| Mad Catz CoD: Black Ops ProGaming Glasses |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Accessories | |
| Written by Olin Coles | |
| Sunday, 07 November 2010 | |
Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming Glasses ReviewI've always disliked wearing eyewear. From my elementary school up through high school, I wore glasses to see anything beyond arms reach. Contact lens were a fashionable alternative, so long as I didn't blink, or need to wear them for more than a few minutes. Eventually laser corrective surgery fixed my vision to better than perfect, and I've been happy ever since. Then came 3D products, putting me behind eyewear reminiscent of Marine Corps BCG's (birth control glasses). While I'm supremely optimistic for a 3D future without eyewear, there are still times when I must endure the burden of a frame resting on my nose. This is another one of those occasions. Over the past four years of operating Benchmark Reviews, I've worked absurdly long hours to produce quality articles for this website. It's a lot of fun, but fourteen-hour work days on nearly every day of the week can truly wear down a person's body. It's not necessarily hard physical work, aside from keeping awake well past a normal bed time, but it really puts a terrible strain on my premium-priced eyes. Making matters worse, ironically, there are times in my day when testing a product means playing a video game for extended periods. Collectively, these tireless efforts have turned my eyes from green to red. As a result, I decided to visit the evil realm of eyewear once again. Enter Gunnar Optiks, the designers behind the Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming glasses. Still a week away from debut, the Call of Duty: Black Ops game is a highly-anticipated title among gamers. I'm actually aware of this, because I'm also reviewing the game and conducting out-of-screen NVIDIA 3D Vision testing. Then it occurred to me: I'm going to work from dusk until dawn, and Mad Catz offers a themed product that promises optical clarity and reduced eye strain. Behold, the Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming glasses!
When there is no time to blink, you need performance optics. The Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming Glasses enhance the visual experience for the most demanding gamers. Whether playing on console or PC, GUNNAR advanced gaming eyewear improves your overall gaming experience and delivers the optical clarity required to focus on mission-critical objectives. Call of Duty: Black Ops is the latest installment in the Call of Duty franchise and the follow-up to last year's blockbuster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The Cold War has ended - or at least, it appears that it has. You are one of the few to know the secrets of the deadly conflicts that persist and to complete the classified operations that quietly protect the nation. You are Black Ops. Descend into the explosive combat with all-new force and all-new technologies to destroy the enemy, including new Killstreaks like Napalm Strikes, a remote-controlled explosive device and controllable helicopters. Gunnar Optics Features
Manufacturer: Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Mad Catz. Closer Look: Mad Catz ProGaming GlassesTapping the industry expertise of Gunnar Optiks, Mad Catz produced the Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming glasses. The ProGaming eyewear is actually a clever variety of Gunnar Optik's onyx-colored MLG Legend frame from the eSport collection with amber i-AMP lens.
The Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming glasses measure 125mm wide from corner to corner, and 132mm long from tip to lens. The nose piece is 16mm wide, while each eye lens measure 56mm wide. The glasses are 43mm tall from top to bottom.
The aviator style helps to ensure all peripheral vision is protected from glare and benefits from the increased clarity, while the straight arms make it possible to comfortably wear a headset or earphones with these glasses.
While Gunnar Optik's version costs $99, Mad Catz drops the price to $79 and then value-adds a 1GB Call of Duty: Black Ops dog tag USB flash drive that holds the download code for one free BradyGames Call of Duty: Black Ops Mini game guide.
Mad Catz' Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming version of Gunnar Optiks gaming glasses is pretty straight-forward. They've taken Gunnar's MLG Legend model and given it a CoD: Black Ops twist, added some useful dog tags, and given gamers a mini-guide to the game. That's good and fine, but do they really work? Eyewear Tests and ExperienceWhen I first unboxed the Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming kit, I was a little disappointed that they looked like aviator glasses. I don't need to look cool in front of my computer, but Top Gun just isn't very high on my personal list. Thankfully, once I put these feather-weigh glasses on, the stigma lifted and I began to feel less like 'Goose' and more like a HAWX2 fighter pilot. What I didn't know was that the function is actually a result of the fashion. Fused with Gunnar Optiks eSport collection frames, the amber-tinted tightly arced lenses form a personal ocular 'micro-climate' that helps to prevent dry eyes. Think of them as a see-through cap that seals moisture in the eye, although the lenses don't actually touch you. This is just one small aspect of the Mad Catz ProGaming glasses, because the very first thing I noticed when I put them on was improved clarity. Gunnar uses fancy trademark terms to describe their features, such as AMBeR lenses, or diAMIX lens material, i-Amp lens technology, and fRACTYL lens geometry. What these terms really define is the the +0.2 diopter tuned for viewing neoscopic digital screens (AMBeR), tougher-than-polycarbonate material (diAMIX), and independently curved front and back lens surface (fRACTYL). But wait, there's more.
Gunnar Optik's also goes trademark crazy with i-FI lens coating, which boasts proprietary nano-filters to capture safe light and block out glare and reflective light. They also offer iONik lens tints, which you probably didn't think was worth trade-marking. iONik lens tints take harsh light from artificial sources and uses organic dye compounds (via Trader Joe's) to condition and shift light into a more acceptable color spectrum. Now that you've heard the list of barely-familiar trademark terms, I'll explain how they worked. The AMBeR lenses seemed to magnify objects on the screen, likely a result of the +0.2 diopters increase combined with fRACTYL front and back lens surface curvature. I found the amplification to be noticeable, increasing fine detail roughly 15-20%, but not nauseating. Disregarding their intended indoor close-range use, if you decide to wear these ProGamer glasses outside expect for distant viewing to become a little disorientating. Gamers and non-gamers alike will both benefit from these ProGaming glasses. On the day these glasses arrived I put them on at 10AM and got so busy with work I forgot I was wearing them, they're that light weight. The ProGaming glasses helped to keep my eyes relaxed and unstrained, especially improving my ability to read small text (which is all I get at 1920x1200 resolution). After playing BattleField Bad Company 2 and Medal of Honor for a few hours, I was surprised to finish killing noobs without having burning red eyes. After three full days of use, I now consider these glasses a necessary tool for my extended work days. They're not just for gamers, they're for anyone staring at a screen for hours on end. As a disclaimer I've noticed that tired, dry, and already red eyes aren't going to be saved by slipping on these ProGaming glasses. My eyes are usually dry from the climate here, and I don't get enough sleep on most nights, but the Gunnar lenses still added a noticeable level of relaxation to my strained eyes. To me, it seemed like the ProGaming glasses were a lot like sun block: they'll extend the time you're exposed, and help protect you from over-exposure. But to be clear, they're not magical. Of course, with the good comes the bad. These glasses are all made for people with perfect or corrected vision, and while contact lens wearers will really like the way they keep the eyes for drying, anyone who wears glasses is out of luck. The aviator style frame and amber-yellow lenses will certainly make you stand out at the next LAN party, although your head will probably be burried in the monitor and nobody will ever notice you. They're also a tight fit in the carry case, so don't expect to pack anything else in there. Gunnar Optiks Final ThoughtsGunnar Optiks, LLC., are the designers behind the Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming glasses. They offer a large range of indoor and outdoor eyewear built specifically for various duties and ranges. As I mentioned in this review, the Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming glasses are a re-branded version of Gunnar's more expensive MLG Legend model. This means that consumers could have two ways of replacing a broken lens or bent frame, using either Mad Catz or Gunnar Optiks. I think that Gunnar has certainly made a positive impression on me with these short-range indoor glasses, and this experience temps me to try some of their outdoor glasses the next time I shoot real guns.
Mad Catz ProGaming ConclusionThere really aren't that many eyewear products made for indoor short-range use, which makes the Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming glasses an affordable option for budget gamers who put in long hours behind the monitor. They're very light weight, and the AMBeR tint is so subtle that white still appears white when you look at the screen. Beyond the superficial aspects, these glasses helped to keep my eyes from drying out. I'm known to forget blinking when I play video games, and I've already got the dry Nevada desert air working against me. I've already made several comments about the appearance, and I think that people will either like the aviator look or they won't. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the style, but then again I really like how the large arced lenses form a 'micro-climate' above my eye and allow me to comfortably game (or work) for extended periods. As a result, I'm fine with trading improved function over a better-looking fashion. Gunnar's diAMIX lens material is stronger than polycarbonate, and makes these glasses impervious to damage from accidental droppage. The +0.2 diopter fRACTYL lens geometry helps to enlarge objects, such as a crosshair or text, and the i-FI lens coating keep scratches from forming. Gunnar uses a lot of silly trademark names to develop these glasses, five to be precise, but they actually add up to something noteworthy... something you can see and feel. The Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming glasses are great for gamers, and accommodate headsets or earphones. Casual computer users who log extended hours behind the screen will certainly appreciate the relief they offer, but only so long as they don't already have to wear glasses. Gunnar has designed great eyewear, but it's only useful for people having 20/20 vision or those using contact lens. Available for $64.96 at Amazon or $79.99 at NewEgg, the ProGaming glasses are an expensive item. Would I pay this much for a pair of glasses that improve clarity and reduce eye strain? Before experiencing the positive effects first hand, I would have certainly been skeptical. However, in the aftermath of several sixteen hour days behind my computer while wearing the Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming glasses, I would gladly pay the asking price without thinking twice. If it were an option, I would also go back and ask my expensive laser eye surgeon to give me a Mad Catz ProGaming Riddick-style shine job... which cost a lot more than twenty menthol Kools. In summary, these ProGaming glasses are an excellent accessory for gamers, and computer users alike. The Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops kit (model CD76180300A1/02/1) actually costs less than Gunnar's MLG Legend model, and further add to their value by including a 1GB dog tag USB flash drive and CoD:BO mini game guide. If you wear glasses this product isn't for you, but for everyone else who wants an added edge or relief from eye strain, I highly recommend the Mad Catz ProGaming series of eyewear. UPDATE: After this article was published, Gunnar Optiks contacted us to mention that these glasses are available with perscription lenses for an additional fee. More information is avialable at https://www.gunnars.com/gunnar_prescriptions.php Pros:
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Comments
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Michael
They have helped a good deal with eyestrain.
In 2007 I built a new rig and have been gaming and doing other stuff many times on a 37" Westy LCD monitor. (The W3 is not a TV, but a monitor as it has no TV tuner)
I sit it back from the desk a good deal and built a custom keyboard tray so I am seated about 3 feet away when using this screen. For a few years it was fine for the most part.
Now, I am starting to get eyestrain and the plain fact is 3 feet may now be too close for me. I probably need to be 4 feet away but that would entail making a new tray which I want to avoid.
So these Gunnar glasses came to mind. I didn't want to pay $70 though (Newegg is selling them for that much ATM)
In came microcenter with a great price of $30....so I took the plunge.
I have to say I notice a big difference. I gamed for hours on these glasses and had no eye discomfort for the first time in months. I also use it for web surfing now-anytime i am in front of this 37" screen really.
So I would say these are great. I am just glad I got them cheap. Maybe microcenter is trying to unload these as that game they are based around has been out awhile and not many may realize these are rebranded $100 glasses.