Product Reviews

Reviews - Products

Platform: Xbox 360
Manufacturer: Mad Catz
MSRP: $49.99 (USD)

Playing Rock Band/Rock Band 2 is a definitely a blast, but if you are the singer you have to decide how to deal with the controller. After you turn on the Xbox 360 controller, put on the headphones, plug in the microphone, the only question left is...where do you put the controller? It would have been a neat idea if Harmonix would have thought of a controller holster that would clip to your belt. I thought this issue might get resolved in the second game, but it did not. So when I saw Mad Catz has their own microphone with a built in controller nicknamed “M.I.C.” microphone with integrated controller, I wanted to check it out. At $49.99 Mad Catz promises studio-like response and a great working microphone without the need of the controller. Did Mad Catz deliver as promised with The M.I.C. for the Xbox 360? Let's see how the M.I.C. holds up to our tests and abuse.

Mad Catz does a great job with the packaging. The M.I.C. can be seen inside the box before opening and it looks great. You have to be able to catch the consumers attention somehow, and the packaging is a good start. The M.I.C. felt sturdy and well made. It also is slimmer and fits the hand better than other microphones. The M.I.C. has a long USB cable and the guide, D-Pad, Back, Start, lock button, and A, B, X, Y buttons. All of the buttons are laid out going down the front of the M.I.C., Mad Catz even added extra padded rubber that makes it easier to fit the mic in a regular microphone stand. It looks like a professional microphone and has just the right amount of weight.

The instructions come on a small fold out sheet in English and several other languages. While it has all the information written on the sheet, it’s very hard to read due to the small print. It’s important to read that certain buttons pressed together are used for the navigation and other functions during the game. Overall though the M.I.C. gave me a good first impression and looked worth the price.

The M.I.C. can be used for Rock Band or Rock Band 2. Just remember it is also has a built-in controller. Once plugged into the USB hug and the power is on, it will go to the first controller by default. If you want it to be used as the second, then plug or turn on the guitar or drums first and so on until you get it to the desired controller. I first tried it alone and went through the challenges in the game for vocals. I found that the M.I.C. is extremely sensitive and responsive. I had no trouble picking challenges or songs and all the controls and buttons work well. You can also use the lock slider to avoid any accidental hitting of buttons and causing the game to stop which is a nice feature.

I then wanted to try playing guitar while singing just to see how that works with the same player. Again the M.I.C. worked great. It fit my mike stand without any hassles and picked up my voice perfectly. We then tried it in a group setting and again it worked great and felt like a real microphone. It’s not that the Rock Band microphone isn’t real, but Mad Catz’s microphone felt more like a studio microphone. No issues and with the buttons right on the top of the microphone. You can either do the claps or cowbells by hitting the A button or tapping the microphone on the top. I prefer the tapping method since the button is a bit tricky on harder settings. Once again it worked flawlessly and really stands out. This would be ideal for parties or Rock Band nights at your local night club or bar. Around here we are seeing more of these events and it’s a growing trend.

As stated previously, the Mad Catz M.I.C. is a nice accessory and for a third party product, it out performs the actual microphone that comes with either version of Rock Band. It has a solid feel and several great features. If playing locally or alone, I would grab this one in a heartbeat, but when playing with friends on Xbox live, I would use the other microphone. I can’t wait for Mad Catz to release the new model, but for now this is certainly best suited for local or single play.

This is just one of the many great Rock Band accessories that Mad Catz offers. We have had a chance to review some of the other products here at The10k.com, but to learn more or purchase these items go to: http://www.madcatz.com/

Overall: 8.8/10

Reviews - Products

Platform: Xbox 360
Manufacturer: Mad Catz
MSRP: $39.99 (USD)

A portable drum set doesn't sound like the most sensible idea, until you realize that everyone plays Rock Band and you're tired of hauling your drum set around. This one is kind of a 'no brainer", make something people love portable. The challenge here is making it respond well and be an acceptable substitute for the first party packaged drum set. We've all been burned by "portable" devices, accessories, and periphreals before, but yet we all still love the idea. Let's find out if Mad Catz's Portable Drum Kit for Rock Band/Rock Band 2 will make the grade and finally be a functioning and acceptable substitute for the first party packaged drum set. 

The first thing you notice is the package. The package proves just how portable this drum set really is. If that doesn't sell you on "portable", how about 2 peice drum sticks? You virtually need little to no space to store, carry, display, or use this drum set. This is good because I am running out of space in my office for plastic instruments. This is a great idea and purchase for the younger gamer that maybe lives alone with very little "extra" living space. This drum set is ideal for college students, traveling business men, and all types of other gamers that like to bring the Rock Band party with them. The Rock Band Portable Drum Kit by Mad Catz passes the "portable" test, now let's see how it responds to a beating.

My first question with this portable drum set is, can it take a beating? I'm not trying to be funny, but when I play Rock Band/Rock Band 2 I hit the drum pads pretty hard. I even wonder sometimes if my full sized first party drum set can take the beating I'm dishing out. I don't want it to just take the beating, I want it to "respond" to the beating. This was a problem for the first party instrument manufacturers, and yet a third party manufacturer has managed to pull it off. I played this portable drum set as hard as I play my full sized set, and it responded to every touch of the stick. These drum pads are designed to withstand over 1 million strikes according to Mad Catz. The bass/kick drum pedal responded just as well, but as you would imagine is hard to keep still. There was not alot of options for Mad Catz and the bass/kick drum pedal. The bass/kick drum pedal is solid and sturdy, but without a bar to rest on like the full sized set it is prone to move around during those bass/kick drum  heavy songs. I think I was more concerned about the table I was playing on, rather than the drum set or bass pedal. This portable drum set can take a beating for sure. You may lose some of the immersion or illusion by playing on a table, but hit the pads a little harder and you wont notice a thing. The fact that it's portable doesn't take away from the experience at all, if anything it makes it more accessible.

My second question with this portable drum set is, how hard is it to set up/tear down? Portable or not portable, if it takes too long to set up/tear down, then it defeats it's purpose. I am happy to say that the set up was minimal and took very little time and/or effort. This is what you want from a accessory like this, to be able to "plug and play" with instant gratification. Once again Mad Catz has managed to deliver in that sense with the Rock Band Portable Drum Kit. The drum pads are basically the tops of the full sized set, which are plugged into a square controller. All of the pads and bass/kick drum pedal plug into the square controller, and the controller plugs into yoour Xbox 360. All of the cords were more than long enough to play in an average to large living room, thus making it very easy to re-create the full sized drum set. The whole process took no more than a few minutes to fully set up and then start rocking out. On a perosnal note, I completely prefer the colored designs on the portable pads versus the colored rings on the full sized set. This is a personal preference, not my professional opinion.

Is $39.99 a good price for another drum set? It definitely is, especially if it's portable. This drum set is worth every cent of it's $39.99 price tag, even if you don't plan on using it as a portable drum set. The Rock Band Poratble Drum Kit by Mad Catz will function just fine as your main drum set that you play on. The fact that it's so portable just increases it's value in my opinion. There is the slight draw back of not having a mounted bass/kick drum pedal, but it's acceptable and expected from a portable unit. There are plenty of options to remedy the bass/kick drum issue. Let's be honest with ourselves. Even the mounted bass/kick drum pedal slides around and is not perfect. This drum set delivers on all accounts. This drum set is not only portable, but it can withstand a full sized drum set beating. .

The Rock Band Portable Drum Kit by Mad Catz is light weight, portable, cost effective, and works on virtually any flat surface. This is without a doubt a successful portable accessory, and it also delivers on functionality. It would make sense for us all to make this drum set our main drum set, but then what would you do with your Rock Band Custom Kick Drumhead - Elephant? Mounting these drums (this is not recommended by the manufacturer) makes for endless possibilities of making a replica Rock Band drum set. A great buy for those of you who do LAN parties/Local Multiplayer Rock Band competitions, and easy enough to travel from spot to spot. This is a must buy for bars that are doing Rock Band karoke, instead of traditional karoke. It doesn't matter if you're a broke college student or a traveling Rock Band DJ/Karoke Host, this is one drum set that everyone should own. Thankfully it's at a price that everyone can afford. Once again Mad Catz proves why they are the leaders in third party add ons, accessories, and periphreals.

This is just one of the many great Rock Band accessories that Mad Catz offers. We have had a chance to review some of the other products here at The10k.com, but to learn more or purchase these items go to: http://www.madcatz.com/

Overall: 8/10

Reviews - Products

Platform: Xbox 360
Manufacturer: Mad Catz
MSRP: $69.99 (USD)

I'm always excited to review gaming accessories, but this is one product I have been waiting to review. There are quite a few things that make this instrument stand out from the packaged instruments. Musicians that play Rock Band have found the only instrument/controller they are ever going to need. It would have been nice to have it wireless, but that is a small price in exchange for the split/dual strum bar. Did I mention that this instrument is compatible with the original Rock Band game? What more do you want from a third party instrument? Did I mention that it is a 84% replica of a Fender Precision Bass Guitar? I myself have owned and played a  Fender Precision Bass Guitar, and I assure you this is an exact replica.

The packaging for this product is flashy enough to grab a consumer's eye, but does the product inside hold up as well? Let's find out. The Fender Precision Bass Replica definitely looks more like a real instrument than any other plastic instrument offered, first or third party. Everything from the tuning keys to the wider guitar strap helps you feel more like a real life rock star. The Start and Back buttons are mapped to the silver knob that is where the real Fender Precision Bass Guitar's vloume knob is. The "effects" are mapped to the other silver knob (the real life Tone knob), and the whammy bar is mapped to the last black knob. All of this layout works well to represent a real life Fender Precision Bass Guitar except the whammy bar, which was uncomfortable to reach and use during play.

The feature that I was the most excited about was the split strum bar. This is a feature I have been waiting to tryout ever since I first heard about this product. This would be the "make or break" feature for this product in my opinion. Real life bass players and anyone who plays Rock Band with their fingers will love the split strum bar. Those of you who like to strum with your wrist may like the "split" a bit less, but will still love the response and tension of this strum bar. This strum bar has way better response and tension than the first party packaged instruments. The strum bar on those first party instruments have always been one of my complaints, and Mad Catz has definitely fixed that problem. This premium-quality strum bar is said to last over 2.5 million cycles. They have even provided support for your thumb for you "pickers" and "pluckers", which is located above the strum bar and at the edge of the pick board. The D-Pad and thumb rest are both black to help blend in with the pick board, and to not be as much of an eye sore.

There is a small switch on the backside of the instrument to toggle between Rock Band and Rock Band 2. This great Fender Precision Bass Replica also doubles as a normal Rock Band guitar. This instrument has all of the normal features like the whammy bar, solo buttons, and the ability to play right or left handed. The Xbox 360 guide button is the only thing that stands out, or looks out of place on this replica. The fret buttons felt comfortable and depressed with ease. Turning the whammy knob was the only thing difficult to do while playing a song, but after a while I noticed I wasn't "missing" the knob as much. The whammy knob/bar is located in an unfamiliar place, which leads to missed notes. It's not something that will ruin your experience, but it will take some geting used to. The cord on the instrument is a decent length (10.8 feet), and is placed exactely where it's real life counter part's cord is placed. To be quite honest, this has officially become my instrument of choice for playing Rock Band or Rock Band 2.

Is $69.99 a little pricey for a USB/plastic instrument? Maybe, but this instrument is well worth that price. The Fender Precision Bass Replica may be perfect for the bass, but it also is a great second guitar for your Rock Band parties. This is accessory is a must have for anyone who throws Rock Band parties, or has alot of friends that come over and play. This instrument looks, feels, and plays every bit as well as packaged first party instruments.  Solid construction and responsive controls make this a worthy purchase. You're only problem now is where to store all of your plastic instruments, but don't worry Mad Catz has a solutuion for that too.

I have only two complaints with this instrument/controller (the whammy knob and the fact that it's wired), and neither out weigh the positive features it offers. The split strum bar is a great addition, and should be considered being added by the first party manufacturers. The strum bar's tension and response were also a nice standard that others should follow. I know it's hard to sell people on another instrument for their collection, especially if it's wired, but this one is well worth having in your collection. Have I mentioned that I like this guitar more than the one bundled with the game? Did I mention it's compatible with Rock Band and Rock Band 2? Did I mention it has a split strum bar for two finger bass playing action?!? Well worth it's price and a great addition to your Rock Band/Rock Band 2 game, the Fender Precision Bass Replica earns it's praise from this gamer/musician. 

This is just one of the many great Rock Band accessories that Mad Catz offers. We have had a chance to review some of the other products here at The10k.com, but to learn more or purchase these items go to: http://www.madcatz.com/

Overall: 8.5/10

Reviews - Products

At the Consumer Electronic Show, there was a line of glasses products called Myvu. These aren’t just ordinary glasses; the Myvu Glasses have mirco-displays inside of them to display the picture from a tv, console, iPod, or other video device on the lenses of the glasses right in front of your eyes. The audio is also provided by built in ear buds. I ordered a pair of Myvu Glasses, and have now had a chance to try them out. I chose the “Crystal” model shown above on the right, with gold tinted lenses and a slim design.

My first impression when I saw them at CES was that they look as if they might be uncomfortable. I finally got them and hooked them up to my Xbox 360 I was amazed at how good the mirco-displays looked! The color was just as good if not better than my tv. I put the headsets on and started to play some Halo 3. The sound coming out of the ear buds was crystal clear and was also just as good if not better than the sound coming out of my tv.

I played for about 2 hrs with them on and had no unwanted side effects like getting a headache or my eyes hurting. I loved all 2 hrs of playing Halo 3 with them, so I had to try them on Call of Duty: World At War and I had the same great experience. The color was sharp and there was no delay in either video or sound. The sound on that game was definitely better with the glasses on then my tv, if not just for the fact that I could have it as loud as I wanted and not wake anyone in my house up since it was 12 o’clock at night.

The next day I had my wife try them on her game and she loved them as well. She said that the nosepiece fit well and agreed that they were comfortable. She also said that the picture looked great and was pleased with the color on the display.

The battery life is only 4 hours but I did find out that you could get more batteries for longer play. All the testing I did with theses was crazy. I tried them in the dark, outside, and with the lights on just to see if anything changed. The only thing that I noticed was that they did work a little better in the dark than in the light.

The glasses are great for travel because it’s certainly easier to take the glasses than a tv. You can get an AC adapter for your console, plug it into your car, then game on the go. It’s really great for the kids on road trips.

These are a great buy at only $299.95. The small, sleek portable design makes them great for anyone on the go and the quality makes them equally viable as part of or dare I say, even a replacement for your home entertainment.

For more information and ordering, visit www.MyVu.com

Reviews - Products

Platform: PC/Mac
Manufacturer: Logitech
MSRP: $99.99 (USD) 

Logitech was nice enough to send me their ClearChat PC Wireless headset to review, so I figured I would give it a fair shot (even though I've been let down by wireless equipment before). First off I will start by saying that the headset I already own and  replacing is a Logitech headset. I have used Logitech headsets and other products for many years with very little complaints. Let's see if this wireless headset holds up to my boastful claims.

If you are looking for a cheap headset to talk to your e-friends with, this is not the model for you (MSRP: $99.99 USD). If you are looking for a high quality wireless headset, this is definitely the model for you. The first thing that you'll notice is the sleek ergonomic design, which not only looks nice, but it is completely comfortable after hours of use. We even recorded a lengthy podcast episode that spanned 2-3 hours, and yet I was still completely comforatble. The padding on the earphones withstands hours of use before they become even slightly uncomforatble. Even though I mentioned before that I am replacing my old Logitech headset with this one, the ClearChat PC Wireless is a much more comfortable fit (especially during prolonged use). My only problem with the design is that the microphone is placed on the left hand side. This is not so much a flaw in design, but more of a personal preference. The microphone's placement in no way hinders this product, but is simply something I will have to get used to. With all of the positive features of this product, it's kind of hard to focus on microphone placement. I also like the fact that it's a well padded headset. Even the band that goes across the top of your head is padded. All of this adding to the comfort of your 3 hour movie, music session, web-call, game session, or podcast recording. The headset is adjustable for you big heads like me, and overall, it has a light weight, comfortable feel to it. You'll be hard pressed to find a more comfortable wireless headset in this price range.

I was also amazed by the battery life for this headset. After one charge (chraging took a couple of hours), the headset lasted somewhere between 3-5 hours of actually use. This was more than suffecient for my uses, as I would imagine it would be for most peoples applications. Of course there are indicators for low battery. When the battery has less than 15 minutes of life left, the headset status light turns red and the wireless adapter status light blinks rapidly. Also, to prevent battery drain, the headset will automatically turn off if it does not detect the wireless adapter after 30 minutes. A nice feature if I may say so myself.

The controls for the ClearChat PC Wireless headset are pretty user friendly and in good locations. For starters, there is two different ways to mute the microphone. One way to mute the microphone is to push the microphone mute button located on the outside of the right earphone. A simple push of this button turns on the red light located at the tip of the boom microphone, clearly making the user aware that the microphone is muted. An alternate method of muting the microphone (which I personally liked) is to simply rotate the boom microphone to it's upright position. The red light indicator will not turn on during this mute method. Both muting methods are simple enough to use for any user, and certain users such as gamers, podcasters, students, etc. will find the alternate muting method quite functional. This headset was definitley designed well with user friendly controls in mind.

Set up was very simple and pretty much "plug and play" so to speak. Little to no effort is required to set up this headset. Simply turn on your charged ClearChat PC Wireless headset, plug in your wireless adapter (it is suggested to use the wireless adapter stand) to an open USB port, and that's it. Once your wireless adapter is plugged in the status light will blink green, and it will turn solid green once it has made a successfull wireless connection to the headset. The same will happen for the status light on your headset until the wireless connection is established. I was very pleased about how easily I was able to get set up. Within minutes I was recording a podcast, without being chained to my desk by wires. I new feeling for me, one that I'm growing to like more and more by the second. Being optimized for both PC and Mac use makes this headset that much more appealing.

The many uses and applications that this headset offers makes it well worth it's price. I have only mentioned a few applications in this article, and those alone justify it's price. Did I mention comfort? After podcasting and gaming for many years, and headset after headset, this headset is definitely comfortable. It's light weight, well padded, and produces quality sound. It truly is form meets function. If you're looking for a quality wireless PC/Mac headset, I highly suggest buying a ClearChat PC Wireless from Logitech. A quality product from a name you can trust.

Overall: 8/10