General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Acer Introduces Z3-605 Series All-in-One PC with Front Facing Harman Kardon Speakers

Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:01 PM PDT

Acer Aspire Z3-605Sweet sounding all-in-one

When's the last time you listened to a system with integrated speakers and thought, 'Wow, these cans sound fantastic!'? Proabably never. Built-in speakers typically stink, though there are exceptions. Might Acer's new Aspire Z3-605 all-in-one (AIO) be one of them? It's Acer's first desktop with Harman Kardon speakers, which the company confidently claims "sets a new standard for AIO sound quality."

That's not a claim we can substantiate without hearing them for ourselves. In the meantime, we can report the Z3-605 sports two 3W front-facing Harman Kardon cans with Dolby Home Theater v4. Sound quality is a point of emphasis for Acer.

"Integrating Harman Kardon speakers is an important milestone and showcases Acer innovation and technology leadership," said Frank Chang, director of desktop product management for Acer America. "Acer is the first in the market to bring Harman Kardon premium sound to a mainstream all-in-one desktop, setting a new standard. The Aspire Z3-605 delivers a dynamic, high-quality audio experience for music and movie lovers and furthers convenience and comfort with an ergonomic and adjustable frame and webcam."

Moving on, the Aspire Z3-605 also has a 23-inch Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) IPS display with 10-point multitouch support, up to Intel Core i5 processor, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, up to a 1TB hard drive, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, 1MP webcam, and Windows 8.

Look for the Aspire Z3-605 at "leading retailers" starting at $700 without touch support and $800 with touch.

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Steam Summer Sale: Day 6

Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:45 AM PDT

Steam Summer Sale

More Steam games on sale more problems

Steam's Summer Sale is currently on its sixth day and the deals just keep on coming. Some of today's best deals include Sleeping Dogs for $6.24 (normally $25), Alan Wake for $3 (normally $30), Mark of the Ninja for $3.74 (normally $15), Crysis 2: Maximum Edition for $9 (normally $30), and Orcs Must Die 2 for $3.74 (normally $15). 

Currently the Flash Deals are Scribblenauts Unlimited for $5 (normally $20), Serious Sam 3: BFE for $4 (normally $40), Amnesia for $4 (normally $20), and Assassins Creed III for $24 (normally $40). The community choice right now is Skyrim: Legendary Edition for $36 (normally $60), which includes the base game along with DLC packs Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn.

 

Thriving Computer Graphics Market Belies PC Sales Slump, Will Top $142 Billion by 2016

Posted: 16 Jul 2013 08:04 AM PDT

DeadpoolGraphics business just keeps on growing

Traditional PC sales may be in a slump, but the same isn't necessarily true of the computer graphics market, an industry that's seen growth since it was established in the late 1970s, according to data by Jon Peddie Research (JPR). Having survived the recession that plagued the PC industry over the last several years, the computer graphics segment is showing signs of "renewed vigor and potential."

According to JPR, the computer graphics hardware market will exceed $124 billion by 2016, up from an expected $107 billion in 2013, which itself is up from $93 billion in 2010.

"The sharp curtailment of household and corporate spending during the recession has resulted in a renewed desire among consumers and businesses to begin increasing spending on the latest graphics software and hardware platforms," JPR says. "We will see the development of traditional segments like CAD/CAM expand as new design approaches in automotive, aerospace, and architecture are adopted. Visualization, a market that has been almost dormant for the past few years, is now poised for significant growth due to the availability of more powerful and less expensive visualization technologies."

Workstations and monitors represent the largest areas of growth in the computer graphics industry, followed by mobile coming in a "strong third." As for gaming PC sales, JPR notes a 3.16 percent decline compared to last year, marking the segment as the lone exception. However, gaming PC sales will pick up over the coming years, growing from $17.79 billion in 2013 to $20.77 billion in 2016.

Image Credit: Flickr (The_JIFF)

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Razer Designs Hammerhead Earphones Using Aircraft Grade Aluminum, 9mm Drivers

Posted: 16 Jul 2013 08:00 AM PDT

Razer HammerheadThe only Hammerhead you'll want near your noggin

Gaming peripheral Razer maker wants to hammer your head with its new family of Hammerhead in-ear headsets made from aircraft-grade aluminum. They come in two versions, the Razer Hammerhead and Hammerhead Pro, both with 9mm neodymium drivers, advanced passive noise isolation, and interchangeable ear-tips with bi-flanges. The Pro model adds an omni-directional microphone with an in-line remote for phone-call control.

"With numerous mobile PC gaming systems emerging, peripherals that offer both great performance and portability on-the-go are what make the experience complete," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. "The Razer Hammerhead and Hammerhead Pro's unrivaled durability and deep bass tones are fantastic for any gamer or music listener with an active lifestyle."

According to Razer, the inner acoustics chambers feature a sonically optimized design to increase aural resonance. Razer also claims the headsets deliver "strong bass" along with "crystal clear mid-levels and highs" in a lightweight package.

If you're looking for technical specs, here are a few to digest:

  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
  • Impedance: 16 Ω
  • Sensitivity @ 1 kHz: 106 dB
  • Input Power: 1 mW @ 126 mV
  • Cable Length: 1.3 m / 4.27 ft
  • Approximate Weight: 12.5 g / 0.03 lbs

The Hammerhead Pro and non-Pro will be available in August for $70 and $50, respectively, though you can pre-order either set now.

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HP 27-inch EliteDisplay E271i Monitor Means Business

Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:30 AM PDT

HP EliteDisplay E271iA flexible diplay for business environments

Hewlett-Packard this week unveiled its new EliteDisplay E271i, a 27-inch monitor that puts ergonomics at the forefront and is built for business users. It has an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel that provides "stunning color quality and depth-ratio" from various viewing angles and distances, while the stand offers customizable tilt, height adjustment (150mm range), swivel, and pivot settings.

Though it's a big panel, HP opted for a Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) screen resolution. That's sure to turn off gamers and professional graphics artists, but then again, the E271i takes aim at a different crowd, one in which sharing PowerPoint presentations with co-workers trumps gaming at a high resolution.

Other specs include 250 cd/m2 rated brightness, 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 178-degree horizontal/vertical viewing angles, and 7ms gray-to-gray response time. Connectivity options consist of VGA, DVI-D, and DisplayPort, the latter two with HDCP support. It also has one upstream and two downstream USB 2.0 ports.

The EliteDisplay E271i will be available in August. No word yet on price.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Asus Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition GPU, Seagate 3TB HDD, and More!

Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:00 AM PDT

Asus Radeon HD 7870 GHz Editionnewegg logo

Top Deal:

While you're busy blowing your paycheck beefing up your games catalog courtesy of Steam's summer sale, don't forget to set aside a few funds for a GPU upgrade to play all those gnarly titles. It's not that difficult with today's top deal, which is for an Asus Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB graphics card for $211 with free shipping (normally $245 - use coupon code EMCXNWW33; additional $20 mail-in-rebate). It'll run anything available on Steam, though if you're truly worried about it, pick up a pair and crank through those games in a Crossfire configuration!

Other Deals:

Seagate Barracuda 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive for $120 with free shipping (normally $135  use coupon code: [EMCXNWW223])

Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 for $210 with free shipping (normally $220 use coupon code: [EMCXNWW22])

Corsair HX Series CrossFire Ready Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply Haswell Ready for $120 with free shipping (normally $170 use coupon code: [EMCXNWW23]; additional $20 mail-in rebate)

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory for $119 with free shipping (normally $140 use coupon code: [EMCXNWW24])

Galaxy GTX 780 Hall of Fame Edition Stripped Naked and Photographed

Posted: 16 Jul 2013 05:30 AM PDT

Galaxy GeForce GTX 780 HOFOoh la la!

We don't know when Galaxy's GeForce GTX 780 Hall of Fame (HOF) Edition graphics card will set foot in retail, but while we patiently wait for it to land, there are pics and specs to drool over. These aren't blurry pictures either, but high-quality shots of the card stripped down to its white PCB. What you're looking at is an engineering sample that's supposedly 95 percent complete.

The pictures were posted to Chinese language website ChinaDIY.com.cn, giving gawkers a close-up and personal view of the card Galaxy had on display at Computex 2013. It's an impressive looking slice of silicon with a 10-phase power design and 12 Tantalum capacitors tightly packed in a column towards the back. You can also spy a dozen lower-profile ESR solid capacitors, which offer 33.3 percent reduced power consumption.

Overclockers will have a field day with this one. There are two 8-pin auxiliary power connectors to make sure it has enough juice when overclocking, and also a BIOS switch button visible on the I/O panel.

Give the pictures a glance and don't forget to wipe your chin afterward.

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MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Former Lineage II/TERA dev starts new game studio

Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:00 AM PDT

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Lineage II/Tera dev starts new game studio
What do you do when your parent company wants to focus on mobile gaming and you don't? If you are Yonghyun Park, you start your own studio. Once a developer on both Lineage II and TERA, Park created a new company called NAT Games from LADA Studios, which was dismissed from Netmarble Korea over the aforementioned difference in market focus.

NAT Games plans on creating the next big blockbuster MMORPG, according to Steparu.com, who found the fledgling studio's recruitment webpage and application. Unfortunately, not much more is known about this proposed game in the works, but we'll keep you informed as information comes in.

MassivelyFormer Lineage II/TERA dev starts new game studio originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Jul 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: On your deathbed, you will not regret gaming

Posted: 16 Jul 2013 09:00 AM PDT

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Game title image
In last week's edition of The Soapbox, Mike Foster reminded us that the grim specter of death comes to us all and asserted that when your time comes, "you will not wish you had spent more time gaming." Mike took the stance that gaming provides temporary joys that can't replace real-life experiences and that it's our inherent responsibility as human beings with finite lifespans to seek out those experiences. He argued that "gaming is a hobby and not a replacement for a life well-lived" and that it's not our gaming achievements but our real life ones that we'll proudly tell our grandchildren.

I think we can all agree that it's important to have offline hobbies and interests that help you keep active, but I take exception to the notion that we might regret time spent gaming on our deathbeds. Published data on the top five regrets of the dying actually seems to directly refute this idea, and my life experiences have shown the exact opposite of some of the points Mike makes. MMOs have given me some experiences that I'll probably treasure for a lifetime, and gaming as a hobby has provided me with much more than just temporary joys and escapism; it's helped me discover talents I didn't know I possessed, given me the push I needed to get a good education, led me to employment, and put me in contact with lifelong friends. On my deathbed, I'll probably wish I'd spent more time gaming rather than less.

In this opinion piece, I look at evidence that suggests we won't regret gaming on our deathbeds and make the case that gaming can be just as worthwhile as offline pursuits.

Continue reading The Soapbox: On your deathbed, you will not regret gaming

MassivelyThe Soapbox: On your deathbed, you will not regret gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Jul 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Neverwinter's Fury of the Feywild lands August 22nd

    Posted: 16 Jul 2013 08:30 AM PDT

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    Fury if the Feywild lands in Neverwinter August 22nd
    Perfect World and Cryptic Studios didn't even let the launch-day paint dry (that's the officially official launch, not the one that let everyone in to play) before announcing Neverwinter's first free content update. And now that expansion has a launch date of its very own: Fury of the Feywild will go live on August 22nd. On that date Neverwinter players will gain access to a host of goodies, including the new zone Sharandar, new dungeons, new professions, and the new Campaign System.

    Players, however, don't have to wait until the module releases to get into the spirit of it; two special packs filled with Feywild-themed rewards are available for purchase. The starter pack consists of a portal hound companion, a Feywild hunter's ring, a fine Elven silk bag, and an adventurer's helper pack. Players can purchase multiple starter packs per account for $19.99 each. The knight of the Feywild pack offers a unicorn mount, a Sylph companion, the Moon Elf race, 600,000 astral diamonds, and more for $59.99.

    MassivelyNeverwinter's Fury of the Feywild lands August 22nd originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Jul 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Smaller virtual bodies affect how people see the world

    Posted: 16 Jul 2013 08:00 AM PDT

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    Inevitably worth addressing when discussing child-like bodies.
    How much does the size of our virtual bodies influence our behaviors? It doesn't seem like it'd have much of an effect, but according to a recent study it can cause a greater impact than you might speculate. Researchers placed several subjects in special motion-capture suits, then presented the subjects with a body that had adult proportions or childish proportions, even though both bodies were the same size.

    The result was that participants in the childlike bodies were more likely to identify as children rather than as adults, exploring more child-like environments and behaving less like adults. It's worth keeping in mind that these behaviors happened within motion-capture suits designed to simulate actual movement in virtual bodies, so how much of this would transfer to MMOs is questionable. But it's an interesting set of variables to consider, especially in terms of how much we identify with our avatars in the game.

    [Thanks to David for the tip!]

    MassivelySmaller virtual bodies affect how people see the world originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Jul 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Massively's Guild Wars 2 Cutthroat Politics patch preview

    Posted: 16 Jul 2013 07:00 AM PDT

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    Cutthroat Politics patch preview for Guild Wars 2
    ArenaNet's next patch for Guild Wars 2, titled Cutthroat Politics, will allow players directly affect the living story by giving them the ability to vote in an important election. During the Dragon Bash storyline, Theo Ashford was murdered, causing a vacancy on Lion Arch's prestigious Captain's Council. Two candidates have stepped forward, Ellen Kiel and Evon Gnashblade, and players will cast votes using support tokens to decide the winner.

    While choosing which NPC will become a more prominent figure in the game is a nice twist, apparently there is more at stake. The winner of the election will express his or her gratitude by reducing the cost of certain goods and services, bringing back various minigames, and even sponsoring Mist research so players can re-live one of two historical events.

    This Cutthroat Politics game update goes live on July 23 and is full of new events, rewards, and features, so check out the preview video after the cut to hear me dissect all of the details.

    Continue reading Massively's Guild Wars 2 Cutthroat Politics patch preview

    MassivelyMassively's Guild Wars 2 Cutthroat Politics patch preview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Jul 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Do you like time-limited goodies?

      Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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      Technically is heir is in charge of the Jedi Council, but that's another story.
      Star Wars: The Old Republic offered a little goodie for players who wanted to commemorate the anniversary of Knights of the Old Republic in the form of a title. If you didn't buy it yesterday... well, it's gone. It was incredibly cheap and freely available for everyone for that day, but that was the only window of opportunity you had.

      This brings to mind a very different set of questions than time-limited content. A time-limited title or vanity item doesn't actually affect the game when it shows up or leaves since it's just for fun. At the same time, a promotional item that players can't get immediately becomes intensely desirable, and it means that new players are forced out by necessity. So do you like time-limited goodies that have no effect on the game as a whole? Or would you much prefer that vanity items be limited through some other means?

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

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you like time-limited goodies? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Jul 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Not So Massively: Elite Dangerous goes public, Dota 2 launches, and End of Nations becomes a MOBA

        Posted: 15 Jul 2013 06:00 PM PDT

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        Game title image
        League of Legends announced plans for its upcoming Season three World Championship tournament this week and revealed details of a full Master Yi revamp coming as part of Patch 3.9. After two years of not quite being released, Dota 2 officially launched and saw a small increase in player numbers. The second season of Heroes of Newerth's competitive HoNTour League is about to get underway, but organisers have revealed that there will be cash prizes for only the top six teams in each cycle.

        Diablo III fansite DiabloFans revealed some interesting information on upcoming development following an interview with developers, including the fact that the game won't be a launch title for the PS4 or XBox One. Path of Exile upgraded its map-to-maker system to also assign dropped magic and rare maps to the creator of a map area, and it slashed some of its microtransaction item prices.

        Firefall developer Red 5 Studios announced its first $10,000 US cash prize tournament series and profiled Star Citizen in its latest Rise of the Indies show on YouTube. Elite: Dangerous released £4 million ($5.9 million US) worth of shares to the public on the London Stock Exchange, adding to the impressive amount of capital the developers already have access to. And End of Nations now falls firmly within the remit of this column after recently rebranding itself from an MMO to a MOBA.

        Continue reading Not So Massively: Elite Dangerous goes public, Dota 2 launches, and End of Nations becomes a MOBA

        MassivelyNot So Massively: Elite Dangerous goes public, Dota 2 launches, and End of Nations becomes a MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Square releases FFXIV fashion video

          Posted: 15 Jul 2013 05:30 PM PDT

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          Square releases FFXIV fashion video
          Square is teasing Final Fantasy XIV fans with a quick look at some of the game's armor sets. A new video called Eorzea Collection 2013 was recently linked on the FFXIV Facebook page, and it's basically an Eorzean fashion show with the game's various outdoor environments subbing for the typical runway.

          We've embedded the entire clip after the cut!

          [Thanks Brandon!]

          Continue reading Square releases FFXIV fashion video

          MassivelySquare releases FFXIV fashion video originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Chaos Theory: Been there, done that, got the guardian event t-shirt in The Secret World

          Posted: 15 Jul 2013 05:00 PM PDT

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          Chaos Theory  Been there, done that, got the guardian event Tshirt in TSW
          The hardest part about writing about The Secret World's anniversary Guardians of Gaia event was stopping long enough to write! No, seriously, it was completely addicting; you kept thinking, "Oh, just one more guardian," and soon the entire day and half of the night was gone. And then the weekend. I should know because I hardly left the game this past week! (But let's keep that between us, shall we?)

          What could be so compelling that it kept me logged in for more hours than I'm willing to admit even to comrades at a gaming site? It all started innocently enough: I simply came to the aid of someone trying for a guardian pet reward. Quite the critter aficionado myself, I was more than happy to help, Sounds harmless enough, right? Wrong! That was only the beginning. Little did I know what I was truly in for as the event turned out to be a veritable smörgåsbord of AP, SP, and loot as well as a shining example of community cooperation. And I got a t-shirt!

          Unfortunately, it couldn't all be sunshine and kittens... I mean gloom and golems (this is TSW after all!). Something invariably has to go wrong, or it wouldn't be a true MMO, right? There was a definite black cloud that hung over the otherwise festive occasion. And I hope it is one that Funcom will address and dispel for any future events.

          Continue reading Chaos Theory: Been there, done that, got the guardian event t-shirt in The Secret World

          MassivelyChaos Theory: Been there, done that, got the guardian event t-shirt in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Darkfall is half off on Steam through July 22

            Posted: 15 Jul 2013 04:00 PM PDT

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            Darkfall is half off on Steam right now
            Got any money left in your wallet after Steam's summer sale? If so, and if you're in the market for a PvP-centric fantasy sandbox MMO, check out Darkfall.

            Aventurine's title is half-price until July 22nd, so instead of 40 bucks you can grab the game client for $19.97. Keep in mind that Darkfall is a subscription title, so you'll need to chip in $14.95 a month to continue playing after the first 30 days.

            [Thanks everyone who tipped us!]

            MassivelyDarkfall is half off on Steam through July 22 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Al Rivera, part two

            Posted: 15 Jul 2013 03:00 PM PDT

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            STO Risian Corvette
            Last week I began a series of columns based on the numerous interviews I conducted while I visited the Star Trek Online team at Cryptic Studios. I continue today with part two of my interview with Star Trek Online's Lead Designer, Al (CaptainGeko) Rivera, who had lots of things to say about his hopes for the future of the game, including its duty officer system and how the "JJverse" affects the things we see in the game. So join me past the jump and let's get to it!

            Continue reading Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Al Rivera, part two

            MassivelyCaptain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Al Rivera, part two originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Digital Extremes celebrates 3 million Warframe space ninjas

              Posted: 15 Jul 2013 02:00 PM PDT

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              Warframe
              The latest update for robot-ninjas-in-space title Warframe went live last week, bringing fancy new weapons and content to all of you would-be interstellar assassins. But the new missions and items aren't the only big news from the launch; Digital Extremes also announced that Warframe has amassed over three million users since hitting open beta in March.

              Update 9 brought the NOVA warframe, designed by the community's Design Council, along with content expansions to the Orokin Void and Grineer Galleon zones. Additionally, Digital Extremes added five new prime weapon blueprints to discover, 14 new warframe helmets, and a redesigned fight with Captain Vor that ends with an all-new pistol blueprint.

              MassivelyDigital Extremes celebrates 3 million Warframe space ninjas originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              BioWare talks KOTOR tenth anniversary, influence on SWTOR

              Posted: 15 Jul 2013 01:30 PM PDT

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              KOTOR
              If you haven't felt old yet this week, here's your punch in the gut: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, BioWare's beloved RPG, turns 10 today. The studio is celebrating KOTOR's birthday in a number of small ways, one of which being a loving blog post from studio creative director James Ohlen that talks about how KOTOR influenced the development of Star Wars: The Old Republic.

              According to Ohlen, BioWare put a premium on bringing several core components of KOTOR into SWTOR. He mentions epic narratives set in the Old Republic era, cinematic storytelling, being a Jedi, owning a starship, traveling to different worlds, an internal conflict between good and evil, and hanging out with companion characters that actually matter.

              Here's a clip from the post:
              All of these were key elements that we knew we wanted included from the very start of development. The good news is that all of these elements are featured prominently in SWTOR. These features also make SWTOR unique amongst MMORPGs, and helped forge what has become one of the strongest game communities in the history of online RPGs.
              Players of SWTOR can join in the celebration of KOTOR's birthday by purchasing the Revan's Heir title from the Cartel Market for 10 Cartel Coins. The title will be available only until 3 a.m. EDT, July 16th. So, tonight. Additionally, you can read through some of the memories offered by people who worked on KOTOR and score yourself a handful of wallpapers on this official BioWare post.

              MassivelyBioWare talks KOTOR tenth anniversary, influence on SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Massively Exclusive: Episode 3 of Mabinogi the Saga: Iria

              Posted: 15 Jul 2013 01:00 PM PDT

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              Massively Exclusive Episode 3 of Mabinogi the Saga Iria
              Mabinogi fans are dealing with a series of cliffhangers, as Nexon has been doling out the Iria Saga videos in weekly segments. Following the intrepid tale of episode 1, episode 2 culminated in a daring rescue-slash-escape from some nasty ruins.

              Join us today for the third episode in the series, where nightmares and chase scenes will hold sway over all. Drink up on all of the lore that this video has to offer and then get into the game itself to experience the wild world of Mabinogi (Legal disclaimer: May or may not cause waking nightmares. If your scream persists for more than four hours, please consult a physician.)

              We've got episode 3 after the break.

              Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Episode 3 of Mabinogi the Saga: Iria

              MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Episode 3 of Mabinogi the Saga: Iria originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's addons

                Posted: 15 Jul 2013 12:00 PM PDT

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                Yeah, it looks boring, but a working addon is glorious indeed.
                Whether you agree with World of Warcraft's approach to interface design or not, it's hard to deny that it's a fascinating case study. It's a game that was released with a broken interface, one that was very decidedly not the optimal way to experience the game... with the expectation that players would develop a better one (which could then be pinched by the developers to improve the core experience).

                This is pretty unusual now, and it was almost unheard of back in the day. But WildStar is going down the same road of having UI mods and addons in from day one, and it's one of the places that I think taking lessons from World of Warcraft would not only be prudent but downright smart.

                Including UI modding from launch means that WildStar will have the opportunity to tread down familiar paths. But some of those paths are familiarly awful, and so perhaps the developers could learn some lessons from those who have made these mistakes before. So let's look at the good, the bad, and how we can perhaps get more of the former than the latter.

                Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's addons

                MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's addons originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Remanum announces impending shutdown

                  Posted: 15 Jul 2013 11:30 AM PDT

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                  Take a long last look around.
                  The idea of an MMO centered entirely around establishing a trading empire is unique, as are games set in the time of ancient Rome instead of a more traditional European fantasy. But Remanum had certain problems, problems that the developers didn't see a way to change without massive rewrites. In a letter released to the community, the game director admits that without any further options, the team is going to shut down Remanum in the near future. Development and bug fixing have already stopped.

                  On September 16th, all servers except for the most recently opened server will be taken offline, with the newest server allowed to run a bit longer. Players can transfer to the last server starting now if they want to keep playing as long as possible. While this is a German server, support will be offered for all languages until the final shutdown, and any gold purchased on other servers will be transferred to this last bastion.

                  [Thanks to Arachnella for the tip!]

                  MassivelyRemanum announces impending shutdown originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  ZeniMax publishes dungeon-focused Elder Scrolls AMA

                  Posted: 15 Jul 2013 11:00 AM PDT

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                  ZeniMax publishes dungeon-focused Elder Scrolls AMA
                  Have questions about dungeons in The Elder Scrolls Online? ZeniMax has answers, at least to a few of them. The firm has published a new Ask Us Anything on dungeons that gathers together various community queries in a single post.

                  Hit the links below to learn the answers to things like whether or not ESO dungeons will be linear like most of their single-player Elder Scrolls counterparts and whether players will be able to wander into solo encounters in the multiplayer game. As for this last bit, ZeniMax says that the answer is basically yes, after a fashion. "Certain rare locales will just be for solo players, and some dungeons are meant for groups made only of people you choose to go in with. Most locales, however, will be accessible by everyone."

                  Also of note is the decision to dispense with dungeon lockout timers. "We don't currently have any plans to use lockout timers. You can run through a dungeon as often as you like," the company says.

                  MassivelyZeniMax publishes dungeon-focused Elder Scrolls AMA originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jul 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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