Author - Jerry Paxton

Wicked Audio 3D Series Headphones Review (Late 2011)

2013/01/24

Back in late 2011, Wicked Audio sent us a pair of their 3D Series headphones to review. Unfortunately, the review that was posted in early 2012 ended up getting corrupted and lost in our web transition. Due to various technical reasons, we only recently found out that this review was missing. So, we are re-posting it!

Original Review: Wicked Audio has released a new line of “3D Audio” headphones. Not 3D sound, mind you, but featuring 3D designs carved into their headband and ear cups. Visually, the headphones are attractive and have an edgy “street” style to them. Additionally, they are not very large headphones, and fold up, making them very portable and easily to carry around in a small bag. They come in two flavors: A blue and yellow model as well as one in red and gray.

The headphones themselves are equipped with two 40mm drivers and a rated frequency of 20Hz to 20,000 Hz. Connecting them is as easy as plugging the headphone gold-plated cord into an available 3.5mm port on your favorite MP3 player or stereo. Volume is controlled by a dial located a bit below where the left and right ear cables meet in the cord. The cord is 4 feet in length and is an excellent length to be useful without being excessive. If it’s too much for your needs, you can always tuck any extra cable slack into your hoodie or jacket.

Listening to audio while wearing the Wicked Audio 3D Series headphones is a pleasant experience. The headphones are comfortable, but tended to wear on my outer ears after several hours of use. This is due to their smaller size – they do not fit all the way around my ears. I would definitely not recommend them for tournament-level gaming or as a present for your favorite audiophile, but that is not at all their focus. These headphones are focused at younger people and even adults, say, taking mass transit to the office. For an hour or two of continuous usage, listening to your favorite band, podcast, or audiobook they work very well. I had no difficulty in using it while playing passenger on the local MetroLink or even while as a passenger on a short-hop Southwest Airlines flight to Las Vegas. They boast decent sound quality, especially when considering that the headphones cost a budget-friendly $30 dollars. What is most impressive about them is their bass level. The packaging coins it as “enhanced bass” and, it is correct, the bass definitely stands out in these headphones.

[easyreview title=”Wicked Audio 3D Series Headphones Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”3″] Our Rating Scores Explained

The Wicked Audio 3D Series is available now at several online retailers.

Site Issues and Downtime

2013/01/23

Jerry Paxton

News

UPDATE #2: So, we did our downtime and things seem a lot more stable. Please report any encountered issues in comments below. Thank you for your patience during this troubled time.

UPDATE #1: The site will be down for about 30 minutes today, January 24th, at 6pm PT/9pm ET. The downtime will be used to try and fix the problems plaguing the servers.

Greetings, programs! Your friendly GamingShogun here just wanting to let you all know about the intermittent website issues we are experiencing. We are aware of them and are working hard to fix them.

Thanks so much for your patience.

-GS

Strike Suit Zero Launches on Steam

2013/01/23

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

Guildford, United Kingdom – January 23, 2013: Development studio Born Ready Games is thrilled to announce that Strike Suit Zero is available to pick up now on Steam for $19.99. Additionally, Born Ready Games has now officially confirmed that there will be Mac and Linux versions of the game later this year.

Following an amazing response to the Kickstarter campaign in 2012, $174,804 has been pledged by eager gamers awaiting the arrival of this beautifully styled space shooter.

Strike Suit Zero promises to delight fans, due largely to the fantastic talent on board its development team. The game features jaw-droppingly detailed mecha and spaceship designs by renowned mecha designer Junji Okubo(Steel Battalion, Appleseed), and a wonderfully atmospheric score created by Paul Ruskay (Homeworld) and Kokia (Tales of Innocence, Origins: Spirits Of The Past),

With Oculus Rift support planned for later in the year, Strike Suit Zero is set to be one of the most exciting gaming projects of 2013.

James Brooksby, CEO at Born Ready Games said, “We are incredibly excited that the launch day for Strike Suit Zero on PC has finally arrived. We’ve received overwhelming support from our community, and would like to extend special thanks to our backers on Kickstarter. We hope everyone is as ecstatic to see the finished result as we are!”

For further information about the game please visit www.strikesuitzero.com.

THQ Dissolved and Studios Being Sold Off

2013/01/23

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Industry News, News

Update #1: We now have the dollar amounts that the various studios and IPs are being sold for:

SEGA is buying Relic for $26.7 million dollars
Koch Media is purchasing Volition for $22.3 million and METRO for $5.8 million
Ubisoft is buying THQ Montreal for #2.5 million and the upcoming South Park title for $5.8 million
Crytek is purchasing Homefront for $500,000
Take 2 is buying Evolve for $10.8 million

Original Story: Today, THQ President Jason Rubin and CEO Brian Farrell, have sent off a letter to the company announcing its dissolution and sale of various studios and IPs to other parties – a decision which will most likely go through at the United States Bankruptcy Court. This is in contrast to the previous news that the company would be sold in whole to Clearlake. Instead, SEGA will be purchasing Relic, Koch Media will purchase Volition and Metro, Crytek will buy Homefront, Take 2 will purchase Evolve, and Ubisoft will buy South Park and Montreal. According to the letter, those sales will close this week. While these studios/IPs are being sold off, there is no guarantee that the new owners will find room for all the studio’s staffers, meaning that lots of people are probably losing their jobs. We wish those affected the absolute best in their futures.

Here is the official letter:

January 23, 2013

To All THQ Employees:

We now have the answers we’ve been seeking through our financial restructuring and Chapter 11 case. While much will be written, here are the facts of the bids and auction that occurred :

Yesterday morning, we received a competing bid for the operating business, along with Clearlake’s offer, and numerous offers for separate assets.

During an auction process that lasted over 22 hours, the final conclusion was that the separate-asset bids would net more than a single buyer for the majority of the company.

Shortly, we will, present the results to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, which must concur with our assessment.

The proposed sales of multiple assets is as follows :

Sega agreed to purchase Relic
Koch Media agreed to purchase Volition and Metro
Crytek agreed to purchase Homefront
Take 2 agreed purchase Evolve and
Ubisoft agreed to purchase Montreal and South Park

We expect these sales to close this week.

Some assets, including our publishing businesses and Vigil, along with some other intellectual properties are not included in the sale agreements. They will remain part of the Chapter 11 case. We will make every effort to find appropriate buyers, if possible.

What this means for employees

We expect that most employees of the entities included in the sale will be offered employment by the new owners. However, we cannot say what these owners may intend, and there will likely be some positions that will not be needed under the new ownership. You should receive notice this week or early next week if the new owners intend to extend employment to you. Please note that the terms of your new employment, including pay and benefits, may be different from the current terms of your employment with THQ.

If you are an employee of an entity that is not included in the sale, we regret that your position will end. A small number of our headquarters staff will continue to be employed by THQ beyond January 25 to assist with the transition. THQ has sufficient resources to pay these employees for work going forward, and we will be contacting these employees immediately to ensure their continued employment during this transition period. We are requesting the ability to offer certain severance pay to minimize disruption for employees of non-included entities as they determine the next steps in their careers.

We know you will have many questions about this news. We’ll be meeting tomorrow when we return to talk through this announcement and to answer any questions you have. You will receive a benefits fact sheet and FAQs with answers to some questions that may be on your mind. Please review these materials closely.

A personal note

The work that you all have done as part of the THQ family is imaginative, creative, artistic and highly valued by our loyal gamers. We are proud of what we have accomplished despite today’s outcome.

It has been our privilege to work alongside the entire THQ team. While the company will cease to exist, we are heartened that the majority of our studios and games will continue under new ownership. We were hoping that the entire company would remain intact, but we expect to hear good news from each of the separate entities that will be operating as part of new organizations.

For those THQ employees who are part of entities that are not included in the sale, we are confident that the talent you have displayed as part of THQ will be recognized as you take the next steps in your career.

Thank you all for your dedication and for sharing your talent with the THQ team. We wish you the best of luck and hope you will keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Brian Farrell

Chief Executive Officer

Jason Rubin

President

Battle Academy: Operation Husky Announced and Accepting Beta Applicants

2013/01/23

Jerry Paxton

News

Epsom, UK, January 23, 2013 – Slitherine (www.slitherine.com) and Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) are excited to announce the imminent release of Battle Academy: Operation Husky. This new expansion covers the Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, which began on the night of 9–10 July 1943, and ended 17 August, adding extra Axis and Allies units and a brand new Sicilian terrain set.

Slitherine is looking for beta testers for the PC version of this Battle Academy expansion. To sign up for the beta head to Slitherine’s beta signup page and submit your application!

About Battle Academy: Operation Husky
With Battle Academy: Operation Husky players will be able to open the attack on the soft underbelly of Europe through nine missions detailing the invasion of Sicily. With more than 30 new units, and missions ranging from the chaos of the initial night drops to the grim battles across the baking hills of the interior, Battle Academy: Operation Husky lets you test your tactical skill against the tenacious Axis defenders.

Operation Husky is an add-on for Battle Academy and requires Battle Academy to play!

Main Features:

9 missions detailing the airborne and naval invasion and the bitter fighting for the islands interior.
4 Multiplayer maps
New Axis Units – Elefantino 47mm gun, 50mm Pak38, AS37_Protetto APC, Autoblinda 41 armoured car, Carro Armato L640, Fiat 3000, Lancia truck, Lancia de 90/53, Semovente 47/32, Semovente 75/18, Semovente 90/53, Fallschirmjager MG34, Fallschirmjager MG42, Fallschirmjager mortar, Fallschirmjager Panzershreck, Fallschirmjager scout, Italian Bersaglieri, Italian Fucilieri, Italian Demolisher, Italian HMG, Italian LMG, Italian Mortar, Italian Solothurn AT rifle, Italian Scout.
New Allied Units – 75mm GMC halftrack, 75mm HMC halftrack, Humber MKIII, 37mm M3 AT gun.
All new Sicilian terrain set

For more information, check out the dedicated product page on the Matrix Games and Slitherine site.

Crysis 3 Multiplayer Beta Date and New Gameplay Trailer

2013/01/23

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 3 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Jan. 23, 2013 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and award-winning developer Crytek GmbH today announced an open multiplayer beta* for the premiere sandbox shooter experience, Crysis®3, will be available starting January 29th for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. Including two team-based modes and two maps, the extensive beta will give players an opportunity to master the superpowers of the Nanosuit. The Crysis 3 multiplayer beta will be available for two weeks and give players the chance to get a leg up on the competition before Crysis 3 launches on February 19 in North America and February 21 in Europe.

“With Crysis 3 we are delivering the deepest, most robust Crysis multiplayer experience yet,” said Cevat Yerli, CEO of Crytek. “We have listened closely to our fans and have evolved the multiplayer in Crysis 3 by adding a host of new gameplay features including the unique Hunter mode, deadly new weapons like the Predator bow, deeper loadout and unlock options, enhanced upgrade systems and more social features like the New York Feed. Top it all off with the ultimate weapon in the Nanosuit and you have a multiplayer experience that is unlike anything else out there.”

Beginning on January 29 and ending on February 12 the Crysis 3 multiplayer beta will feature two of the eight modes included in Crysis 3. In Crash Site, players must secure and defend specific locations, earning points along the way for kills and their ability to hold those locations. The exciting, all-new Hunter mode makes its debut in Crysis 3. This asymmetrical, time based mode pits two players vs. ten (two vs. 14 on PC) in matches that begin with two cloaked hunters stalking 10 opposing CELL troopers. Armed only with enhanced Nanosuits and the lethal Predator bow, hunters must systematically stalk and kill the CELL operatives, who in turn must work together as a team as they fight to stay alive before the round ends. The twist is that once a CELL trooper is killed, that player will then respawn as a hunter, joining the others in their attempt to eliminate the remaining CELL operatives before the clock strikes zero. The Crysis 3 multiplayer beta will also showcase two of the game’s twelve visually stunning maps, Airport and Museum. Both will provide players a taste of the lush, urban rainforest and tactical sandbox that awaits them under the Liberty Dome of New York City.

The Nanosuit Gameplay Trailer

Also included in the Crysis 3 multiplayer beta is the New York Feed, a brand new in-game social feed that will showcase the accomplishments of gamers and their friends while offering dynamic challenges to complete. Crysis 3 multiplayer also contains exciting new gameplay features including Rip & Throw, which allows players to interact with the elements of the environment to use as weapons or shields as well as the chance to control the Pinger, a fearsome alien tripod war machine that can be used to devastating effect.

Powered by Crytek’s proprietary CryENGINE 3, Crysis 3 advances the state of the art with unparalleled visuals and dynamic shooter gameplay. Players take on the role of ‘Prophet’ as he returns to New York only to discover that the city has been encased in a Nanodome created by the corrupt Cell Corporation. This dangerous new world demands advanced weapons and tactics, including the Nanosuit. Equipped with superhuman powers including cloaking, armor and enhanced visor abilities, the Nanosuit is the ultimate tool that allows players to assess, adapt and attack whatever the 7 Wonders throws at them. In addition to the Nanosuit, players will wield the powerful Predator bow and devastating alien weaponry to become the deadliest hunter on the planet.

Fans who pre-order Crysis 3 before launch will receive an automatic upgrade to the Crysis 3 Hunter Edition, as well as a free digital download to the game that started it all, Crysis** for Xbox 360, PS3 or PC. The Crysis 3 Hunter Edition gives players tools to become the ultimate hunter in multiplayer with instant access to the new signature Predator bow and its attachments plus the Hunter Nanosuit module, which adds additional power and functionality to the super-suit. Owners of the Crysis 3 Hunter Edition will also have a head start when playing online with a bonus XP boost up to level 5, a unique Predator bow skin and three exclusive dog tags to hunt in style. The Crysis 3 Hunter Edition is available on Origin.com and other participating retailers for $59.99.

Crysis 3 will be available in North America on February 19, 2013 and in Europe on February 21 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation3 computer and PC. For more information on Crysis 3, please visit www.crysis.com, and for the latest news visit www.facebook.com/crysis or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/crysis. Press assets for Crysis 3 are available at www.info.ea.com.

* Conditions and restrictions apply. See www.crysis.com/us/crysis-3/beta for details.

**Conditions and restrictions apply. See http://www.crysis.com/us/crysis-3/pre-order-offers for details.

The Walking Dead Episode 5 Stats Video

2013/01/23

Jerry Paxton

Mobile News, News, PlayStation 3 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News

This new video from Telltale Games shows us what percentage of players made the various choices in Episode 5 of their award-winning The Walking Dead video game series.

Video

Gioteck Launches FR-1 PS3 Steering Wheel

2013/01/23

Jerry Paxton

News, Peripherals News

JANUARY 23, 2013 — With a new year of gaming brimming with long awaited releases and next generation peripherals, Gioteck aim to emulate the success of their previous PS3 controllers with the release of the FR-1 freedom steering wheel. Packed full of features aiming to offer a more realistic gaming experience, this wheel is set to be one of a kind with a lightweight design and exceptional functionality.
Ideal to accompany the biggest racing games including Need for Speed: Most Wanted and the recent F1 2012, the FR-1 PS3 steering wheel possesses the following features for a new era of racing gaming…

Rumble Feedback

Designed to allow you to experience every engine growl, bump and crash, the rumble feedback feature aims to create a more immersive driving experience than ever before. Offering a true in car feel, rumble feedback gets your adrenaline pumping and heart racing, allowing you to pull out your best performances when it matters the most.

Precise Nudge

Designed to give you that much needed helping hand as you venture a little too far from the tracks, the precise nudge feature is there to give you that extra grip when a turn of the wheel is just not enough. This feature is sure to come in handy in the toughest of corners through sharp chicanes and hairpin bends.

Ergonomic Design

Carefully crafted angled arms combined with a lightweight design ensure that stiff muscles are a thing of the past. The gently angled wheel arms co-operate perfectly with the feather light features and unique carbon styling of the FR-1 to ensure this wheel both looks and feel the part for a truly realistic driving experience.

Manual Shift

Yet another feature that delivers a realistic driving experience is the additional manual shift bumpers located to the rear of the steering wheel. Allowing you to swiftly move through your gears smoothly, the manual shift feature is sure to be essential for drag and sprint race enthusiasts.

Sensitivity Switch

This handy switch allows you to customise your wheel to game the way you want to avoid frustrating cases of over or under steering. Define the sensitivity to bring out the best performances at the most vital moments of all your races.
The FR-1 retails at around £39.99 and is available for a number of online retailers as well as high street stores. Check out the official Gioteck website for all of the latest news, reviews and product updates today.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Details Released

2013/01/23

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 3 News, Xbox 360 News

Capcom has sent out an announcement this morning, revealing some of the gameplay details about their upcoming Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, which is scheduled for release on April 23, 2013 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. In short: more skills, more equipment, more areas to explore and quest in. Check out the full text below or our Dragon’s Dogma review here.

JANUARY 23, 2013 — Following the announcement of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen last year, we are now pleased to confirm concrete details about this expansion to the world of Dragon’s Dogma. Scheduled for release on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 from April 23 in North America and April 26 across Europe, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is the next exciting chapter in the Dragon’s Dogma franchise. Available as both a physical disc and a full game digital download, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen delivers a huge brand new area, missions, enemies and more, plus all of the content from the original game.

Just off the Gransys mainland is the cursed Bitterblack Isle where gamers will embark on an all-new quest to discover an underground realm, complete with new terrifying foes and incredible treasure. Owners of the original Dragon’s Dogma will be able to export their existing characters and all other saved data to continue their journey as the Arisen, and face a new threat that has emerged from the cavernous depths. Players will be able to take their characters to new heights with brand new high-level skills and augments as well as all new weapons and armor sets. Furthermore, owners of the original Dragon’s Dogma will receive 100,000 Rift Crystals, unlimited Ferrystones and the Gransys Armour Pack consisting of six brand new costumes for free, upon purchasing Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen.

For those that missed Dragon’s Dogma the first time around, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisenprovides the opportunity to start their journey from the very beginning before tackling the all-new content.

Based on player feedback, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen will make the Dragon’s Dogma gameplay experience even more satisfying with improvements such as easier travel and a more intuitive menu system. For those who already own Dragon’s Dogma and then purchase Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, these improvements will be automatically retrofitted to their original game save data.

So, what does Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen deliver?

All of the content from the original Dragon’s Dogma plus…

A massive new underground realm to explore featuring over 25 terrifying new enemies
More skills/equipment/augments:
- Level 3 Skills
  - DD: DA provides each character class with a new tier of skills, giving players new devastating abilities and skills to master
- Over 100 pieces of new equipment
  - All new high level weapons and armor sets for players venturing into the underground caverns
- 14 new character/Pawn augments
- New tiers of equipment enhancement
And there’s more:
- Increased character customization options
- Item appraisal
- Option to select Japanese voice over

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen will be available at retail stores across North America for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and as a download from PlayStation Network on April 23, 2013 for $39.99.

ShootMania Storm Pushed Back

2013/01/22

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

SAN FRANCISCO – January 22, 2013 – Today, Ubisoft^® and Nadeo announced that ShootMania Storm, the online multiplayer first-person shooter, will be released on April 10. Starting February 12, the game will enter an Open Beta phase allowing the developers to receive more feedback from the community ensuring a higher level of polish before the release in April.

Developed by Ubisoft’s Nadeo studio, ShootMania Storm follows the footsteps of TrackMania, Nadeo’s successful arcade racing game, to present a new dimension in first-person shooter. As part of the ManiaPlanet system, ShootMania Storm puts players at the center of their gaming experience. To date, players have created more than 15 game modes and, already, more than 20,000 maps have been created by players using ManiaPlanet’s proprietary map editor.

“Nadeo’s model of development has always been to be very close to the community,” said Anne Bondel-Jouin, Managing Director of Nadeo Live. “Following the release of the Beta 2 in December, we received a tremendous amount of information from the very active ShootMania community. For a living, online multiplayer title like this the work is never done, but these extra few weeks will allow us to polish the game further and release it to the level of quality we think our players deserve.”

ShootMania Storm is already very active on the e-sports scene, recently participating in the IPL 5 tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada and MLG in Dallas Texas. In March, ShootMania Storm will be included at PAX East and will return to Las Vegas with IPL 6. More details on future ShootMania Storm events will be available in the coming months.

ShootMania Storm’s pre-order offer is still available until April 10 at http://www.ShootMania.com.

Screenshots