I’ve seen some interesting gear since taking over the hardware duties at 2D-X. Some have been excellent (Street Fighter X Tekken Fightstick Pro), some have been god awful (HKS controller). The $19.99 XJacker PS3 kit and the $29.99 Soniq Rush 2.0 (a headset adapter and amplifier, respectively) falls somewhere between. The the pair, in unison, lets gamers turn any headset into a PS3 headset with ear-wrecking volume, but clunky setup issues somewhat mar the experience.
It seems that no matter what third-party controller manufacturers do, they always overlook a particular element that makes a gamepad successful. Granted, that little something differs from controller to controller, but more often than not, there’s spice missing from the secret sauce. The new Thrustmaster F1 Wireless Gamepad Ferrari 150th Italia Alonso Edition isn’t perfect, but it’s leaps and bounds better than the other racing controllers we’ve seen (I’m looking at you HKS controller).
Tritton has outdone itself in every way possible with the Tritton Primer Wireless Xbox 360 headset ($99.99, Amazon). This is the first official wireless headset for the Xbox 360, one that packs 5.8-GHz technology that reduces audio compression. The wireless feature–coupled with the one of the simplest set ups you’ll find in the wireless headphone space, and included accessories that accommodate users with HDMI or component connections–really help distinguish the Primer from the competition.
Need an extra controller for your kids, but don’t want them to ruin your $55 Dualshock 3? Have small hands and the PS3 pad design just doesn’t cut it? Power A has the solution! Overall, PowerA did a fantastic job with the Mini Pro Elite Wireless PS3 controller. I’m not typically a fan of smaller controllers, but this one really fits well in the hands and does a good job of being one step ahead of the other third-party Playstation 3 controllers.
The X-Arcade Tankstick + Trackball is a man’s joystick that can withstand petty much any abuse you toss its way. After several days of using it, I can see it being an active part of my gaming universe, outlasting many of the consoles to come. There’s a high price of entry for sure, but the usability and quality is well worth every dollar.
New hardware is always cool and the 3DS definitely has a “wow factor” that its competitors don’t. It’s still a fun machine despite its flaws. It’s perfect for kids, Nintendo’s target audience. Adults with big, cramped hands and high standards may want to wait or borrow one. I hear that Super Mario 3D Land is totally tubular.
The GT750E is rated at 3,000 lumens which means that it casts a bright image. In fact, I gamed against my off-white bedroom wall with the lights blaring, and I had no issue keeping track of the fists, feet, and projectiles. Killing the lights, naturally, improved the image and improved the overall experience. Even better, the GT750E sports s a short throw lens, so I could sit close to the image without casting shadows onto the gameplay. I saw a few minor rainbow effects during testing, but nothing that popped up on a regular basis to dampen the experience.
Once you turn it on the first time, the rest of it is cake. In terms of sound, the device is adequate for gaming, and the range on the speakers is pretty good. Need to get up to make a sandwich, but don’t want to break the audio flow? If you use the Bluetooth setting, and provided you don’t live in a mansion, you can move to the kitchen and back without losing the connection. Move too far, though, and you’ll experience increased static and decreased sound quality.
But what separates this fight pad from a number of others is the excellent button construction; it uses clicky (very clicky!) arcade-style microswitches in both the thumbstick and face buttons. The result is an extremely responsive controller laden with accuracy. I was able to pull off complex moves and combos with ease while playing King of Fighters XIII and King of Fighters ’98: Ultimate Match. My only gripe is that the controller feels a bit light; I prefer my pads with a bit of weight, but that’s a small, personal niggle.
The device has several good uses; if you’re out on an urban exploration adventure, repairing computers, or out camping, it’s a nice little doodad to keep all your stuff on you. As for impractical uses, you can attempt to put your cat in it, wear it around your head, and test the maximum tissue capacity of each pocket. It’s a multi-purpose product, really.
