General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

Daily Deals: 9/4/2012

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 03:21 PM PDT

Sponsored by Logic Buy

Our sponsors over at LogicBuy have compiled a list of daily deals for the Maximum PC reader looking for great gadgets on a budget. This promotion should help you find that diamond-in-the-rough special you were looking for. Today's deals are as follows:

HP's on-sale monitor

Top Deal

Our featured top deal of the day is the HP x2301 23 inch Diagonal LED Monitor. Normally priced at $249.99, the 23inch LED monitor is currently selling for $179.99 with free shipping. This is $70.00 (28%) off the regular price. At only .39 inches deep, the monitor is quite thin. In terms of compatbility, the x2301 supports VGA, DVI-D and HDMI connectivity. The monitor supports up to 1920x1080 resolution and features a 3ms response time.  

The rest of the daily deals include: 

Intel Experiments with Oil Immersion Cooling Technology

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:04 AM PDT

Dipping PC parts into a vat of oil sounds scary at first, but it's actually a great way to cool components, and surprisingly safe to boot. You may recall that back in 2008, we played with an oil immersed system from Hardcore PC, and while the idea hasn't quite gone mainstream, it's making headway. Puget Systems sells a DIY oil kit (which we highlighted in 2010), and now Intel is experimenting with the idea, albeit on the server side.

According to Gigaom, Intel just completed a year-long test of Green Revolution Cooling's mineral oil server immersion technology and is tickled pink with the results. Mike Patterson, senior power and thermal architect at Intel, tells Gigaom that the technology appears safe for server parts and could become the norm one day.

"We're doing our math to understand if we developed an oil optimized platform, what that would mean [for performance, efficiency, etc.]," Patterson said.

Where oil immersion cooling goes from here is anyone's guess, but the fact that Intel is impressed with the technology ensures that it will at least be further evaluated. Should Intel and others go down that road, it would require tweaking traditional server design, which is currently optimized for air flow.

Cool stuff, eh?

Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

 

McAfee Says Malware Threat Biggest It's Been in Four Years, Puts "Mac Fanboys" on Notice

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:46 AM PDT

While most of us were relaxing over the Labor Day weekend, the folks at McAfee were finishing up the security firm's second quarter Threat Report (PDF) for 2012. In it, McAfee Labs noted a 1.5 million increase in malware since the previously quarter, as well as a number of new threats like mobile "drive-by downloads" and using Twitter to control mobile botnets. All combined, McAfee detected the largest number of malware in four years.

"With very few exceptions, almost all areas of malware are up this quarter from last (and last quarter had record growth in some areas). One thing is certain: To continue to take the same steps is absurd," McAfee stated in its report.

Fake antivirus remains a popular choice among malware writers, with over 800,000 such samples noted in the wild in Q2. However, Windows PC users aren't the only ones who need to be on their toes.

"All Mac fanboys and -girls are hereby on notice: Mac malware is showing steady, continued growth," McAfee said. "We grant that when compared numerically to Windows malware the numbers are small, but these threats should be taken seriously and Mac users should take precautions. It's simple: Malware can be written for any operating system and platform."

Android users need to be on the lookout for malicious programs too. According to McAfee, Android has been, and continues to be, the most popular target for mobile malware writers.

"Practically all new mobile malware was directed at the Android platform," McAfee said. "The mix included SMS-sending malware, mobile botnets, spwyware, and destructive Trojans."

Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

 

Job Listing at Valve Confirms Entry into PC Hardware Business

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 06:25 AM PDT

For better or worse, Valve has officially decided to jump into the PC hardware business. We know as much because a job listing on Valve's website in search for an Industrial Designer spells it out in no uncertain terms, though details of the hardware project remain a secret. All we know for sure is that Valve is "frustrated by the lack of innovation in the computer hardware space," and to rectify that, the software developer is "jumping in."

"Even basic input, the keyboard and mouse, haven't really changed in any meaningful way over the years," Valve explains in its job posting. "There's a real void in the marketplace, and opportunities to create compelling user experiences are being overlooked."

It sounds as though Valve is looking for a qualified individual to take the bull by the horns and crash the PC party, and perhaps trample the console community in the process. It wasn't that long ago when word got out about a so-called Steam Box device, essentially a PC console with high end specs. Valve downplayed the rumor, though Gabe Newell made it clear that his company is willing to sell hardware.

In fact, Valve's interest in hardware has been an ongoing thing this year. In April, it came to light that Vavle was looking to hire hardware designers to perfect a "wearable computing" prototype.

Adding a layer of intrigue to all this is the fact that Newell is vehemently opposed to Windows 8. Newell fears the walled garden approach Microsoft is taking with its next generation operating system, calling the platform a "catasrophe for everyone in the PC space." As such, Valve has been hedging its bets on Linux by developing a Steam port to the open source platform, once that could easily end up in a Steam Box.

Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

 
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMO Updates

MMO Updates

XLGAMES releases ArcheAge CBT5 highlight trailer

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

archeage cbt5 highlight trailer
Yesterday we got a glimpse of ArcheAge's character creation process in the recently completed fifth closed beta test. XLGAMES has also released a highlight video showing off many aspects of the sandbox title's gameplay.

The voiceover and in-game text are Korean, but there's nonetheless a lot to take in (and get excited about) if you're a fan of huge feature sets. The five-minute clip features siege PvP, underwater environments, ship combat, PvE boss combat, weather effects, gardening, and what looks like an in-game legal system. See for yourself after the cut.

Continue reading XLGAMES releases ArcheAge CBT5 highlight trailer

MassivelyXLGAMES releases ArcheAge CBT5 highlight trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Secret World's NYC raid, Tokyo playfield previewed

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:30 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

tsw raid preview
We've known about The Secret World's upcoming New York raid for a while now, but details have been rather scarce. Rock, Paper Shotgun recently got a preview of the new content and came away impressed, claiming that "the raid and an entirely new play area will close act one of the story, with plenty of answers and a host of new questions."

In addition to the Big Apple, players will get to check out portions of Tokyo, which originally appeared in the game's brief tutorial sequence. This time around, there's a larger playfield to explore, with the mysterious Orochi headquarters as its centerpiece.

All this comes after the game's second major content update, which is currently scheduled for a September 11th release.

MassivelyThe Secret World's NYC raid, Tokyo playfield previewed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyperspace Beacon: Gear grinding is unfun

Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon Gear grinding is unfun
If you have been following me for the last few years on this column and some of the podcasts that I've done, then you are aware that hardcore progression raiding and PvP are not my thing. You will also know that I don't fault players for having their own fun, but the MMO industry often assumes raiders and PvPers are the ones game developers need to target and pursue. It could be that they are the loudest, the fastest, or maybe just the most competitive. I appreciate the players who blast through content. They are usually ones who make the guides that the slower players use to fight the "unbeatable boss." Unfortunately for developers, these are not the players who stick to the game.

BioWare made a lot of naive mistakes with Star Wars: The Old Republic, but one of the biggest is that it listened too much to the vocal minority instead of attempting to make a game that caters to the long-term player. I consider myself and my guild long-term players. We play SWTOR for a multitude of reasons, ranging from basic Star Wars fanboyism to exploring new content to engaging in intense PvP battles. But one thing that is consistent among all of us is that we don't like to gear grind.

Don't get me wrong; I understand that there need be a carrot for the players who complete high-level content, but I believe that SWTOR, along with other MMOs, is doing it wrong, and frankly, it's not fun.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Gear grinding is unfun

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Gear grinding is unfun originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

    The Soapbox: Social gaming won't destroy MMOs

    Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , ,

    I'd like to note for the record that this is what Mr. Garriott proposes will destroy MMOs.
    Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

    Richard Garriott has gone on record saying that he believes that the days of classic MMOs are over. The future is social gaming, social media, a lot of things with the word "social" shoehorned in. Coincidentally, he's gone on record as saying this at a time that coincides with his entry into the social gaming arena following a somewhat forcible expulsion from the MMO genre.

    You probably think that Richard Garriott is crazy even if you haven't been to space. Still, the idea is a little worrisome. Your phone calls with your mother have changed from being about your aunt's new hip to asking why you haven't watered your crops in FarmCenterWorld or whatever she's playing. You can smile at the collapse of Zynga all you want, but there are still plenty of companies making good money by slapping microtransactions on Build Mode from The Sims and calling it a day. Combine that with recent failures and missteps in the MMO world you probably wonder whether Garriott, crazy or not, might have a point.

    But don't worry. Odds are pretty low that social gaming is actually going to kill MMOs... for a lot of good reasons.

    Continue reading The Soapbox: Social gaming won't destroy MMOs

    MassivelyThe Soapbox: Social gaming won't destroy MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

      Guild Wars 2 brings trading post online, handles hacked accounts

      Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:00 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , ,

      Guild Wars 2 brings trading post online, handles hacked accounts
      It's a good day for Tyria's Wall Street and its many denizens, as ArenaNet has brought Guild Wars 2's trading post fully online. The trading post, which works as an advanced version of an auction house for the game's players, has only been sporadically available since launch.

      The defense and counter-attack against the legion of GW2 hackers continues, however. The devs report that "a Guild Wars-related fan site" was recently hacked for its account information, and say that the reset password feature for the game will remain disabled for the time being as to not allow hackers another avenue of attack.

      ArenaNet said that during the past 24 hours, the team has dealt with over 2,500 hacked accounts and over 2,800 login issues.

      MassivelyGuild Wars 2 brings trading post online, handles hacked accounts originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

      The Daily Grind: Do you view MMOs as disposable entertainment?

      Posted: 04 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , ,

      The Daily Grind - Do you view MMOs as disposable entertainment
      Emotions were running high regarding City of Heroes last week, and for good reason. NCsoft inexplicably pulled the rug out from under its community by announcing the imminent closure of one of the more feature-rich games to ever grace the MMO genre.

      There was an outpouring of disbelief, sympathy, and shock, both here at Massively and around the blogosphere. There were also a few folks who simply didn't get it. One comment even likened MMOs to television shows and suggested that both are inconsequential ditties unworthy of your long-term devotion or emotional attachment.

      What about you, morning crew? Do you view MMOs as throw-away entertainment, or do you get involved and attached to the game and its community?

      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: Do you view MMOs as disposable entertainment? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

        Not So Massively: Million-dollar tournaments, PAX 2012, and the Battle for Graxia

        Posted: 03 Sep 2012 06:00 PM PDT

        Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

        Not So Massively title image
        MOBA Rise of Immortals revealed details of its massive Battle For Graxia relaunch this week and made all immortals free to play until the patch arrives. The finals of Dota 2's world championship tournament The International took place this weekend, with last year's winner Na'Vi facing off against Chinese team Invictus Gaming in the final to fight over the $1,000,000 US grand prize. League of Legends' incredible $5,000,000 US competitive season is now just over a month from completion, with regional championships leading up to a spectacular $2,000,000 grand final in October.

        Torchlight II fans were treated to hands-on gameplay demos and a final release date this week at PAX 2012 while Firefall used the event to announce its pre-purchase founder packs. Upcoming action RPG Path of Exile released details of patch 0.9.12 and showed off a hilarious unarmed fighter build nicknamed "Mike Tyson." Diablo III developers weighed in on a puzzling stat discrepancy this week, and Blacklight: Retribution launched a new video podcast series digging into all the game's new updates, maps, and items. Finally, upcoming console MOBA Guardians of Middle-earth revealed four new characters this week: Sauron, Hildifons, Arathon, and Runsig.

        Continue reading Not So Massively: Million-dollar tournaments, PAX 2012, and the Battle for Graxia

        MassivelyNot So Massively: Million-dollar tournaments, PAX 2012, and the Battle for Graxia originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments

          ArcheAge CBT5 videos detail character creation

          Posted: 03 Sep 2012 04:00 PM PDT

          Filed under: , , , , , , ,

          ArcheAge CBT5 videos detail character creation
          ArcheAge's fifth Korean closed beta test recently concluded, but you can still get a peek inside XL's upcoming sandbox title courtesy of a new video series at Steparu.com. The site took a long look at character creation and captured it all on camera courtesy of eight clips that show off a particular race/gender combination.

          Each video is well over seven minutes in length, so grab a cup of your favorite beverage and get ready for a high-def glimpse of ArcheAge's beautiful avatars.

          Continue reading ArcheAge CBT5 videos detail character creation

          MassivelyArcheAge CBT5 videos detail character creation originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments

          Captain's Log: Starting anew in Star Trek Online

          Posted: 03 Sep 2012 02:00 PM PDT

          Filed under: , , , , ,

          STO Klingon engineering page
          One of things about Star Trek Online that really differentiates it from most other MMOs is the fact that it appeals to players who have never played an MMO before. STO is a Star Trek game, yes, but it also appeals to those who appreciate general science-fiction as well.

          Since the end of the Star Trek convention last month, I have been approached by a surprising number of people who are just now trying out STO for the first time. For many of them, STO is also their first experience with any MMO. So I have taken it upon myself to create a brand-new character in the game to see what it might be like for a new STO player. I'll be focusing several future columns on that new-player experience, starting with this one.

          Continue reading Captain's Log: Starting anew in Star Trek Online

          MassivelyCaptain's Log: Starting anew in Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments

            TERA is merging down to three servers

            Posted: 03 Sep 2012 01:00 PM PDT

            Filed under: , ,

            It's a positive if you look at the right parts.
            The latest letter from TERA's producer is out, and while it includes some interesting statistics, the most important bit of information is that the game will be trimming down its server list. On September 18th, the game will be shrinking to three servers: an unnamed PvE server, an unnamed PvP server, and the existing RP server called Celestial Hills. The letter is quick to state that this is a net positive for players looking for a larger and more active population within a given server.

            Customer service has already assembled a set of answers for obvious questions. Any players with more than eight characters in total will be locked out of playing until some of those characters are deleted, so if you've got characters on several PvE or PvP servers, you might want to delete some. Players can also expect banks to be merged (with an overflow tab if you need to withdraw some items) and all vanarch statuses to be reset, with refunds to active candidates. The full producer's letter has some other things for players to look forward to during September and beyond.

            [Thanks to Marisa for the tip!]

            MassivelyTERA is merging down to three servers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

            Permalink | Email this | Comments

            Wings Over Atreia: Getting real with Aion 3.5

            Posted: 03 Sep 2012 12:00 PM PDT

            Filed under: , , , , , , ,

            Wings Over Atreia Getting real with Aion 35
            Carefree and in the moment: That's how I have been living in Aion lately. However, the surprise announcement about 4.0 a few weeks back got my mind spinning with thoughts about updates. Oh, the possibilities! But as much as I support indulging in expressions of hopes and positive thinking, speculation really should be done in moderation; too much can leave you pining for what may never be and missing what's actually available (or at least on the horizon!). So while I appreciate the recent opportunity to contemplate the mysterious Aion 4.0 update, now it's time to focus on an upcoming patch with actual features already ascribed to it: 3.5.

            Patch 3.5, though not announced for the Western market yet, is hitting Korea on November 7th. And courtesy of friendly folks who have translated the patch notes, we've snagged a glimpse of what can be expected when it does finally roll around to us. What's on the horizon for faithful Daevas? How about two new dungeons, a cross-server dungeon group finder, personalized housing options, and (my personal favorite) a cooperative crucible!

            Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Getting real with Aion 3.5

            MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Getting real with Aion 3.5 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

            Permalink | Email this | Comments

              PAX Prime 2012: Neverwinter and Raiderz flaunt their stuff

              Posted: 03 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT

              Filed under: , , , , , ,

              RaIDerZ
              Did you realize that PAX was going on this weekend? I bet you did. I bet something gave it away, like the puddle flood of posts titled with PAX Prime 2012 all over our feed. If you didn't notice, here's thew news: PAX Prime went down this weekend. You're a little late, though; it's pretty much all over. But you can read about stuff we did. Go ahead. I'll wait. This post ain't going anywhere.

              So now that you're up to speed, let's talk about about Neverwinter and RaiderZ, both of which Perfect World Entertainment was showing off this weekend.

              Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Neverwinter and Raiderz flaunt their stuff

              MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Neverwinter and Raiderz flaunt their stuff originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

              Permalink | Email this | Comments
                Posted by Shri Krishna

                MMORPG News

                MMORPG News

                General: MMOFTW: PAX Prime 2012 Awards

                Posted: 04 Sep 2012 07:29 AM PDT

                MMOFTW: PAX Prime 2012 Awards

                This week's MMOFTW is all about PAX Prime and the best games we saw at the show. What won Best of Show? Most Anticipated? Best Hybrid? Rising Star? Most Innovative? Take a look!

                The Secret World: 'We Won't Back Down' - State of the Game Letter Arrives

                Posted: 04 Sep 2012 06:36 AM PDT

                Ragnar Tørnquist has published the August State of the Game letter for The Secret World. In it, he frankly addresses the recent Funcom lay offs as well as prognosticates about the future of TSW. Among other things, he tells fans that the team is not going to play it safe and is dedicated to keeping The Secret World today's most unique MMO.

                Guild Wars 2: Go and Explore

                Posted: 03 Sep 2012 02:08 PM PDT

                Go and Explore

                One of the larger themes for Guild Wars 2 is the idea of exploration. In our latest GW2 column, we take a look at exploration in all its various forms. Check it out before leaving your thoughts in the comments.

                TERA: Server Merges Incoming

                Posted: 03 Sep 2012 11:27 AM PDT

                Server Merges Incoming

                En Masse Entertainment has announced that TERA servers will be merging on September 18, 2012. This is in order to facilitate a better player experience according to the article posted on the official site.

                Otherland: Closed Beta Trailer with Game Play Footage

                Posted: 03 Sep 2012 09:43 AM PDT

                Closed Beta Trailer with Game Play Footage

                Gamigo has released an awesome new trailer featuring in-game footage from the ongoing closed beta test of Otherland. Footage reveals locations and game play from Otherland. Check it out and let us know what you think! Enjoy!

                Marvel Heroes: PAX Prime 2012 Trailer - Hell's Kitchen

                Posted: 03 Sep 2012 09:21 AM PDT

                PAX Prime 2012 Trailer - Hell

                During PAX Prime 2012, Gazillion Entertainment unveiled a new trailer for Marvel Heroes. The trailer features the Hell's Kitchen zone in the game that plays like Diablo for your favorite super hero. Enjoy!

                Knight Age: Official Launch Announced

                Posted: 03 Sep 2012 08:51 AM PDT

                Official Launch Announced

                Joymax has announced that Knight Age has officially entered its retail phase of development. All players who participated in the open beta which began on August 28th will see their characters carried over into the retail release.

                Age of Conan: Unchained: Secrets of Dragon's Spine Announced

                Posted: 03 Sep 2012 08:45 AM PDT

                Secrets of Dragon

                Funcom has announced the next series of updates for Age of Conan Unchained. Called "Secrets of Dragon's Spine", the content will be released in an episodic fashion with releases approximately every six weeks. The first update is slated to be released in the next few months and will feature a desert location filled with new dungeons, quests, monsters and rewards.

                Neverwinter: PAX 2012 Best in Show - Here's Why

                Posted: 03 Sep 2012 07:49 AM PDT

                PAX 2012 Best in Show - Here

                During PAX Prime 2012, we had the opportunity to sit down with Neverwinter's Lead Designer Andy Velasquez to talk about the Foundry; what it is, how it works and what it will bring to the game. See what we discovered and then let us know what you think in the comments.
                Posted by Shri Krishna
                Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

                Total Pageviews

                statcounter

                View My Stats