General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


EVGA's DisplayPort Hub Lets You String Together Three Monitors From a Single Source

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 12:47 PM PST

EVGA DisplayPort HubA silent and portable solution

EVGA has designed a handy DisplayPort hub that allows for multi-monitor connectivity from a single DisplayPort source, negating the need to invest in another graphics card. The hub supports up to three DisplayPort compatible monitors without any special software or drivers other than your graphics card driver. It does require external power, so EVGA includes an external power adapter in the box.

EVGA's DisplayPort hub essentially splits the single DisplaySource output between however many monitors (up to three) are connected. By going this route, users are limited to 1920x1080 per monitor when connecting three displays. Here's a breakdown of the supported resolutions and how they're allocated:

  • 2400 x 600 (3 x 800 x 600)
  • 3072 x 768 (3 x 1024 x 768)
  • 3840 x 720 (3 x 1280 x 720)
  • 3840 x 768 (3 x 1280 x 768)
  • 3840 x 800 (3 x 1280 x 800)
  • 3840 x 960 (3 x 1280 x 960)
  • 3840 x 1024 (3 x 1280 x 1024)
  • 4080 x 768 (3 x 1360 x 768)
  • 4098 x 768 (3 x 1366 x 768)
  • 4320 x 900 (3 x 1440 x 900)
  • 5040 x 1050 (3 x 1680 x 1050)
  • 5760 x 1080 (3 x 1920 x 1080)

EVGA DisplayPort Hub Angled

The device is hot plug compatible and works with all existing DisplayPort 1.2a graphics cards and laptops, EVGA says. It's also totally silent and portable. EVGA sees this being used for graphic design, video editing, 3D animation, CAD/CAM, spreadsheet analysis, and general productivity.

You can purchase the DisplayPort Hub now for $100 direct from EVGA. At present, there's a $20 mail-in-rebate available.

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Corsair H110 Review

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 12:42 PM PST

Size isn't everything

It seems like every month brings a new liquid cooler to review. Sometimes this rapid pace creates unexpected side effects. Exhibit A: The Corsair H110, which is nearly identical to the NZXT Kraken X60 reviewed on page 81 of this issue. They don't use the same fans, they don't recommend the same fan orientation, and the H110 skips software-based controls, but the rest of it appears to be the same bits manufactured by Asetek. Corsair also charges a slight price premium that we're not sure is justified.

The Mirror Universe version of the NZXT Kraken X60?

The Mirror Universe version of the NZXT Kraken X60?

The H110's two 14cm fans use 4-pin PWM connectors that allows them to dynamically adjust their performance as temperatures change within the case—but only if they're plugged into a 4-pin fan header. The pump uses a 3-pin connector. While this cabling is more straightforward, it does occupy three fan headers, whereas the X60 uses one. (The H110 does not come with an adapter to combine its two fan cables or a Molex adapter to plug the pump directly into your power supply.)

If your motherboard or its fan software doesn't provide separate controls for different headers, you're in an awkward spot. You don't want all your case fans spinning up and down in lockstep with the H110's fans. And you don't want the pump speed moving around a lot either; that part needs to be maxed out for full effectiveness. Since the H110's fan cables are just 12 inches long, your choices for fan headers are pretty limited, as well. The X60 uses a single 3-pin header, but it also occupies a USB header and a SATA power cable connection. Ultimately, this trade-off greatly increases compatibility, especially if your system uses multiple radiators and lots of air-cooling.

The H110's cooling isn't as problematic, since you have flexibility with radiator location and fan direction. You don't have to go with Corsair's recommendation, which is to push exterior air through the radiator and into the system. NZXT recommends that you pull air from the interior and exhaust it. We recorded temps several degrees higher than with the X60, until we flipped the H110's fan orientation to match it. Then the temps were roughly interchangeable. The scores for the H110 in the chart below are the results according to Corsair's recommended fan orientation.

Since we're using a Corsair 900D case to test coolers, we have three 12cm intake fans in the front. Therefore, the slight vacuum created by a pull orientation is easily countered. Adding two additional intake fans, which blow through a 280mm radiator and into the case, can introduce a lot of air. A single 14cm rear exhaust fan seems to struggle to keep up. We also noticed that setting up the H110 fans to exhaust created less noise.

The H110 is also up against Corsair's own H100i, a 240mm liquid cooler. Despite this other unit having less surface area than the H110's 280mm, it performs a little better and has software controls, a metal backplate (making it resistant to damage from over-tightening), and the same cable connections as the X60, for the same price or less. It also has a five-year warranty, whereas the H110 (and the X60) get two years. The H100i's smaller size and X60-like unified cabling also make it compatible with a wider variety of cases. If the H110 was priced lower, we could see it fitting into the overall ecosystem. But at $130 when this issue went to press, it's a little out of its depth.

$130 (street), www.corsair.com

Genius GX Gaming Peripherals Now Available in White in the U.S.

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 11:42 AM PST

Genius White DeathTakerGaming peripherals shipping in white in time for winter

If you're looking for gaming peripherals to match the white computer case you just bought, Genius may be your ticket to color coordination. Genius has just given its GX Gaming series of peripherals a white makeover, including the DeathTaker mouse, Imperator Pro keyboard, and GX-Speed mouse pad, all three of which have started shipping to North America, Genius announced today.

"This special collection by GX Gaming has arrived just in time for the holiday season. The new DeathTaker, Imperator Pro, and GX-Speed in white create a zone of cool around any gamer, and serve as an excellent complement to any white themed gaming setup," Genius says.

On the flip side, they'll probably reveal a little about your hygiene, too -- if you like to snack on Cheetos but aren't a fan of washing your hands, your white peripherals will end up with an orange tint over time.

Genius White Peripherals

In any event, both the DeathTaker and Imperator Pro are equipped with a full-speed CPU and built-in memory to save macros. The hardware also supposedly gives gamers a 1ms boost in response time, which translates into being 8 times quicker than without, Genius says.

We found the Genius DeathTaker and Imperator Pro both listed on Amazon for $70, though both are currently out of stock. We weren't as lucky in trying to track down the GX-Speed mouse pad.

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LG Plans to Unveil an All-in-One System Running Chrome OS at CES 2014

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 09:02 AM PST

LG ChromebaseAll your "Chromebase" belong to LG

LG on Wednesday announced plans to show off what it claims is the first ever "Chromebase," otherwise known as an all-in-one (AIO) PC powered by Google's Chrome operating system, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next month. The LG Chromebase (model 22CV241) will sport a 21.5-inch widescreen with a Full HD 1080 (1920x1080) IPS display and a "raft of advanced features" all wrapped in a space saving design.

Let's start with the few hardware specs LG is willing to share. Inside the AIO will sit an Intel Celeron CPU of some sort. LG didn't say which specific chip, but we suspect it will be one of the newer Celeron parts based on Intel's Haswell architecture. The Chromebase will also have 2GB of RAM, 16GB SSD, HDMI input, three USB 2.0 ports, a single USB 3.0 port, an Ethernet port, built-in 5W speakers, and a 1.3MP webcam.

"LG's Chromebase is an exciting new form factor that expands the options available to customers who want a fast, simple and secure computing experience for the home, school or office," said Caesar Sengupta, vice president of product management, Google. "LG Electronics makes great devices that customers love, and we're glad to welcome them to the Chrome family."

Same as with Chromebooks, Google's Chrome OS works best when there's an active Internet connection. It is, after all, a cloud-based OS, though you can still work with certain web-based applications offline, which comes in handy if your Internet is down for whatever reason.

Consumers have proven they're ready for Chromebooks -- they occupy several spots on Amazon's top 10 best selling laptops and are generally reviewed favorably by users -- but will desktop systems running Chrome OS be equally accepted? It looks like we're about to find out.

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Tourist Plunges Into Bay While Checking Facebook and Nearly Drowns

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 08:12 AM PST

St Kilda PierTaking a long walk off a short pier

A young Taiwanese woman in her mid-20s nearly became a candidate for a Darwin Award when she walked right off the end of St Kilda pier in Melbourne, Australia. She never saw the end of the pier because she was too busy checking Facebook on her mobile phone. To make matters worse, the woman wasn't a good swimmer, though she did manage to float for around 20 minutes until a high-speed boat arrived.

"She wasn't splashing around too much. She wasn't in a panic even though she was in the water for probably 20 minutes," Senior Constable Dean Kelly of the water police squad said, according to The Age.

Though she couldn't swim very well, the tourist had on a backpack that may have helped her stay afloat until help could arise. It also seems she kept a cool head after realizing what happened. Or maybe she was still busy catching up on her Facebook feed, though we imagine her mobile phone probably wasn't as lucky as she was.

As silly as all this sounds, there might actually be a rise in pedestrian deaths due to texting while walking. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of pedestrians killed from traffic crashes rose from 4,109 in 2009 to 4,432 in 2011 after having declined for decades, The Los Angeles Times reported back in August of this year. In 2011, over 1,500 pedestrians were treated in emergency rooms after being hurt while using a mobile device.

Image Credit: Flickr (Looking Glass)

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Powercolor Launches First Liquid Cooled Radeon R9 290X Graphics Card

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 07:39 AM PST

Power Color LCS R9 290X Retail BoxNope, you can't find this one in stock either

Less than a week after teasing a shot of a liquid cooled AMD Radeon R9 290X graphics card on its Facebook page, Powercolor has gone and introduced a retail version to market. The Powercolor LCS R9 290X uses an EK water block, the same as identified in the Facebook photo, and comes factory overclocked to 1060MHz for the core, up 60MHz over AMD's reference blueprint.

It also boasts 4GB of GDDR5 memory that's been goosed 100MHz over reference to 1,350MHz on a 512-bit wide bus. Using liquid cooling will certainly help the card run stable with these modest overclocks, though as an extra layer of protection, Powercolor says the part is armed with a "Gold Power Kit" design, meaning it uses a digital PWM, ferrite conducting power (FCP), and multi-phase design to enhance power efficiency.

The full-cover water block cools the GPU, memory, and other parts of the card. Its base is made from nickel plated copper allowing for temperatures under 60C, even under full load, Powercolor claims. Liquid rushes through high-flow 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch fittings with captured o-rings to prevent leakage.

Powercolor LCS R9 290X

No word on how much this card will cost or when it will be available, though with the Litecoin community stockpiling Radeon R9 Series graphics cards, it might be awhile before you see one of these for the taking.

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Newegg Daily Deals: DIYPC Adventurer Gaming Case, Netgear N900 Dual Band Router, and More!

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 06:47 AM PST

DIYPC Adventurernewegg logo

Top Deal:

The death of the full tower has been greatly exaggerated, and the same is true of desktop PCs. So you want to build killer gaming rig in a chassis that looks like it snacks on NUCs? No problem! You can get started by checking out today's top deal for a DIYPC Adventurer 9601G Black Steel Full Tower Gaming Case for $75 with free shipping (normally $130; additional $15 mail-in-rebate). Measuring 20 inches by 8 inches by 19 inches, there's plenty of room for your components. It comes with 5 pre-installed fans and has room for two more, plus an integrated three-channel fan speed controller.

Other Deals:

G.SkillRipjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL for $64 with free shipping (normally $75; use coupon code: [EMCWVWV36])

DIYPC Adventurer-9601G Black Steel Gaming ATX Full Tower Computer Case for $75 with free shipping (normally $130; additional $15 Mail-in rebate)

Asus VE248H Black 24-inch 2ms Full HD HDMI LED Backlight LCD Monitor for $170 with free shipping (normally $230; use coupon code: [EMCWVWV46]; additional $20 Mail-in rebate)

Netgear N900 Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Router with 3.5-inch Storage Bay (WNDR4700) for $100 with free shipping (normally $200; use coupon code: [EMCWVWV52])

CM Storm QuickFire XT - Full Size Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with Cherry MX Brown Switches for $85 with free shipping (normally $100; additional $10 Mail-in rebate)

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Black Gold Online video shows off action combat system

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

Filed under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Whether you prefer the steampunk or the fantasy faction, if you are a fan of dodging and constant movement to try and out-maneuver your opponents, combat in Black Gold Online should be right up your alley. In the latest feature unveiling, developers delve into the ins and outs of combat in the upcoming game, eschewing the traditional stand-still-and-button-mash version of combat in favor of some action.

Most skills in the upcoming game are collision, or hit-box-based, and melee fighters will move in the direction they are facing with every swing. Ranged works a bit differently: Although most ranged skills will remain locked on their target, some will require players to anticipate enemy movements and target accordingly. And don't forget these battles also involve vehicles! While mounted, players will be in FPS mode. Get a preview of Black Gold Online's combat in action in the trailer below.

[Source: Snail Games press release]

Continue reading Black Gold Online video shows off action combat system

MassivelyBlack Gold Online video shows off action combat system originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Dec 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    RIFT celebrates Fae Yule with festivities

    Posted: 18 Dec 2013 07:30 AM PST

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    It's holiday time in Telara, and that means the Fae are back to their old tricks of hiding, stealing, and re-hiding gifts during RIFT's Fae Yule celebration. Will players find all the gifts stolen from the dragon cults that are scattered across the zone? If so, they can collect and complete six different artifact sets!

    This year's celebration also includes a Very Merry Warfront, tours of Telara's holiday Dimensions, and plenty of special festive zone events, Instant Adventures, rifts, footholds, special gifts, and more. Even raid bosses are in a giving mood during the season, occasionally dropping an extra loot chest for adventurers. Get a peek of the wintry wonders in the trailer below. Fae Yule lasts until January 9, 2014.

    [Update: Fae Yule has been extended a week until the 9th, and store items will be available for purchase through the 15th. Thanks to Potaco for the tip!]

    [Source: Trion press release]

    Continue reading RIFT celebrates Fae Yule with festivities

    MassivelyRIFT celebrates Fae Yule with festivities originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Dec 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Massively Giveaway: Inferno Legend VIP bundle

      Posted: 18 Dec 2013 07:00 AM PST

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      Inferno Legend
      If you ever wanted to play the bad guys in Diablo instead of the good guys, then Gamebox's Inferno Legend might just be for you. The isometric, turn-based action-MMO launched its open beta yesterday and allows gamers to play as everything from evil faeries to samurai because why not?

      So let's get some free stuff to go with our evil faeries. Gamebox has given Massively a slew of VIP keys for a bundle of free items in Inferno legend, including 150 Diamonds, 20,000 Gold, 200 Power of Faith, 200 Power of Lineage, 100 Wickedness (*wink*), and an exclusive pair of shoes called Pilgrim's Trail, which when equipped increase the character's speed based on his or her level. The bundle also includes beta access.

      To apply your key to your account, login to your Gamebox account or create a new one, click "code," input your gift code, and then click "claim."

      This is a worldwide giveaway open to everyone everywhere (yay!). The keys are set to work right now and will last until we run out. Enjoy!

      GET YOUR KEY

      MassivelyMassively Giveaway: Inferno Legend VIP bundle originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Dec 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Embers of Caerus making 'drastic changes' to its development

        Posted: 18 Dec 2013 06:30 AM PST

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        Embers of Caerus
        Embers of Caerus has hit a crisis crossroads in its development, and as such the team is abandoning its current schedule as it seeks out a development studio to help the volunteer project succeed.

        Creative Director Rob Steele broke the news on the forums, where he admits that mistakes in developing a prototype for the game's systems cost the project financial and volunteer support. Without the funds, he admits that the team cannot make its previous goals of regular module updates and benchmarks.

        "Instead of continuing down this path, attempting to play catch up, and risking missing more benchmarks that we have no assurances we can hit, Forsaken Studios is making a drastic change in its plans for Embers of Caerus," he wrote.

        Steele went on to say that he has been in talks with other game studios to help with the future development of the game, all while upholding promises made to supporters and crowdfunding investors. He said that the project will be encountering "a great deal of changes" but should be more active if and when another studio signs on to help.

        MassivelyEmbers of Caerus making 'drastic changes' to its development originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Dec 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Blade Hunter transitioning to beta tomorrow

        Posted: 18 Dec 2013 06:00 AM PST

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        Blade Hunter
        Blade Hunter is preparing to transition from its alpha test to beta tomorrow, December 19th, and is inviting players to check out the beat-em-up MMO.

        The game had an extremely short alpha period that started just a week ago. The new beta test begins at 9:00 am EST and could be considered a soft launch for Blade Hunter as characters will be permanent from here on out.

        Blade Hunter features three classes that engage in side-scrolling action and the option to play solo or with parties. There are also time-limited events that players can engage in to strive for top rankings and special rewards.

        [Source: R2 Games press release]

        MassivelyBlade Hunter transitioning to beta tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Dec 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Daily Grind: What awesome feature was ruined by its cost?

          Posted: 18 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST

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          I'm just as befuddled as Eliot is over the extraordinarily high cost of guild housing in Final Fantasy XIV, although this sort of scenario is not unknown to me. It's usually played out like this: Studio spends months trumpeting an awesome upcoming feature that the playerbase is squeeing over, and then at virtually the last minute, a cost is announced that takes it out of the realm of the casual and robs many people of enthusiasm for it.

          I've gone through that many times. One example was when Lord of the Rings Online was going on and on about allowing players to bring their skirmish soldiers out onto the landscape. Man, Turbine just talked this up but was really coy -- almost right until the end -- as to the cost, which ended up requiring a grind or real dollars to purchase a limited-time access to this feature. Almost instantly, my enthusiasm for it was extinguished.

          For you, what awesome feature in an MMO was ruined when you heard what it would cost?

          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 awesome feature was ruined by its cost? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Jukebox Heroes: Forsaken World's soundtrack

            Posted: 17 Dec 2013 04:00 PM PST

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            Forsaken World
            I must admit that Forsaken World is one of those MMOs I know very, very little about. When I was in an experimental mood, I downloaded it for an evening but found the cluttered interface and cash-shop-heavy approach a turn-off. That doesn't mean I couldn't go back to listen to the music, of course!

            Forsaken World was composed by Austrian Roland Mair-Gruber. I am not that familiar with Mair-Gruber (his portfolio is a little skimpy thus far), but if this score is anything to judge him by, he's a lover of serene soundscapes. This is the kind of soundtrack that you could just put on the background in a spa, for the most part, although that doesn't mean it's forgettable. I liked it enough not to consider my time listening to it a waste, even though there weren't as many standout tracks as I've heard elsewhere.

            So what should you listen to from Forsaken World? I've got you covered this week in Jukebox Heroes!

            Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Forsaken World's soundtrack

            MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Forsaken World's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              O:MFG! It's another PlanetSide 2 performance patch

              Posted: 17 Dec 2013 03:30 PM PST

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              PlanetSide 2 mech
              Hark! It's the second phase of PlanetSide 2's Operation: Make Faster Game! SOE has published "the largest balance update to date," including "engineering improvements to physics systems and a revamped Esamir."

              There's also a seasonal event designed to let sci-fi soldiers celebrate Auraximas by taking down snowmen for fun, XP, and a "Snowblower" title. Have a look at the PS2 forums for a full list of patch notes and changes.

              [Source: SOE press release]

              MassivelyO:MFG! It's another PlanetSide 2 performance patch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Marvel Heroes to introduce playable Venom, Magneto, and more in 2014

                Posted: 17 Dec 2013 03:00 PM PST

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                Marvel Heroes
                Marvel Heroes is looking to substantially beef up its super-powered roster in 2014, as the devs are prepping a huge round of playable villains and heroes for an upcoming release.

                These new characters will include Venom, Juggernaut, Magneto, Psylocke, Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Moon Knight, Nightcrawler, Sue Storm, and Star-Lord, as well as a couple of additional comic book icons to be named later.

                Even though the new characters are not in the game yet, Gazillion is hosting an "advance pack" sale for players who want to pick all of them up for a discount. Players can spend either $99.99 or $129.99 to get all 12 characters as well as various extras including costumes, fortune cards, retcon devices, and even an extra hero.

                MassivelyMarvel Heroes to introduce playable Venom, Magneto, and more in 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Colbert cracks ancient Second Life joke, picks on NSA

                Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST

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                Stephen Colbert
                I guess we'll forgive Stephen Colbert for not realizing that the Second-Life-users-don't-have-a-first-life joke is older than he is. Mainly because the rest of his segment on Linden Labs' virtual world and its NSA-powered avatars is pretty funny.

                Colbert follows up Comedy Central colleague Jon Stewart's riff on the NSA in World of Warcraft with a segment heavy on Second Life secret agents. Kotaku has the full story as well as a video embed.

                MassivelyColbert cracks ancient Second Life joke, picks on NSA originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Hyperspace Beacon: The SWTOR year-end report on PvP

                Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST

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                Hyperspace Beacon: The SWTOR year-end report -- PvP
                In July, I took the famous Bartle Test and pitted it against the state of Star Wars: The Old Republic at the time. The test, based on the research of Dr. Richard Bartle, measures the types of activities within an MMO that players find fun. Of course, there is plenty of crossover, and very few people fit neatly into one category, but I believe that if an MMO hits all the categories well, it will be highly successful, at least from a player's point of view. In the research, player motivation is divided into four categories: Achiever, Explorer, Killer, and Socializer.

                I have never been a fan of the term Killer as used to describe the type of player who likes to compete directly with other players, but then, I didn't earn a PhD from the University of Essex, either. The Killer category has always been described as more than someone who likes to PvP in the sense that most MMOs provide PvP. A Killer likes to compete, plain and simple. He wants his skills pitted against the skills of other players, and he wants to be recognized for it. In SWTOR, many Killer-types will hang out on the steps of the Sith Academy on Korriban dueling, partially because they find dueling enjoyable, but also because it is in sight of many other players. (That's where recognition comes in.)

                In July, I gave SWTOR very poor marks in the Killer category. I wrote, "Later this year, BioWare plans on introducing a content specifically focused on PvP, but given the team's track record, I have my concerns," and then I gave the team an F in this category. Has BioWare been able to raise that grade? And how have things changed since mid-year?

                Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: The SWTOR year-end report on PvP

                MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: The SWTOR year-end report on PvP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Final Fantasy XIV executive producer defends expensive housing costs

                  Posted: 17 Dec 2013 01:30 PM PST

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                  FFXIV
                  Those following the recent housing fiasco in Final Fantasy XIV have been waiting on the official word from Square-Enix concerning the exorbitant costs for free company plots. Executive Producer Naoki Yoshida finally did just that, delivering a lengthy defense of the studio's decision while promising that upcoming personal housing will be much less expensive.

                  Yoshida said that the high cost in intended to prevent wealthy players from snapping up all of the plots and that all players will be earning more money with patch 2.1. "I understand that, in taking these measures to ensure even distribution of land, we are asking for considerable patience from those players who are eager to enjoy housing right away," he said. "While I sympathize with players concerns, we believe that this is in the best long-term interests of the game."

                  Yoshida's team forecasts that 80% of current free companies will be able to buy a small plot of land within three months of the patch going live. He also said that prices will begin to fall on unpurchased plots of land every six hours and that the team is looking into expanding servers and housing areas.

                  MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV executive producer defends expensive housing costs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  The Stream Team: Checking into Aura Kingdom with Beau and the devs

                  Posted: 17 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST

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                  Aura Kingdom screenshot
                  Join Beau and members of the Aura Kingdom developer team as they show off this brand new Anime-inspired MMORPG. If you want to get an early look at the game or feel like asking the developers some questions, come check it out!

                  Game: Aura Kingdom
                  Host: Beau
                  Date: Tuesday, December 17th, 2013
                  Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

                  Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

                  Continue reading The Stream Team: Checking into Aura Kingdom with Beau and the devs

                  MassivelyThe Stream Team: Checking into Aura Kingdom with Beau and the devs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Warhammer Online offers partial refunds

                    Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:30 PM PST

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                    WAR
                    With Warhammer Online's closure tomorrow, some of the players will be entitled to a partial refund for money spent during the past few months.

                    Those who qualify for a refund will include those who had paid game time on their accounts on November 1st, including credit card payments and game time cards. Mythic will also be refunding unused purchased game item codes. These refunds will begin tomorrow but could take up to 90 days to process.

                    In the case of credit card purchases, Mythic will automatically refund the money back onto the account. For cards and codes, Mythic is asking those who qualify to contact customer support to arrange a refund method (we suggest a shady back alley hand-off between a Mythic employee and you).

                    MassivelyWarhammer Online offers partial refunds originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    The Stream Team: Guild housing and more in FFXIV's patch 2.1

                    Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:00 PM PST

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                    Every MMO faces their first major patch day sooner or later. It's a day of hope, a day of promise, a day of reckoning. For Final Fantasy XIV that day is today and it has promised quite a lot. Players are expecting PvP, guild housing, new quests, new features, class tweaks, and cactuar-themed table lamps. Has FFXIV succeeded? Join Massively's Jasmine live at 3:00 p.m. EST and find out for yourself!

                    Game: Final Fantasy XIV
                    Host: Jasmine Hruschak
                    Date: Tuesday, December 17th, 2013
                    Time: 3:00 p.m. EST

                    Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

                    Continue reading The Stream Team: Guild housing and more in FFXIV's patch 2.1

                    MassivelyThe Stream Team: Guild housing and more in FFXIV's patch 2.1 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Star Citizen delays dogfighting module release

                      Posted: 17 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST

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                      Oh, I was... expecting more dogs.
                      It seems that Star Citizen has fallen victim to the desirable weakness of having too much money. That sounds like the sort of problem you'd like to have, definitely, but it does mean that the game has grown a lot bigger in every way. That means delays due to the sheer size of everything. Chris Roberts has explained in the latest development blog that the long-awaited dogfighting module is one of the things that will be delayed a month or two while the team works out the kinks.

                      Roberts states in the update that the module was originally built to be a quick and easy way of showing off the game to potential investors, a goal that evaporated as community funding completely financed the game. The result was rebuilding and a lot of extra work in making the dogfighting both fun and balanced, as well as building it into the backend for social interaction that really shows the module's strengths. Roberts has elected to wait on the release to ensure that it's as good as can be, and he hopes that players will join him for a livestream of the in-development module on December 20th at noon EST.

                      MassivelyStar Citizen delays dogfighting module release originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Brad McQuaid delays Kickstarter until January

                      Posted: 17 Dec 2013 10:30 AM PST

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                      Oh, right, this is happening.
                      Would you like to give Brad McQuaid a whole lot of money to make another game after Vanguard? Well, you'll just have to wait a bit longer. In a recent Twitter update, McQuaid stated that the Kickstarter for his next project will be delayed until January due to the challenge of raising funds during the holiday season. He also promised followers that the delay will mean showing off more of the game when the project goes live.

                      No one knows what the project will look like at this point, although McQuaid's previous statements have indicated that it's meant as a throwback to the days of the original EverQuest and the first iterations of Vanguard. If that sounds like exactly what you'd like to play... well, as we said, you'll have to wait a little while to fund it. But it's coming.

                      MassivelyBrad McQuaid delays Kickstarter until January originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      The Soapbox: There's nothing wrong with easy

                      Posted: 17 Dec 2013 10:00 AM PST

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                      Generally an easy game.  Also generally fun.  Coincidence?  No.
                      The word "easy" gets a really bad reputation in gaming, an unfair reputation, at that, because there's absolutely nothing wrong with something's being easy.

                      A while back, we hosted a great column about how we tend to call things easy when they really aren't. (Seriously, go read that.) That's all well and good, but that's also not what I'm talking about here. Gaming as a community seems to have decided that easy is just plain bad, that it's a horrible insult, and a game being easy is like saying that a game is worthless.

                      But easy isn't bad. Playing a single-player game on easy difficulties isn't a mark of weakness, and having an MMO that's easy on a whole doesn't mean it's a bad game. Having easy content isn't just an acceptable thing; it's an outright good thing for a lot of player. There is absolutely nothing wrong with easy.

                      Continue reading The Soapbox: There's nothing wrong with easy

                      MassivelyThe Soapbox: There's nothing wrong with easy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Dec 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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