REVIEW: Elgato Game Capture HD

I have wanted to be able to record the video games I play onto my computer for the longest time. I love playing video games, and I enjoy writing about the games I have played. I was always under the impression that you needed a certain video capture card placed inside your computer, but since I currently have a laptop, there was only so much modifications I could do to it.

After coming to the conclusion that I wouldn't be able to fulfill that desire, I gave up looking for alternatives, assuming that the video capture card was the only method. When The Last of Us arrived on PlayStation 3, I encountered a tweet with a picture attached to the tweet of a person getting ready to record gameplay on their MacBook Pro. I was vastly confused, considering how little customization one has after purchasing a MacBook Pro. I then noticed the hashtag "#Elgato."

I began searching for what an Elgato was. To my amazement/excitement, I finally found what I had been looking for all this time. It was pure coincidence that I even found out about this device.

I ordered my Elgato device on Amazon. It was only $159.95 ($20 less than its original price), and goes by the name "Elgato Game Capture HD PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 360 Recorder for Mac and PC up to 1080P (10025010)" in case you want to search for it on Amazon.

Although the name of the device states "PlayStation 3/Xbox 360," you aren't limited to just recording from a PS3 or an Xbox 360. The Elgato Game Capture HD is also capable of recording from an Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. These are the devices I have, but here's a list of what the Elgato Game Capture HD can record:

• Atari Jaguar,
• Microsoft Xbox
• Nintendo Wii U
• Nintendo Wii
• Nintendo GameCube
• Nintendo 64
• Super Nintendo
• Nintendo Entertainment System
• >Sega Dreamcast
• Sega Saturn
• Sega Genesis
• Sega Master System
• Sony PlayStation 2
• Sony PlayStation 1

(I got the list from Elgato Systems Technical Support forum.)

I mostly use my Elgato Game Capture HD for capturing gameplay from the games I play on my PlayStation 3. I plan to do more with it (such as record gameplay from the Xbox 360 we have back home in Oregon), but I really like what I am able to do with my PS3.

The PS3 does present a bit of a problem as far as recording is concerned. The Xbox 360 presents no problems at all, as all you need to do is connect an HDMI cable from the television to the Elgato device and then another HDMI cable from the Elgato device to the Xbox 360. Using the HDMI port on the PlayStation 3 is impossible due to HDCP (high definition copy protocol), so using an HDMI cable is out of the question. If you want to connect your PS3 to the Elgato Game Capture HD, you will need the PS3 cable that comes included with the PS3. I left mine back home since I never thought I would be in need of it. Fortunately, included in the box was a PlayStation 3 cable, so I was able to connect my PS3 to the Elgato Game Capture HD box without any issues. You can still use an HDMI cable for the television.

Since I've already mentioned what also came in the box, I will go onto mention what else is included. The other items included with the Elgato Game Capture HD and PS3 cable are: Quick Start Guide, USB cable, HDMI cable, and Component adapter. Elgato has you covered in case you're missing any of these cables, which is a huge plus to me.

The USB cable is very important, as you need it to hook up your computer of choice with the Elgato Game Capture HD in order to record video. The videos are then stored onto your computer to do as you please. You can record your voice while you record or you can do so afterwards when you've edited your video. Videos can be edited from the Elgato software or you can use your own video editor of choice to make any changes you deem necessary. The software is free to download from www.elgato.com.

One of the best things about the Elgato Game Capture HD is how simple it is to use it. There really is no learning curve at all. Just connect the device to your computer, television, and the console (or other electronic device) you wish to record from and press the big red circle to begin capturing what is on the screen. Once you're done, you have a couple of choices. You can upload the video onto YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter. You can even send the video via email to someone.

Other features include changing the video format to be able to play it on an iPhone or iPad. There's even a feature to be able to play it on an Apple TV. There's a lot you can do with this device, and I love it.

Not only can you upload videos onto YouTube, you can also stream videos live on YouTube or Twitch. If you have a fanbase, you can have them follow you playing a game live, which I think is really cool. When I bought the Elgato Game Capture HD, I couldn't stream videos live on YouTube. A recent update allows you to do so. This goes to show just how supportive Elgato is of their game capture machine, and I am super grateful for that. With PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, videos can be recorded in 1080p as well, which is awesome. Other devices may not record in 1080p depending on how old they are (such as the PS2).

Be aware, though, that you need to know how much storage you have left on your hard drive. Videos can take a lot of room on your computer if you're recording in 1080p, so it is always good to know how many GB is left on the hard drive.

I love how many things you can record using the Elgato Game Capture HD. I was only intending to use it for my PS3, but since I can use it to record on other consoles and machines I plan to do so. This device is so simple to use and everything you need to record comes in the box. This is what I was looking for, and I hope it is of great service to you as well if you're in need of something like the Elgato Game Capture HD.

OVERALL SCORE:

9/10