General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Intel Plans to Push Atom Prices Down Further to Compete With Arm

Posted: 21 Apr 2013 07:46 PM PDT

Intel Atom

Intel refuses to surrender the lower-end of the market.

Years ago AMD was putting pressure on Intel to continue innovating on the high end, but fast forwarded to 2013 and Intel is the last man standing. The new war is in ultra-low powered chips, and the company is years behind. Intel's response to ARM was the ATOM series of processors, but they were stuck trying to power a heavy and bloated Microsoft OS, while ARM had custom designed operating systems that extended battery life, and created an entirely new market. This year the two companies are destined to meet in the middle, and it will be a pivotal moment in the history of computing. Intel has announced its plans to compete with the current crop of dirt cheap ARM based devices, and to the winner goes the spoils.

Intel's decision to take on the low end market isn't without precedent, but it's also a moving target. The price point for computing has been falling faster than industry costs, and now the company finds itself scrapping with the competition for a low margin market they aren't even sure they want. Outgoing CEO Paul Otellini understands the value of winning against ARM, but it remains to be seen if his successor shares his passion.

Microsoft announced last Thursday that small inexpensive form factor PC's are part of its strategy, so it's likely Intel is just embracing the ever shifting winds of technological change. "We are...working closely with [PC makers] on a new suite of small touch devices powered by Windows. These devices will have competitive price points, partly enabled by our latest OEM offerings designed specifically for these smaller devices, and will be available in the coming months," Microsoft's chief financial officer, Peter Klein, said during the company's earnings call.

Either way it sounds like $200 Android powered Intel tablets are a strong possibility this year, with $250/$300 Windows 8 based versions not far behind. Will they be a fad like Netbooks? Or are these the devices everyone has been waiting for? 

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New Windows 8 Blue Leak Confirms Additional Features

Posted: 21 Apr 2013 03:05 PM PDT

Windows Blue

Microsoft just can't seem to keep a secret these days.

Microsoft has a security problem, and as a website devoted to PC technology we have absolutely no problem with that. Two new leaked builds of Windows 8.1 (Blue) have emerged online, and we've had a chance to check out what's changed. Experts with inside sources at Microsoft have confirmed that these leaks are still not feature complete, but with a public preview expected sometime in June, we won't have to wait much longer. So what's new?  

Kiosk Mode

Anyone who has visited a Best Buy to check out new PC's will know exactly why this feature is needed. Half the time floor models are either locked up, blue screened, or barely functional. The other fifty percent of the time they are shut down and unplugged. Windows 8.1 Kiosk mode will present potential customers with a "single immersive app experience", allowing them to swipe around the interface without getting into trouble.

All Apps

Looking for an application installed on your machine, but can't remember what its called? All apps will add an option to the start screen to see everything installed on your PC, and sort by date installed, most used, size, etc. You can bring up a list of all apps now by selecting search from the charms bar, but you can only see an alphabetical list currently.

Modern UI Synchronization

Settings already synced across PC's in Windows 8 if you're logged in using your Microsoft account, but now your start screen moves across as well. Log in from any PC, and feel right at home. This makes perfect sense, and we were sort of surprised this functionality wasn't available at launch.

Rumor: Start Button and Boot to Desktop

Neither of these features are in the leaked build, but we have it on good authority that the start button and boot to desktop are both returning to Windows 8 Blue. The start button won't bring back the start menu, and boot to desktop is easy to accomplished with third party tools, but these small concessions make a huge difference when you look at enterprise customers.  

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Inhon Unveils the Worlds Thinnest and Lightest Ultrabook

Posted: 21 Apr 2013 11:13 AM PDT

Inhon Ultrabook

Never Heard of Inhon? Don't be embarrassed, neither had we.

Inhon might not be a household name when it comes to Notebooks, but they sure have pulled off something impressive. This small Taiwanese based computer maker is officially announcing the Blade 13 Carbon laptop, and its form factor propels Apple Macbook Air well into the chubby category. The even better news? It does it all at a similar price point, and with more impressive internal components. 

This 13-inch Windows 8 Ultrabook is just 12.88mm thick, or if you like to nitpick, 2mm smaller than its closes competitor. The reduced mass also helps keep the weight down, allowing it to tip the scales at just 1.9lbs. That's a full pound less than the Macbook Air. The Carbon 13 ships standard with a 1080p HD display, an Intel i5 or i7 processor, up to 256GB of SSD storage, and 4GB of RAM.

Availability in the USA hasn't yet been announced, however Engadget is reporting it will officially go on-sale overseas in June for around $1,350. A less expensive Fiberglass version with a 1,600 x 900 display will offer a sub $1,000 option, but it increases the weight, and ultimately makes it a much less interesting device. It's amazing to see how quickly OEM's are shaving down Ultrabook form factors, but we also fear it will inevitably come at the expense of reparability.

Image Credit (Engadget.com)

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MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Stick and Rudder: Why Star Citizen's development model matters

Posted: 21 Apr 2013 10:00 AM PDT

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Stick and Rudder - Why Star Citizen matters
Chris Roberts' Star Citizen crowdfunding colossus exploded onto the gaming scene late in 2012 with a chip on its shoulder and a certain can-do attitude that resonated with gamers because of its conspicuous absence over the past decade. "I am a PC game, and I am a space sim," the game's trailer defiantly proclaimed.

PC games and space sims, of course, were long past the prime of their 1990s golden years, according to most industry pundits, so how and why did Star Citizen make such a successful splash (over $8.5 million in crowdfunding as of press time, with an additional $5,000 to $10,000 gained on a daily basis)? More importantly why is the title's development model so integral to the future of gaming?

Continue reading Stick and Rudder: Why Star Citizen's development model matters

MassivelyStick and Rudder: Why Star Citizen's development model matters originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    One Shots: Yo ho ho!

    Posted: 21 Apr 2013 08:00 AM PDT

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    One Shots Yo ho ho!
    There's probably no gulf as wide as the one between historical pirates and the pop culture versions that we venerate. As a guy who had a pirate-themed 30th birthday party, I can't say that I'm against our off-kilter brand of scallywags. Neither is reader Phinneas, who sent in our featured screenshot from Pirate101.

    "These shots are of the main starting area with my fearsome pirate looking to the horizon for adventures ahead," he writes.

    Best of luck to ye, laddie! May the wind be at your back, your enemies in Davey Jones' locker, and a bottle of ginger ale in your belly! Yet pirates are only the beginning of today's adventure through One Shots...

    Continue reading One Shots: Yo ho ho!

    MassivelyOne Shots: Yo ho ho! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Do you bring MMOs into real life?

      Posted: 21 Apr 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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      The Daily Grind Do you bring MMOs into real life
      One of the aspects that I like about MMOs is the sense of accomplishment when it comes to achieving specific goals. Maybe they're my goals or maybe they're goals set by the game, but checking things off a list and knowing that I've made progress is satisfying. That's why I often look at real world chores like an MMO quest log these days, filling my to do list up before knocking them out. I'm only slightly disappointed when victory music doesn't play when I turn in a quest to my wife.

      Mental note: Must buy wife a kazoo.

      Anyway, do you ever experience moments where your passion for MMOs bleed over into your real life? Do you grind reputation with your boss at work? Have you found yourself opening up a fridge and wondering what kind of epic consumables are inside? Did you strip to your skivvies and dance on top of your mailbox until the neighbors complained? Is all of this a cry for help?

      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 bring MMOs into real life? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Building the perfect fortress in Camelot Unchained

        Posted: 20 Apr 2013 04:30 PM PDT

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        Camelot Unchained's housing, building, and mining revealed
        The Camelot Unchained team has just released a new video dev blog for Kickstarter backers outlining some fairly ambitious plans for mining and construction in the upcoming PvE-free sandbox. The system will involve combinations of custom and prefab cells in which players so inclined can build up the empires and trading posts and fortifications of their dreams. And in a nod to games like Minecraft, the construction mechanics are built on a foundation of supplies procured through co-op mining gameplay.

        Ahead of the reveal, we asked City State Entertainment's Mark Jacobs a few questions about the systems he's proposing, from the influence of Mojang's popular sandbox to whether mining will become my new part-time job. Read on for the complete interview!

        Continue reading Building the perfect fortress in Camelot Unchained

        MassivelyBuilding the perfect fortress in Camelot Unchained originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Mog Log: Pushing back on Final Fantasy XIV

        Posted: 20 Apr 2013 04:00 PM PDT

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        Push the tempo up.
        Among the things I'm reluctant to talk about early when it comes to Final Fantasy XIV are the live letters from Naoki Yoshida. There's always a thread rapidly updating players on what is said during those letters, but that thread is filled with quick translations that may or may not be accurate, and I'd prefer not to analyze and speculate on information that may have been misconstrued. The man speaks in dense blocks of information.

        To my surprise, this week we got the full translation of the latest live letter, and something that struck me was how much of the game we're still being told is just over the horizon. This is not to say that I don't believe in Yoshi-P; Final Fantasy XIV 1.0 showed that if he promises something, it will be delivered. But there are a lot of things being held back for later, and honestly it's a little disconcerting for someone waiting eagerly for the game to come out.

        Continue reading The Mog Log: Pushing back on Final Fantasy XIV

        MassivelyThe Mog Log: Pushing back on Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Wings Over Atreia: A guide to Elyos spy quests in Morheim

          Posted: 20 Apr 2013 02:00 PM PDT

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          Wings Over Atreia A guide to Elyos spy quests in Morheim
          When I first thought to make a listing of spy quests in Aion, the idea was that folks could be sure to finish all the parts of the different lines before certain zones became unavailable due to leveling. I can remember on at least one occasion my quest progression was halted when I found myself leveled beyond the rift's parameters. It was a sad time, as I was prevented from obtaining the rewards and titles involved. Even worse, I was left with an incomplete quest in my journal. Oh, the horror! I moved on, but there was always that nagging feeling of something missing.

          All that has changed. Once the Fast Track server was introduced, the level limits on the rifts preventing Daevas from returning to enemy lands were removed. Now, any Elyos or Asmodian can return to those lower zones and wrap up any unfinished business. Of course, with so much to keep you occupied at the higher levels in Aion, you probably wouldn't even have time to flit back to the old haunts just to finish up old quests, which makes getting them done early all the more important. So to help you out, here's a guide to the Elyos spy quests in Morheim.

          Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: A guide to Elyos spy quests in Morheim

          MassivelyWings Over Atreia: A guide to Elyos spy quests in Morheim originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Road to Mordor: Happy sixth birthday, LotRO!

            Posted: 20 Apr 2013 12:00 PM PDT

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            The Road to Mordor Happy 6th birthday, LotRO!
            Uh, seriously guys, it was just yesterday that I was celebrating the third anniversary of Lord of the Rings Online with you in this column. At least it felt like yesterday. Really, has it been six years already? I guess it must be. It just seems like time moves so rapidly in MMOs, especially ones you've been in for years.

            Even if you don't count my first six months in the game prior to and after the game's launch, my current stint in LotRO is the longest period of time that I've ever played an MMO. It's been a little over three years now that I've been playing and covering this game for Massively, and my interest in it has yet to wane. That amazes me; just when I think I might burn out on it, I find something about LotRO to rekindle my interest and passion.

            There's something special about this game world that I haven't found elsewhere, I've concluded. Perhaps it's the IP restrictions and continuity that makes Middle-earth more "real" to me than other virtual worlds. Maybe it's the sheer breadth of content or the goofy hats. I can't decide. But I'm happy to raise a glass to LotRO as it turns six and look back at some of my favorite moments over the years.

            Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Happy sixth birthday, LotRO!

            MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Happy sixth birthday, LotRO! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              MMOGaming News

              MMOGaming News


              Age of Wushu: Cultivation Location Location Location

              Posted:

              Age of Wushu: Cultivation Location Location Location


              Understanding skills in Age of Wushu does not just mean if it is an Overt, Feint, or Parry. All skills (Internal and Combat) come from a point of origin in study that is unique to that School, Skill Set, and other variables. Increase the Internal Cultivation speed of a skill by training in a particular region unique to that particular skill.

              [Video] Blade and Soul "Dancing" in the Real World

              Posted:

              [Video] Blade and Soul


              Here is the fan-made video showing a dance composing the game's actions and emotes. Please tell me your feelings after watching it. OH, MY God?!

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