Video
Your video equipment is going to be your most crucial piece of your gaming setup. I understand you may have some sweet 60-inch Plasma Screen TV with video overlay and progressive scan blah blah blah, but that's not what you want. You are going to want a screen between 22" and 24". Major League Gaming (MLG) uses a 24" screen standard for all their tournaments. You may notice that I am using the term "screen" instead of TV. That is due to the fact that as technology advances, the line between TV and Monitor is becoming blurred. Screen is a general term, as you may be purchasing a TV OR a "Computer" monitor.
"But Shadow, isn't bigger always better?!?" No. Not in this instance. The main reason for smaller screen is to reduce Screen Delay or Screen Lag or Refresh Rate. What this means is that what shows up on your screen may not be what is actually happening. In other words, you may be seeing things almost half a second or so after they have already happened. You may not think this is a big deal, but it can really cause some issues. For one thing, it can throw off your aiming. You may be thinking that the player is strafing one direction when in fact he has already moved, thus throwing off your shot. Even worse, you may turn a corner and see an enemy, but unfortunately he has seen you first as his screen has a faster refresh rate. Since he saw you first, he can get first shot on you and gain the advantage. So what should you be looking for? A screen between 22" to 24" (preferable 24") that has a refresh rate or screen delay of roughly 5ms or less. The less the better. Most higher end screen run at around 2ms. MLG tournaments use the BenQ GL2450HM for their console games. Cables
After you have your screen, you need to choose between you video cord options. Your HD options are VGA, HDMI, and Component. Component cords are those green, blue, and red chords. Component cords will provide you with up to 1080i video format, which is not optimal, so let's cut that option. Next up are HDMI and VGA.
You are probably familiar with HDMI video cords, as they have become the standard HD video cable. VGA cords are the cables you probably use to connect your computer to your monitor. HDMI is digital, VGA is analog. What this means is that HDMI video is going to be cleaned up a little bit. You'll probably notice darker shading. VGA is straight video source without any cleanup. Some people say that HDMI causes some slight video delay. Major League Gaming uses VGA cables. I personally use VGA cables. HDMI will provide you with 1080p video, while VGA offers many different ranges of video up to 1920x1080. HDMI has audio and video all in one cord, while VGA cables have separate stereo cables. The HDMI cable dongle has both Component RCA (red and white) audio output. Both cables offer Optical audio, which is a necessity for quality sound. Optical audio is absolutely necessary for true 7.1 audio. Your optical cord will plug into your headset's receiver, which we will get into next. |
Sound
Right behind your video equipment in necessity is going to be your audio equipment. I understand that you may have some sweet Bose surround sound system, or perhaps you just use the speakers from your TV. Not going to cut it. When it comes to competitive First Person Shooter games, headsets are a MUST. Any hardcore gamer will tell you that your headset will save you time and time again. You will definitely notice an advantage when using a headset. You will hear the footsteps of those around you. You can pinpoint where shots are coming from. You can here exactly where the grenade bounced. Your headset will make you feel in the game. On top of that, it will drown out all outside noise, helping you focus on the action.
So now the question is what headset should you purchase. I'm going to tell you this, and you should take it to heart. Don't go cheap. You will probably spend more money on your headset than you will your screen. However, your setup is just not complete without a solid headset. You may see many different options in the store for headsets you can buy. Turtle Beach and Tritton may be names that you see quite often. You may think buying a pair of $50 Turtle Beach X12s will do the job. Wrong. What you need to look into is audio quality. Turtle Beach X12, Turtle Beach DX12, Turtle Beach X32, Tritton AX180, Tritton Trigger, etc. are all STEREO headsets, or 2.1 audio. What does 2.1 mean? Well, the first number means how many high-frequency channels are available, and the second number is the number of low-frequency channels (subwoofer). Naturally, the higher the first number, the wider audio range the headset offers. High-end headsets offer 7.1 audio. Think of it as having more speakers in your headset. The more speakers you have, the easier it is to pinpoint sounds. So now you know to watch out for stereo headsets. Also, watch out for "Simulated Surround" headsets. Anything simulated means that is actually just lower quality audio amplified to sound pretty. You need to look for true Dobly 7.1 surround. Also, when looking for a headset, make sure it accepts Optical audio input. Optical audio provides you with true 7.1 sound. Once you have found a headset that meets our mark for sound quality, there is another choice for you to make: Wired or Wireless? Well, if you plan on attending any official competitions, you will need to go wired, as wireless headsets are banned. Other than that, there are pros and cons to each. Wired provides the most instantaneous sound, and you wont have to worry about batteries. The downside to this is that you will have to worry about wires if that is something that bothers you. Wireless headsets offer you the freedom to roam around the room without worrying about unplugging your headset. However, almost all wireless headsets produce a slight "hum" that you may or may not get used to. You will also have to worry about battery life, as sound and voice quality will degrade with battery life. Wireless is also usually more expensive. Another choice to make is either open-ear or closed-ear headphones. Open-ear allows you to hear things outside of your headset easier, while closed-ear headphones almost silence all outside noise. I personally find open-ear to cause less headaches, and generally fit more comfortably. Overall, the choice is up to you. I personally recommend the Astro A40 Audio System from Astro Gaming. It features a wired 7.1 headset with their signature Mixamp. The Mixamp allows you to balance your game and voice audio to a level that works for you. Special features of the Mixamp include the daisy-chain function which allows you to directly connect other Mixamps to allow for lag-free private voice network between you and other connected Mixamps, which is a standard for tournaments. New to the 2013 edition is the addition of an Equalizer that allows you to change the sound output to match your preference. You get to choose between Music, Movie, Game, and Pro settings. Each setting is aimed at enhancing quality as described. The Pro setting focuses the audio to enhance important noises such as footsteps and grenade bounces, and dulls distracting noises such as loud explosions. Up until this past year, the A40 Audio System was the official headset of MLG. Other headsets that I would recommend are the new MLG-backed Turtle Beach Earforce XPSEVEN which is showing up more and more in competitive play. If you are looking for a high-quality wireless option, the Tritton Warhead 7.1 is proving to be the leader in wireless headsets. Alternatively, some players prefer the SteelSeries Siberia V2 due to it's compact design. http://www.shadowstrike1.net/gaming-equipment.html
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Controllers
Your controller is your tool of destruction. Although it is the piece of equipment you will probably replace from use and wear the most often, do not let that deter you from picking up a solid control pad that will keep up with you. Obviously there is the standard Microsoft brand controller, which is a solid choice, but there are also some more advanced 3rd party controllers which you may choose instead.
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Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller
This is the first and only MLG-licensed controller. While one of the most expensive controller choices, it offers you options no other controller does. First off, both joysticks and the D-pad are removable, and can be swapped around to make the controller layout like the Xbox controller or PS3 controller (both joysticks down low). Additionally, you can choose between different style D-pads. Also, you can change out the tops of the joysticks. This is useful as you can customize this controller to your liking. Perhaps you prefer domed convex joysticks like the PS3 controller. Or maybe you like concave joysticks like the Xbox controller. The choice is yours. You can also get wider or smaller joystick heads to fit your preference. You can then adjust the weight of the controller so it feels just right. Finally, you can change out the faceplates, joysticks, and cable with different colored options to make the controller your own. Due to these options, it is very easy and cheap to swap out parts of your controller that show wear. Beats buying a whole new controller! Finally, the controller has a rubberized grip and ergonomically designed in collaboration with MLG pros for enhanced comfort. Clocking in at $99.99, it's a product that will definitely be enjoyed by those looking for a Pro-Grade controller. Razer Sabertooth The latest controller from Razer is the Sabertooth. This high-end controller has a few features that will definitely give you an advantage over your opponent. Mainly, this controller features 6 additional programmable buttons. Two are on top behind the bumpers, and the other four are on the back in the form of dual rocker-buttons. You can set these buttons to do whatever you like. You can move your armor ability to the back of the controller, allowing you to keep Jump on the bumper. You can set the additional bumper to swap weapons so you don't have to take your thumb off the trigger. There are so many options, and you get to program it to the way you like. The face buttons are back-lit so they'll glow in the dark. On top of everything else, the controller features an OLED screen which assists you in programming your controller. You can save profiles to the controller so you can select different customized controls for separate games. Additionally, you can program the sensitivity of the joysticks to get the feel just right. The downside to this controller is that it is banned from tournament play due to it's additional buttons. Coming in at $60, it's a steal for those looking for a cheap advantage. SCUFF Gaming Controller You may have heard of SCUF Gaming. They've skyrocketed in popularity in the past few years. Many professional gamers, including the entire OpTic Gaming team are sponsored by SCUF. There's good reason for it as well. Hailing in as the most common 3rd party controller used in competition play, the SCUF Gaming custom controller reigns supreme. The controller features customizable "paddles" on the back of the controller which allows for gamers to map other buttons to them, allowing for gamers to maintain advantages such as meleeing opponents or jumping while keeping their thumbs secure on the joysticks. The paddles are also removable for competition play. Additionally, the controller features adjustable Trigger Stops which reduce the distance the trigger needs to be pulled for a shot to be registered. This allows for the user to customize just how far they wish to pull for their weapon to be fired off, and allow for some quick shots. Additionally, you may choose from an assortment of grips to be applied to the controller to ensure a steady grip while gaming, to avoid the controller from slipping around in your hands due to sweaty palms. Best of all, this controller is built on an OFFICIAL Microsoft Xbox controller, meaning you are receiving a top-quality build. Coming in at $79.95 - $149.95, this controller is the priciest in it's range, but the quality shows. |
MadCatz MLG Pro Circuit controller
Razer Sabertooth
SCUF Custom Controller
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GUNNAR Eyewear
For those who are tired of eye strain while gaming, GUNNAR has come out with eyewear designed for gamers. With a multitude of styles, you can select the pair that is right for you. The lenses have an amber tint to them which reduces eye fatigue. Have you ever been playing for a long period of time, and noticed your eyes dry out, or perhaps you even get headaches? These glasses are here to help.
The lenses in these glasses reduce glare, block harmful rays from your screen, and reduce your eyes from drying out. Additionally, the tint raises the brightness of the video to reduce stress on your eyes in dark situations.
The lenses in these glasses reduce glare, block harmful rays from your screen, and reduce your eyes from drying out. Additionally, the tint raises the brightness of the video to reduce stress on your eyes in dark situations.
G-Fuel by Gamma Labs
Can't focus on your gaming? Notice small noises in the game taking your mind off the objective? Perhaps you're choking on landing that last shot just too often. That's where G-Fuel comes in. G-Fuel came into existence when it became clear that competitive gamers were desiring a focus-based supplement to help them with their gameplay. Energy drinks weren't cutting it, caused damage to their body, and caused gamers to crash. The Pro Circuit even had reports of players abusing Adderall to maintain focus.
Gamma labs came through, and created a drink powder for gamers which gives you all of the focus with none of the crash or harmful substances. Better yet, it is available in many different flavors.
Gamma labs came through, and created a drink powder for gamers which gives you all of the focus with none of the crash or harmful substances. Better yet, it is available in many different flavors.
