General Gaming Article

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• iBuyPower Teases White Steam Machine Prototype
• The Swapper Review
• Worldwide Smartphone Shipments to Exceed 1 Billion This Year, 1.7 Billion by 2017
• Acer First to Market with a Touchscreen Chromebook, Retails for $300
• Microsoft Enlists Pawn Stars to Call Chromebook ‘Not a Real Laptop’
• Black Friday Ads 2013 Round Up
• Motorola's Unlocked Moto G Smartphone Heads to U.S. Ahead of Schedule
• Canalys: Microsoft to Own Just 5 Percent of Rapidly Expanding Tablet Market in 2014
• Powercolor Rolls Out Overclocked PCS+ R9 270X Graphics Card
• Newegg Daily Deals: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB DDR3-1333 RAM, Asus 23.6-inch LCD, and More!

iBuyPower Teases White Steam Machine Prototype Posted: 26 Nov 2013 03:26 PM PST Update: Now with more pics of iBuyPower's Steam machine!  Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4 both raced to 1 million unit sales in the first 24 hours of availability, but come 2014, gamers may be talking about a console of a different kind. Boutique system builder iBuyPower is jumping aboard Valve's Steam Machine bandwagon with a prototype system it plans to launch sometime in 2014. In the meantime, iBuyPower has offered up a sneak peak of its prototype Steam Machine, which it also plans to show off at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. iBuyPower's system looks very similar to a white Xbox One console, but with a green LED strip wrapping around the sides and Steam's logo imprinted on top. Like the Xbox One, iBuyPower's Steam Machine is built around an AMD foundation, though in this case it's a multi-core CPU of some sort and Radeon R9 270 graphics. It will also feature a 500GB hard drive, Bluetooth, and built-in wireless connectivity, Forbes reports. There will be two versions codenamed Gordan and Freeman. One will be clear or white with a customizable light strip (as shown), and the other will be a black box without a light strip. While no specific release date has been announced, iBuyPower said it's targeting a $499 retail price point. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

The Swapper Review Posted: 26 Nov 2013 01:05 PM PST You got your puzzles in my quantum mechanics Writing a review of The Swapper by Facepalm Games—a studio surely named after the gesture you'll perform when you finally solve the tougher challenges in this space-based puzzle scroller—is a bit like trying to talk about The Prestige to someone who's never seen the film. If that's you, it's best you just go ahead and skip this review. Our guilt would be too great if we accidentally spoiled your cinematic enjoyment. One light blocks clone-creation, the other disables swapping. Welcome to the bane of your puzzle-solving existence. If it sounds a little odd to be mixing movies with gaming, we counter that it would be odder still to not bring up an obvious inspiration behind The Swapper's mechanics and storyline—of which we're a bit loathe to spoil too much, given the precision behind its grand reveal. You're not a magician in The Swapper; rather, the game starts you off as a nameless space explorer who's been (unwittingly) jettisoned from orbiting Research Station Theseus onto the surface of the planet Chori V. Once you're done basking in the loveliness of the game's cinematic opening—get used to it, because The Swapper's atmospheres only get prettier—you quickly come across the game's Portal mechanic. Enter the (appropriately named) Swapper device. The Swapper—the gun, not the game—is a handheld version of Calvin and Hobbes's Duplicator with a fun twist. You create copies of yourself (that mirror your every move) by holding down the right mouse button, painting an outlined target of your body over a particular area, and releasing the mouse button. The "swapping" portion of the deal relates to the gun's secondary capability, which allows you to jump around between the five different copies of yourself that can simultaneously exist (if you have line-of-sight to shoot them) In Prestige terms (Warning: some Prestige spoilers ahead), it would be akin to Hugh Jackman's character being able to transfer his "active consciousness" from clone to clone as he sees fit, thus sparing him the unpleasant aftermath of having to drink so much water following a successful performance of his Transported Man "illusion." Of course, that explanation makes an assumption about where Jackman's core consciousness exists when the trick goes off, a fact that's hardly ignored by The Swapper's increasingly philosophical plot. To Facepalm Games's credit, the game doesn't beat you over the head with Stephen Hawking–like displays of metaphysics—all those clones notwithstanding. The Swapper feels evenly paced as its story devolves from "simple puzzle game" to a push to discover who you are, who the game's antagonists are (if there even are any), and how a bunch of giant intelligent rocks littered around the Theseus fit into the grand picture. Rocks, we note, that take over your screen with their telepathic thoughts. Hey, we never said this game was that straightforward. You'll be hard-pressed to find an environment in this game that isn't downright beautiful. To borrow Prestige language once again, the turn eventually comes; we won't tell you when, but we will note that the game's dénouement actually does wrap up the story in a manner that's hardly displeasing. Save for, perhaps, the game's ultimate ending—you're going to feel a great compulsion to play The Swapper again. Or, at the very least, you're going to find it difficult to avoid YouTube once the credits start rolling. We love that Facepalm Games does such a good job of easing you into its story's complexities, because the raw mechanics of this five-to-seven hour game (nine, if you're that bad at puzzles or really try to find the 10 hidden achievements) don't demand nearly as much of a leap. We're not criticizing; if anything, we think The Swapper is ideally timed for what it expects and delivers. We didn't feel any tedium during our puzzle-solving, unlike Portal 2's seemingly endless test levels and murky behind-the-scenes tours. While The Swapper (mostly) confines its plot to the Theseus and uses a bit of creative backtracking to avoid trapping players in a strictly linear map progression, the game's frequent inclusion of teleportation portals allows you to travel sans headache to areas you've previously discovered. Solving the puzzles of various rooms, mostly split off from key sections by The Swapper's Super Metroid–style doors, allows you to obtain Trigon Orbs. Collect enough orbs and you unlock new sections of the ship to progress through. The Swapper seamlessly zooms in and out to give you a better sense of scale during your jaunt through the Theseus. Our only real criticism is that the game's setup still makes you feel like a train on a single track, as you aren't given much creative flexibility to go beyond the confines of the formula: unlock area, solve branched puzzles, unlock new area, etc. There are no bonuses in The Swapper; there are no extras. You must pick up every single orb in the game to get to the big ending, all of which makes The Swapper's framing feel a bit restricted. The puzzles themselves follow the Portal formula: Introduce a concept, let the player master it after one or two iterations, then introduce another new concept. [Warning: Swapper spoilers below] These can be new mechanics, like colored lights that prevent you from using the various traits of the ol' Swapper gun in critical areas, or reinvented ways of thinking—our personal favorite, given all those times we had to kill ourselves to perform simple tasks. Yes, kill ourselves. To bring The Swapper full circle, much of the game's core centers on the question of consciousness: Who are you? When you swap, what happens to "active you"? What happens to your soul? Do you even have a soul? Who's in the Prestige box? To craft a gameplay mechanic around this very question—forcing you to constantly send an army of clones to their deaths to complete puzzles, survive falls, or, in a moment that made us cackle when we first realized it, navigate up and down through the ship—is just plain brilliant. Facepalm Games intertwines its plot and its mechanics perfectly. By the time you've fully jumped into The Swapper's philosophical rabbit hole, you'll be killing enough copies of yourself to make an army. You might find yourself questioning your clones' fates—whether you just broke the legs of you, as your clone, or whether your clone is you and you just sent a useless husk of yourself on a 75-foot free-fall. You might even start to feel bad. Absolutely beautiful visuals, excellent voice-over work (over a soothing soundtrack), and the frustrating creativity behind some of the game's puzzles make The Swapper a must-try as-is. Consider the primer on human mortality an added bonus—an extra clone, if you will. $15, facepalmgames.com, ESRB: Pending

Worldwide Smartphone Shipments to Exceed 1 Billion This Year, 1.7 Billion by 2017 Posted: 26 Nov 2013 12:53 PM PST Decline in average selling prices encouraging sales, IDC says The IDC says that smartphone shipments should be more than 39 percent higher than those in 2012 by the close of this year with totals exceeding 1 billion units.  By 2017, the number is expected to approach 1.7 billion units worldwide. The major culprit is a steady decline in average selling prices (ASPs). This year, the IDC suggests that the average selling price of a smartphone will be just $337, a 12.8 percent decrease from $387 last year. With an ASP as low as $267 by 2017. The lower prices and accompanying carrier subsidies mean that many people who would otherwise have purchased a dumbphone are walking out of stores with smartphones.  "Particularly within emerging markets, where price sensitivity and elasticity are so important, prices will come down for smartphones to move beyond the urban elite and into the hands of mass market users," says Ramon Llamas, IDC Mobile Phone team research manager. "Every vendor is closely eyeing how far down they can price their devices while still realizing a profit and offering a robust smartphone experience." With phone manufacturers fighting for the lowest price, how do you think companies are going to maintain profit margins? Let us know in the comments.

Acer First to Market with a Touchscreen Chromebook, Retails for $300 Posted: 26 Nov 2013 12:07 PM PST Finally, an affordable Chromebook with touch support Google owes Acer a pat on the back for making its Chromebook platform a more attractive option. How so? Acer just introduced the C720P Chromebook, the newest addition to its C720 line and the first to feature an 11.6-inch touchscreen panel. What's equally impressive is that Acer managed to bolt on a touchscreen panel without tacking on an obscene premium -- this sucker retails for $300 MSRP. "Our new touchscreen C720P gives customers an intuitive way to browse sites online, enjoy apps, and do more with the Chromebook," said Arif Maskatia, CTO for Acer. "The Acer C720 Chromebook line has been praised for its performance and battery life, and this new touchscreen model allows us to address the needs of an even wider range of customers with exciting new capabilities. We're certain many holiday shoppers will jump at the chance to get a touchscreen Chromebook for just $299.99." The rest of the laptop is standard Chromebook fare. The 11.6-inch screen boasts a 1366x768 resolution powered by an Intel Celeron 2955U processor based on Haswell, 2GB of DDR3 memory, and a 32GB solid state drive. It also features built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, HDMI output, built-in webcam, and up to 7.5 hours of battery life. Physically, the 720p measures just 0.78 inches thick and weights a hair under 3 pounds, making it highly portable for toting to classes or meetings. The C720p will be available in various configurations in early December at Amazon, Best Buy, and through Acer's online store. Each one will come with 100GB of free Google Drive storage for the first two years, plus 12 free GoGo Inflight passes. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Microsoft Enlists Pawn Stars to Call Chromebook ‘Not a Real Laptop’ Posted: 26 Nov 2013 11:43 AM PST An advertising war between Microsoft and Google is brewing Microsoft doesn't want anyone to get Scroogled and is continuing its anti-Google campaign by recruiting the Pawn Stars to take a few swipes at Google's Chromebook. The ad masquerading as a scene from the reality TV show boils down to a few cheap insults and the claim that the Chromebook isn't a real laptop.  "[This isn't] a real laptop. It doesn't have Windows or Office. Without Wi-Fi, it doesn't do much at all," Rick Harris, host of the popular History channel show, says. "And when you are online, Google tracks everything you do so they can sell ads. That's how you get Scroogled." This comes right off the heels of Google's response to Microsoft's Scroogled campaign. It looks like Microsoft isn't backing down in what looks to be the continuation of a small marketing battle between the two companies. What do you think? Does Microsoft have a point or should it focus on its own products?

Black Friday Ads 2013 Round Up Posted: 26 Nov 2013 11:22 AM PST Black Friday 2013 PC/Accessories Deals It takes a special kind of bravery to venture out to retail stores on Black Friday, which is the Friday following Thanksgiving and the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Bad drivers, big crowds, and rude shoppers who won't think twice about trampling over your grandmother in a foot race to the electronics section to save $30 on a Blu-ray player are just some of what you'll have to contend with. These are the deals you are looking for! Lucky for us PC geeks, many of the items we covet can be found online, negating the need to leave our cozy homes and deal with unruly shoppers. Just as we did last year, we're putting together a dynamic collection of PC-related parts, accessories, and games deals all organized into handy categories. All you have to do is browse the categorized deals and click on any that interest you. That sure beats the alternative, doesn't it? Here's how this works. If you see "(BF") next to an item, it's a Black Friday deal. Since deals come and go, we'll cross out the ones that have expired. We'll also be listing Cyber Monday sales, which we'll tag with "(CM)" so you can easily distinguish between the two. Finally, we're not big on mail-in-rebates, so if a Black Friday or Cyber Monday discount is mostly represented by having to jump through a mail-in-rebate hoop, we'll probably omit it unless it's an exceptionally good deal. For the few that do include, we'll put an asterisk next to them. We'll be updating this list throughout Black Friday weekend and up through Cyber Monday, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back frequently. In addition, some of the deals will be live BEFORE Black Friday, so don't be shy about clicking ahead of time. Also, if you know of a PC-related deal we missed, feel free to share it in the comments section below! *Note: As you may know, supplies for Black Friday deals are often highly limited, so keep that in mind if these deals are quickly snatched up! Amazon We're giving Amazon it's own category because from Sunday, November 24 through Black Friday weekend, the online retailer will be running new deals as often as every 10 minutes. Prices will be valid at select times and while supplies last. Some examples of items that will be on sale at different points include: Seiki 32-inch 720p 60Hz LED HDTV: $98 Seiki 50-inch 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV: $229 Xbox 360 250GB Holiday Value Bundle including Halo 4 and Tomb Raider: $190 Google Chromecast streaming media player: $30 You'll find these deals at www.amazon.com/blackfriday. CPU/Processors AMD FX-4130 Zambezi 3.8GHz: $80, Newegg (BF) RAM and Digital Media Corsair Memory Accessories: Save at least 50 percent, Corsair (BF) G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3-1866: $110, Newegg (BF) Corsair XMS 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3-1333: $130, Newegg (BF) G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1866: $53, Newegg (BF) Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600: $75, Newegg (BF) Storage Velocity Micro Vmultra Drive: $100 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) SanDisk 32GB Flash Drive: $8, RadioShack (BF) Adata 16GB Flash Drive: $9, Newegg (BF) Kingston SSDNow V300 120GB SSD: $70, Newegg (BF) Seagate Backup Plus 1TB 2.5-inch USB 3.0: $60 (w/ promo code EMCWWVR32), Newegg (BF) Toshiba Canvio Basics 3.0 2TB USB 3.0 External Drive: $100 (w/ promo code EMCWWVR35), Newegg (BF) Click the next page for graphics cards, motherboard, and PSU deals.   Video Cards EVGA GeForce GT 610: $40, TigerDirect (BF) PNY GeForce GTX 770: $370, TigerDirect (BF) Motherboards Asus Rampage IV Extreme: $395 (w/ promo code EMCWWVR26), Newegg (BF) ASRock Z77 Extreme 4: $100, Newegg (BF) Gigabyte GA-Z887M-D3H: $90, Newegg (BF) Cases, Power Supplies, and Accessoreis Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Full Tower Chassis: $100, Newegg (BF) Corsair PSU Accessories: Save at least 50 percent, Corsair (BF) Rosewill Capstone 550W 80 Plus Gold PSU: $65 (w/ promo code EMCWWVR39), Newegg (BF) League of Legends Razer Naga Hex Mouse: $70 (w/ promo code CYBERPREVIEWUS), Razer (BF) Battlefield 4 Razer Taipan Mouse: $70 (w/ promo code CYBERPREVIEWUS), Razer (BF) Battlefield 4 Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Keyboard: $120 (w/ promo code CYBERPREVIEWUS), Razer (BF) Desktop Systems Velocity Micro Raptor Signature: $3,849 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Raptor Z95: $2,299 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Edge Z40: $1,069 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Edge Z55: $1,624 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Holiday Edition: $649 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Edge Mini: $669 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Vector Z35: $1,149 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Vector Z25: $849 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Vision M35: $2,099 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Promagix HD60: $1,119 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Promagix HD80: $1,899 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) iBuyPower A10-Series (A10-8600K, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, Windows 8.1): $500, Newegg (Pre-BF) Click the next page for laptop, tablet, game deals and more!   Notebooks/Ultrabooks Laptop Bundle with Choice of Laptop, Case, Flash Drive, and Printer: $299, Walmart (BF) Velocity Micro Notemagix M17: $1,849 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Notemagix M15: $1,549 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Velocity Micro Notemagix M15 LE: $1,099 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Microsoft Surface 32GB: $199, Microsoft (BF) Microsoft Surface 64GB: $349, Microsoft (BF) Dell Inspiron 15z Touchscreen (Core i5, 6GB RAM, 500GB HDD + 32GB SSD): $399, Microsoft (BF) Asus VivoBook S400 Ultrabook: $500, Newegg (BF) Asus ZenbookPrime (Core i7, 4GB, 128GBx2 SSD, Nvidia GT 620M): $950, Newegg (BF) HP Winter Blue 15.6-inch (AMD E-300, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Windows 8: $278, Walmart (BF) MacBook Pro 13.3-inch (4GB R AM, 500GB HDD): $1,000, Best Buy (BF) Mobile Devices Nextbook 8-inch Dual Core Tablet with 8GB Memory: $99, Walmart (BF) Nextbook 7-inch Tablet with 8GB Memory: $59, Walmart (BF) RCA 7-inch Tablet with 4GB Memory: $49, Walmart (BF) Apple iPad 2 16GB Wi-Fi + Bonus Accessory Kit: $389, Walmart (BF) Visual Land Prestige Pro 7-inch Tablet Dual Core with 16GB Memory: $90, Walmart (BF) Monster M7 7-inch Dual Core Tablet with 16GB Memory: $129, Walmart (BF) Google Nexus 7-inch Tablet with 32GB Memory (2012): $189, Walmart (BF) Trio Stealth Pro 7-inch 4GB Tablet: $50, Radio Shack (BF) LG G Pad 8.3-inch Tablet: $279, Newegg (BF) Apple iPad w/ Retina Display 16GB Wi-Fi: $399, Walmart (BF) Monitors AOC E2752SHE 27-inch LED Monitor: $179, nationwide November 28 through December 2 (BF) Asus 27-inch LED Monitor: $190, Newegg (BF) Hanns-G 27-inch LED Monitor: $180, Newegg (Pre-BF) Samsung C150 SEries 21.5-inch LED Monitor: $115 (w/ promo code EMCWWVP29), Newegg (Pre-BF) LG IPS224V-PN 21.5-inch LED IPS Monitor: $110 (w/ promo code EMCWWVP32), Newegg (Pre-BF) Games and Software Adobe Photoshop Photography Program: $9.99/month, Adobe (BF) Call of Duty: Ghosts: $40 (Xbox 360), $50 (Xbox One), Microsoft (BF) Grand Theft Auto V: $40, Microsoft (BF) Battlefield 4: $39 (Xbox 360), Microsoft (BF) FIFA 14: $25 (Xbox 360), Microsoft (BF) Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: $34 (Xbox 360), Microsoft (BF) Madden 25: $25 (Xbox 360), Microsoft (BF) Skylanders Swap Force: $39, Microsoft (BF) Minecraft: $15, Microsoft (BF) Printers and Routers Buffalo AirStation Extreme AC 1200 Dual Band Wireless Router: $80, Newegg (Pre-BF) TP-Link TL-SG108 8-Port Gigabit Switch: $18, Newegg (Pre-BF) Edimax EW-7238RPD N300+ Concurrent Dual-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender: $30, Newegg (Pre-BF) Brother MFC-7860DW All-in-One Wireless Laser Printer: $170, Newegg (Pre-BF) MISC LG 24LN5200 42-inch 1080p 60Hz LED Ultra Slim HDTV: $379, Walmart (BF) Sceptre 50-inch Class LCD 1080p 60Hz HDTV: $399, Walmart (BF) Sceptre 32-inch 720p 60Hz LED HDTV: $179, Walmart (BF) Sceptre 40-inch Class LCD 1080p 60Hz HDTV: $249, Walmart (BF) Emerson 26-inch Class LCD 720p 60Hz HDTV and DVD Player: $169, Walmart (BF) Nintendo Wii U Holiday Bundle: $329, Walmart (BF) Nintendo 3DS XL Holiday Bundle w/ Choice of 2 Games and Accessory: $219, Walmart (BF) Nintendo 3DS Starter Bundle: $179, Walmart (BF) Nintendo 2DS Holiday Bundle w/ Choice of 2 Games and Accessorty: $149, Walmart (BF) Ematic Portable Wireless Speaker and Speakerphone with Bluetooth: $22, Walmart (BF) Garmin Refurbished nuvi 50LM 5-inch GPS w/ U.S. Map Coverage and Lifetime Map Updates: $69, Walmart (BF) Garmin nuvi 50LM Bundle 5-inch GPS w/ Lifetime Map Updates and Friction Mount: $109, Walmart (BF) Xbox 360 Ultimate Bundle: From $234, Walmart (BF) Velocity Micro Cinemagix Multiplex: $1,899 + free shipping, Velocity Micro (BF and CM) Xbox 360 4GB: $179, Microsoft (BF) Xbox 360 250GB: $199, Microsoft (BF) MartinLogan MLT-2 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System: $150, Newegg (BF) LG 42-inch 1080p LED HDTV: $340, Newegg (BF) Aluratek 7-inch Digital Photo Frame: $25, Newegg (BF) Corsair Outlet Store (Refurbished Items): Save at least 50 percent, Corsair (BF) Battlefield 4 Razer BlackShark Headphones: $110 (w/ promo code CYBERPREVIEWUS), Razer (BF)

Motorola's Unlocked Moto G Smartphone Heads to U.S. Ahead of Schedule Posted: 26 Nov 2013 10:07 AM PST Budget smartphone could be a hot holiday item Motorola has a holiday surprise for the mobile crowd. The company announced that its unlocked and affordable Moto G smartphone is now available to purchase in GSM form from Motorola's website with no contract, no SIM lock, and an unlocked bootloader for $179 with 8GB of storage or $199 with 16GB of storage. Those are full retail prices - you own the device outright for less than the subsidized cost of most high-end smartphones. Following the U.S. launch of the GSM version, Motorola said it will offer a CDMA handset in January. Both versions feature a 4.5-inch HD display, 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 5MP rear-facing camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, and a 2070mAh battery that Motorola claims will last a full day. The Moto G ships with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, though Motorola says it's "guaranteed" to get an Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade in the beginning of 2014. Furthermore, it's a clean build of Android -- no skins or funky customizations to slow down performance. Bear in mind that the Moto G does not come with 4G LTE support or expandable storage. Some people will find those omissions to be deal killers, though overall, the Moto G is a good value for the money. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Canalys: Microsoft to Own Just 5 Percent of Rapidly Expanding Tablet Market in 2014 Posted: 26 Nov 2013 09:29 AM PST Tablets will make up half of the overall PC market next year Desktops aren't going anywhere, but neither are tablets, the latter of which are forecast to out-ship all other PC form factors combined to account for nearly half of the client PC market, according to Canalys. Tablet PC shipments grew 40 percent in the third quarter of 2013, which helped the overall PC market grow 18 percent even though traditional desktop and notebook shipments declined. Amid all this growth is a window of opportunity to monetize the frenzy, just like Intel did when netbooks were all the craze. Apple is still the top tablet vendor, and with the recent launch of the iPad Air and new iPad mini with Retina-class display, it will probably stay in the lead. Meanwhile, Canalys believes Microsoft will carve out a 5 percent share of the market next year, which would be more than double its 2 percent stake in 2012. In order to really compete, however, there's a sense that Microsoft needs to consolidate its operating systems. "To improve its position it must drive app development and better utilize other relevant parts of its business to round out its mobile device ecosystem," said Canalys Research Analyst Pin Chen Tang. "A critical first step is to address the coexistence of Windows Phone and Windows RT. Having three different operating systems to address the smart device landscape is confusing to both developers and consumers alike." Funny Canalys should mention OS consolidation. As coincidence would have it, Microsoft's Executive Vice President of Devices and Studios, Julie Larson-Green, recently went on record saying Microsoft has too many OSes. "We have the Windows Phone OS. We have Windows RT and we have full Windows. We're not going to have three," Larson-Green said. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Powercolor Rolls Out Overclocked PCS+ R9 270X Graphics Card Posted: 26 Nov 2013 07:56 AM PST Factory overclocked and custom cooled Powercolor today announced that it's given its first R9 Series graphics card the PCS+ treatment, which consists of using in-house materials and a custom cooling design for added performance and stability. The lucky candidate is the Powercolor PCS+ R9 270X. It has 2GB of GDDR5 memory just like the reference design, though Powercolor goosed the GPU to 1060MHz base and up to 1100MHz boost. The card was built using Powercolor's Gold Power Kit, which includes a Digital PWM, Ferrite Conducting Power (FCP), and a multiphase design. On top of it all is a PCS+ cooling design consisting of dual 90mm fans, three heatpipes, a large section of cooling fins, and a pure copper base. According to Powercolor, its custom cooler delivers 16 percent lower temps than reference and 20 percent better airflow to keep dust bunnies from settling in. An optional accessory for the card is Powercolor's Turbo Timer. This device keeps the graphics card's fans running for a period time after powering off the PC to ensure all the parts are adequately cooled. No word yet on when the Powercolor PCS+ R9 270X will be available or for how much. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Newegg Daily Deals: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB DDR3-1333 RAM, Asus 23.6-inch LCD, and More! Posted: 26 Nov 2013 06:03 AM PST Top Deal: How much RAM do you really need? The answer depends on a number of factors, though you can safely assume you'll need more than 640K. It never hurts to go big, especially when you can do so without robbing a bank. Such is the opportunity presented by today's top deal for a G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB DDR3-1333 Memory Kit for $105 with free shipping (normally $140). These are tightly timed modules (9-9-9-24) with unique looking heatsinks. Need even more? Go hog wild and pick up two kits! Other Deals: Asus VS Series VS247H-P Black 23.6" 2ms LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor for $150 with free shipping (normally $200 use coupon code: [EMCWWVV23]; additional $20 Mail-in rebate) Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2500 BX80637i33220 for $115 with free shipping (normally $125 use coupon code: [EMCWWVV35]) Western Digital WD AV-GP WD20EURS 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5-inch Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive for $85 with free shipping (normally $100 use coupon code: [EMCWWVV28]) Gigabyte GA-Z77-HD3 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS for $85 with free shipping (normally $110 use coupon code: [EMCWWVV36]; additional $15 Mail-in rebate)

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• The Nexus Telegraph: Surprise! WildStar!
• City of Steam: Arkadia launching December 4th

WildStar shows off the Stalker Posted: 26 Nov 2013 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Classes, Previews, News Items, WildStar, Subscription, Buy-to-Play WildStar's recent class re-reveals have all lacked a certain something. A certain panache, a certain trait, a certain ability to sneak past a huge number of enemies before stabbing something in the back and walking away. That's what the Stalker brings to the table, and for everyone who loves classes that involve stealth and stabbing, you'll be very happy. Not that the class is that one-dimensional, of course; like all of the game's classes, Stalkers have a big bag of tricks. It's just that invisibility is a pretty good trick. Stalkers are equipped with twin retractable claws as well as nanoskin and a variety of other high-tech gadgets. The nanoskin serves multiple functions -- it allows for Stalkers to become tougher, more evasive, and even do that invisibility trick while in combat. Combined with their natural agility and controlling tricks, Stalkers can easily be on the front lines of a battle or tuck themselves away and assassinate key targets. Check out how it works in the video just past the break. [Source: Carbine Studios press release] Continue reading WildStar shows off the Stalker WildStar shows off the Stalker originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Speaking Episode 274: Beta grubbing Posted: 26 Nov 2013 08:45 AM PST Filed under: Podcasts, MMO Industry, News Items, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous Do you have a beta key? Are you excited that you have a beta key? Do you want to break NDA and crow about your beta key? Well... don't. Bree and Justin have an important service announcement in today's podcast telling you why this idea is not your friend. Also, they have all of the beta keys to every MMO that's yet to come out and you should be, like, totally jealous. 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. [Stitcher] Follow the podcast on Stitcher Radio. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes. Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 274: Beta grubbing Massively Speaking Episode 274: Beta grubbing originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Final Fantasy XIV gives housing preview Posted: 26 Nov 2013 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Final Fantasy XIV, Housing, Subscription Housing fans are all twitterpated over Final Fantasy XIV's 2.1 update, and in an article today Square-Enix provides a solid overview of what lodges and decorations will be available when the update hits. While individual housing is still a ways off, free companies will be able to purchase a house once they attain a certain rank and get a land acquisition entitlement. House lots can be purchased in Limsa Lominsa, Gridania, or Ul'dah. Once a house is built, the exterior and interior can be customized and furnished. The team expressed future plans for the housing system, including crafting workshops, customizable music, and chocobo stables. Housing will come when 2.1 hits on December 17th. Final Fantasy XIV gives housing preview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Housing preview

Continent of the Ninth Seal announces fourth expansion, releases Rahkdan's Counterattack Posted: 26 Nov 2013 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play Webzen has announced that its free-to-play hack-and-slasher Continent of the Ninth Seal (or C9, if you prefer) is getting a new expansion. This expansion, the game's fourth, will be released in three parts, the first of which -- titled Rahkdan's Counterattack -- will be available to all players on November 27th, with dates and details on parts two and three to be announced. Rahkdan's Counterattack is bringing with it a bevy of behind-the-scenes work, including "a server-wide character rebalance." The press release states that "The skill damage for most classes will be updated, as well as the monster difficulty." In addition, new questlines are being added to the Okapia and Sarad continents, and "new Epic items will be dropped from the Second through Sixth continents." On top of that, the future installments of the expansion will include "the long-awaited announcement of a brand new basic class" in addition to a new advanced class. To learn more about C9 or to get in on the action yourself, click on through to the game's official site. [Source: Webzen press release] Continue reading Continent of the Ninth Seal announces fourth expansion, releases Rahkdan's Counterattack Continent of the Ninth Seal announces fourth expansion, releases Rahkdan's Counterattack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Infinite Crisis brings out Mecha Wonder Woman Posted: 26 Nov 2013 07:30 AM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Classes, Patches, Free-to-Play, MOBA, Infinite Crisis She may be metal and gears, but underneath that she's all woman too. She's Mecha Wonder Woman, the newest champion to come to Infinite Crisis. Mecha Wonder Woman originated as a diplomatic robot for Queen Hippolyta, but decided to get into the superhero vengeance game when the queen was assassinated. The Justice Consortium upgraded her, giving Mecha Wonder Woman the ability to dispense justice with an iron fist. We've got your first look at Mecha Wonder Woman in a video after the break, so check it out and see if this MOBA champion might be calling to your own sense of justice. [Source: Turbine press release] Continue reading Infinite Crisis brings out Mecha Wonder Woman Infinite Crisis brings out Mecha Wonder Woman originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Three more EverQuest Next classes confirmed Posted: 26 Nov 2013 07:15 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, EverQuest Next If all you want for Christmas is more EverQuest Next news, PC Gamer UK has an early present for you: three more confirmed classes! Cleric, Necromancer, and Beast Lord are joining the five other revealed classes of Wizard, Tempest, Warrior, Rogue, and Blademaster. Didn't get the one class you were hoping for? Don't despair -- with over 40 classes, there's a good chance that many fan favorites will still make it into the game along with interesting new ones. The reveal also offered a little insight into each of the new classes as well as the Tempest. The Cleric utilizes one- or two-handed hammers to buff and protect, but also gets fire to unleash damage. Using a tome or dagger and spells, Necromancers also command a Monstrosity companion that grows in power alongside its master. The Beast Lord uses pets, flails and shields, and spears to inflict massive damage on enemies. And the Tempest wields either a two-handed blade or two blades and calls upon winds and lightning to blast enemies. Three more EverQuest Next classes confirmed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Jaedia's Menagerie

World of Tanks welcomes Japan to the fight Posted: 26 Nov 2013 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Patches, Previews, War, Free-to-Play, World of Tanks One might think that World of Tanks is starting to run out of countries to introduce to the game if it's diving into Japan, a country not exactly known for tank dominance in World War II. However, maybe the alternate history of the game will vindicate these tanks when they show up with Update 8.10. The upcoming content addition will add 14 Japanese tanks to the game and a revamped lighting and shadow system. The Japanese tanks will be split between four light and nine medium war machines. The crown jewel of the new tank line is the Type 3 Chi-Nu Kai premium medium tank. [Source: Wargaming press release] World of Tanks welcomes Japan to the fight originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pledge your allegiance to Guild Wars 2 in new video contest Posted: 26 Nov 2013 06:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, Guild Wars 2, Giveaways, Buy-to-Play ArenaNet is serious about getting new players to its subscription-free MMO, Guild Wars 2. Serious enough that they want players to be just as serious by reciting an oath to the popular fantasy game. In the new Great MMO Migration contest, interested new players have a chance to win one of 5,000 new copies of the game by entering a video contest pledging their allegiance to Guild Wars 2. The 30-second clip must be recorded in a public place while the player recites the Guild Wars 2 oath: I, [name], renounce [adjective] games and pledge my allegiance to Guild Wars 2. I likewise declare my freedom from [noun] subscription fees! That I turn my back forever on [noun] which is/are totally [adjective]. That I will take up arms to defend the [noun] and crush evil with my [noun]. I take this oath to Guild Wars 2 freely, without [noun] because I am [noun]. If you're interested in pledging your allegiance to Guild Wars 2, you have from now until Tuesday, December 3 at 11:59 p.m. PST to submit your video. Be sure to check out the official site for complete rules and a video after the cut that is... a bit... well, you just have to watch it to see. Continue reading Pledge your allegiance to Guild Wars 2 in new video contest Pledge your allegiance to Guild Wars 2 in new video contest originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Great MMO Migration page

Diving into Guild Wars 2's Fractals of the Mists changes with ArenaNet Posted: 26 Nov 2013 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, Patches, Previews, Endgame, PvE, Guild Wars 2, Dungeons, Buy-to-Play Last November, the Lost Shores content patch brought the Fractals of the Mists, a set of bite-sized dungeon scenarios that increase in difficulty as more are completed, to Guild Wars 2. As the anniversary of FotM rolls around, ArenaNet is adding brand spanking new Fractals to the rotational lineup as well as making changes to bring the content further in line with the developers' vision for the future of the game. We were invited to attend a conference call with Game Director Colin Johanson and content designer Anthony Ordon, where they gave us some insight into the design behind the new Fractals, the updated reward structure, and where FotM will head from here. Continue reading Diving into Guild Wars 2's Fractals of the Mists changes with ArenaNet Diving into Guild Wars 2's Fractals of the Mists changes with ArenaNet originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: How late do you play? Posted: 26 Nov 2013 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous We all have different schedules, different timezones, different levels of engagement in our games of choice. But whether you're going to work at 5:00 a.m. or 5 p.m., you still have a schedule. Sure, you normally don't get home until 4:00 a.m., but if that's the case you should really have been in bed an hour ago but you want to get just one more dungeon run. It's not just about being hardcore or not. Some people will log in to World of Warcraft for a raid, run what needs to be run in an efficient two hours, and then be free for most of the evening. Others log in to Final Fantasy XIV and wind up roleplaying until hours past a more reasonable bedtime. So how late do you play? Do you tend to get on when you get home and stay on until bed? Do you generally play an MMO and then move on to other things, or do you make that your last stop of the night? 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! The Daily Grind: How late do you play? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SMITE set for launch next March Posted: 26 Nov 2013 04:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA Hi-Rez Studios has officially announced that SMITE, its over-the-shoulder, free-to-play, god-combat MOBA, will launch in North American and European territories on March 25th, 2014. By the time the release rolls around, SMITE will have been in open beta for just over a year. To celebrate the launch, Hi-Rez will be hosting a $100,000 tournament near its headquarters in Atlanta. The tournament will include the top four North American and top four European teams that will have qualified via the SMITE Weekly Tournament events that begin January 4th. SMITE has pulled in 2.5 million registered users to date. [Source: Hi-Rez press release] SMITE set for launch next March originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Stream Team: Heading back to Hell in The Secret World Posted: 25 Nov 2013 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Horror, Real-Life, Video, Massively Meta, The Secret World, Livestream, Dungeons, The Stream Team, Buy-to-Play Only two more Secret World Elite dungeons stand in the way of Massively's MJ facing off the against the Gatekeeper, that golden boy who holds the key to Nightmare Mode dungeons. She's shown off six of the eight so far, and only Slaughterhouse and Hell Raised remain. It's time to finish off the last of trio of Hell-based instances and get one step closer to the nightmare of Nightmares. Join us live at 9:00 p.m. for a trip to Hell and back again. Game: The Secret World Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Monday, November 25th, 2013 Time: 9:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Heading back to Hell in The Secret World The Stream Team: Heading back to Hell in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not So Massively: Star Citizen's mining ship, D3's cow level, and Elite's incoming alpha Posted: 25 Nov 2013 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Video, Business Models, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Patches, Endgame, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Casual, Dev Diaries, Miscellaneous, Not So Massively, Sandbox, Dungeons, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III, Anniversaries, Firefall, Crowdfunding, Star Citizen, Path of Exile With the monumental funding push from its anniversary sale, Star Citizen broke three million-dollar barriers this week and unveiled its plans for several new ships. Players will get a new luxury yacht, a salvaging vessel, and a much-requested mining ship. Elite: Dangerous announced that its alpha test will begin very soon and will initially focus on the flight control portion of the game before opening up to become a full-scale PvP battleground. League of Legends released its major pre-season update ahead of competitive season four, making huge changes to support classes, wards, and more. Heroes of Newerth confirmed that it will be running its usual $30,000 US tournament at DreamHack next week, and developers released a spotlight video on new hero Klanx. Diablo III's Reaper of Souls beta will officially launch by the end of the year, but many streamers are already in the beta thanks to Blizzard's Family and Friends beta scheme. One streamer got the surprise of his life when he stumbled into what appeared to be a new cow level, but we aren't sure whether it's the real deal. Path of Exile saw record turnout for its first Descent Champions events this weekend. And Firefall's latest development update blog entry confirmed that the game will be getting an episodic storyline. Continue reading Not So Massively: Star Citizen's mining ship, D3's cow level, and Elite's incoming alpha Not So Massively: Star Citizen's mining ship, D3's cow level, and Elite's incoming alpha originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2 developer preview livestream delves into Fractured update Posted: 25 Nov 2013 04:05 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Previews, News Items, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play Guild Wars 2 is focusing on the Fractals in its upcoming Fractured update, which is slated to go live tomorrow, November 26th. But if you just absolutely cannot wait even one more day without absorbing every available bit of information you can find, then you might be interested in the recording of ArenaNet's official Fractured developer preview that was livestreamed earlier today. In the video, developers Anthony Ordon and Jake Miller give players a firsthand look at some of the new content they can expect to experience when Fractured goes live. The video is over half an hour long, so the sheer breadth of features and details covered is nearly impossible to summarize, but rest assured that there will be plenty of Fractal goodness. So make yourself comfy, settle in, and head on past the cut for the full video. Continue reading Guild Wars 2 developer preview livestream delves into Fractured update Guild Wars 2 developer preview livestream delves into Fractured update originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Guild Wars 2 official YouTube -- Guild Wars 2 Developer Preview: Fractured!

The Stream Team: Learning Dota 2 from an expert Posted: 25 Nov 2013 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, PvP, Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, Hands-On, Livestream, MOBA, The Stream Team Being a strong Dota 2 player requires an intricate knowledge of a variety of heroes and a deep understanding of each of the game's items. Massively's Mike Foster has neither. He does, however, have an expert friend who has competed in Dota tournaments, and she has agreed to coach Mike through a match in the hopes of strengthening his knowledge of high-tier tactics. The action begins at 7:00 p.m. EST. Can Mike up his game, or is he destined to failure? Game: Dota 2 Host: Mike Foster Date: Monday, November 25, 2013 Time: 7:00 p.m. Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Learning Dota 2 from an expert The Stream Team: Learning Dota 2 from an expert originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Roberts: Star Citizen is 'deeper than just a combat game' Posted: 25 Nov 2013 03:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Sandbox, Crowdfunding, Star Citizen, Buy-to-Play Hopefully by the time you get to the bottom of the page, Star Citizen will not have crossed the $32 million barrier and rendered this news post hopelessly out of date. It's happened before, of course, given that the space sim sandbox passed $31 million a short while ago (i.e., while we were reporting on the $30 million milestone). Cloud Imperium CEO Chris Roberts has to be tiring of all these letters from the chairman at this point, but he's published another one that outlines the new RSI Orion ship and the Anvil Carrack explorer. Roberts also takes a moment to acknowledge backers and their recent purchases of Star Citizen's new tanker ship that propelled the game past the $31 million mark. "It's exciting to see sales of the Starfarer tanker push us past another stretch goal," he wrote. "To me, that says that backers understand that Star Citizen is going to be deeper than just a combat game... that we're going to make unique experiences for all kinds of players, from pirates to refuelers." Roberts: Star Citizen is 'deeper than just a combat game' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Letter from the chairman

Star Citizen crowdfunding campaign reaches $30 million Posted: 25 Nov 2013 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, News Items, Sandbox, Crowdfunding, Star Citizen, MMORPG Cloud Imperium Games's crowdfunding campaign for Star Citizen continues to barrel along and doesn't seem intent on stopping yet, as creator Chris Roberts has announced that the campaign has officially reached the milestone of 30 million US dollars. A new milestone means new rewards. Along with the announcement, Roberts included a gallery of concept art for the Gladiator ship "created to show how the rear-facing turret can be changed with different upgrades." In addition, Roberts revealed that players voted for a salvage ship in the $32 million "ship role" poll. As a result, the post unveils the first details of the Aegis Surveyor ship. Described as "an industrial-quality salvage ship," the Aegis Surveyor is perfect for retrieving the remains of some poor chump's wrecked ride. Lastly, Roberts reminds players that they can vote for the role $33 million stretch goal ship (right below the post, to boot), so to have your say, head over to the game's official site. Star Citizen crowdfunding campaign reaches $30 million originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Star Citizen -- Letter from the Chairman: $30 Million

World of Warcraft gives thanks with Pilgrim's Bounty Posted: 25 Nov 2013 02:30 PM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Events (In-Game), News Items, Subscription It's finally that wonderful time of year when Alliance and Horde alike come together (not with each other, of course) to, for some reason, give thanks for their continued existence in a world that seems perpetually on the brink of catastrophic destruction. World of Warcraft's in-game Pilgrim's Bounty event is going on now and will continue until December 2nd and, much like its real-world counterpart, it's mostly about food. Cooking daily quests make up a good deal of the event's activities, and it's only during Pilgrim's Bounty that players can acquire the recipes for seasonal dishes such as pumpkin pie and slow-roasted turkey. No seasonal event would be complete without some unique items and achievements to go with it, of course, and Pilgrim's Bounty has that covered too. Players can bring some old-world flair to their characters' wardrobes by gathering an outfit of pilgrim's clothing, and there are nine achievements for players to complete over the course of the event. Completing all nine achievements will unlock the Pilgrim meta-achievement, which grants the cute and potentially delicious plump turkey companion pet. For all the details on Pilgrim's Harvest, head on over to the World of Warcraft official site. World of Warcraft gives thanks with Pilgrim's Bounty originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments World of Warcraft -- Pilgrim's Bounty is Here

Turbine settles Treehouse Avatar Technologies lawsuit via partnership Posted: 25 Nov 2013 02:00 PM PST Filed under: MMO Industry, News Items, Legal, Miscellaneous No matter how long you've been playing Lord of the Rings Online or Dungeons & Dragons Online, it's unlikely that you've heard of Treehouse Avatar Technologies before the company started throwing lawsuits around like party favors. After a little over a year, Turbine has ended the pending lawsuit by agreeing to license the firm's technologies for the aforementioned games, despite the fact that both games appear to have been developed before Treehouse Avatar Technologies filed its patent. The Turbine lawsuit predates a number of threatening letters sent by Treehouse Avatar to various small indie developers that made similar overtures. No mention is made of how much Turbine is paying to license the technology for the games in question, which were the only two cited by the suit. Turbine settles Treehouse Avatar Technologies lawsuit via partnership originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments GamePolitics

How to trick out your fleet of SWTOR starships Posted: 25 Nov 2013 01:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Expansions, PvP, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Dev Diaries You aren't going to make it very far in SWTOR's Galactic Starfighter unless you've got the know-how to trick out your starship. Fortunately for you, the devs have put together a new post regarding the expansion's starship requisition and upgrade systems so that you won't be puttering around star systems. Each starship has five major component (read: gear) slots for active combat abilities and four minor component slots for passive stat boosts. Components can be upgraded, with the highest tier offering a choice between types of upgrades. By mix-and-matching components, players can create unique loadouts that will be customized to their playstyle. Component unlocks and upgrades are paid for with requisition, which is given for battle participation and victory. BioWare promises that teamwork will never penalize your acquisition of requisition, which is a fun thing to say a few times in a row. There are two forms of requisition: ship, which is specific to the starship you're flying, and fleet, which can be used for any of your starships. How to trick out your fleet of SWTOR starships originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Dev diary

The Stream Team: Beau and Perfect World kill in Rusty Hearts Posted: 25 Nov 2013 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Video, Interviews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Community Q&A, Livestream, Dungeons, The Stream Team Beau and Mark Hill from Perfect World Entertainment are back in this fantastic-looking side-scroller to see how the game has done since release. If you like over-the-top action and Anime stylings, check this one out. Game: Rusty Hearts Host: Beau Date: Monday, November 25th, 2013 Time: 4:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Beau and Perfect World kill in Rusty Hearts The Stream Team: Beau and Perfect World kill in Rusty Hearts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

38 Studios' intellectual property auction in December, Project Copernicus on the table Posted: 25 Nov 2013 12:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, MMO Industry, News Items The tragic tale of 38 Studios' unreleased MMO, Project Copernicus, isn't over just yet. The Associated Press reports that "[a]bout two dozen parties, including some overseas" have "expressed interest" in bidding for the intellectual property of 38 Studios, which includes the unfinished game. The auction, which was set to take place on November 14th but was delayed due to unexpectedly high demand, is scheduled for December 11th. Nick Jimenez, executive vice president of auctioneer Global Heritage Partners (which is handling the sale of the studio's intellectual property), stated that the potential buyers in the auction "are from North America, Europe, and Asia" and that "[s]ome have expressed interest in buying all the intellectual property, and some are eyeing parts of it." It's unclear what his means for the future of Copernicus, or at least of Copernicus as we know it, but be sure to keep an eye out for future developments. 38 Studios' intellectual property auction in December, Project Copernicus on the table originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments ABC News -- Auction Set for 38 Studios Intellectual Property

Tickets now available for EVE Fanfest 2014 Posted: 25 Nov 2013 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, Events (Real-World), News Items, Consoles, MMOFPS, DUST 514, Sandbox It's time to pack your bags and get ready for a trip to sunny Iceland if you're an EVE Online fan. Yes, the EVE Fanfest isn't until May, but the tickets are now available for purchase if you already know you need to be there. Tickets are normally $175, but there's a limited number of early bird tickets available for $150 if you jump on the deal fast enough. As it has in previous years, the fanfest will contain an assortment of panels and revelations for the games under the CCP Games umbrella, including EVE Online, DUST 514, and the upcoming EVE: Valkyrie. There will also be pub crawls, dinner with the developers, and the Party at the Top of the World to finish it all off. If that sounds like your sort of deal, grab your tickets now and start budgeting for the trip in a few months. Tickets now available for EVE Fanfest 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Fanfest 2014 tickets available

Neverwinter shows off Paragon Paths for more classes Posted: 25 Nov 2013 11:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, Neverwinter The Paragon Paths in Neverwinter aren't just about making your character more powerful; they're about customizing your character to your playstyle. That's part of the reason why both Great Weapon Fighters and Guardian Fighters wind up sharing some potential paths. Yes, the Guardian Fighter is a tank and the Great Weapon Fighter isn't, but the added features of these paths make for very different characters. A Guardian Fighter on the Swordmaster path sacrifices some defense for more damage, producing a tank capable of hitting much harder than your average meat shield. Great Weapon Fighters who choose to be Iron Vanguards, meanwhile, pick up more control-based effects and wind up being more of a support archetype in the process. The latest development blog also shows off the new Control Wizard path, the Master of Flame, allowing this class to do some more serious damage over time by juggling flame and ice abilities. Check out more details on these new paths in the aforementioned development blog. Neverwinter shows off Paragon Paths for more classes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Paragon Paths 2

Heroes of the Storm game director apologizes for insensitive remarks regarding sexualized character designs Posted: 25 Nov 2013 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA It's not often that you can feel uncomfortable pauses via text, but a recent interview about Heroes of the Storm managed exactly that. When asked about the character design of the upcoming game's female characters, game director Dustin Browder responded with: "We're not running for President. We're not sending a message. No one should look to our game for that." This went over about as well as you would expect, especially in the wake of World of Warcraft's next expansion's story getting billed as a "boy's trip" (and being portrayed as such in promotional materials). Browder has issued an apology for his statement, claiming that the topic is a serious one and that Blizzard is sensitive about how it portrays its characters. No part of the apology actually addresses the issue in any more detail, although Browder does insist that the team wants everyone to have a character to identify with and enjoy. Whether or not this will result in more discussion of this serious topic or any changes to character designs remains to be seen. Heroes of the Storm game director apologizes for insensitive remarks regarding sexualized character designs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments On Character Design, HotS InterviewGamasutra

SEGA-inspired Shining Force Online launches beta Thursday Posted: 25 Nov 2013 10:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Browser If you thought the one thing missing to make your Thanksgiving perfect this year was an almost-MMO re-imagining of SEGA's Shining Force franchise, you are in luck! Retro game developer unFun Games is launching the beta of Shining Force Online this Thursday night, November 28th, putting familiar characters in an alternate universe. At launch, there will be more than 100 maps and a number of quests, with new worlds and more content added on a daily basis. Described by unFun as a free fan-made MMO, Shining Force Online is a story-driven game that can, according to the official site, "be played almost as if it's a completely single player title," but you "can also interact with other players (if [you] should choose to)." If you do want to interact with others, it will actually cost you; although the game's store won't sell any items or experience, players must purchase the ability to chat with others. Interested players can head to Arcade Country and create an account in order to play the game via browser or download. [Source: unFun Games press release] SEGA-inspired Shining Force Online launches beta Thursday originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Nexus Telegraph: Surprise! WildStar! Posted: 25 Nov 2013 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Classes, Game Mechanics, Opinion, WildStar, The Nexus Telegraph, Subscription, Buy-to-Play You might have noticed that there was an omission in last week's installment of The Nexus Telegraph. Every week I let you lovely people know what I'm going to be writing about next week, and when I can, the week after that. Last week I completely omitted what I'd be discussing in my next WildStar column, leaving you with no idea what I'd talk about today. Surprise! Yes, that was the thematic link. It seemed clever to me. One of the big elements that WildStar is embracing thus far is that trick of surprising the player. It's a tricky thing to pull off in an MMO because the entire genre is built around understanding and minimizing surprises as much as you can. So let's take a look at some of the game's approaches to surprise and how the game manages to create more surprises by giving you fewer surprises in some areas. Yeah, it's that sort of thing. Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Surprise! WildStar! The Nexus Telegraph: Surprise! WildStar! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

City of Steam: Arkadia launching December 4th Posted: 25 Nov 2013 09:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Launches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Browser, City of Steam The death and subsequent rebirth of City of Steam has been an odd thing to watch, but you'll soon be able to actively participate instead of just watching. City of Steam: Arkadia is launching on December 4th, just a little more than a week from today, enough time that you might not even get to feel any sorrow at the original version's untimely and unexpected demise. Of course, you may not have mourned the original version. Rest assured that the relaunch is not meant to simply be the same game with a new subtitle. According to the official announcement, the new version contains a variety of new systems as well as a revamp of both dungeons and game mechanics. Mechanist Games states that the developers have paid attention to player feedback from the Chinese version and will be releasing a game that should have a much wider appeal. You'll be able to gauge that for yourself very shortly one way or the other. City of Steam: Arkadia launching December 4th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Nov 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Arkadia to launch December 4th

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