General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

Asus TD300 Dual-booting Tablet Reportedly Postponed After Google Pressure

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 04:19 PM PDT

Asus TD300 dual-booting tabletThe device was showcased at CES 2014

How often do we see promising prototypes and concepts mesmerizing attendees at trade shows, only to never be heard of again or, if they do, fail to hit store shelves in a timely manner? Although not the first device of its kind, the Android- and Windows-booting Transformer Book Duet TD300 did get some decent press when it was first showcased at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. Sadly for those holding their breath for the device, the TD300 is said to have run into a major hurdle.

Apparently, Google is not too pleased with the whole idea of Android being made to share tablet/laptop screen space with rival Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system and has, per a Digitimes report, managed to exert enough pressure on Asus for the latter to postpone the x86-based TD300.

In light of some recent developments, it appears as though that Microsoft may have softened its stance on such dual-booting devices. Perhaps Microsoft is hoping that a more conciliatory approach in this matter is likely to do it more good than harm, especially considering how it has very little to lose in the smartphone and tablet compared to Google. Even though this report may not be true (often the case with Digitimes), we can see why Google might have an issue with devices capable of booting both Android and Windows.

Image Credit: AsusTek

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Holdouts Take Note: Microsoft Readies Penultimate Patch for Windows XP

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 03:56 PM PDT

Windows XP Support to End Next Month

Support for Windows XP to end next month

Windows XP support is entering its final stages. This coming Tuesday will see the release of some of the last security patches for the operating system which, despite its advanced age, still commands a sizable share of the PC market and simply refuses to die.

Microsoft will be delivering five security bulletins on this month's Patch Tuesday. If you're a Windows XP holdout, what you should really be concerned about is the fact that all five security bulletins affect Windows XP. With Windows XP support scheduled to end on April 8, now is a good time to abandon the 13-year-old operating system if you haven't done so already.

Of the five security bulletins, two are rated "critical" and three "important". One of the critical bulletins will address a zero-day bug in Internet Explorer that last month prompted the Redmond-based company to issue a "Fix it" tool to help temporarily block ongoing attacks until such time as a more permanent fix was available.

"Windows XP is affected by all five updates, and there is really no reason to expect this picture to change; Windows XP will continue to be impacted by the majority of vulnerabilities found in the Windows ecosystem, but you will not be able to address the issues anymore," wrote Qualys CTO Wolfgang Kandek in a recent blog post.

"So you need a strategy for the XP machines remaining in your infrastructure. We are still seeing a significant number of XP machines in our scans, ranging from around 25% in our consumer oriented service BrowserCheck to under 20% in our enterprise oriented data from QualysGuard."

"Of the remaining issues, one is an important privilege issue, probably going to be a kernel or kernel driver patch; never something to ignore but less important than a critical/remote issue," wrote Ross Barrett, senior manager of security engineering at Rapid 7, in a post on security news site Help Net Security. "The other two are the seldom seen 'security mechanism bypasses', probably the same issue being patched in Windows and in Silverlight.  We will have to wait and see how exploitable this turns out to be.  If it turns out that some of these issues are in the wild and under exploitation, then that will be change the circumstances of what to prioritize."

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Asus Chromebox Now Available for Preorder

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:57 PM PDT

Asus Chromebox

The $179 device will begin shipping on March 14

The Chrome OS-powered mini desktop PC Asus announced last month is now up for preorder from online retailers in the States. The $179 Asus Chromebox-M004U, which is the Taiwan-based company's first stab at a Chrome OS-based desktop, is one of three SKUs announced by the company.

Available for preorder from Amazon, NewEgg and TigerDriect, this particular SKU packs an Intel Celeron 2955U processor, 2GB DDR3 RAM, 16GB solid state storage, four USB 3.0 ports, Intel HD Graphics, one HDMI port, one DisplayPort, and 802.11 n dual-band wireless, Bluetooth 4.0,  LAN connectivity, and an SD card reader.

Asus, which has yet to launch a Chromebook, has become only the second vendor to launch a Chromebox, with Samsung being the only other company in the fray. However, the two companies will soon have some more company, as Hewlett-Packard has also announced plans to launch a Core i7-powered Chromebox sometime during spring 2014.

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Steelseries Unveils Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls Accessory

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 07:02 PM PST

Diablo 3 accessoriesDiablo-themed accessories for the fan

In anticipation of the upcoming expansion for Blizzard's Diablo 3, SteelSeries has released a limited edition Reaper of Souls QcK mousepad. The mousepad retails for $14.99 on the manufacturer's website with a mousepad bundle also being offered for $45.00 that includes four other Diablo 3-themed pads. 

Those wishing to further show their love of Blizzard's action role-playing game can also purchase the Diablo 3-themed mouse and headset to accompany the mousepad. The Diablo 3 mouse, that has a 10 million click lifespan, retails for $69.99. The Diablo 3 headset, that costs $119.99, is a closed-back headset and has full feature support of the SteelSeries Engine 3 software. It also has a uni-directional microphone that is retractable and in-line volume and mute controls. 

Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls will be released on March 25 for the PC, Mac, and PlayStation 4 platforms for $39.99. 

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Posted by Shri Krishna

MMO Updates

MMO Updates

Massively Exclusive: Turbine on the future of Asheron's Call and the studio

Posted: 09 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , ,

When has putting an MMO into maintenance mode ever signaled a bright future for a game? Even so, that's what seems to have happened for Asheron's Call, which is preparing to not only transition into a maintenance mode phase but drop subscription fees and allow for player-run servers by the end of the year.

The announcement was so unusual in the industry that we had to reach out to Turbine to get more perspective on this move. Asheron's Call Executive Producer Rob Ciccolini took the time to answer a few questions about the change for the game, Turbine's recent layoffs, and how the studio is adjusting going forward.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Turbine on the future of Asheron's Call and the studio

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Turbine on the future of Asheron's Call and the studio originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    One Shots: Moons over Bajor

    Posted: 09 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PDT

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    STO
    Outer space: It looks cool whether it's in color or black and white. Case in point? Check out both varieties of today's headlining screenshot, submitted by reader Chris.

    "Here is the deep space science vessel USS Aurora passing over one of the moons of Bajor in Star Trek Online," Chris writes.

    Personally, I think the light and dark contrast looks so much cooler in black and white. That's of small consolation to the crew of the Aurora who went blind sailing directly into the sun, but hopefully their families will find some solace in my admiration.

    Continue reading One Shots: Moons over Bajor

    MassivelyOne Shots: Moons over Bajor originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Mar 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Have games replaced movies?

      Posted: 09 Mar 2014 06:00 AM PDT

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      Batman wallpaper
      A friend and I were talking about The Last of Us film adaptation recently, and his indifference to the project in spite of being a huge fan of the game raised an interesting question. He basically said that he doesn't look forward to movies anymore, because MMOs and games in general have become his preferred entertainment medium.

      I pretty much agreed, which was startling because both of us are thirtysomethings who grew up idolizing films and filmmakers from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Now, though, if it's not a Batman flick or a fantastical HBO series, I'll get around to it whenever, if at all. There are just too many great games to explore!

      What about you Massively readers? Have games or MMOs replaced movies and television for you?

      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: Have games replaced movies? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Time for some thrilling heroics in Guild Wars 2

        Posted: 08 Mar 2014 03:00 PM PST

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

        GW2
        If you're curious about the conclusion of Guild Wars 2's first seasonal living world arc but are too busy leveling up your 15th alt or throwing your savings into the Mystic Toilet to experience that conclusion yourself, fear not: Friend of Massively Richie "Bogotter" Procopio will do the hard part of playing through the final leg of the story for you. His new 18-minute video will lead you through the showdown as he resists the tug of the gripping plot to make sure to use a bunny finisher and dance on corpses.

        It should go without saying that there be spoilers ahead, but just in case: big spoilers ahead!

        Continue reading Time for some thrilling heroics in Guild Wars 2

        MassivelyTime for some thrilling heroics in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Mar 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Free for All: Why developers need to stop apologizing

        Posted: 08 Mar 2014 01:00 PM PST

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        RuneScape screenshot
        Remember the old saying "confidence is attractive"? Well, it is. It's possible that we've all been the victim of a confident person at one time or another, whether we're buying that extra add-on for our cable package or "investing" money into a Kickstarter. This is exactly why an MMO developer needs to be confident and keep the apologizing to a minimum.

        Apologies come in many different forms. Over the course of our lives, we spend a lot of time giving and receiving apologies. It's not as sinister as it sounds; saying "sorry" helps cut down on confrontation and can even help to form new relationships. Unfortunately it's also very easy to apologize too much. In this age of indie development and crowd-funding, developers need to be aware of when they are saying sorry too much, and players need to watch out for overly apologetic people.

        Continue reading Free for All: Why developers need to stop apologizing

        MassivelyFree for All: Why developers need to stop apologizing originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Stream Team: Defecting to WildStar's Dominion

          Posted: 08 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PST

          Filed under: , , , , , ,

          Throughout her journeys as an Exile in WildStar, Massively's MJ has learned to dislike the Dominion. But you've requested a fair hearing! So now she's heading to the other side to show off the earliest moments of Dominion life. Join us live at 1:00 p.m. to check out the beginning quests and see how they differ from those of the Exiles.

          Game: WildStar
          Host: MJ Guthrie
          Date: Saturday, March 8th, 2014
          Time: 1:00 p.m. EST

          Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

          Continue reading The Stream Team: Defecting to WildStar's Dominion

          MassivelyThe Stream Team: Defecting to WildStar's Dominion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Mar 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Posted by Shri Krishna

            MMORPG News

            MMORPG News

            General: Can Funcom Blame Falling Numbers on Free-to-Play?

            Posted: 08 Mar 2014 02:59 PM PST

            Can Funcom Blame Falling Numbers on Free-to-Play?

            This week, mega-publisher Funcom announced its profits were down considerably, and blamed the drop on heavy competition among free-to-play MMOs. While there's certainly a lot of noise out there these days, with a new MMO appearing every five minutes, the company's reasoning seems faulty. After all, isn't competition what free enterprise is all about?

            General: Harry Potter MMO Put on Indefinite Hold, Site Disappears

            Posted: 07 Mar 2014 04:49 PM PST

            Harry Potter MMO Put on Indefinite Hold, Site Disappears

            The unofficial Harry Potter MMO has been put on indefinite hold and the website containing information about the game has disappeared from the web. There is no real reason given for the shutdown, nor is any timeline given for when the game might resurface.
            Posted by Shri Krishna
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