The Mad Catz Major League Gaming Pro Circuit controller has arrived, and it is good. However, its premium construction and tweakability come at a steep cost that only hardcore gamers (or generous gift-givers) can stomach. That's why we ran it by the four top gamers in the PCWorld office to see whether the quality is worth the cost.
When it comes to console gamepads, you used to be able to count on the original manufacturer's controllers to be the gold standard for quality and feel, and the third-party peripheral makers were relegated to throwing in mostly-useless features onto sub-par pads and hoping they could undercut Nintendo or Sony's gamepads by a few bucks. The MLG Pro Circuit controller ($100) changes the game; you could opt for a standard wired Xbox 360 controller for $30 ($35 for wireless), or spend over three times that for the MLG Pro Circuit controller.
You know that your new iPad will let you easily watch movies, browse the Internet, or play games on the go, but there are many advanced features hidden beneath the surface of iOS that can improve your tablet computing experience even further. To help you become an iPad master, we've compiled a handy list of tips and tricks for new iPad users. Read on if you want to learn how to multitask, take screenshots, encrypt your backups and more.
Set the iPad to self-destruct in 10 seconds: Okay, not really--but you can set the iPad to erase all data after ten failed passcode entry attempts by checking the Erase Data option under Settings, General, Passcode Lock.
Illustration by Papercut.frWhether you are at home, work, or school, odds are you spend a lot of time staring at your Web browser. So why does it look—and run—like everyone else’s? This collection of our favorite browser secrets and extensions can make your browser safer and more efficient than ever—and help you figure out what’s wrong when things don’t work as you expect.
Unless stated otherwise, our tips are for all of the four major browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari.
Alex Wawro, Nate Ralph, Patrick Miller, Jason Cross
It's Valentine's Day here in the U.S., and while we're all about celebrating love and romance in our daily lives, can anyone remember the last time they had a meaningful relationship in (or with) a video game? Join PCWorld Editors Patrick Miller, Nate Ralph, Jason Cross and Alex Wawro as they get uncomfortably close in the PCWorld Podcast Studio to talk about games that handle themes of love and romance well. I like to think we learn something about each other, about ourselves, and maybe, just maybe, about how to love again on this light-hearted holiday edition of the PCWorld Game On Podcast!
Nate Ralph, Patrick Miller, Jason Cross, Alex Wawro
Do you love classic games? Join PCWorld Editors Patrick Miller, Nate Ralph, Jason Cross and Alex Wawro as they gather to gab about the technology that allows us to play classic games on our smartphones, consoles and tablets, what makes a great game remake and which classic games they'd love to play again on the PCWorld Game On Podcast!
Alex Wawro, Jason Cross, Nate Ralph, Patrick Miller
Have you ever dreamed of being paid to play games? So have we, but after discussing the state of pro gaming in this episode of the PCWorld Game On podcast it seems like playing games competitively is a lot of work. Join PCWorld Editors Alex Wawro, Jason Cross, Nate Ralph and Patrick Miller as they discuss the origin of professional gaming on the PC, recommend some tips to make a name for yourself as an eSports competitor and ponder the future of professional gaming on PC, console and even mobile devices.
Alex Wawro, Jason Cross, Nate Ralph, Patrick Miller
Do you love playing games with friends? So do we, and now we're back and ready to dig into what really makes cooperative games worth playing in the third episode of the PCWorld Game On podcast. Join PCWorld Editors Alex Wawro, Jason Cross, Nate Ralph and Patrick Miller as they discuss some of the best cooperative games, recommend some classic cooperative experiences and ruminate on how you can play better with others on PC, console and even mobile devices.
Dancing Cats and Vacuums Join the Sideshow at CES 2012Ever wonder where the bizarre toys in the "As Seen On TV" section of Walgreens come from? Odds are, that clap-activated, Macarena-singing gorilla you bought for laughs came from CES at some point. Whether the vendors are actually selling the stuff themselves or just using it to plug their actual product, there are plenty of weird, eye-catching gizmos strewn across the South Hall of the Las Vegas.
Dancing Robot Cat
Nothing sells miniature cameras like robotic cats dancing to "Ring of Fire". These capering kittens are actually sold by U.K.-based novelty store Thumbs Up. All you need are three AA batteries and an audio device with a headphone jack, and your cat will boogie. Personally, I'll stick to my real cats--though these three are undoubtedly easier to clean up after.
Robot Baby Seal
Our robot animal theme continues with the Paro, a robot baby seal designed in Japan (where else)? Paro is no gimmick, though--its behavior is modeled after an actual baby seal, and it sells for about $7000. That's because it's designed for therapeutic uses; with a Paro, a hospital or nursing home could enjoy the same therapeutic benefits of a cat or dog for the patients or residents without the associated mess.
Dancing Vacuum
Deebot, at your serviceThe Deebot is apparently the first robot vacuum to sing and dance. We believe it. Unfortunately, there was no model on demonstration, so there's no word on whether this "gentlemanly" vacuum will open doors for all ladies or prefer blondes. On the other hand, he is vacuuming for you, which is nice.
The Coolest Work Chair Ever
Your throne, EmperorThis space-age "integrated work environment" is called the Emperor, and it looks like a cross between a La-Z-Boy and an Aeron office chair. It also, coincidentally, looks like it's ending up on my Christmas list. It comes with three displays built into that overhead section, and you can set up your keyboard and mouse on adjustable trays in front of you. All that will cost you about $6200, though if that's not baller enough for you, you can opt for the deluxe model with a touchscreen control panel and an air-filtration system for a cool $44,000.
We'll be keeping an eye out for more weird stuff from the show floor today and tomorrow, so check back regularly.
Roccat, an up-and-coming PC gaming accessory maker, is bringing its high-end gaming keyboard ("Isku") and mouse ("Kone[+]") to the U.S. market, and their user-friendly, advanced customization features might be the first ones I bother to use.
Confession time: These days, most PC gaming peripherals come absolutely jam-packed with macro keys, recording features, instant profile and sensitivity switches, and other impressive widgets and doodads that sound great when I'm looking for a keyboard. However, when I actually pull my new gear out of the box, I usually plug it in,
play around with the drivers for a few minutes, then jump into a game. After all, it takes a while to set up custom layouts and macros for all the games I play, and every minute I spend doing that is a minute I'm not spending owning newbies.
Microsoft sure reaped the rewards of the Xbox 360 and Kinect's success over the past year, and they're showing it off in a big way at CES 2012. However, very little of the Xbox buzz coming from Microsoft has to do with games. 2012 might very well be the Year of the Xbox 360, but not for many of the gamers that brought it so far.
Xbox 360: Your New Streaming Media Set-Top Box
Streaming media isn't anything new for the Xbox, of course--it was one of the first ways to stream Netflix Instant onto a TV without using a PC. However, Microsoft is doubling down on streaming media this year, aiming to have 100 streaming apps by the end of 2012. That's not 100 dinky Android apps, either--each app requires Microsoft to partner with the content provider to make sure that Xbox users are getting the best experience possible.
If you're a fighting game enthusiast or a PC gamer craving some spiffy new headsets, Mad Catz might just take your money: Mad Catz is kicking off 2012 with three new FightSticks--high-end arcade stick peripherals for your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3--as well as a PC gaming headset line that complements last year's Cyborg R.A.T.7 gaming mouse.
The Street Fighter X Tekken FightStick VS ($200) is undeniably the star of Mad Catz's show: It features a sturdy metal frame that feels even stronger (and notably heavier) than the regular FightStick TE model, the same Sanwa buttons and stick as the other FightStick models, and a slightly wider build. What makes the FightStick VS unique is the extra $20 connection kit--a metal plate you can screw into the bottom of two FightStick VSes to connect them together like an old-school side-by-side arcade cabinet setup.
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