General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


No BS Podcast #188: Just Joshing

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 02:30 PM PDT

You thought last month's podcast featured a long-lost editor? (It did.) Well, this month's features none other than Returning Champion Josh Norem! Josh joins Deputy Editor Gordon Mah Ung and Texas Editor Nathan Edwards for Episode 188 of the No BS Podcast!

Why's Josh here? Well, he's back, baby. Back on staff, that is. Back to talk about Windows 8, his experience with the Nexus 7, Ultrabooks, cats, Samsung vs Apple (also Apple vs Samsung), and so much more. 

There's some of your standard talk of The Interface Until Recently Known as Metro and Now Probably Just Called Windows 8, Which is Dumb. Also, we've landed a rover on Mars! Not us personally. But us, America. 

Finally: Thunderbolt, high-res IPS panels from Korea, and the correct pronunciation of Asus.

See if you can locate the part of the podcast when Nathan reveals A Terrible Secret.

All this and more, plus an all-new Rant of the Month, in Episode 188!

Computer trouble? A secret to share? Opinions? Need advice? Just need to get something off your chest?  Email us at maximumpcpodcast@gmail.com or call our 24-hour No BS Podcast hotline at 877.404.1337 x1337--operators are not standing by.

 

Ouya Game Console Available to Pre-order, Starts at $109 with Shipping

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:31 AM PDT

Ouya's Kickstarter campaign has come to a close, though not before raising just shy of $8.6 million in non-refundable funding from backers anxious to see this project through. The $99 Android console struck a chord with gamers and promises to deliver a low-cost entertainment experience to the living room comprised of freemium titles and a wealth of media center and streaming functionality, all from a tiny console about the size of a Rubik's Cube. Oh, and it's already available for pre-order.

That's right, you can reserve an Ouya console at Ouya.tv. There's a $10 shipping fee for U.S. customers that brings the price of the console plus a single controller to $109. You can also pre-order the console with two controllers for $139 or with four controllers for $199.

International customers are charged a $20 shipping fee, so the price for the console with one, two, and four controllers is $119, $149, and $209, respectively. Regardless of where you live, Ouya's expected delivery is pegged for April 2013, which is just eight months away.

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Facebook Dodges Fine in Privacy Settlement with FTC

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:11 AM PDT

In a 3-1-1 vote (three approvals, one dissent, and one not participating), the Federal Trade Commission  (FTC) has accepted final terms of a settlement with Facebook to resolve charges that the social networking site engaged in deceptive privacy practices. Terms of the settlement do include a monetary fine, as was the case with Google, which agreed to pay a record $22.5 million penalty to the FTC to settle a different set of alleged privacy violations.

So, what's the point of the settlement? According to the FTC, Facebook is required to take a series of steps to ensure it doesn't stray from best privacy practices in the future. One of these steps includes "giving consumers clear and prominent notice and obtaining their express consent before sharing their information beyond their privacy settings." Facebook also agreed to maintain a comprehensive privacy program to protect its subscribers, and must submit to biennial privacy audits conducted by an independent third party.

The whole thing started in 2009 when consumer advocacy groups accused Facebook of sharing user information that had been set to private. Privacy advocates also took exception to third-party apps on Facebook being able to access personal data.

As was the case with Google, Commissioner J. Thomas Rosch was the sole dissenter primarily because he doesn't believe Facebook (or Google) should be allowed to settle without admitting liability for what it's done. There's no admission of guilt by either company, only a settlement to make the charges go away, and that, according to Rosch, is not in the best interest of the public.

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Acer Backs Down from Surface Warning, Reaffirms Commitment to Windows 8 Tablets

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 09:20 AM PDT

After creating a stir in the media over comments he made to Microsoft warning the company to "think twice" about its Surface strategy, Acer chairman J.T. Wang is now singing a different tune, one that's far less threatening and more accepting to the situation. That doesn't mean Wang is no longer concerned about Microsoft's march in the tablet space, but he did clarify that Acer has every intention of competing with Windows 8-based slates of its own.

Wang still thinks Microsoft's Surface mission will ultimately hurt the PC ecosystem, and since making his previous comments, he's spoken with the Redmond company to discuss his concerns, DigiTimes reports. He also sought to clarify that he's highly excited about Windows 8, and that some of his comments were meant to protect Microsoft from itself and not necessarily as a plea to step out of the way of OEMs.

Microsoft isn't deaf to the pleas of OEMs like Acer and others worried about the company's Surface strategy. One thing Microsoft is considering is making sure there's a large enough price gap between the Surface and competing Windows 8 tablets to lessen the impact of competing with its hardware partners.

Regardless, Wang said he's not afraid of the competition, he just wants to understand the rules of the game and wished Microsoft would have communicated its intentions better at the outset. According to Wang, Microsoft turned from a partner to a competitor seemingly overnight and without warning.

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This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:44 AM PDT

Canon EOS 1DX

What do you get if you combine camera reviews with new mobile phones, TVs, laptops and more? It's the TechRadar reviews section of course, and this week we've been looking at the new 1DX from Canon as well as a smorgasbord of other goodies!

Hands on: Canon EOS 1DX review

If the Canon EOS-1D Mk IV and Canon EOS-1Ds Mk III didn't exist, we would be marveling at the Canon EOS-1DX, it seems a truly fantastic camera. However, the fact that they do exist raises fundamental questions about the concept of the new camera for existing EOS-1 series users.

In the past, Canon has given professional photographers two options depending upon the type of photography they do. A high-speed model (the EOS-1D MK IV) for reportage, sport and action work or a high-resolution model (the EOS-1D MK III) for studio use. The EOS-1DX attempts to address both markets and we look forward to giving a full production sample a thorough test to see if it is up to the job. We hope it is!

BlackBerry Curve 9350

BlackBerry Curve 9350 review

The Curve 9350 is sleek, sexy, and compact. More than once people stopped us to ask what model the phone was, remarking on the exterior design. So RIM proves that you don't have to have an Android or iOS phone in your pocket to go the smart route, but you'll definitely be on the lower end of the coolness scale among your hipster friends with this smartphone.

If your work requires that you be on a BlackBerry, though, or you need an inexpensive but robust little phone to get the job done, the Curve 9350 is worth investigating. While the camera and connection options don't put it on the cutting edge, it should serve you very well as a business and personal device.

Samsung UE46ES7000 review

Samsung UE46ES7000 review

The Samsung UE46ES7000 might be one step down from the top of Samsung's 2012 TV range, but it's got more going on than the majority of flagship sets. For starters, it looks lovely with its impeccably slender bezel and profile. It's also got all the hottest features in town, including 3D support, expansive multimedia playback from either USB flash drives or networked PCs plus, of course, full access to Samsung's beautifully presented and content-rich Smart TV online service.

The Samsung UE46ES7000 is also frequently a spectacular picture performer, serving up glorious amounts of brightness, colour richness and HD detailing, and looking much more vibrant and clear with 3D than most active 3D sets. Pictures can be problematic during dark scenes with your lights dimmed - though so long as you're prepared to sacrifice a lot of the screen's brightness, you can still end up with something very enjoyable.

Audio systems

Audyssey Audio Dock review

Graphics cards

Elgato Game Capture HD review

Keyboards

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover review

Laptops

Dell XPS 15 review

Sony Vaio S Series 13P review

Packard Bell EasyNote TV review

Toshiba Satellite L870-11J review

MSI CX640MX review

Mobile phones

ZTE Grand X review

Huawei Ascend P1 review

Tablets

Asus Transformer Pad Infinity review

Samsung Details 'Exynos 5 Dual' Chip with Better than Retina Display Muscle

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 07:32 AM PDT

Samsung today took the mobile world by storm by introducing its new Exynos 5 Dual SoC (System-on-Chip) manufactured on a 32nm High K/Metal Gate process. It features the world's first ARM Cortex A15 dual-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz and is capable of driving WQXGA (2560x1600) displays, paving the way for a new generation of tablets that trump the much hyped Retina display on Apple's third gen iPad device.

There are plenty of technical details to digest, one of the highlights of which is the quad-core Mali-T604 GPU built into the Exynos 5 Dual. It's better equipped than Qualcomm's Adreno 225 GPU, and in addition to driving better-than-Retina level displays, it also supports stereoscopic 3D and is five times more powerful than previous Mali GPUs.

Samsung's Exynos 5 Dual is a veritable powerhouse across the board. It can pump out 60fps at 2560x1600, is equipped with a 128-bit multi-layered bus architecture, supports 800MHz LPDDR3/DDR3 interfaces for 12.8GB/s of memory bandwidth, has USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gbps controllers, and is littered with APIs like DirectX 11, OpenGL ES 3.0, and OpenCL 1.1.

No products have yet been announced with the Exynos 5 Dual, but we can't wait to see which ones emerge.

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Intel Reportedly Shipping Graphics Free Core i5 3350P Ivy Bridge CPU in Q3

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 06:56 AM PDT

Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) these days are all about combining CPU and GPU functions onto single slices of silicon, but is there still a market for GPU-less processors? Sure there is. After all, peanut butter without jelly is still a tasty snack, as any canine will attest, and if you're rocking discrete graphics or have an IGP motherboard, all you're really interested in is the CPU portion of a processor anyway. To serve those customers, Intel is said to be readying the release of its Core i5 3350P processor, which is an Ivy Bridge chip without graphics.

News and rumor site Fudzilla says the new chip is coming sometime this quarter and will serve as a replacement for the Core i5 2380P, another non-graphics enabled CPU except that it's built around Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture.

The Core i5 3350P part reportedly sports a 3.1GHz base clockspeed and ramps up to 3.3GHz via Turbo. It's a quad-core chip with four threads (no HyperThreading, unfortunately), 6MB of cache, and a 69W TDP. Fudzilla says the new CPU will sell for $187, which is the same price the Core i5 2380P debuted at.

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Incremental Android Update Rolling Out to HTC One X Owners Today

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 06:35 AM PDT

We have both good news and bad news to share with HTC One X owners today. Starting with the former, HTC said it's issuing an over-the-air (OTA) update that will include an upgraded version of Android and an improved Sense experience. So what's the bad news? It's not a Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update, just an improved version of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.4), albeit one that brings with it some neat improvements.

In lieu of all the benefits Jelly Bean could have offered HTC One X owners, for starters the Android 4.0.4 upgrade is supposed to "enhance camera capabilities such as white balance and continuous autofocus." It will also enable the ability to map menu functionality to the 'recent app' key, offer improved tab management with a dedicated tab switching button, increase platform stability, and usher in a handful of tweaks to memory.

Also incoming with the OTA update is a single sign-on feature for Facebook that works across browsers and apps, and unspecified upgrades to Beats audio.

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Blizzard's Authenticators Compromised in Battle.net Hack Attack

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 06:13 AM PDT

Blizzard Entertainment, the company behind the insanely popular World of Warcraft franchise and, more recently, Diablo III, confirmed that it's Battle.net game service suffered a security breach that compromised certain user data. The full extent of the hack attack is still unknown, but at this stage, Blizzard doesn't believe that any financial data was lifted, including credit card info, billing addresses, or real names.

At minimum, a list of email addresses for global Battle.net users living outside of China were compromised in the data breach, Blizzard said in a statement. For players living in North America, cryptographically scrambled versions of Battle.net passwords (but not actual passwords) were taken.

"We use Secure Remote Password protocol (SRP) to protect these passwords, which is designed to make it extremely difficult to extract the actual password, and also means that each password would have to be deciphered individually," Blizzard explains. "As a precaution, however, we recommend that players on North American servers change their password."

While actual passwords may still be safe, Blizzard said the hackers were able to extract players' personal security questions, and were also able to access information relating to Mobile and Dial-In Authenticators. Blizzard stressed that this information alone is not sufficient to access Battle.net accounts.

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Rumor: 'Metro' Branding to be Replaced with 'Windows 8'

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:11 AM PDT

Microsoft recently dumped the name Metro, insisting that it was merely a code name. While the company says that it's now ready to move to a more "commercial" name for Windows 8's typography-based design language, it has yet to announce one. But just because nothing has been announced does not necessarily mean that no decision has been made yet.

According to a ZDNet report citing unnamed sources, Microsoft has decided to replace the word "Metro" with "Windows 8." If this rumored change in nomenclature is indeed real, Metro style apps will be known as Windows 8 apps. Similarly, the Metro user interface will become the Windows 8 user interface. But what about Windows Phone? After all, it too uses the same tile-based interface as Windows 8. Well, the site's sources expect the above naming convention to apply to Windows phone as well.

Judging by the ThinkPad Tablet 2 promo page on Lenovo's site, which uses the phrase "Windows 8 apps" to refer to something distinct from traditional desktop apps, this report does seem to be fairly accurate.

Image Credit: Microsoft

MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com

MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com


Contact Us

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:07 AM PDT

Author – Amit Teli

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:05 AM PDT

Hi, First of all let me Thank You for visiting  Gameforumer.com. My name is Amit Teli, 24 years old, MBA Guy. I am one of the author of Gameforumer.com. This blog strives to bring the best news relating to Video Games, PC Tech, SEO Tips, MMO Releases including relative reviews. I believe the articles you [...]

Gartner: PC Shipments Down in Western Europe, Especially Desktops

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:00 AM PDT

PC doomsayers received a little more ammunition from Gartner today, which announced that PC shipments in Western Europe totaled just 13.6 million units in the second quarter of 2012. That’s a 2.4 percent decline to compared to the same period last year, and it’s mostly due to slagging desktop PC sales, which dropped 12.8 percent [...]

The Evolution Of Ganon

Posted: 09 Aug 2012 11:00 PM PDT

He’s one of gaming’s most recognizable characters and a fan-favorite foil, but how much do you really know about The Legend of Zelda’s iconic villain, Ganondorf? From a demonic pig monster to a powerful warlock, Ganon has undergone a surprising metamorphosis throughout his 26-year existence. This isn't a complete list of every Zelda game featuring [...]

Felicia Day Opens Guild Wars 2 Collector's Edition

Posted: 09 Aug 2012 08:00 PM PDT

Felicia Day who did the voice for Guild Wars 2 Zojja opens Guild Wars 2 Collector’s Edition In unrelated news, pre-orders for Guild Wars 2 increase by 20% overnight, (Just joking but the video probably did help attract some new players)

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates


Contact Us

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:07 AM PDT

Author – Amit Teli

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:05 AM PDT

Hi, First of all let me Thank You for visiting  Gameforumer.com. My name is Amit Teli, 24 years old, MBA Guy. I am one of the author of Gameforumer.com. This blog strives to bring the best news relating to Video Games, PC Tech, SEO Tips, MMO Releases including relative reviews. I believe the articles you [...]

Gartner: PC Shipments Down in Western Europe, Especially Desktops

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:00 AM PDT

PC doomsayers received a little more ammunition from Gartner today, which announced that PC shipments in Western Europe totaled just 13.6 million units in the second quarter of 2012. That’s a 2.4 percent decline to compared to the same period last year, and it’s mostly due to slagging desktop PC sales, which dropped 12.8 percent [...]

The Evolution Of Ganon

Posted: 09 Aug 2012 11:00 PM PDT

He’s one of gaming’s most recognizable characters and a fan-favorite foil, but how much do you really know about The Legend of Zelda’s iconic villain, Ganondorf? From a demonic pig monster to a powerful warlock, Ganon has undergone a surprising metamorphosis throughout his 26-year existence. This isn't a complete list of every Zelda game featuring [...]

Felicia Day Opens Guild Wars 2 Collector's Edition

Posted: 09 Aug 2012 08:00 PM PDT

Felicia Day who did the voice for Guild Wars 2 Zojja opens Guild Wars 2 Collector’s Edition In unrelated news, pre-orders for Guild Wars 2 increase by 20% overnight, (Just joking but the video probably did help attract some new players)

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


CCP secures $20 million in funding for DUST 514

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , ,

CCP secures $20 million in funding for DUST 514
With DUST 514's closed beta just around the corner and an anticipated 2012 release, folks are sure to be hearing more about the shooter that's a ground companion to EVE Online's space game. And to help get the word out, CCP has secured $20 million in funding in the form of convertible bonds raised from Icelandic institutional investors.

Chief Marketing Officer David Reid noted funding will go towards marketing the game's launch. Now that doesn't mean players will see a one-time blitz of promotional advertising; Reid pointed out CCP is able to focus on a more long-term marketing campaign. The funds will also go towards preparing for an IPO. Although the company does not have immediate plans to go public, Reid states that the money allows the company to lay some of the preparatory groundwork so it would be ready if and when the time was right to actually go public.

MassivelyCCP secures $20 million in funding for DUST 514 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: The RIFT project - conclusion

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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You thought I was done with that Nightmare Pranidhi face, huh?  How little you knew.
The RIFT project was a complete and utter failure.

I'd like to say that this was something that I came to conclude very late in the project, but honestly it happened early on. Both Ms. Lady and I knew that the project had failed irrevocably, and while I'd like to think we tried gamely to keep running it as if the project were ongoing, I think we failed even at that. So, yes -- this is a project that ended in failure. But it ended in failure in the best way possible.

Even with that having been said, the project didn't take off in the direction I had hoped and certainly didn't have the results I'd conceived of when I first came up with the project. So it's worth examining what worked, what didn't, and what advice I can give anyone else attempting a similar project in the future. I think it's a worthy idea, but I think that ultimately it just doesn't quite work.

Continue reading Storyboard: The RIFT project - conclusion

MassivelyStoryboard: The RIFT project - conclusion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    TERA lawsuit settled, En Masse maintains innocence

    Posted: 10 Aug 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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    TERA lawsuit settled, En Masse maintains innocence
    According to a report at GamesIndustry.biz, TERA publisher En Masse Entertainment and NCsoft have finally resolved their long-standing feud and settled their lawsuit.

    The lawsuit centered around claims that TERA's Korean developer, Bluehole Studio, stole assets from the in-production Lineage III to create TERA. Three former NCsoft employees at Bluehole were found not guilty in that initial lawsuit, but no verdict has been revealed in this latest legal battle. En Masse stands by its claim of innocence, but recent layoffs at the studio worry players.

    [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

    MassivelyTERA lawsuit settled, En Masse maintains innocence originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    RIFT team calls down the thunder in Storm Legion dev diary

    Posted: 10 Aug 2012 06:30 AM PDT

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    RIFT Storm Legion dev video
    "You are a fantasy character going up against technology that is far beyond you," a Trion Worlds developer cautions in a brand-new RIFT: Storm Legion video. In the span of three minutes, Trion's team attempts to convince you why RIFT's first expansion warrants your sincere and undivided attention.

    The core concepts of the expansion are laid out, from the new continents to the storyline. In fact, consider this your cheat sheet for Storm Legion if you're looking for a tidy and exciting summary.

    The devs also state that this isn't just your same-old, same-old romp through familiar territory. "Instead of more high fantasy, we're getting creatures that people have never even imagined before," promises Design Producer Hal Hanlin.

    Watch the full dev diary after the break and let us know what you think about Storm Legion's prospects in the comments!

    Continue reading RIFT team calls down the thunder in Storm Legion dev diary

    MassivelyRIFT team calls down the thunder in Storm Legion dev diary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Rumor: Greg Zeschuk leaving BioWare [Updated]

      Posted: 10 Aug 2012 06:15 AM PDT

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      Rumor Greg Zeschuk leaving BioWare
      According to a rumor circulating at German games site GamersGlobal, one of the founders of BioWare, Greg Zeschuk, may be leaving the studio he helped create.

      Word of his possible departure has been rumored since the May layoffs, but an EA representative reportedly confirmed to GamersGlobal that Zeschuk "outlined his plan to return to his family in Edmonton for a much deserved vacation." The site also suggested that Zeschuk has been absent from the studio for several weeks, and there were fears within the Austin studio that both Zeschuk and co-founder Ray Muzyka were planning to leave.

      The rep went on to clarify: "Greg also announced the new GM of BioWare Austin and Old Republic, Matt Bromberg. Greg is still with EA. He's now back in Canada, taking time off and thinking about new projects. No change with Ray Muzyka."

      As this is still a rumor at this point, we must note that official confirmation from EA hasn't been made on this report. We will update with any news as it's made available.

      [Update: Gamasutra reports that Zeschuk is not leaving BioWare completely, just his General Manager position back in May.]

      MassivelyRumor: Greg Zeschuk leaving BioWare [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Which closed MMO would probably make it today?

      Posted: 10 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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      The Daily Grind Which closed MMO would probably make it today
      In very few cases does an MMO come back from the dead. APB: Reloaded is the most notable exception to this standard, but I think we can all say that there's at least one closed MMO that we'd like to explore again. Do I need to even say it? OK, Tabula Rasa.

      The fact is, many of the MMOs that closed four or five years ago might actually work in today's MMO environment -- especially with that go-to F2P model.

      So what do you think? Would Motor City Online or Auto Assault appeal to today's crowd of fed-up-with-fantasy MMO players? Would cancelled projects like Mythica or Wish make it with a cash shop and a prayer? Let us know which previously closed MMO you think might just make it today.

      Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which closed MMO would probably make it today? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ArenaNet announces another stress test for Guild Wars 2

        Posted: 09 Aug 2012 09:00 PM PDT

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        Guild Wars 2
        In an ongoing effort to make the Guild Wars 2 servers fit for the teeming masses that will descend upon them at launch, ArenaNet has declared yet another stress test. For those of you who missed out on Thursday's test or just want more time in Tyria, your next chance is this Friday, August 10th, from 7:00 p.m. EDT until 11:00 p.m. EDT.

        Characters will not be wiped before the stress test, and as always, the test is open only to those who have already pre-purchased Guild Wars 2.

        In the announcement of the event, the ArenaNet team reminded fans that they "might experience connectivity problems" and that any such issues "are a result of the rigorous conditions of the stress test, and are in no way representative of the state of the game at launch."

        MassivelyArenaNet announces another stress test for Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The MMO Report: Shoot all the things edition

        Posted: 09 Aug 2012 08:00 PM PDT

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        I know, you were expecting the Hyperbole and a Half picture.  I kind of misled you.
        This week's installment of The MMO Report is about shooting things. Seriously, that's it. Shoot things; shoot all the things all the time. Is there a thing over there? Then guest host John Walsh will probably shoot it because it hasn't been shot yet. This might seem a bit unnecessarily violent, but when the show is focusing on the latest information on both PlanetSide 2 and MechWarrior Online, it's down to either shooting things or placing capital letters in the middle of words.

        Of course those aren't the only two games being highlighted, but the shooting continues even from there. There's material on The War Z, which is all about shooting zombies, and Guild Wars 2, which certainly involves a large number of classes that shoot things. Click on past the break to see the full episode, and tune in again for another installment of The MMO Report from G4TV and Massively.

        Continue reading The MMO Report: Shoot all the things edition

        MassivelyThe MMO Report: Shoot all the things edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Ask Massively: I do not yet have my copy of Persona 4 Arena edition

        Posted: 09 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT

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        Not sure why Mitsuru is cosplaying as the love child of Solid Snake and Commander Shepard, but I'll take it.
        The idea of a traditional 2-D fighting game in the Persona franchise seemed like it was too good to be true, but Persona 4 Arena is an actual thing that exists. Unfortunately, I don't currently have my copy, as I didn't feel like shelling out the extra money for super high-speed shipping on release day. So I'll probably have it soon, but not today. Until then, I can still be happy that Kanji's ultimate attack involves his fist-bumping his Persona. Oh, and Mitsuru's playable.

        Ask Massively, as a whole, does not cover fighting games. Instead, it covers your questions about MMOs or about meta-MMO issues. For example, this week's question is about Massively guilds in games. If you've got a question you would like to see answered in a future installment of the column, mail it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

        Continue reading Ask Massively: I do not yet have my copy of Persona 4 Arena edition

        MassivelyAsk Massively: I do not yet have my copy of Persona 4 Arena edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Funcom offering bonus Secret World cash shop points to tire-kickers

          Posted: 09 Aug 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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          Funcom offering bonus Secret World cash shop points to tire-kickers
          If you took part in The Secret World's free trial last weekend, Funcom has a gift with your name on it should you decide to purchase the game. The firm is offering up 1200 bonus points, which are usable in TSW's cash shop. The only catch is that you'll need to commit before this Sunday, August 12th, in order to claim them.

          You'll also need to spend the points prior to September 30th, and Funcom says that "they can be used to purchase a wide array of social clothing for your character." Full outfit sets will run you 1080 points, whereas individual shirts, jackets, pants, and accessories are anywhere from 225 to 540 points each.

          [Source: Funcom press release]

          MassivelyFuncom offering bonus Secret World cash shop points to tire-kickers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            New Defiance developer diary explains what makes an MMO shooter

            Posted: 09 Aug 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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            The answer is having a lot of people shooting persistently shot stuff.
            If you like playing an MMO but also like shooting things, you may enjoy the gameplay underpinning Defiance quite a bit. The latest developer diary for the game might be answering questions you hadn't asked, however, as it's focused on explaining how the game blends the MMO and shooter genres together into a cohesive whole. But there are still interesting tidbits about the game, including a look at vehicles and character advancement.

            Characters advance partly through the acquisition of powerful new weapons, which is almost a given based on the nature of the game. Weapons are also heavily customizable, with visible differences between stock weapons and customized versions. Players will also be able to acquire points to spend on special abilities of varying types, although points can be swapped into different abilities later on. If you want a more in-depth look at the game, click on past the break to view the full development diary.

            [Source: Trion Worlds press release]

            Continue reading New Defiance developer diary explains what makes an MMO shooter

            MassivelyNew Defiance developer diary explains what makes an MMO shooter originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Blizzard internal network hacked, some Battle.net account details compromised

              Posted: 09 Aug 2012 04:50 PM PDT

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              Blizzard
              Blizzard Entertainment has just posted an "important security update" to its official site. The studio responsible for World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and StarCraft revealed that its security team "found an unauthorized and illegal access" into Blizzard's internal network.

              While Blizzard president Mike Morhaime explains that no financial data (like credit card details, real names, and billing addresses) were compromised as a result of the security breach, he does admit that emails, answers to security questions, and encrypted Battle.net passwords of North American players (and others outside of China) were accessed.

              "Based on what we currently know, this information alone is NOT enough for anyone to gain access to Battle.net accounts," wrote Morhaime, but the company is still investigating the breach and recommends that all players change their passwords "as a precaution."

              MassivelyBlizzard internal network hacked, some Battle.net account details compromised originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              The Guild Counsel: Should MMO studios hold guild summits?

              Posted: 09 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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              The Guild Counsel  Should there be summits
              We're in the thick of game convention season, and with that come the usual panels and discussions aimed at the general playerbase. But in some games, there are organized "guild summits" that pull in handpicked guilds for some amplified feedback and lobbying power over future game design.

              But how much sway should guilds have with game studios? On one hand, they can be helpful lobbying groups for game changes that the bulk of the playerbase wants and would appreciate. On the other hand, not all guilds are the same, and what one guild might want to see in game could be vastly different from the ideas of another guild. Should guilds have special summits with studios? Let's take a look at this topic in this week's Guild Counsel.

              Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Should MMO studios hold guild summits?

              MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Should MMO studios hold guild summits? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                WoW adjusts Scroll of Resurrection for Mists of Pandaria

                Posted: 09 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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                World of Warcraft upgrades its Scroll of Resurrection
                Call it the Scroll of Resurrection 2.0. Blizzard's popular networking recruitment tool is undergoing an upgrade to reflect the changes coming with World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. The scroll is an attempt to encourage players to bring their friends in the game by tempting both parties with faster leveling and free mounts.

                The updated scroll adjusts to the new specialization and talent system in Mists of Pandaria by allowing resurrected (returning) players to pick their new specialization. Talents won't be preselected for those players, however.

                The scroll won't affect the new Monk class, so those hoping for a quick trip to level 80 on a Monk will need to do it the old fashioned way instead. Pandaren characters also need to pick a faction before the scroll's benefits can kick in.

                MassivelyWoW adjusts Scroll of Resurrection for Mists of Pandaria originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Flameseeker Chronicles Extra: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria, part two

                Posted: 09 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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                From Giganticus Lupicus to Guild Wars 2
                Earlier this week we started looking at the history of everything leading up to Guild Wars 2 in what is probably a grave disservice to the lore writers at ArenaNet. When we left off, the Charr and humans were still bickering over Ascalon, players had just saved the world at the end of Prophecies, and there were still some 253 years left before the start of Guild Wars 2. Now it's time for the events from Eye of the North through Guild Wars Beyond and into the present day. This lore overview isn't even pretending to be all-encompassing, but it might help you understand what the dragon nonsense is about and what's going on with the world you're stepping into. Except where events had exceptional impact, we'll largely ignore what's going on in Cantha and Elona, or else we'd need two whole more posts.

                I hope it goes without saying that there are lore spoilers ahead, as well as Eye of the North, Guild Wars Beyond, and companion novel (Ghosts of Ascalon and Edge of Destiny) spoilers. You have been warned.

                Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles Extra: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria, part two

                MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles Extra: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria, part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Riders of Rohan brings new skills, skill tweaks to LotRO Hunters

                  Posted: 09 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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                  Riders of Rohan brings new skills, skill tweaks to LotRO Hunters
                  Turbine has graced us with a new developer diary covering some of the tweaks coming with Lord of the Rings Online's Riders of Rohan expansion.

                  The update is a scant 26 days away, and not only will it bring the addition of the lands of Rohan and mounted combat, but a couple of classes will be overhauled as well. We told you about the Guardian earlier this week, so today it's the Hunter's turn in the spotlight.

                  Several Hunter skills are being improved. Chief among them are Agile Rejoinder and Quick Shot, the former of which will always heal a Hunter with an associated legacy, and the latter of which will reduce threat in spite of its damage output. That's not all, as the class is also receiving a new skill called Cry of the Hunter, which dazes up to six enemies and grants the Hunter a movement speed buff. Read all about it at the official LotRO website.

                  MassivelyRiders of Rohan brings new skills, skill tweaks to LotRO Hunters originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Chaos Theory: How The Secret World has spoiled an MMO vet

                  Posted: 09 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                  Chaos Theory - The Secret World header
                  Well ladies and gents, The Secret World has basically done the impossible: It's turned me into a one-game guy (for the moment, at least). I've been an unfaithful game-hopping MMO tourist for longer than I care to remember, and while F2P has made that gaming lifestyle more affordable than it used to be, it hasn't made it any more fun.

                  Oh sure, I'll dabble in PlanetSide 2 and Guild Wars 2, but as far as my MMO home goes, it's The Secret World by a landslide (at least until ArcheAge heads west). Why is that? Well, plenty of reasons, more than I can relate in this week's column, in fact. I will say this, though: The Secret World's launch feature set has made me a bit pickier in terms of what I'll put up with in competing games.

                  Continue reading Chaos Theory: How The Secret World has spoiled an MMO vet

                  MassivelyChaos Theory: How The Secret World has spoiled an MMO vet originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    The Summoner's Guidebook: Will Korea dominate League of Legends, too?

                    Posted: 09 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                    The Summoner's Guidebook Will Korea dominate League of Legends, too
                    When I first started following the League of Legends pro scene, I was introduced to top teams like Team Solo Mid and SK Gaming. As I watched matches and player interviews, the first thing that came to my mind was this: If Korea fielded a LoL pro team, it would be incredibly scary.

                    When Riot Games added support for Korean League of Legends and OnGameNet began running regular tournaments, I had to check it out. Sure enough, big pro-gaming teams like StarTale and MiG started fielding pro League teams, and most of the things I suspected were true. Korean teams have amazing coordination and incredible mechanics compared to their western counterparts.

                    This was put to the test last weekend during Major League Gaming's LoL Summer Arena, where Korean qualifying team Azubu Blaze utterly destroyed the other teams, losing only once to Curse Gaming. Most of the matches weren't even close. What's the secret to Azubu Blaze's dominance? Can it be reproduced in the West, or is League of Legends going to end up like StarCraft -- dominated by the Korean scene?

                    Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Will Korea dominate League of Legends, too?

                    MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Will Korea dominate League of Legends, too? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      The Secret World's first raid debuts at Gamescom

                      Posted: 09 Aug 2012 10:30 AM PDT

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                      The Secret World's first raid debuts at Gamescom
                      Remember that badass CG trailer for The Secret World that featured four of the game's factional NPCs joining forces to duke it out with a big nasty in the remains of New York City? Well, that might be our first clue about TSW's next update.

                      Funcom's new content initiative continues at next week's Gamescom event as the firm will be releasing details of The Secret World's first raid encounter. According to a report at IncGamers, the raid will "involve a giant monster crawling out of the subway system [and] attacking a partially destroyed New York."

                      We don't know for sure whether the old trailer is related to the new raid, but there are a lot of similarities (including an errant subway car and what looks like the blasted remains of the Big Apple). See for yourself after the break.

                      Continue reading The Secret World's first raid debuts at Gamescom

                      MassivelyThe Secret World's first raid debuts at Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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