General Gaming Article

---

• 8 Things We Love About Windows 8
• The Big Guide: 20 Tips and Tricks to Get The Most Out of Windows 8
• Several Senior LulzSec Members Arrested After Leader Helps Police
• Mass Effect 3 Hits The Streets
• Roccat Unveils "Power-Grid" Smartphone App That Helps Keep Gamers In The Game
• AMD Confirms Existence of CPU Bug
• Show of Hands: Who Plans to Buy an iPad 3?
• Google Increases Android App Cap from 50MB to 4GB
• IHS iSuppli: Elpida's Bankruptcy Filing Will Bump Up DRAM Prices
• Coming Soon: A 3D Printable Case for Raspberry Pi

8 Things We Love About Windows 8 Posted: 06 Mar 2012 02:27 PM PST Windows 8 has certainly taken its share of criticism since the official debut of Microsoft's Consumer Preview last Wednesday (Download and install it here). But let there be no anger within this article. It would be wrong to just crap on all of Microsoft's latest attempts at Windows brand revitalization because, guess what? There are some pretty nifty features to like within Windows 8. And guess what else? There's a good reason why Microsoft has titled this sneak preview of its operating system as a "Consumer Preview" and not, "Windows 8: Set In Stone Final." While that's not going to help you much if you're one of the die-hard opponents of the Metro UI (and we don't much blame you there), it at least gives Microsoft a little wiggle room to incorporate feedback that users are blasting over the airwaves about their experiences with this not-final iteration of the operating system. So, what's there to like about Windows 8? 1. Link Up Finally, Microsoft crawls out of its Hobbit hole to acknowledge that there are more platforms on this earth than just those that start with "Microsoft," "Windows," or "Hot." We applaud the company's efforts at reaching out to other popular third-party services for super-easy integration of email and contacts into Windows 8's default apps. It's no Hootsuite, but the "People" app built into Windows 8 allows you to quickly put your finger on the pulse of all that's going on with your Twitter followers and Facebook friends, as well as Google contacts and Linkedin Super-Official Business Buddies (to name a few services). It takes but a few clicks to jump to a virtual business card of each contact you've synchronized with Windows 8, and these cards list  out your friends' and contacts' key statistics (editable, if you so desire). Once it works, Windows 8's "Messaging" function will draw from your comprehensive well of "People" and allows you to chat with them via a single interface. Trillian it ain't, but we do like how Microsoft's finally trying to build a more unified way to talk to everyone you know directly within the operating system. Messaging feels less like a client or "old" Windows application, more like a delightful integration. Our only issue? It's going to be pretty obvious to alt-tab out to a not-quite-work-related conversation on the job, given that Messaging takes up the entirety of one's screen. Yeep.   2. Sync Up A Skydrive for every home! A Skydrive for every app! We applaud, too, how Microsoft has realized that the cloud is the future of data storage. We say that knowing fully well that there are still going to be some Windows 8 users who live entirely local lives – as well, instances where Cloud storage of information isn't appropriate in the slightest (Windows 8 at work). But for those who enjoy being able to tap into their data wherever they are, Microsoft's Skydrive integration within Windows 8 is a perfect complement to the synchronizations the OS can perform when your Microsoft Account and Windows 8 user account are one and the same – allowing you to pull up your apps, preferences, and people, to name a few options, on any Windows 8 computer you log into. Guess what? Sync your user files with Skydrive (or any other data that other apps will be allowed to synchronize up), and you'll be able to tap into those as well!   3. Storage Spaces: Newbie RAID RAID storage can be complicated enough for PC neophytes. So we'll just touch on the basics of Microsoft's new Storage Spaces feature within Windows 8 – or, as we're dubbing the feature, "Newbie RAID." We joke, but Storage Spaces greatly simplify the process of combining storage of all kinds – physical hard drives, solid-state drives, external hard drives, and flash storage – into giant pools of available storage. You can take drives away, add drives, and swap drives in and out: Microsoft says that a "resynchronization" process will rebuilt the two-way mirror, three-way mirror, or parity that you elect to build into a pool's "spaces," or what you'd otherwise see in your typical Windows environment as a single storage volume (e.g. C:\). Got it? Physical storage – which you can swap around your system, connect, and disconnect – is used to build giant storage pools, which can then be split into as many storage "spaces" as you want. And don't forget about Storage Spaces' thin provisioning: You can actually build spaces larger than what your pools could physically support. Physical capacity is only used when there's an actual file that needs to be saved, which is reclaimed upon the file's deletion. And as you slowly start to fill up your larger-than-supported space with data, Windows will remind you to add more storage – any kind of storage you want — which will automatically add more storage to your pool with no additional configuration required on your end.   4. A Great Reason to Buy an Xbox 360 (or 720) You know a feature is going to be a big deal when we get this excited about it and it doesn't even work in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. By that, we're referring to Microsoft's hopeful and planned partnership with users' Xbox 360 gaming consoles. In short, it appears that Microsoft wants to break down the wall that separates console gaming and "PC gaming" by allowing gamers to stream the multimedia contents of their systems to their consoles (and attached televisions), and stream their games from their consoles to their PCs. Microsoft's new way of thinking seems to be that what's sitting on your desk or lap is but a screen: There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to pull up Xbox 360 games on that screen and use integrated or plugged-in controls to frag away. The proof? Microsoft's "Video" app already comes with the grayed-out option to "Play on Xbox" and you can already start games on your Xbox 360 using a command within Windows 8's "Xbox Companion" app. Why would Microsoft go to all this trouble just to let you use your laptop to fire up a title on your TV instead of the nearby Xbox 360 controller? And why would Microsoft build a virtual controller of-sorts into its Windows-based Xbox Companion app for no reason whatsoever? Our prediction: Remote gaming is on its way. Here's hoping Microsoft doesn't charge a squillion Xbox Points to let gamers "unlock" the feature between their Windows 8 PCs and their consoles. On the next page: The Four Other Things We Love About Windows 8 (including its startup and shutdown times!)     5. Bells and Whistles A number of the fun little improvements found within Windows 8 are mostly cosmetic – too small to warrant their own individual mention in this article, but still worth calling out in aggregate. While much can be said about Windows 8's split classic desktop/Metro UI interface, we love-love-love some of the tweaks that Microsoft's put into cornerstones of the operating system. Take, for example, the window that now appears whenever you go to copy or move a file. Previously, your typical Windows "Progress Bar" would just be accompanied by a dumb little, text-only estimate for transfer times and speeds. Ugly, right? Windows 8 kicks it up a notch by giving you a pretty, up-to-the-second graph that reflects your system's file transfer speed, a graphic that slowly fills out as the file chugs along. Borrowing a page from some of our favorite freeware file transfer tools, you can also now pause your transfers at any point – useful if you're copying multiple batches of files at once and you need one to take priority. Speaking of, we also enjoy how multiple transfer requests automatically stack on top of each other, only to disappear from sight once the transfer's complete. A subtle, but pleasing touch. Other bells and whistles we enjoy? The overall look and feel of Windows 8's "Music" app (take that, iTunes and/or Windows Media Player), the delightfully new-and-improved Windows Task Manager (with historical app resource use built-in), the fact that you can now mount .ISO files directly within the operating system (not a graphical comment; we just love the feature!), et cetera… 6. Speedier Startup and Shutdown We kind of gave away the answer in the header, but here goes: What's the one part of the Windows operating system that you're sure to encounter on a daily basis, and a part you'll be most perturbed about when it starts messing up? Bingo: Windows' startup and shutdown routines. We can't speak to the overall "snappiness" of Windows 8, as we'd be comparing an application-packed installation of Windows 7 against a barebones, fresh installation of Windows 8. However, we can (and have) run stopwatches to compare the two operating systems' starting times – from power on to password prompt – and shutdown times. The verdict? On a fairly antiquated laptop (by today's standards), Windows 8 beat Windows 7's shutdown time by ten full seconds, taking only 17 seconds to go from the press of the "Shut Down" button to a powered-off state on the laptop. But the juicer statistic is the comparison of Windows 8's startup time to Window 7's: From the press of the power button to the Windows 8 lock screen (or Window 7 login screen), Windows 8 only took 32 total seconds to boot. Windows 7? Almost a full minute (51 seconds). Why such a dramatic difference? Windows 8 slaps the kernel into hibernation mode when you shut down the system, saving your system from having to reinitialize it on the next boot. 7. Sending Explorer to the Office Fire up Windows Explorer within Windows 8 and you'll swear you accidentally launched Microsoft Office 2007. That's right: The ribbon is here. Or, to say it another way, Microsoft has finally started taking steps to unify its user interfaces across its major applications. Amen. While you can still access Windows' tried-and-true Folder Options via its own link within the View tab of the Explorer ribbon, you'll quickly find the most of the options you need most are conveniently located within one of the three tabs on Windows Explorer's ribbon: File, Computer, and View. Or is that File, Home, Share and View? That's right – the tabs shift depending on the context of what you click on within Explorer. Common folders get different options than user libraries; User libraries get different options depending on the media stored within (audio files, versus documents, versus pictures, et cetera); Disks (or spaces) get different options than folders. We love all the shifting around, mainly because it puts all the key options we're looking for right at our fingertips. And if you disagree, you can always customize up your own ribbon just like how you might add new buttons to an Office 2007 toolbar. 8. Stronger Search We were fans of Windows 7's speedy indexed search capabilities – giving users a kind of "Spotlight" field within Windows Explorer (and the start menu) that they could use to find anything on their systems at any time. Windows 8 ups the ante by adding a lovely looking (and lovely functioning) search screen directly within the Metro interface. And here's the fun bit: You don't have to click on anything at all to start searching. If you're just looking to find one of the many applications littering your tile-filled desktop, you need merely to just start typing the app you're trying to find. Boom! Up pops Windows 8's search window. Want to find a particular file (or subset of files) instead? You can still start typing your query directly within Windows 8's Metro UI. Only, when the search screen loads, you just have to click on "Files" to find what you're looking for within your storage spaces. Windows 8 will even allow you to search for keywords within Windows' settings, if you happen to be looking for the various places you can set options that ultimately affect, say, your MP3 playback. This context-sensitive search even carries through to other apps installed on your system, depending on what you click on within the search results window – a great touch on Microsoft's part!   Ready to see what we hate about Windows 8? Check back tomorrow for our list of Window's 8 Worst Features! For more from David, former Maximum PC editor and Windows enthusiast, follow him on Facebook or Twitter (@thedavidmurphy).

The Big Guide: 20 Tips and Tricks to Get The Most Out of Windows 8 Posted: 06 Mar 2012 10:43 AM PST What do you do with a new operating system? If you're a typical Maximum PC reader, you roll up your shirt sleeves and jump elbow-deep into every part of the OS you can get your hands on. You make manual registry tweaks to open up hidden elements of your new OS; you navigate through all of the different configuration options to see what's changed, what's new, and what you can personalize to your liking; you devote hours to playing around with all the different features. Or, if you want a quick fix, you can read a guide like this. We've gotten our arms full of data and dust in our attempts to unearth some of the more noteworthy features of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. And the following list of twenty awesome items represents the must-do tweaks and must-check-out, new features of Microsoft's latest operating system. This is but the start of our Windows 8 week festivities: Come back tomorrow and we'll tell you about the 8 things we absolutely love in Windows 8!   1. Metro: Just Type It! We'll start with an easy trick. When you're in Windows 8's Metro UI and you want to load an app, don't bother moving your mouse around the screen or trying to scroll your way over to wherever it is you've placed the app's tile icon. Just start typing. Literally – start typing. You don't have to go find the search button or any of that: Windows 8 will try to find anything you type, be it "Solitaire" or "Control Panel," or what-have-you. 2. Screenshots Are Fun and Useful Tech journalists covering Windows 8, take note: Microsoft has finally made it super-easy to dump the contents of your screen down to an image file. In times prior, you could hit the Print Screen key to copy the contents of the entire display, but you'd still have to paste that image into a third-party application (or Paint. Or you could also use Microsoft's Snip tool, but we digress). Now, hitting the Windows Key and Print Screen at the same time dumps the entirety of your screen to a .PNG file in your Pictures folder. Easy! 3. Don't Upgrade! You've (hopefully) caught our guide for installing Windows 8. If you haven't, go read that. And no matter what you do, don't install Windows 8 as an upgrade to your existing operating system. There's a giant list of reasons why you shouldn't let a Consumer-Preview-cough-beta serve as your primary operating system, the least of which being that it can be a bit confusing for newcomers to try. You'll shoot your productivity in the foot, not to mention all the potential incompatibilities / bugs / quirks you'll find in your favorite software, games, and the current "test version" apps found in Windows 8. 4. Hot Corners Are Your Friends If you're a bit befuddled the first time you fire up Microsoft's newest operating system, we understand. Microsoft's left a number of navigational elements invisible to your eye unless you move your mouse over one of the four extreme corners of your screen. Hover your mouse over the top-right or bottom-right to access the Charms Bar: Windows 8's built-in Search and Sharing capabilities, as well as a list of devices you can send the contents of the current app to and Windows 8's ever-important Settings menu. Hover your mouse over the top-left or bottom-left corners of your screen to jump between open apps on Windows 8's "Switch List," just like you would otherwise do by hitting the combination of alt and tab on your keyboard. 5. Hotkeys Are Your Friends, Too Unless you're rocking a touchscreen PC, navigating your way around the Metro UI interface (and its horizontal-friendly apps) can be a bit of a drag. So don't use your mouse; Use your keyboard. Check out some of these helpful hotkeys for flying through the OS and controlling its many elements: · Windows Key + Tab – Opens up the left-hand "Switch List" · Windows Key + C – Opens up the right-hand Charms Bar · Windows Key + I – Opens up your ever-important Settings Menu · Windows Key + T – Dumps you back to Desktop Mode and cycles through your open windows on the taskbar. · Windows Key + Shift + . – Docks the app to the left, middle, or right side of the screen with each press. · Windows Key + M – Jumps to the Desktop and minimizes all applications · Windows Key + Q – Opens up Windows 8's global search utility within Metro. 6. The PC Settings Panel is Your Best Friend In its infinite wisdom, Microsoft has decided to split the options you can configure on Windows 8 between the contents of its typical Control Panel and a new Metro-based Settings menu, which can be accessed by going to the Charms Bar's Settings option and clicking on the slightly buried "More PC Settings" link. Here's where you'll be able to adjust your lock screen's background, Metro's colors, how notifications and Windows 8's built-in search work, the names of the attached devices Windows 8 has found, and your specific synchronization settings, among other important options. 7. Windows 8 Versus Disaster Well, you've gone and done it. Either as a result of something (or things) you've installed, some setting you've mucked up, or just general apathy toward the well-being of your PC, Windows 8 doesn't work right anymore. In Windows' past, this would normally force you to take a trip down reinstallation lane. That part hasn't changed, but Windows 8 now makes it really easy to return a broken operating system to happiness once again. Click on the General tab within the aforementioned "More PC Settings" menu. The "Refresh" option strips your system of the third-party apps you've installed and returns it to factory-default settings, but it keeps your User files. The "Reset" option wipes your operating system clean of all your data and returns your system to Windows 8's factory-default settings. 8. Enable Safe Mode Speaking of computer disasters, if you want to reboot your system into Safe Mode, you can't just jam on the F8 key prior to Windows 8 loading: You have to first enable Safe Mode itself. Type "cmd" on your Metro UI, right-click on the Command Prompt app (called "cmd"), and select to run it as an administrator. Then type "bcdedit /enum /v" on the command prompt screen and hit Enter. Copy the entire "identifier" string (including the braces) for the entry that has "Windows 8 Consumer Preview" as the description, not "Windows Boot manager."  Then, type the following into the command prompt: bcdedit /copy youridentifierstring /d "Windows Developer Preview (Safe Mode)" and hit Enter. After that, type in "msconfig" and hit enter. Click on the "Boot" tab and select the entry called "Windows Developer Preview (Safe Mode)." Click on the "Safe Boot" option, the "Make All Boot Settings Permanent" option, click OK, and click "Yes." Restart your system, and you'll be given the option to launch either your normal Windows 8 environment or your new Safe Mode environment. 9. Be a Super-Administrator in One Clck Here's a great hidden tidbit of Windows 8: Move your mouse cursor the lower-left corner of Windows 8's Metro or Desktop mode until it pops up the live thumbnail of the to-be-switched-to environment. But don't left-click; Right-click. You'll pull up a menu that gives you a shortcut to a bunch of handy power user options, including Command Prompts, your Disk Management window, and your System menu, among other options. 10. Fast-Uninstall Apps Looking for a quick way to nuke any Windows Apps or third-party apps that you've installed on Windows 8? Just right-click on the app's icon within Windows' Metro UI and select "Uninstall." Third-party apps will jump you to the good ol' Windows "Programs and Features" window for the same ol' Windows uninstallation routine you should be used to by now. Apps downloaded from the Windows Store will simply disappear. Poof! On the next page: Xbox 360 Synchronization! Task Manager Awesomeness! Tile Management!  And more!   11. Hate Metro? Here's a fun one. Fire up Windows Explorer and navigate over to your Windows directory. Do a search for "shows desktop," and copy the shortcut that you find into the following location: C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. By doing so, you'll ensure that Windows 8 always boots to the "Classic Desktop" instead of its Metro UI. 12. Hate Passwords? Passwords are important, especially if you're using Windows 8 to share files within a network. For important files and directories, you're going to want to make sure that only those with user accounts on your system can access your files. Or, if you're extra security-cautious, you're also going to want to make sure that your system is password-locked whenever you step away from your desk (via Windows' Lock Screen). But what if you don't like having to type in your password each time you boot your computer? You can remove this part of the process – but still use your password to protect these other parts of Windows 8 – by hitting the combination of the Windows Key and "R," and then typing "netplwiz" into the Run window's field and hitting enter. Uncheck the "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" option and click on OK. 13. Console Gamers, Unite! One of Windows 8's newer features is its ability to link up to your Xbox 360 console – and not that lame-o "media sharing" stuff that one finds in Windows 7. No, Windows 8 allows you to launch a game on your Xbox 360 from your PC and, ideally at some point in the future, play a game on your PC that's "streamed" of-sorts from your Xbox 360. And, of course, you should also be able to bounce media back and forth between your Xbox 360 (and attached television) and your Windows 8 system. But for all this to work – whenever Microsoft enables it – you have to first make your Xbox 360 and your Windows 8 PC meet. Click on the "Xbox Companion" app on Windows 8's start menu to get the ball rolling: It's a pretty easy process, and one that carries the potential for great, future reward. 14. Task Manager is Awesome One of the better upgrades that Windows 8 brings to the table can be found in the good ol' (and previously boring) Task Manager. Load it up by typing "Task Manager" in Metro (or give your system the three-finger salute), and then click on the "More Details" link at the bottom of the window. Up pops Window 8's new-and-improved Task Management program. Of particular interest is the prettied-up "Performance" tab, which you can use to get a look at the last 60 seconds of your system's CPU, Memory, Disk, or Network use. New to the program is its "App History" tab, which gives you a look at just how man resources your apps eat up over a lengthier period of time. And the ability to enable or disable apps that start with Windows itself has been moved from Windows' System Configuration menu to the Task Manager's "Startup" tab. 15. Passwords Gone Visual We touched upon passwords a bit ago, but it's important that we mention one of Windows 8's more novel approaches toward system security: The picture password. Click on the Settings menu on Windows 8's Charms Bar, and then click on the "More PC Settings" link. Click on "Users," and then select the option to create a picture password. What's a picture password? In short, you start by selecting an image – any image you want. On this image, you'll draw a combination of gestures, which can include circles, straight lines, and taps. The theory is that you'll draw associations in a picture – like a line connecting you head to your favorite pet's – that only you would know about, thus preventing a random stranger from successfully logging into your system. You have to nail all three gestures, in the order they were created, for your system to authenticate you. 16. Bypass Windows' Default App Choices Some of the new apps built directly into Windows 8's Metro UI are less than pleasing when it comes to actual usability – here's looking at you, Video app. But it's equally frustrating to have to use an "open with this app" command whenever you want to pull up a new file format. Our solution? Edit your file-opening preferences in one big batch. Type "default programs" within Windows 8's Metro UI and click on the corresponding link that appears. Select "Set your default programs" and have at it – each program will tell you how many extensions it can open versus how many it is opening, just to give you a sense of your batch-processing power. 17. Manage Thy Tiles We confess, we do think that Metro's user interface is as pretty as a rectangular grid gets. But you probably want to mix, match, group, and resize your icons to your specifications, not Microsoft's. Want to move tiles? Easy: Drag them around. Want to move a tile to its own column? Drag it on over – it's exactly how you form new groups of apps. Want to shuffle an entire column's worth of tiles around? First, click on the magnifying glass icon in the lower-right corner, and then move away. And although you can select multiple tiles by right-clicking on each, you can't move a number of tiles en masse. Sorry! Finally, resizing tiles – that can be resized – is as easy as right-clicking on the tile and selecting the "Smaller" or "Larger" option. 18. Where Are Your Drivers? It pains us to have to say this, but we're going to say it anyway: Don't forget to install drivers for your devices on your Windows 8 configuration. That's not to say that Windows 8 does a bad job installing drivers that work for most, if not all of the parts and pieces inside your system. But you're going to want to trust your devices' manufacturers, not Microsoft, for the most up-to-date system drivers you can get your hands on. Of particular importance should be your motherboard's drivers, your video card's drivers, and the various, fancier drivers for your input devices (if you're rocking a non-standard keyboard and mouse). That all said, Windows 8 does a pretty good job of establishing a working baseline of drivers post-installation! 19. Sync Up Windows 8 comes with a plethora of ways to synchronize your operating system to all the various third-party accounts you hold on other sites. The most important one to link up is your Microsoft Account, which you can do when you set up Windows 8 for the first time and via the users menu within PC Settings (Charms Bar > Settings > More PC Settings). By doing so, you'll be able to load up your preferred themes, settings, languages, and app settings – to name a few – on any Windows 8 machine you touch. Your Microsoft Account also powers Windows 8's SkyDrive cloud storage, for what it's worth. But that's not all. You can integrate your Hotmail, Linkedin, Google, Facebook, and Twitter accounts with Window 8's "People" application. And, if it works, you can chat with your Facebook and Windows Messenger friends via the aptly named Messaging application. Just think of it as "Newbie's Trillian." 20. Shut Down One of the more peculiar features of Windows 8 is just how much Microsoft buries the shutdown button within its Metro UI – you know, the way you go about turning off your PC when you're done for the day. You can always switch over to Desktop mode and give it the ol' alt+F4 to receive your shutdown options. But you can also create actual shutdown tiles that accomplish the same effect in Metro. Within Desktop mode, right-click on the desktop and create a new shortcut. For it's "location," you'll want to type in the following: shutdown.exe -s -t 00. Feel free to name the shortcut whatever you want ("Nuke it from orbit?"). Once it's on your desktop, fire up Windows Explorer and move the shortcut to your C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs directory. Jump back to your Metro interface and you'll see your Shutdown button appear as a brand-new tile. Click once, and off goes your system! For more from David, former Maximum PC editor and Windows enthusiast, follow him on Facebook or Twitter (@thedavidmurphy).

Several Senior LulzSec Members Arrested After Leader Helps Police Posted: 06 Mar 2012 10:29 AM PST Remember LulzSec, the jolly jackasses responsible for so much hacking havoc last summer? So does the FBI; they've rounded up five alleged LulzSec members in the U.S., England and Ireland this morning. LulzSec's 50 day reign of terror seemed almost story-like at times -- and like many good yarns, this one ends with a twist. Reports say the Lulz Boat has sunk thanks to the betrayal of "Sabu," the group's unofficial leader, who has been secretly working with the government since being arrested back in June. Fox News reports that Sabu's real name is Hector Xavier Monsegur; he's an unemployed father of two from New York's Lower East Side. After the FBI quietly pinched him in June, Monsegur reportedly pleaded guilty to 12 separate charges midway through August. His admissions were due to be unsealed this morning, along with charges for four of the five people arrested today. The five people charged today include: Ryan Ackroyd, aka "Kayla"; Jake Davis, aka "Topiary"; Darren Martyn, aka "pwnsauce"; Donncha O'Cearrbhail, aka "palladium"; and Jeremy Hammond aka "Anarchaos". Ackroyd and Davis hail from London, Martyn and Cearrbhail live in Ireland, and Hammond was nabbed in Chicago. You may remember Davis' name from his high-profile arrest back in August. Fox says that Ackroyd was Sabu's right-hand man and responsible for finding vulnerabilities in the Senate's network. Hammond, meanwhile, is reportedly the man who hacked into Stratfor, the security company whose emails are currently being pored through over on WikiLeaks. Sources told Fox that Hammond was fingered as a member of Anonymous, not LulzSec; he will be indicted separately from the rest. Update: Here's the FBI press release announcing the arrests and providing more detail.

Mass Effect 3 Hits The Streets Posted: 06 Mar 2012 10:19 AM PST Speaking of PC gaming, a much-anticipated little title happened to have dropped today: Mass Effect 3. Perhaps you've heard of it? If you've been following the exploits of Commander Shepard and his rag-tag Normandy crew, it goes without saying that you pretty much HAVE to pick up the game. Don't dig silence? Our sister mag PCGamer has an in-depth review of Mass Effect 3. The Edmonton Journal went so far as to say the "Release of Mass Effect 3 (is) seen as a pop-culture event." We don't know about all that, but it is the end of the road for Shepard and his/her long series of choices -- assuming, of course, that your FemShep didn't die in ME2's suicide run. Gamers who preordered ME3 through Origin or attended a midnight launch event have been playing the game for hours now, but if you're stuck waiting around at work (like us), here are a few trailers to get you in the Reaper-stomping mood.

Roccat Unveils "Power-Grid" Smartphone App That Helps Keep Gamers In The Game Posted: 06 Mar 2012 10:09 AM PST Nothing sucks more than juggling windows while you're in the middle of a hot and heavy frag fest -- but sometimes, you just have to do it, whether to check an important message sent out-of-game or to tweak some aspect of your system. German peripheral maker Roccat wants to change that with its newly announced Power-Grid, a gaming-friendly smartphone app that will let you keep tabs on important PC happenings without ever needing to minimize BF3 on the big screen. Power-Grid uses four screens -- "Grids," in Roccat parlance -- to convey all sorts of important info. The first screen, dubbed the "Incoming Center," gathers communications from Twitter, Facebook, TeamSpeak, Skype and more. The second "Stats Control" Grid displays information about your PC's status, such as your CPU utilization and network traffic. The "Sound Control" Grid does just about what you'd expect, and a fourth grid is left blank so that users can create a list of custom macros. The PC client that connects your PC to the app is also used to create the custom macros, which Roccat calls "blocks." Roccat says the editor can also be used to create non-gaming blocks; the example given is "specialty buttons like a pizza timer." Later in the year, Roccat plans on launching the "Project Phobo" keyboard, which includes a horizontal charge dock for Power-Grid-rocking phones. In addition to adding a Razer Blade-esque flair to things, the Phobo will allow users to type out responses to messages using the main keyboard -- no need to actually touch the phone -- and automatically route incoming calls to your gaming headset. Plus, it'll charge your phone while you frag. Not too shabby! Unfortunately, you can't just hop over to the Android Market and snag Power-Grid just yet; Roccat's currently showing off the goods at the CeBIT expo in Germany and plans on releasing an iPhone/iPod touch (stupid lowercase letters!) version soon. An Android version will be available when Gamescom rolls around in August, while the Phobo keyboard is due "at the end of the year." On the plus side, Roccat says Power-Grid will be a free download. Check out more info here.

AMD Confirms Existence of CPU Bug Posted: 06 Mar 2012 07:28 AM PST A programmer on the DragonFly BSD project is flying high as a kite this week after AMD admitted that a bug he discovered is an actual erratum the Sunnyvale chip maker was previously unaware existed in some processor families. Matthew Dillon, who had been tracking the bug for well over a year, finally came up with a test case in which AMD could replicate the error and confirm there's really a bug. Mr. Dillon posted a portion of the email, which reads: "AMD has taken your example and also analyzed the segmentation fault and the fill_sons_in_loop code. We confirm that you have found an erratum with some AMD processor families. The specific compiled version of the fill_sons_in_loop code, through a very specific sequence of consecutive back-to-back pops and (near) return instructions, can create a condition where the process incorrectly updates the stack pointer." This isn't something most users will need to worry about. While it should be possible to create an environment in other OSes where the bug rears its ugly, Mr. Dillon notes "it took a lot of effort just to find a quickly reproducible case with DragonFly." There's nothing AMD can do about the flaw in existing chips at this point, but by filing it away, programs now have a heads up and can sidestep this and other known bugs when coding software. "I'm pretty stoked... it isn't every day that a guy like me gets to find an honest-to-God hardware bug in a major CPU!," Dillon said.

Show of Hands: Who Plans to Buy an iPad 3? Posted: 06 Mar 2012 06:42 AM PST All the rumors and speculation over Apple's iPad 3 tablet will either be put to rest or come to fruition tomorrow when the Cupertino outfit unveils the much anticipated slate at a press event in San Francisco. The most likely additions will be that of a 'Retina Display' that packs twice as many pixels as the iPad 2, and a 4G LTE radio. Everything else is a crapshoot, minus the usual rabid demand that accompanies most Apple product launches. This one is no different. Almost of a third -- 30 percent, to be exact -- of mobile Web users confessed to ad network InMobi their intentions of purchasing an iPad 3 in a recent survey, "and 44 percent would only consider the iPad if purchasing a tablet," said Anne Frisbie, the company's Vice President and Managing Director. "Interestingly, 65 percent of those who intend to buy an iPad 3 would consider buying an iPad or iPad 2 at a reduced price instead, indicating that whether or not consumers purchase an iPad 3 versus an older model, the excitement around the iPad 3 release will likely increase iPad penetration in the tablet market." Half of InMobi's survey respondents said they still intend to purchase an iPad 3 if it's priced over $500, but if Apple ends up charging more than $599, 57 percent would opt for an older iPad model. With that line of thinking, it will be interesting to see if Apple ends up releasing an 8GB iPad 2 model that was recently rumored to be in production and would sell for $349 to $399. Back to our original question, are you planning to purchase an iPad 3 tablet, or are you all-in with Android or waiting to see what Windows 8 brings to the tablet table? Image Credit: Flickr (Sasha Y. Kimel)

Google Increases Android App Cap from 50MB to 4GB Posted: 06 Mar 2012 06:15 AM PST If you're an Android developer, go ahead and belt out a hearty "Huzzah!" And if you're an Android user, you can do the same. What's all this Huzzah business? It's about bigger apps! Google this week announced that it's lifting its 50MB cap on Android Market apps and replacing it with a much more roomy 4GB cap to accommodate high-quality 3D interactive games and more local resources. Yes folks, that means there will be bigger app downloads in some cases, but hey, that's all the more reason to jump on the 4G bandwagon. To be clear, the size of the APK file will still carry a 50MB weight limit, only now developers have been green lighted to attach up to two fat 2GB expansion files weighing in at 2GB each. Previous to the update, developers were forced to host the files themselves. Google says most newer devices will grab the expansion files automatically when downloading an app from the Android Market, and the refund period won't begin until all files are pulled from cyberspace and plopped onto your smartphone. "While you can use the two expansion files any way you wish, we recommend that one serve as the initial download and be rarely if ever updated; the second can be smaller and serve as a 'patch carrier,' getting versioned with each major release," Google advised app developers in a blog post. Google says you'll be able to see the total size of the app and all of the attached downloads before purchasing and installing. Image Credit: AndroidApps.com (kevindeng)

IHS iSuppli: Elpida's Bankruptcy Filing Will Bump Up DRAM Prices Posted: 06 Mar 2012 05:53 AM PST The dirty little secret about DRAM is that we're all underpaying for computer memory, and most of us know it. When the DRAM bubble burst, prices plummeted faster than Lindsay Lohan's career, which is why OCZ moved away from selling memory and starting hawking solid state drives, a segment that's overpriced just like DRAM used to be. It's starting to look like the DRAM market might never regain it's swagger from a decade ago, but there are still times when you should consider stocking up on memory. This might be one of them. Elpida Memory has filed for bankruptcy protection, and according to market research firm IHS iSuppli, this move will benefit the remaining DRAM players still battling in the trenches to make a buck or two. Elpida's exit will ultimately constrict supply and push prices and revenue up in the second half of 2012. "A meaningful reduction in Elpida's manufacturing will cause the DRAM market to go into a state of undersupply, causing prices to increase," said Mike Howard, senior principal analyst for DRAM & memory at IHS. "Shipments likely will decrease because of the Elpida bankruptcy, even though the resulting increase in revenue—driven by higher prices—will cause the market to perform better than expected in 2012. The ultimate fate of Elpida's manufacturing assets, which remains to be decided, will be the major factor impacting pricing and revenue growth in 2012. But one thing is certain: Elpida's bankruptcy means the remaining DRAM players can look forward to a much rosier 2012 than they did just one week ago." Some of the effects of Elpida's bankruptcy are already reverberating throughout the industry. According to IHS iSupply, spot prices for PC DRAM spiked 15 percent in a single day, and that's just a "preview" of what's to come later this year. It might turn out that the DRAM market can absorb the loss of a player like Elpida, but if you don't want to risk it, now's the time to think about stocking up on memory. Image Credit: Elpida

Coming Soon: A 3D Printable Case for Raspberry Pi Posted: 06 Mar 2012 03:55 AM PST The diminutive Raspberry Pi computer got off to a sensational start last week, with pre-orders selling out within hours. There is very little, if anything, to dislike about Raspberry Pi, a dirt cheap Linux PC the size of a credit card. But the fact that currently no case is available for the Raspberry Pi might bother some of the early adopters. Even though the Raspberry Pi Foundation plans to begin "selling cases by the summer," a designer named Marco Alici has already finished designing a 3D printable version. In a post on his blog, Alici described the task as something that wasn't particularly easy, for "the board has been designed for the minimum dimensions and cost, and some choices are not suitable for a good design for the case." Another challenge for Alici was -- and still is -- the absence of an actual Raspberry Pi. Alici has already received a 3D printed prototype of the case from 3D printing company Shapeways -- a development that has probably made his wait for the Raspberry Pi all the more excruciating. So he is now just waiting to test this prototype with the Raspberry Pi. "After that," he wrote, "I'm planning to make it [the Raspberry Pi case] available for printing on my space on Shapeways." You can view a 3D model of Alici's case at this link.

You are subscribed to email updates from Maximum PC - All Articles To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

MMO News

---

• MechWarrior Online
• City of Steam
• Blacklight Retribution adds Containment map
• Grand Chase introduces Rin
• City of Heroes launches Issue 22
• Rosh Online
• RODE
• Heroes of Newerth
• Elsword Online
• Battlestar Galactica Online

MechWarrior Online Posted: 06 Mar 2012 02:32 PM PST MechWarrior Online puts you in command of your very own BattleMech. Customize your mech to your own playstyle with weapons, armor and other systems. Go head-to-head by yourself or with friends in various PvP modes like Conquest and Versus. Form your own mercenary group, or join an existing one to gain renown and power. Join one of the five great houses and fight for control of the Inner Sphere! Publisher: Infinite Game Publishing Playerbase: ?? Graphics: High Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: ?? PvP: Yes Filesize: N/A Pros: +Amazing graphics. +Customizable Mechs. +Different roles in battle to choose from. Cons: -Not enough information. Overview MechWarrior Online Overview MechWarrior Online is a reboot of the classic Mech Warrior series. Players will be able to pilot and customize their own mech, including weapon layouts, armoring, and different systems such as targeting in order to suit their style of play. Different roles are being made available, such as Scout, Attacker, Defender and Commander, to also fit a personal style of gameplay. The game is much more tactical than its predecessors, featuring such things like urban combat and cover points. MechWarrior Online Screenshots MechWarrior Online Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review MechWarrior Online Full Review Coming Soon… Screenshots MechWarrior Online Screenshots Coming Soon… Videos MechWarrior Online Videos MechWarrior Online Official Teaser Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links MechWarrior Online Links Official Game Page System Requirements MechWarrior Online System Requirements Coming Soon…

City of Steam Posted: 06 Mar 2012 01:56 PM PST Explore a world devastated by technology, and the civilization that has sprung up from it. Utilizing the Unity 3D engine for amazing, browser-based graphics, City of Steam offers you four classes to choose from: Arcanist, Gunner, Warder, and Channeler. With nine races to choose from, many quests, and countless numbers of monsters, City of Steam will provide you an action-packed adventure directly from your browser. Publisher: Mechanist Games Playerbase: ?? Graphics: Medium Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: ?? PvP: ?? Filesize: N/A Pros: +Nice graphics for a browser-based game. +Detailed background story. +Many races to choose from. Cons: -Not much information available. Overview City of Steam Overview City of Steam, by Mechanist Games, offers a hack-and-slash style adventure in your web browser. The game features four classes and nine races to choose from. Set in a post-apocalyptic era, City of Steam will engage players with an amazing story featuring several factions, zones, quests, and monsters. City of Steam Screenshots City of Steam Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review City of Steam Full Review Coming Soon… Screenshots City of Steam Screenshots Coming Soon… Videos City of Steam Videos City of Steam Sneak Peek Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links City of Steam Links Official Game Page System Requirements City of Steam System Requirements Coming Soon…

Blacklight Retribution adds Containment map Posted: 06 Mar 2012 12:53 PM PST Blacklight Retribution has released its second open beta map: Containment. Containment is a multi-level map set in a dreary landscape filled with body bags and abandoned containment structures. It features several choke points and vantage points, tunnels, and more. It is the second of three new maps to be introduced in Blacklight Retribution’s open beta. Blacklight Retribution is published by Perfect World Entertainment, which also publishes Rusty Hearts and War of the Immortals. Blacklight Retribution: Containment Trailer Source: Containment is a sprawling, multi leveled map that is set amongst the remains of a desperate attempt to contain a deadly viral outbreak.  Littered with filled body bags and the remains of the containment teams' structures, this post-apocalyptic backdrop makes for one of Blacklight: Retributions most interesting maps to date. With upper levels giving commanding views of choke points, as well as a myriad of tunnels and various structures, this map has the potential to reward all styles of gameplay.  Snipers, as well as SMG toting point men will be right at home on this map.

Grand Chase introduces Rin Posted: 06 Mar 2012 12:03 PM PST Grand Chase has released the first of three major updates, also known as Heroes: Act 1. The update introduces Rin, a fan-wielding, uniquely styled female character available for free for all players. Along with the new character, several events are in place, including: giveaways to players who log in every week for the next four weeks (including a PS Vita, an Alienware gaming laptop, and RagePoints); in-game rewards for helping Rin reach various milestone levels; a sale on Phoenix Fusion Packages until  March 20; and the special Eclipse Event. In this last event, most dungeons will be eclipsed in darkness every 10 minutes, revealing Dark Acolyte monsters. Players who kill these monsters will earn a Total Eclipse Chest; 100 of these can then be exchanged for a Goddess’ Supply Chest that includes Rin’s Shadow Card and a Grade 13 Refinery Scroll. Grand Chase is published by SG Interactive, which also publishes Trickster Online and Project Blackout. Rin: Eclipse Grand Chase Gameplay Screenshot Source: SG Interactive Rolls Out Big Gaming Rewards and New Character to Introduce Grand Chase: Heroes Alienware Gaming Laptop and PlayStation Vita Await Lucky Winners Irvine, Calif. - March 6, 2012 - SG Interactive brings to light the latest update to itsmassively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Grand Chase. The newest release entitled Grand Chase: Heroes is starting off with Act 1, the first of three major updates. Taking center stage will be the brand new character, Rin – the fan wielding goddess with her own unique play style – who will be free for all players. Adventurers also will be able to experience the Eclipse, a darkness that sweeps across all dungeons offering many challenges and great rewards. SG Interactive will be celebrating with an extensive giveaway including an Alienware gaming laptop as well as numerous events. Gamers can begin playing as Rin and trying out Grand Chase: Heroes by registering on the game’s official page for free. SG Interactive events include: Be a True Hero: Players that log in every week for the next four weeks will have a chance to win a PlayStation Vita or an Alienware gaming laptop, as well as several in-game prizes. Fourteen winners will be selected weekly and SG Interactive will award $100 (one winner), $50 (three winners) and $10 (10 winners) in RagePoints, the in-game currency. At the end of the fourth week, two lucky winners will take home one of the grand prizes mentioned above. Rin Level Up and Limited Package Sale: Those that reach various milestone levels using Rin will receive special in-game rewards including Reinforcement Stones and Refinery Scrolls. In addition, the Phoenix’s Fusion Packages are on sale until March 20. Eclipse Event: Starting today and ending on Tuesday, March 20, every 10 minutes most dungeons will be eclipsed in darkness, revealing the Dark Acolyte monsters. Players who kill Dark Acolytes will be rewarded with a Total Eclipse Chest. Collecting 100 of these chests will earn gamers a Goddess’ Supply Chest filled with Rin’s Shadow Card and a Grade 13 Refinery Scroll! Grand Chase: Heroes is a side-scrolling action MMORPG that allows up to six players to battle monsters in dungeons, or face off against other gamers in combat. Adventurers can engage in team battle and survival modes of gameplay, with each type supporting both tag and item matches. For more information and to play the game for free, visit http://grandchase.gamerage.com/

City of Heroes launches Issue 22 Posted: 06 Mar 2012 11:20 AM PST Issue 22: Death Incarnate has been released today in City of Heroes. The game’s first major free update since its free-to-play launch, the update introduces new powers, costumes, endgame features, and more. New in the update is the Dark Astoria Incarnate Zone, a Co-Op zone which will let players above level 50 travel a dark nightmare in a co-op style; a new trials and content including the Dilemma Diabolique Incarnate Trial, the PvE Drowning in Blood trial, new mission arcs in Steel Canyon and Cap au Diable, and a new Adamastor Zone Event. Also new is a Darkness Power Set for Controllers and Dominators, and the Flying Disc Power. City of Heroes is published by NCSoft, which also publishes Aion and Lineage 2. City of Heroes Gameplay Screenshot Source: NCsoft and Paragon Studios Launch City of Heroes Issue 22: Death Incarnate Screenshots and launch trailer available on press.ncsoft.com Today, NCsoft and Paragon Studios launch City of Heroes Issue 22: Death Incarnate. As the first major free update to City of Heroes Freedom since launching as a successful Free-To-Play title, Issue 22: Death Incarnate introduces new powers and costumes, exclusive VIP content, expanded endgame features and reintroduces Dark Astoria, a zone corrupted by evil magical forces. Just some of the features of Death Incarnate: ·         Dark Astoria Incarnate Zone: Dark Astoria becomes a Co-op Incarnate Zone in Death Incarnate, allowing level +50 players to participate in the "danse macabre" co-op style gameplay as they traverse the dark, twisted, undead nightmare that has become Dark Astoria. ·         Darkness Power Set: A horrifying new Power Set for Controllers and Dominators, Darkness Control allows players to command shadows and spectral minions to terrorise their foes. ·         Dilemma Diabolique Incarnate Trial: Heroes and Villains must band together against the evil sorceress Diabolique as she wrests the power from the banished god Mot. If she succeeds in her plans, all of creation will be in jeopardy as she moves to take her "rightful" role as the master of all creation. ·         More content for all levels: Fight off the Shivans as they attack Bloody Bay by grouping up in the new PvE Trial Drowning in Blood. Take your Hero or Villain through new Mission Arcs in Steel Canyon and Cap au Diable. Save Talos Island and Sharkhead Isle from Adamastor's rage as he cuts a wave of destruction across the islands in the new Adamastor Zone Event. To learn more about City of Heroes Issue 22: Death Incarnate, visit http://eu.cityofheroes.com/uk/news/game_updates/issue_22/overview.php. In addition, today also sees the release of the Flying Disc Power, which allows players to throw a flying disc to their friends.

Rosh Online Posted: 22 Dec 2011 06:36 PM PST Rosh Online: Return of Karos is a fantasy MMORPG which features both classical gameplay and extra activities, including mining, hunting, and fishing. Join a guild and join massive player versus player battles, or join in an adventure in an Extreme Instance Dungeon. Publisher: Ignited Games Playerbase: Low Graphics: High Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Medium PvP: Open World / Guild Battles Filesize: ~5000 MB Pros: +Alternate Advancement Systems +Multiple PvP options +Unique mount system. Cons: -Slow experience gains. -Classes are gender locked. -Still focused on grinding. Overview Rosh Online Overview After a tenuous peace between the four races of Broccion, the world is at war again, seeking leadership. Players take up arms for their guild and for their nation to battle for land, resources, and victory. Choose from four races (Human, Shadow, Seroine, and Vaneese Human) and seven classes (Mystic, Bow Mistress, Blader, Paladin, Rogue, Sorceress, and Gunner), then gain experience to grow into an advanced class, and Fletta to improve your abilities. Rosh Online Screenshots Rosh Online Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Rosh Online Review Warning: players may experience deja vu. Ignited Games recently launched Rosh Online, which is an updated version of Karos Online. The game is fundamentally the same as before, with some quality-of-life improvements as well as a few new options to set it apart. The game still looks and feels like Shaiya and Last Chaos, providing high quality graphics and detailed environments. Character Creation — Still Boring Karos Online offered six classes: Mystic, Bowmistress, Blader, Paladin, Rogue and Sorceress. Rosh Online adds a new class to the mix: Gunner. Character creation options are the same, limited choices as before, giving players only three face options, four hair style options, and eight hair color choices. Classes are gender-locked, meaning you will only ever see female mystics, bowmistresses, paladins, and sorceresses, or male bladers, rogues, and gunners. Each class has their choice between two specializations. The level requirement for this job change has been reduced to 10 in Rosh Online (from 15 in Karos Online). A second class specialization for each of these secondary jobs can also be unlocked to further develop each character's skills, and offering a total of 28 top-level classes to choose from. What is Instruction? Karos Online simply threw you into the game, with no instructions on how to move or interact with the world. Rosh Online has done nothing to correct this issue. While this poses no problem to MMORPG veterans, new players may quickly find themselves overwhelmed or frustrated by the lack of a tutorial. Almost all in-game interactions are accomplished by right-clicking: right-clicking an NPC interacts with them, and allows you to receive quests, while right-clicking on an enemy will initiate auto-attack. WASD can be used to move your character; click-to-move is also available. Skills are used off an action bar by pressing the appropriate number key. Tightened Progression There is no innovation in the combat system between Karos Online and Rosh Online, and it remains fairly simple in its design. One thing new players may find confusing, however, is the dual leveling system. Character experience and levels are earned normally through killing monsters and completing quests. Rosh Online has improved this system by making monsters worth more experience than in Karos Online, but the game still requires a significant amount of grinding in order to unlock new quests. Once you've leveled up, you receive a skill point to place in your class abilities. Each skill has five levels, which are gated by your character level. The game, however, also has what's called the Fletta system. Fletta is gained only by killing monsters. Each time you gain a fletta level, you can put a point into one of seven different stats. Yin and Yang affect magic and health regeneration, respectively. Earth increases defense and magic defense, air increases your attack speed, fire builds up your attack power, wood increases magic attack power, and water affects both run speed and critical hit chance. Fletta points can also be spent on item enhancement, just like in Karos Online. Questing is still far more efficient in terms of leveling, when you can do so. Quests offer far more experience than simply killing monsters. Several repeatable quests also become available as you progress, and these are by far the best way to gain both character levels and fletta points, since most send you off to slaughter a lot of monsters. These quests, at least, give purpose and extra experience to your grinding. Inventory Woes A major complaint with Karos Online was the limited starting inventory space. Bags were expensive to make, and many people did not sell them to other players. Rosh Online helps alleviate this problem slightly by offering a couple of bags as low level quest rewards, effectively doubling a new character's starting inventory. Even so, inventory space remains a premium, especially as all quest items take up a slot in your inventory. Crafting remains rather costly, with many items requiring uncommon or rare materials. New characters receive a very powerful set of starting equipment that will last them for a very long time, thankfully, which will help stave off crafting costs for a while. Mounts and Pets and Fighting, Oh My! When people think of mounts in an MMORPG, they usually don't associate them with shoulder armor. Rosh Online simplifies the mount system by doing just that: putting the item on your shoulders. Using the V key (by default) with a mount equipped allows you to summon your companion to ride. You cannot equip items, attack, or interact with NPCs and objects while mounted. Additionally, players can collect minipets for show. Pets can also help you loot items, or recover health and mana faster. Player versus Player combat has also received a significant overhaul between Karos Online and Rosh Online. Players can turn on their PK flag at will and engage other players who also have the PK flag turned on. However, Rosh has increased the level requirement for this function to 35, far from the level 10 requirement in Karos Online. Guild versus Guild siege warfare is also promised in Rosh Online, giving players many options should PvP appeal to them. Final Verdict: Good Rosh Online makes some strides in improving some of the negative aspects of Karos Online. Experience gain is much better in Rosh Online, and inventory space has been improved upon. The level to initiate PvP has been increased so lower level players aren't as punished for their decision to PvP. For all that Rosh Online has done to improve upon Karos, however, it still fails to address concerns about lack of direction for new players, or provide innovation to the original game's systems. Still, it's not a bad game by any means, and fans of Karos Online may find some welcome changes. Screenshots Rosh Online Screenshots 123► Videos Rosh Online Videos Official Gameplay Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links Rosh Online Links Official Game Page System Requirements Rosh Online System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7 CPU: Intel Core TM 2 Duo E6700 (2.66Ghz) RAM: 1GB HDD: 5GB Graphics Card: GeForce FX 6200 / Radeon 9600 DirectX: 9.0c

RODE Posted: 08 Dec 2011 12:37 PM PST R.O.D.E. is a fantasy game of mystical characters and creatures where dragons hold the symbol of great power. It takes place in a world separated by two lord dragons, Firean (representing the West) and Azurian (representing the East). Publisher: Mgame Playerbase: Low Graphics: High Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Low PvP: Battlegrounds and Open World Filesize: 10GB Pros: +Detailed graphics, +Aerial combat, +Advanced Pet system Cons: -Not beginner friendly, -Dragons are difficult to attain, -Poor crafting system Overview RODE Overview Rise of Dragonian Era (RODE) offers players the ability to ride on the backs of dragons in both player-version-enemy and player-versus-player combat. Each of the four classes in game has two specializations to choose from, offering a variety of options. Additionally, the game offers a detailed mount and pet system, as well as achievements, to give players many things to enjoy while playing. RODE Screenshots RODE Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review RODE Review Rise of Dragonian Era, otherwise known as RODE, is the latest offering from Netgame.  Similar to MMORPGs like Runes of Magic and Gates of Andaron (4Story), RODE promises a complex class system and fast-paced player-versus-player combat.  Oh, and you also get to fly around on a dragon and battle in the skies. Installation Woes Trying to launch RODE is an exercise in frustration.  First, you log into the RODE website and download a file that downloads the game client.  Then, depending on what web browser you use, there is a separate plug-in that needs to be installed to actually launch the game.  While the game is not browser-based, its browser-launch system ends up being more complicated than most desktop installed games. The Start of a Legend After an opening cinematic, you choose between two factions: Firean and Azurian.  Each faction has three races to choose from.  Firean has Halfkin, Asrai and Shedi; Azurians boast Kaebi, Orial and Sinkong.  The Halfkin and Kaebi are the short races; Halfkin are decidedly elfish looking, while the Kaebi are more devilish.  Asrai are definitely elvish, and the Orial's are human.  Finally, Shedi and Sinkong are bestial races – Wolf and Monkey respectively – that can only be male. Your next choice is between one of four classes:  Fighter, Ranger, Wizard and Darkmage.  Classes are locked by race:  Orial and Asrai cannot choose Darkmage, Halfkin and Kaebi cannot be Wizards, and Shedi and Sinkong are restricted to Fighter and Ranger. Once you've chosen your class, you get the option of a few face types, face shapes (makeup or facial hair), hair styles, and costume colors.  You'll also choose skin and hair color as well.  RODE differs from many free-to-play games, however, by offering two additional creation screens after these basic selections are made.  These screens contain various sliders that control body shape, face shape, and more, allowing you to create a one-of-a-kind character. Learning the Ropes After creating a character, you will be treated to another cinematic, which details your character's backstory.  The backstory is mostly the same for both factions, with very minor differences.  When you're given control of your character, you'll find there are no tutorials to be had, except for instructions on moving your character.  No direction is given on how to interact with NPCs, how to interact with objects, how to attack, or other basic game controls. Right click is utilized for most actions in RODE, including interacting with NPCs, gathering from crafting nodes, looting chests dropped from monsters, and using skills on your action bars.  You're given three starting quests in the first area, which, while designed to teach you these controls, fail in their intended role. Them's Fightin' Words Combat in RODE follows a classical MMORPG format.  You auto-attack with your equipped weapons, and can use a variety of class skills.  Skills are activated using the number keys, or by right clicking on the icon on the action bar.  Most basic enemies are defeated easily; however, expect to take a lot of damage.  RODE is designed with grouping in mind, and tougher monsters are nearly impossible to solo.  Fortunately, anyone who attacks the tougher monsters will get quest credit, although only the first person to attack it will get loot.  Targeting can also be a major problem; using Tab to find the nearest target can and will target things behind you, not just in your field of vision. All enemies drop chests upon death, which are then looted for money, and occasionally, items.  Money is very tight early on, and training becomes more costly as you rank up your skills. At higher levels, chests gain the ability to sometimes be a mimic, which attack you when you try to open them.  Defeating a mimic rewards you more money and better loot. I Don't See Nothing Wrong … Leveling up in RODE is slow.  Each level earns your character a new skill.  At level 10, you can choose one of two specializations for your character, each with a different playstyle. Every level after 10, you also earn a talent point that you can use to enhance your specialization's abilities. There are many quests to do in RODE to help you level, though they seem to taper off at higher levels. An achievement system offers a plethora of achievements to obtain, as each area you discover, each monster you defeat, and each node you gather from are tallied.  This always means there's some task you can perform while playing.  There is also battleground and open-world PvP for players to engage in. RODE also features crafting in the form of gathering and crafting skills. Gathering from resource nodes levels up the specific gathering skill (mining, fishing, and extracting), and you can select a crafting skill from Alchemy, Metalworking, Jewelcrafting and Tailoring. You can only learn one crafting skill, but you automatically learn all three gathering skills. Butterfly in the Sky RODE's primary focus is its dragon system.  Before you reach level 10, you'll obtain a dragon egg that requires your help to hatch. The egg is a minipet that follows you around.  When you use your pet in combat, its loyalty will rise. To hatch your dragon egg, you must raise its loyalty to 100%, and obtain an item rarely dropped by difficult monsters. Eventually, this dragon is supposed to become your companion in the skies, although the system has not yet been implemented. You'll also receive a mount from a quest fairly early on, which also functions off the loyalty system. Mounts can be used to fight with, which is a nice departure from many games where they are merely transport.  Using mounts to attack builds their fatigue, which can only be reduced by purchasing items from a vendor.  The mount and pet system is woefully unexplained in the game, leaving you to figure them out on your own. Final Verdict:  Fair RODE does some things well:  NPCs have at least one voice-acted line when you interact with them, the game's graphics are high quality, and the ability to fly on a dragon is quite appealing.  The game is, however, bogged down by a variety of issues.  Death carries a stiff experience loss to it, taking away huge chunks of progress and time.  Crafting items requires an additional fee, on top of the fee to learn the recipe, and the cost of the materials you must purchase from a vendor.  Finally, various graphical issues, such as objects not being solid, allow for many situations where players can get stuck and must wait for a GM to free them.  If the idea of challenging, party-based play sounds appealing, though, you might get some mileage out of RODE. Screenshots RODE Screenshots 12345► Videos RODE Videos Official Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links RODE Links Official Game Page Download Page System Requirements RODE System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows (R) Vista/ XP/2000 (95/98/ME/NT/Server are not supported) CPU: PENTIUM DUAL CORE 2.1X RAM: 1GB HDD: 10GB Graphics Card: GEFORCE 4600GT 256MB DirectX: 9.0c Recommended Specification: OS: Windows (R) Vista/ XP/2000 (95/98/ME/NT/Server are not supported) CPU: PENTIUM DUAL CORE 3.0 RAM: 3GB HDD: 20GB Graphics Card: GEFORCE 9800GT 512MB DirectX: 9.0c or better

Heroes of Newerth Posted: 04 Mar 2011 12:53 AM PST Heroes of Newerth is a 3D fantasy MMO with team based, competitive gameplay. Inspired by DotA, Heroes of Newerth allows players to chose from a large rooster of heroes and battle it out as part of the Legion or the Hellbourne. Publisher: S2 Games Playerbase: High Graphics: High Quality Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Slow PvP: Open World / War Fronts Filesize: 569 MB Pros: +Thrilling team-oriented, skill-based gameplay. +Many heroes to choose from. +In-game guides and tutorials. +Interesting, well-furnished money store. +Monthly release of new content. +Complete, extensive tutorial. Cons: -Competitive style not for everyone. –Limited selection of maps. –Considerable learning curve. –Temperamental players can, and do ruin games. Overview Heroes of Newerth Overview Originally based on the Warcraft 3 custom map Defense of the Ancients, Heroes of Newerth has its ties divided between its map predecessor, and S2 Games' previous series of games called Savage who's universe Heroes of Newerth is set in. Extremely competitive and community oriented, Heroes of Newerth provides a refined and polished experience destined to keep players entertained for many a sleepless nights. With a great diversity of characters spread over two factions (Legion & Hellbourne) and three categories (Strength, Agility & Intelligence), many of which require different play styles and skill sets, this is a game that ultimately rewards a player's mastery over his character, and his capacity to use this character in conjunction with his team mates'.  If you enjoy a bit of challenge, you should not miss this one. Heroes of Newerth Screenshots Heroes of Newerth Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Heroes of Newerth Review In ye ole' days when "free to play" was more likely referring to newgrounds flash games than fully developed products, Warcraft 3 held one of the top seats on the most-played games list, partly due to this little mini-game called DotA. Most likely you've heard of this, but if you haven't, the principle is simple; two bases send equal amounts of warriors at each other in an automated manner, and the players pick one of many heroes, killing these warriors, gaining experience, buying items and essentially powering up until one team is strong enough to break the status quo, and push all the way to the other team's base in order to destroy it and thus win. The concept was fun, simple, and most importantly, extremely popular. However, it wasn't until Heroes of Newerth that this idea reached the game market in any successful manner. Released at first for the meager sum of 30$, Heroes of Newerth at last turned free to play in summer 2011. The question is; does it manage to keep the experience entertaining through the free-to-play transition? This Looks Familiar Heroes of Newerth lets you enter the role of a member of the alliance of the previous games two opposing forces (Legion and Beasts), or as the Hellbourne, an invading force of demonic and other fellows of doubtable repute as you duke  it out over a handful of maps, but most likely, Forest of Caldavar, the traditional DotA style, community favorite map. It all functions exactly like the Defense of the Ancients described above, albeit with a bit more of complexity. You start out in the very complete menu interface, where you either get to play through matchmaking or by joining a custom, listed game. This is also the place where you get to check your stats, the Herodex and the store, but more on that later. Custom games have up to 4 playable maps, while matchmaking only has two. Most games turn out to be 5v5, but 3v3 is the second most popular, usually played on Grimm's Crossing. There is a fair amount of modes, such as All Pick, All Random, Single Draft, Banning Draft, etc. most of which are centered on which hero you pick. This is a fairly important phase too, as which characters your team picks and how they synergize can very easily make the difference between victory and defeat, and let me tell you, the hero selection is not only huge, but also constantly growing. The downside however, is that unless you've purchased the heroes for use, only a limited amount of them are unlocked on a rotation each week. Once that's done however, the fun starts. Roll The Dice! Games generally play out over anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, informally divided as early game, mid-game and late game. This is fairly important, as some heroes are specifically designed to excel in one of those over the others. For an example, intelligence heroes will excel in early and mid-game, using powerful non-scaling spells to slam their opponents into submission, while agility heroes specialize in late-game, and whose role is specifically to carry their team to victory after the 30 minutes mark, which they could not do earlier due to their fragility. Gameplay can generally get quite complex, and most players can expect to lose the majority of their early games. Those who do not enjoy this style of play will find out very quickly whether this is for them, as they are immediately put face to face with the learning curve and simultaneously the pressure to perform. Your performance depends directly on what kind of items you build, and your capacity to use your abilities at the right time, and the right place. Thankfully, Heroes of Newerth comes with a fairly complete tutorial geared at explaining the basics, like denying (killing your own creeps to deny the enemy money) and last hitting (in order to get money). Even more helpful is the presence of in-game character and item guides, written and approved by the community. A quick trip to the game's forums can also explain more advanced concepts like juking, creep pulling and backdooring. What's Better Than Two Barrels? FOUR! In the end however, the learning curve remains, and this is partly what contributes to Heroes of Newerth being such a competitive experience. Team members are constantly pressured to succeed, and indeed the presence of a weak link can drag an entire team down. Kills and victories are thrilling and rewarding, with buyable announcer packs sending a variety of taunting one-liners, including one voiced by Duke Nukem voice actor Jon St. John. After every game, you earn a certain amount of experience (mostly used as a measure of gameplay time), PSR (Skill rating, for bragging and matchmaking) and most importantly; silver coins, which lets you buy from the in-game store. The after-game screen lets you see just about everything you'd want to know; ranging from kill rate, to gold acquired, and even the amount of actions you did per minute. It also makes your replay available to be downloaded by yourself and the public for a certain amount of time afterwards. You can also check out your own long-term statistics! There is most definitely a lot of information that can be checked concerning game details and performance.  Unfortunately, you might notice at this point that a few important features are restricted to verified accounts (Level 5 or higher, or has purchased something from the store), such as the ability to report griefing players. Similarly, you'll find out that there are game modes you cannot play unless you have purchased a special access pass from the store. This is a very small downside, though it does lead us to… The Goblin Store The money store. Yes, it's chock full of very neat stuff. And the best part is that to get the majority of it, you don't even need to spend real money, you can use your silver coins. That said, purchasing in-game currency (gold coins) is more time efficient and lets you get more stuff than you would otherwise. The store contains a truckload of vanity goodies, ranging from name colors, name icons, stat resets, to new models for heroes, new voice sets, new couriers and even new in-game announcers. There are some amazingly hilarious buys, with famous ones such as pimp Witch Hunter, leprechaun Blacksmith, or even a flying pig to courier your items around. You'll also find a bundle section with a fair amount of rotating deals available, including holiday deals, when special skins are unlocked for purchase (Giant easter bearwolf with carrots for claws anyone?). This is also the section where you can unlock individual heroes to add to your collection. The downside with it all is that it does not come cheap if you are using gold. At the time of writing this, 10$ is about 450 gold pieces, which lets you unlock two heroes, one skin, or a cheap name color. Announcers range from 560 to 980 gold pieces, whereas bundles are more likely to hang around the 1,300ish price tag. Few things in this store come cheap, but the advantage is the selection available to you. Is it a deal breaker? Not at all, and players can fortunately not acquire any sort of in-game advantage through the store (Unless you consider Duke Nuken's voice a tactical advantage). Final Verdict: Great Heroes of Newerth is great, and just one tip-toe away from being excellent. All that holds it back is its learning curve, limited maps and the occasional glitch. That said, it's an amazing experience that successfully combines RPG and Strategy elements into a successful, addicting product. It has created around it a solid, competitive community, and as a Savage fan, I am proud to see Heroes of Newerth carry the series forward. If you have not tried it yet, there never was a better time! Screenshots Heroes of Newerth Screenshots 1234► Videos Heroes of Newerth Videos Heroes of Newerth 2.0 Official Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Heroes of Newerth Gameplay [ReMo] P1 Click here to view the embedded video. Heroes of Newerth Gameplay [ReMo] P2 Click here to view the embedded video. Links Heroes of Newerth Links Heroes of Newerth Official Site System Requirements Heroes of Newerth System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 CPU: 2.2GHz Pentium 4 / AMD 2400+ RAM: 1 GB HDD: 1  GB free Graphics Card: GeForce 5 / ATI 9800 Recommended Specifications: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 CPU: 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo / AMD 3500+ or better RAM: 1.5 GB or more HDD: 2 GB Free or more Graphics Card: 256MB Geforce 7800+ / Radeon X1900+ or better

Elsword Online Posted: 26 Feb 2011 03:29 PM PST Elsword Online is a 2D fantasy MMORPG side-scroller. Work with other players to clear stages in this anime inspired action oriented beat ‘em up! Publisher: Kill3rCombo Playerbase: Medium Graphics: Medium Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Medium PvP: Arena Filesize: 1,230 MB Pros: +Stylish graphics and art work. +Action oriented gameplay. +Co-op and competitive game modes. +Multiple class paths. Cons: -Similar to other side-scrollers already available. –Strange translations. Combat can get repetitive. –Few classes compared to Korean Overview Elsword Online Overview North American gamers are finally able to get their hands on Elsword, a side-scroller similar to Grand Chase and Fists of Fu. With a manga series already running in Asia, Elsword is a popular franchise which offers players story-driven action with various co-op missions. There’s also a PvP mode where gamers can battle each other and compete for rankings. Equip your character with an assortment of gear, accessories, and cosmetic items earned as you progress! Characters: Elsword - A master swordsman with powerful melee attacks. He can deal damage, but also adsorb a lot of it. Aisha - A mage who relies on active skills in deal damage to opponents. Armed with a staff, she can attack multiple targets at once. Rena - A trained marksman, Rena’s favored weapon is the bow and arrow. She is also capable of kicking opponents who get too close. Elsword Online Screenshots Elsword Online Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review By: Guillaume Barbeau Let's say it now: Elsword is a beautiful game. Hand-drawn cutscenes, cell-shaded graphics and flashy effects, all using bright, vivid colors, make for a very satisfying visual experience. You start out in the character creator where you choose your name along with your preferred persona. Considering the differences between each of the characters, this is a fairly important step; Elsword is the melee/tank character, Aisha is a mage with the capacity of attacking a lot of foes at once, and Rena is the long ranged character (Who could also be built for melee). The tutorial is complete, and accessible from the character menu afterward if you need a refresher. It explains efficiently the ins and outs of the system while peppering you with bits of the story, and introducing the characters to each other. Here you might also notice that Elsword indeed has voice acting, which is definitely an uncommon trait for free-to-play MMOs, and something we hope to see more. The sound in this game isn't especially striking, the music is similar to other anime-ish games, and the sound effects are fair. The story is simple but deliberate in its style and pace; the anime inspirations ooze from every pixel. Fire up your fighting spirit! Profiting from previous experience with Grand Chase, KOG was successful in designing this combat system in a way that lessened the repetition slightly. To this end, they implemented a combo system which, depending on what key you hit (Z for light/fast hit, X for heavy), will chain up differently, and allow you to follow-up with special moves of your choice. The fighting here is truly the thick of the action, it's fluid, fun, though a bit repetitive. Apart from combos, a significant part of the fighting system is the skill tree which has you put points into skills of your own choosing, some of which are entirely new special moves. One of these is a defensive move specific to each character, for an example, Aisha's is a teleport,and Elsword's is a counterattack block. These special moves use varying amounts of your mana bar(regenerated with time, or through fighting) to perform sort of "limit break" effects. You have four slots to put skills of your choosing, allowing you to diversify your play style, to a certain extent. Wally's Castle The game essentially functions in the usual Kill X, Collect Y, go to Z fashion. You'll acquire your quests in town, and then proceed to the outskirts of town where you create or join dungeon groups. Apart from PvP, all of the action happens in instanced, 4-players dungeons. These are fairly simple, go from point A to point B killing everything in-between, including a boss at the end. Before these, you may choose your preferred difficulty level, as many quests require you to play on Hard or Very Hard. This does not make much of a difference however, barring the time and length of the dungeon, and the difficulty remains fairly tame. A big part of the fun here comes from doing them in a group, as repeating dungeons solo turns them into a chore fairly quickly. The action truly shines in this instance, with flashy moves flying left and right, and bosses often going down to your teammates before you can even lift a finger. The PvP is just as entertaining, and much faster paced! The fighting happens in smaller arenas where you either compete in a free-for-all, or in a team deathmatch in which the objective is to have the best kill count. One strange thing about the action is how resilient the players are. Taking down a player takes a long time due to humongous amounts of hit-points, which tend to make matches longer, and slightly more tiresome than they need to be. I'll From dungeons and PvP, you acquire XP, VP, and coins. The XP is used to level up (Surprise, surprise!), while the VP and coins are used in purchases. The character progression here is fairly fun, as the skill tree allows for slight divergence. Where the real fun starts however, is when you get to choose your progression path, at level 15. As an example, Elsword can become either a Sword Knight, or a Magic Knight, both which use different sets of skills, and have distinct appearances. Items in Elsword are divided in two: most items that carry significant statistics do not have an aesthetic counterpart. This means that if you put on a +30 Melee shirt, it will not physically show up on your character. Instead, your character's appearance is decided by an alternate set of items. What this means is that you can look exactly like you want, without having to sacrifice item stats. Most of these items are acquired by… Ka-ching! Ka-ching is the in-game currency purchased with real money, whose main function seems to be either to purchase some of those appearance items, or utility items. There –is- a certain amount of stat gained from having these appearance items, which can range from being minimal; to being very significant(Some items allow you entirely new abilities, usable during PvP matches). There is a good variety toka-ching items, most certainly enough to keep you interested until new content arrives. Items can be sold in a sort of central, instanced market. You may also perform crafting, though this is not a skill in itself, as simply bring the material to a merchant in order to craft, or enhance an item. One thing must be mentioned about content however; it's that the Korean version currently has –double- the amount of classes this version has, a detail that could make a significant difference in a player's game experience. Final Verdict: Good Overall, this is a good game with a straight focus on flashy action and excellent looking graphics. It has a good pace, sharp action, and a healthy community, but is essentially very similar to Grand Chase,and other side-scrollers. That aside, if you can enjoy Elsword's style and get past the eventual feeling of repetition from the dungeons, then small flaws like strange translations should be no issue to you. So grab up your sword, and fire up your fighting spirit! Screenshots Elsword Online Screenshots 12► Videos Elsword Online Videos Elsword Online Teaser Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links Elsword Online Links Elsword Online Official Site System Requirements Elsword Online Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP / Vista CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3000 MHz / AMD Athlon 64 3000+ RAM:  2 GB HDD: 2 GB Free Graphics Card: GeForce 7600 / ATI Radeon Х1600 Recommended Specification: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 3000 MHz  / AMD Athlon 64 6400+ or better RAM: 4 GB or more HDD: 4 GB or more Graphics Card: GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 4700 or better

Battlestar Galactica Online Posted: 26 Sep 2010 07:57 PM PDT Battlestar Galactica Online is a browser based 3D Sci-Fi MMORPG based on the popular Battlestar Galactica franchise. Play as a Cylon or Human and battle it out in space. Players can explore various worlds, and unlock new weapons, ships, and parts as they progress. Publisher: Bigpoint Playerbase: Medium Graphics: High Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Medium PvP: Faction Based Filesize: N/A Pros: +Based on a popular Sci-Fi franchise. +Great looking graphics powered by the Unity engine. +Plenty of weapons and ship customization options. Cons: -Limited information available. -No release date set. -Some features will cost real cash. -No land based combat. Overview Battlestar Galactica Online Overview Battlestar Galactica Online is a new browser based MMORPG being developed by Bigpoint. Its set during season 2 of the popular TV series and gameplay centers on the ongoing conflict between the Cylons and humans. Like Bigpoint’s Dark Orbit, Battlestar Galactica Online is real-time combat and allows players to purchase various ships and outfit them with dozens of parts. But unlike previous Bigpoint titles, Battlestar Galactica Online was build using the powerful Unity engine which means the game has beautiful 3D graphics that are on par with client based games. Players will be able to get off their ships to explore the BSG universe, but there’s no land based combat component. The game scheduled for release in Fall 2010 and the level cap will be 20. Expect more information on Battlestar Galactica Online in the months ahead. Battlestar Galactica Online Screenshots Battlestar Galactica Online Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Battlestar Galactica Online Full Review Coming Soon… Screenshots Battlestar Galactica Online Screenshots Coming soon… Videos Battlestar Galactica Online Videos Battlestar Galactica Online Teaser Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links Battlestar Galactica Online Links Battlestar Galactica Online Official Site

You are subscribed to email updates from MMO Hut To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610