General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Interncast Episode #1: Left Behind from E3

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 03:50 PM PDT

Interncast

The premier episode of the Interncast

Hell might have just frozen over because somehow Future US has decided to let the interns from Maximum PC, PC Gamer, Official Xbox magazines create their own explicit podcast! In the 90 minute debut episode of the Interncast the crew discusses the games they liked at E3, they talk about the Xbox One and PS4, and wrap it up with what it's like to be behind the scenes at some of the biggest PC and Gaming magazines in the country.

Manning the inaugural episode are Parker Wilhelm (@parkerwilhelm) from Official Xbox Magazine, Jake Godin (@jakegodin) and Ben Kim (@benjkim) from PC Gamer, and host Chris Zele (@chriszele) from Maximum PC. Listen as they talk about E3 and detail how they each nabbed their internships. The crew also offers advice on how to break into the tech and games journalism industry.  

Also be sure to let us know what you think! You can send questions, complaints, and death threats to futureinterncast@gmail.com.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/interncast

Follow us on Twitter @interncast

You can also subscribe to the podcast's RSS feed for upcoming episodes!

How to Build: All-in-One PC

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 01:40 PM PDT

Build your own All-in-One PC!

The all-in-one PC is predicted to be one of the hottest PC form factors over the next few years. That's great for Joe 12-Pack, but for an enthusiast, an AiO is pretty much as monolithic as you can get. Sure, you might be able to add RAM or swap the HDD, but that's usually the extent of the average AiO's upgradeability.

Enter Intel's new push for the DIY AiO, the first serious attempt at building a standard around this practice. All-in-one bare-bones kits have likely been available before, but Intel's backing formalizes it as a real DIY category. The big change is the Thin MiniITX, which specifies far slimmer mobo profiles than regular Mini ITX, as well as fixing a spot where the CPU can be installed. The fixed CPU location enables standard heat pipe–type cooling solutions as an option, whereas Mini ITX allowed vendors to put the CPU anywhere on the board.

To get our feet wet, we decided to build a nicely outfitted AiO to see how it would compare spec-wise to a prebuilt peer. The result? You'll have to read to the end, but we'll be a clock tease and say that a DIY AiO might be just the way to go.

Choosing the Hardware

The First step of building an AiO is finding the chassis. Since Intel has been the main driver behind a standard, a good place to start is here. The DIY site has numerous resource for builders. We recommend that you start with the Design Component Catalog as well as the Compatibility Matrix. Remember, the standard is evolving and we're not at the point of desktops, where 98 percent of hardware is compatible. For example, some of the AiO models use proprietary coolers while others can use the standard Intel part. AiO units that don't use the standard Intel heat pipe should ship with their own. Also keep in mind the thermal constraints of an AiO before you buy the parts.

Our build started with a Loop L5 LP-2150 chassis. The chassis features a 21.5-inch panel and normally comes without the cooler and power brick for about $265. We did find some sites offering it packaged with the Intel cooler and a power brick though, for a small savings. The board we used is an Intel DH61AG. It supports an external power brick–type connector and up to a 65-watt TDP desktop processor. For our build, we tapped the quad-core 3.1GHz Core i5-3570S chip, which is nearly the same as the Core i7-3770S save for the Hyper-Threading. For storage, the board supports Mini PCIe SSDs and standard 2.5-inch drives. For our build, we opted for an Intel 240GB 335 Series SSD. Finally, we went with a pair of Patriot 4GB SO-DIMMs.

INGREDIENTS
PART URL Price
Chassis Loop L5 LP-2150 www.loopint.com $265
Case Core i5-3570S www.intel.com

$205

RAM 8GB Patriot DDR3/1333 www.patriotmemory.com $38
Motherboard Intel DH61AG www.intel.com $120
Cooler Intel HTS1155LP www.intel.com $27
PSU FSP 150-ABAN1 www.fspgroupusa.com $48
Wi-Fi Intel 62230AN.HMWG Wi-Fi card www.intel.com $24
SSD Intel 240GB 335 SSD www.intel.com $200
ODD LG 12.7m GT60N 8x DVD+R combo drive www.lg.com $28
OS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit www.microsoft.com $99
Total     $1,054

Click the next page to see each installation step.


1. Prepare the Chassis

To open the Loop L5, lay it facedown on a clean, nonscratch surface and remove the five screws on back. Now, with the opening for the I/O shield facing you, gently push the tip of your screwdriver on the metal next to the exhaust vent while carefully pulling up on the chassis with your fingers (image A) until the back pops off just a bit. Then, carefully pry off the back, starting at the USB ports and headphone ports (image B). You'll use this same process to access the guts of the AiO for future upgrades.

2. Install Drives, CPU and RAM

We'll skip the usual illustration of mounting the optical drive and SSD/HDD in the caddies and screwing them down, as the process is well known to most Maximum PC readers, but you can go ahead and do this now. (For new builders, Intel provides thorough video instructions for building a system in the Loop here). Likewise, you've seen us install RAM and the CPU dozens of times; now is a good time to do that, as well. With the board out, you should also slot the Wi-Fi card into the Mini PCIe slot nearest the PCIe slot. Then, install the I/O shield.

3. Install the Backplate

To Use the Stock Intel thermal cooler, you'll need to install the backplate that comes with the kit. It sticks on with an adhesive pad (image C). The chassis should also have come with a thick thermal pad that gets mounted to the back of the motherboard, under the voltage regulation modules, or, if you can aim properly, to the chassis itself (image D). It mounts using an adhesive, so choose wisely. Now, mount the motherboard and screw it in place. As always, pay special attention to how the openings in the I/O shield line up with the motherboard before you screw it down (i.e., make sure the metal fingers coming off the I/O shield don't jam into the ports.)

4. Install the Cooler

With the Motherboard in place, it's time to screw the cooler in place. The cooler should have an Intel thermal pad in place. If yours doesn't, or you are mounting it for a second time, add a small bit of thermal paste to the CPU and spread it out with a plastic bag across the surface of the heat spreader. Use the four screws to mount the cooler to the backplate (image E), and also screw down the two screws at the end of the heat pipe.

5. Push aside the Speaker

It's Pretty tight in the AiO, so for removing or installing cables, you'll have to remove or simply move the speaker on the left side of the machine. Just undo one screw and move the speaker out of the way (image F).

6. Plug in the Panel

The Panel uses a delicate internal LVDS connector. While at first glance it appears to go in either way, the connector is keyed (image G). Carefully insert the cable into the LVDS port and then use a small object, such as a flat-head screwdriver, to carefully push it into place by alternatively nudging on each side of the connector while holding one side with your finger (image H). Once it's in place, don't ever remove the LVDS connector by tugging on the ribbon cable. If you have to remove it, use a small flat-head screwdriver to slowly nudge it out from the sides.

Click the next page to learn how to plug in the audio, wifi, and for the final stages.

 


 

7. Plug in the Inverter

Unlike a Desktop monitor, which is powered by its own power brick or internal AC/DC device, the AiO needs to be powered from the motherboard. To do that you need to plug the 7-pin connector into the red header next to the LVDS connector (image I). This is also keyed to only fit in one way and should snap into place. Once that's done, follow the cable out to the end where you should find another connector. This gets plugged into the inverter board, which is the small orange, rectangular PCB to the left of the speaker (image J).

8. Bring tht Noise

Again, Everything in the AiO uses internal headers rather than external ports. If you want to use the AiO's internal speakers, you'll need to plug them in using the 4-pin header located near the Wi-Fi card and CMOS battery (image K). It's keyed to only fit in one direction.

9. Connect Wi-Fi

Some AIO units come with multiple antennas, but Loop chose a single antenna for this chassis. We won't debate the wisdom of a single antenna, but it can create some confusion for newbs. Just look for the small gray antenna lead and plug it into the port labeled "Main 1" on the Wi-Fi card. It should snap into the socket with light pressure (image L).

10. Set the Voltage

You need to configure the motherboard's headers for the correct voltage. First, check the 3-pin header next to the "FPD Power" inverter header that you plugged in earlier. By default, it should be set to pins 2 and 3, or 19 volts, which is correct for the Loop (image M). You'll want to check the manuals for your AiO and your motherboard, as setting the voltage incorrectly can damage the inverter. You also need to set a secondary inverter header to the correct voltage. This header is located near the front-panel connector and should be set to pins 4 and 6, for 5 volts (image N). This is the default position for the Intel motherboard and the correct voltage for the Loop.

11. Connect Final Plugs and Button up

You'll also need to plug in the three USB headers as well as power and data cables for the optical drive and SSD, and you need to plug the SATA power cable into the motherboard. All that needs to be done now is to attach the back cover (while you plug the cover's auxiliary fan into an open fan header) and attach the stand. Now, just plug in your power brick and fire her up!

12. Well, almost...

Intel's Motherboard comes in an older rev, the G23736- 503, and a newer rev, the G23736-504. If your board is a 504 or up, drive on. If it's older, you'll need to update the BIOS because the older board defaults to external graphics rather than the LVDS connector. No worries, you can update the board by just dropping the latest BIOS from the Intel website in the root of a USB key, removing the jumper from the BIOS_CFG header, and booting the machine. The board should automatically update after two minutes. Once the rig's blue system LED stops flashing, you can power down, replace the BIOS_CFG header, and move on. Even if you have the newer board, there is one setting you need to change. Go into the BIOS and then into the Video settings, and in the setting for All-in-One Chassis, set it to the chassis in use. In this case, it's the LP-2150. It's recommended that you then lock the settings so they can't be changed without going into maintenance mode.

Click the next page to see the system's benchmarks!

 


 

DIY AIO SHOWS A LOT OF PROMISE

Building the average desktop PC has long been a labor of love. Sure, in the old days you could save a serious chunk of change when you built your own rig, but these days it's pretty hard to get a better price than a large or even medium OEM that buys parts by the container-full. That's apparently not the case with all-in-ones, where it's possible for builders to have a price edge. Lenovo, for example, offers a 20-inch AiO with the same CPU, 180GB SSD, and 4GB of RAM for about the same price as our Loop build. Granted, some OEMs offer a feature not available to this platform—a discrete GPU. That's actually one of the holes we see in the current push for a DIY platform. Why no GPU provision? In the past, graphics vendors haven't been the greatest at sticking to specs, so that could be the reason, but we think a unified AiO graphics spec is necessary if this category is really going to take off. 

As to how our AiO performed—not bad. Our zero-point AiO is an Asus ET2701 INKI-B046C with a Core i7-3770S and GeForce GT 640M. Naturally, the $1,500 Asus, with its 27-inch panel, pricier CPU, and discrete graphics outshines our Loop build, but it's a good reference for what our DIY AiO can do. Clearly, that extra $400 on the zero-point gets you more performance. Our DIY AiO performed respectably though, except in gaming. Intel HD4000 graphics are probably best suited for Portal 2–level and lower gaming. For today's integrated graphics, Metro 2033 is way beyond its pay grade.

Overall, we're pretty happy with the brave new world of DIY AiOs. Yes, it has some maturing to do, but giving enthusiasts the ability to customize an AiO to their own needs (or a parent's needs) is a pretty strong argument for doing it yourself.

Benchmarks
  Loop L5 Asus ET2701 INKI-B046C
3DMark 11 P449 P1,937
Metro 2033 (fps) 10.9 29
Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 (sec) 857 404
MainConcept (sec) 985 919
ProShow Producer 3.0 (sec) 591 486

Best scores are bolded. Our zero-point AiO features a Core i7-3770S, 8GB of DDR3/1600, a GeForce GT 640M, and a 2TB 7,200rpm HDD. Metro 2033 is run at 1280x720, medium quality, DX10 mode, with 4x AA and 4x MSAA.

iBuypower Revolt Review

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 01:15 PM PDT

IBP combines affordability with good performance

To revolt is to rise up against an oppressive ruling authority. In iBuypower's case, is the new iBuypower Revolt PC opposing big gaming rigs or game consoles?

The revolt carries on the fight against substandard game consoles.

The revolt carries on the fight against substandard game consoles.

We prefer to believe that the Revolt, along with its fellow revolutionaries from Alienware, Falcon Northwest, and Digital Storm, is part of the first expeditionary force attacking the substandard gaming performance that consoles have subjected its citizens to for years.

As we've said of the other small PCs of this ilk, you need only slap a $26 wireless Xbox controller on the Revolt, get it set up with Steam's Big Picture Mode, and you'll not only have a gaming machine that fits in nicely in the living room, but that will also likely blow away the next-gen consoles.

The Revolt uses a new NZXT chassis that iBuypower has exclusive rights to. It's slightly wider than three other similarly shaped boxes we've reviewed from Alienware (X51), Falcon Northwest (tiki), and Digital Storm (bolt). iBuypower manages to jam in a 14cm NZXT liquid cooler, which lets the Intel Core i7-3770K hum along at an overclocked 4.2GHz. The rig also sports an EVGA GeForce GTX 670 GPU and is large enough to support both an HDD and SSD. This is significant because the box that spurred it all, Alienware's X51, forces you to pick either an HDD or SSD, not both.

While the X51 uses an external power brick, the iBuypower uses an internal FSP 500-watt PSU. There's actually an upside and downside to both setups. The downside here is the noise. Our pre-production Revolt's 1U power supply got shrilly under heavy loads. We had the same issue with Digital Storm's Bolt, which was rectified in shipping units. iBuypower promises improvement in the final units, but ours was just too noisy to be used under load in an HTPC environment. However, seeing how other vendors have been able to tame the issue by tweaking the fan profiles and thermals, we suspect iBuypower will be able to do the same.

Performance of the box against our desktop zero-point, with its hexa-core processor, was not pretty but that's hardly a surprise, considering the ZP's size and parts. Lest you think that a quad-core Ivy Bridge ticking at 4.2GHz is Atom-poo slow, however—it's not. Even in the heavily multithreaded Premiere Pro test, the Ivy Bridge was but 31 percent slower than our Core i7-3930K at 3.8GHz. The GeForce GTX 670 also shows pretty well when you consider that the zero-point is housing a GeForce GTX 690.

We also stacked up the Revolt against the Falcon Northwest Tiki and Digital Storm Bolt (we didn't have the original X51 on which to run our new benchmarks) and found the Revolt competitive but the slow man out against its two peers. Oddly enough, in our Premiere Pro CS6 benchmark, the similarly clocked Revolt ran about 9 percent behind the Tiki and 11 percent behind the Bolt—that's probably partly due to its single-channel RAM.

But there are a couple of ways in which the Revolt excels over those two boxes. For one thing, it has the ability to run when laid flat, which makes it far more flexible for living room use. It also beats both the Tiki and Bolt in the price game. The FNW Tiki we reviewed in September 2012 came equipped with dual 500GB SSDs and a GeForce GTX 680 for $4,126. No doubt 500GB SSDs have dropped in price, but not by that much. The Digital Storm Bolt, reviewed in our January 2013 issue, took the price down to $1,950, using just a 120GB SSD but giving you a GTX 680 card, too. The iBuypower Revolt comes in even lower, at $1,400. Is that a good deal? Spec-for-spec, yes. It's even comparable to Alienware's top-end X51, which gives you a 2TB HDD and 16GB of RAM, but is capped at a GeForce GTX 660 and there's no option for an SSD.

That puts the Revolt in a pretty good spot. No, you can't get it as spec'd-out as the Bolt or Tiki, but at this price, a lot of folks won't care. Overall, iBuypower gets a lot right with the Revolt and brings its trademark practice of packing in the performance without packing on the price.

$1,400, www.ibuypower.com

Facebook Puts Instagram in Motion with 15 Second Video Clips

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 12:16 PM PDT

Video InstagramMove over, Vine

It's been rumored for several days now that Facebook would inject video recording and sharing capabilities into its Instagram service, and lo and behold, that's exactly what the social networking site has done. Dubbed Video on Instagram, you can now record clips up to 15 seconds in length simply by tapping the movie camera icon. There are also 13 new filters added specifically for this new functionality.

"We're excited to see what the community will bring to video, whether it's your local cafe showing you just how they made your latte art this morning or an Instagrammer on the other side of the world taking you on a tour of their city, a mother sharing her joys in parenting as her children laugh and play or your favorite athlete taking you behind the scenes," Instagram announced in a blog post.

Don't worry if all you're interested in is shooting photos, you can still do that. Furthermore, Instagram reiterated that you, the user, has full control over all of your content. The only people that can see your videos are the ones you've allowed to see your photos.

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Toshiba Releases Its First 7mm Solid State Hybrid Drive

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 11:53 AM PDT

Toshiba MQ01ABFHSuitable for both ultra-thin and standard size notebooks

Toshiba this week put storage on a diet by announcing its incredibly thin, 7mm MQ01ABFH solid state hybrid drive (SSHD) family. Outfitted with Toshiba's NAND flash memory chips and available in 500GB and 320GB capacities, the MQ01ABFH series is the company's first foray into 7mm territory as it pertains to SSHD products. Thin and light notebooks are the obvious target here, though Toshiba says the drives are equally suited for standard size laptops as well.

"The MQ01ABFH series fulfills users' desire for thin and light notebook PCs with fast response times that can keep up with their demanding gaming and multimedia applications," said Don Jeanette (PDF), director of product marketing at Toshiba's Storage Products Business Unit. "This addition to our SSHD lineup demonstrates Toshiba's continued focus on delivering a wide range of storage devices that enhances the computing experience for our customers."

By combining NAND flash memory with rotating media, Toshiba hopes to offer the best of both worlds, offering SSD-like performance for frequently accessed programs, and large amounts of storage for everything else. Similar to Toshiba's other SSHD products, the MQ01ABFH uses self-learning algorithms to optimize performance based on a users' data access patterns.

Samples of the new drives will be available beginning June 28.

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Microsoft Unveils Bug Bounty Program at Black Hat 2013

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 11:27 AM PDT

IE BugsEarn big bugs for finding bugs

Microsoft joins the ranks of those offering up bug bounties to individuals who root out security holes in its products, though the program isn't limited to finished products. The Redmond outfit is also willing to reward bug hunters for discovering vulnerabilities in specific pre-release software, including Internet Explorer 11 Preview, in which it will pay up to $11,000 for critical bugs that affect the browser on the latest version of Windows (Windows 8.1 Preview). And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

You can also earn up to $100,000 for "truly novel exploitation techniques" against safeguards baked into Windows 8.1 Preview. Microsoft says it's able to improve security by "leaps" when learning of new exploitation techniques, as opposed to capturing one vulnerability at a time.

Finally, Microsoft said it will pay up to $50,000 for defensive ideas that accompany a qualifying Mitigation Bypass submission. Like the $100,000 tier, this is an ongoing program, whereas the payout for finding bugs in IE11 Preview only runs for 30 days.

"Our new bounty programs add fresh depth and flexibility to our existing community outreach programs. Having these bounty programs provides a way to harness the collective intelligence and capabilities of security researchers to help further protect customers," Microsoft said.

So, who's up for some bug hunting?

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Roadmap Suggests Intel Isn't Launching 14nm Broadwell Until 2015

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 09:40 AM PDT

Intel SignDon't look for Broadwell chips any time soon

We've seen some leaked roadmaps as of late, including one that has Intel's Ivy Bridge-E slated to ship in the third quarter of this year, followed by refreshed Haswell parts in 2014. What about Intel's 14nm Broadwell architecture, you ask? Broadwell is nowhere to be found on any of the slides, perhaps indicating that it won't come out until 2015 at the earliest. Maybe Intel's having problems shrinking the die to 14nm, or there just isn't enough competition to warrant releasing Broadwell in the near future.

Yet another theory floating around is that the slides don't tell the whole story. As we pointed out in our Haswell review, Intel's 4th Generation Core architecture, while fast, is "a part that is obviously designed primarily to benefit laptops, tablets, and other small-computing needs rather than desktops." That's where Intel's focus is right now, because that's what the market dictates.

The main benefit of Broadwell, which is a "tick" in Intel's "Tick-Tock" upgrade cycle, is lower power consumption and higher performance per watt yet again. That's not very exciting on the desktop, so instead it appears Intel is more focused on tweaking Haswell next year. Delaying Broadwell to 2015 would also give Haswell-E a chance to shine without being overshadowed when it launches late next year.

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Newegg Daily Deals: OCZ Z Series 1000W PSU, XFX Radeon HD 5450 GPU, and More!

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 08:37 AM PDT

OCZ PSUNewegg

Top Deal:

Building a new rig for the summer? Not a bad idea with all the new components and platforms that emerged in recent weeks. Just don't forget to set aside some coin for a new power supply. Better yet, take advantage of today's top deal for an OCZ Z Series 1000W Modula 80 Plus Gold High Performance PSU for $140. It ships free (normall $210 - use coupon code EMCXPWM43) and also has an additional $30 mail-in-rebate.

Other Deals:

Western Digital Red WD30EFRX 3TB IntelliPower 64MB Cache Internal Hard Drive for $140 with free shipping (normally $151 - use coupon code:[EMCXPWM225])

Seagate 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive for $70 with free shipping (normally $80 - use coupon code:[EMCXPWM28])

XFX Radeon HD 5450 512MB DDR3 Low Profile Video Card
for $25 with free shipping (normally $30; additional $15 mail-in rebate)

Corsair Carbide Series 300R ATX Mid Tower Computer Case for $70 with free shipping (normally $100 - use coupon code:[EMCXPWM42]; additional $20 mail-in rebate)

Nvidia Lowers Price of Shield Handheld Console to $299

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 08:23 AM PDT

Nvidia ShieldYou asked and Nvidia listened

Good news, gamers. Nvidia has decided to slash $50 off the price of its upcoming Shield handheld gaming device, thus giving it a new MSRP of $299 (down from $349 previously). For those of you who already pre-ordered a Shield, you don't have to go pound sand. Nvidia says that you, too, will be charged the new price when the product ships.

"It's time for one more change. We've heard from thousands of gamers that if the price was $299, we'd have a home run. So we're changing the priceo Shield to $299," Nvdiia stated in a blog post.

Shield, if you somehow missed all the hoopla, is an open platform gaming handheld running Android. It has an Nvidia Tegra 4 quad-core mobile processor, 2GB of RAM, 5-inch 720p multi-touch display, stereo speakers, 16GB of internal storage, mini-HDMI output, micro-USB 2.0 port, microSD support, and a few other odds and ends.

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Microsoft Abandons Planned Xbox One DRM, Used Games Policies; Won't Budge on Price

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 12:48 AM PDT

Xbox One

Xbox One owners won't have to put up with any draconian restrictions on offline play or the resale of used games

At this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the Playstation 4 emerged as the clear favorite to win the next-generation console race, due to commence later this year. And it wasn't necessarily due to any technical edge over the Xbox One, but on account of a set of controversial restrictions proposed by Microsoft in a bid to curb piracy and the sale of used games. Thankfully, common sense seems to have finally prevailed at Microsoft and there are no longer any clear favorites in this race.

Despite initially looking brazenly unfazed by all the criticism surrounding its decision to require daily online checks for offline play and allow publishers to restrict used games sales, Microsoft suddenly capitulated on Wednesday.

An Internet connection is no longer an absolute necessity as the console won't be performing any daily online checks as originally proposed, but just require a one-time system setup. Further, game developers won't have any say in the sale of used games and you will be free to "trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today."

"Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One," wrote Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, in a blog post. " I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One."

"You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world."

In related news, Microsoft has made it clear that is has "no plans" to reduce the price of its upcoming console, which, at $499, is $100 more than the Playstation 4. "We are really, really excited about the value we're going to deliver on day one," Marc Whitten, the chief product officer for Xbox, told CNET, alluding to the fact that, unlike the PS4, each Xbox One console will come with a new, improved Kinect sensor built-in.

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Ask Massively: The best and worst of E3

Posted: 20 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , ,

Best and worst of E3
Massively is finally recovered from E3, whose MMO reveals surprised even the most jaded gamers among us. Now that we've had time to process the entirety of the event and our coverage of it, we think it's time to deliver our overall impressions of the show -- the most surprising reveal, the most disappointing offering, and of course, the best MMO in show.

The ground rules for our discussion?
  • It had to be something we can justify covering -- MMO, MOBA, pseudo-MMO, or related topic.
  • It had to be something shown in public, be it a demo or video or interview. If we can't talk about it and you can't see or read about it, we're not including it. Ahem.
  • Every staff member and on-the-ground freelancer was permitted to chime in.
  • We stuck to three big categories rather than create so many that every game could win something.
Let's do this.

Continue reading Ask Massively: The best and worst of E3

MassivelyAsk Massively: The best and worst of E3 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Aion 4.0 slated for August launch in Europe

    Posted: 20 Jun 2013 09:30 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , ,

    Aion 40 lauches in August in Europe
    While Daevas in North America are looking forward to Aion's 4.0 launch next week, those in Europe have to wait longer due to the extra localization involved with multiple languages. But that wait won't be long: Gameforge has announced that the latest expansion is planned to launch this summer. Volker Boenigk, Executive Product Director for Aion at Gameforge, stated, "The necessary work towards this for 4.0 is progressing well and I'm confident that the update will be available on the European servers in August."

    Eager to storm the lands of Katalam or try your hand at the new Engineer or Artist classes (called Gunner and Songweaver in NA, respectively)? if so, your time will soon be at hand.

    [Source: Gameforge press release]

    MassivelyAion 4.0 slated for August launch in Europe originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Vindictus shows off new character Hurk the Berzerker

      Posted: 20 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , , , , , ,

      Vindictus shows off Hurk the Berzerker
      Nexon has released a teaser trailer for Mabonigi Heroes' newest character, Hurk the Berserker. Mabinogi Heroes is the Korean (and original) version of North America's Vindictus, so this may mean Hurk will be landing on western shores in the not-too-distant future.

      The short video shows Hurk wielding a giant greatsword against an equally giant boss, and is labeled as the first teaser of hopefully several more. You can check out the full video after the jump.

      Continue reading Vindictus shows off new character Hurk the Berzerker

      MassivelyVindictus shows off new character Hurk the Berzerker originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Perfect Ten: Why game holidays rock

      Posted: 20 Jun 2013 08:30 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , ,

      The Perfect Ten Why game holidays rock 20
      It's as inevitable as the tides, political scandals, and new flavors of Pepsi. Whenever an MMO announces that it's introducing new holiday content into its game, the grumpies come out. "Wah!" they cry. "Why are developers wasting time on this! It's useless! Pointless! Just the mere notion of it makes baby kittens die worldwide!"

      What my poetic license is trying to say is that some folks are displeased and they make themselves well-heard because of it. I like to think that after posting angry comments, they then go around the rest of the day slamming doors, flipping chairs, and sulking noisily so that someone will ask them why they're in such a foul mood. The answer, if truthful, would be endlessly entertaining. Then again, I used to throw snit fits when I got sent to jail in Monopoly.

      If you haven't figured it out yet, I love in-game holidays. Love. Them. Beyond the novelty of what they do, there are plenty of reasons that even the most jaded holiday-hater should simmer down around this topic. I think I'll list 10 of them.

      Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Why game holidays rock

      MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Why game holidays rock originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Darkfall introduces new Broadherne dungeon with recent patch

        Posted: 20 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT

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        Darkfall introduces new Broadherne dungeon with recent patch
        Yesterday saw a new content patch for Darkfall:Unholy Wars as detailed in a post at the official forums.

        In addition to the regular bug fixes, this patch also brings with it the new Broadherne dungeon, new monsters, cooking mastery, party harvesting, and much more.

        A new utility ship -- called the Fishing Trawler -- has also been added. This boat opens up new cooking mastery fish and new harvesting loot tables that give more substantial rewards when fishing in dangerous areas.

        [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]

        MassivelyDarkfall introduces new Broadherne dungeon with recent patch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Guild Wars 2 novel Sea of Sorrows releases on June 25

        Posted: 20 Jun 2013 07:30 AM PDT

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        Image
        Tyrian lore fanatics have reasons to be excited as the third Guild Wars 2 novel is set to release on June 25th. Sea of Sorrows is written by none other than ArenaNet's Narrative Designer, Ree Soesbee, and takes place roughly 150 years before the events in the game.

        This time period lines up with the rising of Orr from the murky depths along with the elder dragon, Zhaitan, and his hordes of undead risen. Readers will get to experience how this cataclysmic event shaped the lives of many Tyrians and led to the destruction and rebuilding of Lion's Arch.

        The novel follows the life of a young sailor named Cobiah Marriner, who heads for the sea when his life in Lion's Arch takes a tragic turn. Cobiah's grandson is the current commodore of Lion's Arch, but other Easter eggs have been recently added to the game as well. A new statue of Cobiah has been added to Lion's Arch with an engraved book on it. Marriner's plaques have been scattered around the city for an unannounced upcoming activity, and ArenaNet has told us to expect more references and living story updates that will directly tie into the events in the book.

        Are you going to be picking up Sea of Sorrows next Tuesday? Let us know if you've got the sea legs for it in the comments below!

        MassivelyGuild Wars 2 novel Sea of Sorrows releases on June 25 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Guild Wars 2 brings out big changes with the Sky Pirates of Tyria

          Posted: 20 Jun 2013 07:00 AM PDT

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          Run to the pirates!  And... and then fly, because again, sky pirates.
          It's all fun and games at Guild Wars 2's dragon bash until someone turns up murdered in Lion's Arch. That's what sets the stage for the newest game update, Sky Pirates of Tyria. Launching on June 25th, the update will see players thrown into a murder investigation headed by Inspector Ellen Kiel, forcing everyone to take part in several events to track down the perpetrator. If you're thinking it's going to have something to do with the eponymous pirates, well, that's a reasonable guess.

          This update sees the addition of a new dungeon, the Aetherblade Retreat, which pits players against pirates of a decidedly aerial nature. It also features a wide-scale revamp of traits and skills for every profession to promote a wider range of playable builds, a variety of new rewards including miniatures and monocles, and an all-new event tying into the upcoming novel Sea of Sorrows. Custom Arenas and Spectator Mode for PvP are also leaving beta, giving players more ways to enjoy a spirited battle with friends and enemies. Our own Richie Procopio will be taking part in a press preview this weekend, so tune in before launch for a closer look at the details.

          [Source: ArenaNet press release]

          MassivelyGuild Wars 2 brings out big changes with the Sky Pirates of Tyria originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Daily Grind: What's motivating your return to RIFT?

            Posted: 20 Jun 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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            RIFT - Amored girl concept art
            RIFT went free-to-play recently, and judging by the server queues and the number of people who tipped Massively about Trion's response to all the shenanigans, it seems like the business model switcheroo had the desired effect of bringing people back in droves.

            As an outsider, I can't really wrap my brain around the phenomenon. If the game was good before, my inner cynic says, surely it was worth paying for, no? I can understand the excitement if you've never played RIFT (and if financials were the reason why), but I've seen a few commenters and even a blogger or two who seem to be coming back because they're afraid of missing a deal rather than because they really dig the game. I could be wrong, though, so that's why I'm throwing today's Daily Grind out there.

            Assuming you're returning to RIFT, are you doing so because you love the game or is it because you don't want to miss out on a perceived good deal? In short, what's motivating your return to RIFT?

            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: What's motivating your return to RIFT? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Free for All: How free-to-play affected how I feel about RIFT

              Posted: 19 Jun 2013 07:00 PM PDT

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              RIFT invasion screenshot
              Back in April of 2011, I asked myself whether I would play RIFT if it were a free game. I know that I was impressed with its build quality but not so much with its lack of spirit. It seemed like a hollow game, one that used gimmicks to take the place of true adventure. At the same time, I didn't want to downplay how well it was made. I still agree with this sentiment; the game is great and has only improved over time, but I still wish it had a little something more.

              Did the recent switch to free-to-play change how I felt about the game? Why would a payment model affect how I felt while playing the game? After all, I champion the idea that a payment model does not define a game, but I still have to recognize how a payment model affects people.

              Including me.

              Continue reading Free for All: How free-to-play affected how I feel about RIFT

              MassivelyFree for All: How free-to-play affected how I feel about RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Art of Wushu: The truth about mind games and timing

                Posted: 19 Jun 2013 06:00 PM PDT

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                The Art of Wushu The truth about mind games and timing
                Once upon a time, I was teaching a friend how to duel in Age of Wushu. She was easily frustrated by things, and she expressed to me that she felt as if everyone had superhuman reflexes compared to her. Because she was a beginner, I couldn't just convey all the complexity of mind games to her. Explaining all the different options (beyond the basics), weighting them, and explaining the opportunity costs of each was not really an option. She was having trouble even with slightly advanced stuff (which is totally normal), but she also lacked some of the natural "killer instinct" that allows some of my other friends to duel.

                At the same time, I had been fighting Zyden, one of the most skilled duelists in English-speaking Age of Wushu. He actually does have near-superhuman reflexes. Earlier that day, though, I had hit him with a very slow-animating feint that he normally interrupts with a stun. Normally, his reactions are superhuman, but there are some times when they aren't. It's not a matter of "off day," either. He just wasn't prepared for me to do what I did right at that moment.

                I told my friend, "Outside of a moment, you can only react." Immediately afterwards, I realized just how important those words were.

                Continue reading The Art of Wushu: The truth about mind games and timing

                MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: The truth about mind games and timing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Final Fantasy XIV launches beta version of the Lodestone

                  Posted: 19 Jun 2013 05:00 PM PDT

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                  Walk in to Ul'dah I'm like, what up?  I've got a new blog.
                  Alongside the third phase of beta testing, Square-Enix is also testing another aspect of Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch -- the new and improved Lodestone. The original Lodestone served as a combination community site and data aggregator, but it had some system issues and deserved a revamp along with everything else connected to the game. Players are encouraged to log in to the site now and try out its improved functionality, as well as explore the things that can be done from the site with and without fully logging in.

                  The new site features all of the functionality of the original incarnation, including character blogs and a surfeit of information about your character even when logged off. It also allows players to search for characters, linkshells, and free companies freely. And it features a mobile version for times that you want to check your character data while you're on the road. Anyone in the game's test (which includes all former players of the first incarnation) are invited to test out the improvements for themselves.

                  MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV launches beta version of the Lodestone originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Blade & Soul Korea getting major update next week

                  Posted: 19 Jun 2013 04:00 PM PDT

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                  blade and soul korea getting major update  low priority because low info, can skip
                  Blade & Soul's biggest update yet is coming on June 26th according to Steparu.com. The site reports that new skill revisions, an upgrading system, new dungeons, an increased level cap, new story chapters, new instanced dungeons, and new PvP areas are on the way.

                  Whew!

                  Yes, that's a lot of new, and Steparu has also posted a handful of gorgeous new Blade & Soul posters for your viewing enjoyment. Have a look via the link below.

                  MassivelyBlade & Soul Korea getting major update next week originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  The War Z now known as Infestation: Survivor Stories

                  Posted: 19 Jun 2013 03:00 PM PDT

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                  The War Z now known as Infestation Survivor Stories
                  Remember The War Z? Hammerpoint Interactive is hoping that you don't, at least when it comes to the game's checkered development and customer service history that includes being temporarily pulled from Steam and suffering a major security breach.

                  At any rate, the firm is looking for a fresh start and has changed the zombie MMO's name to Infestation: Survivor Stories. The War Z's original URL now automatically redirects users to a rebranded website.

                  [Thanks Paul!]

                  MassivelyThe War Z now known as Infestation: Survivor Stories originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Vindictus spreads the joy of Season 2 Episode 2

                  Posted: 19 Jun 2013 02:00 PM PDT

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                  Vindictus spreads the joy of Season 2 Episode 2
                  It's update day for Vindictus, as players will have the fun of exploring the Season 2 Episode 2 patch after the download is complete. The update is a hearty helping of content that includes dungeons, battles, and character revamps.

                  Nine new battles are now available in the Twilight Desert, and players might have to cut their way through the addition of Grim Reapers and Guardians to get to them. The update implements a time progression feature, which is important since it determines which of the patch's 14 dungeons are open or closed for business. There's also a new expertise to level up in called Gathering, although it's accessible only in the Season 2 zones.

                  [Source: Nexon press release]

                  MassivelyVindictus spreads the joy of Season 2 Episode 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    DDO: Shadowfell Conspiracy shows the beauty of Stormhorn mountains

                    Posted: 19 Jun 2013 01:30 PM PDT

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                    DDO Shadowfell Conspiracy shows the beauty of Stormhorn mountains
                    Dungeons and Dragons Online: Shadowfell Conspiracy is exactly two months away today, so there's still some time to work up excitement over this Forgotten Realms-centric expansion to the game world. We've expanded our screenshot gallery to include 10 new vistas of the Stormhorn mountains, a wilderness area that will feature large in players' adventures. You can check out all of the beauty below:

                    MassivelyDDO: Shadowfell Conspiracy shows the beauty of Stormhorn mountains originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      The Secret World is 50% off today on Steam

                      Posted: 19 Jun 2013 01:00 PM PDT

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                      The Secret World is 50% off today on Steam
                      What's better than a buy-to-play game that has no subscription fee? How about one that's 50% off! Make that game The Secret World and you've got one sweet deal. If you or anyone you know has been putting off purchasing a copy of the horror and conspiracy-themed game in hopes of a good deal, today is your day.

                      For 24 hours, TSW is a cool $14.99 (or 14.99 euros) on Steam. Got that? Only 24 hours... and already counting down. So if you want to take advantage of this deal and get full access to everything up through Issue #4, there's no time for hemming or hawing about this deal; it goes the way of the dodo at 1:00 p.m. EDT tomorrow, June 20th.

                      [Thanks to Balsbigbrother1 for the tip!]

                      MassivelyThe Secret World is 50% off today on Steam originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Call your buddies: Defiance launches recruit-a-friend

                      Posted: 19 Jun 2013 12:30 PM PDT

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                      Defiance Recruit a Friend
                      Are you tired of bombing around the post-apocalyptic wastelands of the Bay Area, shooting hellbugs in the face and popping wheelies on your four-wheeler, with none of your friends around to watch/high-five? Trion Worlds feels your pain.

                      The studio has just announced a recruit-a-friend system for its video game/television experiment, Defiance. If you have a copy of the game on any platform and a valid Trion Worlds account, you can hop over to the Defiance Ark Hunter recruitment site and shoot your besties some email invitations. Also available: a recruitment link for social media.

                      As is customary, bringing friends to Defiance comes with special rewards. Your first friend lands you a Tier I lock box, your first five get you a unique title, and your first ten give you two additional inventory slots. If one of those friends actually buys the game, you'll get a new outfit. Five purchases gets you a flame-emblazoned truck, and every purchase after that results in a Tier III lock box.

                      MassivelyCall your buddies: Defiance launches recruit-a-friend originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Rhode Island set to pay 38 Studios bonds. Probably.

                      Posted: 19 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT

                      Filed under: , , ,

                      Project Copernicus
                      38 Studios collapsed upon itself in a heap of flaming disaster last year, and Rhode Island taxpayers ended up stuck with the bill. The state used a $75 million loan, acquired through the sale of taxable bonds, to convince 38 to operate within its borders, and RI is now on the hook for around $89 million after the studio declared bankruptcy.

                      Some state lawmakers in Rhode Island flirted with the idea of "walking away" from the debt, which is apparently a privilege afforded to a government and not its citizens. However, the state's House Finance Committee has approved a budget that includes, at the very least, making an interest payment of $2.5 million on the debt in May 2014. If Rhode Island is running off the plan it talked about last month, this first payment will be followed by yearly payments of $12.5 million until the debt is repaid.

                      The budget hasn't passed; it still needs to get through the state's House and Senate. Future interest payments will also have to be approved by the state legislature.

                      MassivelyRhode Island set to pay 38 Studios bonds. Probably. originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Leaderboard: Is an MMO's title important to you?

                      Posted: 19 Jun 2013 11:00 AM PDT

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                      Leaderboard - Is an MMO's title important to you?
                      So, EverQuest Next is officially called EverQuest Next. At least until SOE comes to its senses. OK, OK, I'm only half kidding. It's not the worst name ever, but for a game that's already carrying the burden of substantial expectation before it's even been publicly unveiled, EQN seems a little bit vanilla to me.

                      Titles can be important, too, particularly in terms of first impressions and roping in those yummy casuals. So, how about it Massively readers? Is an MMO's title important to you? Vote after the cut!

                      Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

                      Continue reading Leaderboard: Is an MMO's title important to you?

                      MassivelyLeaderboard: Is an MMO's title important to you? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        RIFT grants compensation for Icewatch and Akala shard transfers

                        Posted: 19 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT

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                        RIFT grants compensation for Icewatch and Akala shard transfers
                        The switch to free-to-play has caused such a population explosion in RIFT that Trion is converting some shards to trial shards and opening new ones to host new and transferred players alike. But the studio understands that relocating is never easy. So to players who had to pack their bags and leave their beloved homes on EU's Icewatch and Akala shards, Trion is offering "a few small tokens of [their] appreciation for all your contributions to RIFT's success over the past two years."

                        Within the next few weeks, all former players from these two communities will receive special gifts on all of their characters. These gifts are a title ("of Icewatch" or "of Akala"), a shard-specific Icewatch or Akala regalia wardrobe set, and +1000 bonus loyalty.

                        MassivelyRIFT grants compensation for Icewatch and Akala shard transfers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        Choose My Adventure: Earning my Firefall rocket boots

                        Posted: 19 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT

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

                        CMA: Firefall
                        The votes are in. The people have spoken. Now, it's time to play. Last week's Choose My Adventure column, the first one centered on Firefall, presented a couple of choices related to the very basics of creating our character and giving him or her reason to fight. Voters enthusiastically chose a beaten-down man with one hope for redemption -- and unwittingly fulfilled my personal fantasy to create a game hero based on Nicolas Cage's character in Con Air.

                        Voters also chose from among Firefall's five battleframes, with the jack-of-all-trades Assault frame beating out the smash-it-in-the-face Dreadnaught frame by just 26 votes. So, to recap: We have created a character who's an ex-con with no reason to live, handed him an assault rifle, and dropped him into a violent world where pretty much anything goes.

                        This is getting good.

                        Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Earning my Firefall rocket boots

                        MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Earning my Firefall rocket boots originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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