Those of you waiting eagerly for GTA V have even more to be excited for, especially if you’re a real GTA fan and are willing to shell out the big bucks for the complete package.

Rockstar have just announced the Special and Collector’s editions of GTA V and what their contents are – and in this case, they actually throw the kitchen sink in.

The Special Edition will retail for $79.99 and comes with the following:

• Full retail game
• Collectible steel art book with exclusive artwork
• Blueprint map of Los Santos and Blaine County, with cryptic symbols and clues for in-game bonuses
• Player character’s special bar will fill 25% faster
• Stunt Plane Trials access
• Bonus outfits and tattoos
• Additional weapons

For the die-hard fan, the Collector’s Edition will retail for a whopping $149.99 and comes with everything in the Special Edition, as well as the following:

• Security deposit bag with laser-cut logo key
• GTA V New Era cap
• Access to classic characters in Grand Theft Auto Online
• Garage access and unique vehicle unlocks, including a 1930′s style Hotknife hotrod and CarbonRS sports bike.

Finally, all GTA V pre-orders grant access to the Atomic Blimp, giving you another transport method around Los Santos.

For more information, check out Rockstar’s promotional imagery below.

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Nintendo has just confirmed a day and time for their Nintendo Direct for E3. Mark your calendars for June 11th at 7am PST/10am EST to get the latest news on upcoming Wii U titles. Expect to see the new 3D Mario, Mario Kart U, Super Smash Bros, and possibly Retro Studios’ new unannounced title, as well as many others!

Are you excited for the E3 Nintendo Direct? What do you think they’ll show? Sound off in the comments below!

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More details are coming out in wake of the Xbox One’s reveal yesterday, and one particular piece of info is going to disappoint indie developers.

As with the Xbox 360, indie developers will need to get a publishing deal with Microsoft or a third-party publisher in order to have their games appear on Xbox Live Arcade. Indie developers can bypass this restriction by publishing to Xbox Live’s Indie section, but this has significant financial drawbacks compared to the former option.

This decision stands in stark contrast to the PS4 and Wii U’s stances, allowing indie developers to publish their games to those consoles on their own power.

Combined with the X1′s design features to restrict used game sales and rentals, it would seem Microsoft is planning to pander to the biggest, wealthiest publishers and developers. While this is doubtful to alienate indie developers completely, it seems they will have a few more hoops to jump through to get their games on Microsoft’s platform.

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VengefulTorture and myself (Glacier928) discuss our 100% honest thoughts about the Xbox One reveal in episode 10 of “The V Podcast”. Breaking down every feature of yesterday’s announcement, we talk about the pros and cons with what was shown.

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The day many have been waiting for is finally here – Microsoft have pulled the sheets off their next-gen console, and it’s official – the “Xbox One” is on its way to store shelves this holiday season.

Microsoft held a conference at 10 AM Pacific Time to reveal the new console to the world and provide some insight into what to expect. For those of you who weren’t able to catch the stream yourself, the following is a basic rundown of the most crucial points and facts from the conference.

• The Xbox One comes bundled with an updated Kinect sensor, and most (if not all) of the console’s functionality will be voice- and gesture-controllable, allowing the user to switch between games, music, tv, and browsing the internet with simple commands. You’ll also be able to browse TV channels with your Xbox One instead of your cable box, and can browse to channels or even individual shows using your voice. Skype with group chat will be available. A level of multitasking will also be available, allowing you to bring up a second window while playing a game or watching a movie to browse the web.
• The console features an 8-core CPU, 8GB of system memory, a 500GB hard drive, a Blu-Ray Drive, 802.11n Wireless Direct technology, HDMI In/Out, and USB 3.0 ports. The console was also said to have “three operating systems in one”. The console is also able to detect your heartbeat.
• The entire Xbox Live service will receive an update, allowing for bigger multiplayer games among other improvements.
• The controller, while looking somewhat similar to the Xbox 360′s, is said to boast “40 design innovations”, including an integrated battery compartment, impulse triggers, a WiFi Direct Radio Stack, and a precision d-pad.
• Microsoft planning to offer some sort of social media layer tenatively named “Game DVR”, allowing you to upload video footage to the cloud.
• Game library will feature 15 unique IPs, including 8 never-before-seen properties including Quantum Break. The most popular sport franchises will be making an appearance, including FIFA, Madden, NBA Live and UFC, as well as Microsoft’s flagship racer, Forza.
• Stephen Spielberg and 343 Studios will be working on a live-action Halo series for the Xbox One.
• Xbox One slated to have “second screen” functionality similar to the Wii U’s “TVii”, such as fantasy league-style interaction with live NFL games.
• Call of Duty: Ghosts gameplay shown. Ghosts will have timed-exclusive DLC on Xbox One and Xbox 360 similar to Black Ops 2. (Game-specific features available below).

While today’s conference may seem a bit lean for a new console reveal, it’s clear Microsoft is planning to save the juiciest presentations and game demonstrations for this year’s E3. It seems Microsoft has some ambitious goals for the next-gen console, and we’ll have something to mull over until the big conference in June.

For more information, check out the full conference video, courtesy of Forbes.com.

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Those of us chomping at the bit for any solid information on Sony’s upcoming next-gen console have a little something to whet our appetites. Sony have released a new teaser trailer showcasing minute details about the PS4, and they flash before your eyes almost too quickly to catch.

However, a keen eye will notice several key features of the PS4′s design: sharp, eye-grabbing angles, industrial vents, racing stripe-like accents, and an angular, stylized “4″ emblazon the new console’s exterior. We also see a glimpse of the PS4′s controller, but at this point it’s old news. However, the trailer also presents a crucial piece of information.

Sony will be doing a full PS4 reveal on Monday, June 10, 2013 at 6:00 PM PDT.

This is likely a strategic choice, as Microsoft will have revealed their next-gen Xbox console before then, giving Sony the chance to try to get one over Microsoft. Whether you’re a Sony fan or not, set your calendars – between Microsoft and Sony, history is about to be made within the next month.

Want to get a glimpse at the new PS4 console? Check out the teaser trailer below.

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EnjoyUp Games, an indie developer located in Spain that has worked with Nintendo heavily over the years, is planning on bringing one of their upcoming 3DS titles to the Wii U as well. Darts Up is a 4-player multiplayer darts game that will take full advantage of the GamePad. Here are the gameplay details:

- Use the Gamepad motion sensor to aim and view the surroundings.
- Create your own profile using the Mii™.
- Three playing modes, including 501!
- 4 Players.

The game is slated for release in September for the Wii U and July for the 3DS. In the meantime, check out the screenshots below!

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These days, a game’s graphics are often the most talked-about aspect of it, but an often-overlooked area is how a game sounds. Aside from providing a new level of immersion, a really great sound system can give the gamer a huge advantage,  being able to hear other players more clearly or even the direction they’re coming from. So when a game has truly great sound direction, you’ll need a good sound system to take advantage. While TV audio is fine, and external speakers can take this up a notch, you’ll really need the complete package to get the most out of your game’s audio, and the most hardcore audiophiles will throw down hundreds of dollars to get the best listening experience.

Logitech has tackled this part of the entertainment equation with a long history of high-quality speaker systems and headphones, providing an excellent audio experience at a reasonable, competitive price. Their latest foray into the gaming audio arena is their G430 Gaming Headset. Sporting built-in Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound, a huge bass response, and a noise-cancelling microphone, the G430 promises the complete package for PC gaming audio at a relatively-low price of $80. Can Logitech’s newest gaming headset give Turtle Beach or even Bose a run for their money? Read on and find out.

Form: 5/5

A common characteristic of gaming headsets is their look and feel; they need to be extremely comfortable for long gaming sessions, but owning a high-quality headset comes with a certain sense of pride and swagger. Thankfully, the G430 passes both tests with flying colors. The headset sports an attractive black and blue color scheme that really pops, and the ear cups features sharp, unconventional shapes and angles to make a headset that looks great. The ear cups are big enough to cover just about any ear size, but remain comfortable even after hours of play thanks in part to the G430′s lightweight design. The headband is a bit stiff out of the box, but once “broken in” feels like practically nothing thanks to the stitched padding on the ear cups and headband. The G430′s comfort is further enhanced by its design; the headband’s size is fully adjustable like most headsets, but the ear cups also swivel around a vertical axis to fit the shape of the user’s head, making them extremely comfortable even during marathon gaming sessions. The ear cups can even be rotated to lay flat with the rest of the headset to wear around your neck or to easily store when not in use.

The G430′s retractable microphone is built rigidly and placed at just the right angle to pick up your voice without overt exposure, but can be finely-adjusted thanks to its soft metal skeleton and rubberized outer layer. The microphone can also be rotated upwards against the left ear cup when not in use, but I found the microphone to be so non-intrusive that I didn’t even have to unless I didn’t want to look like an aviator pilot in public. Finally, you have the G430′s braided audio cable. Not only does its stitched (non-rubber) enclosure avoid tangling and grabbing your clothes, but it’s also extremely long – roughly 4 feet in length, and also comes with an attached Velcro strip to allow for adjustment. All in all, the G430 is an extremely comfortable and attractive headset, and more impressively, sacrifices no practicality for it.

Function: 5/5

A headset is worthless if it doesn’t have the sound quality to garner its purchase. Thankfully, Logitech has a lot of experience in quality sound engineering, and every bit of it is leveraged with the G430. Simply put, the sound output it provides is stunning.

The showstopper is the G430′s built-in Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound system which delivers a truly immersive audio experience. The G430 simply makes other sound systems seem flat by comparison. With other speaker systems or even headphones, your ears can distinctly tell that the sound is coming from either the left or right channel. However, the G430, with its combined 7.1 system and sound-isolating features (a byproduct of the ear cups’ over-the-ear design), you really feel like you’re in your own isolated audio zone, like having a private concert hall all to yourself. It’s really hard to describe in words how incredible the G430′s audio experience feels. The headset’s 40mm drivers and 32-Ohm impedance provide deep, rich bass, and its 20Hz-20kHz frequency response ensures you hear all of the action crisply and clearly. The 7.1 system also provides the most precise directional audio around, so you can hear the action going on from every direction.

I’ve tested the G430 with several audio-intensive PC games, including Mass Effect 3, Borderlands 2, Guild Wars 2, and Battlefield 3. The sheer increase of audio quality over my previous headphones and 2.1 speaker system made all the difference. This was especially noticeable in the massive, frantic battles taking places in BF3. Hearing bullets and explosions from every direction was intense and engaging, but the boom of a fighter jet flying overhead literally sent shivers down my spine. I’ve never had such an immersive audio experience as I have with the G430. Mass Effect 3 also excelled in my tests, likely by the virtue of being another game whose sound design was headed by DICE, a studio known for jaw-dropping audio. Dialog was crisp and clear thanks to the G430′s center dialog speaker, and battles were explosive and intense. The G430′s directional audio really helped when making tactical decisions, deploying squad mates and picking targets to take out, and the fullness of sound was excellent when combining the game’s unique sound effects with its masterful soundtrack, which sounded better than ever with the G430.

While gaming audio is obviously the G430′s focus, it functions excellently when playing music as well. The previously-mentioned “concert hall” feeling was prominent when playing any genre or tone of music from my PC, and the added richness of sound and booming bass response brought the music-listening experience to a whole new level. The G430 features 3.5mm audio jacks for the speakers and microphone, so they function quite well with an MP3 player or smart phone, and the long audio cable can be kept in check with the previously-mentioned Velcro strap. When not in use, the G430 can rest on your neck and lay flat. Since the headset needs the USB adapter to get the best-quality sound, the G430 really isn’t optimized for game console use, but it will get the job done. I hooked up the audio jack to my TV’s audio out and the microphone jack to my PS3 using the included USB adapter – this is required for the PS3 to recognize the G430 as a microphone input device – and I was able to hear game audio and voice chat while also being able to broadcast my voice to others. After playing a few games of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 with them, I can say that the game still sounded great, but didn’t have that same surround quality as it did when playing on the PC using the adapter. If you want a headset that can give you 7.1 quality on a gaming console, the G430 isn’t the best fit.

The G430′s noise-cancelling microphone functions at the top of its class, letting your allies (and enemies) hear you with crystal clarity, even in the face of background noise. Many gamers use VoIP software like Skype and TeamSpeak during gameplay, and a poor microphone can turn a tactical advantage into a chore. I performed my own test using Mumble, a VoIP program famous for high audio quality and low latency. After running through Mumble’s audio wizard to get my settings perfect, I hopped onto my Guild Wars 2 server and chatted up my guild mates. They immediately noticed a difference in how I sound, saying that my voice came through crisp and clear. I have a penchant for listening to TV in the background while gaming, and while that’s a normally-accepted condition to my friends on Mumble, the G430′s microphone was able to render this background noise nearly silent, placing the emphasis on my voice.

The cable features an inline audio control panel, allowing you to adjust the speakers’ volume and mute or unmute the microphone on the fly. The G430 also come with a USB adapter which accepts the 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks and plugs into your PC. The headset comes with a USB adapter to connect the headset to a PC, and it’s required to really unlock the full potential of the G430 and to get the fullest, richest surround sound. The USB adapter also enables you to use Logitech’s excellent Gaming Software, allowing you to control every aspect of the G430′s audio delivery, from enabling or disabling 7.1-channel enhancement to adjusting the bass or treble, or even fine-tuning the audio output with a full equalizer and individual channel volume support. This level of control is only possible when using the USB adapter, so I’d recommend using it whenever possible.

The only caveat of the availability of the software for PC is its lack of availability for other platforms, including Mac OS X. While the headphones certainly work on a Mac computer, users on that platform won’t have the same level of fine control available to PC users. This is true for other platforms as well, such as consoles and smart phones. However, the lack of OS X software support is easily remedied in the future, and the G430 still delivers a rich audio experience without it.

Value: 5/5

One reliable aspect of Logitech’s products are that they deliver a solid, dependable experience at a fair and competitive price. This is true for the G430, with a suggested retail price of $79.99. That may be a hefty chunk of change to throw down for a more casual gamer, but considering many other gaming-grade 7.1-channel headsets often run for a much higher price, it really comes out as an advantage for the buyer. The prices of its nearest competitors, the Turtle Beach Earforce DPX21 and the Razer Tiamat 7.1, retailing at $149.99 and $199.99 respectively, are proof-positive of this, showing that you can get top-notch gaming audio at an affordable price, and the best part is that the G430 really doesn’t sacrifice anything to accomplish this.

X-Factor: 4/5

Aside from the compelling price-point mentioned above, the G430 features an intriguing detachable ear cup system. Let’s be honest, in the heat of the most intense of gaming sessions, things can get a little…sweaty. No problem for the G430 – each ear cup cushion can be easily removed from the headset for cleaning. Logitech recommends washing the cushions by hand, then patting dry with a paper towel and letting them rest to air-dry before replacing them; if you want these babies to last, avoid machine cleaning and do it the old-fashioned way. The Gaming software also provides a level of fine-tuned control not available on other gaming headsets, which may appeal to the strictest of audiophiles.  The fact that the headphones work without a USB connection is also of note, since most other gaming headsets require the power draw from a connected USB device , such as a computer or game console, to work.

One surprising absence in the G430′s packaging is the lack of an included carrying case or pouch. While they may be less costly than comparable headsets, the G430 is definitely a small investment, and some measure of protection would have been nice to keep them in pristine shape. However, any microfiber cloth bag big enough to fit the headset should work.

FINAL VERDICT: 19/20 = 9.5 out of 10

The Logitech G430 may be the most ground-breaking gaming audio device to come out in recent history, not necessarily for creating a new, unheard-of gaming experience, but for taking top-shelf gaming audio and putting it at a price most can afford. The G430 looks good, sounds even better, and is built with a level of quality that belies its price tag. At $79.99, it’s hard to do better than the G430.

PROs:

+ Stunning 7.1 surround sound audio in a personal headset package

+ Attractive, eye-catching design and color scheme

+ Very inexpensive compared to its closest competitors

+ Logitech Gaming software allows for fine-tuning of audio settings

+ Fully-functional without the need for a USB-connected power source

CONs:

- Logitech Gaming software is not yet compatible with Mac OS X

- No included carrying case

- USB Adapter required for the best sound experience

This article is an unsolicited review for the Logitech G430 Gaming Headset. The reviewed product was purchased and tested by the author.

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Zelda fans, rejoice! The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages are officially coming to the 3DS VC service on May 30th. For the first three weeks of the games’ launch, they will be on sale for $4.99 each. However, after the promotional period, they will go to their standard price of $5.99. While it’s not a big price change, it’s worth noting.

Have you played these twin installments? If so, which one? Sound off in the comments below!

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During the Nintendo Direct this morning, they announced that new Game Gear games are on the way for the 3DS’s Virtual Console service. There haven’t been many titles released for that platform on the VC yet, but here’s a promising new start. Here’s the list:

• Columns
• Crystal Warriors
• Defenders of Oasis
• Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
• G-LOC: Air Battles
• Shining Force II: The Sword of Hajya
• Sonic Blast
• Sonic Drift 2
• Sonic Labyrinth
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Tails Adventure
• Vampire: Master of Darkness

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