Dishonored follows the story of one character: Corvo Attano, and how his actions influence the city surrounding him. It is a stealth-action game that begins when Corvo, the Royal Protector, is framed for the murder of his empress. He is locked in prison for 6 months and interrogated endlessly by the men who set him up – the newly crowned Lord Regent and his lackeys. Just as Corvo’s execution approaches, a mysterious letter is delivered to his cell containing the key needed for his escape.

The key is provided by the Loyalists, a group of people who believe Corvo is innocent and that only he can end Lord Regent’s reign and return the Empress’ daughter to the throne. The Loyalists serve as Corvo’s commanders – they assign each mission Corvo goes on and detail who his targets are and why they must be assassinated. The Loyalists serve a simple purpose for the story – they create each mission for Corvo to go on.

Arriving at the Golden Cat

The game lasted approximately 20 hours for completion of a stealthy playthrough (including most of the side missions), yet another play through felt necessary. Collectibles and different styles of play add to a high replay value. A map guide may be helpful, especially if searching for every collectible, but is not necessary. The hud displays a radar that is easy to understand and leads to all runes and bone charms on each level. Other collectibles, such as coins and paintings, are not visible on the radar and must be sought out.

There are multiple endings that can be attained, each dependent upon how you play through the game. The chaos level is decided upon by the player as the player chooses the outcome of each target which affects the city of Dunwall as a whole. Violent playthroughs seek the upgrades of the pistol and crossbow, the summoning of rats to devour nearby bodies, possessing people only to draw them towards their death and using shadow kill to eliminate all those who have been assassinated. Violent gameplay leads to high chaos throughout Dunwall and will lead to a high chaos ending.

Stealthy playthroughs involve sneaking in the shadows past guards, using the blink ability (teleport) to slip past obstacles, possessing a rat or fish in order to find normally unreachable areas, slowing time in order to make it past guards or using dark vision to make sure no enemies see where Corvo is headed. When Corvo is spotted, a familiar sound plays, increasing the tension. The crescendo increases if the guards become more alerted and will eventually lead to an all-out brawl if Corvo is discovered. The use of several save states allow for players to attain devious perfection. A stealthy gameplay will lead to a low chaos ending.

Both styles of play encourange you to seek out the collectibles including runes, Outsider shrines, bone charms, coins and rare paintings. Runes allow for the upgrade of supernatural abilities (blink, possession, shadow kill, dark vision, bend time and devouring swarm). Bone charms allow for passive bonuses, such as greater vitality or a faster reload for weapons. Collecting coins will allow Corvo to buy upgrades or ammo for weapons he carries. Paintings have no bonus that has been discovered yet, other than earning an achievement if all have been discovered.

Gameplay is in first person perspective and is reminiscent of the Bioshock series. Both of Corvo’s hands are almost always visible, with a weapon of choice or supernatural ability in the left hand and Corvo’s reliable dagger in the right.

The graphics throughout each level are not superb but they do not detract from the captivation the game creates. Dishonored is an immersive stealth-action game and it creates a setting that quickly draws players in through a new and appealing world.

“Gameplay is Reminiscent of the Bioshock series”

There is no multiplayer component but this game is definitely worth a purchase over a rental as the single-player campaign is thrilling and intense. The last-gen graphics, limited dialogue choices and surprisingly short campaign are a disappointment to such an enthralling game, but are easily outshone by the gameplay, replayability, supernatural abilities, upgrades and optional side missions throughout the game. — Ryan Littlefield

I can’t believe October is half-over. The good news about that is only being two weeks away from Assassin’s Creed III and Assassin’s Creed: Liberation. This has been a favorite franchise for me this generation. It’s had some highs and lows. I’m really hoping this third numbered entry takes the series back to the quality of the second game. I’m kind of a Revolutionary War buff anyway so it’s right up my alley. I doubt it will get so specific as to see Connor taking down redcoats with a brown Bess, but it’s bound to hit up my inner Indiana Jones again. But, that’s still two weeks away yet, we’re here for news.

Fighting game junkies may be interested in the upcoming “Version 2013” title update to Street Fighter x Tekken. The rebalance is slated for mid-December. The free update will make some pretty significant changes. Here’s the list:

• System Changes
• Standard throws are faster, now with a 5F start-up (versus the previous 7F start-up).
• Anti-air techniques for Tekken characters improved.
• Recoverable health regenerates more slowly, reducing timeouts.
• Recoverable health has a more distinct color.
• Cinematic camera during Boost Combos changed. Battles have a speedier feel.
• Visual effect while Gems are active has been changed.
• Quicker disappearance of “Fight” message at the start of each round.
• Character Balancing
• Ken: “Shippu Jinraikyaku” has greater forward movement, increased damage.
• Kazuya: “EX Wind God Fist” has full invincibility from start to end of active frames.
• M. Bison: “Knee Press Nightmare” is projectile-invincible.
• Bob and Paul: Walk speed is faster.

If you’re more interested in new games than title updates for games that have been out for seven months, Pid now has a release date for XBLA. The press release says it’s a “a cinematic adventure for the ages” that will require “precision platforming” and “exhilarating puzzle-solving.” Which is just marketing gibberish. You should know that it comes from many of the same team that brough you Bionic Commando: Rearmed, which was great. It’ll run you 800 MSP on October 31st. Perfect game for turning up real loud and ignoring trick-or-treaters, eh?

Surprising no one, Halo 4 has leaked ahead of its November 6th release date. Some videos made it up on YouTube but got yanked. I’m not going to repost any of the spoilers but I will confirm that the multiplayer component will be on a second disc but can be installed. Also, if you’re thinking of getting in on this leaked action, maybe think twice. Anyone Microsoft catches is getting a permanent ban for “prerelease title play.” I advise patience.

I would really love to see some proper information about High Moon Studios’ upcoming Deadpool game. But, they’re just trickling little pieces instead, so I’m going to continue leaping on them and wishing for more. While we still only know that the game will be out in 2013, we now know of a second female character set to appear opposite the Merc with a Mouth. (Psylocke was previously announced, but you might have forgotten since information about this game is so scarce.) Apparently Deadpool will share some screen time with X-Force’s Domino. Is she an opponent, an ally? She’s been both in the comics. I don’t know! But I do know her concept art is pretty awesome:

I’ve played an older beta of PlayStation All-Star Battle Royale and was unimpressed. Then again, its Nintendo cousin (and obvious inspiration) never did much for me either. I’ve heard there’s a newer, better beta going around. I havne’t bothered, but PS Plus members will get their shot at the latest with “public” beta this week. It becomes truly public next week, after Plus members get their exclusive first look. Much liek the earlier version I played, you’ll be able to access Kratos, Sweet Tooth, Colonel Radec, Sly Cooper, PaRappa and Fat Princess in the Hades and Metropolis stages. Four-player free for all tournaments and 2v2 matches will be included in the beta. For 2v2, you will be able to invite a friend and play against another team of people who may actually know each other. The beta is only available until October 30th and the full game releases November 20th.

The Astronauts, a studio formed from former People Can Fly staff, hasn’t said exactly what their first game will be. But they have said what it’s not. It will not be a shooter, though it will be on Epic’s Unreal Engine 3. A post on the official site is quite clear:

“Guys, we are not making a shooter. Let us repeat that: we are not making a shooter.
…
“And it’s actually silly to talk about ‘yet another Unreal Engine game’ when some of the best, most unique games in the world are made with exactly that particular tech (Bioshock, Mass Effect, Dishonored, etc.)”

As mentioned last week, today will see a new storefront for PSN. But today sees the releae of a new look for their competitors over at XBox 360 as well. The XBox Live Dashboard is updating today as well. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see it right away. Microsoft will be rolling it out to at least three million users within the next 24 hours, with everyone else expected to see the update in the next “couple of weeks.” Here are a few changes you can expect to see, according to Microsoft’s Major Nelson: refreshed Dashboard, Internet Explorer, recommendations and ratings, pinning, XBox Video (formerly Zune video Marketplace), Recent content function, and Enhanced and International expansion to Voice Search.

You know a game’s got staying power when they’re set to release a major DLC expansion a year after the game hit shelves. The corps of PC code rooters have snooped into the latest patch for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to find a few files labeled “DLC2” and “Dragonborn.” I’m not one that does these things, and wouldn’t actually know how, so take this with a grain of salt. I’m believing the reports for now. Apparently, within these files, are dragon riding animations. Does this mean the DLC will let you actually mount up on one of these scaly giants and ride it around? Looks that way. Also revealed are several locations featured in the add-on. Solstheim and Raven Rock are normal locations in Skyrim. Telvanni, however, is one of the six great houses in Morrowind, an area of Tamriel we haven’t seen since The Elder Scrolls III. Speaking of Morrowind, the third game’s “Bloodmoon” DLC featured a giant creature called Karstaag. Another location listed is Karstaag Castle. While the monster has been seen before, the castle is apparently new. Other notables in the code are a few new types of armor and the line “$DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT_PS3 DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT.” That last part is notable only because no DLC for Skyrim has made its way to PS3 for technical reasons. Bethesda is reportedly trying to address those technical issues, and this line at least indicates they’re being optimistic about it.

That’s it for the early edition this week. Check back on Friday to see what else comes up.

The Best Free Gaming Apps for PCs

Whether you’re unwinding at home or passing the time on your thin and light laptop, game apps for your computer give you quick access to your favorite games, directly in your web browser. The best free apps include:

Super Mario World

A classic that never fails to entertain, the original Super Mario Brothers game is fun for players of all ages. Discover hidden worlds and collect coins, just like the Nintendo blockbuster.

Governor of Poker 2

Poker fans will love to take a seat at this virtual poker table, whether they’re playing a quick hand for fun or getting in some free practice before hitting the live poker tables at the casino.

Free Online Games

This app from Triple Games is a must for any casual online gamer. Choose from hundreds of popular games from every genre and enjoy the action in your browser.

The Best PC Apps for Serious Gamers

If more intense PC games are what you prefer, there are several apps that can make your experience even more enjoyable. Be sure these winners are installed before your next gaming session.

Raptr

A sort of aggregator for gamers, Raptr integrates with chat and gaming clients to keep you in touch with everything. News feeds, game achievements, and community driven content are always at your fingertips.

Core Temp

When you’re in the middle of an intense game, the last thing you want is lags and performance issues because of your CPU temperature. Core temp will keep an eye on all of your processors so that you don’t have to.

MSI Afterburner

Your gaming habits could put a strain on your sound and graphics cards. MSI Afterburner gives you an easy way to monitor your settings and maximize your computer’s performance, particularly when it comes to your favorite games.

The Best Game Apps for Tablets

Tablet owners have an ever-growing selection of game apps to choose from, including both free and paid versions. Take a look at these top picks.

Grand Theft Auto III

Just like its console predecessor, Grand Theft Auto for tablets features rich graphics that take full advantage of your tablet’s performance. The touchscreen controls are quite impressive, promising hours of GTA enjoyment wherever you are.

Towers N’ Trolls

Fantasy fans will love this tower defense game. Explore ten different worlds, all with completely unique environments and complete 65 different levels. Best of all, this app is free!

Rage of Bahamut

A live trading card game (TCG), this app is a highly addictive battle game with intriguingly creative game play. It has also remained the top grossing Android app for more than seven consecutive weeks.

It doesn’t matter what type of game you enjoy, you’re sure to find an app that will always keep you in the action, whether it’s the best game apps for your tablet or tools to keep your PC in top gaming health.

Natalie Bracco is a freelance writer and an amateur baker. When she’s not busy in the kitchen, you can find her writing about technology, travel, food and finance. Follow her on Twitter @nataliebracco.

Three more characters have been revealed for the roster of Injustice: Gods Among Us this week. With a new television series starting, it should come as no surprise that Green Arrow will be a featured fighter. For those who prefer ranged combatants in fighting games, Oliver Queen should be just what you need. I don’t know how many trick arrow shots Netherrealm can include, but it better be a lot. The other two, Joker and Geen Lantern, have been revealed via cover art. All three should have been obvious from the moment the game was announced. Release is set for April 2013. [More pictures and video of Green Arrow’s reveal here.]

I know I’m not the only one out there still playing Mass Effect 3‘s multiplayer because I have no problem getting into full matches. In case you’ve missed it this week, the free Retaliation DLC has gone live along with a new challenge system. The add-on doesn’t just include new maps, but also hazards for the existing levels we’ve been playing. Oh yeah, and Volus characters. Ha. The challenge system gives you certain in-game goals, like killing x number of enemies with biotic detonations, or promoting x number of characters. Completing challenges gives you instant unlock awards, like banners and titles. These challenges are replacing the weekend Operation events Bioware has been hosting since the game’s release. I liked the thematic challenges the developers through at us for the weekends, but they had to stop eventually. These continung, pervasive challenges will still keep me around a while longer. Well, that and the fact that this is the only online multiplayer I’ve actually had any fun playing. [You can now manage your banners, view your created characters’ profiles, track challenge status, etc. at the newly launched N7 HQ. Kind of a cool, if not original, feature.]

On the heels of the Retaliation DLC, Bioware has also dated and priced the add-on for the single-player campaign. Mass Effect 3’s Omega DLC has been scheduled for November 27th for 1200 MSP. This expansion is promised to be the largest DLC in the franchise’s history, at least doubling the size of any prior add-on. It is a timed XBox 360 exclusive, so PS3ers will need to wait. No word on how long, but you’ll read about it here when it’s announced.

Square Enix has announced more pre-order incentives for the Tomb Raider reboot. GameStop will include the Challenge Tomb, an “exclusive tomb for Lara to raid! In this new location, Lara will encounter all new environment puzzles that will test [her] brains and brawn.” Best Buy will give you the origin of Lara’s trip on the Endurance via graphic novel, “The Beginnings.” They’ll also include the “aviatrix” outift. Previously announced was Amazon‘s package which includes an art book, “hunter” skin, and the “Final Hours” complete documentary on Kindle Fire. You can pre-order now for the March 5, 2013 release.

You may have noticed that the Mechromancer DLC for Borderlands 2 came with something a little extra. Not everyone notices these things, but if you check your trophy/achievement list after installing you’ll see a few new rewards have been added. These aren’t actually related to Gaige, but they do drop a hint about some upcoming DLC. Since this discovery, Gearbox has officially unveiled “Captain Scarlett and her Pirate’s Booty.” The DLC is largely location-based, focusing on the town of Oasis and some outlying areas. The add-on will be available next week for $10, or free with your season pass.

Look for your PSN Storefront to have a new appearance soon. Sony has revealed a few images of the new structure and it looks pretty sharp. But does it perform any better? The eye-aching blue of the store has always annoyed me, and the format seemed very unintuitive. The new look appears to more clear about what you’re seeing and navigating. The search function is reportedly improved as well. I wouldn’t notice because I’ve never actually used their search. I have had to sift through thousands of items in my download history though. Does the new design allow me to sort that yet? I guess I’ll find out on October 20th when the new storefront comes to North America.

Sony has also revealed the Collector’s Edition and pre-order incentives for God of War: Ascension. For an extra $20, the Collector’s Edition will come with a steelbook case, exclusive Kratos statue, game soundtrack, Double XP unlock for multiplayer, a DLC pass, dynamic theme, and PSN avatars. I’d expect these to sell out, so get your pre-order in soon. Regardless of which SKU you get, pre-orders will all get the Mythological Heroes Multiplayer Pack. This will include four playable Greek heroes: Perseus, Orion, Achilles, and Odysseus. If you can’t wait until March 12, 2013, you can get your hands on an early demo for Kratos’ newest adventure on December 18th by picking up Total Recall on blu-ray. Sony’s promising another big reveal next week, so be sure to check back on Tuesday.

Maybe not a lot of news, but what we’ve got is about some pretty big games. Can we top it next week?

The live-action webseries, Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, continues this week with episode 2!

Last week’s first episode wasn’t exactly eventful, but it was by no means bad – in fact, it was quite good. I really appreciate that the Helbing brother are actually doing some character development before jumping into the action, because as we all know, if we care about these characters before the mayhem begins, it will hold more of an impact.

Episode 2 continues to follow young cadet, Thomas Lasky, as he goes through his training at the academy. Again, not a whole lot of action over the course of this episode, but a lot of great character development. We find out that Lasky has some emotional angst due to the death of his brother and the expectations set forth upon him from his commanding officers because of his mother’s legacy. One small comment about his family in the Mess Hall sets Lasky off, attacking another cadet. Lasky isn’t left alone to deal with his issues though as another cadet, Chyler Silva, offers him companionship and support. To add to Lasky’s obstacles, he seems to be having a poor physical reaction to the cryo-sleep process, causing visible marks on his body along with some weakness. Episode 2 leaves us with a bit of a cliff hanger during a game of capture the flag in which Lasky has volunteered to lead his squad, which we will have to wait a week to find out more on.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the production value I’ve witnesses over the first two episodes of Forward Unto Dawn. Director Stewart Hendler has a solid grasp on how a Halo live-action film should look and feel, the actors are extremely talented young men and women, and the sound, lighting and all other ambient aspects are exactly what I’d expect from a live-action entry into this franchise. I may be hung for this comment, but so far this series reminds me a lot of one of my other favorite sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica, which I intend as a very high complement. There is a lot of dramatic elements impacting our characters right now and the brooding sense that all hell is about to break loose is palpable. I am absolutely hooked.

As the good Senador noted in his review of the first episode, and I mentioned here, action-wise there isn’t a lot going on but there is a great story being set up, so don’t be deterred. I can’t express how much I am looking forward to these young cadets being thrown into some action, and knowing that Master Chief is going to enter the fray at some point has got me salivating for the next episode already. I know a lot of us Halo fans have been hoping for a live-action movie for years now, but honestly, this web series is filling that void, and then some thus far.

If you haven’t jumped in to Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, I highly recommend you do so. If you are a fan of the Halo series – or hell, just a fan of good sci-fi – I highly recommend getting on board now, because I think we are being set up for a great ride over the coming weeks.

You can check out Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 2 over at “>Machinima’s YouTube channel!

Be sure to check out our review of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 1, along with our interviews with Master Chief himself, Daniel Cudmore and the Frank O’Connor of 343 Industries!

Yesterday the internet went abuzz at the announcement of another character for Injustice: God’s Among Us. Slated for early 2013, the fighting game made by the latest Mortal Kombat team will already have: Batman, Solomon Grundy, Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Super Man, Cyborg, and now Green Arrow. I hope the full Roster rivals the size of the latest MK, or Street Fighter. Here are the images of the new character as well as his release trailer:

The Green Arrow

Green Arrow Vs. Wonder Woman

Green Arrow Vs. Grundy

Many online games boast systems for reporting players toxic to the game’s community. Whether this really improves anything, I’m not sure. Other games have self-regulating systems like privately hosted servers where local admins can give the worst of the rabble the boot. But I have never seen a company implement a system specifically designed to give positive feedback to players who make the community better by their decency, helpfulness, and civility. Until now, that is.

Personally, I want to applaud Riot Games, creators of League of Legends, for their “Honor Initiative” which is designed to do just that. If you’re familiar with League go ahead and skip to the next chapter. Otherwise, here’s a quick rundown of how the game works. League of Legends is a free-to-play, team-based “MOBA”–which stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, which is not very informative, I know. In the classic mode, two teams of five players each select one unique champion out of over a hundred and fight alongside waves of simple, AI-controlled “minions.” (Apart from a weekly rotation of free champions, it takes either a time or monetary investment to unlock any champions permanently.) There’s a lot to learn for new players, and the skill curve gets pretty steep as you level up your account and start fighting with more experienced players.

In any case, your team absolutely must work together in order to win, and therein lies League‘s greatest strength and greatest weakness: other people on the internet. A group not generally known for their warmth, civility, and ability to play nice with others. (Excepting, of course, readers of this fine publication.)

Riot Games’ Honor Initiative experiment is still in its infant stages at this point, but they recently released some very interesting figures indicating a significant improvement in the community overall in just one week. The newly implement Honor system allows you to Honor your teammates after a match for being either Friendly, Helpful, or for showing strong Teamwork. Alternatively, if your opponent is “humble in victory, and graceful in defeat,” you can Honor them for being an Honorable Opponent. Despite the fact that, at present, these honor points have no real benefit other than showing that you’re not a huge jerk, and might be a totally nice dude or dudette, the community has seen a decline in reports of negative behavior.

To quote figures posted today by Riot Games’ Lead Designer of Social Systems, known on the forums as Lyte, they have seen a decline in negative reports about players across the board:

• Negative Attitude reports: -29% in normals and -11% in ranked
• Offensive Language reports: -35% in normals and -20% in ranked
• Verbal Abuse reports: -41% in normals and -17% in ranked

Okay, so those stats represent only a week of data, and we could certainly see a regression toward the mean as stats are calculated over a longer term. But in any case these numbers are very promising.

They’ve also designed systems to catch anyone unscrupulous enough to try gaming a system with no tangible rewards–for whatever reason, a small percentage of people were doing this. More imaginary internet points, please! The minutia isn’t all that interesting, suffice it to say: Honors from strangers you’ve never played with before are valued more highly than ones from your regular gaming buddies; the system tracks and compares your Honors with your Negative Reports, since the two will most often be incompatible; and the system also tracks Honors interactions between people. In one case, “a player received 100% of his Honor from a premade friend. Both were … also toxic players and both were punished.” (Full details here.)

I want to applaud Riot Games for this concept, and this whole experiment. It’s one of those things that, once you hear about it, makes you smack your head because it seems so obvious in retrospect. We spend so much time trying to weed out the bad apples of our online communities with deterrents and punishments, but no one ever stopped to think that maybe the best way to better the community is to recognize the best participants among it. So bravo, Riot Games! And I can only hope, for all gamers’ sakes, that the Honor Initiative continues to be a huge success and subsequently leads to similar systems of reward across the gaming spectrum. As all online gamers know far too well, the bar is pretty freaking low at the moment. Here’s hoping we’ve collectively taken a step in the right direction.

[Connor Cleary is an author, video game columnist and critic, and a freelance web-slash-graphic designer. His writing has appeared on GameShark.com, and the Gamasutra family. His freelance design business is Four Stair Multimedia and Design. You can follow Connor @The_Blue_Key, or at fb/TheBlueKey, or check out his writing archive on Tumblr, The Blue Key.]

A good gaming headset can go a long way in adding to the enjoyment of any game you’re playing, not to mention prevent forcing others around you to listen to you playing the game (aside from you yelling obscenities into the microphone). I upgraded from the standard microphone “headset” that comes with the Xbox 360 to a pair of Turtle Beach x11’s and quite enjoyed them all the way up until they just flat out broke about 2 months ago. I treat my gadgets with a lot of care, so I was quite shocked after a night of gaming when I took my headset off and one of the ear cups just plain snapped. Not wanting to go drop more cash on another headset right away, I patched them up with duck tape and continued to use them. This worked okay, but of course now they didn’t fit right and frankly I was shocked that they had just broken like they did.

Luckily, Skullcandy just released their first product from their line of gaming headsets, the “SLYR”. Now, an audiophile I am not, but I own a pair of Skullcandy Aviators that I use to listen to music, podcast etc., and the sound quality sounds great to me – so I wasn’t the least bit hesitant to jump on another product from them. Being that the only other gaming headset I have owned were the Turtle Beach x11’s, there will be some comparisons and I’ll break down why these SLYR’s are a fine product.

First off, I want to note that the SLYR’s are wired headsets, which I don’t mind. I game a lot, but not enough to drop a few hundred dollars on a decent pair of wireless headsets. The cables don’t bother me at all. That said, the Skullcandy SLYR’s plug directly into the audio out channels of your television set, into the USB port of the Xbox 360 for power, run through their GMX In-Mixer to your controller and headset. Yes, it sounds like a lot of cable, but for anyone out there who has owned a non-wireless headset before this should all be pretty standard. The SLYR’s have plenty of cable length so you don’t feel so tethered and they are arranged in such away that your cables aren’t getting tangled up all the time.

The GMX In-Mixer is easy to use, and lit up by a blue light. Toggle up and down for master volume, left and right to adjust game audio and voice balance, press to mute which will turn the light from blue to red to indicate you are muted and it’s safe to talk to your significant other in your “cutesy voice” without being ridiculed by your teammates. Located on the side of the mixer are three presets for music, movies and games. My only gripe about the mixer is the position of it. It’s a bit far “down” on the cable and I found myself more than once having to reach down to grab it for a quick mute or volume adjustment. It’s a small gripe remedied by just pulling a little slack on the cable so it will rest next to me.

The stereo sound quality is great. With great sound and a rich bass the quality is much better than my old x11’s. My game of choice for my first run with the SLYR’s was Battlefield 3 and the game just sounded fantastic – explosions were jarring, directional sound allowed for me to pinpoint where gunfire was coming from and the entire hectic feel of the battlefield translated perfectly through the audio. Chatting with my teammate for the evening, Kill-Tacular-Tron, sounded much better as well, and after a few small adjustments on the mixer I had the game audio and voice mix exactly where I like it. The audio over all is superior quality, the only downside is that with my previous headset my own voice could be heard through the headset at a lower level to prevent talking too loud into the mic. With the SLYR’s, I couldn’t hear myself and found I had to watch the volume of my voice, but this is something I grew accustomed to quickly. As far as my microphone goes, Kill-Tacular-Tron noted that I sounded much clearer to him when talking and it lacked the slightly muffled effect experienced with the x11’s.

As far as design goes, the SLYR’s were far and away more comfortable than the x11’s. The ear cups fit of my ears that felt both snug and comfortable. With my previous headset I found myself having to adjust them a few times during extended game play, but with the SLYR’s I didn’t need to adjust them a single time once they were on my head. The boom mic position is great; it sits far enough from your face not to be a distraction, but close enough to pick up your voice very well. An added bonus is that you can fold the mic up into the headset (“EZ Stash”), so if you are watching a movie or decide to unhook the line from your Xbox to take these out for use with you MP3 player of choice you don’t have a microphone hovering by your cheek. It sounds silly, but I really found this to be a great feature as I took them for a movie-watching test drive later that evening. The design is very sturdy with limited moving parts and hinges, so I feel less likely to break these or wearing out any unnecessary joints from consistent use.

I am extremely pleased with the Skullcandy SLYR’s, and for those of you looking for a quality gaming headset in the less-than-a-hundred-dollar price range I don’t hesitate in recommending these. Even after trying out a pair of Turtle Beach x12’s (the usurper to the x11’s) prior to purchasing the Skullcandy SLYR’s, I can say the SLYR’s are the superior gaming headset in this price range. With superior sound, comfort and design I would say the SLYR’s don’t just rival other gaming headsets out there, but set the standard. If you’re in the market for a new gaming headset and are looking to spend less than $100, you should definitely pick up a pair of SLYR’s.

Summary: The Skullcandy SLYR’s offer fantastic stereo sound with rich bass along with superior comfort. The GMX In-Mixer is easy to use and allows for easy game audio and voice balance adjustments and the addition of the EZ Stash mic allows for this headset to be used for more than just gaming, offering more bang for your buck making it extremely easy to recommend this product for anyone in the market for a new gaming headset.

PROS:

• Fantastic stereo sound
• Superior comfort, especially over extended game play sessions
• EZ Stash mic that allows for other uses without having a mic visible
• GMX In-Mixer is user friendly
• Sturdy design

CONS:

• The mic does not allow you to hear your own voice at a lower level through the headset, a feature found on a few other products in this price range
• The GMX In-Mixer position could stand to be moved up that cable a bit for easier access

You can pick up a pair of the SLYR’s over at skullcandy.com, as well as check out the other two gaming headsets that are coming soon, the PLYR1 and PLYR2!

Despite a rough start (mostly Episode Two), Telltale is clearly done wasting time with The Walking Dead. Episode Four – Around Every Corner will be available for $4.99, or as part of your $20 season pass, on today’s PlayStation Store update. It will be coming to XBox Marketplace, and PC (via the Telltale Games Store, Steam, Origin, Amazon PC Downloads, GameStop, and GameFly) tomorrow. The full season will be collected on disc in November. The penultimate episode will see Lee, Clementine, and what remains of your party reach Savannah. But what will they find?

Speaking of downloadables, Sony’s intriguing indie charmer, The Unfinished Swan, has also been given an imminent release date. PS Plus subscribers will have early access next Tuesday. Regular subscribers will need to wait until October 23rd. No PS Plus discount was mentioned, so we can all expect to pay $15.

PS3 Shmup fans have a Japanese release to look forward to next month. Under Defeat HD: Deluxe Edition will include digital art book, soundtrack CD, and all of the DLC. Retail on this one will run about $30 and it’s set for physical and downloadable release. Presumably the PSN version will have a downloadable soundtrack instead of the disc. I’m inclined to think the press release was poorly worded and the retail version also won’t have a physical music disc.

This one is just screaming for an Op-Ed piece, but I just don’t have the misplaced presumption or gall to get worked up about it. Activision has temporarily removed the Favela map from Modern Warfare 2‘s multiplayer mode. Apparently, after three years of playing the game, someone has finally noticed some grafitti on a bathroom wall, “Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty.” Apparently quoting Muhammed on a bathroom wall is offensive to Muslims. Activision is now working on a title update that will remove the texture from the map, at which time it will be re-released for play.

The on-disc DLC argument has been reignited again with Resident Evil 6. Much like the Muhammed quote, I’m not going to touch the Op-Ed piece here, but it automatically includes DLC news so it is appropriate to this column. Modders have discovered a “No Hope Left Difficulty” which is expected to be harder than the current “Pro” mode. Extra taunts, costumes, and melee attacks were also discovered. In response to the find, Capcom has clarified what’s been seen. According to a Capcom spokesperson, “We still have unannounced DLC for RE6 that will be revealed in the coming months and while virtually all such content will not be on the disc there will be one piece of content, that for technical reasons, requires the use of a combination of newly downloaded data and data that is included on the retail game disc.” That makes a sort of sense. It’s not unreasonable, or unusual, to have code installed for a game to accept DLC. And, if you know what you’re planning, why not include whatever finished code you have to limit the download size later?

Warner Bros. and Monolith have announced a release date for Guardians of Middle Earth, their Lord of the Rings-themed MOBA. They’ve also got a unique way of providing players multiple options to purchase. When the game releases on December 4th you’ll have the option of downloading it from your console’s store for $15 or buying a retail copy for $30. If you happen to love physical copies (or don’t have a credit card), you aren’t actually being charged double. The game will include the ever-popular season pass for DLC. Digital purchase of the pass will be $15, but it’s included in the retail version. I like the idea of providing these types of options to gamers. Some are okay with buying digital only copies. Others still enjoy the interaction at their retailer.

This is definitely rumor, but worth mentioning anyhow. Recent beta testers of Windows 8 XBox Video Store have reported seeing actual dollar amounts in the purchase price. Because of Microsoft’s commitment to a unified marketplace, this leads to speculation that the MS Points system may be converting to dollars. Earlier betas retained the points system, and prior reports have cited Points being included in the unannounced next-gen console. It will be interesting to see how this pans. Windows 8 is launching October 26th. The Windows 8 addition to the XBox 360 dashboard is expected around the same time.

Capcom’s Devil May Cry reboot is coming January 15, 2013.You may have already pre-ordered, and the bonuses probably aren’t significant enough to change your reservation. But, if you’re still shopping around, three incentives have been announced. Amazon‘s Bone Weapons pack turns your weapons into bones and the Orb Collector perk lets you earn more red orbs for upgrades. GameStop’s Samurai pack puts a Japanese flair on your gear and comes with some free upgrade points immediately. Best Buy is giving you a little James Bond, and a little Indiana Jones. The Golden pack coats your weapons in the precious element, while the Item finder perk aids you in tracking down hidden goodies.

Harmonix, the developers behind Rock Band and Dance Central, have filed a new trademark for a game being called Chroma. No details about the game are included in the filing, but the speculation is that this is their rumored fighting game. Supposedly leaked from a source inside Harmonix, rumors are that they are developing some type of combat game for next-gen systems. This type of filing, from a developer as well-respected as Harmonix, leads me to believe we’ll see the next-gen console announcements relatively soon. It’s not likely to happen before Christmas, but early 2013 is extremely likely. Getting all of their trademarks lined up now puts Harmonix in a position to be a featured developer when the announcements come, with their game in one of the starring roles. Dance Central was great for Kinect at launch. Could Chroma be the equivalent for the neXtBox?

I was reluctant to report on this, since all it does is encourages more of this type of behavior. But, on reflection and prodding by some of our editors, here it is: PETA is pissed at Pokemon.

They claim that the long-time video game and tv/movie franchise promotes a culture of animal exploitation, and that shoving Pokemon into Pokeballs is similar to chaining wild elephants into circus cars.

Let me let you in on a little secret: This is how PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, works. They try to make a big deal out of something newsworthy in the hopes that they get more press, more donations, more members. Their publicity strategy is roughly the same as that of the Westboro Baptist Church: do something outrageous, glom onto something else newsworthy or popular, and leech off of it. I work for a large, high-profile environmental non-profit. I’ve worked professionally for campaigns, mostly for Democrats. So, yes, my liberal credentials are WELL-established. And so my professional opinion is this: PETA are f@#$ing clownshoes.

So, with a high profile video game release of Pokemon Black and White 2, PETA is trying to insert their agenda into the newscycle.

FAIL.

Not only is it tiresome, but it’s just ridiculous. Last year, they got mad because Mario was “wearing fur” by having the Tanooki Suit powerup. Sure, I guess– in the world where touching a magic leaf causes you to grow a tail, fur, and ears and then you can use said prehensile tail to fly and knock around bad guys, sure. Because in order to use a tail, obviously this isn’t just a suit but actually Mario taking on those properties. That’s his fur, that’s his tail. Are we to start targeting shirtless Robin Williams for “wearing fur” as well?

Similarly, with Pokemon, a franchise I can also barely stand as much as PETA, they are way off the mark. The whole idea is you befriend these little animals and train them- and through the magic of your love and care they can evolve into other, more powerful Pokecreatures. The themes of friendship and, dare I say it,  equality are as prevalent as high fructose corn syrup in soda and candy, twice as sweet, and three times as likely to put you in a diabetic coma from sweetness overload.

Both with Pokemon and PETA, I get why some people like you. I even have some respect for what you’re trying to do. But I’d rather be killing zombies or solving puzzles or pretending I’m a Jedi Knight than make fake, cutesy creatures duel each other. And I’d rather solve the major problems we have with making sure that PEOPLE are treated ethically in this country before I start worrying about the animals. So on that day when every American has health care, enough food to eat, poverty is eliminated, war veterans aren’t homeless, we’ve solved climate change and our air and water is clean, then I’ll get on board the PETA train.

Until then, their critique is only slightly less ridiculous than when Tracey Morgan, playing Harry Belafonte in a SNL “Hardball with Chris Matthews” sketch, declares, “” target=”_blank”>Pokemon is a slave trader, and Pikachu is the slave master.”

I can’t believe I just wrote an article taking the side of Pokemon. . .