Feel the emotion

The Last of Us Part I hits n?ext week, and today Naughty Dog showed off the accessibility features included in the remake. Among them is a pretty fascinating new feature for deaf players. It plays dialogue through the PlayStation 5's DualSense, letting players "feel" the delivery of dialogue.

Over on the PlayStation Blog, The Last of Us Part I game? director Matthew Gallant discusses? some of the new accessibility features the team has developed. The DualSense dialogue tool started out as a prototype, in fact. And during playtesting, the team at Naughty Dog found it to be really successful. The feature, when toggled on, plays dialogue through the PS5 DualSense controller via haptic feedback.

"That way a deaf player can feel the way a line is d??elivered, can feel the emphasis, along with the subtitles to give some sense of h??ow that line is delivered," said Gallant.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LINKh60I8CY

Another new feature the team has is audio description for cinematics. Naughty Dog partnered with Descriptive Video Works, a service that works in TV, movies, and game trailer, to integrate audio description into cutscenes and acro??ss all localized languages.

Easing access

Alongside the new tools, The Last of Us Part I also features a ton of the accessibility features seen in Part 2. This includes vision accessibility, with tools like High Contrast Display and HUD scaling. Hearing accessibility tools are also available, adding subtitle names and d?irection, as well as pick-up notifications and awarenes??s indicators.

It's nice to see Naughty Dog carry on with these features into future games. The Last of Us Part II was recognized for its accessibility features. It's cool to see developers to continue building on and prototyping new features that can only help more people engage with their games.

The Last of Us Part I hits PlayStation 5 on September 2, 2022.

The post The Last of Us Part I accessibility features include letting players ‘feel’ dialogue through the DualSense appeared first on Destructoid.

We're going to be hearing it *a lot*, after all

EA Motive has been checking in with the Dead Space community ahead of the 2023 remake, and its latest update has to do with ?the all-important Plasma Cutter. Did it sound wro??ng to you before? If so, you'll probably appreciate the new audio "modifications."

//twitter.com/deadspace/status/151??4307911299715072

"When we showed you the [Dead Space remake] Plasma Cutter and Pulse Rifle not everyone was sold on it, and there were a handful of criticisms that felt they could still be better," explained Motive. ?"We believe that the feedback given was definitely valid and reading the comments on what was highlighted, we made a few modifications that we think improve it!" These live streams and open lines of communication are appreciated.

What changed since the last stream, exactly?

"The sense of power from weapons comes with the full experience, as it’s not only the core sounds you’ll hear, but also the impact on surfaces, and the effects on the environments. You’ll notice the Plasma Cutter frequenc??y range has been rebalanced to focus more on the kick, as well as the lower end. Overall, this better aligns to t??hat 'feel' that so many of you mentioned with the original.

With the Pulse Rifle, you can hear now that the rhythm is a bit more chaotic and not as tight as the previous version. There’s a bit more volume from the environmental reaction, as well as more feedback from surface?? impacts."

This before-an?d-after clip speaks for itself, and I think they'?re on the right track with these weapons. That said, I'm a Plasma Cutter man for life, so I'll be skipping the Pulse Rifle.

[caption id="attachment_316778" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{Artwork from Motive's "early 2023" Dead Space remake.}[/caption]

It's a weapon that looks, feels, and sounds iconic to this day, so getting that all just right �capturing the original game's essence through a new lens without being too different or too similar �seems like a tricky balancing act. I don't envy the team's directive, but I wish them the absolute best of luck; Dead Space deserves a true comeback, and this should only be the start. As much as I adore Resident Evil, there's room for so much more.

Even though I told myself I wouldn't obsess too much over the minutia, well, here we are! Not that this is a trivial element of Dead Space; the Plasma Cutter �and really every last bit of the sound?? design �is instrumental in pulling off this nerve-wracking horror experience. Just like in the 2008 original?, I want to have to physically catch my breath.

It'd be nice to just wake up in early 2023 and be completely surprised by the Dead Space remake, but I know myself too well �I can't resist peeking at it all year long. To that end, Motive nudged fans not to fixate on the work-in-progress "visuals, animations, textures, or models today." The next Dead Space stream, an art showcase, is scheduled for May.

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Music to your rears. I mean, ears

In today's contest you can win a Gioteck TX-50 Headset and cable bundle for your PS5 of Xbox Series X!

Were y??ou lucky enough to get your hands on a next-gen console? I wasn't! I didn't try or anything --?? I'll probably wait a few years before picking one up. I'm in no rush at the moment.

If you're enjoying the nex??t generation of gaming, however, we've got a treat for ya! Gioteck is giving us a TX-50? Gaming Headset to go with your PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, and a Viper VP-1 cable bundle featuring both a fast-charging USB C cable AND a 2.1 8k HDMI cable. Whew!

Gioteck is know??n for their high quality products, and their TX-50 Gaming Headset is no different. Featuring 50mm high-impact drivers to put you directly in the game, you won't miss a beat when being pinned down behind cover in Rainbow Six Siege, or doing whatever the hell it is you do in Fortnite.

• Arctic white with blue accents for PlayStation 5
• Matte black and green for Xbox SX consoles
• 50mm high impact drivers
• Minimum feedback lucid chat
• Tactile rubber finish
• Alcantra cushioning
• Robust build quality
• Discreet inline control

We wouldn't let you walk away with just a headset -- Gioteck also produces bangin' cables to go along with their sets. The Viper VP-1 cable bundle features not only a fast charging USB C cable, but a sick gold-plated HDMI cable to make your image as? crisp as it can be.

• Compatible for both PS5 and Xbox SX
• 3m length (charging cable), 2m length (HDMI cable)
• 24k Gold plated connectors
• 3A fast charging
• 8k & 4k compatible
• Premium Braided cable
• Viper shape design plugs

To enter to win, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can enter daily. Be sure to click around to earn? bonus entries, and comment below telling me your favorite snack.

We have one bundle to give away; winner gets to choose their platform (PS5 of?? XSX). We'll draw our winner next Monday. Shipping is open to residents of Europe and the United States -- please note that the winner is responsible for any VAT or import tax as imposed by your coun??try/jurisdiction. Sorry about that. Stupid Brexit.

Hit up Gioteck for all your gaming accessory needs.

Contest: Win a Giot??eck PS5 or Xbox Series X TX-50 Headset and cable bundle

The post Contest: Win a Giot??e??ck PS5 or Xbox Series X TX-50 Headset and cable bundle appeared first on Destructoid.

All about the bass (and treble)

Having?? a decent set of earphones isn't really something I've ever considered to be important to gaming. When I have played my Switch, 3DS, Vita, or smartphone on the go,? I'd just use whatever set I had lying around. Usually, it was the same set I'd wear to the gym, all crusty from my sweat.

Clearly, I should have been taking it a bit more seriously as mobile gamin?g platforms are home to some dynamic soundtracks and sound effects, something made perfectly clear w?ith the Astro A03 earphones.

Product: Astro A03 In-Ear Monitor
Manufacturer: Astro Gaming
Input: 3.5mm Headphone Jack
MSRP: $49.99

After several years of creating headsets that cater to the gamer crowd, Astro Gaming is branching out into more casual territory with its new Astro A03 In-Ear Monitor. These are the first e??arphones from the company, sporting the Astro Audio V2 system found in its more expensive headsets. The key innovation here, however, is the dual driver system. Each earbud has two drivers in it, one for bass and one for mid- and high-end tones. Supposedly, this will give the headset a sound quality that's able to capture the richness of modern gaming soundtracks and sound effects.

Wanting to get a full range of sound and music pumping through my ears, I tested the A03s out on a variety of devices, including my PS4, Switch, Xbox Series S, Google Pixel 3a, and iPad. I wanted to? see how rich of a sound the dual drivers could provide, so for the sake of this review, everything I tried with the A03s I also tried with an $8 pair of JVC earphones you can find at CVS. The good news is, the $50 earphones perform better overall. The bad news is, the cheap-ass drug store pair do a good enough job that it can be hard to tell exactly which one is better if you're only casually listening.

Games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, No More Heroes, and Lonely Mountain sounded similar between both sets. Bass tones were a bit more defined on the A03s, and it picked up some of the sound effects more clearly than the JVC pair, particularly in Lonely Mountain.?? But for the most?? part, it was a wash as neither stood out. 

To really experience the difference between the two, I needed more complicated audio samples. I first tried it with Apex Legends, but this turned out to not be a good idea. I normally use surround-sound headphones while playing it so I can accurately hear where opponents are coming. With the A03, I could clearly hear the Octane running around but couldn't quite pinpoint where they were in relation to me, resulting in an ambush. With Marvel's Spider-Man, the results were far superior. The sweeping nature of that soundtrack boomed into my ears without diluting the sounds of the city or the voiceover track. Ditto on Ori and the Will of the Wisps. The sound e?ffects and score of that are absolutely resplendent on the A03 while being merely servicea?ble on the JVCs, which again, only cost $8.

It wasn't until I tested both pair of earphones with Katana Zero did the advantages of the A03 profoundly stand out. In fact, after hearing the deep synths of that soundtrack overlaid with the bone-crushing sound effects, I started to see just how clear and concise the audio was coming out of these earphones. The A03s deliver a rich, full-bodied sound that the JVCs were really only able to mimic. From that point on, I started to appreciate what Astro has created here. Plugging them into my Pixel 3a and melting in my chair to Billie Eilish's When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?&nbs??p;solidified their place as the superior pair.

However, just because they're better than a set of earbuds that cost less than a fast-food meal doesn't mean they're ideal. For starters, the built-in mic sounded "tinny" to several friends of mine whom I called while testing the earphones. The volume controls don't work natively with any of the consoles I tried it with, so you better know how to adjust the volume on your respective devices. There's also no easy mute button when you're playing with a console. They're quite comforta?ble to wear with the standard three ear tip sizes to choose from, but as is the case with most earphones I've ever owned, outside noises can easily seep in and dilute the music of whatever it is you're playing or listening to --? lousy neighbor kids.

Still, after a couple dozen hours of gaming with these placed in my ears, they've certainly proven themselves able to deliver some great sounds and music from my game library. Someday, when Covid is over, and I actually go outside again, the Astro A03 earphones will undoubtedly be the pair I bring along if I?? plan to game, listen to mu??sic, or stream something on HBO Max.

_{[This review is based on retail hardware provided by the manufacturer]}

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Not ready for retail

As of this week, I'm officially living in a three-console household. With the arrival of my Xbox Series S, I'm about to expand my gaming horizons and experience those treasures I've missed for the last two decades. Or I'll just download Apex Legends and play nothing but that.

Either way, a new console means more controllers, less space on my TV stand, and having to go back to a wired headset. I don't mind wires, but the past several months of using my Astro Gaming A50 headset has let me really enjoy the freedom of a wireless experience. That's a great headset, but I'm not really in the mood for buying another wireless headset just for my Series S. Wouldn't it be perfect if there was a wireless headset that could ??easily switch between a PlayStation and Xbox?

Yes, it would be. Just a shame this ain't it.

Product: Astro A20 Wireless Gen 2
Manufacturer: Astro Gaming
Input: Wireless
MSRP: $119.99

Taking the Astro A20 out of its box, I was worried it would be a massive step back from the A50 and A40 headsets I've used for quite some time now. It looks a bit cheap, sporting a design I noted as "Transformer-like" in my notes. It? certainly features a lot fewer moving parts than the higher-end Astro headsets, lacking their customizable features, a removable microphone, and ear ca?ns that can turn. It's a very rigid set of headphones, with the only adjustment limited to the height of the headband.

But once I put it on, any idea of this being an inferior piece of construction vanished. It fits like a glove with a light weight that allowed me to ??play for hours before I'd start to feel any type of strain in my neck. Even on my fat head, the A20 is a remarkably comfortable headset. 

It also has a remarkably good sound. Sporting Astro Audio V2 technology, I wanted to test it out with a variety of PlayStation games to see how it handled wildly different soundtracks and sound effects. With Wattam, the child-like noises that emit from the mayor and the rest of the game's inhabitants were distinct and sharp. In Ghost of Tsushima, I vividly heard the quiet sounds of the fields and forests and the boastful rants of the patrol group I was about to murder. While it doesn't feature surround sound on PS4 or Xbox, in Apex Legends, I was able to use the audio to pinpoint where a nearby team was and wipe them out. Not to brag, but I finished my first match with this headset in first place as the k??ill leader.

Okay, maybe to brag just a little.

The point is, while the audio technology here might not be as advanced as more expensive headsets, even those not too much more pricey than this one, it provides clear and vivid audio, enough so that I preferred using the headset over my soundbar whenever I booted up my PS4. Even just straight-up music sounds great coming out of these as my "WAP" playlist can attest to. The device has ?three EQ settings to choose from and a flip-to-mute microphone with respectable sound input. The only bad sound you'll hear is when you're nearing a dead batt??ery after roughly 15 or so hours.

If this were just another wireless headset that was tied to a single console, I'd say it's a fine purchase if you're in the market for one. But that's not what it's supposed to be. The Astro A20 Gen 2 headset is supposed to represent the future of how Astro Gaming will approach the industry. A few months ago, I was involved in a Zoom call with a company representative where they laid out their plans for the A20. The agnostic design of the device -- that it can be used across PlayStation, Xbo?x, PC, and Mac -- is supposed to be the company's new design philosophy. If that is truly the case, this is a lousy showcase for that.

For this review, I was given an A20 headset that works with the PlayStation brand. It comes with a USB trans??mitter that has two modes: PlayStation and PC/Mac. It works just fine with either of those devices, though it should be known the PlayStation?? does not use the game/voice balance dial on the headset.

I also received a transmitter for the Xbox brand -- which retails separately for $20 -- but when I plugged into my Series S, it didn't want to connect to the headset. As it was explained in that Zoom call a few months ago, switching from PlayStation to Xbox is supposed to be as easy as hitti?ng a pairing button on the headset and transmitter. In reality, it's a crapshoot. First of all, there are two buttons on the headset -- the? power button and the EQ button -- and neither of them makes it clear they're for pairing with the transmitter. On the transmitter itself, there is one button that switches it from console mode to PC mode and blinks between the two modes when you hold it down.

I assume that's how you pair the headset with the transmitter, but I wouldn't have to assume if anything I was sent included instructions on how to do this. There are no supplemental materials packaged with the headset or the additional transmitter that detail how it is you go about pairing the devices??. There are no instructions on the Astro Gaming website to show you this. Neither the headset nor the transmitter is recognized by the Astro Command Center, so as of right now, there's no firmware update to make this whole process easier. As it stands, the key selling point of this headset is too frustrating in its guesswork. Even the instructions I received directly from Astro customer support didn't help relieve the issue.

I'm not sure how much more work it would have been to design a dedicated sync button on the headset or to print ?instructions that clearly?? illustrate how you pair your PlayStation headset with an Xbox transmitter and vice versa, but something should have been done to make this entire process as painless as possible. The A20 is a comfortable headset with great battery life, great sound, and nice microphone, but the one thing that makes it worth buying over its competition just doesn't work as it should.

_{[This review is based on retail hardware provided by the manufacturer.]}

The post Review: Astro A20 Wireless Gen 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

'TV speaker virtual surround sound' won't be ready in November

3D audio isn't at the top of my mind for Play??Station 5, but a PlayStation Blog post today reminded me about Sony's push for more immersive audio, and there's an important note worth touching on.

As Sony Interactive Entertainment's Isabelle Tomatis explains it, "you'll be able to experience [PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech] with the headphones that many of you already own, either through USB connection to the [PlayStation 5], or by plugging your headphones into the DualSense wireless controller's 3.5mm headset jack." Put another way, you won't need to buy the new Pulse 3D headset.

Beyond supporting hea??dphones, Sony is "in the process of working on virtual surround sound through speakers that are built into TVs." This feature won't be ready in time for the November 12 launch, but "engineers are hard at work on bringing it to PS5 in the future" and they're "extremely excited."

What does it sound like, though? Back in September, several game developers spoke about 3D AudioTech, and across the board, they cited better "situational awareness?" as one of the leading perks.

"It's almost as if 3D AudioTech was made specifically with horror games in mind," said Resident Evil's Jun Takeuchi. "It used to be that? in order to get that spatial audio, players would have to invest a lot of their own time and money. Now, just putting on a headset, they can get a full 3D audio experience."

"Audio is a key feature to really push t?he next-gen experience."

Experience PS5's ?Tempest 3D AudioTech with compatible headsets at ??launch, TV Virtual Surround Sound coming after launch [PlayStation Blog]

The post You’ll need to wear headphones for PS5’s 3D audio appeared first on Destructoid.

It's like candy for your ears

In today's contest, spoil your ears and win an EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card!

My ears are weirdly sensitive, but I'm also oddly deaf. It's a really, really stupid combo that doesn't make any sense. I can? feel bass in my eardrums from miles away and detect the smallest change in audio atmosphere like a big, white bat, but have to ask my wife to repeat herself several times because I can't hear her. I don't understand it at all.

So when EPOS gave me a few units of their GSX 300 External Sound Card, I didn't really know what ?to do with them. I thought about trading them on the black market for adult diap??ers, but figured I'd just give them away, instead.

Read about this sound card because I honestly don't know what to s?ay!

The GSX 300 external sound card is the first upgrade step for the gamer passionate about the quality of their game audio. For the gamer with a good quality headset that is seekin?g to invest in their gaming gear for better performance, without jumping off the top end in complexity and price, the GSX 300 external sound card will deliver the goods.

Used in line between the headset an??d the PC with, the GSX 300 delivers high resolution audio in stereo and customizable 7.1 surround sound with the PC gaming suite.

As most gamers know, high quality game audio which delivers realism and positional accuracy helps with your in-game reactions and performance. Level up your game audio and hence your game performance with the GSX 300 external sound card. A small investment in price?, a huge advancement in your game audio and performance.

To enter to win, simply register using the widget below. You can enter daily. Bonus entries, click, yeah yeah yeah, you know what to do. Also, in the meantime, please tell me the proper usage ??of this. I'm a total idiot when it comes to computers, so I'm not entirely sure what one would do with this. I mean, I read the description and everything, but I need it in layman's terms.

We have two GSX 300 External Sound Cards - Snow Edition to give away. Winners will be drawn Monday, August 10. As this is a physical prize (that I'm shipping, myself) you'll need a U?nited States shipping address in order to qualify. Better luck next time, Ca?nada.

Check out the EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card for yourself over at the EPOS Store.

Contest: Win an EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card

The post Contest: Win an EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card appeared first on Destructoid.

So fancy!

In today's contest you can win this awesome EPOS | SENNHEISER GSP 670 Wireless Headset, compatible with PS4 and PC!

I know some places are making an attempt to get back to something resembling normal, but for the rest of us the current ?reality is sitting around at home all day in our underwear hoping for something exciting to happen. Lucky for you guys, that something just came up!

Our friends at EPOS have given us their brand-new wireless headset, the GSP 670. This thing is packed with features, compatible with you??r PC or PS4, and best of all, free if you win it in our contest!

The GSP 670 is EPOS ?| SENNHEISER's first-ever foray into wireless headset, and it couldn't have come at a better time. With features such as full wireless freedom via Bluetooth connectivity, a noise-cancelling adjustable mic, a 20-hour battery life, and quick-charge capabilities, you'll never need to buy a wireless? gaming headset ever again. Its sleek, ergonomic design will help alleviate discomfort on your ears and noggin while also looking totally rad for the ladies/gentlemen/alien invaders. And since it's from the EPOS | SENNHEISER brand, you know you're getting a super quality product.

Features:

• Closed acoustic wireless gaming headset
• Flexible wireless features: low-latency connection and Bluetooth
• Low-latency connection transmits with near zero delay
• Bluetooth enables wide range of applications
• Intelligent battery management turns headset on and off automatically
• Separate volume control of chat audio and game audio
• Sennheiser Gaming Suite for customization and optimization of audio settings
• Advanced noise-cancelling microphone for crystal-clear communication
• Flexible microphone boom arm with 'lift to mute' function

You can finally st??op using that old soup can tied to a string to ?talk to your teammates.

To enter to win yo??ur headset, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can enter daily. Click around in there for ways to earn bonus entries to increase your odds!

We have one headset to give away; our winner will be drawn Friday, May 8. Shipping is worldwide on this one, so anyone can win! Check out PC Invasion to cheat the system and enter twice.

The EPOS | SENNHEISER GSP 670 Wireless Headset is available now -- purchase here. You can thank us later.

Dtoid Contest: Quarantine in comfort an?d class with an EPOS SENNHESIER GSP 670 for your PC or PS4

The post Conte?st: Quarantine in comfort and class with an EPOS SENNHESIER GSP 670 for your PC or PS4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Four winners and a funeral

Enter today's contest for your chance to win a PDP Faceoff Deluxe+ Audio Wired Controller for your Switch!

Big news: Today we're starting our PDP Summ??er of Giveaways! I know it's not summer yet, but the heat index here in VA Beach yesterday was like 97 degrees, so close enough. We skipped spring. It's now summer. Which means we get to skip straight to our summer promotion, so stop being so pedantic about the seasons.

Ahem. PDP just put up pre-orders for their newest Switch controller, the Faceoff Deluxe+ Audio. You c??ould wait for its release on July 22, or you can win one now from Destructoid! I think the choice is clear.

PDP has just launched the Faceoff Deluxe+ Audio, the first controller for the Nintendo Switch with built-in audio! Plug the headset of your choice into the 3.5mm jack at the bottom?? of the controller and have all in-game audio sent directly to your ears and have instant chat capabilit??ies for supported titles. That's pretty neat.

Product features:

• 3.5mm audio jack supports in-game audio and USB-chat, adjust volume on-the-fly using the D-pad on the controller
• Customize your gameplay with dual programmable paddle-style back buttons
• Swap out and snap in different Faceoff faceplates with the unique interchangeable design
• Includes a 10-foot fixed USB cable
• Officially licensed by Nintendo

Four colors -- black, blue, purple, and red -- have been revealed, and we've got one of each to give away! Use the widget below to leave your name and email address, and specify which color you'd like to win. You can repeat daily for additional chances to win. For bonus entr??ies, follow PDP and Dtoid on Twitter and share our contest post with your friends.

While you're waiting to see who won, comment below telling us why purple is the best colo?r. Like, black is kinda cool. Blue is alright, I guess. Red is just kind of there. But yo, that purple is legit. Purple is always the best choice. Prove me wrong, internet.

We have one controller of each color to g?ive away. Since this is a? physical prize, you must have a United States shipping address in order to win. Prizes will be shipping in late June. Winners will be drawn Tuesday, May 28.

For the PDP Faceoff Deluxe+ Audio Wired Controller, and dozens of other great accessories, check out PDP's website.

Contest: Win a PDP Faceoff Deluxe+ Audio Wired Cont??roller for your Switch

The post Contest: Win? a PDP Faceoff Deluxe+ Audio Wired Controller for your Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Alt-Frequencies takes audio games to the next level

[Image from Your Wife, Last Night]

Para-social relationships have become a daily part of many people's lives. Listening to the same perso??nalities on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis can light up the brain in the same way real-life friendships do. Like with anything that gets the synapses firing, this illusion of closeness has become an industry unto itself. Most successful Patreon campaigns are fueled by a genuine feeling of care for the campaigners, and that feeling wouldn't be there if it weren't for the p?ara-social effect. If you had to choose between giving your money to a faceless corporation or someone you feel like you know, it's not hard to guess where most of us would throw our coins. 

The developers of Alt-Frequencies took a much more ambitious approach to appealing to people's affection for disembodied voices. It's designed like an audio-only point and click adventure game, but instead of picking up items and sticking them together, you record clips of in-game radio shows and a send them to hosts of other shows. There's a shock jock Stern-style broadcast, two progressive college radio DJs, a couple of Pebbles and Romero-style crowd-pleasers, and few oth?er surprises. Most of the game is spent attentively listening to each show as you spin the dial in real time between them all, digging for s??omething that you think might have cross relevance between the various personalities.

For instance, if one of the conspiracy theorists shows talks about how the government is secretly manipulating us all for ?their own profit, you can grab a clip of that audio then send it to the progressives before they head out to a political rally at the local university. That will then change the content of their show, leading them to say something new that you can record and send to the pseudo-Stern, and so on. It all works in part due to the game's central premise, which revolves around a time-loop that causes everyone on the planet to experience the same 15 minutes or so over and over again, until you step in to change things forever.

The novel premise combined with its wholly unique interface and mechanics make Alt-Frequencies perfect for fans of books on tape and other passive narrative experiences. It's on sale now on Itch, Steam and iTunes. 

The post ?What if you could force you?r favorite podcast hosts to listen to each other? appeared first on Destructoid.

Greed is a demon, apparently

Over the weekend we ventured into the D.C. ruins within The Division 2! We shot things (mostly people), climbed over trash, and came to the conclusion that the Joker himself was responsible for all of this. As for the game itself, out of all the looter shooters?? I've played so far, I think this one has me the most invested.

I've never played the original, but the Division's Dark Zone risk/reward concept of exploring in search of better loot at the risk of potentially running into hostile players is a solid idea. Comb?ine this with an open world structured PVE experience that has you s??earching high and low for better gear and completing various missions -- I can see how some folks can get hooked.

After watching plenty of previews and reviews from the original, though, it's not hard at all to see the glaring similarities in The Division 2. From the UI and HUD to the near identical gameplay loop, at first glance, The Division 2 just feels like they'?ve in?troduced a new setting and not much else.

I'm hoping I'm proven wrong with the full release and future content plans, but I'm curious to hear from folks who played the original if they had straight up déjà vu vibes from the open beta. Also, shouts out to Justin for co-h??osting this episode with me!

The post Today on Impuls??e, we give our first impressions from The Division 2 open beta! appeared first on Destructoid.

Grand Theft Horse Online

Red Dead Online has arrived and for today's episode of Impulse, I sat down with Sam Mui from Infinite Backlog to share our first impressions from the beta! So far, it seems like a brilliant combination of the free-roam insanity found in Grand Theft Auto Online mixed with the incredible attention to detail, wildlife, survival busywork, and cinematic narrative from the Red Dead Redemption 2 campaign.

However, Red Dead Online includes an additional currency in the form of gold bars, with some items and gear tied exclusively to this premium currency. Throw that fun factoid in with mission payouts being awful at times (in some cases only paying out 0.02 of a gold nugget),? a??nd you can already see the glaringly obvious issue everybody already expected to happen before the game even came out.

Pro early money making tip: just head over to the swamps outside Saint Denis and shoot as many exotic birds as possibl?e (cranes, hawks, eagles, and herons) and collect their ??feathers! Exotic feathers sell for over a dollar, so if you manage to collect 10 of each, you can easily net yourself $30-40 per trip.

So, the next time some random dweeb on a fancy premium horse mocks your precious nag name??d Dog, you can put a hole in them with your shiny new bolt-action rifle paid for with the lives of hundreds of exotic birds.

The post Today on Impulse, we discuss our first impressions from the Red Dea??d Online beta appeared first on Destructoid.

Fear and loathing in New Austin

Red Dead Redemption was easily one of my favorite games from the last generation and with the prequel-sequel releasing worldwide as of today: We? decided to reflect on our favorite memories from John Marston's tale of redemption in today's episod??e of Impulse!

This episode is pretty special as it also includes my good friend Sam Mui from Infinite Backlog! We discuss everything, from the creepy and bizarre stranger mis??sions, to some of our fond memories of playing multiplayer, and creating our own fun such as jousting with tomahawks on a bridge.

Going back to record footage for this game, I'm still surprised how many intricate details they were able to pull off. Fore example, seeing the animation for horses flexing their muscles as they move still floors me. The three-act story structure still works incredibly well, and despite how bare-bones the multiplayer is compared to GTA Online ?-- it's still mindless fun, with p??lenty to do in its vast, open world.

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Backward compatibility is a drum I won't ever stop beating

I figur?ed for sure this would be a shorter console generation overall. Some might argue that the ninth generation of hardware has begun already, with the Switch releasing earlier ?last year. However, with the new trend of half-step consoles such as the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X already out -- for Sony and Microsoft anyway -- the eighth hardware generation could still be kicking around for a little longer.

But, this hasn't stopped speculation and rumors cropping up regarding Sony's next console with Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida recently stating that next-generation hardware is "necessary." What has surprised me, though, was the timeline given in his follow-up quote?? of: “we will use the next three years to prepare the next step, to crouch down so that we ca??n jump higher in the future.”

So, with ??Sony's next console still potentially three years out, me and Associate Editor Peter Glagowski sat down? and discussed the features we'd love to see in the system itself! This includes native 4k resolutions, as well a potential upgrade to PlayStation VR, backward compatibility and, most importantly: spherical design!

Truly, the future will have arrived only once spherical gam?e systems do.

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How do you feel about it?

The concept of playing a game early is certainly enticing, but the way this system of “early access” has been changing over the years is starting to concern me. The practice is nothing new. Steam's Early Access program dates back years now, a?s well as the practice of making beta access a pre-order incentive.

However, over the past few years, it would seem larger publishers such as EA and Ubisoft are making early releases -- regardless if the game is single player, multiplayer, or has any kind of beta access -- an incentive to pre-order various editions? of their games. So, in today's episode of Impulse, me and Associate Editor Peter Glagowksi sat down to briefly discuss the growing trend of essentially paying more to play early.

From augmentable pre-orders in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, to the latest trend of including early releases in various editions ?of a game. The days of the Tuesday release schedule (in North America at least) seem to be a thing of the past now.

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Liven up your hunting party

Sony have unveiled a range of whole audio gadgets designed around the theme of the upcoming open-word adventure title Monster Hunter: World, which is coming to PS4, PC?? and Xbox One in 2018.

The set of 'choon providers includes a 16GB Walkman, which comes in five colours and is pre-loaded with a selection from the game's soundtrack. To allow the game's atmospheric beats to ring your drums? you can purchase a pair of themed "h.ear on2" wireless headphones, available in the same colour palette.

For those of you who have that special Monster Hunter in your life, a wireless loudspeaker is also available, so you can share your sounds on those cosy, fire-lit nights. I'd advise against using that on your base camp though, as it's likely to attract attention from any Rathalo??s passing overhead.

All the gear comes stamped with the Research Commission insignia, and is boxed in supply crate-style packaging. Although spotted on Japanese website 4gamer, hopefully these items will be made available worldwide. I think it's all great-looking gear, though I'm confused as to how ??you fit your tapes into th?at supposed Walkman.

Monster Hunter: World ?launches on PS4 and Xbox One January 26, with a PC release to follow.

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Interview with his voice actor hints at a new video in the works

It's no secret I'm a big fan of Overwatch, and Lúcio is my favorite character of the bunch. His voice acting is a big part of that, so I was happy to see this interview with the voice of Lúcio, Jonny Cruz. If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and revisit the video of Cruz walking around Blizzcon and interacting with his fellow voice actors.

_{Lúcio by Sinclay on DeviantArt.}

In the interview, Cruz discusses several topics including how he got the part. "I looked at this picture they had, it was basically a Latino boy with a skateboard…just that and a few lines of description. I was like “Hey, you know what? I think all I have to do is go in and be me on this.” In some way, Lúcio is a part of who I am, and I think ??that’s why it rang so true in the audition.”

Most of Overwatch's other heroes have had their backstory filled in with comics or short films like the one that gave us our first look at Sombra. When asked where the Lúcio short film is, Cruz deflected, saying “Apparently it’s coming! They’re working on something! I don’t know what though, they always keep me in the dark, so who knows? (laughing)” It's hardly confirmation, but Lúcio is one of the most picked characters in Overwatch, and his fans would probably like to know a little ??more about him.

_{Lúcio by Raichiyo33 on DeviantArt.}

I got the impression that Cruz and the other voice actors don't have much?? input into the characters:

_{“They’ve got all this stuff planned way in advance, but they don’t tell me anything! (laughing) They just tell me “Hey, say these lines!” and I say “You’ve got it, baby!”. They know what they’re doing…I’m sure they’re going to be dropping more [heroes], too. I don’t quite know but I’ve heard talks of all kinds of things. This game is just going to constantly grow, y’know? They’re really putting a [lot] of time, effort and love into this thing.”}

Voice actors wanting to know more about the roles they'll be playing in games is one of the major sticking points that led to the SAG-AFTRA strike ea??rlier this year. Cruz was asked what he thought of the negotiations. "I’m always thrilled to be behind a mic, voicing a character…it’s just that there’s a lot that goes into it, a lot of strain on the voice, it can be taxing. But yeah??, we just need to find out what works. And y’know, I’m down, I’m easy to work with. So let’s figure it out!”

The interview touched on several other topics, including Overwatch's remarkably diverse cast of characters. “I really love the way they’re going about it, by bringing in all these different ethnicities…and all these robots (laughing). You know, you can be anything! And that’s what I really just love about voice acting, that you can play anything, and that it doesn’t matter about your skin, as long as the voice matches... That’s so important for me, not just playing stereotypes. And that’s what I love about Overwatch.”

??In?terview: Overwatch's Jonny Cruz talks Lúcio, Fandom and Fair Pay [CulturedVultures]

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Look behind you

On the opposite end of the spectrum from that absurdly funny fan-made Metal Gear Solid V animation that swapped in Norman Reedus' character and Lisa from P.T., here we have another great find dug up by data miners??: all the spooky scary voiced lines, some of which you've likely never? heard.

This video by YouTube user AestheticGamer compiles all of the unsettling vocal audio from P.T. in one place, "not including all the baby sounds (as... Well, they're baby sounds) or the son speeches (since those are in video files apparently and not in-game audio), but everythin?g else."

Yes, this is totally nerdy and scary, just the way I like it. P.T. will always live on in our hearts.

[Via NeoGAF]

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You'll look like Princess Leia, but they sound good

Right after I got back from Poland almost a month ago, I received a package with all sorts of Razer goodies inside, including the Ornata keyboard, the Death Adder Elite mouse, and the Kraken 7.1 V2 Gaming headset. I'm still working on reviewing those first two (Spoiler: I'm rather happy with them), but I've been using the headset for the past few weeks both in numerous matches of Killing Floor 2 and Battlefield 1 and for listening to music while I conjure up more words for you fine folks to read. ?;

It's gonna be hard to tear these off my head the next ?time I have to do another headset review.

Product: Razer Kraken 7.1 V2 Gaming Headset
Manufacturer: Razer
Input: USB 2.0
MSRP: $99.99

Let's start from the outside and work our way in. The Kraken 7.1 V2 is large, but?? it's more comfortable than I initially expected. At 346 grams, it doesn't feel particu??larly heavy, and the large cups sit comfortably over my ears. While the cups do protrude a couple inches and have the potential to make you look quite ridiculous, it allows for 50 mm audio drivers, meaning better sound quality.

Since the Kraken is connected via USB, I generally wouldn't be using them outside of home anyway, but aside ??from the large cups, the set looks sturdy and sleek. I'm glad Razer gave up on the awful mid-'90s punk band vomit font it had been using on so many of its products up 'til now. With nice RGB lighting on the side of the cups and the clean new Razer logo, I wouldn't be embarrassed to take these into a coffee shop to get some writing done. Also, a nice bonus is that I've worn these for five hours at a time and my ears never get sore. That's highly subjective, and I don't know your ears, but these worked well for me.

The microphone is attached to the left cup, and is conveniently retractable for whenever you want to use the phones exclusively for listening. Whenever you'd like to mute yourself, you simply pinch the tip of the mic down (there's a sneaky little button on it) and you'll be nice and silent. Quality-wise, I was surprised to find that my voice sounds crisp and clear in comparison to most of the other gaming headsets I've used in the past. Through Razer's Synapse software, I was able to tweak volume normalization, ambient noise reduction, and active mic noise cancella??tion, allowing squad mates to hear my voice despite whatever cacophony was surrounding me. Curiously, no matter what I adjusted, people that I played with told me they could hear my breathing a little too easily. This means that either the mic is a wee bit too sensitive, or I need to start doing breathing exercises.

But these are primarily for your ears, so the most important aspect is the sound. If Razer is going to tout 7.1 digital surround sound, the Kraken had better tickle my eardrums and fill them with sweet, honeyed compliments. There's an ongoing debate as to whether or not digital 7.1 is true surround sound because the speakers are too close to your ears, yada yada yada you can Google it. What's important to me is that the illusion of surround sound is here, and I can already hear the benefits in Battlefield 1. I've heard other players coming around corners behind me and taken them down? even though they sh??ould have had the drop on me.

There's a deep bass to these that audiophiles would probably frown at, but I find it works pre?tty well for getting a nice, grounded sound in the games I've been playing. With the bass boost in the Synapse software, running through explosions is particularly pleasant (as nice as ??something so traumatic can be), though the Kraken does struggle with the boost maxed out on the highest volume. That's not good for your ears anyway, but if you're nigh-deaf and need to have it that loud, be aware that there is a loss of consistency at that point. You can also adjust sound normalization and presence level, for when you want to reduce loudness variation and better hear your friends.

When it comes to listening to music, the Kraken performs admirably. There's a nice balance to the lows and highs that doesn't feel as compromised as I'm used to with gaming headsets. For the best possible musical experience, you're still better off with dedicated headphone?s from a company like Audio-Technica or Sennheiser. But if you're like me and don't want to switch your earhuggers every time you change? from gaming to music, the Kraken sounds good, warm, and balanced compared to other gaming headsets. Don't @ me, as the kids on Twitter say.

The Kraken 7.1 V2 is a great overall package; it's comfortable on my big dumb head, has a surprisingly high-quality microphone, and the sound quality is more gen??erous than I expect from the often compromised category of gaming headsets. As someone who both plays games and writes constantly, I find them to be a good alternative to switching to more appropriate headphones every five minutes. Even if this isn't the case for you personally, the Kraken is a good choice if you want a high-quality headset for a decent price.

_{[This review is based on retail hardware provided by the manufacturer.]}

The post Review: Razer Kraken 7.1 V2 Gaming Headset appeared first on Destructoid.

You know the one

When I think of THX, I think of its logo, that distinct before-the-movie "Deep Note," and also this wide-eyed creature. But, going forward, maybe I'll think about?? Razer, too.

The gaming hardware maker has acquired THX for? an undisclosed amount, though the company will operate as an "independent startup" with its existing management and "have discretion to seek agreements with other product makers, service providers, and financial partners apart from Razer."

According to Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan, "This acquisition will allow us to reinforce Razer's leadership in gaming and extend the brand into broader areas of entertainment, w??hile at the same tim??e empowering THX to develop into a global powerhouse, independently."

"With Razer," says THX CEO Ty Ahmad-Taylor, "we can now continue to strengthen? our core lines of business while delivering e??xcellence for our customers' ever-changing needs. As a standalone company, THX will work with Razer but will primarily continue to service our partners in the industry in order to deliver great products to consumers."

I'm unsure how this will specifically play out longer-term, but for now, I'm just surprised by the move. I guess I didn't realize Razer was in a place to pick up THX, or THX was looking to sell. Ahmad-Taylor elaborated on the decision in a blog post, noting that the sale gives them a "rock-solid foundation" and? that he "wouldn't be surprised if we launched a few joi??nt products with Razer."

There's also virtual reality to conside??r. "As gaming bridges into VR, we expect to play a leadership role in the audio portion of that experience, which is crucial for completion the immersion into virtual worlds."

A New Beginni?ng for THX: Why I Sold My Company in My First Year [THX]

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It's like hearing Dr. Breen's own playlist

I've been a fan of the various You Are Listening To... streams for a few years now. Initially, you could listen to the police banter of various North American cities while a stream of ambient and instrumental music played at the same time. It made for an oddly soothing listening experience but I don't think there's anything gentle about this custom station, a loop of radio chatter from Half-Life 2's sinister dystopia City 17. 

I haven't played Half-Life 2 for a while now but just hearing that combined radio chatter and the cold, mechanical lo??udspeaker announcements brought back memories. I kept expecting to hear gunshots at some point as I'm so used to Combine guards chasing me around.

Half Life 2 gets a lot of credit for the design of City 17 bu?t its sound design never gets that much praise. This station reminded me how atmospheric the city ?really was. 

[Via reddit]

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USB DAC can make your games sound better

Before I tell you why you ne?ed this DAC or any other, let me tell you what it actually is. 

Think of a Digital to Analog Converter as an external upgrade for the circuitry of your audio device's innards. Every modern audio device, from your MP3 player to your gaming PC, has a little chip in it that takes the digital sound information and changes it into something you can hear; this chip is also a DAC. But the difference is that the external DAC, the upgrade, will be geared speci?fically for quality conversion, whereas the built-??in one from your mass market device is likely just barely doing the job.

Spending even the smallest bi??t on a DAC will make appreciable changes in the?? sound quality of any of these devices, as sound quality is only as good as its source.

In shor?t, get a DAC, plug it in, and enjoy much improved sound and music. Hear your headphone?s/speakers like never before.

Th?at's exactly what the Cambridge Audio DacMagic XS USB DAC does.

Product: Cambridge Audio DacMagic XS USB DAC
Manufacturer: Cambridge
Input: USB
MSRP: $199.99 ($189 on Amazon)

The Cambridge ??Audio DacMagic XS USB DAC is a tiny little thing, just barely bigger than a Zippo lighter, and far lighter. Its top edge of its ??brushed aluminum body features a mini USB port and its bottom edge has only a single 1/8" audio jack. On the front face you'll find volume buttons and the Cambridge Audio logo -- and that's it. Simple and clean.

That USB port connects the DacMagic to any PC or Mac (via the included mini cable), which lets you completely bypass the internal?? DAC, giving you access to high-qual?ity sound.

I fir?st tried it out on my office computer, a Macbook Pro Retina (the device is 100 percent plug-and-play on any Mac). I didn't expect it to much for what I was listening to at the time -- streamed music on YouTube -- but it did. I immediately picked up improved definition, a tighter low end, and a smoother top, making songs I've heard dozens of times on my office sound setup sound better than I've?? ever heard.

Intrigued, I quickly jumped to trying out the DacMagic with higher quality source material. Most of my newer playlists are stored in Apple's format at 320kbps, so it was no problem putting the DAC through its paces. R&B tunes had a very satisfying kick/bass guitar range through my main listening headphones, the AKG K545. I'm not really an EDM guy, but listening to Japanese artist M-Flo's new album, Edm-Flo?, had me grinning wildly for most of the time I sat through the 2?0-track album.

My other favorite phones, the AKG K702, took all that sweet, clean high end the DacMagic put out and made my ears happy, like they were born to be together. For high quality audio file rips (DacMagic supports up to 192kHz sample rates in its optional USB 2.0 mode), I was quite pleased with its performance ??as I heard a new depth to songs I've heard many times before. But for older MP3s I could hear every tiny little compression artifact and cymbal crunch. Too much power can be bad sometimes?.

This tiny little box was equally impressive in gaming. It only took a few seconds to appreciate the improved balance and detail while poking through my Steam library with the DacMagic connected, and gaming headphones on. It made my SteelSeries phones sound better, no question. I'm already unbelievably bad at CloudBuilt, but I was even wo?rse this time as I was too busy appreciating the sound work and the outstanding musical score to get anywher??e.

I did side-by-side comparisons using several sets of phones on the same games, switching between the DacMagic and the internal sound of my gaming rig, Razer's Blade 14. Again, no contest: through the DacMagic, games sounded shiny, impressive, and considerably more immersive. In Cloudbuilt, I picked up on atmospheric effects that I never noticed before, like voice echos and musical reverb trails. Even simple games like DuckTales Remastered and Joe Danger had me clearly hearing the benefits of an upgraded DAC. It got to the point whe??re switching back was a bit of a bummer. I'll never look at my rig's headphone port the same again, sadly. It's too bad I have to send this thing back.

If you are looking t??o improve sound quality for gaming, music, movies, or anything else that comes out of your computer, the DacMagic is a really easy and convenient way to do that. It's so small, light, and portable (and comes in a nice drawstring bag) that you won't ever sweat taking it with you.

A DAC like this might be a tough sell to gamers with its $189 street price, especially when it's hard to convey what exactly it would do for their gaming experience. But I think gamers are becoming smarter and more selective about audio, and the headphone/audio business is growing rapidly as a direct result of gamer demand for quality listening experiences. We now have access to very high-quality headsets, and we should? want to plug these into only the best source. That's where a DAC upgrade makes sense to me.

Jus??t short of $200 is a tall order for this  matchbox of a thing, but hearing is believing. This little thing made a big difference for me, and if you're running motherboard stock audio, it probably will for you too. If you're the type that wants your games to sound their best, check out ?the DacMagic. It might be exactly what you're looking for.

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New Gold Wireless Headset announced

As of a system update going live late tonight, PlayStation 4 owners with an official Pulse or Pulse Elite Edition headset will now be able to use their device with the console.?? That took a while, didn't it?

With that support out o?f the way, Sony is now able to talk about a new device: the Gold Wireless Headset. Due early this month for $99, the 7.1 virtual surround sound set will ??be compatible with PS3, PS4, PC, and Mac, as well as PS Vita via 3.5mm audio cable.

The Gol??d Wireless is yet another headset to tout custom audio modes intended for specific games. Those developer-created modes will be delivered by way of a free Headset Companion App (also compatible with the Pulse line) on the PlayStation Store.

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With Forza and Halo sound modes

I don't h?ave the best history with sound bars. I had this bigger JBL one that sounded nice, but it stopped working. Kaput. I tried to replace it with one of Sony's budget models, but that one so?unded so bad that I laughed at it. And I returned it.

I ended up with a discounted Samsung model that you'd probably find on the shelves of any electronics store right now. I hate it. It sounds like someone popped one of my eardrums. The wireless subwoofer is neat, but it sounds like someone mumbling loudly in the next room.?? It's unplugged and now in one of my closets. Do you want it? You can have it.

Polk sent along one for us to test out. The Polk N1 Surroundbar is a gaming-focused product, and one of the first officially licensed X?box One products. I wasn't sure about how a gaming-focu??sed soundbar would hold up, but I was pleasantly surprised after spending some time with it.

Polk N1 Gaming Surroundbar 
Manufacturer: Polk
MSRP: $299 (available at Amazon)

The N1 is a sharp-looking but compact (about 39" wide, 4" tall) sound bar that manages to pack in four small drivers and a subwoofer behind its cool horizontal slats and under its brushed-top finish. It might be a tad bit bigger than the models that have a separate subwoofer, but it's nice and tidy, and still small enough to fit underneath your television's screen. It's availa??ble in both black and white finishes.

You won't find a wealth of ports on the N1, but it does have all the bases covered. Two digital connections (SPDIF and Optical) an?d one 1/8" audio jack will cover just about any need. There's also a SUB-OUT port for those that would like to add a subwoofer. Connectivity is expanded by the built-in Bluetooth chip, which lets?? you stream audio from just about any compatible device.

Polk came to Microsoft for a bit of help with the sound processing for the N1. They were paired up with 343 Industries and Turn 10 Studios to work with their engineers to create a couple of genre-specific sound modes for the sound bar. There are even little buttons on the remote that feature the Forza and Halo logos. Of course, you don't have to be playing Halo 4 or Forza 5 to benef??it from the shooter and ??racing genre modes of the N1.

My first impression was that the N1 gets loud! A big sound comes out of this relatively compact sound bar. I did not expect it to put forth such a clean, full sound. That subwoofer may be invisibl?e, but it's definitely working somewhere in there. The N1 has a full range sound that is well-balanced and tight. There's none of that nasty time separation between highs and lows (a wireless sub problem), and it gets away from the hollow, processed sound that so many sound bars suffer from. 

The game sound processing modes are interesting in that they perked up the sound of the games I tried it on without harming the audio quality. Too many of the EQ curves thrown into gaming audio products hype frequencies to be exciting, but eventually end up causing ear fatigue. Trying the racing mode with Forza 5 had the sound field widening a bit, making the sound effects more immersive. The shooter mode seemed to make all the foreground s?ounds even more pronounced. It began to wear on my ears at h?igh volume, though. Neither mode as as gimmicky as I originally feared, and the racing one in particular is quite good.

There are a few drawbacks of note for the sound processing. The sub can distort with some of the sound processing on at higher? volumes. Also, you need to be sitting dead center for full immersion. Anything outside of that skews the sound field in a weird way. 

The non-gaming modes, Music and Cinema, were as useful as they were named, with the Cinema pre??set working well for content that I tried with my cable box. Again, the N1 put off a rich, full-range sound, with this mode bringing more pron??ounced dialogue than the others. The N1's sound can easily fill a large room.

The Bluetooth streaming mode works like a char??m, and it has great range, too. 

A few gripes: The remote is a tiny little thing that seems to respond when it wants to. I don't expect it to hold up. Thankfully there's a programming feature included to let you use y?our existing remotes. I also found that there aren't enough steps between the digital volume settings to fine tune the volume exactly to my liking. And not having a sound-mode button on the speaker is an ov?ersight.

My personal preference for gaming, music, and movies is stereo speakers and a proper receiver. While you couldn't manage full tower speakers and an amp for the N1's $299 MSRP, you could swing a budget receiver and some fuller-ranged bookshelf speakers, or a budget set of powered monitors. Even Polk's TSi100 Bookshelf speakers would be a great solution for gaming and music.

But the N1 is better than any sound bar that I've had in my home so far, and it has gaming sound modes to boot. Its Bluetooth connectivity makes it even more useful as a big wireless speaker system. If you want a tidy, clean, and loud solution that fits underneath your television set, the Polk N1 Gaming Surroundbar is a solid choice for your gaming rig. 

The post Review: Polk N1 Gaming SurroundBar appeared first on Destructoid.

We put the 360 edition to the test

Polk Audio has crafted gaming headphones called the Melee that was created in tandem with the sound engineers of the Halo and Forza series to deliver top-quality s?ound. It's a pretty ambitious project, and overall, I?'d say it paid off.

I'm impressed, but $200 is pretty hefty for?? a device that's mostly tailored towards one console.

Product: Polk Audio Melee Xbox 360 Gaming Headphones
Manufacturer: Polk Audio
Input: 3.5mm, USB (power)
MSRP: $199.99

You have a few options here, as the set comes in blue, white, or black (I had a chance to test out the latter). Although the Melee is generally comfortable, the headband in particular is not nearly as comfortable as some other bands out there, like the SteelSeries Siberia Elites. It looks sleek overall but there's a cheap aluminum feel to them that doe?sn't quite scream "$200 headphones." That said, they are fairly light and easy to move around. This is a corded unit (more on that later), so it's a bit higher in quality than many other wireless options. How much higher? Well let's take a loo?k.

Polk headphones generally have a sound quality you can trust (I have a few pairs of their non-gaming line), and the Melee is no exception. Everything sounds fairly equalized to the point where no particular spectrum is higher than the other, which is great for gamers who are sick ??of overly boomy lows and sharp highs. The bass quality isn't particularly booming, but it's not non-existent, either -- that could easily be a positive or negative depending on how much you like your explosions.

The retractable microphone works well, and is completely hidden from sight since it folds into one of the cups -- in other words, it's not dangling in front of you, and it doesn't look goofy if you use them in public. It's on the left ear, and the button is p??retty easy to press if you want to bring it in or out, almost like a trap door. You'll?? need to speak up a bit more than usual, though.

The entire setup is one long? daisy chain, starting with your 360 controller. Essentially, you plug an adapter into your headset, and plug said adapter into your controller (the bottom of the 360 controller, where the mic goes). With this Y-shaped adapter you can change your mic volume, audio level, and EQ setting with your thumbs. It's a bit unwieldy at first since ??it's larger than your typical headset adapter, but eventually you get used to the convenience of flipping volume settings without having to pause the game. In other words, it feels like a natural piece of the 360 controller after extended use.

From there, the adapter plugs into a tube-like DSP amplifier (which can toggle between Dolby support), and finally, that has optical and USB cables that you plug into your 360. If you want to hook up the Melee to any other device it comes with a 3.5mm cable, but they don't really offer any other functionality outside of taking phone calls with a button, and they're mostly build for 360 use. Should you register your pair online, you'll be able to eventually get an Xbox One adapter sometime in 2014.

In pretty much every sense of the word this is a standard high-quality gaming headset, but the main draw is the EQ settings, built with the aforementioned industry sound engineers. There are four "immersion" modes custom build for two gaming franchises and other activities: Halo, Forza, Music, and Cinema. Each setting has a different LED light on the adapter so you know which one you're currently picking. The EQ didn't blow me away (tested on Forza Horizon and Halo 4), but it does attempt to draw out some?? of? the more significant audio from those titles like gunshots and engine sounds.

If you're someone who still plays first-person shooters or racing games daily on your console and that's basically all you play, you m??ight be interested in picking these up. For the rest of you out there -- just stick to another cheaper pair of non-gaming headphones (if you're an audiophile), or grab a convenient wireless option on sale (if you're all about the ease of use).

The post Polk Audio’s Melee headphones are nice, but expensive appeared first on Destructoid.

Several new sets debut at CES

The business of gaming audio is growing so fast that the makers of many premium audio product brands are throwing their hats into the ring. Several new gaming headset??s debuted at CES 2014, with entries from top names like Audio Technica, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Klipsch, and Polk. These are all companies that know quality audio, and some are among the top names in headphones. Some of the third-party gaming accessories companies should start watching their backs.

Read on for our quick impressions of? these new headsets from CES 2014. 

Audio Technica

Audio Technica's two new gaming headsets both feature big 53mm drivers and "wing" support systems, just like their high-end listening headphones. The ATH-AG1 is a closed-back set that has plenty of low end for powerful explosions and booming bass. I dug the open-backed ATH-ADG1, whic?h sounded clear, precise, and airy in contrast. 

Both sets also feature a boom mic and a little clickable chat mute button. Even better, they bot??h have detachable USB DAC units, com??plete with headphone amps. 

While both sets sounded great in their own ways, and both?? were light and comfortable, they felt plasticy and looked a bit cheap in some of the trim work. The sound? Premium, for sure. But I was hoping for a bit higher quality build for the $349 asking price.

Sennheiser

I don't necessarily dig the Stormtrooper-ish black-on-white design of Sennheiser's two new gaming headsets, the G4ME Zero (closed back design, $279) and G4ME One (open back design, $249). And I don't c?are for the names, ei??ther.

But Sennheiser makes some of the best headphones in the universe, so we have high hopes for the audio quality. I played a bit of Killzone: Shadow Fall using these sets and quickly took?? a liking to how they sounded: full and accurate. The high level of noise on the show floor made it hard to do any critical listening, but from what I he?ard I expect these to sound pretty nice.

??Despite not liking the looks, the build quality and comfort level of both sets was easy to appreciate. The velvet earpads on both are big and soft, and the headband is comfortable. Only the G4ME Zero had a foldable design, though.

Both feature large boom mic arms that click when folded? upward, enabling a mute ?switch. 

A PS4 connection required an adapter that combined the headset's two plugs into one sing?le 1/8" pin.

Klipsch

Klipsch unveiled both their KG-200 ($129) and K-300 ($199, comi?ng February) gaming headsets at CES, but only the wired KG-200 was available for testing -- the wireless K-300 was kept in a glass case at their booth. 

The 40mm drivers sounded nice from what I could hear in a ??PS4 test, but the ear pads weren't blocking enough ext??ernal noise for me to get a good listen.

The KG-200 has weird looking teardrop s??haped ear cups, but they felt fine on my head. The back of the cups are plastic and felt a bit hollow, and the glossy black headband was already covered in scratches after two days of being on the show floor.

Both models feature several larges buttons on one ear.? A rocker lets you adjust sound and chat volumes, and an EQ select button scrolls through four presets.

Polk

Polk's Melee headset ($199) is interesting in that it is Xbox branded. Built-in signal processing lets you tune your phones to work best with certain gaming genres as well as with mov?ies or music. These are really sharp looking sets that come in white, blue, and black. 

We have a ??pair in the office that we're?? currently reviewing. Check back later today for our full review.

The post Premium audio brands get into gaming head?sets at CES appeared first on Destructoid.

Can I borrow some money?

PC desktop speakers usually suck. Most of the ones you see in electronics stores center around a particle board subwoofer and satellite speakers that remind me (and sometimes sound like) the cups with string tied to them that you used to play 'telephone' with when you were a kid. As gamers, we have cou??nt??less headsets to pick from, but pickings are slim when it comes to quality desktop speakers.

In my own personal search for a quality set of PC desktop speakers, I made it a bit of a side quest here at CES to find the best sets on the floor. Here are the two that really stood out at CES 2014. They're both pricey, but you're getting sound that's far beyond your standard ??desktop speaker with each.

Polk Hampden powered loudspeakers -- MSRP ~ $399

Hot damn! The Polk Hampden sound amazing. These are two-way speakers that use a 4 1/2" polypropylene woofer and a 1" silk tweeter to put out some surprisingly rich, high-quality sound. Each woofer ??and tweeter gets its own amp to reduce distortion, which had all of the test music I heard? sounding so nice that they were drawing attention. 

They also look pretty slick with their built-in stands that have them aimed a bit upward. Their teak veneer finish is a bit retro, but the old-fashioned volume dial takes the re??tro theme over the top. I also love the gold-tinted driver and twee?ter finish.

The Hampden is USB compatible to give a connection to its high-quality digital audio converter, letting you bypass your computer's standard gear for top quality sound (though there's also an analog input jack). That sound is huge, wide?, and clean. It?? sparkles And it's plenty loud. It's like having full-sized bookshelf speakers on your desk, but without the amp, and in a cool, compact casing. It's built-in Bluetooth chip lets you stream from your devices wirelessly, too.

I keep thinking about these speakers.

Definitive Technology Incline -- MSRP $399

These stopped me dead in my tracks while walking the CES show floor today. They're sharp- looking black pillars that lean back a bit, fixed on an aluminum base. These would look outstanding on any desk?top.

And coming from Definitive Technology, a company known for their high-end speakers, their sound matches their lo?oks. Though the Incline are designed to work with computers, laptops, and tablets, they sound like bigger speakers. They're bipolar, giving them a wide, home theater-ish sound. The test material I heard made them sound much bigger than their size (about 12 inches tal??l).

The bass radiators put out a surprising amount of low end, but if you need more, the In??cline support an optional subwoofer. 

These are powered by the USB connection, wh??ich also serves as an audio ??source connection. Beyond that, optical and analog ports are also provided.

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While I like them both, I feel like I'd like the Polk speakers more for music enjoyme??nt, and ??the Definitive Technology set more for games and movies. But both are very impressive.

The post The best PC desktop speakers we found at CES 2014 appeared first on Destructoid.

Developer diary reveals some!

A new developer diary for Dementium II HD has been unleashed upon an unwitting world. This time, sound designer Morné Marais goes over some of his approaches to creating audio for ?the game, always crucial to evoking the proper mood in a horror title. 

Who knew such? a cute l??ittle mutt could be responsible for so many horrible sounds?

The post Dementium II HD sound effects provided by ??schnauzer appeared first on Destructoid.

Shaking my headset

This is a PS4 PSA. Like the Xbox One, the PS4's compatibility with existing headsets leaves a lot to be desired. Both consoles come with a fully functional headset, mind, but that's little consolation for those with expensive gaming headsets. Potential PS4 compatibility, as reported by Game Informer, is complicated.

If you own the PlayStation Pulse headset (I do, it's pretty good), a sys??tem update will give the cans PS4 comparability.?? So, don't expect to use it at launch. Lame.

Meanwhile, according to Game ??Informer, "Any other headset that relies on bluetooth for chat will not work at?? all." Headsets that use USB for chat will eventually work with a system update. You can still get sound out of digital optical sets out of the box.

I'm disappointed the PlayStation Pulse won't even work out of?? the box. I don't intend to play online, anyway, but the Pulse is how I play into the wee hours of the night. Hopefully the compatib?ility update isn't far away.

Planning On ???Using An Existing Headset With A PS4? Read This [Game Informer]

The post PS4: Your headsets won’t work at launch, some not at all appeared first on Destructoid.

Great value for the price

My experiences with sub-$100 headphones haven't been the most positive. I've gone through quit??e a few pairs from a variety of manufacturers, and have generally had issues with either comfort, durability, and/or sound/microphone quality.

I was pleasantly surprised, then, to find that the $79.99 G430s can compete, and even surpass, oth??er headsets I've tried that offer comparable features but cost over double the G430's price. I've spent a few weeks with my pair, and they've now become my primary gaming h?eadset.

Product: G430 Surround Sound Gaming Headset
Manufacturer: Logitech
Input: 3.5mm jacks with USB adapter included
MSRP: $79.99

The G430 package is fairly basic -- you get the headset and a small US?B adapter, and that's it. The headset it??self has a non-detachable microphone and a simple inline control on the cord that toggles volume and microphone mute only. There are no adjustable straps, no additional inline control panel attachments, and no other input adapters.

For me, the basics were all I needed. I tested the headphones on a variety of games, and came away generally impressed -- audio comes throug?h crisp and clear, and the headphones deliver on their promise of 7.1 surround sound with surprising accuracy. While I primarily connected the headset to my PC with the USB adapter, I also switched out to test the 3.5mm inputs I noticed no difference. 

Although the headset's microphone doesn't offer studio quality recording capabilities, it's more than passable for Skype conversations or voice chat. Tests on Skype, Mumble, Google Hangouts, and a number of in-game chat services produced easy-to-hear conversations?? with no static or cu??tting out. Physically, the headset's microphone is a little thick, but also rather flexible, and can be turned upwards out of the way.

I initi??????????????????????????ally found the G430s to be on the heavy side. Most of the headsets I've used in th?e past have been on the lighter side, and I was at first experiencing mild head and neck pain related to the headset's weight after about an hour of use. However, after roughly two weeks, I appear to have adjusted, and can now wear them for hours at a time with little to no discomfort. The headband and over-the-ear cans are both padded with breathable cloth-covered foam, and while the headset is a bit tight, even after adjustments (people with huge heads beware), the headband and cans never caused discomfort.

Overall, the G430s are a solid buy at $79.99, and can compete with headphones that are significantly more expensive. They may take a little bit of time to get used to wearing, especia??lly if you have a?? bigger-than-average head, but provide significant value at a very reasonable price.

The post Impressions: Logitech G430 Surroun??d Sound Gaming Headset appeared first on Destructoid.