General Gaming Article

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• Maxwell Goes Mobile as Nvidia Launches GeForce GTX 970M and 980M GPUs
• Acer 4K G-Sync Monitor Tested with a GTX 980 (Video)
• Newegg Daily Deals: Asus Radeon R9 280 Graphics Card, AMD FX-8320 Vishera, and More!
• Google Voice Finally Updated to Support MMS Messages
• Mobile Gadgets Now Outnumber Humans
• Mushkin Launches Chronos G2 Solid State Drive Family
• Microsoft Explains Key Logging Activities in Windows 10 Technical Preview

Maxwell Goes Mobile as Nvidia Launches GeForce GTX 970M and 980M GPUs Posted: 07 Oct 2014 05:26 PM PDT Update: Now with more screens and information on Nvidia battery boost When Nvidia unveiled its first Maxwell-based graphics cards during its GAME24 event, the company trumpeted increased performance alongside power efficiency, allowing for high-end video cards that run cooler and quieter. That's the kind of combination that's ideal for mobile gamers, and if you've been waiting for Maxwell to arrive on laptops, your wait is over -- Nvidia this morning launched its GeForce GTX 970M and 980M notebook GPUs. "Let's start with some history. Nvidia's 8th-generation GPU architecture, Fermi, delivered about 40 percent of the desktop equivalent in 2010. Kepler, our 9th generation GPU, launched in 2010, closed the gap to 60 percent, giving gamers 1080p resolution and 'ultra' settings for the first time in a notebook," Nvidia explained in a blog post. "With Maxwell, that gap shrinks to 80 percent of the desktop equivalent and pushes the resolution well beyond 1080p. It's an astonishing achievement when you compare the thermal and power differences in a desktop tower and a notebook chassis," Nvidia continued. 980M block diagram The GeForce GTX 980M wields 1536 CUDA cores with a base clockspeed of 1038MHz and unspecified boost clockspeed. It uses GDDR5 memory clocked at 2500MHz on a 256-bit bus, which translates into 160GB/s of memory bandwidth. All the latest APIs and technologies are supported, such as Optimus, GameStream, ShadowPlay, DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.4, OpenCL 1.1, PCI Express 3.0, and so forth. Nvidia's GTX 970M is slightly toned down with 1280 CUDA cores with a base clockspeed of 924MHz, also with an unspecified boost clock. The biggest difference between the two is that the memory travels through a 192-bit bus and tops out at 120GB/s of memory bandwidth. Nvidia promises better battery boost with its 900-series mobile cards One returning feature that Nvidia is touting is Nvidia Battery Boost, which is a feature that throttles GPU performance down to as low as 30FPS to optimize for battery life. If you've been following our coverage of Battery Boost, however, you might remember how disappointed we've been in it. From our testing, battery boost seems to have little-to-no impact on battery life. When we met with Nvidia, the company acknowledged that it hasn't done the best job of working with OEMs to implement the feature, which it says it is now working hard to rectify. Nvidia claims that according to its internal tests, Battery Boost can increase battery life anywhere from 29-55% in games such League of Legends and Tomb Raider.  Nvidia's GeForce GTX 980M with battery boost demo According to Nvidia, both GPUs are capable of rendering games at up to 4K resolution. Since most laptops don't support resolutions above 1920x1080, the Maxwell parts use something called Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR) to render games at the higher res and then scale them down. Nvidia says this results in superior image quality than rendering directly to 1080p and considers it Maxwell's most exciting new technology. Look for notebooks equipped with the new GeForce GTX 980M and 970M GPUs to start shipping today. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Acer 4K G-Sync Monitor Tested with a GTX 980 (Video) Posted: 07 Oct 2014 01:38 PM PDT Acer joins the G-Sync party We got Acer's XB280HK monitor in, which is the company's 28-inch 4K G-Sync unit. For now, it's the only 4K G-Sync unit that you can buy. G-Sync is a technology from Nvidia that sycronizes your monitor's refresh rate with your video card's refresh rate, which eliminates screen tearing (but it's not compatible with all GeForce cards. Here's a list of supported G-Sync GPUs). 4K resolution, at 3840x2160, is four times as many pixels as 1920x1080, so it needs a lot of horsepower to play a game. We tested the monitor on one of our GeForce GTX 980 video cards running Batman: Arkham Origins, a game that's optimized for Nvidia graphics. Your guide in the Youtube video is Tom McNamara, our Technical Editor. This monitor retails for about $800, which is the same price as the Asus ROG Swift, a 2560x1440 G-Sync panel. However, the Swift can go up to a 144Hz refresh rate, while the XB280HK maxes out at 60Hz. Both monitors use a TN panel instead of IPS. IPS tends to have better image quality, but TN can have much lower latency. If you're thinking of picking one of these up, also be aware that they are DisplayPort-only. HDMI and DVI can't provide enough bandwidth. (HDMI 2.0 does, but the monitor has to have support for that built in.) These monitors come with the correct cable, and the compatible cards all have DisplayPort -- but some cards may only have "mini" DisplayPort, so you'll need an adapter in those scenarios.

Newegg Daily Deals: Asus Radeon R9 280 Graphics Card, AMD FX-8320 Vishera, and More! Posted: 07 Oct 2014 10:03 AM PDT Top Deal: In the early days of gaming, we went west, east, north, and south in search of clues (Zork) or grabbed hold of vines to swing over danger in search of treasure (Pitfall). And today? We do those same things, only the graphics are much, much better. Best of all, the amount of pixel pushing power you get for your buck is at an all-time high. Just witness today's top deal for an Asus Radeon R9 280 Graphics Card for $190 with free shipping (normally $225 - use coupon code: [EMCWPPC48). Equipped with Asus' DirectCU II cooler, this card runs cooler and quieter than reference, and is also faster. Other Deals: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5-inch Internal Hard for $93 with free shipping (normally $103 - use coupon code: [EMCWPPC27]) Samsung 850 Pro Series 2.5-inch 512GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Internal Solid State Drive for $380 with free shipping G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory for $145 with free shipping (normally $155 - use coupon code: [EMCWPPC28]) AMD FX-8320 Vishera 8-Core 3.5GHz (4.0GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 125W Desktop Processor for $135 with free shipping (normally $150 - use coupon code: [EMCWPPC32])

Google Voice Finally Updated to Support MMS Messages Posted: 07 Oct 2014 09:41 AM PDT Go ahead, attach that photo Google employee Alex Wiesen announced today that his company is expanding carrier support for Google Voice MMS, which means that those photos and other attachments you send should reach the desired destination. Though we take it for granted on our mobile devices, sending attachments is something that hasn't always worked well (or at all) using Google Voice. The reason why is because most wireless carriers rely on totally different servers to handle and route MMS (Multimedia Message Service) messages. This has been an issue with Google's forwarding system, but after working with several carriers, it seems Google has the situation worked out. "We've been working with nearly 100 different North American carriers to enable this feature — including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Bell Canada, Rogers, Telus, and many more — and starting today all these integrations are live," Wiesen stated on his Google+ page. "So enjoy those incoming pics, say goodbye to fomo (fear of missing out), and stay tuned for more Google Voice messaging improvements!" It's interesting that Wiesen didn't specifically call out Verizon among its list of carriers that have enabled MMS through Google Voice, but did mention AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. A simple oversight? We're not sure, though we're sure the Internet community will make some noise if it's not working. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Mobile Gadgets Now Outnumber Humans Posted: 07 Oct 2014 09:12 AM PDT Your fun fact of the day Do you fear that one day we'll all become servants of our robotic overlords? If you want to fuel that fear, think about how they might communicate with each other, and then consider that the number of active mobile devices is higher than the human population, marking a milestone that electronic gadgets have never reached before. Many of these mobile devices also happen to be considered "smart." Eric Mack over at CNET did some digging on the matter, though what prompted his curiosity is a mystery we have yet to solve -- perhaps Mack is already working for the other side? Or maybe we're just paranoid. Either way, the human population sits at a few million below 7.2 billion people, with 2 people being added per second (or 1.2 percent annually), according to the U.S. Census Bereau's world population counter. If you direct your browser to GSMA Intelligence, you'll see that by comparison there are over 7.2 billion mobile connections and growing fast. How fast? Over five times the rate of the human population counter. Silliness aside, it's a rather remarkable milestone, though whether it's a good or bad one is up for debate. As pointed out by Kevin Kimberlin, Chairman of Spencer Trask & Co., "No other technology has impacted us like the mobile phone. It's the fastest growing man-made phenomenon ever -- from zero to 7.1 billion in three decades." Also interesting is that all these mobile devices are owned by less than half of the human population. Image Credit: Flickr (Antonio Fucito) Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Mushkin Launches Chronos G2 Solid State Drive Family Posted: 07 Oct 2014 08:48 AM PDT Maximum transfer rate of 555MB/s For those of you who needed another solid state drive line to consider for your next upgrade, Mushkin today added the Chronos G2 series to its family of SSDs. Part of the pitch from Mushkin is that they're designed and assembled in the U.S., while the other selling point is that the Chronos G2 line offers a high level of performance for users working with a limited budget. "If you want the most innovative Mushkin SSD ever, you'll have to be more specific. Mushkin doesn't only focus on launching new and innovative storage and memory solutions, we are always looking for new ways to enhance our existing products as we are doing with our value Chronos G2," said Nicolas Villalobos, Director of Global Marketing at Mushkin Inc. "A reincarnation of the legendary Chronos, the Chronos G2 Series was born to stand out from the crowd. Its competition-surpassing value give Mushkin's Value SSD an oversized attitude." With all that talk about value, it's a bit curious that Mushkin didn't provide any MSRPs in its press release. However, we were able to dig up some street pricing, though take it with a grain of salt -- a single vendor on Newegg (PlatinumMicro.com) is offering the new drives, and as they become more widely available, prices may change. In any event, street pricing at the moment breaks down like this: Mushkin Chronos G2 60GB: $60 ($1 per gigabyte) Mushkin Chronos G2 120GB: $80 ($0.67 per gigabyte) Mushkin Chronos G2 240GB: $125 ($0.52 per gigabyte) Mushkin Chronos G2 480GB: $220 ($0.46 per gigabyte) As you can see, the higher the capacity, the better the value in terms of price per gigabyte. As for performance, these drives sport a SATA 6Gbps interface and a SandForce SF-2000 series controller. Performance for each drive looks like this: Mushkin Chronos G2 60GB: 550MB/s read, 515MB/s write, no mention of IOPS Mushkin Chronos G2 120GB: 555MB/s read, 525MB/s write, no mention of IOPS Mushkin Chronos G2 240GB: 555MB/s read, 535MB/s write, no mention of IOPS Mushkin Chronos G2 480GB: 540MB/s read, 465MB/s write, 55,000 IOPS All three drives are backed by a 3-year warranty. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Microsoft Explains Key Logging Activities in Windows 10 Technical Preview Posted: 07 Oct 2014 08:12 AM PDT 'You agreed to it, sucka!' Microsoft has a chance to atone for Windows 8/8.1 with Windows 10, the operating system that Windows 8 probably should have been, though things are getting off to somewhat of a rocky start. Complaints are starting to roll in that the Windows 10 Technical Preview is overstepping its bounds with the amount of information it collects, and some have even categorized the OS as a keylogger of sorts. Turns out it's true -- the Windows 10 Technical Preview does record keystrokes in certain situations, and it also mines quite a bit of personal data. However, Microsoft contends that these methods are all laid out in the Terms of Use -- the fine print filled with legalese that we all make sure to read, right? -- and by downloading and installing the software, you agreed to the data collection. "With Windows 10, we're kicking off the largest ever open collaborative development effort that will change the way we build and deliver Windows. Users who join the Windows Insider Program and opt-in to the Windows 10 Technical Preview are choosing to provide data and feedback that will help shape the best Windows experience for our customers," Microsoft told The Inquirer. "As always, we remain committed to helping protect our customers' personal information and ensuring safeguards are in place for the collection and storing of that data. As we get closer to a final product, we will continue to share information through our terms of service and privacy statement about how customer data is collected and used, as well as what choices and controls are available," Microsoft continued. Straight to the point, Microsoft is saying that this is pre-release software, and in order to shape and mold it into a prime time OS, it needs to collect your data, data which you agreed to fork over. And in the future, Microsoft will be more upfront about its data collection methods, scout's honor. So, what exactly are you agreeing to? As laid out in a Privacy Statements page: "When you acquire, install and use the Program, Microsoft collects information about you, your devices, applications and networks, and your use of those devices, applications and networks," Microsoft states. Microsoft goes on to give examples of the data it collects, which includes your name, email address, preferences and interests, browsing, search and file history, phone call and SMS data, device configuration and sensor data, and application usage. However, it's this entry that has people comparing the Technical Preview to a keylogger: "When you open a file, we may collect information about the file, the application used to open the file and how long it takes and use it for purposes such as improving performance; or enter text, we may collect typed characters and use them for purposes such as improving auto-complete and spell check features," Microsoft explains. If you're okay with all that, as well as your data being shared, then carry on. Otherwise, the only real solution is to not use the Technical Preview and wait for a later version, such as the final release or a Release Candidate. Image Credit: Flickr (Robbert van der Steeg) Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

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MMORPG News

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• Warhammer 40.000: Eternal Crusade: The Downed Man State in EC
• Destiny: Today's Patch to Deal with Connectivity Issues
• Styx - Master of Shadows: Master of Shadows, But Jack of Everything Else
• Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: v2.4 to Feature One New Dungeon, Two Hard Mode Dungeons
• World of Warcraft: Four Dungeons From Warlord's Start to Help Players Level
• Guild Wars 2: Surviving the Doldrums
• Fearless Fantasy: v2.0, A Summer's Worth of Work, Released
• The Crew: Delayed to December 2nd
• Star Wars: The Old Republic: Shadow of Revan Trailer Released
• General: PvP Season Ends, Brawler's Guild Changes & Hearthstone Cards
• General: 5 MMOGs That Seriously Disappointed Me

Warhammer 40.000: Eternal Crusade: The Downed Man State in EC Posted: 06 Oct 2014 03:09 PM PDT In this week's Eternal Crusade column, we are going to talk about two topics that are somewhat inter-related, the role of support classes, and the "downed man" state, in Behaviour's upcoming game.

Destiny: Today's Patch to Deal with Connectivity Issues Posted: 07 Oct 2014 12:33 AM PDT When Destiny servers go down today for maintenance, a new update will be deployed that will help players connect to the game more easily and includes both client and server fixes.

Styx - Master of Shadows: Master of Shadows, But Jack of Everything Else Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:59 PM PDT Styx: Master of Shadows is the brand new Stealth RPG from Cyanide Studios set in the same world as 2012's Of Orcs and Men, though taking place long before the story of that game. You play the titular role of Styx, an expert goblin thief as he tries to break into the deepest parts of the heavily guarded human tower of Akenash and steal the heart of the World-Tree. Styx is definitely a master of stealth, but is the rest of the game up to such lofty titles? Read on for our full review.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: v2.4 to Feature One New Dungeon, Two Hard Mode Dungeons Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:38 PM PDT The next patch for Final Fantasy: A Realm Reborn is set to give dungeon delvers more to explore. One brand new dungeon, "Snowcloak", will be added, as well as a pair of hard mode dungeons (Sastasha and the Sunken Temple of Qarn) will make their debut with the next patch.

World of Warcraft: Four Dungeons From Warlord's Start to Help Players Level Posted: 06 Oct 2014 02:32 PM PDT The World of Warcraft expansion, Warlords of Draenor, will feature a level cap increase from 90 to 100. To help players gear up and get to 100 in a smooth arc, four dungeons will open with the expansion. Bloodmaul Slay Mines (90-92), Iron Docks (92-94), Auchindoun (94-97) and Skyreach (97-99) give players a smooth progression to near the level cap.

Guild Wars 2: Surviving the Doldrums Posted: 04 Oct 2014 06:34 PM PDT Alternate title: "Does Anyone Still Play This Game?" Yeah, that's a bit of a troll title, usually invoked any time an MMO is going through a slow time, whether real or perceived by a cretin who believes that any time past a game's first week, when the servers are jammed and everyone drops everything else to play. After that, though? "lol, that game's dead."

Fearless Fantasy: v2.0, A Summer's Worth of Work, Released Posted: 06 Oct 2014 12:03 PM PDT The Fearless Fantasy team has let us know that the latest version of the game has been released and represents a summer's worth of work. The update features new content, a streamlined engine and Survival Mode. Best of all, Fearless Fantasy is half off on Steam.

The Crew: Delayed to December 2nd Posted: 06 Oct 2014 11:18 AM PDT Ubisoft has announced that The Crew will be delayed to December, about three weeks later than earlier anticipated. The delay is needed, according to Ubi, to give the console beta more time on both PlayStation 4 and XBox One.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Shadow of Revan Trailer Released Posted: 06 Oct 2014 11:15 AM PDT Bioware has released a new trailer called "The Shadow of Revan" for Star Wars: The Old Republic, the next content expansion that will arrive for early access beginning in December. The expansion will see a level cap increase and much, much more.

General: PvP Season Ends, Brawler's Guild Changes & Hearthstone Cards Posted: 04 Oct 2014 06:21 PM PDT This week we look at a few new Hearthstone rewards, check out evidence alluding to what new game we might see in the Blizzard launcher and find out what's in store at the end of Brawlers Guild season one.

General: 5 MMOGs That Seriously Disappointed Me Posted: 04 Oct 2014 06:09 PM PDT Video games almost always fail to measure up to the hype they generate during development. It's pretty unusual to see one that under-promises and over-delivers. Indeed, relatively few even manage to meet the expectations they promote. To be fair, this isn't entirely one-sided since many of us tend to look at upcoming titles through our rose-colored glasses. Naturally, relative to how we think or hope they'll turn out, some disappoint more than others.

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