Sennheiser GSP 670 Wireless Gaming Headset | A Bit Pricey And A Bit Flawed

Gamers always seem to be searching for that perfect headset to compliment their online gaming sessions. The one that affords them a luxury feel of comfort, quality sound input/output, clear chat, ease of use, and overall durability. It's very rare to find such a headset at the usual price point though, especially one that incorporates expert design and deep technological understanding from the manufacturer's tried and tested standpoint. Supposing you were willing to pay top dollar though, and are in the market for such a headset that has, but one flaw you might be interested to know that Sennheiser has such a thing. In fact I'll be giving you the lowdown about one of their finer examples soon enough. Before I do though I'd like to give some brief background information on Sennheiser. Sennheiser is a audio/communication product company that isn't a new name among established headset, and peripheral providers. Their series of products comes from upwards of 70 years of experience in the industry. An award winning legacy that started in 1945 through Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, and continues to this very day through globally reaching outlets. They are, at heart, a global reaching company with a specialty for catering to those consumers who only want the best of the best in regards to communication, and audio tech. While their products are anything, but cheap in price, you will get a product that mostly reflects the high cost to be paid. Whether or not it's something you're willing to pay for is up to you. Hopefully by the end of this review you'll have a good idea what the headset can do in regards to performance regardless of that choice.

Injection π23 - No Name, No Number (PS4)

Do you miss that old school Silent Hill fix? That psychological horror that makes you question your sanity while delivering pulse pounding puzzle solving investigations involving pop-ins from the paranormal? Well, Abramelin's "Injection π23" might just fill that void of wanting. Might being the keyword. Taking inspiration from games like Silent Hill, and Slenderman this indie nightmare, in all of it's sensory overloading glory, drags the gamer kicking and screaming back down retro gaming's memory lane where a certain disturbed individual finds himself in a world filled with macabre mystery. While utilizing tools found in the various haunting landscapes, and finding clues among the gore plastered scenery you'll need to mind your health, stamina, and noise making as you unlock rooms, and locations that hide various key items meant to get you to the end of hellish world you find yourself in. A goal that will either free you from the madness therein, or make you realize the futility in your running of errands.

Doughlings: Invasion | A New Entry In A Series That Reinvents Retro Games

The Doughlings franchise by Hero Concept is a sort of series of games with it's own unique lore that utilizes retro gaming genres as it's core gameplay element. This particular installment of the Doughlings series, for example, features a tale of the Doughlings being invaded by space invaders who aim to conquer the residents of the Doughling world through a sneaky preemptive meteor strike. They basically send down a meteor of mass destruction down to the Doughling planet to obliterate all existence there, but Dr. Morpheus finds out the plan, and launches a counter offensive against the would be invaders. Packing heat in the form of a color gun, and utilizing various personas, or abilities gained from elixir allocation Morpheus must make a stand or risk the very existence of his own kind. A story which is nicely packaged in comic book panel form with a spoken voice-over inclusive introduction at the start.

TERRORHYTHM (NS)

Terrorhythm. I can say it is definitely a terror to play, and it's definitely got rhythm. I think what it all boils down to though is an awkward control scheme, poorly explained mechanics, and the loss of story in translation. Believe it or not, but Terrorhtyhm does have a backstory. A backstory about a music led rebellion via a protagonist who is fighting music censorship through what equates to dance combat. As said protagonist in a stationary position you must apply the beat to the music while fighting off foes through four different actions including right and left directional attacks, intermittent shield dropping beat pulses, and a range extension. By constantly pressing buttons to the beat you setup combo opportunities, and gain score standing through a feat inclusive end tally. Things like enemies killed, beats correctly hit, beats dropped, life left, combos, and a few other things included. The game features several stages with unique trance or electro-synth music tracks, and four different difficulty settings including relaxed, normal, hard, and terror. The music is actually catchy, but the gameplay not so much. All in all it's a score based leaderboard affair, but one that ultimately complicates itself through a control scheme that isn't really viable in handheld mode, nor doable in docked mode due to a confusing UI.

Vasara Collection | A Classic Shmup Revival With A New Mode Of Play

For the first time on console. You don't often see such a claim when it comes to video games. Even when it's shmups from Asia. That being said QUBytes did indeed bring to us the "Vasara Collection" in all it's wonderful glory for the first time on consoles, and modern consoles at that. Included in the collection are the two older game ports titled, "Vasara" and "Vasara 2" from the respective series developed by Visco as well as "Vasara Timeless" which seems to be a more modern version of those older releases with it's own unique mechanics for an up to four player local co-op session. All in all it's a three for the price of one kind of deal which may or may not be worth it to you depending on what kind of game genres you like ...

Most of you reading this are probably wondering what theme this particular shoot 'em up series contains at this point, and if you guessed samurai you'd be close. The two main games take some of the real life feudal Japanese history/lore, and put a sort of fantasy anime twist on it all. As one of a handful of various fully named male, and female protagonists sporting different period attire according to profession (Ninja, Samurai, Rogue, Shogun, Monk), and piloting a variety of different mechanized ships you go into battle against the forces involved in the fall of Osaka Castle of 1600 as well as against Oda Nobunga, and his army of loyal generals. At your disposal on your journey to rid the world of the nefarious opposition is a blocking melee attack, and rapid fire shot of varying types according to ship/character as well as the usual bullet hell clearing bombs. Utilizing your tools of destruction you must clear out enemies large, and small in order to face off against the main enemies that lie in wait within the six stage playthrough. Whether it be soldiers, sub-boss generals, or boss type generals piloting enemy craft. With each defeated enemy leaving in their wake a banner that adds to an end score tally along with other tallied loot found hidden away you could find yourself on at the top of the games' global leaderboards, and in the footnotes of feudal fantasy history if you can prove yourself worthy enough to capitalize on such point earned fame and fortune.

"The Gamer's Brain": How Neuroscience, and UX Can Impact Video Game Design by Celia Hodent

As a gamer we are mostly aware now of the mental gymnastics taking place within the corporate side of the gaming industry due to informative journalistic leaks regarding questionable moneymaking efforts. We are aware of the mental manipulation that takes place, and the UX (user experience) tactics that experts utilize to create lucrative business endeavors. As we are aware so too are the game developers, and publishers. Developers, and publisher who hire UX experts like Celia Hodent (Epic Games/Fortnite, Ubisoft ...) to be a panel adviser. While this particular book, "The Gamer's Brain", isn't directed at us as gamers in that regard I feel it can still serve a dual purpose for both gamers, and game creators alike if they care to learn a little more about the industry they partake of. The book is very telling in it's detailed breakdown of how the gamer brain works on a neurological/psychological level, and how to best work that knowledge into game design for profit sake, and business sustainability. Using college level explanations, and various graphic references to backup information such as data pertaining to neuroscience, and UX understanding Celia Hodent unveils the inner workings of the user experience through her own personal industry experience. Broken up into two parts that each span seven chapters Celia eases the reader into things like perception, attention, cognitive bias, and eventually methodology as well as application in the processes of the creation of successful video games. It's more or less a comprehensive guide for a better business perspective.

Ninja, Twitch, and Manufactured Idols

I'm going to do it. I'm going to go there. I'm going to tell you some harsh truths that will undermine eSports, eSports legends, and the industry that promotes said things. First, and foremost Ninja is a manufactured idol. His popularity was created, or rather manufactured by the eSports business PR to sell product. That product was, and is still Fortnite. He was a tool just like all the other tools in business. Bought out, and sold out to the idea of hype peddling. Tell me, if you can, what makes Ninja any better than other streamers? Is it his cool blue hair? His personality? His skills? Nope, nope, and HELL NO! What it is, is his connections. Like so many spotlighted gaming heroes Ninja makes bank on association. His fandom flocks to him like idol worshipers to be associated themselves. It's the cool crowd syndrome. Kind of like in school where following the cool kid around earned you cool points in a sort of social hierarchy. For Ninja his coolness is earned in a similar way. By being associated with big name industry bigwigs, and sponsors his cool factor is elevated. Only for that reason.