2
Feb

General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

Go Galactic with Starbound's Mass Effect Edition Mod

Posted: 02 Feb 2014 05:08 PM PST

"I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite mod on the Citadel."

Starbound is massively popular these days, inspiring mods aplenty. Like with many procedurally-generated or sandbox-inspired games lately, it's now rocking a Mass Effect makeover by way of a clever new mod. If you've ever wanted tiny Shepard as a Starbound avatar, things just don't get any better than this.

The Mass Effect Edition mod (via PC Gamer) for Starbound is available now, though you'll have to check it out in early access beta mode for the present. Create your very own Mass Effect character, and hop aboard the Normandy SR-1 to explore the cockpit, CIC, engine room, and more. The navigation has been altered to reflect the familiar galaxy map as well.

There's a whole shipload of surprises waiting for Mass Effect fans in this mod, including the "Omni-Blade" and even some familiar biotic powers to help lift up your enemies right up into the air. Like the Minecraft mod before it, it's clear a lot of love has gone into creating an authentic Mass Effect experience. If you're a fan of either game, you'll enjoy this clever mixture as well -- right down to the music included.

If you're willing to take the plunge, head over to the Chucklefish forums to get started by downloading the mod. Let us know what you think!

Round Two For Ouya Console with Overhauled Hardware and Storage

Posted: 02 Feb 2014 04:10 PM PST

Ding! Time for another round

If the first run of the Kickstarter-powered Ouya wasn't enough to inspire you to purchase one, perhaps new and improved hardware will change your mind. A brand new 16GB version of the Ouya is giving the console an overhaul to attract a new audience as well as win back detractors from the initial release.

After the Ouya released to nearly universal criticism, sporting bugs, only 8GB of onboard storage, and a cornucopia of other issues, Kickstarter backers and those who pulled the trigger on the deal were understandably disgruntled about the whole ordeal. Though the original Ouya console was only $99 in comparison to the exorbitant pricing of next-gen darlings PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, you essentially got what you paid for.

Now, the second Ouya console is running $129 for an overhauled rig, sporting a quad-core Tegra 3-T33 processor with 1GB of memory and 16GB of internal Flash storage with the ability to add additional storage. The outside's considerably shinier and vastly-improved as well, and you'll also get an HDMI cable with the console and one controller. Additional controllers are available for $49.99.

It's unsure whether or not an overhaul like this can revive the Ouya or its brand, but it'll be interesting to see if a system that seems to have failed its backers can rise from the ashes into something great. Are you planning on grabbing a new Ouya console? Check out additional details at Ouya's official site here. The matte is attractive alright, but is this enough to attract new buyers?

AMD Officially Releases Mantle API

Posted: 02 Feb 2014 03:54 PM PST

After much fanfare, Mantle is finally available

The much-anticipated Mantle API is ready at long last for its official launch, with an onslaught of drivers and patches enabling low-level API going live yesterday. Those looking to get their hands dirty with Mantle will need to install the Catalyst 14.1 beta drivers which can be downloaded over the next few days from AMD's official website.

Though initial reports from various testers do appear to be a bit rocky, you can try them yourself if you're looking to expand your PC gaming experience, especially if you're dealing with hardware on the lower end of the spectrum. Mantle's debut might be chugging along and gaining steam, but they have made the commitment to ensure the API is steadily evolving.

As reports on Mantle's performance roll in, we'll of course be following the story as it develops, as well as possible test results and opinion on the matter. In the meantime, if you've set your mind on giving it a test drive, be sure to get back to us with your assessment and results, especially in games like Battlefield 4, which is what it appears most are having issues with.
Posted by Shri Krishna

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