moreover, the kit does NOT include the following two tools that are required for disassembly:

1/4" socket driver

VERY small flathead screwdriver (I used something typically used for eyeglasses repair)

Perhaps most importantly, the instructions included with the kit actually miss a critical step for disassembly (which requires the 1/4" socket driver). If you are using this kit, I would recommend the iFixit repair guide, which offers much more detailed and accurate disassembly instructions, pictures, and videos.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

First of all I'll start out by saying that this repair kit fixed my xbox 360 like a charm. I didn't have the Rrod, but my xbox wasn't displaying video anymore, so I gave this kit a shot, and I'm glad I did.

I'll start a more in depth review by reviewing the quality of the product itself first. The kit comes with all the necessary hardware to easily take apart the 360 and reinstall the heatsinks effectivly. The "official" xbox360 opening kit fits like a glove, and it holds up pretty well (the only problem I had was that the pointy part to push down the clips on the outside casing started to bend when I was done, but it still did its job well). The kit also comes with extra washers which helped me out a ton. Finally, this particular kit comes with 3 artic silver products to reapply thermal paste to the heatsinks (you may notice several different kits when you search amazon, most contain the essentials to do the x-clamp fix like the screws and washers while some contain various thermal paste). Artic Silver is probably one of the best thermal pastes on the market, so this is why I choose this kit.

Installation...

The installation took me about 2 hours from start to finish, and for the most part the instructions were detailed and easy to follow. I was able to do the whole installation by myself, but for some parts it would help to have an extra hand or two available especially when reinstalling the heatsinks.

NOTE: I would recommend grounding yourself while you do this since you're working with the motherboard directly, and any electronic circuit board can be destroyed by static electricity. You can ground yourself by touching a metal object before working, also it's best to avoid carpet surfaces if you can.

End Result...

At first when I hooked up my 360 and turned it on it still didn't display video. I figured I'd let it run for a little bit for the thermal paste to take hold, and the heatsinks to reset onto the chips(around 10-15 minutes). I then held the power button in until it turned off. Once I turned it back on I was pleasently suprised to see the video displaying on my 360 without any errors.

Best Deals for Ultimate Xbox 360 XCLAMP Repair Kit - 3 Red Light X-Clamp Fix w

I originally picked this kit up to fix a red ring on my current original production Xbox 360. When I removed the casing of the 360, I noticed a lot of dust had accumulated in it and used an air compressor to clean it out. Before I even started messing with the heat sinks I wanted to try and see if the 360 would power up and the red ring would go away. To my surprise It booted up without red rings!

After fixing the current 360 I had an idea to fix the other original production 360 I had kept around that red ringed. I followed the same process as the first but still a red ring. I started going farther in the directions with cleaning off the old thermal paste, repaste, and reclamp using the parts in the kit. Started it up and no red rings!

Directions were easy to follow and kit was what I expected.

If I need to get another kit to fix another 360, I would choose this one.

Honest reviews on Ultimate Xbox 360 XCLAMP Repair Kit - 3 Red Light X-Clamp Fix w

This kit fixed my 360 elite which had a problem where it wouldnt display video anymore. I heard the x-clamp fix would fix the problem and sure enough it did (note: the 360 also had Rrod in the past as well but was fixed and didnt get that error this time).

Thanx for the kit! :)

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Ultimate Xbox 360 XCLAMP Repair Kit - 3 Red Light X-Clamp Fix w

The product arrived much sooner than expected. I wasn't sure at first if this was going to work. Followed the instructions and it worked as stated. ALOT cheaper than buying another 360. Much faster to repair. Trying to find all these parts at hardware and electronic stores doesn't make sense. You get it all at once. Saves time, gas and money.

Review of Operation Flashpoint: Red River - Xbox 360

Customer Ratings:

As a member of the military for the past 22 plus years (retiring end of the year) I have had the pleasure of serving on 6 continents (including Antarctica) and have been in various war zones and in my humble opinion this video game is the most realistic military simulator (for the most part) you'll find on consoles today (Battlefield 3 will take the crown mostly from O.F. later this year). I own or owned nearly all of the military shooters on the Xbox 360 and PS3 (Battlefield 2, Black Ops, MW2, Homefront, OF: Dragon Rising, Sniper: Ghost Warrior, MAG, SOCOM etc...) and this game is pretty good.

Gameplay:

I really enjoyed working with my four human teammates and battling tons of enemies across huge battlefields. Each battle can last for an hour or more and very intense. If you enjoy realistic battles that make you work as a team and coordinate together then you will enjoy this game. Anybody who likes to run around and just fire away with no regard to realism then please go play the Call Duty, Halo and Gears of War series and have fun (they are fun in their own way). I like working together as a team throughout a mission and feel a sense of cohesiveness that can only be found with military squads working together to accomplish the objectives.

Example of what I'm talking about happened on my first night of playing. I was playing with 4 teammates on a campaign mission and one of the teammates was a young guy who told us how good Call of Duty: Black Ops (it is in its own way) is compared to other shooters and then complained about why does this game have such huge levels and why he keeps getting killed. Well when we started are mission he took off like you do in games like COD: Black Ops and we all kept telling him to form up and stay together. He kept saying how good he was and how he prestiged several times (etc etc...)in COD: Black Ops. One of my squad mates said this isn't that type of game and you need to stay together and work as a team or you will get killed. Well he went off and decided to take on the PLA on his own and within a few seconds he was on the ground asking for help. We tried to get to him but we got into our own intense firefight and barely made it to him. After healing him we pressed on and he worked for a while with us and then he decided to go off again (geez Call of Duty and Halo players) and he goes around a building and gets a nice tank shell in his face (no saving him now). I will say after that he never went on his own again. I guess him thinking he was Master Chief came to an abrupt end.

Graphics:

The visual effects are top notch. When you take time to look around (not just at the ground and dirt roads) you will see a visually stunning mountain peaks and clouds, and clear blue skies. The dust up when you're in the heat of battle is very authentic and can obscure your view just like in real combat battles in the Middle East (actually the dust ups are more intense in certain areas). The lighting (sun, night vision, stars and moon) are as authentic as can be. The team went out of their way to make sure you really experienced the utmost realism as possible. The guns, the character modeling, vehicles (Humvee's, tanks, Helicopters, fighters, and other vehicles) are top notch (not perfect, again what game is in this area).

Sound:

I really liked the sound of the various weapons. They sounded just like their real life counterparts. The development team worked with real military units in their country to hear and record the real sounds of the various weapons. So to the naysayers (if any) this game has the sound of the real deal. The voice acting was done adequately and is standard nothing spectacular. I will say that I had to turn the speech down because I was very annoyed with the foul language over and over again. My wife was not happy and told me it was not appropriate for a game to have this kind of language in it. Being in the military you hear some foul language once in a while (a few times a week), but not like this over and over and over again. I would advise you to turn it down or off and if you still want to know what the people are saying then put on subtitles. Because of this I can't let my teenage son play this because it's worse than anything he has heard in school (especially because it's so much and way over the top).

Music:

The musical score is standard and not John Williams or Danny Elfman quality but it works for the game. I will say it has a few moments of great sound and then goes back in the background or off at the right time. So you don't have to worry about feeling like it's you, your squad, and the London Symphony Orchestra taking on the enemy in every battle.

PC Version Comments:

In regards to PC it's still a great game, but as most have stated ARMA 2 is better and I can't disagree with that. Both came from the same starting point i.e. Operation Flashpoint 1, but have gone separately like a fork in the road over the years. They both have dedicated fans who adore them both even if neither one of them are perfect (what game is, except Chess and Stratego!!!).

Closing:

I really am enjoying this game on my Xbox 360 (still checking it out on my PC). I somewhat enjoyed OF: Dragon Rising but a variety issues dragged it down for me a little bit. I enjoy co-op missions and look forward to the expansions coming out this month (free for us who pre-ordered). This game has some incredible moments and intense battles that you'll not forget for a long time.

Listen, if you like running and gunning then please go play Call of Duty: Black Ops and Halo and have a blast (they are fun games). However if you want to enjoy realism then please pick up this game and prepare yourself because you will feel the heat of battles and the whizzing of bullets flying by your head. This game will be my top shooter along with Battlefield 2 until Battlefield 3 is released later this year (and yes all be picking of the next run and gun MW3 later this year as well).

Gamplay: 5 stars. Enjoy working with others who work as a team in these very long missions. Those of you who like COD: Black OPS and Halo will learn painfully this isn't a run and gun type of game. Working as team is crucial to your missions success.

Graphics: 4.5 stars. Sometimes I feel a sense of awe on the beauty of the landscape and special weather, lighting and night effects. The character modeling is very well done (again not perfect but well done).

Sound: 5 Stars weapons, vehicles, and environment, 1 star for foul language and dialogue (yes some of the squad mates AI have funny comments).

Music: 4 Stars. Not John Williams but pretty decent. I'm just glad I don't feel like I have an orchestra right behind me throughout the game (I can't recall experiencing that in any warzone I've been in).

Overall: 5 stars. It has it faults but looking past these I'm very pleased and can't wait to form up again with my squad and fight for freedom once again. Semper Fi!!!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I wrote a big review for Dragon Rising, which I loved and still do, and was excited about this coming out. Having only played it for a few hours, I will try to give the best impression that I can and reserve the right to update this in a few days after diving deeper into it. To give you my frame of mind in writing this review, I'll throw the following out there:

1) Prior military: Tank and then Scout Platoon Leader with 1AD in Iraq in 03 and 04. Some people don't think this matters apparently, but I'll hold that it might make a difference in my judgement of a military based game.

2) I love GRAW 2 and think that the COOP missions were the best part of the game. Great online community worldwide. I hated it's campaign. Too linear.

3) I love the HALO series (ODST is still my favorite) but it's online community is still the most obnoxious one I can think of, but enjoy the campaign more than the vs mode.

4) I hate MW1, loved MW2, and thought Black Ops has been the best addition so far. Campaigns are a bit idiotic, but the multiplayer is setting the standard for what it should be.

5) I loved Dragon Rising. Campaign is awesome and that you can do it COOP was excellent and it was hard! It was gritty and real and fun in that patient sort of thinking mans fight instead of running the board like the Spartan 117 guns blazing.

But, on to Red River:

5 stars for fun? No. It requires too much patience to be that much fun. Halo, Black Ops, those are games that are FUN. This is about the realism (for the most part)and forcing you to think the situation out and fight through it intelligently and viciously.

Sound: Solid. I won't rate it on stars, but with a surround sound system, it's pretty impressive listening to the bullets buzz past or the helicopters orbit around you. I will agree with other posters thus far, the swearing is annoying. Honestly, the characters can't hold a candle to the amount or creativity of the swearing my guys used to come up with, but I don't think any of it should have been involved in a video game. That's realistic too, but it's cheesy and forced here. Once again, some computer guy was watching Aliens and thought it would be cool to include as much Hoo Rah! verbiage as he could muster up because that's what military people do. We swear nonstop and say things like "DEAD!" every time we pull the trigger. It gets annoying. On the plus side, the constant grid referencing from the first has been done away with and when your team mates do speak to you, they actually give you information of value. Give and take. Dialogue is moronic, but the effects are pretty great.

Graphics/Video: Maybe somewhere they slack off here, but I haven't seen it yet. Everything looks well rendered and recognizable up close and from far away. Explosions look good, tracers are eerily good, and the environment is beautifully rendered. I did experience some of that random warping going on though with a PLA rifleman sort of skipping around a courtyard while we were rushing him. Movement seems pretty smooth, human rendering looks good, and the depth of the battlefield is just as good as Dragon's was, if not somehow a bit better.

Menu: Still kind of ugly. It works, but it could be better just to get things rolling. I would say they should look at Graw 2 for inspiration and then plagiarize/ steal it.

Gameplay: This isn't Black Ops, and you're not going to go out and Pwn anybody. It's a COOP game, which is AWESOME! Why? Because it keeps those mountain dew fueled 12 year olds off the servers once they realize they are dumber than the AI you're up against. It's humbling, or should be. Working with other sentient beings to accomplish the mission at hand instead of being glory hound campers seems to bring together a good group of gamers and helps make this online experience a lot of fun. They updated a lot of Red River's actions from Dragon Rising, and I think it's for the better:

1)You get a Splinter Cell like grenade ark now to give you an idea of where the grenade is going.

2)The controls are much easier than Dragon Risings and the squad controls were EXPONENTIALLY easier when you're trying to give an order and felt much more intuitive. You could lose yourself in Dragons order menu, Red River keeps it simple. Think of the GRAW 2 menu over the GRAW 1 menu and how much you hated GRAW 1 for putting you through that nonsense. Same here.

3)Dragons enemies were supermen, and those who played it know the frustration of hitting a PLA soldier 6 times at 200 meters just to see him shrug it off and carry on like those were raindrops you sent his way. They drop now when you hit them, just like you ALWAYS have, which seems a bit more fair to me and much more fun.

4)Realism of the weapons seems pretty on. You still have all the fire selection modes that any particular weapon system has, they sound like they should, produce fire like they should, and the ballistics seems pretty solid as well. Overall I'm quite happy and enjoyed the fact that I raked a house with a M2 .50 Cal and killed the occupant inside.

5) Boundaries: I didn't like that my screen started to fuzz a bit and I was told to get back into my Area of Operations...Flashpoint should let me go wherever I bloody well wish, especially if the PLA forces are using it. I'll figure out how to secure my own area and from where, thank you very much.

6) Vehicles: Those are less prevalent than in Dragon, but you never really used them in Dragon anyways. I wouldn't expect my SSG Marine to crawl into a Chinese made APC or tank and be able to operate anything anyways, so it's probably better it was excluded. This does bring us to AI...

7) The AI is horrible. Watching 2 HMMWVs ram into each other at an intersection is just...well it sucks. I couldn't figure out how to motivate my AI to do the right thing and go around. That seemed to be a limited occurrence, but it shouldn't happen. The ODST guys could drive a Warthog around pretty much anything, so I know the programing exists. The game is made for COOP though! Look at the cover. Is it one guy like all the MW games have been? No, it's four. Get online, make some friends, and enjoy it. The games about teamwork, not some idiot Marchinko-Army of One nonsense. The enemy AI is pretty sharp though, and they seem to understand fire and maneuver quite a bit better than your own guys.

8) This is a 1 person per system game. No split screen. Get online, or you're stuck with the aforementioned idiot AI as your back up.

9) I don't know if this should fall in Visual or Gameplay, but I don't think they have their dimensions down quite right yet either. The 200 meters in the game is a LOOOOOONNNNGGGG way out there, and anybody who's shot much knows about what a human sized target looks like at 200. Makes target acquisition and servicing tough.

10) The ability to alter your equipment now is a HUGE plus over Dragon. So much better...From your demo options to sights on your weapons to a set of MW like perks, you can customize now.

11) You can select your player type before the mission, just like Ghost Recon, and go to work with a good set of toys. If you get zapped or join in, you can select the follow on load out too. I can't express how bad that was in Dragon or how fast I looked for that PLA marksman rifle every board and ditched my M16A2 with iron sights as fast as possible.

That's probably enough for now though. Just like Dragon, I say rent it, and if you like it, buy it and jump into the community for some fun and probably long games. I think it's a great game, and fun in its way if you're patient and intelligent. As another reviewer said, if the Army wanted an Infantry sim, this would probably be it. If you don't think a single bullet will incapacitate or kill you on the real battlefield, then back to COD kiddo. We don't want to listen to you whine or betray our position, and you've probably got that spelling test coming up soon anyways.

Best Deals for Operation Flashpoint: Red River - Xbox 360

This is a very simple game to review:

If you're the kind of person who LOVES Call of Duty and thinks other games are terrible by comparison, this game is not for you.

If you enjoy console FPS games (Yes, console. PC elitists always have something to complain about, especially when it comes to series that began on PC and then moved to console/cross-platform), and you're looking for something closer to a realistic/simulation military game, then this is it! It's not as hardcore as the original PC Flashpoint or the Arma games (the real sequels to the original Flashpoint), but for console players that's a good thing. We've got a controller and a couch, so a more accessible game is better, IMO.

This game is not nearly as buggy as OF: Dragon Rising was, and has MANY feature improvements. Red River is everything I wanted from OF:DR, but didn't get. You can fully customize your loadouts, heal a wounded leg (an annoyance from DR) so you can sprint again, and have a great time playing co-op with friends.

If you want to keep the pure, hardcore feel of previous FP games, you can. Just self-impose some rules on yourself and turn off all your HUD data (the real effect of the difficulty settings in the game). Don't like that the game allows you to heal a wounded leg? Don't do it! Stopping bleeding from a wound and healing the wound are treated in 2 separate steps. Simply stop the bleeding and move on with your wounded limb. Problem solved! Those of use who don't crave the unnecessary difficulty curve or annoyance of limping through a level because of a stray bullet no longer have to put up with it.

Bottom line, if you want a game that more closely simulates the actual experience of firing a weapon in combat, and using tactics and strategy to complete an objective, BUY THIS GAME!

If you would rather have guns with no recoil as you fight off 100+ enemies on your own, can take 50 bullets without dying, and only have to walk around a corner and wait for wounds to heal, this is not your game. That's not the game's fault (as other reviewers would imply), that's just not what this game is about.

Honest reviews on Operation Flashpoint: Red River - Xbox 360

First off, I'm not mad about it breaking tradition, because I never played the original. I'm a Battlefield guy, with some COD thrown in because that's what all my friends play. I'm a grown-up, with the slow reflexes to match...so the high-speed paintball feel of COD multiplayer is really not my thing. I like Battlefield, because it's more about staying alive and taking objectives than COD, where it's run, kill, die, respawn, run, kill, die...

That being said, OF:RR is a nice change of pace. It's annoyingly realistic in places; for example, if you get shot, you'll have a hard time returning fire, because you stagger realistically. If you don't patch up, you'll bleed out. As another reviewer mentioned, there are no friendly red boxes over enemies. Waypoints can be hard to find. Sometimes you just have to hunker down and figure out what's going on. You can order your squad to do some cool things, like flank left/right, lay down suppressing fire, and go to an objective...but that doesn't always help when you have no idea where the objective is.

Game mechanics are a fresh change. As I mentioned, damage is much more...damaging. You always have to keep your eyes open and check your corners. Likewise, you don't have to put a full clip into an enemy to drop them (hint to COD:BO) which is nice.

The drop in/drop out co-op works well. I accidentally left my game 'open' while playing the campaign, and had some random people drop in. At first I was annoyed, but it ended up being fun. And the actual co-op multiplayer has some nice twists, like the 'last stand' game mode, where you keep fighting waves of AI until you decide to call for extraction. The twist is that if you hold out for a higher score and don't make it, you get no points for the match. You have to gamble between low-risk/low points, or going for high score and risking a big goose egg to show for all your hard work.

Honestly, I meant to cancel my pre-order for this game, but forgot. I felt pretty burned when I pre-ordered Homefront and found it to be a mediocre cross between COD and BF, and swore off of pre-ordering. But after burning most of a Tuesday night on this game, I'm glad I got it. It's something different from the two Big Daddies of military FPS games, and that's quite a feat these days.

PS: the voice acting is superb. Filthy and foul, but not gratuitously so. I heard some phrases I haven't heard since the better parts of my mis-spent youth.

UPDATE: after a week of playing this, a quick point:

As mentioned by another reviewer, the AI for your team-mates is weak...I think the 'solo' campaign is meant to be played co-op. It's brutal when you play offline, but much better when you open the lobby and bring in real people. The co-op missions are nothing short of brilliant, but don't overlook the campaign co-op mode. It plays much (MUCH) better with real people on your fireteam.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Operation Flashpoint: Red River - Xbox 360

To start off with this game is not your fast pace close quarter FPS like the call of duty series, And kinda but barely relates to the Battlefield series. This is a military combat simulator where you are a squad leader of a fireteam. So if you are expecting to be that guy who runs around and kills everything and the only tactics you know are run and shoot then you are set up for failure. This game is supposed to simulate an actually combat environment. Its not to see who has the highest kill to death ratio and what level prestige you are. So if anyone is expecting a game like Call of duty don't even bother this game will eat you alive. Now that we got that out of the way onto the actual game review.

Pros

Graphics, are amazing, I dont get why people are being such sticklers about it. Its a video game not real life enough said. But still the graphics are truly breath-taking. The only one thing that pissed me off the most was getting a glare from the sun. Granted its really realistic but can be a pain.

Weapons, they are truly realistic they jam, the muzzle flashes are spot on, The sound of rounds flying over your head and seeing tracers lighting up the sky actually makes you want to duck when you're in the middle of a fire fight. The only one thing I found slightly unrealistic is the sound of incoming or IDF. Me being currently deployed in Afghanistan right now I've had the unpleasant experience of taking rockets and mortar rounds shot at my FOB and in the game they are a tad unconvincing but not a major draw back.

Dialog, Your platoon sergeant has one of the most ridiculously filthy mouths possible, But it is surprisingly close to how we all talk out here, Me personally I talk like a drunk sailor swearing left and right. So I cant complain about it, And not to mention your squad will actually give you good information.

-Music, Is awesome, when you first start the game rolling out on your first convoy they have Symphony of Destruction by Megadeth playing in the background I couldn't think of some better pump up music before your first fire fight other then some As I Lay Dying but that is my opinion. And whenever you get in the back of your HMMWV and start moving out to the next location they throw in some good rock music.

Command Ridicule, Is a lot better and more user friendly the in OF: Dragon Rising, So good job there now only if the AI was good enough to follow the orders you give them.

Gameplay, Is outstanding, The levels are long, firefights are insane, And you can pick the class you want to be (Marksman, Rifleman, Auto Rifleman, Grenadier). And in every class there is different weapons, attachments, perks, and gear you can unlock. They have also thrown in a leveling system which as you progress threw the campaign you unlock previously stated items. And since there are 4 different classes the replay ability is great. You can go threw the campaign as one class and when you beat it you can change to a different one for a different gaming experience. And when you get the opportunity to call off map support like CAS, Mortar/howitizer barrages, and 2000lbs of democracy, Pop a squat and enjoy freedom at its finest.

Healing, When you get hit, You are going to bleed. So bust out that handy dandy first aid kit and patch yourself up or you will bleed out and die. Some wounds will bleed out faster then others and depending on the caliber of the round will also influence how fast you bleed out so keep that in mind, say you get shot in the arm you can go a little bit before you have to patch up before you bleed out. But say you got shot in the chest depending on where it hit you and if it didn't Incapacitate you, you will bleed out a lot faster.

Cons

Your team AI in single player is just ridiculous. You will tell them to hold position behind a wall and next thing you know you have to guys standing in the middle of a street getting lit up like the fourth of july. It can be extremely annoying but life goes on. I can only imagine what it would be like have a full squad commanded by real people but like I stated im in afghanistan and my internet will not let me play on Xbox Live.

I really only have one problem with the weapons and in my opinion they over powered the 5.56 round. I can understand one shot will put you on the ground. But depending on where you hit them its not a guarantee that you will kill them but for some reason I can shoot a guy in the foot with my M4 and it kills him instantly.

this isn't a Pro or Con, But this game is realistic! One bullet in the right spot and your going home in a body bag. You get shot in the leg, and your not going to be able to run or sprint as well as before you got hit, You get shot in the arm, You wont be able to hold your weapon as steady as before... You can see where im going with this. So don't think you can run out in the middle of all hell breaking loose and being able to take a 30 rounds in the chest and be able to crawl behind some cover and you will magically be all good and ready to be a bullet magnet again.

So all in all this games fun value is awesome. There are some bugs with the AI but other then that there shouldn't be anything to serious that interferes with gameplay. And like I mentioned before this isn't Call of Duty so if you where expecting something like that you are sadly mistaken.

Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance - PC Review

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $5.87
Today's Bonus: 71% Off

Supreme Commander (SC) was an exceptional game, and highly engrossing for myself and others who grew up with Total Annihilation. SC had its flaws, though nothing I'd consider game-breaking.

Forged Alliance (FA) is the "kinda" expansion to SC. It does, indeed, stand alone as a game, however many of the options are locked out unless you own SC. This could easily be a bit of a disappointment to those picking it up and not knowing the half-truth.

With that out of the way, should you own SC and FA, you are in for a treat. FA fixes many of the issues experienced with SC. Many of these issues come down to balance. The new faction is a nice addition to LAN games, and the extra units helps the distinction between the existing factions. One thing you'll notice, though, it the new faction's units are less numerous than the old faction's bolstered ranks. Perhaps not being a story-mode available faction was the reason, but it's rather silly. It makes the new faction, already functionally generic, even less identifiable to tactics and strategy.

Regardless of one faction's unit count, the other features of the game are an exciting addition, though players of SC may find the new interface a tad bit odd at first. It quickly becomes apparent the new interface is vastly superior.

If you own SC, I can easily recommend picking up FA. If you don't own SC and are an RTS fan, I highly recommend picking up both.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

I've thus far played through the campaign with the UEF side. A list of changes I've noticed from the original supcom:

-Cleaned up UI. It's much more streamlined. The construction tab seemed a little too simplified at first, but it grew on me.

-Some major unit balances. Nukes have a slightly smaller blast radius and take WAY longer to build (engineer assistance does very little to aid), other end-game options have been balanced to be more employable (ex: Mavor cannon much shorter build time, nuke-sub only takes 8 minutes, all experimentals build a touch faster, amongst other things), mass fabricators have a much lower output, etc. Overall, I like the new balancing more.

-The game handles 2000 units being on screen better than the original in terms of processing speed.

-New units. A brand new alien side and each original side gets a new experimental along with 9 or 10 new units. These new units are unique to each side (ex: UEF is the only side to get a new Tech3 point defense while the other sides get other unique advantages) so it adds to the new balancing.

-Some new multiplayer maps. These maps are nicely polished and as playable as the originals.

-And of course, a new campaign. The campaign is only a mere six missions long (for each side), but these few missions last quite a while due to their difficulty and extensive objectives. On average, each mission took me about 2-2.5 hours to complete on the normal difficulty. The campaign may not be a work of genius in terms of story, but it definetely is sufficient to set a do-or-die tone on humanity's bleak outlook should you fail your objectives. (Then again, it doesn't require too much of a grand story to build up a massive army and bring the pain to the opposition.)

These are top-notch changes and additions, and all quite welcome. However, I don't think they are sufficient to qualify a forty-dollar price tag for this expansion. (Just a few dollars more and you've got a brand new game.) Hence, I am rating this game only four stars. As an expansion, it is one of the best, but priced as a brand new game it doesn't quite deliver the value.

If you find this game for less and you already own the original supcom, consider it a must-buy hands down.

Best Deals for Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance - PC

As of 2/23/12 The CD Key you get for purchasing the DL version or this game gives you SC1 AND SC:FA when activated on Steam. The key you get for buying SC1 on Amazon does not activate on steam at all.

EDIT: APPARENTLY THEY REMOVED THIS DOUBLE-BUY STARTING IN APRIL 2012

However, in my personal opinion, SC2 is a better game. I got SC1 hoping the hardware requirements would be lower for large skirmishes, but they really aren't. SC2 is often on sale on Steam for under $4 as well.

Honest reviews on Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance - PC

The original SupCom was another excellent example of a good game that got too over-hyped for its own good. When it eventually hit the stores, the impression it made did not live up to the expectations (feel free to browse my review on the original game as well).

Its main flows were unpractical graphics (great looking yet unplayable when zoomed-in whereas, the zoomed-out warfare views were bland and generic), as well as strategically irrelevant ground characteristics. Luckily, SupCom-FORGED ALLIANCE is a standalone expansion that THQ obviously worked on improving.

As with the original, SupCom-FA demonstrates its strengths when a great number of units is deployed. After all, war is big and ruthless and this is SUPREME COMMANDER and not...PRETTY BIG Commander; on the other hand, there is no free lunch in this universe.

This expansion sports improved graphics (on both units, shadows and terrain) but this also means higher system requirements that include the effective need for a Dual-core processor.

Just like the original game, SupCom-FA requires a lot of resources to calculate the physics and ballistics in a way that other RTS games would not even touch with a pole.

So, when the number of units increases make sure that your system *surpasses* even the RECOMMENDED requirements (provided below):

· 3GHz Intel (or AMD equivalent)

· 1024MB of RAM

· nVidia 7600 (256MB) (or ATI equivalent)

· 6GB of HDD space

Now, even meeting the above, you canNOT rule out stuttering and freezing. A Dual-core processor is, in my experience, essential and this is a requirement NOT justified by the quality of on-screen graphics. Today, there are many games that do wonders with much lower requirements and this is where SupCom-FA looses its 5th star.

The 4th star was withheld because of the ...cunning marketing locking of the game options although this is sold as a "standalone expansion": hence the pricing at about $40.

Supposedly, one is buying all three factions of the original SupCom as well as the new Seraphim faction. At $40 that would have been a good deal; after all, the original SupCom is barely a year old game.

However, this Seraphim faction is only available in Skirmishes and Multiplayer, and does NOT have a campaign of its own! And, to add insult to injury, the other three original factions are LOCKED and not available in a Multiplayer unless one has the original SupCom!

So, since SupCom:FA is much more enjoyable as a multiplayer, these lockouts effectively cancel out its standalone status and make its pricing exorbitant.

All in all: a good effort but wait for the price to get market-corrected.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance - PC

As of 2/26/2012 buy this one as download version and use the key to activate on steam. You will get a Supreme Commander 1 and Forged Alliance, which means you can get 2 games. Yes is 2 games

Cheap Midway Arcade Origins

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $17.29
Today's Bonus: 14% Off

I was very thrilled to get Midway's Arcade Origins for the Playstation and overall I was very impressed with it.I'm hoping the Midway,Namco,or even Data-East collections make their way to the PS3 consoles...I felt burned when I found out my copies of the PS2 couldn't be played on the PS3.On that note it was very refreshing for this Midway collection at a reasonable price.Our current 'most helped reviewer' has a pretty negative outlook and strays from logic such as the following....

Controller Functions:

Yes the trackball from Marble Madness had interesting reaction to the slightest touch,but the smooth action on the joystick knobs has pretty smooth response too.Same can be said for Defender or Super Off Road which used a steering wheel,as a substitute the playstation's controller and button assignments are well laid out.The reviewer isn't thinking like an adult 'I want a trackball blah,blah,blah' like a whining child.Technology has progressed (and will continue to) allowing these games to be comfortably played on a flexible controller.If you expect the controller styles to be 100% accurate then buy the original arcade game,actually a product like what the reviewer mentioned probably wouldn't be as heavy-duty or would be very limited to range of use.

The Games:

As far as the games some of these I had from the previous Midway Arcade Treasures collections and I felt the library was perfectly consolidated.Root Beer Tapper?it's a very straight forward game but requires speed and serious hand/eye coordination to keep up.Xybots isn't really in league with Wolfenstein 3D or Doom but it's a decent third person person shooter.Smash TV and Total Carnage were decent shooters of the early 1990's but they ate quarters since you got killed so quick by enemies in mass quantities...but the bosses were awesome!Rampage was alot of fun-who wouldn't want to be a ruthless monster destroying buildings and eating while destroying cars,tanks,and anything that can hurt you.I've never been much of a sports game fan but I liked the basketball game Arch-Rivals which allowed you punch another player to get your ball back...playing by street rules.Gauntlet/Gauntlet II was a quarter burner just like Smash TV and though it doesn't hold a candle to the souped up action games today Gauntlet was a tasty delight just as well as Wizards of Wor.Pit Fighter may not have gained as much popularity as Mortal Kombat due to advanced moves and fatalities.But you could move around more and pick up weapons(shurikens,pool cues,knives,and even a motorcycle) and at certain times there are two opponents at once to fight.Watch out for the occassional character who pops out from the crowd and tries to knife you...you can attack them back.Pit-Fighter came out several years before MK and despite the lack of eye candy gave I really liked Pit-Fighter.Galaga was created by Namco and I believe Space Invaders was as well,or maybe Atari...either way Midway/WB doesn't own the rights to these titles so that explains why they aren't included.Every game on this collection has varying fun factors depending on the player and I like this approach of these vintage collections,it really brings something special to the table.

Presentation:

It was pretty cool to see the old original cabinets of these classic games on the game selection screen,it really takes you back seeing them after all these years and the unique character behind these games.For thirty dollars rather than the typical fifty to sixty dollar price for a PS3 game just released?pretty good value.The ability to choose free play settings such as difficulty,number of lives,score bonus does lend flexibility to the settings.

Final Thoughts:

Not that I'm against the video games of today(as a matter of fact my modern game collection consists of first person shooters),but alot are missing something special behind all that high resolution...to be honest I think the newer/hi-tech games have gotten easy to beat.These retro games were more streamlined back then-some were just fun in general to play and some were flat out challenging.Although this isn't an included game PAC-MAN was a great example of a basic retro game..it required very quick hand and eye coordination to survive.The beauty of these arcade collections is they get re-released in higher resolution without sacrificing the natural low-res graphics and even better...no more quarters to burn through!As I mentioned earlier I had the Gottlieb and Williams Pinball Hall of Fame Collections,Midway Arcade Treasures Vol.1-3,Namco Museum Collection and the Intellivision Collection(it was okay but accurately captured).Altogether I spent alot more time playing these collections than the newer games because they prove to have a focused level of enjoyment.Just like the Sonic's Ultimate Sega Genesis Collection-It doesn't quite shine me on like the arcade collections do,but I do miss those my old Sega Genesis at times.Anyways,the Midway Arcade Origins is great and I highly recommend it...5-stars!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

While I had the first two Midway Arcade Collections for the PS2 the price of this made it worth getting as well since I actually haven't played on my PS2 for awhile. There's really not much to say about this collection other then it's a nice nostalgic collection of 80 and some early 90 games for those who grew up playing these either at the arcade or on consoles. Obviously the graphics aren't going to match up to today standards as most are 8bit or slightly higher but it's sometimes nice to play these longtime classics that bring back fond memories of those times for many of us. The collection is pretty decent about 30 games as the collection is similar to the http://www.amazon.com/Sonic-Ultimate-Genesis-Collection-Playstation-3/dp/B001G33V8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365461273&sr=8-1&keywords=sega+collection which is another great collection to have for the older generation gamers. Regardless for those of us who remember these games fondly then rejoice as this collection helps bring back those memories of yesteryear this time on the PS3.

Best Deals for Midway Arcade Origins

This is a great mix of games. I love Defender, Stargate, Smash TV, Sinistar, Wizard of Wor.

The sound effects are my favorite part. If you have an HDTV and sound bar than this is heaven.

I have read complaints about how it is a re release of last generation's but you can't forget that Midway went under and WB owns it now. The games are presented in HD 16:9 so it offers something the other Midway/Williams compilations don't.

Turn off the lights and escape into the wonderful world of the 80's arcade experience!

Honest reviews on Midway Arcade Origins

Nothing gimmicky like 80s music or extra minigames in this package just a solid collection of some of the most addictive titles from our arcade past. The HD conversion process actually makes some of these games more playable as well as the dual stick controls for games like Smash TV and Robotron. If you have an arcade stick games like Defender really hold up well and can be hard to stop. These games are almost all classics in one respect or another you can't go wrong with this bundle.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Midway Arcade Origins

I would have paid the price just for Robotron 2084. Honestly there are only about 10 games in the collection that I play constantly. But IMO if we are honest, we remember that when we went to the arcade, there were only a handful of games that we pumped our money into anyway. Sure, it was fun to have our friends around, 80's tunes on the jukebox, the click clack, of the air hockey tables, and the demo sounds of all the surrounding games all clamoring together... But at the end of it all it was just the favorites that we put our hard earned quarters into. This collection of games is no different. Find your favorites and play them until the controller breaks... Buy a new controller and start again!

Best Turtle Beach Ear Force XP300 Wireless Gaming Headset - Xbox 360 Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $169.95
Sale Price: $128.47
Today's Bonus: 24% Off

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Having tolerated the Turtle Beach X41 wireless headphones for a while, stepping-up to the XP300s has been incredibly satisfying. Turtle Beach seems to have finally provided all the functionality that I've desired (plus some I didn't expect), while improving the overall comfort and feel of the headphones. While a few things have been overlooked, my overall experience has ben positive.

Comfort: I can wear these for hours. The padding on the earcups is very comfortable, and they don't make my ears (or head) warm. The over-the-head band is comfortable as well, but while the headband expands sufficiently to increase size, I still wish they were just slightly smaller. However, they don't fall off and they stay positioned while moving around.

Sound: There are two things to consider regarding sound quality with wireless headphones:

1) the transmission through wireless. These are considerably improved over the X41s I was using. I can't detect any hiss during non-audio segments, and haven't had any issues with interference with other wireless networks (I am running simultaneous wireless-G and wireless-N networks in my home, in addition to 5 Ghz cordless phones). The XP300s run on two bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), and will automatically switch between them based upon interference. Only once in a while do I detect this transition, but it is seamless. No pops, no clicks -perfect audio always.

2) sound output. While these are improved over the X41s, they still don't exactly hit the mark when it comes to the bass response. Overall, however, the sound quality is relatively balanced, with very good midrange (for voices) and decent, if not exceptional bass response. Treble/highs are perfect, from my perspective. The headphones offer the ability to adjust the "tone", so you can boost the bass (or bass and treble, as an option). While there is also an option to increase the stereo field (like an artifical surround sound), I think it stretches the sound too thin.

Connection: I am using this with an Xbox 360. Unlike the X41s, however, there is no optical input on the control device. You have to use any available analog audio output (either on your 360 or on the back of your TV) and connect it directly to the control device. This could make connections challenging in some situations, and the lack of an optical input provides a less-than-ideal audio response. Fortunately, the control device/transmitter is small, and it does provide an auxilary-in jack, so you can also connect an MP3 player or any other device to it. The control unit/transmitter is powered by USB, so you will need a free USB jack in order to power the transmitter.

Power: the headphones have built-in, non-replaceable rechargeable batteries. They are charged via a proprietary USB cable (you'll need another USB port for this). Fortunately, they can be charged while in-use, so a "low battery" warning doesn't mean you need to switch to something else. Unfortunately, once the low battery warning starts to beep, you have no idea how much additional time you have available. Fortunately, I've been getting 15-20 hours from them.

Wireless Chat: These XP300's solve the one problem I've had with the X41s and other similar headphones -they now provide true wireless chat with the 360. The package includes a small bluetooth transmitter that plugs into your 360's controller. It then syncs with the headphones, and transmits audio via bluetooth. From my perspective, incoming chat is perfect, and nobody has complained about the quality of my voice. The benefit here is that I can finally put my controller down, and get up and walk around the room (or out of the room, within about 30 feet), without having to carry a semi-wired controller around with me. I can still hear things and talk to others without being tied to the controller. NOTE: if you are using the 360's "Chatpad", you can't use the included controller transmitter. You will either need to remove your Chatpad from the controller or use the included cable to hardwire your headphones to your controller (which is how the X41s work).

Bluetooth: In addition to wireless chat, the headphones will also sync to a cellphone via bluetooth...and it can handle booth wireless chat and a cellphone connection simultaneously. This means that you can take calls from your phone while gaming -this is incredible functionality that is extremely helpful -no more missed calls, and no more taking a headset off in order to take a phone call.

What keeps these from being perfect? The documentation isn't entirely clear. I spent the better part of 20 minutes just trying to get the headset to sync to its transmitter, because the documentation wasn't clear (just hold the power button down beyond the initial tones). From my perspective, the documentation also seemed to be "backwards" regarding the wireless chat "sync indicator". Like a normal bluetooth headset, if it's flashing infrequently, it is synchronized. I had to experiment using a second 360 over LIVE just to figure this all out. However, once you get everything synchronized, things seem to work quite well thereafter without further intervention required.

I also haven't had much luck with balancing the mix of chat and game audio. No matter what settings I choose in the 360's dashboard settings in conjunction with various volume levels/controls on the headphones, I can't find a mix that works best for me. I typically end-up turning down game audio to compensate.

Overall, I'm pleased with the XP300s. However, I can't overlook the lack of an optical connection, the confusing documentation and syncing processes and indicators, and the chat/game-audio mix issues. They still aren't "perfect", but they hit enough of the mark for me that they are my new favorite gaming headphones.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program

I upgraded to this Turtle Beach Ear Force XP300 from a pair of MW3 Ear Force Bravos, so most of my thoughts and comparisons are from my experience with those.

Set up:

I found these just as simple as other models of Turtle Beach headsets. I set mine up with a PS3, and just as with previous models, you use an included RCA splitter cable, transmitter (XP300 dual-band) and a USB charging cable. To chat via Bluetooth on the PS3, you sync it by going through your PS3 main menu in Settings -> Accessory Settings -> Manage Bluetooth Devices. Start the system scanning for this new headset then press and hold down the Bluetooth button on your headset at the same time. It will beep and the two will be paired. You then need to select this headset in your PS3 Bluetooth menu to start using it. If prompted for a code it's "0000". For the xBox, there is an included XBA Bluetooth adapter that connects directly to the controller to set up Bluetooth chat.

You can also connect music players like MP3 players, iPods and such via a 3.5mm cable (not included) to the transmitter and listen you your music at the same time as hearing everything going on in game and in chat. You can also sync the Bluetooth in this headset with your cell phone (if it has Bluetooth) and use it to answer incoming calls. You just press the Bluetooth button once to answer it and again to end the call. You can also make outgoing calls if need be, however unless you're using voice dialing, you will still be using the phone itself to dial the number.

Pros:

Pretty simple and clear directions in the included handbook. Maybe a little better outlined than in previous versions. An issue in the past for some people during initial set up was the mixing up of the two USB cables, one that transmits sound, the other for charging the headset. Looking similar, if they were hooked up wrong, headsets would still charge but no sound could be heard. To fix this they have made the USB cable that transmits the sound permanently attached to the back of the transmitter, with only the USB power/charging cable detachable. This is bound to save time for people, if nothing else the customer service people who walk customers through troubleshooting set up.

The mic on the headset is nice. Extremely maneuverable and a good length so you don't have it too close to your mouth. It picks up sound very well, so if you have stuff going on in the next room, it's likely those you're talking to will hear it faintly.

The ability to attach a music player via 3.5mm cable is great, You can listen to your music and talk to people in game without forcing everyone else to listen to your music too. I have hooked mine up with my tablet (Kindle Fire), an iPod touch and an iPod shuffle, they all work great. Just plug in and push play on your player and you have your music.

Several pre-set settings for sound.

With the Tone button you get:

1) Flat

2) Bass Boost

3) Treble Boost

4) Bass and Treble Boost

With the Sound Field button you get:

1) Normal

2) Narrow

3) Wide

These setting are definitely needed for different games. I've been listening to the game play through this headset with games like MW3, Heavy Rain, inFamous 2, GTA IV and Uncharted 3. Each game needs a totally different set up to get the best sound. With games like Heavy Rain where it's often very quiet with subtle background sounds and talking, it needs a completely different configuration then games like Modern Warfare 3. So before deciding if you like these, be sure to try out all the different sound settings, since with some games the wrong setting can make the game sound bad.

The cushioning on the headset is ample. It has a very wide band over the head with lots of cushioning, so no problem with comfort there. The ear pads are also very plush, which help keep out outside sounds when wearing them. They keep out sound so well that the only way I hear things going on around me is if they are being picked up by the mic.

To save battery this headset also automatically shuts off after approx 5 minutes of not being used. The battery lasts a good amount time time at about 15 hours per charge.

Cons:

Just a few minor ones.

When playing music with an MP3 player/iPod by attaching it to the transmitter, the music quality is not quite as good as headphones hooked directly into a player. This probably has more to do with the sound pre-sets being optimized for game sounds instead of regular music. However, you do still get decent sound for listening to your songs while playing.

No included 3.5mm cable for use with the auxiliary input. While this isn't necessary for use during game play or for chat, it is needed to listen to music through the transmitter. With a great feature like this and at these prices, it would have been good to have this added in as one of the included cables. If you want to buy one, you're going to need something like this Mediabridge 3.5mm Male To 3.5mm Male Stereo Audio Cable to play music through your headset.

Conclusion:

Large and comfortable headset with easy to navigate buttons, it takes no time at all to adjust the sound to what works best for the type of game/movie/music/chat you're hearing. Two separate volume settings (one for chat, the other for game volume) make adjusting the settings during game play extremely easy, so you don't miss a second of what's going on. This Turtle Beach Ear Force XP300 headset is sure to be a force to be reckoned with in the wireless headset market.

Best Deals for Turtle Beach Ear Force XP300 Wireless Gaming Headset - Xbox 360

This headset is very flawed. I would love to blame it on the fact that maybe I just got a bad set it happens. But I have now returned TWO of these same model. My first set I had for one month and one night the chat stopped working, I could hear others but they couldn't hear me. It also had many problems with wireless chat disconnecting randomly. It was very easy to put it back on by pressing the button on the puck that connects to the controller, but this would happen sometimes over 5 times in one gaming session. Annoying to say the least when you get cut of in mid-sentence. With the second set, the chat disconnected even more frequently and also would come completely unsynched from the transmitter often. After a week it wouldnt even synch at all to the transmitter and was completely dead (even when charging). I've returned both sets and am considering going with a different brand. I like the idea of wireless chat but I refuse to spend more on the XP400's or XP500's just to have the same problems. Very dissapointed in Turtle Beach after this experience.

Honest reviews on Turtle Beach Ear Force XP300 Wireless Gaming Headset - Xbox 360

Pros:

-Very comfortable headset. The fabric mesh is so cushioned and the headband adjustments fit 99% of all heads

-High quality sound. Something that Turtle Beach has always came through in

-Very customizable. You are able to adjust any sound cues possible, as well as how far you want the sound-field

-Many different features. Pick up phone calls with the headset while gaming (dual pairing bluetooth).

You can use the headset with Skype as well. An auxiliary input lets you connect an iPod Touch or any mp3 player to listen to music while gaming

-No interference. New 5GHZ WiFi base station gives you no interference at all

-Fully wireless. The new XBA allows you to chat wirelessly, making this headset capable of using no wires at all

Cons:

-Wish the price would be dropped a bit :(

-At first the headset does not feel the most comfortable, but you will get used to it quickly

Final Verdict:

The Turtle Beach XP300 Headset is definitely worth your money, but it will cut your savings pretty low. The features alone make this headset worth every penny. Having a wireless headset makes it so much simpler to game, not worrying if you'll trip over them. It provides a much cleaner setup. I would recommend anyone to purchase this headset who is looking for a durable, light, comfortable, great sounding, feature packed headset for their Xbox 360 or PS3.

I give this headset a 9.4 out of 10

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Turtle Beach Ear Force XP300 Wireless Gaming Headset - Xbox 360

I bought this headset to replace my Turtle Beach X12Turtle Beach EarForce X12 Headset which had finally gone out on me after a little over a year of use. And to be fair, people had accidently stepped on it a few times and that headset was used for 10 hour gaming sessions sometimes so in all circumstances it help up well. But anyway, for the XP300, I've had it for almsot 2 months now and so far its been working great with just a few minor propblems but first I'll list the pros.

The first good thing about this headset compared to the X12 is obivoulsy is that its wireless which was a god send 'cuz i cant tell you how many times ive tripped over the cords from that X12. Another good thing is that the battery surprisingy lasts for a good while, about 6-8 depending on wether or not I use the mic. It also still works when your charging it too so you dont have to wait for it to recharge. The next good thing is that its easy to set up, just hook up the cables, link up the bluetooth in the headset to the bluetooth adapter and your pretty much golden, its that simple. Another big pro for this one compared to the X12 is that lowering the chat volume actually lowers it this time, unlike the X12. And this one even changes the tone of the sound in the headset.

Now as for the cons, I have a few problems that aren't major but annoying. The first is that the description said I could hook up my phone to the headset via bluetooth to answer calls and talk trough the headset. Well i tried that and my phone wont seem to connect at all to it, though i suspect it has something to do with my phone since i've researched this online and havent really found a lot of other people having this problem. The last problem I have with this headset is that sometimes the bluetooth adapter on the controller disconnets from the headset and I have to re connect. But due to it like only taking 5-10 seconds to reconnect it, its that that big of a issue.

This one right here is neutral since this headset was my first wireless headset of any kind so I can't really judge this category very well. But I found the range on this not to terribly long, I would go to the kitchen to get a drink which is only like 20-25 feet at the most from my room which I game and sometimes the game audio cuts out. The chat audio and mic still come in clear but not the game audio. Like i said i dont know wether this is good, average, or bad range on a wireless headset so I cant say wether this part is a pro or con.

Overall I think this headset is a pretty good upgrade from the X12, though if you want a little more, get the XP500 not the 400. The XP400 is identical to the 300. the only difference is that the 400 has a dolby sound processor. Thats it. So if you want more get the XP500. But anyway ya, espically since they lowered the price here on amazon down to $100 from the $170 its usally at because of the new Xbox One which doesnt work with these headset, its a good deal on this headset if you plan to keep playing on your 360 for at least the next 6 months. So my answer is buy this headset

!

Michael Jackson: The Experience Sequined Glove Reviews

Customer Ratings:

The glove is great visually with its sequins details. If you have petite hands, it's not going to give you a snug fit and will fall from your hand when dancing as you're doing your best Michael Jackon impersonation. I recommend to the maker of this product offering it in varying sizes for women, men, and children and/or making the material from something that will hug the hand for a secure fit.

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

bought this product from a pawn shop in LA. I orginally bought it as a driving glove. it eventually turned into a self pleasure tool. the glitter dots started falling off, and quickly wore a tear into the palm area. I would buy again.