Site Down For Maintenance

You've probably notcied that the main shop site is showing a 'Down for Maintenance' sign. Fear not, we're still here and all orders placed over the weekend will be going out today as normal. We've been working on some exciting new developments over the last few months and we'll be revealing the new look site tomorrow.

Be sure to check the blog all this week for updates on the new site features!

Access the Xbox 360 DVD Drive with the X360 USB

The X360 USB converter gives Xbox 360 owners easy access to all of the files on their Xbox 360’s hard drive, as well as any SATA hard disk and the firmware on the Xbox 360 DVD. It’s pretty amazing how easy it is to use this Xbox 360 accessory – just crack open the 360, plug it into your DVD drive and then connect the USB end to the PC. The X360 USB converter then lets you open your Xbox 360 hard drive through the USB port on your computer..

With the X360 USB plugged in you can copy all of the save files from your Xbox 360 hard drive to the hard drive on your computer, and from there to any kind of storage medium that you like. Share save files with other players online, download and try out other people’s saves and easily upload content to your Xbox 360. By connecting to the Xbox 360 hard drive with your computer’s USB drive your content management gets that much easier, and you can save space on your Xbox 360’s drive.

You can also use the X360 USB converter to access the firmware chip on the Hitachi LG DVD drive inside the Xbox 360. With the latest firmware upgrades you can improve your Xbox 360 DVD drive’s performance, and make sure that it is compatible with any new SATA drive that you use to mod your system.

Finally, the X360 USB converter lets you access files on any SATA drive that you want to open on your PC. And while you are using the X360 USB you don’t even have to have your Xbox 360 running – take out the Xbox 360 hard drive or DVD drive if you want and attach them to the X360 for the fastest file transfer and get the most out of your Xbox 360 drives!

Newest Wii Firmware Incompatible with the Wii Freeloader

The Wii Freeloader makes it possible to play all kinds of import games from all over the world on the Nintendo Wii; however, the most recent update of the Wii system’s firmware (available via download from Nintendo) has been found to be incompatible with the Wii Freeloader. While the Wii Freeloader is designed to disable parts / elements of most Wii firmware updates which could affect it, the version 3.3 Wii Firmware which was released on 17/06/2008 prevents the Wii Freeloader from operating correctly.

For users of the Wii Freeloader, the easiest solution to keep the Wii Freeloader working is not to download and install the Wii Firmware 3.3 update. The Wii Freeloader is still compatible with all other versions of the Wii Firmware as indicated in its instruction packaging. Any kind of Wii Firmware from version 3.2 and below will run the Wii Freeloader perfectly so that you will be able to play games from any region without being blocked by the region controls on the Wii.

Most users of the Wii Freeloader will not be affected, and will be able to continue using their Wii Freeloader normally, so long as they do not download and install the 3.3 path to upgrade their Wii console’s firmware.

Also, keep in mind that when using the Wii Freeloader, the Wii Freeloader should be used for all games – not just import games. Some regional games will attempt to install additional firmware updates, and this can cause problems with compatibility. However, if you run all of your games through the Wii Freeloader, 99% of these attempted firmware changes will be caught and prevented. By using the Wii Freeloader for all of the games that you put into your Wii, and by not upgrading to the Wii firmware version 3.3, you can continue to make fine use of your Wii Freeloader.

The New XCM 1080p HDMI Cable for First Generation Xbox 360

If you got one of the early first generation Xbox 360s without an HDMI port, you are probably looking for a way to get the high resolution and picture quality of high definition TV; while HDTVs weren’t as prevalent when the Xbox 360 first came onto the scene, today most Xbox 360 games are designed with an HDTV in mind.

The text in Dead Rising is a good example – since then game designers have tried to keep in mind that it is important that their games be at least readable on a standard TV, but in general if you play a lot of games with onscreen text you’re going to want the highest resolution screen possible. Even if the games that you play are straightforward action without a lot of reading going on, it still makes sense if you have an HDTV to get the best graphics for your money.

The XCM 1080p HDMI Cable is the perfect solution for this kind of situation! It converts the analog signal from your first generation Xbox 360 into the same high definition signal that you would get from an HDMI port. The XCM 1080p HDMI Cable also comes with an HDMI to DVI adapter – plugging this into the cable output gives you a signal compatible with your PC, so you can play your Xbox 360 games and content in high definition resolution on your HDTV or computer monitor.

Additional RCA and optical sockets on the side of the disc shaped converter give you options for connecting your Xbox 360 to your speakers / stereo sound system. All in all, the XCM 1080p HDMI Cable is one of the most inexpensive upgrades for your system, and makes it possible for you to get the best look and sound out of your first gen Xbox 360.

Play the PSP Phat on a TV

It's not just the PSP Slim & Lite that can be played on your telly. Though it's a bit more clunky, there are options to play your PSP Phat on your TV. There are a range of cables that you can get to display your PSP games and movies on your large screen! The “PSP to TV” has been rated the best solution to play your PSP on the TV by IGN, boasts a one minute setup with no need to modify your hardware or void the warranty – a simple plug and play experience. The Blaze PSP TV Adaptor offers all of these features as well.

With each of these PSP to TV devices, the operation is basically the same: a device that captures the image is hooked onto the front of the PSP screen, with a cable outputting whatever it sees to your TV, projector, you name it! However, the scanning device which goes over the screen of the PSP can be bulky, considering that the controls for the game are positioned on either side of it. Blaze’s converter, while not as endorsed as the “PSP to TV”, has a smaller scanner which could make it easier to work with.

Talismoon Wii Shells: Customize Your Wii's Colour

If you want to have a cooler looking Wii console, Talismoon has a wide range of game system accessories. Their Talismoon Wii shells replace the casing of the Wii to give you a different color, so if you don’t want to wait for Nintendo to release the new colors of Wii, you can get practically any color shell that you want.

The options available from Talismoon are Pink Chrome, Clear Blue, Blue Chrome, Red Chrome, Green Chrome, Clear Acrylic, Silver Chrome and Black Chrome. They all have cool names inspired from Japanese culture; for example, the red Wii shell is called Red Ronin, the black chrome shell is called Black Katana, and the clear acrylic shell is called Stealth Assassin.

In addition to looking cool, the Talismoon Wii shells provide some options which other shell casings for the Wii don’t, such as interchangeable DVD slot lights, letting you change the color of the indicator lights on the front of your Wii. The Talismoon Wii shells also have open panels in the back so that you have room for future upgrades to your Wii if you want to make changes which will require more rear connectors.

The cool colors in the Talismoon Wii shell line can be mixed and matched – use a body shell of one color for your Wii and another color for the base stand to achieve a unique effect. The Wii shells from Talismoon come with the tool kit, replacement feet, screw covers and everything else that you need to do the installation, so the setup will go smoothly without having to find any special screwdrivers or additional gear. All in all, the Talismoon Wii shells provide a great combination of personalized appearance for your Nintendo Wii while being very practical and protective for the Nintendo Wii’s hardware.

Have you pimped your Wii? Leave a comment and let us know!

Guide to Using the Japanese PSN From Your PC

You don’t need to use a Playstation 3 to access the Japanese Playstation Store – with just an online account you can buy all of the PSP and Playstation import games that you want! Here’s how to set up an account and access the Japanese Playstation Store online with your PC.

1. First, you need to buy a Japanese PSN card. Gamepointsnow.com sells a variety of Japanese Playstation Network cards in different amounts. You will be instantly emailed a code that you can redeem on the Japanese PSN. They also instantly email Xbox 360 codes (points and subscriptions) and Wii codes for most regions. First, though you need to create a Japanese PSN account - the store will not let you login unless you have a Japan-registered address.

2. Next go to the site http://store.playstation.com/ The first thing you will do is select Japan as your region. This means that the text will all be in Japanese, but don't worry if you don’t know a lot of Japanese, just follow these instructions and you can make it through.

3. Then, you'll need to register an account. Just click the 'register' button shown below:

4. The first registration page will have a block of text with some buttons below it. Click on the bottommost of the buttons below the text (it should be centered). The next screen will contain some drop down menus, including a birthday entry. Put in a birthday which makes you older than 18 years old, then of the two buttons below the date click the one on the right one.

5. On the next screen, click the text at the very top, before the paragraph about PLAYSTATION Network. You will come to a disclaimer page with two buttons below the disclaimer. Click the one on the right again to proceed.

6. The next screen is a captcha page: type the letters that you see in the image into the box to confirm that you are a real person, then click the button below.

7. Next is a screen for entering contact information. Put your VALID email address into the first box, come up with a password for the PSN account and put it in the next two boxes. The remainder of this page lets you select a question and answer for if you forget your password, but it’s in Japanese, so just write anything in the bottommost box and then click the centered button at the bottom to continue.

8. Go to your email and click on the confirmation link from store.playstation.com. You’ll be taken to a screen where you enter a username – very simple. The next screen after that is complicated: it asks for a Japanese address. Guess what – you don’t have to put this in! Fill most of the slots with gibberish. However, there are two required fields: the first field after the break in the form should be filled with the number “123”, and the drop-down menu directly after it should have the first option selected. Again, click the right hand button at the bottom of the screen when you’re done.

9. The next screen has a block of text followed by two options. Choose the second one and continue. Continue through the next two screens by clicking the right most of the two bottom buttons each time and you’re through! Now you can go to the Playstation Network store at http://store.playstation.com/ . Login with your username and password at the top of the screen, click on your username once logged in, and choose the second text link in the second section of the resulting page for a screen where you can enter the PSN code you got from Game Points Now to redeem your card! Now you can order whatever Japanese games that you want from the Playstation Network store using your PC!

Guide to Download and Use PS3 Game Saves or...How to Complete Every Game Ever

One of the coolest things about the Playstation 3 is the ability to transfer files between the game console and your PC. With certain PS3 games, people are sharing their save files online, which quickly lets you get to a certain part of the game, see what happens with a particular time consuming achievement, etc. Here is how to transfer a saved game from the PC to the Playstation 3:

First of all, find the saved game that you want online (PS3gamesaves.net is a good starting point). Usually a saved game will come in a zip file which will contain a directory with a title full of letters and numbers: something such as BCUS98103. This directory has to be unzipped, as is, into a particular directory on a USB memory stick.

Create a directory on your USB memory stick called “PS3”, and inside of it create another directory called “SAVEDATA”. Unzip the file with your saved game into the SAVEDATA directory (the directory with all of the letters and numbers mentioned above should be inside of your SAVEDATA directory). Do NOT rename the directory from the zip file.

If this is all good, the next step is to start up your Playstation 3, plug in the USB memory card that you put the save on, then go through the Playstation 3 menus to Game > Saved Data Unity, and choose “USB Device” from that menu.

The Playstation 3 should find the save file on the USB memory card, when you locate the file hit the triangle button on your controller then choose ‘Copy’. This will copy the save file from the memory stick to your PS3. If you want to do the opposite – put your own saved games on the internet for other people to try, then just use the same PS3 menu to copy save files onto a memory stick, zip up the directories using your PC and upload them!

Has this helped you out? Leave a comment and let us know!

Hot Rock Case for Wii - the Colour Changing Wii Mod

Cool looking case mods aren’t just for Xbox 360 or PS3 owners anymore! The Wii II-Case Replacement Shell Hot Rock Color Changing Case combines a cool LED light system with colors which are tied to the temperature of your system. At the 50 degree Celsius mark, the LEDs in the Hot Rock Case turn red, a powerful visual indicator of the heat inside the system as well as one of the most striking and attractive case mods that I’ve seen.

The colors that the Hot Rock Case Mod generates inside the Wii range from light blue at the lowest temperatures to red at the highest, running through blue, green, yellow and orange in between. Colors change only at every five degrees Celsius, while the numeric indicator on the case mod tells you the exact temperature.

The Hot Rock Case Mod for the Wii is simple to set up, and includes the unusual tri-wing screwdriver needed to open the Wii’s case so everything that you need is included with the set. This case mod is a welcome addition to the modding world and gives Wii owners a great way for them to give their favorite system a whole new look!

Use a Huge PC Hard Drive on the PS3

With 2.5” SATA hard drives being as expensive as they are, getting a truly huge PC hard drive into your PS3 can be hard on the wallet. One way that you can save time and money while getting the most storage space for your PS3, however, is to use the Playstation 3 Hard Drive Xtender.

The Playstation 3 Hard Drive Xtender gives you a lot of flexibility – it’s essentially a caddy style frame which you use in replacement of the 2.5” SATA drive in your PS3. The connection on the front of the Hard Drive Xtender can then be linked up with any kind of IDE or SATA hard drive. Whatever hard drive you have, you can use it for your PS3 with the Hard Drive Xtender sitting in the 2.5” SATA slot and acting as an interface.

An included face plate gives the Playstation 3 Hard Drive Xtender a smooth look in keeping with the rest of the PS3’s appearance. The combination of a simple design, easy installation in the 2.5” SATA slot, and a reasonable price point at £15, makes the Playstation 3 Hard Drive Xtender one of the more useful modifications on the market for PS3 owners today.

Core Cooler V2 - Keep Your 360 Cool, Stop the RROD

The Core Cooler V2 provides an attractive cooling solution for the Xbox 360. Compatible with all Xbox 360s, the Core Cooler V2 is an internal modification which uses two cooling fans to direct cool air straight onto and over the system’s CPU and GPU. This helps prevent crashes from overheating and gives the Xbox 360 a longer life.

Of course, the Core Cooler V2 also looks great, with lights in blue and green that give your Xbox 360 case mod a more distinctive look. For the best internal cooling solution, you can combine the Core Cooler V2’s twin fans with the High Speed Air Cooler, also from XCM, and get the best cooling efficiency.

At £19.99, the Core Cooler V2 provides an attractive look for the Xbox 360 case and excellent cooling power for a reasonable price – a personalized solution for people who want their Xbox 360 to last longer and don’t mind voiding the warranty!

What's the Difference Between the HD Fury Gamer Cable and the Wii/PS3 VGA Cable?

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Both of these cables output to VGA, meaning that they let you use your LCD, CRT or plasma flat screen monitor. Display projectors and all kinds of other screens which have VGA connections can also be used as the output device with either of these cables. The biggest difference between the two is that the Wii/PS3 VGA cable is a component video to VGA cable, while the HDFury Gamer cable is an HDMI to VGA cable that takes an input of a 1080p high definition HDMI signal.

The Wii/PS3 VGA cable will work with either system; it has separate signal input ports for the Wii and for the PS3. With the Wii, the maximum output resolution of the Wii/PS3 VGA cable is 480p, while with the PS3 the maximum output resolution is 1080p.

The HDFury Gamer cable is an HDMI only cable, which means that it won’t work with the Wii. However, you can use the HDFury Gamer cable to get an output resolution of 1080p from your Playstation 3, Xbox 360 Elite, Blu-Ray / HD-DVD or DVD player (with upscaling), making any VGA compatible display that you connect it to into an HDCP compliant device. It also solves the black screen issue on the Playstation 3, and supports a wide range of resolutions from 480p to 1080p ensuring that it will be compatible with any device that has HDMI output.

With this in mind, your choice of the Wii/PS3 VGA cable or the HDFury Gamer cable should depend on what systems you’re using. While the Wii/PS3 VGA cable is the only one of the two that will handle the Wii, the HDFury Gamer cable lets you get the best HDMI image quality out of the PS3 and Xbox 360 as well as a host of other media devices. If image quality is your biggest concern, then the HD Fury Gamer is the one for you.

What Do I Need to Use PS2 Saved Games on the PS3?

Playing old favorites from the PS2 on the PS3 is much better if you can bring your old save files along – fortunately there are several memory card readers and adaptors that can be used to transfer your old saves onto the PS3’s hard drive.

A memory card reader will generally have a number of slots for plugging in Playstation 2 (or even original Playstation) memory cards, as well as a USB connection to hook it up to the PS3. The cost for a Playstation 1 / 2 to Playstation 3 memory card reader is less than the price of a new game (or even some used games), which is a small price to pay to have all of your old saves available on your new system.

The best part is that it’s so simple – just download the files onto the PS3’s internal hard drive with your adapter, and your backward compatible games will be able to pick up right where you left off!

One of these devices saved your gaming experience? Leave a comment and let us know!

Fighting With the Mayflash Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad

When it come to playing an arcade style fighting game keyboards and console game pads just don’t cut it. Those of us who grew up in the nineties playing our fighting games on arcade machines know that the combination of joystick and big buttons laid across a flat surface are the best way to control a fighter. The Street Fighter series and all of the one on one fighting games which came after it from Tekken and Virtua Fighter to King of Fighters and Guilty Gear will always be more exciting when played with an arcade style joystick.

The Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad from Mayflash provides that old arcade feeling with any fighting game on the PS2, PS3 or the PC. Not only is it great with all of the recent fighters on the Playstation 2 and 3, the Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad provides old school verisimilitude to classic games when played in the MAME emulator. It even goes above and beyond the call of duty with turbo and macro buttons that let you perform amazing feats and program combos, and the weight of the Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad at around 2 kilograms keeps it from sliding around when your mind is focused on the action on the screen.

Unleashing all of those moves and combos stored in your muscle memory takes you back to the first time that you played your favorite fighting games. The Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad makes it easy for you to enjoy classic 2D fighters the way that you used to, get the genuine arcade experience out of newer 3D brawlers, and get the best fun out of your MAME arcade games short of buying an old fashioned arcade cabinet. To breathe new life into classic fighters, the Arcade Fighting Stick Controller Joypad is what any hardcore player needs!

Fan of fighting games? Love the stick? Leave a comment and let us know!

Connecting to the Most Displays with the Xbox 360 5 in 1 Cable

With television standards changing from analog to high definition, and an increasing number of kinds of displays and cables out there, sometimes I find myself wanting to connect my Xbox 360 to a screen that can’t handle the standard output. It’s also convenient from time to time to be able to switch my Xbox 360 from one display to another at will. The Xbox 360 5 in 1 Cable makes that easy.

There are five different types of output on the Xbox 360 5 in 1 Cable: VGA, RGB, Component, S-AV and AV. All kinds of screens from CRT, LCD and plasma monitors to new high definition flat screen TVs are supported, and the display quality through the Xbox 360 5 in 1 Cable is crisp and clear on any screen. When I want the option to switch from one screen to another, I can do it simply by flicking the switch on the 5 in 1 Cable, and I don’t have to plug and unplug. The Xbox 360 5 in 1 Cable is yet another great converter / switch that helps me to control my expanding entertainment center!

Do you use the Xbox 360 5 in 1 Cable? Leave a comment and let us know!

Playing First Person Shooters the Right Way on the PS3

While control schemes for first person shooters have come a long way on console systems, the original keyboard and mouse scheme is still the easiest way to achieve fine control. For many players of first person shooters, it’s the way that they grew up playing, and the degree of accuracy that one can achieve using a mouse instead of a thumb stick, or circle strafing with the keyboard while aiming, is better than anything that can be achieved with even the most advanced game pad.

The Playstation 3 XFPS Rate Up Keyboard / Mouse Adapter is the answer. It makes it so that you can connect any keyboard and mouse combination that you want into the Playstation 3’s controller port. The functions of the Dual Shock 3 / Six Axis controller can be remapped onto whichever keys you want for a configuration that matches your favorite familiar PC first person shooters.

Setting up the Playstation 3 XFS Rate Up Keyboard / Mouse Adapter is easy, as all that you have to do is plug and play. After deciding which keys should correspond to which controller buttons, you’re ready to go! The Playstation 3 XFPS Rate Up Keyboard / Mouse Adapter also lets you set up to eight independent buttons for auto-fire, and you can even set the mouse sensitivity along the X and Y axes independently – more freedom to customize your own gameplay options than you may even be used to on the PC!

As the Playstation 3 XFPS Rate Up Keyboard / Mouse Adapter is compatible with all PS3 games and with practically all (95%) of keyboards and mice, it gives you the best control and makes it a lot easier, as a PC gamer, to get the kind of precision and smoothness that one is used to when playing a new first person shooter on the Playstation 3!

Have you used the XFPS Rate Up? Leave a comment and let us know what you think of it!

Xbox 360 Lian Li Case: Make Your Xbox Look Like a PC

The Lian Li Xbox 360 Case is just a few weeks away, and with the range of cooling enhancing products coming out from Lian Li, Xbox 360 owners will be able to have a lot more control over the temperature of their game systems.

With Lian Li’s upcoming Xbox 360 Case, air cooling is maximized with a front panel that’s basically one giant grill. The most striking factor in the design of this case is its size – a little over three times the size of a standard Xbox 360 case, but then the size of the Xbox 360 is what contributes to a lot of its heat issues and crashes. The Lian Li Xbox 360 Case provides room for a pair of 120mm fans, each of which runs quieter than the standard Xbox 360 fan.

Lian Li has also made cost improvements to its latest Xbox 360 Case by replacing the side panels with plain aluminum sheets, by using less expensive flush thumbscrews, and so on, for an Xbox 360 Case which is purely functional, cost effective and built to give you the best air cooling performance for the money! While it’ll require voiding the warranty on your Xbox 360, the new Lian Li case should go a long way towards avoiding the red ring of death.

XCM Mega Cool VGA Box - Play All Your Consoles on the PC

Soon, XCM will be releasing the XCM 1080p Mega-cool VGA Box. This converter box makes it easy to play practically all next-gen systems on a wide variety of display devices. The Mega-cool VGA lets you play Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 games on LCD and CRT monitors as well as set-top boxes and display projectors. Game Cube, PS2 and Xbox, and even the PSP, can all be connected as well, which will make it easy to play all of your last-gen games.

With a full selection of display resolutions, the XCM 1080p Mega-cool VGA Box can be used with any kind of monitor, old or new. 480i, 576i, 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p resolutions are all included, and you can connect the Mega-cool VGA Box to your VGA computer monitor or to an HD TV.

The XCM 1080p Mega-cool VGA Box will be a plug n’ play installation, and draw power from the USB port so it will be easy to use with your computer. With lots of image enhancing features such as motion-adaptive interfiled de-interlacing, automatic video source mode detection and compatibility with a wide range of video formats (SDTV, HDTV, XGA, SXGA and UXGA), this upcoming release from XCM promises to be an all-in-one box that will handle any display situation!