General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Newegg Daily Deals: 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3200, WD Blue 4TB HDD, and More!

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 10:38 AM PDT

Corsair Vengeance

Top Deal:

So you're building a new system and decided to make the plunge into Skylake, is that it? That's not a bad option—you can build a killer system around Skyake with careful component selection, starting with today's top deal for a kit of Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3200 (PC4 25600) Desktop Memory for $190 with free shipping (normally $205 - use coupon code: [EMCEHGJ33]). That's assuming you're buying a board that supports DDR4 memory, which if building a new system today is pretty much a no brainer. What this kit brings to the table is a combination of high speed and big capacity.

Other Deals:

WD Blue 4TB Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5-inch for $120 with free shipping (normally $134 - use coupon code: [ESCEHGT25])

Seagate Backup Plus 8TB Desktop External Hard Drive with 200GB of Cloud Storage & Mobile Device Backup USB 3.0 - STDT8000100 (Black) for $200 with free shipping (normally $230 - use coupon code: [EMCEHGJ22])

Corsair CX 750W ATX12V v2.3 80 Plus Bronze Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply New 4th Gen CPU Certified for $75 with $3 shipping (normally $80 - use coupon code: [EMCEHGJ38]; additional $20 Mail-in rebate)

Adata Premier SP550 2.5-inch 240GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive for $55 with free shipping (normally $60 - use coupon code: [EMCEHGJ24])

EVGA's Overclocking Friendly SC17 Gaming Laptop Now Available to Pre-Order

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 10:25 AM PDT

Go ahead and overclock

Evga Sc17

EVGA unveiled its SC17 gaming laptop at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year. One thing that's notable about the system is that EVGA didn't source an existing system and slap its name on the box, this one was designed 100 percent in-house. It's also now available to pre-order.

The SC17 brings a big display to the gaming party—17.3 inches with a 4K Ultra HD (3840x2160) resolution. That's a lot of pixels to push around, so EVGA paired an unlocked Intel Core i7-6820HK processor with a GeForce GTX 980M GPU with 8GB of GDDR5 memory.

EVGA packed this thing to the gills with 32GB of G.Skill DDR4-2666 memory and a 256GB M.2 NVMe PCI-E SSD flanked by a 1TB SATA 6Gbps HDD (7,200 RPM). There's also 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Realtek ALC 255 audio, 1080p webcam, GbE LAN, HDMI (x1) and mini DisplayPort (x2) outputs, two USB 3.0 Type A ports, a single USB 3.1 Type-C port, and a full-size white backlit keyboard.

There's a lot of emphasis here on overclocking, which is not something you typically see from companies when it comes to laptops. EVGA says the CPU is capable of hitting 3.8GHz and beyond, while also noting that the GPU has some OC'ing headroom.

"A FULL GUI BIOS with full mouse control gives you complete control over all aspects of performance, voltage and advanced settings right at your fingertips. Not to mention, a Clear CMOS button directly on the chassis, this is the world's first TRUE overclocking laptop," EVGA says.

EVGA SC17 OC Button

If you'd rather not thinker with settings, you can get a performance boost with a press of a button that puts the laptop in Superclock mode. According to EVGA's in-house benchmarking, the net result is about 600 additional points in 3DMark Fire Strike.

For a 17.3-inch gaming laptop, the dimensions seem rather reasonable at just 1.05 inches thick, albeit it packs 8.14 pounds of heft.

You can pre-order the EVGA SC17 now for $2,700.

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Razer Unveils Ripsaw PC and Console Game Capture Card for $180

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 09:59 AM PDT

Capture 1080p at 60 frames per second

Razer Ripsaw

One thing you can say about Razer is that it's not afraid to spread its wings into different product categories. We're reminded of that today with the introduction of the Razer Ripsaw, the peripheral maker's first game capture card.

The Ripsaw is an external box that plugs into your PC via USB 3.0. It's able to capture raw and uncompressed game footage at up to 1080p at 60 frames per second with "nearly zero latency." And as you're capturing game content, you can take advantage of the card's onboard audio and microphone inputs to add a snazzy secondary audio or commentary layer.

"Razer has been involved with the streaming scene since the beginning of game broadcasting, with top streamers using our hardware through the ages to get the unfair gaming advantage in front of audiences," said Min-Liang Tan, Razer CEO and co-founder. "We're excited to design a game capture card that meets the exacting needs of broadcasters and to also give newcomers a perfect tool to help them possibly become the next Syndicate or Pewdiepie."

Razer Ripsaw Back

The Ripsaw works out of the box with streaming software like Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) and XSplit. It also also comes with the necessary component cables to plug-and-play with game consoles, both past and present, including the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Razer Forge TV, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

To use the Ripsaw with a desktop PC, requirements call for an Intel Core i5-4430 or higher processor, GeForce GTX 660 or above graphics card, and at least 4GB of RAM (8GB is recommended). For laptops, the Ripsaw requires a Core i7-4810MQ or above CPU and GeForce GTX 870M or higher GPU.

Other specs:

  • Interface: USB 3.0 only
  • Video input: Digital – HDMI / Analog – Component
  • Audio input: Digital – HDMI / Analog – RCA L/R
  • Audio mix-in input: 3.5 mm mic-in / 3.5 mm aux-in
  • Video output: HDMI (pass-through from HDMI and Component input)
  • Max capture resolution: Uncompressed 1080p60
  • Supported resolutions: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 576i, 480p, 480i

The Razer Ripsaw is available now for $180.

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Will the FBI Share with Apple How It Hacked Terrorist's iPhone?​

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 09:34 AM PDT

Case closed (for now)

FBI Koozies

For now at least, the U.S. court system will not decide if Apple is obligated to help the Federal Bureau of Investigation thwart the security of an iPhone 5c handset that was once in possession of Syed Farook, one of the terrorists involved in the deadly San Bernardino shooting. That's because the FBI managed to pluck the contents of the confiscated iPhone with the help of a third-party and subsequently dropped its suit, potentially postponing what might have been a landmark court decision.

If you haven't been following the fiasco, the FBI convinced a court to order Apple to provide "reasonable technical assistance" with breaking into Farook's iPhone. What the FBI specifically wanted help with was bypassing the security measure that would permanently wipe the contents of the iPhone after 10 failed passcode attempts, and to remove the delay between passcode guesses. That would have allowed the FBI to brute-force guess the passcode.

Apple refused to comply and filed a motion to reverse the court order. From Apple's point of view, the FBI was basically asking it to build a backdoor into the iPhone. Apple's fear was that such a thing could fall into the wrong hands and compromise the security of hundreds of millions of iPhones. Tim Cook and the gang also opposed the precedent it would sent, as the FBI and other law enforcement agencies would then be able to force Apple (and other companies) to break the security of devices in other cases.

The two sides seemingly refused to budge until the FBI said it heard from a third-party that it might be able to break into the iPhone without Apple's help. The FBI then filed for a delay the day before the case was to be heard. A week later, the FBI dropped its suit altogether, saying it got what it needed and no longer required Apple's assistance.

How did the FBI and its third-party partner do it? That hasn't been disclosed, and according to The Guardian, government officials have classified the secret method.

If the tactic worked as the FBI claims, it sets up an interesting scenario in which Apple would want to know what vulnerability it exploited. The FBI would likely be hesitant to share that information with Apple, knowing that the Cupertino outfit would take steps to improve security and address the vulnerability.

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Corsair's M65 Gaming Mouse Goes 'Pro' with 12,000 DPI Sensor

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:16 AM PDT

An ultra-sensitive rodent

Corsair M65 Pro RGB Top

Do gamers really benefit from mice with ultra-high DPI sensors? Corsair seems to think so, and so today it unveiled an upgraded version of its M65 rodent, the new M65 Pro RGB.

The big upgrade here is the inclusion of a 12,000 DPI optical sensor that "provides pixel-precise tracking." Combined with Corsair's surface calibration tuning utility, the peripheral maker considers the M65 Pro RGB a "competition-grade FPS gaming mouse with the technology you need to win."

Outside of the high DPI sensor, the M65 Pro RGB boasts an aircraft-grade aluminum structure that help keeps it both lightweight (115 grams) and durable. If you prefer a heavier rodent, there's a three-point weight system to play with—you can add up to 20.5 grams of heft and/or change the center of gravity.

Corsair M65 Pro RGB Weights

The M65 Pro RGB sports eight programmable buttons, including a high-mass scroll wheel with a rubberized exterior wrapped around a metallic core, and a dedicated sniper button, which is essentially an on-the-fly DPI switch.

Other features include Omron switches rated for 20 million clicks, macro support, and a three-zone LED lighting system.

Corsair's M65 Pro RGB will be available next month for $60 MSRP in white and black color options.

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Rig of the Month: Wooden PC

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 12:00 AM PDT

MMORPG News

MMORPG News


Destiny: New Gear to be Featured in Tomorrow's Live Stream

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 10:29 AM PDT

Destiny players have a lot to look forward to with the deployment of the April 12th update. To show off some of the great new gear coming in the patch, the Destiny team will be on hand for a live stream event on March 30th at 11:00 am Pacific / 2:00 pm Eastern in the Bungie Twitch.tv channel.

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward: What to Expect in Patch 3.25 and Beyond

Posted: 27 Mar 2016 05:18 PM PDT

The Latest Letter to the Producer Live was a trove of information for feature updates in the coming patches. Let's have a look!

Fallout 4: Survival in the Commonwealth Arrives for Testing

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 09:09 AM PDT

Fallout 4's Survival Mode is ready and waiting for the strong of heart. As of today, Survival Mode and its newly overhauled features is available for PC players via Steam, with the console version headed into game next month.

Wild Terra: Free Test Week Begins

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:41 AM PDT

If you've been wondering what Wild Terra is all about, today's your lucky day. Beginning today, Tuesday, March 29th and running through Tuesday, April 5th, everyone is invited to download and install Wild Terra and later to jump into the game to see the new features and improvements.

General: Nights of Azure RPG Launches for PlayStation 4

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:13 AM PDT

Koei Tecmo America has announced that its brand new RPG IP, Nights of Azure (Yoru no Nai Kuni in Japan), has officially launched for PlayStation 4. Nights of Azure has been developed by the same team behind the Atelier series, Gust. To celebrate the launch day milestone, a new trailer has been released.

Orcs Must Die: Unchained: Open Beta Kicks Off

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 08:10 AM PDT

Gameforge and Robot Entertainment invite anyone interested to learn more about Orcs Must Die! Unchained to check out the open beta that has now officially kicked off. There are no restrictions, players can war against other players in Siege mode or take on a cooperative Survival mode with friends.

Crowfall: Bring On Siege Perilous!

Posted: 27 Mar 2016 05:12 PM PDT

It feels like it's been ages! In reality it was only a couple of weeks but since a lot of things happened with Crowfall, and since a couple of weeks is roughly 300 years in internet time I can't help but feel a bit behind on the curve. Maybe it's all the food and booze from the spring rebirth festival but my head is in a fog. Let's take a look at what I've missed over the last couple of weeks and see if we can't clear up some that.

Black Desert Online: Mediah Expansion to be Released as Early as March 30th

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 05:21 AM PDT

Black Desert Online will be expanding as early as March 30th. Called the Mediah update, the content will see the game world expand by 30%, include a thousand new quests, new guild missions, new 40v40 skirmishes, new weapons, alchemy modes, new weapons and more powerful armor sets to name but a few.

Tree of Savior: Founders' Server Opens, First Patch Applied

Posted: 29 Mar 2016 05:02 AM PDT

The Tree of Savior site has been updated with notification that the Founders' Server is now open for business. Players who pre-purchased a founders' pack can now check out the game and the latest additions contained in the first patch.

Ragnarok Online II: Warpportal Hires Team to Revitalize Development

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 04:17 PM PDT

Warpportal has placed an announcement on its forum to announce that it has taken over development of Ragnarok Online II. Warpportal is the North American publisher of Gravity Interactive games. A new team, however, has been hired to take over the development from Gravity and will be based in North America.

Paladins: Champions of the Realm: Ying the Blossom Entering the Fray Soon

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 03:55 PM PDT

Hi-Rez is providing Paladins players with a first look at Ying the Blossom, a new hero set to enter the game in the near future. You can check out her video below and let us know how you believe she will function in Paladins. Seems mage-ish don't you think?

DC Universe Online: GU 59 Arrives on Test Server with Expanded Loot Picker

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 03:51 PM PDT

All DC Universe Online players are invited to head to the game's test server to check out the forthcoming GU 59 that features "an expansion of the Loot Picker to all On Duty Content". Essentially the Loot Choice UI will be made available to earlier tiers so that solos, duos, alerts and raids have it available.

Shroud of the Avatar: Release 28 - Hard Work-Work

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 06:12 AM PDT

After missing last month's update, Red Thomas double-timed it up to Austin to find out what he missed, and what to expect in the 28th Release for Shroud of the Avatar.

Atlas Reactor: Open Alpha Event Kicks Off on Thursday

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 11:06 AM PDT

Trion Worlds is reminding potential players to check out Atlas Reactor this Thursday, March 31st during a special open alpha event. Game servers will open at 2:00 pm Pacific / 5:00 pm Eastern and everyone's invited. You can get signed up on the Atlas Reactor site.

General: Hands On with the ARPG Stories: Path of Destinies

Posted: 27 Mar 2016 02:57 PM PDT

This past week at GDC we got to see a lot of games. Many stand out, but one of our favorite things is finding a solid independent game and bringing it to your attention as players. For an action RPG, Stories: Path of Destinies gave us a great run through and had a lot of fun elements for people to enjoy. With the coming of a lot of RPG over the next few months this one shines as a great game for hardcore and casual players alike.

WildStar: Destination Arcterra Coming March 30th

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:39 AM PDT

WildStar players will have a large new zone to check out come Wednesday, March 30th and the arrival of the Destination Arcterra content expansion. Players will be facing off against a frozen tundra packed with underground caves, frozen ruins and icy enemies. Check out the teaser trailer below and let us know what you think!

EVE: Valkyrie: Launch Day Arrives with New Trailer

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:35 AM PDT

Now that Oculus Rift has hit launch day, so have a number of titles that have been specifically developed for the VR headset, among them EVE: Valkyrie. To celebrate the big day, CCP has put out a new Valkyrie trailer. Check it out!

General: Active Worlds - A Nearly Abandoned Digital World

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 10:00 AM PDT

What happens when an MMO dies but no one turns the lights off? Youtube personality 'vinesauce' decided to find out during a recent live stream event attended by over 6,000 viewers. Entering the mid-90s MMO "Active Worlds", vinesauce found the place to be, as Kotaku put it, a "digital graveyard" but for the lone exception of a single other player "Hitomi Fujiko".

Escape from Tarkov: First Alpha Live Stream on April 2nd

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 09:44 AM PDT

Dying to get a look at Escape from Tarkov? If so, April 2nd is your lucky day as the team will be taking to the EoT Twitch.tv channel to spend ninety minutes streaming the alpha version of the game. Project Lead Nikita Buyanov and Alexander Kovalchuk will be hosting the event on April 2nd at 11:00 am Pacific / 2:00 pm Eastern.

Black Desert Online: Could Open World Dungeons Work?

Posted: 27 Mar 2016 03:42 PM PDT

I remember when playing Dark Age of Camelot that one of my favorite 'dungeons', Spindelhalla, was a non-instanced location set in the open game world. As a classic dungeon alongside other locations such as Nisse's Lair or Darkness Falls it demonstrated that there isn't always a need to instance a location in order for it to be fun and functional.

Battleborn: Benedict Featured in Latest Let's Play Video

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:56 AM PDT

Gearbox Software is ready to introduce the newest hero in the Battleborn line up. This time, Benedict takes front and center with a description of his back story as well as seeing how he works in action.

Skyforge: Reapers of Death Invasion Now Live

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:52 AM PDT

Skyforge players with access to their Divine Forms are invited to check out the Reapers of Death invasion that is now live in game. Players can send out pair of Adepts on two special missions that kick off every eight hours, one rewarding Gifts and Faith Points, the other Victor's Medals which allow the purchase of special items in the Invasion section of the marketplace.

ARK: Survival Evolved: Two New Cave Dungeons + Easter Event Added

Posted: 28 Mar 2016 08:45 AM PDT

ARK: Survival Evolved has grown again with the addition of two new "cave-dungeons", Swamp and Snow Caves. These dungeons are for higher level survivors, feature tough battles, high-end loot and clues about the origin of ARK.

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