IntensafireStore Blog

In what is quickly becoming a tradition as steeped in tradition as Thanksgiving itself, Black Friday is traditionally the day after Thanksgiving in the US. It is marked by retailers offering heavily discounted ‘door crasher’ merchandise in an effort to spur holiday spending and entice shoppers to purchase other more profitable products as well.

There was a time when the busy holiday season marked the first point in the calendar year when retailer’s balance sheets would go from red to black. Red is the standard accounting practice of using red ink to represent negative values, i.e. a net loss. Inversely, black numbers on a general ledger represent positive values, or on an income statement, a profit.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm
Some Black Friday Humor, overhead in a WalMart lineup:
Customer 1: Hey, have you heard about Black Friday Sales that start on Thursday?
Customer 2: On Thursday, well, what do they call that sale?
Customer 3: I don’t know what its called now but it used to be Thanksgiving.

This bit of humor couldn’t ring more true as retailers are pushing their Black Friday sales earlier and earlier into Thursday. In what used to be sacrilegious for retailers to open on a Thanksgiving Thursday, more and more retailers are doing just that. Most KMart and ToysRUs locations are opening at 8pm on Thursday followed by Target at 9pm and Walmart at 10pm.

While many shoppers who line up for hours are often left disappointed as door crasher specials instantly sell out, WalMart is to be commended for offering what the behemoth retailer has coined as their ‘1-hour Stock Guarantee.’ The guarantee states that if any of their door buster specials sell out in the first hour after opening, shoppers can get a Guarantee Card for that item ensuring the item will be back at the store for pickup prior to Christmas.

Show Me the Game and Console Deals!
Don’t worry gamers, we know you’re not interested in waiting out in the cold all night for the T-Pain microphone or a new Toaster Oven. Like us you’re all about the games! And when talking about those games and consoles, we’re naturally referring to controller mods Of course you need an Xbox 360 or PS3 to go with your brand new rapid fire controller so here’s some killer deals to take advantage of after you’ve wolfed down your turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie:

GameStop: 250GB Xbox 360 with Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Call of Duty Black Ops & Forza Horizon - $249.99
Target: Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle for $199.99
BestBuy: PS3 250GB Console with Uncharted & Infamous Collections + Wireless Controller - $199.99
Walmart: Sony PS3 with Infamous and Uncharted Bundle - $199

Holiday Bundles
With the holiday season now upon us, gamers looking to make the market-leading PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles a feature of theirs, or somebody else’s living room, will have a vast array of bundles to choose from. Xbox 360 Bundles are a better deal than ever as Microsoft has cut bundles prices by $50 saving gamers tons of money on the Xbox 360 Kinect Holiday Value Bundle, Xbox 360 250 GB Holiday bundle, Xbox 360 250GB with Kinect Value Bundle and Xbox 360 250 GB Racing Bundle. As if that wasn’t incentive enough, we have now learned that Amazon has lowered pricing for their Kinect Holiday bundles by as much as $115.

Black Friday @IntensaFireStore.com
There is no better way to enjoy these unbelievably low priced console bundles than with a modded controller Xbox 360 from IntensaFireStore.com. As IntensaFireStore.com is not a traditional bricks and mortar type store you can rest assured you wont have to excuse yourself from the dinner table early to grab a lawn chair and sleeping bag and hang out in the cold in front of our warehouse. Simply log on to IntensaFireStore.com from the comfort of your home on Black Friday and prepare to be amazed, amused and mystified by the Black Friday deals we have in store for you. Top quality rapid fire mods, tactical grade add-ons and unparalleled performing controllers, it’s gonna be a good holiday!

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the 8th Generation of home console gaming! Yes, I did say 8th Generation. The Nintendo Wii U is the first home console to represent the 8th gen. We’ve seen portable consoles enter this generation in the form of the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita. It seems like just yesterday (to us older gamers anyway) that we were in Generation 1 with the release of the Magnovox Odyssey. Then we’ve got the Atari 2600 representing Generation 2, the Nintendo Entertainment System was Generation 3, 5th Generation: PlayStation then Xbox in Generation 6 and rounding out Generation 7 is the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Who’d a thunk we’d go from those old-school single-stick Atari Controllers to the current unbelievably advanced exact precision PS3 and Xbox 360 modded controllers available today at IntensaFireStore.com.

Wii U: The Next Generation
So in comes the Wii U on Nov 18 representing Nintendo’s foray in the next generation of video gaming consoles. Let’s pop the hood on the Wii U and see just what this baby is packing:

Media
Wii U Optical Disc (gotta be one of the last times we’ll see physical media playback on a console).

Processor
IBM Power Architecture-based multi-core processor (versions of this processor were also used in the GameCube and Wi).

Storage
Internal Flash Memory and SD, SDHC and USB Storage device slots.

Online Network
Nintendo Network (here we go again with the Miiverse).

Controller
Wii Remote, Wii Nunchuk, Wii U Pro Controller and the Wii U GamePad (now this is where things get interesting, see below...).

What D’Ya Mean That’s a Controller?
This is what separates the Wii U from the 7th Generation consoles. The Wii U Gamepad incorporates the traditional controls we’ve become accustomed to like dual analog sticks, triggers, buttons and d-pads. But, here’s the kicker: the Wii U Gamepad also incorporates a tablet-esque touch screen a la iPad or Microsoft Surface. If you’re having trouble wrapping your head around this one, think of your iPhone encased in the middle of your modded controller Xbox 360 or using your PlayStation Vita as your PlayStation 3 rapid fire controller. The Smartglass app is Microsoft’s foray into dual screen home console gaming.

Okay, So Why a Tablet to Control My Console?
The thinking behind giving a controller it’s own touch screen is really quite simple: a monitor separate from the TV display potentially has an easier way of providing users with quick and easy to see feedback on their actions without needing to check their TV for confirmation their controller commands have been received.

Nintendo has actually coined the term asymmetric gaming which is one of them new fangdangled terms for additional functionality. It remains to be seen whether there will be a rapid fire controller modification for the Wii U Gamepad, but as we all know, IntensaFireStore.com is the pioneer in the rapid fire gaming space, so look no further than here should a customizable Wii U rapid fire Gamepad come down the pipe.(Pssst, we’ve already got a team of our best engineers and MBA’s working on it!)

Is it Worth the Money?
Yes, perhaps the biggest question on everyone’s minds going into the Holiday shopping season is whether putting a Wii U under the tree of the gamer’s on your Christmas list is worth the money. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday being just mere days after the console release, we’re thinking there wont be many door crasher Black Friday specials on the Wii U. That being said, is it worth tossing a Wii U into our shopping carts this Black Friday? Well, the reviews are mixed. But keep in mind, when the Wii first came out it mainly received negative reviews and the next thing we all knew we were getting off the couch and swinging virtual tennis rackets and bowling in our living rooms.

Just like the Wii itself, the consensus on the Wii U seems to be that although it may not knock your socks off at launch, just give it a while. The Gamepad has been criticized as feeling toy-like, each game implements the Gamepad differently which may take some getting used to and the console on its own does little more if anything better than current generation consoles. However, if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Nintendo in the past, we must give it time before we pass judgement. One thing is certain, the Wii U and its accessibility have the power to break boundaries yet again.

We here at IntensaFireStore know you’re getting into the final countdown before Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and of course lets not forget about the copious amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie we’re about to consume. So we thought we’d stray from our usual postings about the just released Halo 4 and unbelievably awesome Black Ops 2 and focus on a perhaps not as well know aspect of the Xbox 360: Kinect.

Kinect
If you’re new to the Kinect and how it works with the Xbox 360, here it is in a nutshell: Kinect is the revolutionary motion sensing device from Microsoft that when used with your Xbox 360 allows you to become the controller. When using Kinect, you can temporarily set aside your Xbox 360 modded controllers (ya, we know, you setting down your modded controller is like trying to pry it from your cold dead hands).

The Kinect system responds to how you move: if you need to jump on screen, you jump, if you need to kick on screen you kick and if you need to punch on screen you punch and if you need to...well we think you get the picture. The Kinect is simply all about you, simply wave your hand to activate the Kinect sensor and the Kinect automatically senses you and accesses your avatar. Now away you go to jump into and out of various games and and show off your dance moves, fitness ability and other skills.

Nike+
If your new to the fitness world and never heard of Nike+, let us introduce you to a revolutionary way to track your fitness progress and measure your abilities and goals. The Nike+ suite of products are divided up into 3 categories:

• Nike+ Running touts itself as allowing you to run farther, get faster and know more than ever before. It includes the Nike+ Sportswatch, the Nike+ Running App, the Nike+ Sportband and the iPod Nano with Nike+
• Nike+ Fuelband makes your daily life a sport by allowing you to track your all-day activity and translate your daily movements into NikeFuel. You can track your day, set your goals and then connect and go to view your movement history, stay motivated and connect with friends to compare and compete.
• Last but not least for us gamers and controller mods fans out there is the Nike+ Kinect Training. Nike+ Kinect Training allows you to track your every move and get real-time coaching from the comfort of your home.

Nike+ Kinect Training
We believe in brining balance to a gamers’ lives. With the holiday season (or as we like to say, gaming season) now upon us, it is important to sometimes put down the PS3 modded controller and get active for a little while each day. Don’t get us wrong, by no means are we suggesting turning off the console at all, because we firmly believe in turning on the Xbox 360 and PS3 on Thanksgiving and not turning them off until about mid January! But if all that pumpkin pie and egg nog are giving you your very own muffin top, the Nike+ with Kinect Training is the answer to burning a few calories while having fun and most importantly not turning of your game console. Here are a few details:

Personalized Program
You can receive real-time coaching while working out helping your fitness regime evolve to get you closer to achieving your goals.

Benchmark Your Progress
Track your fitness program and delve into your achievements and athleticism. Measure your fitness like never before and even see how you measure-up to your friends.

Connect with Friends
Using your Nike+ you can connect with the friends you have and the friends you dont know you have in Xbox communities around the world. Using Xbox Live, you can then exchange training tips and drive one another towards achieving your goals.

Now Back to your Regularly Scheduled Programming
Now that we’ve said our piece about Nike+ and Kinect and helping your fitness, you may now return to your clan and your domination of all using your #1 rated IntensaFire rapid fire controller. Keep in mind though that a little fitness improvement will actually help your gamer ranking. You PS3 gamers out there, you too can set down the PS3 modded controller for a few minutes too and either head over to a buddy’s using Nike+ and Kinect or you can get the PlayStation Move and get moving too. Now back to your battle stations and PS3 modded controllers.

More and more analysts are speaking up and proclaiming that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is slated to becoming the best selling video game of all time. Yes, and when we say best selling video game ever, we mean ever. Better selling than the New Super Mario Bros. Better selling than any Grand Theft Auto. Better selling than any Halo series games and ever better selling than the first Black Ops and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Each of these game titles was also highly touted as being the best selling video game of all time when they came out. Considering the myriad of options gamers now have to get their gaming fix including smart phones, tablets and other handheld or streaming services, it is very impressive that a console game in this day and age will dominate all others.

There is Method to the Madness
There is little doubting that the fanfare and buzz around Black Ops 2 has been steadily building to its current fever pitch. It is this evidence that has led industry watchers to make their strong prognostications about the potential astronomical sales potential of Black Ops 2. For example, the official Black Ops 2 YouTube Channel has more than double the views for Modern Warfare 3. Actually, the pre-orders for Black Ops 2 are tracking above those of Modern Warfare 3, which is no small feat considering MW3 as the best selling pre-order game of all time.

Black Ops 2 discussion has proven it to be one of the most talked about topics on Facebook. The Black Ops 2 multiplayer & Zombies reveal from Gamescon proved to be the largest live stream of any event in Xbox’s history. Also in a recent Nielsen First Choice Survey, Black Ops 2 topped the list of both wanted game titles and unaided awareness of an upcoming game.

It Just Keeps Getting Better and Better!
With November 13th mere days away, bet you were thinking you were just going to charge up your modded controllers and rest up and watch the clock as there couldn’t possibly be any more goodies left in store. We already know about Zombies and Zombie multiplayer and Limited Edition bundles so what could be left? Well leave it to the good folks at Treyarch to drop one more bomb on us. As it was made official in a Nov 8 press release, Black Ops 2 will come with a new live streaming feature that will let players live stream gameplay directly to YouTube using either the Xbox 360 or PS3. This is the first of its kind and represents the first time such technology will be experienced on a console video game system and can be used to show off the performance of your modded controller.

Gamers will be able to live stream multiplayer League Games as well as gamer’s webcam and audio commentary that may accompany this. To take things even further, gamers on Elite will be able to see the player card of the user that is streaming. This means gamers will be able to dig deeper to access data such as Call of Duty career stats, class loadouts and recent match data among other features. Black Ops 2 Live Streams will be viewable on YouTube and accessible using web browsers, mobile phones and tablets through both YouTube and Call of Duty Elite and individual YouTube user channels.

Oh No, Not Another Leak
In October of this year we learned of Halo 4 being leaked online almost a full month before the highly anticipated game’s release. Now come reports that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has been leaked online and subsequently pirated. With the Halo 4 leak, Microsoft was quick to thrown down the ban hammer and ban any user accounts that were attempting to play the game online before the launch date. Some users have even had the audacity to Live Stream the game before its launch date. A move that will no doubt raise the ire of Microsoft, game developer Treyarch and maybe even law enforcement. For those gamers, a perm ban may be the least of their concerns. Speaking of the ban hammer, IntensaFireStore controller mods operate in stealth mode and cannot be detected when playing online.

Guess Who’s Bringing a Jet to a Gun Fight(and it’s not Robert Downey Jr)?
The answer is you, when you equip yourself with the IntensaFireStore Black Ops 2 Modded Controller.  This Black Ops 2 themed wireless controller comes standard with the new IntensaFire 3.1 HS Master Mod rapid fire controller mod professionally installed and ready to go. Just open your package, sync the Xbox 360 modded controller with your console and blow the competition away! This one-of-a-kind limited edition controller contains our Master Mod option which includes modes such as Akimbo, Drop Shot, Jitter, Fast Reload, Sniper Breath and Auto Burst. You’ll also find a tactical concave right thumbstick for improved control and a convex left thumbstick for precise movement. A brilliant orange LED Ring Of Light surrounding a blacked out guide button and accented with orange ABXY buttons add the final custom touches to this venerable Black Ops 2 controller.

When using your Black Ops 2 Modded Controller, be sure to Live Stream your gameplay because others are going to marvel at your mad skillz.

Introducing the Xbox 360 Legendary themed Halo 4 modded controller. This stunning Xbox 360 controller is a must have for any fan of the Halo series of games and will truly show other gamers that you are THE hardcore Halo player. With today being the Halo 4 launch date, the time to act is now to ensure you are best equipped to guide Master Chief from the very first moment you load the game in your Xbox 360.

What’s Inside?
This modded controller is optimized for the latest first person shooters and ships with the IntensaFire 3.1 HS stealth 12 mode rapid fire package. This is the Master Mod option that includes modes such as Akimbo, Drop Shot, Jitter, Fast Reload, Sniper Breath and Auto Burst. Features include a brilliant Blue LED Ring Of Light surrounding a chromed out guide button adorned with a Halo Blue Xbox logo. To round out this fully customized Halo 4 controller, users will find gleaming Chrome ABXY buttons, bumpers, triggers and bottom insert that tie in exquisitely with the Chrome transforming d-pad.

Halo 4 Artwork
This Limited Edition Halo 4 Xbox 360 Wireless Controller contains unique UNSC (United Nations Space Command)artwork and decaling. The lower left-hand area of the controller is emblazoned with the always recognizable UNSC eagle insignia. 

Fit, Finish and Design
The top controller shell is made up of a dark grey/blue translucent plastic with a smooth-as-silk glossy finish. The artwork and logo itself is contained under the gloss finish so there are no concerns with scratches, scrapes, nicks or chips blemishing the artwork. The dark-grey/blue translucent case allows gamers to easily see thru to the inner works of the controller and accompanying circuitry and Xbox 360 controller mod. The bottom controller shell is the same dark grey translucent case as the top shell, however, the bottom shell is finished in a porous matte finish which helps users maintain a solid grip on the controller and minimizes sweat, dirt and grime from affecting the controller’s performance.

Blue vs Green
The Halo 4 UNSC Limited Edition controller also contains a glowing blue Xbox Guide Button instead of the traditional green glow of a regular Xbox 360 Guide Button. This controller also features the transforming d-pad that has also been present on special edition controllers in the past (Gears of War 3 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Limited Collector’s Editions). The primary feature of the transforming d-pad is to allow users to rotate the d-pad to adapt to the user’s gameplay style. By rotating the d-pad, users are able to take the controller from a four point directional ‘plus’ (4-way) or a sweeping motion control ‘disk’ (8-way) d-pad quickly and easily.

Halo 4 Modded Controller Performance
This modded controller also features the new concave style analog thumbsticks and the customized nimble Chromed Out ABXY buttons. The Battery Pack is finished in a stylish flat matte black finish. The UNSC Halo 4 Limited Edition controller also offers a wireless gameplay range of up to 30 feet. Gamers can rest assured that even with a room full of gamers, everyone will still be in gameplay range will enjoying the freedom to move around anywhere in the room with their controller mods.

Oh Yah, How About a Free T-Shirt Too?
That’s right, not only are you getting an awesome official Halo 4 Limited Edition Controller professionally pre-modified with an IntensaFire 3.1 Master Mod, but we’re also throwing in a free t-shirt. Yup that’s right, for every Halo 4 Limited Edition Controller ordered, we’ll include a download code that can be redeemed for a bonus official Halo t-shirt for your Xbox Live Avatar. And don’t think we forgot about you female gamers out there, cause we know girls like to get their game on too. Each controller will contain a download code for either a male or female avatar t-shirt.