General Gaming Article

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• Gigabyte Aims Shrink Ray at Maxwell, Ends Up with a Mini ITX GeForce GTX 970
• Cooler Master Updates Liquid Cooling Line with Nepton 120XL and 240M Coolers
• Newegg Daily Deals: Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Case, Intel Core i7 5820K, and More!
• Nvidia GeForce 344.48 WHQL Driver Now Available to Download
• G.Skill's Phoenix Blade 480GB PCIe SSD Sports Quad Controllers in RAID 0
• Satechi Announces Ultra Affordable Edge Wireless Gaming Mouse
• Real-Life Hoverboard Seeks Funding on Kickstarter

Gigabyte Aims Shrink Ray at Maxwell, Ends Up with a Mini ITX GeForce GTX 970 Posted: 22 Oct 2014 12:27 PM PDT Tiny graphics card packs a Maxwell-sized bite It's not the size of the graphics card that matters, but the potency of the GPU inside, right? We'll find out when we get our hands on Gigabyte's mini ITX variant of the GeForce GTX 970 (GV-N970IXOC-4GD). Though it's tiny by comparison to a full size GeForce GTX 970 video card, Gigabyte's mini ITX version is actually overclocked to run at a base clockspeed of 1076MHz and a boost clockspeed of 1216MHz. Nvidia's reference design calls for a 1051MHz base clockspeed and 1178MHz boost clockspeed. Granted, Gigabyte's overclock isn't anything crazy, but considering the size of the card, even just running at stock clocks would have been noteworthy. According to TomsHardware, the cooler is likely based on Gigabyte's WindForce 3X design, except that it only has one fan instead of three. There's an aluminum fin arry underneath, along with a Triangle Cool design to manipulate airflow more effectively. Apparently it works -- Gigabyte claims the card ran at 62C during a Metro Last Light benchmark, compared to a reference card running at 76C in the same test. That kind of cooling potential bodes well for a mini ITX system that's short on space with limited airflow. Gigabyte has priced the card at $330 and will start shipping it next month. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Cooler Master Updates Liquid Cooling Line with Nepton 120XL and 240M Coolers Posted: 22 Oct 2014 11:57 AM PDT Two new closed-loop water coolers Cooler Master's been hard at work updating its liquid cooling line, and what the company came up with is the Nepton 120XL and Nepton 240M. These are the newest additions to the Nepton family of closed-loop water coolers, and what they bring to the table are new fan designs. They use Silencio FP 120 fans to deliver high-pressure performance at lower noise levels than their predecessors. The radiator block sizes are also different. Whereas the Nepton 280L and 140XL use 280mm and 140mm radiators, respectively, the new Nepton 240M and 120XL use 240mm and 120mm radiators, respectively. Other features include a microchannel waterblock along with thicker and more durable FEP tubing that Cooler Master claims has a lower coolant evaporation rate than before. Like the previous models, these are pre-filled at the factory and pressure tested so that you don't have to worry about maintenance. No word yet on price or availability, though as a point of reference, the previous generation Nepton 280L streets for around $120 and the 140XL for $100. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Newegg Daily Deals: Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Case, Intel Core i7 5820K, and More! Posted: 22 Oct 2014 11:19 AM PDT Top Deal: Airflow, airflow, airflow! That's the key to a well behaved system (well, one of them anyway). And if it's the potential for a lot of air rushing through your system that you're after, then take a look at today's top deal for a Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced Full Tower Case for $120 with free shipping (normally $130 - use coupon code: [EMCWPHW52]; addtional $20 mail-in-rebate). This chassis is full of fans and fan mounts, though it's also able to accommodate liquid cooling. Other Deals: Asus GeForce GTX 760 2GB 256-Bit GDDR5 Video Card for $185 with free shipping (normally $215 - use coupon code: [EMCWPHW32]; Additional $20 Mail-in rebate) Asus 23.6-inch 2ms Full HD HDMI LED BackLight LCD Monitor for $120 with free shipping (normally $160 - use coupon code: [EMCWPHW42]; Additional $20 Mail-in rebate) Corsair Force LS Series  2.5-inch 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive for $55 with free shipping (Additional $10 Mail-in rebate) Intel Core i7-5820K Haswell-E 6-Core 3.3GHz LGA 2011-v3 140W Desktop Processor for $375 with free shipping (normally $390 - use coupon code: [EMCWPHW45])

Nvidia GeForce 344.48 WHQL Driver Now Available to Download Posted: 22 Oct 2014 09:10 AM PDT New driver release brings Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR) to Kepler and Fermi Nvidia today made available its "Game Ready" GeForce 344.48 WHQL driver, which among other things brings support for Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR) to desktop graphics cards based on the company's Kepler and Fermi architectures. DSR is a featured that was rolled out with Nvidia's Maxwell launch, and what it does is render games at a higher, more detail resolution and then shrinks them down to the resolution of your monitor. The GPU maker's bold claim is that DSR can give you 4K (3840x2160) quality graphics on any screen, including your Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) panel. "Enthusiasts with compatible monitors and technical know-how refer to this process as Downsampling or Super Sampling. DSR drastically improves upon this process by applying a high-quality filter specifically designed for the task," Nvidia explains. "DSR also makes the process simpler with on/off integration built directly into GeForce Experience and it's compatible with all monitors, removes the need for technical know-how, and is integrated into GeForce Experience's Optimal Playable Settings." You can view a demonstration of this technology here -- drag the slider left and right to see how DSR affects the visual quality of the grass. Nvidia's latest driver also adds a bunch of application and 3D Vision profiles, along with 3D compatibility mode support for Dead Rising 3 and Strife. Driver Download Release Notes (PDF) Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

G.Skill's Phoenix Blade 480GB PCIe SSD Sports Quad Controllers in RAID 0 Posted: 22 Oct 2014 08:23 AM PDT This SSD can give your data whiplash Today's high performance SATA 6Gbps solid state drives top out at around 590MB/s for read and write transfers. If you need something faster, you can slap a pair in a RAID 0 configuration, or switch over to PCI-Express. G.Skill chose both with its new Phoenix Blaze Series. Kicking off G.Skill's Phoenix Blade line is a 480GB PCIe SSD equipped with four LSI SF-2281 SSD controllers in a RAID 0 setup. It's designed with a PCIe Gen 2.0 x8 interface and is capable of up to 2,000MB/s maximum read and write speeds. Sustained read and write transfers are rated at 1,900MB/s and 1,050MB/s, respectively, along with up to 90,000 4KB random read and up to 245,000 4K random write IOPS. "By introducing extreme read and write performance, the potential of today's multi-core processors can be unleashed, resulting in higher productivity and performance, whether you are in extreme gaming or professional design," G.Skill says. Unfortunately G.Skill didn't announce a price for its latest SSD, though we spotted a product page on NCIXUS that's asking $800 for it. PCIe SSDs typically cost more than SATA-based drives, the latter of which have fallen below $0.50 per gigabyte, though we'll wait until the Phoenix Blade stabs through to more vendors before commenting on price. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Satechi Announces Ultra Affordable Edge Wireless Gaming Mouse Posted: 22 Oct 2014 07:58 AM PDT A gaming rodent without the premium price tag Want to increase the value of your product? Call it a "gaming" device and it's suddenly worth much more than your original asking price. Or so it seems when shopping for peripherals like keyboards, headsets, and mice. However, not all so-called gaming products carry top-shelf price tags -- Satechi just announced the immediate availability of its Edge Wireless Gaming Mouse for $20 MSRP. The Edge sports a "Gaming Mode" that allows users to press the "Turbo Button" to double-click with just one keystroke, in case that's of use in the games you play. There's also a "Video Control Mode" that might come in handy when not playing games. What it does is change the functions into play/pause, fast forward/backtrack, and the clear screen buttons with a single click, while the scroll wheel adjusts the volume. There are 7 buttons in all. Other features include an optical sensor with an on-the-fly adjustable DPI (800, 1600, 2400, or 4000), up to 500Hz polling rate, 20G of acceleration, a grooved grip, four LED colors depending on the DPI selected (red, green, purple, or blue), and up to 36 hours of battery life (via two AA batteries). The Satechi Edge Wireless Gaming Mouse can be found and purchased today on Satechi's website and through Amazon. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Real-Life Hoverboard Seeks Funding on Kickstarter Posted: 21 Oct 2014 09:04 PM PDT The hoverboard is finally becoming a reality Ever since seeing Marty McFly use a hoverboard to escape Biff and his goons in Back to the Future Part II, many people have been wondering when this device would ever become a reality. There is even a countdown for the date when Marty arrived in "the future" to remind everyone when the movie predicted hoverboards would be a thing. Well, now it appears that the hoverboard can become a reality thanks to a Kickstarter project for the Hendo Hoverboard. Developed by Hendo Hover, the company is seeking $250,000 in funding that will go towards mass production, finishing touches, and the building of specialized "hoverparks" where people will be able to ride them. Yet while the hoverboard uses magnets, it doesn't rely on placing one magnet over another to create a stable static equilibrium (which is impossible to do). Instead, Hendo relies on Lenz's law. "Lenz's law explains how eddy currents are created when magnets are moved relative to a conductive material," the company explains. "These eddy currents in turn create an opposing magnetic field in the conductor.  Our core technology, which we call Magnetic Field Architecture (MFA™), focuses this field more efficiently." The result of this technology is that the Hendo Hoverboard is capable of hovering about an inch off of the ground. But there are some caveats. For example, it requires a specialized surface that will work with its hover engines. Without a surface that is a non-ferromagnetic conductor, the hoverboard will just be a large and expensive paperweight. And there is the other problem for Kickstarter backers who want to own the device. It will cost $10,000 for a working product and, even then, there are only 10 Hendo Hoverboards up for grabs (which are all gone).  However, the company says this is just the beginning for, not only the hoverboard, but various uses of its MFA technology.  "The Hendo Hoverboard is a first-step product, a precursor to the broader implementation of the world-changing technology of MFA," Hendo explains. "It enables a new generation of lift and motion technology that will change the way we view transportation. Additional applications for MFA technology are virtually limitless - from business, to industry, to healthcare, and beyond." As of the posting of this article, the Kickstarter project has 735 and received $188,257 in funds with 54 days to go. And feel free to check out the Kickstarter Page for more information about the Hendo Hoverboard and the reward tiers that are available.  Will you buy a hoverboard when it has an affordable price tag for general consumers? Follow Sean on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

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MMORPG News

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• Moonrise: Building the World of Moonrise
• General: Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition Release Date Announced
• General: FOnline 2 - An Indie Labor of Love for Fallout
• General: Warlock 2 Game Sweepstakes!
• Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft: Android Version Likely Out Before the End of the Year
• Shroud of the Avatar: Release 11: It’s Steamy!
• Wind of Luck: Arena: Sailing to Victory
• KingsRoad: Soulstone In-Game Event Begins Today
• World of Warcraft: Metallica to Rock Blizzcon 2014
• The Secret World: The Perfect MMO For Halloween
• Elder Scrolls Online: Two New Series-Related Lore Collections Announced

Moonrise: Building the World of Moonrise Posted: 20 Oct 2014 05:53 PM PDT Some might ask, "Why bother with story? I just want to fight monsters." I've always believed that good story can only help a game, even for players who don't consciously pay attention to it. A cohesive, compelling world seeps into your unconscious mind, making the game more immersive, more intriguing, and ultimately more fun to hang out in for hours and hours.

General: Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition Release Date Announced Posted: 22 Oct 2014 03:49 AM PDT Beamdog's Trent Oster has announced via Twitter that Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition will be released on October 30th. IWDEE will be playable across multiple platforms including PC, Mac, and on iOS and Android tablets.

General: FOnline 2 - An Indie Labor of Love for Fallout Posted: 20 Oct 2014 05:04 PM PDT The FOnline 2 team has let us know that the game will be ready for launch on October 25, 2014. FOnline 2 is an independently developed project with its roots planted firmly in the Fallout niche. After nearly two years in development, the team is ready to open the doors to players.

General: Warlock 2 Game Sweepstakes! Posted: 21 Oct 2014 03:52 PM PDT MMORPG.com is very pleased to present this exclusive sweepstakes event! We have partnered with Paradox Interactive to give away 20 digital copies of Warlock 2 Premium Edition! Each gift key is valued at $49.99 USD!

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft: Android Version Likely Out Before the End of the Year Posted: 21 Oct 2014 01:59 PM PDT The latest developer blog has been posted on the Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft site that lets fans know that the team has been hard at work and that Android users should see a version of the game before the end of the year. The delay, it is explained, is largely due to overhauling the interface in a way that works, hence the development team needing more time to perfect it.

Shroud of the Avatar: Release 11: It’s Steamy! Posted: 21 Oct 2014 12:53 AM PDT I am quite literally just back from Austin as I sit down to write this latest update on Shroud of the Avatar. I wasn't able to make it up for my typical week-before-release hangout with the guys, so today was pretty much a drive by. It's well worth staying up past my bedtime to hack this article out, though. Despite the brevity of my visit, I got a load of cool information to share with you folks, and I'm excited to do it.

Wind of Luck: Arena: Sailing to Victory Posted: 19 Oct 2014 06:58 PM PDT The time has come to hire a crew and battle for fame, expertise and piasters on your own war ship. As captain of a Caribbean, Mediterranean or East Asian vessel, you'll head out to sea, get the wind in your sails, prime your cannons and engage in explosive naval warfare. Wind of Luck Arena (WoLA) is a Free to Play Multiplayer Battle Arena game by independent developers "Trazzy Entertainment".

KingsRoad: Soulstone In-Game Event Begins Today Posted: 19 Oct 2014 07:10 PM PDT Kingsroad players will have some ghoulish fun beginning today, Tuesday, October 21st, when the new Halloween-themed event, Soulstone, arrives in game. During the event, players will be able to celebrate the season to grab treats in the forum of Halloween gear, unique collectibles and more. Players will take on the realm of the dead and fight through ghosts, ghouls, and skeletons, to name a few.

World of Warcraft: Metallica to Rock Blizzcon 2014 Posted: 21 Oct 2014 09:30 AM PDT Fans of classic heavy metal will be happy to hear that Metallica will be performing at this year's Blizzcon to be held in early November in Anaheim, California. The iconic band will be performing on November 8th to a sold-out show.

The Secret World: The Perfect MMO For Halloween Posted: 19 Oct 2014 06:40 PM PDT There really is no better MMO to play during Halloween than The Secret World. I'm even lucky enough right now to be playing in Kingsmouth thanks to Murphy's Lawbreakers. Kingsmouth is of course forever stuck in Halloween. Not only is it actually Halloween there, see the pumpkins sitting on porches and a roadside stand as evidence of this. But the entire setting screams Halloween horror.

Elder Scrolls Online: Two New Series-Related Lore Collections Announced Posted: 21 Oct 2014 08:45 AM PDT Titan Books has announced that it has gained the worldwide rights to two lore-related collections to give Elder Scrolls Online players and fans of the other Elder Scrolls games more information about the games they love and play. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tales of Tamriel and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim take players a look at original art and historical lore behind the series.

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