Well that’s certainly a mouthful to say out loud, but the goal with this Headset offered for $88 off from Amazon is to provide you with an earfull! This limited edition Turtle Beach gaming headset is designed with your Call of Duty fandom in mind. It is designed around Modern Warfare 3 and is completely wireless while providing 7.1-Channel surround sound audio. It has a tough and militaristic body, while having presets for voice chat commands for MW3 as well as compatibility for both Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Dolby Digital surround sound mixed with these massive 50mm drivers give you bone shattering audio and explosions and of course plenty of clarity so you can hear all your team mates perfectly. If you want gear that is both powerful and stylish to your tastes than this limited edition deal is for you!

You can get this headset for $211.01, which is $88 off the retail price!  S&H is free

It’s been a hard last two years for Activision, though the game publishing giant never showed it. After Infinity Ward all but disappeared and a serious lawsuit between the developer’s founders against Activision for unreceived bonuses, a major portion of Infinity Ward’s staff left to create Respawn Entertainment, now working with Activision’s biggest competitor EA. After Modern Warfare 2′s lackluster single-player and cooperative play modes, there were serious concerns whether Activision and what was left of Infinity Ward could pull together a proper sequel in two years time.

Modern Warfare 3 not only puts those sentiments to rest, it blows them the hell out of this world.

Infinity Ward spokesman Robert Bowling was right when he said that MW3 is Modern Warfare‘s gameplay with Modern Warfare 2‘s technical excellence. Like the classic original, MW3 is a three-part masterpiece cut in two halves, a single player campaign and 16 cooperative missions playable solo, online or split-screen; and a deep, feature-filled online multiplayer made to last for months of continual play, if not years. MW3 is packed to the brim.

The single player campaign is a huge improvement over MW2′s mess of a story, which threw characters in and out of play on the whim of a single plot line, held like a thread for players to reach for but never get. Like teasing a cat with string. No,  MW3 offers a coherent story, well defined goals and characters, and understandable events that make sense. It doesn’t pack the overall punch of the previous two cinematically, with nuclear explosions in space and on the ground, or watching two men beat the stuffing out of each other while pulling a knife out of your chest. What MW3 does have is amazing action during gameplay, without quick-time events. That is a real achievement.

What MW3, which was co-developed by Sledgehammer Games, Infinity Ward, and Raven Software, does so beautifully is that it gives players just the right amount of combat. It doesn’t get boring, it doesn’t get tiresome, and you’ll never go “oh this again?!” Levels and areas are unique, cityscapes are vast and pretty damn impressive, and there’s a real feeling of grandeur at the scope of some segments. It’s not like God of War 3′s full boss-as-a-level or the urban jungle of Crysis 2. Instead, MW3 delivers very focused, very story-driven gameplay. There’s no player choice, but that’s not the point. The point is to have a ton of action sequences that kick ass, and that’s exactly what we get.

I’m particularly impressed with the cover system, or lack thereof. For years I’ve spouted that FPS games should use cover, albeit no game has done a good job at it. The three developers, however, have found a very simple trick around it: conform the cover to players. Now instead of cover fully shrouding players, it’s at gun-level. That means you can shoot over walls at actually at enemies, all while standing or crouching. Players can still get shot, but they’re much more hidden than in other games, where cover leaves players exposed when firing. It’s a wonder no one has thought of this ingenious concept before.

Cooperative play, once again called Special Operations (or Spec-Ops), pits one or two players in various missions with simple objectives. Free the hostages, capture the president, steal data, etc. Nothing too fancy, but every mission actually fits with the story’s overall plot in some fashion, although some don’t actually occur in the game. Players will be both the good and bad guys, will go in stealth and walking-tank body armor. It’s the closest thing, unfortunately, that players will get to full campaign coop, but even then Spec-Ops is tremendous fun. And those are only the missions.

Survival mode  pits two players against a never-ending wave of enemy combatants. Each new wave brings harder, stronger enemies with better guns, better armor, and more chemical and explosive devices. Suicide bombers, dogs with bombs strapped to them, juggernauts (remember those walking tanks? Yeah, you fight them), attack choppers, etc. Whatever you see in the game can come and bite you in the ass. Meanwhile, players have a full arsenal of purchasable items available, spread across three computers for armor, weapons and artillery. Each kill earns money, and specialty kills (head shots, melee kill, killstreaks, etc.) earn even more. It doesn’t take long for these teams of two to feel overwhelmed by the overbearing onslaught of weapons fire, and there is no end. Play on until you’re downed on any of the multiplayer maps.

Survival mode is incredible fun, so much so that I’m surprised that it’s only a two-player mode. Two players just aren’t enough, especially on larger maps. Considering how fun this mode is, and how it’s basically Modern Warfare’s answer to the bi-annual Call of Duty title with Zombies, it really needs to work with more than just two players.

Online multiplayer…with a few days of playtime, it’s hard to say just how good online play is. The game is made to last through the next year, and that’s very clear with just how long it takes to level up weapons. While in one night I managed to level up to 20, I couldn’t clear a single weapon even 10% through in that whole time, using it nonstop. Weapons leveling is just as important as personal rank, if not more important, because it opens up new features for weapons, such as weapon perks, attachments and camo. Unlike MW2 or Black Ops, it takes a long time to really unlock new weapons and get the most out of them.

Several new gametypes are included, though the standout is Kill Confirmed, a twist on standard Deathmatch. Players must not only kill enemies, but collect their dogtags before enemies get them first. Without those dogtags collected, kills don’t count. It makes the game a tug-of-war, where players have to keep an eye on both the enemy and their own teammates, to collect any and all tags. Because it’s easy to steal an enemy’s kill, as well as lose your own.

The perk system has also been upgraded to match three different playstyles. Traditional killstreaks (now called pointstreaks) can earn standard strike packages under the Assault class, where three perks can be gained and used by players as they get kills. The Support class doesn’t reset it’s pointstreak when killed, but has limited access to what perks are available, and none of them can hurt the enemy. Instead, the support class has access to reconnaissance and general support abilities, but no calling in airstrikes or missiles. Finally, the Specialist class starts with no perks, but each kill adds a new perk, so players can theoretically become a powerhouse if they don’t die and have a raging pointstreak.

Multiplayer in MW3 is excellent, plain and simple. I’m not a huge fan of the maps, and think that there are far better maps in the past few Call of Duty titles, though MW3 does have a few gems. Too few, however.

There is one major aspect of MW3 that was a disappointment; the score. Modern Warfare 2 was scored by the good folks at Remote Control Productions (the Hans Zimmer studio, which also produced the scores for both Iron Man films, Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, Inception, etc.), and there are several scenes that even now stand out in my mind because of the incredible music. MW3 had nothing of the sort. The score was simply there, simply good enough to move the game along but not enough to make any impact.

As I sit here, completing this review, my biggest thought is to just go back and have fun. That’s really what Modern Warfare 3 is, a good time, and it offers that excitement for all sorts of players. The solo campaign is a mad dash of action and shooting, with an exceptional normal difficulty and challenging hardened and veteran modes. Cooperative play meets two standards, mission play and the never-ending survival mode, a great way to kill 20-30 minutes and really test your skills. And to round it all out, a very deep multiplayer that will keep players enthralled, equally excited and passionate, for months, if not years to come.

Editor’s Choice

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Thanks to Amazon you can grab this new Modern Warfare 3 Xbox 360 and get $50 credit along with it!

Fresh for the release of MW3 Amazon is offering you some extra credit with your order of the brand new special edition Xbox. This 360 comes with a brand new paint job which spreads to the controllers and of course has a copy of Call of duty Modern Warfare 3 included. In addition it also has downloadable avatar items and of course with $50 of credit to go with it you have plenty to either get more games or more accessories to enhance your gaming experience further. This model includes the large 320GB hard drive, more than enough to meet the gaming cravings you need. This offer won’t last long, nor will this special edition so grab it fast!

Buy this console from Amazon and you’ll not only get COD MW3, but also get a $50 credit that can be used to purchase anything off Amazon.

We totally forget about these.  In late September we scored 10 Call Of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection codes for the PS3.  To win one just like our Facebook page and leave a comment below (makes sure you register and email address) and tell us why you think Modern Warfare 3 is better/worse than EA’s Battlefield.  We’ll pick 10 winners at random on Friday (11/11/11)

This contest ends 11/11/11 at 11:11pm.

Note: We’ll message you by email with the code, so make sure your comment includes a registered (not displayed) email address.

Just the first level of gameplay. It’s pretty damn good, and each level after (up to the fourth level, where I’m up to now) is even better than the last.

Tomorrow hordes of COD fans will blow off each others heads off in an virtual onslaught of gun fire and explosions. But nothing will blow your mind or your ear holes than these Call of Duty MW3 Special Edition 9mm Earphones from Munitio.

Each ear bud is machined from a solid piece of extremely lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum and have been specifically designed to mimic the look and feel of a bullet, with Call of Duty MW3 colors of course.  And get this, the rubber cables are Kevlar-reinforced for greater durability, which won’t protect you from real life gun fire but might survive in the event of a struggle.  Too boot there is an in-line mic with one-button functionality that lets you start and stop incoming calls and they’ve included 6 “proprietary noise-isolating SiliconeHollowPoints” and a pair of ear hooks for rigorous activity.  Unfortunately, the headphones won’t work with your Xbox 360 or Playstation 3.

You can purchase the Call of Duty MW3 Special Edition 9mm Earphones direct or from select retailers for $89.99

While I haven’t gotten there myself (too much coverage, too little time to play), I wasn’t surprised to see a familiar screen pop up before the game started, as you can see in the image above. I don’t know just how bad the level is (in terms of violence, morality, or whatever the Activision developers working on the game could cook up), but it’s there. Be ready to be disgusted, taken aback, and to hear complaints for awhile from self-righteous parents and videogame violence advocates.

Breaking: if you attended the Call of Duty XP event a few months back, stay by your door. FedEx is delivering boxes of Modern Warfare 3 (if you submitted your code to get the Hardened Edition online) today. Two copies just arrived at my house (one for my brother and myself), oddly from two different LA-based shipping centers, and now I’m playing the game. Stay tuned for your arrival if you were there, and if not, have fun standing in line tonight!

Fed up with all the co-branded MW3 gaming gear? No? Then you’ll be happy to read about Turtle Beach’s Call of Duty: MW3 Ear Force Bravo Limited Edition headset.

Yup, it sports MW3 insignias on the ear cups and a Call of Duty embossed headband. But Turtle Beach didn’t let that overshadow the tech found inside. First off, they’ve packed in 50mm drivers. To provide some perspective, most head cans are built with 40mm drivers. That means this headset should pump out some serious thump to your dome. But that’s not all this gaming headset has to offer.

Hit Turtle Beach’s website and you can download up to 18 presets that influence the game’s audio, allowing you to enhance enemy foot steps or reduce the intensity of explosions on the fly. A built-in boom mic automatically eliminates background noise and lets you toggle between a microphone monitor option if you want to hear what you’re saying to your fellow combatants.

RF connectivity means that you can take your audio experience wireless, which by the way can deliver CD quality sound for up to 10 hours on the rechargeable battery (charges via USB). In the event that the battery pack does die, despite it having an auto shut off option, you can plug in this headset using the included 3.5mm cord while you juice up the battery. There is also an AUX input for adding music to your COD audio experience, which will seamlessly blend in with the game audio. Fire up Spotify on your iPhone, crank up your favorite sound track and you’ll be in gaming audio nirvana.

The Turtle Beach Call of Duty: MW3 Ear Force Bravo Limited Edition headset is compatible with the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. It’s available now for $170.

The 3rd Modern Warfare will rocket into retails stores and people’s door steps in just over a week’s time.  With it will come millions of strained eyeballs, a result of fixating for endless hours on a screen.

To help reduce fatigue, and hopefully increase your frag numbers, Gunnar Optiks has released a pair of Modern Warfare 3 branded eyeware.  They’re designed to increase contrast, enhance detail, reduce glare and improve visual endurance.

We tested a pair of these out a few years ago and based on our experience they’re effective, though nothing beats taking a break from staring at the screen.  Nonetheless, if you know COD fans, than you know that the latter option, isn’t, well, an option.

The COD MW3 glasses will include not only Modern Warfare 3 branding, but a limited edition Call of Duty MW3 branded carrying case and pouch.  They’ll ship with standard lenses, though if need be they can be outfitted with corrective lenses.

You can purchase them online or at a Best Buy store for $99.

In just under a month’s time COD: Modern Warfare 3 will hit store shelves.  No doubt we’ll see productivity drop across the globe as fans of the game call in sick to work so they can prolong their weekend frag session.  Here to celebrate the arrival of this disgustingly captivating game is Logitech, who earlier this week introduced a Modern Warfare 3 inspired keyboard and mouse for those that will take to the battlefield on a PC.

Now, don’t get too excited, since they’re pretty much just rebranded versions of their G105 gaming keyboard and G9X gaming mouse.  But that’s not all.  They’ve outfitted both peripherals with green lighting to complement the MW3′s logo.  So the keyboard has green backlighting while the mouse sports a set of green LED lights.

In terms of the actual hardware, the G105 keyboard sports 6 keys which can each be programmed with 3 different macros.  They’re customizable to however you see fit, provided you’ve downloaded Logitech’s software.  It also rocks anti-ghosting tech which lets players mash up to 5 keys simultaneously without any interruption in game play and some media shortcut keys.

The mouse on the other hand (pun intended), can keep pace at up to 165-inches per second.  So suffice to say, the G9X is fast.  Its sensitivity can can be adjusted anywhere from 200dpi to 5700dpi depending on your gaming tastes.  There is also a dual-mode scroll wheel that Logitech says is ideal for selecting weapons, thanks to the precise click-to-click function or if you’re not digging that you can switch to frictionless hyper-fast scrolling to fly through web pages.  Five profiles allow you to effortlessly switch between settings and you can even customize the weight of the device with up to 28 grams of extra mass.

Both the MW3 Keyboard and MW3 Mouse should be available now for $79.99 and $99.99, respectively.  We’re not saying replace your current gaming keyboard and mouse, but if you’re in the market, here’s a way to pledge your undieing devotion to COD.

The first and official trailer for Modern Warfare 3 debuted a few days ago and it backs up the rumors we heard about earlier this month.

As suspected the game will release November 8th, 2011.  It will take place in multiple countries including England, Germany, USA and France.  Vehicles are most certainly in the game, but at this point it’s a bit difficult to tell if they’re scene oriented or can be used throughout the boards.

The game is being developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games.

Ealier this week Activision mailed dogs tags containing the URL Findmakarov.com.  No additional details were revealed, but visit the site and you’ll find a 5 day countdown timer in the ilk of Call Of Duty. Since the launch of COD 7 is easily more than 6 months away, our skills of deduction have deduced that once the timer reaches zero Activision will reveal the deets on the next Modern Warfare.

Read

Already tired of the just released COD: Black Ops multiplayer maps?  Splendid news my FPS cohorts.  The first DLC for Black Ops, aptly titled “First Strike”, releases Feb 1st on Xbox 360 for 1200 Microsoft points – it will release shortly after on the PS3.

The DLC contains 5 new maps, featuring 4 multiplayer maps and a new Zombie level. It include the “Berlin Wall”, allowing combat on both sides of the imposing wall; “Discovery”, a desolate, frozen German outpost in the Arctic; “Kowloon”, battle in the rain along the rooftops of a towering Chinese sprawl; “Stadium”, an intense locale with a pro hockey arena backdrop; and “Ascension”, where you fight zombies in a Soviet launch facility.

Hit the trailer after the ‘leap’

3.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Clear communication with easy controls
• PS3, 360 and PC accessible
• Functional simulated surround sound

Cons:

• Heavily favors bass tones
• No cross-compatibility outside of home theater

There was once a time when Hollywood couldn’t be touched when it came to over-inflated marketing budgets—hell, “blockbuster” is a term the film industry created to sell itself. That time, evidently, is long gone. Enter the reigning maverick of cross-promotional capitalism: videogames. As their production costs start to meet and supersede those of many films, ROI becomes an important buzzphrase for publishers. Once only a market of lunchboxes and action figures, licensed products are reaching out to bigger, more expensive commodities. Third-party peripheral manufacturer, Mad Catz, Inc., has been in this game awhile now, but their latest Call of Duty: Black Ops gear leverages one of the most recognizable, best-selling franchises for branded, functional hardware.

Coming from the parent company’s Tritton line is the Limited Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops Dolby surround sound gaming headset. As an esthetically themed version of Tritton’s AX 720 headset, the Black Ops SKU doesn’t add much to the package for the increased price tag save for a Call of Duty-emblazoned carrying case and hardware, and an ornamental box any superfan would be proud to display. Thus, just like the stock AX 720 headset, a purchase will net you an injection-molded communicator with a virtual 5.1 Dolby surround sound decoder box that’s compatible with the PS3 (and PC/Mac), Xbox 360, and any other optical-out device.

That said, unless you’re desperate to show off your love of Black Ops there isn’t much of a need to dole out the extra cash ($199.99) for the stylized version of the AX 720 ($129.99); but for those not on the surround sound headset train, this limited edition, GameStop exclusive is a contemplative introductory set. Designed to work in conjunction with the HD consoles, the package comes with everything you need regardless of the hardware camp you’re in: a pair of 3-foot optical cables, Xbox LIVE communication cable, standard series A-to-B USB cable, and power adapter.

Setup is easy for any who’ve plugged their console into a television, since you’re only audio-in option is with the optical connection. Though be warned, you may feel the onset of a headache reconfiguring your media station if you plan to switch between consoles using the headset. Each of the included optical cables are fairly short, and in order to communicate on the PS3 you’ll have to negotiate the USB cord as well. On the Xbox front, the knot of cables moves up to the user’s end as the headset’s in-line controller connects to the console’s controller via the aforementioned Xbox LIVE communication cable. Both setups aren’t all that different from other wired solutions out there, and the headset’s extra-long braided microfiber cable gives you 12 feet from decoder box to headset, so at least there’s plenty of length if you’re sitting at the recommended distance on any 50-inch or smaller TV.

Setup for Xbox 360

When you’re wearing the headset you have your choice of vinyl or cloth pads to encompass your ears with, and though the design may be a bit stiff for larger head sizes, the plastic isn’t entirely constricting. There are noticeable symptoms of hot ears if you’re marathoning with the default vinyl cups, so switching to the cloth would be a wise tactical decision.

From a performance perspective, Tritton’s headset is a bit of a mixed bag. The in-line controls are easy to use with a Mute quick-switch and volume wheels for both voice and game effects; not to mention the decoder amp is simple enough with a few lights telling you what kind of output you’re listening to (Dolby Digital, Pro Logic II, or Dolby Headphone). With a toggle of the decoder’s “Dolby Headphone” button you’re able to switch amplifications between “Movie/Game” and “Music” settings.

Ultimately, the simulated surround sound produced from the amplifier is functional. As is usual with single-speaker headsets, the soundstage is more pronounced from “left” and “right” channels, whereas “in front” and “behind” projections are more diluted and obscure. Sure enough you’re able to generally tell where footsteps or gunfire are coming from, but the sound quality will disappoint any claiming audiophile status. The audio, no matter the mode, has a muffled presence. Bass is boomy but simultaneously bloated and overbearing; explosions may pack an aural punch, but you’re likely to lose those discrete cues of sidling opponents in free-for-all matches. Strangely, when in lobbies or menus, there’s a slightly audible trickling or popping background sound. It’s not distracting, just—odd. Communication over the mic, however, is clear and responsive.

Also, it should be explicitly clear that the headset is only compatible with the decoder box. Unless you have a host of 6-pin mini-DIN hookups around, it’s a package unit with a home at your monitor.

As a GameStop exclusive, Tritton’s Limited Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops headset is a piece of licensed hardware that best appeals to any hardcore fan of the series who’s Prestige count outnumbers the discs in their game library—if you can find them. It lacks the precision in its included EQ settings to be the ultimate headset, but its versatility between competing consoles makes it a user-friendly device.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Huge franchises depend on merchandising. It doesn’t matter what the franchise is, and Activision would be remiss if it didn’t take advantage of the latest Call of Duty, Black Ops. Working with Mad Catz, who has recently released a number of high-end computer peripherals (some of which we’ll be reviewing in the coming week), they created with the RAT 7 Stealth Edition, complete with a Black Ops paint job and special functions specific to the game.

The RAT 7 is a unique mouse already because it’s adjustable. I passed on reviewing the standard model, namely because I’m also testing out the RAT 9, which is identical except that it’s wireless. The Stealth Edition is not entirely adjustable – the thumb slab can’t be adjusted whatsoever, compared to the standard RAT 7, which can. Instead only the length can be adjusted, but in its place is a special button that may make a world of difference for gamers.

What this special button does is cut the sensitivity of the mouse 50%, 75%, or any amount to slow the laser for more accurate aim. It’s quite the brilliant function, and spares gamers from having to switch between previously set DPi load-outs. Sadly, the usefulness is diminished due to poor placement. As someone with exceptionally long thumbs (a thumb-war champ, many have said), I have trouble reaching the sniper button. And because the Stealth is not fully adjustable like the standard RAT 7, users will have a hard time using this cool feature.

That placement is a real shame, because there are many uses for an instant sensitivity button like this, such as making quick adjustments when photo editing, text selection when web browsing, properly placing the cursor when scanning through long videos…the list goes on and on. I keep my mouse’s DPi setting at 2000 and rarely change it, but a single button to change it for just a moment is far more convenient than scanning through various pre-installed settings.

To be clear, the RAT 7 does come with this button, the PrecisionAIM, but on the RAT 7 it is not programmable. The Stealth Edition does not have adjustable sides.

The RAT 7 and Logitech G700 side by side, respectively

The Stealth is surprisingly comfortable. Even without the moot available adjustments, it’s clear that the design is very well thought out. The thumb piece goes down the side and flattens parallel the table, so players don’t need a claw grip on the mouse. Thumbs can rest easy flat, as they would on a table, but on the mouse instead. Buttons are well placed, though the thumb buttons are too thin.

The RAT 7 comes with all the bells and whistles expected from top-tier gaming mice: 5600 DPi sensor, 5+ programmable buttons, weights, and software that’s so easy, even Mac gamers could appreciate it. It also comes with a rarely seen horizontal scroll wheel, just above the thumb buttons, which appears more like an adjustment wheel to change something on the mouse than an actual scroll wheel. For gaming, it’s a great addition on the mouse to have, and proves to go hand in hand with the vertical scroll wheel. For standard computing it’s mostly useless, especially for those with larger screens (on my 1920×1200 I’ve yet to find a need to scroll horizontally, except once in Photoshop).

The RAT 7 with included weights, up to 30 grams total

Great software is not usually a given with gaming hardware, and depending on the company, is often hit or miss. Since Mad Catz took over Saitek’s Cyborg gaming line, the software has improved dramatically, and the available drivers for the RAT 7 are fantastically simple and intuitive. Get in, get out and play.

Bundle the whole thing with a stunning paint job and USB dogtags, the RAT 7 Stealth Edition is a great mouse that any gamer can appreciate, and even non-gamers can enjoy. The laser is highly sensitive, and PC gaming is a blast thanks to its high level of comfort and many functions. My only regret is the PrecisionAIM’s placement, which is too far up the mouse to use regularly. Considering the whole slab dedicated to a resting thumb, I see no reason why it can’t just rest directly under the center of the thumb. In any case, the Stealth is a great mouse, and interested buyers will definitely be happy with their purchase.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Tight controls, stiff buttons
• Excellent art decal

Cons:

• Rubbery feel, bad for sweaty hands
• Rear buttons are too small to press
• $50 is steep for a wired gamepad

When a controller releases for a console, that’s really not a big deal these days. Not unless it comes from the big three, or if it offers something special. In fact, most manufacturers stopped trying outright because they simply couldn’t compete, for a number of reasons. Madcatz didn’t, and has partnered with Activision’s fast-selling and soon to be commercially acclaimed shooter. Does it make the cut?

PrecisionAIM got its name from the unique build of the controller. The shape is not all that different from the standard Xbox 360 gamepad, but it likewise doesn’t feel the same. At first, the differences are so moot, it just feels odd. Not good, not bad, just odd.

But as I settled in and broke the controller in a bit, those slight differences suddenly weren’t very slight. That’s because the smallest changes to a gamepad, one which is used tens of hours a week, are surprisingly significant.

With the PrecisionAIM, the face buttons are flat as opposed to rounded, which gives them easier grip, yet they are less clicky, and feel more rubbery to press. The D-pad is very soft, and far too similar to the current Xbox 360 controller design, which makes it feel junky. The analog sticks have smaller faces, and are more difficult to latch a thumb onto.

In fact, the rubbery feel of the PrecisionAIM influences much of the controller. Two rubber pads sit on both sides of the controller, intended to better the grip. It does, except for people with sweaty hands, for whom it does the exact opposite. The tighter triggers, after a good hour, actually put a strain on my hands, something I’d never felt before with any gamepad. Finally, the two rear buttons, which can take the place of any two face buttons, proved small and difficult to push unless I changed my grip style.

For a good two hours, I played poorly with the PrecisionAIM. In games like Halo: Reach, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Blood Stone and others, my performance was cut in half. But as I kept playing and acclimated to the new controller, I started playing better and better, especially in one specific field. And it ain’t from the glowing read thumbsticks.

The tighter analog sticks are intended for, guess what, precision. With a sniper rifle or any precision-based weapon, I was shooting better than I had in years. One game of Halo: Reach ended my count at 17 headshots with a sniper rifle, and four more with the DMR. The standard 360 controller is looser and is thus easier to move too much or too far, whereas the PrecisionAIM is very tight, and allows for slight, controlled movements much better than other gamepads.

Other button changes also proved to be a benefit instead of a detriment to gameplay. The Start and Back buttons are quick, easy to press and very clicky buttons. I always hated having to reach over and press them on the standard 360 controller, and that isn’t a problem with PrecisionAIM. The bumpers at first felt like they lacked firmness, but are actually tighter as well. They require less push to press, and have a satisfying click for each press. And the analog stick buttons (R3 & L3) are much, much easier to push, without being too easy to accidentally press.

That leaves just the grip on the analog sticks, and the rear buttons. Unfortunately, both are not up to par with PrecisionAIM’s biggest competitor. Grip on the analog sticks could be a deal-breaker. I found myself constantly fixing my grip on both sticks, because even without sweaty fingers, my thumbs just slide off of the thumbsticks.

In effect, the slippery nature of the controller as a whole ruins the rear buttons. A tighter grip is required on the controller to keep it steady, more pressure is needed for the thumbs to make sure they don’t slip, and that leaves the rest of your hand clutching the controller for dear life. It won’t give you arthritis or aching hands, but you won’t be pressing those rear buttons either. To press either one, I had to let go with my middle finger (on either had), move it up a centimeter, and press. That’s not nearly as easy as just hitting the button it’s meant to replace.

For the same price as an ordinary Xbox 360 controller, it’s tough to recommend the PrecisionAIM controller. Were it $40, then yes, the tighter controls and stiffer analog sticks would prove to be a great asset for gamers who find their gamepads too loose. Call of Duty fans may still want to pick up a set because of the great artwork, but besides that, there isn’t too much to praise about the PrecisionAIM. For more professional gamers seeking a tighter feel for more precise shooting, the PrecisionAIM is a fine choice to make. For regular gamers, not so much.

This game is the latest in the COD franchise and has the best features along with the most intense FPS game play ever!