NEWS: Fallout Meets Function with GUNNAR’s Brotherhood of Steel Glasses

By Jon Donnis

GUNNAR Optiks has teamed up with Amazon Studios to launch a new officially licensed Fallout eyewear release, with pre orders for the Fallout Brotherhood of Steel Glasses opening on 16 December 2025. Priced at $99 MSRP, the glasses draw directly from the look and ethos of the Brotherhood, blending in world design with everyday eye protection.

The frames take their cues from the Brotherhood's iconic Power Armour, adopting a rounded aviator shape finished in weathered gunmetal. The styling is deliberately worn and industrial, echoing steel plating rather than sleek modern fashion. Flexible spring hinges are built in for comfort and durability, while the wraparound fit is designed to sit securely whether you are gaming, working, or simply wearing them day to day.

At the heart of the glasses is GUNNAR's patented lens technology. The lenses are engineered to block harmful blue light and provide 100 percent UV protection, supported by the G Shield Plus coating that helps reduce reflections while resisting smudges and scratches. A subtle +0.2 diopter is included to enhance focus, staying true to GUNNAR's long standing approach to reducing digital eye strain without turning the frames into traditional prescription eyewear.

Fallout fans will notice carefully placed details throughout the design. The Brotherhood of Steel emblem is engraved on the lens, while the rallying cry "Ad Victoriam" is etched along the temple, quietly marking allegiance to the faction. These touches are complemented by hidden Easter eggs, reinforcing that this is a collector focused release rather than a simple branding exercise.

Each pair arrives in premium collectible packaging. Included are a metal Area 51 collector's case, a microfiber pouch featuring Brotherhood artwork, and a custom Fallout themed microfiber cleaning cloth. A 12 month warranty is also included. The glasses are offered in multiple lens options, including Amber, Amber Sun shift, Sun, and Amber Max, giving wearers a choice of tint depending on their preferred level of protection.

While pre orders open in December, the full launch is expected in mid January. To mark the pre order window, GUNNAR is offering a limited time promotion. Customers who purchase either a Fallout Vault 33 or Brotherhood of Steel frame will receive a free GUNNAR mystery box, with no additional requirements attached.

Designed for fans of the series and for anyone spending long hours in front of screens, the Fallout x GUNNAR Brotherhood of Steel Glasses aim to balance fandom, function, and durability, all while staying firmly within the visual language of the wasteland.

Pre-Order now at

https://gunnar.com/products/fallout-brotherhood-of-steel

Based on one of the greatest video games of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them above.

Watch Fallout Series 2 on Prime Video at

https://amzn.to/49htbII

Warhammer for Beginners: What to Buy First and How to Avoid Common Mistakes

Getting started with Warhammer can feel overwhelming at first. The setting is vast, the model range is extensive, and many new players struggle to understand what they actually need versus what simply looks impressive. Warhammer is a tabletop hobby built around strategy, creativity, and long term engagement, which makes early decisions especially important.

One of the easiest ways to build confidence early is by exploring Warhammer hobby miniatures presented in a clear, organized way. Viewing official starter sets, core units, and faction options together helps beginners understand how armies are structured and which products are designed to work together. This context reduces confusion and helps prevent unnecessary purchases.

What Is Warhammer and Why It Appeals to Beginners

Warhammer is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. Players build, paint, and play with detailed plastic miniatures that represent armies within a shared fictional universe. Games are played using rulebooks, dice, and measuring tools on a tabletop battlefield.

Step One: Choose the Right Warhammer Game System

Before buying any models, new players should decide which Warhammer game system they want to play. Each system has its own rules and dedicated miniature ranges.

Warhammer 40,000

Warhammer 40,000 is the most popular system. It is set in a science fiction universe defined by large scale battles and well known factions such as Space Marines, Chaos forces, and alien races.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Warhammer Age of Sigmar is a fantasy based system that focuses on gods, magic, and mythical realms. Armies include warriors, monsters, and magical beings drawn from a high fantasy setting.

Kill Team

Kill Team is a smaller scale skirmish game that uses Warhammer 40,000 miniatures. Games involve fewer models and shorter play times, which makes it a strong entry point for beginners.

Choosing a system early is important because rules and models are not shared across all games.

Step Two: How to Choose Your First Warhammer Army

Many beginners make the mistake of choosing an army based only on competitive strength. Rules balance changes over time, while personal enjoyment remains constant. New players should choose an army based on visual design, background lore, and general play style.

What to Buy First as a Warhammer Beginner

Starter Sets

Starter sets are the best option for most beginners. These boxes include miniatures, core rules, dice, and basic accessories. Buying a starter set usually costs less than purchasing items separately.

Combat Patrol and Vanguard Boxes

Combat Patrol and Vanguard boxes provide a solid foundation for smaller games. These sets include a balanced selection of units that remain useful as an army grows.

Essential Hobby Supplies

Basic tools are required to assemble and paint miniatures. These include plastic clippers, model glue, a hobby knife, and a small selection of paints.

Common Warhammer Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

Buying Too Many Models Too Quickly

Purchasing large numbers of models early often leads to unfinished projects. Warhammer miniatures take time to assemble and paint, which can become discouraging when too many models pile up.

Trying to Learn Every Rule at Once

Warhammer rules can seem complex at first, though the core mechanics are straightforward when learned through play. Beginners benefit from starting with small games and simplified missions.

Comparing Progress to Experienced Players

Painting skill and game knowledge develop over time. Comparing early progress to experienced hobbyists can discourage new players, even though everyone starts at the same level.

Final Thoughts on Starting Warhammer

Warhammer offers one of the most detailed and rewarding tabletop gaming experiences available. Starting with the right game system, choosing an army you genuinely enjoy, and avoiding common beginner mistakes creates a strong foundation.

With patience and thoughtful planning, new players can build a Warhammer collection that grows naturally alongside their skills and enthusiasm for the hobby.

REVIEW: Speed Rivals (2025 Video Game) - on PC (Steam)

Review by Jon Donnis

Speed Rivals takes the old slot car idea that so many of us grew up with and turns it into a digital toybox with a lot of charm. It brings that familiar Scalextric feeling back to life on your PC, only with sharper effects and a livelier sense of pace. The result is a racer that knows exactly what it is trying to be, and for the most part it hits the mark.

The strongest part of the game is how it captures that classic slot car rhythm. You only control your speed, so every lap becomes a small battle with the track rather than a test of steering skill. Ease off too late and you pop off the rail. Feather the throttle at the right moment and you glide through the bend with a bit of style. It feels simple, which is exactly the point. Anyone who grew up fiddling with Scalextric pieces on the living room floor will settle in quickly, and the game leans into that feeling with a nostalgic grin.

The short bursts of racing work nicely. You drop in, try to set a clean lap, fail, swear, retry, then nail it. 

The track editor itself deserves a bit of praise since it opens up a whole second layer of play. Building a circuit is good fun, and sharing your tracks online gives the whole thing a sense of community that helps a relatively small game feel much bigger.

The trouble starts when you veer away from the nostalgia. Players who have never touched a slot car in their life might find the lack of steering quite odd. It goes against everything you expect from a racing game, and that first hour can feel quite restricted. The bigger problem, though, is the camera work. None of the options feel fully comfortable. The top down view is the most workable, although you still end up sliding the camera about just to keep your car in sight. First person made me feel a bit queasy, and the other angles make it too hard to judge how fast you should be taking each corner. It gets in the way of the flow, which is a shame because the core loop is otherwise very smooth.

Speed Rivals is a good time if you already have a soft spot for slot car racing. It offers a bright set of tracks, lively time attack challenges, a hefty track editor and a community focus that should help it grow. It is still in early access, so there is room for improvement, especially with the cameras, but there is enough here already to keep fans entertained.

Right now it is a fun, slightly limited racer. A solid 7 out of 10.

Out Now on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3389390/Speed_Rivals__Build_Race__Share_Tracks/

NEWS: Roswell Gaming Glasses Land with a Sci fi Edge

By Jon Donnis

The new Roswell glasses mark the first team up between GUNNAR and Alienware, and the result feels like something pulled straight from a secret hangar. The style mixes Alienware's familiar futuristic look with GUNNAR's latest lens tech, creating eyewear built for long sessions at a screen. The finish is called Conspiracy Blue, a clear nod to the old stories that surround Roswell, and the frame carries that same sense of mystery.

The design leans into wide lenses that open up the field of view, helped along by a polymer frame shaped with real precision. There is a confident feel to the build, with multi barrel hinges and rubber coated temple tips that hold everything steady once the games begin. The frame also carries the small alien head icon that has become part of Alienware's identity, which ties the whole style back to its inspiration.

GUNNAR has packed the glasses with its patented lens technology, pairing it with G Shield Plus coatings that cut reflections and help keep smudges at bay. The lenses block harmful blue light along with full UV protection, and the enhanced contrast is there to make fast moving games look crisp and immersive. Everything about the presentation leans into the extraterrestrial theme, right down to the custom puffy pouch and the matching microfibre cloth included in the box.

The frame sits in the medium width category. The lens width measures at fifty-eight millimetres, with a sixteen-millimetre nose and a one hundred- and thirty-six-millimetre frame width overall. The temples run to one hundred and thirty-five millimetres, and the glasses themselves weigh just over an ounce.

Roswell is officially licensed by Alienware Gaming, and each pair comes with the pouch, the cleaning cloth and a twelve month warranty. It is a bold bit of kit, aimed squarely at gamers who enjoy a touch of sci fi with their screen time, and it carries just enough style to make the conspiracy feel real.

Check them out at https://gunnar.com/pages/alienware

REVIEW: CarCam (2025 Video Game) - On PC - Steam

Review by Jon Donnis

CarCam arrives on Steam with a simple pitch that taps straight into childhood memory. You take control of a tiny remote-controlled car and see the world through a camera perched on top of it. The idea feels instantly charming. The living room turns into an enormous playground where a table leg becomes a hairpin corner and a cushion becomes a launch ramp. It is a clever viewpoint and it gives the game a distinct personality, helped along by the sight of full sized humans wandering about in the background while you tear around their floor. That little detail adds an odd sense of scale and, in a funny way, makes the whole thing feel more playful. The use of classical music as the soundtrack gives it a quirky edge as well. I suspect the choices are down to royalty free availability, though they work surprisingly well and give the races a slightly whimsical lift.

The problem is that the concept is stronger than the execution at the moment. This is an early access title and you can feel that roughness in nearly every corner. Online activity is thin, so the multiplayer features often sit gathering dust. Free roam should be the mode that lets you kick back and enjoy the setting, yet the constant need to recharge your car gets in the way. Stopping on a pad to refill the battery breaks the flow and feels like an unnecessary chore. 

The controls do not help either. Being locked to keyboard input makes the handling far more awkward than it should be, particularly for a game that asks for precision and quick reactions. Races can feel confusing as a result, partly because it is not always clear where you are meant to go and partly because the camera perspective demands crisp steering that simply is not there yet. Even the menus feel bare, with very few settings to tweak, which reinforces the sense that the game has not reached its full shape.

CarCam has the heart of a delightful idea. The joy of seeing a familiar room blown up to epic scale is real and the tiny-camera perspective is genuinely fun. It just needs far more refinement to match that promise. Right now it feels like a concept rather than a finished experience. For me it is a pass at this stage, though I would not rule out returning in a year if the developers keep chipping away at the rough edges. The potential is there, it simply needs time to find its polish.

Out Now on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3760600/CarCam/