AlwaysGaming

Review Of The FPS Freek Analog Stick Extensions

The online gaming community is always looking for ways to get an edge over the competition. Well, here’s your answer.

The FPS Freek brand of analog stick extensions were made with competitive gamers in mind. I was heavily into first person shooters for years, but unfortunately I’ve only had these extensions for about four months. Over that time I’ve definitely been convinced of their worth.

First Impressions:  I bought the FPS Freeks after reading on their website that the accessory “improves both accuracy and decreases thumb fatigue,” hoping to get an edge over other Call of Duty players. I was attracted by not only the boasted performance increase but the price as well. They cost me only $10 and would arrive in under a week. After I received them in the mail roughly a week later I immediately put them to the test with some Black Ops multiplayer. Snapping on the extensions was no problem, and the tight fit doesn’t wear away your original analog sticks (Although, my friend tried the FPS Freeks out on his third-party Tron themed controller, which resulted in his analog sticks being slightly damaged.) The increased height feels very awkward on the thumbs, initially. After getting somewhat comfortable with the feel I jumped into a game of Black Ops multiplayer. I did no better than usual and I didn’t find that the sticks benefited me much, only made it more cumbersome to go from analog stick to the A,B,X,Y buttons. I continued to use them, as they were getting more comfortable after every game. After 3-4 games or so I felt completely comfortable playing with the FPS Freeks attached and even found it easier to aim.

Current Impressions:  After roughly four months of use, I really can’t go back to the standard Xbox 360 analog sticks. I’ve grown fond of the extended range of motion, the vastly improved grip, and my ability to play on higher sensitivities while maintaining accuracy.

Do they really help?  From my personal experiences the verdict is a simple yes. The Kontrol Freek website claims that the FPS Freeks provide a 40% wider range of motion, increased grip, and less thumb fatigue which should in theory improve your kill/death ratio online. This is what I experienced:

1. Improved Grip-  Without a doubt the FPS Freeks increase the grip over standard analog sticks. As seen in the picture, there are 12 bumps on the FPS Freek extensions compared to the meager 4 bumps on the standard Xbox 360 analog sticks. These bumps make it easier to control and prevent your fingers from slipping off when making quickchanges in direction.
2. Decreased Thumb-Fatigue-  First of all, I never have experienced thumb fatigue from playing a video game. So I didn’t notice any difference in this category. Seems to me like this was just something that they threw in there to promote its usefulness.
3. Increased Accuracy-  Don’t be fooled, this product will not make you a Call of Duty juggernaut overnight. The idea of it actually increasing your accuracy is silly, because it only helps you aim. The accuracy of your aim is determined by you and you only. The raised sticks give you a 40% wider range of motion, which makes it much easier to aim on high sensitivities. Because of this, if you move your thumb too much you won’t over-aim as easily.

Overall, for the price of $10, the FPS Freeks are an absolute steal. This price point makes it easy for people curious of the product to go ahead and make the purchase without the risk of losing a wad of money. Being an above average player when it comes to first-person shooters I highly recommend this product to anyone who wants an edge over their competition.

A Few More Details

• They are available for both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.
• There are many other variations of analog stick accessories made by Kontrol Freek, including ones geared towards those who prefer racing games or sports games.
• For those of you interested in buying these, the ones I own are the “Vipr Ultra FPS Freeks.”

If you have any questions about something I didn’t cover in this review feel free to ask!

A Tribute to Shigeru Miyamoto

With the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. still in our recent memory and The Legend of Zelda’s 25th being this year, I thought it’d be appropriate to write a blog as a tribute to the genius behind these gems, Shigeru Miyamoto.

He is without a doubt the most successful video game designer of all time and regarded by some (including myself) the best. Characters such as Mario, Zelda, Fox, Yoshi and Donkey Kong are just a handful of his beloved characters that have spawned countless sequels and spin-offs that we still play today. All of his games have survived the test of time and are the foundation of the best games you can find on Nintendo’s console.

Mario.   Not long after the Donkey Kong sensation hit the arcades, the video game industry tanked for a variety of reasons. Consumers were given a reason to invest their money in video games once again with the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System and a little game called Super Mario Bros. The game turned the carpenter, Jumpman, into a plumber named Mario. Unheard of gameplay elements were introduced, and the little known concept of “easter eggs” was brought to an entirely new level, giving gamers replayability even after saving the princess. This simple yet addicting classic single-handedly revived the video game industry, and it hasn’t slowed down since.

The Legend of Zelda.   The Legend of Zelda series is timeless. The original laid the foundation for numerous sequels, all of which are great. They’re so great they’ve spawned some of the most discussed “Which one is best?” debates in video game history, including a debate by GI editors. Some people have clamored for a series overhaul in recent years, but I don’t want it to. I’m happy with the subtle changes from game to game, while sticking to the same formula we’ve all grown so familiar with.

Shigeru Miyamoto is a creative genius. One that deserves a book of praise, rather than this puny blog that only showcases a couple of his masterpieces. His games will go down in video game history as some of the best ever. But that is another debate altogether. 

You’ll have to excuse me, I’m off to get my nostalgia fix with some WindWaker.

Crysis 2: First Impressions

The sequel to the 2007 PC sci-fi shooter Crysis is releasing to the public on March 22nd. I, however, have played through roughly half of the single player campaign.

When I fired up my Xbox 360 and tossed Crysis 2 into the disc tray, I was expecting a game with gorgeous visuals and an uninteresting storyline. While my assumption was correct, the unique mechanics and player customization system compliment the already exciting gameplay, making up for the somewhat unoriginal storyline. I had never played the original Crysis, but the premise of the sequel is:  New York City is infected with an alien disease of some kind, you being the only force able to stop it. Aliens are causing mass destruction and you offer stiff opposition with the help of your nanosuit. It is by no means an enthralling story, but fighting the alien scum was fun nonetheless.

My favorite gameplay mechanic was the overall utility of the nanosuit. It comes fully equiped with a visor that allows players to tag hostile targets, find “tactical routes”, and find unseen enemies via thermal vision. It also features customizable features for your nanosuit. These features make certain gameplay situations easier to manage and are split into four categories, one feature being usable at a time for each category. The nanosuit really levels the playing field against the somewhat overpowered alien force. There is also a lean in-lean out option when in combat. While a good idea, the controls were confusing at times and the fast paced nature of shoot outs in Crysis 2 didn’t coerce me into using it often.

Overall

Pros

• Fun to use and helpful Visor System.
• A fresh FPS genre for those who are growing tired of Call of Duty, Battlefield or Halo.
• Jaw-dropping visuals.

Cons

• Dull storyline
• Frustratingly smart AI

So are you guys excited for the game? Or are you saving up for next month’s blockbuster titles Portal 2 andMortal Kombat?

*Remember that I have not finished the story and haven’t even attempted the multiplayer. All of these observations are based solely on the parts of the game I have finished.*

Well, Isn’t That Ironic?

Bulletstorm: My First Impressions, And Concerns

First off, you’re probably wondering how the fuck I’ve already played the game. Well, I work at my local Blockbuster, where the employees can rent games and movies a few days before the official release date. So a few more blogs like this may be possible if the feedback is positive.

Now that that is all cleared up..

I played Bulletstorm for a few hours and over that time it inspired me to think about where developers are going with the first person shooter genre. Personally, I think that developers are using cheap gameplay mechanics to give the impression of originality. I really did enjoy playing Bulletstorm, but nothing new and exciting presented itself.

Through my time with the game I’ve experienced the following:

• A particularly irritating glitch that rotated my point of view 90 degrees and inverted my controls, making it nearly impossible to navigate. Only after 10 minutes of getting almost nowhere and finally trying to slide (double-tapping the A button), did the glitch correct itself.
• Another game belonging to an oh-so stale genre, that Epic Games has attempted to spice up with:  A “leash” (actually just a whip), some pretty fun “Skillshots”, and a points system for kills. (The points are used to buy ammo and weapon upgrades.)
• A really intriguing story that I’m excited to delve deeper into.

This is usually what I get out of every FPS that I buy lately. A story that I can appreciate, minor upgrades to gameplay, and new gameplay mechanics that really don’t do much to spark interest.

Developers better start brainstorming. Because I don’t know how many more iterations of Call of Duty I’ll shell out $60 for. Especially when it seems like I’m getting nothing new aside from more guns, more customization and more 5 year olds to mute.

What do you guys think of the current FPS genre? What do developers need to do if they want to really stand out in the current age of shooters, where Halo and Call of Duty reign supreme? Discuss.

My Problem With Gamers

I have a problem with the gaming community. Not necessarily those who are reading this blog, but a particular type of gamer.
Before I begin ranting, I’m going to tell you guys a bit about my weekend. (Don’t worry you’ll realize why.)

A youth event was held in my town to raise money for our local “Youth Advisory Commission.”  The event was open to all high school students and we were lured in by live music, a dodgeball tournament, recreational basketball, food/ drinks, and of course video game tournaments. 
I took part in the Call of Duty: Black Ops tournament with my good friend. We made quick work of the competition early on, as expected, and we weren’t really challenged by the teams in the finals either. We walked away victorious. And with each of our new 3 month Xbox Live membership cards in possession, we enjoyed the rest of the night.

Happy ending right? No. Let’s rewind to about half-way through the tournament, when a freshmen at my school (who had promised to “destroy” us in the tournament) alongside his partner, lost to another sub-par team. The scrawny little guy was more than angry. His face grew red, he forcefully put the controller he was using (which happened to be mine) onto the table, and he proceeded to raging his way out the door. 

It doesn’t just end there. The next day, my friend and I got on Xbox Live in the evening and were bombarded with messages from the kid who raged at the tournament. He spewed insults that were both unnecessary and untrue, about my friend and myself. He commented on my friend’s glasses, our “lack of lives”, my girlfriend, my friend’s height, and so on.

Let me run you through just how this argument went after he joined our party.

Him:  You guys have no lives! You play this game so much!  

My Friend:  You have more playtime than me…  

Him:  Well, you brought a headset!  

My Friend and I:  Yeah, it was in the rules. Why wouldn’t we take advantage of that? And it’s not like we were the only ones who had headsets there..  

Him:  Well you went to a CALL OF DUTY TOURNAMENT! (He really used this as an insult.)  

My Friend and I:  HAHAHA you definitely did too, the difference is you lost.

He continued the argument, despite his inability to give us valid reasons for why we “didn’t have lives.”  We asked him how his life was more eventful than ours. He is a freshman in high school, with no girlfriend or job. But I’m not going to speculate on what qualities give you a “life” in the gaming community.

This brings me to the problem that I have with not only the angry kid at the tournament, but the gaming community in general.  I think everyone can agree that most people play video games.  People who don’t seem like the type are often the ones who are addicted to Angry Birds and Bejeweled, never getting off their phone because of it. Now with this surge in gamers you would think that it would be easier to accept people as “gamers.” Gamers aren’t seen as the greasy people with a pocketful of quarters anymore.

Despite this, I’ve noticed that people are hesitant to let their hobby be known. People aren’t willing to admit that they love playing video games to friends or possibly even themselves. For example, the kid at the tournament who said that my friend and I were “nerds” for going to a gaming tournament for a game in which we are skilled at. He went as well. By his definition of “nerd” that he had just given us he would be labeled “nerd” as well, but it seemed like he didn’t even want himself to accept that. Another example is a guy I know who literally wasted away on Halo 3 a few years ago. He walks around school wearing his under armour and football hat, laughing at those who mention video games. As if those who play them are lesser than he is.

Bottom line, gamers need to be proud of who they are. If you’re the occasional gamer then sure, go ahead and spew your terrible jokes about those who enjoy their digital entertainment of choice, we all know that you’ll go home that night and play Call of Duty for hours behind the comfort of your digital persona.

To those who would wear a triforce shirt to school, to those who talk about their dominance of Halo at lunch and at work, to those who love video games and aren’t afraid of people knowing and possibly judging you for it, I applaud you. Thank you for being true to yourself and not being afraid of being judged for something that so many people value.