The Smorgasbord

For serious gamers are headset is just as important as the console or pc itself. It provides that slight advantage that is the difference between the sweet taste of victory and the agonizing reality of defeat. The PX5, the latest entry by industry leader Turtle Beach, looks to be the best headset ever made, on paper at least. With an amazing feature set and the promise of hyrid 5.1/7.1 Dolby Digital surround sound, does it live up to the hype? Find out in our review!

Price
This is where most people are going to be turned off. The headset comes in at $249.99 MSRP. Now while that sounds like a lot, you will most likely find it for a better price at your favorite online retailer. With that said, the price is warranted. I will go into the individual features later on but a wireless headset with 7.1/5.1 surround sound 249.99 is a small price to pay for that competitive edge.

8/10 I know for a lot of people price is the most important factor so while the features support it’s price tag, I scored it accordingly.

Build Quality
The headset is made almost entirely of plastic besides the mesh ear coverings. The headset is lightweight while still feeling substantial. I would remiss to say that I have never had issues with Turtle Beach headsets breaking on me but these feel different the most others I have used. I would still be careful with them and use the included stand when they are not in use.

8/10 They feel better than other Turtle Beach branded headsets I have owned in the past, namely the x31 and x11 series which both felt flimsy, these however do not feel flimsy at all, still I would recommend a soft touch, just to be safe.

Sound Quality
Full disclaimer, I am not nor claim to be an audiophile. I can distinguish the difference between lows, mids, and highs but beyond that I don’t fret over audio. If you have never used a surround sound headset then these are going to blow your mind. You will begin to hear sounds that you never even knew where there. If you have, however, used a gaming headset before, as I have, then the shock will be less jarring but not less impactful. You can feel the difference going from a stereo headset to a Dolby Digital one. My gameplay improved drastically and I have to attribute it to directional sound. These will immerse you without disturbing others and that is nearly priceless.

9.5/10 Nothing can be perfect in my eyes, and I really struggled not give this category a perfect score. The sound is the best I have heard from a headset, ever.

Features
These are additional features that are worth mentioning but are substantial enough for their own section. The headset supports Bluetooth support for PSN chat and also for pairing with your cell phone to listen to music while playing. It sports a transmitter stand which is used to hookup your devices and also to hang the headset on when not in use. It has a optical input and output, stereo input, volume control, and power socket on the back. On the front it sports several indicator lights, Dolby bypass button and a headphone output jack. Additional features include programmable presets for specific games. In the box is batteries, Xbox chat cable, optical cable, the headset and transmitter, and two USB cables. The only feature that bugs me, or lack there of, is that the headset is not rechargeable out of the box. A lower end headset in the same line, PX3, has a rechargeable battery pack built in while the PX5 still uses standard AA batteries. They claim 15 hours and I was able to get nearly that, I wasn’t using Bluetooth which may or may not affect it’s life further.

8.5/10 It’s supplemental features are nice, and some even have everyday use but I would gladly give up programmable presets or even bluetooth to have a built in rechargeable battery.

Overall
Overall this is the best headset, wireless or otherwise, I have ever used. Bar none. I honestly think that Turtle Beach has refined so much that this could be their best headset ever. The price is going to get in the way for some but the sound, build and feature qualities are top notch and worth to even the casual player.
9/10 (not an average)

Turtle Beach PX5 - Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound + Wireless Headset + Customizable Au
	USD 132.50 (35 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 11:09:27
Turtle Beach Ear Force® PX5 Programmable Wireless Headset for PS3® and Xbox 360™
	USD 239.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 05:50:15
Turtle Beach Ear Force PX5 Gaming Headset for XBOX/PS3 w/Mic 7.1 Surround Sound
	USD 150.45 (2 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 15:08:32
Turtle Beach Ear Force® PX5 Programmable Wireless Headset for PS3® and Xbox 360™
	USD 239.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 14:32:39
Turtle Beach Ear Force PX5 Gaming Headset for XBOX/PS3 w/Mic 7.1 Surround Sound
	USD 147.95 (1 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-08 02:54:21
Turtle Beach Earforce PX5 Headset - For PS3 and 360 - Brand new, still in box
	USD 108.50 (11 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-10 00:59:13
Sony PS3 XBOX 360 PC MAC Ear Force PX-5 Chat Headset Turtle Beach Playstation 3
	USD / 209.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-09 04:00:42
Turtle Beach EarForce PX5 Wireless Xbox 360 PS3 Headset
	USD 105.00 (11 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-12 15:00:26
Turtle Beach Ear Force PX5 PS3 Headset TBS-2180 Turtlebeach Playstation 3
	USD / 225.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-10 22:14:51
Turtle Beach EarForce Px5 Headset is still in new and in incredible condition!
	USD 170.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-12 18:29:23

When Xbox released this – they said “you are the controller”. It couldn’t be more true – and I hope my Xbox Kinect review helps you in some way if you’re on fence about buying one. We bought one for our Xbox 360 last fall when they first came out, and have been using it since.

What is an Xbox “Kinect”?

Well first let me say that we’ve had about every console gaming system in our house over the last 10 years ever made. Every version of all platforms, all add-ons, adapters, games, controllers, chargers – you name it. A few years back we thought that the Wii was cool, but after a few months it lost it’s “coolness” – and after 6 months of owning it, we just gave it away to other family that wanted one. The Xbox Kinect is the first video game “thing” in forever I can actually say is revolutionary. It’s applications beyond video gaming and potential are incredible.

The Kinect either sits on top of your TV, or at the base. It actually is a controller – or rather, it allows you to use your body as a controller completely. When using it, you don’t need an Xbox controller at all. Your hands, your feet, and your body are your controller. The Kinect has multiple cameras inside, and a 3D scanner system that tracks movement. It has facial recognition, “gesture recognition”, and voice recognition abilities, and can track 2-6 people playing at once 3-12 feet in front of a TV.

How Well does Kinect Work?

I have to tell you that I’m not an Xbox proponent at all, and I never thought they’d become a force in gaming at all. I hate Windows, and primarily use Linux on my computers. We only own an Xbox because our son has been an Xbox gamer since day 1. I grudgingly forked out $149 for the Kinect bundle on launch day because it was so damn expensive. Then we brought it home, with Dance Central, Kinectimals, and Kinect Adventures.

First we set it up and had our 4 year old play Kinectimals. I could not believe how easy it was for him to play – because he hates using a controller, and really doesn’t play video games (yet). The Kinect is intuitive, and allows him to interact with an on-screen animal incredible well.

Next we tried “Dance Central”. That game is addictive, and more challenging than any Guitar Hero game ever put out. I actually saw my kids sweating doing all the moves for hours (and literally sore the next day). Kinect Adventures was great for the whole family – and has seen hours and hours of fun to date.

What makes Kinect “Revolutionary”?

Not only is there no controller at all (that you have to manipulate or hold) – “it just works”, and it works well! INCREDIBLY well! I’m a gadget minded tech geek, and my mind was just spinning with all the potential medical, military, and “hacked” uses the Xbox Kinect could (and will) have. Microsoft plans on having Kinect drivers in Windows 8, and open source drivers are already available for Kinect, both from third party developers – and from the company that create Kinect, PrimeSense.

I’ve read stories already about Kinect being researched for use with patients with spinal cord injuries, to control a computer with only their eye movements. MIT is working on a JavaScript Chrome extention to control the browser with hand gestures, and also using Kinect to control robots. You can only guess what types of military uses it could have. The Kinect is like a 3D webcam on steroids, and I think that this technology is only the beginning.

Where can I get a Kinect?

You can get an Xbox Kinect on Amazon, which comes with the Kinect Adventures game (which is really fun:

You can also find them on ebay, both new and used. Hopefully, you’ll find a great deal there – since Kinect has been out since last Fall – and there’s bound to be lots of people selling theirs for some quick cash by now:

Kinect for sale on eBay:

Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect & Adventures Bundle 4 GB Black Console (NTSC)
	USD 249.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-09 04:42:28
Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim Kinect 250 GB Black Console (NTSC)
	USD 350.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 09:20:31
Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim (Latest Model)- with Kinect 4 GB +++++
	USD 500.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 14:36:14
BRAND NEW Microsoft Xbox 360 (Latest Model) with Kinect Matte 4 GB Black Console
	USD 274.52 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-13 01:21:42
Microsoft Xbox 360 S Console 4GB w Kinect Bundle
	USD 230.00 (12 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 16:14:06
Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect & Adventures Bundle 4 GB Black Console Ships w/in 24hr
	USD 265.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-12 18:47:04
Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim (Latest Model)- with Kinect 250 GB Black Console (NTSC)
	USD 300.00 (1 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 17:01:24
► Xbox 360 Konsole Slim 4 GB inkl ► Kinect Sensor Set Sesamstrasse ►Neu und OVP◄
	USD / 171.32 (6 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 18:08:36
Microsoft Xbox 360 Slim Kinect Holiday Bundle 250 GB Black Console (NTSC)
	USD 365.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-09 16:34:35
Xbox 360 Slim 4gb + Kinect Game Bundle Console
	USD 172.50 (25 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-02-07 18:16:16

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat. This review is not written from the point of a view of a PS3 fanboy, in fact I have been an XBOX gamer since 2003 when I convinced my parents to buy me one along with Halo: Combat Evolved. Now with that being said I think this game borrows nearly all of its gameplay from better games in the genre, ala God of War 3. The worst thing is that I believe Visceral Games not only knew that they were making a clone, but that they also knew that it wasn’t as good. The thing that had me most excited about this game was that it was for the XBOX 360, because there are NO good Hack-n-Slash games for the 360. That is until I played Darksiders (but that is a different review). I am going to break this review down into five categories.

6.5 Presentation: The depiction of hell is actually quick lovely. My problem lies with the awful shock value content that is only there to keep your mind off the awful game. Visceral Games really tried to make this game as epic as their first gem, Dead Space but they just failed.
5.5 Graphics: Not to be cliché, but 2007 called and they want their graphics back. When I first popped this game into my console I was a little bit overwhelmed with the reds and browns. The camera can cause some GIANT headaches.
8.5 Sound: The sound was actually one of the only things I loved about the game. The soundtrack is intense and defiantly causes complete immersion. The ambient noise is top notch and so are the sound effects.
5.0 Gameplay: One thing comes to mind, “Been there, done that”. The game play would be fantastic, if God of War didn’t exist. The gameplay is not all bad, but as a reviewer I couldn’t get over the fact that it a complete copy of better games.
6.0 Replay Value: Until the DLC comes out there would be absolutely no reason to return to Dante’s Inferno, unless you want to show your friends what a good promise turned bad looks like.
5.5 Overall (out of 10/ also NOT an average)
Final Notes: I wanted to like this game so much. The weeks leading up to the release it was all I could think about. The fact that I was so harsh on this review was because I was so disappointed. The biggest problem with this game is the fact that it was not good enough. I expected big things from this game, and it did not deliver. I hope that Visceral Games can rebound with Dead Space 2.

To backup and burn an Xbox game to a blank DVD, (DVD-R, DVD+R, or DVD RW, etc.), you need to make an image archive or ISO file to burn. In my first attempt to make an DVD image ISO archive for XBMC (Xbox Media Center), I used a program called Qwix and I don’t think it could have been any easier for me. There are many other good ISO creation programs but I found Qwix to be the easiest. Here is how you make an ISO of any game using Qwix.

Necessary Software

Winrar
Qwix
DVD Burning Software (should come with your dvd burner)
DVD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW
DVD Burner

1. Once you have copied your game to your xbox using are other tutorial, open it up in your FTP client and make a new folder of whatever the game is called, then on the right side of the interface and drag it to the folder you created on the left side
2. Next, Get a copy of Qwix…you can download Qwix 1.01 here http://www.xbox-scene.com/tools/tools.php?page=isotools
3. So you downloaded Qwix and now have a .rar file of Qwix. Use your .rar extractor(Winrar in my case) to extract the file.
4. Now double click Qwix again to open it in Winrar. There should be four files…open Qwix_FAQ.html and read through this thoroughly.
5. Then open Qwix.exe. Once Qwix loads, go to Create ISO (it’s on the left side of the screen).
6. Next, choose local folder as your source and click the box with three dots all the way to the right to browse through the folders and find the folder that you made of your game files earlier.
7. Once you find your game folder (the one with your files in it), hit OK. You will be back to the original Qwix screen.
8. Now click the Create ISO button. Choose your game folder to create it as an .iso file.
9. Once created as an ISO folder, you can now use Nero, or any other burning software, to burn it as an image to a CD-RW or DVD-R and then load it into your XBox.
10. Go to your burning software and click burn iso.
11. Then find the place that you saved your iso to open it and then click burn.
12. Depending on how big the game was you will probolly need a DVD burner

There you go you burned an xbox game! Look for our next tutorial on upgrading your hard drive in your Xbox to a much bigger one! Also, for more information on how to use the other great features of Qwix or to get answers to FAQ’s about Qwix, check out PuddWakkr’s great guide to Qwix http://home.neo.rr.com/avalaunch/qwixmain.html

originally posted: 2006-08-03 00:34:41 -0400