Author - Ripper71

GX Gaming Gila MMO/RTS Mouse Review (Peripheral)

2013/02/02

News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews, Windows PC News

Our World of Warcraft guild is about to celebrate its six year anniversary and, as a result, just about every member who knows I do game and tech reviews wants to know about the latest gaming mice. So, as they come along into GamingShogun Headquarters, I volunteer quick to get the info to them. I approach it from the point of view of function rather than style but sometimes, like in the case of the GX Gaming Gila MMO/RTS mouse, you can’t help but notice you have a glowing-eyed demon loaded with functionality in the palm of your hand.

Official Description:

Gila is the next generation MMO/RTS professional gaming laser mouse for the GX gaming series from Genius. Comfortable to use with either hand and step-up twelve buttons design, Gila can be customized to conquer any gaming challenge and improve combat performance. Gila has a built-in over-clocking SG Core ii engine with a dpi range from 200 to 8200 so gamers can easily shift around in the battlefield. A full speed MCU with 32KB built-in memory prevents macro settings from game block and gives gamers 1-ms (8X quicker) response time. The braided cable and gold-plated USB connector provide a stable and smooth signal connection during battle combat.

A reliable eight million life clicks give MMO/RTS gamers a comfortable button feel, and the adjustable weight design includes six metal weights – each 4.5 grams, customized to improve battle performance. Gila not only allows the X/Y axis dpi to be independently adjustable, but it includes the “Angle Snapping” function that instantly raises cursor precision at high speeds, and the “Sniper” button that instantly reduces the dpi when you need it. Gila uses the Scorpion user interface so gamers can setup “Button Assignment”, “Macro Management” for up to 72 keys, “Advanced Setting” to customize mouse performance and the “Light Option” that allows for customization of up to 16 million fascinating backlight colors. MMO/RTS game oriented, comfortable design with a superb hand grip, and outstanding performance in all games, Gila is the choice of game fanatics everywhere. Become a pro gamer now!

Official Features:

Professional 12-button MMO/RTS gaming mouse
Over-clocking SGCii: 200 dpi to 8200 dpi
Scorpion gaming user interface
Up to 72 keys for user defined macros
16 million RGB backlight system in 3 areas
Adjustable metal weights 4.5g x 6 with storage case included
32K onboard memory to prevent game block
1.8 meter braided cable with gold-plated USB connector
Rubber finish grip for complete control and handling

Hands-On:

As soon as you plug this bad boy in, the front headlights start to glow and make this mouse look possessed. This might seem accurate when you consider the fact that it basically has its own brain: A full MCU with 32k of memory and its own DPI overclocking engine. These were no doubt the reason the GX Gaming Gila received the CES 2013 Innovations Award as well as a slew of other accolades from various sources. This system enables the mouse to store control macros on-board and carry the settings from computer to computer, making your experience the same no matter what computer you are playing on. It also enables slipping around macro blocking. Macro blocking is a growing occurrence when a game recognizes short scripts of repetitive actions designed to speed up gameplay (macros) when they are originating from the keyboard or the system. At this point, most detectors are not designed to detect them in a mouse CPU because mice usually don’t have them. I imagine as a result of this step up in technology, and side stepping of game developer desires to stop macros, that eventually there will be patching and built-in programming to look for these. For now, you might be able to not only take your macros with you but avoid wearing out your hands with repetitive motions in some… for a while.

I won’t say which game I checked it out on to test this because I used it solely for testing purposes and not making it a common practice. But I can tell you if I had made a practice of it, my button mashing during that game would be insanely reduced and the life of my sexy mechanical keyboard would be greatly lengthened. I think the real innovation of the Gila is its maintaining my gameplay experience, no matter which rig I am using it on. When I am on “Fat Man” (our matching gaming desktop rigs are affectionately-known as “Fat Man” and “Little Boy” because they are the bomb), I usually have my rotation for my favorite MMO built into the keyboard macro buttons. Then, when I get on the gaming laptop, “The Big Bad Wolf”, it doesn’t have any of the buttons so I have to work off my memorized rotation and powers that be help me if I am on “Little Red”, our travel laptop, with its tiny keyboard and I try to do a key rotation with my gigantic fingers. With the GX Gaming Gila MMO/RTS gaming mouse, all these playing fields will become equal and I will play the game as the pros who play it do, through programmed mouse buttons. GX Gaming has its own “Scorpion” program interface to build all your macros through the computer that is excellent and user friendly. It saves all the information on the mouse where it can be called up later. The hardest thing you’ll have to do is memorize which of the buttons you programmed to do what. The program also allows you to program the colors of the mouse lights with 16 million options. Personally, I was happy with red for the glowing front “eyes” and green for the others. That may seem dull to some but I don’t know what color you would call the red and green, maybe it was blood and seaweed, that sounds fancier.

Overclocking the mouse is as easy as hitting a single button and deciding what level you want it at. There is an indicator right there on the mouse as well as one that pops up on your computer screen so you know so easily that it is almost idiot proof (I have been around long enough to know that nothing is truly idiot proof) and it can’t get more on the fly than that.

Just in case this customization of your programs and mouse weren’t enough, there are also weights and drag strips you can put on the mouse to adjust the drag and weight to your liking with a nice carrying case for the unused weights included.

Last Call:

There is a reason CES 2013 gave this mouse its Innovations award, this is the next step in the evolution of the mouse and is a step beyond not just other mice but the games you play them on. This will make your gaming experience easier, smoother, and more universal than ever before just by having the Gila attached to your computer. I highly recommend picking up the Gila MMO/RTS gaming mouse, it will improve your game in some cases more than they want you to.

[easyreview title=”GX Gaming Gila MMO/RTS Mouse Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″] Our Rating Scores Explained

You can find out more regarding this mouse at the product’s official website.

Trident Kraken AMS iPhone 4S Case Review (Tech)

2013/02/02

Ripper71

Mobile Review, News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

Last night I was standing in a gravel parking lot with a bunch of friends and pretended to fumble my cell phone and caused it to fly up in the air, smack hard onto the gravel and go skidding across it. One of my buddies actually yelled in horror and surprise as he went diving after it and saw it land so roughly. He picked it up, looked at it and said “Aw damn! It is one of THOSE cases.” He looked it over until he saw the Trident logo, checked and found no scratches then laughed and handed it over. He was one of just several people that night to look at the case, feel it and say “this is that case that they have all the videos of, right?” If you don’t know what I am talking about or what they are referring here’s an example:

Yep it is that case set. The Trident Kraken AMS system actually is a combination of three pieces, the Perseus rubber case and two pieces of the Kraken exoskeleton that can be actually used as the Perseus by itself, the Kraken front protector section of the exoskeleton and the entire thing put together.

The different levels of protection really come down to different levels of style because the Perseus by itself isn’t very protective, it gets a bit better with the Kraken front but it is when you add the back that it becomes an insanely tough case. I didn’t feel comfortable doing much in the way of toughness tests until all three pieces were together at which point I bounced it off walls, dropped it in gravel lots, tossed it in the air to watch it hit the hard ground, all kinds of things that should have kicked in my Apple Care Plan and had me vaguely describing to a person with an apple on their shirt what happened without adding detail. No video documentation was taken of these tests because it would probably cancel any warranty ever and I can’t afford to fork out money for a new phone if the protection had failed, which it didn’t. Nobody saw anything, understand? Nobody read this, you get me?

I found myself using the little stand on the back all the time, at dinner I set it up on the table so I can see any incoming texts or calls without picking it up or taking my attention away from others and when waiting in the car for someone to run an errand or getting ready to call it a night I prop it up, start Netflix and watch a movie. It’s handy when at the computer like right now just having it propped between the keyboard and the screen to glance down at when a message comes in.

The hip clip took a bit of getting used to since it has one spot to clip into but once you get it down having the phone on your hip and not having to dig it out of your pocket every time something comes in on it. Just pop it off the clip, take a look and then snap it right back on and away you go. If your significant other says it looks a bit geeky or techie, like mine did, embrace it I say! Or wear a long shirt and it will cover it up while keeping it handy. It has been jogging and hiking tested to stay in the clip on your hip while moving around and if it does drop no worries if you are using the full Kraken AMS setup.

The folks at Trident also sent me a bike mount for the back of phone that actually locks into the casing making it not so much an attachment as just another addition to the system. At first thought a bike mount may not seem like the most useful thing but I was surprised how many places I found to use it since it basically is a small C clamp as well as a bracket. I have an iPad holder for the windshield of my car and found multiple ways to attach my phone to it in case I don’t want to take my iPad but still want to be able to map where I am going or using it hands free to listen to music. I also have a BlueAnt Ribbon bluetooth connection so I can have the phone mounted up on the dash and use the stereo as a hands free calling system. The bracket is remarkably versatile.

To be honest it was easier and more comfortable figuring out ways to mount the phone knowing that if I dropped it or if for some reason it didn’t stay clipped down then it would survive a fall without a scratch on the case probably. I’m most excited to see what I can do with the clip when October rolls around and I find myself wanting to get video from attractions all over Southern California. I will definitely have to give another shout out to this case and it’s bracket when I figure out new ways to safely capture video with my phone.

Last Call:

This case looks good and gives me a sense of security I have never felt with my cell phone. I have never comfortably tossed it up in the air and let it bounce across a gravel lot. Gravel hurts, badly, but didn’t even put a scratch on the case. If I ever start to doubt the protection it provides I can watch the videos, I think I will pass on running over it with my car though it is a compact so probably would do even less damage to the case. Actually I will probably just watch the videos some more for the heck of it right after I am done writing this.

[easyreview title=”Trident Kraken AMS Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″] Our Rating Scores Explained

Levels of Protection:

Tough Tests:

Omerta – City Of Gangsters Review (PC/Steam)

2013/02/02

Ripper71

News, Reviews, seal of excellence, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

The folks at Kalypso could tell a strategy junkie when they saw one. Maybe it was the fact that I asked if I could take home the 7-foot tall cardboard game standee on the way out of my pre-release preview meeting (I still don’t know how I would have packed it). I actually have two addictions that this game fed into: Strategy gameplay and Prohibition-era mafia history. During a time in America when the “trench sweepers” and hand grenades of World War I were making names for themselves on the streets such as the Chicago Typewriter and The Thompson Anti-Bandit Gun, crime was realizing that if their brains matched their brawn they could build empires on the back of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. The gangsters required craftiness and innovation to survive but, most importantly, they required strategy. So, what better time and place to set a strategy game in?

Storyline:

Taking the role of a fresh-from-the-boat immigrant, with dreams of the big life, the player will work his way up the criminal hierarchy of 1920’s Atlantic City. Starting with small jobs, his character recruits a gang and expands his empire by taking territory from other gangsters. Eventually he establishes his own crime syndicate and becomes the de facto ruler of Atlantic City.

Official Features:

Historically accurate representation of Atlantic City and its landmarks
Strategic gameplay allows city overview, planning, expansion and gathering of intel
Turn-based tactical combat with a cover system and stealth action
15 unique player controlled characters each with unique personalities and backgrounds
A RPG system for development of player characters and managing their equipment
Competitive and cooperative multiplayer mode with persistent gangs
15+ hours of gameplay in a single play-through
20 unique maps visualizing the various districts of Atlantic City

Gameplay:

The first time I got to lay fingers on the triggers in this game was at the unveiling of Kalypso’s upcoming Dark game. The event was spaciously laid out with multiple terminals to try out Dark and in the corner of one room was a single booth with Omerta set up for anyone who happened to have missed it’s unveiling and wanted a look. Crammed into this booth with people standing off to the side as well watching I saw this strategy game which was not only smart in design (Kalypso and Haemimont Games also brought us the insanely good Tropico series) but themed in my favorite historical era. Understanding it would be hard to get a proper feel for the game while packed like sardines in a little booth, Kalypso sent me a build code for Omerta on Steam, which I played as far a the build would let me, then waited for the next update. Whenever development updated I played again putting anything else I had planned to do on the computer aside until I had caught up again.

Eventually this plan didn’t work so well because there are so many ways to play this game with so many different results that you would have to play through the game multiple times to even get a proper taste of its depth. The game starts off easy with training on how the menus work so you don’t feel out of sorts with them. Then after you get the idea, the game gives you jobs you can do and objectives to complete on Campaign mode but also gives you plenty of options on how you do them. Rival gang muscling in on your territory? You can get them to take a fall, parlay with them or just have a good old fashion negotiation with lead. Different choices all have different consequences, especially where you are. If you decide to do a drive-by down by the docks there is bound to be a lot less of a squawk than if you set fire to a mansion in the respectable neighborhoods. You must also decide if you want to be known as the family man who takes care of his neighborhood providing plenty of soup kitchens and taking care of the less fortunate or if you want to be known as the fella people will cross the streets to avoid stepping on the toes of. Your enterprise is crime, but not all crimes or criminals are the same.

You will at some point get “heat” on you and, while a little is fine, too much will get the boys in blue snooping about your business. If you don’t want to try and run your business wearing black and white striped pajamas, you have to take care of it. You can setup a patsy, which might not make you such a popular guy. You can pay off the cops, but the price always goes up. Or, you can even cause your troubles to go on a “permanent vacation”. All choices have consequences so you need more than just consider whether or not you want a speakeasy or a lead parade, you need to use strategy to try to determine what you will do when those succeed or fail.

General gameplay takes place at a street map level like many sim games though you can zoom in right down to street level and watch the action and character’s personalities unfold. When taking on a job you will generally find yourself in a mini map environment where individual gang member’s combat styles come into play. So for example you need to rob a bank, you put together a team from your gang you think will best be able to accomplish this and you go into a mini map of the bank with the street outside. You get a certain number of Movement and Action Points (players of games such as Jagged Alliance and UFO will be familiar with this idea) so you can move a certain number of hexes and then perform as many actions as you can before your points are exhausted and it is the end of that team member’s turn. As another example, during this bank robbery you have your drunk Irishman Doc charge in the front door and start shooting wildly (and I do mean wild, any team member in front of Doc has a roll for being hit). He can only move so many hexes forward to the entrance and then he can only take as many shots as he has Action Points available to cover. It may sound a bit complicated but it is pretty straight forward once you get to playing. The turn base goes back and forth between your team and the enemy until the job is either a failure or success. On the subject of success the developers tried to be as realistic as possible when it came to the accuracy and range of weapons as well so don’t be surprised if you miss a guy across the room with your pistol and he hits you with great accuracy with his rifle.

Campaign Mode isn’t the only way to play the game. You can also choose Sandbox mode, which is a fun, less structured game mode, letting you see how you can succeed with your own wits in one of four areas to choose from. You can work your business up down by the docks or start it in the ritzy neighborhood, the choice is yours as are pretty much all the choices afterwards. If you want to just build an empire without being told to hire this person now or open this business here this is the way to go. Also it can be nice to just see what you can do when left to your own devices.

Another way to play which I expect to be very popular in these days of heavy PvP emphasis in games is the Multiplayer avenue which gives you the choice to work with a teammate to commit a crime or work against each other to see who can rub out whose gang first. Personally I found I really liked the co-op missions, where you can come up with a strategy as a team and pull off the perfect crime but I get the feeling there are plenty of pals out there just waiting for a chance to knock each other off. Whichever this is done in the mini map mode and usually consists of a single building map.

Keeping It Fun:

When you are playing a game where crime is its own reward, some might think that making the game too serious might encourage bad behavior. Luckily the developers kept this in mind and made the game and its characters fun as well as strategic tools. A great example would be the character “Doc” who is modeled after the stereotype of a drunk Irishman who is almost always at the bar and, when he isn’t, he is thinking of beer (ed. note: Guinness please!). He is animated as shooting wildly and stumbling around during fights, making it hard not to laugh at his hi-jinks. Weapon names also have historical accuracy and usually a little tongue in cheek humor behind them too.

Another way the game tries to drift a bit toward the right side of things morally is in some of the missions, one of which is beating the snot out of clansmen running around in hoods. In missions like that you get a certain amount of satisfaction while at the same time completing game goals.

Last Call:

When I first saw rumors of this game, I was excited. When I got to see the first builds, I got completely amped. Then, getting hands on with this game, it just got better. This is an extremely solid strategy game with a great atmosphere set in an every interesting historical period. The developers went for accuracy in weapons and missions for the environment and time, while also making sure to have some fun with the characters and animations. I have played a lot of strategy games over the years and I can honestly say I think this may be one of my favorites. Omerta – City of Gangsters is a strategic offering you can’t refuse.

[easyreview title=”Omerta – City Of Gangsters Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″] Our Rating Scores Explained

Launch Trailer:

Gallery:

Wicked Audio Evac Series Headphones Review (Tech)

2013/02/02

Ripper71

News, Peripherals News, Reviews, Tech Review, Windows PC News

So I admit the first time I stopped by Wicked Audio’s booth at CES I was lost and drawn in by the great logo and the very nice headphone can designs in the display case. The lovely ladies scanned my badge really quick as I watched a couple people play the games of chance they had set up in the booth then off I headed in another direction trying to find my appointment location, with a mental note to make it back to the booth. Well anyone who has been to CES knows you can go the entire show without hitting the same booth twice or in some cases even finding ones you mean to. So I remembered the booth fondly when they sent a post CES letter letting us know what was available for review. My ear holes still sore from an abundance of earbuds I was jazzed to give their Evac cans a try.

Description:

You’re part of an elite group and you expect more from your headphones. Wicked EVAC fulfills that expectation. With its against the grain attitude and its no limits sound quality, Wicked EVAC will be the last thing you see before you lose touch with reality and get lost in your music.

Features:

Lustrous and comfortable headphones are designed with canvas material headband, soft ear cushions, and chic appearance
Equipped with enhanced bass, noise-isolation feature, and high fidelity sound, delivering top-notch quality
Braided cord, with built-in volume control, offers convenient and flexible operation
Collapsible design makes simple to tote around on-the-go
Available in 3 trendy color combinations: Black/White, Green/Black and White/Black

Testing:

Ok you may have noticed I called the headphones “cans” a couple of times and if you are a bit younger you may not quite get what I am referring to. These kind of headphones used to be known as “cans” particularly by military operators between bases, anyone who ever saw the old television show M.A.S.H. must have seen Radar at one point on the cans trying to get a message out. That was the first thing I thought of when I got these out of the box. They have army green canvas over the top section, metal bars connecting to the ear cups which are army green with black stenciling of the Wicked logo on it. Even the idea of having threaded cable coverings date back to the time making these an awesome homage when it comes to style while maintaining new technology in function. The old cans were also notoriously heavy because of being mostly metal while these are made extremely light weight and remain comfortable for hours thanks to plastic.

The style appeals to the old school boom box generation as well which is nice because these are all about the bass. They are bass enhanced, with sound isolation so the thumping will be in your head instead of from around the room, yet they are extra thick padded to keep the comfort going. I tried them out with block rocking beats, classic rock, I tested it on pretty much all kinds of music except country so if it works for the rest I’m sure it will work for country fine too. I even watched a few YouTube videos of things happening in crowded locations and it really sounded like I was right in the middle of them. Video Games sound insane with them delivering crystal clarity and it is great to play flight sims with them on and have the old school cans on while flying old war planes.

Last Call:

These are great all around use headphones with an old school feel to them. They have style but don’t drop the ball on sound quality and bass kicking. When it comes to games instead of music the explosions are intense and really help pull you into the experience while being lightweight enough to wear for long gaming sessions. Plus they don’t make your ear holes hurt.

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

Specifications:

Driver 40mm
Sensitivity 103dB
Frequency 20Hz-20,000Hz
Impedance 32 Ohms
Cord Length 4ft/1.2m

Disney Creativity Studio And Stylus (iPad/Peripherial)

2013/02/02

Ripper71

Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews

I went around CES Unveiled like a puppy in a room full of chew toys, taking in all the sights and sites, shaking hands and taking in spiels. It was while watching some robots running around my feet (I do love robots) that I noticed something that not just I would fancy, but maybe a couple hundred people I know. There next to a nice case with Mickey Mouse’s face on it was a stylus for the iPad, the fanciest looking stylus I had ever seen and next to it was a partially completed drawing of Mickey himself on an iPad. I startled everyone, including myself a bit, breaking the robots’ spell by starting to ask questions about the stylus which I now noticed had Mickey’s body on it. It was part of the Disney Creativity Studio, an iPad app that not only let you draw connect the dots or color in Mickey and Friends but could actually teach you how to draw them and save your work online. The folks at eKid.com were even nice enough to give me the opportunity to check it out in a robot free environment.

Disney Creativity Studio:

This app was remarkable before I got to fully utilize it and discover it’s depth. First it teaches you to connect the dots on your favorite characters which helps develop shape association with parts of the character that might not have crossed your mind. After doing this a few times it teaches you the general shapes and guide lines that will help figure out drawing the figure without dots. So for example Mickey you make a crude circle for his head then have curved lines almost like a globe’s equator and another up and down to give you placement location for the eyes when he is looking off in a direction whereas if he is looking straight on you draw a circle and cross a + right through the middle of it. This is something that they do at the Animation Academy at Disney’s California Adventure but then there is only one character at a time available and it isn’t one on one like this.

Next there are pictures of the characters fully drawn so you can practice coloring them in, in or outside the lines just like the studios do. Finally when all is well and practiced they give you a blank page and a great palette to work from making your own works of art you can save, post online or just send to someone you love. Basically this program takes you from not being able to draw a straight line (where one is needed) into being able to draw your Disney favorites like a professional. Then you can teach it in Disney’s California Adventure!

Pixel’D:

The way I see this program is Disney’s Photoshop For Beginners. It gives you plenty of backgrounds to work with, they give you plenty of clip art (if they don’t have what you want you can buy more for dirt cheap) and writing in different styles. You can make single page pixel heavy artwork or make a bunch with the same background and movement in them to create animation. I started with a Cars background, threw down the Evil Queen, re-sized her to the perfect height and named it “Marriage.” (I kid I kid, I deleted my atrocity knowing a kid could do better) There are lots of possibilities all of which have huge pixeled fun!

The Stylus With All The Style:

The piece which tie these programs and all your artistic efforts together is the Mickey Mouse stylus. Not even close to being just any stylus. this one could be argued to be the last stylus you ever need to buy. Kids may literally think it is Disney magic. There is no reason in the world to make them think different, let them have it while they can. The reality is that this is a next step in technology that people really need to get to know. You can draw with it in a thin line, click the top like you would a pen and your stylus brush turns into a crayon, click it again and it is like a paint brush, all giving distinct lines and characteristics associated with the medium, so if you do a brush stroke and lift the stylus at the end of the stroke it splashes outward like real paint would, a single stroke with a crayon will have breakups at the crayon’s imperfect waxy drawing material. You can be drawing in one color and shake the stylus three times in your hand and it starts drawing a rainbow of colors like some amazing magic marker. And if you make a mistake you flip it over and the stylus senses you have turned the “eraser” end to the paper and you erase with it. Most of the steps done with the stylus can be done in the program without it by hovering and clicking but the stylus makes it all… well magic.

Last Call:

I count myself lucky to have been distracted by shiny robots and stumbled upon a piece of Disney magic resting on a table, waiting to be moved around in broad strokes like a wizard’s wand that awakens brooms. This is the perfect addition to Disney products, teaching kids of all ages to draw their favorite friends, color them in or put them in pixelated adventures. Maybe future imagineers and animators will point to this item as the piece that decided their future.

Trailer:

Gallery:

Heroes Of Newerth Preview (PC)

2013/01/27

Ripper71

CES, News, Previews, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Windows PC Preview

During CES, I got a chance to meet up with a contributing writer and good friend of the site, and he wanted me to meet a few people. In the veritable sea of cellular phone cases in the convention center’s North Hall sat a little space with a couch and a couple of chairs. Resting comfortably there were a few folks dressed in black shirts, crowd watching – not a hobby that ever seems to get old at the Consumer Electronics Show. I grabbed a seat and our friend headed back to his insanely busy booth to allow S2 Games reps and I some time to chat. They were passionate about their game, as is always the case when it comes to works of love, and like people who truly love their project they are always trying to make it better and take it to the next level. That is exactly what they have planned with Patch 3.0 launching this week.

Description:

Prepare to experience an epic battleground unlike any other as S2 introduces the Heroes of Newerth 3.0 update. HoN 3.0 presents the world of Newerth with a cohesive vision that emphasizes user experience and encourages players, new and old, to explore the world of HoN. The update introduces new gameplay elements such as the refined tutorial, Learning Center, bots, and adds depth with an improved referral system and a redesigned and more dynamic Forests of Caldavar. HoN 3.0 defines the future of HoN as a highly rewarding, story-driven MOBA experience.

Features of The 3.0 Update:

Enhanced New Player Experience – The game’s walkthrough has been completely revamped with an indepth guide to better prepare first time players for the world of Heroes of Newerth. RAP 3.0, an all-new Report-A-Player system, gives the community the power to clean up and police itself while impacting the behavior of negative players.
Reworked & Enhanced UI – Including friends list notifications, options menu, in-game chat, and more.
Experience the Learning Center – This new feature will provide players with a series of videos that reinforce and explain in great detail some of the game’s basic and more complex concepts/techniques.
Improved Referral Program – The new referral system will have both in-game and web-based options. Players can recruit friends for in-game currency and other tangible prizes using both systems.
Learn Your Hero’s Backstory – One of the key features of the 3.0 update is the inclusion of lore within the world of HoN. Discover the story behind all your favorite heroes as each one has a unique tale to tell concerning their involvement in Newerth.
An All-New Caldavar – The Forests of Caldavar map has received a complete overhaul in terms of its appearance and layout. The environment is now more dynamic and includes stunning new aesthetics, tower designs, fountains, buildings and more!
30 New HD Hero Models – Valkyrie, Deadwood, Magebane and 27 other heroes now look better than ever as they have been redesigned with spectacular high definition graphics.
Bots Welcome – AI-controlled Bots are now available as an integral part of the Heroes of Newerth experience. The new walkthrough will also include bots so that beginners can test and develop their skills before venturing into more competitive play.

First Round:

The developers are trying to take the DOTA genre beyond the blue versus red it has notoriously been and give it some story, a new richness of depth. The game is good they just want to take it to the level of great. I think their plans with this patch are just the thing to do that and when the patch comes out we will be sure to do a review. If you haven’t played DOTA or HON or haven’t been at them in a while I recommend this link to get you pointed in the right direction and avoid unnecessary verbal assaults from teammates. You should really see how they plan to bring these maps to fresh life with new lore.

Preview Trailers:

Cygnett Lavish Connect Review (iOS/Peripherial)

2013/01/23

Ripper71

Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews

I have put a lot of rough and painful years on my back, I was never kind to it at my best and I was downright mean to it without thought when actions required it. As a result I have a back which, while not uniquely bad, ranks up there with some of the worst off. Luckily gaming is an activity that can be played in multiple positions on multiple platforms enabling me to one day review a game for the Kinect then the next play on an iOS while resting up my back. The hardest part has been not the playing but the writing up of the game afterwards where even a laptop and the required slight elevation in bed to use it could prove too much of a task to complete or the weight of a laptop would sometimes put too much stress on my body. One of our friends over at Cygnett not only came up with a great solution to this issue for me but also an elegant one perfect for travels when they sent me the Cygnett Lavish Connect.
Description And Features:
Ideal for easy on-the-go use, the protective Lavish Connect features a super-thin magnetically-attached 84-key QWERTY Bluetooth keyboard and integrated stand. Concealed magnets activate the sleep/wake function and keep the case securely closed when your new iPad is not in use.

Slim folio case includes magnetically-attached yet easily removable Bluetooth keyboard, allowing you to make the most of your new iPad experience

Beautifully crafted & elegantly designed to protect your new iPad from drops & scratches

Concealed magnets keep the case securely closed when The new iPad is not in use

Tested:

The Lavish Connect wasn’t so much tested by me as it was put to immediate use. I had taken my iPad to CES with me and carried it the first couple of days before returning it to the room and giving up on putting it to use the rest of the trip. When one of our colleagues at Cygnett realized that I had not given up trying to type with my giant paws on the little touch screen of the iPad but that it had been setup next to the bed relegated to a Netflix theatre he decided to surprise me by sending me a case to work with. Immediately I found my work on writing extremely easier as I was able to stop and write anywhere at anytime whether it was waiting in the car for someone to run into a store and run an errand or in bed when my back finally decided it had had enough. I was able to take my iPad up and keep working away at whatever I needed to whether it was writing a review or emailing contacts. The keyboard responds quickly and accurately with the magnets holding it perfectly in place without slipping. The keyboard is removable slimming the profile of the case even more and if there are no plans to do writing just using the case can be a handy and safe way to carry the iPad around. Personally I found I would rather just leave the keyboard inside so that if I changed my mind and decided to write I would be able to give my meaty paws a chance to type at a decent speed.

One of my concerns when working with the keyboard is that I would find that the battery life might not be long enough to complete work but I soon realized that was a silly concern, after even a short period of charging the Lavish Coonect gave plenty of typing time, I found myself watching the battery life on my iPad more than the keyboard. When working in bed it was simply a matter of plugging them both in then I could write until it was time for a break and watch some Netflix. At that point if I hadn’t already popped out the case’s built in kick stand, I would and be able to watch in comfort.

Last Call:

Life can be difficult in general and a bad back definitely can add to those difficulties. The Cygnett Lavish Connect has improved my home life as well as looking stylish and making my reviewing far more portable and convenient. With a much less bulky profile and weight than a laptop and a comfortable design including a built in energy efficiency wake up/sleep mode I would expect for people to see this little black beauty by my side most places I go.

[easyreview title=”Cygnett Lavish Connect Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″] Our Rating Scores Explained

BlueAnt Ribbon Review (Mobile/Peripheral)

2013/01/23

Ripper71

Gadget Review, Mobile News, Mobile Review, News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

BlueAnt may not be a familiar name but if you are in the market for wireless headphones for your smartphone or just a good source to stream it to a stereo you should learn it. If you have hands-free cellphone laws in your state this is a great way to comply with just a little ribbon of technology.

Wireless Headphones:

The primary use of this device is as a wireless headset for your smartphone. If you are using an iPhone syncing is as easy as turning on the bluetooth feature on your phone then pressing the play button on the middle of the Ribbon a few times. Suddenly you are in business, you can play and control your music with ease on your phone with just quick touches to the Ribbon which is small and can clip on just about anywhere. Click on the Ribbon a couple times and you get Siri and access to all of her functions through voice command in the built-in microphone on the Ribbon. If a call comes in while you are listening to your music you just hit the play button once to pause the music then do a quick double tap to answer.

You don’t have to worry about screwing up your pace jogging or using exercise equipment, if you are in a gym environment you can leave your phone in your gym bag up to about 30 feet away and still have effective range to listen to music or use Siri which opens up all kinds of cellphone functionality. All while just wearing little headphone buds and a small ribbon shaped clip.

Stereo Streaming:

So you are throwing a party and you want to use your own music from your phone to be the beats for the night. Just plug the included cable from the Ribbon into the input jack on your stereo and you can be playing the tunes without having to have your phone at the player. So if you want to send a text while the music is going to a friend no problem. If that guilty pleasure song comes on (we all have a couple) then you can reach in your pocket, pull out the phone and skip right past it. My favorite idea, and if I was still in the dating game I would totally put to use, would be to find that girl you wanted to dance with and put on her favorite song if you know it or maybe slip in a nice slow number to get closer. Is this showing how long I have been out of the game? Probably. The key is you have access to all the gigs of music you have stored on your phone now available on your stereo without having to lose access to your phone.

Hands-Free Driving:

This is actually one of my favorite uses for the device and ironically it doesn’t have to use the headphones. If your car doesn’t have an input jack you can use the headset as described in the first part, using it just for Siri, music in headphones (where and how allowed by local law) or to send or receive calls all while your phone remains in your pocket or on a car charger. If however your car has an input jack then whole new possibilities become available. Wireless cell phone systems for the car can be expensive or use a fairly antiquated process like broadcasting through an FM channel. With the Ribbon you just plug it into your Aux Input like you would have with your stereo and you can listen to your music through the car system, receive a call, pause your music and double tap the Ribbon and answer the call hearing it through your speaker system and talking through the Ribbon. Let’s say it is someone saying you need to call home. You hang up, tap the Ribbon for Siri and give a call home. Let’s say the kids are in the car watching a movie on a Bluetooth enabled device such as your phone. They can watch on the device and listen through the stereo. This is also great for watching things on your phone or listening while waiting in the car.

It can even help with navigation if your Bluetooth enabled device has a verbal GPS system you can get directions to where you need to be without looking down and the directions come in through your speakers.

Last Call:

The Ribbon is a nifty little device that is much more than just your wireless headphones for your phone. It is a portable Bluetooth transmitter that is no larger than a little ribbon but has immense possibilities. BlueAnt has a product I will be using around the house but probably even more so when traveling with new uses coming to mind all the time.

[easyreview title=”BlueAnt Ribbon Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″] Our Rating Scores Explained

Razer Carcharias Review (PC/XBox 360)

2013/01/21

Ripper71

News, Peripherals News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News

Literally, as I put the last suitcase in the trunk of my car to head to CES I heard the creak of brakes and the sound of a vehicle settling and turn to see the UPS truck with the driver coming right at me with a package. I thank him, open it up and see the beauty that Cult of Razer followers know all too well: a new green glowing snake product. I think of how much I will have to write during the trip and nod with satisfaction knowing I should be able to test it listening to music and use a recently acquired program to test the mic quality for recording. I toss it in a bag and head off to a week where I get about 7 hours of sleep each night, eat only apples leftover from press lunches for two days straight and meet and greet more people in the business than many people meet in their whole career. Plans are made and remade, I run back to the room periodically to change shirts to lose the sweat stains, and each time I come back to the room I am greeted by a smiling Mrs. Ripper kicking it on her gaming laptop… wearing the new Razer Carcharias. Anyone who knows Mrs. Ripper would not be at all surprised to see her planted in front of a computer playing her favorite MMORPG, but seeing her wear a headset, well I am pretty sure it has been years since I had seen her wear a pair for more than a few minutes. The week flies by in a blur and as she packs her bags to go home before me she asks “can I keep these ones when you are done reviewing them?” With a grin I say, “Sure!” and watched her pack it away in her suitcase knowing she was going to put it to good use before I even made it home and that she had just joined the Cult of Razer.

Tech Specs:

Headphones

Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
Impedance: 32 O at 1kHz
Sensitivity (@1kHz, 1V/Pa): 102 ± 4dB at 1 kHz Max
Input Power: 200 mW
Drivers: 40 mm, with Neodymium Magnets
Inner Ear Cup Diameter: 50 mm / 1.97”
Cable Length: 3 m / 9.84 ft

Microphone

Frequency Response: 50 – 16,000 Hz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 50 dB
Sensitivity (@1kHz, 1V/Pa): -37 ± 4dB
Pick-up Pattern: Unidirectional
Cable: 3 meters, Braided Fiber Sheath
Connector: 3.5 mm combined jack (headphone and mic)

Features:

Adjustable voice and game volume balance

Keeping the superior clarity and deep, thumping bass created by using the highest quality drivers available, the Razer Carcharias for Xbox 360/PC now comes with a new in-line remote control to adjust the voice and game volume balance, ideal for Xbox LIVE gaming.

Extended comfort circumaural design

From tank battles on a beachhead to blasting the undead in outer space, the full over-ear coverage ensures a comfortable fit. With a fully adjustable, padded head rail that extends an extra 1.25 in/3.18 cm on either side to accommodate a wide range of head sizes, and with its soft, pliable, removable ear cups, the Razer Carcharias for Xbox 360/PC always allows for a perfect fit.

Connectivity to all Xbox 360 systems

Whether your console is legacy or current-gen and connected to a display via HDMI or component/ composite, the Razer Carcharias for Xbox 360/PC is ready to go right out of the box. All required cables and adapters are included to ensure you can connect to any Xbox 360 within minutes.

Testing Them Out:

First off there is the main reason Mrs. Ripper finally embraced a headset: These are extremely lightweight and comfortable after really long periods of time and, if you feel you need to pull it off an ear to listen to the room, it can be done on a moment’s notice then slipped back into place just as quick. She likes to hear things in headphone stereo as much if not more than the next person, but she hates it when the cups cover the ear too much or start to weigh down on them, pushing her eyeglass arms into the side of her head. Her ears get sore quick from earbuds and she finds it a lot bigger pain in the booty to take them in and out. In contrast none of these have really been a problem for me but those are also the reasons she winds up never using any of my headsets so it was nice to have a set come in that finally appealed to her and displayed a different customer base.

The stereo sound is crisp and clear as you would expect from a Razer product, the sound pickup from the mic is excellent and the boom was very flexible, adjusting to just the right spot for talking but not heavy breathing into a hot boom. It works well with both the XBox 360 old and new (I have both) as well as PCs, both desktop and laptop. Beside being so lightweight that you barely notice they are on, they have extremely soft ear padding and they look damn sexy with glowing green Razer logos on the side. Razer definitely takes the stance that if your paying to play with quality it should look sweet as well and the Carcharias do not disappoint on this condition. You could easily imagine them on everyone from professional gamers at tournaments to a housewife playing an MMORPG while on Ventrilio running a raid.

Last Call:

Reviewing these headsets was a no-brainer partly because Mrs. Ripper is one picky customer and she liked them so I knew I was sliding on what would be some of the most comfortable ones I have ever worn before they even came to rest on my noggin. These are the perfect headset for anyone on your shopping list, including yourself, as they are versatile and lightweight and perfect for all kinds of gamers, I learned that the hard way since I will probably never get to wear them again.

[easyreview title=”Razer CarCharias Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″] Our Rating Scores Explained

AhnLab V3 Click (PC/Tech)

2013/01/21

Ripper71

CES, Mac PC News, News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

So right before I headed to CES I was getting virus pop-ups on my rig left and right. They were driving me crazy but on a tight time crunch I didn’t want to interrupt what I had to get done with a thorough cleaning so I just clicked on the annoying pop-ups as they appeared and figured I would deal with it when I got back. While at ShowStoppers, a CES event where mostly smaller companies get a chance to showcase their innovations I came across AhnLab’s booth that had a simple solution to virus problems: a plug and play button that you hit when you see it flashing red meaning it has detected a virus and then wait for it to turn green meaning it has cleaned it.

Worried it might be infected and not have detected it yet? double hit the button and it turns blue as it does a cleaning. Deeper cleaning is possible by going into the menus and you can click and see what particular viruses are attacking and where or you can just ignore it and not worry about it until it changes to red flashing again. The button goes into one USB port but provides two and whenever you plug a USB into one of the two it checks it for viruses. The button which can be taken and plugged into multiple computers and checks them automatically also has storage space in case there are certain files that you want on all your computers, they can go with you along with virus protection.

Testing:

I knew what viruses were infecting my computer and the root virus that kept causing them. Another virus detector had located the root virus for me but removal was an extremely lengthy task that I kept checking to see the best course for all the time getting hit by the viruses reinstating themselves. Each time they came back the V3 Click was the first detection system to detect them and enable me to click on it and prevent a single popup. Unfortunately not only could it not remove the root virus it didn’t detect it on standard scans. So I went through the process of cleaning out the root virus but put it on an USB drive to test detection further later. After cleaning the system I plugged in the USB and the virus was immediately detected and destroyed by the V3 Click. It wasn’t until after this test that I discovered that there were two types of sweeps by the V3 Click, the button hit is just a quick sweep while there is a “deep clean” option in it’s bar functions that may have detected it. This has to be left a question because I have no desire to put such a deep virus into my computer’s core again but it is possible it would detect it.

Last Call:

It is difficult to test a virus detector in general because you have to be willing to subject your system to one. I do know that AhnLab V3 Click did an excellent job catching the launched viruses as soon as they were planted, it worked faster than several others on the market and knocked them down with an easy hit of a big shiny button. It’s standard scan doesn’t detect deep rooters but it might have gotten caught by it’s Deep Clean had I not already gotten rid of it, though this particular virus manage to avoid detection by a few other virus detectors so even if it did miss it it would be in good company. The fact that it is plug and play on any computer, automatically checks USBs on it’s own safe system and stops the insanely annoying popups all make it worth it’s money. I hope that AhnLab continues to build it’s software detection strength because this button is a surprisingly handy virus protection system.

[easyreview title=”AhnLab V3 Click Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”3″] Our Rating Scores Explained

The trailer below does a great job describing it’s functions, it gets a bit dry in the middle but the end precautions are hilarious and worth the wait!

Trailer: