| Steam Removes a Defunct Game From User Libraries Posted: 31 Dec 2013 01:42 PM PST  This is an apparent first for Steam
We (along with several other news outlets) missed this when it first happened, but apparently Valve did something back in September that it has never done before. After shutting down the multiplayer servers for Square Enix's Order of War: Challenge due to low traffic, Valve then went and yanked the game from user libraries on Steam of those who had purchased a copy. To the best of our knowledge, it's the first and only time Valve has done such a thing. That's not to say Valve has never removed a game from Steam's store front, but in cases in which it has, purchased copies have always remained in user libraries. In this case, however, by shutting down multiplayer servers, users were left with no way to play the game. Forbes, which picked up on the story courtesy of a Reddit post, notes that the game has 18 single-player campaigns to play through, but since Square Enix implemented an always-on DRM scheme and than abandoned the title, even that portion of the game remained unplayable. Order of War: Challenge was never hugely popular to begin with, but still managed to spark a debate over whether or not Steam should have removed the title altogether. If nothing else, it's a reminder that you don't actually own games purchased through Steam -- you're granted a license to use them, and nothing more. "The game was multiplayer only and the developer is now no longer hosting servers. However user's are complaining that it was removed because they were still able to play the game using tunneling software, such as Hamachi etc., in order to create online LAN-like environments. Now this is no longer possible, since they instead just removed the game entirely," Reddit user 'tsstssk' points out. As 2013 comes to a close, let that be a reminder that we still live in a DRM-ruled world where it's anything but cut and dry. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Netflix Tests $6.99 Standard Definition Single Screen Plan Posted: 31 Dec 2013 12:45 PM PST  A money saving plan for bachelors
Some users who sign up for Netflix will see a new $6.99 per month plan that limits streaming to one screen at a time. That's a dollar off the regular subscription fee of $7.99 per month, which Netflix now states will allow streaming on up to two screens at a time. Yet a third option is to pay $11.99 per month for the ability to watch streaming content on as many as four screens at the same time, a tier that could come in handy for families. Reports around the web say Netflix is testing the discounted $6.99 plan to select users. In addition to limiting streams to a single device at any given moment, users who opt for the entry-level subscription will also be limited to standard definition (SD) streams. Both the $7.99 and $11.99 plans include high definition (HD) viewing. The SD limitation will be a deal killer for some, though at the same time, it might attract users who plan to only watch Netflix on smartphones and even tablets with lower resolution displays. For those users, it's not a bad option. 
According to Variety, Netflix is also testing a $9.99 monthly option that would allow for up to three HD streams at the same time, though we didn't see that option when registering for a new account. Netflix says not everyone will see every option it's testing, and that some of these plans "may not be something we ever offer generally." Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| NSA Reportedly Hijacks PCs to Install Spyware, Has Backdoor Access to iPhones Posted: 31 Dec 2013 08:39 AM PST  Nothing is out of bounds
By far the biggest revelation of 2013 was that of the U.S. government's overreaching National Security Agency (NSA) and its PRISM surveillance program. Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the government's ability to spy on various forms of communication by leaking several documents to the press, and since doing so, new information keeps coming out. One of the most recent reports claims the NSA routinely intercepts computer deliveries in order to exploit vulnerabilities to aid with spying. Citing a German magazine, The Washington Post reports that a division of the NSA known as Tailored Access Operations (TAO) specializing in intercepting data from tough targets, or "getting the ungettable." TAO has access to all kinds of goods to help do that, such as computer monitor cables designed to record what's being typed across the screen, fake base stations that intercept mobile phone signals, and the list goes on. Planting these items sometimes involves intercepting computer pacakges, according to the report. In addition, TAO also installs spyware in order to track and spy on specific targets. According to one document, intercepting computer equipment ranks as one of the NSA's "most productive operations." A related report in The Daily Dot that cites the same German magazine says the NSA can also snoop on almost every communication sent from an iPhone. According to the report, leaked documents reveal the NSA plants spyware on iOS devices with a 100 percent success rate. It's part of a program called DROPOUTJEEP and it allows the NSA to read SMS messages, access contact lists, locate a phone using cell tower data, and activate the device's microphone and camera. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| AMD Delays Battlefield 4 Mantle Patch Until January Posted: 31 Dec 2013 07:10 AM PST  A Mantle patch is coming, but bug stomping takes top priority
AMD anticipated Battlefield 4 (BF4) being the first PC title to support its new Mantle API via a patch that was supposed to be made available before the end of the month. As it stands, BF4 will still be the first Mantle-optimized title, but the promised patch won't debut until sometime next month. Word from those in the trenches is that fixing various bugs in BF4 is taking a bit longer than expected. "After much consideration, the decision was made to delay the Mantle patch for Battlefield 4," EA told SemiAccurate. "AMD continues to support DICE on the public introduction of Mantle, and we are tremendously excited about the coming release for Battlefield 4! We are now targeting a January release and will have more information to share in the New Year." Mantle is expected to improve the look and performance of BF4, though EA wants to ensure a stable game experience before tacking on new stuff. AMD confirmed this was the case in a statement provided to Polygon, telling the gaming news site, "The cause of the delay is due to EA's recent decision to halt game development in favor of bug stomping." AMD's confirmation echoes a statement EA made to the press a month ago in which the publisher said it would not take on additional projects or expansions "until we sort out all the issues with Battlefield 4." Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Thermaltake Tough Power 750W PSU, Intel Core i3 3240, and More! Posted: 31 Dec 2013 06:16 AM PST |
