Author - Jerry Paxton

Fighter Within to be An Xbox One Launch Title

FighterWithin_Screen_LoavsJGun_107497

COLOGNE, GERMANY – August 20, 2013 – Today, Ubisoft® announced that Fighter Within, the first fighting game designed specifically for the next generation of hardware, will be available for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft at launch. Fighter Within makes full use of Kinect for Xbox One technology, providing players the excitement of a real fighting competition while battling their friends to earn their bragging rights.

Fighter Within delivers on the long awaited motion fighting promise, inviting players to prove their fighting skills and sharpen their plan of attack in order to beat their opponents. Fighter Within lets players throw punches, kicks, counters and combos in the most immersive, brutal and liberating fighting experience yet.

“Fighter Within taps into the ultimate fighting game fantasy by offering players the most engaging and physical motion fighting experience on Xbox One,” said Tony Key, U.S. senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Players will square off against their friends to test their skills, prove their dominance and unleash their Fighter Within.”

“With more precise and responsive voice, vision and motion technology, the new Kinect for Xbox One will immerse players into games and entertainment like never before,” said George Peckham, General Manager, Global Publishing Group at Microsoft. “Ubisoft has delivered a wide variety of innovative, exclusive titles for Kinect for Xbox 360 and will no doubt give gamers another one-of-a-kind experience with Fighter Within on Xbox One.”

Fighter Within delivers real-time wounds, sweat and facial impacts in order to propel players into the fight. With its impressive movement tracking, varied attack moves and the thrill of competing against friends, Fighter Within re-envisions the climactic fighting experience for a new generation of players.

For the latest information on Fighter Within, please visit www.fighter-within.com.

World of Warplanes Gets Official Release Date

WoWP_Screens_Warplanes_Combat_Image_05

August 20, 2013 — Wargaming, the leading free-to-play MMO developer and publisher, announced today that the highly anticipated flight combat MMO title, World of Warplanes, will be officially released in CIS countries on September 25th, 2013. Players from North America and Europe will get the launch version on September 26th.

“In the two months since the launch of Open Beta, we’ve made a huge amount of progress,” said Oleg Gotynyan, development director of World of Warplanes. “We are extremely thankful for the feedback and data our testers provided to us through both Closed and Open Beta. They contributed a great deal to the process of helping scale the game, and we expect it to offer a deep and polished experience to both MMO fans and flight combat enthusiasts alike.”

Having amassed close to three million beta registrants and seen more than 202 million total combat flights to date, World of Warplanes will go live with over 100 different aircraft models across the United States, Germany, Russia, Japan, and the recently announced line of the British planes.

Visitors of Wargaming booth at gamescom 2013 (August 21–25, 2013) will be able to get hands-on experience of World of Warplanes and win exclusive prizes from J!NX and Nvidia.

Tactical Universal Clip Review (Airsoft)

tuc8

The TUC base plate attached to a Flyye Industries LT6094 plate carrier

I was recently browsing through the “Sling” section of an online airsoft retailer and came across a product called the Tactical Universal Clip. I was intrigued, as it looked nothing like the other slings listed on the website and, after reading up on the product, discovered that it was a new type of rifle holster. The system consists of two parts: A base plate made from high-strength Nylon 6-6, and a stock tube and pin assembly made from two different kinds of alloys (one of which is the same alloy used to cast the historic Pioneer Plaque).

Getting the Tactical Universal Clip ready to use is very simple. The install process of the base plate should be familiar enough to anyone who has threaded MOLLE weave before – easier, actually, as the base plate itself has no MOLLE webbing on it. You simply thread the two included velcro straps through your MOLLE/PALS rows and then sit the base plat over them. Cinch up the two velcro straps and the plate is ready for usage. Getting the stock tube clamp installed is also very easy.

The clamp screws down around the buffer tube of your favorite M4 style airsoft gun, or variant. The instructions do mention the usage of a thread adhesive to make sure none of the screws loosen with heavy usage, and I definitely recommend this as well. I used my airsoft rifle with the Tactical Universal Clip for the entirety of a day over at SC Viper and, every so often, I found myself having to hand-tighten the pin screw a bit. I got home, put some adhesive on the pin and let it set overnight. The next day, I went on back out to the airsoft field and the pin gave me no further trouble.

tuc918-airsoft

The TUC buffer tube clamp attached to a Umarex/VFC 416 CQB

Using the Tactical Universal Clip for several hours, it definitely saved me a lot of the fatigue that sets in after holding one’s rifle at low ready for long periods of time. Because of this, my arms felt fresh when I had to draw it and take aim during matches. Also, I noted that drawing a rifle from the Tactical Universal Clip seemed much smoother when compared to bringing up a rifle attached to a one point sling. With a sling, I usually have to keep an eye out on it to make sure it doesn’t snag on any of my gear. The Tactical Universal Clip does not suffer from this issue. Also, changing hands mid-game was very easy – again, thanks to not having to worry about a sling getting tangled up in my gear.

Transitioning from my rifle to a sidearm while using the Tactical Universal Clip, having to re-seat the rifle into the clip, was definitely slower than just dropping my rifle to the side when it is attached with a sling. However, by the end of the first day, I felt a lot more comfortable with this movement and saw a lot of improvement to my reaction time in doing so. I believe that with additional practice, my time would get comparable to using a rifle with a sling.


We got the chance to ask Nelson Ascano, creator of the Tactical Universal Clip, some questions regarding its design, usage, and more:

tuc6

Q) Tell us a bit about the creation of the Tactical Universal Clip – what was the design process like? How did you come up with the idea?

A) The design process took approximately six to seven months. The first step was to have an engineer draft the prototype of both the chest plate and the rifle clip. This was saved into an STL file. I contacted a company that does 3D printing and I had them made me a sample of both the chest plate and the rifle clip using an ABS plastic. I had the ABS sample made first because of the cost and also the time. The ABS model was done within two days. This was to make sure that it would fit the AR15 buffer tube and the chest plate was the right size before we produced them with the actual material. I tested the ABS model and found a few glitches. Some changes were made from that initial model and the engineer revised it. This process took about two to three months.

A manufacturer in Orange County made the first prototype. The prototype went through research and development. Different SWAT team members and patrol officers from local police departments, Federal Agents, and military from both active and retired members tested the first produced prototype. Some suggested changes to the design and we did. I went back to the engineer and he revised the model again. Seven months later, we had the final product. The manufacturer for the Tactical Universal Clip is actually based out of Santa Fe Springs, California.

The idea came about when my department had its AR15 training. During the rifle training, I had a hard time engaging the threat because the sling was in the way and it was getting caught on my gear. The sling kept my movement restricted and I wasn’t able to have the range of motion that I wanted. I hard a hard time transitioning from my right hand to the left. My neck and shoulder bothered me because the sling would constantly rub on my neck and put pressure on my shoulder. I was constantly fiddling with the sling. I thought to myself that there should be a better way of carrying a rifle.

Then I thought about the whole concept of the rifle. The rifle should be free from any sling or any type of tender when being used. Just like your sidearm. I should be able to point that rifle anywhere I wish quickly and without any interference from a sling or any type of tender. If you think about it, the sling can actually cost you your life if your rifle happened to get caught on your gear or person and you are not able to engage a threat in time.

If you are in a combat situation and live rounds are coming at you, the last thing you want is the rifle slung on your body restricting you and not being able to have the full range of motion.

With all this in mind, I thought about a contraption that can carry your rifle without a sling. The Tactical Universal Clip was born.

Q) Can you tell us the number of or any specific agencies/organizations which have adopted or approved the TUC for use in the field?

A) A military unit is currently using the TUC right now. I am not able to disclose who they are due to their request and liability reason. All I can tell you is they are an elite unit. Federal Agents from various Federal agencies and police departments are currently equipped with the TUC system also. Again I am not able to disclose who they are due to their request.

Q) What are the benefits of using Velcro as a MOLLE/PALS strap as opposed to a fabric like Cordura, etc?

tuc10

A) The Velcro that we used is more versatile and can be adjusted as desired. It is strong and durable. I am not familiar with Cordura.

Q) Is there any difference in reaction time going from rifle to pistol using the TUC as opposed to a 1-point sling?

A) There are different variables when you transition from rifle to pistol. You have to take into consideration of the type of your environment you are in. But what it all comes down to is practice. The more you practice the more you become proficient with your equipment. With the TUC system you can transition as fast as a one point sling as long as you practice. You can have a one point sling and if you don’t practice with it then you don’t become proficient.

One thing I can say is that the TUC system is faster when engaging a threat and that is one of the advantages of using this system. Easy access to your rifle without worrying about getting caught on your gear or person.

Q) What’s next for the Tactical Universal Clip? Are there any weapon platforms that you guys would like to or are currently planning to make clips for?

A) Yes we do have the Universal Attachment for rifles with flat buttstock. You can check out the website under TAC system and see it on a Remington 870 shotgun and Ruger 10/22 rifle.

Q) What are some of the hurdles you foresee in the TUC becoming more widely used?

A) I see complaints as far as the retail cost of the product. The chest plate is from a block of Nylon 6 6 and it is CNC’d, or basically carved, to shape. The chest plate is done individually and takes many hours to make. The Velcro is not your typical Velcro as it is made from a high quality material. The rifle clip is made from 6061 T6 2024 aircraft grade alloy. The rifle clip is also CNC’d to its shape. All the materials that are used to produce the TUC are made in USA. The manufacturer is also in the USA. It comes with a lifetime warranty. If anything breaks just bring it back and we will replace it no questions ask. I believe in the saying “you get what you paid for”. Personally, I don’t want an equipment that will fail on me because I don’t want to spend that extra dollars.

I put my life on the line at work and I depend on my equipment to perform. I carry a Glock 22 because, number one, I like this weapon and I’m very proficient with it. Number two, I know that this weapon fires every time I pull the trigger. What I’m trying to point out is that I am willing to pay more for something that’s a good piece of quality equipment rather than trying to save money.

Q) Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers about the TUC?

A) The TUC system is a new, innovative rifle holster. I know that when a new idea comes out, people are skeptical about it. I understand from their standpoint. I sold a lot of them already and have gotten a lot of positive reviews and feedback from them. You have to definitely have to try it for yourself in order to appreciate the TUC system. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives. Of course, it is not going to be for everyone, but all I am saying is for people to give it a try and then make an honest opinion.


tuc11

We would like to thank Nelson Ascano for taking the time out of his schedule to answer our questions.

While the Tactical Universal Clip definitely offers a lot of benefit to the real-world law enforcement officer, soldier, or operator – the device also adds a lot of benefit to the airsoft player. However, there are a couple of aspects that an airsoft player needs to consider that a soldier or law enforcement officer doesn’t necessarily. First is that the base plate unit takes up about a 3×3 section of MOLLE/PALS space which could instead be utilized by a small admin panel or other various pouch – so, there is a trade-off when it comes to MOLLE real estate. Thankfully, you could attach whatever pouch you lost with the base plate to a combat belt, etc. Secondly, the  retail price of the Tactical Universal Clip system is about $80 dollars at online retailers like Evike and AirsoftExtreme – a price that might be a bit too expensive for the weekend airsoft player. With that in mind, this device definitely needs to be considered an investment that will last you throughout your career as an airsoft player. When you consider that a good single point sling can cost up to $50 or $60 dollars, an $80 dollar purchase that wont get caught up in your gear is a godsend.

After using this product for a couple hardcore days of playing airsoft, I have officially been converted from using my standard sling. It is with this in mind that we are awarding the Tactical Universal Clip 5 out of 5 stars and granting it our Seal of Excellence. It is a revolution in rifle sling/holster solutions and it is easy to see why real world military and police organisations are taking notice. You can find the Tactical Universal Clip over at airsoft stores like Evike as well as on its own official website.

gs-seal

Images

BandFuse: Rock Legends Gets Release Date – New Screenshots

NoRainl_Guitar_Vocal_05

Campbell, CA – August 19, 2013 – Realta Entertainment Group announced today that BandFuse: Rock Legends, a music video game where legendary rockers transform players into real-world guitarists, bassists and vocalists, will launch in North America on November 19, 2013. A release date for Europe and Japan will be announced soon. The game will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Realta Entertainment Group has revealed that BandFuse: Rock Legends will ship with three distinct hardware bundles for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 systems, giving players an excellent, smartly priced set of retail options, whether they already own a guitar or not.

  • The Artist Pack ($69.99 MSRP) includes the BandFuse: Rock Legends game and 1/4” to USB guitar cable (Xbox 360 also contains an Audio Adapter and headphone extension cable).
  • The Band Pack($79.99 MSRP) includes two guitar cables, a microphone, multi-port instrument hub, and an acoustic guitar adapter.
  • The Guitar Bundle includes the BandFuse: Rock Legends game, guitar cable, and authentic Fender Squier guitar (MSRP to be announced at a future date).

Seamlessly connecting real guitars, basses and microphones to game consoles, BandFuse empowers players to jam to a fully unlocked library of hit songs from rock to metal and punk to funk, featuring 55 massive genre-jumping songs from Slash, Maroon 5, Rush, The Strokes, Heart, Pearl Jam and more. The game’s exclusive four-player co-op mode enables players to play music together by connecting two guitars, one bass, and a microphone simultaneously, providing each player with detailed feedback from the BandFuse: Rock Legends analytics engine.

The unique BandFuse: Rock Legends animated tablature (tabs) interface simplifies the learning process for novice musicians while enabling advanced musicians to perform songs as the artists intended. All players will benefit from Shred U mode, a simple-to-use, comprehensive training tool with a vast selection of instructional tutorial videos from seven rock legends including Slash, Bootsy Collins, Zakk Wylde, George Lynch, and Five Finger Death Punch. Along with the legend videos, players will have a host of drills, scales and the ability to tweak song settings allowing mastery of even the most challenging songs.

BandFuse: Rock Legends players can also create original content from scratch or select from a diverse set of backing tracks for accompaniment to record and play back for friends and family.

BandFuse: Rock Legends is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and is published by Mastiff in North America. The game will launch on November 19, 2013, in North America on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 systems.

A release date for Europe and Japan will be announced soon. To learn more about BandFuse: Rock Legends, please visit www.bandfuse.com, ‘Like’ it on Facebook, and follow the game on Twitter for all the latest updates and news.

New Screenshots

Travel Channel Reveals Halloween Season Programming

Ghost Adventures

CHEVY CHASE, MD (August 19, 2013) – Weekends just got a whole lot scarier! Travel Channel kicks off its third annual Weekends to Die For programming event on Friday, September 27 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT with “Ghost Adventures: Up Close & Personal” – a one-hour special that celebrates the most unforgettable moments throughout the “Ghost Adventures” series. The Weekends to Die For lineup continues with a variety of returning series, specials and special episodes to put you in the Halloween spirit: an all-new third season of “Making Monsters” featuring leading animatronics maker Distortions Unlimited; the “Ghost Adventures” milestone 100th episode at St. Louis’ infamous Exorcist House; a “Toy Hunter” Halloween special featuring Metallica’s Kirk Hammett; one-hour specials “Halloween Night Frights” and “Halloween Craziest”; and rounded out by an all-new fifth season of “The Dead Files.” Additionally, TravelChannel.com will host its first-ever “Ghost Adventures Fan Lair” social media hangout, as well as the new original web series “Ghost Fit.”

NEW SEASONS

“MAKING MONSTERS” – Season Three
Premieres Sunday, September 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT with back-to-back episodes; moves to regular 9:00 p.m. timeslot beginning Sunday, October 20
Go behind-the-scenes and on the road with Distortions Unlimited, the Colorado-based “haunt industry” animatronic and prop-making company run by Ed & Marsha Edmunds. Each hour-long episode follows the Edmunds and their staff – including renowned Hollywood creature and mask maker Jordu Schell – as they build some of the scariest frightronics and props in the world. Season three highlights include a new set of KISS animatronic band members for Las Vegas’ KISS Monster Mini Golf; a giant zombie head & arms podium for Adobe Senior Creative Director Russell Brown in Denver, CO; a mutilating buzz-saw blade attraction for Atlanta’s NetherWorld; a terrifying pregnant zombie in St. Louis; and more. Produced by Warm Springs Productions with Brian Leonard as Executive Producer.

“THE DEAD FILES” – Season Five
Premieres Friday, November 1 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT
In each hour-long episode of the paranormal investigative series, retired NYPD Homicide Detective Steve DiSchiavi and physical medium Amy Allan explore all-new frightening cases of unexplained paranormal activity. The duo investigates each case separately, coming together only at the end to reveal their results. Season five opens with an investigation of Iowa’s Villisca Axe Murder House – site of a gruesome century-old mass murder whose case still remains unsolved. Other highlights include a Chicago home where a woman has returned to confront childhood nightmares; violent forces terrorizing a family home in St. Clair Shores, MI, that leaves the team questioning the safety of the house; a special “Dead Files Revisited” episode in which a violent exorcism was recorded in a Flint, MI home after the duo uncovered malicious entities; and more. Produced by Painless Entertainment, Inc. with Travel Channel’s David E. Gerber as Executive Producer.

SPECIALS and SPECIAL EPISODES

“GHOST ADVENTURES: UP CLOSE & PERSONAL” – One-Hour Special
Premieres Friday, September 27 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT
In anticipation of “Ghost Adventures” upcoming 100th episode, paranormal investigators Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin look back on some of the most unforgettable moments from the show’s past seven seasons. Divided across ten different categories, the top picks are selected by the guys, along with fans who voted on TravelChannel.com. Produced by My Tupelo Entertainment with Travel Channel’s Daniel A. Schwartz as Executive Producer.

“HALLOWEEN NIGHT FRIGHTS” – One-Hour Special
Premieres Sunday, September 29 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT
It’s a heart-stopping spin through North America’s scariest Halloween-themed coaster parks. America’s beloved amusement parks by day transform into fright zones after dark, delivering the highest-octane Halloween thrills for adrenaline junkies. Whether it’s high-speed launches and stomach-lurching cobra rolls, or haunted graveyards and zombie assaults, each attraction featured in this one-hour special promises you the ride of your life! Produced by High Noon Entertainment with Travel Channel’s Sean McKnight as Executive Producer.

“GHOST ADVENTURES” – 100th Episode
Premieres Friday, October 4 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT
In the milestone 100th episode, part of the current season, Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin travel to St. Louis for an unprecedented investigation – the Exorcist House, site of the actual petrifying events depicted in the popular novel and Hollywood film, The Exorcist. Timed to the 40th anniversary of the film’s release, “Ghost Adventures” is the very first paranormal television show to ever investigate the home, which is the only building left in St. Louis in its original form that is tied to the Exorcist case. The team seeks answers to the mysteries behind what happened here in the past, and in the home’s recent history. To further aid in the investigation, they interview the great niece of Father William Bowdern, who performed the exorcism in 1949.

“HALLOWEEN CRAZIEST” – One-Hour Special
Premieres Sunday, October 13 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT
This one-hour special features the most terrifying, extreme and absolute best of what Halloween has to offer. From America’s scariest, no-holds-barred haunted house in San Diego and a hair-raising coffin race in Colorado, to the ultimate custom bodying painting studio in Las Vegas and British Columbia’s pumpkin drop celebration, each destination is more frightening and fun than the last! Produced by High Noon Entertainment with Travel Channel’s Sean McKnight as Executive Producer.

“TOY HUNTER” HALLOWEEN SPECIAL – One-Hour Special
Premieres Sunday, October 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT
In this one-hour Halloween special, toy hunter and collectibles expert Jordan Hembrough is on the hunt for some of the scariest toys to sell at the Midwest’s HorrorHound convention. Meanwhile, Hembrough’s toy buddy Mark needs help with a special client – Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, who’s looking for extremely vintage, scary toys. In between scoring Ghostbusters memorabilia in Connecticut and a 1972 Parker Brothers Ouija board in Salem, MA, Hembrough scours for the perfect and rarest monster memorabilia for Hammett. When he locates just the right item, he not only makes Hammett a very happy customer, but gains a new rock star client for himself. Produced by Sharp Entertainment with Travel Channel’s Daniel A. Schwartz as Executive Producer.

“GHOST ADVENTURES” – Two-Hour Special Halloween Episode
Premieres Thursday, October 31 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
In a special two-hour Halloween episode, Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin take viewers to Transylvania, where the team explores the truth behind the legend of Vlad The Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Bagans and the group explore the most terrifying haunted castles and locations in this intriguing and historical Romanian province, including Targoviste, where Vlad ruled from and ordered the impaling of thousands of people; Hunedoara, where Vlad was imprisoned for seven years; and the mysterious Hoia-Baciu Forest – locally referred to as the “Bermuda Triangle of Romania.”

TRAVELCHANNEL.COM LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER “GHOST ADVENTURES FAN LAIR” SOCIAL HANGOUT AND ORIGINAL WEB SERIES “GHOST FIT”
Beginning this August, TravelChannel.com premieres “Ghost Fit” – an all-new original web series featuring the “Ghost Adventures” crew. Each of the nine webisodes divulges personal tips and techniques from Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin for staying in shape while on the road, pre-lockdown preparations, post-lockdown recovery, diet recommendations, secrets on how they stay alert during their all-night investigations and more. It’s the fitness regime that will keep your spirit moving! Beginning September 26, TravelChannel.com will launch the “Ghost Adventures Fan Lair” – a social media hangout where fans can get the latest show buzz through Twitter and Facebook, all in one place. The “Fan Lair” will include exclusive fan interaction, an Instagram photo wall, a special “fan heat map” and more. The event culminates with TravelChannel.com’s first ever Google Hangout on October 31 at 11:00 p.m. ET, where Bagans, Groff and Goodwin will answer fans’ burning questions.

Revision Desert Locust Fan Goggle System Review (Airsoft)

59493-2

Most airsoft goggles purchased by players are made from very cheap, plastic components – usually with uncomfortable foam padding that chafes and has to be pressed up against one’s face. In humid clients, like the strangely-humid, hot Southern California weather we have been having, goggles tend to fog up very easily if they don’t have sufficient airflow.  In airsoft, most fields require a goggle to have a “full seal”, meaning that there can’t be any holes where a BB or BB fragment can get through. As you can guess, this tends to compound the problem of fogging. In my searching for a goggle solution to take care of my requirements for comfort, function, and durability, I ran across the goggle line from Revision.

Revision makes goggle and head protection solutions meant to go into actual combat. So, their stuff has to be made to last and help our soldiers get through their missions safely. I contacted their marketing folks regarding getting a sample of their Revision Desert Locust Fan Goggle System. This is an extension of their popular Desert Locust goggles that also includes a fan system inside the frame of the goggle itself. The product claims to eliminate fogging and also provide some much-needed airflow in hot weather environments.

DesertLocust_AltViews_RXRound

Revision was kind enough to send us one of their goggle fan systems and we were finally able to see if the goggles live up to their claims. In a word: Absolutely. Upon inspecting the goggles, I was surprised to see that the padding/insulation which rests upon one’s face is actually a kind of rubberized plastic instead of the usual foam padding. I theorized that this material would not be comfortable to wear – but I was pleasantly proven wrong. The Revision Desert Locust goggles are very comfortable – even more so than goggles I have used that feature foam padding. After putting the goggles on my head, I was also impressed with just how much field of vision I had. Wearing these, I had no problem in having to unnecessarily turn my head to look at something. Additionally, those of you with prescription lenses can use the integrated holder to house your lenses.

The basic fan goggles kit we received came with the smokey lens, goggle frame, and dust cover. However, Revision does sell an advanced kit that contains a vermilion lens as well as some others. These can also be purchased separately on their website. For basic airsoft use in daylight conditions, the smokey lens will work great. Additionally, the smokey lens provides 100% UV A, B, and C protection – so your eyes will thank you when you get older. The fan controller is simple to operate – even when you can’t see it. It features three speeds and a simply hold-on/off button. At full speed, the fan noise was minimal and not audible outside of a foot away from the goggles (according to other players).

DesertLocust_AltViews_Top

Now, all that praise does come with some minor criticism as the goggle system does have a couple drawbacks. The worst of these being that the fan control unit and wiring is embedded into the goggle strap. What this means is that you can’t remove the straps in order to fit the goggles onto helmet rails – a must-have feature for some airsoft players. Thankfully, when fully extended, the goggles will fit around a MICH 2001 helmet – albeit somewhat tightly. Still, it is usable and worked fine for me. The next drawback for the airsoft player with these goggles is its pricing. At $140 dollars, it may be a bit too expensive for a weekend player. You have to take into account, however, that these are made for military usage – so the pricing is a reflection of their quality. Also, Revision does make the same goggle system minus the fan for about half the price – so take note.

Overall, the Revision Desert Locust Fan Goggle System are hands-down, the best pair of goggles I have used for playing airsoft. They are comfortable, strong, and the fan system eliminated my fogging issues in the humid SoCal weather. I highly recommend these goggles, giving them a 5 out of 5 stars and awarding them our Seal of Excellence. Revision has an impeccable reputation for making military head wear – now that reputation is cemented for airsoft players as well.

gs-seal

[easyreview title=”Revision Desert Locust Fan Goggle System Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″ ]
[button target=”_blank” style=”” class=”btn_blue” link=”http://gamingshogun.com/gamingshogun-rating-system/”]Learn About Our Rating System[/button]

Pre-Halloween Season Review of The Empty Grave

themtgrave-802-gamingshogun

Halloween comes early to Southern California as The Empty Grave haunted house is now open at the Anaheim GardenWalk outdoor mall – located in Anaheim, CA. The Empty Grave has been a Southern California haunted house staple for many, many years and is the brainchild of Mike Talarico. Why is this haunted house open so early? According to Talarico, The Empty Grave moved locations within the GardenWalk (which is now under new management) and was offered a coveted space at the former Hollister Co. store if they opened up early in an effort to garner the center some additional end-of-Summer foot traffic. The Empty Grave is open Fridays through Sundays from now until November 2nd (the last two weeks have some additional nights as well).

Upon visiting The Empty Grave’s new location, we were very impressed with its exterior. Utilizing the remains of the former Hollister Co. store, the store front has been turned into a rundown, abandoned family mortuary. We went inside the front doors to pick up our tickets, and then proceeded to the area near the maze entrance. The line was already filling up and I am glad we got there relatively early. Ticket prices for the introductory night were only $7 dollars each – however, ticket prices are now at their normal $13 dollar price point. Additionally, you can buy two tickets at a deal of $20 dollars for the pair.

themtgrave-822-gamingshogun

We entered the maze entrance of The Empty Grave and were escorted into a dark room. Here, we were treated to the story of the maze via an audio track. In our walk-through, this audio track was a bit low on the volume, but we were informed that this issue will be correct soon with a louder audio track. Once completed, a pair of curtains ominously parted for us to continue our journey and off we went into The Empty Grave.

The maze’s new location is simply stunning – not only with the amount of internal space but, also, the amenities. The former Hollister Co. store had some seriously-efficient air conditioning and that kept us all very cool during our walk-through.  It also added to the overall experience as a rundown, abandoned mortuary shouldn’t be all warm and cozy, should it? In terms of art design and layout, The Empty Grave makes great use of space, sprinkling interesting set decorations and structures throughout. Additionally, the maze corridors are very friendly to those who require special access, and never seemed to get too suffocating. Scent effected used throughout the maze were set to just the right levels so that they didn’t stick with me for the rest of the night – a fact I appreciate greatly.

The various monsters inhabiting the event were visibly excited at getting the chance to scare again before the Halloween season usually begins, and I hope they can keep up that level of energy throughout the maze’s upcoming, lengthy-run. Upon exiting the maze, we were sufficiently spooked and very glad to see the excited crowd again, waiting outside to get in.

themtgrave-849-gamingshogun

While we have tons of good things to say about The Empty Grave, the maze still has some kinks to work out. First, and previously-mentioned, is the initial audio voice-over. It needs to be a lot louder to be clearly audible for guests. Also, Mike Talarico told us that there were a few “BIG” effects that still need to be added to the maze. My party really didn’t notice anything missing, so I am excited to see what these big effects are. Talarico informed us that these effects would steadily be introduced in the maze running up to mid-September or so. This way, the experience changes over time, giving return customers new stuff to see and experience. The second thing that stuck out to our party was that, while they had a lot of energy, the volunteer talent inside the maze seemed “off” at times in terms of timing their scares or entrances. This is something that only gets better with time, however, as we attended their first night of operation and it was new to everyone.

If you are interested in volunteering at The Empty Grave as a monster, take note that the event is planning to hold auditions sometime in September, depending on how their cast is holding up. Check their official Facebook page for more information when auditions will be held. Also, be sure to checkout the Anaheim GardenWalk’s website for information on food and restaurants so you can plan some dinner after your scare experience.

Overall, we can’t wait to visit The Empty Grave again. Its cast and crew have consistently impressed us over the years and this time was no exception. Checkout The Empty Grave’s official website to pre-order your tickets now. The Halloween season begins!

[easyreview title=”The Empty Grave Pre-Season Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
[button target=”_blank” style=”” class=”btn_blue” link=”http://gamingshogun.com/gamingshogun-rating-system/”]Learn About Our Rating System[/button]

Images