PC & Mac Games: Dec 31, 2009

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick (Silver/Black) <<< more detail ::

By Lee (Arizona) - reviews

I bought this joystick for gaming on my Mac and was a bit disappointed when the box arrived and it said PC only... However, I plugged it in to my iBook and it worked just great on Battlefield 1942 even without installing any drivers (I'm using OSX). I also can use it on my PC without any problem. It comes with a drivers CD for Windows.

It improved my game 100% when flying planes in Battlefield, I would definitely recommend this to anybody who plays games in which flying is involved. It's pretty sturdy and quite large, and very comfortable to hold, though it's definitely for right-handed gamers only.

It has a separate throttle control (a lever that you push forward or backward) that's quite sensitive, and the handle twists left and right to control the rudder (as well as moving 360 degrees like any other joystick). There are 13 buttons so plenty of choice when mapping your controls.

Personally I much prefer this joystick over one that comes with force feedback - the vibration works against what you're trying to do and makes playing harder. You can't beat this joystick for the price.

After this I could never go back to just using a mouse and keyboard. Takes the gaming experience to the next level.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Restaurant Empire 2 (PC Games) <<< More detail ::

The player controls the kind of cuisine the restaurant serves (American, French, or Italian), what specific food they serve, and their staff. They have to keep guests happy and make money at the same time.

With two handfuls of cash and a dream of creating a legacy you will build, cook and hire your way to the very top of the culinary world, where tasty food is king and smart management reels in the dollars. If you're skilled enough in the kitchen and behind the management desk, you just may go further than any aspiring restaurateur before you and cement your status as a true legend of cuisine.

Saitek Pro Flight Yoke with Three-Lever Throttle (PZ44) <<< more detail ::

By S. Kuprianczyk - reviews

Well I just did some research on this yoke and discovered that Sietek has resolved the phantom keystroke issue. New replacement units are shipping to all US distributers. If you happen to have a defective unit, per a post on Sietek's forum, owners are to call 310-972-9930 for return/replacement instructions. I am going to order one myself but am not sure if Amozon has the new units yet. Sietec refused to post a current serial number of the defective lot but a person on the forums said that he just got his and is working flawlessly with a serial number of SZ005111624. This person with a "good" unit purchased his thru Newegg in CA.

Well I am going to place my order now and I will post an update when I get it up and running.

UPDATE: I recieved the yoke and pedals three days ago and after spending an hour or so configuring the unit I fired it up. The SN# I recieved was 00492657 a call to tech support assured me that I had a unit that had the phathom key stroke problem resolved.

I spent about a total of 20 hours flying around in several planes whith included single engine ceasna's all the way up to the heavy 747. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY YOKE. I was very impressed with the quality and performance. I took a gamble but in my case I think it payed off.

Also for anyone wondering if this yoke works with a mac don't worry. I hooked the yoke up to my mac and am running xplane ver.9. The drivers were not needed it was simply plug n play. Xplane recognized the yoke and throttles with no problem. It was very simple to program.

I hope this helps.

Microsoft SideWinder X5 Mouse

Microsoft SideWinder X5 Mouse <<< more detail :::

By Mary Jo Sminkey "author of cfwebstore" (Carlisle, PA USA) - reviews

The Sidewinder X5 appears to be a somewhat cheaper Sidewinder version with a few less features to lower the price. If you need a cheap gaming mouse, this may be one to look at. If like me, you not only do gaming at your computer, but extensive internet browsing and other activities, you may want to look at some other mice. The biggest issue for me with this mouse was that the size and length of it was not at all comfortable and made the button placement difficult for my hands...having about normal-sized hands for a woman. In particular the two buttons on the side were regularly slightly in front of my thumb, so I had to adjust my hand and/or reach to use them. Not good, and the type of thing that causes tendinitis or RSI over time.

The mouse itself has a very cheap, plastic feel to it. Having previously used the very nice Logitech G9 Mouse I found it hard to go back to scrolling that was jerky and required a lot of tweaking to work anything near to acceptable. The turbo scroll on the Logitech mice is just so much more pleasant to work with when you are at the computer for hours at a time. I'm also never happy to get a mouse with buttons that I can't customize. In this case, there is a button on the top that might be nice to use as a quick-launch button, but it only opens up Intellitype in XP, (Games in Vista) you have no option to customize the action for it.

Razer Naga MMOG Laser Gaming Mouse <<< more detail :::

The Razer Naga is the ultimate Massively Multiplayer Online Gaming mouse that shifts the balance between keyboard and mouse by putting an unprecedented number of in-game commands in one place. A multi-button thumb grid and Razer’s MMO game interface add-on combine to place every command you need in the palm of your hand. An ergonomic form shaped to maximize ease of use lets you game in comfort for hours on end. With the Razer Naga, you will Get Imba.

Logitech Gaming Mouse G500 (Black/Silver) << more detail ::

By Bucky - reviews

This is easily the best Logitech mouse yet. I own both the G5 and G9, and settled on the G5 as my primary mouse some time ago after hating the grip of the G9 (neither one felt natural to me). This was a problem, since I felt the G9 performed better but it just wasn't comfortable. As a result, I'm going to compare the G500 to the G5.

On the ergonomic side the G500 has had the ridge on the upper-right whittled down, making the mouse far more comfortable--especially if you hold your middle finger on the right mouse button (instead of the ring finger as some people do). This gives your ring finger a much more natural place to rest. The palm rest also feels a bit wider and raised, making the palm grip even better than the G5. Thumb button placement is fine, though I preferred the larger G5 buttons. Sensitivity toggles have moved to the upper left, making changes easier while using the index finger. Logitech has also blessed us with a mouse wheel toggle (free spin/click) that is on the top of the mouse instead of the bottom as they did on the G9. This is a huge plus for me, as I run it in free mode while browsing and click mode when gaming and I tend to alternate between the two regularly.

Performance-wise, it's technically better than the G9 and noticeably superior to the G5. The Setpoint software that is used with the G500 is also different from that of the G5, allowing for more control over the mouse. For those curious about performance in specific gaming genres I can't comment--I play almost every game genre and feel this mouse excels at them all. I'm also using it on a RAZER Goliathus Control mouse pad which is nice and smooth without feeling like there's zero friction as I tend to like some drag on my mouse.

One other note: The G5 weight cage will not work in the G500. The cage in the G500 has been altered a bit; two weight slots have been removed and the alignment track is gone. The G500 uses the same weights as the G5, however (1.7g and 4.5g).

I'd recommend this mouse to any G5 owner without hesitation. If you're a claw-grip user you could still use it, but the G9x is probably a better choice for that style of usage.

Everquest II: Sentinel's Fate <<< more detail ::

The sixth expansion of the groundbreaking franchise, EverQuestII Sentinel’s Fate is an all-in-one compilation pack which transports players into a universe of legend and lore where adventures are just the beginning. The fabled lands of Odus, filled with epic quests, magnificent dungeons and limitless content provide the ultimate MMO experience for new players and seasoned veterans alike. Sentinel’s Fate presents the next chapter of the EverQuest II legacy which will be written by the passion of players and fueled by the hunger for adventure.