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.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree...

Rock Band 3 is out, I've completed my review and... I'm still playing. That actually says a lot for a video game reviewer in the Christmas season; I typically don't get much of a chance to go back and play games after they've been reviewed... especially at a busy time like Christmas.

I don't have a lot of time to play, but I've been squeezing in a song before work, one when I get home, one before I go to bed... that sort of thing. What's mainly got me coming back for more, at this point, is the leaderboards. They provide a way to be relevant to other players without being overtly social. I'm not the type of person who like to chat a lot when I'm playing videogames. I also am not fond of waiting for other players to be ready, having other players drop out of a game I'm playing or feeling reluctant to simply restart a song because other unseen players would be inconvenienced. So, for me, the leaderboards are awesome.

You don't "opt in" to the leaderboards. You're simply there. You rank wherever you rank, if you have an Internet connection. If you feel intimidated by the rest of the world's rankings, you can choose to view your ranking among just your friends. Personally, I am viewing the world rankings as a challenge.

As of this writing (well, as of last night, on my last attempt at these songs), I had rankings on two songs which- added together - were just under 100:
Pro Keys Expert:

• Everybody Wants to Rule The World (Tears for Fears): 62


• Blue Monday (New Order): 36

...and Queen's got Rock Band 3 versions of their songs available, which include Pro Keys parts. That and the Billy Joel pack make for lots more Pro Keys goodness to challenge yourself with...

...see you on the leaderboards...

Back from E3, but still all about it.

...Now we're decompressing and posting full-length stories on our impressions from the show. Feel free to as questions, they might make me remember to add something I would have otherwise left out.

I'm wrapping up a story on Rock Band 3 at the moment... and waiting to hear for sure whether Fridtjof actually ended up winning an iPad at the show. If so, we might start reviewing iPad products soon... if not, well, I think StarScream's supposed to be getting one soon, anyway, so we'll probably start reviewing iPad products either way.

Transformers: War for Cybertron Video Interview

Check out our video interview with High Moon Studios' Game Director Matt Tieger -- Transformers: War for Cybertron. This is our first original content video - interview or otherwise, conducted and edited by our very own Ricky Tucker, AKA StarScream... Appropriate, no?

Farewell to a Friend...

Gary Coleman passed away yesterday. Gary Coleman, from Different Strokes and Postal 2. Gary Coleman from that E3 where Kudo Tsunoda never got the message that Psibabe was looking for him. Gary Coleman from the Sony Party from that time I didn't approach him to ask him to walk up to Ashley after she returned to the table and simply point up at her and say, "You!" The Gary Coleman who, with buxom blonde on arm would somehow always be in front of us at any Johnny Rockets we went to. That very same Gary Coleman.

The gaming industry will mourn his loss, as will we, here, at Game Vortex.

Looking at Astro Gaming...

Astro Gaming has pretty slick looking products that come in pretty slick looking packaging, all black-on-black, glossy-on-matte, lined with chrome, coated in comfortable rubberized coatings and bristling with features and included accessories.

They first caught my attention with a snazzy Flash banner ad somewhere, but they had a high-tech gamer/DJ feel about their products, so I was thrilled when I received the Astro A30 gaming headset, the MixAmp and some assorted accessories in for review.

I'm currently working on reviewing these products, and they're great, so far... with the reviews to be posted later tonight. I found an interesting website that Google is funding, called English Central, and used the A30 Headset with that to practice my English on trailer video clips from Resident Evil and commercials and such. Too Fun.

However, I need to try them out in some online gameplay on my consoles and with the final episode of lost coming on tonight, I don't have access to my television until after it's over... and they're might not be many people online anywhere in the world to play against.

Hmm... that actually might give me a chance to get a "king of the hill" achievement online... Might have to use it with that. I guess I could run over to J.R. Nip's and give it a try.

At any rate, busy, busy, busy... and watch for the reviews soon!