General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Alleged Google Drive Screenshot Points to 5GB Free Storage

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 05:44 PM PDT

The mythical Google Drive cloud storage service just keeps getting better and better. Within a few days, the perennially-rumored service has gone from having 1GB of gratis storage space to 5GB. As is the case with most unsubstantiated reports, this latest GDrive rumor is also based on an anonymous tip. But the anonymous source in this case was kind enough to provide some ocular proof. Hit the jump for more.

Earlier this week, TalkAndroid.com published an allegedly leaked GDrive screenshot and claimed that the service would offer 2GB of free space. But now the site has published a new screenshot and retracted its earlier claim, saying it was "completely wrong" about the amount of free storage.  This is because the latest screenshot, which appears to be of a GDrive download page, promises 5GB of free storage.

In its earlier report, the site had also claimed that Google Drive would be releasing during the week beginning April 16, and not in the first week of April as reported by GigaOm's Om Malik. According to the site, the release schedule remains unchanged from what it reported earlier.

Despite Google Drive rumors heating up lately, the reports so far simply aren't consistent enough to elicit true belief. So don't mark your calendars yet.

Image Credit: TalkAndroid

Corsair Vengeance 1500 USB Gaming Headset Review

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 01:51 PM PDT

A pretty impressive second act, literally, figuratively, and audibly

We awarded Corsair's HS1 USB headset a 9 verdict last year, remarking that its huge 50mm drivers, solid and comfortable construction, and $100 price tag added up to a surprisingly good value for a freshman effort. The one element that denied the HS1 a Kick Ass award was its uninspired—nay, downright ugly—industrial design.

Corsair's new flagship USB headset, the Vengeance 1500, retains all the strengths of the HS1 and eliminates nearly all its weaknesses. The Vengeance 1500 packs the same gigantic drivers as its predecessor, providing top-notch sound quality for this price range. The circumaural design and thick, squishy padding make for a tight seal around your ears that isolates you from the pollution of ambient noise.


The Vengeance 1500 sounds every bit as good as Corsair's earlier HS1 USB headset, and it looks a whole lot better.

While it doesn't deliver the level of quality that some higher-end products provide—Sennheiser's PC 333D G4ME, for example—the Vengeance 1500 does provide respectable dynamic range and bass response that's perfectly suitable for both games and movies. And while nothing can compare to an actual surround-sound setup, Corsair does deliver Dolby Headphone. This software algorithm upmixes stereo and 5.1-channel sources to simulate a 7.1-channel speaker system wrapped around your head, delivering better positional awareness than stereo phones are capable of providing.

Build quality as compared to the HS1 has also improved significantly. The struts connecting the ear cups to the headband feature an attractive brushed-aluminum finish, and the cups themselves swivel to lay flat against your chest when the headset is resting on your neck. They might feel odd if you're transitioning from an on-ear headset, but after many extended gaming sessions, we've found the Vengeance 1500 to be one of the most comfortable headsets we've tested. They are quite large, however, so they might not be the right choice if your head is particularly small.

Corsair's HS1 is a solid headset; the only reason we wouldn't recommend it today is that the Vengeance 1500 is even better. If you're looking for a serious gaming headset and can afford to spend 100 bones, you won't go wrong with this one.

$100, www.corsair.com

Plex Media Server Adds DLNA Support In New Beta Build

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 11:24 AM PDT

The Plex media server is purdy, flexible and capable of handling gobs and gobs of metadata, but one major hurdle has been holding it back: relatively skimpy device support. Yeah, you could run Plex on Google TV, some LG products and (starting recently) Roku, but that was about it. That's poised to change with a new beta release that adds support for the widely utilized DLNA protocol.

Theoretically, all supported content should flow easily between all DLNA-compatible devices, but in the real world, manufacturers sometimes handle DLNA streaming differently. To that end, while the Plex beta should be able to send shows, pictures, music to scads of HDTVs, Blu-ray players and home receivers (assuming they're DLNA compatible, of course), Plex has focused its development to deliver the best possible experience on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and WDLive.

As a beta, there's bound to be the eventual bugs, and Plex admits that subtitles aren't quite working just yet. The media server also supports metadata and channels if the receiving DLNA device will accept it. A couple of interesting features have been added to the mix: myPlex queue support allows you prep web videos for watching using a bookmarklet, then stream it to a DLNA device, while the myPlex shared content support lets you play media shared remotely by your buds. We like the way the blog post describes the last shared content support: This is, like, mind-boggling. DLNA isn't supposed to work across the Internet, but with our new server, I get all Obama-like and yell "Yes You Can!"

Interested? Head on over to the Plex downloads page and give the Windows build a whirl. (Be sure to select the beta version with DLNA support, all the way at the bottom of the screen on the right-hand side.) A Linux version is currently wrapping up testing and will be available shortly. This blog post includes all the nitty gritty details about the release

Kickstarter Project Wants To Give Bonobos Language, Wi-Fi Tablets And Watergun-Sporting Robots

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 10:42 AM PDT

Tablets are all the rage these days, with the Apple iPad leading the pack and selling like hotcakes in stores throughout the country. Some of the more cynical Maximum PC readers may snort and say that part of the iPad's appeal is its simplicity; I've heard people comment that even a monkey could find his way around iOS. At least one monkey lover disagrees. Ken Schweller, chairman of the Great Ape Trust in Des Moines, Iowa, wants to slap modified non-Apple tablets in the hands of his hyper-intelligent primate pals to spur communication development. And he needs your help!

That's right, Schweller hopes to fund the development of the custom tablets -- complete with a custom Bonobo Chat app -- through Kickstarter. According to that page and a separate ExtremeTech report, the seven bonobos at the Great Ape Trust already communicate with their keepers using icons on a large, stationary touchscreen monitor. That's just not good enough, Schweller says in his Kickstarter plea:

For communication to be truly effective the apes and the people they interact with need to have personal interconnected keyboards they can carry about with them… All keyboards will be fully connected through the internet and available to their bonobo and human users wherever they are located.

We would like the bonobos to use the Bonobo Chat app to control their environment using simple lexigram commands -  to operate vending machines, open doors, watch movies and, hopefully,  to control robots.  We believe that controlling robots might be a good way for the bonobos to interact with guests and visitors outside their caged areas. They could play chase games or squirt guests with an on board watergun.  They could operate the robot out of site by navigating using an on board camera.

Schweller already has working prototypes of his custom slate, the Bonobo Chat app, and the remote-controlled Bonobo bust-sporting robot, but he's hoping to raise $20,000 by April 15th to continue with the project. Donating at least $25 will nab you the Bonobo Chat app, while more generous backers will receive panels from the laminated keyboards already in use at the facility. Five hundred smackers will get you a one-on-one  Skype video chat with one of the bonobos, using the Bonobo Chat software as a translator.

What better way is there to spend some of your tax return than to fund man-on-monkey communication efforts, especially if said efforts involve tablet-wielding bonobos and robots with squirt guns? You owe it to Darwin to at least give the Bonobo Chat project a read through.

Hulu Plus App Adds Support For 7 New Android Tablets

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 10:11 AM PDT

Universal compatibility is a strong selling point in today's always-connected world; one of the reasons Netflix has spanked its competition (thus far, at least) is because it supports virtually everything out there, with over 800 compatible devices. Hulu Plus isn't quite as entrenched, but it's making good inroads thanks to newfound support for several top Android tablets.

The Play Store-flavored Hulu Plus app previously supported only the Nook Tablet, the Kindle Fire, the HTC Flyer and Vizio's 8-inch slate. This most recent update added compatibility for the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Motorola Xoom, Motorola XYBoard 10.1, Toshiba Thrive, Acer Iconia A500 and LG G-Slate -- many of the major Android tablet players -- and tossed in a redesigned UI, too.

"We've improved the user experience with horizontal "trays" so you can naturally swipe while browsing through TV shows and movies," Rajiv Makhijani and Zachary Pinter wrote on the Hulu Blog. "The pages feature large thumbnails with beautiful visuals to show off your Android tablet's graphical prowess." Holding your finger on a show's image will launch the latest episode, or the oldest unwatched episode if you've already begun sloughing through a series.

Check out the Hulu Plus app on Google Play if you're a subscriber with one of the aforementioned slates. Netflix brought Android tablets into the fold back in October.

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 08:53 AM PDT

Apple TV

The more we play with the Apple TV, and the more Apple updates it with new features and new software, the more we like it. But the problem is that unless you've got at least one Mac or iOS device, it's simply not something you'd want to buy.

This latest version is a perfect example of that. New 1080p features and a new interface will be enough to attract Apple fans, but for anyone else there are simply better, cheaper options out there.

Still though, we've enjoyed our time with it and it's been fun to test it alongside some of Panasonic and Sharp's 2012 TVs this week.

The Sharp in particular offers stunning value for money – so if you're looking for a great home cinema TV on a budget, be sure to check out the review below!

Apple TV

The more we play with the Apple TV, and the more Apple updates it with new features and new software, the more we like it. But the problem is that unless you've got at least one Mac or iOS device, it's simply not something you'd want to buy.

This latest version is a perfect example of that. New 1080p features and a new interface will be enough to attract Apple fans, but for anyone else there are simply better, cheaper options out there.

Still though, we've enjoyed our time with it and it's been fun to test it alongside some of Panasonic and Sharp's 2012 TVs this week.

The Sharp in particular offers stunning value for money – so if you're looking for a great home cinema TV on a budget, be sure to check out the review below!

Apple TV review

Apple TV hasn't changed much in function since the first version emerged in early 2007. But in form, it has changed significantly and this latest release is better than ever. It's really only when you own an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad that owning an Apple TV makes the most sense.

All Apple's devices know how to play nicely with each other, so you can use an Apple TV to mirror the screen of your iOS device and have everything it displays appear on your HD television. But if you don't already own an iOS device, even with the addition of 1080p HD, there's no compelling reason to buy an Apple TV over other media streamers right now.

Toshiba AT200 review

The Toshiba AT200 is a good, solid and delivers everything you'd expect from an Android tablet. However that's all it is - another Android Tablet in an already crowded market. So we can't help thinking that Toshiba has only done half a job with the AT200. It looks great, we love its thin, lightweight and well connected body – but when you get to using it you're not wowed by anything.

Toshiba has made a competitive tablet, a marked improvement on the AT100, and it will certainly give the established dual core Android 3.0 tablets a run for their money. But it's still nothing special.

Sharp LC-60LE636E review

Sharp LC-60LE636E

On paper, the Sharp Aquos LC-60LE636E sounds too good to be true. Being able to get a 60-inch screen from a respected brand for £1,300-2,600/$2,000-4,150 pretty much rewrites the big-screen pricing rule book. The screen isn't nearly as basic with its specification as you might expect either, managing to include extensive picture calibration tools, 100Hz processing, multimedia playback from USB sticks and DLNA PCs, and even a degree of online functionality.

It looks very pretty too, putting to shame the bland plasticky finishes of your typical budget TV. However, tragically much of its excellent work is undone by a single but aggravating flaw: noticeable and distracting backlight consistency during dark scenes.

Panasonic TX-L42ET50B review

Why is Panasonic offering an Edge LED alternative to its plasma TVs? Given that the latter performs peerlessly with 3D and nicely upscales lesser-than-HD sources, the choice of Edge LED is surely all about the innate slimness it brings. There's no doubting the Panasonic TX-L42ET50B's style, but is it over substance?

There's no escaping the fact that this is an expensive TV, despite it being Panasonic's biggest ever Edge LED TV. It may have sacrificed plasma at this living room-friendly size, but its love of active shutter 3D tech refuses to budge. It's a strange move that leaves the Panasonic TX-L42ET50B neither a slim and cheap option nor a high-end home cinema screen, although at its best it's just capable of surviving in either environment.

Intel Xeon E5-2687W review

Intel Xeon E5

By turning cores on but turning overclocking off, this eight-core Xeon is a zero sum game. As expected it's just not cost effective on the desktop, but still puts into question why exactly we don't have a full eight-core desktop processor in the desktop Sandy Bridge E family. One thing's for certain; it's not a technical limitation.

This week's other reviews

Cameras

Hands on: Nikon D800 review

Hands on: Sony Alpha a57 review

Cases

Cooler Master Cosmos 2 Ultra review

BitFenix Raider review

Cooling

Spire Gemini Rev. 2 review

Desktops

Sapphire Edge HD3 review

Sapphire Edge HD3

Zotac ZBox ID80 Plus review

Hard drives

Western Digital My Passport Essential USB 3.0 review

Laptops

Lenovo ThinkPad X220 review

Toshiba Portege Z830-10N review

Monitors

ViewSonic VX2336s-LED review

Philips Brilliance 273P3QPYES review

Tablet accessories

Adonit Jot Pro review

IK Multimedia iRig MIX review

Tablets

Disgo 9104 review

ZTE Light Tab 2 review

Televisions

LG 47LM670T review

Opera Mini 7 Browser Lands on Android; Opera 12 Released, Too

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 07:27 AM PDT

Growing tired of Android's stock browser? With so many alternatives to choose from, there's no reason to be weary with your vehicle of choice for surfing the Web. One of those alternatives is Opera Software's newly released Opera Mini 7 browser, now available as a final, stable build for the Android platform. Opera Mini 7 boasts unlimited Speed Dials, faster performance, and "significant improvements" to language support, including support for Farsi and Arabic, in case either of those are of interest.

"Opera Mini 7 for Android makes browsing faster and panning around sites smoother, thanks to improved hardware acceleration," Opera Software stated in a press release.

The main trick in Opera Mini 7 is data compression. As you surf the Web, Opera Mini 7 "squeezes and jams webpages from the network into your phone," cutting out up to 90 percent of the original data.

In related news, Opera Software also recently released its Opera 12 browser for the desktop. Opera 12 sports improved HTML5 support (including Drag and Drop), CSS3 Animations, and 64-bit builds with Out-of-Process plugins.

Image Credit: Opera Software

Gainward Launches Cool and Quiet GeForce GTX 680 Phantom

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 06:57 AM PDT

We're starting to see some unique twists on Nvidia's recently launched GeForce GTX 680 graphics card, including a model from Gainward that's been outfitted with the company's new Phantom II cooler. According to Gainward, the new and improved Phantom II cooler offers better thermal performance, runs quieter, and is more structurally sound than the previous generation Phantom.

The Phantom II consists of two "Great" (GR8) 8cm PWM fans nestled underneath a giant heastink with modified fins and five "Grand Prix" heatpipes. What this all adds up to is a cooling solution that's 7.8 dB quieter and 60 percent cooler in 2D and idle mode, and 11.5 dB quieter and 6C cooler when processing a heavy 3D load, Gainward claims.

With all that additional cooling and noise control, Gainward opted to overclock the GPU to 1,150MHz and the 2GB of GDDR5 memory to 3,150MHz (6,300MHz effective). The card also boasts "QuattroPorts," Gainward's fancy way of saying it has a DisplayPort, two dual-link DVI ports, and an HDMI port.

No word on when the Phantom II equipped GTX 680 will be available or for how much.

Product Page

Image Credit: Gainward

RIM Gets Riled Up Over Reports It's Ditching the Consumer Market

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 06:23 AM PDT

Like Mark Twain's false death report (before he actually died), Research In Motion insists that the media has it all wrong and that supposed plans to exit the consumer market have been greatly exaggerated. The confusion came after RIM CEO Thorstein Heins addressed a shaky financial report (PDF) in which the company reported a loss of $125 million for the quarter ending March 3, 2012.

"We plan to refocus on the enterprise business and capitalize on our leading position in this segment," Heins said in a conference call to media on Thursday. "We believe that BlackBerry cannot succeed if we tried to be everybody's darling and all things to all people. Therefore, we plan to build on our strength."

Many media outlets understandably took that to mean RIM is exiting the consumer the market to focus entirely on its enterprise customers, but Patrick Spencer, RIM's managing director of Global Sales and Regional Marketing, told Pocket-line.com the claim is "wholly inaccurate."

"While we announced plans to refocus on efforts on our core strengths, and on our enterprise customer base, we were very explicit that we will continue to build on our strengths to go after targeted consumer segments," Spencer clarified to Pocket-lint. "We listed BBM, as well as the security and manageability of our platform, among these strengths."

RIM has struggled to compete in the consumer market as competition from Android, iOS, and even Windows Phone ramps up. RIM's revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 was $4.2 billion, down 19 percent from $5.2 billion in the previous quarter, and down 25 percent from $5.6 billion in the same quarter one year prior.

Image Creidt: Flickr (BestBoyZ GmbH)

Google Plans to Sell Co-Branded Android Tablets Directly to Consumers

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 05:52 AM PDT

Borrowing a strategy from Apple and Amazon, Google is said to be opening an online storefront to sell tablets directly consumers. Google's reasoning in doing so is to help Android capture a larger share of the tablet market, which is currently dominated by Apple's iPad line. You may recall that Google tried this approach with the Nexus One smartphone built by HTC, but this time around, Google plans to sell more than just one device.

Citing "people familiar with the matter," The Wall Street Journal says Google won't be manufacturing the devices it sells, leaving that up to partners like Asus and Samsung, though the ones it does sell are likely to be co-branded. In other words, you won't see Google pushing the Transformer Prime, but you might see a line of Nexus One tablets.

One thing that's important to remember here is that Google acquired Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. It's very likely Google will offer Motorola tablets in its online store, WSJ says, though Asus figures to have a prominent role in this venture as well.

MMO News

MMO News


Look inside Divina’s Creature Tome

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 09:39 AM PDT

Some games would argue that being the greatest fighter involves trapping creatures within hand-held containers, but Divina has a different approach. Instead of relying on an army of animals to be successful in battle, players can study the creatures around them, and eventually gain the ability to imitate both their skills and their physical form.

It's all thanks to a little system known as the "Creature Tome."

Players gain access to the mysterious tome (denoted by a magnifying glass icon) after completing a quest at level 11. From then on, whenever you defeat certain Demons (not all Demons are tome-worthy) within each territory, you'll be considered "researching" them. Research enough Demons and you'll gain access to their abilities and special rewards.

Take the Emerald Draco for example.

50379  420x310 divina ct02

Who's that Demon?

Before you fight an Emerald Draco, your Creature Tome will be blank. You may be able to see Emerald Dracos nearby, but until you're fighting one face to face, you're not able to fully research them.

After fighting your first Emerald Draco, your Creature Tome will gain a new entry and one of the question marks will be replaced with the Emerald Draco's handsome mug.

50380  420x310 divina ct03

That's one down, 69 to go…

The bar on the Demon's picture shows your research progress. The percentage after the first kill will give you an idea of how many Demons you'll need to kill before research is complete. In this case, it's going to take about 70 Emerald Dracos to complete its entry. This number will vary depending on the type of monster (normal, boss, etc.). Thankfully, some of the sub boss and instance boss Demons only require a few kills to complete their research.

Yes, that's right, you can turn into an instance boss and decimate those hard-to-kill monsters or strut through town like the BAMF you are. But let's get back to our dragon…

50381  420x310 divina ct04

Congratulations. You now have a PhD in Emerald Draco.

Once you've completed researching a particular Demon, its Demon card and a message will appear, and the Creature Tome entry will change.

50382  420x310 divina ct05

I've always wanted to be big, green and scaly.

You'll see two new buttons in place of the progress bar. Clicking the magnifying glass will bring up a larger (and sometimes more detailed) view of the Demon's artwork, while clicking on the silhouette will transform you into the Demon by using a skill called "Mimicry."

Keep an eye on the Mimicry descriptions – transforming into some Demons will actually grant you their most powerful skills!

Filling each Creature Tome section may seem tedious, but it's actually designed to work in conjunction with each of the quests you'll receive in that particular area. So while you're trying to exterminate x number of Emerald Dracos for the local Demon Hunter, the total amount killed still counts toward your Creature Tome research.

50383  420x310 divina ct06

Bingo!

Each Creature Tome section offers three rewards – two for completing research on three Demons in a row (across, down, or diagonally) and one for completing all research within a given section. For example, in the Predators' Den section, the first connection will net you Splendid M-Gem (increases chance of creating weapons with embeddable items), the second connection will grant you a chest with mystery items inside, and full completion will grant you a raw stone good for increasing the stats on a Divine Wheel core. The rewards offered will vary from location to location, but they'll usually include one-of-a-kind or rare items.

Killing monsters to complete quests is certainly nothing new in games, but with Divina's Creature Tome, your grinding is not only rewarded with the usual EXP and loot, but with new forms, abilities, and unique items as well.

50384  420x310 divina ct07

Clever girl…

…Besides, who doesn't like walking around town as a giant dragon?

 

Find out more about Divina on our preview page, and stay tuned for more exclusive looks into this new game from Gamania (beanfun)!

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates


Bloodline Champions MMO Review

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 06:13 AM PDT

Bloodline Champions is a 2D fantasy arena based MMO where up to ten players per match can battle it out. Work together and defeat the opposing team in one of three game modes. Bloodline Champions is a fast paced, PvP oriented game that promises plenty of bonus features like a map editor.

 

 Bloodline Champions MMO Review

 

Publisher: Funcom
Playerbase: Medium
Graphics: Medium
Type: MMO
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: Arena / CTF / Conquest
Filesize: ~ 230 mb

Website: http://www.bloodlinechampions.com/

Pros: + Over 16 unique heroes. +Three game modes. +Fast paced, team oriented combat. +Original gameplay style. +Low system requirements and small client size.

Cons: -Repetitive gameplay. -Access to full range of heroes and features requires payments & subscription.

 

Bloodline Champions is a team based PvP MMO where two teams of up to five players on each side battle it out on various arenas. Gameplay in Bloodline Champions is fast paced and the controls are very similar to those found in a FPS. Besides being team oriented, the game is also highly skill based. There are no critical hits, minimum/maximum damage ranges, or other random elements. Each hero (called a champion) has its unique set of skills and victory is determined by proper teamwork and execution. While the game will be free to play, free users will only have access to 4 heroes at a time. Access to the full set of features and hero roster will require one-time purchases and a premium subscription.

Healing Champions - Alchemist, Psychopomp, Herald, Astronomer

Ranged Champions - Igniter, Gunner, Nomad, Engineer

Tank Champions - Glutton, Vanguard, Inhibitor, Thorn

Melee Champions - Harbinger, Spear Master, Ranid Assassin, Ravener

 

 

 Bloodline Champions MMO Review Bloodline Champions MMO Review Bloodline Champions MMO Review

 

Bloodline Champions Requirements

Minimum:

Intel Pentium 3.2 GHz CPU (or AMD equivalent)

Nvidia or AMD/ATI video card with 128MB RAM and Shader Model 3 support (GeForce 6000 series or ATI HD2000 series)

1GB RAM on Windows XP, 2GB of RAM on Windows Vista/7

Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Vista or 7

Direct Sound audio device

*ATI X1000 series has limited support

Recommended:

Dual Core CPU

Nvidia or AMD/ATI video card with 256MB RAM and Shader Model 4 support (GeForce 8000 series or ATI HD2000 series)2GB RAM

Windows XP, Vista, or 7 (with full service packs and updates)

Direct Sound audio device

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Dragon Blade (CN) – NetEase reveals Game

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 03:38 AM PDT

a7951 dragon Dragon Blade (CN)   NetEase reveals Game

China’s number 2 MMO company, NetEase, finally revealed Game-X’s name, which is Dragon Blade. Supposedly to be used to counter Tencent’s upcoming Blade Soul, Dragon Blade is self-developed by NetEase using an in-house graphics engine, Next-B. Touted as being much more advanced than most 3D engines, every detail down to direction of sunlight streaming in a dense forest is impeccably processed. Of course, other models such as buildings, characters etc are included as well.

The overall visuals is said to give players a near-CG feel. Another feature will be HDR, which means High Dynamic Range imaging (link). You can read more about this technology in the link provided, as it is really too technical for me to summarize. NetEase has taken the unusual step of showcasing the game in all its in-game glory, and that really pleases me. Enough of lame CG trailers!

d6689 1 Dragon Blade (CN)   NetEase reveals Game

63eb6 2 Dragon Blade (CN)   NetEase reveals Game

Combat will be non-target action (Yeah!!!) and movement combat is supported on a 360 degrees scale (screw TERA). According to the current development plan, mobs will have 6 different parts for players to attack, including the head, left body, right body, chest and back. Each part when damaged to a certain level will cause that mob to have a specific negative effect. At the same time, players’ attack damage, distance, weapon type will cause different effects such as stunt, knock back and knock down.

Getting a tiny bit of inspiration from PlayStation 2′s hit game, Shadow of the Colossus, there will be HUGE boss monsters which will be a thousand times bigger than each player. Teams will have to scale up these monsters from their foot to attack their vital parts. Other features include open PvP, castle siege, PvP arenas and more. Currently still in development phase, I can’t wait to see some BAM ass-kicking footage soon!

4e5a8 dragonblade Dragon Blade (CN)   NetEase reveals Game

Find similar article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/03/dragon-blade-cn-netease-reveals-game-x.html

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New Look on Gameforumer.com

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 01:31 AM PDT

Hello Dear Gamers,

Its again been a long time since you have heard something from us, we were constantly working to improve our beloved “Gaming and MMO Blog“.

We feel happy to let you know that, we have made many changes since the last move/transfer from our last webhost and one of them is the new look that “Gameforumer.com” is on, with many features like Facebook Connect and more.

Check out the new features…

If you have any query or suggestions, you are free to contact us on “admin@gameforumer.com” or our staff “staff@gameforumer.com”

Thanks and Regards,
Admin and staff of Gameforumer.com

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Warhammer 40,000 MMO now single-player

Posted: 29 Mar 2012 09:38 PM PDT

88a01 dark Warhammer 40,000 MMO now single player

[Source] It seems like even a giant like THQ is dying a slow death. The company just announced that the upcoming Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium MMO will now move forward as a single-player title. Amidst this abysmal news, a total of 118 employees were laid off, with 79 full-time employees let go at Vigil Games in Austin and another 39 employees at Relic Entertainment.


Find similar article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/03/warhammer-40000-mmo-now-single-player.html

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Battlefield 3′s Unlockable ‘Shortcuts’ a Divisive Subject

Posted: 29 Mar 2012 09:38 PM PDT

 Battlefield 3s Unlockable Shortcuts a Divisive Subject

The latest update for Battlefield 3 is now here, bringing with it numerous improvements, changes, and features, one of which is not sitting well with some players.

Many of the improvements to the PC version do appear to be good things. The commo rose now handles better and has new options, most notably the ability to call out for ammo, health, or repairs at any time. Gone are the days of desperately looking around for a medic when badly in need of health, which I can’t say I will miss. Other additions: jeeps now have horns to help alert teammates you’re trying to pick up; helicopter pilots are now better rewarded for flying well; the SOFLAM is effective even when you’re not controlling it; suppression bonuses are easier to earn; all players have IR flares from the start to help them succeed as pilots; and the minimap has been improved. That still leaves a number of issues unaddressed, but these all strike me as changes for the better.

Seemingly hidden at the bottom of a blog post outlining the update’s features is a mention of “shortcut items.” Battlefield: Bad Company 2 players will remember these from when they were introduced alongside the Onslaught downloadable content in mid-2010: Put simply, they are DLC packs that can be purchased (with real-world money, mind you) in exchange for access to unlockables (weapons, specializations, etc.) you would otherwise have to play through the game to earn. These are being reintroduced for Battlefield 3 on PC; you can now browse your way on over to Origin and find ten different shortcut packs ranging in price from $4.99 up to $39.99, the latter of which includes all of the unlocks found in the other bundles.

It’s one thing to see something like this in a free-to-play game such as Battlefield Heroes or Play4Free. Those are free games where the developer is hoping players will want to spend money whether it be on a new weapon, a cosmetic item, or some other kind of bonus. It’s different when the game in question is of the more traditional variety, as evidenced by the reaction many players have had to this news.

I’m personally of two minds about this; on one hand I can see how this option is beneficial to new players and those who have less time to play but want to experience things they wouldn’t be able to without devoting time they don’t have to the game. At the same time, I can’t blame players who have worked hard to access those unlockables and are now mad a new player can drop a few dollars and have access to the same armament as them. A gun that I didn’t have access to until after two dozen hours of playing suddenly being wielded against me by someone in their second match is not a scenario that has me keen on jumping back into the game.

While many readers are upset with the addition, not all of them are — perhaps because Bad Company 2′s shortcut DLC took the edge off to some extent. That was the case for Ryuken1106, who said the BF3 news wasn’t a surprise. “I don’t think it’ll really imbalance it as far as I know (not that I’m an expert on the topic),” he wrote on the boards. “They’ll have the same weapons as those with all of them, sure, but some of the beginning weapons are just as good. It’ll be their skill level that determines how [good] they are with the weapons… the players who’ve played to unlock the weapons will [be better with them] than players who bought them all. In the long run, they’ll get the weapons anyway and I don’t see the later weapons as a lot better (since they all have pros and cons), so it should be as if nothing changed (except for EA getting more money).”

In agreement with him was zma1013, who wrote, “It doesn’t bother me. I’ve played and have unlocked nearly everything in the game and I had fun doing it; of course, I’ve also played a crapload of hours that I know other people just don’t have to spare. It’s good for people that want to try guns with different attachments without having to devote their whole life to the game.”

Over on Facebook, Benjamin Bourjois said he’s one of the people who got some use out of the shortcuts in Bad Company: “I for one was glad as I got into the game late so it allowed me to avoid the grind for weapons playing against everyone who had magnum ammo. It’s perfect for noobs.”

 Battlefield 3s Unlockable Shortcuts a Divisive Subject

“I don’t see why everyone has a problem with it,” Gary Colbert said. “If people are too lazy to unlock stuff by themselves and they just want it all at once, they can pay for it. This isn’t CoD; it takes more than a day to unlock everything in BF3. This also isn’t CoD where there are a s*** ton of overpowered weapons (if any, I haven’t been killed by anything I would consider to be ‘overpowered’), so people having guns without earning them isn’t like giving them an advantage over everyone else. If they are bad at the game they will still get run over regardless of the weapon in their hands.”

Mikhail Floyd sees the shortcuts as potentially being useful to those who go from playing on one platform to another. “Well, let’s say for example you’re an Xbox convert to PC like me, and you’ve already unlocked your favorite guns and attachments but now you have to unlock them all over again as well as pay for the extra game,” he wrote. “So, based on the fact that I got Battlefield for like $35 on Origin a couple weeks ago, adding a few bucks to get the stuff I already have on Xbox doesn’t really bother me. It’s a big help in my case.”

One might suggest EA, with its EA Account system that seems to provide little benefit to gamers in many cases, should provide access to your profile (and all of its associated unlocks) regardless of the platform you’re playing on. But if gamers are willing to pay for a shortcut like this, it’s easy to easy to see why EA, from a business standpoint, would not be in a rush to provide such functionality.

Even with this surprising amount of optimism, there were many others who found this practice objectionable and were happy to shout about how this is another sign that EA is nothing more than a money-grubbing publisher.

“This is pathetic,” Eric Sauerborn put it simply, drawing a lot of agreement. Josh Littell added, “It’s EA.. It’s only about $$$ with them. That’s why BF3 is all but dead in [the] competitive gaming scene.”

I don’t believe these unlocks necessarily give someone an advantage, but not everyone agrees. Shane McGary wrote, “[This] gives inexperienced players the advantage over people who earned it. It’s another money mongering move made by EA, and to be honest this move makes Activision look like a charity.” El Pinche Rafa also sees this as an indication of greed: “Money, money, money is all videogame companies care about now… Can’t wait to get the new Moneybox 720 Moneystation 4 to play Call of Money: Money Warfare 4, Medal of Money Moneyfield 4.”

Justin McFarland believes there may be some hypocrisy among those hating on the concept. “This is where everyone gets mad and say that this is horrible and that EA is just being greedy (surprise!) but then turn around and buy everything up the next day,” he said.

Francisco Duarte voiced his surprise over the shortcuts not being available at launch. As Bad Company 2′s also came months after release, I’d like to think that is actually by design. Both myself and 1UP community man J Kartje worried these shortcuts may be included in the next Battlefield right from the start. Even if we accept that unlockables don’t provide an advantage on their own, I don’t like the idea of facing off against players with access to more weapons, attachments, and perks at launch because they purchased some DLC. If it comes months down the line, so be it. For now, I remain hopeful, perhaps foolishly, that shortcuts won’t be in place at launch for the next Battlefield.

Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/news/battlefield-3-unlockable-shortcuts-divisive

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BioShock Vita Still Very Early, Development Could be Handled Externally

Posted: 29 Mar 2012 06:13 PM PDT

 BioShock Vita Still Very Early, Development Could be Handled Externally

Irrational Games’ Ken Levine had two surprises to share when he took to the stage during Sony’s E3 press conference in June. BioShock Infinite will support PlayStation Move and a new BioShock game is being developed for Vita. Although several months have passed since then, development on the Vita game hasn’t progressed far, and it’s not a guarantee that Irrational will even develop the entire game internally.

Speaking with Joystiq, Levine described the game as being “in the paper design stage.” Confirming what he said in June, the idea is still to create a brand-new game for Vita as opposed to porting the original BioShock or Infinite to the handheld, although “things can change.”

“I think for us, the idea we have is a really good expression on a platform like that [Vita],” he explained. “It’s a different goal. And it has to sort of have its own voice in the franchise. If it just feels like a quieter voice in the franchise, I don’t think that works. For us.”

Because of the relatively small size of Irrational, it’s difficult to devote a large enough team to work on the new game with Infinite still in the works. It’s a possibility that Irrational could opt to allow a separate developer to handle development of the Vita game — discussions have taken place — but Levine wants to ensure the quality of the game is up to par with previous Irrational titles. In other words, don’t expect any decisions to be made that are, well, irrational.

Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/news/bioshock-vita-early-development-handled-externally

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Wakfu Review

Posted: 29 Mar 2012 03:38 PM PDT

Contrary to what you may think, Wakfu isn't some deliberately bad (or 'wack') sequel to 1994 beat em up Shaq Fu starring Shaquille O Neal. Wakfu is a lot more elegant and competent than that.

It's an isometric strategy MMORPG developed by Ankama games, best known for another MMO Dofus (not 064e7 321945 200x150 Wakfu Reviewdoofus). Wakfu is set in the same universe as that game, albeit a thousand years later.

The plot revolves around an Ogre from the time of Dofus, called (appropriately enough) Ogrest. Due to tragic circumstances in Wakfu's predecessor, he sits atop a mountain, weeping constantly for 1000 years.

This is where your character comes in, tasked with ending Ogrest's plight, once and for all. To be honest, the plot isn't the game's strongpoint.

Nothing is ever really dealt with in any great detail, meaning your connection to the world will be based not so much on an overarching narrative, but with how charming you find the whole thing.

Luckily, Wakfu is exactly that, and is actually pretty funny in places, never taking itself really seriously. It also helps that the hand drawn sprite based art style is absolutely bloody lovely, and a real breath of fresh air.

Of course this being an MMORPG, you'll be choosing and creating your own characters with their own classes and abilities. There are 12 to choose from. Iop's heart for instance, is a warrior class, favouring physical attacks, spells and strategies.

Eniripsa's Hands meanwhile are the healer class. Each class has a sizable number of spells. 15 of them are elemental (Iop's Heart class characters can choose from fire, wind and earth based attacks for instance), 5 are specific to the class, and 5 are passive.

These spells all level up over time, based on how often you use them rather than how you level up yourself, which gives a palpable, satisfying sense of progression, though it does feel rather too grindy at times.

Obviously, combat is the main crux of the game. Wakfu utilises a turn based approach. You choose your enemy with a simple left click, and one dramatic change in music later, you're engaged in mortal combat with your quarry.

You need to choose where to place your character relative to his opponent(s). Obviously facing them head ond66a7 321946 200x150 Wakfu Review is all well and good, but the sneaky among you will try and place your character either behind or to the side, resulting in better damage and a quicker fight. It's a fun system, not too mired in tedious micromanagement, yet deep enough at times to get you thinking about your placement or spells.

The thing is, there's a lot more going on in Wakfu than just combat. Player characters need to maintain the environment, acting as nature's enforcers, hunting wildlife when it's getting too crowded, or repopulating it, which is done by harvesting.

This'll endear you to certain NPCs granting you bonuses, as well as affecting your progression throughout the game. You'll also have the chance to get involved in the politics of the world by joining nations, moving up the political ranks, depending on what you do for a specific nation.

The P2P seems well implemented. Obviously you can team up with other players from around the open world, but you can also duel with them, as it utilises a consensual battle system.

Should you decide you're not butch enough to engage in battle with a fellow human you can politely decline. Only subscribing players can set up guilds though, and it seems that free to play players are unable to join, so any longevity seems to depend on whether or not you're willing to pony up the dough for a subscription.

Despite being a bit of a grind on occasion, as well as locking some major features behind its subscription, Wakfu feels like a breath of fresh air in the MMO genre, and is well worth looking at. It's charming, very pretty and there are more boring ways to spend a few evenings. It ain't wack, fools (sorry). 7/10

Find similar article at: http://www.totalpcgaming.com/mmorpg/wakfu-review/

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Puzzle Bobble Online (KR)

Posted: 29 Mar 2012 09:38 AM PDT

a9ae4 puzzle Puzzle Bobble Online (KR)

A sad news emerged from the Korean MMO scene today, which is Neowiz Games closing down Puzzle Bobble Online just 8 months after Open Beta. The game was first announced at G*Star 2010 to a huge pop (link). While Neowiz Games claim the game was not able to attract the number of mass players expected due to its light-casual theme, I will have to put the blame on the company itself.

Neowiz Games and its MMORPG platform, Pmang, are more heavily geared towards young male teens with their online shooters and action titles, hence little effort and fund was placed to market Puzzle Bobble Online. Neowiz Games will still be hosting new casual games, such as the upcoming fishing one, but I foresee an epic fail as well…

Find similar article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/03/puzzle-bobble-online-kr-closing-down.html

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PS4 May Join Xbox Successor in Restricting Used Games

Posted: 29 Mar 2012 09:38 AM PDT

 PS4 May Join Xbox Successor in Restricting Used Games

The PlayStation 4 is widely believed to be between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half years away, meaning it may still be more than a year before any official details make their way out. Yet we’re already hearing some preliminary information about Sony’s next home game console, including details which will not be welcomed by those who value the ability to buy, sell, and trade used videogames.

As digital content has become more commonplace, games have increasingly become non-tradable commodities. Anything purchased through Steam is yours forever; even if you never play a game you’ve bought (unless it’s purchased as a gift), it is linked to your account for good and cannot be borrowed or sold. Digital games on consoles, whether they be from the Xbox Live Arcade, Wii Virtual Console, or PlayStation Network are also permanent purchases. The same can be said for app purchases on iOS or Android, and this extends beyond games to digital music and movies acquired through iTunes or Amazon.

But physical games have, much to the chagrin of some publishers and developers, continued to remain free of such restrictions. Online passes restricting access to certain features in used games without an additional purchase have made some used games less desirable, but generally speaking the core experience a game provides can still be passed on from person to another without any fuss.

Gamers were understandably taken aback when it was reported that the Xbox 360′s still-unannounced successor would feature copy protection disallowing the use of secondhand games in some capacity. There are those in the games industry who have long despised the sale of used games — through GameStop in particular, a retailer accused of pushing used games that the publishers don’t get a cut of ahead of new games — but aside from the specific restrictions placed upon them through online passes, gamers have been free to trade and sell their physical games as they see fit.

There was some skepticism Microsoft would implement such a restriction because of the idea gamers would respond by flocking to Sony’s new, used-game-playing system. But if a new Kotaku report is accurate, the PlayStation 4 — code name Orbis — won’t be a bastion for used game players, either.

Describing the information as having come from a reliable source who “has shared correct information with us before,” Kotaku reports the system is currently set to be equipped with an AMD x64 processor and AMD Southern Islands GPU which would allow it to output at a resolution of 4096×2160. (1080p, for comparison’s sake, is 1920×1080.) It would also be capable of handling 3D games at 1080p, a notch above the PS3′s limit of 720p for 3D gaming. Early dev kits are said to already be in developers’ hands in preparation for a launch during the holiday 2013 season.

But the most eye-catching detail is that Sony, too, will allegedly become more averse to letting gamers play used games. The system will reportedly offer games in two ways, similar to the setup on Vita: They can be purchased on Blu-ray or as downloads through the PlayStation Network. Downloads would be locked to your PSN account, as would any disc-based games you purchase. Doing so in the latter case would enable you to save the game to the system’s hard drive or download it from PSN later, which does admittedly sound convenient.

91043 834 PS4 May Join Xbox Successor in Restricting Used Games

It gets more restrictive from there, and it’s not just used games which are largely being given the cold shoulder. Backwards compatibility, a feature which was available on PS3 for PS2 games before it was stripped out in later revisions of the system, would be gone from the start. It was not mentioned, but it’s possible PS3 games could be made available for download on PSN, again mirroring the situation we see on Vita where physical PSP games cannot be played but certain digital games can be transferred to or purchased on the new system.

Whether you opt to download or purchase games at retail, going online would be a requirement. Even with games on discs, connecting to the Internet would be necessary for making use of them which, as Kotaku notes, is something PC gamers are already accustomed to. This is potentially a big sticking point, as requiring an Internet connection to make use of any game could make the system unusable by a certain demographic. And if the Xbox 360′s successor employed a similar scheme, it could mean that those without Internet will have a much more limited selection of game systems to choose from next generation.

Despite how it may sound, the source suggested these new restrictions would not completely eliminate the ability to buy and sell used games. Doing so would simply yield a much more limited experience, though details were not forthcoming on exactly how this would work.

From the sound of it, this would essentially be an online pass for all physical games built in at the system level. Many publishers would surely be pleased, particularly if it saved them the trouble of having to implement an online pass themselves. Ubisoft may have been able to avoid making Driver: San Francisco‘s online pass free if the system had not been in their hands to botch up. Then again, for all we know, PS4 game buyers would still be forced to input a code to prove they purchased a new game and situations like Driver’s could still arise.

GameStop CEO Paul Raines recently cast doubt on the possibility of the next Xbox (or any system) blocking used games. He may be right, but probably only in so far as used games will be playable, just in very limited fashion. A great deal of the company’s business is derived from the sale of used games, so it’s easy to understand why Raines would take such a stance. Hardware and new software sales don’t present the high margins secondhand games do and GameStop would like to keep things the way they are.

While many publishers and developers have come out against the sale of used games, there is a case to be made that their effect is not as detrimental as opponents would have you believe. It’s entirely possible that someone buys and sells only used games, never spending a dollar that ends up in the hands of those who made them. On the other hand, a used game may be sold in order to get money to spend on a new game. Alternatively, a used game may be purchased that introduces someone to a new franchise. That person then purchases downloadable content for that specific game (with the money going right to the publisher) and, when a sequel comes along, he or she is compelled to purchase a new copy at launch before buying DLC for it, too. This may not happen in every situation, but just as is the case with piracy, a used game sale cannot be directly chalked up to a lost sale and nothing more.

Keep in mind none of this used game talk is confirmed; it’s possible Sony and Microsoft are considering such functionality but will ultimately opt against it. But if they do not, we’ll get the chance to see if all of those gamers who were angry with this news when it first surfaced in January are serious about not buying a platform that inhibits the use of secondhand games.

Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/news/ps4-xbox-restrict-used-games

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DK Online (KR)

Posted: 29 Mar 2012 06:13 AM PDT

532be dk1 DK Online (KR)
First revealed a few days back, DK Online is the latest PvP and war themed MMORPG to hit the Korean market. The first tile of developer RPG Factory, DK Online’s debut trailer was posted a few hours back. The trailer features the first 4 classes of the game, Warrior, Paladin, Sorceress and Warlock. The first beta test is expected to start early next month, with a novel related to the game’s lore said to be in the works as well.

Find similar article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2011/10/dk-online-kr-trailer-debuts.html

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