Category Archives: Technology

Gaming, Technology

DIY: Double both your PS4 and Xbox One storage space for just over AU$100

So you’ve had your Xbox One and/or PlayStation 4 for just over a year now. Whilst their respective game catalogues are not huge by any stretch of the imagination. There’s still enough out there to fill up the rather paltry 500GB hard drives that both Sony and Microsoft decided to ship in their respective consoles.

If you have moderately large gaming budget or, like me, you review a lot of games your console hard drive(s) may be starting to bulge a bit with all those games installed on them. Continue reading DIY: Double both your PS4 and Xbox One storage space for just over AU$100 →

Gaming, Technology

Tesoro Excalibur G7NL mechanical gaming keyboard review

Tesoro may not be a name that you recognise, but since 2011 they have been manufacturing computer peripherals designed with the gamer in mind.

They produce a range of performance headsets, mice, mouse pads and keyboards. As any serious PC gamer knows, using decent kit can give you the edge over your opponents in competitive matches.

Now, I’m no eSportman, but I do know that swapping out my mouse a year ago for an 8200dpi Razer Synapse made all the difference when it came to Battlefield 4. I never thought to swap out my keyboard. Continue reading Tesoro Excalibur G7NL mechanical gaming keyboard review →

Game Reviews, Gaming, Technology

PlayStation TV unboxing and review

I’d held off getting a PlayStation Vita. I own two PSPs- an original phat one and one of those lighter ones with a better screen. I’ve hardly used either of them.

I love the idea of being able to play games anywhere, but the opportunity to actually do so seldom arises for me. The only time I seemed to use my PSP was waiting in airports and flying on planes.

Outside of those times, when I was a captive audience for the device, the tiny screen and that little thumb-stick really didn’t appeal to me that much. I didn’t want to play a game looking at a picture not much bigger than a postage stamp, not when I could have a much better experience on my PS3 or Xbox 360 back home. Continue reading PlayStation TV unboxing and review →

Gaming, General, Technology

Looking back at PAX Australia 2014

Last week, for three days, the Melbourne Convention Centre played host to PAX Australia 2014- a game expo with a difference. I was there taking in the sights and sounds of what is probably Australasia’s greatest festival of gaming culture.

Born from the video gaming-related online comic-strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins the Penny Arcade eXpos have traditionally only been held in the US. The US hosts three PAX shows a year, PAX Prime in Washington (the show’s original location), PAX East in Boston and for the first time this year, PAX South in San Antonio. Last year’s Melbourne show was the first PAX to be held out of the US. Continue reading Looking back at PAX Australia 2014 →

Gaming, Technology

DIY: how to replace your Xbox 360 controller thumbsticks

Time to face facts. Your Xbox 360 is almost obsolete. When the last of Microsoft’s mighty consoles rolls of the production line it will have become nothing but a toy for young kids. It’s crayon-encrusted shell protecting technology only good for entertaining children keen to play Dora the Explorer’s latest interactive adventure.

But what about you and I, die-hard Xbox fans that have spent the best part of a decade amassing an Xbox 360 game collection that rivals the stock in the local EB Games? Continue reading DIY: how to replace your Xbox 360 controller thumbsticks →

Gaming, General, Technology

Week in review: E3, the voice of Snake, Galaxy Note 10.1 and The Last of Us

Vic B'Stard
The Pre-E3 Week in Review

Whilst I’ve still got a few reviews to sort out, for some reason things seem to be a bit calmer than they’ve been for the last few weeks.

This could be just the calm before the storm, but nevertheless I though I’d take the opportunity to knock out a rather belated edition of Week in Review. It’s a bit of a mishmash, I’m afraid, but I’ve lots of thoughts and little time to put them down in words. Continue reading Week in review: E3, the voice of Snake, Galaxy Note 10.1 and The Last of Us →

General, Technology

Vic B’Stard’s week in review: Xbox Live and Windows 8

Vic B'Stard
Microsoft finally sort their act out!

So I finally sorted out a tech issue that I’ve been living with for nearly seven years.

The UK launch of the Xbox 360 happened just before I moved to New Zealand. Buying a new console to drag half-way around the world was the last thing on my mind. So I waited for the ANZ Xbox 360 launch and picked one up at the midnight launch in Auckland. Continue reading Vic B’Stard’s week in review: Xbox Live and Windows 8 →

Gaming, General, Technology

Vic B’Stard’s State of Play: a post-christmas PC upgrade

Vic B'Stard
New year, new PC

Well I’m back again after the Christmas break and some much-needed rest. The last six months has been a roller coaster ride that saw me moving across the Tasman, from New Zealand to Australia, and yet again just before Christmas to a leafy suburb of Sydney.

I’ve also introduced myself to the local video game publishing circuit, resulting in copious preview invites and being inundated with game review opportunities, which have been published on the Game Console pages of Techday.com, www.shanethegamer.com and the pages of this site.

I’ve spent the holiday mopping up the likes of Assassin’s Creed 3 and Far Cry 3, as well as enjoying the budget delights of Valve’s annual Christmas Steam sale. I’ve also started the transition of Vic B’Stard’s State of Play from the NZ focused www.stateofplay.co.nz to the more global www.vicbstard.com. You can reach the site using either URL, but expect the a bit of re-branding in the future. Continue reading Vic B’Stard’s State of Play: a post-christmas PC upgrade →