Xbox one official headset + adapter review

Microsoft has made a few mistakes with Xbox one but the reality of that finally seems to be sinking in somewhere within the Redmond company.
The latest mistake to be addressed is the curious decision to adopt a proprietary audio connection on the new controller. Of course originally Microsofts intention was to not ship with a headset at all. Instead they wanted gamers to use the new kinect sensor for chat. Er - no thanks Microsoft, we want proper headsets.
So Microsoft caved and issued a pack in headset of a similar ilk to the one you get with the 360. But that's not all. Along with the free headset came the promise of solution for those gamers who wanted to use 3rd party headsets they already owned, in the form of a stereo adapter for the controller.

One feature of Sony's Ps4 I really love is the ability to connect a multitude of chat devices directly to the controller. Myself I use a Steelseries set intended for mobile devices. Its a simple set but is surprisingly adept in the audio department and chat is second to none. With that in mind, I decided to buy the xbox one adapter as soon as possible so I could use my steelseries with that too. Now it was never my intention to buy the official headset too, but truth be told, when comparing the prices, £20 for just the adapter or £59.99 for both, the complete package was a no brainer.

As with all official Microsoft products the set came really well packaged, sporting the familiar lime green color of the xbox one branding.
The build quality of the headset was nothing to write home about. A little flimsy perhaps but it was okay and I really liked the design. Basically they match the style of the console perfectly with the usual matt black and glossy black plastic combo, then a splash of the lime green inside the earpiece.
Now the build quality of the adapter did surprise me. What I expected was a little cheap piece of plastic like the connector of the pack in set. Not an unfair assumption considering they are nearly identical in design but the new adapter carries a weightier and sturdier feel.
Functionality wise, the adapter has the standard master volume controls and obligatory mute button but also sports buttons for balancing game and chat. I must say too - having the buttons essentially form part of the controller itself is an inspired design and really handy in game too.

Before I talk about general sound quality, I just want to address a sound issue with the adapter first and that is the dreaded crackle and hiss I have heard a lot about recently. Now I heard, prior to get going the headset, that a controller update was needed to add headset adapter compatibility, so I did that last week. Now I went to use the headset when it arrived and the console demanded I update again. I don't know if this was a new fix for the crackle and hiss bug or simply a duplicate update but I can report no hissing or crackling with my 6 hours of Titanfall gameplay last night. There was a faint tapping noise just sometimes however in the lobbies. That could have been mic noise from other players but it did show up between various matches.

So on to actual sound quality. I will just point out my references for comparison here are the sets I have owned before. So were comparing this set to a turtle beach ear force bravo, a mid range set, Logitech g50, high end PC set and my trusty steel series cheapys ( which work with the adapter too I might add).
I have to admit this official headset, even being stereo only, stacks up really well against the Turtle beaches and trumps the steel series completely. The comparison with the Logitech g50's isn't favourable but, of course, it was never going to be. Having said that; on price to performance ratio I'd still go with the Microsoft set every time.
Bass is a surprise with these cans as I only really expect that from high end products but here to is clear and powerful without ever threatening to do damage to your hearing. Likewise, low range sounds I found very clear too and I was able to discern many subtle noises in the Titanfall soundtrack that I had missed completely over the speakers of my TV.

All in all I confess to really liking this headset. Its all the more satisfying for me when I consider that I only punted for these out of a stubborn unwillingness to stump up the 20 pounds for the adapter only.
Microsoft have hit a home run here in my estimation by making a headset that is well designed, if a little flimsy feeling, has great sound quality and represents great value for money when you factor in the free stereo adapter.
Well done Microsoft.

Build - 5
Design - 9
Sound - 8
Value - 10

Overall - 8.5

World Exclusive: A Call of Duty camper interviewed.

The call of duty camper; a common beast, but also a rare one, to nail down that is. Even more so the best ones. You see, they're not chatty types Cod campers. In fact to see one normally involves laying face up and being brutally tea bagged to the head having been sniped from a nearby bush. It was such a encounter that led to my meeting with the subject of today's interview, someone we shall refer to as Dick*.

(*Campers are commonly figures of hate in western society. As such, my guest has asked that I conceal his true identity out of fear for his family, friends and kill death ratio.)

Lazygamer: Dick, I'd like to applaud you for your bravery and take this opportunity to thank you for agreeing to do this interview today.

Dick: Cheers bro innit.

Lazygamer: Let's begin, if we may, by discussing our meeting last night on the popular call of duty: ghosts map, prison break.

Dick: Yeah that is a well good map.

Lazygamer: Hmm. I found it a little frustrating if I'm honest.

Dick: Why? Izit cos you iz well shit?
(Dick does this weird flicky thing with his fingers every time he gets excited. Just an observation.)

Lazyboyblue: Well no. Its just I felt a little like a fish in a barrel. Seemed like every time I turned a corner I had my head blown off by someone in the foliage.

Dick: Wot is a foliage?

Lazygamer: A bush Dick.

Dick: Oh right. Ha, yeah I love blowing noobs off in the bushes.

Lazygamer: (cough). Knobs?

Dick: Noobs. You know newbies. Like someone who hasn't had anything to sell and can't buy da game on launch day and as 'ad to wait till crimbo for it.

Lazygamer: So you were hiding in a bush when I found you....

Dick: I found you first (points an invisible rifle at my head and fires.)

Lazygamer: Whatever Dick. Exactly how long had you been in that particular bush hiding?

Dick: All the match. Well mostly, sometimes I crawl into that little sewer pipe and squat like I had taking a shit.

Lazygamer: Lovely. So that's a favourite part of the map for you? Don't you ever get tempted to try a different vantage point? Other parts of the map?

Dick: Other parts of the map?

Lazygamer: Like the tower for example.

Dick: There iz a tower?

Lazygamer: ok, let's move on shall we? Dick, tell me a bit about yourself. Where you're from? What's your home life like?

Dick: ???

Lazygamer: Do you have a girlfriend for example?

Dick: (scoffs) No!

Lazygamer: Does that question embarrass you? You look a little red.

Dick: Mum says I iz too young for girls.

Lazygamer: You're 45 aren't you?

Dick: yeah.

Lazygamer: This is a good start dick. Are you comfortable talking about some more of this more personal stuff?

Dick: I don't want to talk about my micro penis tho.

Lazygamer: O...K Dick. Sure let's move on. Do you have any pets?

Dick: Yeah I 'as a dog innit.

Lazygamer: Oh that's great. Tell me about your dog. I noticed how much your face lit up when I mentioned it. You must love your dog very much?

Dick: He iz my best mate tho innit. He iz my only mate tho innit.

Lazygamer: That must make you closer as a couple?

Dick: we isn't a couple like that.

Lazygamer: No, of course not. I didn't mean anything like that.

Dick: Me and him are partners.

Lazygamer: You spend a lot of time together then?

Dick: Yup, he iz with me all day and night.

Lazygamer: What kind of breed is he?

Dick: He iz a German shepherd. He's beautiful. He's my boy.

Lazygamer: You clearly love your dog. What's his name?

Dick: Riley.

Lazygamer: Dick, is your pet dog the dog in the game? It is isn't it? It's the dog in the f'ing game isn't it?

We had to stop the interview there because I leaped across the desk and strangled the sad camping bastard.

What is Titanfall like if you suck at Call of duty?

Some context. I suck at fps games; I love them, but I still suck at them. My kill ratio in my last match, on domination, in cod was 3-24. Battlefield I do a little better on because I can play the objectives, and yes, I am that guy that runs around the place holding his revive paddles instead of his rifle. So basically, imagine giving chimps rifles and sending them to war and right there you have the gist of my skills at fps games.

And then a voice boomed down from the heavens and said, "STANDBY FOR TITANFALL."

Titanfall rides in on one hell of a hype train. It's not only the first, long awaited, game from the creators of Cod 4 modern warfare, its heralded as nothing short of 'the saviour of the fps genre' and also serves as Microsoft's 'great hope' in their search for a true must have system seller for Xbox One. In short; it has a lot to live up to.

Whether or not Titanfall cuts the mustard against any of that hype that will come down to personal opinion. All I'll say on that is make your own mind up. You're going to see reviews, you're going to see blog posts like this one and you're going to hear the thoughts of your friends. But here is the thing. They are all going to be different.

Titanfall is a game that is as much about what you bring into it as much as it is about what you will get out of it. If, like me, you struggle to climb the leaderboards on these online shooters, then you're going to love Titanfall. On the other hand, if you're someone who is used to dominating matches online, then you might be a little disappointed.
You see, what Titanfall does well, really well, is bring players together. This is a game about equals. It's a game that puts nothing above fun. You can finish top in a Titanfall match like any other shooter, but no one is going to dominate and likewise nobody in a match is going to be left feeling that they are just there as fodder for the best players. It's a game about balance. It's a game about fun.

Is Titanfall going to be everyone's cup of tea? No way. Not even close.
But have it from me; whether you have crazy mad fps skills or you are a chimp with a rifle, if you can leave those at the door and take the game for what it is, then you will have fun. And after all; isn't that the point?