Samsung has today announced its first OLED gaming monitor, the Odyssey OLED G8, is coming to ANZ regions in March 2023.

First announced at IFA 2022, the Odyssey OLED G8 is Samsung’s first OLED gaming monitor, designed to deliver the brilliant colour, brighter whites and true deep blacks that Samsung’s Quantum Dot OLED displays are known for.

The 34-inch Odyssey OLED G8 requires no backlighting while delivering true RGB and is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black Certified, ensuring content appears vivid and life-like with accurate colour and contrast reproduction. Given lighting is controlled in individual pixels, vivid graphics can be expressed in black with a near-infinite contrast ratio – all without a colour filter.

“The Odyssey OLED G8 is an exciting addition to our gaming monitor lineup, delivering such vivid colour and our fastest response time yet for high-speed gameplay,” says Phil Gaut, Senior Director of Display and Brand Memory, Samsung Australia. “Combined with Smart TV functionality that we’ve started to bring across into our Odyssey range, it’s a fantastic, all-in-one monitor for Australians looking to game, work and watch from one screen. Moreover its razor sharp design, super thin body and silver metal finish have taken gaming monitors into a whole new design space that you’d be proud to show off from any room in your home.”

The Odyssey OLED G8 is the slimmest in its product category, measuring 3.9mm at its thinnest part – and is finished with a sleek, metal frame. Its ultra-wide, QHD resolution (3,440 x 1,440) display has a 21:9 aspect ratio with 100% colour volume and DCI-99.3% colour gamut for incredible visuals regardless of the game being played. This is enhanced by a million-to-one static contrast ratio to bring out the most subtle details for enhanced immersion and 1800R curvature for the perfect playing view.

The Odyssey OLED G8 is also packed with gaming features to give any player a competitive edge. In addition to its blistering 0.03ms response time and 175Hz refresh rate, the monitor is further enhanced by AMD FreeSync Premium for smooth gameplay. The result offers gamers lightning-quick response capabilities and real-world accuracy in a range of gaming environments.

For further visual immersion, the Odyssey OLED G8’s display is equipped with an upgraded version of the Odyssey portfolio’s well-known CoreSync & Core Lighting+. Found on the rear of the monitor, this advanced lighting technology matches the colours on-screen, bringing content to life with bright and vivid colors that create more memorable, immersive experiences. Moreover, the Odyssey OLED G8 is equipped with Micro HDMI (2.1), Mini DP (1.4) and USB-C ports for versatile connectivity, in addition to a 5W stereo speaker for crisp sound.

For comfort and convenience, the Odyssey OLED G8 features a VESA-standard ergonomic stand that can swivel, tilt and adjust to the optimum height for gaming or content consumption.

The Odyssey OLED G8 is capable of operating as a complete entertainment hub with the ability to stream content through Samsung’s Smart Hub, giving access to the latest shows on Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTube and other leading over-the-top service providers, even without a connection to a PC or mobile device.

In addition, consumers can enjoy free live content without the need for downloads or sign-ups, made possible by Samsung TV Plus. Users can wirelessly connect to a Windows or Mac PC, use Samsung DeX or AirPlay 2 to mirror their screen use, or access Microsoft 365 cloud services for work productivity.

Samsung’s Odyssey range will continue to expand down under in 2023, with the Odyssey OLED G8 and recently launched Odyssey G6 arriving ahead of the Odyssey OLED G9 and Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitors unveiled at CES 2023, coming later this year.

The Odyssey OLED G8 is available for pre-order between 16th February 2023 and 5th March 2023, and customers who pre-order the gaming monitor during this period will receive a Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB worth $389 RRP as a bonus gift while stocks last.

The gaming monitor will be available via select gaming resellers, and the Samsung Online Store.

The post Samsung launches first OLED Gaming Monitor in ANZ appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Gamevice, a mobile gaming peripheral innovator and creator of the original Gamevice and partner mobile controllers, announced that their upcoming cloud gaming controller, Gamevice Flex, is coming this October, 2022.

The Flex is the first and only mobile gaming controller that is compatible with thousands of phone cases via its breakthrough design, eliminating the annoying and inconvenient task of removing your phone case to game.

Gamevice Flex for Android and iOS and is now available to pre-order. As a limited time, incentive for existing Xbox Game Pass subscribers, pre-orders made before October 14th, 2022 will include a voucher for a free one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

New subscribers can add this one-month voucher to the one-month voucher that is included in all Gamevice Flex units for a total of two free months.

All Gamevice Flex for iOS and Android units sold after October 14th, 2022 will come with a one-month free voucher to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for new subscribers only.

The Gamevice Flex will release on October 25th, 2022.

The post GAMEVICE FLEX TO LAUNCH IN OCTOBER appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Samsung, most widely known for their smart devices, especially the S8 at present are also the manufacturers of high end home entertainment and computing gear.

It’s easy to forget that they make killer televisions and even refrigerators. They have, for over a decade, produced top shelf computer screens.

Samsung sent STG one of their Curved Monitors to review.

Being a mid range screen, the CFG70 Curved Monitor is more high end.

27 inch in size and totally immersive with it’s curvature (as we have seen in their latest televisions), the CFG70 packs a punch on the PC gaming battlefields.

Boasting a 1ms response time, 144 MHz refresh and with a few dedicated Game modes, the monitor has two HDMI inputs and one DP with the ability to switch inputs on the fly (if you are using both).

We connected up a PlayStation 4 to one HDMI port and PC (laptop) to the secondary. The switch time was fairly instant. This was good.

There is also a Low input LAG feature too to avoid grinding graphics during fierce and quick gameplay.

Putting gaming aside, from a productivity view the CFG70 Quantum dot technology supports sRGB 125%. So whatever you need to do, even design, the CFG70 is an affordable screen to do it on.

Being that the CFG70 has been built with some aesthetics in mind, the control buttons are ticked away nicely from the face of the monitor. However, it does have a very thick, black bezel which may be putting of for some, who prefer that frameless look.

The CFG70‘s base is weighted, the curved arm which the screen bolts on to does jut out a wee bit, so you will need deskspace, although the bases footprint is minimal.

The Samsung CFG70 is budget priced at around $500 NZD, superb given that it is a curved screen and ultimately designed for gamers.

For those that want super high refresh rates and optimal performance in their gaming visuals the CFG70 27 inch screen will do this and more without breaking the bank.

The post Samsung CFG70 27″ Gaming Monitor Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The Logitech G team loves the sport of gaming. They have been worked tirelessly to provide gaming gear that makes gaming more fun and gives you the tools you need to compete to win.

Recently they have shared their love for design and the sport of gaming with their newest team members: joining the Logitech G gaming team is ASTRO Gaming. ASTRO’s history of producing award-winning headsets for pro esports and console gamers perfectly complements the PC gaming expertise Logitech G is best known for.

With ASTRO laser focused on designing products for console gaming, and Logitech G focused on building the most advanced PC gaming gear, together they have got gamers covered no matter what platform they play on.

Better together. And we can’t wait to get playing.

The post Logitech Wants to Play More appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Creative Technology Ltd today announced at E3 2017 the latest addition to its Sound BlasterX Pro-Gaming Series, the Sound BlasterX AE-5. E3 is the world’s premier event for computer, video and mobile games and related products, making it the perfect place to debut the next era of PC audio.

The sound card features the world’s best gaming headphone amplifier for PCs. The Sound BlasterX AE-5 delivers the ultimate audio performance with the full force of a 122dB 32-bit/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC, a kick-ass custom-designed 600Ω discrete headphone amp, audiophile-grade components, and proprietary Sound Blaster audio enhancement technologies.

Delivering an industry-leading gaming headphone amplification experience, the on-board headphone amplifier is custom-built using discrete transistors and audiophile-grade WIMA film/foil capacitors in a dual-amp design to satisfy the most demanding needs of today’s intense games and high-resolution audio. Experience the difference of a discrete dual-amp design as each audio channel is individually amplified to deliver pristine, uncompromised audio. Plus, the high heat resistance of the German-made WIMA capacitors greatly reduces noise and audio interference. The Xamp’s ultra low 1Ω output impedance also makes it perfectly capable of driving sensitive in-ear monitors as well as studio-grade headphones from 16Ω to 600Ω.

At the heart of the Sound BlasterX AE-5 sound card is the quad-core Sound Core3D audio DSP and a 122dB ESS Sabre-Class DAC that instantly boosts regular motherboard audio with up to 32 times more clarity. The premium audiophile-grade DAC with its high dynamic range indulges users with up to 32-bit / 384kHz lossless playback and true audio fidelity for high-definition audio in games, movies, and music.

Updated, refined, and perfected through years of being the leader in sound processing, Creative’s AE-5 is feature-packed with the latest and greatest version of Creative’s award-winning audio processing and algorithms that improve music, movie, and gaming experiences. The legendary Sound Blaster technologies provide fully customizable DSP-powered audio enhancements, crystal-clear vocal reproduction, in-game voice communication enhancements, 7.1 virtual surround sound and other advanced audio technologies.

The Sound BlasterX AE-5 card is the first sound card to feature a built-in RGB controller that comes with the Aurora Reactive Lighting System. A separate RGB lighting system could set a user back by at least USD 50, but now this is built into the card itself with the AE-5, giving users amazing value and performance for their system. This also means that valuable space within a gamer’s desktop can be saved for other components.

The RGB controller, powered by Creative’s very own Aurora Reactive Lighting System, not only lights up the card through the PCB, but also gives gamers the flexibility to build their dream gaming rig by connecting up to four LED strips to match the awesome sound with an awesome light show. The fully customizable Aurora Reactive Lighting System allows users to choose from multiple presets or program it with up to 16.8 million colors and various rhythms to choose from, using the Sound Blaster Connect PC software.

Scout 2.0 is an upgraded version of Creative’s well-received Scout Mode feature – Scout 2.0 now also includes Scout Radar.

Scout Radar is a smart companion that enables gamers to visualize and pinpoint their enemy’s position on a Scout Radar app with the user’s smart device, while Scout Mode lets gamers hear their enemies before they are seen. The all new Scout 2.0 feature is sure to give gamers that added winning edge.

The Sound BlasterX AE-5 comes with support for a full-fledged discrete 5.1 speaker set-up, enabling gamers to enjoy the full potential of surround sound in today’s entertainment content.

“The Sound BlasterX AE-5 represents the best amplification experience for gaming headphones that a sound card can offer. Since our very first sound card 30 years ago, we’ve always been passionate about sound when it comes to entertainment and gaming. The AE-5 embodies our continuing dedication in giving gamers the absolute best. This is an amazing way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our gift of sound to the PC world: the Sound BlasterX AE-5,” said Low Long Chye, general manager of Creative.

“Discrete circuitry designs using components such as transistors and capacitors deliver audio with warmth and nuance that is seldom found in today’s commoditized audio products. With the AE-5, we have preserved the rich legacy of these quality components and combined it with world-class engineering and audio processing technology to deliver the absolute best audio experience for the PC. And that’s not all, the AE-5 also takes the sensory experience beyond sound with a 16.8 million color light show.”

The post Creative Unveil Sound Blaster-X! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Gaming headset and audio accessory company Turtle Beach has announced a new partnership with VfL Wolfsburg to become the club’s official eSports audio partner. The deal will see VfL Wolfsburg eSports athletes wearing Turtle Beach’s Elite Pro Tournament Gaming Headset and other gear in all competitions, with the Turtle Beach brand incorporated into the heart of the club’s upcoming activities.

“As the leading gaming headset brand in the world we have passionate fans in Germany and have been impressed with Wolfsburg’s involvement in eSports, so we felt it was the perfect time to begin working together,” said Julian Woods, Managing Director for Turtle Beach Europe. “The Elite Pro is the only gaming headset built from the ground-up for today’s generation of competitive gamers, so we look forward to providing the best gaming audio experience to VfL Wolfsburg’s pro players, as well as to their fans.”

Echoing these sentiments, Steffen Grupp, head of sponsoring and events at VfL Wolfsburg added, “We’re pleased to have Turtle Beach as our new headset partner for our eSports team. We know that many of our supporters play video games, and as a club we’ve shown our first mover position in competitive gaming and further digital innovations in football. Together with Turtle Beach we can be at the forefront of eSports competition.”

The partnership kicks off with the launch of a dedicated VfL Wolfsburg Gaming Zone, where fans that attend matches at Wolfsburg’s Volkswagen Arena will have the opportunity to play the latest video games and trial Turtle Beach products on match days of the Bundesliga team.

Turtle Beach Corporation designs innovativeaudio products. Under its award-winning Turtle Beach brand, the Company is the current market leader with its wide selection of acclaimed gaming headsets for use with Xbox One and PlayStation 4, as well as personal computers and mobile / tablet devices.

Everyone that works on StG is a volunteer. Keep StG Independent and (mostly) Advertising Free with a Donation

The post TURTLE BEACH BECOMES THE OFFICIAL ESPORTS AUDIO PARTNER OF VFL WOLFSBURG appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Don’t just play the game, be IN the game with Thrustmaster’s newest and most powerful headset on the block, the Doom Y-350X.

Designed for both PC (Windows 7 or higher) and Xbox One the Y-350X will have your ear drums vibrating to the realistic bass as you take in all manner of audio detail around you. With 60mm drivers powering the rumbles and your adrenaline for gaming and accented with comfort due to the 100% memory foam cushions.

The Y-350X gives excellent clarity and one of the best that we have experienced at StG with it’s 7.1 Virtual Surround.

The Y-350X has also been designed with the latest adaption of DOOM in mind. Not only is it Officially licensed for the mother of all FPS’ it is also emblazoned with a DOOM skin. Both the killer audio and the looks ticks all the boxes for us.

There is a built in on-cord Y Sound Commander control panel which is a unique instrument panel that plugs into your Xbox One Gamepad. For darker rooms (or playing in the dark) it also offers backlighted volume status, adjustable master volume, adjustable bass volume and adjustable game/chat balance. This is also doubled with a Y-Power Pack which aims to extend the life of a wireless Xbox One Gamepad.

Fine tuning the audio to your liking doesn’t take terribly long and we found that we needed to adjust it depending on what type of game we were playing. Naturally we tried the headset’s namesake, DOOM with bass-ey loudness and feeling every bullet firing, then we went to something a little less carnage fueled; Unravel. By slightly adjusting the audio settings we were experiencing Unravel’s symphonic soundtrack as it was meant to be heard. Also during our use of the Y-350X we didn’t really experience a significant amount of extended Gamepad life – but considering that the Y-350X does draw it’s juice from the Gamepad, our length of use was pretty much on par with the usual battery stamina of the gamepad.

Thrustmaster have given consideration to the rough life that a Arm Boom Mic may experience on a Chat equipped Gaming Headset. While the mic is detachable (so you can use this headset for just audio / music via the 3.5mm cable) the twisty design of the Arm will ensure that there is a reduced cabling tension when the mic is positioned.

Light weight, a little bulky, but not too obtrusive the Y-350X we feel is tailored for home use – however I have seen folk walking the streets, bobbing their heads to music with bigger and bulkier units strapped to their ears. It would be up to you, but for myself, a definite at home accessory.

Thrustmaster’s Y-350X is totally top shelf. And top shelf goodness does come with a price tag. While it is not the cheapest Gaming Headset on the shelves, the Y-350X is one of the most elite and a non-regrettable purchase.

The Y-350X is pure gaming for your senses.

The post Thrustmaster DOOM Y-350X Gaming Headset (Xbox | PC) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The new patch for Farming Simulator 15 by GIANTS Software, available for PS4, Xbox One and PC, now offers players an even more realistic and immersive experience with its newly-added compatibility with Thrustmaster’s range of racing wheels.

With this patch, many Thrustmaster racing wheels for PS4, Xbox One and PC now offer Plug & Play functionality and full compatibility with PS4, Xbox One and PC versions of the game. This allows users to enjoy a highly intuitive experience when driving the various machines available in a game already delivering outstanding realism.

“The possibility for our gaming community to use Thrustmaster racing wheels is an undeniable extra,” stated Christian Ammann, CEO of GIANTS Software. “This will allow players to enjoy an even more realistic and intense experience.”

The Thrustmaster racing wheels offering this newly-added compatibility are for Xbox One – Ferrari 458 SPIDER Racing Wheel, and TX force feedback racing wheels. For PS4 – T80 racing wheels, and T150 and T300 force feedback racing wheels and lastly for PC – T150, T300 and T500 force feedback racing wheels

In the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game, players can simultaneously use the official controller and the racing wheel to access all in-game features. Similarly, the PC version allows users to combine actions performed using the racing wheel and the keyboard and mouse.

While the game does not support force effects, the automatic wheel centering feature is offered by all compatible Force Feedback racing wheels, with a 900 degree rotation angle, to ensure perfect playability and enhanced realism. The automatic centering feature delivers increased realism when exiting various driving maneuvers. It should also be noted that for PC racing wheels, the pedal set should be set to combined mode (and not separate mode) using the racing wheel’s control panel.

Asphalt kings accustomed to breaking new track records can now also enjoy more rural, free-range pleasures, while Farming Simulator adepts now have access to a cutting-edge controller that will help them “steer” their farm more efficiently.

The post Thrustmaster Now Compatible w. Farming Simulator 15 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.