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- Review count34
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- First reviewAugust 21, 2015
- Last reviewAugust 3, 2018
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The barren landscape stretches out before you, seemingly unending with no signs of life and no relief from the relentless sun. As you navigate your battering ram of a vehicle over the remnants of a long-abandoned highway, you contemplate this existence you call life. There is no mercy in this post-apocalyptic world and no solace — only the instinctual quest for survival and the cold comfort that is vengeance. You've become a lone warrior, a reluctant hero, but only because your choices were that or death. The only thing that gives you any hope is the thought of leaving this madness behind and finding peace at last in the storied Plains of Silence. You are Mad Max, and these are the end of times.Embark on a dangerous journey through the Wasteland that is this post-apocalyptic world on a quest to retrieve your Interceptor, which has been stolen by a deadly gang of marauders. Take on each foe with brutal moves and combos that are your only chance of beating the deranged bandits of the Wasteland. Scavenge the landscape for the scraps you need to craft and upgrade equipment, vehicles and weapons — your lifelines in this unforgiving setting. With the ability to construct the ultimate war vehicle by choosing from dozens of customizable parts and upgrade combinations and arming your vehicle with a slew of deadly weapons, you can annihilate enemy vehicles in dynamic, physics-based vehicular combat. As you explore the vast, open-world environment of the Wasteland, take on unique missions and side quests, eliminate eccentric bandits and battle savage gangs. There's only one thing to live for now — revenge.
Customer Rating
5
Fury Road sequel lives up to the films of Mad Max
on October 29, 2015
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
Mad Max the game picks up as a sequel to Fury Road, and really lives up to the franchise.
Mad Max is part of the "open world" games that have become so overdone (choice is nice, but sometimes, a well-told story with a beginning and end is really just a preferable option) that I have a love/ hate relationship with.
I have a severe case of gaming ADD, so even when a game has severe focus, I can lose interest rather quickly. When it comes to open-world games, I love to buy them, but hate them because I end up overwhelmed by the lack of direction and usually set it aside to pick up later... And never once pick it back up again. Games like GTA, Elder Scrolls, and others all make my collection, and I usually love what I play, but at some point, the sheer amount of activities just makes me feel like there's a neverending process that won't free me up to enjoy another game from my vast library, and it gets shelved.
Not so with Mad Max.
While MM's VAST world is a veritable wasteland without bustling sidewalks and skyscrapers, it's still... despite being a giant desert, for the most part... gorgeous.
Hunting down scrap... or, better yet, "making your own" by destroying marauding vehicles, makes the farming part of the game light years more enjoyable than most games.
The setting, as mentioned above, is beautiful, and if the roaming packs of war boys doesn't keep your eyes and ears open, the random freakish storms will. Every so often, as seen in Fury Road, a giant sandstorm or, (even cooler- lightning storm) will hit. If you're stuck with no shelter, pray your car offers enough to fend it off (it won't... at least not for the storm's length)... as the storms rage, huge pieces of debris will whip around, damaging you and/ or your car... Make your way somewhere safe and FAST. Even if no shelter is easily found, the "other side" of a hill will help. Beyond the negatives of the storms, there is a positive- large unearthed crates filled with scrap will be flung about for you to hunt down and strike it rich... but, war boys will also be hot on their trail. A special acknowledgement for the lightning storms. Saw my first last night after a week of playing, and it was GORGEOUS. Lightning strikes all around you, which is quite the sight, but seeing the electricity randomly hit the ground, then snake about like twisted, searching fingers is really something else.
Fighting in the game is broken down into two parts- Max as a character, and Max in his new car, the "Magnum Opus" (within the opening moments of the game, Max is left for dead (hence, why, like most games, your character starts with no weapons/ armor) and his famous Interceptor is scrapped). Like Max, the Magnum Opus is fully upgradeable and customizeable (including car bodies)- and both use scrap to level up.
His hand to hand combat plays out in the free-flow system made famous by the Batman Arkham games, which is always gorgeous to watch play out, even if it feels much like a game of rock-paper-scissors... Satisfying, and still a new enough system where it hasn't been overdone to death.
Fighting in the Magnum Opus is wonderful fun. While you shouldn't expect the cars to handle very realistically (there ARE stats that effect how it handles) yet, unlike so many other open-world games that either a) have cars, but have streets and traffic or b) have huge, vast areas of open space, but are stuck in a fantasy setting where there are no cars, this first try at sticking cars into a land that widely devoid of traffic and buildings is still amazingly fun. The cars often feel underweight- and completely incapable of flipping over- which is a shame. But, having this as the negative versus what you CAN DO in the car is perfectly acceptable.
Adding armor, ramming grills, shredders, boarding spikes, nitrous, a harpoon and a sniper rifle, among other options, with each having multiple upgrades, gives you this feeling of being much tougher than you are when you first begin. While you'll start off against weaker machines, you best invest time in following the storyline while running side missions and looting scrap as often as you can... Otherwise, you'll find yourself on the short end of some fights when running up against convoys.
The inclusion of "Chumbucket", your blackfinger sidekick, who had the dream that's making the Magnum Opus possible, is a great way to give you a way to repair your vehicle without having to return to your base. Chum is handy for your vehicle repairs and upgrades, but can occasionally be a bit annoying with a limited vocabulary that you'll be hearing often, especially when you see the size of the map (may be the largest I've ever seen) and realize you have LOTS to do in the wasteland.
Another great way the developers have handled all this free-roaming and managed it wonderfully for you on such an impressive map is by letting you make your Magnum Opus upgrades without a return to base. It may not make much sense, but it's HIGHLY appreciated.
(Even the bases you visit (while I refer to them as "yours" they really belong to warlords that also want the surviving son of Immortan Joe dead, and see you as a means to that end).
Keep in mind, just like in the movies, resources are precious. From water (used to replenish health when using your canteen), to fuel, to shotgun shells, none are in great stock in the world. You'll often find yourself making a call on whether your health REALLY IS low enough to risk drinking from your canteen before you find more of the refreshing stuff. When do you start using your shotgun? when surrounded by 3 enemies? 4? 5?
While MM isn't PERFECT, it sure as heck is a fun ride. In a world this size, making your "leveling" resource (scrap) a guaranteed reward for blowing up some cars removes the grind; removing the need to return to base for every upgrade leaves more time to explore and raid enemy camps and convoys. There was a concerted effort here to ensure that people playing Max weren't going to get burnt out during the grinding sessions- that it would actually remain fun. This is a game more likely to be higher than a 4.5, but not quite a 5. Its few flaws are drowned out by the sound of Max's V8 coming over the horizon with a crew of war boys wanting to be witnessed.
Don't hesitate. Buy Mad Max, and hopefully the developers will reward us with a sequel before the next movie.
Mad Max is part of the "open world" games that have become so overdone (choice is nice, but sometimes, a well-told story with a beginning and end is really just a preferable option) that I have a love/ hate relationship with.
I have a severe case of gaming ADD, so even when a game has severe focus, I can lose interest rather quickly. When it comes to open-world games, I love to buy them, but hate them because I end up overwhelmed by the lack of direction and usually set it aside to pick up later... And never once pick it back up again. Games like GTA, Elder Scrolls, and others all make my collection, and I usually love what I play, but at some point, the sheer amount of activities just makes me feel like there's a neverending process that won't free me up to enjoy another game from my vast library, and it gets shelved.
Not so with Mad Max.
While MM's VAST world is a veritable wasteland without bustling sidewalks and skyscrapers, it's still... despite being a giant desert, for the most part... gorgeous.
Hunting down scrap... or, better yet, "making your own" by destroying marauding vehicles, makes the farming part of the game light years more enjoyable than most games.
The setting, as mentioned above, is beautiful, and if the roaming packs of war boys doesn't keep your eyes and ears open, the random freakish storms will. Every so often, as seen in Fury Road, a giant sandstorm or, (even cooler- lightning storm) will hit. If you're stuck with no shelter, pray your car offers enough to fend it off (it won't... at least not for the storm's length)... as the storms rage, huge pieces of debris will whip around, damaging you and/ or your car... Make your way somewhere safe and FAST. Even if no shelter is easily found, the "other side" of a hill will help. Beyond the negatives of the storms, there is a positive- large unearthed crates filled with scrap will be flung about for you to hunt down and strike it rich... but, war boys will also be hot on their trail. A special acknowledgement for the lightning storms. Saw my first last night after a week of playing, and it was GORGEOUS. Lightning strikes all around you, which is quite the sight, but seeing the electricity randomly hit the ground, then snake about like twisted, searching fingers is really something else.
Fighting in the game is broken down into two parts- Max as a character, and Max in his new car, the "Magnum Opus" (within the opening moments of the game, Max is left for dead (hence, why, like most games, your character starts with no weapons/ armor) and his famous Interceptor is scrapped). Like Max, the Magnum Opus is fully upgradeable and customizeable (including car bodies)- and both use scrap to level up.
His hand to hand combat plays out in the free-flow system made famous by the Batman Arkham games, which is always gorgeous to watch play out, even if it feels much like a game of rock-paper-scissors... Satisfying, and still a new enough system where it hasn't been overdone to death.
Fighting in the Magnum Opus is wonderful fun. While you shouldn't expect the cars to handle very realistically (there ARE stats that effect how it handles) yet, unlike so many other open-world games that either a) have cars, but have streets and traffic or b) have huge, vast areas of open space, but are stuck in a fantasy setting where there are no cars, this first try at sticking cars into a land that widely devoid of traffic and buildings is still amazingly fun. The cars often feel underweight- and completely incapable of flipping over- which is a shame. But, having this as the negative versus what you CAN DO in the car is perfectly acceptable.
Adding armor, ramming grills, shredders, boarding spikes, nitrous, a harpoon and a sniper rifle, among other options, with each having multiple upgrades, gives you this feeling of being much tougher than you are when you first begin. While you'll start off against weaker machines, you best invest time in following the storyline while running side missions and looting scrap as often as you can... Otherwise, you'll find yourself on the short end of some fights when running up against convoys.
The inclusion of "Chumbucket", your blackfinger sidekick, who had the dream that's making the Magnum Opus possible, is a great way to give you a way to repair your vehicle without having to return to your base. Chum is handy for your vehicle repairs and upgrades, but can occasionally be a bit annoying with a limited vocabulary that you'll be hearing often, especially when you see the size of the map (may be the largest I've ever seen) and realize you have LOTS to do in the wasteland.
Another great way the developers have handled all this free-roaming and managed it wonderfully for you on such an impressive map is by letting you make your Magnum Opus upgrades without a return to base. It may not make much sense, but it's HIGHLY appreciated.
(Even the bases you visit (while I refer to them as "yours" they really belong to warlords that also want the surviving son of Immortan Joe dead, and see you as a means to that end).
Keep in mind, just like in the movies, resources are precious. From water (used to replenish health when using your canteen), to fuel, to shotgun shells, none are in great stock in the world. You'll often find yourself making a call on whether your health REALLY IS low enough to risk drinking from your canteen before you find more of the refreshing stuff. When do you start using your shotgun? when surrounded by 3 enemies? 4? 5?
While MM isn't PERFECT, it sure as heck is a fun ride. In a world this size, making your "leveling" resource (scrap) a guaranteed reward for blowing up some cars removes the grind; removing the need to return to base for every upgrade leaves more time to explore and raid enemy camps and convoys. There was a concerted effort here to ensure that people playing Max weren't going to get burnt out during the grinding sessions- that it would actually remain fun. This is a game more likely to be higher than a 4.5, but not quite a 5. Its few flaws are drowned out by the sound of Max's V8 coming over the horizon with a crew of war boys wanting to be witnessed.
Don't hesitate. Buy Mad Max, and hopefully the developers will reward us with a sequel before the next movie.
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
![Avengers: Age of Ultron [Includes Digital Copy] [3D] [Blu-ray] [Only @ Best Buy] [Ultron SteelBook] [Blu-ray/Blu-ray 3D] [2015]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4285/4285400_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Solid, not spectacular follow-up
on October 28, 2015
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
Really need 1/2 star options in here, Best Buy! Rounding up on this, only because a 3 star review seems to be a disservice, but a four star review is a touch high.
After the original Avengers, the bar was set pretty high for the follow-up, and unfortunately, Ultron doesn't really come close to its own lofty ambitions.
Don't get me wrong, there's lots to love in this movie. Ultron is cool, but I'm not certain I felt as "threatened" by him as the movie would have liked him to be. The twins are fun throughout, and a lot of the funny banter back and forth is still prevalent throughout the movie. The Hulkbuster vs Hulk fight was, without a doubt, pretty epic... And in a semi-unfortunate way, it might have been the best fight in the movie.
Ultron's minions attack in swarms, which seems to be the only way the Avengers can be threatened (so far) in their movies, but they come across rather generically. Whereas the invaders from the first film had some measure of "differences" in the way they attacked, the Ultron copies just seem to come non-stop like an army of ants.
But, perhaps my two biggest disappointments were in never hearing Hulk utter a word, or if he did, it was so unmemorable that I'm not recalling it. Whereas he almost stole the show with some of his limited vocabulary in the original, here he's just a rampaging creature that can only be calmed by Black Widow.
And even that would be fine, if they were showing a regression of sorts in him with some measure of backstory to show it taking place. As he doesn't have his own films, seeing him becoming more brutish and forming the bond with Natasha would have been preferable to some of the other time spent in Age of Ultron... Where the first movie's runtime was hidden behind some really great stuff, AoU does have the occasional drag to it.
The original Avengers felt epic, felt special... Ultron feels like... well, a sequel. It never recaptures the magic of seeing these heroes together or shows us much in new teamwork that adds a new taste of uniqueness to the series.
With Whedon bowing out of the next (2 part) Avengers movie, and being replaced by the directors of Winter Soldier, I'm kind of glad to see it happen. Whedon is spectacular, particular with his humor, but perhaps fresh blood will return them to "Earth's Mightiest".
After the original Avengers, the bar was set pretty high for the follow-up, and unfortunately, Ultron doesn't really come close to its own lofty ambitions.
Don't get me wrong, there's lots to love in this movie. Ultron is cool, but I'm not certain I felt as "threatened" by him as the movie would have liked him to be. The twins are fun throughout, and a lot of the funny banter back and forth is still prevalent throughout the movie. The Hulkbuster vs Hulk fight was, without a doubt, pretty epic... And in a semi-unfortunate way, it might have been the best fight in the movie.
Ultron's minions attack in swarms, which seems to be the only way the Avengers can be threatened (so far) in their movies, but they come across rather generically. Whereas the invaders from the first film had some measure of "differences" in the way they attacked, the Ultron copies just seem to come non-stop like an army of ants.
But, perhaps my two biggest disappointments were in never hearing Hulk utter a word, or if he did, it was so unmemorable that I'm not recalling it. Whereas he almost stole the show with some of his limited vocabulary in the original, here he's just a rampaging creature that can only be calmed by Black Widow.
And even that would be fine, if they were showing a regression of sorts in him with some measure of backstory to show it taking place. As he doesn't have his own films, seeing him becoming more brutish and forming the bond with Natasha would have been preferable to some of the other time spent in Age of Ultron... Where the first movie's runtime was hidden behind some really great stuff, AoU does have the occasional drag to it.
The original Avengers felt epic, felt special... Ultron feels like... well, a sequel. It never recaptures the magic of seeing these heroes together or shows us much in new teamwork that adds a new taste of uniqueness to the series.
With Whedon bowing out of the next (2 part) Avengers movie, and being replaced by the directors of Winter Soldier, I'm kind of glad to see it happen. Whedon is spectacular, particular with his humor, but perhaps fresh blood will return them to "Earth's Mightiest".
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
![Aliens [Blu-ray] [1986]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8472/8472051_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
One of the Greatest- 4 1/2
on October 28, 2015
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
I'll be frank: I'm a Xenomaniac. The first two movies in this franchise (Alien and Aliens) are fantastic masterpieces, that, along with Predator, added two memorable creatures to the horror/ sci-fi genre.
Where the original Alien scared us with one creature, one new, fresh, unknown monster that would make its way into the lexicon of great movie monsters, Aliens knew the scares were over. Those off to see Aliens (a full 7 years after the original hit the screen) were more than familiar with the titular creature, and James Cameron; still making a name for himself, took the next best road...
He added many more Aliens and set them loose against a heavily armed squad of marines. He'd also add yet another great creature into movie history with the impressive Queen.
While Cameron has stated Aliens is his take on Viet Nam (a cocky, highly armed militia in the US heading against an army that featured more troops, familiarity with the territory, and a singular purpose) he doesn't slam you over the head with his underlying tone. No, this is Cameron at his finest. His first big-budget (having only had the small budget in the original Terminator) action film that would lead to him truly being the master of the sci-fi/ action fest.
While FOX would believe his vision was too long for theater-goers, we're blessed that other Xenophiles, like myself, familiar with the script (that the novelization was based on) knew that some rather interesting chunks were taken out of the film. When CBS(/ if memory serves) gave Aliens its first commercial broadcast, it was confirmed. In an effort to add some time back into the film, people were shocked to finally see scenes acknowledging that Ripley had a daughter, that it was, in fact, Newt's father that had been brought back to the colony with a facehugger attached to his face, making him the first infected, or the sheer awesomeness of the sentry guns.
The director's cut of the film has, after making it onto Laserdisc, eventually been the staple release of the film, and this blu ray is no different. It's been remastered, bringing forth the beautiful blue hue that permeates every scene upon the arrival at LV-426. The image is top-notch.
I own the Alien Quadriligy on DVD, the Limited Edition lightup/ numbered statue version of the Alien Anthology on Blu Ray, along with the SDCC Alien blu, the 35th anniv blu of Alien, and the limited edition artwork of Alien... and that's just the movies, not including dozens upon dozens of other collectibles and limited edition memorabilia from the movies... As well as both movies on the original official VHS formats.
Aliens is, in fact, in a tie with the original Alien as my favorite movie of all-time. (Although I have watched Aliens far more often).
So, if Aliens is my all-time favorite film, why am I giving it only 4 1/2 stars?
I purchased this because in both collections I own of the Alien series, none included a digital version of any of the films. I ended up with two codes for the digital copies of the original Alien via the 35th anniversary and the ltd ed art version, but still had no digital copy of Aliens. This blu ray includes the UV copy, which I had no issues springing for yet another copy for, especially at the sale price (believe it was $6.99 at the time). Much to my chagrin, once I redeemed my UV copy, it turned out to be the theatrical release... Which just isn't considered the standard format to watch Aliens after Cameron went back and restored the scenes that had been cut. The DC has been "gospel" now pretty much upon its release on DVD, when it got into the hands of nearly every fan. The disc itself features BOTH versions of the film (pretty standard- cant think of a release of Aliens that doesn't offer both) so if you do not care or do not worry about UV or maintain a digital library, there's no reason to pass this up if you're a fan of the movie. (Although buying the Anthology itself is probably your best deal, overall... Unless you just don't care at all about Alien 3 or 4). However, if you're like myself, and don't own a digital copy, be forewarned... The digital redemption FOX offers is not for the "Cameron true version".
Where the original Alien scared us with one creature, one new, fresh, unknown monster that would make its way into the lexicon of great movie monsters, Aliens knew the scares were over. Those off to see Aliens (a full 7 years after the original hit the screen) were more than familiar with the titular creature, and James Cameron; still making a name for himself, took the next best road...
He added many more Aliens and set them loose against a heavily armed squad of marines. He'd also add yet another great creature into movie history with the impressive Queen.
While Cameron has stated Aliens is his take on Viet Nam (a cocky, highly armed militia in the US heading against an army that featured more troops, familiarity with the territory, and a singular purpose) he doesn't slam you over the head with his underlying tone. No, this is Cameron at his finest. His first big-budget (having only had the small budget in the original Terminator) action film that would lead to him truly being the master of the sci-fi/ action fest.
While FOX would believe his vision was too long for theater-goers, we're blessed that other Xenophiles, like myself, familiar with the script (that the novelization was based on) knew that some rather interesting chunks were taken out of the film. When CBS(/ if memory serves) gave Aliens its first commercial broadcast, it was confirmed. In an effort to add some time back into the film, people were shocked to finally see scenes acknowledging that Ripley had a daughter, that it was, in fact, Newt's father that had been brought back to the colony with a facehugger attached to his face, making him the first infected, or the sheer awesomeness of the sentry guns.
The director's cut of the film has, after making it onto Laserdisc, eventually been the staple release of the film, and this blu ray is no different. It's been remastered, bringing forth the beautiful blue hue that permeates every scene upon the arrival at LV-426. The image is top-notch.
I own the Alien Quadriligy on DVD, the Limited Edition lightup/ numbered statue version of the Alien Anthology on Blu Ray, along with the SDCC Alien blu, the 35th anniv blu of Alien, and the limited edition artwork of Alien... and that's just the movies, not including dozens upon dozens of other collectibles and limited edition memorabilia from the movies... As well as both movies on the original official VHS formats.
Aliens is, in fact, in a tie with the original Alien as my favorite movie of all-time. (Although I have watched Aliens far more often).
So, if Aliens is my all-time favorite film, why am I giving it only 4 1/2 stars?
I purchased this because in both collections I own of the Alien series, none included a digital version of any of the films. I ended up with two codes for the digital copies of the original Alien via the 35th anniversary and the ltd ed art version, but still had no digital copy of Aliens. This blu ray includes the UV copy, which I had no issues springing for yet another copy for, especially at the sale price (believe it was $6.99 at the time). Much to my chagrin, once I redeemed my UV copy, it turned out to be the theatrical release... Which just isn't considered the standard format to watch Aliens after Cameron went back and restored the scenes that had been cut. The DC has been "gospel" now pretty much upon its release on DVD, when it got into the hands of nearly every fan. The disc itself features BOTH versions of the film (pretty standard- cant think of a release of Aliens that doesn't offer both) so if you do not care or do not worry about UV or maintain a digital library, there's no reason to pass this up if you're a fan of the movie. (Although buying the Anthology itself is probably your best deal, overall... Unless you just don't care at all about Alien 3 or 4). However, if you're like myself, and don't own a digital copy, be forewarned... The digital redemption FOX offers is not for the "Cameron true version".
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
When you pull off that insanely accurate headshot, drift a corner with awesomely smooth skill or defeat the big bad boss in minutes, you want to share it with your friends and with the gaming world in general, because nothing feels as amazing as pulling off a sweet move that few people can accomplish. With Elgato Game Capture HD, your proudest gameplay moments can quickly and easily be captured and shared on the Web, so the world can see how skilled you really are. So get ready to enjoy unlimited bragging rights, even if your amazing gaming achievements occur alone in your living room.The compact size and easy setup of the Elgato Game Capture HD lets you immediately get started, with lag-free HDMI pass-through to the TV. Full HD 1080p capture ensures that your Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 3 recordings are crystal-clear with crisp graphics and vibrant color, so every detail of your awesome moment is visible. If you weren't recording while a share-worthy gameplay event occurred, you can use the Flashback Recording feature to retroactively capture the video. Share your gameplay instantly with built-in live streaming to Twitch, or choose your best moments and spread them across the Internet with one-click uploads to YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Don't let your pals tell you you're exaggerating or lying about a gaming achievement ever again. With the Elgato Game Capture HD, you can show them the meaning of gaming talent.
Posted by: doc8998
Verified Purchase:Yes
It's important to note that the Elgato Game Capture HD is an earlier iteration than the EGC HD60- and as such, needs to be ordered from best buy online. At the store level, in four stores I checked, it was no longer carried, which is, in fact, a shame- the HD60 seems to do less than this early version.
Now, if you've traded in your systems and games already from your previous console generation, this isn't a big deal. The HD60 will capture PS4/ XBOne. In my case, I wanted it for both my PS4 and PS3, and the "non-60" does both of these and more.
Turns out, it can also record PS2, Wii, Xbox 360, XBone... And here's the kicker... Once your software is installed, it actually HAS the 60fps option available.
The HD comes with all the cords you'll need, which is especially important if you plan on using it for PS3, as you'll actually be using a workaround to record it, and those cords are necessary. (and while in my research for game capture cards, it was disappointing to see many reviews pointing out that it couldn't capture in 1080 on PS3, that has actually been remedied with the new software.)
There were three other nice features that drew me to the Elgato GCHD- 1) it requires no external power cord, drawing it from the PC you use via USB- something a lot of other cards don't offer- adding yet another cord to your tangle of wires once you start hooking this up. However, I should point out that it does drain quite a bit on a laptop. Soooo, if you plan on using a laptop to record your footage with in conjunction with EGCHD, you really won't be saving much in the way of cords. 2) In comparison to others, the EGCHD is very small. Not much bigger than a man's wallet, it really offers a huge punch at its size. 3) After some research on the other big name capture card, which carried a slightly cheaper price point, I discovered that they included the software portion free for PC, but if you were using a Mac (have a Mac laptop, PC tower- but I'd be recording using the Mac) you would have to purchase that software, which then made it more pricey that Elgato. Elgato provides your software for free, regardless of whether its PC or Mac.
The software you download to use in conjunction with the GCHD is simple to use and straight-forward, while offering a huge amount of options. If you plan on editing what you record, it will record your voice in a separate audio track- a huge bonus. It allows for one touch streaming to services like Twitch. It also has a "dummy switch"- always recording your last ten minutes of gameplay. Forget to hit "record" when you first started up? Well, Elgato has that covered with this ten minute buffer.
The negatives are small. While a quick guide is included, it covers nothing on the software side. No manual at all.
The only other negative I found was worrisome at first. When I first began to install and try to use it, the software wasn't recording any sound at all. We checked the laptop settings, checked to make sure nothing was off in the software... And couldn't figure it out. As it was late, I shut it down for the evening. The next day, I was prepared to uninstall and reinstall the software, hoping that would fix it, but gave it a quick trial first, and magically, it had resolved itself.
Overall, as someone who's just starting with recording and streaming, I'm grateful I took the time to do my research and ended up with the best possible game capture device, even though it seems as if it actually is their previous generation model- being able to record on last gen and this gen, all while hitting the same resolution and fps, I'd honestly have to say that the lower price (than the HD60) is much better spent on the non-60, especially if you're like me and still have a huge library of previous gen games and still love the previous gen console. The Elgato GCHD is simply the best option.
Now, if you've traded in your systems and games already from your previous console generation, this isn't a big deal. The HD60 will capture PS4/ XBOne. In my case, I wanted it for both my PS4 and PS3, and the "non-60" does both of these and more.
Turns out, it can also record PS2, Wii, Xbox 360, XBone... And here's the kicker... Once your software is installed, it actually HAS the 60fps option available.
The HD comes with all the cords you'll need, which is especially important if you plan on using it for PS3, as you'll actually be using a workaround to record it, and those cords are necessary. (and while in my research for game capture cards, it was disappointing to see many reviews pointing out that it couldn't capture in 1080 on PS3, that has actually been remedied with the new software.)
There were three other nice features that drew me to the Elgato GCHD- 1) it requires no external power cord, drawing it from the PC you use via USB- something a lot of other cards don't offer- adding yet another cord to your tangle of wires once you start hooking this up. However, I should point out that it does drain quite a bit on a laptop. Soooo, if you plan on using a laptop to record your footage with in conjunction with EGCHD, you really won't be saving much in the way of cords. 2) In comparison to others, the EGCHD is very small. Not much bigger than a man's wallet, it really offers a huge punch at its size. 3) After some research on the other big name capture card, which carried a slightly cheaper price point, I discovered that they included the software portion free for PC, but if you were using a Mac (have a Mac laptop, PC tower- but I'd be recording using the Mac) you would have to purchase that software, which then made it more pricey that Elgato. Elgato provides your software for free, regardless of whether its PC or Mac.
The software you download to use in conjunction with the GCHD is simple to use and straight-forward, while offering a huge amount of options. If you plan on editing what you record, it will record your voice in a separate audio track- a huge bonus. It allows for one touch streaming to services like Twitch. It also has a "dummy switch"- always recording your last ten minutes of gameplay. Forget to hit "record" when you first started up? Well, Elgato has that covered with this ten minute buffer.
The negatives are small. While a quick guide is included, it covers nothing on the software side. No manual at all.
The only other negative I found was worrisome at first. When I first began to install and try to use it, the software wasn't recording any sound at all. We checked the laptop settings, checked to make sure nothing was off in the software... And couldn't figure it out. As it was late, I shut it down for the evening. The next day, I was prepared to uninstall and reinstall the software, hoping that would fix it, but gave it a quick trial first, and magically, it had resolved itself.
Overall, as someone who's just starting with recording and streaming, I'm grateful I took the time to do my research and ended up with the best possible game capture device, even though it seems as if it actually is their previous generation model- being able to record on last gen and this gen, all while hitting the same resolution and fps, I'd honestly have to say that the lower price (than the HD60) is much better spent on the non-60, especially if you're like me and still have a huge library of previous gen games and still love the previous gen console. The Elgato GCHD is simply the best option.
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
My Best Buy number: 2511552368
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Your skills. Immortalized.The gaming experience is all about sharing. Record and stream your Xbox or PlayStation gameplay and share your journey with friends, fans and generations to come.Be next-gen. NEWYou constantly push the limits, and so should the gaming gear that powers you. With superior H.264 hardware encoding, Elgato Game Capture HD60 raises the bar to a whole new level. Easily capture stunning 1080p with 60 fps, and enjoy incredibly smooth footage in easily manageable files. The next generation of gameplay sharing has finally arrived, and it's the perfect match for your Xbox One or PlayStation 4.Be prepared.When you're in the zone, you shouldn't have to worry about your capture. With Flashback Recording, Elgato Game Capture HD60 has your back - simply slide back in time on your PC or Mac and hit the record button retroactively. The lag-free passthrough to your TV will let you focus on your game, until you're ready to marvel at your feats. Re-living greatness has never been this easy.Be live. NEWNothing beats sharing your journey right when it happens. The built-in Live Streaming feature gets you up and running on Twitch, YouTube or Ustream in a snap, but it doesn't stop there. Now, Stream Command puts you in charge: easily add your webcam and overlays, and change your stream layout on-the-fly with scenes. Add your voice with the built-in Live Commentary feature, and you're all set for the big show.Be in control. NEWYou've achieved epicness, and with Elgato Game Capture HD60, there is no limit to what you'll be able to do next. Seamlessly capture hours of your best moments in unmatched quality and access them directly right where you need them - you'll be instantly ready to create history.You don't even have to choose between live streaming and high quality capture. No matter what resolution you stream, you can simultaneously capture full resolution 1080p, with separate tracks of all of your stream elements. Now, your stream archive is only the beginning.Be you.Elgato Game Capture HD60 was created with the next generation of gaming in mind. Designed to give you full control without getting in your way, so you can shape its legacy. Now more than ever, the gaming experience is all about sharing. Come be a part of it.
is this only for games
I saw multi so i wondered if i can use it for more than games
While I would certainly go through their website for 100% accuracy, I'm going to do my best to respond here from memory when I looked into this.
With ElGato's software, you can livestream directly more than just games, if you're using a camera in conjunction with it: ie: say hosting a small live show with you and your friends to one of the streaming services they support (twitch is for sure).
Now, if you're asking if it can be used to record movies, the answer is less definite- If you're using a PS4, you must turn off a copy-protection service in the PS4's settings in order for it to record. When this copy-protection is turned off, according to ElGato "Some media may not work" (I'm reading this to mean movies).
And, while the ElGato does a fairly great job at compression, if you're looking to record movies, my guess is, even IF it worked, the file size would be far more monstrous than you'd care to have without further compressing it with an editing program- the included one might do the job, but THINK you'd be better off using something like Sony.
Hopefully, someone with more experience with it can be more helpful, as I just recently purchased it and have only begun playing with it- I'm trying to work off memory here when I was reading things on their site. The "multi" you see attached to it, is, I believe referencing the fact that it works on multiple systems: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and believe Wii and even PS2.
With ElGato's software, you can livestream directly more than just games, if you're using a camera in conjunction with it: ie: say hosting a small live show with you and your friends to one of the streaming services they support (twitch is for sure).
Now, if you're asking if it can be used to record movies, the answer is less definite- If you're using a PS4, you must turn off a copy-protection service in the PS4's settings in order for it to record. When this copy-protection is turned off, according to ElGato "Some media may not work" (I'm reading this to mean movies).
And, while the ElGato does a fairly great job at compression, if you're looking to record movies, my guess is, even IF it worked, the file size would be far more monstrous than you'd care to have without further compressing it with an editing program- the included one might do the job, but THINK you'd be better off using something like Sony.
Hopefully, someone with more experience with it can be more helpful, as I just recently purchased it and have only begun playing with it- I'm trying to work off memory here when I was reading things on their site. The "multi" you see attached to it, is, I believe referencing the fact that it works on multiple systems: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and believe Wii and even PS2.
8 years, 6 months ago
by
doc8998
Your skills. Immortalized.The gaming experience is all about sharing. Record and stream your Xbox or PlayStation gameplay and share your journey with friends, fans and generations to come.Be next-gen. NEWYou constantly push the limits, and so should the gaming gear that powers you. With superior H.264 hardware encoding, Elgato Game Capture HD60 raises the bar to a whole new level. Easily capture stunning 1080p with 60 fps, and enjoy incredibly smooth footage in easily manageable files. The next generation of gameplay sharing has finally arrived, and it's the perfect match for your Xbox One or PlayStation 4.Be prepared.When you're in the zone, you shouldn't have to worry about your capture. With Flashback Recording, Elgato Game Capture HD60 has your back - simply slide back in time on your PC or Mac and hit the record button retroactively. The lag-free passthrough to your TV will let you focus on your game, until you're ready to marvel at your feats. Re-living greatness has never been this easy.Be live. NEWNothing beats sharing your journey right when it happens. The built-in Live Streaming feature gets you up and running on Twitch, YouTube or Ustream in a snap, but it doesn't stop there. Now, Stream Command puts you in charge: easily add your webcam and overlays, and change your stream layout on-the-fly with scenes. Add your voice with the built-in Live Commentary feature, and you're all set for the big show.Be in control. NEWYou've achieved epicness, and with Elgato Game Capture HD60, there is no limit to what you'll be able to do next. Seamlessly capture hours of your best moments in unmatched quality and access them directly right where you need them - you'll be instantly ready to create history.You don't even have to choose between live streaming and high quality capture. No matter what resolution you stream, you can simultaneously capture full resolution 1080p, with separate tracks of all of your stream elements. Now, your stream archive is only the beginning.Be you.Elgato Game Capture HD60 was created with the next generation of gaming in mind. Designed to give you full control without getting in your way, so you can shape its legacy. Now more than ever, the gaming experience is all about sharing. Come be a part of it.
Will this work with HDMI camera?
Has anyone tried plugging an HDMI camera to this to record a live camera feed? This looks like what I would need to capture the signal from my HDMI camera to USB 2.0 on my Macbook.
on elgato's website, they have a more in-depth FAQ about streaming via camera, but it would appear by this statement (under a section entitled "Streaming video from cameras"): that theanswer is yes: "Any video that legato game capture HD60 can accept, can also be streamed. If you hook up your camera to EGCHD60, then you can stream live or recorded video to services like Twitch, YouTube or Ustream. You can slo connect to a RTMP sever of your choosing."
Important to note that while most cameras are not HDCP, if yours happens to be, it will NOT work.
Important to note that while most cameras are not HDCP, if yours happens to be, it will NOT work.
8 years, 8 months ago
by
doc8998