Now I'm not one that normally writes blogs even though I probably should as it is the new craze sweeping the internet and anyone who is anyone is writing one but I thought I better get started now before being left behind. In order to make the most of this whole "my first blog on UGAME" thing I have decided to take something most people will be familiar with (CoD4) and try to show it in a new light (pardon the pun for those that understand).

Before you start jumping up and down and say "who cares" or "I don't believe you" you really need to experience for yourself, or at least watch some videos of, what I am about to describe to you and you can find plenty of videos on youtube. I also think they will be present at Multiplay's i34 event in a few weeks.

Yes I am talking about the Philips amBX peripherals kits and how they can completely change your gaming experience whether it be for WoW, Age of Conan, CoD4 or some of the newer games that have recently / are just about to be released. For me im a bit of a cynic and having played Counterstrike for over 7 years there have been very few games that have captured my imagination let alone things that have made me change the way I view games and the experience I get from playing them. CoD4 was something different though, and with amBX it is different again and I will attempt to outline below how different it can be.

When you first play CoD4 you take the time to look at the pretty graphics, listen to the banter from your comrades and begin to believe how realistic it looks and feels. When thrown head first into the middle of a combat zone after watching a few scripted sequences the impression you get is that you are actually there right in the thick of it. Bullets whizz past your head, grenades explode in close proximity, orders are shouted and you feel the adrenaline start to pump as you attempt to mow down any enemy soldier stupid enough to jump into your crosshair. You firmly believe this is what you have been missing and that your gaming experience is now fuller and more complete for having done so.

OK, so now for something a little different. I admit CoD4 is an awesome game to play and I love going back every now and again and doing the arcade mode just for the hell of it and when I get the opportunity to play it online I do but the experience I now get with an amBX kit is on another level.

Imagine all that I have described above (see whizzing bullets etc) and now add lights, fans and a rumble pad. When you run through terrain or get blowback from an explosion the fans turn on to give you a feeling of speed or wind effects. As grenades explode close by or you rattle off a few hundred rounds from one of the big f*ck off guns the rumble pad jumps into life and happily vibrates under your wrists. As you get shot the lights turn from a humble green to signify the jungle foliage to a sharp red alerting you of your current situation. All of this combined pulls you further into the game and provides a new level of immersion but the beauty is, most of it isnt scripted. If you dont get shot then the lights wont turn red, they might go white or yellow as the scenery changes, if no grenades explode near you then you might need feel as big a rumble and if you dont run or fall then the fans might not always come on. The whole experience depends on what you do in the game and how you interact with it whilst working to give you something more.

For me this has completely changed the way I play the game and it reminds me that sometimes is is good to add a little new spice to the things we love. Not only that but the amBX kits are pretty cool for playing music as well with the ability to make your own disco (flashing lights in time with the music and the beat).

As I said, for those that dont believe me you really need to try it and watch some videos on youtube about how different games provide different reactions. Some of the videos for Guitar Hero 3 are crazy and really really colourful so if you fancy a bit of ambience to your guitar lessons then you know what you need to do. Further to the above Philips have just dropped the price of the various kits with the starter at £89.99 on Play.com and the top kit at £169.99 with the added bonus of a good set of speakers with the "Premium" level kit.

Overall, a unique set of peripherals that have certainly changed the way I play both music and games and you notice the difference when you play without them.