General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Raspberry Pi Gets Official "Turbo Mode"

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:59 PM PDT

Recently, researchers at the University of Southampton used 64 Raspberry Pi computers and Lego to build a dirt cheap supercomputer. They even published a step-by-step guide for making a Raspberry Pi supercomputer (PDF) for those interested in emulating their feat. But we understand that making supercomputer clusters isn't for everyone and that most Raspberry Pi owners would probably settle for something as unexciting as tweaking the config.txt file to overclock and overvolt its 700MHz ARM chip. Now, though, such people may have to look elsewhere for their kicks, as the Raspberry Pi Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the "Foundation") has effectively taken the fun out of overclocking the Pi by announcing an official "turbo mode" for the credit card-sized computer.

While overclocking the Raspberry Pi, which began shipping in April, has always been very easy, the Foundation has discouraged overvolting, lest it shorten the life of the SoC. That is no longer the case, though, as the Foundation now claims to fully understand "the impact of voltage and temperature on lifetime [of the SoC]." It has now announced a turbo mode for the Pi, "which dynamically enables overclock and overvolt under the control of a cpufreq driver, without affecting your warranty."

"You can now choose from one of five overclock presets in raspi-config, the highest of which runs the ARM at 1GHz," the Foundation announced Wednesday. "What does this mean? Comparing the new image with 1GHz turbo enabled, against the previous image at 700MHz, nbench reports 52% faster on integer, 64% faster on floating point and 55% faster on memory."

Apart from the turbo mode, the latest firmware packs a number of other improvements, including temperature and frequency widgets, out-of-box WiFi support, and improved analogue audio.

Dream Machine 2012: The Future Is Now

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 01:08 PM PDT

Dream Machine 2012 is the PC utopia we all long for

Conventional wisdom says that PC performance doesn't matter anymore. That's because the average consumer, the average gamer, and the average PC jockey can't tell the difference between a slow POS machine and a fast one. Well guess what, baby? That's a bunch of crap. 

dream machine guts

Each part was carefully selected for its ability to kick ass

The truth is, the average gamer can tell the difference between a slide show and 110fps. The average consumer knows that a five-minute boot isn't good and the average PC jockey really doesn't like to wait five hours to encode a video. It's not that they can't tell the difference, they've just resigned themselves to the changing personal computing landscape, buying into the malarkey that portability and "the cloud" trump speed and power.

Well, not us. As power users our aspirations for an ever-more-capable, barrier-busting desktop rig never falter. For you, for us, and for all the PC enthusiasts who still give a damn, we present a preview of the utopia we envision: Dream Machine 2012.

This rig is lovingly crafted to be our most elegant Dream Machine yet, without compromising the thing that matters most: performance. 

 

gaming pc

 

Category Make/Model URL Price
CPU Intel 3.1GHz Xeon E5-2687W www.intel.com $1,885
Motherboard Asus P9X79 WS www.asus.com/ $380
RAM

64GB Corsair Dominator

Platinum DRR3/2133

http://www.corsair.com $899
GPUs

2x EVGA Hydro Copper

Geforce GTX690

www.evga.com $2,400
SSDs 2x OCZ Vertex 4 512GB www.ocztechnology.com $1,198
HDDs 3x 4TB HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 www.hgst.com $1,587
Case Silverstone TJ11 www.silverstonetek.com $590
Paint Job Smooth Creations www.smoothcreationsonline.com $700
Keyboard Corsair Vengeance K90 http://www.corsair.com $129
Speakers Audioengine 5+ www.audioenginusea.com $399
Mouse Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Albino www.cyborggaming.com $99
PSU Corsair AX1200i http://www.corsair.com $350
Monitor 2x Dell U3011 www.dell.com $2,800
Cooling Various   $926
OS Windows 7 Professional  www.microsoft.com $140
Total Cost     $14,482

 

Intel 3.1GHz Xeon E5-2687W

intel

Eight is enough

Not to be disrespectful, but in some ways Sandy Bridge-E is a eunuch. After all, the Core i7-3960X is an eight-core CPU with two of the cores permanently switched off. The Xeon E5-2687W is full processor. All of the eight cores it was born with are ready and willing to work those threads for you. 

Such multicorism isn't new to this year's Dream Machine—we've had DMs with eight cores and even 12 cores before, but never have we done it with a single-socket machine. Still, our choice of processor wasn't without controversy. Intel has reversed policy by locking down overclocking features on its Xeon CPUs, so our E5 can't hit the clocks we would have hoped for. That gave us pause and made us consider running a Core i7-3960X instead, even if two of its cores are walled off. But our desire to see all eight cores run free won out—with the E5 we no longer have to wonder what the original Sandy Bridge-E would be like if Intel had left well enough alone. 

Asus P9X79 WS

Asus P9X79 WS

Workstation CPU, workstation motherboard

Obviously, our decision to go with LGA2011 and a workstation-class processor dictated the choice of dance partner. For that, we turned to Asus's P9X79 WS—a professional-class motherboard. It's not built for overclocking the way its Republic of Gamer siblings are, but that doesn't mean it can't hang. In fact, the P9X79 WS should do just fine with any unlocked i7 processor. The board features Intel LAN chips and for those who believe in GPU compute, the ability to run multiple cards. How many? The board is one of the few around that will support four-way SLI and CrossFireX in a standard ATX form factor.

Other professional touches include an internal USB port so you can plug in a USB dongle and a no-nonsense fit and finish. As with any performance-focused X79 board, it features eight DIMM slots capable of taking ECC and non-ECC RAM. One true test of a board design is how well it handles a full load of RAM with every DIMM slot loaded—the P9X79 WS says, "Bring it."

64GB of DDR3/2133 Corsair Dominator Platinum

64GB of DDR3 2133 Corsair Dominator

Half for a RAM disk, half for Win7 

With eight slots and quad-channel RAM support at our disposal, we decided to go for broke this year by maxing out the system RAM with 64GB of Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR3/2133. We did this not only because these modules looks pretty as hell, but also because we wanted to take advantage of lower RAM prices to run a large RAM disk. Not everyone needs a RAM disk, of course, but it's hard to argue with 32GB of storage that reads at 5,000MB/s.

2x 512GB OCZ Vertex 4 

OCZ Vertex 4

1TB of SSD storage, at last

SSDs have come a long way since 2009, when we used our first SSD in a Dream Machine build. That SATA 3Gb/s 256GB unit cost $700. Today, we can get a 512GB OCZ Vertex 4 for roughly $600. Not bad.

For DM2012 we wanted 1TB of storage, so we tapped two Vertex 4 drives in RAID 0. With the X79 PCH set to RAID 0 and a stripe size of 128KB, we saw about 800MB/s reads and 1,000MB/s writes. That's Dreamy.

3x HGST Ultrastar 7K4000 

HGST 7K4000

We'll never go hungry for space

With a 32GB RAM disk and 1TB of SSD storage, we were just getting started. Despite all the bellyaching you've heard about mechanical drives going away, they won't. Know why? We have way too much crap. So much so that we can actually use the 12TB of storage we're packing into Dream Machine 2012. This bounty was achieved painlessly with three 4TB HGST Ultrastar drives.  

 


 

2x EVGA Hydro Copper GeForce GTX 690

EVGA 690

The most powerful GPUs on the planet, on liquid

There's only one thing better than the most powerful graphics card on earth—two of them. And, yes, we did entertain the fantasy of four GTX 690 cards in octo-SLI but, sadly, the drivers don't exist. Normally, running dual-GPU cards comes with a compromise, but the power and thermal efficiency of the new Kepler architecture means our quad-SLI setup is damn near the same as running four GeForce GTX 680 cards. We'll leave you for now with that tantalizing thought. To get the full benchmark details, click here

Silverstone TJ11

Silverstone TJ11

Designed for modding and painting

Consumer desktops may be getting smaller, but our Dream Machine seems to be getting bigger. The Silverstone TJ11 is so big, in some states you have to get a zoning variance to bring it home. It's so big, it has a power switch on top and bottom for those who can't reach that high. Even better, the case is designed with modding in mind. Instead of pop rivets and glued-on plastic panels, the aluminum case is screwed together, allowing panels to be removed for easy modding or, in our case, painting. The modularity of the case allowed us to pull the hard drive racks normally stowed away inside the bottom—to make room for a massive 560mm water‑cooling radiator. 

All Dolled Up: No Mere Paint Job

Dream Machine

  Smooth Creations

When we say that www.smoothcreationsonline.com is probably the best paint shooter in the business, we say it having seen custom-painted high-end PCs from just about every boutique company in the country. Yeah, sure, invariably we'll get an email from someone saying the paint ain't that good: "Hell, I can do better in my garage with a rattle can of Rust-Oleum." From our own experience of being shade-tree case painters, we say, "Fat chance, Bubba!" You can't touch these paint jobs. Smooth will shoot the outside of a case for a mere $300, and will do both inside and out for $700. In our book, that's a bargain for a case that makes a serious style statement.

Audioengine A5+ 

Audioengine A5+

Subwoofer shmubwoofer

We've long been fans of Audioengine's A5 speakers, and the A5+ builds on that heritage with a few subtle improvements that make them even better. 

 


 

Custom Liquid‑Cooling Loop

Custom cooling

Well worth the hassle

part list

 

As soon as we realized we'd be running a 150W Xeon processor and two GTX 690s, we knew we had to water cool. The TJ11 is a great air-cooling case, but the GTX 690's reference shroud blows air in both directions, which screws with the airflow. 

The TJ11's bottom compartment can hold up to a 560mm radiator, so we grabbed a 560mm Black Ice rad and four 14cm NoiseBlocker fans to go with it. We added another 120mm radiator above the CPU. We kept the TJ11's two stock 18cm Air Penetrator fans to cool the RAM and the rest of the motherboard components. 

We got our compression fittings from Bitspower, which also makes the reservoir, pump top, and chrome pump mod that transform our bog-standard Swiftech D5 pump into a thing of beauty. Mayhems Pastel Berry Blue concentrate prevents corrosion and algae growth while matching our case's blue accents. 

The total cost for our water-cooling loop, including fittings, tubing, rads, fans, res, pump, and accessories, was $926, nearly $900 of which was spent at FrozenCPU.com and the remainder at Performance-PCs.com. You can see the full parts list here. We'd also like to extend special thanks to Daniel Cannon of Singularity Computers in Cairns Australia, whose long, incredibly detailed TJ11 water-cooling build logs on his YouTube channel were enormously helpful in constructing our water-cooling loop.

Cyborg R.A.T. 7 Albino

R.A.T. 7 Albino

It fits any mitt

There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all glove, and you'd think the same truth applies to mice. But Cyborg's R.A.T. 7 Albino manages to meet the grip signature of any hand with its unparalleled customization options. Length adjustability, interchangeable palm rests, and pinkie grips are just a few of the ways you can tailor the mouse to your hand's needs.

Corsair Vengeance K90

Corsair K90

Your fingers will feel the difference

To be frank, we didn't think any keyboard could ever get us to leave our coveted SteelSeries 7G, but after a week of pounding away on the Corsair Vengeance K90's Cherry MX keys, we were swayed. That's not even mentioning the brushed-aluminum deck, subtle LED backlighting, and programmable function keys. Yes, it would be nice if every key on the board were mechanical, but we're not complaining.

Corsair AX1200i

Corsair AX1200i

Know how much power your PSU is using

You know what makes us nerds? It's not that we can actually use a 1,200‑ watt power supply, it's that we want to know what's happening inside that PSU while we're using it. That's what Corsair's new AX1200i gives us. Just connect the AX1200i to an available USB header, load the monitor app, and you can not only monitor the power supply but actually tweak its voltages from within the OS. Let's not forget the seven-year warranty, reasonable price tag, and white cabling option.

 


 

2x Dell U3011

Dell U3011

Because we need the pixels

We like to play games, hence the presence of quad SLI, but we also edit photos and videos and generally like an abundance of screen real estate. This year, we're taking it easy with our monitor choice and going with "just" two 30-inch panels—as opposed to last year's three. That hardly means we're slumming it, however. In fact, Dell's U3011, with its 2560x1600, wide-angle IPS technology, and 1.07-billion-color support is so superb that its $1,400 price seems like a downright steal. Such a steal, in fact, we got two.

Looking Back: The First Dream Machine

Boot Dream Machine 96

The artwork for the original Dream Machine story seems apt—so diminutive are the parts by today's standards. 

It's always a good idea to occasionally take stock of your life by looking back at where you've come from. While it's easy to take current circumstances for granted, closer reflection can reveal the true magnitude of our progress. We certainly found that to be the case when we looked all the way back to Dream Machine Mk1. Unleashed on the world in September 1996, the Dream Machine staked out an insane amount of power, storage, and performance.

What made something a Dream in 1996? A 150MHz Pentium processor. That chip ran on a 66MHz bus, was built on a 350nm process, featured a whopping 3.3 million transistors, and contained no cache. That whopping 512KB of pipeline burst cache was mounted on the Supermicro P55-T2S mobo. To keep Windows 95 happy, a whopping 32MB of EDO SIMMs were used for RAM.

The Dream Machine was all about being the best, so EIDE was skipped in favor of an UltraWide SCSI III Quantum Atlas XP3125W drive with 2.1GB of storage. Yes, a $10 USB key has double the storage of the biggest, baddest hard drive you could find in 1996. We suspect that a typical USB key is actually faster than that hard drive, too.

Graphics in Dream Machine Mk1 came from a Matrox Millenium with 4MB of dual-ported WRAM. We paired the Dream Machine with a (then) massive 17-inch Nanao CRT, the ultimate PC display, with 1027x768 resolution and 24-bit color. DM Mk1 also featured a Zip drive, a Moto ISDN modem, a 6.7x Tosh SCSI CD-ROM, as well as an Adaptec 3940UW card and Sound Blaster AWE32 in an ISA slot. Oh, and for the keyboard, a classic IBM PC/AT. 

Dream Machine 2012 in Its Element

Does performance even matter? Hells, yeah

Performance. Still. Matters. Don't let anyone dissuade you from that fact. It's a core belief we will hold at Maximum PC until they cart us all off to the soylent green factory.

This year's Dream Machine 2012 lives up to that philosophy: Get the very best you can. But it's meaningless without valid metrics. To measure how fast Dream Machine 2012 is, we turned to our new stable of benchmarks: Premiere Pro CS6, Stitch.EFx 2.0, ProShow Producer 5.0, x264 HD 5.0, Batman: Arkham City, and 3DMark 11.

When we picked our benchmark suite, we intentionally balanced the applications so as not to unfairly favor highly threaded processors. Yes, some of our benchmarks do take advantage of high-thread-count procs but two don't, and Dream Machine 2012, despite all its brawn, can't out-muscle our zero-point, and even the tiny Falcon Tiki (reviewed on page 74), in Stitch.Efx and ProShow Producer 5.0. Producer 5.0 tops out with four cores; after that it's the CPU's microarchitecture and clock speed that impact performance. Since Intel has clock-blocked our Xeon E5-2867W, the most speed we could get from the chip was 3.5GHz, with Turbo technically taking it to 3.8GHz under soft loads. With the same essential microarchitecture as Sandy Bridge, the zero-point's higher base-clock speed of 3.9GHz gave it a slight edge in performance in both Stitch.Efx 2.0 and ProShow Producer 5.0. But as we said earlier, Dream Machine is also about anticipating the future—and the fact is, more and more apps will add support for more cores. 

Dream Machine 2012

In these scenarios the Dream Machine tells all others to just step the frak back. With our Premiere Pro CS6 benchmark confined to the CPU, the Dream Machine 2012 outran the zero‑point by almost 20 percent. The same happened in the TechARP x264 HD 5.0 benchmark. That's no slow chip in the zero-point, either. It's a hexa-core Sandy Bridge-E overclocked to just under 4GHz. Even if we had goosed the SNB-E in the zero‑point another 500MHz (just about the limit for most SNB-E chips) we doubt it would have won. 

In gaming the contrast between Dream Machine and the zero‑point was even more stark. Many have wondered if quad SLI scales, and we're here to say, "Damn straight." Dream Machine 2012's graphics performance in Batman: Arkham City gave up 67 percent more frames per second than the zero point and an 87 percent higher score in 3DMark 11. Let's remind you that our zero‑point features a single GeForce GTX 690—not exactly chopped liver in GPU land. Against a single GeForce GTX 680? It's like having Thor's hammer land on your head. We saw a 262 percent speed bump with DM2012 against a stock Ivy Bridge box with a GeForce GTX 680 in Batman and a 176 percent bump in 3DMark 11.

We also wondered if the Dream Machine 2012 offers more where multitasking is concerned, given its 16 threads on tap. For comparison, we took our ProShow Producer 5.0 benchmark and ran it while also running the x264 HD 5.0 benchmark on this month's stupidly fast and small Falcon Tiki. The Tiki might have managed to spank the Dream Machine 2012 in the tests that don't stress cores, but multitasking is another story. The Tiki was about 12 percent faster in ProShow Producer 5.0, thanks to its clock advantage and newer Ivy Bridge cores, but when ProShow is run with another task, you better go for a walk or do the laundry. The Dream Machine 2012 completed ProShow in 36 percent less time than the Tiki during multitasking, and it encoded at a 54 percent faster frame rate, too.

If you think these are silly, constructed tests that don't reflect real-world usage, think back to the days when your single core wasn't enough, and then your dual-core wasn't enough. Face it, Skippy, we're not living in the days when a heavy task was using Netscape and encoding an MP3 at 128Kb/s. Today, your quad might be good enough, but believe us, in the future, even a hexa-core machine will start to feel pokey.

So that's our Dream Machine for 2012. Were you surprised by our picks? How does your gaming rig stack up? Let us know in the comments section below! 

benchmark

Daily Deals 9/19/12: Cooler Master Sirius Gaming Headset, Crucial M4 256GB SSD, and More

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 11:12 AM PDT

CM Storm by Cooler Master  Sirius Gaming headsetLogicBuy

Top Deal

When playing an FPS like Call of Duty or Counter Strike, having surround sound to know where your opponents are could mean the difference between virtual life and death. To help you vanqish your online foes is today's top deal: the Cooler Master CM Storm Cooler Sirius gaming headset. With 5.1 adjustable surround sound, you'll be able to detect your enemies' footsteps from all directions. Allowing you to coordinate your attacks to get the jump on these fools is the Storm Cooler's integrated microphone. The headset is on sale for $74.99 (normally $90 at Amazon.com - use coupon code: BIGDEALS) for those seeking an extra tactical advantage at an affordable price.

Computing Hardware & Peripherals

CM Storm by Cooler Master Spawn gaming mouse with 3500 dpi for $35.99 (normally $45).

CM Storm by Cooler Master QuickFire Pro gaming keyboard for $51.99 with free shipping (normally $75).

Crucial M4 2.5" 256GB SATA 6GB/s SSD (CT256M4SSD2) for $159.99 with free shipping at CompUSA (normally $199).

SanDisk Extreme 120GB 6GB/s SSD for $79.99 with free shipping at CompUSA (normally $100).

Cooler Master 912 ATX mid-tower computer case for $41.59 with free shipping (normally $60).

HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S Devices Steal the WP8 Spotlight

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT

HTC Windows Phone 8XHTC and Microsoft just put the Windows Phone 8 community on notice -- the HTC Windows Phone 8X and 8S are the devices to beat. What's interesting here isn't that HTC has Microsoft's full blessing -- technically, all Windows Phone manufacturers do -- but that HTC is being allowed to name its next generation smartphones after the platform it's built around. There's no mistaking which OS is running on the show on HTC's devices, whereas less savvy users might not be able to tell you right off the bat what OS Nokia's Lumia 920 is built around.

"We've been inspired by Windows Phone 8 to create new smartphones that give the platform the iconic design and personality it deserves," said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. "Windows Phone has clearly emerged as one of the top mobile ecosystems and is competitive against any other smartphone platform in the world."

HTC Windows Phone 8

In any event, here they are. Starting at the top, HTC's Windows Phone 8X sports a 4.3-inch HD (1280x720) Super LCD display with Gorilla Glass 2, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 802.11n Wi-Fi, NFC support, 4G LTE, and two features that set it apart: Beats Audio integration (with built-in amplifier), and a 2.1MP, f/2.0 aperture, 88-degree ultra-wide angle front-facing camera that can capture up to four people at once. It also has an 8MP rear-facing camera (f/2.0 aperture, 28mm lens) with a dedicated imaging chip, backside illumination, and physical shutter button.

HTC's Windows Phone 8S is slightly smaller at 4 inches. It has a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, 5MP rear-facing, camera, and Beats Audio.

Both handsets will arrive in November. No word yet on price.

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Sony Unveils Another Slim PlayStation 3 Console, Still Mum on PS4

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:36 AM PDT

Sony PlayStation 3Hey look, Sony is launching a new PlayStation console! Before you wet your pants with excitement, this isn't the new PS console you're looking for, young Padawan, provided you've been looking high and low for news of a PS4. No, the new console you're looking at is still a PS3, albeit slimmer and lighter than before, just as the PS3 Slim was slimmer and lighter than the original.

This time around, Sony said it completely redesigned the internal architecture, resulting in 25 percent less volume and a 20 percent lighter design compared to the current PS3; both have been cut in half compared to the original. Aesthetically, it maintains the same general style and will be available in black or white.

While smaller and lighter, the new PS3 comes with more storage capacity. Instead of the 160GB and 320GB models that are currently available, Sony will sell 250GB ($269 in bundle form, September 25th) and 500GB ($299, October 30th) units.

"With the extra HDD capacity which has been extended from 320GB and 160GB, users can store and enjoy more and more entertainment content including games, music, photos, and video on the new PS3," Sony said.

Sony will launch the 250GB PS3 as a limited edition bundle that includes Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception: Game of the Year Edition, along with a DLC voucher worth $30. The 500GB model will also ship initially as a limited edition bundle with Assassin's Creed 3 and a 30-day PlayStation Plus subscription.

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Samsung to Ship Galaxy Note II in Time for Holiday Shopping Season

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:13 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Note II ThumbnailSamsung is planning to launch its Galaxy Note II device in mid-November with five major carriers, the handset maker announced today. Specific pricing and retail availability is up to each individual carrier to announce at their leisure, but on the bright side, if you've had the Galaxy Note II on your radar, you can go ahead and put it on hour holiday wish list, regardless of whether you're an AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, or U.S. Cellular subscriber.

The Galaxy Note II features a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED touchscreen with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 1.6GHz quad-core Samsung Exynos processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (expandable via a microSD card slot), 4G LTE support, and a 3,100 mAh battery that's nearly a quarter larger than the original Galaxy Note. All this will come wrapped in Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

"The original Galaxy Note created a new category of smartphones by combining the best of a smartphone with the best of a tablet. In less than a year, Samsung sold more than 10 million globally demonstrating the category is taking hold," said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America. "The new Galaxy Note II is a significant leap forward for the category."

Samsung Galaxy Note II

While it's up to each individual carrier to announce pricing and release details, U.S. Cellular wasted little time by revealing it will carry the Galaxy Note II in stores and online "in late October." Those who pre-order a Galaxy Note II online will pay $300 after a $100 mail-in-rebate, U.S. Cellular announced.

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All Aboard! Lian Li’s Train Themed Computer Case Rolls Into View

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 05:59 AM PDT

Lian Li PC-CK101If the conductors at Lian Li were instructed to think outside the box, it's safe to said they accomplished that task with the company's new PC-CK101. The PC-CK101 is, to the best of our knowledge, the world's first train themed aluminum chassis. It's designed to look like a steam engine train while still functioning as a full-fledged mini tower computer case, and quite frankly is one of the neatest enclosures we've ever seen.

Bear in mind that we've only spied press images (and a YouTube video, embedded below), but from what we can see, the attention to detail is pretty impressive. It looks more like a train than it does a computer chassis.

The PC-CK101 supports mini-ITX motherboards. It comes pre-loaded with a 300W SFX power supply (80 Plus certified), so you're not going to build a high-end gaming machine in this thing. You can, however, put together a nice little SFF system that stands out from the crowd. It has a single slim 5.25-inch drive bay, a 3.5-inch drive bay, two USB 3.0 ports, and a 120mm fan with filter.

"The PC-CK101 is separated into two sections: the car and the engine," Lian Li explains. "In the car a mini-ITX motherboard fits comfortably. A 120mm fan blows cool air across the motherboard. Cable management from the car to the engine is made easy with a tunnel in the front on the car leading into the engine."

Lian Li PC-CK101 Side View

Lian Li plans to sell two versions. The first is the PC-CK101 Standard ($229), a stationary model that comes with a label stating that it's a 2012 Special Edition Chassis, and the second is the PC-CK101 Premium ($379) that ships with six interlocking tracks.

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MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com

MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com


Review: Kirby's Dream Collection

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:30 PM PDT

My love of Kirby is known far and wide. While the games themselves are incredibly simple, the sheer charm of the titular hero and his colorful world makes for endearing, unforgettable adventures. Kirby has also seen some of the most dramatic changes of any Nintendo franchise — from the total visual overhaul in Epic Yarn [...]

OCZ Faces Question of Sale Versus Relaunch Following CEO's Resignation

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 02:20 AM PDT

There’s been quite the shakeup in Silicon Valley this week. After learning that AMD’s CFO Thomas Seifert has resigned to pursue other opportunities, we now find out that OCZ Technology’s head honcho and founder, Ryan Petersen, has stepped down as CEO, effective immediately. Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Alex Mei, is taking Petersen’s [...]

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates


OCZ Faces Question of Sale Versus Relaunch Following CEO's Resignation

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 02:20 AM PDT

There’s been quite the shakeup in Silicon Valley this week. After learning that AMD’s CFO Thomas Seifert has resigned to pursue other opportunities, we now find out that OCZ Technology’s head honcho and founder, Ryan Petersen, has stepped down as CEO, effective immediately. Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Alex Mei, is taking Petersen’s [...]

Review: Thirty Flights of Loving

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:30 PM PDT

You won’t get very far on your escapades through the Internet without someone complaining about how much “games these days do nothing but hold your hand.” This phrase is most often used when referring to gameplay, but the same can easily be said about how stories are told throughout the medium. There has been a [...]

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


MMO Family: First Impressions of Pora Ora

Posted: 19 Sep 2012 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

MMO Family  First Impressions of Pora Ora
I'm always on the hunt for MMOs that are educational because I think it's a genre with enormous potential that is still largely untapped. At the same time, the skeptic in me always becomes wary of any MMO that calls itself "educational" because it usually turns out that it's mostly "game" and very little learning goes on.

So I was cautiously curious to try out Pora Ora, an educational MMO that's aimed at kids ages 5 to 13. As it turns out, the game embraces learning and has several features that make it a viable educational game not only at home but also in the classroom. This week's MMO Family is a first impressions look at Pora Ora.

Continue reading MMO Family: First Impressions of Pora Ora

MassivelyMMO Family: First Impressions of Pora Ora originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Vanguard scrapping old forums, starting fresh

    Posted: 19 Sep 2012 09:30 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , ,

    Vanguard scrapping old forums, starting fresh
    Last month, Vanguard upgraded and changed its official website. However, the Vanguard team continued searching for a remedy for the issues that have been plaguing the official forums over the past couple of years. The solution has been found in the same forums that Sony Online Entertainment has been using and testing with the PlanetSide 2 beta community.

    Vanguard will be switching to these new forums in the next week or two. However, while the forums are moving, nothing from the current forums will be making the trip; the new forums will be starting off fresh. Folks who want to keep any must-have posts, guides, or other favorite items need to personally copy and save them. As a final heads-up, SOE will give a 24-hour notice before the switch.

    MassivelyVanguard scrapping old forums, starting fresh originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Massively Exclusive: Rusty Hearts' big honking patch

    Posted: 19 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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    Massively Exclusive Rusty Hearts' big honking patch
    Rusty Hearts is growing in leaps and bounds lately, and the team has a wonderful present for players: a big honking patch full of content additions to the game. This week's update increases the level cap to 50, adds five new dungeons, and greatly expands Rusty Hearts' available weapons and skills. The new dungeons for exploration are the Aquarium, Altar Entrance, Veranda, King's Grave, and Catacomb.

    Perfect World Senior Product Manager Mark Hill hopes this keeps everyone busy, even if just for a while: "This is definitely the one of the most exciting updates for Rusty Hearts and it's the perfect addition to the Rusty Hearts: Reborn expansion released last month. Our community is always hungry for more content, and we're happy to oblige!"

    Massively has an exclusive look at this update, including over a dozen screenshots and a nifty trailer after the jump!

    Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Rusty Hearts' big honking patch

    MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Rusty Hearts' big honking patch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A personal tribute to Paragon Studios

      Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:30 AM PDT

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      We stand until the end.
      When I started my career at Massively, I wasn't hired to be the City of Heroes guy. I wasn't hired to be the anything guy, although I quickly earned a reputation. It was a few months after I got hired that I got the opportunity to start doing a pair of weekly columns, one on City of Heroes and one about the online Final Fantasy installments. This was due to the fact that my affection for City of Heroes was well-known on staff, and I was already knee-deep in the game, so...

      It wasn't quite three years ago, but it was close enough. And I've said many times that my professional career has been tied in directly with City of Heroes because of that. As I've grown as a writer and a journalist, I've been working alongside City of Heroes. So today I'm not going to talk as much about the game itself. I'm going to talk about the people of Paragon Studios, some of whom I had the good fortune to interact with over the years and all of whom seem to be absolutely astonishing human beings.

      Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A personal tribute to Paragon Studios

      MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: A personal tribute to Paragon Studios originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Neverwinter's Guardian Fighter on display

        Posted: 19 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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        Neverwinter's Guardian Fighter on display
        Hankering for your 20-sided dice and some good old-fashioned dungeon crawling? Get with the times: It's 2012, and we're on the verge of an action-packed D&D MMO called Neverwinter! Cryptic's hard at work on this upcoming title, and for those mulling over their future choice of class, the team is currently trying to sell you on the Guardian Fighter.

        The Guardian Fighter is a melee tank that does much what you'd expect. It absorbs a lot of damage while dishing out some of the pain in return. The team's released a video to show off some of the class' more essential skills, including Cleave, Tide of Iron (a shield slam), Guarding, Lunging Strike, and Terrifying Impact.

        Check out the video after the jump and let us know if you'll be playing this class at launch!

        [Thanks to Paul for the tip!]

        Continue reading Neverwinter's Guardian Fighter on display

        MassivelyNeverwinter's Guardian Fighter on display originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        TERA's Chris Hager explains server merges and game health

        Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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        TERA's Chris Hager explains server merges and game health
        Like a lot of MMOs released in recent years, TERA launched with a bang and then dwindled, forcing En Masse to first lay off staff back in August and then lay off servers in preparation for yesterday's realm merges. And yet the studio seems determined to keep the game alive in the West, promising content updates and small-group, impromptu flash events run by event staff, the likes of which MMO players rarely see outside of old-school games like Ultima Online.

        Curious about what all these news bytes portend for the game's future, we sat down with En Masse Entertainment Producer Chris Hager to discuss the reasoning behind the server merges, the effect of the layoffs on the game, and whether TERA might just be the next title to go free-to-play.

        Continue reading TERA's Chris Hager explains server merges and game health

        MassivelyTERA's Chris Hager explains server merges and game health originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Daily Grind: Do you like mobs telegraphing their moves?

          Posted: 19 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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          The Daily Grind Do you like mobs telegraphing their moves
          WildStar brought up an interesting topic last week with the revelation that the MMO would feature mobs telegraphing their moves so as to allow players the chance to dodge out of the way or otherwise react. This isn't a new concept, of course; both The Secret World and Guild Wars 2 feature both special attack warnings and the ability to dodge.

          So it makes me wonder if this is a growing trend in MMO combat. For so long, we've mostly stood in place when fighting an enemy without the need to move around or be aware of mobs telegraphing their most powerful attacks. For some, this shift to a more mobile and reactive combat experience might be a breath of fresh air, but for others, I can see it as being more annoying than engaging.

          What say you? Is this the type of combat you'd like to see a lot more often? Do these telegraphed moves give you an additional advantage in a fight or prove to be a liability?

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

          MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you like mobs telegraphing their moves? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Chinese MMO market gravitating toward hardcore and competitive titles

            Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:00 PM PDT

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            Screenshot -- League of Legends
            China has something of a reputation in the online gaming world as the land of many MMOs, but it looks like things may be changing soon. Gamasutra reports that a study by Niko Partners, an Asian game-market analytics firm, shows that "Chinese players are showing an increased demand for hardcore browser-based web games." According to the study, PC game revenue in China has grown by 37% in 2012 while online game operators' revenues have increased by 26%. The disparity in growth between the two suggests that the Chinese online gaming market is losing steam.

            Interestingly, Gamasutra notes that the only outlier in the data is Tencent, operator of a number of traditional MMOs as well as the wildly popular League of Legends. That studio has managed to grow significantly. Niko Partners notes that this growth is a direct result of non-traditional titles like the MOBA it publishes in China. As Niko rep Lisa Cosmas Hanson noted, "For several years Niko has cautioned that the repetitive theme of cultural mythical history MMORPGs in China was beginning to bore gamers, and that new types of games would be necessary to revive waning demand for those games."

            If you consider the size and importance of the Chinese online gaming market in the grand scheme of the industry, this paradigm shift could be a look toward the future of the MMO genre.

            MassivelyChinese MMO market gravitating toward hardcore and competitive titles originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Game Archaeologist: Happy birthday, Warhammer Online and Fallen Earth!

            Posted: 18 Sep 2012 07:00 PM PDT

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            The Game Archaeologist Happy birthday, Warhammer Online and Fallen Earth!
            September is a special month for me because it was around this time that two MMOs personally meaningful to me launched. Four years ago, Warhammer Online came into being amid a flurry of hype, insane expectations, and fan frenzy. It's the game that excited me enough to start my journey as a blogger, eventually landing me a spot here on Massively. And three years ago, Fallen Earth opened my eyes to how much fun an MMO about the end of the world and crafting could be.

            Despite the fact that neither of these titles qualifies for the title of "success" these days, I still bear a soft spot in my heart for them. I spent well over a year in each game, racking up several memories and useful lessons that I'd carry with me going forward. And I don't regret a single day playing them.

            Since this month is the fourth anniversary of WAR and the third of Fallen Earth, I wanted to offer a hearty "congrats!" and take a minute to see what's been moving and shaking in these games during this past year.

            Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Happy birthday, Warhammer Online and Fallen Earth!

            MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Happy birthday, Warhammer Online and Fallen Earth! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              City of Heroes reveals pre-sunset billing and refund plans

              Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:30 PM PDT

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              You can guess who the figures in this screenshot represent as allegories.
              NCsoft has been silent regarding the impending shutdown of City of Heroes past the initial announcement. An update has finally been posted, one that promises sunset events hosted in-game in the lead-up to the shutdown, although exact times and dates are not yet included. What is detailed is the policy for VIP status and the refund policy for players who had recently purchased Paragon Points.

              Anyone who had an active subscription for VIP status as of September 1st will be granted VIP status for the remainder of the game's operation. Players whose subscriptions had lapsed will be unable to renew those subscriptions, unfortunately. Any subscription fees paid as of September 1st and the value of any Paragon Points purchased on or after August 24th can also be fully refunded to you. Players with game time cards will need to contact support to receive a refund.

              It's certainly not the update that players have been hoping for, but it's at least a step toward knowing what will happen next with the game.

              MassivelyCity of Heroes reveals pre-sunset billing and refund plans originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Torchlight II gives away its full soundtrack

              Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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              If you listen to the soundtrack and start playing Diablo III at the same time, you get a Cease and Desist from Blizzard.
              Can you not wait for Torchlight II's release on Thursday? Do you need some form of the game right now before you lose your mind? If that's the case, you may wish to seek professional help, as that's not a normal level of excitement. But you can also sate that urge by downloading the game's full soundtrack right now completely for free off the official site, all 28 tracks mastered in professional quality for anyone who wants them.

              If you'd rather have a physical disc in an attractive jewel case, well, that's an option as well. The download contains a high-resolution booklet that you can print out and assemble at your leisure. The 120mb download might be a bit onerous for anyone still on a dialup connection, but everyone else should be able to nab the full soundtrack in a matter of moments. Completely for free. Who says we can't have nice things?

              MassivelyTorchlight II gives away its full soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Hands-on with DC Universe Online's Hand of Fate DLC

              Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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              DC Universe Online screenshot
              Ah, DC Universe Online. It's what I like to call a vacation MMO. It's so easy to run that even older machines can tackle it, yet it still looks great even in screenshots. The action-based combat seems odd at first, but within a few minutes, you realize just how much fun it is to pick up cars, fly straight into the sky, and jump off buildings, landing with a massive THUD. It's just fun to play, and on top of that, its character creation is often overlooked. It gives players satisfying control over how a character moves and feels. I've enjoyed making smaller scrapper-types so far, but I played an entirely different character for this press tour.

              Yes, I said press tour! I joined DCUO Creative Director Jens Anderson for a hands-on with the latest DLC, Hand of Fate. We found ourselves in a PUG -- yes, a PUG -- and took orders from Doctor Fate himself. Read on!

              Continue reading Hands-on with DC Universe Online's Hand of Fate DLC

              MassivelyHands-on with DC Universe Online's Hand of Fate DLC originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                TERA's staff planning on more events and more content updates

                Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:30 PM PDT

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                When fighting a dragon there is only one way to jump at it that will lead you toward the part that shoots fire.  So that's what you did.  Very smooth.
                TERA has consolidated to three servers today, but the latest dispatch from producer Chris Hager doesn't dwell on that. No, this dispatch is all about what the game has in the pipeline, starting with more events for players to enjoy. Hager lays out plans the team has made for the fall, like new small-scale events run by the staff on a more regular basis alongside weekend events targeting larger groups of players. The update doesn't mention dates, but it does give several ideas of event types (random races or scavenger hunts as flash events, increased dungeon rewards for weekend events).

                Hager also stresses that the game is rolling out further content updates starting with the return of crafting quests and a large-scale Berserker update. There's another large patch due out this fall as well as significant changes to Enchanting, and there are undisclosed further projects being developed jointly by En Masse Entertainment and Bluehole Studios. Players looking for more details can glean a few from the official letter.

                MassivelyTERA's staff planning on more events and more content updates originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Anarchy Online's director leaves the game

                Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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                This is never good news.
                Parting is such sweet sorrow, and fans of Anarchy Online are receiving a full dose of that sorrow. Fia Tjernberg, the game's current director, has announced in a forum post that she is leaving her post as director due to the deteriorating health of a family member and the numerous Funcom layoffs. As she puts it, her departure ensures that the existing staff will have less pressure to reduce its numbers, which she feels is better for the health of the game in the long run.

                Tjernberg stresses that the team behind Anarchy Online has completed or nearly completed a number of wonderful projects that improve the overall game experience, including the graphical revamp, which is slated to be released in the near future. At this time there has been no announcement of who will be the game's next director. This comes in the wake of Tjernberg's previous statements regarding the layoffs and Anarchy Online and last week's announcement that senior content designer Brad McAtee is departing the game.

                [Thanks to David for the tip!]

                MassivelyAnarchy Online's director leaves the game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's Gabe Amatangelo on 1.4 and free-to-play

                Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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                Hyperspace Beacon Interview with Gabe Amatangelo, Update 14 and free to play
                It's not usual for the Hyperspace Beacon to feature two interviews in a row, but Star Wars: The Old Republic has some major changes coming. Update 1.4 promises to give us new and exciting content like a new operation and a new warzone, and after the EA earnings call, we learned that SWTOR will tackle the free-to-play market. Readers and fans voiced both concerns and excitement over this move. I couldn't just let that stand; I had to pose some questions to the BioWare developers.

                SWTOR's Principal Lead PvP Designer Gabe Amatangelo picked up the call. Our conversation focused on these two major changes to the game and the concerns fans have for the game's immediate future. Read on!

                Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's Gabe Amatangelo on 1.4 and free-to-play

                MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's Gabe Amatangelo on 1.4 and free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Warhammer Online celebrates fourth anniversary with rewards and bonuses

                  Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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                  Warhammer Online celebrates four years with rewards and bonuses
                  Belch forth a mighty "WAAAGH!" today, for Warhammer Online is now officially four years old. EA Mythic's dark fantasy title came on the scene in 2008 with a strong emphasis on PvP combat.

                  To celebrate the occasion, Mythic announced that all players will enjoy 10 days of bonus XP and RP starting today. Also as part of the festivities, fireworks can be looted from corpses during this time. Why are so many warriors carrying fireworks? Discount sale, of course. Finally, Mythic is rewarding the faithful who have stuck with WAR for all four years with a new portable mailbox at the end of the month.

                  The devs used this opportunity to remind players that patch 1.4.7 is on course to go live later in September after the Wild Hunt event. The team's also working on a new random live event and an upcoming community patch.

                  MassivelyWarhammer Online celebrates fourth anniversary with rewards and bonuses originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Schubert to dissect Meridian 59 at GDC Online

                  Posted: 18 Sep 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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                  Schubert to dissect Meridian 59 at GDC Online
                  Those darn GDC organizers! They're still using the term postmortem for games that are very much alive. In this case it's Meridian 59, and former lead designer Damion Schubert will take the stage at GDC Online 2012 for a special Classic Game Postmortem lecture focused on the 1996 title.

                  A GDC press release says that Meridian 59 was the first MMO to charge a monthly fee and use 3-D graphics and that it "began an era that set the stage for the MMORPG genre as we know it." Schubert went on to work on titles including Shadowbane, The Sims Online, and Star Wars: The Old Republic.

                  [Source: GDC press release]

                  MassivelySchubert to dissect Meridian 59 at GDC Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    BioWare founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk announce retirement

                    Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:44 PM PDT

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                    BioWare founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk announce retirement
                    The doctors... are out. BioWare announced that Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk, co-founders of the studio, are retiring from the gaming biz. The two have been instrumental in the creation of many hit RPGs, from Baldur's Gate to Mass Effect. For us MMO fans, they're best-known for helming the ship that brought us Star Wars: The Old Republic.

                    The two are taking a break, perhaps indefinitely, from game creation and management. Muzyka is looking to engage in charities and social work, while Zeschuk is going to dive into projects involving craft beer.

                    "This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make; after thinking about it for many months, I made the decision to retire from videogames back in early April 2012 -- at that time I provided six months' notice to EA, to help enable a solid transition for my teams at BioWare," Muzyka wrote in his farewell letter.

                    "This decision isn't without significant pain and regret, but it's also something I know I need to do, for myself and my family. I've reached an unexpected point in my life where I no longer have the passion that I once did for the company, for the games, and for the challenge of creation," Zeschuk said in his.

                    The two maintain that BioWare is in good hands and will continue to excel going forward.

                    MassivelyBioWare founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk announce retirement originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Irish BioWare support center for SWTOR converting to general EA use

                    Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                    Irish BioWare support center for SWTOR converting to general EA use
                    Initially opened last year as a support center for Star Wars: The Old Republic, the BioWare facility in Galway, Ireland, is expanding and converting to house EA's European customer support needs for all of its major titles. With this move, an additional 300 employees will be hired over the next few months. The facility has also dropped its BioWare Ireland name.

                    EA COO Peter Moore explained some benefits of the move by pointing out that Ireland has both a good pool of talent available and the technology infrastructure needed. The Irish Government, which is focusing on video games in its plan for job growth, is supporting the move.

                    MassivelyIrish BioWare support center for SWTOR converting to general EA use originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    New DC Universe Online Hand of Fate DLC available now

                    Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:30 AM PDT

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                    New DC Universe Online Hand of Fate DLC available now
                    DC Universe Online is growing by leaps and bounds, as today marks the superhero title's fifth DLC update. The pack is called Hand of Fate, and it adds a bunch of new side quests, new group operations that give high-level players something to do in both Gotham and Metropolis, and new utility belt attachments. New magic-powered Legends PvP characters are available too (Doctor Fate and Felix Faust).

                    Free and premium DCUO players can pick up the Hand of Fate content for $9.99, while Legendary members get it free of charge.

                    [Source: SOE press release]

                    MassivelyNew DC Universe Online Hand of Fate DLC available now originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Darkfall Unholy Wars 'in the final stretch for launch' [Updated]

                      Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                      Darkfall Unholy Wars 'in the final stretch for launch'
                      OK, Darkfall fans. Aventurine has made it officially official. Darkfall 2.0, formerly known as Darkfall 2010, is now known as Darkfall Unholy Wars. It's basically a brand-new game born of the dev team's frustrations with trying to update the original title and realize the full scope of their vision for a PvP-centric fantasy MMO.

                      "We're in the final stretch for launch right now," says AV's Tasos Flambouras. "We're testing the game internally and it's in a very playable state."

                      AV has released a new video interview detailing the new title. The clip runs for approximately six minutes and shows off behind-the-scenes footage as well as a few talking head interview snippets. There's also a glimpse of the new game's GUI, the original version of which was a long-standing thorn in the side of Darkfall fans since the first game's 2009 release. See for yourself after the cut.

                      [Update]: A new AV blog post confirms the Unholy Wars launch date as November 20th.

                      Continue reading Darkfall Unholy Wars 'in the final stretch for launch' [Updated]

                      MassivelyDarkfall Unholy Wars 'in the final stretch for launch' [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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