Author - Jerry Paxton

GUNNAR Optiks Gets Patents for Computer Eyewear

2013/01/09

SAN DIEGO – January 9, 2013 – GUNNAR Optiks, the world’s leading manufacturer of computer eyewear, today announced that it has been awarded broad patent coverage on the company’s lens technology and design. GUNNAR’s 20/20 and prescription computer eyewear, optimized for use while viewing digital screens, combines a proprietary lens material in an advanced geometry, finished with custom tuned lens tints and coatings.

“Aggressively protecting our technological innovations is an integral part of our business,” said Joe Croft, co-founder of GUNNAR. “GUNNAR Optiks computer eyewear addresses a problem affecting more than 120M Americans today. Securing broad based patents reinforces GUNNAR’s leadership position in the category that we created, and ensures that affected consumers can receive a high quality eyewear solution that protects their vision.”

US Patent No. 8,342,681 was awarded to GUNNAR Optiks on January 1, 2013, and applies to the following areas of innovation:

Computer eyewear designed to filter spectral peaks commonly found in fluorescent lighting and computer backlights.
Computer eyewear with a wrap-around design designed to protect the eye from air currents and trap in evaporated moisture.
Computer eyewear with decentered optics to provide distortion-free viewing.

Additional patent claims, regarding the filtration of HEV (High Energy Visible) light, have been allowed and set to issue in the coming months.

GUNNAR Optiks computer eyewear combines form and function with style to reduce eye fatigue and stress, commonly associated with Computer Vision Syndrome and Digital Eye Fatigue. GUNNAR Optiks i-AMP lens technology gives computer users better performance and a visual advantage in the short term while reducing wear and tear on eyes in the long term. Working with the eye, optic nerve and brain to enhance the viewing experience, this patented technology allows digital users to see more clearly, absorb and process more than with the naked eye.

All styles are available for purchase on GUNNAR’s online store, with select styles available from major retailers worldwide including; Best Buy, Amazon, Zappo’s and Newegg. To learn more about GUNNAR Optiks and to find a retail location, please visit: http://www.gunnars.com

Painkiller Hell & Damnation Console Release Date

2013/01/09

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 3 News, Xbox 360 News

Vienna, Austria (January 9 2013) – Nordic Games’ spine tingling release of Painkiller Hell & Damnation will be available for PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 Entertainment System on April 5th 2013. Originally released for Windows PC in October 2012, Painkiller Hell & Damnation is the goriest addition to the Painkiller franchise yet. The game can be played in single player mode or co-operatively across four chapters and several multiplayer modes. A crusade of hellish action will be encountered along the way featuring a variety of devastating creatures born of pure evil.

“We have been working around the clock to bring the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game in line with the quality and standard of the PC game,” says Reinhard Pollice, Production and Business Development Manager, Nordic Games. “There has been a slight delay so that the console communities can enjoy the fiendishly ghoulish experience that we know they want and deserve. In taking this additional time to add the final touches, we know that players will realise that the best things do come to those who wait!”

Painkiller Hell & Damnation will be available on April 5th 2013 as a Standard Edition priced EUR 29.99/USD 29.99/£ 24.99 on the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 Entertainment System from Microsoft and as a Collector’s Edition priced EUR 39.99/USD 39.99/£ 34.99, respectively.

Painkiller Hell & Damnation offers adrenaline fuelled gameplay with its lightning-fast movements which enables skilful players to get into the heart of the fast-paced action, topped off with stunning enormo-boss fights.

Developed by Polish studio The Farm 51 and powered by Epic’s world-renowned and highly-respected Unreal Engine 3, in stunning and painstakingly redrawn high definition.

Razer Unveils Edge Gaming Tablet and Docks

2013/01/08

Jerry Paxton

CES, Mobile News, News, Tech News, Windows PC News

LAS VEGAS (CES) – Jan. 8, 2013 – It’s a tablet. It’s a PC. It’s a console. It’s all of the above: a full-feature PC and the most powerful tablet in the world. What’s more, it has four modes specially designed for gamers and is able to run all PC games and applications.

Razer™, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, software and systems, today announced it intends to send its highly-acclaimed Project Fiona PC gaming tablet concept into production and retail distribution this year as the “Razer Edge” in North America and Asia Pacific

The Razer Edge was introduced in January 2012 at CES as Project Fiona—the world’s first tablet designed for PC gamers by PC gamers—where it received CNET’s “Best of CES 2012” People’s Voice Award, Stuff magazine’s “Hot Stuff” Award, IGN magazine’s “Best of CES” award and Laptop magazine’s “Best of CES award.

“When we decided to design a tablet from the ground up, we did it to create a phenomenal experience for mobile gamers. By combining the best of PC and console gaming with Windows 8, we’ve created a true gaming tablet,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. “Clearly, the critical acclaim and community support the Razer Edge has enjoyed suggests we hit the mark. Now, we get to celebrate the reality of what was formerly a dream with the audience for which this groundbreaking tablet was made.”

The world’s first gaming tablet for PC gamers was also designed by PC gamers, as a massive crowdsourcing effort put into place by Razer targeted millions of gamers to determine final specifications for the Edge. Razer let its community (and the PC gaming community as a whole) decide the end-game chipset, weight/thickness, features and even price for the Edge, and hosted the initiative on its social media pages (Go to www.facebook.com/razer andwww.twitter.com/cultofrazer for more information)

PC gamers ended up helping to design the most powerful tablet in the world today, the only system of its kind utilizing technology from both Intel and NVIDIA. Powerful 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors will help ensure even the most advanced, full-fledged PC games will function at full capacity, and NVIDIA GeForce graphics will offer striking visual clarity—a first for tablet gaming and a godsend for the world’s 300 million-plus PC gamers.

“Gamers are among the most demanding audience when it comes to processor performance. We’re happy to be working with Razer to satisfy those desires by helping build one of the most powerful tablets based on the 3rd gen Intel Core family of products,” said Brad Graff, Director of Customer Marketing, Mobile Communications Group at Intel. “The Razer Edge is a testament to what can be achieved with true innovation between industry-leading companies.”

By way of a true Windows 8 operating system with Intel architecture, the broadest array of today’s most popular PC games will run natively on the Razer Edge without the need to be ported, optimized or developed anew.

That functionality out-of-the-box is prevalent in any of the Razer Edge’s modes, as the tablet offers a myriad of form factors. It’s a tablet, it’s a PC, and it’s a console.

The groundbreaking system will be available in two types: a standard Razer Edge and the Razer Edge Pro model. The base model is equipped with an Intel® Core™ i5 processor, NVIDIA GT640M LE GPU, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 64 GB SSD. The Razer Edge Pro comes replete with an upgraded Intel® Core™ i7 processor, NVIDIA GT640M LE GPU, 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 128 GB or 256 GB SSD.

Both models will be available in Q1, with the Razer Edge starting at $999.

The Razer Edge Pro will additionally be offered in a bundle package with a Gamepad Controller in both the 128 GB and 256GB SSD model. Each model is available at a wide-range of retail outlets and online atwww.razerzone.com, and includes a USB 3.0 port and supports Bluetooth 4.0.

Four dedicated configurations offer maximum versatility for Razer Edge users: Tablet mode, Keyboard Dock mode, Gamepad Controller mode and Docking Station mode.

Tablet mode avails the Razer Edge with multi-touch capabilities for full Windows 8 applications, movies and music playback, in a traditional tablet form factor.

An optional Keyboard Dock gives the Razer Edge the laptop experience with a traditional keyboard and mouse, supporting a removable 40 Wh battery, so gamers can play their favorite keyboard and mouse reliant PC titles (Q3 2013).

An optional Gamepad Controller turns the Razer Edge into a mobile console, offering an immersive, portable gaming experience. A fully programmable dual controller interface with precise analog sticks is unique among all tablets, featuring the ability to play any PC game “out of the box,” along with immersive vibration-feedback, so players can “feel” every in-game explosion and recoil. (Preorder now; MSRP: $249, available at www.razerzone.com).

An extended battery (Preorder now: MSRP $69, available at www.razerzone.com) is able to connect with both the Keyboard Dock and Gamepad Controller, and doubles battery life for the Razer Edge.

Finally, the Razer Edge can be docked in the Docking Station as part of home console mode, which serves as a full desktop and charging resource with three USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI 1.4 port, mic-in and stereo-out. Hook-up the Razer Edge to the big screen with multiple gamepad controllers and Razer gear and tag team PC games with your friends for a complete home console experience. It’s the most versatile tablet on the planet. (Preorder now; MSRP: $99, available at www.razerzone.com).

The Razer Edge tablet in its many forms is designed with ultra-precise accelerometers and a highly-sensitive, multi-touch screen. This provides game developers with fertile new ground for engineering game experiences around the hybrid control capabilities. It also ensures current-generation PC games and those optimized for touchscreens run on the tablet. Future games developed for the Razer Edge are expected to take advantage of the integrated gamepad and functionality controls for the touchscreen and accelerometer-based movements.

For more information about The Razer Edge, please visit http://www.razerzone.com/EdgePro.

Sins of a Dark Age Founder Editions On Sale

2013/01/08

Jerry Paxton

News, Windows PC News

Vancouver – January 8, 2013 – Ironclad Games, creators of the award-winning strategy hybrid Sins of a Solar Empire, revealed the dynamic objective system of Realm Quests in its next genre-blending gem, Sins of a Dark Age. Furthermore, fans who participate in the Founder Editions gain instant access to the early Closed Beta, receive exclusive game content and join an elite group of players whose feedback will help influence the final game design. Join the battle at www.sinsofadarkage.com/founder and purchase a Founder Edition package starting at $25.

Sins of a Dark Age continues to shake up the MOBA genre with game-changing Realm Quests, a powerful system that encapsulates the opportunities, risks and rewards of a living world by offering a wealth of new experiences and strategic choices. This pioneering system fuses RPG-like quests and their resultant opportunities into the intense framework of a competitive MOBA game. Imagine dealing with the threat of plague-infested vermin, welcoming the arrival of timely reinforcements, escorting a merchant convoy, racing to gain favor of a powerful ally or even working cooperatively with your enemy against a deadly common threat. Your team’s ability to plan, strategize and adapt to a world alive with ever-changing opportunities is just as important as your ability to counter the enemy heroes and their hordes of minions.

With stunning visuals and development plans for competitive and cooperative experiences, leaderboards, replays, spectating and plenty of post-release content in the form of Heroes, Realm Quests, Maps and Skins; Sins of a Dark Age is the next evolution of MOBA.

Get in the game as a Founder and contribute your voice to an elite community while gaining access to exclusive content via three value-packed options:

Rare Founder Tier ($25)

· Instant closed beta access

· Bonus premium currency: 1,500 Crowns

· Exclusive Rare badge

· 3 Heroes

· 1 Exclusive Hero skin

· 1 Exclusive player icon

Epic Founder Tier ($55)

· Instant closed beta access

· Bonus premium currency: 4,000 Crowns

· Exclusive Epic badge

· 8 Heroes

· 2 Exclusive Hero skins

· 2 Exclusive player icons

Legendary Founder Tier ($125)

· Instant closed beta access

· Bonus premium currency: 10,000 Crowns

· Exclusive Legendary badge

· 18 Heroes

· 4 Exclusive Hero skins

· 4 Exclusive player icons

· Exclusive digital game soundtrack

· Exclusive digital Founder’s art book

· Exclusive digital unique illustration

Sins of a Dark Age is now in early Closed Beta. Become a Founder and sign up for battle today at www.sinsofadarkage.com/founder.

Case Scenario Reveals Pantone iPhone 5 Cases at CES

2013/01/08

Jerry Paxton

CES, Mobile News, News, Tech News

LAS VEGAS – Jan. 8, 2013 – Case Scenario, a design oriented mobile accessory maker, announces the availability of the iPhone 5 Pantone Universe Bookcase during CES 2013. Inspired by the now iconic iPad Bookcase, the new iPhone 5 cases come with two standing positions for both landscape and portrait viewing angles. The Case Scenario iPhone 5 Pantone Universe Bookcase is made with the best quality Nubuck material which combines both usability and protection. It has been created as the Case Scenario design response to the flip case. The first set of cases are available in red Scarlet Sage (19-1559) and black Tap Shoe (19-4004).

The Case Scenario iPhone 5 Pantone Universe Bookcase is available now for $49.99 at Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. Case Scenario will announce new color options for the Pantone Universe Bookcase in Spring 2013.

For more information about Case Scenario and the new iPhone 5 Pantone Universe Bookcase, “like” us on Facebook.com/CaseScenario and follow us on Twitter @CScenario and Instagram@CaseScenario.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Revolution DLC Pack Gets Xbox 360 Release Date

2013/01/08

Jerry Paxton

News, Xbox 360 News

Santa Monica, CA – January 8, 2013 – Fresh on the heels of the biggest entertainment launch of 2012 – Call of Duty®: Black Ops II, Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), and their award-winning development studio Treyarch are kicking-off 2013 with the announcement of Revolution, the first massive Downloadable Content (DLC) Pack for the record-setting game. Since the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops II, millions of fans have taken-on the game’s ambitious near-future fiction, engaged in over 427 million hours of near-future warfare in non-stop multiplayer action, and survived hordes of Zombies. Set to launch January 29 first, exclusively on Xbox LIVE® for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft with other platforms to follow, Revolution delivers an unprecedented level of content, and for the first time in Call of Duty® DLC history, a new bonus multiplayer weapon.

“With Black Ops II, the team set out to challenge assumptions about what fans should expect from Call of Duty, and there’s no exception with Revolution,” said Mark Lamia, Treyarch’s Studio Head. “It starts with the massive amount of content that Revolution offers: four distinct multiplayer maps, an entirely new Zombies map and new Zombies mode, and a new bonus weapon. But quantity is just the start – it’s the variety of new gameplay options in Revolution that sets it apart, making it our most compelling DLC offering to date, and a must-play experience for Call of Duty fans.”

Revolution takes players to unexpected new locales the world over. “Downhill” is set in the ski country of the French Alps, where players fight their way down the slopes and through a ski lodge, while avoiding the moving hazards of the mountain’s gondola system. Opponents must dodge the floodwaters in “Hydro” as they contend for dominance of this hydroelectric dam facility in Pakistan, filled with treacherous spillways. “Mirage” pits players in competition amidst the sand dunes of a dilapidated luxury resort in the sandstorm-devastated Gobi Desert, where a range of long-distance and close-quarters combat will mix up the action for all play styles. Finally, “Grind” transports players to the historic birthplace of skateboarding, California’s Venice Beach, where they will battle it out through the ramps and half-pipes of this massive, epic skate park in a multiplayer environment comprised of unique curved architecture requiring players to adapt and learn new ways to take cover. Each map in Revolution delivers a uniquely exhilarating new landscape for tactics and battle.

Revolution also delivers a lethal bonus multiplayer weapon, the “Peacekeeper.” This powerful SMG, accompanied by its own set of weapon challenges for additional XP, is unlocked to all Call of Duty: Black Ops II fans that pick-up Revolution.

Additionally, Revolution transports players to the Far East, where they will attempt to overcome a zombie infestation inside a series of collapsed skyscrapers towering over the remains of an obliterated Chinese city. In this new and original Zombies map, “Die Rise,” players will wield powerful, upgradable Wonder Weaponry as well as combine new buildable devices to fight a relentless army of the undead throughout Escher-esque sceneries over a deep and perilous chasm. And in a twist, Treyarch has added a new game mode, “Turned,” where players can finally complete against each other as a zombie!

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Revolution lands first, exclusively on Xbox LIVE January 29 for a suggested retail price of $14.99 or 1200 Microsoft Points. The Map Pack is included in the Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC Season Pass, where fans can purchase four epic DLC Map Packs** for Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and also receive the Nuketown Zombies bonus map, and an exclusive in-game calling card as part of the discounted bundle offered at a suggested retail price of $49.99 or 4000 Microsoft Points.

With the release date of Call of Duty: Black Ops II Revolution fast approaching, fans should be sure to also sign up for Call of Duty® Elite for free to track their Call of Duty: Black Ops II multiplayer performance with rich game statistics, enlist in exciting Clan Operations and Challenges, and watch all-new Call of Duty Elite TV videos ripe with tips and useful tools to help improve their multiplayer skills. To register, or for more information, visit http://www.callofduty.com/Elite.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II is rated “M” (Mature – Blood and Gore, Intense Violence Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs – content suitable for persons ages 18 and older) by the ESRB. More information on Call of Duty®: Black Ops II can be found at http://www.callofduty.com/blackops2 or on www.facebook.com/codblackops. Fans can also follow @Treyarch on Twitter.

F1 Race Stars DLC Features Four New Tracks

2013/01/08

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 3 News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News

Los Angeles, Calif. – Jan. 8, 2013 – Codemasters® has announced new downloadable content for F1 RACE STARS, the game that takes FORMULA ONE™ racing over the top, with four diverse new circuits expanding the game’s solo, split-screen and online modes available from today.

The new tracks will be available from the Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and, via Steam, for Windows PC today, January 8^th, across North America and Europe. The tracks are already available for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system in North America and Europe. Each Track Pack is priced at 400 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE and $4.99 on PlayStation Network and Steam.

Canada Track Pack

The Canada Track Pack presents players with the ultimate winter racing wonderland! Speed past snowmen, dodge grumpy groundhogs, race across a frozen river and more as the F1 RACE STARS get cool and crazy in Canada.

China Track Pack

Who will become the glorious leader in China? The China Track will see players join the cast of F1 RACE STARS in the electric East. From a Shanghai start, it’s a race through ornamental water gardens and past a huge dragon statue that hides a surprise shortcut.

India Track Pack

The heat is on in incredible India! In the India Track Pack, players must make their move through a mountain railway pass, overtake in the overgrown ruins and power through a palace’s gardens and more.

Europe Track Pack

The Europe Track brings the F1 RACE STARS to Valencia. Race through a marina, slice and dice through the docks, speed across super-slippery ice and dodge flying tomatoes as the F1 RACE STARS speed through Spain. See the action from Valencia in this video www.YouTube.com/F1RaceStars.

Out now for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC, F1 RACE STARS is developed by Codemasters Racing Studios, the home of the BAFTA award-winning series of Official FORMULA ONE video games, and is created under exclusive worldwide agreement with Formula One World Championship Limited. Fans can see FORMULA ONE get powered up by visiting www.YouTube.com/F1RaceStars, liking the game atwww.facebook.com/f1racestars or following the team on twitter at www.twitter.com/f1racestars

Screenshots

PGA Tour 14 Sees Legendary Golfers Return

2013/01/08

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 3 News, Xbox 360 News

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Jan. 8, 2013 – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: EA) announced today that fans will be able to battle nine of the greatest golf legends of all time in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 14. The all-new game mode, Legends of the Majors, gives players a chance to travel back through time and relive the rich history of golf by matching up against the sport’s greatest legends, including Seve Ballesteros, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Sam Snead, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods. Players can work their way through these legends in various eras and take each of them down to earn their own seat at the table of golf legends.

Hoisting the Claret Jug, breaking Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories and slipping on the coveted Green Jacket are now all within a player’s reach. In Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 users, for the first time in franchise history, have a chance to go for the Grand Slam by playing historical events in all four majors, the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship. The game goes on sale in North America on March 26 and worldwide on March 28, for both the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, including support for the Kinect™ for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation®Move.

“This year’s edition of the game delivers a collection of innovative golf features that provide players an unprecedented chance to rewrite the record books,” said Mike Taramykin, Vice President of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR. “Players can earn legendary status by conquering the greatest legends of all time or challenge their friends on some of the world’s most renowned courses. Without question, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 is the best edition the franchise has produced in years.”

Features in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 include:

·         More Championship Courses – Featuring Augusta National Golf Club, the Old Course at St Andrews, Pinehurst No. 2 Restored and THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. This year’s game features the most courses ever offered on disc – a total of 20 courses.
·         Huge Player Roster – A robust roster of more than 35 playable golfers, representing both the PGA TOUR and LPGA, are featured in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14. Compete against legends of the game and present-day stars including Bubba Watson, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Lexi Thompson and Paula Creamer.
·         Look the Part – Step to the tee box on the game’s historic courses, experience unique era-specific gameplay visual treatments, wear classic attire and use equipment from golf’s rich history as you travel through time rewriting the record books with your own legacy.
·         Make Way for the Ladies – Another new feature to the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR franchise is the introduction of the LPGA. Female created golfers can now compete on the LPGA and attempt to become a major champion by winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship. There are five playable LPGA golfers including 2012Rolex Player of the Year Stacy Lewis.
·         Golf Anytime in Any Condition – For the first time in franchise history, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14features night golf.  Tee it up after the sun goes down and watch your drives streak through the night skies with an illuminated ball. In addition, new time-of-day settings allow fans to play golf in any condition at any time of day in conjunction with a live weather feed.
·         Members Only – Country Clubs are back and better than ever with the ability to invite up to 100 members, chat online, hold tournaments and track statistics to create the ultimate competitive environment.
·         Customize Your Swing – With 24 unique golfer swing styles available, you now have the ability to customize the type of golfer you want to be. Advanced shot shaping, enhanced strike meter and ball physics have all been improved to reflect a real-world golfing experience.
·         Never Play Alone – A new online experience allows you to play with up to 24 competitors at a time while an all-new dynamic stat tracking system feeds live data from the entire tournament field and makes you feel as if you’re in the mix of a real event.

More information about Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition will be coming soon.

The first game details, pre-order offers and downloadable content information for Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 were released today on the EA SPORTS Tiger Woods PGA TOUR website, with additional details to be released in the weeks leading up to the game launch.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 is developed in Orlando, Fla., by EA Tiburon and will retail for $59.99. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 will be participating in the EA SPORTS Season Ticket program. Season Ticket subscribers will be provided full digital access to Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 three days before retail launch.

To see additional information regarding Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14: The Masters Historic Edition please visit www.easports.com/golf. For in-game assets, go to www.info.ea.com.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports videogames, including Madden NFL football,FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR golf, SSX™ and Fight Night boxing.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visithttp://www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

Thrustmaster Unveils Y-Gaming Headset Line

2013/01/08

Jerry Paxton

CES, News, Tech News

LAS VEGAS, January 8, 2013 – Thrustmaster, the innovative PC and console accessory brand, arrives today in the Gaming Headset market with some serious credentials, nearly 30 years of gaming experience have been combined with 20 years of audio expertise under the Hercules brand within the Guillemot Group.

Gamers are at the heart of everything we’ve done:

Thrustmaster’s Research and Development teams have built their Gaming Headsets range with one priority in mind: providing gamers with products which perfectly fit all of their needs. To accomplish this, a wide-reaching international study was performed with 3000 American and European gamers who played for 5 hours or more per week. This study allowed us to focus and combine our technical capabilities and audio expertise to create the first 3 solutions for gamers: the Y-250X for Xbox 360®, the Y-250P for PS3™ and the Y-250C for PC.

Accurate, perfectly-proportioned sound:

Thrustmaster’s 3 gaming headsets provide carefully-crafted audio performance. They incorporate 50 mm drivers for bass response that’s higher than the mid-range frequencies, which are themselves more prominent than the high-range frequencies. This allows for an audio hierarchy which is perfectly in line with gamers’ expectations and needs: heavy explosions that can be heard from far away, natural voices that are easy to hear, and clear whizzing sounds from bullets that don’t get lost in the overall sound stage. In this way gamers can not only enjoy the signature audio experience of each game, but also hear all of the sound information contained in the game’s audio mix. This will allow them to anticipate events and adapt their strategies to create a real advantage over other players.

To achieve this result, a unique design, symbolizing the range, was developed based on a “Y” shape. By incorporating large earpieces with this shape the player is provided perfect sound isolation, and it generates powerful acoustic amplification by acting as resonance chambers.

Optimized microphone and controls:

Thrustmaster’s Gaming Headsets feature detachable, unidirectional, ultra-high-performance microphones. Their design gives the gamer an advantage by only transmitting his or her voice without letting any surrounding noises in to muddy the sound. For even greater precision a gain control feature has been added as well, allowing users to precisely adjust the microphone according to the environment that they’re in.

The control unit on each headset’s cable puts valuable adjustment options right at player’s fingertips, inclduing a microphone gain, game volume (on the PC version), seperate Chat volume, bass level and voice feedback level for the PS3™ and Xbox 360® versions. The microphone, like the headsets themselves, is adjustable and easily adapts to all head sizes and shapes. These controls guarante total comfort even during long gaming sessions, and perfect communication.

The products in this range provide a level of versatility that gamers asked for during the study. This includes watching a movie by removing the microphone, listening to music on MP3 players and smartphones (and taking calls on smartphone), and even playing on the Nintendo 3DS™, Sony PS Vita™ and Nintendo Wii U™ consoles.

Get the Thrustmaster Y-Gaming Headsets, and take your performance to the next level! The headsets will be available shortly from all major retailers for $89.99. Check out all of our products at www.thrustmaster.com. For all assets please go to: Thrustmaster.

Sennheiser’s PC 350 and PC 360 Headsets Redesigned

2013/01/08

Jerry Paxton

CES, News, Tech News

Las Vegas, 8 January 2013 – Sennheiser announces the rebirth of two truly legendary gaming headsets. The sought after PC 350 and PC 360 have been reengineered to feature optimized comfort, design and virtual 7.1 surround sound. Both will be officially launching this week at CES, the World’s Largest Consumer Electronics Show.

The new Sennheiser PC 350 Special Edition and the PC 363D surround sound gaming headsets were designed for quality-conscious gamers who seek nothing but the best. Their closed design ensures hat sound is not transferred to your partner you become fully immersed in your games.

Sennheiser has developed the PC 350 Special Edition and the PC 363D for two specific types of players:

The ‘Pro’ Player

The PC 350 Special Edition, which is a professional noise-blocking headset, will keep you gaming in private. Even at full volume, more than 95% of the audio remains inside the headset, you can immerse yourself in the game while those around you don’t hear a thing. This is optimal for professional gamers at LAN events, or for home players who don’t want interruptions.

The Special Edition also features the most accurate sound reproduction in a gaming headset today. Utilizing Sennheiser’s “Eargonomic Acoustic Refinement” technology, the headset channels audio signals directly into your ears, rather than onto them.

Creating a Deeper Audio Experience for Gamers
The PC 363D Surround Sound, which delivers full virtual 7.1 Surround Sound with Dolby® Pro Logic® IIx, creates a much deeper audio experience allowing you to accurately pinpoint the direction of engine roars, shots or explosions. Designed for long hours of gaming, the PC 363D also features an open acoustic design, which lets air flow through to keep you extra comfortable at all times.

Engineered for quality and comfort
Both headsets feature German-engineered technology with speakers manufactured at Sennheiser’s own facility in Ireland. In addition to having a pro noise-cancelling microphone, each headset features dedicated controls on the specially designed metal ear cups and microphone boom, making volume control and mute functions easy and intuitive.

“Our earlier headset models from 2008 and 2010 are among the most sought after headsets by gamers. We revisited these designs to see how we could make our gaming headsets even better, using what we know today,” says Product Manager Christian Ern of Sennheiser Communications.

The PC 350 Special Edition and PC 363D Surround Sound are available as of this month and carry a Sennheiser two-year worldwide warranty.

Captions:
1. The Sennheiser PC 350 Special Edition headset
2. The Sennheiser PC 363D Surround Sound headset

The Sennheiser Group, with its headquarters in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. The family-owned company, which was established in 1945, recorded sales of around €531 million in 2011. Sennheiser employs more than 2,100 people worldwide, and has manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland and the USA. The company is represented worldwide by subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark (Nordic), Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as by long-term trading partners in many other countries. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones and monitor loudspeakers), and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centres).

You can find all the latest information on Sennheiser by visitingwww.sennheiser.com.