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Crytek hooks up universities with free CryENGINE 3 - Free Educational License for CryENGINE 3

11/21/2009 12:35:29 PM

Crytek hooks up universities with free CryENGINE 3 - Free Educational License for CryENGINE 3 sources and info: 1- http://www.crytek.com/news/news/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=165&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=8966bc7019 2- http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/crytek-hooks-up-universities-with-free-cryengine-3/

GamingShogun Week in Review for the Week of November 15th 2009

11/21/2009 11:34:37 AM

Top Stories of the WeekWin A Copy of NBA LIVE 10 for the PS3A Review of the Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming HeadsetXbox LIVE Launches New Services With Fall UpdateDynasty Warriors Strikeforce 2 RevealedThis Week On the Xbox LIVE Arcade: Gyromancer and Diner DashGrand Theft Auto IV:The Ballad of Gay Tony - A ReviewStar Trek Online Gameplay Trailer Makes My Inner Geek DroolSpike Announces 2009 Video Game Awards - Voting UnderwayEA Shuts Down Pandemic Studios - Brand Name to Live OnAssassins Creed 2 Launch TrailerDragon Age: Origins (PC) - A ReviewCommand and Conquer 4 Release Date and Pre-Order NewsModern Warfare 2 Grosses Highest 5-Day Earnings in Entertainment HistoryTony Hawk RIDE Ships OutDetails and Teaser Trailer for Kane & Lynch 2: Dog DaysSupreme Commander 2 Slated for Spring of 2010Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles Ships OutBigfoot Networks Gains 8 Million in Venture CapitalStar Trek Online Open Beta Dates AnnouncedPlay As Wesker in Lost Planet 2 - Screenshots

The Saboteur Goes Gold

11/21/2009 11:25:19 AM

The now-defunct Pandemic Studios and Electronic Arts have announced that their upcoming third-person stealth/actioner, The Saboteur, has gone gold and is on its way to a December 4th release in North America and December 8th launch in Europe.

Meet the Empire Faction from the Upcoming GreedCorp

11/20/2009 3:36:10 PM

W!Games has released a new trailer showing off the all-powerful military faction from their upcoming turn-based strategy title, GreedCorp. The Empire faction features some really scary war machines such as the ''Walker'', which you can learn more about in this new trailer.GreedCorp is set to launch on the Xbox LIVE Arcade, Playstation Network, and Windows PCs early next year.

The Weekly Setlist for the Week of November 23rd

11/20/2009 2:04:35 PM

Hey there, Shogunites! Judgeman here, set to bring you another episode of the Weekly Setlist! This week, we have new content for Guitar Hero 5, Rock Band 2 and DJ Hero - which gets it''s second wave of new songs since launch.Let''s start off with DJ Hero. Last week, we made the announcement about the new content that was coming up for DJ Hero, and that time is now. The David Guetta Pack will be hitting DJ Hero this... (cont.)The Weekly Setlist lives on, After the Break!

Star Trek Online Open Beta Dates Announced

11/20/2009 1:34:25 PM

Cryptic Studios and Atari have announced that the open beta test for their upcoming Star Trek Online will run from January 12th through 26th, 2010. The game itself is due out on February 2nd of next year and is currently in closed beta.You can find more information at the game''s official website.

New Dark Void Trailer Focuses on The Watchers

11/20/2009 1:25:16 PM

The evil menace in the upcoming third-person shooter from Capcom, Dark Void, is known as ''The Watchers''. This new trailer will explain a bit about who they are and what they want. Dark Void is due out on January 12th, 2010.

Supreme Commander 2 Slated for March 2nd of 2010 - New Walkthrough

11/20/2009 12:26:07 AM

We learned yesterday that GasPoweredGames upcoming Supreme Commander 2 would launch next Spring. Today, they have announced an exact release date of March 2nd, 2010. Supreme Commander 2 features 3 playable races, as well as numerous new units to command. The game will be released for the Xbox 360 and Windows PCs.Also released today was a new developer walkthrough video, enjoy!

Nemesis Confrontation Event Announced for Champions Online

11/20/2009 12:21:46 AM

Cryptic Studios and Atari have announced a new and exciting event for their MMO, Champions Online. The Nemesis Confrontation will begin on November 24th and run at least through their free-play weekend which ends on November 28th. No word was given on when the Nemesis Confrontation would end but we will keep you informed as we learn more.Players will have to take on multiple nemesis characters in this event but the rewards will be well worth it with new costume sets as well as perks to win!

BioShock 2 Special Edition Announced - Features A Record

11/20/2009 12:10:37 AM

2K Games has announced that they will be releasing a special edition of their upcoming shooter, BioShock 2, featuring a vinyl LP. That''s right, the $99 dollar special edition not only comes with a soundtrack CD, art book, and poster set but also a record!Now may be a good time to invest in one of those USB turntables...

Return to Ostagar in Upcoming Dragon Age: Origins DLC Pack

11/20/2009 12:06:24 AM

If you are like me, you loved Dragon Age: Origins and can''t wait for more. Thankfully, BioWare has answered our prayers with the announcement that the ''Return to Ostagar'' DLC pack will be released later this year. The DLC pack will take players on a new journey to places such as the Ostagar battle site and even deep within ''enemy lines'' to accomplish their quest.Return to Ostagar will retail for 400 Microsoft Points (360), 400 BioWare Points (PC), or even $4.99 (PS3).Official Release:Leading video game developer BioWare(TM), a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), announced today that the Return to Ostagar downloadable content (DLC) for Dragon Age(TM): Origins will be available... (cont.)

Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising PC Demo Out Now

11/19/2009 11:55:39 PM

Codemasters has released the official demo for Operation Flashpoint Dragon Rising on Windows PCs. The game features sprawling modern-day combat and will test even the most hardcore shooter player with its realism and long-range fighting. The demo features the game''s first level and is available to play both in singleplayer and coop modes. You can download it now via Steam.Official Release:Experience the most immersive tactical shooter of the year as Codemasters® launched the Operation Flashpoint®: Dragon Rising PC demo today. Information on how to... (cont.)

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce 2 Revealed

11/19/2009 9:49:46 AM

KOEI has unveiled Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce 2 with a teaser website featuring some preliminary game info. Strikeforce 2 will feature a new story, new characters, and even a weapon overcharge mode to further enhance your combat abilities. It is due out in Spring of 2010 for Japanese markets. No word yet on a North American release.Teaser Site (Japanese)

Dragon Age: Origins (PC) - A Review

11/19/2009 12:56:48 AM

HISTORY:Founded in 1995, BioWare hit the mark with PC gamers by way of their 1998 RPG, Baldur''s Gate. They, and Black Isle Studios, followed this up with an expansion as well as a full-blown sequel in 2000 and went on to develop some of the best video games in existence. For instance, BioWare developed both the Neverwinter Nights and Mass Effect series of games.After Neverwinter Nights, however, BioWare''s RPGs tended towards the action variety as PC developers the world over tried to keep up with the faster-paced games making their way onto console platforms. In business, you give the people what they want and the cold, hard truth of it is that there are a multitude more console gamers than PC gamers these days (not counting the hybrids, of course, such as yours truly). In 2004 as fans found out that Baldur''s Gate III: The Black Hound, being developed by Black Isle Studios, had been canceled they returned their attention to BioWare for classic-RPG salvation. BioWare has answered their call with Dragon Age: Origins. They have said that this title will appease both types of core gamers and I finally got the chance to check out the PC version in order to see if it really lives up to its promises.STORY:The kingdom of Ferelden is potentially in the midst of what Grey Wardens call a Blight. Basically, this is a situation where a twisted and evil group of beings known as Darkspawn wage an all-out genocide against humanity as well as the rest of the races in the land. Grey Wardens are a group of individuals who fight the Darkspawn and are imbued with some mystical powers. Your part is played as an initiate Grey Warden who must battle the Darkspawn as well as perform some other pretty huge tasks, such as uniting a slew of conflicting races as well as restore the proper order in some instances of political coups!While the basic story in Dragon Age: Origins may sound familiar, I promise you that this game is murky - VERY murky. You will be forced with making some very tough decisions and, in some cases, the decisions you are offered are all negative and it will be your job to choose the option you feel best. The great thing about DAO is that it really does not judge you for actions that could be considered ''bad''. Sure, there are consequences in the way the world unfolds around you, but you are never labeled as one thing or the other based on those actions. Likewise, the amount of human drama which takes place in this game rivals some episodes of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica. This is a mature game with mature themes, and will readily appeal to the group of gamers who grew up with classics such as Baldur''s Gate. Most of us are in our thirties now and able to ingest such content - yay for maturity!GAMEPLAY:DAO has a varied play styles depending on your preferences. If you like, you can play the game in a 3D isometric view of the world and your party. Moreover, you can also set the game to auto-pause at the beginning of combat. This will give you time to assign actions to your party members before resuming real-time combat. This play style warmly reminds me of those classic RPGs while also dazzling me with popping 3D effects and details. It truly was the best of both worlds and his how I prefer to play.You can also choose to zoom the camera all the way in behind the character you are controlling at the moment and play the game like a modern MMO such as World of Warcraft. I see this view lending itself more towards the younger crowd who grew up mainly on console titles, however it still works very well on the PC. The experience is definitely more intimate in this view and it is easier to lose your perspective on combat (you may want to use the auto-pause to help with this) but you ALSO get the benefit of seeing a lot more of the gory details and effects!The rest of the controls are easily picked up by anyone who has played an RPG, MMO, or shooter in the last five years. Right-click to attack and move, left-click to select something. You will find the traditional inventory screens as well as skills and ''paper doll'' interfaces work seamlessly and are very user-friendly.GRAPHICS:Dragon Age: Origins features detailed characters and vibrant combat and magic effects. It also features blood. Lots of blood. In fact, blood is a recurring theme in the game, from the box art to the loading screen you will find blood spray and spatter. Also, a key point in the game revolves around the blood of the Darkspawn. You will not be surprised, then, to find out that after combat your characters will look like they stepped out of an Ed Gein dinner party. They are covered from head-to-toe with the blood of their enemies. The effect is really cool at first but, when you find out the blood stays with your characters as they go about the rest of their business, it is off-putting. Walking around an unsuspecting village, talking to citizens, all while drenched in blood just appears strange. You expect the NPCs to ask you, ''Hello, why are you and those three other characters drenched in blood?''.Aside from vibrant magical effects, you will also find that DAO features its share of combat finishing moves and other gory moments. The blood and heads really start flying in heated battles - this is easily the goriest game BioWare has made to date. Well done - it looks amazing!SOUND:The spectacular soundtrack of DAO was composed by Inon Zur, veteran composer of games such as Fallout 3 and Baldur''s Gate II. Here, Zur is at his best with sweeping sounds and musical climaxes. Aside from the game''s soundtrack, the sound design team has done a wonderful job with the environmental noises as well as the sounds of combat.It needs to be mentioned that the voice work in Dragon Age: Origins, is almost too solid for its own good. You will begin to think that all games should have a voice cast this talented, which will then ruin your experience with these other titles. Actors such as Claudia Black, Tim Curry, and even Kate Mulgrew will grace your ears with their incredible performances. BioWare and EA really pulled out all the stops with their casting on this one.ORIGINS:Unlike most classic RPGs, the amount of character customization available to the player is more limited than they will remember from older RPGs. In DAO, you will find three races to choose from, each with only a couple of class picks as well as a couple of background options. Your decisions when first creating your character will decide what origin story you play-through first. An origin story is like a training campaign - more than that, it sets up your character''s back story and really puts you in his or her mindset.Some of these origins are noble, while others start you off as a cold-blooded killer... Like I said, this game is murky. Each of these origin stories takes a good couple hours to complete, so be ready to put in the proper time to get your maximum enjoyment from the game. This, being a more classical RPG, has a huge amount of story options for you to take on. Prepare to spend about 40 to 50 hours on a thorough play-through!CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:Once your character begins leveling up, you will have to choose where to spend your skill points. You will be able to choose from several disciplines and skills to increase your proficiency in. Character development is fairly straight-forward and it is really fun to plan out how your want your party members to develop.Like the Baldur''s Gate series, your party members will often communicate amongst themselves and, in some cases, squabble about random stuff. Your decision as to what party members to bring with you will also affect how their interactions go. Like-minded characters tend to get along better, etc.TACTICS:A big gameplay point BioWare has added a new AI feature called ''Tactics'' to DAO. Basically, this allows you to setup your AI to perform certain actions or skills based on varying criteria. For instance, you can set a magic user to heal if health goes below a certain percentage. A player who has more levels into the skill ''Combat Tactics'' will be grated additional tactics slots to fill out. Unfortunately, for the less hardcore gamers this system might be overwhelming. Thankfully, you can use preset character tactics (like Aggressive, Defensive, Ranged, etc) to make this aspect of the game easier.CONCLUSION:Dragon Age: Origins is an incredible deep role-playing game experience that is accessible by both PC and console gamers alike. It features a rich story, excellent voice acting, and crisp visuals that will keep you clamoring for more, even 50 hours into the game.

Supreme Commander 2 Slated for Spring of 2010

11/18/2009 8:16:23 PM

GasPoweredGames and Square Enix has announced that Supreme Commander 2 would be hitting stores in the Spring of 2010 for the Xbox 360 and Windows PC platforms. The game takes place 25 years after the events of Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance and will again feature three playable races.See some new announcement screenshots, After the Break!

Windstorm Studios Contracts 226 Productions for MMO Art Assets

11/18/2009 8:03:11 PM

Windstorm Studios, made up of former Ensemble Studio veterans, has announced a partnership with 226 Productions. 226 Productions is an art production company which will contribute assets to Windstorm''s upcoming MMO title, which is still under wraps.You can, however, take a look at a new piece of concept art for the project, After the Break!

Modern Warfare 2 Grosses Highest 5-Day Earnings in Entertainment History

11/18/2009 7:35:01 PM

Activision Blizzard''s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has made history as the highest-grossing 5-day earner in all of entertainment. Not even Grand Theft Auto IV, with its $500 million in 5-day earnings can compete to Modern Warfare 2''s $550 million!You think this ''video game'' thing is gonna take off? Maybe...Official Release:Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 continues to shatter theatrical box office and video game... (cont.)

Spike Announces 2009 Video Game Awards - Voting Underway

11/18/2009 7:16:17 PM

Spike TV has announced that the 2009 Video Game Awards will take place, and shown live, on December 12th at 8pm ET. Highlights of this year''s show include the premier showing of a video from the beginning of HALO: Reach. Voting for the various categories has already begun and you can vote now at the award show''s official site.In addition, GamingShogun.com will be sending three of its brightest reporters to cover the event for you as it unfolds, so stay-tuned!Official Release:Spike TV today announced the nominees and categories for the biggest world-wide event ever to celebrate the video game industry, the 2009 “Video Game Awards.” The seventh annual “VGAs” will... (cont.)

Details and Teaser Trailer for Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

11/18/2009 6:54:47 PM

Square Enix Europe and IO Interactive have officially-announced the upcoming Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days. The game will continue the story of both anti-heroes and promises to push the visual and experiential bounds of its target platforms - the Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows PCs. Dog Days is due out in 2010.Official Release:IO Interactive, part of Square Enix Europe is pleased to confirm that Kane & Lynch 2™: Dog Days is coming to PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and... (cont.)

Adam Sessler Says Goodbye to Pandemic Studios

11/18/2009 6:41:55 PM

As most of you probably know, Electronic Arts shut down one of its brightest development houses the other day - Pandemic Studios. This was the developer being the Mercenaries series of games as well as Dead Space and the upcoming The Saboteur. Thankfully, most of their core IP teams were moved to other places in the EA realm. Many were not, however. In this edition of G4''s Sessler''s Soapbox, Adam says goodbye...

Ace Attorney Series Coming to WiiWare

11/18/2009 6:36:11 PM

Capcom''s three classic Ace Attorney games will be making their way onto Nintendo WiiWare starting in January of 2010 with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. In March of 2010, Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: JUSTICE FOR ALL will be released and the series ends in May with Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. Each game will cost 1,000 Wii Points, which is the equivalent of $10 dollars.Official Release:Capcom® Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that three classic Ace Attorney® games are scheduled for digital release... (cont.)

Star Trek Online Gameplay Trailer Makes My Inner Geek Drool

11/18/2009 1:10:26 AM

Cryptic Studios has released a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming Star Trek Online, the MMO based in the Star Trek universe. The game is due out on February 2nd, 2010 on Windows PCs and promises a rich universe for players to explore.

Assassins Creed 2 Launch Trailer

11/18/2009 12:54:44 AM

Ubisoft has finally released their much-anticipated Assassin''s Creed 2. In celebration, they have also released the game''s official launch trailer, which you can see below. The game is out for the Xbox 360 and PS3, but Windows PC gamers can expect their turn at the fun early next year.

This Week On the Xbox LIVE Arcade: Gyromancer and Diner Dash

11/17/2009 10:49:05 PM

A new week and a new set of releases for Xbox Live Arcade. This week combines a puzzle based RPG game and a popular sim. check out the details below and pick them up this Wednesday November 18th. Gyromancer:One part Square Enix RPG and one part Bejeweled. A unique battle system where you use the Bejeweled Twist mechanic to destroy your enemies with the power of the elements. Gyromancer will be 1200 MS Points and more info can be found here.Diner Dash:The very popular web and mobile game makes it''s first appearance on Live Arcade. Updated graphics and a head to head mode make this a great title for casual players. Diner Dash will be 800 MS Points and you can check out more info here.

Xbox LIVE Launches New Services With Fall Update

11/17/2009 10:33:46 PM

Microsoft has launched the latest update for Xbox Live today giving Gold Subscribers access to the new features they announced back at E3 2009. When you sign into Xbox Live you will be prompted to update your system to include the following.Facebook and Twitter:Located under the new ''My Community'' section are built in clients for both social networking sites. The Facebook client will even search out people on your friends list who are also on Xbox Live.Last.Fm:Feel like playing DJ in your own home? The popular web music service now has it''s own client under the ''Music Channel'' blade.Zune Video:Located under the ''Video Channel'' section of your dashboard you can enjoy some free clips and popular movies for a fee. Zune Video is instant 1080P streaming for your movie watching needs.

Command and Conquer 4 Release Date and Pre-Order News

11/17/2009 2:43:17 PM

EA Los Angeles has announced that the next in their very-popular Command and Conquer series will be released on March 16th of 2010. Command and Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight will continue the story of GDI''s fight with NOD some ten years after the Kane''s Wrath expansion for Command and Conquer 3. Also announced was that pre-order customers will gain access to the upcoming beta test of the new game.CnC4: Tiberian Twilight will be available on Windows PCs.

Bigfoot Networks Gains 8 Million in Venture Capital

11/17/2009 1:54:51 PM

Bigfoot Networks has announced that it has acquires 8 million dollars in Series B funding from parties including North Bridge Venture Partners, Palomar Ventures and Raven Venture Partners. In case you don''t already know, Bigfoot Networks is the maker of the Killer NIC hardware and plans to use the new funding for increase product development.

EA Shuts Down Pandemic Studios - Brand Name to Live On

11/17/2009 12:03:24 PM

Approximately an hour ago, employees of the now-defunct Pandemic Studios were informed that parent Electronic Arts was dissolving the developer. Some of their employees would be carried over to other EA studios to continue work on the developer''s many IPs such as the Mercenaries and Dead Space series of games. Most, however, will not be so lucky and we wish them all the best in finding future gigs. The Pandemic Studios brand will continue to be utilized by EA, even though the studio is no more...Hey, take heart as Gearbox Software says they will hire you!Via Kotaku

LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues is Available Now

11/17/2009 11:48:20 AM

LEGO fans, rejoice, for today you can get LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues for your Wii, DS, Xbox 360, PS3, and PSP platforms. The game features levels depicting scenes from the entire Indiana Jones film series, including the latest movie.Official Release:LucasArts and TT Games today announced that LEGO® Indiana Jones™ 2: The Adventure Continues is now available for Wii™, Nintendo DS™, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment... (cont.)

Play As Wesker in Lost Planet 2 - Screenshots

11/17/2009 10:15:46 AM

Capcom has announced a Gamestop pre-order bonus for their upcoming third-person shooter, Lost Planet 2. Pre-order customers will get a code to unlock a new playable character: Albert Wesker from the Resident Evil game series (last seen in Resident Evil 5). The playable Wesker will also feature a special-edition revolver. Lost Planet 2 will ship on February 23rd, 2010 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles.See screenshots of the Lost Planet 2 Albert Wesker, After the Break!

Tony Hawk RIDE Ships Out

11/17/2009 10:08:40 AM

Activision''s Tony Hawk RIDE has shipped out to North American retailers. Utilizing a unique skateboard-controller, the game promises control like you have never seen before in a skating title. If you get skilled enough, you can even flip the board. The game and controller retails for $119.99 and is available for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles Ships Out

11/17/2009 9:48:42 AM

Capcom has announced that its new Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles has shipped out across North America to retailers. The game puts players through various sequences in past Resident Evil titles, but in an on-rails shooter environment. Also, you will often see the previous game''s situation from a new perspective, running parallel to the original storyline. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is available for the Nintendo Wii.Official Release:Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that Resident Evil®: The Darkside Chronicles is now shipping to... (cont.)

A Review of the Sound Blaster Arena Surround USB Gaming Headset

11/17/2009 12:27:44 AM

I remember testing these cans out at CES 2009 and I was pleasantly impressed with them at the time. They had the crisp high-hats and head pounding lows, while feeling very comfortable. I remember being very impressed with the Silencer technology which, when paired with a Creative Fatal1ty sound card, intelligently cuts out the background noise to provide a very clear voice for online VOIP or in-game voice chat. When I was handed this headset by out intrepid editor, I was frothing at the mouth to get home and try them out in the real world.I will preface this by saying I''m an extreme audiophile, I''m just not in the tax bracket to afford the type of hardware I would wish for. That doesn''t mean my ears are any less snobbish when listening to the run of the mill speakers that are poorly powered and balanced. When I put the cans on for the first time at home after installing the software, I immediately turned on a game and cranked it up into the ear bleeding range. Even in the extremes, the speakers hold themselves together maintaining clarity. The wonderful world the over-ear cans create is very deep and layered. I was able to hear ambient sounds over the BAM, POW, CRASH of Batman: Arkham Asylum, this brought a smile to my face. I went from game to music and tested a playlist I have specifically designed to test new audio equipment. It ranges from classical to acoustic singer-songwriters and rock to rap. Each song came across admirably and I was continually impressed that these retail for $99.Comfort is a major issue with me and headphones. I''m above average in height and apparently I have a huge head (both metaphorically and physically I''m told). Only headphones that were in the astronomical price range would ever feel good being worn for more than even a few songs. For me, on-ear cans are simply not an option, I''ve never once been able to find one comfortable enough to wear for more than a few minutes. In fact, I would prefer to have comfort over the highest end speakers you could fit in a headset. Putting these on for the first few minutes is a real joy. They are very light, and fit well over my gigantic ears. Normally around the fifteen minute range I start to get annoyed with any normal headset. I went for a long-term session and clocked in about four hours playing Dragon Age: Origins. The only minor discomfort I felt was from the pad that rests on the top of your head. Creative - are you listening? For the next iteration of this headset, make the pad at the top both wider and more plush. I will marry someone over there for that.The construction is as good as you can get for the price tag. It''s plastic in most places, the part you slide out for more room is of course metal. I also like that it doesn''t have notches, you can infinitely adjust to any increment. I have purchased headphones before that one notch was too small, the next too big - simply not a worry here. They rotate at the actual cans to make sure the plush padding around your ears is always flush. I would have liked to have seen some metal here. If you look at pictures of the headset, you will see right at the point that the speakers attached to the top a plastic wishbone. I can see in some frustrating situations that the headset could get ripped off a ''pwned newb'', or tossed at the wall in a rage. I can see that point being the weak spot.Any good gaming headset needs a good mic. This one is nice, actually. I was able to clearly be heard by anyone either over VOIP programs like Ventrilo or TeamSpeak, but also on in-game voice chats. There was one exception to this, however and it''s one of the headset''s key selling points. When I had the Silencer technology turned on, people constantly asked me to turn up my settings, or ''swallow the mic''. Unfortunately, all my mic settings in Windows and in the Creative control panel were fully maxed out. The mic itself will pretty much rest just a couple of inches away from your mouth, right where it''s supposed to be so that wasn''t the issue. There may be a firmware or driver update that will fix this, so if there is please let us know so we can correct this right away. I tried recording myself with the Silencer on and off, I can see that being of some use, but how often does a gamer record himself? I suppose it will happen from time to time, but this still needs work in my opinion. Otherwise the mic works fine, it''s connected by a rubber casing that will never break and will of course move up and away if you''re not using it.I have a fundamental problem with USB headsets. They can be fussy, this one is better than most, but still has its anomalies (mostly because of Windows). Also, I have a perfectly good sound card in my system and I would like it to continue to take clock cycles away from my CPU to handle sound. Even if the Creative card helps the headset in processing power, it''s still communicating via USB which means it will go through the ''South Bridge'' of your motherboard (most of the time) and on through your CPU. If you have the Silencer technology going, or if the card is helping in some other fashion, it''s going down to the PCIe bus and back again. Gamers typically want to squeeze every last frame-per-second out of their rigs, and this is aimed at gamers to a point. I understand the convenience of being able to plug the headphones into the front panel of your case, but if you have that option 9/10 times you also have the speaker jacks. When I''m playing a game, I can remove the headphones and the default audio device will switch back to the sound card automatically. Unfortunately, the game/music/movie doesn''t know about that as a sound source cannot be swapped like that unless you restart the process. That''s no big deal, but when dealing with a game and having to save then shut it down then restart just to switch from speakers to headphones or back, it''s annoying.All in all, this is a great pair of cans. I enjoy their fidelity, ease of use, and comfort. What else do you need? I think if Creative gives a version of these with speaker jacks (even if they have to lessen the software that comes with it), improves the Silencer technology to let the voice still get through with volume, and gives a better pad at the top, they will be a force to be reckoned with for ages to come.

Grand Theft Auto IV:The Ballad of Gay Tony - A Review

11/17/2009 12:20:14 AM

Welcome back to Liberty City my friends. In this, the final DLC pack for Rockstar Games'' Grand Theft Auto IV, you star as Luis Lopez. Luis comes from the drug-slinging streets of one of Liberty City’s many ghettos. After serving some prison time he has become the right-hand man of night club mogul Tony Prince. Luis lives a dangerous life of sex, guns, and drugs with no moment to catch his breath. This over-the-top lifestyle can make even a visit to his neighborhood friends or over-protective mother a powder keg. Even while at those seemingly-innocent events, there is always some drug deal gone bad or shady figure trying to sneak in and wreak havoc on on Luis’ family. The story of Gay Tony has a lot of twists and turns and will have you hanging onto the edge of your seat repeatedly. What I liked about this DLC pack compared to Lost and The Damned is there are a lot more cinematic instances after you hit certain objectives. The Rockstar team really has some of the best writers in video games today. However, parents, know that this game should never be played by someone under the age of 18 as Gay Tony is filled with sex, violence, and drug-use. This is not a bad thing for us mature gamers, mind you, but I can safely say that it earns its M rating. Outside of the regular story plot you can do several side missions, which range from helping your friends run a drug empire to competing in a bare-knuckle fight circuit. You can even manage some of the night clubs leading to some really strange situations (you will have to see for yourself).GAMEPLAY:In this respect, Gay Tony is very much in the same vein as the base game and previous DLC packs. Not much, if anything, has changed in the controls scheme so players should find it very familiar and able to jump right in. Where I did find problems in playing the game was in the camera. While the camera has caused problems in the previous GTAIV packs, in Gay Tony it really hits a low-point (camera locks... lots of them). Hopefully, in future GTA titles the developers can work on getting the camera right. Gay Tony does introduce one major gameplay element not seen before in GTAIV content: helicopter use!While it''s a lot of fun to fly over Liberty City and jump out using a parachute, I now know that I can never be a pilot. Maybe I just did not understand the mechanics but it took me forever and a day to get those blasted choppers to fly correctly. There are truly fun times to be had in the choppers as you can jump out of it after causing total destruction and land on a passing car to hijack it. The only thing missing is the ability to shooting while gliding down but I guess that makes sense if you are trying to steer a chute. One of the best things about the GTA series has always been messing around in the city while not doing the missions. I have spent several hours just seeing what damage I can cause to the city and to my character and this DLC pack adds to that experience.GRAPHICS:While still a great looking city, to me GTAIV is starting to show its age. Some of the models come off looking jagged and, in some cases, almost ''cartoony''. Thankfully, the weather effects are still great and the city really does look alive with hustle and bustle. Unfortunately, with a full game and two DLC packs in the books, Rockstar still has not allowed player damage to be long-lasting around town. For instance, there is a mission where you have to destroy a large object in the city and it’s more than a little off-putting to see it fully resurrected after only a few minutes of leaving the area. In the future of the GTA series they should start to make feel like what you do has a lasting effect on the city itself. Gay Tony has a ton of new weapon models that look (and shoot) great and the new cars are sleek as always. Vehicle damage-modeling is fantastic and there is nothing like shooting someone who is driving only to have blood splatter all over the window. AUDIO:The GTA series has always had amazing soundtracks and Gay Tony is no different. By adding new stations and tons of new programming, Rockstar Games has really made the audio feel fresh. You know a video game soundtrack is good when you leave it on just to hear the music even if you aren’t really playing. Weapon sounds are also fantastic as are the ambient noises of the city.MULTIPLAYER:While this review focuses on the single-player aspect of The Ballad of Gay Tony, I did want to let our readers know that the DLC pack comes with a revamped multiplayer section. Those looking to keep the party going will love the new additions so be sure to hop in there and check it out.CONCLUSIONS:The Ballad of Gay Tony is a fitting way to end the tales of Liberty City - being one hell of a ride that fans of the series should not miss. Now just to see what they are cooking up for GTAV!

New Super Street Fighter IV Gameplay Videos

11/16/2009 11:31:36 PM

Capcom has released some new video showing off gameplay from Super Street Fighter IV, which promises advanced multiplayer capabilities, new characters, and enhanced ultra combos. It is due out on the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles next year.Check out Dee Jay and Juri fighting it out in this video, as well as an additional gameplay vid, After the Break!

Borderlands Soundtrack Gets December Release Date

11/16/2009 11:25:16 PM

2K Games, Gearbox Software, and Sumthing Else Music Works have announced the release date of the full Borderlands'' soundtrack via the Sumthing Digital online distribution service as well as iTunes. The soundtrack contains 27-tracks and will be released on December 8th, 2009.Official Release:Sumthing Else Music Works, through its licensing relationship with Gearbox Software, LLC, proudly presents the Borderlands Original Soundtrack featuring the original musical score from the highly acclaimed... (cont.)

New Trailer for The Beatles Rock Band Sgt Pepper DLC Pack

11/16/2009 11:20:28 PM

Harmonix and MTV Games have released a new trailer for the Sgt. Pepper''s Lonely Hearts Club Band DLC pack being released for The Beatles Rock Band tomorrow on the Xbox 360 for 1080 Microsoft Points. PS3 gamers can expect the DLC pack to be available on November 19th for $13.49

Ten New Screenshots from Just Cause 2

11/16/2009 11:12:36 PM

Avalanche Studios has released ten new screenshots for their 2010-targeted Just Cause 2. In the game, you will be able to utilize both a stunt parachute as well as grappling hook to dispatch your foes and wreak havoc amongst a paramilitary force occupying an otherwise peaceful island.See the new screenshots, After the Break!

Left 4 Dead 2 Worldwide Launch

11/16/2009 11:05:32 PM

Valve Software has announced the worldwide launch of Left 4 Dead 2, their latest coop zombie-killing epic. This time around, expect to fight new boss zombies in a whole new setting. Also included are several melee weapons to utilize in busting zombie skulls wide-open. You can get Left 4 Dead 2 on both the Xbox 360 game console and STEAM.

DEAD: Win A Copy of NBA LIVE 10 for the PS3

11/15/2009 3:45:41 PM

*UPDATE: Congratulations to the winner, Peter, from our comment section below. We will be sending him an email shortly and if we don''t here back within two business days, a new winner will be chosen. Thanks for entering, all, and check back tomorrow for our NEXT giveaway game. HINT: It involves shooting... Yeah, not much of a hint, but I think you guys will like it anyway!Greetings fellow gamers! We are continuing our push of giveaways in the coming weeks that we thought you might want to get in on. Each week, we will be giving away a game until our inventory shelf is bare. The game will be made known at the time of the giveaway posting, both on this website and our Twitter channel.This week, we will be giving away a copy of EA Sports'' NBA LIVE 10 for the PS3. The winner will be announced at 10pm PST on Saturday, November 21st via our Twitter account and at this contest page.To Enter: Send this message out through Twitter:Win a copy of NBA LIVE 10 for the PS3 from @GamingShogun, see details at the contest page - http://bit.ly/3QoZ7s #nba #gamingAlternate Entry: If you do not have a Twitter account, you can also enter by leaving a constructive comment below. (Ed. Note - Sorry guys for the old text in the alternate entry sectinon, I have corrected it!)This contest is open to all US residents in the contiguous 49 states and the prize will be mailed out via USPS Priority Mail . If the winner does not respond to our attempts to contact within two business days of announcement, another will be chosen to take his or her place. One entry will be counted per person, no matter how much they retweet the message or comment below.

GamingShogun Week in Review for the Week of November 4th 2009

11/14/2009 9:41:07 AM

Top Stories of the WeekWin A Copy of Dragon Age: Origins Deluxe Edition for the PCBlizzCon 2010 Being Held in Las Vegas (UPDATED)Warrior Epic: Battlegrounds Beta UnderwayKaraoke Revolution Song List RevealedA Review of Borderlands from Gearbox Software (Xbox 360)Walmart Gets Exclusive Skateboard With Tony Hawk RIDEWe Review Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PC)SteelSeries Siberia V2 Gaming HeadsetDecember Demo Announced for Dante''s InfernoJust Cause 2 Grappling Hook Developer DiaryRazer Announces Abyssus Gaming MouseReview of EA Sports FIFA SOCCER 10Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Rust Multiplayer VideoGuild Wars 2 Set for A 2011 ReleaseGreedCorp Announced for XBLA and Windows PCsCo-Op Moves Army of Two: The 40th Day TrailerStar Trek Online Release Date AnnouncedModern Warfare 2 Sells Over Seven Million Units in First Day AloneOur Belated Review of the Epically Awesome Brutal LegendBattlefield: Bad Company 2 Screenshots Show Africa HarbourMotoGP 09/10 Career Mode Announcement and Screenshots

BioWare and LucasArts Unveil the Imperial Agent from The Old Republic

11/14/2009 1:14:33 AM

The official website for BioWare and LucasArts'' upcoming MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic, has been updated once again to introduce one of the game''s character classes - the Imperial Agent. The Imperial Agent looks to be similar to the Bounty Hunter but more of a Rogue-type class mixed in. It''s always difficult to pigeon hole the classes that the two gaming giants are throwing our way because their class roles are unlike the way most RPGs lay out their classes.See the Imperial Agent''s full dossier and MORE screenshots, After the Break!

Star Trek Online Box Art Released

11/14/2009 1:04:46 AM

Cryptic Studios has been releasing a lot of media for their February 2nd-bound MMO, Star Trek Online, as of late and today they add the game''s official box art to this list.Drink it in, gamers... Its elegance... Its implied actions... Stuff that geek dreams are made of right there. Live Love and Prosper!

Three Screenshots from Interplays Fallout MMO

11/14/2009 12:41:52 AM

In the ongoing court battle between Interplay and Bethesda Softworks, it seems some evidence has come to light showing off Interplay''s progress on the Fallout MMO - codenamed: Project V13.The three screens are fairly rough as you can see from the one above, and more are sure to come as the hearings move forward. Stay tuned for more!See the other two screens, After the Break!Via Kotaku

Diablo III Not to Be Released Unil 2011?

11/13/2009 3:25:50 PM

According to GameSpy, Diablo III and the StarCraft II expansions have been pushed back in the ''next few years'' category. This news comes from a recent presentation given by Blizzard''s CFO Thomas Tippl in New York. The photo that was taken from this presentation clearly shows games like StarCraft II and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will be released in 2010, while Diablo III is in the column of ''later and not in 2010''. As always with news involving Blizzard, please take this with a grain of salt, knowing that a release date for any game, especially one from Blizzard, can change many times over it''s development.Via GameSpy

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Getting Sexy Costumes DLC Pack

11/13/2009 12:26:35 PM

Come November 19th, Playstation 3 gamers will be able to download some new content for Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. This DLC pack, which is to retail for $3.99, will include four new costumes for your favorite game characters such as Ryu.

The Weekly Setlist for the Week of November 16th

11/13/2009 8:37:29 AM

Good morning Shogunites! It is I, Judgeman, bringing you all the latest news in downloadable content for your Rock Band and Guitar Hero games. This week, we have news not only for Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero 5, but also for The Beatles: Rock Band. It seems the game is getting its second downloadable album - Any guesses? Plus, we also have some new content news for the newly-released DJ Hero.Let''s start off the weekend by looking at the new content that will be available for Guitar Hero 5 next week. Guitar Hero 5 gets one of the most popular classic rock bands out... (cont.)See the rest of The Weekly Setlist, After the Break!

Alliance of Valiant Arms Now LIVE

11/12/2009 9:27:35 PM

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

Madden NFL Arcade Gets Release Dates

11/12/2009 8:50:53 PM

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

Star Trek Online Screenshots Show off Space and Ground Gameplay

11/12/2009 8:40:11 PM

Cryptic Studios has released a starship-load of new screenshots from their now in closed-beta MMO, Star Trek Online. The screenshots show off both ground and space-based action and come just days after the official release date of February 2nd was announced.See all the new screenshots, After the Break!