General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


USB Head-to-Head: LaCie XtremKey vs. Corsair Flash Survivor

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:35 PM PDT

Two rugged flash drives go head-to-head

Rugged USB keys are nothing new, but lately they've reached a level of badassery previously only reserved for Maximum PC editors and lumberjacks. We're talking supreme toughness, with hints of leather, peppered beef jerky, and English Gentleman aftershave thrown in. To see which key is the most badass we've assembled the top two candidates— the LaCie XtremKey and the Corsair Flash Survivor—and set out to discover which is the top dog. They are both USB 3.0- and 2.0-compatible, come wrapped in some form of metal, and can tolerate environments ranging from super-heated to ice-cold. We put them through their paces to let you know which key you need in your pocket the next time you're immersed in glacial waters and then set on fire. No editors were harmed in testing, of course, but these two keys certainly were.

The Corsair Flash Survivor features an aluminum chassis made from recycled airplanes, and is waterproof up to 200 meters.

The Corsair Flash Survivor features an aluminum chassis made from recycled airplanes, and is waterproof up to 200 meters.

Round 1: Size

The XtremKey's 2mm-thick steel chassis makes it almost impenetrable to abuse, but it also makes it semi-difficult to lug around—it's like having a small boat anchor in your pocket. At 57 grams it's porky too, so dropping it on your phone or your foot could cause some damage. The Corsair Survivor, on the other hand, is made from anodized aluminum, so it's incredibly light by comparison at 43 grams, while still being exceedingly tough. Despite its lighter weight, you could still smash the Survivor with a hammer and it would, well, survive, unscathed. Both drives can withstand a lot of punishment, but the Flash Survivor does it without weighing us down too much.

Winner: Corsair Flash Survivor

Round 2: Ruggedness

This was a tough category to thoroughly test, simply because the upper limits of the drives' endurance was beyond what was available to us. For example, the XtremKey can withstand 10 tons of pressure, but we only had a full-size truck available, and both keys passed the roll-over test with flying colors. Both drives were also baked in an oven at 350 degrees for an hour, sent through a wash and dry cycle, frozen and thawed, and thrown on the ground with all our nerd strength, and neither drive stopped working. The nod goes to the XtremKey though, since it can take more damage than the Flash Survivor due to its metal alloy exoskeleton.

Winner: LaCie XtremKey

Round 3: Software Bundle

This category is an easy win for the XtremKey since it includes a fairly sizable software bundle for a USB key, including backup software, encryption tools (TrueCrypt), and a cloud storage utility that gives you 5GB of free storage. The Corsair key, on the other hand, ships with just the key and nothing else; although, keep in mind that the Corsair key is half the price of the LaCie key, but we'll get to that in a bit. To its credit, the Corsair key works with Mac, Windows, and Linux right out of the box with no additional drivers needed, so that's appreciated. The LaCie key not only ships with software, but it's actually good software, which is surprising and helps justify the XtremKey's high price tag.

 LaCie's XtremKey is extreme alright—in its size, price, speed, and the amount of punishment it can take.

LaCie's XtremKey is extreme alright—in its size, price, speed, and the amount of punishment it can take.

Winner: LaCie XtremKey

Round 4: Performance

This is another easy win for the LaCie XtremKey, as it has more than three times the speed as the Corsair key even though both keys are USB 3.0 rated. The LaCie key is rated to perform sequential reads at 230MB/s while the Corsair key is rated for just 80MB/s, and our benchmarks verified a massive speed differential between the drives. Using CrystalDiskMark, we saw the LaCie key read at 213MB/s and the Corsair key perform at 88.3MB/s. In a real-world 11GB file-copy test, the LaCie key took just three minutes and 34 seconds to write the files, while the Corsair key required a sluggish 13 minutes and 30 seconds, so the difference between the two keys in everyday file use is large and noticeable.

Winner: LaCie XtremKey

Round 5: Value

We're giving this round to the Corsair Flash Survivor simply because it's half the price of the LaCie key, even though it holds the same 32GB and is rugged enough for the average card-holding geek. We bought our key for just $40 from Amazon, so it's actually less than half the LaCie key's $85 asking price. Sure, you get some great software with the LaCie key, and a little extra ruggedness, but the biggest advantage the LaCie key has over the Corsair is its blazing speed. That is something worth paying for, but not at twice the price. The Corsair key also has a five-year warranty, and the XtremKey just covers you for three years.

Winner: Corsair Flash Survivor

And the Winner Is…

Before we started this test, we had the Corsair Flash Survivor pegged as the key we'd spend our money on since we figured it was probably rugged enough, and it costs half as much as the XtremKey. Now that testing is complete, however, we've reversed ourselves, and declare the LaCie XtremKey the winner. Not only can it theoretically withstand more punishment than the Flash Survivor, it includes a full-fledged software package, and was more than twice as fast in our tests as the Corsair key. It's big and heavy, and yes, it's expensive, but it's the full package whereas the Flash Survivor is simply a little too bare-bones in comparison.

Fujifilm X20 Review

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:05 PM PDT

The Fujifilm X20 proves that compact digicams aren't dead yet

Why buy a compact digital camera these days when every smartphone and tablet has a built-in camera? Amateurs and even some professionals are making impressive pictures with phonecams. Phones are almost always handy, and downloadable apps make them infinitely customizable. Just as digital cameras have all but killed film, now phonecams threaten to kill digital cameras—or at least the compact digicams, leaving DSLRs alive for those occasions when nothing but the best will do.

fujifilm x20

The Fujifilm X20

Nevertheless, there's still a place for a good compact camera. Although most snapshooters may be satisfied with a phonecam's sheer simplicity, enthusiasts still prefer the manual controls, bigger image sensors, lower noise, better lenses, faster response, and higher-quality results that are possible with a camera designed to be a camera, not a phone. Some photographers also prefer the option of composing with an eye-level viewfinder in addition to an LCD screen. Likewise, some folks prefer to build their own computers instead of buying a prefab PC, and others prefer the Linux command line to Windows 8. It's an enthusiast thing. You either get it or you don't.

Lately we've seen a surge of compact cameras designed for enthusiasts. As phonecams devour the low-end digicam market, the survivors are the high-hanging fruit. The newest such camera is the Fujifilm X20, which replaces the lookalike X10 introduced two years ago. Externally, the two models are almost identical, but the X20 has numerous improvements and one very useful feature never before seen in a compact digicam: a big, bright optical viewfinder that displays critical shooting information. Other standout features:

• A 12-megapixel image sensor that's 50% larger than the sensors in other small-chip digicams, producing better image quality with less noise.

• A non-Bayer color-filter array that reduces moiré effects without using an antialiasing filter in the optical path, thus producing sharper photos.

• Fast phase-detect autofocus built into the image sensor, plus the usual contrast-detect autofocus.

• A 28-112mm (35mm-film equivalent) zoom lens with fast maximum apertures of f/2.0 to f/2.8, allowing higher shutter speeds, better low-light photography, and lower ISOs that minimize noise.

• Manual zoom control for faster, more precise composition.

• External controls for shooting modes, focus modes, custom-setting modes, a quiet mode, exposure lock, exposure compensation, and quick access to vital functions without diving deep into the menus.

• An extended dynamic-range mode that deliberately underexposes a scene to preserve highlight detail, then boosts the sensor sensitivity to recover the shadow detail.

• Optional RAW image capture, plus in-camera RAW-to-JPEG conversion with customizable processing.

• Magnesium-alloy body with metal lens barrel and metal control knobs.

Of course, the X20 also has a zillion other features that define it as a high-end compact: ISOs from 100 to 12,800, mechanical and electronic shutter speeds from 30 seconds to 1/4000 second, JPEG frame rates up to 12fps with an 11-frame buffer, face-detect autofocus, macro focusing (down to 0.3 inches), lens-shift image stabilization, automatic scene-selection modes, two custom-setting modes, multiple metering modes, multiple bracketing modes, multiple autofocus modes, manual focusing with focus peaking, film-simulation curves, H.264 High-Definition video with stereo sound (up to 1080p, 60fps), 360-degree sweep panoramas with in-camera stitching, and a host of other features that fill the 141-page instruction manual. (And yes, the box includes a paper manual, plus a CD-ROM.)

All that fancy stuff is nice to have, but let's get real. If you really want to shoot HD video, get a video camera. If you love panoramas, get a DSLR, a panoramic tripod head, and third-party stitching software. Camera manufacturers pack their digicams with fancy features because it's expected. The true test of an enthusiast digicam is how well it functions on the road as a lightweight travel camera or on the street as a candid camera. And for that, only a few things really matter—usability, speed, control, and image quality. By these measures, the X20 shines.

fujifilm x20 back

The back of the Fujifilm X20

A Real Viewfinder, At Last

The X20's most innovative feature is an eye-level optical viewfinder (OVF) that zooms with the lens and displays critical shooting information. It shows the focus point, focus confirmation, shutter speed, lens aperture (f/stop), ISO, over- or underexposure warnings, and slow-shutter alert. This kind of data is standard in DSLRs and cameras with electronic viewfinders (EVFs), but it's never been offered in a digicam's OVF.

Indeed, the vast majority of compact digicams have shed their OVFs altogether, leaving only the rear LCD for composition and data displays. Although composing photos at arm's length has become ubiquitous, many photographers still like the option of eye-level viewing. It's faster, more stable, and more usable in bright light. But only a few digicams retain OVFs, and those that do have perfunctory tunnel finders reminiscent of a 1925 Leica.

Fujilfilm X20

The Fujifilm X20's optical viewfinder is handy for candid grab shots under any lighting conditions. (ISO 800, 1/40 second at f/2.)

In addition to displaying data, the X20's OVF is noticeably bigger and brighter. A diopter adjustment corrects the finder for your vision, and a new sensor can automatically turn off the LCD screen when you raise the camera to your eye. Like the previous model's OVF, however, the X20's finder still shows only 85% of the image field. (Hint: You can make the OVF nearly accurate in the vertical dimension by changing the camera's standard 4:3 aspect ratio to 3:2, the same as DSLRs and 35mm cameras. The X20 also has a 1:1 mode for taking square pictures, if you want to emulate a Rolleiflex.)

The improved OVF is a revelation. It sets the X20 apart from all other enthusiast digicams, such as Canon's PowerShot G-series. Fujifilm worked this miracle by interposing a thin, transparent LCD in the finder. The data readouts even change color automatically in different lighting conditions to improve visibility or convey information. It's still not as good as a DSLR finder, but it's a leap beyond anything seen before in a compact digicam.

Click the next page to read about its controls and how fast the X20 can take images.


Fast Enough for Street Photography

Most digicams suffer from frustrating shutter lag that makes action photography almost impossible. The X20 is nearly as fast as a DSLR. An external control selects among AF-S (single), AF-C (continuous), and MF (manual) focus modes. You can let the camera select the focus point or use the default center point. If you want, you can move the focus point anywhere in the frame and adjust its size.

In AF-S mode, the X20 usually locks focus very quickly, even indoors. The instruction manual recommends AF-S for stationary subjects and AF-C for moving subjects, but AF-S is so fast that it's suitable for almost any subject. As one of our test photos shows, the X20 locked focus on the legs of a tattooed man who was walking briskly on a city sidewalk. Even though both the photographer and subject were in motion, the X20 captured a sharp image of the Blues Brothers tattoos on the man's calves. The subject was not a model and was unaware he was being photographed. And this photo wasn't cherry-picked from a multiframe burst—it was the only frame.

AF-S mode

Even in AF-S mode, the Fujifilm X20 was fast enough to lock focus on this man's rapidly moving legs. A high shutter speed helped freeze a sharp image of the tattoos on his calves. (ISO 100, 1/550 second at f/5.6.)

So yes, the X20 is a good choice for urban street photography. Any camera fast enough for street photography is fast enough for almost anything else. For rapid sports action, DSLRs are still faster, and they accept longer telephoto lenses. But a honking-big DSLR with zoom lens can be intimidating on the street or attract too much attention when traveling abroad in nontourist areas. The small X20 is much stealthier and less obtrusive.

Almost Too Many Controls

Diving into menus to access vital functions is a pain in the butt, so cameras designed for advanced amateurs and pros have numerous "hard controls"—external buttons, knobs, rings, and switches. The X20 has plenty of those. Like almost all digital cameras, however, it omits the straightforward shutter-speed dials and f/stop rings of classic cameras. (Fujifilm's higher-end X100, X100S, XPro-1, and XE-1 are rare exceptions.)

The X20's top mode dial includes the M(anual), S(hutter-priority), A(perture-priority), and P(rogram) exposure modes that enthusiasts demand. Of course, the camera also has full-auto and automatic scene-selection modes, so you can hand it to anyone for a casual snapshot.

Unlike most digicams, the X20 also has a top-mounted exposure-compensation dial that adds or subtracts up to two stops of exposure in 1/3-stop increments in the auto and semiauto modes. During testing, the X20 fiercely resisted the blown highlights of overexposure, consistently delivering correct exposures or slight underexposures. If your experience varies, you can use the compensation dial to bias the exposures either way.

On the camera's back, a control wheel, control ring, four-way cursor switch, electronic-flash switch, and eight buttons provide additional inputs. The most vital of these controls is a little wheel recessed horizontally above the thumb rest. In shutter-priority mode, it controls the shutter speed; in aperture-priority mode, it controls the f/stop. In manual mode, it controls both, because it's also a click wheel—press it once to switch between the two settings. You can also use the control ring surrounding the four-way switch to change these values, but the wheel is handier when using the OVF.

When shooting, the four-way switch lets you move the focus point, change the flash mode, enter the macro-focus mode, or activate the self-timer. A center button displays the menus on the LCD. A nearby button lets you lock the exposure, the focus point, or both. Another button alters the information displayed on the LCD; pressing it for a few seconds longer forces the camera into "quiet mode," suppressing the flash, focus-assist light, and all sounds. Next to it, another button opens a single-screen Quick Menu containing 15 important functions. To the left of the LCD, four more buttons let you review pictures or change the white balance, drive mode (single shot, burst, etc), or metering pattern (matrix, averaging, or spot).

The electronic-flash switch manually raises or lowers the built-in flash—with the X20, you need never worry about the flash popping off when you don't want it to. In addition, the X20 has a standard hot shoe, so you can attach any accessory flash unit. (In another homage to classic cameras, the X20's shutter button is threaded for a standard mechanical cable release.)

What's missing? A dedicated ISO button is the most notable omission. However, the Quick Menu includes this setting, and a programmable function button on the top deck provides even quicker access, if you want. The previous X10 model had a RAW-format button, but the X20 replaces it with the Quick Menu button. (You can select RAW or RAW+JPEG format in the menus, or program the function button for this purpose.)

Overall, the X20's controls are far better than those on typical digicams and rival those on DSLRs. The absent ISO button was missed most, but the alternatives are tolerable. Indeed, the X20 has almost TOO MANY controls for such a small camera. It's easy to accidentally bump a control when handling the X20. Fortunately, pressing the menu button for a few seconds disables the four-way switch and Quick Menu button. (Hint: because the control ring is rarely needed, it can be discreetly disabled with a piece of electrical tape.)

Small cameras are understandably popular, but the X20 is one digicam that could stand to be a little larger. It's slightly too large to be a true pocket camera, anyway (except for coat pockets), so a bit more girth would make it easier to handle.

Click the next page to read about the X20's image quality.


Image Quality Excels

Image quality is the most critical aspect of an enthusiast camera, and the X20 belongs in the top rank of digicams. That said, it's not a DSLR; it's a small-chip digicam. In the analog age, bigger film negatives always recorded more detail with less grain than smaller negatives. In the digital age, bigger image sensors always record more detail with less noise than smaller sensors. Size matters.

Nevertheless, sensor technology keeps advancing, and today's small-chip digicams are much better than those of a few years ago. In its class, the X20 excels. To start with, it has a 2/3-inch sensor, the largest of any digicam in the small-chip category. This sensor is 50% bigger than the 1/1.7-inch chips in similar digicams, such as Canon's highly rated PowerShot G15 and Panasonic's Lumix LX7. And it helps that the X20 doesn't surrender to megapixel mania. The sensor has "only" 12 megapixels, which is plenty. Image quality erodes dramatically when small-chip cameras squeeze too many pixels onto their sensors.

Fujifilm's X-Trans CMOS sensor replaces the Bayer color-filter array used in almost all other digital cameras with a unique array that has a less-regular color pattern. This array is designed to reduce moiré effects—the pixel aliasing that distorts colors or produces false-color artifacts in subjects with finely patterned surfaces. The X-Trans sensor enabled Fujifilm to omit the antialiasing filter that covers the image sensors in almost all digital cameras. Removing this filter from the optical path noticeably sharpens the photos, and no moiré effects were evident during testing.

Judging the image quality of any digital camera can be a harsh exercise, because image-editing software can magnify digital images on the screen to dimensions much larger than common print sizes. Film images were rarely viewed so large. This "pixel peeping" at 100% magnification reveals flaws even in the best prime lenses mounted on pro-quality DSLRs. Compact digicams fare worse, because their small-chip sensors capture less detail and suffer from more pixel noise, even at relatively low ISOs. And indeed, magnifying the X20's images reveals some visible noise in shadow areas, even at its base sensitivity of ISO 100. However, the noise is invisible in 8.5x11-inch prints.

Noise always rises as the ISO climbs. In X20 images viewed on screen, noise is acceptable until the ISO reaches stratospheric heights. (The camera's maximum sensitivity of ISO 12,800 is strictly for the desperate.) By ISO 800, the noise and noise-filtering artifacts are plainly visible at 100% pixel magnification on screen but are barely noticeable in 8.5x11-inch prints. ISO 1600 is acceptable in smaller prints. These results are surprisingly good for a small-chip camera.

In a low-light shootout against a Nikon D80 DSLR, the X20 was astonishing. At ISO 3200—the D80's highest sensitivity—the X20 showed barely more noise, and only when closely comparing both images at 100% screen magnification. What's more surprising is that the X20 recorded equivalent detail with fewer color artifacts and more-neutral white balance. Of course, the Nikon D80 is 2006 technology. Still, it's remarkable that a small-chip digicam can run such a close race with a DSLR—and the D80 was fitted with a Nikkor AF-D prime lens. (Both cameras were mounted on a tripod, matched for equivalent focal lengths, and stopped down to f/5.6.)

guitars fujifilm x20nikon D80 DSLR

x20d80

The closeup views of these two ISO 3200 images were cropped at 100% magnification. Left column: Fujifilm X20; right column: Nikon D80 DSLR with Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 AF-D lens. (In both cases, the equivalent 35mm-film focal length was about 36mm.) The X20's auto white balance is clearly superior, and image detail is virtually identical. The D80 shows only slightly less noise. (ISO 3200, 1/30 or 1/45 second at f/5.6.)

Even wide open at f/2, the X20's images are sharp. One exception, common to small-chip cameras, is when photographing subjects dominated by random detail. Examples are foliage and wood grain. Small sensors have trouble rendering that detail as smoothly as larger sensors do. Again, though, these differences are noticeable mainly when viewing images at high screen magnifications, not in prints.

Some people object to the overly aggressive noise filtering that's often visible in highly magnified images from small-chip cameras. Their firmware suppresses noise even at low ISOs, tending to smear fine details. The X20 lets you increase or decrease the noise filtering, but some manipulation looks evident even at the minimum setting. If you abhor this effect, shoot in RAW format and use third-party noise-reduction software. Or, better yet, use a camera with a larger sensor.

Click the next page for the final verdict.


Designed for Photographers

Overall, the Fujifilm X20 is a well-built, high-quality compact camera with unique features that set it apart from all other small-chip cameras. Among the dwindling number of digicams with OVFs, it has the best finder by far. The X20 is fast, controllable, stealthy, stylish, and couples an excellent lens with an excellent sensor. It's one of the few compact cameras that feels like it was designed for photographers with significant input by photographers.

On the downside, the X20 is a battery burner (at least one spare is mandatory), relatively expensive ($599), has a nonstandard filter size (39.5mm, although a 52mm adapter is available), is too big to be comfortably pocketable, and has a crowded control layout (though no worse than comparable digicams).

Wish list: increase the OVF's accuracy to 95% and make the camera slightly larger. It's not a pocket camera, so an extra inch would make handling easier and create room for an articulated LCD, which is valuable for sneaky waist-level shooting.

For family photography, lightweight travel, and street photography, the X20 is one of the best alternatives to a bulky DSLR. Even the new wave of small mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses can't match the X20's zoom range and lens speed in the same compact package. If phonecams ever succeed in killing off digicams, at least the cameras aren't going down without a fight. In the analog days, 35mm film shooters would have killed for a camera like this.

Through Sony's Eyes, "Vast Majority" of Gamers Prefer GameStop Over Buying Online

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:53 AM PDT

PlayStation 4Sony speaks the half-truth

The next generation of game consoles from Sony (PlayStation 4) and Microsoft (Xbox One) isn't just about the hardware, it's equal parts software and whether or not the gaming industry as a whole is ready to transition to a digital distribution model. For the most part, the transition is mostly complete on the PC side thanks to services like Steam, and had Microsoft stuck to its guns, the Xbox One would have leaned much more heavily on digital downloads than physical media. As for Sony, it wasn't even a consideration, because gamers simply don't want to buy games online, the company says.

"What we try to do is offer a relatively level playing field and let the gamers decide. We're not trying to advantage them, we believe in consumer choice," Sony SVP Guy Longworth told GamesIndustry International. "It's clear that the vast majority of people want to go down to GameStop or Best Buy, they don't want to buy it online right now. I think physical games will be around a lot longer than some people think."

Longworth isn't incorrect, but it's also only the half truth. As PC gamers have proven, digital downloads are perfectly acceptable, especially when they lead to lower priced titles across the board and frequent sales, as Steam is known to hold. It's not uncommon for a triple-A title to receive a deep discount on Steam, and if the same pricing structure was in place for the Xbox One or PlayStation 4, would gamers be so quick to pay a premium for physical media? Probably not.

The other issue is DRM. Microsoft's original strategy was doomed from the start because the company wanted its console to dial home every 24 hours. In reality, it's the same general concept as logging into Steam when you want to play a game, only the Xbox One would log in automatically every 24 hours. Even so, the idea creeped out gamers, perhaps rightfully so when things like PRISM come to light.

What's your opinion on all this? More specifically, if Sony or Microsoft switched to a Steam-like model where you could download games at a cheaper rate and would only need to log in when you're getting ready to play a title (versus automatically every 24 hours), would you have a problem with that, or is Sony correct in thinking that gamers simply don't want to buy games online?

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Nvidia Releases GeForce 320.49 Beta Driver

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:19 AM PDT

Nvidia GeForce GTX 760Launch driver for the GeForce GTX 760

Nvidia today lifted the wraps off its GeForce GTX 760 graphics card, a mid-range part that fared well in our benchmarking and surprised us with a $250 MSRP, and coinciding with the hardware release is a new set of drivers in beta trim. Available to download now, the GeForce 320.49 beta driver delivers improved stability and performance, and is especially recommended "for players of GRID 2 and other recent releases," Nvidia says.

Interestingly, Nvidia didn't say exactly what kind of performance boost you can expect in GRID 2, though it did list several examples of what you can expect with the R320 family of drivers in general. If you're running a GeForce GTX 660 graphics card, you can expect double-digit percentage gains in titles like Dirt: Showdown (up to 20 percent), Tomb Raider (up to 18 percent), Metro: Last Light (up to 10 percent), and Sleeping Dogs (up to 10 percent).

Outside of performance gains, Nvidia claims the driver "fixes the majority of reported issues," so if you've been having trouble with previous drivers, you may want to give this one a shot even if you usually skip over beta releases.

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Sony SmartWatch 2 is Water-Resistant, Supports NFC

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 10:16 AM PDT

Sony SmartWatch 2Telling time is but one of many tricks Sony's SmartWatch 2 knows

Contrary to popular belief, there's still a market for wristwatches, though admittedly they're probably not nearly as common now that smartphones and features phones rule the day. Rather than compete with your smartphone for your time, Sony's new SmartWatch 2 works with your Android-powered device and acts as a second display. Of course, you can use it to simply keep track of time, but there's so much else it can do.

It's all about the apps, and there's a bunch of dedicated software available. You can answer or reject phone calls, take photos remotely from the SmartWatch 2, manipulate presentations using Presentation Pal, read email, listen to music, and a whole lot more. There are over 200 apps specifically developed for the SmartWatch.

"Competitors are only now launching first generation devices, while we are already launching a 3rd generation device with all the insight gained from over half a million customers combined with Sony's wealth of technology expertise to create the best ever smartwatch experience," Stefan K. Persson, Head of Companion Products at Sony Mobile Communications, points out.

A few new features to the SmartWatch 2 include NFC connectivity, better visibilty in sunlight, longer battery life, a more intuitive interface, standalone watch functionality, and a few other odds and ends. It's also water-resistant, Sony says.

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iBuypower Refreshes Valkyrie Laptop Line with Haswell CPUs, GeForce 700 Series GPUs

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:42 AM PDT

Valkyrie CZ-27

Second-gen Valkyries powered by fourth-gen Intel Core processors

iBuypower on Monday stepped into the Haswell era, announcing the launch of the latest generation of its Valkyrie gaming laptops. The new Valkyrie series comprises the 15-inch CZ-15 and 17-inch CZ-27, both of which are powered by 4th generation Intel Core i7 processors and the latest Nvidia graphics cards.

The cheapest CZ-27 SKU costs $1,349 and has a Core i7-4700MQ processor, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M with 3GB VRAM, 500GB HDD and 8X dual format DVD±RW combo. The CZ-27 and the CZ-15 are both available in three basic flavors, but there is no dearth of toppings. This is what a fully tricked-out CZ-27 looks like on paper: Intel Core i7-4930MX Extreme Edition processor, 32GB of RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M with 4GB VRAM, 6x Blu-Ray-R burner, and 1TB solid-state storage.

Unlike the CZ-27, the 15-inch CZ-15, which starts at $1,599, is a completely new model. It features a 15.6-inch full HD display, Core i7-4700MQ (up to Core i7 4930MX), up to 32GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce GTX 780M with 4GB VRAM, and your choice of optical drive. With up to two storage slots that can each accommodate up to a 1TB HDD or up to a 512GB SSD, there are a wide variety of storage options to choose from.

"The new Valkyries are beautiful, powerful, and deliver the promise of lasting battery power for high-performance gaming notebooks," said Darren Su, Co-Founder and Vice President of iBUYPOWER in a press release. "Battery life and performance are two critical focus areas for our customers, and the new generation of Valkries [sic] deliver on all fronts."

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HP Builds Its First Android All-In-One PC

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:31 AM PDT

HP Slate21Trading Windows for Jelly Bean

Hewlett-Packard seems to have a bit of a minor crush on Google as of late. The first evidence came when HP offered up its Pavilion Chromebook to the public, a 14-inch notebook running Google's Chrome OS. For what it's worth, HP is still the only OEM outside of Acer and Samsung to offer a Chromebook model, the other two of which were on the bandwagon since day 1. Perhaps looking to further test the waters outside of Windows, HP this week announced another Google-driven product, the HP Slate 21 All-In-One (AIO).

What's unique about the Slate21 is that it's running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean rather than Windows 8. It's the company's first foray into Android with an AIO PC, and whether or not it will be the last depends on how much of a demand there is for such a device.

"Customers are looking for technology that simplifies their lives while keeping them connected to the entertainment they enjoy and the content they need," said Jun Kim, vice president and general manager, PC Displays and Accessories, HP. "The HP Slate 21 allows families to easily access content through the cloud and enjoy it together on a large, interactive screen."

Hardware specs are a little hard to come by, though we did some digging and found out it's rocking an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor. The 21.5-inch display features a Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) resolution, and it also boasts three USB 3.0 ports, USB 2.0 ports, and an SD card slot.

The Slate 21 will be available in September starting at $399.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Kingston HyperX 16GB DDR3-1600 RAM, AOC 24-inch Monitor, and More!

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 08:15 AM PDT

Kingston Blu Red Series 16GB DDR3-1600 RAMNewegg

Top Deal:

Photoshop feeling sluggish? Short of a system overhaul, throwing more RAM at content creation chores can often ease the burden of processing photos and videos. Check out today's top deal for Kingston HyperX Blu Red Series 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3-1600 Desktop Memory for $99 with free shipping (normally $124 - use coupon code HASMEM10). It's fast, capacious, and relatively inexpensive way to give your system a performance boost.

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Asus HD7770-2GD5 Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 2GB GDDR5 Video Card for $131 with free shipping (normally $150 - use coupon code:[DIRECTCU]; additional $15 mail-in rebate and free games with purchase)

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Razer Surround Audio Software Injects 7.1 Virtual Sound Into Ordinary Stereo Headsets

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT

Razer Surround LogoDownload, calibrate, and get in the game!

Bummed that your headset doesn't support 7.1 surround sound? Cut your cans a break, perhaps there's unlocked potential within those drivers just waiting for somebody to tap into. With the help of Razer, you can do just that by adding a new dimension of sound. Specifically, Razer has developed a new audio engine that it claims will add 7.1 virtual surround sound support to any stereo headset, even earphones.

It's called "Razer Surround" and what it does is allow you to calibrate your own personal surround sound settings through a series of listening tests. In doing so, Razer says you can expect far superior positional audio over traditional virtual solutions, resulting in a 3D audio experience from a set of headphones born into this world as a simple stereo headset.

Razer Surround

Razer Surround will be available as a complementary add-on integrated within Razer's Synapse 2.0 application, storing your custom settings in the cloud. Razer also said it's waiving its $20 price for the download through December 2013 so that people who sign up by then will get a free copy of the program. During that time, users will have the option of making a donation of any amount to Child's Play after the download begins.

Starting January 1, 2014, the price will hike back up to $20.

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Geforce GTX 760 Benchmarks

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:00 AM PDT

Nvidia attacks the midrange with its latest GK104-based GPU 

Today Nvidia is launching its newest 700-series GPU, the $250 GK104-based GTX 760. This is a "hard launch" as opposed to a paper launch, so you should be able to buy cards from your favorite e-tailers by the time you read this. Unlike its more expensive brethren, the GTX 770 and the GTX 780, the GTX 760 is a budget-oriented card that outpaces AMD's HD 7950 as well as its own $300 GTX 660 Ti. Nvidia says if you're looking to upgrade from a GTX 560 Ti or similar $200-ish dollar card, this is the GPU you want. After looking at the benchmark scores, it's hard to argue with that logic.

The Basics

The GTX 760 is powered by the same GK104 GPU originally found in the GTX 680, which was Nvidia's flagship GPU when it launched its Kepler architecture in 2012. The GTX 760 is a binned version of that chip with less CUDA cores and lower clock speeds, but with the same 256-bit memory interface and the same 2GB of 6GHz memory. Add-in board partners will also be offering the GTX 760 in overclocked versions with both 2GB and 4GB of memory in addition to custom cooling solutions as well, just like the GTX 770. Nvidia claims this card is designed for 1080p gaming, and all of our testing was performed at that resolution as well. This card will replace the GTX 660 Ti in the company's lineup, but the GTX 660 and GTX 650 Ti Boost will remain in place as the lower-cost alternatives to this GPU. The card is 9.5 inches long and uses two six-pin PCIe connectors.

 

GTX 760

The GTX 760 reference board measures 9.5 inches and sports a semi-quiet blower-type cooler.

As a 700-series card this board also gets all the goodies that come along with that moniker, including GPU Boost 2.0 which includes Adaptive Fan Control for quieter operation, ShadowPlay for recording gaming sessions, and streaming to Nvidia's upcoming Shield handheld gaming device.

Specs

When looking at the spec chart for all the cards in this price range, it can get a little confusing as to which card is actually higher spec'd than another due to the mix-and-match nature of the numbers. This card seems to slot in right below the GTX 660 Ti as its pricing would indicate, but we found it to perform slightly better in testing (see below).

 

Performance and Overclocking

Since this is a GPU we've seen four times previously, we won't bother rehashing any old info but will instead just get straight to what really matters -- the benchmarks. When compared to the GTX 660 Ti, the Radeon HD 7950 and the Radeon HD 7870, the GTX 760 is the fastest in the bunch. It delivered very acceptable framerates at 1080p running max settings with 4XAA in even the most demanding game we use currently; Metro: Last Light. Sure, 25fps isn't anything to Skype home about but we run the test with maximum physics too, so that's a surprisingly playable framerate (barely). More impressively, it delivers a decent performance boost compared to the more expensive GTX 660 Ti and the Radeon HD 7950, and is quieter than both of those cards as well. It does make a bit of noise though compared to the previous cards we've seen in this series, but it's never obnoxious. We were also able to overclock the board all the way up to 1,241MHz and it was totally stable in all of our tests, though it did run at 86C after churning through an overnight session of Heaven 4.0. With a bigger cooler on this board it's possible even more overclocking headroom could be liberated, but we doubt it. We also maxed out the board's voltage to achieve this overclock, and can't wait to see what add-in board partners will offer.

Benchmarks

Final Thoughts

Nvidia is saying this is the final card in the 700-series, so there you have it - this is the lineup for what we assume will be most of 2013 from Nvidia. 

  • GTX Titan
  • GTX 780
  • GTX 770
  • GTX 760
  • GTX 660
  • GTX 650 Ti Boost

The GTX 760 is a strong contender at the $250 price point, and honestly we thought this would be a $300 card at first, so the pricing seems quite competitive. It certainly seems like the fastest card in the mid-$200 price range, and is a heck of a lot quieter than the HD 7950, making that head-to-head a no brainer. Just like with the launch of the GTX 780 and then the GTX 770, we now wait for AMD to make a move. After reading last week that AMD is working on a new design for its coolers for the 8000 series, we're inclined to believe the company isn't standing still, but isn't quite ready to launch just yet. We know it's spending time taking shots at Nvidia these days as well since it's riding high on the news that it scored design wins in all of the next-gen consoles, so clearly AMD is gaining some momentum. How and when it'll respond to the latest salvos from Nvidia remains to be seen though. Hopefully it's not just with another game bundle, but with new hardware.

MMO Updates

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Latest EVE devblog graphs exploration site usage in Odyssey

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT

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Latest EVE devblog graphs exploration site usage in Odyssey
Eve Online's exploration-focused Odyssey expansion has been in full swing for a few weeks now, giving pilots time to really delve in and experience the new mechanics. And while we reflected on Odyssey's impact shortly after launch, CCP's latest devblog gives a fuller picture of that impact on the exploration sites -- literally.

With graphs depicting usage of the top three data and relic sites, the blog illustrates how players have flocked to the exploration sites in droves. The Sparking Transmitter site, for example, has seen almost a ten-fold increase in usage -- and that's even after ignoring the initial spike at release. Combat sites like Angel Forsaken Hub in nullsec, on the other hand, saw a marked decrease in activity since the expansion. The blog also offers other graphs, including showing how the global win/loss ratio stabilized quickly.

MassivelyLatest EVE devblog graphs exploration site usage in Odyssey originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Firefall's final beta milestone and live action trailer

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:45 AM PDT

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Yes, in real life the armor looks kind of ridiculous.
The last closed beta milestone for Firefall is live, and it's a big one. Closed beta testers can explore the new eSports styled PvP game Jetball while taking part in the game's first story-based episode, Blackwater Anomaly. And this is meant as a big thing, big enough that there's even a live-action trailer (starring Tybee Diskin whom you might recognize from the Nuka Break Fallout fan film) past the cut to help get potential players psyched about just what might be going on.

Designed for five-person squads, Blackwater Anomaly sends players out into the storm to examine the eponymous anomaly at Blackwater Marsh, leading to a closer examination of why the Chosen have arrived and what motivates the attack on humanity. If you're intrigued and want to get in on the action before the start of open beta on July 9th, the Founder's Packs will still be available through July 8th. Everyone already in the beta can start enjoying this new content immediately.

[Source: Red 5 Studios press release]

Continue reading Firefall's final beta milestone and live action trailer

MassivelyFirefall's final beta milestone and live action trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Massively Speaking Episode 253: Massively Next

    Posted: 25 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT

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    Massively Speaking Episode 253
    It's been a busy week with medium- and small-sized news running rampant through Massively's thoroughfares. It's also been a weird week full of redundancies, such as a game that's launched getting a launch and another game that had a title getting the exact same title. Face it: MMOs bring out the weird in all of us, studios included.

    Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

    Get the podcast:
    [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
    [MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
    [iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.
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    Listen here on the page:



    Read below the cut for the full show notes.

    Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 253: Massively Next

    MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 253: Massively Next originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Massively Exclusive: Elsword trailer introduces the new Infinity Sword class

      Posted: 25 Jun 2013 08:30 AM PDT

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      Massively Exclusive  Elsword trailer introduces the new Infinity Sword class
      Recently, Elsword grew by quadrupaling the size of the world. Now the free-to-play anime-inspired game expands even further with a transformation evolution that will introduce a wave of new classes starting tomorrow, June 26th. Kicking off this new series of transformations is Infinity Sword, a new class for Elsword himself. Once evolved into Infinity Sword, he has the power to summon an infinite number of blades to defeat his foes in battle. Want a sneak peek of this new class in action before it's live? Then check out the new images in the gallery below and the exclusive trailer after the break.

      [Source: Kill3rCombo press release]

      Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Elsword trailer introduces the new Infinity Sword class

      MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Elsword trailer introduces the new Infinity Sword class originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Buy your friends a present in Guild Wars 2 with gem store gifting

        Posted: 25 Jun 2013 08:15 AM PDT

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        Yeah, this is going to cost some money.
        All right, let's be honest -- you screwed up bad last night in Guild Wars 2. And you'd prefer to not have all of your friends hate you. You're going to need to give gifts, and we're talking real gifts here. Why not take advantage of the fact that the Gem Store now offers the option to gift items to your friends? You can choose the item to gift, select as many recipients as you'd like, and then send them all with a personalized message of your choice.

        But what will you gift them? Maybe one of the new items to go along with today's content patch? We're sure some of your friends would like some of the Aetherblade Armor Skins, or perhaps a new Tybalt Backpack Plushie, or a Custom Arena Starter Kit. And after you're done buying gifts, you could always buy more for yourself. Charity starts at home, right? You deserve a treat.

        MassivelyBuy your friends a present in Guild Wars 2 with gem store gifting originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Standalone DayZ looks to be taking cues from EVE Online

        Posted: 25 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT

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        Basically, expect The Walking Dead without any real protagonists.
        When you actually build a simulation of the post-zombie landscape, where do you look for inspiration about what happens next? To the stars, according to DayZ's Dean Hall. In a recent interview, Hall discusses the ways that EVE Online creates a persistent world fueled primarily by player interactions and backstabbing, which he sees as the future of the standalone DayZ. Not just in the case of survivors turning on one another, but in the ability to actually create safe regions through the world carved out by player ingenuity.

        Hall discusses the possibility of allowing not just player-owned structures but long-term landscape changes, hollowing out bunkers and setting up security systems. The game isn't there yet, but he also mentions that watching The War Z's launch and subsequent burn in some ways helped fuel the development team's commitment to the original vision. It's an interesting look at a game that isn't out there yet, but promises to add more than simply surviving the hordes of mindless undead.

        MassivelyStandalone DayZ looks to be taking cues from EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Anarchy Online turns 12 on June 27, Funcom plans events and giveaways

        Posted: 25 Jun 2013 07:45 AM PDT

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        Anarchy Online turns 12 on June 27th
        Guess who's turning 12 on June 27th? If you said Anarchy Online, you're pretty smart. Or you read the title of this article, whichever.

        In any case, Funcom is celebrating the milestone by hosting in-game events and handing out free gifts including the Ganimedes jet pack. If you're an AO member, you'll also receive rare balloons and a celebratory social pet. As always, full details are available at the game's official website.

        MassivelyAnarchy Online turns 12 on June 27, Funcom plans events and giveaways originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ArcheAge player-made factions incoming

        Posted: 25 Jun 2013 07:30 AM PDT

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        ArcheAge playermade factions incoming
        For those who don't care for any of the established NPC factions that you typically find in an MMO, ArcheAge has another option: make your own! XLGAMES is prepping a July update that includes the ability to create player factions.

        How it works is that apparently players who carve out some territory on the northern continent can then create their own independent faction. It looks like there will be a way to establish relations with other factions, tax local estate owners, and get into scuffles with neighbors. Players won't be able to join multiple factions and become dual-citizens, so choose wisely when the time comes!

        [Thanks to Dengar for the tip]

        MassivelyArcheAge player-made factions incoming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ArenaNet releases Guild Wars 2 Sky Pirates of Tyria trailer

        Posted: 25 Jun 2013 07:00 AM PDT

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        Guild Wars 2 - Sky Pirates of Tyria trailer
        Yesterday we showed you our video preview to Guild Wars 2's Sky Pirates of Tyria update. Today we've got the official trailer courtesy of ArenaNet, and it's one minute and 21 seconds worth of teaser footage for the time-limited content that runs through July 9th.

        You can view it in its entirety after the cut, and be sure to check out our dungeon walkthrough video while you're at it!

        Continue reading ArenaNet releases Guild Wars 2 Sky Pirates of Tyria trailer

        MassivelyArenaNet releases Guild Wars 2 Sky Pirates of Tyria trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Star Citizen is the highest grossing crowdfunded project of all time

        Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:30 AM PDT

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        Star Citizen is the highest grossing crowdfunded project of all time
        Cloud Imperium released a news blurb touting Star Citizen's newly minted status as the most successful crowdfunded project of all time. The upcoming space sim beat out the $10,266,844 pledged to Pebble Watch to claim the title.

        The update also offers a bit of clarity with regard to the recent 300 series trailer. "The video you saw wasn't just made in-engine, it used actual game models," Cloud Imperium explains. "You're looking at the 300i mesh you will see in Star Citizen and not some high-poly fake created for cutscenes and good PR. What you're seeing is what you'll play."

        MassivelyStar Citizen is the highest grossing crowdfunded project of all time originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: When has a beta left you hungry for more?

        Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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        I can't wait to crash your nest, birdies.
        I'm going to be completely honest and say that I logically have no real need for the Final Fantasy XIV beta any longer. I know enough about the game that I'm ready to jump in once open beta rolls around, I don't doubt that I'll enjoy the relaunch, and everything else I do is just going to be wiped away. So I find myself thinking that really, I can pass on taking part in the testing.

        Except every time another weekend approaches I find myself ready to jump right back into Eorzea because what I have played has just made me want more.

        The mark of a good beta isn't just that it allows you to provide feedback on broken parts but that it gets you excited about all the stuff that is working. There's an element of enthusiasm to this phase of testing, a desire to keep playing and keep trying new things. So today I ask, when has a beta left you hungry for more? When has the version of the game that isn't ready for launch made you feel a desire for the launch edition more keenly?

        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: When has a beta left you hungry for more? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Not So Massively: Dota 2 launch, HoN's chaos mode, and D3's expansion

          Posted: 24 Jun 2013 06:00 PM PDT

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          Not So Massively: Dota 2 launch, HoN's chaos mode, D3 expansion not until 2014, and awesome space ships
          After almost two years of not-so-closed-beta, Dota 2 has begun the complex process of upgrading its server capacity and slowly transitioning into launch. Heroes of Newerth's developers have been toying with a hilarious new game mode recently in which heroes spawn with a completely random set of abilities. SMITE introduced its newest character, Hun Batz, the howler monkey god, and turn-based MOBA Arena of Heroes officially entered open beta.

          Star Citizen teased fans with a video advertisement for its Origin Jumpworks 300 spaceship series; free versions of the ship will be available for in-game credits, while purchaseable versions with lifetime insurance are on currently on sale for cash. Elite: Dangerous showed off concept designs for its holographic cockpit UI and demonstrated the scale of its ships in a terribly british way by putting them next to a scale model of Big Ben.

          Fans of Diablo III who have been waiting for its inevitable first expansion heard this week that it probably won't be coming out until 2014. Blizzard clarified that this isn't a delay as the expansion hasn't even been announced yet. And Path of Exile plans to bring back its controversial Diamond Flasks in the next patch, which also brings an interesting new Descent event series.

          Continue reading Not So Massively: Dota 2 launch, HoN's chaos mode, and D3's expansion

          MassivelyNot So Massively: Dota 2 launch, HoN's chaos mode, and D3's expansion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Take a tropical holiday in Star Trek Online

            Posted: 24 Jun 2013 03:00 PM PDT

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            I'm not sure if I love or hate this ship, but I definitely feel something.
            In Star Trek Online, both the Federation and the Klingon Empire face threats from within and without. The Romulan Republic is beset on all sides by enemies, forced to consort with one-time adversaries to ensure that the long-suffering people of the demolished Romulus do not fade into memory. The galaxy is filled with strife, suffering, and a need for brave explorers and defenders. This makes it the perfect time to toss all of your cares away and start relaxing on the luxurious beaches of the pleasure planet, Risa!

            The special Lohlunat Festival is approaching, and that means a chance for captains of all factions and races to come to Risa and enjoy the festivities. It also means that captains can get a shot at owning a Risan Corvette, a vehicle built for speed and comfort above all else. And how do you earn the Corvette? Through exploring the island, cutting a move on the dance floor, or taking part in special Floater races across the planet. It's just the thing to unwind after a long day of getting shot at by the Borg, and it means that your tropical vacation can end with a new ship instead of maxed-out credit cards.

            MassivelyTake a tropical holiday in Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            EverQuest II shares details about update 67, Darkness Dawns

            Posted: 24 Jun 2013 02:00 PM PDT

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            It's a bit more redness than darkness, but whatever, right?
            Are you ready for another update to EverQuest II? Especially one that dusts off some old content, offers some new ways to access existing content, and streamlines the benefits from clearing all of the new content? All of the above is coming in the next major update, Darkness Dawns, slated for release on July 30th. The update will be updating four dungeons from the very first expansion with high-level items and challenges, letting veterans experience old favorites and new players take on a whole new challenge.

            The update will also add three new Contested Avatars and the Arena of the Gods, which allows players to pit themselves against Avatars at will for slightly weaker rewards. Players can also start enjoying the new Character Advancement Templates, allowing characters to select pre-built templates for Alternate Advancement and Prestige Abilities or save custom layouts, with the added advantage that these can be swapped without any respec fees. July 30th probably seems like a far-away date, but considering the size of the patch, we're betting it'll be worth it.

            [Thanks to Timmy for the tip!]

            MassivelyEverQuest II shares details about update 67, Darkness Dawns originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Bungie talks Destiny, evades RMT question

            Posted: 24 Jun 2013 01:00 PM PDT

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            Destiny
            Bungie's latest Mail Sack column is up, and the bulk of the conversation centers on its upcoming open-world sci-fi shooter, Destiny. Revealed (or clarified) in the post: fireteam sizes (three), total player allowances for public events (a lot, but not too many), and which month the team is most looking forward to in 2014 (the one in which Destiny comes out).

            Also discussed were real-money transactions, though the response from Bungie is about as PR-fluffy as it gets. When asked to what degree real-life money will be used in the game, this was the response:
            What we can tell you right now is that the rewards you will gain by playing Destiny - and playing it well - will be earned. You will carve them from the hides of your enemies, after you stomp them into the ground of your favorite destinations.
            It makes sense that the folks at Bungie would play that one close to the chest; Destiny is still in a pre-alpha state and anything could change about the game at any time.

            MassivelyBungie talks Destiny, evades RMT question originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar needs a business model

            Posted: 24 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT

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            No, seriously, bugs.  Have you seen these bugs?  They're big bugs.
            To the surprise of absolutely no one, WildStar is going to have to make money somehow. You don't make an MMO as a charity, after all. But the big and understandable question is how it's going to make money because it's launching into a period when that is, in fact, a viable question.

            This is a new development, and not one that everyone is entirely happy with. Back in the day, there was no question about how your MMO would make money; it would charge a subscription fee and that was the end of it. Now there are at least three major potential models, all of which are viable over long periods by all indications. And that means there's some question about what WildStar will do.

            So today I want to examine possibilities. Rather than assume that any given model works, I want to look at all three possible launch models and try to forecast reasonable scenarios. So let's start with the most obvious one, suggested by the current environment and the publisher.

            Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar needs a business model

            MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: WildStar needs a business model originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              CCP's Petursson discusses how big companies get dumb

              Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:30 AM PDT

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              A lesson perhaps relevant to many EVE players, as it happens.
              CCP Games is doing pretty well for itself at this point. EVE Online is going strong, DUST 514 has been promising thus far, and the company has two more projects in the pipeline. But there's still an underlying focus to the company as a whole, and according to CCP CEO Hilmar Petursson that's a necessity. As Petursson puts it, large companies can get very dumb very quickly unless the people in charge make a conscious effort to avoid it.

              Petursson notes that a larger company has more difficulty coordinating and understanding how small changes can make larger impacts, something that requires careful structure and planning to avoid. He points out that the company's loss of focus led to layoffs back in 2011, something that he feels personally responsible for. If you're interested in seeing how the company is trying to keep fluid by adapting to new markets without rushing into trends, you can take a look at the full interview.

              MassivelyCCP's Petursson discusses how big companies get dumb originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              European players locked out of resubscribing to SOE's EverQuest II [Updated]

              Posted: 24 Jun 2013 11:00 AM PDT

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              Closed gates as a metaphor.
              It's not easy to be a European fan of Sony Online Entertainment of late. When the company announced that European services would be handed over to ProSiebenSat.1, there was a lot of pushback, but some of that was mollified by the promise that European players with existing accounts could continue to play on US servers with US accounts. Except that for some EverQuest II players, that option now appears to have been locked out via limited credit card options.

              Users have reported that when trying to add or change a credit card, several EU countries are no longer listed as valid choices for the country of origin, preventing players from using these cards. Since there are no account transfers for SOE players to migrate to ProSiebenSat.1 accounts, this could mean locking players out of years of work on characters. SOE has made no official response regarding this issue, but it runs directly counter to what has been stated in the past regarding access and account ownership. We've contacted SOE for a response and will update with any further information.

              [Update: Dexella on the SOE forums has posted that the studio is "looking into the EU/credit card issue now." Thanks to Erissei and Zjeven for the tips!]

              MassivelyEuropean players locked out of resubscribing to SOE's EverQuest II [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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