WWE '12 Reviews

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I think THQ has done a great job with the latest WWE game. If there is one thing I totally dislike about this game its the fact that the controls are different from the previous game. In SVR 2011, the right analog stick was used to perform the grapple moves. In this game, they've changed that. There have also been other changes made. To make matters worse, you can't adjust it in the options. I don't like the changes they've made to getting out of an opponent's pin attempt. Used to you caould mash buttons to break a pin, but now its more like a mini-game. There is a bar that appears. You have to hold the A button & release it in a small shaded area. This takes some getting used to. Those are about the only negative things about this game.

I like the limb target system in this game. I just wish that you could target the individual legs like you can with the arms. The struggle submission system has been replaced by the Breaking Point submission, which consists of mashing buttons to get your opponent to submit. You also have the ability to perform a wake up taunt. This will cause your opponent to get up in a daze allowing to do your finisher more effectively.

As for the newest customization feature, you can now customize an arena. This feature allows you to customize the apron, the inner part of the ring, the ropes, turnbuckle pads, the mat outside the ring, the announce table, the ring posts, the barricades, & the electronic bill boards. Plus you can also decide what name plate you want to use during the character's entrance (that displays their name). I would have added the ability to customize the stage area such as the Titantron & stage decorations.

When you create a wrestler, you can choose up to four different words that the ring announcer addresses you by. This is very similar to THQ's WWE Raw 2 for Xbox. I wish they would have also used this for the play-by-play commentary name as well. I have a character that I normally create called Jack Hammer. Its cool that the ring annoucer will call him Jack Hammer as he's going out to the ring, but Michale Cole & Jerry Lawler will only address him by one of the limited names listed.

WWE Universe Mode has also been given some better features too. While I haven't played too much into this mode yet, there are some matches that are called "Today's Remarkable Match". When you play that, something will happen. This could be anything from you getting attacked by somebody after a match to an alliance being formed. You can also customize the shows that are being used by changing their logo & the name of the show. While I haven't seen it yet, I've also heard that you can customize which titles are used in Raw & Smackdown.

Road to Wrestlemania Mode is different than last year's installment. Rather than choosing one of six characters to play as, you play in three different storylines. First you play as a villan, then you play as an outsider, then as a hero. The presentation is almost like watching it on TV. The pay-per-view events now actually have a narrator that says, "WWE proudly presents (PPV name)". This is where you will also unlock various items.

This game is a must have for any wrestling fan. While it isn't controller friendly, its still worth buying because of the newer features that it has.

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I enjoy the graphics, smoothness, and the excitement of the matches, but you can read about all of that in the other reviews, and there's no sense in me repeating it. The controls are a bit of challenge for a newbie like me, but that doesn't really bother me.

What I like in particular is that there's a real sense of drama to the matches that doesn't really exist in the previous games, where there's a lot more of one wrestler (or "superstar" as the WWE calls them) dominating the other. But with WWE 12, the method of kicking out from a pin, and the way a match can seesaw back and forth, etc., creates a really compelling tension and excitement each time. I would compare it to a basketball game in which the scoring goes back and forth and one side or the other can still win all the way until the very end, as compared to football games in which the outcome is usually a foregone conclusion way before the end.

I'm also amazed at how they got the facial expressions on the wrestlers so accurately. Part of the emotion of the TV shows (the soap opera aspect, if you will) comes from the expression on the faces of the characters, which of course helps to develop those characters and make the viewer feel more involved.

All in all this game is a must-have for all fans of Raw and Smackdown.

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For this year's edition game publisher THQ drops the Smackdown Vs Raw moniker in favor of the new and simpler "WWE 12" but it's still clearly a continuation of the franchise, and I can't say that there any drastic change except perhaps the controls. Each year there are things to like and things to hate about every WWE/Smackdown Vs Raw titles, rarely do we get perfect or near perfect games (Smackdown Here Comes The Pain and Smackdown Vs Raw 2006 both come to mind as excellent wrestling games) and WWE 12 is no different. It hits and misses in some departments but it's playable and offers some WWE fun.

I like the new controls, when I first heard of them I was skeptical and thought I would hate them. They're a little hard to figure out initially but as with any games it gets easier and now they've grown on me. They pretty much ditched the previous controls and now you use A for grapples, B for strikes etc. and for the most part the controls are just fine. I can appreciate that they were trying to mix up the gameplay a little, the old controls were working fine as they were I think there should have been the option of keeping the old controls at least. The only real problem in the gameplay is probably the AI level. On Road To Wrestlemania the AI can be pretty harsh on you at times and often it's very difficult to execute a reversal. Something about the reversals is just not right with WWE 12.To make things worse, sometimes the game will indicate the need to repeatedly press the A button to regain balance but 95% of the time it never works, no matter how many times you press A. The AI beat me plenty of times and I've had to replay some matches more than I would like to admit. It's "challenging" alright but also frustrating. Graphics are excellent this year and look better than ever. The superstars, their facial expressions, the arenas and the crowds...everything looks gorgeous.

I find most of the problems with the game to be in the Road To Wrestlemania mode. First off, everything is scripted, every match has been pre-determined. You can't lose technically, because the game won't let you continue past a match until you win it OR have the outcome pre-determined that you lost. It's all about wrestling until you either win or beat your opponent enough to press Y and then a cut scene sequence is launched and all you do is watch. While you're backstage you can't run or turn the camera which makes backstage play fairly mediocre. All you do is walk slowly until you get from point A to B (and most of the time it doesn't lead to anything interesting) and sometimes you have to guess where you need to go. The backstage fights however, are fun. You unlock a lot of the roster, different suits, titles etc through the completition of the mode. Add to this the mode isn't all that long; you go on for basically a few weeks per wrestler. I remember when story mode used to be about a year long, leading up to Wrestlemania and all the Pay-Per-View events.

You get The Rock as a free downloadable character with the game already, but I feel roster isn't exactly WWE 12's strong point. There aren't as much wrestlers as I would've expected and not enough Legends and Divas unfortunately. THQ has announced some download packs for Wrestlers like Batista, Trish Stratus, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley and Jerry Lawler but I feel that this is a cheap move from THQ's part and that they should have been included at least as unlockables. Why pay $59.99 and then have to pay extra for superstars that should have been included in the first place? Sad move by THQ. I've noticed that occasionally bugs will happen, but not the kind that freezes the game. It happened twice so far that an opponent performed an Irish Whip in the ring and sent me in a frozen motion in the crowd. One of these happened in an Elimination Chamber match.

I was certainly glad to see the WWE Universe mode again. In the past I would spend hours making my own scenarios in my head and executing them in WWE games. Maybe I'm one of the few who likes this mode but this helps justify my purchase of WWE 12. Create matches is still here and this year they've added create an Arena which is a very cool addition, you can build your own Arena to your liking. Create A Wrestler is for many one of the best aspects of the WWE series and it continues to be excellent here. For me, a lot of the fun is found in exhibition play with some friends defending titles and playing our favorite match types over and over. It never gets old.

The game is very fluid which is what THQ goes for, looks and feels fantastic, and it plays very much like a real wrestling match by which I mean you can interrupt finishers and grapples from another wrestler, you won't just stand there waiting like previous titles. For all its flaws, WWE 12 remains a fun and entertaining wrestling game. The in-ring action is spectacular at times and always appealing. It offers the most realistic possible WWE experience a video game can offer. It even has all the "WWE Presents..." before the PPVs adding to the realism factor. I also like the commentaries in this title. In retrospect if THQ offered a larger roster and didn't try to rip us off into buying wrestler "packs", had a better and longer Road To Wrestlemania it would've made WWE 12 a better game. For all its worth I'll give WWE 12 3-3.5/5 stars, I like the gameplay and I'll be playing and enjoying the game for some time but I think the average gamer and WWE fan should rent before buying this title at full price.

Honest reviews on WWE '12

Excellent game . My kid love it. They stay busy for hours.I would definitly recommend this game to my friends and family.

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The new Predator graphics engine brings the WWE franchise to a whole new level. The Road to Wrestlemania is a little weak, but the game is just pure non-stop fun. Brock Lesnar vs. The Rock. Enough said.

Buy Halo 3 Legendary Edition -Xbox 360

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With the literally thousands of reviews of Halo 3 available throughout the internet and print media, I'll let you decide for yourself. Instead I will focus on merely THIS edition of Halo 3.

First off, if the price tag didn't let you know, this is for serious fans only. If you're a casual fan, or maybe you like having the occasional local match, youd be better off with the Limited edition, or just the normal. This is purely for those who live for Halo.

The packaging is mythic. It's a hell of a lot bigger than it looks in these pictures. The helmet is the size of an adult's head, plus the base. The box is wrapped with a VERY cool Legendary Edition poster, so be careful opening it. Inside it's pretty straightforward. A helmet, a Base, and two DVD cases.

The helmet is beautiful. It's plastic, so it wont weigh a ton, but man, it looks the part. it slides over the base, which is also quite impressive. on the back of it is a serial number.

The discs. first off you get the game disc in a black dvd style case with a darker cover art than the other editions. this disc is identical to all other editions.

the other dvd case has two dvd's in it with special features. one is the same as the limited edition, with behind the scenes, interviews, etc etc. lots of fun there, very comparable to Halo 2's special eidtion.

the 2nd bonus disc has a few features on it, like the voice of cortana going on a PR tour, bonus episodes of Red vs. Blue and This Spartan Life, and a full bestiary which was really cool for any fan of the canon.

the base has a lot of room for DVDs in it. I took out the bonus dvd case and keep halo 1 2 and 3 all in there, they fit nicely, with room to spare.

i think the legendary was originally going to get the metallic case like the limited edition, hence the wider space in the base.

Was it worth $130? yes, but barely. The helmet is what really sells it. the extra bonus features are cool, especially the Red vs. Blue episodes, but unless youre a MAJOR and im talking friggin MAJOR halo fan (as in accounts on halo.bungie.org, read all the novels, own the soundtracks, have downloaded every movie on XBL, and have a Halo 3 Zune) then its not necessary.

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Halo 3 is the game to buy right now. One would think that wouldn't be the case with that monstrous ad campaign that's made it's way not only to Burger King but to the sides of Pontiac cars but believe it or not, this game lives up to the hype and surpasses it in just about every way imaginable.

Whether you play the game in single player mode or online against or alongside other people, you're pretty much guaranteed to be entertained from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed the storyline to the single player game this time around as Halo 2 wasn't exactly the most fun I've had playing a single player campaign. Not only that but you can play with up to three others online in cooperative mode and it's a lot of fun if a little too easy, even on Legendary difficulty. Graphics, sound and control are all exactly what you'd expect from the franchise and they've added so many bells and whistles to all the modes and all the new modes that what you're left with is an astounding package that is pretty much guaranteed to give you plenty of entertainment for the next couple of years, no question.

Now.... here's the question: which edition do you get? I've got the Legendary edition with the helmet and while it is a cool piece of art, it is a little steep for what you get. You get an extra disc of content as well, so it's not like you're paying an extra $70 or so dollars to get just a helmet but it is a lot of money to blow on a game, no matter how you cut it. The extra disc has one feature worth mentioning: a film of all the cinematics from the first two games combined into one two hour plus "movie", if you will. It's pretty cool, not to mention it makes for a good refresher on the events from the earlier part of the story.

I guess it's just a question of how much of a fan you are and whether or not you have the cash to blow. I wouldn't consider this a must-have on the blood of all your children and your children's children but it is kind of cool in a strange kind of way. It's about the same size as a human head and it's detailed and instantly recognizable.

I don't regret purchasing it but at the same time, if you look at the special edition for the upcoming GTA IV, you do notice that you get a lot more stuff (and pretty cool stuff it is) for a lot less. If you've got the cash to blow on it and you don't mind, I'd say go for it but only if you're really sure you want a fancy-shmancy case for your games. And if you don't have space for it, don't even bother.

And no, you can't wear the thing. It's just for show.

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Halo 3 Circa 2007

GOOD:

Four-player online (or offline) co-op Gameplay allows two; three, or four players play through the game from start to end. A co-op player can come into the game at any time and leave at any time (note only one of you will play as the Master Chief, while another will play as the Arbiter, and the other two players will be Elites that work with humans)

Great looking graphics and animation, that look even better then Halo 2, F.E.A.R. and just as good as Bioshock, while these graphics might not look as good as Gears of War do to some people these graphics still are some of the best seen to date.

Intense multiplayer action online through Xbox Live with matches as small as one on one and as big as 16 players (and offline with out using Xbox Live using either spilt screen, or system link). Halo 3 is set up similar to Halo 2 in the sense that you're given a rank when you play multiplayer (this rank can go up or down at any time) this rank is representative of your skill and your matched with others of your skill type, that way new unskilled players and hardcore veterans will not often play against one another, unless they make a special match themselves that ignores rank.

BAD:

Confusing plot to new players of this franchise Playing Pervious games and read the Halo Novels will fill you in on the details, if you are incline to learn them.

No Clan Support (like in Halo 2) This might get fixed in a future patch

Game is considered short to some (Campaign Story Mode).

IF IT FITS YOUR TASTE:

A Sci-Fi First Person Shooter with quick pacing and vehicle combat.

Co-op and online versus/team games is the big draw here.

NEW MODE: Forge is a mode that lets you edit all the maps in Halo 3, while you cannot rebuild the maps themselves you can in this mode, add and take away any and all of the objects from vehicles and guns to spawning points and flag zones. This is all done in real time and you can invite friends to this mode while your customizing the map(s), they can play a multiplayer game while your doing this (instead of just waiting for you) and if you want you can forgo editing the map and join the game at hand as either a player or the map editor (who looks like 343 Guilty Spark), while playing as the map editor you can still add and take away any and all objects from vehicles and guns to spawning points and flag zones any time you want.

NEW MODE: Theater Mode is a video editor that lets you record and play back any and all matches from Campaign, Multiplayer, and Forge modes from the point of view of any player either in first person or third person (even in a orbit-cam where the camera circles around the player) all in real time (you can also pause this at any time as well as fast forward and rewind), even use your camera to fly around the match and see the match from any angle you want, Don't forget you must save your videos before you turn off the game or you will lose said videos. Also you can take a picture at any time and save it to your Xbox 360 then download your picture at Bungie.com.

GAME ITS MOST ASSOCATED TOO:

Halo 2 (Xbox)

Halo (Xbox)

Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3)

Bioshock (360)

Gears of War (360)

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

There are bonus items scattered through the Campaign Story Mode called Skulls getting these "Skulls" will make the game harder (by doing things like turning off radar for the rest of the Campaign Mode your playing it) but will also greatly increase your meta game score for the Campaign Mode.

There are two different limited collectors editions of this game. One is called the limited edition, which comes in a metal tin and has a bonus disc (with behind the scene videos and such) and also comes with an art book. While the other limited edition (called Legendary edition) you will find an art book a mini poster two bonus DVDs (with behind the scene videos and such as well as a collection of all the cut scenes form Halo and Halo 2 and themes you can download to your 360) And the it comes with a plastic Master Chief Helmet to keep your DVDs in (Helmet as big a volley ball).

At Bungie.com you can sign up and pay a small fee to upgrade your Halo 3 account (default is free) to hold more space on their serves for your videos/pictures/clips that you made.

Honest reviews on Halo 3 Legendary Edition -Xbox 360

The Game:

I am not a true gamer. I'm 34 and just can't keep up with the kids. :) Still, Halo is the most fun I've had in years. The music is wonderful, and everything about the game seems to work well together. It's obvious there was a lot of time put into polish and balance. The first time I finished the campaign I couldn't wait to play again. Halo 3 has enormous depth and replayability. As a huge Firefly / Serenity fan I was absolutely thrilled by ... eh, I'm not going to spoil it.

The Legendary Edition:

The helmet is much higher quality than I had anticipated. It's solid, put together with screws (not simply snap-lock), and the paint has real depth. The packaging, while larger than that of the 360 console is good, but not great; it's obviously still paper and cardboard, with some less-than-legendary rough edges and downright cheap molded plastic positioners inside. Microsoft should have hired Apple's packaging designer for this one. The DVD case insert for the game disc is different (and cooler) than that of the standard Halo 3 package.

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The game is the game, nothing different. You can find reviews of that all over the web.

The other special features, like behind the scenes, etc., you can find those all over too.

The HELMET: That's one thing you can't get anywhere else. This review is for people who want to know: is the helmet worth it?

In short: YES

When I first saw pictures of this version with the helmet, it seemed to me that the helmet would be a hollow, plastic, Halloween-costume-type toy. But being a hard core fan, I bought it anyway.

You may already know that the helmet is not full-size. Also, it is not wearable. However, what you can't tell from the pictures is that the helmet is HEAVY and SOLID.

It is not gutted out and hollow inside, but rather it has a slight rectangular cavity that fits over the base (where you can store your Halo games). It comes in the box covered with a special cloth cover fitted specifically for the helmet.

Each one also has a unique serial number (big deal, but still cool).

I don't think of it is spending $130 bucks for the Legendary version; Rather, I think of it as spending an additional 70 bucks for the helmet. To me, this helmet is definitely worth the $70 as a collector's item.

MySims Sky Heroes - Xbox 360 Reviews

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He liked it at first but lost interest quickly. Probably not the game's fault, it's just not something that he was into.

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We have 3 boys ages 5 to 11 and all 3 love this game. It's a game that they love to play that all 3 can play.

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My son love airplanes this is fun game ! For 7-8 yrs he has a lot fun bcs can explore some places and good for kids...

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We got this video because our six-year old son loves simulated flying videos and games AND it's geared toward kids. We're delighted that it doesn't contain swearing, sexual references, or gore. However, watching it makes me quite motion sick (though it doesn't have this effect on our son). And the other characters are constantly breaking over the radio with messages in some nonsense language. There are a number of special weapons that one can acquire but they're only explained in text (as opposed to audio) for a few seconds, so they're easy to miss.

Flying in many video games is somewhat challenging and the same is true for MySims Sky Heroes. Oddly, it requires more coordination and practice than some adult flying games. One of our guests, who is less devoted to flying than our son, gave up on the game after about five minutes.

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Ok, so I bought this for my kids, aged 7 yrs and 9 yrs. They both like playing it and have fun. My husband, however, gets upset when he plays . .says it's too hard to find the targets, etc. I honestly get just as much amusement from watching them as I do him ..

Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller for Xbox Review

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I have been a drummer for about 14 years. I have been around guitars most of my life, but never really felt like learning one, mainly cause hitting drums seemed easier to me. I got this controller about a week ago and I have already learned 5 songs on expert. If you are not very good with rockband/guitarhero guitars, but still love the game for singing or drums, this may be for you. I can't play a single song on the 5 button guitar controller on the expert difficulty setting. But in a week I can play 5 songs, easy songs, but full songs.

SIZE - This this is slightly bigger than a 5 button guitar, but weight wise feels the same.

QUALITY -I haven't had any problems with a button not responding and the strings are steel coated with nylon, which seem like cheap plastic from the sound they give off. But they are durable, they just sound like plastic. I don't mind this because they are infinitely quieter than uncoated strings. But make no mistake, this IS a plastic guitar controller.

NEW features -With songs that have Pro guitar/bass charting you can practice the song like normal. But there is a new trainer unique to each song under the "learn to play song" section. Here the song is broken down to its basic components. For example the song "The Hardest button to Button" only had 3 components. You practice these components as you would a beat or fill in the drum trainer. Once you master the components you go to practice song and place them where they go and bahdabingbahdaboom you now know a song.

CONS -None that I have noticed so far. But I am not too familiar with guitars so I may never notice. A friend of mine that came by to give it a shred said that with strings you can feel which string you are on easier cause on a "real" guitar the strings are different thicknesses. On this its just 17 frets of buttons, all the same size. (thickness, not width) But he loved this anyway, cause he learned to play a song he likes and has never tried to play before.

If anyone has a specific question about this, or even about the software (the game rockband) just ask here and i will answer asap. :)

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First off let me just get this out of the way. I did not purchase this from Amazon, I purchased it from Gameshark.com and have had it for about 2 weeks now.

I was incredibly skeptical about this guitar when I first heard about it. "A plastic six string guitar? How's that supposed to work?" However, I heard nothing but good things about this guitar over at the Rock Band forums so I knew I had to actually try this for myself. So essentially this is a plastic guitar that has 102 buttons that is supposed to mimic a 6-stringed, 17 fretted guitar. The neck has numbers on each edge by the 3rd fret,the 5th fret, and so-on, similar to real guitar so you have a guide to where which numbered fret is where. As far as the rest of the buttons are concerned, you have the A, B, X, and Y buttons on the right side of the pick guard, and you have your start, back and guide buttons on the left side of the pick guard. If you are left handed like me, this layout is unfortunately terrible because instead of the buttons being located directly below the strings where they're easy to reach, they are instead located under your arm pit essentially. This isn't a big deal, but it's incredibly annoying if you're a south paw. One of my absolute favorite features of this guitar is how you can disassemble it into three pieces. You can easily pull the entire neck out of the body of the guitar, and you can also easily take the head stock off of the neck, unlike the RB3 Stratocaster where trying to remove the head stock is a chore.

Now down to playing the guitar. Like I said before it has six plastic strings that are all the same gauge or thickness, which is different from a real guitar of course, but I'm glad that they took this route so us leftys could try pro mode. This unfortunately is a bit of a problem, because on a real guitar you can tell what string you're playing by feeling how thick it is, but now since both the strings and the buttons are all the same gauge, it's harder to tell what you're playing without looking at the guitar. Another thing that's lost in translation with this guitar is the lack of vibration from the strings. Again, when playing a real guitar whenever you pluck a string it vibrates and you can tell if you're putting your finger on the right string on the fret board based on the vibration. Since this obviously can't happen with this plastic guitar, unavoidably there will be situations where you'll have your finger on the right button, but you'll be plucking the wrong string. This isn't a deal breaker, but it can cause some confusion. And now for my last little gripe about playing this guitar, the strumming. This may vary from person to person, but I find that trying to strum a string quickly can be quite difficult when done continuously. On a real guitar, yes I'm a broken record, when strumming a string quickly you usually only graze the string when you play it, but this technique won't work particularly well on the Mustang since it's wont pick up light strums most of the time.

At the end of the day, the Mustang is a really fun peripheral to use. It's awfully similar to a real guitar, and it's incredibly fun to use. I really wish this guitar wasn't so darn expensive though. $150 seems awfully steep for a plastic guitar, but it does have over 100 buttons so I suppose it's pretty expensive to make. If you have any desire to learn guitar or bass, then this is easily one of the most entertaining ways to do so. I know Madcatz has a pretty bad reputation when it comes to their products, but this guitar is a quality item. I will definitely update this review if anything goes wrong with it however.

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First and foremost, the guitar does appear to work as advertised, however I bought it about a week ago and will be sending back tomorrow. I am familar with playing the guitar (not tons of experience, but can play a hadful of tunes) so I figured this would be a good way to enjoy Rock Band 3 and get some practice in at the same time.

I didn't realize just how much the fact that the strings at the bottom and the fret buttons were all the same size would throw me off. All of the strings are the same thickness/size (probably so they'll stay strong and won't break since there doesn't appear to be a way to change them), and this makes playing while staring at the TV extrememly difficult. Every string and button feels exactly the same, so it's difficult to play by feel.

Also, the guitar seems a lot heavier in the neck, and this kind of threw the balance off whenever I would play. Make sense due to the amount of wiring / etc. that i am sure is in the neck, but still pretty annoying.

I'm not saying that someone who kept trying couldn't maybe get used to it, but at this price why risk it? I'll be buying the actual guitar when it comes out later this year since this didn't work out. I felt bad about giving it two stars since it works as it should, etc. but two stars means "I don't like it" and that's the best description I would give it really. While it is an interesting idea, I can't see any reason to recommend this over the actual guitar Fender will be putting out later this year, especially after having used this one.

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I was a bit worried when I heard that Madcatz was doing the hardware for this RB3 Pro Guitar. Although Madcatz has improved their hardware over the years, I knew this pro guitar needed to be solid and with this many buttons, it had to have good quality.

Well the quality is very good overall and the body, buttons, and strings have a solid feel. The one area where the design is a bit weak is in the knobs that hold the strap, especially the one you screw is directly in the seem of the body and can easily push apart the seem of the guitar and not lock tight. To fix this, I just used a helping of Duco Cement. Now this means that I can no flip the strap to the lefty side but I can live with that and I don't have to worry about this knob popping out.

I also had to screw in a few of the top screws of the body (this was why the knob did not fit right) because it seemed one of the body screws was not fully seated. But I suspect this manufacturing glitch may not be that common.

Other than that, the guitar feels very solid for a plastic game controller. Much more solid and polished feel than I would have expected. Sure its an expensive game controller but its fairly complex piece of hardware and they did a very good job with making the buttons, neck, etc all feel like a guitar. Lighter and not quite as big as a guitar, but the fret distances are pretty much spot on.

One thing to note is that this guitar can be used in standard guitar modes and thats a good way to get a feel for the different fret spacing but the main purpose of this guitar is using pro mode to learn guitar. If you just want to play Rock Band with the best standard controller, this is not it. This guitar is for pro-mode and pro-mode has a much steeper learning curve than the standard Rock Band game. And for that purpose, this guitar delivers!

Pro-mode is very well done with great pacing where you go from learning basic notes and slowly advance to learning cords etc. And although they do not use tab for the notation, they have come up with a notation that is similar to tab but work well with the highway display and fast scrolling that will come with playing songs. I still think it would have bee nice to include a full tab mode but my guess is they tried that and found the new notation to work best.

So, although you will not learn tab reading skills, you will learn the chord names and shapes needed to play all the RB3 pro mode songs and that is impressive. Honestly, the pro mode trainers are much more complete than I would have thought. They really spent some time putting this together. Also, when you miss a chord, it can automatically stop the song, show you the correct fingering, and let you get it before you continue. It works very well and if you don't like it, you can turn it off.

Back to the hardware... Right now, I give it 5 stars because it just works. Now, for those that play guitar, you will quickly find issues here because, and this needs to be clear, this is not a guitar. Its a guitar trainer. It has some very basic differences that make some things hard to transition from real guitar to this trainer. First and most obvious is the lack of strings on the neck. What is the effect here? Well, you don't have the same feel for the string/fret so its a bit of a different feel as far as the coordination of your hands on the strings and pairing that up to the fret that pairs up with that string. But, since a real guitar give you more feedback, it may be easier to transition TO A REAL GUITAR, then FROM A REAL GUITAR. Which is sort of the whole point of a guitar training. So, if already know how to play a real guitar and you don't want re-learn a trainer, you should probably wait for the Fender Squier ($250-$350) to come out. But if you are just learning guitar, this makes one impressive trainer.

The only remaining question is how well the hardware hold up after months of use. So far, it feels like it will hold up well. But that is nearly impossible to predict. So, come back here in a few months and see if the review change. But for right now, this thing is a great guitar trainer.

UPDATE: I have since upgraded to Rocksmith for learning real guitar. At the time I did this review, RB pro-mode was the best choice. But today, I have to say that getting an inexpensive guitar and getting Rocksmith is a much better option. It does not change my review or score but I will say that I will not go back to Rockband Pro mode because I feel that Rocksmith has nailed the real-guitar trainer.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller for Xbox

One of the three greatest inventions in the history of human kind....that greatly contributed to insomnia. Here they are..

1. Thomas Alva Edison invented the light bulb.

2. Microsoft (or who ever who sold it to them) invented the Kinect and Harmonix made Dance Central game for it.

3. Harmonix (once again) invented Pro Guitar for rockband 3.

Mustang Pro guitar is good. I mean really good. I mean really really good.

To start this review with.. I'm a beginning guitar player. I'm was studying the 4th stage of a 6 stage lesson DVD set (Metal Method by Doug Marks: he is great BTW) when I got the Mustang Pro guitar. Anyway long story short; I'm not a good guitar player at all.

*Can it teach you to play real guitar? Hex yeah!!

**Does the Mustang pro guitar simulate a real guitar? IMHO better!!

*First I did the first two of the training sessions with Mustang Pro. And then I picked up a real guitar while my wife tried the same training sessions with the Mustang Pro. On the real guitar I was able to easily play the same in the electric guitar with the practice I got from the mustang Pro. AND it sounds awesome sound coming out through the guitar amp when it blends with the sound track of the game. 'Hey, that sounds v-e-r-y good' were my wife's exact words.

**I have read comments about people talking about the guitar feeling light to; strings are same thickness to; buttons being the same thickness to; there is no correlation between buttons and the strings you strum. In my experience none of this is the case. I cannot feel the thickness of the strings with the pick anyway (duh.) What I am learning from this is the skill to approximate the distance between the strings without looking. With practice able to do this better and better. Same goes for the buttons. My finger beginning to remember where they need to move to press for each note. This is a skill I can take directly to the real guitar. The buttons work very well, interestingly even for slides.

So why did I say in someway the pro guitar is better than a real guitar... There is something more satisfying about picking these strings with the pick than picking real metal strings. I threw out the picks that came with it and got Dunlop standard thickness Nylon picks. When picking the strings with those picks the strings almost feel like these strings are rubber not plastic. It's a good feeling .. u'll know what I mean once you get one yourself [UPDATE A DAY LATER: I had only played single notes and power chords when I wrote this. Later I played major chords and the strings get pretty loud when doing that. No big deal though.] As far as the construction of the guitar goes it's sturdy enough and you forget about the guitar once you get immersed in the game. Maybe wish the body was bigger like a real guitar so I could rest the elbow of the strumming arm on it when sitting down.

The reason learning with this is better than learning with an actual guitar is... you ALAWAYS have a backing track and a cool note highway showing where to play.

I can write this review into pages but I would cut it short.. because I myself dislike reading long reviews.

-If you want to learn guitar buy this.

-If you want to teach your kids guitar buy them this.

-If you don't have the time, patience or interest to learn don't buy this

I did notice one thing...in most of the trainings it tells you where which finger to put on which fret. On two trainings it did not tell me where how to move down the frets . For example it was wanting me to play 5th, 7th and 8th frets and to play the 5th string with my index finger. Suddenly it wants me to play the 9th fret but does not tell me which finger to use. So I'm confused whether to move my hand all the way down and play with the index or stretch my pinky to play the 9th fret (this was a base line by the way. ) I wish there was an option where I could watch a video of a hand playing that piece if I wanted to . That's about all I can nit pick about. I would figure this out or ask somebody who knows... so no big deal.

TEN stars. Harmonix, come here so I can give you a kiss.

Discount Xbox 360 8 MODE Rapid Fire Controller CLEAR RED Shell with BLUE

Customer Ratings:

OK SO I EXPECTED THIS TO BE A RATHER NORMAL MODDED CONTROLLER. WOW WAS I WRONG. I SYNCED IT AND IMMEDIATELY ENTERED A PRIVATE MATCH WITH MY FRIENDS (BLACK OPS). NOW NORMALLY IN A TDM (TEAM DEATH MATCH) MY KDR (KILL TO DEATH RATIO) IS ABOUT 11-15, SO I SUCK. WELL IN A 3.V.3 I FINISHED TOP OF THE LIST WITH A KDR OF 26-7. THATS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT. ITS AN 8 MODE AND WORKS WITH ALL COD GAMES, HALO 3, HALO REACH, AND GEARS OF WAR 2. THE BLUE LED RING OF LIGHTS ARE AMAZING. THE ONLY FLAW IS THAT ABOUT 15% OF THE TIME THE MOD LAGS AFTER YOU STOP RUNNING, BUT IT MIGHT JUST BE MY CONTROLLER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS MOD IN ACTION BEFORE PURCHASING THE CONTROLLER FRIEND REQUEST OR SEND A MESSAGE TO xWDoAx Slap You (xbox live). ALL IN ALL, GREAT BUY.

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This controller is falling apart, and doesn't even work all of the time. This controller is an absolute waste of your money.

Reviews of Mission Impossible: Operation Surma - Xbox

Customer Ratings:

Bought this as a gift and they have informed me that they love it! Very pleased they enjoy this game so much.

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The xbox one I bought was just for collection reasoning! The gamecube one I played, I think plays al ot like splinter cell. So if you like splinter cell play it and buy it.

Best Deals for Mission Impossible: Operation Surma - Xbox

This game is pretty fun once you get the hang of it. Most games that come out for a movie are smelly. But this game has stealth and fun technology and some strategy. I don't like splinter cell as much because there is not a lot of stealth when you crouch and I like to knock out everyone in the room without using projectiles.

So if you want splinter cell with less "splinter" than get this one.

Honest reviews on Mission Impossible: Operation Surma - Xbox

This game IS impossible. I never made it past the shooting range, where tons of remote guns are shooting at you. Way too hard. I think I'm a decent gamer, I beat Halo. They should have included an easy level that really was possible for regular people. Then let the hard-core gamers have 3 levels of impossible.

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this game is good but isnt the best.out of 15 stars i would probly give it a 16 to 20 stares.

Cheap Driving Force Pro Racing Wheel for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3

Customer Ratings:

. . .but whether or not you are truly a "wheel person" at all. The Logitech Driving Force Pro is a highly-regarded accessory for the PS2. Many serious enthusiasts of racing games will tell you that it's the only acceptable controller for the ultra-popular "Gran Turismo" and "Need for Speed" series. I'm not here to dispute any of that this is far and away the finest wheel available on the market today. However, given the number of impracticalities that come bundled with any wheel controller, anyone who's not a purist should honestly consider whether or not they'll get enough return on this hefty investment.

The chief impracticality is that any wheel must be anchored to something absolutely immovable in order to get the full effect out of it and how many among us happen to have a chair directly in front of the TV that is angled like a car seat AND a table in front of it that's oddly enough taller than a coffee table but shorter than a dining table? Exactly almost no one. Why do you think that stands custom-made for the Driving Force Pro sell on EBay for $80 and entire steel-framework cockpits with pre-set mounts are available at $500+ per? Your only other alternatives are to cook up a half-solution yourself. I've read how other reviewers have crafted lap desks out of boards or modified TV tables to be sturdier, but again, it raises my chief concern with any wheel controller: will you use/enjoy it enough to put in the extra money and effort necessary to properly use it?

The easiest solution is to sit on the floor and bolt the wheel to a coffee table, but that eliminates the possibility of using the pedals, which severely limits the realism. Plus, you'll feel more like an old lady hunched over the wheel about an inch from the windshield rather than a highly-skill professional guiding a performance vehicle toward the finish line. Finally, even this watered-down option won't work without cutting some foam to fit the base of the wheel; otherwise, its hard plastic will almost immediately scratch your tabletop.

The second issue is with gameplay the wheel has a very steep learning curve in the beginning. I consider myself an expert-level player in GT3, but making the switch to the wheel with GT4 almost took all of the fun out of the game for the first several days. It was difficult to even drive in a straight line, much less execute the maneuvering necessary to succeed in any worthwhile driving game. The purists will say that once mastered, it becomes second-nature just like riding a bike and that's true; however, the road to achieving that level of mastery is a frustrating one, and if you're a casual gamer who enjoys more of an arcade racing experience, the Driving Force Pro may simply be too demanding for you.

The third issue is that when you consider the wheel, the pedals, and whatever mounting apparatus you choose, it's going to eat up a lot of storage space. The pedals are even too tall to simply slide under the couch when you're not playing, so no help there. And given the number of cords (AC power, wheel-to-PS2, pedals-to-wheel) that are required, just leaving it around when not in use looks pretty sloppy and would be easy to trip over.

Once you've finally gotten your physical setup in order and gotten acclimated to using it, the wheel is excellent. It is solidly constructed and the force feedback is a real treat. The 900-degree mode offered in select games like "Gran Turismo 4" creates a new standard in realism; however, given the stoutness of the resistance in the motor and the relatively compact size of the wheel (other reviews have hit it right on the head it's sized like an Indy car, not a street car), your hands, wrists and/or forearms can get fatigued pretty quickly playing that way. Its motor is also pretty loud, which will be annoying to anyone else in the room not interested in hearing a never-ending symphony of mechanical grinding sounds.

(...)

The Driving Force Pro represents the best of the wheel controllers for both console and PC gaming. However, all but the most avid racing gamers would be hard-pressed to justify the undertaking of mounting, configuring and learning how to use the wheel on top of the steep price tag.

PROS

* Solid construction and nice rubber wheel wrap

* 900-degree turning really immerses you in the driving experience (for the handful of games that support it)

* Also compatible with many PC driving games via USB port

CONS

* Absolutely needs to be mounted in order to use to its fullest, often requiring a weird work-around or expensive add-on solution

* Creates a messy maze of cords when in use; very bulky to store when not in use

* A steep learning curve may frustrate more casual gamers who prefer an arcade racing feel

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I wasn't very sure of my purchase at first, given the price tag on this PS2 Wheel.

As the racing game freak I am, I decided to give it a try.

A couple of years ago I bought a MadCatz racing wheel for PC, I played with it for two or three weeks, and decided that it was easier and, in fact, more fun, to play with the keyboard instead of the wheel.

This totally changed when I got the Driving Force Pro.

The looks of this wheel is the first thing that let you realize that you made a good purchase, it looks really cool, and feels comfortable in every way. It doesn't feel like a cheap wheel at all.

Hooking it up is really easy because of its clamp system, which makes it very solid if you attach ot to a table...in my case I put a board across the arms of my Tv chair and attached the wheel to it. I works pretty good like that. The pedals feel real, the brake pedal is a little harder, just like in a real car.

When you connect the wheel and restart our PS2, it automatically turns left and right and finds the center point for you.

Once playing it takes a little while to get used to it...it took me about 1 hour to start matching my times on Grand Turismo 3, and about 2 to start cutting time down.

Now I'm playing Pro Race Driver, and it can't be better...I can't wait for the release of GT4 to test this baby on 900 degree mode!.

If you are thinking about buying a racing wheel for the PS2 this is the way to go, the money you pay for it is totally worth.

There's only one thing I didn't like too much about this wheel: there's too many cables hangin' around the pedals (power, connection to the wheel, and connection to the PS2), and sometimes you get those around your legs....no big deal though, just try to put them away, on the side, and you won't have anything to complaint about.

Best Deals for Driving Force Pro Racing Wheel for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3

This thing rocks when it comes to driving games. There are a few things I wish were changed though.

First, the clamping mechanism needs to open just a wee bit wider. I mean, like 1 mm. That's all I need to be able to attach the thing to a countertop. However, even having it on a countertop would not work really well, so I need to find something else to mount it to.

The other problem is the manual there really isn't one. This caused me a bit of confusion when I hooked it up the first time to play Gran Turismo 4 The thing powered on, did it's self centering, then proceeded to be ignored by the game. Only after some time spend messing around did I figure out that you need to remove the Player 1 joystick from the console when you want to use the wheel.

Other than that, this thing is killer.

Honest reviews on Driving Force Pro Racing Wheel for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3

I'm a wheel newbie, but I liked the looks of this wheel when I saw it in a local retail store. It's very well made and solid, and includes gas/brake pedals and a +/gearshift as well. The diameter of the wheel is a bit small, but it doesn't really detract from the experience. Besides, I've noticed Indycar wheels are small.

The wheel is a little hard to turn, feels like manual steering. But you get used to it quickly. I'd rather have some resistance instead of just a freely-spinning wheel anyway. The force feedback effects are great. In Grand Turismo 3 when your car is going close to it's limit, you can feel the car lose adhesion to the road and pull left and right irregularly. If you pop over a hill and go airbourne for a second you can realistically feel the wheel lose turning resistance.

Burnout 3 and Grand Turismo 3 are a BLAST with this wheel.

Here are my tips:

1. You must have a table or similar surface to mount it to. Something flat and around 2 or 3 inches thick and sturdy, I would guess. You cannot hold it in your lap. I've got mine mounted to a wooden chair turned sideways for now, not an ideal setup but still fun nonetheless.

2. Plug it in the top USB port on your PS2, otherwise some games will only want to use it for player 2. I don't think the picture "manual" tells you that.

3. This wheel also works on a Windows PC. Download drivers at I'm not clear whether force feedback can/will work on a PC but I tried it in Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2 with good results. I've heard you can get the 900 degree mode working in a PC but haven't got that far yet.

4. You'll need to plug in the wheel to a standard electric outlet, so plan for that.

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All right, let my start by saying that this is indeed the best wheel on the market, but that doesn't say very much since 95% of the wheels out there suck. The Driving Force Pro and the Mad Catz MC2 are really the only ones worth paying for. If you are shopping for a wheel I'd suggest looking at the MC2 also. It is a lot cheaper and has a few better qualities than the DF Pro, although it doesn't have force-feedback or 900-degree steering.

The Driving Force Pro is Logitech's second attempt at a steering wheel for a game console. Its most notable feature is the 900 degrees of steering, which is something that no other wheel on the market has. However, the 900-degree steering is only compatible with certain games. I am not sure which yet, but I do know that Gran Turismo 4 (scheduled for release in January/February 05) will. It will automatically switch to 200-degree steering for games that do not support 900-degree. The wheel's other big feature is the force-feedback. It is a little loud, but it really brings the game to life. Since it has force-feedback it has to be plugged in, so make sure you have a free outlet.

Other features include a textured rubber grip, easily adjustable clamps for your table or set-up, very nice styling with a steel GT (Gran Turismo) logo in the center of the wheel, paddle shifters which move with the wheel, L3 and R3 buttons, a sequential stick shifter, USB connection to the PS2 (Works with PC's too, but I haven't been able to get the Force Feedback to work with it yet), and a very functional carpet gripping system for the pedals. I do have a few complaints about it. For one, the wheel is a little bit small at 10 inches in diameter. The MC2 is about 11. It also doesn't have dual-shock (vibrating motors) like the MC2, but this is made up with the force-feedback. The addition of a sequential stick shifter is good, but I personally feel that they put it a little too close to the steering wheel. It also doesn't have much movement when you shift, which kind of takes the fun out of it.

Pros:

-900-Degree steering

-Force Feedback

-Nice design

-Steering unit and pedals stay in their respective places well

Cons:

-No Dual Shock

-Shifter leaves something to be desired

-No calibrating controls or throttle guage

-Price

I should also mention that I had a little bit of trouble with it freezing up briefly while playing GT3. It has happened a few times, but I'm not sure if it's a defect with my unit or an actual incompatibility with the PS2 or GT3. I plan on exchanging it for a new one soon to see if this is a universal problem. I hope this has helped.

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!

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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.

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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 Xbox Live 12-Month Starter Kit Deals

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XBox Live is Microsoft's online gaming service that allows gamers from all over the world to interact and play together. As of this writing, there are more than 150 games with XBox Live compatibility (including the dynamic Halo 2 and the popular EA Sports games), and more than 1 million subscribers worldwide. This starter kit includes everything one will need to enter the world of XBox Live: A one-year subscription card and a headset, plus a great game: Crimson Skies (rated Teen for some mild language, violence, and suggestive content). However, there are some things people need to know before they get started on XBox Live.

For one, XBox Live will only work with high-speed Internet connections, such as DSL or cable modems. Dial-up is not supported. There are a handful of options for connecting XBox Live to your high-speed service:

Direct connect is the simplest option. The XBox has an Ethernet jack on its back that takes a standard Ethernet cable. If the XBox is close to your PC, then you can simply disconnect the Ethernet jack from the PC and plug it directly into the XBox.

A better option that saves wear and tear on your cables and ports is to use a router. A router will take your incoming Internet connection and allow it to be split between multiple destinations. You can run one line to your PC, and one to the XBox. I recommend (from personal experience) a Linksys brand router.

Another option is to go wireless. If the XBox and the PC are in different rooms, then going wireless may be the best option, rather than run hundreds of feet of Ethernet cable or drill through floors and walls. Once you set up a wireless network in your house using a wireless router, buy a wireless game adapter and you'll be able to play Live almost anywhere in the house.

The Microsoft Wireless-G XBox Adapter is a good solution (Amazon ASIN: B0000C5FMJ). For a wireless network adapter, look again to Linksys; spend a few extra dollars and go with a wireless-G setup. It's about 5x faster than a wireless-B setup for just a few dollars more.

Once you're set up, logging into Live is pretty easy. Your XBox will do most of the work. Hook up the included headset (for talkback) and you're ready to go. I've played Halo 2 with or against people from literally all over the world; one memorable match was against four Marines somewhere in the Pacific. A warning for parents of kids under 17 or so: The language on Live gets pretty rough, with the "f" word being about as common as breathing.(I've been called things I won't repeat in public). There's little, if any moderation, and when it comes to language, anything goes. (Just a friendly warning).

This package includes a one-year subscription card. Once that expires, one can renew using an XBox Live Subscription card (Amazon ASIN: B00005BPJ5, about $50), or you can extend it with the XBox Live 3 Month Starter kit (about $40, ASIN: B00020DGMC; it also includes a headset, so you'll have a spare). Some games (such as Halo 2) include 2-month free trial cards, which you can also use to extend an existing account.

I hope this review was helpful.

--Christian Wheeler, gamer and games retailer

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I'm not going to comment on whether you should get Xbox Live. If you have an Xbox and a high-speed Internet connection, then Xbox Live is a must-have product. That much I think is obvious.

The real question is, "Is this the product I should buy to get Xbox Live?" The answer is a resounding YES. There are other, less expensive, ways to get Xbox Live. For example, you could just subscribe with a credit card directly from your Xbox, at $50/year. But then you wouldn't have the headset, and I think Xbox Live without a headset is pointless. You also wouldn't get a free copy of Crimson Skies, which is an excellent game.

Purchased separately, the contents of this kit would cost you $100, and it gives you everything you need to enjoy Xbox Live for an entire year.

This kit comes with a 12-month subscription card. These cards can be used to start a new account or renew an existing one. Many games also come with 2-month cards. However, those cards cannot be used to renew an account, only to create one. You may already have such a card, or you can get one via eBay for about a dollar. Use the 2-month card to start your subscription, and then apply the 12-month card to renew it. That will give you 14 months for the price of 12.

In addition, if you want to wear headphones while playing Xbox Live games, then I strongly recommend you also get the "Jabra EarWave Boom with Universal 2.5mm connector" (ASIN B00022VUJ6). The Jabra headset fits over your ear, and you can comfortably wear headphones over it. The headset that comes with this Xbox Live kit is clumsy and fragile, and can't be worn with headphones.

Best Deals for Xbox Live 12-Month Starter Kit

I just got an x-box last night with star wars: knights of the old republic. the system is great and the game is addicting. but I had an itch for something more. I went out and purchased x-box live (w/12 month subscription and crimson skies) and star wars battlefront. this is just to get me ready for the arrival of halo 2. it's great being able to play with so many other gamers from all around the world. no more having to have a friend come over to play multi-player. now I have multiplayer at my disposal at any given time. if you have an x-box and enjoy multiplayer games, this is a must for you. also, the price was great with all the other components that come along with it (game, headset, card).

Honest reviews on Xbox Live 12-Month Starter Kit

if you bored playin with your brother this is the best thing to get you can play with your friends, join big games its awsome. You can just call your friend and tell him just to start playing with you. It is really worth the money it even comes with an awsome game called "crimson skies" witch is also another 5 stars

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I recently got this for Christmas and it was well worth it. You get a game($15), headset($30), and 12-month subscription card($40). Add that all up together and thats about $90 but you only have to pay roughly around $50-60 depending upon where you buy it. My friend has the same headset and he's had Xbox Live alot longer that me and it's still working even after a few altercations. I have yet the game but I'm sure it will only be average since it's a bonus thing(the subscription card is in the game case).

Before you can play Xbox Live you have to either get an ethernet cable to run from a router connected to your computer to the Xbox or a wireless adapter to plug into your Xbox. The adapter is alot more expensive but it allows you to play a farther distance. I bought one from Wal-Mart for about $80.

After you've purchased whichever means your going to use to get onto xbox live you go through the desktop and then follow the instructions. You will create a unique gamertag, pass code, provide your information(address, phone #, credit card #, & email). After that your now another addition to the growing community of xbox live.

Reviews of XBOX 360 Bulk Lot of 60 XBOX 360 Repair Kits 500 Low-Profile Screws

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $29.99
Today's Bonus: 70% Off

I've been fixing Xbox 360's for a few years now, and I've never seen such a good deal come across Amazon. Bought individually, this kit should cost well over what I paid for it ($39).

The "Special White Nylon Washers" look and feel like they are made out of plastic. That being said, they do their job amicably. They are exactly the same depth as the steel washers, and they don't carry electricity, both of which make them the perfect fit for Xbox 360 repairs.

It's not mentioned anywhere in this description, but my package came with about 60 small packages of thermal grease. It's not any name brand, but it'll suffice if you run out of the good/expensive stuff.

The "Complementary Deluxe Instruction Manual" mentioned in this description is nothing more than a card containing a link to their website, which I will not list here.

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Great product really helps get the job done and at a excellent price! Worked great and able to fix up to 60 xboxs

Modsticks Pro Xbox 360 Controller Analog Sticks (Black) Reviews

Customer Ratings:

I purchased this item as an alternative to the FPS Freek. I recommend watching the YouTube instructional video on how to install. After watching it, I had no problem installing the sticks and Dpad. The instructions included with the item leave much to be desired. But the video makes up for it.

Ok, short and sweet.

Good

easy to install (took me 10 minutes)

the stick height is adjustable

they are made of metal

the Dpad joystick is an excellent idea, and seems like it would be perfect for fighters

the taller stick provides improved accuracy just like the FPS Freek

My game of choice is Battlefield Bad Company 2; a game with touchy aiming. It took me a few matches, but as soon as I got used to the increased stick height, I did notice I was pulling off some very good shots with ease. Also, as advertised, the Dpad joystick makes it super easy to access the grenade launcher (left on Dpad) and ammo pack (right on Dpad).

Bad (not stuff that should keep you from buying the product but, stuff worth noting)

the sticks are made of metal which is great, but the lack of a rubber grip means your thumbs will slide a little more

I noticed my thumb was running into the Dpad joystick when going for the select button (something I see myself getting used to though)

the instruction sheet included is kind of a joke (just watch the video)

Overall

I recommend these. I plan on buying some rubber grips to put on thumbsticks. Once I do that, I think they'll be perfect. Also worth noting is I had the left stick raised to it's maximum height, and I found it a little harder than normal to press down on the left stick to sprint while pushing forward on the stick to run forward. However, I lowered the left stick to the medium height and that fixed the problem. So, all that really only show is one of the great things about this: it's customizable. I have the left stick on medium, and the right stick on long. Also, if I got tired of my thumb hitting the Dpad joystick when I go for the select button, then I could just remove the joystick and make it a normal Dpad.

So, buy these. I was kind of wary of the FPS Freek product because of customers reporting that they ruin the rubber on their thumbsticks. I really can't give a comparison beyond that because I've never used them. All I can really do is comment on the quality of this product. For the shooter fan(or fighter fan who doesn't have enough dough for a good gamepad) who is looking to get the edge, this really is a must buy.

UPDATE:

So, I've had these for about two weeks now. I love the Dpad toggle stick. I have both sticks raised to their maximum height (blue and black spacers). And I went ahead and purchased the fusion and domed grips from the modsticks website.

Don't buy the domed grips, the fusion grips are the superior. Way better than the stock grip too. In fact, I think the manufacturer should just scrap the stock grips and make the fusion grips come standard with purchase. I find that my thumbs no longer slip while using this product with the fusion grips.

Another thing I'd like to comment on is how smooth these sticks are.

EXAMPLE:

I play Pinball FX 2 on XBLA. This game has an adjustable ball launch for each table. You adjust the power of the launch the right thumbstick. These sticks allow more precision than the stock thumbstick. With the stock thumbsticks, I found it difficult to adjust the power to a precise level. With this product, I have very little problem adusting the power to what I want. It's just smoother. I'm sure people who play that game know exactly what I'm talking about. It's kind of hard to explain.

Great product.

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Have not used any modded joysticks for my xbox(prior to this), and consider myself a long time gamer (started with pong), favorites are FPS and fighting games. I am now kicking myself for having not done this before, the difference after installing this product is like night and day. Have been able to turn my sensitivity to max, and still maintain great control. Have begun going back through older FPS solo missions, is like having some sort of cheat mode turned on. I tend to stay away from writing reviews, however this product deserves a great one.

Best Deals for Modsticks Pro Xbox 360 Controller Analog Sticks (Black)

I ordered both the Modsticks Analog Stick and Trigger package directly from the manufacturer due to the fact that Amazons price was almost double on these items.

Joysticks/D pad package:

Pros:

-adjustable height (using the highest setting was my preference because it yielded more accurate/precise control)

-interchangeable grips (spend the extra 10$ and get the fusion grips. they're way better than the stock ones)

-quality (all parts are made of metal. No cheap plasticy garbage)

-custom look (nuff said)

-stick mounted to D pad (I was skeptical about this one but I was amazed at how much it improves the stock D pad)

Cons:

-stock grips (As I mentioned earlier, the fusion grips are way better. The one negative review on this product is solely because of this)

-price (but the quality is definitely there to back it up)

Trigger package:

Pros:

-adjustable tension (came with three different sets of springs as well as a set screw adjustment)

-quality (aluminum goodness)

-custom look (double nuff said)

Cons:

-modsticks engineered these to tighter tolerances than necessary (the wider trigger is nice but they didnt move freely when I installed them on my 360 wired

controller)

-noisy (they squeak like the dickens)

-lightest spring tension isn't viable because the triggers bind up

-installation was more difficult than installing the joysticks and D pad (still not to bad)

-price

Closing thoughts:

I would wholeheartedly recommend the joysticks package (with the fusion grip) and do plan to purchase another set of these for my other controller. They are just plain flat out better than the stock sticks, hands down. I've seen noticeable improvement in my online performance in MW3, Forza 4, Battlefield 3. The triggers I am not sold on yet but perhaps after I break them in this may change. I like the company and the idea behind the products and am anxious to see what they come up with next. (Aluminum ABXY, start back LB RB and XBox button please :)

Credibility:

20 years gaming experience, avid tinkerer, no affiliation with modsticks, and I own a Phillips CDI

Honest reviews on Modsticks Pro Xbox 360 Controller Analog Sticks (Black)

First of all, I like convex analog sticks like the PS3 dualshock controllers have.

Secondly, I always hated the mushy D-Pad on the 360 controller.

The Modsticks Pro are the solution.

I have tried different solutions & controlers to combat these problems without satisfactory results until I purchased Modsticks Pro.

I did have to order the convex or "Dome", as they call them, sticks seperate & wish there was an option to buy a kit with the kind of stick top shape you want. They come with concave/ "Dish" stick tops by default. They have other kinds as well & it's really personal preferance.

I've been using them close to a year & I feel like I have a real D-Pad now & I enjoy the convex feel of the sticks. I did do the pringles lid circle cut out trick when I installed the Modsticks Pro d-pad. I don't use the d-pad stick, I just like the feel of the d-pad.

The drawbacks are that they are pricey plus I had to buy add ons to get the dome analog tops.

Sometimes my hands sweat & my thumbs can slip off the sticks. This may not be a problem with the dish tops IDK, haven't used them.

I think the caps could be improved by making them thinker around the edges. When I have my thumb pressing up on the left stick of a 360 controller running around in game, my thumb always ends up on the bottom edge of the stick. It seems to me it would be a bit more comfortable if the cap was thicker having something more there instead of an edge. I know they have silicon grips now on the website but those prices add up.

That said, I will be buying more of these for other 360 controllers & will probably try the silicon grips as well for my sweaty thumbs :) .

The very best solution for your 360 analog & d-pad dissatisfaction.

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MannyRue's Just Review's

Review From A Gamer For Gamers

Today I Review the Overshadowed ModStickpros,Are these the holy grails of gaming?,Or are they just a new product to suck more money out of your already expensive gaming needs?Keep reading to find out.

In this day of age most people seek out new way's for a quick advantage in the world of gaming,be it a rapid fire controller,mod's,to even using piece's of paper to make a hair trigger.

Well today I will introduce you to a revolutionary new product from modsticks.com

These new variants on the standard thumb-stick's breath new life into the market of mods.

Each set includes:

Qt 2. Aluminum Dome Base

Qt 2. Aluminum dish top grips

QT 1. Modsticks Pro D-Pad

Qt 1. Optional D-Pad stick (can also be used on Modstick dome base)

Qt 1. Modsticks T8 Security wrench

Qt 1. Philips tip screw driver for D-Pad

Qt 1. Allen key for changing screw driver tips.

Qt 6. Steel threaded set screws 3 short 3 long for assembling toggle grip tops to base.

Qt 6. Aluminum spacers 1mm 2mm 3mm Fine tune the height of your toggle sticks

Qt 2. Steel Philips machine screws for D padWhat you have to look forward to in the packaging

Perhaps the best feature of the ModSticksPro is the added range to the stick's with out having to always change your game's sensitivity,the stock xbox 360 sticks bases are much thicker and have a certain range till they hit the side walls,the modstickpros bases are much thinner and give you a slight advantage of free roam in the base,this I have found best work's wonder's in fps game's where sniping is the key to life or death.

I did not have to change the game's settings much to adjust to the stick's for the easy quick movement of my rec-tile on screen.

Also the next best feature is the option to change the height of the analog stick to different levels.

This I have found to be a nice add-on for people that like different game's you can easily switch them out for racing game's/sports games/or back to fps game's with out missing a beat.

Included in the set are three different levels of internal set screws which can be changed out to swap the height to something you prefer. included in the package are spacers to keep the base and the top from unscrewing themselves in the heat of the moment game play. Now with the grip's modsticks has also looked ahead and saw that people might prefer different variants over the original xbox 360.

They have at the moment have Six grip's to choose from Dish/Fusion/Gearz/Dome/Low-riders/Arcade

The dish grips are what come standard in each set of the modstickpros and these will be the most familiar to anyone that owns a xbox 360 controller,these little beauty's are well made with aluminum and a very high quality paint that has a nice finish and shine to them,Now I have been asked since they are made of metal if they do hurt after a bit of game play,and I am here to say I have put easily over 30 hour's so far in on them and have yet to come close to crying about cramps in my hands or the such.

The only fault's I can seem to find with these being made of Aluminum is that I tend to sweat while I game and my hand's slide some what off of them,I suggest investing in some cheap rubber grip's to slide over the top to fix that little annoyance.Easy on the eyes and also a great feeling to them

Sadly I have not had enough time in to review each grip so will do that at a later time.

For the people that do not want to shell out the money for a new controller for the reason the original xbox 360 d-pad had a lot to be desired are in luck,included in the package is also a d-pad that has a option to add a base in the center of it and add in it's own stick to almost make a whole new thumb-stick on the controller.

The d-pad is like a gift from above for people that tend to play game's such as Call Of Duty or Gears Of War that are dependent on the d-pad to ether call in that care package you worked so hard to earn or to swap out weapons in the heat of battle.

But with a plus there is always a negative tho,I have found myself at time's rolling my thumb off my left thumb-stick accidentally onto the stick on the d-pad,It can be over commed in time and getting use to them.D-pad is like the stock but has the option for a third thumb-stick

Also if you are anal like me about how your controller look's and want a certain color scheme the site also is nice and has a nice selection of color's so your option's are vast to choose from.

The packaging they do come in has to be overhauled they are generic and do not have the name of the product's listed on them,the manuals that come with them as well are not very well written or displayed so I suggest if you are a novice to modding I would suggest looking on YouTube for tutorials how to install.

Verdict:

After many hour's of game play on various game's I would suggest these over the stock xbox 360 controller's stick's,they add a new fresh breath of fresh air into that old wore down controller you might have laying around.

If you are looking for a slight advantage over the competition I would suggest investing in these new products.

The packaging need's a overhaul and less of a generic look to them.

The price point is also another down fall with the modstickpros being at $34.99 but like the old saying goes you get what you pay for.

The Sims 3: Hidden Springs - PC Review

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $13.90
Today's Bonus: 30% Off

This downloadable world is one of my favorite EA-made Sims 3 worlds. Of all the worlds, it has the dreamiest, fairy-tale atmosphere, and it's obvious that a lot of love went into the art and modeling. I play it on both my Mac and PC, and don't notice a ton of difference between them.

It is a complete base-game-compatible world, meaning that you shouldn't need expansion packs to run it--though you'll likely appreciate their presence. Generations particularly would be lovely with this world, since it really touches on how kids function, but then so would Ambitions since a lot of Hidden Springs lends itself to self-employment. The obvious tie-in to Pets also suggests itself for the Unicorns and other animal aspects. But none of these are strictly necessary, nor is any Store investment unless you just like that idea. This world will grow as your Sims 3 collection grows.

On the down side, it is really not easy to cram all the expansion-pack venues into this world. If you have a lot of larger-sized houses and community lots/venues that you like to have ingame, be ready to really work on tweaking this world. I had to use a lot of ingenuity to fit everything, and had to custom-made some smaller things to make everything fit. Also, as usual, the gorgeous mailboxes are not able to be placed from scratch, and not all the houses have them. Its premium content object, the Fountain of Youth, is to my eyes a little kludgy in operation, though it's gorgeous and is expensive for its footprint size(helLO higher payout on owned venues). Some users report that their FoY doesn't show its animations correctly if the Spellbook from the EA Store is also installed, but I haven't noticed any issues at all with either object (I suspect the issue is custom content related, and I don't use CC).

Those are fairly minor quibbles before the breathtaking vistas of Hidden Springs. The objects and clothes provided are really gorgeous and thematically-sound, the houses are well-designed and easy on the eyes, and most of it lacks that "plain Jane generic" feel that EA houses often have. Best of all, the world comes with a slew of pre-made Sims and families that are just awesome to play with. I normally am not thrilled with premades, but these are a real hoot--be a modern-day prince seeking his princess, or a family of forest nymphs, or a host of other amusing storybook character concepts, all of them wandering through a world that kind of looks like a small Irish village for the most part. I'd also have to give major props to the artists responsible for the business lots, the spa especially. There are hardly words for how beautiful some of these business lots look.

In summation, I'd say that if you prefer a more fairy-tale or rural-village feel to your Simming, you may like this world considerably. If you really hate tweaking worlds or prefer the grittier feel of urban life, vampires, etc., this world might not make you happy.

Please do be advised that this game does require an internet connection. The boxes sold in stores usually contain just a download code that'll let you get the world from EA's site. So if you don't have a way to download files to your PC/Mac, you'll be sad. I admit I have no clue why someone would buy a box in the store just to get a download code when it saves a trip to just go directly online to get it, but maybe there'll be some extra content added to the boxed HS over time (just like Barnacle Bay, to the outrage of those who'd already downloaded the set from the site).

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I deliberately bought this from amazon instead of just buying it through the EA store because I thought I was purchasing the software on a disk that I could keep as a back-up. All this disk does is give you the code for going to the EA store to buy the items. I was pretty disappointed by that. I could have just done that without waiting for the disk to arrive.

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Nothing special. The fountain of youth thing isn't in the game. It is purchasable and expensive. Tiny town. No room to add things from other expansion packs.

Honest reviews on The Sims 3: Hidden Springs - PC

The town looks nice but its functionality is less than desired. I would of hoped for a few late night buildings or at least lots capable of supporting them I had to build several clubs myself to fit for the small lot sizes. There are a few large lots but on the outskirts. I had to manually change all the cabins from hangout to large park as the cabins kept getting picked for hotspots and they are just cabins nothing to do there. I don't know if its just my game but I get very little foot traffic for community buildings. There are some interesting families but its difficult to see them unless i visit them like i said earlier not much outdoor activity despite alot of parks and cabins.

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Love the new town and new products that came with it! Works well with the starter Sim3. No problems with crashing or interface. Well worth saving a few dollars and getting in a few days vs spending more and having same day from the store!