General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Best Cheap Graphics Card: Asus Radeon HD 7790 vs. EVGA GTX 650 Ti Boost

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 03:07 PM PDT

Battle of the best cheap graphics cards

We don't pay too much attention to the sub-$200 GPU market, but with AMD and Nvidia having boards at around the $150 mark that offer features previously only found on more expensive GPUs, including multi-GPU support and GPU clock boosting (for Nvidia). These new features suddenly made these budget boards very interesting, especially when dual-card setups are taken into consideration. Naturally, we pitted the new cards against one another in a Sweet-Spot showdown.

The Asus Radeon HD 7790 DirectCU II OC is surprisingly powerful given its tiny size, lack of noise, and solitary 6-pin PCIe connector requirement.

The Asus Radeon HD 7790 DirectCU II OC is surprisingly powerful given its tiny size, lack of noise, and solitary 6-pin PCIe connector requirement.

Round 1: Specs

On paper, both 28nm cards are extremely similar, though the Nvidia card has a few small advantages. First, the AMD card is only available in 1GB flavors; the Nvidia card comes in both 1GB and 2GB varieties, and features a wider 192-bit memory interface compared to the 7790's 128-bit channel. The AMD card offers more stream processors at 896 compared to the 650 Ti Boost's 768 CUDA cores, though this isn't an apples-to-apples comparison. For clock speeds, the Nvidia card can hit a higher speed when boosting, 1,137MHz compared to the AMD card's 1,075MHz clocks, but 60MHz isn't anything to write home about. Both cards support dual-GPU configs (previously unheard of at this price), so that's a draw. The AMD card draws a lot less power, though—just 85W compared to the Nvidia's semi-high 134W.

Winner: Tie

Round 2: Performance

In this category there is a clear winner, and it's Nvidia in both single- and dual-card configs. In every benchmark test we ran except for one, the Nvidia card either had a small advantage or the two cards were neck-and-neck, but at no time did AMD have the upper hand. The one exception was in Dirt: Showdown, which is known to be an AMD game, just like Batman: Arkham Asylum is an Nvidia title. Overall, though, the balance is clearly in Nvidia's favor, with it eking out a small advantage in each test, wiping out any advantage AMD hoped it would gain over Nvidia with the launch of this card. To be fair, AMD originally launched this card against the older GTX 650 Ti, and then Nvidia launched the updated Boost version soon after in response, so AMD probably wasn't prepared for the response from Nvidia on this one.

EVGA's GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost SuperClocked is the alpha-male  version of this card, overclocked and stuffed with 2GB of RAM.

EVGA's GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost SuperClocked is the alpha-male version of this card, overclocked and stuffed with 2GB of RAM.

Winner: EVGA GTX 650 Ti Boost

Round 3:  Features

Let's examine connectivity first. Both cards offer the same number and type of ports: dual-DVI ports, DisplayPort, and an HDMI port. Second, the Asus bundle includes a CrossFireX cable, VGA-to-DVI adapter, and the Asus DirectCU II cooler, which is one of the best available when it comes to silent operation and great temps. The feather in the HD 7790's cap is the inclusion of a copy of BioShock Infinite—a $60 value and an excellent triple-A title. The EVGA/Nvidia card uses a stock blower-type cooler, which is not sexy, but does the job. The EVGA card also includes a bare-bones bundle that includes a single VGA-to-DVI adapter, driver disk, and a sticker. Both cards ship with superb software, and Nvidia includes $75 worth of in-game money for Hawken, World of Tanks, and PlanetSide 2, which is weak.

Winner: Asus HD 7790

Round 4: Heat and Noise

Just as the Nvidia card has a small advantage when it comes to performance, AMD and Asus have the advantage in this category. First off, the TDP for the HD 7790 is a low 85W, which compares to 134W of the Nvidia card, making AMD the clear winner in terms of power draw. Second, we've seen the Asus DirectCU II cooler keep an overclocked GTX 680 totally silent, so you can image what a smaller version of the cooler  is capable of with a low-TDP card like the HD 7790. The AMD card is also able to more efficiently manage its power states compared to previous cards, helping it stay totally silent all the time. Now, we're not saying the EVGA card is loud, but it made a bit more noise in testing than the Asus card, and draws more power, making this category a slam-dunk for AMD/Asus.  

Winner: Asus HD 7790

Round 5: Price and Value

This is another round that is easy to decide, because at press time the Asus card was priced at $149 with the copy of BioShock Infinite, and the EVGA card was priced at $179 on Newegg with the $75 of in-game credits. Obviously, the Nvidia card has a speed advantage, and double the memory, but for gamers who are playing at 1080p, the Asus card is totally adequate, so we think it offers a better value given how close the two cards are in every other aspect. Also, the Nvidia card is priced the same as the more expensive Radeon HD 7850, which offers better performance in every test that we use, making the GeForce card seem kind of expensive in comparison. There is a 1GB version of the 650 Ti Boost that costs $149, which is more compelling than this version, in our opinion. 

Winner: Asus HD 7790

And the Winner Is…

There is a clear winner at this $150-ish price point, and that's the Asus DirectCU II Radeon HD 7790. The Nvidia card would be extremely competitive at $150, but not at $170, where it's just a bit too expensive and unable to compete with the Radeon HD 7850. AMD's inclusion of BioShock Infinite really sweetens the pot, too, making it an amazing deal at $149 since it includes the superbly silent DirectCU II cooler and always-excellent Asus engineering.

Google Swallows Key Lime Pie, Gets Ready to Serve Android 4.4 "Kit Kat" Instead

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 12:28 PM PDT

Android Kit KatGet ready for a marketing blitz

The chefs at Google have decided against going with the codename Key Lime Pie to describe the next version of Android and instead have entered into a licensing agreement with Nestle to dub Android 4.4 "Kit Kat" after the popular chocolate candy bar. Google's Sundar Pichai spilled the beans in a Google+ post in which he also announced that Android has now surpassed 1 billion device activations.

"On my return from Asia, I was also thrilled to find this guy waiting to greet me on the front lawn -- love the new #AndroidKitKat statue and can't wait to release the next version of the platform that is as sweet as the candy bar that's one of our team's favorites," Pichai said in reference to the picture below, which he posted on his Google+ page.

Android Kit Kat Statue

A landing page for Android Kit Kat confirms that the chocolaty codename is in reference to Android 4.4, not Android 5.0. To kick off its branding relationship with Nestle, starting September 6 you'll have the chance to win a Nexus 7 or Google Play credit (or Kit Kat Minis) by checking underneath the wrappers of specially branded Kit Kat bars.

Major Android updates have all been named after desserts in alphabetical order, starting with Cupcake (Android 1.5) and progressing down the alphabet to Donut (Android 1.6), Eclair (Android 2.0), Froyo (Android 2.2), Gingerbread (Android 2.3), Honeycomb (Android 3.0), Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0), Jelly Bean (Android 4.1), and eventually Kit Kat (Android 4.4).

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Corsair Launches a Trio of High Capacity USB 3.0 Flash Drive Lines

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 11:33 AM PDT

Corsair Flash Voyager GSBig and fast storage options

If you've been thinking about retiring your USB 2.0 flash drive in favor of something faster and more capacious, Corsair may have what you're looking for. Corsair today announced the immediate availability of three new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 flash drive models -- Flash Voyager GS, Flash Voyager Mini, and Flash Voyager LS with capacities ranging from 16GB all the way up to 256GB.

Corsair's Flash Voyager GS line represents the most capacious drives. They're available in 64GB ($90), 128GB ($126), and 256GB ($250) flavors. They come housed in sleek, scratch-resistant brushed metal enclosures and offer up to 285MB/s read and up to 180MB/s write speeds.

Corsair Flash Voyager Mini

The most affordable of the bunch is the Flash Voyager Mini Series available in 16GB ($16), 32GB ($30), and 64GB ($50) capacities. They measure just 1.25 inches long and are equipped with a detachable key ring loop.

Finally, the Flash Voyager LS line sports a premium retracting design that negates the need for a protective cap. These drives are available in 16GB ($17), 32GB ($27), 64GB ($47), and $128GB ($90) capacities. Like the other two lines, these drives feature a brushed metal design that resists scratching and fingerprints.

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Windows 8 Gains Ground, Scurries Past Mac OS X in Market Share

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 10:10 AM PDT

Windows 8 CupcakeBiggest month-to-month jump in share to date

Consumers may finally be warming to the idea of Windows 8 and its new interface. Though there's been a bunch of bellyaching up to this point, Windows 8 has slowly been gaining market share and jumped up 2 percentage points last month. That's the largest month-to-month gain in share since the operating system debuted in October of last year, and it was enough to propel it ahead of Mac OS X for the first time.

According to data by NetMarketShare, Windows 8 closed out August with a 7.41 share of the desktop OS market, up from 5.40 percent a month prior and 5.10 percent at the end of June. Growth seems to coming at the expense of Windows XP, which declined more than 3.5 percent last month. A third of all PCs still run XP, however.

While Windows 8 has a long road before it passes XP or 7 (45.63 percent, up from 44.49 percent a month prior), Redmond's touch friendly OS leapfrogged the last three versions of Mac OS X combined. Mac OS X 10.6 (1.65 percent), 10.7 (1.65 percent), and 10.8 (3.42 percent) account for 6.75 percent the desktop OS market.

What version of Windows are you running these days?

Image Credit: Flickr (jfingas)

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Western Digital Rolls Out First 2.5-inch Red Hard Drives, Expands Desktop Line to 4TB

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 08:50 AM PDT

WD RedBigger and smaller WD Red drives now available

Western Digital today announced the expansion of its WD Red line of SATA hard drives built specifically for home and small office NAS (network attached storage) systems with one to five bays. Previously only offered in the 3.5-inch form factor, Western Digital is now offering 1TB and 750GB WD Red drives in the 2.5-inch form factor as well. In addition, the company stretched its 3.5-inch line to 4TB.

"Through dialogue with our NAS partners and customer advocacy for WD Red, we saw the need for additional capacity in the 3.5-inch form factor and delivered our new 4 TB offering," said Matt Rutledge, vice president of client storage for WD. "We also wanted to deliver a highly reliable and compatible 2.5-inch hard drive built specifically for small NAS. This small form factor enables our customers to use high capacity NAS hard drives with high performance, quiet operation and low power consumption in compact NAS enclosures. We also see an opportunity in smaller-footprint NAS systems, media players and other industrial applications. Our pride in our product and our vision is shared with our customers."

WD Red Drives

Unlike traditional hard drives, WD Red drives are tested for compatibility in NAS environments. Utilizing built-in NASware 2.0 technology, these drives are optimized for always-on, 24x7 operation and include error recovery controls, along with lower noise and vibration than regular HDDs.

The new 2.5-inch WD Red 1TB (WD10JFCX) runs $99 MSRP; the 750GB model (WD750BFCX) is priced at $79. Those opting for higher storage will find the new 4TB WD Red (WD40EFRX) priced at $229.

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Microsoft Snatches Up Nokia's Devices Division for $7.2 Billion

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 07:54 AM PDT

Nokia LumiaLumia line heads to Redmond

Nokia made a major gamble betting the farm on Microsoft's Windows Phone platform rather than rolling with Android, which is installed on 8 out of 10 smartphones around the world. Like any good gambler, you have to know when to cash out, and that day has come for Nokia, having sold its Devices and Services division to Microsoft for what amounts to $7.2 billion in cash. The deal also includes Nokia patent licenses and use of the Finnish phone maker's mapping services.

Microsoft will pay €3.79 billion to purchase all of Nokia's phone business plus an additional €1.65 billion to license the company's patents for a total of €5.44 billion, or about $7.2 billion in U.S. dollars. That's a hefty sum to bring the Lumia lineup to Redmond, but in doing so, Microsoft hopes to accelerate the growth of its share and profit in mobile devices, both of which could use a boost.

"It's a bold step into the future – a win-win for employees, shareholders and consumers of both companies. Bringing these great teams together will accelerate Microsoft's share and profits in phones, and strengthen the overall opportunities for both Microsoft and our partners across our entire family of devices and services," said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft chief executive officer.

Around 32,000 Nokia employees will transfer to Microsoft, including 4,700 workers in Finland and 18,300 employees directly involved in manufacturing, assembly, and packaging of product worldwide.

Lumia

The challenge for Microsoft is how best to leverage the Lumia line and promote its Windows Phone platform as a viable alternative to Android and iOS. Microsoft's track record in mobile isn't all the stellar with its recent Surface fiasco, though phones are a different business.

One thing Microsoft has going for it is its prior relationship with Nokia and the knowledge gained from that experience.

"Microsoft effectively 'acquired' Nokia several months ago when it entered into a deal to license Windows Mobile to Nokia, making Nokia entirely reliant on Microsoft's software for its mobile future," said Victor Basta, managing director of Magister Advisors. "Nokia's value has eroded progressively since, making the actual deal to acquire the mobile business even more attractive now for Microsoft. In the meantime Microsoft has had the chance to work with Nokia and learn about the business, so this now looks like a safe deal for Microsoft. The burning question, of course, is whether Nokia's gradual erosion – in market share, value and perception - can be reversed."

Depending on how you look at it, this is an exciting time for Microsoft, and also a critical one. There's a lot of potential in this acquisition, and with Steve Ballmer retiring, it will be up to the next CEO to decide how best to use it.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Rosewill 15.6-inch Notebook Cooler, Timbuk2 Q Laptop Backpack, and More!

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 07:20 AM PDT

Rosewill notebook coolernewegg logo

Top Deal:

It's not always easy keeping your cool in the heat of battle, figuratively and literally. That's also true of your laptop, which is crammed with heat producing parts in confined space. Want to cool things down? Then check out today's top deal for a Rosewill 15.6-inch Notebook Cooler for $18 with free shipping (normally $25 - use coupon code 0827BTS20). It has Dural 80mm vertical adjustable fans, an aluminum faceplate, and even push up storage spaces on both sides for things like USB cables.

Other Deals:

Team Color Turn 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive for $18 with free shipping (normally $19 - use coupon code: [BTSFLASH])

Arctic Cooling Silver E461-BM 3.5mm Connector Earphone for $18 with free shipping (normally $30 - use coupon code: [0827BTS38])

Timbuk2 Q Laptop Backpack for $40 with free shipping (normally $80 - use coupon code: [0827BTS8])

In Win GRone Gray 0.8mm SECC Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case for $130 with free shipping

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


EVE Online releases its first Odyssey patch

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 10:00 AM PDT

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Find strange new worlds and sell them on the open market.
Have you been exploring away like a good little capsuleer in EVE Online? That's kind of what the most recent expansion, Odyssey, is all about. While the first patch for the expansion doesn't contain anything new for players to explore, it does feature a variety of fixes and quality-of-life improvements that should make all that exploration a bit more fun. Especially for players in Russia, who can enjoy a greatly improved localized client after this patch.

Aside from localization, the patch includes adjustments to energy vampire mechanics and mindlink strength, with the former receiving a noteworthy buff to ensure that it's no longer nearly useless. Medium turrets have also received some major updates, and several skills have been reorganized or renamed to make things a bit clearer for players. Yes, all of these changes probably mean that you'll spend a bit of time adjusting your ships before heading back out to the wilds of space, but self-exploration is a sort of exploration too.

MassivelyEVE Online releases its first Odyssey patch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wargaming partners with Nexon for prepaid card options

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 09:00 AM PDT

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Wargaming partners with Nexon for prepaid card
Wargaming has announced a new partnership with Nexon America for the use of Karma Koins as a prepaid card solution for all in-game purchases across Wargaming titles, including World of Tanks, World of Warplanes, and the upcoming World of Warships.

Not only is Karma Koin available at 75,000 stores in North America and Oceania, but one percent of all sales go directly to charity. "We're committed to providing our players with as many flexible and safe payment options as possible," said Mike Turner, Vice President of Business Development at Wargaming. "Our new partnership with Nexon America and Karma Koin will address that desire, and we're excited to give our players a new and philanthropic payment option to enhance their in-game experience."

MassivelyWargaming partners with Nexon for prepaid card options originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Open beta is in the cards for Kickstarted CasinoRPG

Posted: 03 Sep 2013 08:30 AM PDT

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Open beta is in the cards for Kickstarted CasinoRPG
There are fantasy and sci-fi MMORPGs galore, but how many gambling ones have you come across? The answer is very few. Like, only one. But GoldFire Studios is here to change that: Successfully kickstarted in early 2013, CasinoRPG is ready to enter open beta after a year of development and closed testing.

A free-to-play browser-based title, CasinoRPG combines roleplaying and city-building elements with gambling; players can take their virtual winnings from games like poker, blackjack, and slots and use them to create casino empires, design luxury apartments, and basically build and manage the cities within the game. Why an RPG? With the increased popularity of social casino gambling on various platforms, James Simpson, founder and CEO of GoldFire Studios, explained his project by saying, "Innovation has stalled, and we wanted to do something new."

To get into beta, sign up on the official site. For a look at other projects in the crowdfunding arena, check out Make My MMO.

[Source: GoldFire Studios press release]

MassivelyOpen beta is in the cards for Kickstarted CasinoRPG originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Dragon Con 2013: Goodbye, MMO track

    Posted: 03 Sep 2013 08:00 AM PDT

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    Dragon Con 2013 Goodbye, MMO track
    Dragon Con 2013 has come to an end, and tens of thousands of people are already trying to figure out what type of crazy costume they'll have next year.

    As the wildly popular sci-fi and fantasy fan event caters to more genres than you realized existed, the MMO track is the one most up our alley. But sadly enough, 2013 marks the final year of the MMO track as it will be rolled into the more general video gaming track next year. This includes the always-fun MMO trivia event that will be converted to "online gaming trivia" for the first time next year.

    If you'd like to see more from this year's Con, check out the list of galleries and an official video of the traditional costume parade just after the jump.

    Continue reading Dragon Con 2013: Goodbye, MMO track

    MassivelyDragon Con 2013: Goodbye, MMO track originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      FFXIV extends free game time (again) after rocky launch (again)

      Posted: 03 Sep 2013 07:30 AM PDT

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      FFXIV extends free game time again after rocky launch again
      After another rocky start for the revamped Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix has announced that it will be extending the 14 days of free time by another seven days.

      "Users who have yet to enter their registration codes will receive an additional seven-day trial should they register before 11.59 pm (PDT) on September 9, 2013." Square Enix said in a statement. "Moving forward, we will continue monitoring the servers to ensure that quality service and support are provided in a timely manner."

      The servers will be taken down tonight at 8pm EDT with an expected downtime of 10 hours. This downtime will introduce new Worlds to increase the number of concurrent logins allowed for each server.

      MassivelyFFXIV extends free game time (again) after rocky launch (again) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Black Gold Online introduces the Yuton race

      Posted: 03 Sep 2013 07:00 AM PDT

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      Black Gold Online introduces the Yuton
      Snail Games has unveiled the second race in its new steampunk MMO Black Gold Online. The Yutons, considered more of a primitive (yet not barbaric) race of humans, were the first to settle in Erlandir. They saw the introduction of steam technology as their salvation and ticket to freedom from Kosh rule. This eventually led to a split between those who followed Hoca and steam, and those who rejected this new power.

      You can learn more about the Yutonian humans on the lore page and a short video just after the jump.

      Continue reading Black Gold Online introduces the Yuton race

      MassivelyBlack Gold Online introduces the Yuton race originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The determined defense of Lord of the Rings Online: Helm's Deep

      Posted: 03 Sep 2013 06:30 AM PDT

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      The defense and delight of Lord of the Rings Online Helm's Deep
      The veil of secrecy has been lifted, and the flood of details about Lord of the Rings Online: Helm's Deep is about to sweep you off your hairy Hobbit feet. The only question is... are you prepared? And are your mommy and daddy OK with your heading off to fight in a big war that will decide the fate of a nation?

      Turbine sat down with us to give us a broad overview of LotRO's fifth expansion with a special emphasis on its much-vaunted epic battle system. Let's start with the bullet points: Helm's Deep (officially Update 12) will contain five new zones, three additional books for the epic story, 300 quests, a 10-level bump in the cap to 95, plenty of awesome new armor and cosmetic models, and a new crafting tier. It will not contain traditional instances or skirmishes (more on that later), the much-anticipated housing update, or more mounted skills.

      But let's go beyond mere lists to take a closer look at an early view of the expansion and what it will hold when we finally move on to eastern Rohan.

      Continue reading The determined defense of Lord of the Rings Online: Helm's Deep

      MassivelyThe determined defense of Lord of the Rings Online: Helm's Deep originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: Do you take part in forum rage?

        Posted: 03 Sep 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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        The official forums of every game, ever, 1997 to present.
        It's a generally accepted fact that the official forums for any given game are a cesspool of invective, animosity, and rage. Whatever recent changes have been made to a game, you can be sure that there will be an outpouring of rage that detail how the changes were too big, not big enough, or didn't affect real issues. If World of Warcraft is unexpectedly down, there will be plenty of people ready to explain how this is the downfall of a hugely successful game that makes millions of dollars.

        The flip side to this is that it can be cathartic to just open up and complain on the forums. Even if you know full well that launch week results in server issues for every game, it helps let out frustrations to just explode about those server issues on the forums. The other side would be that this sort of behavior contributes to an atmosphere of negativity rather than discussion. So do you take part in forum rage? Does it depend on the conditions or the problem? Or do you just stay out altogether?

        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 take part in forum rage? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Repopulation introduces new event systems in its August updates

          Posted: 02 Sep 2013 07:00 PM PDT

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          You've got a bit of a hole there, might want to patch it up.
          One of the major design goals of The Repopulation is a sense of a world in motion, shaped by players but also influencing player actions. August's updates to the game included the implementation of the Area and World Event systems, facilitating just that sort of gameplay. According to the most recent development blog, these systems track what's going on in the world, direct players to unexpected happenings, and then start to chain new events based off of those metrics. There are also NPCs in place to direct players toward hotbeds of activity.

          The game's other mechanics have also received further tuning. Cities can now benefit from new happiness-increasing structures and more flexible placement options, combat values have been tweaked, and new engagements have been added for siege warfare. There is also a variety of bugfixes and general balance tweaks, which can be found in the full patch notes included with the development blog.

          MassivelyThe Repopulation introduces new event systems in its August updates originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Not So Massively: PAX Prime, MOBA tournaments, and Star Citizen hits $17m

          Posted: 02 Sep 2013 06:00 PM PDT

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          Not So Massively: PAX Prime, MOBA tournaments, and Star Citizen hits $17m
          It's PAX Prime week, and that means it's time for competitive MOBA tournaments! League of Legends led the pack with its North American Regional Playoffs to determine which team will represent the region in the world championship. Third-person MOBA SMITE ran a full stage event for its $20,000 5x5 North American Invitational Tournament and showed off new character Zhong Kui for the first time. Dota 2 fans were outraged to find that the game was no longer available on the freeplay computers, prompting accusations of its being purposely uninstalled to promote competing games.

          Guardians of Middle-Earth launched on Steam this week to a deluge of complaints, negative feedback, and refund requests after it emerged that the game's peer-to-peer networking isn't working well on PC. Sneaky Games announced its intention to release console MOBA Arena of Heroes on the OUYA crowdfunded console, and developers looked at the game's upcoming Patch 1.4.

          Star Citizen's showing at PAX and recent release of the hangar module have helped push the game's crowdfunding tally over the $17 million mark, making it all but certain that the team will reach the ultimate $20 million goal. Diablo III officially launches on PS3 and XBox 360 tomorrow, and developers revealed that a PS4 version is already in the works. And Path of Exile's developers passed on PAX Prime this year and instead worked on the next update, which introduces the Endless Ledge event and a strange new Empower support gem.

          Continue reading Not So Massively: PAX Prime, MOBA tournaments, and Star Citizen hits $17m

          MassivelyNot So Massively: PAX Prime, MOBA tournaments, and Star Citizen hits $17m originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            PAX Prime 2013: Behaviour on WAR40K Eternal Crusade's friendly fire, ARG, and more

            Posted: 02 Sep 2013 05:00 PM PDT

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            PAX Prime 2013 - Behaviour on WAR40K Eternal Crusade's friendly fire, ARG, and more
            Massively spoke with Behaviour Interactive at last weekend's PAX Prime, and the topic of the day was of course the company's take on the Warhammer 40K license. Eternal Crusade, as the upcoming sci-fi title is known, is an unapologetically group-focused take on the genre.

            Join us after the cut as we break down our chat with Behaviour studio head Miguel Caron and talk about space marines, ARGs, and friendly fire.

            Continue reading PAX Prime 2013: Behaviour on WAR40K Eternal Crusade's friendly fire, ARG, and more

            MassivelyPAX Prime 2013: Behaviour on WAR40K Eternal Crusade's friendly fire, ARG, and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Christine Thompson, part two

              Posted: 02 Sep 2013 04:00 PM PDT

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              STO Cryptic headquarters sign
              Loyal Massively readers will know that just after the launch of Star Trek Online's first expansion, the Legacy of Romulus, I visited Cryptic Studios and met with several members of the Star Trek Online development team.

              This week I'm picking up where I left off in my conversation with Star Trek Online's lead writer, Christine "CrypticKestrel" Thompson. Join me past the jump to see what more she had to say about the challenges of writing within accepted canon as well as creating a more personal tale for STO players.

              Continue reading Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Christine Thompson, part two

              MassivelyCaptain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Christine Thompson, part two originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Chaos Theory: Three ideas to improve TSW's replayability

                Posted: 02 Sep 2013 03:00 PM PDT

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                Chaos Theory Three ideas to improve replayability
                In my opinion, a lot rests upon The Secret World Issue #8's shoulders. While the past few issues have offered up top-notch story arcs, I gobbled them up quick and then looked sadly at an empty plate while wishing for seconds. It's the blessing and curse of quality content that takes a lot of time to make and far, far less time to play through.

                So our eyes are on the promise of Issue #8's scenario system and the possibilities that it might bring. MJ did a great job of touching on the potential there, but I'd like to add that the game sorely needs a system like this because there are only so many times you can run the same missions and dungeons before getting really restless.

                It doesn't have to be just up to scenarios to cure the replayability blues, however. Off the top of my head, I can think of three ways that the devs (given appropriate time and resources, of course) could add more layers of fun and activity into the current framework of The Secret World.

                Continue reading Chaos Theory: Three ideas to improve TSW's replayability

                MassivelyChaos Theory: Three ideas to improve TSW's replayability originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Massively Exclusive: Episode 10 of Mabinogi the Saga: Iria

                  Posted: 02 Sep 2013 02:00 PM PDT

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                  Massively Exclusive Episode 10 of Mabinogi the Saga Iria
                  It all started with a demonic attack on a small village in Episode One, then wove through twists and turns, betrayals and reveals, in the next eight episodes. Now it's time for the thrilling conclusion of the Mabinogi miniseries, the Iria Saga. In Episode 10, titled Divine Fury: The Advent, the destruction of Lia Fail releases an uncontrollable demonic force that draws a goddess to Iria -- one who wants to cleanse the world by wiping everything out. Will everyone band together to save the world? Watch the battle play out in the video after the cut, then catch a live play-though on Massively TV Wednesday, September 3rd @ 9:00 p.m. EDT.

                  Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Episode 10 of Mabinogi the Saga: Iria

                  MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Episode 10 of Mabinogi the Saga: Iria originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    PAX Prime 2013: A doomsday strike to the heart of Infinite Crisis

                    Posted: 02 Sep 2013 01:00 PM PDT

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                    PAX Prime 2013 A doomsday strike to the heart of Infinite Crisis
                    I think I'd be a lousy MOBA level designer. I'd always wondered why PvP and MOBA maps came few and far between; after all, how hard is it to whip up a quick level? I realized my ignorance after listening to Turbine Creative Director Cardell Kerr talk about the immense amount of thought and planning that goes into a single map.

                    Kerr and his team were showing off Infinite Crisis, the upcoming DC superhero MOBA, at PAX Prime this weekend, with constant matches taking place between superhero-wannabes. As with most everything at PAX, it's a mix of promotion, information, and entertainment, although I got the feeling that the team also had something to prove. After all, everyone seems to be making MOBAs these days to catch some of that League of Legends/Dota 2 money, and because such, it's triply important that an upstart have a way of distinguishing itself from the pack. Merely having Wonder Woman and Batman show up won't be enough these days (although it certainly doesn't hurt).

                    So what is Infinite Crisis angling to do that will make this the MOBA you'll click on more than the others? It comes down to options: options how to play your game, options how to exploit advantages on a map, and options when it comes to game modes.

                    Continue reading PAX Prime 2013: A doomsday strike to the heart of Infinite Crisis

                    MassivelyPAX Prime 2013: A doomsday strike to the heart of Infinite Crisis originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      PAX Prime 2013: The Repopulation hunkers down for a siege

                      Posted: 02 Sep 2013 12:00 PM PDT

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                      PAX Prime 2013 The Repopulation stays in siege mode for now
                      If EverQuest Next is the big dog of the upcoming sandbox MMO set, then The Repopulation is on the other end of the spectrum. The title is still in alpha testing with only a few hundred players participating, the team is spread across the globe, and the studio is looking for a publisher to help give the title the financial backing it sorely needs. Even so, the folks at Above and Beyond Technologies have an obvious passion for the project and were plainly eager to talk about it at PAX Prime.

                      Tucked away in the Indie Megabooth area, The Repopulation devs invited players to sit down with a laptop and take part in testing the game's siege mode. I chatted up the developers -- who are head-over-heels enthusiastic about The Repopulation, by the way -- and got my first look at what PvP a sandbox hath wrought.

                      Continue reading PAX Prime 2013: The Repopulation hunkers down for a siege

                      MassivelyPAX Prime 2013: The Repopulation hunkers down for a siege originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        Dragon Con 2013: Star Citizen's Lesnick and Haddock on player feedback, CitizenCon, and more

                        Posted: 02 Sep 2013 11:00 AM PDT

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                        Dragon Con 2013 - Star Citizen's Lesnick and Haddock on player feedback, CitizenCon, and more
                        It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks for Cloud Imperium Games. The makers of Star Citizen jetted to Cologne, Germany, for Gamescom, released the game's first live module, and traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to chat up the BDSSE (that's best damn space sim ever, for the uninitiated) at Dragon Con.

                        We caught up with designer and community manager Ben Lesnick and lead writer Dave Haddock for an update on all the Star Citizen things. Well, OK. Some of the Star Citizen things. Join us after the cut for tidbits on the dogfighting alpha, CitizenCon, and more.

                        Continue reading Dragon Con 2013: Star Citizen's Lesnick and Haddock on player feedback, CitizenCon, and more

                        MassivelyDragon Con 2013: Star Citizen's Lesnick and Haddock on player feedback, CitizenCon, and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          Have a super adventure in Guild Wars 2's Back to School release

                          Posted: 02 Sep 2013 10:30 AM PDT

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                          Have a super adventure in GW2's Back to School release
                          It's the end of summer, and school is back in session. That's kind of a bummer unless you're an Asuran kid: Thanks to mega-genius Moto, the lucky little weasels get to play in the Super Adventure Box, a virtual reality educational tool that teaches quick thinking and combat skills. Fortunately for Guild Wars 2 players, the average Tyrian adventurer is probably slightly behind the average Asuran child, so everyone can justify spending a few days weeks hours bouncing on mushrooms and collecting shiny baubles for completely educational purposes.

                          ArenaNet's Josh Foreman, Moto's real-world representative, gave us a preview of what eager students have to look forward to tomorrow in the improved and expanded re-release of GW2's popular game-within-a-game. Bounce your way behind the cut to get a peek at how you'll continue on your journey to vanquish Lord Vanquish and save Princess Miya!

                          Continue reading Have a super adventure in Guild Wars 2's Back to School release

                          MassivelyHave a super adventure in Guild Wars 2's Back to School release originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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