Discount Atlantic CD Case Spyder TV Gaming Stand

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program We were hoping the Atlantic VG Spyder TV/Gaming Hub would be a good solution for our bedroom entertainment and gaming setup. We have had our 40 inch LCD HDTV set up on our dresser, as our walls cannot handle a wall mount. We had our PS3 and Wii, along with our bedroom DVR set up on a table next to the dresser, and it was pretty cluttered. Unfortunately, there is no room on the Spyder gaming hub for our DVR, but the rest of the setup is now all contained within the hub.

Unpacking the parts from the box was a breeze, and initial setup took about 30 minutes. I did need to have ample space for setting it up, but it was pretty straight forward. Just make sure you leave the screws relatively loose when constructing it so they have some wiggle room before tightening them at the end of setup.

Most of the parts seem sturdy enough. The brackets that connect to your TV seem very stable, but the main frame of the hub seems like it could have been reinforced a little better than it is. Still, it claims to support up to a 42 inch TV and seems stable enough with our 40 inch, so I can't complain too much. The fact that you can angle your TV after setting it up is nice, just make sure you have a firm hold on it and move slowly to avoid tipping the entire thing over.

I do have a few complaints about the Spyder hub. First and most importantly is that our TV is extremely low to the floor on the hub's highest level. Previously, we had it more than a foot higher than it is right now. I suppose this won't bother some people, especially if you're just going to use it for lazy sofa gaming, or with a gaming rocker where you're already on the floor anyway. For us, this will take some getting used to. It's not a deal breaker by any means, but it would have been nice if they could have allowed for a bit more height. Second, we have a USB fan hooked up to our PS3 which we keep behind it to blow the hot air away from it. This has helped tremendously in keeping it cool, but there is not much room for it on the hub's platform. Also, it would have been nice to have a small barrier on the front of the platform and along the sides instead of in the back, to avoid small bumps from knocking the gaming systems over.

The guitar holders are probably the most flimsy element of the whole setup, being held together with only one screw, but they are kept in the back and out of the way so it's not a huge problem. The accessory basket only holds a couple PS3 or Wii controllers with no room for anything else. I don't see why this could not have been wider to allow for more storage. Also, there are only slots for 6 games, so for most of the target audience for this item it will not even come close to holding your entire gaming library.

I could see this being perfect for a college dorm, small room, or kid's gaming setup (as long as they're old enough not to play around with it, as it could tilt and fall over). If you're going to use this stand in an environment with small children running around, I'd highly recommend installing the wall strap that is included for an extra level of safety. For our purposes, the Spyder hub has succeeded in freeing up some bedroom space and consolidating some of our gaming elements into a nice, small area. It's not perfect I wish it had more height and storage space to it but it gets the job done. Consider whether it would be appropriate enough for your situation to justify the price. As long as you know what you're getting, you most likely won't be disappointed.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program At first glance, the Spyder Gaming Hub from Atlantic seems like a great option for consolidating your console gaming needs, but in reality, there really isn't anything too revolutionary here. It is easy to set up. It took less than 10 minutes out of the box. It is also very sturdy, and made of quality materials. I set up a 42" monitor on it and it seems to handle the weight very well. Those are about the only good qualities for it though. My main complaint is simply that the design isn't customized enough, and doesn't seem like it was designed by an actual gamer. The accessory basket is way too small, and doesn't hold enough games. Anyone purchasing this is going to own more than six games. While the game cart can be useful for holding six of your most-recently played games, the design seems like it should be able to easily accommodate an additional game rack underneath. The footprint is also a bit too big. I have a game case that sits on my floor, but the legs on the stand take up a lot of space, and their design makes it difficult to keep anything at the bottom of the stand. You can't see it from Amazon's picture, but there is an area in the back to hold a surge protector/power strip, however it will only accommodate a narrow power strip sitting flat. You can use a bigger strip in it if you sit it at an angle, but it's not very sturdy then and I had to bend back the supports to allow space for my larger power adapter blocks. There is a hook on the back for cable management, but it would have made much more sense to have the cables run down through the stand so they are completely hidden from view. I am a perfectionist when it comes to cables and I don't want to be able to see cables running down it from the front of the stand. It should be seamless and this should be an easy thing to accomplish. I ended up wrapping my cables in electrical tape around the post to hide them. You can rotate the monitor 120 degrees, but there is no tilt. The height is somewhat adjustable, but not enough to counter the lack of tilt. Sitting on the floor is not really an option. Finally, the stand just doesn't look that nice. Initially I had it set up in my den, but the aesthetics are more suited to a playroom, and even then I wouldn't use bit around children because of the potential to topple over. It's not very likely to fall, especially if you use the strap to secure the back to a stud, but with a large TV and the way children play, I wouldn't feel comfortable using it.

For the price, you can get much better consoles that are better-suited to gamers.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program The stand looks very modern and is very sturdy. Mesh type shelf helps ensure adequate air ventilation for the electronics. I like the see-thru design of the basket.

The guitar holders do not have to be attached if not needed. There are three height settings for the TV, and TV screen can be freely swiveled 90% (45 each way) without having to move the base. There is also an optional safety strap that can be attached to a nearby wall, which is great for anyone with kids prone to climbing up on things.

The assembly instructions are very clear and parts are clearly labeled. Unit includes large assortment of various sized bolts and nuts to ensure that the proper size is available to attach mounting brackets securely to your tv.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This TV/gaming stand is adequate for its purpose but wouldn't be my first choice.

Good: It is sturdy and the design allows any gaming systems or other electronics placed within it to ventilate well. It also swivels 90 degrees which is useful.

Not so good: What about the speakers? It would be nice if it could accommodate audio output devices on the unit. I don't care for the guitar rack being on the unit it messes with the "Feng shui" or sleekness of the design to have a couple guitars hanging off the back of the unit.

Three stars.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This is just a Gaming Stand has room just enough for the gaming console, and if gaming console is the only thing attached to your TV then this may be enough for you. There is no room to keep multiple media devices on this DVR, DVD player, Media players etc. And the finish is not polished enough for a family room or a living room. There are also not a whole lot of options to adjust the viewing position and angle of television. screen. It is fairly sturdy for a gaming stand.

The niche for this Gaming Stand is really a teenager's room or a dorm room where gaming console is pretty much the only device attached to a television.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem Review

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There have been quite a few attempts at video games based upon Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos, but they never seem to make it to the market. Although Eternal Darkness is set within its own little universe, it borrows heavily from the mythos, and Lovecraft's influence is readily apparent.

The game begins when your character, Alexandra Roivas, decides to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding her grandfather's death at their ancestral mansion. Through an absolutely brilliant plot device, the player is able to take control of many of Alex's ancestors from ages past and several other characters from all over the world. Each of these chapters help the player piece together the mystery and reveal the hidden agenda of a group of extremely powerful and malevolent entities.

Gameplay is very smooth. Holding down one controller button allows you to lock on an enemy target, and with a flick of the control stick you can aim at specific body parts. Some baddies fall when they are decapitated, some you have to take apart limb by limb before they will fall. As with most third person games, camera angles are fixed and sometimes problematic, as you may find yourself being disembowled by some horror just off screen.

Combat is relatively well balanced, and the puzzles in the game find a way to be interesting without being terribly difficult. the graphics are quite good, many monsters can be on the screen without any noticeable slowdown. The monsters themselves are quite detailed and look great, but they don't vary a whole lot towards the earlier part of the game.

The magic system is very cool. You must find runes of power hidden throughout the game (often inside of monsters). Each rune corresponds to an alignment, an effect, and a target. By mixing and matching the runes, you can create many different spells. There's also a large variety of mundane weaponry to collect and to toss a beating with.

Each of the characters you control seem to have their own strengths and weaknesses. Some are excellent melee fighters, some excel at throwing spells. Some have a ton of health, while others are quite fragile.

By far the coolest aspect of the game (and the part that perhaps owes more than a little to Chaosim's Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game) is the sanity system. Everytime you undergo something hideously supernatural, you lose a little bit of your mind as you struggle to grasp the situation. This manifests as hallucinations, both visual and audial. You may get an unexpected phone call, or have a horrible vision of your own demise. This effect is truly very creepy. I've already had statues come to life and watch me cross an empty hallway. I've seen walls bleed, and bugs crawl across my television screen. There are several ways to regain your sanity, but sometimes it's just fun letting it fall a little bit to see how creepy things can really get.

Resident Evil may have been an inspiration for Eternal Darkness, but it is a poor comparison. This game is truly a wonder to experience, and definitely a killer title for the GC. It's worth every penny.

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The opinions I've read below on this game seem to be about 80% who absolutely love it and 20% who hate it, and as far as I can tell the people who hate it are either young children who can't appreciate anything other than a hack-n-slash gorefest, folks who prefer shallow, poorly constructed games such as Resident Evil, or worst of all, people who only played it for five minutes or not at all. I fall in with those who love it.

Eternal Darkness didn't get the promotion or the acclaim it deserved when it came out, but don't let that fool you. It's still one of the best games on any of the current generation of consoles, hands down.

This game is all about mood. Play it at night with all the lights out. Everything from the lighting to the ambient sounds is designed to establish a creepy feeling, and it really hits home in several key parts, especially when your sanity meter is running low.

Ah, the sanity meter. Yes, it's every bit as crazy as you've read. One reviewer wrote that there are only 10 different insanity effects. He most likely avoided going insane most of the way through the game, because the truth is there are around 100 different effects, ranging from minor things you'll barely notice to "What the...?" I won't spoil them for you, as they're one of the best parts of the game.

It's got a compelling storyline and a mythos based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft. You control 13 different playable characters who all exist at different points in history. Although there are really only 4 different stages, each of which is repeated a few times by different characters, the stages do change from one visit to the next, sometimes making them very different places from last time you saw them.

The gameplay itself involves navigating through the stages with one of the characters, encountering several types of creatures, and solving puzzles. The combat system gives each character several different weapons, including close-range, long-range and projectile combat. You can target different areas on a creature's body, some more effective than others. There is also a highly satisfying magic-casting system where you combine sets of runes to make new spells.

You may notice in other reviews that some claim the game is way too easy, while others say it's too hard. Some also said the game is too short. What happens is, at the beginning of the game there are three different branches you can take in the story, and these dictate the difficulty of your quest as well as the creatures you encounter, including a completely different mid-game boss creature in each branch. However, once you complete the game once, you can go back and start again with one of the other possible stories, and when you complete all three you are treated to a special ending.

If you're looking for a quick fix shoot-em-up scare-me bloodfest, don't bother. If you're looking for a disturbing and riveting game that will stay with you long after you turn off your GameCube, don't let this one pass you by!

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i chose to get a gamecube rather than one of the other systems because of this game (and mario sunshine). having now played eternal darkness makes me realize i made the right decision. the graphics are excellent, the sound amazing and the story totally involving. it's the little details that make the difference; when you're walking on hardwood then walk on carpet the sound of your steps changes accordingly.

the best part is the gameplay. the menus are intuitive and moving around is not a chore like it is with resident evil. i was able to put it in and start playing without wading through a manual to learn the basics.

it starts out slowly; i was concerned that it would be too easy and uninteresting. by the time you have completed the first couple of tasks with the first few characters the gameplay becomes a lot more involving and difficult.

the sanity meter makes the game. when you face certain zombies they lower your sanity level; you can regain some of it back by killing thembut not all. once you're near the end of your sanity blood will start dripping on the floor, the camera angle will be tilted and the background effects become more spooky. the rest of the insanity effects i'll leave for you to experience first hand. you start to doubt your gameplay and, oddly, just after finishing up for the night i expected the same in real lifeit's that surreal.

there are minor things one could take issue with, but then show me a game that is perfect. i can't recommend this game highly enough. there is a perfect balance between logic, exploring and fighting. this is all coming from someone who is not usually a fan of these types of games; i generally enjoy games like ssx tricky, super monkey ball and tony hawk 3.

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Well to be fair this is also the only psychological horror action-adventure game on any platform that I know of.

This unique game has an amazing atmosphere and really great soundtrack. The graphics are also really good.

You play the game as the grand-daughter of some guy that just died and so you visit her mansion. While you are there you start finding chapters of this ancient book and for each chapter you find you get to play as the character the chapter is about. The first chapter is a guy from ancient roman times so your gameplay is a legionaire with a sword... during your play of the first chapter you make choice that effects the rest of the games story so you can play the game three times with the three choices available to you at the end of the first chapter. If you play all three story lines then you get the full ending...

First play through took me about 20 hours. Second and Third time took me more like 10-12 hours each cause the puzzles are pretty challenging the first time through.

I think there is something like 12 or so chapters and in each one you play a different character. Everything from legionaire to priests to reporters to fire-men. Male and female characters both. In between chapters you have to spend time with the lead character in the mansion finding the next chapter.

The story of the game makes it well worth playing through three times. It is a classic and it deserves the good reputation it has.

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This is the first survival-horror game that I've ever played. I never really got into the genre, but this game always intrigued me. I read about it when it first came out, and the game's new feature of the sanity meter sounded really cool. One of my friends (who is now my roommate) has the game, so I finally tried it, and was blown away.

Right from the beginning, things start off creepy, and they only get worse (which, for players, means better). You start out as Alex Roivas, a young woman in her 20's whose grandfather was recently murdered. The police are stumped, because there doesn't appear to be any sign of a break-in, nor does it look like Grandpa Edward Roivas put up much of a fight. This would normally lead to a ruling of suicide, but the state in which they found the body makes suicide an impossibility. Alex decides to investigate herself, and you navigate her grandfather's mansion. Everything in it references the dark and macabre, from paintings of murderers to books in the library about some of the darkest periods in history (the Inquisition, the Salem witch burnings). Eventually, Alex discovers a book called the Tome of Eternal Darkness. When she reads it, she is transported to another time, place, and body. Whenever players "read" a new chapter of the book, they take over as another character in another historical period. A Roman centurion, a young Cambodian girl, a British photographer, and a few of the Roivas ancestors are just a few of the people that you'll control throughout the ages.

As the story unfolds (which depends on a choice you make as the centurion), you learn about the Ancients, three god-like beings fighting for control of the world, and if one is summoned, will reign destruction upon the galaxy.

Not only is the story engaging, the gameplay is great. The weapons and magic system are great. I love the fact that you can design your own spells before you are actually "supposed" to learn them. This game has some really cool weapons, like the elephant gun, the broadsword, the double-barreled shotgun, and the fireman's axe, which is great for chopping off heads. Due to a unique and great aiming system, you can aim at specific body parts, being able to chop off heads or arms.

The other aspect of gameplay is the sanity meter. Sanity is a running theme throughout the game. As your sanity decreases, weird things start to happen, and not just to your character in the game. Many of the effects are directed at the player, and even if you know what might happen (like me), many of them will still catch you off guard. And while some effects do effect the characters (many of them foreshadow future events that will happen to them), they do rattle the cages of the players as well. This game has an insanity effect that targets Alex, and it is the only thing in a video game that has EVER made me jump is shock and even horror.

I guess the one thing that I would change is the whole "choose your path" thing at the beginning of the game. You have three paths to choose from, but they are, for all intents and purposes, the same. The only thing that changes between path to path is the Ancient that Pious summons, which does have a few effects. The color of that ancient will play an important role througout the game, but besides that, the missions are all exactly the same. In order to get the full ending, you have to play the game 3 times through (one with each Ancient), but it would be more of an incentive if each Ancient had a different path to play. Oh well, it's a small grievance.

Overall, this is one of the most interesting, creepy, and all-around fun games in a while. It may be too intense for some people, but I urge you to give it a try.

Reviews of Dark Star One - Broken Alliance - Xbox 360

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Being a scifi fan,when I first saw this game for cheap,I thought I'd give it a try. My expectations were low. At first I didn't think too highly of my purchase until I figured out all the controls. Such as(you must use reverse thrust to keep the enemies in front of you). The more I played the game the more I liked it. The Metacritic score is 65 out of 100. Though the reviews are positive, they all mention that this is a 4 year old PC port. I believe, if this game would not have come out earlier on PC and was new, it would have scored higher, perhaps around low 80's. Myself, I would give it a 90. The game looks great, contols great, and has different difficulty settings. If things get too tough all you have to do is spend some time upgrading your ship before progressing. The story is on par with any other video game narrative,(That is to say it's average). It has addictive gameplay and is a very long game.

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Before I get into my review I'd like to preface with some quick side notes that don't affect my rating:

1. The Amazon product images as of this writing are unrelated to this item (other than the same publisher: Kalypso). I was nervous about ordering this item because of this, but I did receive the actual DarkStar One game.

2. I've been a serious gamer for over 20 years.

3. I have never played the original PC version (DarkStar One (DVD-Rom)) of this game.

DarkStar One (DSO from here on) is a surprisingly fun space shooter that manages to defy traditional game classification. Is it action? Is it an rpg? Is it an adventure? Is it a space shooter? All of these descriptions fit in some way, and all are used to describe the game in its own marketing, but DSO doesn't seem to favor any one of them. This makes for an interesting and unique gaming experience that doesn't come along very often. The game seems to subtly adjust around around your playing style based on the missions you decide to take on.

If you want some action then get out there and hunt down some space pirates. It seems like the more you hunt down pirates, the more the game throws them at you.

If you want some "rpg" then scour the 300+ solar systems for artifacts to "level" your ship up. The rpg elements in DSO are geared specifically towards upgrading your ship as opposed to your character in traditional rpg style.

If you want some adventure then follow the main/side story lines to solve a mystery surrounding your father's death.

There are even elements of economic management as you can buy/sell trade goods from "Trade Stations" located in every solar system.

Above all, however, DSO's greatest achievement is its potential to function as a great casual game or a game to dive into head first and get lost in for hours. Whether you want to kill a little time with some mindless action or bunk off from school/work to spend the day with DSO...either way, it can deliver. This is fairly rare in video games, IMHO.

But all is not perfect in the world of DSO. Despite the marketing boasts of 1080P for the xbox 360 version, the cut scenes seem like they didn't get a makeover for this port. Personally this doesn't really bother me, and I didn't rate accordingly. Just fair warning that the cut scenes are a bit dated. Other than that the graphics are great with excellent frame rates. Also, space battles can be a bit repetitious but they're still tons of fun. Finally, my number one complaint, and the reason I couldn't give DSO 5 stars: the controls.

Slightly unintuitive but relatively easy to master. The controls are good enough but leave room for improvement. You set your "Basic Propulsion" (your cruising speed, essentially) by holding the left trigger and moving the right stick up (100%) or down (0%). But you can temporarily adjust your speed on-the-fly by moving the right stick up or down *without* holding the left trigger. It sounds strange in print, and it took some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it things start to make sense. But the control scheme fails with its minimalist approach to customization. You can adjust stick sensitivity and invert Y-axis, but that's about it. I would have given this game 5 stars with much more in-depth control customization.

Great game at bargain bin pricing.

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Greetings Amazonites!

Darkstar One is an okay game. It reminds me of some old school PC games; it's definitely more strategy/sim than anything else. You are the pilot of an advanced ship that can be upgraded by spending money or finding artifacts. You have a large galaxy to explore. There is an underlying story, but you can avoid it by doing any number of available missions.

GRAPHICS & SOUND (4 stars): the visual quality is great. There isn't much to gawk at when not in space; the only other environments are static shots of a space station (interior) or some cut scenes of interior areas. While not jaw-dropping, the space environments are appropriately large and impressive. The stars, asteroids, planets, and so on will definitely impress anyone. The other space ships are less impressive--most are a little blocky or have some fuzzy textures.

The sound quality can't be knocked. The music is appropriate and unintrusive; it's not amazing, but it doesn't muck with the gameplay. The sound effects are good, but not great. The weapons, explosions, and other effects convey the atmosphere well.

CONTROLS & GAMEPLAY (2 stars): the controls only pertain to action while in space. You fly, shoot, and manage things with various buttons. I found the controls to be awkward and a little clunky. There's two different ways to accelerate and slow down, but the difference between the two isn't clearly explained. There are ways to match a target's speed, but it's mapped to the D-pad; it's a little odd to steer with the L-stick and then reach down to tap something--requiring you to release the steering control. The in-flight controls could use some serious work.

It takes some getting used to before you can fly and shoot accurately. I found it frustrating, which contributed to the game losing a lot of fun in my eyes. I can easily imagine this game being much more manageable on a PC--and I think it was intended as such.

In the space stations, you're just navigating menus and selecting items--it's a no brainer. The controls are irrelevant.

DESIGN & STORY (2 stars): there isn't much of a story to speak of. The backdrop is something about a mysterious ship left to the main character by his father; somewhere in the game, you can pursue how your father died and unlock the mysteries of the ship. None of this is laid out in the beginning cinematic (which makes no sense). Fortunately, the main story isn't that important. Your quest to complete jobs, upgrade the ship, and explore the galaxy is motivation enough to get out there.

There are plenty of jobs to do and places to explore. The fast travel points (gates in space) make these trips manageable. There are space stations at most major planets or installations, so finding a place to dock is easy. At any docking site, you can buy/sell commodities and upgrade your ship--as well as search for new jobs. While I enjoy the freedom of picking jobs and flying around, the lack of any coherence at all wears thin very fast.

NUTSHELL: The cool space environments and freeform missions aren't enough to counteract the wacky controls and lack of coherent story. It's ultimately a strategy/simulation game involving trade, space dogfights, and random odd jobs--rinse and repeat until you've had enough. If you enjoy these elements, however, you might enjoy this game quite a bit.

Honest reviews on Dark Star One - Broken Alliance - Xbox 360

Pros: Fun space fighter game, very rare these days to find anything like it, The PC version was fun but, so I bought this version because....... (see other thoughts)

Love the ship customization options

Cons: You cannot customize the controls for the ship, you must use the left analog stick to control the x/y axis of the ship, this is incredibly frustrating and unnatural to me. Every other flight sim, space sim and shooter you use your right hand or thumb for flight/axis control by default. This is a game breaker for me, and now I'm out 30 bucks

Most star systems are very similar, not much to explore

Other Thoughts: I bought this because I loved the pc version, but it was seriously hampered by copy protection software that caused serious crashes. The fix for these crashes was a overly complex series of steps that wasnt worth my time. I thought the XBOX version would alleviate this issue, but it just gave rise to more of this companies inept handling of software. The company who made this game deserves credit for making a good space sim, but deserves to go out of business for their horrible copy protection, and stupid things like not being able to use the right stick for axis control. This is just laziness in development, and a big part of why you dont see any popular space sims anymore.

RELEASE A CONTROL PATCH AND THIS WOULD GET 5 STARS, unless your left handed I suppose

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This game is pretty good so far if you are into 3D space shooters in the vein of Wing Commander and Freespace etc. With that being saiddo not expect Wing Commander or Freespace. The graphics are dated (actually a port of a four year old PC game), the voice acting is horrendous and laughable, and the cut scenes are few and far between. However the game does provide solid controls, easy navigation, and fun combat. This game was unavailable in Canada for some reason so I had to order it online (NOTEthe picture on amazon.com is wrong for the product as of writing this). I hope to see more of these kind of games in the future!

Discount Assassin's Creed III Encyclopedia Edition -Xbox 360

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I will focus on the encyclopedia edition first and then comment on the game.

My encyclopedia edition came in the mail safely and undamaged with the normal retail version of the game, the hefty encyclopedia, and the graphic novel. If your edition was damaged from shipping I believe that is worth noting in a review but NOT worth taking off stars for.

Now, regarding the encyclopedia, it is gorgeous. It is a high quality hardcover edition with an exquisite dust cover. The binding seems to be solid so I do not anticipate the book wearing out from excessive use. Speaking of excessive use, the encyclopedia covers a lot, including summaries of events and characters. Spoilers are present so finish up AC 3 before gazing. There is also much high quality art. I would say approximately 40% of the book is art and 60% is wording. It is easy to look up a video of someone flipping through the pages online so consider doing that before investing. For me, as someone who ordered this edition to better understand my favorite storyline of any video game I have played, this was a real treat.

Next, the graphic novel: _Assassin's Creed Subject 4_. It is a combination of the AC comics series _The Fall_ and _The Chain_ which tell the story of Daniel Cross, an important character in the AC world. I was surprised at the quality of the book. It is soft cover, but the binding and the covering is very durable. Ubisoft did not spare any expense in producing these. I will say I am disappointed that Ubisoft did not include the original covers for each comic, but that is a small issue. Regarding the story, at first I thought that it was merely a way to make money by promoting a side story, but it is interesting in itself and it also covers some important information not available in the game series. In particular, knowledge of it will give you insider-knowledge in regards to a particular part in AC 3. ;)

Regarding the game itself, I do not see what all the hate about AC over the past few weeks has come from. I just finished it as I write this review and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Having played the entire series I can say that AC 3 is one of the best. The story, both past and present, was satisfying, and, of course, the ending is a cliffhanger (go figure). But does that mean another AC game?? Hopefully not for at least 2 years. Many have complained about bugs in the game: I experienced very few and none were game breaking or overly distracting. The graphics are delightful, a serious step up from Revelations. The music is fantastic and the voice work is exceptional. The gameplay has changed from previous AC games. For example, it took some time to get used to the "not holding A to run" and to press "B" to block. I was still not entirely comfortable by the end. There is plenty to do throughout the many locations, although I avoided the hunting, the minigames, and the investing, because they simply did not appeal to me. Surprisingly, I entered a shop only once in the entire game, purchased NO additional weapons than the ones I started with, and I had absolutely no trouble as a result of not "upgrading" my character.

The missions of AC 3 are mostly thrilling. Not perfect: there are too many chase missions, the full-sync bonus objectives often clog the screen and pressure you during a mission, and there are many surprisingly frustrating bits. You can participate in several historical events (ex: the midnight ride of Paul Revere) which is exciting for any history buff.

Here are my complaints about the game. First, I did not feel any obligation or desire to do any side missions. There are a lot of side missions. The controls were somewhat difficult to get used to. The game starts a bit slow (but it is worth it). Connor is a total jerk at times. The ending is one of the worst cliffhangers in the series. There are occasional bugs. Finally, and most significantly for me, who am very interested in the story, the events that happen in AC 3 feel a bit disjointed. I occasionally had trouble figuring out why I was doing this or why I was killing this person or why this was significant. Also, there are some jumps in the story that lead to a, how shall I say it. . . less than seamless story.

In the end, AC 3 may have been slightly rushed, but it is an exciting addition to the series and, as you will find out, is by no means The End. Be wary of people who give this game low reviews: look for their reasoning (hint, they are often whining about bugs or cliffhanger endings). The encyclopedia edition is for hardcore fans only. AC 3 is not exactly the game I was hoping for but I am still very pleased with it. Of course, you should also check out the most popular AC 3 review for the normal edition of the game. The person who gave it 3 stars has many good points to make. I agree with some points and disagree on others. Consider renting or purchasing cheap on Black Friday if you are wary about this game.

And remember, the unexamined life is not worth living.

EDIT: Update

I have had time to reflect on my experience in AC 3 and find myself agreeing more and more with people who were disappointed with it. The story AND gameplay was slightly lacking and the game could really have done with several extra months of development. I have settled on a score of approximately 8/10. That is not to say that this 5 star review is inaccurate. The encyclopedia has turned out to be very informative and pleasing to read. The graphic novel was also excellent, though I do not have a desire to read through it a second time. However, the price of AC 3 is decreasing, and you can purchase the encyclopedia for $40 on ubiworkshop (usually with added shipping of up to or approximately $10). Let me emphasize you renting this game before purchasing it. Even the most ardent AC fans (such as myself) have been -at least slightlydispleased with the overall product.

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This encyclopedia edition is one best edition yet. I like the fact that has all the information in the AC Universe. A recommended buy for everyone who wants to know more about the AC and to the Veterans of the saga.

Best Deals for Assassin's Creed III Encyclopedia Edition -Xbox 360

I think Encyclopedia Edition is the best edition I ever had in my life time. It came with two books comic book and encyclopedia. When you read about comic book then play game. The story line is easier to understand. It about Daniel Cross (Subject 4) about his life and his ancestor. The encyclopedia has really awesome illustrations and stories lines about different characters.

Honest reviews on Assassin's Creed III Encyclopedia Edition -Xbox 360

Playability is good. Graphics are great.

I have to suspend playing it as I got to go back and finish the previous titles for the storyline.

1 star off only because Boston looks and feels soo dreary, like if the artists painted mud on the buildings to make them more so. The Frontier seems so much chipper. Big difference from the streets of Renaissance Italy. I can only hope New York feels livelier.

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This encyclopedia edition is just GREAT! I remember when I got the firs Assassin's Creed, got it because the gameplay that I saw on youtube was just something entirely new. But when I got the game, the gameplay was the last thing on my mind. How the story line of this game gets you attatched to it is amazing! This is HISTORY with a little twist (a great one) that makes any gamer of any age wanna get more of it. The second one, Italy, Leonardo, Rome, Vatican city... WOW! Ubisoft got how we (the gamers) got attatched to Ezio and his travesy and the gave us Brotherhood and Revelations also killing tittles that will always be classic. Now They bring the story closer in time, but here! in America, making the game more interesting of knowing how assassins from different centuries connect and act for the same purpose.

Now, The Encyclopedia.

I got the first one and it was remarkable. Giving every detail of every key caracter and every move by Altair and Ezio. Now this one, the updated version including Assassins Creed III content is just amazing. Got it as a gift from my girlfriend (yes, I'm lucky) and is just something every AC fan should have, so much info from our 3 favorite Assassins and the ones between them makes it just the best AC experience.

Strongly Recommend

Best Thrustmaster T500RS Racing Wheel - Playstation 3 Deals

Customer Ratings:

I bought the T500 rs in march of 2011. Three months later the cooling fan started to sound like it was going to break off. I emailed thrustmaster customer support as my 30 day return period from amazon was over. They took two days to respond and started by asking me for a video in which they could hear the abrasive sound. I did so immediately. Customer service is located in France so they took another 24 hours to respond. When they did so, they started asking me questions which I felt were designed to incriminate me regarding foul use of the wheel. This process took several days, they then asked me for proof of purchase, to which I replied with the invoice from amazon. They then told me that they could not open the attachment. I had to resend it. This of course took another 24 hours of what was now starting to become a tediously long and cumbersome process. After this they told me that the unit would have to be mailed by me to France. They would not pay for shipping. This of course is not the way returns should be handled by a corporation doing business in the U.S. I was not about to spend hundreds of dollars on shipping a faulty unit I had just bought for $600.00 dollars. I politely asked them to please send me a new fan so I could perform the repair myself. They took a couple of days to respond, and when they finally did, they asked for my telephone number. I gave it to them that very day. A couple of days later, I get a call from a woman in France. She proceeds to question me again about the use I have been giving the wheel. She asks me if I am forcing the wheel in any way from side to side during start up. She then asks me if I have the wheel set up to a Dell computer. She starts to give me explanations as to why the user needs to first hook up the wheel to a Dell computer, and only a Dell computer. I told her that I only use the wheel on my ps3, and that the wheel's manual clearly states that it is designed to be plug and play with this console. She asks me to update the firmware with a Dell computer. As if a software update would fix a faulty fan. Fortunately I have a dell computer, so I did what she asked and sent her a picture of my dell computer next to my wheel. Two weeks later part of the wheel's casing containing another soon to fail fan arrived at my house with complex instruction on how to open the wheel and perform the replacement procedure.

I hoped that this would be the last time I had to deal with this company and its employees, but I would not be so lucky. A couple of days ago a spring in the gas pedal broke. This left the pedal limp and unresponsive. I replied to their last email asking for a new spring. I waited for four days, no response from customer support. I decided to go on their website and email them from there. I then get a response from an automated service with a case number. Immediately I send them a video showing the damaged pedal, proof of purchase and my information. I get a reply two days later from a customer rep who asks me to email him the version number of my wheel. Another cockamamie question designed to delay the process. I email a reply as soon as I get home and are able to look under the wheel to check the version number. Here I ask the rep if it is possible to receive an extra spring and a plastic gear in case this happens again to another of the pedals. To which I promptly get a negative response. It's incredible that I get such a fast response refusing to send me a couple of parts which together are probably worth less than a dollar. But somehow I am not surprised. I also get an email from a different customer rep asking me for my address and proof of purchase. I email them, for the third time, a copy of my amazon invoice. Two weeks later and still no spring.

If you want to spend $600 dollars on a wheel which will eventually malfunction, look no further. Having been given permission by thrustmaster to disassemble the wheel I can tell you that the parts used to manufacture such a product will fail. It is only a matter of time. The motor is of good quality and so are the sensors, but mechanically moving parts are of poor quality. The steering column is made of plastic, that when updated with the F1 rim shredded a bit. The hex screws are made of very poor quality metal and are prone to rounding. The case housing the internal components of the wheel is overly large and is prone to overheating due to a proper lack of ventilation. The score of 1 star regarding how much fun is this wheel, is due to the employees of thrustmaster who have created a corporate climate of blaming the end customer for their company's shoddy workmanship. They have become very adept at evading the responsibility of the warranty claims they make when selling their overpriced equipment. If you want to be treated disrespectfully, with disdain and even contempt for purchasing an overpriced toy which will only give you headaches; please do what I did and buy Thrustmaster.

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I was very excited as I unboxed my T500RS to replace my well worn G27. I attached the wheel and pedals to my Playseat WRC; the wheel fit perfectly, but the mount holes for the pedal set did not line up, had to zip-tie in place. (I have seen rumors on line that Playseat is working on an adapter but 5 months after release it is still yet to be seen...)

I started Gran Turismo 5 on my Playstation 3 and got in about 3 hours of play. The wheel was remarkably better than the G27, impressively responsive.

I turned the system off, and returned a few hours later for another session, to find that the unit will not power up. The AC Adaptor's indicator light is on, so it must have power, and when I connect the USB cable, I hear a high pitched whine coming from the wheel, but the power light on the wheel does not light up and the unit is not responsive.

VERY disappointed that a such an expensive unit would die on day 1. Awaiting a response from Thrustmaster support and trying to figure out if it is worth the effort to set the G27 back up...

UPDATE: I initially called Thrustmaster support on Monday May 23. They ran me through the usual script attempt to connect to multiple different PCs, attempt to re-flash firmware, etc. After I reported back through e-mail that none of these steps worked, I received a reply 10 minutes later asking for more detailed contact information and proof-of-purchase. I was hoping that meant this would be a quick repair, but I did not receive any further contact. After one more e-mail to them asking for status, I called again Friday May 27. The rep I spoke with confirmed that they received my e-mails earlier in the week, and said they would follow up with the person this case was assigned to and have someone get a status to me that day. I have heard nothing back. I am giving them until Wednesday June 1, then I will just return the unit to Amazon.

UPDATE 6/20/2011: Shipped the base unit to Thrustmaster on May 31st since I was going on vacation for 10 days anyhow -as of today, still no replacement. Very disappointed in their customer service -they always say to e-mail for a status update, but I never get a response without calling. At least they paid for shipping...

UPDATE 6/24/2011: Received the wheel back yesterday; TM says they had to resolder some wires to the board. I hooked it up, this time it died the exact same way after 45 minutes. I am trying very hard to remain polite with their support staff.

UPDATE 7/04/2011: Received a new base on Friday. Still working after several hours of use this weekend, bumping my rating up a star -we'll see how long this lasts.

UPDATE 9/14/2011: It has been working for three months, moving up to a 4-star rating since the product is great -their customer service however was terrible at getting me a working unit. For a $500+ product, they should be bending over backwards and should just be swapping with a new unit right away when something is broken rather than making customers wait for their faulty repairs.

Best Deals for Thrustmaster T500RS Racing Wheel - Playstation 3

When the Thrustmaster T500rs came out, I laughed a little bit. Thrustmaster has not made a good wheel in quite some time and at the price of 600 dollars, its double the cost of a G27. Not only is it double the cost, the wheel wheel housing is intensely large and the pedals are quite cumbersome. That being said, the wheel is superb in most every way.

I recently had a chance to use the T500rs for a while and was taken aback by how good it is. The force feedback is quite robust and precise. It gives a lot more feeling of realism only dreamed by the other wheels on the market. The wheel feels weighty, like a real car wheel, but lightens up the faster you drive and turn. This dynamic response is greatly appreciated when driving simulation racing games. Road inputs are much easier to feel with this wheel improving the users ability to respond and drive dynamically.

The buttons on the wheel are a mix between the G27 and the driving force GT. The versatility of the buttons on the driving force GT carry over to the T500rs but the buttons are small and hard to identify during races and quick turns. The buttons are unfortunately placed quite far from the rim and because of the diameter of the wheel, this makes it very hard to use during races unless you are on a straight or not in a race. The buttons do include a PS button which is very helpful on the PS3 as you don't have to keep a controller around to navigate menus.

The pedals on the T500rs are quite good. Though I think they are too large and are cumbersome in many instances, their performance is another story. The brake is firm and requires a bit of force to apply pressure. The clutch and gas pedal don't have the resistance that the brake does but they still take force to press down which is really nice. All in all the pedals are great during game play and give a relatively realistic depiction of real car pedals. Much like the G27 pedals, they don't have progressive feel that real car pedals provide. The brake pedal has a resistance mod that you can install that increases braking resistance and has the ability to create a progressive feel by adding a pieces of rubber that comes in contact part way through the brake travel. Its not perfect but it does enhance braking.

One of the most unfortunate things about this wheel, is that it does not include a shifter. Thrustmaster says they are developing one and it will be out soon, but it sounds like its not included with the set. This is unfortunate for being a 600 wheel, any of the wheels close or below this price point includes one (Fanatec and Logitech wheels). That being said, when racing competitively, I don't use a shifter, just shifter paddles so its not a huge loss.

The paddles on the T500rs are massive. Each one takes up about 20-25% of the wheels circumference. They are made of chromed metal and are quite hefty. They give a great tactile feedback when shifting. The big downside is that they are fixed to the wheel base, so they do not rotate with the wheel. This makes it hard or impossible to shift when turning certain cars. If you are in a 90 degree turn, you will not be able to shift unless you take your hand off of the wheel.

Another nice feature is that the firmware for the wheel is upgradeable. This helps with comparability with new games and systems later on down the road. Other than that, its a plug and play experience on the PS3 and all you have to do is install the driver to make it work on the PC.

If you are a serious sim racer, this wheel is the best wheel on the market. If you are more of a casual gamer this wheel is unnecessary. If you have the cash to drop and you take sim racing seriously, order this now.

Pros:

Realism

Force feedback precision

Button functionality

Pedal feel

Paddle Shifter feel

Clutch pedal

Ease of use on PC/PS3

Upgradable firmware

Cons:

Bulky

Pricey

No shifter

Fixed paddle shifters

Honest reviews on Thrustmaster T500RS Racing Wheel - Playstation 3

Pros:

Stronger FFB than any other existing wheel

Made with rich quality and no cheap looking parts

Firmware is upgradable (meaning bugs can be fixed if any, or features can be added)

Pedals work great (Clubsport Pedals are much better though)

Great for the drifters due to the fast counter-steering of the wheel

much better and accurate feeling for ALL ground surfaces (tarmac, dirt, grass, apex, etc....)

Official wheel for GT5 meaning that buttons are matched to a PS3 controller

Works awesome with PC with great software configurations

weight transfering of vehicles feel more realistic

Cons:

expensive considering there's no gearbox (TH8 RS shifter compatable with additional $149.00)

paddle shifters are static(not really a con, but most racers like the paddles to move with the motion of the wheel)

no shifter though there is a clutch on the pedals

The wheel circumference is quite large comparing to other wheels such as the G27

Buttons seem to be far apart from the outer wheel (no buttons within close reach upon holding the wheel unless you have gorilla hands)

it's REALLY heavy compared to the average wheel. Hard mounting is highly recommended

Ending thoughts:

It's an awesome wheel and well worth your money if you can afford it. I recommend upgrading to this wheel if you just use a controller or a cheap wheel such as the DFGT. But if you have a nice Fanatec wheel or Logitech G27, be happy with what you have. They are all still GREAT wheels and no need to feel like your wheel is worthless becuase the FFB is not as strong as the T500rs. Again...it's a great wheel, I would recommend it to anyone who's into sim racing or also new to the sport.

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[SEP 2013] See my latest update at the end of this review.

Fantastic wheel and pedal combination ...... how best to describe this product without recycling what has already been said in previous reviews and what is available on Thrustmasters website? .... hmmm, how about when I opened the box it had that "new car smell" ... no bs; that's how realistic this product is ...... close your eyes while this is connected and running, and you will swear you are behind the wheel of a real car ...... I have this installed on a Obutto, so I also have the seat feel to go with it ..... the heft of the wheel, the size, weight and feedback of the pedals .... all top notch ...... ultimately, the best driving sim wheel/pedal combo on the market today .... this is not a toy ... hence the price tag and warning stickers ......

But ... and this is a big but ....

While researching this wheel prior to purchase, I read many a story on the GT5 forums about problems with this product ... most of the problems centered around the wheel and not the pedals ... DOA, paddles not working (my problem), wont power up after a week or so ..... for those that had Thrustmaster do the repair, the fix always seemed to be 'resoldered wires' or "replaced pc board" ......

My right shifter paddle stopped working a week after receiving it from Amazon ..... after swapping PS3's and flashing the firmware, I have it going back to Amazon tomorrow for a replacement .... hopefully the replacement will be defect free ......

[20 July 2011 update]: Within a couple hours of advising Amazon that I needed a replacement, I received an email that another unit was being shipped 'next day' delivery .... how can you beat service like that? .... this isn't a toaster; this is a large box weighing in at almost 50lbs ..... unbelievable that customer service still exists like that ..... anyway, the new wheel and pedals arrived ..... and it didn't take more than a few minutes to swap the new wheel with the old on my Obutto .... everything is now working great again ....... that's a good thing as I would never again be able to use something as toy-like as a G27 or Fantec wheel ... I'm not knocking those wheels as being decent products in there own right; just saying' they don't compare to the realism of the T500RS .... I didn't bother messing with the pedals as the original ones are still just fine ...... I have also changed my product rating from 2 to 3 stars due to the quick response from Thrustmaster after I advised them of the dead paddle .... they wanted me to perform a bunch of diagnostics that I had already done; but their initial response was less than 24hrs, so I feel comfortable that they will be there for after warranty service ...... I am eagerly waiting for the 7 speed shifter to compliment this wheel/pedal setup .......

[03 August 2011 update] : well, it has been a couple of weeks now since receiving my replacement wheel and everything is still working great ..... my lap times in GT5 have improved dramatically ..... Dirt3 is a blast now as you can 'feel' the tires break grip on the track ..... I'm waiting for F1 2011 to release later this year ..... I'm still seeing many new reports of wheel problems in the forums, causing me to almost feel relieved that it still works when I turn my console on ..... I'm also back down to 2 stars after receiving no correspondence from TMasters after my initial inquiry ... sad that such a great product is spoiled by lousy customer service and what looks like quality control during manufacture ..... I have a week or so left on my return policy, so if I see anything even looking like it may be a problem, it's going back to Amazon ..... a week or so ago, I noticed that this was no longer being fulfilled by Amazon .... too many returns? .... don't know what was up there but Amazon is selling it again now ..... I would NEVER buy this product from anyone not having such a superior return policy such as Amazon .... too much risk ..... so anyway, to end on a positive note; the 7-speed shifter has been announced and should be available in a month or so ..... hopefully Amazon will carry it as it is a must with this wheel/pedal combo ......

[16 March 2012 update] : As you can see I've owned this wheel a while now ..... And I'm happy to say that I have had no problems with it since my exchange/last update .... I've bumped my rating up accordingly .... I would never go back to a mediocre controller ... As predicted, I also have the gearshift now and it is a blast .... Hang your evergreen air freshener on the monitor and take this out for a spin .....

[Sep 2013 update] : Well, it has been about a year and a half since my last review and I happy to say that my T500RS is still performing great .... I've had no problems with it at all .... it hasn't been used every single day, but at least once or twice a week for a couple hours at a time .... GT6 will be out by the end of the year, so I'll be back to everyday play soonest .... I just picked up F1 2013, and I'm contemplating buying the interchangeable F1 wheel .... I wish that I could give this wheel 5 stars, but I continue to see horrible customer service experiences in the forums .... I feel that company support should be part of a products overall rating .... although this didn't impact me other than very early in my ownership of this wheel, here it is a few years later and ThrustMaster customer service is so horrendous that it has its own sticky thread on the forums .... anyway, again, my T500RS is doing just fine and I recommend it to anyone looking for about the best consumer grade gaming wheel on the market today .... Amazon continues to stock it every now and then ...

Reviews of 320GB Hard Drive HDD for Xbox 360 - Fast Speed 7200RPM

Customer Ratings:

Got it. Transferred my data to it with xbox 360 transfer cable (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003S9WJ9A/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_2)

Plugged it in and got to use it for a few days and all of a sudden my xbox goes black. HDD makes strange clicking noises. Xbox shuts down. Turn it back on to find E68 error message. Unplug hard drive. Plugged in my other HDD and Xbox worked fine. Tried to plug this one back in and same error message. It was this Hard drive for sure. Not even remotely interested in a replacement after this. Lost all data transferred to it. Buy at your own risk. 3rd party HDD. = unreliable. Also did not notice any faster load times. Stick with Microsoft HDD if you can. Expensive but worth the extra $. If the seller handles the refund ok I'll still give them alright feedback. If not, well....

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It was honestly worth the wait for this hard drive. The amount of space is great and it is a working product.

Best Deals for 320GB Hard Drive HDD for Xbox 360 - Fast Speed 7200RPM

works great, I transferred all 120GB of data from my old black elite hdd to this one without any problems,

however since it's not an official Microsoft hard drive you can not use it with original Xbox games..

I only have like 3, so not a big deal, but if you want to be able to play halo 1/2 or other classic Xbox games, DO NOT BUY THIS!

Honest reviews on 320GB Hard Drive HDD for Xbox 360 - Fast Speed 7200RPM

This hard drive worked just fine. It's a gray color so don't expect it. To match exactly to the color of your black Xbox if that's what you have. Also fairly easy to set up.

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I bought this hard drive 5 months ago and while I don't notice the slightly decreased load times, I do notice the massive amount of space available for downloads. If you own the classic Xbox 360, do yourself a favor and pick this up instead of the officially licensed, over-priced 120gb or 250gb versions. My only regret is buying a 120gb drive for $90 last year when I could've just picked up this beauty and had enough storage space for the rest of my consoles life.

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - Xbox 360 Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $17.25
Today's Bonus: 14% Off

It seems the more you read people talking about this game they either love it or hate it. I fall in the middle. I am just a casual gamer I play every now and then at night or on weekends, but I don't spend every waking moment with a controller in my hands. So take that into consideration as I make this review.

Overall I think this a fun game. I have been playing Mortal Kombat games for a long time now and I find this one just as enjoyable. I think the mix of character is nice with some of your most popular MK characters with some of the most recognizable DC comics heroes and villains.

The gameplay has been tweaked a bit since the previous MK game, but it is nothing that you can't adjust to, and overall I think it offers more character control. The special moves or super moves as called in the game are a fun mix too with most of your favorite moves form you MK characters kept in with a mix of a few new ones to keep things interesting.

We do have a return of the preprogrammed fatalities, but they have been toned down. No more dismemberment, decapitation, or removal of vital organs. This may be a big deal for you, but I don't require a high level of gore to enjoy a video game.

As far as I can tell there are no hidden characters in the game, other then the unlockable boss characters. So don't expect to find Reptile or the Martian Manhunter. But like most Xbox 360 games the game will support downloadable content in the future. But when new fighters show up is up to the video game publisher.

If you are trying to chose between the kollectors edition and the basica game save your money. The comic book that comes with the game is a quite small and almost just like a pamphlet and does not really add anything to the story. There is a small poster and a making of dvd. but you will probably be able to see all those videos on youtube before too long.

So a hardcore mortal kombat fan or gamer may not enjoy this game too much as it comes up short on gore and hidden characters. But the game still presents and interesting storyline and a chance to play as some of your favorite DC comics characters. I have it I enjoy playing it and hope to have fun with friends playing as superheros and undead ninjas.

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Despite reading a lot of negative previews and thoughts from game magazines and Mortal Kombat fans, I was very interested in this game and decided to buy it anyway. I am not a big comic book reader, but I like superhero games, movies, and the characters themselves. That is the main reason I wanted this game. I used to be a big Mortal Kombat fan as well, so everything together made me want to get this. Anyway, I think it is great. It is a ton of fun. The graphics in the characters and arenas are amazing, very clean looking. The gameplay is fun. I kinda suck at it, a little rusty in fighting games, but it is still a lot of fun. The fatalities may be a little watered down, but I think they are still awesome. Sub Zero will freeze an opponent, and then pounds him into hundreds of pieces. It's good stuff. My favorite character so far is Green Lantern. The free fall fighting and klose kombat features are fun, a little difficult, but fun. i haven't tackled the story mode yet, but will be starting that tonight. All in all, this game is exactly what I wanted: A great looking "pick up and play" game for when friends come over, that is fun, has awesome characters, and can be played forever. Pick it up if you like good fighting games or are a fan of either franchise.

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I haven't been a fan of MK since after MK II for the Arcades and Super NES. I've tried all the sequels but they just weren't for me, especially the last 4 for the PlayStation and PS2.

MK vs. DC brings this series back to it's roots and it's a lot of fun. The fatalities can be lame but they still do what they're supposed to give you closure to a hard fought victory.

The fighting engine is a little stiff but it doesn't hinder the game play and you get used to it relatively quickly. Besides, I found it more enjoyable that Soul Calibur 4.

Bottom lins is that the game is fun. I received it today and played through the arcade mode with Scorpion and I can't wait to play through it with the other 19 characters.

I hope Midway keeps this engine and fine tunes it for future MK releases. Here's also hoping that the next one is a mature game too. I like the DC characters though and this is a nice one-off game.

Honest reviews on Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - Xbox 360

If you have been less than pleased with the most recent iterations of the MK franchise and would like a return to a more MK3ish kombat system (lol) then then this is the game for you. It does away with a lot of the silly and complex and memorization heavy aspects of the later MK games (stances and long and hard to memorize combos) and replaces it with more timing based skills. The game is a lot faster paced and is fun to play. It's rated T for teen, so don't be expecting a hundred rib cages to be busting out of anyone's torsos during the fatalities.

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Great storyline to tie in the two universes and explaining how the heck some of these overated powerful heroes could be balanced out to make this a decent fighting game. Personally I could've thought of a better selection of DC heroes that would've fit more into the Mortal Kombat world but overall they did a surprisngly great job for the selection of DC cast that was chosen.I had to change my block button to LT for better response time for me to block but other than that, all was good. A great fighting game for the holidays with minus the weapons from previous MK games but great gameplay and good to see the MK cast finally crossover to the next generation systems. Which I think was long overdue. This is a keeper for fighting fans!

Cheap Forza Motorsport 1 Racing First Print BLACK Label for the XBOX

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Great collectible! I was leery about buying this on Amazon with the stock photo and all but it is the Original Black Label First Print version fully sealed! I bought 5!

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Best Ape Escape Deals

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Here's the premise you're this little guy with a net and a light sabre running around trying to capture these monkeys. The monkeys wear different colored pants, and have little sirens on their heads. The pants tell you how tough they are to catch, and the sirens tell you if they've caught on to the fact that you're trying to capture them.

In addition to the trusty tools I mentioned above, you get a whole slew of other gadgets you can use to capture the monkeys, including an r/c car, slingshot and monkey radar. Unfortunately, the monkeys are also armed with everything from grenades to machine guns to canons.

In addition to being hilarious (the commercials for the game were great, if you got a chance to seem them on TV), the joy of the game is using the analog controllers to move and manipulate gadgets.

The game was the perfect difficulty, not too hard as I had suspected it would be. I still haven't completely finished, and look forward to hours more fun netting those pesky little chimps!

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I got to admit, I know the game is aimed more towards kids but I'm 35 and I had a blast with this game. I never even heard of the game til it was shown to me in someones' collection. Being bored one day, I put it in the Playstation to check it out and, lo and behold, I played that game til early the next morning. The object of the game is to catch all the monkeys lose in each level. Trust me, it isn't as easy as you might think. It takes some smarts to get them lil critters. Armed with several different gadgets, you're a one-man monkey catching machine. I know it might seem like a silly game to you but it's one of the most fun games I've played in a long while. You definitely owe it to yourself to see what it's all about.

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I thought Spyro The Dragon was great,but when I was done,I was looking for some other great action/adventure games.Ape Escape took the place of excitment,and it didn't fail.You'll love this game!

Honest reviews on Ape Escape

I love APE ESCAPE. It is the best Playstration game ever. Just look at the other revues if you do not believe me. You need a dual shock controller to play this awesome game. the mini games are really cool.

Best Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games - Nintendo Wii Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $37.40
Today's Bonus: 25% Off

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games has many games (listed below) and play options so there's something for everyone. It also has variety for different situations, such as playing alone, as a team or against others, which make it a great all-around game.

Initial events:

Alpine Skiing (Downhill and Giant Slalom)

Ski Jumping (Individual and Team Large Hill)

Freestyle Skiing (Moguls and Ski Cross)

Snowboard (Halfpipe and Snowboard Cross)

Speed Skating (500m, Short Track 1000m, Short Track Relay)

Figure Skating

Skeleton

Bobsleigh

Ice Hockey

Curling

Dream Ski Cross

Dream Snowboard Cross

Other "Dream" events are unlocked as you play. These involve variations on the main events and some new ones. In the Dream versions you collect and use items, face obstacles, use different tracks, etc.

There are also 3 "Party Games" that seem silly when playing them on your own but should be a fun way to play many events quickly with a group of people.

Pros:

Multiple modes--Single Match allows you to select your events and choose Versus, Team Versus, or Co-op Play. Festival allows an individual or team of up to 4 players to take on events and rival challenges as assigned over 16 "days" of the Olympic games. This is like arcade mode. You can also check your records against others' on WFC.

Balance board option--you don't have to use the Wii Fit balance board but, if you have one, you can do 1-player games with it. It changes the game play and provides additional variety. (It's harder than the regular controls though!)

Multiple characters--the characters all have different attributes and special moves so it keeps the play interesting.

Many games--as mentioned there is something for everyone due to nice breadth and depth--and all ages should enjoy it. It's easier to unlock things than in Mario Kart. It even lets you accumulate points and "shop" for decals so you can customize your skis, bobsleighs and snowboard, outfits for your Mii, etc.

Cons:

Controls--if you want to play something that actually simulates hockey moves, skating, etc. this isn't it. The controls are fun and pretty responsive but not similar to Wii Sports or Wii Sports Resort (although using the balance board helps.) Also, the instructions for Curling tell you to use a bowling swing but neither my boyfriend nor I can get it to work that way consistently. We've found that you have to snap your wrist and then it works fine.

Balance board option--a pro but a con too as you can only use it for 1-player games.

No Wii Motion Plus option--it would be fun if WM+ worked with this.

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Kids if you're looking for a game that has a lot of action, this is it. Parents if you're looking for a clean game that you can even occasionally play with the kids, this is it. Some of you may be returning to this title after playing the Mario/Sonic Beijing 2008 game. Although that game was good in its own right, this one is even better. There is no violence in this game, and it introduces you to the world of the Olympic Winter Games using the familiarity of your favorite characters from two of the most popular frachises in the industry. I would suggest that this game is probably even better if you are new to the Wii.

The best part of this game is that there are challenges for players of every skill level. Certain events are easy enough for inexperienced gamers (such as very young children or non-gamer parents), while other events may challenge even the more experienced gamer. The gameplay is organized very well; you can either play Olympic events freely or aim for a high score in a structured "Festival Mode". As for the Olypmic events, this game includes a wealth of favorite sports some of which will be new to the Olympics in real life, appearing for the first time in Vancouver this winter. There are familiar events such as Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating, and Ice Hockey; and there are some fantasy events that you can unlock, as well. If you have a Wii Balance Board, you can use that as a controller for certain events but the game does not require it. Many of the events in this game do not even require the Nunchuk accessory (though I would highly recommend purchasing one if you plan to buy this game).

Just as in Mario & Sonic at the Beijing Olympics, this game allows you to use your Mii in the different events. As an added bonus in this game, however, you can customize your Mii by "purchasing" items in the shop (you purchase these items using points you earn by completing events giving you yet another way to structure your gameplay). You can also unlock books at the library, where you can learn about different aspects of the real Olympic Games. I, myself, never knew how Curling was played until I played this game. The multiplayer in this game, by the sheer nature of the type of game it is, is excellent. You can play cooperatively or competetively with friends and/or family. If you like to use the online features of the Wii, you can connect this game and check your high scores against those of other players all over the world. The background and theme music is outstanding, and the graphics are simply gorgeous. This game is a must-have for any die-hard sports fan, but especially for fans of the Olympic Games.

Best Deals for Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games - Nintendo Wii

My family enjoyed the original summer games version. I was a little pessimistic going into this Olympic Winter Games since, in general, I am not a big fan of the winter olympic events. But I was happily surprised to see the great improvements made to gameplay from the previous summer olympics release. After playing this game, I am hoping the they release the next summer olympic game and incorporate the improvements made for this Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. In the summer games, you could play in a season-like mode, but only as an individual. The Winter Games allows multiple players, as a team or vs., to go through an entire 16(?) day campaign, full of unlockable features. The other great new addition are the "Dream" events. They are kind of silly at times, but if you're a fan of the Mario and Sonic series, you'll really appreciate the features built into these events. The other key addition for this game release is support for the Wii Balance Board in several events, but I have not tried using the board yet. The only negative comment I have is that going into the Dream Events for the first time, there is no real direction, explanation of what to expect or how to accomplish the goalswhich can be very tricky for some of the events that are really quite different from the standard events.

Honest reviews on Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games - Nintendo Wii

What more can I say when I bought this game my kids played it for the whole day! They had a blast with this game and loved the interaction together playing it! Its def. a family game and a very fun one for everyone! All aspects of the winter games was well received. I would YES recommend this game and be prepared to play it all day long!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I had high hopes for this game and my hopes were exceeded. If you liked Mario and sonic at the Summer Games, trust me, you will like this on ten times more.

Pros

-This game has superb graphics that really get you into the winter feel

-It is not as strenuos as the first one which leaves more playing time and less rest time

-The wii motion controls are excellent whether it is skiing or speed skating you feel like you are sonic or mario

-Some of the games aren't even in the winter olymics. You may think this is a bab thing but having a snow ball fight is one of my favorite things to do in this game. use thhe nunchuck to build a snowball nd flick the wii remote to throw it

-excellent replay value unlike the previous mario and sonic game that had no replay value this game you can paly over and over and still break new records

Cons

-just like last game multy player is very unfair like , whoever has the fatest or strongest guy wins

All in all this is a great game for wii players of all ages and i highly recommend it to anybody who wants to have a good time

Discount Robotech: Battlecry

Customer Ratings:

I am a major Mech combat fan and love the idea of transforming mechs so I went out to buy the game as soon as possible and this is what I found dissapointed me.

The gameplay in this game is... Non consistant. You cant say weather its good or bad becuse it changes with eatch level. On one mission you are sent in to bombard enemy instalations, that is FUN. but on another you are told to basicaly fly around in a big circle with NO enemys for 30mns for 'recon' Its also pretty stupid how if you use any other mode then fighter in the air you will be picked apart just like if you use any other mode then the robot on the land.

The story and missions pretty much suck untill you get to the 5th chapter and, geuss what? YOUR ALMOST DONE WITH THE GAME. Untill then all the missions pretty much require you (alone by the way) to defend someone/something against about 300 guys on a level. Well this isnt impossible it dos get boring after about the second chapter.

The saveing grace for this game is the versus mode. once you unlock all the veritechs, super armor and ground armor it is one of the best 2p games ive seen. Each player choose there vertech, the menuverable armor or the 'I cant move but I dont need to' kind. Then you fly out into large worlds with full transformation features. get 2 skilled pilots together and this game rocks!

Closeing comments: I beat this game and unlocked all but 2 medals in a rental. The story pretty much sux but the veritechs are awsome. Get this game for the 2p version. Sorry to dissapoint you Robotech fans, buy the DVD.

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As a Fan of Robotech since I was in the 6th grade (many, many years ago), I may be a little biased. However, I try to rate games from a objective point of view. That said, I'm absolutly addicted to this game. I wasn't overly impressed when I first opened it up last week. The targeting in battloid mode is automatic, and doesn't have the 1st person controls I've grown to expect from games like Halo. That said, I quickly got used to it, and its no longer a problem. That was my only gripe. Otherwise, the cell-shaded graphics are great, and the music is from the television series, also great.

Its pretty obvious that the creators of this game are big fans of the series. the majority of it takes place after the Zentradi battle that decimated the earth. Many of the fights take place in small townships or ruined cities...everything you'd expect from a world that has mostly been destroyed.

This being said, I believe someone who is new to the show will like the game once they get used to the controls (being able to change from fighter/guardian/battloid is great, though the small game boundries isn't), but anyone who knows the show will probably love this game. Its hard not to.

Really, If you've invesed in the DVDs, I strongly reccomend this game.

Best Deals for Robotech: Battlecry

If you've never heard of Robotech, this game will seem average at best. You'll be intrigued by the whole transformations thing, but you won't get it. You won't be amazed by the music or the new planes or the abilities of each new veritech, and you definintely won't get the paint schemes. Overall, you'll be like... decent plot, okay graphics, and okay gameplay. You just won't understand.

But...

If you are a robotech fan, this is a must have! Though you do not follow the Macross Saga timeline, they allow you to follow it enough to get you attached and then go off on a believable and interesting story. It does help account for the many Zentradi that survived the battle, since you fight so many in the game. The ability to switch modes on command is amazing. The cut scenes are not the best and some of the machinema, just plain sucks, but it doesn't matter, it's robotech. Every vertitech is in the game, and sometimes, you'll get surprised with a new one you didn't think was coming. All the paint schemes are there, from Rick's to Max's, to the infamous SKULL ONE!!! The Boss battles, seem like they would be monotonous, since there is a pattern to beating the enemy, but for some reason, it's more of an adrenaline rush. Everything about this game is fun... except the protection missions. These get old FAST. I viewed them as a challenege, but it really kinda sucks, protecting something that cannot protect itself. Multiplayer is also lacking in this game. There is only one on one, which can get boring pretty fast. And a flight ceiling in some levels sucks, but makes sense for the point of the level. With such a low flight ceiling, you'd be surprised by how big the space missions are. You can literally fly anywhere, practically. The graphics are perfect for the game, as it emulated the animation from the series. The music is good, and although the sound effects are repetative, they are the same sound from the series, so it works for a fan. You will love launching salvo after salvo of missles and targetting five guys at once and unleashing your payload. They created a realistic balance between the three different modes, giving each its own individual strength. The main point of the game is to play through and beat it, but striving for the different medals and promotions adds a new level of gameplay and causes you to increase your skill and proficiency in new and old areas.

For the Robotech fan, this game is a must. It has all that you could ever want in a robotech game, minus the better multiplayer.

I own it and love it.

Honest reviews on Robotech: Battlecry

The RDF (RoboTech Defense Force) has A-LOT of confidence in their Veritechs. Basically each level is done single handedly by you with one Veritech (There is minor support but insignificant as it really doesn't seem to make or break an outcome). Sometimes this soloing seems reasonable and other times just absurd. I recall the level "Cat Scan" were you're supposed to escort a recon unit doing her rounds amoungst 20,30...Zentradi. So it's basically you and a recon unit with minor defensive weapons VS a small army. When you fail the mission (and you will fail it, unless you happen on the "trick" right away) the game barks at you "What were you thinking", or something along those lines. It didn't take long for me to think "What was the RDF thinking putting only one Veritech out?", or at least "What were the programmers thinking when they assembled this level?"

That being said if you can get past the "One Man Army Syndrome" the game is pretty fun eventhough you have a very limited "arena" to play in. It has alot of neat visuals, good music (based on, but not the original North American Macross Series, and that is really too bad!) and good control(X-box)(once you get used to it!). One more thing, with the gameplay, music and cell-shading combined it began to feel like the cartoon after a while.

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This game is crazy. Its one of the best games ive ever played. The only problems are the missions are severley repetetive and u cant fly very high, but other than that its awesome. Although there never is a mission where u have enough room to do maneuvers like firing a salvo of missiles and then changing into battloid mode to realy fight, or do some coolio spin move then fire some missiles and then fly upward and straight down again. But this game is 10x better than that ripoff Robotech Invasion.But its still one of the best games ever. (Xbox version is best).

Cheap Xbox Industries Carrying Case

Customer Ratings:

Alright, this was well worth the $10 I spent. I actually use it to hold my 360(it fits). I was able to fit everything but my games in this thing. If you want a cheap case, this is where you should look!

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I normally buy these bags for my gaming accessories. Recently I purchased an Xbox 360 and I debated with the 360's messenger bag since it cost 50 dollars. I went for this older Xbox bag and bought it through Target.com for $9.99. It is unfortunately out of stock now or I would pick up another one. I am currently using it to store four 360 controllers and they fit very well and organized with room for another 4 controllers or so. I am happy with the design and style of the bag. It has a lot of room in it for gaming accessories and keeps my controllers clean and dust free. The front zipper pocket is fairly roomy as well and I have 2 360 headsets in there.

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My son goes back and forth to his grandparents house and loves to use this case to carry his Xbox and accessories. No room for games but they are better suited in something else anyway. Plenty of room for all cords and at least 3 controllers. Very protective as well!

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I bought this used and whoever had it took very good care of, my son was happy to get it since he and his buddies go to each others homes and play games, it seems to protect it very well.

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The Xbox Bag is in good condition there are only two things wrong eith in on the rear of the bag there are white lines (looks Like paint) and its missing a handle for the ziiper but besides the my item is in good shape.