General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Samsung's Love Affair with Styli Continues with Series 5 and Series 7 Windows 8 Slates

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 06:26 PM PDT

With the amount of buzz that surrounded the Galaxy Note 2 in the lead up to IFA 2012, Samsung was assured of a lion's share of the IFA spotlight. Now that the event is finally underway, the company is making sure it makes hay while that spotlight shines by using the event to showcase a large number of upcoming devices besides the gigantism-stricken smartphone.

Among the many new Samsung products unveiled at IFA are a couple of x86-powered Windows 8 slates: the Series 5 and Series 7 (aka the ATIV Smart PC and ATIV Smart PC Pro, respectively). Both slates sport 11.6-inch displays and look virtually identical. In fact, the similarities don't end there, as both come with a stylus (S-Pen) and a detachable QWERTY keyboard dock.

But that's about as far as their similarities go. The former, with its 1366×768 display, Intel Atom Z2760 chip, 2GB RAM and 64GB solid-state storage, is no match for the Series 7, which packs a 1080p display, Core i5-3317U processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB SSD. According to Sammy, the Series 5 and Series 7 Slates will be available starting October 26 for $749 ($649 without the keyboard dock) and $1,199, respectively.

"With the introduction of our new Slate PCs, we are providing customers with greater choice while maintaining the power of a traditional PC," said Todd Bouman, vice president of marketing at Samsung's Enterprise Business Division, in a press release. "We created our Slate PCs with a focus on beautiful design, powerful performance and ease of use, attributes that our customers have come to expect in their Samsung computing experience. Our mobile PC business has grown significantly over the past year, which is a testament to our ability to meet customer needs in this space, and we expect strong growth to continue with our new Slate PCs."

Toshiba Trots Out U925t Convertible Tablet with Intel Core i5 CPU

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 02:33 PM PDT

IFA Berlin is in full swing and we're starting to see a number of Windows 8 product announcements emerge. One of them is Toshiba's Satellite U925t convertible tablet, or "tablet meets Ultrabook," as the company describes it. Sleek and slim, the Satellite U925t looks every bit a tablet, but a slide out QWERTY keyboard quickly transforms it into a makeshift Ultrabook with some pretty impressive hardware inside.

For starters, the U925t is rocking a 3rd generation Intel Core i5 processor (Ivy Bridge) with Intel HD 4000 graphics. The CPU is flanked by a 128GB solid state drive and an unspecified amount of DDR3-1600 memory, providing a solid foundation for the 12.5-inch display to work with. Speaking of the capacitive touchscreen display, it's of the IPS variety and is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass.

Complimentary features include 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) technology, HDMI output, two USB 3.0 ports (one with Sleep & Charge), front-facing HD webcam, 3MP rear-facing camera with auto-focus, media card reader, and assortment of sensors (ambient light, 3D acceleration, 3-axis gyroscope, and 3-axis magnetometer).

The slide-out keyboard sports an LED backlight and ClickPad with Windows 8 gesture support. There's no numpad, but there are arrow keys and, from what we can tell, media keys.

Toshiba isn't ready to reveal pricing info just yet, but as you might have guessed, the U925t will go on sale October 26, the same day Windows 8 hits the streets.

Image Credit: Toshiba

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Surprise! Samsung Announces First Windows 8 Phone, Ativ S

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 01:04 PM PDT

Samsung isn't letting a little thing like losing a billion dollar verdict to rival Apple disrupt its mojo. Rather than sit around and feel sorry for itself, Samsung today surprised everyone by announcing the Ativ S, the world's first Windows 8 smartphone, edging in front of Nokia and every other Microsoft partner that's planning to launch devices of their own. Ativ S is one of a handful of devices in Samsung's newly branded Ativ Windows 8 product line.

Starting with the phone, Ativ S is a 4.8-inch device with a 1280x720 Super AMOLED display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, 8.7mm frame, brushed aluminum chassis, microSD card slot, 8MP rear-facing camera, 1.9MP front-facing camera, and of course Windows Phone 8 software, according to specs posted on Microsoft's Windows Phone blog.

"Today at IFA in Berlin, Samsung lifted the curtain on its first Windows Phone 8 device, the Ativ S. This is just the first in a big lineup of new hardware that's coming with Windows Phone 8, but it's a seriously impressive opening salvo," Microsoft said. "Samsung built the Ativ S with the latest and greatest technology, especially for anyone who want a superphone that's equal parts powerhouse and head turner."

Microsoft's blog post gushes with enthusiasm, as one would expect, but looking at the spec sheet and pics, some of it seems warranted.

In addition to the Ativ S, Samsung also announced the Ativ Smart PC Pro (convertible tablet/notebook) with 11.6-inch display, and Ativ Tab, which is Samsung's Windows RT tablet.

Image Credit: Samsung via GSMArena

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Archos Gambles on Dedicated Consoles with 7-inch Android Powered GamePad

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:31 PM PDT

Handheld consoles don't seem to be the hot commodities that they used to be back before everyone owned smartphones, but don't tell Archos there isn't a market for such a thing. Not only does Archos believe there is, the company is betting big on it by launching its Android-powered 'GamePad' device with a 7-inch capacitive display and physical gaming control buttons and analog sticks.

The idea is to deliver a full tablet and gaming experience in a single device, Archos says. Underneath the hood is a dual-core processor running at 1.5GHz and a Mali 400 MP quad-core GPU for pixel pushing power. The GamePad has automatic game recognition and mapping tools to ensure control compatibility with every advanced Android game, the company claims.

"When Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, was first released they included game controller support within the framework and that is when we decided to build the GamePad," says Henri Crohas (PDF), Archos founder and CEO. "Thanks to the mapping and automatic game recognition systems included on the GamePad, we already have over a thousand android games compatible with the Archos GamePad's physical controls, including back catalog titles that originally didn't include physical controls."

The GamePad will feature Wi-Fi connectivity and full access to the Google Play store when it launches in October. Pricing hasn't been revealed, other than saying it will cost "less than 150€" (~US$188).

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FBI Nabs Second Suspected LulzSec Hacker on U.S. Soil

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:24 AM PDT

Though it's been relatively quiet lately, the high profile hacking organization known as Lulz Security (LulzSec) spent much of last summer stirring up trouble on the Internet, often times at the expense of innocent users who happened to be customers of whichever organization the cyber scoundrels were targeting. The FBI hasn't forgotten about all the illegal activity that took place, and related to the infamous Sony breach, federal authorities arrested a second suspected LulzSec member in the U.S.

Raynaldo Rivera, a 20-year-old out of Tempe, Arizona, turned himself in to authorities just shy of a week after a federal grand jury in Los Angelese indicted him on charges of conspiracy and unauthorized impairment of a protected computer, Reuters reports.

According to the indictment, Rivera took part in the breach by helping to post confidential information onto LulzSec's website, and then drew attention to the hack by announcing it on Twitter. He's the only one named in the indictment, though the FBI says one of his co-conspirators includes Cody Kretsinger, a confessed LulzSec member who previously pleaded guilty in April to charges that arose form the Sony attack.

LulzSec hackers are quickly finding out that when facing heat, their cohorts are apt to turn on them. Reuters says that court documents revealed in March indicate that Hector Monsegur (Sabu), leader of the Anonymous hacking group, provided information to the FBI when pleading guilty to hacking related charges.

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Windows 8 Vivo Tab and Vivo Tab RT Tablets from Asus Surface at IFA

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:28 AM PDT

We don't know if Acer is still sulking in the corner over having to compete with Microsoft in the Windows 8 tablet arena, but one company that isn't is Asus. Instead, Asus today unveiled its Viva Tab and Viva Tab RT tablets (formerly known as as Asus Tablet 810 and 600, respectively). Both models are dual-purpose tablets built to run Windows 8/RT with a detachable QWERTY keyboard dock.

The Vivo Tab features a next generation Atom processor (model unspecified), 2GB of RAM, 64GB internal storage (eMMC, or embedded multimedia card), and an 11.6-inch Super IPS+ display with a 1366x768 resolution, which unfortunately falls well short of the Retina Display found on Apple's third generation iPad device. It also has an 8MP rear-facing camera with autofocus and LED flash, 2MP front-facing camera for video chat, built-in NFC sensor, and 10-point multi-touch support, all packed in a frame that's 8.7mm thin and weighing 675g.

On the Windows RT side, the Vivo Tab RT is slightly smaller (10.1-inch Super IPS+ display, also with a 1366x768 resolution), thinner (8.3mm) and lighter (520g). It's built around Nvidia's ARM-based Tegra 3 quad-core processor and has 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (eMMC), and the same cameras and NFC support as the Vivo Tab.

Asus said pricing and availability will vary by country. We suspect these will launch at or around the same time as Windows 8 on October 26.

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AMD Talks Up 3rd Generation Bulldozer Core Called Steamroller, Promises Better Branch Prediction

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 07:15 AM PDT

AMD's newly appointed CTO Mark Papermaster provided the public with its first glimpse of its upcoming Steamroller x86 CPU core. Steamroller represents the third generation of AMD's Bulldozer architecture, succeeding Piledriver (second generation) with improved parallelism, increased performance, and more instruction cache, which will lead to 30 percent fewer cache misses and a 20 percent reduction in mistaken branch predictions.

If you recall, Piledriver was more about power efficiency than it was improving performance. Steamroller, while based on the same architecture, includes several tweaks to address the latter, including larger L1 cache. This time around, AMD is doing away with the shared fetch and decode strategy inherent in Bulldozer, which limited the architecture to being able to decode just four instructions per processor, and introduces a dedicated decode for each integer pipe. This is a big deal, as Bulldozer topped out at 16 decodes in a four module, eight-core CPU, whereas Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge both boast 4 instructions per core, adding up to 32 decodes per eight-core CPU.

The changes Streamroller brings to the CPU scene probably won't be enough to compete with Ivy Bridge, but it's a definite step in the right direction (on paper, anyway). AMD says Steamroller will ship in 2013. In the meantime, HotHardware and Anandtech both have posted in-depth breakdowns of the platform with a handful of AMD slides to digest.

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Motorola Files Patent Suit to Ban Apple Devices in U.S.; Reaches Licensing Deal in Germany

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 06:34 AM PDT

Just because Apple scored a sweeping victory against Samsung in its patent trial in the U.S., which led to the nine panel jury awarding the Cupertino company more than a billion dollars in damages, it doesn't mean the whole matter of Android versus iOS is settled. Far from it, in fact. Days before the verdict was reached, Google's recently acquired Motorola Mobility division filed a patent suit of its own against Apple, one in which it will try to ban Apple imports in the U.S. Interestingly, Apple appears willing to go to trial, especially with the Samsung case under its belt, but in Germany, the company caved and reached a licensing deal with Motorola.

Why the change in strategy? No one outside of Apple's ranks knows for sure, but based on FOSS Patents founder Florian Mueller's analysis of the situation, there are a couple of reasons. First is the fact that it's unclear when the German license agreement came into being. Mueller says German courts don't make documents available, so this could be an older deal that's just now being discovered.

Secondly, Mueller points out that in Germany, "finding of infringement automatically results in an injunction, the only exception being standard-essential patents." It's being reported that Motorola's beef is, in fact, with standard-essential patents, and that the only thing Apple didn't agree on was Motorola's royalty rate.

"Under the agreement, Apple is now licensed to use some if not all of Motorola's standard-essential patents in Germany, though the parties have not yet agreed on a FRAND royalty rate, which will ultimately have to be set by German courts unless they agree on a rate prior to its judicial determination," Mueller explains. "This is a very significant development because it means that Motorola Mobility will have to rely on non-standard-essential patents in its efforts to gain leverage over Apple."

By reaching an agreement with Motorola, Apple ensures that the only thing Motorola can do now (in Germany) is go after a high royalty rate, which is a far better scenario than fighting over non standard-essential patents and risking an immediate injunction.

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MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com

MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com


Samsung’s Love Affair with Styli Continues with Series 5 and Series 7 Windows 8 Slates

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 06:53 PM PDT

With the amount of buzz that surrounded the Galaxy Note 2 in the lead up to IFA 2012, Samsung was assured of a lion's share of the IFA spotlight. Now that the event is finally underway, the company is making … Continue reading

Toshiba Trots Out U925t Convertible Tablet with Intel Core i5 CPU

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT

IFA Berlin is in full swing and we’re starting to see a number of Windows 8 product announcements emerge. One of them is Toshiba’s Satellite U925t convertible tablet, or “tablet meets Ultrabook,” as the company describes it. Sleek and slim, … Continue reading

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Why I Play: EVE Online

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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Why I Play title image
Sci-fi MMO EVE Online is possibly the most polarising online game in existence. It has some of the genre's most loyal fans and spawns some of its biggest news stories, but most people just can't stand the user interface and gameplay. It's been called boring, overcomplicated, and a griefer's paradise, but even those who don't play it often still watch from the sidelines as each insane story of theft or corruption emerges from the sandbox. Most games can only keep my attention for a few months at a time, but somehow I've played EVE for over eight and a half years.

I've heard it said that EVE is a long-term commitment, a statement I find hard to argue with as at only 26 years old I've been playing EVE almost continuously for a third of my life. It's not just been a game to me; at times it's been a way of life, a refuge from stress, a way to stay in touch with friends, and even a place to learn skills that can apply to the real world. Thanks to Massively, my attachment to EVE has even grown from a hobby to a career in writing and games journalism. I've had numerous periods of low activity in EVE and even quit for months at a time, but something always brings me back to the world's biggest sci-fi sandbox.

In this article, I look back at what drew me to EVE initially, some of the unusual factors that have kept me playing EVE over the past eight years, and the reason I'm still motivated to subscribe to this day.

Continue reading Why I Play: EVE Online

MassivelyWhy I Play: EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Otherland's first beta weekend begins on August 31st

    Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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    The first beta weekend for Otherland begins on August 31st
    The few, the proud, the Otherland closed beta testers! Players interested in testing the upcoming free-to-play fantasy and sci-fi mixed MMORPG should keep an eye on their email; Gamigo has announced that the first closed beta test for Otherland will be happening this weekend. From August 31st until September 2nd, select accounts will be given access to the beta.

    This first test weekend, however, will be kept relatively small. Otherland Product Manager Florian Hörpel stated, "A small, manageable group of accounts will be given access to the servers for the first closed-beta weekend. This is because we want to get a feel for the limits of the systems." Interested players who do not receive an invitation this time around shouldn't despair -- they will have the chance to join in future beta events. Sign-ups to participate are on the official site.

    [Source: Gamigo press release]

    MassivelyOtherland's first beta weekend begins on August 31st originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Guild Wars 2 accounts already prey to phishing, hack attempts

      Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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      Guild Wars 2 accounts already prey to phishing, hack attempts
      With a game as large as Guild Wars 2, it's inevitable that the unscrupulous would try to compromise accounts. Perhaps the only unexpected part was how quickly the hacking attempts started -- even before launch players were receiving notifications of these attempts. And the problem appears to be escalating as more players are affected.

      Along with many others, multiple Massively staff received an email (or two) stating that someone had requested a password change, and it definitely wasn't them. In the case of receiving this notification, do as ArenaNet instructs in the email: Nothing. Some folks are also reporting phishing attempts to obtain account information. Never reply to such email, and remember that ArenaNet will never ask for your password.

      Players can take steps to increase their account security. Since the log-in name is required to be an email address, use an email dedicated to only the GW2 game account and nothing else. Also, make sure you use a unique (and hard to guess) password and never share it.

      MassivelyGuild Wars 2 accounts already prey to phishing, hack attempts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Free Realms showing off Sunstone Valley tomorrow

        Posted: 29 Aug 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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        Free Realms plans Sunstone Valley webcast
        Two months ago, SOE gave players their first look at the Free Realms' new Sunstone Valley zone. But there's always a difference between eyeballing static pictures and seeing a game in action, isn't there? That's why the team is excited to give players a video tour tomorrow of this upcoming area.

        Starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, August 30th, Free Realms developers will broadcast Sunstone Valley's features on Twitch TV. You'll need to be prompt, as the webcast is only expected to take 15 minutes.

        Sunstone Valley is a rocky canyon that's home to a clan of uppity dwarves, a place called Wheelie Pete's, and the awesome Rumbledome.

        MassivelyFree Realms showing off Sunstone Valley tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: What's one great thing from every MMO you've played?

        Posted: 29 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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        The Daily Grind List one great thing from every MMO you've played
        In my experience, most projects have at least one redeeming factor to it. Maybe it's not enough to carry the rest of the project's bloated corpse of fail, but it's still there. It can be an idea, a character, a story twist, a name, a setting, or something else.

        Similarly, with MMOs, I believe that there's at least one great thing in each game. Whether you hated it on sight, fell in love with it, grew to dislike it, or have regularly bashed it in your favorite MMO site's comment sections, if you're honest, you should be able to pinpoint that one thing.

        Today, I propose an interesting exercise. List all of the MMOs that you have played to any decent length (i.e., more than a one-hour trial), and then share with us one great thing from that game. Was it the graphics, the community, a cool gameplay feature, or another aspect entirely? If you're honest -- and push down that sarcasm that's threatening to bubble up -- I bet you can fill out this list completely. Get to it!

        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: What's one great thing from every MMO you've played? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Jukebox Heroes Extra: An interview with Inon Zur

          Posted: 28 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT

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          Jukebox Heroes Extra An interview with Inon Zur
          Did you grow up watching Power Rangers? I didn't, but then again, I was slightly over the age demographic there. But it tickles me pink (ranger) that the guy who got his start doing background music for one of the cheesiest shows of all time ended up scoring many of the greatest video games of all time.

          Israeli-born Inon Zur was hard at work in the film, TV, and video game industry in the '90s, but it wasn't until 2002's Icewind Dale II that his music and fame started to climb to a whole different level. Zur started winning awards left and right for his work on Dragon Age, Fallout 3, Prince of Persia, and Men of Valor, among other titles.

          MMO players might not know it, Zur's deft hand is all over the place. He's composed several EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions, the now-defunct Exteel, last year's RIFT and most recently, TERA. As a driving force behind MMO music, Inon Zur has a unique perspective on what makes for a great audio experience.

          Want to hear more? Us too. We have a great interview with Zur as well as a few select pieces of his works after the jump.

          Continue reading Jukebox Heroes Extra: An interview with Inon Zur

          MassivelyJukebox Heroes Extra: An interview with Inon Zur originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Massively Exclusive: A preview of Champions Online's newest hero and new vehicles

            Posted: 28 Aug 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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            The darkly blueshifted knight.
            You're kind of a big deal in Champions Online. No, don't be modest. You've beaten up tons of criminals, arrested countless villains, and schooled a variety of ne'er-do-wells. So why are you still stuck walking from one mission to the next like some kind of animal? You need the very latest in personal transportation, a symbol of your power, prestige, and love of engineering. In short, you need a totally sweet ride.

            It's no secret that the game is adding vehicles, but we have a first look at some of this hardware as well as the new hero Nighthawk. Vehicles are kind of Nighthawk's bag because he's also kind of a big deal, so the two previews go together like peanut butter and a spoon to hold your peanut butter. Check out the trailer just past the break, and keep your eyes peeled for more information about how you can get your own lowrider of justice in the game.

            [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]

            Continue reading Massively Exclusive: A preview of Champions Online's newest hero and new vehicles

            MassivelyMassively Exclusive: A preview of Champions Online's newest hero and new vehicles originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Massively Speaking Episode 214: Head start

              Posted: 28 Aug 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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              Massively Speaking Episode 214 Head start
              It's been a long time coming for MMO fans, this day. Guild Wars 2's launch isn't just a special occasion in the community; it's the rebirth of civilization itself. It will usher in a golden era of peace, prosperity, and jumping. Bree and Justin are weeping with joy, their tears glistening with the hope of a bright future of gaming. Other games will fall at ArenaNet's feet in tribute, begging for mere permission to continue living.

              Just warning you: We might be talking a bit about GW2 today. It is... unavoidable.

              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:
              [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
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              [MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
              Listen here on the page:



              Read below the cut for the full show notes.

              Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 214: Head start

              MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 214: Head start originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                World of Warcraft releases pre-expansion patch

                Posted: 28 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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                World of Warcraft releases preexpansion patch
                If palling around with lettuce people and giant Vikings isn't your thing today, may we interest you in the panda express lane? World of Warcraft is paving the way for next month's Mists of Pandaria with today's 5.0.4 patch, an update that includes several new features that are part of the expansion rollout.

                While playable Pandaren and Monks aren't available until September 25th, there's plenty to chew on with patch 5.0.4. Players will experience the massive talent revamp that eliminates the old talent trees entirely, a spellbook overhaul, AoE looting, cross-realm zones, UI changes, significant currency conversions, and account-wide achievements, mounts, and pets.

                The patch will be up following extended maintenance, and our sister site WoW Insider has been hard at work preparing a massive Mists of Pandaria guide for current and returning Azerothians.

                MassivelyWorld of Warcraft releases pre-expansion patch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Firefall reveals founder's packages, special deals available at PAX

                Posted: 28 Aug 2012 03:30 PM PDT

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                firefall founders packages
                Earlier today Red 5 Studios posted a portion of its Firefall monetization model on the game's official website. While we've heard a lot about combat revamps and various other gameplay details in recent weeks, one thing we've never really known is how the sci-fi shooter will sell itself.

                This week's PAX convention will see the studio begin selling its founder's packages, complete with special attendee discounts. The packages start at $15 and offer an assortment of "convenience and cosmetic items." Check out the Firefall website for further details, and don't forget to watch the founder's package video after the jump.

                Continue reading Firefall reveals founder's packages, special deals available at PAX

                MassivelyFirefall reveals founder's packages, special deals available at PAX originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Playnomics puts gamers into eight categories

                Posted: 28 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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                Playnomics puts gamers into eight categories
                Forget the Bartle Test -- there's a whole new chart for player behavior. Playnomics, a predicative gaming analytics company, has crunched a lot of numbers to neatly segment players into eight categories depending on the player's motivation and behavior.

                Combining behavioral science and in-game data, the company created a neat infographic that attempts to sell you on the concept of these eight categories, which uses the axes of intuitive/diligent, social/solus, and proactive/reactive. The end result of these fundamental types is composed of scientists, politicians, collectivists, soloists, habitualists, socialites, strategists, and competitors.

                When applied to the population of the UK, the study showed that strategists (32%) and politicians (22%) are dominant, while soloists (5%) and habitualists (5%) are the minority.

                MassivelyPlaynomics puts gamers into eight categories originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                RaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business

                Posted: 28 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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                RaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business
                Perfect World is cranking up the PR machine leading into this weekend's Penny Arcade Expo. While we got a look at RaiderZ's Broken Mast zone yesterday, today we're treated to a visit to Ingen Free Port.

                Ingen Free Port is supposedly a "safe harbor" for visitors, offering an array of services and vendors to heroes looking for a respite from non-stop combat. Senior Producer Mark Hill says that it's important for the company to show the quieter side of the game world: "The kingdom of Rendel and its many bustling cities, like Ingen Free Port, is key to bringing the world of RaiderZ truly to life."

                Perfect World will be promoting RaiderZ at PAX Prime, but you don't have to wait until then to see Ingen Free Port. We've got the full flythrough after the jump.

                [Source: Perfect World press release]

                Continue reading RaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business

                MassivelyRaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Jukebox Heroes: Guild Wars Prophecies

                  Posted: 28 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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                  Jukebox Heroes Guild Wars Prophecies
                  What's that, you say? A cheap tie-in, you say? Oh, pish posh. It just so happens that I appreciate the rich oeuvre of Jeremy Soule, and the alignment of the planets is...

                  OK, it's a cheap tie-in. I can't help it; Guild Wars has been on my mind this past week, and since the full Guild Wars 2 soundtrack has yet to ship for DirectSong, this will do. Besides, as we well know, music doesn't age at the same pace as games. So why not hit up a soundtrack for the first Guild Wars while we dive into the sequel?

                  At the risk of understatement, I think it's safe to say Jeremy Soule is somewhat well-known in the field of gaming. As a composer, he's tackled projects like Knights of the Old Republic, Icewind Dale, and the last three Elder Scrolls titles. In the Guild Wars community, he is the voice of the musical soul of the game.

                  His compositions are the stuff of heaven: full, ethereal, dreamy. It's almost impossible to separate Soule's work on Guild Wars: Prophecies from the game, especially for those who played Prophecies extensively since its 2005 release. I'll be eager to digest and report on his newest work when it arrives, but until then, let's sample the highlights of his first foray into Tyria.

                  Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Guild Wars Prophecies

                  MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Guild Wars Prophecies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Knight Age open beta launches today

                    Posted: 28 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                    Knight Age Open Beta Launches Today
                    The long-awaited event is upon us! People have been looking forward to this day for so long, and all that waiting will now pay off: Knight Age enters open beta testing today!

                    Players entering the OBT will be able to keep their characters, levels, items, and all that jazz for launch, so your efforts won't be wasted. Unlock mounts -- including a new special duck mount -- and strike fear into the hearts of your foes as you charge into battle. Raise pets from tiny pupae into lean, mean, fighting machines. Experiment by fusing two pupae to create a new pet that combines the strengths of both parents. Engage in large-scale PvP battles to fight for the glory of wielding Excalibur, or fight in mounted battles against other guilds. Seize the day.

                    Visit Knight Age's official site to sign up and hit up the game's Facebook page to get in the know.

                    [Source: Joymax press release]

                    MassivelyKnight Age open beta launches today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      A critical look at Guild Wars 2

                      Posted: 28 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                      Screenshot -- Guild Wars 2
                      Well, it's finally official: ArenaNet's golden child, Guild Wars 2, has launched, and I'm sure thousands upon thousands of you are too busy playing it to even read this article. On the other hand, it's an MMO launch, so a good chunk of you are bound to be locked out of the servers, unable to launch the client, or any number of other things, and if that's the case, then boy do I have an article for you. But first, allow me to don my flame retardant suit.

                      In the hopes of lowering the deluge of angry emails I'm about to get, let me preface everything by saying this: Guild Wars 2 is a good game -- a great game, even. In fact, I love it. But every time I've had the audacity to mention anything even remotely critical about the title in in-game chat (my first mistake), I've been immediately pounced upon by rabid fans who seem to think that anyone who feels that the game could be better in some regard is a heretic who should just quit the game. So I'm going to do what any rational gamer with a death wish would: take a critical look at Guild Wars 2.

                      Continue reading A critical look at Guild Wars 2

                      MassivelyA critical look at Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        ArenaNet offers clarification on Guild Wars 2 bans

                        Posted: 28 Aug 2012 10:30 AM PDT

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                        Clarification on being banned from GW2
                        With so many players descending on Guild Wars 2, it is understandable that ArenaNet has taken a few swings with the banhammer over things like offensive names and inappropriate behavior. In order to clarify what names and behavior are specifically targeted for action, ArenaNet has posted an explanation of what's unacceptable. The post also includes the consequences for breaking the rules.

                        The company emphasizes that it will take action against racist names, hate speech, and unacceptable behavior. Accounts participating in a chat offense will be given a three-day suspension; players suspended for name offenses will be required to rename the offending characters. The company also assures players that anyone unsure of the reason behind his or her suspension can ask and the company will respond in detail.

                        MassivelyArenaNet offers clarification on Guild Wars 2 bans originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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