Turtle Beach Earforce X3 for XBOX 360
MSRP 99.95
What’s in the box:
Headset
Controller adapter
Transmitter
AC Adapter
2 AAA Batteries
Instruction Manual
I was excited to try these out. I have been using the Motorola headset for my 360, which was great for the cost at $19.95, but figured the advantages of the X3 was something I wanted and the wife picked me up a set.
Set-up was fairly easy. The headset itself takes 2 AAA batteries. The transmitter uses an AC adapter for power and the console audio is feed from a pass through connection that is connected to the audio output on the 360 HD/TV cable. My main concern was wether or not this would work with my set-up since I use an optical cable for audio. I hooked up the transmitter to the loose audio ends and it worked perfect. As far as its compatability with an HDMI output I am unsure, but based on the initial set-up, it shouldn’t be an issue. You just may have to break out that AV cable that you may not normally use. I would recommend securing the loose ends if you do not normally use these to prevent the ends from touching and causing feedback in the headset.
Once all set-up I did have to relocate the transmitter. I usually prefer a stealthy install of my componets, but I discovered that the transmitter uses IR and had to move the transmitter to a location that would face out from my entertainment center vice hiding it behind something.
Once all set-up I gave it a test run on XBOX Live with a game of Call of Duty World at War. The headset itself has adjustable volume for in game audio along with a bass boost option. It provides 5.1 surrond sound and I could easily determine the direction shots were being fired from audibly. The headset adapter has a seperate control for muting and volume of chat, which was nice. I did have to adjust the output of the transmitter to a higher level due to the fact I normally sit about 15ft from the TV. This prevents the in-game audio from being over-driven if you are too close and eliminates cut-out if you are farther away. A nice option that provides flexibility if I ever decide to re-arrange the living room. The ability to hear the game and chat completely in the headset was also nice, as I could pull a late night gaming session without the noise of the surround sound keeping others awake, the wifes favorite feature.
Another feature that I discovered was the auto mic adjustment. When you can’t hear anything but the game, you tend to talk louder, but the headset auto-adjusts the input to prevent you from sounding like you are yelling into the mic all the time, which I’m sure we’ve all ran across in an online game before. It’s annoying when other people do it and provides on the fly common courtesy so you’re not “that guy”.
Overall I’d score this gear a 8.5 out of 10.
Pros:
Seperate in-game audio and chat volume
Comfortable to wear and lightweight (pulled 6 hours straight with no fatigue)
Audio independant of TV/Surround Sound volume
Adjustable mic position
Superior sound quality
Cons:
Needs seperate outlet for transmitter (a pain if your power strip is already full)
IR transmitter (game audio cuts out when I go to kitchen for a drink, but chat audio is constant as it is fed through the controller so I maintain team communication while waiting for a respawn.)

Other models include the X1 which is corded from the 360 itself with a 15ft cable, minimizing mobility while playing but is only $49.95 and would be suitable for a Game Room set-up. There is also the X4 which is completely wireless but costs $199.95. Not sure if leaving the controller behind to continue hearing in-game chat is worth the additional cost, but I’m sure I’ll give it a try someday and report back my findings.

Shanon

Posted under Reviews

Left 4 Dead does an amazing job of simulating what it would feel like to be put through a true zombie holocaust, and it makes for one of the most enjoyable co-op experiences that I’ve ever had. The graphics look great on the 360 and the controls are near perfect. L4D’s biggest downfall is the lack of content. The game is limited to a meager 4 campaigns, which, although fun, don’t exactly lead to a lot of replayability short of multiplayer. The game also suffers from a lack of distinct story, but the notes scrawled on the inside of the safe-rooms add a small amount back story and make the world seem a little more real.

Pros:
-Well done visuals
-Co-op that makes your friends seem useful
-Intense gameplay that keeps you on edge

Cons:
-Lack of content
-Feels awkward as a singleplayer experience
-Story could have been more prominent

A great multiplayer game that you can sort of play by yourself, 8/10

Posted under Reviews

Platforming gameplay from a first-person perspective sounds like an experience that would have the enjoyment level of something along the lines of a root canal. Mirror’s Edge proves that FPP (First-person Platforming) it not only attainable, but fun! At it’s core, Mirror’s Edge is a well done, slightly over the top Parkour simulator, and it does that extremely well. The first-person perspective allows the game to convey a true sense of movement, to the point that I was unable to play for more than 2 or so hours before needing to take a break because of disorientation. Unfortunatly, the viewpoint can cause miscalculated jumps that will often send you falling 30 stories to your death. The only other major problem is with the combat. The hand-to-hand combat, while enjoyable to watch, gets old fast.

Pros:
-Gorgeous graphics and beautiful animation
-First-person perspective leads to amazing gameplay moments

Cons:
-For a game that’s all about combat avoidance there’s an awful lot of forced combat
-Trial and error gamplay will frustrate many

Immersive and fast paced, Mirror’s Edge is one of the most innovative games I’ve played in a long time 9/10

Posted under Reviews