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Posts Tagged ‘Realism’

We Love Golf

May 16th, 2009

We Love Golf




We Love Golf! transforms the Wii Remote into a virtual set of golf clubs, creating the most immersive golfing experience available off the greens. It presents a realistic golfing experience with a fresh new spin incorporating the Wii Remote’s unique motion-sensing functionality. Players will use the controller to choose clubs, line up shots, swing and even add a touch fade or draw with a flick of the wrist. Just as on a real course, gauging wind conditions, correct club selection and careful reading of the greens are all essential for victory. A variety of game modes, multiple characters, and Unlockable content will provide endless hours of putting heaven. Unlock new playable characters, courses and more by playing through the various game modes Multiple courses, each with their own unique obstacles provide a variety of settings and challenges Several different playable characters, each with their own look, personality and play style Dozens of accessories, costumes and clubs affect everything from the look to the feel of the game

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Fun with friends, not for those looking for “realism”
A quick caveat: this is not Wii Sports. You don’t just stand and swing. There is a specific way to play and that may discourage or frustrate players who are expecting a direct motion/swing game mechanic.

All that aside, this is a fun game. You start out with only a few characters and a couple courses, but you unlock new ones as you play in tournaments, and you unlock characters by beating them in challenges.

The swing mechanic is the thing that sets it apart from Wii Sports’ version of golf. Yes you use motion to control your swing, but NO, the strength of your swing does not determine the strength of the shot. Instead, they have mixed standard control play with a motion based interface.

You move your remote back to the desired point on a swing bar. You wait for a shadow remote icon to meet your current position. After that, the forward swing begins and you want to time it so that you are pointing down when the icon is in the “swing zone”. The accuracy of your shot changes depending on how accurate your timing was. You can also hook and slice by twisting the remote, add extra power by flicking the remote a little at the end of your swing, and you can control top and back spin.

The above paragraph alone should show you that while this is an arcade style game, there is much that you can control. The control scheme is awkward at first, but once you understand it (you can take unlimited practice swings, and you can also practice any hole in a separate training mode) it is easy to use.

The game supports online play, and you can also play multiplayer on a single console, with one or multiple remotes, which is a plus. If you only have 2 remotes, but 4 people, you can still play.

I can’t compare this to super swing golf, but it’s definitely more fulfilling to play than playing the same 9 holes on wii sports.

4 Stars Very enjoyable
I’m not a real life golfer looking for the most realistic game - just something fairly realistic with a variety of courses to have fun with. This fits the bill

5 Stars Really fun game
For the one review that says that “there are only 3 courses and 4 characters” you haven’t played it enough yet. There are about 10 or so courses that you get rewarded for winning the tournaments with and to get more characters you have to play single player vs. match….the vs. part is a new computer opponent that you get to keep as a pickable character if you win the round. It’s a really fun game, and yes I will agree the little Wii remote guy that guides you is annoying (but you learn to ignore it real quick).

3 Stars We Love Golf!
Purchased this game for my family and they like it, but it does not compare to the golf that came with WII games disk. Overall it is fun and they seem to enjoy it.

5 Stars This is a great game, and I recomend this to everybody!
We love golf! is a great game for everyone to enjoy and prosper! The levels are well designed and fun. The game play is outrages and it’s worth 30$. Who ever reads this and does not own We love golf! I recommend you buy it. The game has 9 awesome courses, plus the other 2 short courses for endless fun! I give this game a 10 out of 10. It’s a masterpiece, and Camelot proves they still have the golfing touch in a game~

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Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals

May 13th, 2009

Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals




The Saitek Pro Flight Rudder 3-axis Pedals maximize flight-sim realism by enabling foot control of the rudder function.PRODUCT FEATURES:Silent, smooth action for optimum control and precision;Self-centering pedals with adjustable damping;Footrests adjust to fit all sizes and include non-slip materials;Precise rudder and braking control;Tension adjustment - choose resistance to suit the way you fly;High quality, part metal construction for long life;Advanced SST Programming.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Rudder control
The control of rudder is excellent but I can’t get the toe brakes to work. The unit stays in place well using the double sided tape supplied. If I get the brake problem solved I would give it a “five”.

5 Stars Definitely well worth it…
My Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals just came in today. I selected next day air shipping, and they arrived, on time, just as Amazon promised. I’ve always had hassles when ordering products online, but this time I was very pleased. Amazon stuck to their word, and got my stuff to me right away.

Upon receiving my package, I quickly opened it up. The rudder pedals look very nice, and quite similar to those in many real aircraft. Though they are made of plastic, they are very strong and seem to be well constructed. I set them down by the couch and put my feet on them. I had to adjust the foot rests to the largest setting because I have such large feet. They fit my feet well in this position, with only the very tips of my toes slightly over the edge. They feel very comfortable barefooted, in socks, and even with shoes. However, they do have a tendency to slide on the floor if not secured. This was no problem for me, because they are resting against my wall now, under my computer desk.

The feel of the pedals is VERY nice and quite smooth. They are certainly not unlike those in a real aircraft. I’m currently training for my private VFR license, and these will be very nice to practice with. The tension adjustment knob is also very nice, and it makes adjusting your pedals to fit your preference very easy. You can really fine tune these things to get just the right feel. The toe brake motion also feels very smooth and precise.

I decided to try them out with IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946, probably my favorite combat sim, first. I simply plugged in the pedals, installed the drivers, and was ready to go. Once IL-2 booted up, I went into the HOTAS control section and assigned the pedal axises. My first flight was a little shaky, as I was not used to using the pedals. I kept feeling myself wanting to twist the joystick at first. But, after a few minutes, I began getting the hang of it. These pedals allow you to make VERY precise yaw inputs for crosswind corrections, coordinated turns, complex maneuvers, and sighting in that tricky adversary. I then landed my Messerschmitt Bf-109 perfectly, and was very impressed with the way these pedals handle on the ground. I had to go to the end of the runway, turn around, and make a few more takeoffs and landings just for the heck of it. It was a lot of fun, and feels very, very nice.

But, I was noticing that the position of my Saitek X-52 joystick (another GREAT product) was uncomfortable. So, I went out and built myself a small wooden stand. It positions my joystick firmly on top of a small plank, and it sits between my knees on a small post (just like the position of the stick in a real fighter). The throttle sits on the arm of my chair, and is also positioned correctly now. Once I sat down to play again, I was amazed at how much more realistic it felt. It really immerses you into the game at a totally new level, and it is very exciting. It is a little difficult, now that the “easy-mode twisty-stick” yaw is gone, but I’ll get to where I can fly better than ever before in no time. These pedals and an X-52 stick+throttle will boost your game play to totally new heights. There is no way to compare them to a cheap “twisty stick”.

Do NOT let the negative reviews turn you off to this wonderful product. I’m really confused as to how people are being so silly about these pedals. They do NOT lock up when you apply full rudder. The only way you will break these pedals is if you rough them up and slam your feet back and forth on them. If you try to fly like that, then you really aren’t a good pilot, or you just have no clue what you’re doing. There is NO reason to “dog out” a set of rudders pedals. I’m also laughing at the reports of people complaining about these pedals not working right in Microsoft Flight Simulator. It is VERY simple to set them up to work correctly. People were complaining that in MSFS, the brakes are always “half engaged”. All one must do is open the control assignments, reverse each brake axis for the pedals, and adjust the sensitivity to your own preference. Yes, it’s that simple… Reverse the brake axises for MSFS, folks! And don’t forget to turn the “auto-rudder” feature OFF!

Overall, I was VERY pleased with both the product and the service from Amazon.com. I rated 5/5 stars because of this. These pedals will bring your flight sims into the 21st century, and make the game play MUCH more realistic, fun, and exciting. I suggest buying a Saitek X-52 Joystick+Throttle to compliment this wonderful package. You will never regret it!

5 Stars Saiteck Rudder Pedals
I have the Saiteck yoke and throttle set as well and all of the Saitek products have worked well. The rudder pedals were truly plug and play with my system. Which is an HP M8100N with 4 gig of DDR2 6400 ram and an Athlon 64 2X dual core running at 3.024 Ghz (OC). The pedals are well made and really really add to the sim expereince.

4 Stars Excellent Proudct
I am very pleased with the ease of installation and the subsequent performance of the Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals. They are sturdy and solidly built. I have been using them only a short time but they have been perfect in every respect. I bought them new via Amazon.com at an excellent price so they are a bargain for me as well. I definitely recommend them to Flight Simulator enthusiasts.

5 Stars saitek rudder pedals
Product as expected. Simulator items are expensive, but good quality. Not exactly like the real thing, but close enough to practice with.

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Wii 9 in 1 Sports Pack

May 10th, 2009

Wii 9 in 1 Sports Pack




Experience the definitive player’s package for sports lovers and Wii enthusiasts with the 9-in-1 spots pack from CTA Digital. Enjoy the realism added to your gaming experience and easily switch according to the multitude of games with this “must have” item for your Wii collection. These accessories will make you feel as if you’re playing more than a video game but an actual sport.The lightweight material assures that these accessories won’t be a heavy burden on your arms, allowing you to enjoy lengthier playing time without tiring as quickly. Located at the base of the attachable handle is a compartment that is designed for the Wii remote control to fit right into. With the remote snuggly secured, and your chosen attachment screwed onto the handle you can freely swing, drive and steer to the action of your Wii game.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Faulty equipment
The product does not work with the Wii remote controllers. Had trouble getting the controller laser to line up when attached to the pieces. Tried 5 of the attachments and none would work.

Please note this is a review of the product not the seller.

1 Star 9 in 1
the remotes work a lot better than the 9 in 1 the games just dont “respond” as well.

4 Stars Wii Pack
I bought this for my grandson and I don’t think he plays with it that much.

The pieces are sort of awkward to play with and maybe an adult would like them better.

3 Stars Wii 9 in 1 Sports Pak
The transaction and delivery was very good. However, the fishing reel broke on first use. It was a simple small plastic piece which was glued together at a stress point. I was told it was not possible to replace that little part and would have to return the whole set. It’s not worth the trouble. The tennis racket worked well and is fun.

1 Star Cheap
This is cheap plastic. It has already cracked and the screw on groves are cheap. Do not buy this product. I regret it already because it was a waste of money.

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PS3 Games Sports , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

GTR 2 Realism Redefined

April 29th, 2009

GTR 2 Realism Redefined




The World’s Most Realistic Racing Simulation. Just Switched Into High Gear! Gear up and hit the open road as you take on the world’s most realistic racing simulation. Featuring over 140 exquisitely detailed cars and 34 unique track-layouts, GTR 2 thrusts you into a hyper realistic racing environment with breathtaking real-world effects. With a revolutionary Driving School Mode you’ll gain the experience to tackle the challenges of professional racing.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Very real and very fun
I am not an expert in auto racing simulation games, but I enjoy realism and appreciate a game that allows me to “grow” with the experience. This game is it. I have not, and do not intent to, race on-line, so I cannot comment on the on-line aspects, but stand alone action and realism is truly quality. I ordered “GRID” at the same time as I ordered GTR 2. “GRID” is absolutely terrible!! Although if you like to crash and burn and have the spectaters cheer, well okay, maybe you will like it. GTR 2 allows adjustments to so many aspects of the experience, you could be overwhelmed. But, you can just select simple generic experience modes and advance from there. GTR 2 makes maximum use of the features on the Logitech G25 Racing Wheel, pedals and shifter. “GRID” has very, very limited capablilities in the use of the G25.

GTR 2 is a fine product which includes an extensive training section to help you learn to drive the complex road courses. Ther training section is great for the beginner and helpful for all but the most experienced simulation racer. I doubt you will be disappointed!

3 Stars This game is TOUGH!
Me and my fiancee are both gearheads and we both race in Auto-X events run by the SCCA and we have been having a really hard time with this one. I’m not saying this game isn’t fun, I’ve spent three to four hours a day practicing and I’ve loved every minute of it. But if you think downforce is what’s driving our economy or caster is nothing more than a wheel for your office chair then you need to look elsewhere.

That said the realism is amazing. Just about every part of the car and the game can be adjusted. There are several different cars to choose from and they differ in more ways than just acceleration and top speed. handling, oversteer and understeer are all very realistic and and will taunt your every move. I used to be a lead foot driver but this game convinced me to change my ways. When you first start the setups are anything but ideal so expect to spend a lot of time changing the chassis to suit your style. The learning curve can be really daunting for anyone who isn’t into racing games and only professional drivers will be able to install it and race right away. The rest of us will need to spend a lot of time doing practice laps before we can be competitive.

Definately worth the money and the time spent learing the ins and outs. I love it!

5 Stars GTR 2 realism redefined.
Without doubt GTR 2 is quite simply the best simulation racing game I have ever played. I am awating GTR evolution, so things may change, but for now GTR 2 rules the roost.

The Simbin development team have thought of everything and this is what dinstinguishes the game from the more arcade style titles such as the Need for Speed franchise. Sure these kinds of games are fun, but what I really want to do is test myself on a realistic track in a car which behaves like the real thing. And that’s what you get from GTR: big snorting, fire spitting GT cars which require a mixture of brute strength and ballet dancer finese to ease around some of the world’s most demanding tracks.

As soon as you start up the engine in the pit garage you are aware of how much detail there is in this game. The driver’s view gives you a close to photo-realistic cock-pit interior where you can see his feet moving on the pedals and his hand reaching for the sequential gearbox lever. Real drivers testing the Simbin titles comment on this level of realism, where visual cues immerse you in the world of the game clueing you into what is happening to the car and things around you.

The physics engine is astonishing, because as you gently ease out of the pit garage and gingerly throttle onto the race track with cold tires there is a flood of visual and audio data to process. Flooring the car in a straight line the car will bounce, tramline and wobble over every bump in the track. You brake into your first corner and notice the drivers head move with the g-force of deceleration and your head cranes left or right as you haul the car through the corner. The world and physics of the game are simply amazing and through a decent momo-force feedback steering wheel you can feel the car grip and slip, forcing you to adjust the wheel accordingly. Watch out for 650hp through the rear wheels and cold tires!

If the visual cues aren’t enough, the audio features in this game are simply phenomenal. The engine starts with a roar and the auto-sequential gearbox will blip the throttle for you as you change down through the gears. Your can do it manually if you like with heel toe braking on the right steering system. A spittle and pop will erupt from the rear of the car - depending on which car you have - alerting you of the unburnt fuel flaming from the exhaust(s). Tire squeal, tire rumble, dirt flicking up into the wheel arches, it’s all there. Even stationary, blipping the throttle heavily will rock the car from the enormous torque…this is as real as it gets.

This is realism redefined and there is almost no franchise which makes racing so immersive and difficult. The learning curve is steep in simulation mode and it takes many laps to learn the tracks (i’ve done over 1,000 on Valencia) and work out just how fast you really can go through a given corner. All the cars handle differently and sound differently. The heavy rear end of the Porche’s sees them slipping side ways through the corners, whilst the Ferrari 360’s are pointy and tricky to avoid oversteering. You learn to adjust your driving style.

I am running a core duo 3.4 ghz Pentium with 2 gigs of ram and an nvidia 7600GT card with 256mb of DDR3 onboard ram. Not too many drama’s runnig this game except on the highest resolutions which reduces frame rate.

I love this game, my wife hates the noise of it, but oh…the car details and those engine sounds. Visually a treat, there may be prettier games, but I was happy to see the chalk marks on the front tire recently…realism enough for me.

The game features full championships and practice modes, as well as a driver training feature and challenge feature which unlocks different tracks whilst pushing you to the limit. There is hours of racing and challenging material and after nearly two years of ownership I have yet to conquer all the elements in this game. Definitely worth every penny in terms of longevity. Once you try this game, you won’t be keen to bother with anything else.

4 Stars Hit the road
Great game…..but be sure to have more resources than those recomended….it is pretty demanding especially if you want to take advantage of all the graphics and details. Dynamics are very good and simulation excellent..

5 Stars AWEOSME game!
I got this game for christmas and I tell you what. This game is incredible! This game is so realistic. I just wish there were more American cars in this game. It takes a little while to get used to compared to other racing games. I have a Logitch G25 and I would suggest getting a logitech G25 because you can use the cluch and the 6 speed shifter.

The graphics are incredible. I have a Nividia 7300GT and can play everthing on full with no lagging. My pc is 4-6 years old to.

All in all I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who likes racing games.

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PS3 Games Racing & Flying , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PBR Out of the Chute

April 29th, 2009

PBR Out of the Chute




Get all the bone-crunching excitement and edge-of-your-seat suspense of professional bull riding without leaving your home. PBR: Out of the Chute captures all the adrenaline and challenge of the Toughest Sport on Dirt. The game lets you play as a pro bull rider or as a bull in multiple events leading up to the World Finals. Create your own character and compete as a professional rider or a tenacious bull throughout 10 three-round events in multiple locations, including New York, Anaheim, and Atlanta. Challenge or play as top riders, including Guilherme Marchi, Justin McBride, and Chris Shivers, or play as one of the tour’s ferocious bulls. Unlimited play modes test your skills in either staying on for at least eight seconds or bucking off the rider before his time is up and Season Mode features unlockable riders and bulls. Become the best rider or bull in multiplayer by having the most “wins,” or become part of the Millionaire’s Club by beating some of the meanest, toughest bulls in the history of the PBR. Intuitive controls and multiple difficulty levels allow anyone to pick up and play and realistic sounds from screaming crowds to bone-crunching falls max out the realism.

Season and Unlimited ride modes from 8 seconds to as long as you stay on as a rider or until you buck off the rider as a bull Unlock riders and bulls in Season mode to compete against Official scoring and rules from the PBR

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars PBR: Out of the Chute
The game wasn’t what my son thought it would be. I thought there would be more action/moving around to the game. But it is fun to play as the bull and try to knock off your opponent. It is fun to play as some of the famous riders and bulls. It just wasn’t what we had expected that it would be. So that was the disappointment.

4 Stars Good Family Fun
My sons are big fans of the PBR so they HAD to have this game. And they love it! Unlike many video games they’ve played this one didn’t require a lot of instruction. They were quickly in the game either riding the bulls or playing as the bull and trying to buck the rider off. Their favorite thing to do is to play as the bull, buck the rider off and then either chase him around the arena or kick down the signs on the arena gates. That gets a lot of laughs. This is one of their favorite holiday gifts and I’d have to agree!

5 Stars Love It!!!!!
My son rides in the rodeo circuit as a bull and bronc rider. He can sit and play this game all day long. He loves it.

1 Star Have they even seen bullriding before?
Oh come on! This could have been a great game. The problem with this is that it’s obviously been created by someone who has only heard of bullriding through rough description. I’ve actually riden a few bulls myself, and will have to say that this is the laziest result that they could have produced! First, all the riders are right-handed riders. In reality, most riders are left-handed riders because you balance with your non-riding hand. Anyway, letting you select which hand to ride with, like in reality, would have been a simple step, and quite do-able, but the pure laziness of the game developers played a part here. Next, it’s virtually impossible to get thrown off! Maybe if you’re five and don’t like loosing, this game may be for you. But if you’ve already started to develop fine motor skills, you’ll find this game to be quite boring. I actually didn’t touch the controller for one of my rides, to see what would happen, and my character stayed on!!! Next, since bull-riding is about balance, this would have been a perfect game for the Wii. Hand movements should be used to constantly reposition yourself on the bull, like in real life. However, again, lazy programmers just have you moving a joystick around. This game is probably the greatest game that could have been, but never was. Thanks Crave Entertainment, for screwing up a game that should have been a no-brainer.

Let’s just hope that PBR gives their license to a different company in the future, and they can actually put a bit of effort into this. This could be a great game. This should be a great game. But, for all intents and purposes, it just isn’t.

2 Stars Out of the Chutes
This game was very interesting to my whole family. It is very hard to play. There is no member of our family that has been able to play this game well at all. It is very difficult to play. Wish it had better instruction on how to play.

Buy/More Info

PS3 Games Sports , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,