PLYR2 Unleashed - or - How a 3.5mm Gave Me Super Powers

Okay, well maybe not super powers, but a lot more to play with. While reviewing the Skullcandy PLYR 2, I noticed that the manual (actually, tri-fold quick setup guide) indicates that, in order to connect the PLYR 2 to a PC, you needed a 3.5mm audio cord, which was not included. This annoyed me quite a bit, at first; why would it list that it works with a PC on the front of the box, but then require an audio cable that you have to supply, yourself?

As it turns out, there is a quite decent built-in audio card in the PLYR 2, so all you truly have to do is plug it up to an available USB port and change your default audio playback and recording settings. For PS3 and 360, there's an included RCA piggyback pass-thru adapter.

However, with the addition of a 3.5mm cord, you can use the PLYR 2 to listen to music from your iPad, smart phone or Android device or even hold phone conversations on them. True, they're wireless, so you need to have a USB port to supply power for the transmitter wherever you put the device and you'd have to start and end calls at the device, but the wireless aspect will let you hold that call while walking around your house.

Or, if you're on-the-go, you could combine the PLYR 2 with the PowerBag to power the transmitter and you can use the PLYR 2 for your phone conversations while carrying your iPhone in the bag. I realize it's not intended for that and is a bit awkward to start and end calls, but I tested the PLYR 2 at a range of up to 100 feet; I could start a playlist or a podcast through the headphones and mow the front yard with that distance.

Check out my Review of the PLYR 2 Headset from Skullcandy

T500 RS Setups... In Detail

T500 RS Gaming Setups

The T500 RS racing system (wheel and pedals) is obviously aimed at racing enthusiasts and not the mainstream and casual gamers who may occasionally play a racing game.

Casual Gamer Setups?

Even so, given that a non-enthusiast (or budding enthusiast?) may pick up the T500 RS before investing in other hardware, such as a virtual racing chassis to mount it on, I tested the T500 RS with a few different possible configurations that could be available to the average mainstream PS3 / PC gamer.

Lap-Mounted

First, the idea of lap-mounted play is right out. At over 32 pounds, the steering wheel is not the kind of thing you want to hold in your lap for any length of time. Besides, the steering wheel would rest in your lap and when the force-feedback or initialization centering starts up, it could roll on out of your lap. This would not be comfortable... and, no, I didn't try this configuration at all; it's simply not a good idea.

Gaming Ottoman

I did attempt using the T500 RS on a LevelUp gaming ottoman, by clamping it down onto the top of the ottoman, and playing with the steering wheel on top of the ottoman and the pedal cluster in front of it. There were two primary issues with this setup: the weight of the steering wheel made it really easy to topple forward, requiring me to have to push it back about three or four inches to make it more stable, and the fact that I had to lean forward in a strange and uncomfortable posture to accommodate this setup. The posture problem was caused by the fact that the pedals need to be under (and possibly further back than) the steering wheel, which requires that there be open area under the steering wheel, for your legs to be able to stretch out to reach the pedals.

Another Bright IKEA

Next, I tried the T500 RS on a small wooden stackable chair, with the chair facing me as I sat on the couch. The pedal cluster fit under the chair, the steering wheel clamped down onto the seat of the chair fairly snugly and I was able to see the television over the chair without it blocking my vision. This setup worked well, in general, but, again, the weight of the wheel placed on the edge of the chair made it want to tip forward, much like the ottoman setup. I was able to get a little more legroom and make the setup more sturdy by turning the chair sideways, which might be a good option for anyone who picks up a T500 RS without something to set it up on. I actually played a good bit while set up on the chair; this setup was quite workable.

Let me take this opportunity to make something clear; with the heft of the T500 RS, it should not, under any circumstance, be used with a folding chair or television tray. That would be reckless and it would be just a matter of time before the unit came crashing down on someone's legs or feet. This would likely injure both person and device. Only use a sturdy stacking chair, at that.

PC Gaming Setup

For the PC-compatible side of things, I tested the T500 RS on my computer desk by taking my keyboard off of my keyboard tray and mounting the RS in its place. It clamped down nicely and held tight, and the pedal cluster fit nicely right in front of my desk, after slightly moving my PC out of the way. I tested it out with the Ignite! demo and it worked quite nicely. To use the T500 RS on the PC, I had go to the Thrustmaster website and download the Windows driver, first, but it installed without incident and the Properties Section in the device interface (in Control Panel: Device Management) includes the ability to tweak the steering wheel's lock-to-lock range and feedback motor strength, among other things. Changing the steering wheel's turning range can be a necessary step in making the T500 RS usable with various games on the PC; for Ignite!, I found a lock-to-lock range of around 300 degrees made it most playable. Overall, using the T500 RS on my standard computer desk worked nicely, but I should offer one warning: Carefully evaluate your desk for things that might shake loose as you play - especially if your desk, like mine, has a hutch and you have various items stacked precariously on its shelves. I was drifting around a hair-pin curve and bouncing off a wall when a stack of blank CDs lept down upon me unexpectedly from above. It was enough to get my attention, but could have been a lot worse.

Enthusiast Setup

The VR-1 Virtual Racing Chassis

My most "blinged-out" setup that I tested the T500 RS with (and the setup most likely to be similar to the average purchaser of the T500 RS) was setting it up on a Bob Earl Racing VRC-1 virtual racing chassis. Personally, I found the T500 RS steering wheel unit mounted securely on the wheel podium and stayed put just fine, likely due, in part, to the rubber pad on the top of the podium that gave the clamp something to "bite" into, but I did notice that on the Bob Earl Racing website, they suggest bolting the steering wheel to the podium, but that instructions are forthcoming. They also mention that the pedals should be bolted in place and, although I haven't done so yet, I agree that it would probably be a good idea. The VRC-1 has an angled mount for the pedals which, for run-of-the-mill pedals, puts them in a more realistic orientation. However, since the pedals on the T500 RS are already at a more realistic angle, this built-in angle makes mounting the pedals more complex than simply using velcro. Well, the weight of the pedal cluster doesn't make it easier, either. I found that I could use the pedals in the floor-mounted orientation without much extra work; it would be best to mount them in a more stable, permanent fashion, but for the purposes of testing, the pedals stayed put, as the very edge of the cluster just sort of lips around the VRC-1's pedal cluster support, keeping it from shifting laterally, while the heavy-duty Velcro kept it from scooting around. Using the pedal cluster in back-mounted orientation, on the other hand, would require mounting to the VRC-1 and, perhaps, some additional fitting. When I attempted this orientation, I found that the pedal cluster would slip up and over the end of the VRC-1's pedal support, due to the gap between the diamond plate footrest and the pedals, themselves in this orientation. Again, instructions on use with the VRC-1 is forthcoming on the Bob Earl Racing website.

Over-the-Top Custom Setup

Yes, you can take the T500 RS even further, if you wish. Here, for example, is a video showing a custom racing simulation cockpit which utilizes a T500 RS and the optional TH8 RS shifter (sold separately).

A Collector's Dilemma...

I like TRON. I really, really like TRON. I loved the original movie, with its interesting visuals and its pioneering use of computer graphics. I like its original marketing ploy of releasing a videogame (arcade) and a movie simultaneously. I also enjoyed the game itself. I even played "TRON Discs" for "real" with friends back in high school, in a game I made up that involves a tennis court and Frisbee...

And, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a bit of a collector, as well. I was started early, with Hot Wheels, stamps and rocks. I then went on to collect comic books (primarily Spider-Man), up until the point in history where Marvel and DC had what I like to call "The Clone Wars" and the public was "blessed" with more versions of Spider-Man and Superman than, well, anyone wanted.

For all of these reasons and more, I was quite excited to review PDP's TRON Collector's Edition Wireless Controller when it came in for review. I had seen these controllers at E3 2010 and was anxiously awaiting a review unit. What I hadn't realized, at the time, was that these controllers are limited to 20,000 units per console... and that they bear a metal plate on the back which shows their number. This makes it that much more collectible. And, as collectors know, everything that's collectible is more valuable if it's unopened... and I have to review it.

I only paused for a brief moment, mind you, but I had to stare at the box for a bit before I opened it, considering the value that I would be instantly diminishing. It was, however, only after I opened it that I found out that it is actually numbered. Which is an interesting (and unfortunate) thing... if you actually want to add this to a collection, you can either have it in unopened condition... OR you can know what number you have.

My TRON Collector's Edition Wireless Controller is numbered 00111 of 20000... which I was especially tickled over, since 00111 could also be a valid binary number and it is TRON, after all. Which led me to an interesting realization: There are only 31 such units out there (well, possibly 32, if they zero-index the collection and stop at 19999).... which is pretty cool, in my opinion.

And to anyone out there who plans to pick one of these up purely as a still-in-the-box collector's item... I put mine through the paces to review it, so I just made yours slightly more valuable. You're welcome. Mine will probably come to rest in the GameVorplex display cases... lit-up, if I can manage it.

Smoke and Mirrors (and Lights)

So, I got the Rock Band Stage Kit in for review. You know, the fog machine / strobe light / LED lighting effect kit that says, "Hey, I take Rock Band waaay too seriously."

Well, you can see my review of the Rock Band Stage Kit at GameVortex.com, but in summary, I'll just say that it really does change the feel from simply playing a game to much more of a performance. This is just the desired effect for parties that I go to, so I'll have to tote it along.

I tried it out at a "Gaming Day" at work, with Rock Band 2 (Xbox 360), Guitar Hero World Tour (PS3) and some various Wii games and it was a big hit. The gaming session lasted from 4:PM to 8:PM and, at the end of the day, we were down to five people rotating in and out of a Rock Band 2 game, with the Stage Kit going... well, without the fog, since you can't lower the amount of fog to reasonable amounts... and we wanted to actually see the screen.

How I wish I was going to GC (Leipzig), let me count the ways...

E3 is dead. I know, because I walked in its funeral procession last year, along with the Gamecock folks. At the time, I thought, hey... I can participate and be there to cover the event and keep the little publicity nick-knacks as souvenirs... if E3 bounces back, then whatever... but if they're right... if E3 really is dead, then I could frame them as a display - a piece of history.

Well, despite the fact that E3 was held this year, it was definitely dead. It hurts to see the body of a close friend defiled. You can see that everyone is looking for where to jump, what to replace E3 with.

...which might be why I'm hearing more about the Games Convention in Leipzig than I ever have before. And there's going to be a lot of companies attending. I, sadly, won't be there, but I am hoping to try to cover some of the goings-on remotely, although I must say I'm not happy with my experience of attempting to do that for E3 this year. It simply sucks not to be there... wherever "there" is.

So, when I saw that SplitFish is going to show the new FragFX for the PS3 at GC in Leipzig, I posted a news story about it. We've had a good relationship with SplitFish and I'm hoping to be able to get a FragFX unit in-house for testing... what would be awesome would be to actually get one in-house in time to do a "first impressions" article for GC, then to follow up with a full review... I'll have to run that by my Editor-in-Chief and see if we can make that happen.

- Robert "Geck0" Perkins

Taking over the world from a small bedroom in the mountains

I recently took a vacation with my in-laws. I know, most people immediately think, "big mistake!" Actually, it wasn't all that bad; yes, there was some friction, but we all lived through it.

My mother-in-law (and for that matter, my brother-in-law) didn't seem to want to do as much "active" stuff as I would have like… I could have spent most of my trip divided between walking up and down the strip in Gatlinburg and riding go-carts and playing mini-golf in Pigeon Forge. Of course, since the 18-wheeler incident, Ashley can't take that kind of walking, either. So, instead of having someone else to run up and down the strip with, I had a group of people who didn't want to do much. Although Ash and I were up for it, they weren't even interested enough in the Incline Railroad (Chattanooga, TN) to wait to ride it. True it was a projected one hour wait (how?!), but still, it's not like we go there once a week.

Regardless, there were several early evenings and late mornings that I found myself in a bedroom with my PS3 and Civilization: Revolution to keep me company. We didn't even have Internet access in the room! Luckily for me, Civ Revolution is certifiable crack. I could have played that game holed up in a room for another week if there was somewhere comfortable to sit. I was playing it to review it for GameVortex, so I was quite sad to finish the review and turn it in, as that usually means I won't find another chance to play the game.

Actually, I'm considering writing a strategy guide for Civ Revolution, to give me a "reason" to play it some more. It's really fun. I highly recommend it if you're into that sort of thing… or for that matter, if you're curious about Turn based Strategy games. If you're interested, check out my review of Civilization Revolution on PSillustrated.com.

- Robert "Geck0" Perkins