Let the wars begin!

Next-gen discussions are seeping up out of the ground like a flash flood, and speculations were the brunt of the information getting passed around. Until yesterday when Epic Games CEO gave and interview with Wired magazine detailing their Unreal Engine 4, which was shown off behind closed doors (and an NDA) to industry leaders in March. This article got me really excited, and the comment sections blew up with arguments about PS4 vs Next Xbox. And the occasional PC player would chime in saying that whatever the next gen consoles have, it will already be lightyears behind PC.

I respectfully disagree, and here's why. As powerful as PC's are (and I have no problem admitting that PC's have far superior graphics POTENTIAL than consoles), they are severely limited for a number of reasons, primarily consoles. If you are a PC gamer, and you don't think that the quality of graphics that you are likely to see is bottlenecked by console capabilities, you are mistaken. Where is ALL the money in the hardcore gaming industry? Consoles. Therefore, where are the best game developers likely to be working? Consoles. And if it comes down to crunch time, and the developer needs to cater to a specific market, which final product will get the most fine tuning? Consoles.

Who does that leave stuck in 1st gear? PCs.

Even though there are developers that make games only for PCs, and therefore attempt to take full advantage of the PCs power, the most innovative and creative minds are making games for consoles, because that is where the money is. Pirating and other limitations just do not make the PC a competitive market for game development. I would place any amount of money down, stating that next gen consoles will also be a catalyst for a dramatic increase in graphics quality in PC games.

So you see? Though PCs have definite horsepower advantages over consoles, you still need next gen tech. In order for your games to make progress toward "photo-realism", you need console developers to push forward.

I put this in a forum originally, but it got banned, so now I've copied and pasted it here:

Anyone else sick of Gamespot photoshopping every still picture of Jody to make her look decent, and to make her hair look super red? I see the "Sync" link every day, and she always looks half-decent. And then you click to watch it, and she's wicked pastey-faced, greasy dark untamed hair, and she's dressed like she's lounging around her house. Very annoying. I mean, take a que from sports analysis: if you are going to have a woman who we (stereotypically) think knows nothing about video games, she at least has to be a smokeshow. If I am going to listen to the bland, female perspective of gaming, I better have something nice to look at while I'm doing it. Either doctor the entire damn video clip, or find a hotter host for Sync. Anyone else noticed this frustrating charade they are trying to put on? I apologize to Jody or anyone who thinks this is sexist or stereotypical, but I'm just telling it like it is.

NOTE-UPDATE: Looking back, I was being a real prick when I wrote this. Not sure what I had for breakfast that day, but must've really put me in a bad mood. Sorry if it offends anyone.

So today I'm bored in my office...what a surprise. So I've decided to tell all of you (all 0 people that read this), that my girlfriend is way cooler than yours. First of all, if you are enthralled by video games enough that you browse this website every day, than you probably do not have a girlfriend. I'm not assuming your not cool, I'm not assuming you are a geek, I am just assuming that any 'normal' girlfriend would have smashed your xbox by now and made you start doing more productive things. However, I do not have a normal girlfriend. I have the best girlfriend. She does everything that your girlfriend does: she's always there for me, she's a great person to talk to, she's pretty, and she knows a few good recipes, and she's athletic enough to get me to go out and do some fun activities occasionally. However, what sets her apart from your girlfriend is this: she kicks ass at video games. Not as much as I do, but she could probably take 2 out of 3 from you in most games. She is totally cool with throwing on the headset and chatting with the boys when we party up for Call of Duty. So basically, I get all of the perks that anyone with a good girlfriend gets, plut I don't have to give up the other things that I love, like video games and my other friends.

BOO YA!!

That is all,

- Justin

So I haven't posted a blog in awhile, and recently I had a few conversations that made me realize something about PC gamers. They have a deep-down belief that they are far superior to Console Gamers. Now I will start out by saying I am a die-hard console gamer, but I played plenty of PC games throughout my life as well, and here is my understanding of the relationship between console gamers and PC gamers.

Console gamers are just as passionate about video games as computer gamers, but they never seem to have any issue with PC gamers. They respect that PC gamers have their fun doing what they do (though they may not understand why PC gamers choose not to play on a console) and they go on their merry way gaming. I'm sure lots of console gamers would love to get in a debate with PC gamers about which is better. With the constant console war between Xbox and PS, its suprising there isn't a larger battle between consoles and PC. However, this arguement never fully materializes because PC gamers think they are so superior to console gamers, its not even worth arguing. Console gamers don't bother because they know they will never win the argument. Its like fighting against your parents when you're a kid. Regardless if you are right, you have no control.

Whenever you mention the fact that you are a gamer to a person who plays PC, they always seem to have some smug remark about how their version of the game runs at faster fps or has a higher resolution than HDTV, and better anti-aliasing, etc. They also never forget to mention how PC gamers can aim so much better than console gamers in shooters. They usually discuss their set-up, Hard drive, video card, how many screens they use, all of the hot-keys they have, and how restricting a controller is. I GET IT. I played PC games, and I know how they great they are. But to be honest, I don't really care. I wish my version of the game was that good, but I wouldn't trade the console version for the PC version ever. Here's why.

What makes a 'great game' great? Some argue graphics, storyline, controls, gameplay, and others argue the community or online play. All of these things are weighted differently by each person, and each gametype has different importances. Lets compare some things: Storyline - identical in both versions...discard that. Gameplay - Identical gameplay in both...throw that out. Graphics - PC definitely has the edge here. Controls - Arguable, but PC gamers will never budge on this one, so we'll toss them a bone. This leaves community, which for a lot of gamers, especially shooter fans, is very important, and it is where PC games falter.

Console games outsell PC games 10:1 in many cases (http://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_5.html). That means that on average, if you and I know the same number of people, and you know 3 people that play Battlefield with you, than I know 30 people who play battlefield with me. Thats a big difference. The online community of consoles (I'm speaking in regards to XBOX360, I've never owned a PS3) is way more abundant than on PC's. For example, I would never have said that Black Ops was the greatest game ever made. Its good, but not amazing. However, EVERYONE plays it. PEOPLE have turned it into the greatest game ever, the same way that PEOPLE turned facebook into the greatest website.

And in regards to graphics and controls (the things that PC has the edge in), in my opinion the costs outweigh the benefits. Does it really look THAT much better on your screen to justify the $1500 you spent on that computer? Perhaps it does. I plan on building one if I have the money. But I still think that most of my time will still be spent on my console.

In the end, this rant is not trying to prove that console gaming is better than PC gaming (as much as it might seem that way). Instead, I'm just trying to knock the PC gamers down from their high pedestal a bit, and perhaps start some sort of argument between the 2 sides. Also, the link earlier in the article is an interesting take on how pirating is killing PC gaming, and how PC games could be a thing of the past pretty soon.

So there are a couple of things that have led up to me conjuring up the worst idea I've ever had. For one thing, Amazon.com uses voodoo magic to get me to just buy things for no reason. And secondly, I am a pure video game addict. That combination, up until now, has not caused me any undue harm. I have purchased items on Amazon occasionally, whether or not I needed them, and I play video games all night until I'm too tired to keep my eyes open. It causes for some rough mornings walking to campus, and I'm pretty useless for the first couple hours I'm there, but overall I get by alright. Up until now.

So my Xbox 360 sits in my apartment, all day, unused, under my Vizio HDTV on a shelf in my tv stand. I talk about video games constantly while on campus, and I get the feeling everyone considers me the token gamer in our office. On top of that, I get appalled when I hear that people have never really played video games, or that they don't even want to. It makes me want to just unhook my xbox and bring it in for 1 day, and then after work I can hook it up and everyone can get a glimpse of how amazing it is. This has always just been a fictional idea in my head, because my xbox has several wires that I would need to bring with it, and I don't even have a TV in my office, so my HDMI cables are useless. Impossible. Never going to happen.

Then Amazon put a tiny idea inside of my head, like **** Inception. They showed me an xbox 360 VGA adapter randomly on my home screen...I could hook my xbox up to a monitor in my office...for $6.30! Ok, this is too good to be true, besides, I would still need to lug that stupid power brick all the way down Mission Hill from my apartment.

To make a long story short, here is the worst idea I have ever had. I bought the stupid VGA cable. I also decided to buy an extra power adapter for my xbox. This means that I can leave an entire set of cables in my office, ready to use. And all I need to do is bring my physical xbox. I don't even need to disconnect any of the wires attached to my tv or sound system. I have made this all too easy...Now I am awaiting an extra controller in the mail so I can still have enough controllers at my house while playing on-campus (and so my girlfriend won't know that I have done this).

Now in the grand scheme of things, this isn't that bad, really. I have done far worse. For one thing, I really only plan on playing after work hours. Whether or not I can stay true to that is yet to be determined. However, that is a mute point because I never get anything done during work anyways (this statement is proven by the fact that I am sitting in my office writing a blog about xbox during my regular office hours). So in reality, this is the best idea I've ever had. The only people who may not agree are the rest of the students in my office, and certainly any of the faculty who may stop in. Until that time comes, I will be enjoying the lightning fast internet wi-fi speeds on a university campus, and pwning some noobs in COD and NHL. Until next time.

- J

Ok, I get it. Duke Nukem is about at macho and sexist as games can possibly get, but I still do not understand how mainstream news coverage rips video games apart whenever there is violence or sex involved. Fox News is claiming that Duke Nukem is overly sexist, and can be very damaging to young women, and depicts them in an aweful state. They cite a scene where Duke recieves (implied) fellacio from 2 twins and a scene where he recieves some kind of sexual act (implied as well, not shown) in a bathroom.

Here is my problem with this picture. As innappropriate as this game may seem to some people, how is it different from mainstream film? There are COUNTLESS mainstream movies that depict fellacio and intercourse on camera, with nudity everywhere. Sometimes this is deemed as artistic, other times it is recieved as raunchy. But in either case, it is not front-page material. You know why? It is rated R. The films are aimed towards adults, and only adults will see them (theoretically), so there is no damage there. So why does the M rating on a video game not garner the same respect? Mainstream media assumes that children will still get their hands on this game and play it, so it will ruin our society. If the children can play an M rated game, what is stopping them from seeing an R rated movie? There are equally innappopriate depictions on film as there are in video games, and perhaps worse, so Fox News can shove it.

As a final note, here is something to put this into perspective. A large percentage of gamers are male, and an even larger proportion of this particular game will be played by men and boys. Considering the average teenage male is watching pornography weekly if not daily, I doubt that this game can do any more damage or degrade women more than porn, so they need to get their priorities straight.

Why does the world hate Tiger Woods? I am sick of reading about Tiger Woods and how much of an @#*hole he is, and how his relationships are crumbling, and how polls show that people generally do not like him. I DON'T CARE. First of all, why do you care? Why does his cheating on his wife wreck your impression of him? Do you know how many professional atheletes and famous musicians cheat on thier significant others? Lots of 'em. Seriously people, get over it. He's a great golfer, and maybe if you gave him a damn break for once, he might get back to his dominant game. And you better hope he does, because if he doesn't, golf is doomed. The game of golf revolves around Tiger Woods. Without him, it's going to crash faster than the XFL. People all of a sudden are rooting for him to lose because he cheated on his wife? Pathetic. Don't waste your time. Just cross your fingers that he finds his mojo soon.

So I'm sitting in my office on a Friday with nothing to do, so might as well post a blog. I play a lot of COD: Black Ops, and I've experienced most gametypes. Although I am not the best player within my circle of friends, I certainly can hold my own, and I know a lot about winning games. So here are some general tips along with some insight to certain gametypes.

Whenever you are playing online, keep in mind what your playing style is. Not every gametype is for everyone. Neither is every gun or every perk. Find custom classes that work for you, and then adjust from there to tailor to certain gametypes. Some people will never be good with a sniper rifle and should therefore never use one. Other people couldn't live without using Ghost, and that is their choice. Whatever it is, stick to what is comfortable for you. However, it is probably a good idea to use different classes depending on gametype. As far as winning, playing with a group you know will always mean more victories. Communicate with your team if you can. Use your headset, and if your whole team is in a party except you, either join their party (which can be awkward) or forget trying to win and focus on boosting your stats/rank. It's tough to win a game on your own when you do not get any input from your teammates. In general, the following tipswill keep both your W/L and K/D ratios up over 1 if your team works together. If you are going to work on 1 thing, practice accuracy and initial aiming. Aiming better and faster than your opponent will get you the kill 9 times out of 10.

TEAM DEATHMATCH

This is by far the most wide open in terms of playing style. Almost any combination can work if you use a good strategy. In general, travel in small groups. 2 people shooting at 1 person usually equals a kill, and at worst an eye for an eye (unless you are severely out-skilled flanked and manage to both get killed). The important thing in TD is Kill/Death ratio. K/D is a very telling statistic, so keep an eye on yours. Even if you are racking up the kills and getting a lot of points for yourself, if you die more than you kill, you are costing your team games. Move somewhat cautiously to avoid dying repeatedly. No need to use ghost if you are constantly moving, but snipers and people who wander around a small area might consider it to avoid being smoked out. Silencers are always a good choice. Slight of Hand is great for the run-and-gun type player if you tend to go Rambo charging into a room of people. Grenades aren't a huge threat, so flak jacket is not as useful as in other gametypes. Ninja is good for runners, not as important for campers. Marathon is always good, as is hacker. Tactical Mask is also not as useful because grenades just aren't always a threat in TD. I would choose flashbangs and concussion grenades over smoke and nova gas, but decoys can work well if you know how to use them. If you are going to use a shotgun, I would roam around indoors most of the game, killing anyone that comes in. You will not fare too well in the wide open, unless you pick up an assault rifle off of someone you kill :) Lastly, do not worry about where you are on the map, just be aware of your surroundings.

DOMINATION

This is where I have the most experience, and the most success. One thing to try to forget, K/D does not matter! The other team gains nothing from killing you, so unless you are very protective of your K/D, play very aggressively. It is a good idea for at least a person or 2 stay close to the targets you control, while the rest attack the other targets. Try coming from different angles each time to avoid being mowed down. Here, ghost really will not help you at all if your going for captures, because the other team is going to know you are there anyways. Flak Jacket, Tactical Mask, and Smoke Grenades become really helpful because you will get bombarded with 'nades when you are trying to capture, and smoke can prevent you from getting shot. Claymores are helpful in any gametype, but motion sensors are good for keeping an eye on your controlled targets as well. Lightweight is good for the larger maps because when you spawn, you will want to get back to the action as fast as possible. Second Chance and Hardline go well together on any gametype, because once you have the pro version of Second Chance, it really helps extend killstreaks. Sniping can help your team a lot, as can using a shotgun, but it will be tough to rack up points of your own because unless you get a lot of defends, you will lose out on all of the points everyone else gets for captures. Throw grenades when people are trying to capture (Warlord pro is a good choice because you will have more of them to use). Keep moving, and head towards whatever is closest, targets you need to capture, or targets that you are currently losing. You will get a lot of defends and captures by being efficient and running from point to point.

HEADQUARTERS

This one is the one I have the most trouble with, so I will not go too in-depth. Some general suggestions- Claymore the headquarters as soon as you get in there (everyone will be heading for it). Do not worry about camping in the room it is located in as soon as it spawns. It is inactive for 30 seconds anyways, so might as well set up a perimeter, and keep the other team spawning far from it. Once it is captured, stay outside of the room it is in. The other team will be throwing a lot of grenades, so you are better off just outside of where it is. Flak Jacket is again a good idea; ghost can be useful as well. There is a respawn delay, and that can be killer if several teammates die at a time. So if you kill several people on the other team in a short span of time, it is probably a great time to try to capture because you know they will be shorthanded for a few seconds. If the other team captures the headquarters, try planting a motion sensor close to the HQ, and track down anyone left alive near it before trying to destroy it. Once it is captured, one or 2 people might have success FAR from the HQ because the other team trying to destroy it will certainly not expect to run into anyone out there. You do risk getting the HQ destroyed by not protecting it though. If you are real greedy for personal points, when you have a comfortable lead, do not try to capture the headquarters. Simply prevent the other team from getting it and rack up the kills as they respawn and sprint towards it.

CAPTURE THE FLAG

So CTF can be a very different game depending on the size of the map. Smaller maps always require someone back at your base to protect the flag, because as soon as the other team has it, it is a short sprint back to their base for the capture. However, on larger maps, you can get away with attacking constantly because even when the other team has your flag, they have a long trip back, and hopefully you can find them before they get there. Marathon and lightweight are a good combo for anyone going for the flag, and tactical insertion can be very useful as well, especially on larger maps. Putting a claymore right on your flag can usually get the first 1 or 2 people that try to get it as long as they aren't too smart. Definitely have spyplanes on as a killstreak, and save them for when your flag gets taken. They will reveal exactly where your flag is (and the flagholder, of course). This becomes especially useful when both teams flags are taken, because you need to return your flag before capturing theirs. The best strategy here is to have the person on your team with the flag camp somewhere (preferably random, because the other team will be looking for him). Leave someone to guard your flag-carrier, and the rest of you have to search for your flag and return it. Lastly, for quick wins, leave someone sitting by their base AFTER you have their flag, so when you do capture it, you can immediately grab it again (this gets super-frustrating for the other team).

SEARCH AND DESTROY

This is by far the most intense gametype, and possibly the most rewarding if you can handle the pressure. There is the potential for a LOT of points if you can do well (I have gotten 7250 in one game, and I have seen people hit 10000). There is a catch though, it is very tough, and you only get one life per round. For starters, put your headset on if you are going to be playing S&D. You will need to communicate with your team if you want to win. Silencers are highly suggested, because if you give away your position, you could be dead meat. Lower your killstreak rewards because I doubt you will be getting dogs or a chopper gunner in this game. One thing to remember is you cannot communicate with your teammates after you die, so as soon as you see an enemy, even if you think you can get him, let your team know where he is. As for offense, planting the bomb should be delicately planned. Eliminate the majority of the enemy players first because otherwise you will have a tough time holding down the fort and protecting the bombsite. In general, do not plant with more than 2 or 3 enemy players left, unless you are the only one alive. Even so, if you would need to travel across the map to get the bomb, don't bother. Instead, search out the other team; you can win the round by eliminating them. On defense, motion sensors near the bombsite are a huge help, that way you are free to wander the rest of the map. Move very cautiously. Also, if you are close to another killstreak, and the other team doesn't have 3 points already, do not risk your streak if you are the only player left against more than 3 enemy players. You will help your team more by having a killstreak reward next round. Play conservatively and maybe you can catch them being reckless. For a final few strategies: watch out for nades at the beginning of the game, a lot of people throw everything they have at the beginning looking for an easy first kill. Stay away from cars at this point as well. Occasionally it can be really effective to rush the opponent. Most players sneak around slowly, so they will be very caught off guard if you charge in the first 10 or 15 seconds. Lastly watch out for snipers at the beginning, and consider sniping yourself at the start. I usually pick one player off the beginning of each round, because one less player is a huge advantage in search.

DEMOLITION

This is a fun, fast gametype. Everyone has a bomb, 2 bombsites, switch offense and defense. Whenever a bomb needs to be planted, think flak jacket. Lots of run and gun, so SMGs and Assault Rifles reign supreme. Though once the bomb in planted, the attacking team could mow down rows of enemies with an LMG. Strategy is a little tough because it tends to be a little disorganized, but in general, attack one bombsite at a time until you get a plant, then everyone protect it until about the 5 second mark. One good plan is to have a person or 2 head to the other bomb around the 20 second mark because this is when the defending team with be most concentrated on defusing the other bomb. Once you get one site destroyed, time is added to the match, so do not give up if time is running out and you haven't planted one yet. On the other side of things, you can win the round a lot quicker if you can prevent the other team from bombing either site. I do not have a whole lot to say about this game. It is basically a "spawn and sprint" type of game.

SABOTAGE

This is another gametype that is usually fast-paced. I think of it a lot like rugby. The most important thing is keeping the bomb far away from your bombsite. Whether or not you have control of it is secondary. It has a relatively short fuse, so if it gets planted you are in trouble. The other interesting thing about this game is the varying amount of time it can take. Some games end in less than 2 minutes, others last 10. Tactical Insertion is not as useful in this game as other bomb-oriented gametypes because the bomb tends to move around a lot, and if the other team has the bomb, there is no point in spawning near their site. Flak jacket is good for planting. Snipers can have a field day watching over your own bombsite, and again, run and gun becomes the norm. Trying to rush occasionally can be very effective, sprinting for the bomb, rack up some quick kills, and then heading as a pack to try to plant the bomb before the other team respawns. Just like rugby, don't f$#& around near your own end with the bomb. Get it as far from your site as possible, because at least then, if you die, the other team has a long way to go before planting, giving you time to respawn. As a last bit of advice, keep your eye on the clock, when time runs out, it turns into sudden death, and you will not respawn. First team to get eliminated loses. Skip over killcams, and start thinking about sticking together as a team when time is very low. Once sudden death hits, play the game like it is Search and Destroy (think Kill First, Plant Second).

HARDCORE

I used to play strictly hardcore. This is where the true professionals play. Turtle Beach or other 5.1 surround sound headsets are extremely useful in this type of game because you will not have your HUD map most of the game. In general, all of the tactics I described previously still hold true, but here are some adjustments: lots of people use ghost pro, so spyplanes become useless usually. Motion sensors are also pointless because you never have a map to glance at. Cameras become MORE useful because they do not cover up the would-be-map on your screen. Weapon accuracy becomes much more important than weapon damage, because most hits will probably kill them anyways. Along the same lines, a wider variety of weapons are effective because of the reduced health. Flak Jacket becomes useful in all gametypes because it still puts a cap on the damage that explosives can do. Carpet Bombs and Napalm become hindrances to your team. You will likely kill as many teammates as enemies and eventually get booted from the game. Short bursts are always more effective than holding down the trigger. Tactics become more prevalent, so communicate with your team.

SUMMARY

As a final statement, please remember that this is a beginner/intermediate guide. If you are already great at this game, you will not benefit from reading this. As for people who are new to Call of Duty, or people who might be looking for some pointers on trying out a new gametype, I hope you enjoyed and benefited from this guide. Please let me know if you would like to see more of this discussion, or what you thought of this blog. I would love to know whether people are actually reading this. Keep on gaming!

Ok, about a month ago I bought the Turtle Beach X41s. In case you do not know what they are, Turtle Beach X41s are a wireless gaming headset that are designed for use with the xbox 360. The receiver uses the toslink input from your xbox, meaning you can get true 5.1 surround sound (most other headsets including Turtle Beach's other models only recieve stereo sound). Although there is only 1 speaker in each earcup, (not 4 speakers for surround like Trittons) the transmitter uses Dolby Pro Logic IIx technology to create the surround sound, and it is incredible. Each speaker is 50mm in diameter (HUGE!) so you get really deep bassy lows, and ultra-high quality sound overall. Also, these things crank! Never turn them up all the way. The processing uses filtering, delays, and echos (nothing detectable consciously) of sounds between ears to create a sense of different directions. Your ears pick up those sound cues, and you can REALLY pinpoint locations of sounds.

I play Black Ops, and this headset has made me a better player. I'm pretty good anyways, but now I have an unfair advantage. When there is something between me and another player, I can hear from their footsteps and their reloading, etc. which way they are going, and where to expect them to come from. I can plant a claymore there, or just sit and wait to pwn them myself :) I can detect when sounds are above me, below me, in front, behind, left, right, or any combination. I know when grenades are coming, where they are landing without looking, and where helicopters are. I not only know when a player is in a certain room, I can usually tell where in the room that they are without ever seeing them. It has also made me much more conscious of the noise I make when I am moving around, making me much tougher to kill. Another perk, though not very useful, is hearing small sounds that are in the game levels that you never heard before. Walking around the multiplayer maps you will hear things in certain areas that you never thought were there, which can be interesting and a little distracting at first. Lastly you can play later into the night at louder levels without worrying about bothering roommates, girlfriends, neighbors, etc. So you won't sacrifice the aid of your surround sound speakers because other people are sleeping.

As for any problems/issues I have with the headset, they are very minimal. Some people complain about it using 2 AAA batteries, but I find it easy to deal with. I bought 4 AAA rechargeables, and I swap them out whenever one set dies (usually around 12-18 hours of gameplay). The wireless aspect works perfectly with no interference, even with my router right next to it (if there was any interference just try changing the channel your router is set on). Being free from wires is great, and the small wire that connects to the controller is hardly a nuisance (same as a regular xbox 360 headset). I can head downstairs and grab a drink and still chat with friends and hear the game if there is a pause in the action. Sound quality is amazing, and I have never had the "buzzing" issue while using the headset with xbox live chat that other people have mentioned. Only thing that you will not be able to do is talk to ANYONE else in the room with you. When you are playing a game and your listening to this headset, forget about having a conversation with anyone sitting next to you. People on xbox live however, will hear you fine and you will hear them fine through the speakers. The game just gets too loud to hear people around you (or the doorbell if you ordered delivery...found that out the hard way)

As a conclusion, if you do not want to get pwned by me or other people using this headset, get one for yourself and have yourself a ball. You will be a better player and will love being able to hear everything that the game designers put into this game.

I thought of something this morning and it got me thinking about the talent level of different gamers. I was comparing my stats with a friend of mine who plays Black Ops on PS3, and we trumped each other in different categories of course, and there is really no way of telling which of us is "better". Of course, it is impossible to settle on different platforms, and we usually play different gametypes anyways, but it got me thinking...

If 2 people have the exact same statistics, one person on xbox, and one person on ps3, which is "better"? Now, I am obviously biased. I own a 360 and I rarely play ps3, but my stereotypical viewpoint is that real gamers play xbox and casual gamers play ps3. But in terms on unbiased assessment, to my knowledge, the online black ops community on xbox360 is much larger than on ps3. In addition to that, I think that the competition is tighter on xbox live. So if you have 2 people that are ranked 1346th online in Black Ops, the one playing on Xbox Live is superior, because he is facing more competition, and probably has had a harder time getting there.

It is the whole "big fish, small pond" analogy. Being the best PS3 Call of Duty player is like being the best player in AAA baseball. You're not playing with the big boys, and if you were, that score would tumble back down where it belongs. In my opinion, PS3 players could care less about the online experience, and are either sports game fanatics (I'm not hating on them, just stating the facts), or RPG players. FPS is owned by Xbox 360 (and to an extent PC gamers).

In a nice super-biased but somewhat truthful summary, I conclude that the average xbox 360 COD player is much better than the average PS3 COD player, and therefore, do not bother comparing stats, prestiges, records, or any other info about your talent level because it is worthless until you put it to the test against some real gamers.