Reviews of NFL® Tennessee Titans Vinyl Skin for 1 Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless

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List Price: $19.99
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Make sure that you notice this only comes with 1 paddle skin not 2. It was easy to put on and we have had these for a year and they are still on there. The color looks good on them. No problems so far!

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Review of Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion - Xbox 360

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I mean, honestly. This game is so huge and vast that if someone were to sit down, play it, "beat it," and then go, gee I should review it, it would be time for the next one to come out. Instead, I'll write a review that I will hopefully update as I progress incase my opinion on the game changes. I've logged a few hours into it so far and right off the bat I know I'll like it.

To break it down succinctly before I ramble, if you've played Morrowind and enjoyed it, even a little, you are doing yourself a great disservice by not picking this up right now. If you were disappointed at Morrowind because it was too big that you felt listless and didn't know what to do, pick this game up. If you loved how open and free Morrowind was, pick it up right now. If you've never played Morrowind, well, read on.

Right away, most of the complaints of Morrowind are addressed. After spending a couple hours in the first dungeon/jail escape, you finally see the light of day and let me tell you, from then on, awe and excitement are around every corner. But, unlike Morrowind, in controlled and, if you want them to be, small pieces. Generally, there were two camps of people who played Morrowind: they loved it because it was so open/free that they could do anything they wanted; or, they hated it because they didn't know what to do because it was so open/free.

Oblivion takes the best of Morrowind (the openness) and makes it more accessible. If you want to focus on the main quest, right as soon as you leave the dungeon there's a red flag on your compass and on your map showing where you need to go. In fact, you can click on that town and instantly warp there, should you want to. In Morrowind, it took a bit for the main story to actually appear. In Oblivion you are thrust into the main story right from the beginning. And, if you want, the story can be started right away and has some pretty exciting moments right away.

If you want to, instead, explore the world a bit, well go right ahead. I did the second option, exploring a nearby fort that had catacombs filled with traps, skeletons and a ghost. Tried my hand at pick-pocketing sleeping guards with unfortunate success. Stumbled upon a bandit camp that didn't like me interrupting their probably nefarious deeds.

It's setup so that if you want to, you can very easily pursue the main quest, never get lost and know what you're doing. However, you can also just set out on your own, kingdom be damned and spend the next 100 hours seeing the sights, exploring the 200+ dungeons, and scaling all 17 or so square miles of the land. As an example, one of my friends immediately began the main quest. He's now a good chunk of quests ahead of me in the quests. I took the explorer route and spent the time looking around, finding the ruins and dungeons, joining the guilds etc. Two totally different approaches, both easy to get into and fun to mess around with.

Character creation is similar to Morrowind. There are a ton of races to choose from, about 21 classes (or you can create your own), 21 skill categories and a large handful of astral signs that give you bonuses. For those who've played Morrowind, there's not much difference here. Its all about choice. How do you want to play. Also included is a fantastic character editor where you can change different facets of your character to fit your desire. Really cool.

Choosing your "class" is important in that it will define how you want to play your character. You have 7 major skills that you can assign any of the 21 skills to. Each "kind" of character (melee, stealth, magic) have 7 skills to choose from. Whatever you put in your major skills determines your "class" and how you level, while the remaining 14 become minor skills that can be leveled up (at a slower rate) and don't contribute to your leveling. Races give bonuses to skills and attributes as does the sign you end up choosing.

As you can tell, the game is about openness. Do you want, be what you want. To a lesser extent, Fable tried this with mixed results. But not until this game have I seen so much openness and ability to do practically what you want.

NPCs are on a 24/7 clock. Each one of the 1,000 NPCs in the game have varying levels of needs, desires and goals. They will carry these out without regard to you. Guards will catch NPC criminals, people will go out and hunt. I've seen a guard attack a wolf that was bothering a passerby. It all feels natural and as realistic as any game right now. Mostly. There are some sore spots. The combat AI for any partners you have can be a joke. Sometimes, they will just barrel forward without regard for the other monsters around you. That can lead to very difficult situations as the AI guards round up more than they can handle, die, and then you have a messy situation on your hands.

Other sore spots include guards with ESP. Apparently, if a person wakes up while being killed or isn't killed in one hit, the guard seemingly knows that murder is being committed. And will rush right to where you are. This has caused me a lot of consternation when I'm trying to finish a quest with guards who know not only that I'm a murderer but also exactly where I am. And will continue to chase you forever.

The interface has been retooled. The journal and your inventory is now much much more user-friendly. Quests show up in a log and you can easily select which quest you want as your active quest. Doing so immediately pops up a red marker where you need to go. You won't get lost. I will say its sometimes a little disappointing when an arrow appears over a ruin that the quest says you need to find. Instead of following general directions, I know exactly where to find it. That's a bit disappointing in that it takes away from the exploring portion of it. Minor gripe, though.

The graphics also help promote this world. Terrific, they really make Oblivion come to life. From the trees in the background, to the tall weeds you pass through, everything is animated and created painstakingly beautifully. Its a real world come to life in virtual form. The physics are pretty decent. I've caused skeletons to explode, people flying backwards with a well cast fireball, rolling down hills. Sometimes, the close-ups of people are a little jarring because they don't look so realistic when you get up close and a lot of them look like they have uber-wrinkles or a skin problem. Aliasing is practically non-existent. When you get a horse, the very very very brief pauses in between loading the outworld area becomes a bit more noticeable because it seems to happen a bit more often. Its still not in anyway shape or form to the detriment of the game and is completely understandable given that the world is so huge, but its there and noticeable.

The sound is also terrific. The voice actors are pretty decent, the sound effects awesome and the music really well done. Traveling through a thunderstorm really makes you feel like its raining, lightning and thundering. The clash of steel on steel is exciting, sparks fly.

The game does stutter at times. In the first dungeon, when I brought out a torch, the game paused briefly as it changed the light levels. Not a huge problem by any means. Placing spells on your directional pad hotkey can become a pain as you ready each spell. Though, I love the fact I can wield a sword and a torch/shield AND cast spells at the same time. Love it. I guess there's some framerate issues, but I have barely noticed them at all. There are some pop-ups with the shrubs etc in the distance but really when the game is generating all of this on the fly, I can forgive some very very very minor quibbles.

Overall, if you are a fan of RPGs, I don't know why you wouldn't like this game. Whatever you bring to the table, it will match you. Whether you want to get lost in a virtual world, discover catacombs that really feel like they've never been found before, just go after the main quest, buy and sell houses, try and become a mercantile genius or even become a vampire, everything is up to you. You can do it all, or none of it.

I will say it's hard to be objective with a game that was seemingly crafted just for me. I am usually willing to overlook minor faults etc when the end product is amazing. Such is the case with Oblivion. Everything about it are things I love. I love the openness that is controlled in that I will never get lost. I can't think of many games that give you so much freedom, but in such a way that you won't lose your way. Absolutely terrific, there's nothing here that makes me not recommend it fully-heartedly for RPGers.

NOTE: I hesitate to even bring this up, but the game has been re-rated by the ESRB as of 3 May 2006. For some reason, they have decided the amount of blood in the game is more fitting of a rated "M for Mature (17+)" game. There is talk of a mod that will strip away the female character's top portion of the clothes. Please know that this does not affect the Xbox 360 version of the game. The mod is downloadable for the PC version, but not for the 360.

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Well, to begin with this game is simply fantastic. I purchased an Xbox simply for this game. It was well worth it. Now I am a big fan of well made RPG's and the Elderscrolls titles are among the best out there. I'm not the quickest with learning the controls but once I do I find that I can fly through any menu with ease. I had heard many a review that had complained that the Xbox controls were a bit too 'touchy'. Well...yeah they are...but let's be smart shall we?....check the Options menu....oooo...look... a slider that controls vertical and horizontal sensitivity. (The default is well over to the over sensitive side) So...a little sliding down here and the problem is eliminated.

The other common complaint I have heard about this game is that the world levels with you. I can fix that too. Now some may be purists and not want to mess with it. But others (like myself) get a bit tired of wolves kicking my highly armored tush all around Tamriel. In the options menu there is another slider under gameplay. It's a Difficulty slider. Yeah...I admit it...I slid the thing down a few notches...but the difference was well worth it. Now, I face enemies EQUAL to my level...instead of two levels above. When I used to walk outside and face a pair of brown bears...I now find a couple of black bears. Still a good fight but one I can at least have a fair shot at winning. And one would imagine the loot would degrade as a result of my slippery slider....well it did change...it just got a little better.

So, I have found that making these two minor slides in the controls and difficulty settings have made this game a thousand times more enjoyable. And keep in mind that it only takes a little tweaking...you don't have to go all the way down to easy...just nudge it a bit that way and the difference is palpable. And I don't always keep it there...when I find that things are feeling too easy I nudge it back up to give me an extra challenge.

So give it a shot and see if it doesn't make all the difference in the world....Go ahead....I won't tell.

One other note on the AI.

I have a very interesting story about it. I was sneaking about in one of the many ruined forts littered about the land. The one I was currently in had a bandit infestation. I am a stealth player mostly so I snuck around the top tier until I could peer down to a large opening below that had 5 Bad Guys hanging about. Well from my dark and hidden perch far above I decided to see if I could take out a baddie or two before being spotted. I chose my mark..(the guy in robes, gotta get those casters first) and shot. I hit with the first arrow, and before I could get off another shot the injured mage started yelling and running about and began attacking his own men (he attacked the two archer bandits...he must have thought one of them shot him) This of course led to the other bandits joining in the fray until everyone was dead....except oddly enough the mage I began with. I then jumped down from my perch and took him out with my blade. But to watch the whole fight happen from above....that was priceless.

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Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionCirca 2006

GOOD:

This game literally has a huge world (and you can explore every inch of it), it rivals that of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA: SA's entire world not just one city). For Example, if you went into the woods in the game and did not use a map you world get just as lost as you would in a real-world forest with no map.

Hundreds of quests (really big and really small) to perform you can skip any you want or do them all, plus you deicide the outcome weather it be good or bad.

Interact with NPC's, there are literally hundreds of them and they are all voiced acted and display emotions on there faces.

A very life like world in which Police chase thieves, wives nag husbands and wolves prowl the woods looking for prey.

Do just about anything you can think of like steal (anything), save people form gangs, fight in arena's, hunt animals, sail ships, become a vampire (pretty cool) or just hang back and do almost nothing the choice is yours.

BAD:

This game may be way to hard for most casual gamers.

The loading in this game is can get annoying, this game will load often and some loads (not all) take a long time. The hard drive cuts down on some loading, but it's still a pain.

Some of the character animations especially those of your character are a little sloppy (but in 1st person you cannot see your own animations so it's not so much a problem)

The Hit Detection (or hit boxes) sometimes doesn't work well.

While the world is huge it's also mostly wooded forest area, which can be a little bland after a while.

Morality seem to play little in the game in terms of your characters development, you can do evil/good act but will not really be considered evil/good in the same way that you see in Fable or Jade Empire. In the end it's more realistic but a little underwhelming.

IF IT FITS YOUR TASTE:

A first person Swords and Sorcery RPG (Click in the left thumb stick to toggle third person mode).

The games theme is very much close to that of the Lord of the Rings books or movie trilogy, by Peter Jackson, other similarities are found in the tabletop RPG Dungeons and Dragons.

This is a do as you please type of RPG (like Fable or Jade Empire), this not anything like Final Fantasy, you pick and you choose the outcome, that said there is little to no character identity outside of your deeds and don't expect a party of other characters who tag a long like in most other RPG's (like Final Fantasy).

GAME ITS MOST ASSOCATED TOO:

Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Fable: The Lost Chapters

Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain

Thief III: Deadly Shadow

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

There is downloadable content missions/quests and areas for this game out on PC and Xbox-Live. Examples being horse Armor, Spell Tomes, The Wizard's Tower, The Thieves Den, Vile Lair, The Knights of the Nine, and The Shivering Isles just to name a few.

The Special Limited Edition (Xbox-360) comes with a bonus disc, which has a lengthy behind the scenes documentary, also on the disc you can view concept art work for the game, plus the limited edition comes with a small book on the history and people of the Elder Scrolls world and you get a real-to-life coin from this games world.

The world in the game if measured in real-world miles would be about 16 miles not including underground areas like caves, crypts, basements, and bunkers, also most areas in the alternate-dimension of Oblivion are immeasurable due to the fact that they are randomly generated and huge.

All Elder Scrolls games are first Person (the other Elder Scrolls games besides Elder Scrolls III where on the PC).

In the game (at the main city) you will see a poster for a gladiator type of fighting arena called Arena, the poster is the same picture found on the box art for Elder Scrolls first game called Elder Scrolls: Arena.

More lots more information go to this link

Honest reviews on Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion - Xbox 360

If you want an overview of the game, look in one of the other reviews, i'll just highlight the good and bad.

Graphics: Best i've seen so far. You can see the trees in the mountains far in the distance, you've got weather, great landscapes, and everything you'd expect from the game.

Gameplay: Very fun. Although i've heard of a few people on forums having trouble with the game freezing (perhaps PC only?), I've had no problems on 360. Players of morrowind will recognize the system, with improvements for quick switching between weapons and spells.

One key change: As you level up your major skills, you gain levels. So do the enemies, so as you level up, the game always stays hard. This means you can complete the main quest at only level 8, or you can be level 30 and have the same (if not more) difficulty wherever you go. This prevents you from leveling to make the end-game easier or make yourself overpowered above anyone in the game. Good thing about this: It keeps you focused on your quest.

Replayability: Very high. Once you beat the game, you can easily create another character that is entirely different, making the game feel completely new.

Overall: Very fun game, and a must-have for any 360 library. Bethesda did not disappoint.

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I bought Oblivion a few days after I got my Xbox 360 and I was blown away. Im kinda disappointed I bought the game as early as I did because now it shames the graphics and storylines of all the other games I own.

The minute I got into the game, after I finshed making my own unique character, I was already astounded by the graphics, The details of the jail cell you are in when you start the game are very precise. I loved the way the chain swung when you used the left bumper to pick the cuff up. After you meet the Emperor you must navigate a large dungen filled with amazing creatures and features.

After you complete the introduction you are thrown into a world where you can do practically anything you want. If you want to fight, go to the Imperial Arena or venture out into the wilderness. If you want to explore, there are an appreciable number of dungens, mines, caverns and ruins to explore, though after exploring a few their layouts start to repeat.

So far I have put in atleast 150 hours and I have still not fully explored the world of oblivion, nor have I completed every side quest. There are atleast 100 side quests that let you do all kinds of things. From fighting elves in the Imperial Arena, to stealing an Elder Scroll from the heart of the Imperial Tower, this awesome game is bound to amaze both serious gamer and nongamer alike. You really get what you paid for, and this is the best RPG of all time.

Cheap Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra

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At first look, Ketsui looks similar to many other shmups out there. Helicopters firing a non-stop barrage of screen filling firepower? Check. Zillions of colorful bullets that need to be dodged? Check. Point items to collect and increase your score? Check. Huge bosses with enough guns to level a city? Check. But its real brilliance is in the game mechanics and level design.

Playing Ketsui is all about aggression. Destroying enemies up close awards higher point cubes, which are used to score. Shoot an enemy from afar for a "1" cube, or point-blank them for a "5" cube. Once you collect some cubes, you can switch to a lock-shot mode (hold down the fire button), which locks in that cube's value for a set amount of time. Thus, you can to bum rush a few enemies to generate high cube values, then use the lock-shot to maximize gains on everything else in sight. There are a few other variables to take into account, however that's the simplest way of explaining it.

The level design is very well thought out with this scoring system in mind. Often against a tougher opponent, a few tanks will work their way down the screen just before that enemy is defeated. You can either concentrate firepower to take out that threat quickly, or break your lock to point-blank those tanks, then return to the tough enemy, and be rewarded with a shower of 5 cubes. Careful planning is very rewarding, and the levels are perfectly balanced for those skillful enough to take advantage of them.

Enemy bullet patterns get vastly more interesting as you progress through the game. Late in the game they start to take a life of their own as they weave and track you in unusual ways.

In addition to the main game, an arrangement or "X-mode" is also included. This changes up the gameplay by adding bullet cancelling and suicide bullets when enemies are destroyed. It seems to be more about pushing your luck to fill the screen with bullets before cancelling them out, which leads to different strategies in how quickly you defeat certain enemies. It's a different take on the game, but it's still really great.

I can't say enough praise for how much fun Ketsui is to play. And at the end of the day, that's the only thing that really matters.

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Neewer 2x USB Charger Cable for Xbox 360 Wireless Controller PC Reviews

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Doesn't charge unless the xbox is on. These little things works as described. No complaints. Cord is about 3ft and will charge during play.

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This cord works great. It is a perfect fit, and I have had no issues charging it. It is about half as long as my other standard charge cords, so you have to sit very close to your TV if you want to play with this cord plugged in.

Best SteelSeries Siberia V2 Cross-Platform Gaming Headset for Xbox 360 Deals

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List Price: $119.99
Sale Price: $105.38
Today's Bonus: 12% Off

I got this headset to replace a cheap Plantronics Gamecom headset that broke because it was made of cheap plastic. Since it works for PC also, and it's $30 cheaper than the regular ones, I bought the PS3-labeled ones.

The first thing to say about these are that they are VERY comfortable. Just as I expected. With a cheap $10 headset, your ears will hurt, but with these, you get comfort. There is no need for resizing as there is a retractable strap that "conforms" to your head.

As for sound quality, also very stellar. Definitely better than the iPod earbuds I was using as a backup after my old headset broke, haha. Music sounds fantastic, I get a crisp sound even when blaring metal at maximum volume. (Probably not good for my ears... hmm...) For games it's a definite upgrade. A game like BF3 sounds very phenomenal.

The mic is retractable and bendable, doesn't get in the way. For the sound quality, I'd say "decent." It sounds good when actively I'm talking but it does pick up background noise. It DOES pick up much less background noise then my old headset, but there's only so much you can cancel out without a little fuzzy thing on the end. I just took the fuzzy thing from my 360 mic and it fits fine on that, works like a charm. But, most games use push-to-talk anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Also, the headset comes with an RCA audio converter... thing... should you choose to use it for your console. Also a 2.5mm cord to use for 360, and a USB in-line volume control.

Now, to talk about my main problem with the headset the cord length. It is rather short, and I have to plug it into the front panel of my computer instead of the back. Even then, I don't have freedom to move in my seat I can barely tilt my head right. Now, you CAN use the included USB in-line cord (which is used for the consoles, I'm assuming). Plug in the 3.5mm jacks into it, then the USB into the computer. It's frickin' long, so I can plug it into the back of the computer and be comfortable. One thing, though, audio coming into and out of it while using the in-line sounds horrible. There is a constant static-y buzz and it makes the mic sound like trash. So, I'm stuck with the real short cord. I angled my monitor and scooted my chair over a bit, and it's okay, but... meh. I was thinking about moving my tower, but, seems like a huge hassle for one headset, right?

It sucks because the one thing I really liked about the Plantronics Gamecom was the in-line volume control, and how long the cord was.

So, overall, fantastic sound quality and comfort, but short cable.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program My gaming world just improved tremendously. I absolutely love this gaming headset. I had no idea what I was missing until I started using it. I use it for the PS3 and the sound effects are incredible.

I play multiplayer shooting games online and this headset helps out immensely. I can hear people when they are close to me. I can hear people climbing ladders or opening doors from quite a far distance. Grenades and gunfire sound so realistic.

I normally just use an ordinary (one-ear) Bluetooth headset and I've never really had a problem with it but switching to this was absolutely worth it. It makes a world of difference. People sound much clearer to me and people tell me I sound really good as well.

I love the fact that you can manually adjust the game and voice volumes separately. This is a very useful feature and the mute button is handy as well. I'm so glad that a mic is built into the headset as well and with it being retractable, that's a nice feature as well. The headset itself is pretty comfortable as well. I would've liked a bit of adjust-ability to make it a bit looser but even without that it's still manageable for several hours at a time.

The only feature that hasn't done anything for me is the "LiveMix". I've tried all 4 setting and I don't hear a difference. There are supposed to be 4 different options: Off, Low which reduces the game sound by 5db when your teammates are talking, Medium which reduce the game sound by 15db and High which reduces the games sound by 25db. This technology is supposed to help you control how much of the game sound you want to hear balanced over the voice communication. I just don't hear any difference but I'm perfectly happy with any setting since I'm able to adjust the voice and game sounds as I see fit.

Of course some people would prefer a wireless headset but the cord is plenty long enough for me. My PS3 sits on one wall and I can set on the opposite side of the room and still have plenty of room. Not having to charge a headset is a plus for me because most of my Bluetooth headsets would need recharged before I was done for the night. I no longer have that problem.

I would highly recommend this gaming headset.

Best Deals for SteelSeries Siberia V2 Cross-Platform Gaming Headset for Xbox 360

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Having used my reliable Sony MDR-V600s for years and years, I was somewhat reluctant to try anything else. Having tried the Siberia v2 now for every game from Call of Duty to Dead Space, I have to say my Sony headphones no longer cut it.

The Siberia's best feature is a built-in microphone. This microphone made my voice sound a lot clearer and sharper when using voice chat or playing voice-commanded games such as EndWar. It worked far better than the bluetooth headset I was using. Better yet is the ability to position the microphone away from your mouth if necessary. Being retractable was another plus. One less thing to keep track of.

These headphones offer separate volume controls for both the game and the voice chat, so it is easy to balance the two in order to hear both. Fortunately the Siberia does not lack for sound quality. Explosions and other deep bass effects are conveyed without drowning out other sounds. The treble is crisp without being too sharp. This is a welcome effect when playing first-person shooters, where there is often a concentration of both.

Overall, I was really impressed with the comfort and quality of the Siberia v2. Offering both a quality microphone and excellent sound reproduction has made these headphones a must have whenever I play.

Honest reviews on SteelSeries Siberia V2 Cross-Platform Gaming Headset for Xbox 360

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program A competitive gamer will have the advantage for total focus and quick responce

with this just released 2011 gaming headset from SteelSeries/Sony.

This is an excellent choice for high quality at a reasonable price.

This headset is compatible with; PlayStation 3 and PSN chat service -Xbox 360

-Mac -and personel computers.

This professional gaming gear has awesome sound with independent voice and audio controls

that nicely support multi-platform gamers with versatility.

There are four levels of SteelSeries LiveMix on all the platforms.

That function helps provide better control of the game and chat volumes and improves the audio balance.

The levels range from:

Off which is an unaltered in-game and voice sound.

Low which is a game sound reduced by 5db.

Medium which is reduced by 15 db.

High which is reduced by 25 db.

The Siberia v2 is a lightweight suspension over-the-head style

that we found stays comfortable even through hours of play.

This full-size head-set has super soft leather earcups that feel like kid-skin leather.

The set has 50 mm driver speaker units that provide excellent sound.

On the left is a pull-out, retractable unidirectional (bends where you need it to be) microphone.

The headset is mostly made of heavy plastic but has some metal parts in key places for added durability.

The over-the-head suspension is metal strips covered with rubber tubing.

Under that is a soft padded floating layer that is against the top of the head.

The outer speaker screens are a strong metal mess for protection.

All jacks have gold coating for optimal contact and there-fore the best delivery possible.

The USB end is standard as well as the RCA audio splitter cable that is included.

This is a very nice headset, it's well made and should last a long time.

This headset was designed in Denmark by SteelSeries in association with the following

world champion gaming teams; SK Gaming Fnatic Team Evil Geniuses and Natus Vincere.

But made in China.

Footnote: Added for convenience of comparison the specifications are:

Frequency, 20 20,000 hertz

Impedance, 32 ohm

SPL@ 1khz, 1v rms, 108 db

Cable lenght headset, 1m 3 ft

Cable lenght audioMixer, 4m 13 ft

Cable lenght Xbox chat, 0.75m 2 1/2 ft

Jack, 3 1/2 mm

Microphone frequency, 100 10,000 hertz

Sensitivity, -44db

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for SteelSeries Siberia V2 Cross-Platform Gaming Headset for Xbox 360

Honestly, I have not played with them on a lot as they do a great job of blocking out external noise. I usually am playing with others in the house so I need to hear in case of an alarm, etc. Great quality but a little expensive.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (COD MW3) Xbox 360 Modded Controller Reviews

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i bought this controller as christmas gift for my son. He loved it. After reading the direction's he had it doing all it was designed to do and was well pleased with it.

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I got this from Gadget Customs about 1 1/2 weeks ago and been using it ever since. It works exactly as described and the instruction sheet is very easy to understand. The 4th quadrant on your controller blinks (rapidly) to indicate that the mod is on. In addition, you will know how fast it'll shoot based on how fast that 4th quadrant is blinking. I only play Modern Warfare 3 so I have mines set on Mode 10 / 25 shots/sec (that 4th quadrant blinks super fast!). They list Mode 1 for MW3 also but I find that Mode 10 is faster.

This controller allows you to shoot semi-auto pistols and rifles in full-auto with just one press of the trigger button! (you don't have to press the trigger for each shot anymore, this is esp. useful for handguns). A little heads up, once your battery starts losing its juice you'll notice the LEDs on your guide button get dimmer and dimmer to the point where you can't see them! This would be a good time to replace your batteries.

Overall, it does exactly what it's supposed to and I presonally like the look of the controller with all black buttons! I also have a MW3 controller (stock) and this one came in the exact same packaging as that one. Order with confidence! Thanks again Gadget Customs! I'm glad I got mines when it was $84!! Woohoo!!!

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It was good at the beginning but didn't last long.

After 4 months of use it started to malfunction.

When I use the rapid fire mode, I couldn't turn to the left. So it was useless having the mode. And now it turns very slow to the left even when I don't have any mode on so controller is useless.

Honest reviews on Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (COD MW3) Xbox 360 Modded Controller

A quality controller, the rapid fire option can give special-needs players with less skill or capacity an advantage. This comes in handy with weapons such as the M-14 which is normally single fire, but very powerful, and transforms them into full-auto weapons capable of inflicting tremendous damage quickly. While most players don't need such an advantage to enjoy the game, the weaker player can rack up kills they normally would not be able to earn, making it more fun for them. Although the controller cannot give an advantage in aiming, movement discipline, strategy or tactics, it can help make the game a bit more competitive for those players unable to compete on a level playing field.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 (COD MW3) Xbox 360 Modded Controller

i bought this product a couple months back. it is a great controller and i love that it has the mw3 shell. at first i thought it would make my snipers full auto but once i read more i new it wouldnt but i still got it and it is worth every penny. not like those cheap 1 month mods it will work every time. there is only one downside it chews through batteries like theres no tomorrow so you better have alot.if you have batteries and you want a long term mod then get this mod it is great.

Reviews of Creative Fatal1ty Gaming Headset

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List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $28.70
Today's Bonus: 43% Off

I play lots of video games on my PC and they've been a lot more enjoyable since getting this headset. The first thing I noticed when I put these on was that they were extremely cushiony on my head. This is both a good and bad thing because it makes them very comfortable, but they blocked out so much noise that I had a hard time hearing even my doorbell or phone ringing. The headset is a bit tight on my head, but I think that'll wear off as I wear it more. The earcups actually swivel a bit in place which makes them more comfortable for people that don't have perfectly symmetrical heads such as myself.

This headset is great for gaming. In fps's like Team Fortress 2, Counter Strike Source, this headset let me hear the direction shots were being fired from with a lot more precision than my previous headset. I could also hear small details in the sounds that I couldn't hear before. The sound in the headset sounded odd at first, like they were quiet or like they were coming from behind me, but after a while they felt more realistic and accurate. I am guessing this is because I am used to wearing any old lousy headset.

The headset is also great for music. I noticed a huge improvement in the quality of the bass from my old headset(the headset I used before, a Logitech Extreme Gaming Headset had almost no bass). I'm not a huge music person, but I notice the little details a lot more easily than with my old headset

The microphone with this headset is pretty good. When voice-chatting on MSN/live messenger, the voice quality is better than when talking to someone with my phone. The in-line controls are in a good position and easy to reach while wearing the headset. The microphone-mute button works fine and the volume control has a good range. One nice thing about it is that you can remove the microphone, which is useful for people like my little brother who rarely need a microphone and don't want it in their way (one thing to note is the first time I tried attaching the mic, I didn't realize it has to fit a specific way into the slot on the headset and accidentally chipped a piece of the plastic by forcing it in the wrong way, but it still works perfectly fine).

This headset is not perfect however. I've found one tiny problem that may occur, though it's not really something to worry about. I have this headset plugged into my speaker, which is then connected to the back of my computer so it probably wont affect you unless you have a similar setup. If I have the volume set to the absolute max on my speaker but lowered all the way on my headset, I can sometimes still hear sound playing quietly through my headset. This only occurs under these specific conditions though, so you should never really have this problem unless you really push your headset's limits.

Overall the headset does not have many flaws and feels great to work with. It's very comfortable and is easily adjustable for different uses. Don't be fooled, even though this headset is a lot cheaper than the other fatality headsets, it still has excellent sound quality at an affordable price.

PS: One thing they don't note on the box for this headset is that it comes with a neat little pouch. It's a bit odd, because although you probably could fit the headset in there, it's not exactly shaped for one so it would look and feel a bit odd to store it there. It's nice quality, measuring about 9x10 inches, but would probably be used for other things besides the headset. It's nice to have laying around the house anyway.

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I'm not sure why but mic/headphones don't seem to be easy to makethey tend to be expensive or lousy or both. This one is the first pair I've bought that I've been happy with.

The ear muffs are comfortable for relatively extensive use. I've used them for about two hours straight without my ears or head starting to hurt or get sweaty. The muffs also muffle out a lot of the ambient noiseit's not noise canceling but it's easy to hear conversations even when the TV is playing in the other room.

The mic works well alsopeople don't hear me breathing but can still hear what I'm saying well. It doesn't get in the way although the connector to the removable mic does get loose about once a weekyou just push it back in and it's fine. I have noticed that Skype thinks the volume of the mic is too low but people I'm talking to say it works just fine.

Now to some of the relatively minor downsidesthe mic switch is hard to see if you wear glasses but don't have them on. The writing and icons are small and written in silver so you basically just have to memorize which way is which same with the volume control which is a small wheel in the same plastic bobble on the headset cord.

The cord is of good length and good qualityno intermittent breakups or breakages yet which is something I can't say about all headsets.

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I have no problem with the sound quality or voice quality...only the product durability. Didn't take long till the left ear started to crackle...then go out all together. The connection in the left ear is failing! I can move the cord around and get sound (or not get sound). This after only a couple of months of use...and it wasn't even heavy use...I've been busy on other things and my gaming time has been reduced. Just beware that if you buy it....you will have to baby it so it doesn't break. But is was great sound and comfort while it lasted.

Honest reviews on Creative Fatal1ty Gaming Headset

I was very happy with the purchase. This headset is a lot better than my older one and I play a lot of PC games. I play a lot of TF2 and Counter Strike, so sound quality is paramount. Sound quality is amazing, I can easily hear the footsteps of players coming and the bass is very good as well. While, the noise cancellation of this headset isn't the best, it does its job and I don't get that distracted from outside noise. The mic is pretty neat too in that you can take it off and you can adjust it easily. Only problem I have is the comfort level of this headset. If I play for a couple hours my ears start to hurt, but I don't mind it much. Anyways, all I'm trying to say is, this headset is worth the money and you're getting a great deal. I love this headset!

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Bought these to use with my Dell XPS M1530. I'm very happy with the sound and am extremely happy with the microphone quality. This headset blows my old 5.1 speaker system completely out of the water, and makes my games sound incredibly immersive. I felt like I was really in Rapture while playing Bioshock 2. The removable boom microphone is very nice and I haven't had any problems with the way it connects or the flexibility. I would buy again.

Edit: More than a year later, these headphones are still kicking strong and comfortable. I've had no trouble with the removable mic, it still works great. I recently tried using these headphones with my stereo amp, and WOW! The sound really pops! It seems like computers just don't have the horsepower to make these cans really sing.

Best Limited Edition Chrome Silver Modded Xbox 360 Rapid Fire Controller Deals

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All I can say about this seller and product is that they're absolutely GREAT! The shipping is so damn fast. I ordered it on Friday and it was here Monday. The controller itself is exactly as described. It is pretty cool to use with the FN FAL on Black Ops and all other semi auto guns. All I can say is if you're looking for a modded controller BUY FROM LIGHTNING MODZ!!!!!!!

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This is a great product, a little confusing to use at first even with the instructions, but eventually i figured it out by playing Xbox. This is a cool controller, it had blue leds and has a rapid fire mod. Although the edge it gives in online gaming is slight, its still cool to use in solo missions vs. the non modded AI. I played online with this controller and i think its gonna be awhile for me to get used to the fact that the controller does the work now, all i have to do is find ammo and point, fire and bam kills seem to be easier. Not sure if it helped in Halo Reach but it sure felt like it did, although i usually get a good amount of kills, using this thing made me get less lol I do know its because I'm not used to it yet and after i do, i'm sure its gonna be killer. Great controller combo and style, can't beat the price. Rapid Fire is expensive depending on the version of it, Version 2 i believe runs the same amount as a new controller, 50-60.00 and this product seems to hit two birds with one stone. Thanks again, ps shipping is AWESOME!!!:)

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This mod controller is great for mw2 and black ops. it has a nice ROF (rate of fire) its really cool that you can change the speed of the rof. this controller sucks for halo, i tried it once and it didn't do anything. this mod controller really improved my gaming, in mw2 and black ops i ended up being top of the list for every round, i advise you to get this controller. its a blast

Honest reviews on Limited Edition Chrome Silver Modded Xbox 360 Rapid Fire Controller

First, I want to state that I almost exclusively play Halo Reach and truth told, I'm not very good. However, I really enjoy the game and was looking to find something to help my 40yr old self compete better against the legions of highly lethal teens and young adults. Enter the above modded controller. Before I go any further, I must first state that this controller does NOT make you an immediate WMD in Halo Reach. Primarily,because Bungie eliminated the potential advantage of all modded controllers in Halo Reach with their "capped max fire rate." So, for those who don't know, there are highly skilled persons that can, and often will still pwn you,even with one of these awesome controllers.

So what's the advantage you might ask? Simple, Accuracy. As any Halo Reach player will account, the tool of trade in Reach is the DMR. If you're like me, reflexes not quite what they used to be, it's very frustrating trying to strafe and aim,all while having to continously pull the trigger button over and over. For me, that extra trigger twitch always seemed to make my shots more erratic. Now, with this modded controller, all you have to do in short to mid range combat is hold the trigger button down and use what "talent" you have simply concentrating on the strafe and subsequent placement of your shots.

Why you might ask, do i state only short to mid range combat? Well, because the mod setting for Halo Reach isn't set to fire at the precise moment of reticle bloom closure. It's "almost" set at the noob "trigger spamming" speed. Now bear in mind, that isn't a bad thing on most slayer map's. I've won many a dmr duels because i simply shot my opponet 5 times faster than he was able to shoot me. Thanks to the strafe and mod. However, for the longer shot, you must forgo the mod and rely on your own shot placemet abilities. Which is still easily accomplished by pulling the trigger as you normaly would without the mod. Now, having covered that, it is possible to reprogram your controller, as explained in the instructions shipped with it, andconfigure it to fire the dmr at the precise moment of reticle closure. For those interested, I believe it to be exactly 2sps. Anyway, set at this speed your dmr will be as precise as a surgeons scapel. You can simply hold down the trigger and the mod will shoot for you perfectly. During tests on forge, I could shoot all the way across any map and never leave but one impact hole. The trade off however, is that is fires considerably slower than what most trigger spammers fire on all close to mid range combat. So even though your shots are more precise, everyone knows that the first 4 shots of a dmr does the same damage whether you're hit in the head or the foot. It's the last head shot that counts, and unfortunately at close range, the spammer will win over most precision mods.

However, this precise mode i programmed is absolutely perfect for BTB. With a DMR set at this firing speed on a huge map, you are almost the above mentioned WMD. Simply zoom, aim and let the mod work for you and you will be amazed at the amount of kills you accumulate. Simply put, almost every 5 shots and you put another one down. However, I do spend90% of my time in regular "vanilla Slayer," not BTB.

I waited exactly one month to write this review, so i could give a few statistics with the controller. As stated earlier I know I am just an average player and I don't claim to be great or even good, so please consider this as I list my poor stats and subsequent improvements in one month below:

1. KD 1.02 to 1.11

2. kills a game 10.43 to 11.01

3. deaths a game 10.23 to 09.95

4. went from a postive 4500 overall kd to over 7000 positive kd in one month

5. in one month alone i have accumulated almost 3000 dmr kills alone, making my DMR kd 18,476 kills and 14,146 deaths.

So, there's my review. Hope it helps some of you who play halo who are on the fence about a controller such as this. It really helped me and I'm not ashamed to use it. If you're already a halo master, well this controller probably isn't for you. If however, you're like me and need a little boost to help you compete, this thing will really work well for you. It does take a few days to get used to playing with this controller though, so plese keep that in mind as well. Also, as a closing note, as with any mod, they are designed for semi auto weapons. Automatic weapons are basicaly useless with this or any other mod on the market. The assualt rifle is adequate, but you will certainly not notice a succinct advantage over anyone else. If you're a hated and often detested Needler spammer, this mod will certainly not be for you. With this mod on, the needler will only fire one needle at a time hehe. Also, on that same token, while the mod is on, you cannot use the beam rifle or overcharge the plasma pistol. However, if/when you get a hold of the concussion rifle you will be a death dealing mofo! That weapon is beast with this mod, trust me!

In closing, i highly recommend this controller to all my "halo buds". This is a high quality product that delivers everything it promised. When i next have money to burn, i will be purchasing myself another one as well.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Limited Edition Chrome Silver Modded Xbox 360 Rapid Fire Controller

Great controller, it has a good finish to it, silver with the blue LED the controller modes are a bit confusing at first but with the intructions and after getting familiar with it your pretty much set. Highly recomend this product 5/5

Review of HKS Racing Controller - Playstation 3

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List Price: $44.99
Sale Price: $35.00
Today's Bonus: 22% Off

I just received the controller and so far it's amazing. Keep in mind that these are simple first impressions, but thus far, color me impressed. Right off the bat the controller itself feels solid. Build quality is easily a 7 or 8 out of 10. The auto-centering wheel is going to be great for oval races in GT5 and the new NASCAR game. For once I can hold a fairly steady racing line, which has definitely improved my laptimes a bit. So far I've only tested the controller with Burnout Paradise and F1 2010. Burnout I noticed the tighter analog stick helped out while on F1 2010 the steering wheel was smoother. The pressurized gas and brake pedals are phenominal, specially on F1. The great thing about this controller is the ability to change setups on-the-fly. There is a little switch on the back that is labeled "NFS/GT" which swaps the Square/X with L2/R2.

For fast maneuvers like in Burnout, the steering wheel doesn't respond *quite* as fast as I would like, but it still works very well. I think the best part about this controller is how versatile it is. With F1 2010 the steering wheel really helped in the middle of turns where I usually have to put a bit more wheel into it and often spin or get really loose requiring me to get off the throttle. Speaking of which, the throttle on the controller compared to R2 on the official PS3 controller is like night and day. Everyone knows how loose the analog sticks and triggers feel on the official PS3 controller. That is all tightened up quite nicely with the HKS controller. Much more control.

With Gran Turismo 5 now out, I have been putting this controller through it's paces and am happy to report it is holding up quite nicely. The steering wheel on the controller really shines through on the license tests where the difference between Gold and Silver can .001 of a second. With the steering wheel I can hold a steady line through the turns which allows me to keep as much speed as possible. What I'm finding I like most about this controller though is how I can use the analog stick for the hard turns but I can immediately switch to the steering wheel if I come up on a turn that requires just a little more finesse.

My only complaints would be the digital led readout...it's not so much a complaint, but rather that I find it useless as I'm paying attention to the screen, not the controller. This leads me to my second complaint; the controller is wired. While InterWorks has included more than enough length in the USB cord (which is gold-plated, MAJOR props for that, excellent connections!), I'm curious to see if they could have possible removed the led and put in a bluetooth chip and small battery...perhaps gen 2?

Overall, I'm really digging this new controller. There are a few racing games coming out in the future that I look forward to more now that I have this controller. NASCAR 2011 for instance should really benefit from this controller. For anyone who can't afford a racing wheel/seat, or who just don't have enough room for a racing wheel/seat, this is a near-perfect substitution. Definitely recommended!

*UPDATE* September 1, 2011 I've had the controller for almost a year now and I still use it every week on GT5. I'm almost always in the top 3 and that's racing against guys with actual wheels. We usually race 4-5 races during our racing night and Over the past 6 months or so, my average finish is 2nd ;) I have since expanded to NASCAR The Game 2011 and the HKS controller works great. I can hold a pretty smooth line through the turns at every track, but most importantly Daytona and Talladega. You can clearly tell the difference between people using a regular controller and a wheel and this HKS could easily pass for a wheel. I've had people complain that I must be using a wheel and I simply tell them to Google "HKS Controller for PS3" and it shuts them up :)

With F1 2011 coming out in less than 3 weeks (can't wait!) I'll have yet another game I'll be using this controller on an almost daily basis. Still "definitely recommended!" :D

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Here is my small review for this racing controller.

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I've been playing Gran Turismo 5 with the HKS Racing Controller for 2 weeks. Here is a list of pro's and con's:

Pro:

Same size as a normal controller

Button layout feels natural

Well built and has a nice weight

Topside has a racecar design

Underside of controller is of a different material and doesnt get sweaty

MACRO button lets you program the controller how you want

Wheel is precise

Wheel snaps back to center

Takes hardly no time to get adjusted to the wheel

Gas and brake pedals improve throttle use through corners

Switches on the underside can easily be changed from GT to NFS

Con:

Gas pedal becomes uncomfortable during a long race (it would be nice if the pedals were made of rubber)

Center marking on wheel can become uncomfortable

LED display in middle sometimes goes crazy (displaying random h's and U's)

Triangle and Circle buttons feel like you have to reach for them (bad if you use handbrake)

These are things that I dont feel are either pro or con:

It is NOT cordless (which is fine with me)

I dont ever look at the LED display

USB plug-in is gold plated

Honest reviews on HKS Racing Controller - Playstation 3

Note: I have only used this controller for GT5, I can't comment on how it works in Need for Speed or other racing games.

I bought this controller for GT5 and have had it for 3 months. All in all I'd say this controller is not that great and I got tricked by positive reviews. What bothers me the most is that the professional reviews (Kotaku, Gameinformer, etc.) didn't address the main problem. The LED display shows the real problem with this controller, it's extremely inaccurate. I would attribute this to the lack of support from Sony, PD, and Eagle 3 (Controller Developer). Someone needs to develop better drivers for this. As is a value of 24 is full throttle. The pedals are also made out of a hard plastic that really dig into your thumb after a few races.

I attempted to drive a F1 car with this controller and found it didn't make things any easier, compared to a normal controller. I may not be the best driver but it's impossible to get the throttle response you need while exiting corners, and the brake isn't any better. I found that even when I was gentle I'd usually end up spinning out. Going back to my previous point, the error in the pedals is exponential, as you get closer to 24, each step is equal to a bigger chunk of acceleration. So while 24 is full throttle 21 is about 3/4 throttle.

The steering wheel was a nice departure from the analog, but after using for 2 months, it isn't much better. It helps with holding constant turns, but that's about it.

Since I bought this controller I tried to like it. I am even still using it now, but that's mostly attributed to my attempt to justify this purchase. I haven't heard anything about future driver support for this so this controller, the newest update to GT5 did nothing to improve this controller's performance. If Sony, Eagle 3, or PD develop drivers for this than the controller is worth it. As is I would not recommend this controller to anyone.

In my frustration I bought a Logitech G27 Wheel, I understand that something like this isn't for everyone, but if your in the market, it's 100 times better than this controller.

I also know that Fanatec offers their own PS3 racing controller, I can't comment on how good it is but it might be worth checking out.

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Great product for racing car games at an affordable price compared to a steering wheel system. This allows you to be more precise with the turning, accelerating, and braking. Great for controlling higher power cars as you can easily control the pressure in acceleration and braking. You also have the ability to memorize different button choice options for different racing setups and change the upper buttons on the fly for different race styles.

However, there's 2 things I didn't like. This controller is not wireless so the cable can be somewhat annoying; but, its long enough to make it comfortable. Last the middle acceleration percentage meter is useless as you really can't be paying attention to that; it's just a cool little feature for cosmetic purposes.

Overall, I recommend this product if you're looking to get faster in the game and be more precise in racing and yet not spend $100s on a good steering wheel system.

Buy Hitman Trilogy (Includes Silent Assassins, Blood Money

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List Price: $19.99
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The Hitman series is wonderfully composed in terms of gameplay, graphics, lasting appeal, and music. All three of these games play differently Silent Assassin being the longest, Contracts being the most confusing (in terms of story), and Blood Money being the most creative.

If you've never played the Hitman series before, you'll find all of this content fresh and new. Contracts is actually mostly a remake of the first game (not included in this Trilogy, there are actually 4 Hitman games). I suggest that you play them in the order of Silent Assassin, Contracts, then Blood Money. The reason being is that Blood Money is the most open-ended of the three, and features the most realistic AI that will not freak out as much as the earlier titles. Although the AI is different in the earlier titles, it doesn't necessarily mean they were worse, but I think you will find that Blood Money will be your favorite.

Aside from the excellent gameplay, you will probably find the music very impressive. The music in these three games were composed by Jesper Kyd, with the help of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra in some of them. Silent Assassin features an overwhelmingly intimidating soundtrack akin to the Imperial March from Star Wars. Contracts features more electronic-style music (not techno), while Blood Money returns to a more orchestral style, featuring an excellent rendition of Ave Maria.

Overall, the Hitman series turned out to be my favorite single-player shooter games. Blood Money is my personal favorite. You'll find that the game has a very high replay value, as you can achieve higher ratings based on your performance in the missions, and there are more and more ways to complete the missions, especially in Blood Money.

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I did not buy the Hitman Trilogy, but I have played every single game in the series and I must say that eidosinteractive did a fantastc job with Hitman. Just recently, I decided to re-download Hitman Codename 47 and Hitman 2 Silent Assassin to add to the other two titles I have (Contracts and Bloodmoney) From the previous comments, it appears that there seems to be some sort of incompatibility issue with Vista Operatig systems. The easiest way to solve that problem is to go to the hitman2silentassassin set up icon/shortcut, right click on it, and go to properties. once in properties, click on the compatibility tab and go to "run this program in compatibilty mode for" area (select the radio button next to it) and select the operating system you want the game to be installed in. For Hitman 2, I selected Windowx XP. Once you do that, you should be all set. The game will install fine and will run with no problems. I don't know whether Contracts or Bloodmoney will run in Vista, but if they don't, just use the above method to solve the problem. I installed Codeman47 with no problems and hopefully I can run it in Vista without having to do the compatibility thing. Hope this helps...

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The trilogy is great. There's something darkly funny about dropping a piano on someone. XD

The gameplay is simply amazing. The Ai is pretty much human or close.

I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a challenge and for those who just love stelth games.

Hitman: Silent Assassins-9/10

Hitman: Contracts-10/10

Hitman: Blood Money-12/10

Honest reviews on Hitman Trilogy (Includes Silent Assassins, Blood Money

If you don't mind using a little stealth, this game is real fun. Great deal.

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This isn't really a review about the games they're all great. Specifically, this review is in regards to the cheap packaging this collection comes in. Don't get me wrong; $13 is an amazing price for these games. However, all Eidos has done is thrown each individual disc into one dvd case. It would have been nice to have Contracts and Silent Assassin on one dvd.

The worst part is that the discs aren't separated they just sit on top of each other, waiting to scratch one another. I was disappointed about this because I was looking forward to getting a nicely put together collection of some of my favorite games, instead of Eidos' overstock thrown into a box. If I wanted to own a stack of scratched-up games, I'd just burn a bunch of pirated games to dvds and stack them in the spool the blank dvds come with. I purchase games specifically to avoid that hassle!

Additionally, the instructions are all in black and white. Another strategy to make the collection cheaper? To me, they make it feel even more like a bootleg copy.

Cheap Yakuza 4 - Playstation 3

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List Price: $59.95
Sale Price: $35.99
Today's Bonus: 40% Off

I had the game yesterday and punched in about 5 hours and will update as I play along. The Yakuza series brings back familiar faces along with new ones.. A Loan Shark,a crooked cop and a ex-con.. Everything almost looks the same but that does not mean it's a bad thing..New areas such as rooftops and underground malls have been added along with new store fronts and hostess bars..Pachenko Slots have been added with a mix of a couple of new games..The arcade shooter is back from part 3 in the sega arcade..The battle system is fun,granted I only been using the loan shark as that is who you start off with.. His dashing kicks and move sets are really refreshing for the series.. As you progress through the amazing storyline you will cross paths with other characters you will play later which I always found an awesome concept..The soundtrack is great barnone.. The city to me now feels more live then it ever was before. If you are in to beat em ups like streets of rage with that element of shenmue with a mix of fantastic film making I say buy this now..Other reviewers really scarred this game for no GOOD reason other then lacking time to do a review to show up for PAX..what a joke..will update when I use other characters

Quick Update: There are multiple Hostess bars. Leaderboards for various mini games including the arcade shooter. Nothing big just forgot to point out.

UPDATE: I'm taking my time with this game but really upset at the lackluster hype for this underrated gem..Reminds me of part 2..Anyway I wanted to mention a few more things but also want to mention I'm still on the loan shark(doing more adventures then missions) The beat them up and flap them back up from the floor to continue combos is great and gives you a a$$ kicking feel. Singing duets and voices for each character really makes karaoke more fun then 3 hands down..Areas hidden at first for certain characters..This is a new element for the series but works well since there are tons of new areas in general..(also once you beat the game everything is unlocked) The key radar really helps when looking for all the keys in the game. Will update again when I get more in depth with the characters..the loan shark I must say is suave just like Kazuma so I can see why they brought him back in Yakuza of the End..

FINAL UPDATE: I am near the end of the road with the main missions and plan on beating it on EX hard when I'm done.. This game will make you Laugh,Cry and anger you at times(not the game itself the bad guys) There are a few characters from the past game that are in the storyline that add to the mix..So many twists and turns people will think you are possessed with your head spinning on wth really went on in this story..I always said Part 2 was my favorite of the bunch but part 4 is creeping up behind it..I am amazed on how well a story on a video game is played out..The sub stories are fun and engaging..The music I'm pretty sure I mentioned it before outstanding,from selection screens to battles the music keeps you motivated.. I will be sad when the series finally hits the end of it's life line..Part 5 is in development and won't release until mid-late next year and for us if we do get it will be maybe 3 years from now.. A solid game,a Masterpiece really..I bought 2 copies in support..Go buy it,don't have second doubts...If you own a PS3 this game should be in your collection..

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I have never played Yakuza series from Sega before and I heard raving reviews and accolades about the series and the 4th installment of the game seems to be awesome so far. Having played about 5 hours, I am already hooked. Before starting the series, I reminisced what happened in Yakuza 1-3 and know the basic storyline so far. As the other reviewers stated, the game is a mix of beat em up, RPG, action and adventure. The cut scenes are top notch although they can get a little bit on the long side. However, the graphics are a beauty and blew me away overall. Everything feels top notch as the movements, environment all seem so real and makes you feel like you are in Tokyo.

There are so many things to do that it makes you worry something has been missed or you forgot to talk to someone. Talking to people (they have green or blue arrows on top of their heads) or even eavesdropping on people is a charming task and it gives you an insight as to what's currently going on. (I've spent 3 hours doing just this) The fighting sequences are awesome and the punches, kicks, throws and grabs are real moves and not exaggerated. You can pick up various objects around you and beat the living crap out of the bad guys. It's a stress reliever for sure after a long day at work. =)

Overall, this game gives you the importance of respect, honor, philanthropy and revenge. Akiyama, the loan shark loans money to people in exchange of volunteer work or other humanitarian actions without charging interest. As the story unfolds, it remains to be seen what happens to each character. (can't wait) I will updating this review as soon as I put more hours to it. I cannot recommend this game more, it's that GOOD! If you are skeptical, Best Buy had it for $39.99 (probably still do) when I bought mine at Game Stop trading in some old games. I have purchased Yakuza 3 given the very good reviews on Amazon and cannot wait til I play it after Yakuza 4 is over.

PROS:

+Amazing Graphics (Production value is very high)

+Cinema Quality Cutscenes

+Great Storyline (so far)

+Character customization/advancing

+Amazing environment interaction (Going in to convenience stores/restaurants/clubs etc adds to the gameplay experience)

+Great characters and fighting sequences (accomplishing missions during fights is rewarding)

+Easily worth the $60 given the hours of addictive gameplay and extras

CONS:

-Need for install on to HDD (Doesn't take that long. Be prepared to read each character's bio about 6 times at the least =)

-Slightly long cut scenes (minor issue)

LA Noire and Catherine are another top notch games that I have pre-ordered so far. Hoping for the best that they turn out like Yakuza 4.

UPDATE 3/24/2011:

This game continues to amaze me. I went through the cops chasing me sequence and that was pretty fun being able to run away from the cops and throw them off when captured from back and run away again is awesome. I was also approached by a soldier named Daigo and I had to chase his pupil down who took my office keys. Chasing after him and ramming him when in proximity also adds to the fun. In addition, you are able to throw beer bottles at him and slow him down as well. Nice! These are some of the "extra-curricular" activities incorporated in to the main gameplay in which adds to the total experience of the game.

I finally had a chance to go to a hostess bar and talk to 3 girls and depending on what you say, they either like you or they leave you and another girl replaces them (at least that's what happened to me). I got 2 business cards from the girls and am totally loving this game even more :). Some nice touches where you can help a "nerdy" (for a lack of a better term) guy score a hostess girl or even help a homeless man with a drink makes you think Sega put extra effort in to this game. Upgrading abilities by utilizing souls also gives your character more moves and learning taunts recovers your heat gauge (so you can perform special moves) quickly.

The story can get confusing at times as the cinematic sequences cross references the Ueno Clan and the other clan whom are families, but in such a way that you sometime confuse this person as Ueno and the other as the other clan member. However, this is not a big issue as just roaming around the city and beating away bad guys, gangsters, visiting Karaoke bars, Hostess Clubs, Convenience Stores, Restaurants and earning experience points by listening to people is the main thing that interests me. I must conclude and say that Sega really has outdone themselves with Yakuza 4 and hope to give their critically (and fan) acclaimed Shenmue series by Yu Suzuki a try as I hope that they re-release it for the PS3.

Best Deals for Yakuza 4 - Playstation 3

i really think sega out did themselves with this sequel. almost every aspect from 3 has been improved and expanded upon. City, NPCs, characters, voices presentation wise have been improved significantly. weather effects like rain have been added. day and night cycle. combat feels and plays alot smoother, but yes sometimes its hard to lock on but its a minor problem. the story and pacing are alot better and flows very well. playing as 4 characters back to back makes the game feel less like a grind or repetitive. each character has a unique personality and back story. i cared what happened to each character. even the Kiryu (main character of the whole series) has been improved with more insight on his back story and even more fighting techniques and attacks. one of the weak parts of 3 in my opinion of the redundant sub stories. there are less sub stories in 4 but they feel significant and not redundant. for note the game is 99% true to its original Japanese content. the only cut content are the opening song because of licensing issues, and a trivia game called Answer x Answer. barely noticeable this game is brimming with content. so go buy it now.

Honest reviews on Yakuza 4 - Playstation 3

This review is going to be quite an undertaking because frankly, I don't even know where to start but I know it'll be overly long. Perhaps you should skip it if you don't like reading a lot of text haha. I suppose I should start by saying that Yakuza 3 was the title that initiated me into the franchise after hearing vague notions of its similarities to Shenmue. I loved the 3rd installment and almost everything about it. We had a great protagonist: sometimes stoic, honorable, calm under pressure, and really just completely bad ass! So when I heard that the narrative for Yakuza 4 was going to be split between 3 other heroes, I have to admit I had my reservations.

This is one of the best video game purchases I've made in a while. I still can't decide which I like better, this or Yakuza 3. As soon as I started playing with Akiyama, I couldn't help but be reminded of some cross between Oh Dae-su from Oldboy and Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop. I believe the moment I knew I was going to love the rest of the game was the cutscene when the appropriately stereotypical mob goons got really hot-headed with him and Akiyama stayed cool-headed and retorted with smug insults. I mean how much better can you get than that? Not only does it brings us into the world of that fantasy, but with main heroes that likable and charismatic, it made me want to see the whole story through with them.

I'm just before the very final section of the game, and I can see how some of the reviews thought that Yakuza 4 had a ponderous quality to the story-telling. It didn't stop me from being engaged though. But the catalyst that makes it work so well, that makes me want to keep watching the story unfold from betrayals to reunions is the CHARACTERS and their RELATIONSHIPS. If I had to choose two things that marks the game's strength, those would be it. And those absolutely go hand in hand. The literal things that happen along the way probably wouldn't mean as much if all these people (including NPCs) had no real depth, life, or passions. Almost all the characters in this game have a personal meaningful struggle and I can't help but empathize with them. And in order to convey all that meaning, is the technical prowess portrayed throughout the in-game cut scenes. Correct me if I'm wrong, but for some reason, I don't remember the rendered faces in Yakuza 3 being as beautiful, subtle, and meticulous. I'm talking about the cut scenes with the voice acting, not the text boxes. Sega has really done something wonderful to surpass the uncanny valley. Our heroes are no longer just angry, or just happy, or just sad. There are many facial hints to their expressions that it's almost lifelike to me. The recognition of irony in Akiyama's face with a subtle smirk, the look of barely concealed savagery with Saejima. At some points, during some of the game's greatest revelations (pun intended), I was disappointed that when a character found out something extremely important, the game sometimes resorted to the text box sequences.

Much of the story plays out in Japanese melodramatic fashion...and that's a good thing! It's a pity that we have this idea that melodrama is something not to be taken seriously due to its over-the-top nature. Just because something isn't merely slice-of-life doesn't take away from the truth of what characters do and feel within the construct of the fantastical, living, breathing world Yakuza 4 gives us. And truth is much greater than being real. Realness is a confined quality, where truth can span the entire spectrum of human experience. So when a character stays behind to buy time so that someone else can escape, confesses to a 25 year old sin, and yes, gets into a fist-fight for the sake of honor and life's duty, there is a clear, strong, and palpable reason why these characters do what they do. In that way, I couldn't help but think of many other great stories that we've been blessed with: Macbeth, Hamlet, Oedipus Rex, many Kurosawa films etc. It doesn't have to fit into our world because the world of Yakuza 4 is so expressive and vibrant that it can hold all those typically "melodramatic" things.

Something else very striking to me is this "institutionalized sexism" I've been hearing about. I'm not talking about this to go on a moral rant or anything but some of it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I don't remember feeling that way at all in Yakuza 3. In time, you'll have played through two mini-games: mini RPGs where you train young girls to be good hostesses and men to be fighters, respectively. In order to make a girl a good hostess, you have to dress them up appropriately, teach them social interaction, and cater to the club-goers' needs. It's like a rather insidious Barbie dress-up game. If you choose the option to allow them to go on a break, they talk on their cellphones like what one would think frivolous little girls would do. On the other hand, when you train a male fighter, you improve his strength, speed, and to an extent, assertiveness. The gender roles are very clear and yet it's the male NPCs in this game who usually come off very approval-seeking and lower in status while they pursue women like trophies. Let me just be clear: none of what I said is a criticism of the game, but I do think it's worth noting. Heck, western games have their own version of it, most likely to satirize it. The fact that this game calls out a real facet of Japanese culture is certainly a credit to it.

The actual gameplay is not too different from the last installment. I get bored easily with fighting games (at least 1 vs. 1 style fighting games like Soul Calibre etc.) but I never get tired of beating the crap out of punks who talk a lot of smack. I suppose what makes it all the more exciting and satisfying, particularly with the boss fights, is that from a narrative standpoint, the bad guys usually have a low expectation of you despite how bad-ass you are. They keep talking as if they can easily kill you and easily outnumber you, and all that does is make me want to fight that much harder. As far as battles among the main players, there is always such a profound mutual respect between the "good" guys and the "bad" guys, that I can't help but admire their individual appeal. Sure, the main adversaries may be twisted by our standards, but it's because they have a vision of how they see their world filtered through their own sense of justice. No two dimensional typical Yakuza bad guys here except for the henchmen which is pretty appropriate. My favorite moments in the boss battles have to be the scripted HEAT action sequences. It's so interesting to me that through a couple of well-timed on-screen guided button presses a la Shenmue or Heavy Rain, it can make you so emotionally invested in the over-the-top drama of battle. When a great punch or kick connects because you happen to hit X at just the right moment, you can't help but feel responsible for it, especially the final battles.

There's been a lot of debate regarding whether someone should start with earlier Yakuza titles if they're new to the series. In my opinion, Yakuza 4 is superior to Yakuza 3...but you should still start with Yakuza 3, or even earlier games. If I had a PS2 compatible system, I would be on those myself (except for the first one, I just can't imagine playing with dubbed English voices). The reason I say this is because much of the emotional pay-off that comes with Yakuza 4 is structured upon the journey you take with Kiryu in the earlier games. You have a greater appreciation for his struggles, as well as his relationships with the likes of Majima, Daigo, and particularly Hamazaki. Sure, for the sake of convenience there are recaps of the first three games and while I appreciate Sega putting those in for newcomers, I imagine it just wouldn't be the same as playing through Yakuza 1-3, or at least 3. When you finally get to the orphanage, you can't help but identify emotionally to what that place means for you considering that in Yakuza 3 you spend a lot of time there. I sort of equate it to watching a show like LOST starting from season 2 or 3. Yeah, I mean you can do it and have your friends recap the particulars of the first season, but it's just not the same satisfying feeling of going through so much history with familiar faces over the course of four games.

That you only spend a fraction of the game playing as Kiryu shouldn't detract you from the game. If anything, it makes it all the more satisfying to reunite with him when you finally get to play as him. Anyway, I realize this is long and probably didn't talk about things in length such as gameplay, sound, etc. but you need to pick this game up. This is one of those games that I would probably tell people is more like an "experience" that you need to have. And when you finally beat this game, you get a trophy aptly called "Thank You". When game creators are gracious toward their fans (like MGS4, Uncharted 2, and now this), it really shows throughout the entire experience. I literally felt like I spent a whole week in bustling Tokyo (Kamurocho).

-----

I'm going to beat this game before I elaborate on some of the more technical points (which are all excellent, particularly the ambient sound and voice acting). I can't bring myself to beat it before I complete most of the sub-stories. I know there's a premium adventure once you beat the game but I know like the last one, I won't go back to it once the main story is finished.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Yakuza 4 - Playstation 3

You either like this series or you dont. If you do, you're gonna love Y4-

Here's why:

Panty-thiefs falling from rooftops to opera music and visions of bras

Hobos put your enemies into half-nelsons

Kidnappers enraptured by fishnet stalkings

Tough Yakuza signing soft ballads

Dont know wtf I'm talking about? Ya, exactly, welcome to Yakuza 4-

This game is nuts, you just walk around and beat the tar outta people, in between beatdowns, there are tons and tons of side stories, collection quests, revelations and .

Seems like everything is here too: All the games, all the hostess quests, all the quirky sideshops, the japanese culture, tons and tons of side stories.

I've put in about 16hrs and I'm like 3.99% done...unreal. There is SO freakin much to do in this game it's crazy.

The upgrade system has changed a little, you now get the 'soul points' per level that you can use or save for the moves/abilities that require 3+ soul points.

And with more 3 new characters to play come new fighting moves, and the heat moves are nastier than ever.

I probably only have so little completed cause all I do is run around looking to unleash these moves on these guys who dont like the way I just walked by them.

Another to mention are the cutscenes. They're kinda deep. Some of the things they talk about arent about the game at all but about life, social issues, economic issues, political stuff...I'm not a cutscene kinda guy but I've always enjoyed the ones in Yakuza for whatever reason.

There is one major problem I've encountered with this game...your first fight in Okinawa. It could just be a mental thing but after 8 tries I couldnt do it and refused to lower the difficulty lol.

In closing, this is how a sequel should be made:

A familiar setting but with more content and new features added in with the old.

The safest pre-order I've placed in years.

Best Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Xbox 360 Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $29.19
Today's Bonus: 3% Off

The Transformers video game for XBox 360 that was released with the first film was designed by Travelers Tails (company best known for Lego Starwars, Lego Batman, etc...). That game had many flaws in terms of control, overall simplicity, etc... It was a typical run-of-the-mil movie tie in game given little effort to work out the kinks or provide players with any depth of play.

This title is the first fruit from Activison's exclusive deal with Hasbro to bring TF console and PC games to market (there will be more time come and not all movie tie-ins either). While this game isn't perfect, it's a big leap forward in many areas. I'm written this review for those who've played the previous game, here's a short-list of what they've improved/fixed.

1. Melee combat is now challenging and viable. You can charge attacks, pull of combos, etc...

2. The targeting system is hugely improved. With primary and secondary weapons.

3. Once a Transformer has been unlocked (after using that Transformer in a mission) then that Transformer can be selected for any following mission (in other words, players aren't locked into playing a specific transformer for certain missions).

3. Each character has a unique ability (e.g. Rachet can heal, Bumblebee can stun).

4. Players earn points and can spend them on upgrades!

5. Vastly improved enemy AI (e.g. they transform and run evade when damaged then come back in).

6. On-line head to head multiplayer with different forms of combat (when you combine this with the improved melee and specialty abilities, it's quite nice)

I've only gotten about 1/4 of the way done with it, but it's almost as if Activision went down the list of players complaints and tried to make exactly the type of game we wanted. It's still a movie tie-in game in that you're playing out the movie, but it's done right.

Not sure what else I would add here. I suppose allowing two or more players to team up in the missions would be something to consider adding in the the next game, but overall this is quite nice. Kudos to the dev team!

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I won't waste too much time repeating what others have said, so I'll keep it short. The game is certainly solid and fun. Being able to transform anytime and actually incorporate it into your attacks is a beautiful touch. The only bad thing is that when transformed into vehicle form, you MUST move, and don't have the ability to just sit there at a stop.

The game is pretty repetitive, the missions are basically the same--drive to this spot and fight a bunch of opposing transformers, mission over. But its fun for a few hours and is certainly worth the rental price.

Best Deals for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Xbox 360

There are multiple reasons why this game is better than the first. Firstly the game is more focused on gun combat than melee combat, secondly you can transform in mid-air using a new unique control, and thirdly new characters for each campaign and a variety of characters as well. Your enemy robots don't have their force field up everytime you fire your gun weapon unlike the first game, which spices up the destruction! This game is challenging and an AWESOME game to play!

Honest reviews on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Xbox 360

Being able to play as a giant transforming robot, whether good or evil, is one of the many childhood fantasies many kids, and nerds, have had. Now you can play as the Autobots and Decepticons in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." The game is loosely based off of the movie but it takes you through a number of missions that aren't in the movie itself. Whether you're an Autobot or a Decepticon, you end up fighting some familiar Transformers on the other team. Some of the missions include: destroying the other team's army and protecting and/or leading the way for allies. It's straightforward, but it's so much fun if you're into Transformers or playing as over-sized characters.

The replay value in this game is a bit better than the first Transformers game. Sure you can still play as both Autobots and Decepticons, but the plethora of missions, unlockables, and achievements make this game one that you can keep coming back to. Not to mention there's a really fun online mode that was absent in the first game.

The controls are redone this time around and are better to handle. There is a slight learning curve if you were used to the controls on the first Transformers game, but it won't take you long; even if you're a novice to these games.

"Revenge of the Fallen" is probably the most fun I've had with a movie tie-in video game. Most video games, based directly off the films, are pretty bare bones and have little, to no, replay value. Not to mention some of them just aren't fun and the controls can be pretty shoddy (Jaws Unleashed anyone?). There are a lot of neat unlockables to be had here, including some G1 episodes. The collection of Autobot and Decepticon icons in each playable area can help you unlock gobs of achievements if you're into increasing your gamerscore.

In conclusion, it's a really fun game that will give you hours of game time. If you're into Transformers, or any sort of giant playable characters roaming around a cityscape, this game is for you. I recommend checking it out.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Xbox 360

This is waaaaayyy different from the previous Transformer game and also much better. Controls takes some getting used to, but thats what the training is for & once you have them down pack, you will have a good time with this one.