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ISSUE 1 VOLUME 1
SEPTEMBER 2011

DOES NEIR LIVE UP THE HYPE?

W HI CH P RO H E ADS E T I S T HE B E S T ?
THE HISTORY O F H AL O

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE KING OF THE CHATROOM

O UR F I RS T I S S UE I S F UL L O F GREAT REVIEWS, GAMES, & MORE!!!

www.alistgamers.com

R E A D I N G T H I S MA G A Z I N E WILL IMPROVE YOUR GAME S KI L L B Y + 10!

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ALG-M STAFF
ALG KRYSZTOV - Editor-In-Chief ALG Amandah - Production Manager ALG Crusader ALG Kapellx ALG Starscream ALG Tirkot ALG T r U m P ALG UnDeAd DGX Cory Steedo12

Letter from the Editor

ALG

I'm really inspired by the people we work with.

It's been five months since ALG gave birth to this community. The existence of contributing artists, writters and gamers grew into something far more important than a gaming clan as our talented pool of contributors constantly surprise and delight me. When we started this project, ALG MAGAZINE, we had no idea how it would fare. I'm happy to report that it's surpassed all of my expectations. It's incredible to be in a position to work with so many interesting and creative people. The specialness of what we do lies in the freedom that we allow the columnists, members, artists, executives and graphic designers (and countless others!) that we work with. I love to collaborate with talented individual and give them a chance to work on these projects they wouldn't be able to do elsewhere. Inspiration and hard work rule the day at ALG-M. Our operators and members are constantly pushing us to go further and take this project to the next level. My father said to me recently "Build it and they will come." We all know that line is from a Kevin Costner movie. It's about taking chances and always pushing new ideas forward. We might not always be on the same page but difference make us stonger as we know what to expect from each other. One day we started talking about projects and from that one afternoon came the game reviews, previews forum, Trump's tournament, Mesler's artwork and Crusader's intro movies. I think you'll be impressed with what we've all done so far. I certainly am. We started ALG five months ago from nothing and I'm so proud of what we've accomplished in that short time. A very special thanks to every operators and especially to my incredible webmistress, Amandah Falls. Without all of you none of this would be possible.

ALG KRYSZTOV
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

September 2011

GAME REVIEWS
Developed by Mad Doc Software Published by Bethesda Platform: Xbox 360, PC

By ALG Tirkot

Although this is not a new game, it is the only full Star Trek game for XBOX 360 (There is also an arcade game lightly based off Star Trek 11). Being a huge Star Trek fan and console gamer, I naturally searched for a Star Trek game. I found Star Trek legacy for under $20. After throwing money at my computer screen I calmed down and ordered it. The game boasts all 5 Star Trek Captains and their original voice actors, William Shatner as Kirk, Patrick Stewart as Picard, Kate Mulgrew as Janeway, Avery Brooks as Sisko, and Scott Bakula as Archer. As a fan of Bethesdas other titles, Fallout 3 and Oblivion, and a huge Trek fan, they had me at go. There is a reality though to what sounds like the best game ever! The story begins with Captain Archer (The first Captain of the Enterprise) and spans all the way to Picard (The last major cannon captain of the Enterprise). It is not cannon but the story very easily could have been. With minor changes Trek fans fans could have really enjoyed having a story that ties all the captains together. What we got, however, was a great story that never happened, which is very disappointing. Its fun to drive the ship which allows you to do things like take power from shields to boost speed. Flying the various Enterprises in 3D space is awesome too. Piloting one ship in this game is great but its meant to be played controlling a fleet of four. The mechanics of driving four different ships at once is horrible and not even rewarding. The game very rarely gives you more than one objective and when it does you can still handle it with your main ship easily. Really the other ships are only good for supplementing your main ship's firepower.

Though the universe you get to ride around in looks great at first, there are major issues. For example, as you approach any specified planet, it always stays the exact same size! In general, the planet are not much larger than your own vessel! Also, you never leave the ship, which makes the game space combat exclusive. There is never a bridge view and no side missions from the main course except one time you put engineers on a space station. Finally, despite having all captains voices, it felt detach without any staff interaction. It would have been nice to hear any of their different crew members, even if it was generic responses. So what Legacy got right was great, but it feels like one part of a much better game. If you are a die hard trekkie definitely play this game. The story was so much fun and it was nice to have one more mission with Captain Archer. If you dont already know what a Tribble is, stray away, you will not enjoy this game. Cons: Planets are too small! They couldnt hire Tucker, Spock, or Data to really bring you in to the story. I would have been happy with Weasley Crusher! The four ships' controls are broken. I found myself doing everything with my main ship because the others would just forget what they were doing. Pros: Driving every major Enterprise! Beautiful game, I had a lot of fun playing it, epically told story, though not cannon. All 5 of the most famous captains voices, basic controls were great, I loved flying the ship, great attention to Star Trek lore. Patches are still being realeased for the PC version because of excellent fan made mods. EXTRA: The best way to play this game is to show someone else the controls and then shout orders at them. There has been extensive modding done to this game and you can find some really cool things people have done to this game. Driving the Enterprise J for instance!

GAME REVIEWS
Developed by Rocksteady Studios Published by Warner Bros, Interactive Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, and PC

By Steedo12

Who says that flying around like a bat isn't fun?! This game is one of the funniest super hero games that has come out! I know that this game has came out ages ago but it is well worth the $20 price tag.

In this game, you're not smashing your way through combat, you're stylishly beating your enemies to a bloody pulp with a character who's weighty and powerful and can handle multiple attackers simultaneously. You're using gadgets to help you in combat and to move through the world like a high tech assassin. You'll never The Batarang, for instance, can be used to get the guess who does jump on enemies crouch down at a corner then aim the Joker's from behind cover, or use it during combat to stun voice... your enemies. The Batclaw, on the other hand, can be used to pull opponents towards you and off ledges, or you can use it to pull vent covers off, allowing you to then grapple up to the vents which are closed. The gliding is so much fun. There is a glide kick which stuns your enemies so you can finish them off on the ground. A really cool mode is Batman's Detective Mode, which allows you to see important things within the world through a cool visual filter. In Detective Mode enemies are visible through walls, either as blue skeletons or red (these guys have guns or knives). This way you can quickly evaluate where the enemies are in an area and hunt them down strategically. Detective Mode is also used to highlight things like gargoyles and vents, and is used several times as a way for Batman to follow a trail. One sequence sees you trying to track down Gordan. Once you've scanned his tobacco you can then track him in Detective Mode by looking at the ground where his tobacco has touched.

Batman, along with allies Oracle and Commissioner Gordon appear in the game. In addition to the Joker, Batman encounters other foes. He must defend himself from an enraged Bane, sneak up on Zsasz before he can harm guards and doctors, battle his way through hallucinogen-induced nightmares created by the Scarecrow, and silently collect samples from Poison Ivy's plants located in Killer Croc's lair. Batman also battles female antagonists Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. The Riddler does not physically appear in the game, but communicates to Batman to challenge him to find the hidden clues he has placed around the island. Other Batman allies and enemies are presented in the game as character information that can be unlocked from finding the Riddler's clues. Scarface also makes three small cameo appearances, once in one of Scarecrow's hallucinogen-induced nightmares, a second in a display case in Arkham Manor, and a third time alongside the Joker near the end of the game.

The end of the game is amazing! The presentation is very slick all round, I give it 9.1. The graphics are amazing too, 8.6 for the graphics. The sound was amazing! Youll never guess who does the Joker's voice, Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill. 9.5 for the sound. Gameplay, excellent combat scenes and movement. Batman is one man who you wouldnt want to fuck with. The Gameplay score is 9.0. Total Score: 36.2 out of 40. Buy this game and play it. Well worth the money! September 2011

GAME REVIEWS
Developed by Cavia,Inc. Published by Square-Enix Platform: Xbox 360

By ALG Krysztov

I went into this game not expecting much. I had heard both sides, and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Then again, this latest effort from Drakengard developer Cavia (and published by Square Enix) kind of defies the genre. Sure, it might start off like your typical, hack-and-slash RPG, but Nier's identity constantly changes even morphing into a full-on text adventure at some point in the storyline.

It turns out this was all a dream. Or a flashback. The man, Nier, and his daughter, Yonah, are still the main characters in the game, but they are actually living in a fantasy setting that rose up after the aforementioned end of the world. Yonah also has a bad cough like in the prologue, and it turns out that Nier is trying to find work as a strong-arm in order to get enough medicine to help her recover.

Accompanying him on this journey is Grimoire Weiss, a cynical British hardcover who aids Nier by allowing him to use dark magic. Nier is also joined There are sections in Nier where the gameplay, by Kain, a foul-mouthed, scantily clad warrior camera angles, and control woman, and Emil, a boy with cursed methods all change drastically. World of Warcraft eyes that turn anything he looks at to These variations happen often stone. Nier's storyline is actually one enough to spice up Nier's simple quests all over again, of the few aspects of the game that and repetitive combat, but I'm not truly stands out as impressive. entirely sure that half-hour blocks I don't think so! Although the game is slow to reveal of pure text are appropriate for a the secrets of the world, the videogame released in the year 2010. interactions between the characters are among the most entertaining aspects of the game. Nier opens during the summer of 2049 in the middle of a ruined, snow-covered metropolis. The The side quests structure resembles the one you find story begins promisingly enough, with a man and in WoW but doesn't quite do it for me when I'm his daughter scraping out an meager existence in playing an offline action game. The game has the ruins of a massive city that's being ravaged by dozens of side quests that can be undertaken, and the swarms of ghostly shades (the game's chief enemy majority of them feature their own self-contained type). The sick child has an incurable illness so you set out to find some food and end up in a massive battle outside the ruins that serve as your shelter. This skirmish showcases how fastpaced things will be later on when your character has managed to level up and has unlocked spells and special attacks; the monsters are particularly fascinating, seemingly constructed out of abstract binary magics that bleed when you hit them. The scene ends on a climactic note which I shall not reveal.

GAME REVIEWS
stories, some even extending into new quests later in The gameplay is where Nier gets a bit unusual. On the game. Assuming you avoid this time-consuming the surface, it appears to be a fairly straight-forward phase, you're still looking at a five- or six-hour God of War-style action game. However, the world commitment before Nier's story finally starts to pick is expansive and open-ended like a Zelda game. up. And it's a shame that gameplay is so horrible at Then there's the side quest structure that resembles online games like World of first, because anyone who sees it through will discover a plot that Where Neir disappoints the Warcraft. Then there are enemies that fire bursts of takes some fascinating and truly most is with its visuals. magical, patterned attacks that original turns. resemble SHMUP games. Oh, The characters themselves are all likable, as well, there are also areas where the camera is fixed to the particularly Nier himself, who is surprisingly not the side to allow for side-scrolling platforming. I should dim-witted barbarian his appearance would suggest. also mention the Harvest Moon-style farming fields. In fact, he's a surprisingly caring parent with a lot of Oh, and the haunted mansion where everything hard-earned wisdom at his disposal. His blunt but becomes gray-scale and the camera is fixed like a non-aggressive personality meshes wonderfully with Resident Evil game. Then there's the top-down, Weiss's cynical charm, and the conversations the two wide-angle dungeon that resembles Diablo, and have throughout the game feel truly authentic. When even an entire area dedicated to text-based short Emil and Kain join the party, their personalities stories with occasional player input like an oldresonate equally well, creating a group of diverse timey adventure game. characters that feel like real people. Nier also features two customization tools that allow players to improve Nier's capabilities. The first is a simple weapon-upgrading system. By collecting components and taking them to the proper NPC, weapons can be improved to deal more damage and boost magical power. The second and more interesting tool is the "word edit" system. Words are randomly dropped by defeated shades, and provide a wide variety of effects. Each weapon and spell in the game, and even the simple "block" and "dodge" commands, can be modified with two words each. Finally, the game's story doesn't even end when you These words can apply status effects like paralysis beat the game. After the credits roll, a new game or poison to attacks, improve damage or defense, or plus option becomes available that lets you replay even increase the rate of item drops or experience the second half of the game in order to acquire new gain. Although there are dozens of different words endings. The new game plus includes new story in the game, each belongs to a different subset that elements, and they begin immediately with a series provides varying levels of improvement in one area, of short stories about Kain as soon as you load the making the actual number of effects fairly limited. clear data. There are four endings in total, and one Even so, it provides a bit of welcome customization. must complete the game multiple times in order to see them all, as each one only becomes available on Where Nier disappoints the most is with its visuals. subsequent playthroughs. Multiple playthroughs Although not completely awful, the environments in reveal more sides of the story, but, no amount of particular are lacking in detail. The grass textures creative character design makes up for the are boring and ugly, and most of the buildings and comparatively generic environments. Even worse, structures are bland, flat, and overly simplistic. the game requires you to return to the same handful Despite this, the game's world manages to capture a certain beauty that defies its dull design, especially of dungeons at least two or three times. HELL NO! September 2011

GAME REVIEWS
when viewed from a distance. The draw distance for can be modified with two words each. These words environmental details is quite impressive, and the can apply status effects like paralysis or poison to sense of scale some of the areas provide is terrific. attacks, improve damage or defense, or even The rusted, half-collapsed bridges that can be seen increase the rate of item drops or experience gain. in the Northern Plains and in Seafront are Although there are dozens of different words in the impressive landmarks, and some of the areas game, each belongs to a different subset that ALG deep within the Junk Heap are remarkably provides varying levels of improvement in huge. And love it or hate it, the character VERDICT SCORE: one area, making the actual number of 7.2 design is certainly unique. The shades in effects fairly limited. Even so, it provides a particular are a terrifically cohesive design that bit of welcome customization. covers a broad spectrum of different enemies. They all have the same shimmering, yellow-black Where Nier disappoints the most is with its visuals. appearance, but come in many different varieties. Although not completely awful, the environments in particular are lacking in detail. The grass textures As a japanese animation fan, I think a lot of people are boring and ugly, and most of the buildings and would dig Nier. All in all, this is an extremely structures are bland, flat, and overly simplistic. underrated game. It is very fun to play, and has a Despite this, the game's world manages to capture a compelling storyline. It has a high replay value and certain beauty that defies its dull design, especially will most likely be cherished by many. I know it has when viewed from a distance. The draw distance for a special place in my heart. environmental details is quite UPPERS While I cannot say for certain impressive, and the sense of Character Design whether or not everyone will scale some of the areas provide enjoy it, I can say that Variety of Weapons and Magic is terrific. The rusted, halfeveryone should at least give Well-done Voices and Soundtrack collapsed bridges that can be it a try. Rent it. Borrow it. Just seen in the Northern Plains and find some way to try it. If in Seafront are impressive you're like me, this is a game that you'll regret landmarks, and some of the areas deep within the missing out on. where everything becomes gray- Junk Heap are remarkably huge. And love it or hate scale and the camera is fixed like a Resident Evil it, the character design is certainly unique. The game. Then there's the top-down, wide-angle shades in particular are a terrifically cohesive design dungeon that resembles Diablo, and even an entire that covers a broad spectrum of different enemies. area dedicated to text-based short stories with They all have the same shimmering, yellow-black occasional player input appearance, but come in DOWNERS like an old-timey many different varieties. Not all Conversations have Audible Voices adventure game. Music can get Repetitive if you are in the As a japanese animation Nier also features two fan, I think a lot of Same Area for a Long time customization tools that people would dig Nier. Awful Environmental Visuals allow players to improve All in all, this is an Nier's capabilities. The first is a simple weapon- extremely underrated game. It is very fun to play, upgrading system. By collecting components and and has a compelling storyline. It has a high replay taking them to the proper NPC, weapons can be value and will most likely be cherished by many. I improved to deal more damage and boost magical know it has a special place in my heart. While I power. The second and more interesting tool is the cannot say for certain whether or not everyone will "word edit" system. Words are randomly dropped by enjoy it, I can say that everyone should at least give defeated shades, and provide a wide variety of it a try. Rent it. Borrow it. Just find some way to try effects. Each weapon and spell in the game, and it. If you're like me, this is a game that you'll regret even the simple "block" and "dodge" commands, missing out on.

CONTROLLER REVIEWS
Model: Astro A40 Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, and PC Price: ~$250

By ALG T r U m P

The Astro A40 is the premier chat-ready 5.1 surround sound gaming headset on the market, compatible with Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. like the Trittons av pro are wired. The Turtle Beach X41's are the only wireless model.

Verdict 9 out of 10

I still vastly prefer the convenience of Turtle Beach's wireless PX5 headset which all talk about a little later, but I have to admit, the Astro A40 sounds better. Playing Borderlands, everything from the growls of skaggs to the cadence of machine gun fire sounded richer and rounder on the A40s. Maybe the sounds weren't always as distinct, but especially when cranking the volume on each headset, I realized the general listenabilitythe whole package of soundwas more pleasant with Atro's product, making me long for hearing loss. It's a difference in mid range that, while not absolutely Earth-shattering, will probably be noticeable to most in a side-by-side test. All headsets have extremely similar sound localization. And chatting, on both, is an equal joy. The mic and talk back are a little bit more sensitive on the A40s and you will have to keep the mic away from your mouth or everyone will mute you for being so loud. However the mic is clear and the talk back volume is perfect.

But there's one, huge, horrible, despicable Achilles' heel to the Astro A40s. To connect the headset to an Xbox 360 (or PS3/PC), wires will invade your entire living room because the console needs to plug twice into a mixamp (the big, retro box you see in the lead photo), then the mixamp connects your headphones and controller. That's confusing, I know. Here's the full workflow: Xbox 360 optical out and USB cord =>A40 Mixamp=>Headphones/Mic and Xbox 360 controller. Ultimately, not only are you negotiating four wires for this one headset, but you'll still be tethered close to your console because of one, generally short/inflexible wire: the optical cord from your Xbox to the Mixamp (you can always opt for stereo plugs, but that sort of spoils the fun). Another cool feature allows you to plug and play your ipod while in game play. So while I knew the A40s sounded a bit better than my PX5s, I couldn't kick back and enjoy the game in the same way. without feeling like i was hooked up to a heart monitor in the ER. I actually used the A40s for a long time and just recently switched to the current headset i am using. I would give the A40s a 8 out of 10 for the multitude of wires and the durability of them. I did run into a problem of the talk back cable shorting out after a few months of game play.

September 2011

CONTROLLER REVIEWS
Model: Turtle Beach X41 Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, and PC Price: $200
incoming source. Up front there's also a headphone jack with a volume adjuster that will play the same audio being broadcasted. Finally, the base also features a "bypass" button that will allow you to hear unprocessed audio. Setting up the Ear Force X41 headphones is fairly simple. For Dolby Digital processing, you'll use the included 7-foot optical cable to connect your Xbox 360 (or another digital source) to the "digital in" port on the transmitter base. If you're also using an AV receiver and surround speakers, don't worry; there's a digital out port for passing the signal on, so you don't have to constantly unplug and plug in wires whenever you want to play using the headphones. Turtle Beach includes all the cables you need to start gaming and chatting. For power, the X41s ship with a USB cord that plugs directly into the base unit. You can plus the USB end of the wire anywhere (including the 360 itself). I had an empty USB port on our cable set-top box, which worked fine. I should note that USB power is your only option here. The unit does not ship with a USB-to-AC adapter. In terms of comfort and design, the Ear Force X41 headphones are a bit heavy on the head, but not to the point where they feel overwhelming during long gameplay sessions. On the left ear cup is where you'll find the controls and ports, including a volume adjuster, a power button, bass boost, and the port for the chat adapter that hooks into your Xbox 360 controller. The left ear cup is also home to the flexible microphone boom. I really liked that the boom is detachable, as it can become distracting when not in use. The right ear cup is where you'll install the two AAA batteries. Turtle Beach includes a pair in the packaging and claims they should work for at least 25 hours, but I recommend getting some rechargeable ones.

The Turtle Beach X41 headphones are essentially the same product, but instead of using an IR signal, this headset takes advantage of an RF (radio frequency) to provide wireless audio.

Verdict 8 out of 10
While the Ear Force X41s are designed with the Xbox 360 in mind-they include a removable microphone and connections for chatting on Xbox Live--the headphones will actually deliver convincing surround sound from nearly any home theater source, thanks to their built-in 7.1-channel Dolby Digital processing. The Ear Force X41 headphones include two main components: the wireless headphones themselves and a base station that houses most of the necessary jacks. The base gives you the option of either using a digital audio connection or an analog signal via a set of stereo RCA cables (red/white). That means that they will work with pretty much any audio source--anything with an optical digital output (such as a DVD player or the Apple TV) or standard analog line outs (pretty much everything). You could easily use the X41 headphones with a PlayStation 3 or Wii, but just don't expect to take advantage of voice chat--that'll only work with the Xbox 360. The system boasts both Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic IIx processing; the former handles the bit-stream surround soundtracks on DVD and Bluray movies and most video games, while the latter does a decent job of creating a faux-surround effect from any stereo source. The X41s' transmitter base also have a line-in volume control allowing you to just adjust the level of the

CONTROLLER REVIEWS
The X41 headphones are a bit more comfortable than the original X4 set. In terms of sound quality, I were impressed with the overall channel separation. During game play with Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, I could easily tell when an enemy was behind me because of the footsteps and gunfire. During the most intense combat, I were able to visualize all of the action and tell where it was coming from in my virtual space. My only complaint with the headphones is that they don't really allow for complete noise reduction or isolation. If there is other sound playing in the same room, you may notice it more than you'd like. A few times during my game play I experienced a brief pop and breakup of audio but couldn't recreate it. It's possible it was because of Wi-Fi interference, since the headset operates on the same 2.4GHz frequency that Wi-Fi routers do. I enjoyed having a volume adjuster on the side of the headphones, but didn't really notice much of a discernible difference when turning the bass-boost switch on. It does add a sliver of richness, but it's not drastic, by any means. If you're concerned with maximizing battery life on the headphones, I'd recommend leaving the feature off. My experience with using the X41s to chat during gameplay was excellent. Incorporating chat requires you to connect the headphones to your 360 controller via the included wired adapter. This is almost exactly the same adapter that is on the end of the Microsoft-branded headset, complete with a microphone mute switch and volume wheel. A wireless solution for chat would have been ideal, but I'd imagine this would severely compromise battery life on the headphones. While I didn't necessarily notice it in action, Turtle Beach claims the X41s contain an autoadjusting chat-volume feature to compensate for noisy gaming sessions. Regardless, I never had an issue with hearing anyone during my online play with Modern Warfare 2 except during low batteries. Overall, the Ear Force X41 headphones provide a great-sounding experience for playing games when using external speaks isn't an option. We'd imagine a few gamers would even prefer the X41s, regardless of the situation, as they provide accurate 7.1-channel surround-sound effects. Similarly, this is certainly a well-advised alternative for those gamers who don't have an external surround-sound system. The $200 list price is a bit steep, but with online prices closer to $180, you could think of it as an alternative to buying three mediocre games. And, when you consider that the Ear Force X41 headphones are compatible with almost any source, they may be the only wireless headphones you'll need for a while. The Turtle Beach X41 is a fantastic headset, with truly amazing sound quality. The fact its wireless is a big bonus for me, as the Tritton AX Pro and Astro av40 headsets leave annoying cables lying around. Fortunately the sound quality remains in tact, and is lively, accurate and gives and amazing boost to so many games. The Dolby 7.1 surround is amazingly accurate in game, and works well with films too. This is a superb quality headset, and one that has to be considered if youre looking to make a serious investment, however be prepared to lose sound quality when your batteries get low and interference if you have other RF devices in the area. At $150 it might be a good buy seeing how it's cheaper then the other two.

September 2011

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CONTROLLER REVIEWS
Model: Tritton AX PRO Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, and PC Price: $179.99
cable from the inline volume controller to the Xbox 360 controller. PlayStation 3 microphone communications are even simpler and connect via a USB port built into the input pod. As complicated as the setup sounds, it's not, I assure you. But now that that is out of the way, I can talk about the most crucial part of the AX Properformance. The AX Pro uses eight drivers, six 30mm drivers for center, front, and rear channels, and two 40mm drivers for the subwoofer. With four drivers in each ear, one would expect that sound performance can get chaotic, but nothing is further from the truth. Each channel is expertly calibrated, but in case you want a little more bass or a little less front-end response, you can tweak each sound field individually with the inline controller. Built twofeet into the cable that runs from the base of the headphones to the input pod, the inline controller makes adjusting the volume of each sound field simple. Tritton's AX360 used an inline controller that utilized a dedicated volume wheel for each field, which ultimately proved too easy to mistakenly alter. To remedy this problem, the AX Pro's inline controller uses a button system and a single volume wheel. Users can tweak one field at a time and by using a system of button color illuminations, they can easily visually identify which is louder or quieter than the other. There are also a number of audio settings built into the input pod, such as time controls for adjusting the time delay of the audio and swapping between Pro Logic and Digital formats. Once calibrated to your liking, the

Tritton, whose specialty seems to be the middle ground. In the past, Tritton's headphones have been regarded as reasonably featured and moderately priced audio solutions geared toward both enthusiast and hardcore gamers alike. The earliest models offered by Tritton were exclusive to PC users, However they have gotten a good hold on the console gaming side.

Verdict 8.5 out of 10

The AX Pro is a wired system that utilizes an independently powered input box and an inline volume controller. The AX Pro accepts only true digital 5.1 signals via a powered control box , the AX Pro system does not offer users the option to decode Pro Logic signals from stereo RCA connections. While most users would undoubtedly prefer to get the most out of their AX Pro by using optical connections, the lack of alternate connection types could be limiting to some. Additionally, setting up the AX Pro is not nearly as simple as other competing models; for one, the AX Pro uses two AC adapters, one for powering the main input box and the other for powering the inline controller and headphones. Fortunately, however, the AC adapters are connected in a way that has no impact during regular use after the initial setup or subsequent relocation. Beyond the optical connection and AC connections, the remainder of the setup is relatively simple; the headphones connect to the input pod via a 9-pin cable and the microphone connects to the Xbox 360 via a 1/8" headphone

CONTROLLER REVIEWS
audio quality of the AX Pros really begins to show. The audible experience could best be described as roomy. Unlike most other 5.1 models, which cram the sound into one loud mess, the AX Pro creates a largely three-dimensional experience. When using the AX Pros with quality directional source audio, such as Infinity Ward's MW2, you can really get a feel for the audible location of various aspects of your environment. Paired with the stunning visual presentation of most currentgen games and films, the AX Pro creates some of the richest audible environments I've experienced in a pair of multi-channel headphones. As for the physical characteristics of the headphones, there is a lot to like. The AX Pros are exponentially more stylized than Tritton's other headphone solutions. The AXPro has a streamlined silver-on-black aesthetic with illuminated orange logo accents built in to the side of both ear cups. The ear cups of the AX Pro swivel, the microphone is detachable, and the headband is completely adjustable, but the unit looks as if it could be made of a solid piece of plastic. The microphone connects to the base of the left ear cup via a locking mechanism, which is enable by simply inserting and twisting the microphone arm. All of the necessary audio connections for the microphone are made simultaneously when you snap in the microphone. In terms of comfort, the AX Pro's ear cups are large and breathe exceptionally for prolonged gaming sessions. To make things even more personalized, users can swap out the ear cups from soft fabric padding to a set of padded pleather-like ear cups. Although there is much to like about the AX Pro, there are a few features I would have liked to have seen. For starters, I would have liked a wireless solution from Tritton. Granted, wireless technology degrades the performance and jacks up the price, it is an invaluable feature for some. In this particular case, keeping wireless out of the formula makes sense in order to keep it in the sub-$200 range, but I'd like to see it in future models. A more immediate issue I found with the AX Pro was the absence of voice monitoring. While not exactly a deal breaker, I would have liked to been able to hear myself during voice communications. Too often I found myself speaking or shouting louder than intended during use because I was unable to accurately measure the volume of my voice amidst the in-game effects. But ultimately, the absence of voice monitoring is a matter of preference. I also noticed the mic volume was low and found that i had to literally eat the mic for others to hear. Overall, the Tritton AX Pro is an exceptional piece of gaming equipment. The sound performance is pristine and users can easily tweak it to their liking. There are a few absent features that I would have liked to have had available to me, but for the price (a modest $179.99) it's a good buy.

Summary
I have been lucky enough to have owned and use all the above headsets, and have played several hours on each. This is my opinion based on the things that i experienced in game play both single and multiplayer sessions. For the most for your money the X41s are the headset for you, but if you have the funds available the Astros are the Mercedes of the headset world. I won't leave out the Trittons they were pretty durable with oversize ear cups that i personally did not like, However the sound quality was excellent. Now for my spoiler. I am currently in the process of using the new Turtle Beach PX5 these are around $250 and feature a lot of the same things the Astro's do and are wireless on top of that. I have noticed so far that the battery running down you still lose quality but the sound and chat quality are excellent. Turtle Beach is reaching for that top spot with the new model. I'll have more on them after my testing period, but until then these are my top 3. Hoped you have learned a little bit and are able to choose the set that is right for you. September 2011

13

GAMING HISTORY

By ALG Crusader
The story arc of the game trilogy begins with the game Halo: Combat Evolved, set in 2552. The Covenant arrive at Reach, which is the UNSC's last colonial major stronghold; they vitrify the planet, leaving very few survivors. The Master Chief, the last SPARTAN thought to be alive, escapes on the ship Pillar of Autumn. The Pillar of Autumn, in order to avoid leading the Covenant to Earth, proceeds to coordinates selected by the female A.I. Cortana; dropping out of slipspace, the Autumn discovers the titular Halo, and is attacked by the Covenant. Battle damage forces the Autumn to the surface of the ring, where the Flood, a parasitic alien species, are accidentally released by the Covenant and Marines. The release of the Flood prompts the ring's caretaker, 343 Guilty Spark, to convince the Master Chief to activate Halo's defenses, so that the Flood can be destroyed. The Forerunners created Halo to starve the Flood of their food, sentient life, by exterminating all possible vectors for thousands of light-years in every direction. Upon discovering Halo's purpose, the Master Chief detonates the fusion reactors in the crashed Pillar of Autumn, destroying the ring; he and Cortana then escape in a fighter spacecraft. In Halo: First Strike, the Master Chief returns to Reach, located in the Epsilon Eridani system, and rejoins the survivors of the vitrification. He and other SPARTAN-II's attack a Covenant space station, where a fleet is massing to attack Earth. The space station is destroyed, giving the humans time to prepare for the invasion. Soon after in Halo 2 a small Covenant fleet arrives at Earth. Badly beaten by the humans, the Covenant commander, the High Prophet of Regret, flees to another Halo, Installation 05,

Halo is set several centuries in the future. After the development of the "ShawFujikawa Translight Engine", the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) begins a program of interstellar travel and planetary colonization. Over 800 planets are colonized in 200 years, categorized as "Inner Colonies" and "Outer Colonies". The Inner Colonies, being closer to Earth, are more developed and politically stable. The Outer Colonies were reachable after the breakthrough of the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine. Due to the older planets' need for the raw materials and supplies the Outer Colonies provide, tensions and outright civil war foments between the colonies and the UNSC. The UNSC creates the SPARTAN-II Project in order to covertly suppress these rebellions. Twenty-seven years before the events of the main game trilogy, UNSC communication with the colony Harvest is lost, and the ship sent to investigate is destroyed by the Covenant, a theocratic collective of aliens bent on exterminating humanity. The Covenant leadership has declared humanity to be an affront to their Gods, the Forerunner. By 2535, almost all of the Outer Colonies have been destroyed by the Covenant; in response, the UNSC vigorously enforces the "Cole Protocol", destroying material and ships that might lead the Covenant to Earth. The Covenant possesses a significant technological advantage, and proves nearly impossible for the UNSC to defeat in space engagements. These events are only alluded to in the video games, but their full descriptions are outlined in the novels Halo: The Fall of Reach and Contact Harvest, as well as in the real-time strategy game Halo Wars.

GAMING HISTORY
unwittingly taking the human ship In Amber Clad with him. At Installation 05, the Master Chief kills the High Prophet, leading to the replacement of the Covenant Elites with the Brutes as the preferred soldiers of the Covenant. This changing of the guard causes a schism within the Covenant. The Elites, realizing they have been betrayed, ally with the humans. The Elite warrior known as the Arbiter joins the humans Miranda Keyes and Sergeant Johnson in stopping the activation of Halo. This act inadvertently puts all the Halo installations on standby: the remaining rings can be activated remotely from a location known as "The Ark". The Master Chief stows away on a Forerunner vessel headed to Earth, in the midst of a full-scale invasion by the Covenant. In Halo 3, the Covenant excavate a Forerunner artifact in the African desert, despite the efforts of the Elites and humans, the High Prophet of Truth activates the artifact, which opens a slipspace portal to the Ark. The Master Chief and the Arbiter travel through the portal and kill Truth, They then activate a new Halo ring under construction in an effort to destroy the local Flood, led by the intelligence known as the Gravemind, while sparing the rest of the galaxy. Because the ring's construction is incomplete, the resulting pulse destroys the ring and damages the Ark. The Arbiter escapes the explosion, but the Master Chief and Cortana are left drifting in space, trapped in the severed rear half of their ship. The Master Chief cryonically freezes himself as he and Cortana wait for rescue. In a bonus ending, the ship is seen drifting towards a mysterious planet.

15

LG A

e ur at Fe

Who is this TrUmP guy Anyway?

Tommy Singleton is known for two things: Game Operator of misc, and a selfless human being for this community. Soon he might be known for a third thing, as ALG development keep pushing forward he keeps raising the bar of excellency with his generous donations and faithful commitment to this clan. When I first met him, I didn't know what to expect of him. Then we went into a recruitment drive and of course, he "crushed" everyone. You see for all of you who don't know Tommy, he's one of the most active members on our website and in game as well. He created the first major event with the Turtle Beach Tournament. He also kept up the Black Ops division on his own while Crusader was away and did a phenomenal job. Actually, he made them stronger. He's a huge part of our forum community and is by far one of the best member we have. This is why we decided to conduct a secret interview with this curious character who earned all the attention he gets in this first issue of ALG MAGAZINE. ALG MAGAZINE: What is your favorite game of all time? T r U m P: I'm really not sure, I have played so many and have liked so many it's
crazy. But I am sort of hooked on the C.O.D series. It has been the one that takes up most of my time...(laughing)

ALG MAGAZINE: What got you into the video games

scene?

T r U m P: There was a game on Atari 2600, I think it

was called "Journey". i was hooked on it so much when I was a kid ohhhh and "Frogger"... (laughing again). I have always had gaming consoles, even the very first one. Let just say my parents spoiled me so hard hahaha.

ALG MAGAZINE: Why do you love this community/Clan so much and why are you so involved? T r U m P: It's pretty simple, you guys are my extended family... and I enjoyed games all my life. Right now, I am at the position where I can give back and what could be a better way to give back than becoming a member of an awesome clan and be able to help it grow. On top of this, it brings me
joy and happyness.

TrUmP
ALG MAGAZINE: When did you think of the 360th Day Raffle Giveaway? T r U m P: I came up with this idea sitting back one night, just
thinking how we could award people that aren't really great at games, that can't win a tournament or basically just play to have fun. So I was thinking, why don't we do like a raffle!

ALG MAGAZINE: What do the members need to do in order to win

those raffle tickets?

T r U m P: How you guys can get a ticket is very simple.

Participating in the website, interesting post in the forums, come up with graphic designs if you want! Maybe an intro, some ALG Banners, stuff like that.

ALG MAGAZINE: Who is responsible for rewarding those tickets?

and how do I know if I won a ticket?

T r U m P: Moderators and operators are the only people that are

gonna give out those tickets. How this process is going to work, they're gonna tell you "Hey, I've just awarded you a ticket and this is what it's for." Moderators/operators then get in touch with me and give me your name as well as why they give you the ticket and I'm gonna approve that. You can get up to 10 tickets by staying active and helping the community grow.

ALG MAGAZINE: On a final note Tommy, why are you giving so

much to this community and what's your message to all ALG recruits and members?

T r U m P: I appreciate everyone for being a member here at ALG

and thank you for helping us grow. Continue the good work and this is just my way as well as the staff to show you our gratitude for you guys being here, working hard and spreading the word.

To finish this article let me just say this on behalf of all the members; from the bottom of our hearts, we love you Tommy!
ALG KRYSZTOV

17

VIDEO GAME HISTORICAL TIMELINE

BY: ALG TIRKOT A long long time ago - Star Wars A c c o r d in g t o Video Game Histor y, in less than 5 years Russia and America will go to war. No t e t h e Na z i Zombies we have defeated a n d v a r io u s hor rors facing us now. Also, notice the technological nightmare that is waiting for our children.

1476 - Assassin's Creed 1911 1944 1964 1968 1980 1984 1986 1998 2005 2009 2012 2016 2020 2052 2070 2161 2162 2183 Red Dead Redemption Battlefield: Bad Company Metal Gear: Snake Eater Call of Duty: Blackops Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Terminator Golden Eye Resident Evil Metal Gear Solid Half Life Assassin's Creed Call of Duty: MW2 Crysis Deus Ex Red Faction Fallout Star Trek Mass Effect

A f t e r v a r io u s alien threats have been defeated, Master C h ie f w ill o f course come 2552 - Halo Reach f in is h t h e f ig h t .

By DGX Cory

CROSSWORD

ACROSS
1. W HAT 4. W HO 5. HOW 8. HOW
DOES

DOWN
1. W HO ALG?
MAKES THE COOKIES THAT ARE SENT TO THE WINNER OF THE RECRUITMENT DRIVE?

ALG

STAND FOR?

WROTE THE

CRYSIS 2 REVIEW? FRENCH?

MANY OPERATORS ARE THERE IN SPEAKS

6. W HICH OPERATOR

MANY POINTS DO YOU GET FOR HOSTING A

2. W HO

HAS WON THE MOST

PRACTICE OR MEETING THAT LASTED AN HOUR?

CHATROOM CHALLENGES? 7. W HAT 9. W HO

WAS THE

10. W HAT 11. W HO

FIRETEAM IS

JAREDAWGG

IN CHARGE OF?

10TH

IS ENGAGED TO

ALG AMANDAH?
IS NAMED AFTER A

CHATROOM CHALLENGE?
WAS THE

12. W HICH MODERATOR

CHARACTER IN OF

1ST

PERSON TO

WARHAMMER 40,000: DAWN

POST ABOUT KARAOKE NIGHT IN

WAR?

ALG?
September 2011

19

By ALG UnDeAd

WORD SEARCH

A L G
Amandah swordbase moon nuketown raygun shotgun Gunner arena rifle Trump sniper magazine zombies Tirkot Crusader webmaster reflection headshot BlackOps Krysztov kowloon

By ALG Starscream
1. W HAT
DOES

2. W HAT D YNASTY WARRIORS SPINOFF C ARTOON ? 3. W HAT

WAS

4. W HAT ' S 5. W HAT

THE C ALL OF D UTY GAME THAT FOCUSED ON A SINGLE MILITARY DIVISION (H INT: IT WAS A SPINOFF )? ARE THE NAMES OF THE MARIO BROS . EVIL COUNTERPARTS ?

6. IN HALO 3

WHAT SKULL REQUIRED YOU TO DO SOMETHING IN SPECIFIC ORDER ?

7. W HAT M OVIE FROM 1982 LOOKED LIKE A VIDEO STARRED JEFF B RIDGES WITH LIGHT CYCLES ? 8. W HAT 9. W HAT
IS A NOOB TUBE ? GAME IS THE

10. W HAT

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Monday September 19th - Sunday September 25th is our monthly Recruitment Drive. Earn Double points for all recruits (+6 points). Also, there is no daily cap for recruitment points so this is a great way for a lot of you to catch up quickly. A recruit only counts when they sign up to the website. The member with the most recruits by Sunday at midnight wins a batch of cookies! Friday September 23rd - ALG T r U m P is hosting a MW3 Release Event Check the website for more details. You could win a brand new MW3 Controller. Thursday September 15th - ALG Crusader is hosting a 2v2 Halo Wars Tournament with 10 points and a raffle ticket as a prize. Check the website for more info. The first person who correctly completes all of the games in the magazine and submits them by private message to ALG Krysztov wins a raffle ticket for the 360th Day Giveaway! You must complete the crossword puzzle, the word find, and the trivia 100% correctly to win.
September 2011

?? ?
TRIVIA

COG

STAND FOR IN

GEARS

OF

WAR ?

WAS BASED ON A

JAPANESE

SPARTAN PROJECT I

ORGINALLY CALLED ?

GAME AND

HELGHAST EMPIRE

FROM ?

GAME FRANCHISE ALLOWED TO CREATE YOUR OWN GAMES

21

ALG'S 360TH DAY GIVEAWAY

COMING DECEMBER 26H 2011 WIN RAFFLE TICKETS FOR YOUR CHANCE TO BREAK OFF A CHUNK OF PRIZE MOUNTAIN!

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO START EARNING RAFFLE TICKETS! LIMIT 10 TICKETS PER PERSON.

WWW.ALISTGAMERS.COM