Dec 24, 1:05 pm
When the question was asked in the forums about recommendations for an Xbox 360 headset, I had to write a blog about my favorite headset- the Astro A40 Audio System. I have been through A LOT of headsets as a gamer and I have now found my love, the A40! Whether you’re playing a video game on console or PC, watching a movie, or listening to music, these bad boys are your answer to optimal sound and voice.
The Astro Website for the A40 Audio System describes them as:
* “Everything you need to game like a pro.”
* “The Astro A40 Audio System combines crystal-clear voice communication with pinpoint-accurate 5.1 Dolby Digital and Dolby Headphone surround utilizing the most user-configurable headset on the planet.”
* “In addition to the A40 Headset’s removable speaker tags (which are high-quality collectibles in their own right), you’ll find a completely user-configurable microphone boom. It attaches to either side—or removes completely for solo gaming and music sessions.”
* “The A40 Audio System includes the external A40 MixAmp, providing Xbox and Xbox 360 users with combined voice and game sound—ideal for tournament play and discrete “midnight gaming” sessions. A discrete game/voice balance control enables you to find the ideal in-game setting.”
* “PC Gamers benefit as well, by offloading surround decoding and voice communication duties to the A40 system. Combine multiple A40 MixAmps and you’ll be provided a private, hands-free, full-duplex voice communication channel—much higher-quality than VoIP systems, with zero network and system lag.”
* “Every A40 MixAmp is daisy-chainable, and each comes complete with everything you need to connect the built-in voice communication feature of multiple MixAmps.”
* “The A40 Audio System gives in-person teams the competitive edge by selectable/mutable Xbox Live communication while maintaining a dedicated, private chat channel when daisy-chained.”
* “The A40 Headset comes with a quick-disconnect cable and multiple ends: an A40 MixAmp cable (also compatible with portable audio players), and a standard dual-jack PC connector with in-line volume and mute control.”
* “Inject your games with your own soundtrack. Connect your mp3 player through the mixer itself with the included cable. Free up valuable system resources, and put your music within arm’s reach.”
If you have competed at a Major League Gaming event you may have notice the Amps at all the tables. Well this was an awesome move by MLG to team up with Astro because it makes using a headset so much easier than before. At MLG 07 I brought my Turtle Beach X1 headset which turned out to be a pain in the *** to hook up, so I said screw it and played without it. This year, MLG 08, they set up each station with 5 Astro Amps; one for each player and one for the coach. All I can say is AMAZING! Talk about day and night. It was as though our team was in a whole other world when all hooked up, which by the way only took 10 seconds to setup.
Before we played, Mischief would hold up her iPod ear piece to the Astro headphone and it was like we were listening to a 5.1 stereo system. It was awesome! Brooke started getting in to the music and stood up to dance, as we all did. People started to stare, wondering what the heck we were doing. Yet if they had the headset on too they would be dancing with us. That’s how awesome these headsets are!
When the gaming is done and it’s time to get up, the ease of disconnecting everything is great. Plus, another nice thing about these headsets is that when you’re finished using them you can put them around your neck COMFORTABLY. Each ear piece turns, allowing them to lay flat around your neck…extra kudos for ASTRO!
The mic and ear plate are super easy to remove too…
So are you sold yet? Check out Astrogaming.com for more information!
Nov 27, 11:42 am
I don’t know about anyone else’s family, but when it comes to my family and the holidays we like to get down to business, gamer style. I come from a very competitive family and throughout my childhood we always played games. We played everything from Boggle to Monopoly and Mario to Guitar Hero, and so on; so it’s only natural to have a lineup of games to play and compete in every holiday. For this Thanksgiving my parents have actually stepped it up a notch with the purchase of their first console (without any kids in the house), the Wii!
So this Thanksgiving we will be including some new challenges. Our new games will be on the Wii: Ubisoft’s Shawn White Snowboarding and Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party! We will also be playing our classic games of Boggle and Catch Phrase that we play every year.
Typically we play partners unless it’s Boggle, in that case it’s every man/woman for themselves! Now not to be arrogant or anything but I am a beastly Boggle player. Better yet, I am a beast at all the games we play…lol. If you were to ask most of my family members they would claim the same thing! My husband is sitting behind me while I write my blog and shaking his head because he thinks he is the best but he’s wrong! 
We always begin with pleasantries, but it quickly turns to strategy. How will we beat each other, how will we shake the others confidence, all the while setting up the games and doing dry runs on our own (this way no one claims they lost because they didn’t get to warm up). Mom usually brings us all back to earth with the dinner bell. YUM YUM YUM!
Dinner is pleasant, with occasional smack talk about who’s going down. We’re a loud bunch, but it’s all in good fun. The only one who doesn’t talk smack is my Mommy; she seems to be the reserved one in the family. Usually she just shakes her head.
The time between dinner and dessert is round one. My son initiates the race to the living room with all of us close behind. He likes to win (like the rest of us…lol). Dad grabs a bottle of wine and makes sure that we all have a drink and BAM...GAME TIME! As usual, I will be the victorious one, especially since two of the games we’re playing this year are made by Ubisoft! My family will claim that I had an unfair advantage (sore losers), but we all know it’s because I am a natural. After dessert it’s round two, which means more victories for me.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Don’t eat too much food, although it’s hard not too!
Nov 08, 10:40 am
It’s all so surreal; one of my dreams has come true. I have wanted to be a Frag Doll for so long and the moment is here. It seems like just yesterday when Rhoulette called and asked if I wanted to be a part of the team. I just about dropped the phone and kept asking “Are you serious?!” As soon as the shock settled and I got off the phone, I ran around the living room like a kid at Christmas yelling “OMG I’m a Frag Doll!” I still to this day say it. You can just ask my husband and family.
All of those hours playing online finally paid off. This has shown me that if you work hard enough you can achieve anything.
The next journey in my life, being a part of an AMAZING group of girls, has started. It is not only getting to play with the girls, but also an opportunity to work for Ubisoft, a great company. I only hope that I’ll be able to make them proud of me.
I’m signing off for now, but be ready for an exciting ride with Phoenix FD!
