Author - Jerry Paxton

Review of the CM Storm Sniper Black Gaming Chassis

2009/11/15
Jerry Paxton
Reviews

CM Storm – you may know them as Cooler Master’s new gaming division. Putting out peripherals and accessories with serious attitude, we recently gave their Sentinel gaming mouse some very high marks. Being new to the gaming mouse market, we were shocked that they got things so right on their first time out. Now we get to take a look at their new Sniper Black mid-tower gaming chassis.

DESIGN & FEATURES
According to the Sniper Black’s official product page, the design of the chassis was inspired by ‘military weapons’. While I am not sure about that entirely, I will say that the design reminds me more of gritty, sci-fi military weaponry than a modern-day SCAR-H or M16A4, but I digress… The point is that the Sniper Black just looks mean. Anyone who sees you with it at a LAN tournament will be impressed. In fact, the Cooler Master HAF-922 is very reminiscent of the Sniper Black in style, and they both looks like they could be related to the same bad-ass gaming case progenitor.

Being a sizeable mid-tower, the Sniper Black’s dimensions measure out to 22.3”(d) x 10”(w) x 21.7”(h). Furthermore, the Sniper Black weighs in at 23.42 lbs stock. This is mainly due to the unit’s steel skeleton. Now, not all of the Sniper Black is steel – some of it is a tough ABS plastic and some cheaper-quality metals for the ‘mesh’ areas of the case, which run down the bezel and a good portion of the side-panel.

Where most gaming chassis will have one or two 200mm case fans, CM Storm has chosen to include three of them here. That’s some serious air-flow, and coupled with a 140mm rear exhaust fan and clever vertical heat-dissipating design, it will ensure that your components stay cool. This ‘vertical’ system ensures that the fans which draw air into the case are located on the side and lower half of the case whereas the exhaust fans are placed on the upper half and rear. This takes advantage of a dominant feature of heat, in that it likes to rise naturally. Some cases like to draw air in from the top – fighting heat’s natural tendencies. If you need even more air-flow, there is room for an additional 140mm fan at the very bottom of the chassis.

The three 200mm fans are all tied to the Sniper Black’s control center which can be found on the upper-front of the chassis. On this control center you will find not only the power and rest buttons but also a rotary fan-control speed knob and an LED control (the 200mm fans all have blue LEDs on them to illuminate the chassis). Other nice features of this control center include a microphone, headphone, and eSATA inputs as well as four USB ports and a FireWire port to boot. It’s one of the most full-featured control centers I have seen on a gaming chassis.

INTERNAL DRIVES
Utilizing the 5.25” drive bay locking system found on the Cooler Master HAF series, the Sniper Black can be equipped with up to five 5.25” drives and five 3.5” drives. Installing and removing these drives could not be easier thanks to the previously-mentioned locking system which requires no screws to keep things in place.

COMPONENT INSTALLATION
Installing components into the Sniper Black chassis is really straight forward. Some of you may be a little put off by the drive locking mechanisms or the bottom-mounting PSU, but give yourself a little bit of time and you should be fine. CM Storm has really put a lot of thought into just how much physical room is necessary to install modern components and it shows. Even our GTX 280 fit inside with no issues. Also, cable management in the Sniper Black is much easier to pull off thanks to the raised motherboard tray. Behind it, you will find about a half inch of breathing room with which to braid your cables about. It is also worth noting that the Sniper Black features a totally screw-less install. This means that you need no tools to put your components in the chassis other than your hands.

Those of you who buy this case will undoubtedly be using a non-stock CPU cooler, perhaps even an all-in-one, liquid-cooled solution. There is roughly 7-inches of clearance between the CPU and mesh side-panel, more than enough for most aftermarket coolers, including the Thermaltake SpinQ and Cooler Master V10 models! Even better is the fact that the motherboard tray has a large square notched-out for bottom-access to the CPU cooler pegs. This means that you will be able to install the cooler without having to fully-remove the motherboard from the tray.

CONCLUSION
The CM Storm Sniper Black gaming chassis retails for roughly $160 dollars right now from online retailers such as Newegg. While this may be pricey for some, if you are looking for an exceptional mid-tower gaming chassis with some of the best air-flow around, you would be hard-pressed to find a better solution. Couple this with the Sniper Black’s user-friendly features and picking this one up is simply a no-brainer.

Star Trek Online Box Art Released

2009/11/14
Jerry Paxton
News

Cryptic Studios has been releasing a lot of media for their February 2nd-bound MMO, Star Trek Online, as of late and today they add the game’s official box art to this list.

Drink it in, gamers… Its elegance… Its implied actions… Stuff that geek dreams are made of right there. Live Love and Prosper!

Alliance of Valiant Arms Now LIVE

2009/11/12
Jerry Paxton
News

Ijji.com has announced that their free-to-play online first-person shooter, Alliance of Valiant Arms (or AVA), has gone live and is available for play at this time. Featuring a variety of weapons and other equipment to purchase as well as nine different multiplayer game modes, AVA promises intense shooter action, for free!

Madden NFL Arcade Gets Release Dates

2009/11/12
Jerry Paxton
News

EA Sports has announced that its upcoming arcade footballer, Madden NFL Arcade, will hit the Xbox LIVE Arcade and PSN for 1200 Microsoft Points (or $14.99) later this month. PSN gamers can expect the game on November 24th while Xbox LIVE Arcade gamers can expect it a day later on November 25th.

BlizzCon 2010 Being Held in Las Vegas (UPDATED)

2009/11/12
Jerry Paxton
News

*UPDATE (11/13/09) – Looks like the Las Vegas Convention Center has withdrawn the event listing on their website. According to several sources, the convention center had listed it as a place holder, intending to entice Blizzard Entertainment to hold the event there on those dates. Go back to your lives, citizens!

(Ed. Note) Originally, when I heard scuttlebutt on this today I was outraged, angry at whichever Blizzard employee I thought leaked the news to the web. I thought this fell under the purview of my strict rule on not posting illegally-leaked info. As it turns out, there was no leak and my rule does not apply – so, I report this public knowledge to you, dear readers…

It seems that the Las Vegas Convention Center website publicly lists BlizzCon 2010 as taking place on July 30th and 31st and accommodating 30,000 attendees. Blizzard Entertainment does not comment on unannounced information but we will keep you informed as details unfold.

Via the Las Vegas Convention Center 2010 Calendar

Modern Warfare 2 Sells Over Seven Million Units in First Day Alone

2009/11/12
Jerry Paxton
News

Looks like Infinity Ward and Activision has hit the nail on the proverbial head with their newly-released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (be sure to checkout our review of the game if you have not yet done so). The game sold over 7 million units in its first day alone! Now, this is the worldwide sales figure but, even so, it is a remarkable achievement and looks to become the fastest and most-selling game in history… that is, until Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 comes out…

Via VGChartz

SteelSeries Siberia V2 Gaming Headset

2009/11/11
Jerry Paxton
Reviews

SteelSeries, long-known for their high-end gaming peripherals, recently launched their latest gaming headset – the Siberia V2. The original Siberia headset has been around in some form or another since 2001, so it was high-time for an upgrade or two.

Siberia V2 Technical Specifications:
– 50mm speakers
– Impedance: 32 Ohm
– Frequency: 10-28,000 Hz
– SPL@1kHz: 112dB
– Cable: 1m + 2m extension
– Jacks: 2* 3.5mm
– Retractable microphone: 50-16,000 Hz, unidirectional

DESIGN/QUALITY
The Siberia V2 features either a white or black plastic frame utilizing an over-the-head suspension system. Putting them on takes a bit of getting used to, as you need to raise the inner suspension band instead of just placing them on your head. The benefit to this suspension design is that it feels a lot more comfortable than standard headsets as the suspension band is far less weighty on the head. The weight of the Siberia V2 rests on your ears. It also features twin 50mm drivers which are 25% larger than the ones found on the original headset. The increased range of these drivers (10-28,000 Hz compared to the originals 18-28,000 Hz) means that you can hear more of the intended original sound source. The soft leather earcups are very comfortable and do not bend your ears or put unnecessary pressure on them whatsoever. The microphone is retractable in the V2 (unlike the V1’s external lapel microphone), featuring good sensitivity and clarity.

Something I really missed on the Siberia V2 is the braided cables which can be found on SteelSeries’ 4H and 5H gaming headsets. The braided chord eliminates twisting and knotting while also giving it much more strength than plastic insulation alone. This is a feature that SteelSeries is remiss in not including with an otherwise well made headset – especially one meant to be worn for long periods of time in tournaments.

INSTALLATION
Installing the Siberia V2 is as simple as can be. Just plug the headset into your PC’s mic and headset jacks and you are in business. There is no special software or anything to install. There is a variant of the Siberia V2 which comes with a USB sound card providing virtual 7.1 channel surround sound. With that version, I would not be surprised to find a driver disc. Not so in this case, however.

USAGE
I used the Siberia V2 for many hours of gaming, from action-packed RPGs like Dragon Age: Origins to frenetic wargames such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising. In each of these gaming experiences I did not find one issue with the audio – they each sounded great and the stereo separation was well-pronounced, allowing me good distinction as to where bullets were being flung at me from.

In Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising, I even participated in the cooperative campaign, allowing me to thoroughly test the pull-out, retractable microphone. Unlike the original Siberia’s lapel microphone, this one will stay where you bend it thanks to a snake-like cable leading out of the ear cup. Gamers will find both the headset volume and microphone mute controls on a small controller inline with the headset cable. The microphone pickup was very sensitive and my partners in crime always heard me loud and clear (keep the loudmouth jokes to yourselves, people!).

Moving into the music-listening arena, the headset also performed admirably as I rocked out to my favorite tunes. The increased bass response from the 50mm drivers is noticeable and a welcome feature on a headset. Let it also be known that the Siberia V2 can be used on your Xbox 360 game console using the SteelSeries Xbox Connector, further enhancing the headset’s usage.

CONCLUSION
SteelSeries has developed a very good gaming or easy listening headset in their Siberia V2. It provides the sound quality that gamers prefer while also not killing your head after long periods of use. Aside from the lack of a braided chord, the Siberia V2 would make for an excellent choice in a LAN or tournament environment. The Siberia V2 retails for $89.99 and is available now.

Official Siberia V2 Product Page

Guild Wars 2 Set for A 2011 Release

2009/11/11
Jerry Paxton
News


In a recent conference call, NCsoft West CEO Jaeho Lee said that Guild Wars 2 would be ready for testing sometime next year with an actual game launch in 2011. In case you don’t recall, Guild Wars was one of the first free-to-play (after the initial game purchase) MMOs on the market in North America. Guild Wars 2 will utilize an improved version of the Guild Wars game engine as well as larger-scale PvP battles.

Via GameSpot

We Review Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PC)

2009/11/11
Jerry Paxton
Reviews

STORY
One thing that set Modern Warfare apart from most shooters was its cinematic, intense storyline replete with enough twists and turns that even Jack Bauer would have a hard time keeping up. In Modern Warfare 2, the story continues those twists and turns but expands the scope of the action even more. Without spoiling too much, it is safe to say that the world is a much different place at game’s end than at the game’s beginning.

Set five years after Modern Warfare’s story leaves off, Modern Warfare 2 picks up by putting you into the boots of a US Army Ranger selected to go undercover into a Russian terrorist organization. You see, after the events of Modern Warfare, Russia has fallen into the hands of ultra-nationalists who enjoy thoughts of empire and world domination. Unfortunately these various factors form a powder keg just waiting to go off. And, boy, do they ever!

The game’s story is intricate, intense, and engrossing.

GRAPHICS
Modern Warfare 2 looks incredible. Unlike the grand vistas of Armed Assault 2 or Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising, Modern Warfare 2 is a lot more intimate and, even when you are in outdoor environments, they never get so big that they overwhelm. The beauty of this intimate quality is that they can really crank up the visuals in a way those other games cannot. Now, that’s not to say that there is not the occasional grand set-piece or two, but overall it is a very in-your-face kind of experience. Characters are well-detailed and there is no shortage of environmental effects such as weather, explosions, fallout… Heh…

AUDIO
The main theme for the game was written by the legendary Hans Zimmer. If you are wondering why Hans Zimmer is so amazing, I have to ask if you have seen any of the following films:

– Crimson Tide
– Pirates of the Caribbean
– The Last Samurai

Now, if you have seen these films (or the other hundred or so he has worked on) – despite anything else you will say about them, you will undoubtedly remember their incredible scores. Yup, Zimmer did ’em. He is a master who lends a great title theme to Modern Warfare 2 and is, again, a sign of Activison and Infinity Ward pulling out all the stops in this game’s development. The voice actors in the game also do incredible jobs of pulling off very believable performances. Getting that cinematic feel was vital to engrossing the gamer and these performances lend a lot to that.

GAMEPLAY
The gameplay is very similar in nature to the first Modern Warfare title. You will run from point to point, killing enemy troops – eventually getting to an objective. As with the original, however, it is those ‘oh shit’ moments that really bring Modern Warfare 2 over-the-top and have me, personally, yelling at my computer monitor several times throughout the experience. This time around, you will get to pilot snowmobiles and a few other interesting modes of transportation. The single-player experience comes in short, at roughly six hours. Thankfully those are some very hairy hours, as few of them as there are. Infinity Ward has made the game with a very specific story that they wanted to tell and were not going to be strapped into having a certain playtime goal ‘just because’. Plus, if you need more Modern Warfare 2 action, you can take part in some multiplayer matches.

BUGS
The PC version did have a bizarre movement issue that should be addressed. First, I noticed that my character would get stuck on what should be extremely traversable objects scattered about the battlefield. Sometimes little boulders which your character should be able to jump over would actually seem to glue you down. I could not jump at all when stuck like this and had to turn around and walk in the other direction away from the object to ‘unstick’ myself. Other than this I did not find any problem playing the game on my platform of choice, being an old school PC gamer from way back. Also, playing it on the PC allowed me to up those previously-mentioned amazing visuals!

OVERALL
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a roller-coaster ride of a game and deserves every award it will undoubtedly win this year. It captures, and intensifies, the thrills of the first game and brings an intriguing storyline to life. You need to play this game right away – don’t let anyone spoil the experience for you.