Let’s face it, most of us have a hard time getting the money together to get a fancy, in-dash GPS, so we wind up using a device such as smartphone or tablet instead. Recent additional features on some devices adding voice directions help too but, sometimes, you find yourself wanting to avoid traffic or detouring for some other reason. As a result, we may find ourselves wanting to look at it while obeying the “hands free laws” implemented in many states. Bracketron has come up with a straight solution to this and other vehicular device desires with their Universal Tablet Window/Dash Mount.
When they say universal, they really mean universal, it is designed to be adjustable enough to fit a full size iPad, but condenses down to the point of almost being able to hold an iPhone 4S safely! Actually in my heavy duty drop proof case it holds my iPhone quite well and secure and would take very little work to modify for most other phones. It is designed for the tablets though and no modification is necessary to hold those. You just put the device in the bracket, lock it in then adjust the arms how you want them to point the tablet in any direction you wish then you can lock it down again. Easy and quick, which are two VERY important points when using such a bracket because if it takes too much time of effort it won’t be used as regularly.
Installation for window or windshield mounting is insanely easy, just putting the suction cup up against the glass and adjust the section tension using the ratcheting lever. If glass isn’t available for mounting and your dash is too porous for a suction cup then the kit also comes with a 3M stick plate that can be stuck to a surface and used as a suction point. I could see this being of use in particular if you have small or heavily slanted windshields such as a compact with lesser visibility in which case a tablet can take up a lot of your safe viewing space and could become a hazard. The full size iPad in particular can cause driver visibility issues above the dash in the front windshield. With the 3M disc any surface it will stick to becomes your mount location yet you still have the versatility of removing it when it might be in the way or you wish to use the mount in another vehicle.
This mount is also great for using a tablet as an entertainment device in the vehicle for the passengers. If there is a sun/moon roof in the car the suction cup mount can be attached to it and then the passengers in the back seat can watch movies on it almost like it was a factory installed feature. On the passenger side of the car sticking the suction cup on the window would back it great for mounting for kids to watch movies or the driver’s co-pilot to read the maps on it and give directions. I can even see it being used in conjunction with a wireless keyboard to allow someone sitting in the passenger seat to use a Bluetooth keyboard on their lap while the tablet is held up at eye level for them to see.
Last Call:
The Bracketron Universal Tablet Window/Dash Mount is truly universal, with uses limited only by the imagination of the user. My personal plans are to use it for both my iPad and my iPhone at the same time during trips so that I can use my phone hands-free but, at the same time, have the nice large screen of the iPad for mapping purposes. At home, I have a wooden bar stool next to my gaming chair with a lacquered non-porous top so I can attach the bracket there and have it held up in front of me while I type on a Bluetooth keyboard. I bet I will even come up with some more uses after that, maybe on the bathroom sink to angle it toward the bath to watch movies in the tub while keeping it at a safe distance? Limited only by the user’s imagination!
[easyreview title=”Bracketron Universal Tablet Window/Dash Mount Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
A couple years back at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, I had a nice meeting with a Namco Bandai rep. During the meeting, he walked me over to their demo of Ace Combat Assault Horizon and handed me a controller. What followed was a beautiful game, played extraordinarily bad much to the horror of the on-looking rep. He offered to change difficulty settings, constantly wanted to reach for the controller to stop the mayhem that ensued, and I eventually smiled at him and said “Okay, now show me how it is really played.” With an uncontrollable expression of relief, he picked up the controller and showed what his extensive playtime had taught him. I saw a guy capable of doling out splendid carnage with practiced hands. Now, I didn’t have time to be that person yet, as I had back to back appointments. Because of all this, when the opportunity to give it a play on the PC with enhanced graphics and my new Logitech flight stick came along, I was more than happy to cause some steel carnage.
Storyline:
East Africa, 2015. Attached to an international peace-keeping force, Colonel Bishop leads a small squadron in operations to suppress an insurgent rebel force. The operation, however, rapidly escalates as Bishop and his company come face-to-face with the rebels’ devastatingly powerful experimental weapon. Tearing its way through the desert states and up into the frozen North, the struggle to control the weapon ignites a devastating global conflict.
Features:
Dramatic and realistic storyline – Written by New York Times Best-Selling military author Jim DeFelice, players will be immersed in an enthralling war drama spanning multiple real-world locations
Steel carnage – Incredible destructive detail and visual effects for every explosive attack, with aircraft shredded, enemy troops annihilated, buildings shattered, and machines bleeding their oil
All-new aircraft to pilot – Experience split-second manoeuvring and positioning, pinpoint targeting, hover attacks and other diverse gameplay with the introduction of the Attack Helicopter, Door Gunner, Bomber and Gunship
Revolutionary “Close-Range Assault” system – Delivering high-speed acrobatics, dizzying one-on-one encounters, satisfyingly visceral low-altitude aeronautics, and high-flying death from above
ACE COMBAT online reinvented – Completely reworked online modes, with new features including the new “Close-Range Assault” system”
Gameplay:
The gameplay starts off before the credits even begin, with a quick control check and battle over a major city in your fighter jet. The fighting begins fairly easy so that you can get comfortable with the controls before any really rough combat starts. The game is extraordinarily story driven and the story is interesting while you are still learning the controls. Once the game feels you are comfortable with the fighter aspect you get to man a gunner spot on a chopper during the opening credits to tell part of the story. No time is wasted in this game, there is action and story going on every moment – even the cutscenes are generally quick and crucial to the story. I was wearing headphones to make sure I was getting the most of the action and atmosphere at which this game excels.
Playing the game with a flight stick was an essential part of the experience. I imagine that, once you get used to a gamepad, it might be slightly easier to play with but it really would diminish the experience. There is nothing quite like swinging the stick into a dive while popping chaff or detonating electro-magnetic bombs while a half dozen MiGs jockey for position behind you – first hearing, then seeing as the missiles streaks past you and detonate in the sky. I had to adjust the button assignment a bit to make the most used ones more accessible and the least used out of the way. But when the controls were just right and you kill the throttle risking a stall, pop a chaff then line up on your enemy’s six close enough to engage the “Close-Range Assault” system and suddenly you are looking at the enemy aircraft from a visual style like the onboard camera of a real fighter recording the “Steel Carnage” as pieces go shredding off the back of their plane and they explode in a fiery black cloud of debris… it is just an insane rush. Thanks to a dynamic storyline, every shot fired serves a purpose as well.
The visuals in the bomber are very realistic as well, anyone who has seen footage of the infrared camera used by high altitude firing missions will notice the realistic quality Assault Horizon has to it. There is some degree of strategy involved with this kind of combat as well. The large ordinance, while extremely effectivem has a wide “splash zone” of damage and a really slow load time. The machine gun, though highly accurate and quick to reload, requires accurate aim and on vehicles a longer kill time. That was why I found the middle ordinance to be for the most part just right with a fairly quick reload and a fairly wide zone of damage. I used all of them as the missions dictated but I kept coming back to the “just right” middle one.
The attack helicopter was probably the roughest part of the game and ironically one of the parts I was most looking forward to. I am a big fan of the Apache but the standard flight stick setup, with how many controls needed to be used, was a nightmare at first. I reconfigured just about everything just so I could fly it like a wounded bird. It was the one time I really looked at a game controller temptingly. In the end though I completed the missions using the stick and some very creative control assignment and it was satisfying, if a bit ugly to watch.
Anyone who had played a chopper gunner in a game will pick up the gunner portion in a snap and it is designed to be played with the mouse so PC FPS fans will take to this quick and get it done.
There are three visual point of view choices that really do effect gameplay and the experience in general. You can be outside behind your plane third person style which is nice to check out your paint job and damage and has a feel like a couple of the old arcade sit down cockpits with sticks. This can be an extremely fun way to play and gives you a great view of what is going on around you as well as giving a nostalgic feel. There is also the nose cam point of view where nothing is obstructing your view and you get the realistic look of what combat looks like from the nose point of view. This also harkens back to other games and can be fun for players who want to see the sky from almost a drone point of view. Then there is the cockpit perspective and though I don’t usually discourage people from exploring their options if you are playing this game on a PC with it’s enhanced visuals and you are using a flight stick you owe it to yourself to play this game from the cockpit. It can be more difficult, you find yourself looking at your radar a lot to see what is going on in your blind spots but it is so much more immersive. The other styles play like arcade, cockpit plays like simulation.
Last Call:
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Enhanced Edition is a great game with exceptional graphics and storyline. Gameplay is solid and competitive, whether you are playing against the AI or another player in multiplayer. The choices of play style are diverse and if you find you don’t like the controller layout, reassignment is just a couple clicks away. I love the fact that you get to fight, bomb, and gun your way through the story in multiple aircraft so you don’t start to feel like the game is one big dog fight. Turn off the television, put on some headphones, and dive into a great interactive story, the experience will kick the ass of just about anything on television anyway.
There are some games that are serious. Super serious. In such games, an epic war of Good versus Evil plays out before your eyes, deciding the fate of all mankind… This is not one of those games. This is like the opposite of one of those games. Trust me. Seriously, this game is not to be taken seriously.
Description:
The Showdown Effect is a 2.5D multiplayer action game inspired by 80’s and 90’s action movies. Champions from throughout time fight to death for fun, for glory and for awesome. The Showdown Effect recreates the outrageous combat found in classic action movies and then takes it one step further. Use weaponry pulled straight from the silver screen’s unparalleled arsenal : shotguns, baseball bats, assault rifles, umbrellas, grenades, katanas, rocket launchers and more. No explosion is too loud and no bullet dodge is impossible. Impale your friend with a broomstick and tell them to “Stick around” as you jetpack off to the next enemy. The Showdown Effect also uses integrated streaming technology to live stream directly to Twitch.tv, without the need for third party software.
Features:
•Up to 8 player fast paced cinematic multiplayer action
•In-game, out-of-the box streaming capability to Twitch.tv (Mac support coming soon)
•6 clichéd characters, each with unique abilities
•4 levels across two different environments
•4 different free for all and team based game modes
•Solo and team matchmaking
•Custom rules sets to create your own game modes – Pistols only!
•Progressive rewards and unlocks for character and weapon customization
•Experience the most over-the-top action sequences from your favorite movies across different environments
•Numerous heroes, dozens of weapons, hundreds of moves – infinite fun
Gameplay:
As previously addressed, this is a game where the action shouldn’t be taken serious. You play one of a several different characters made up of 80s and 90s icons and you bash, slash, shoot and blow the holy bejeebus out of each other. I found myself uncontrollably-laughing as I got caught in a rocket launcher crossfire. One time, I hosed down an enemy with automatic weapons fire only to have someone with a katana slice me right in half. As the bodies and giblets start to litter the level you hear catch phrases uttered all over the place as more carnage ensues. It is over-the-top cartoon violence with cartoon characters based off a era of cartoony action heroes. It looked like fun in the trailer I saw for it so I asked our EIC for a code to get in the fun now. This wasn’t assigned, this was requested, and it was no mistake.
I saw people trying to take the games seriously, getting all indignant when they got killed or weren’t the top score or didn’t understand how a sword wielding enemy managed to Matrix back bend and slide under their machine gun fire and when they quit ,cursing the whole way out. I was glad. I would rather have one less person to play with than to have that person not get what they were playing, not understanding that absurdity is one of the most important and enjoyable elements of the game.
First Round:
This was area is what I deem the “First Round” because this was our first look at the game in a closed beta build. A lot could change between now and the time of release but, with the direction they are going in, it can only get better. I can’t wait until open beta when we get more players to be pitted against. Right now, it is mostly ringers who have been around a while and noobs, though that doesn’t stop it from being fun. Open beta will bring out the folks who just want to dominate and don’t really get the game but I can see them falling to the wayside. In the end, I expect The Showdown Effect to have a loyal following of players laughing just as hard when they are getting blown to pieces as when they are slicing someone down.
A little over a week ago, I gave Heroes of Newerth a play. Well, actually, quite a few plays because I went in cold not quite knowing what to expect and I hit a noob-hostile environment and I pride myself on thick skin (and vengeance which could only be served if I overcame the learning curve) so I kept going until they had to lay the heat on somebody else and I did my best to help that person. The concern was that, at first, you really don’t know what to do unless you read up on the community boards or played one of the games that inspired it. I had done neither (okay, I played one of the games it was based off of, but a LONG time ago in “gaming years”). So, I ran around having fun and driving my team absolutely crazy. I felt I was helping, just not the way they wanted so why all the heat? I realized after study that the only way you win was working as a team not as a damage dealing headless chicken. Damage is only the beginning of this game, strategy is really key. Thanks to patch 3.0 you all can learn it the easy way, through tutorials and walkthroughs and they added lore and heroes to boot!
Storyline:
They tell the new lore better…
3.0 Features:
• 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.
Gameplay:
The game’s play really didn’t change that much with the patch, what changed was the player’s gameplay. One of the maps was seriously revamped and all the atmospheres were improved with AAA graphics which is unheard of in a free to play, free to win game. Yes you read that right, you can spend money on this game but it is cosmetic and supportive of the game itself rather than a pay to win system designed to rake in money. This game was a labor of love when it began and it is still a labor of love now, more so as extra effort was put into making the experience more enjoyable for more players. Sometimes patches really don’t change much and when it comes to game model it hasn’t, but the additional heroes and abilities that come with them and the additional aid to new players is a game changer and should be recognized. The developers even show their belief in the community by creating the Report-A-Player system in which they show they trust the community to help police itself and keep making the game the best it can be.
The first time I played before the patch it was pretty painful, jumping right in was not the best idea. I struggled to improve my game while at the same time taking scathing noob aggro to the point that had I not been committed to the game I probably would have not played on. I read tutorials and tips on the forums and that helped a lot and got so that I could play without getting hated on. With the release of the 3.0 patch and it’s New Player Learnatorium and walkthroughs the game not only becomes much more accessible to new players but enables them to be competitive right from their first game. I went from a so-so player at best before the patch to a competitive one running middle or better in the pack afterwards. I cannot stress enough how much more accessible the developers made this game.
Last Call:
This was a very solid, very good game that was a bit hard to get the hang of if you weren’t very familiar with the genre and didn’t do your homework. They changed maps, added lore, added hero content and they put in a whole system designed to make the game more accessible to a wider audience and bring an end to noob aggro. Then they said thank you to the community by giving it the ability to help police itself with Report-A-Player. It was a fun game that was going to keep me coming back before but it is going to bring me in even more now. Kudos S2 Games for making a great game better and bringing your community along with you. With the graphics and quality of the game content and the addition of all the tips and walkthroughs I could easily see Heroes Of Newerth becoming the new game to emulate in this genre for years to come. You gotta love that it is truly free to play too.
[easyreview title=”Heroes Of Newerth Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″] Our Rating Scores Explained
I can appreciate a long term play iOS game, especially ones with daily check-ins since my back is bad enough that I have to rest it in bed on a daily basis. If I am having a hard time getting up or going to sleep, I open up my phone and jump onto the handful of daily plays to pass the time. Until recently, I only had one of each kind so I didn’t burn out: zombie survival, base strategy, real time mission strategy and a TCG game. Then another TCG came up with a bit of questioning on whether or not we were going to cover it. Since it was free so I added it to my rotation so I might as well let you know what I am up to.
Storyline:
The realm of the gods is in turmoil! Now is your chance to replace the diabolical Zeus! Interact with other players to build an invincible army of gods and mythical creatures to crush all who resist. Battle other players from around the world on your own, or join a guild to team up with others and dominate the rankings. Greece stands shattered from the turmoil. It is up to you to restore order and peace to the Pantheon!
The storyline doesn’t take itself near as serious as this with instances involving a minotaur mini-mart and card descriptions and abilities named simply to be silly.
Graphics And Sound:
Graphics are cartoonish and fun, the music is classical with cartoonish sound effects when sound effects are called for. The game is definitely designed to be fun and not to be taken too seriously, though there are people who always will.
Gameplay:
Questing consists of a room description with a picture above it and a listing of how much stamina the turn will require. The player clicks on “Go” if you have enough stamina and a wheel appears with a marker at the top and it is a wheel of fortune where you can win a experience, coins, treasure chest or Zzz. The Zzz is basically a lose a turn, the coins and exp are pretty obvious then the treasure chest is a random card, usually a piece of a treasure or a common character card. The pieces of treasure are collected until you have all of them needed for the particular treasure (pan pipes are three pieces, the caduceus staff requires five pieces). While collecting and assembling the pieces, they can be stolen in PvP battle by another player (you can put a truce in place for a price to prevent theft during assembling), and this is the main purpose of PvP: To get the pieces of treasure so you can equip your army with the stat improving equipment or sacrifice them to enhance the stats on another piece of treasure. You need to make sure you don’t get too tense about the PvP situation, very high levels can attack very low levels and take their pieces. Bullying doesn’t just happen it is common practice so expect it and stay relaxed about it, it will be your turn eventually.
This is also how you improve your army. You collect maiden, griffins and satyr cards by spinning the quest wheel and then sacrifice them to make your main characters level. I chose Phobos (as in phobia) as my main and I have been sacrificing one star cards in his name for days, probably enough to fill the Colosseum. Luckily the cards and beasties are virtual. It has been a bloodbath but he has gotten stronger and made my army stronger as a result. Once his level is maxed out I pick my second best teammate (or favorite, Leonidas For Sparta!) and start throwing sacrificial cards at its feet by spinning the wheel of fortune. There are also the occasional boss battles which usually pay a common or slightly uncommon card and instances which aren’t based on your stamina but rather on real time, so the first rounds of the instance you might get to spin the wheel every 20 seconds then the rounds right before the instance boss the turns may take two hours a spin.
Half The Battle:
The rare cards are gotten by opening the silver and gold card packs and that is how you get the real heavy hitter characters of the game. How heavy? I don’t know, I don’t have the money to spend on free to play/pay to win, but I can tell you what it is like to play free and whether or not it is still a good game without spending a dime.
Last Call:
The game is fun as a time killer, collecting the different cards, and the game tries to not take things too seriously. There isn’t much action when you think about it, the game is basically Wheel of Fortune with card collecting and enhancing. If you want to spend money, you can win some buff cards and, if you don’t want to spend money, you can have fun with lesser known gods and deities. Just don’t expect Zeus to join your team anytime soon.
[easyreview title=”Panteon The Legends Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”2″] Our Rating Scores Explained
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
