General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Razer Adds Chroma Lighting to 19-Button Naga Mouse

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 11:20 AM PDT

Razer Naga Epic ChromaGo crazy with 16.8 million color options

Razer this week announced the launch of its Naga Epic Chroma gaming mouse, the latest updated peripheral to join its Chroma family. Armed with 19 buttons in all -- including 12 mechanical buttons situated on the mouse's thumb grip -- this MMO rodent is similar to the original Naga, except that it offers customizable lighting and doesn't yet come in a left-handed version.

It boasts an 8200 DPI 4G laser sensor that captures up to 200 inches per second and offers a maximum acceleration of 50 G, Razer says. It also boasts both a wireless and wired mode with 1,000Hz Ultrapolling and a 7-foot, lightweight, braided cable.

"The new Naga Epic Chroma gives MMO gamers more freedom than ever before," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "We've combined the comfortable features of the Naga with even more state-of-the-art gaming features, along with the new, fully-customizable Chroma color features. The 12 mechanical thumb grid buttons enable players to maximize their gameplay capabilities and to get the unfair advantage. All in all the Razer Naga Epic Chroma is now even more personal than it already was."

Razer will show off the Naga Epic Chroma at BlizzCon in Anaheim, California, on November 7, 2014. It will also go on sale next month (presumably around the same time) for $130 MSRP.

Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

No BS Podcast #235: Alienware's New Hardware, Chromebooks, and Gordon's Farewell

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 10:56 AM PDT

maximum pcAll good things…

Let's not bury the lede, as they say in the newspaper business: This issue of Maximum PC will be my last. After more than 200 issues, 16 Dream Machines, and lots of bent hardware, my time here is done.

It has been a glorious time, too. When I started at boot (the predecessor to Maximum PC) fat CRTs were in, a Pentium II was the hotness, and real nerds had separate cards for 2D and 3D display. Heck, you had to have a separate MPEG2 decoder card just to play DVD-resolution videos, and Fast Ethernet cards, too. 

Yup, in other words, I have been at this a hell of a long time. When old-timers leave, they inevitably wax poetic about the fun times they had. You know, like the time we accidentally triggered the fire alarm system causing a building-wide evacuation, a fire truck to roll up, and a pretty pissed off stare from the facilities manager. That, of course, wasn't as bad as the previous unnamed staffers who tested a "fire proof" data safe with a gallon of gasoline and a box of Duraflame logs. Somehow the tiny five-pound fire extinguisher didn't work and, well, this time the fire fighters actually had something to put out when the fire truck rolled up to the parking lot.

There are stories of prototype hardware shattered, motherboards exploded, CPUs bent, and pranks played on staffers, belly-aching laughs at the expense of, well, everyone, and the ever-exciting job of waiting for Santa Claus in the brown suit to bring the latest-and-greatest piece of hardware to test.

Through it all, the PC has never disappointed me in my belief that it's the most valuable technology tool known to mankind. It's always there to solve any problem you might have. Need to create 250MB photo mosaics using hundreds of photos, and then project it on a wall and couple it with a touchscreen so people can zoom in and out to find themselves? The PC can do it. I know, because I did such a project recently using nothing but off-the-shelf parts, and with just two days to plan it out, too.

And though I sound like a broken record, I'm going to say it again: The PC is not dead and there is no post-PC unless the future means that work and other things of consequence aren't going to be done. For that, we need to thank the hardware and software vendors who continue to push forward because that is the only direction to go.

It would also be wrong of me not to thank the current and former staff of Maximum PC. They have been some of the greatest journalists I've had the pleasure of working with. 

I'll save my last few words for you though, the loyal reader of Maximum PC. Many of you have been reading the magazine for years and many of you have just discovered the wonders of the PC just recently. Thank you for one hell of a ride and always believing in the PC. I'll be just like you now—a subscriber and reader of Maximum PC.

- Gordon Mah Ung

 

You can download and listen to the audio version of Podcast #235 here

  Subscribe to Maximum PC Podcast on iTunes

Subscribe to the magazine for only 99 cents an issue:

In print
On Zinio
On Google Play
On iTunes
On the Amazon Kindle Store
On the Barnes & Noble Nook Store

Stalk us in a number of ways:

Become a fan on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Subscribe to us on Youtube

Subscribe to our RSS feed

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes

email us at: maximumpcpodcast AT gmail DOT com

Leave us a voicemail at 877-404-1337 x1337

China Plans to Replace All Windows Machines with Linux Rigs by 2020

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 08:43 AM PDT

Linux PenguinIt's a "de-Windowsifying movement"

Most of the mainstream angst directed towards Windows 8 and 8.1 in the U.S. has to do with the Modern UI and little things like the lack of a Start menu. But while hopes are high that Windows 10 will be the OS everyone wanted Windows 8 to be, China's concerns run much deeper than the UI. As such, China reportedly plans to undergo a "de-Windowsifying" process in which its systems will be move to a state-endorsed version of Linux by 2020.

"We call this a de-Windowsifying movement," Computer Science Professor Ni Guangnan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering told Ecns.cn.

The 75-year-old professor went on to discuss his plans to bring together China's homegrown OS developers in an alliance to replace Windows within the next few years.

"Now is the most vulnerable time for Microsoft in China, and the best time for homegrown software companies to beat it," Ni added.

So far the effort has the support of 15 OS developers. None of them can take on Windows by going at it alone, but China's hope is that by pooling their talent and resources, they can rid the country's reliance on Microsoft's OS. It's also worth noting that China recently banned the use of Windows 8 on all government PCs due to spying concerns.

"At the end of the day, I expect the 15 operating systems to merge into one or two operating systems, while the rest of the developers can shift into providing other relevant services," Ni said.

Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Roccat Releases Tenkeyless Ryos TKL Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 06:58 AM PDT

Roccat Ryos TKL ProGo crazy with macros

Ever since entering the U.S. market, Roccat's been steadily updating its catalog of gaming gear, the newest of which is the Ryos TKL Pro, a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard. According to Roccat, the design and functionality of the Ryos TKL Pro resulted from "tons of hands-on research and testing," including that of professional gamer HyuN, the number one StarCraft II player in the world.

"The Ryos TKL Pro looks good, it feels really great to play on, and supports all of my needs when I'm training, and definitely in competition," HyuN says. "If you're an eSports gamer like me or just love playing with an amazing keyboard, the TKL Pro is awesome."

Beyond the marketing fluff, the Ryos TKL Pro is a compact plank with Cherry MX key switches, 470 programmable macros, Roccat Talk support (it can communicate with other Roccat peripherals), two 32-bit ARM Cortex processors, 2MB of flash memory to store profiles, and per-key illumination that you can customize with special effects.

The Ryos TKL Pro is available now for $140 MSRP.

Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Newegg Daily Deals: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-2133, Intel Core i3-4130 Haswell, and More!

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 06:07 AM PDT

G.Skill Sniper RAMnewegg logo

Top Deal:

On this All Hallows' Eve, it's the perfect time to treat yourself to a sweet upgrade, and you don't even have to dress up and go begging door to door for it. Right from the comfort of your own home, check out today's top deal for an 8GB (2x4GB) kit of G.Skill Sniper Series DDR3-2133 Desktop Memory for $77 with free shipping (normally $85 - use coupon code: [EMCWPGP54]. High frequency, low timings, and dressed to the nine in a sweet looking heatspreader -- what's not to like?

Other Deals:

Intel Core i3-4130 Haswell Dual-Core 3.4GHz LGA 1150 54W Desktop Processor for $110 with free shipping (normally $120 - use coupon code: [EMCWPGP32])

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit for $80 (normally $100 - use coupon code: [EMCWPGP84])

Adata DashDrive UV128 16GB Flash Drive for $8 with free shipping (normally $10 - use coupon code: [EMCWPGP34])

Dell UltraSharp IPS Panel 24-inch 8ms  LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor for $240 with free shipping (normally $280 - use coupon code: [EMCWPGP64])

MMORPG News

MMORPG News


Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor: Lord of the Hunt DLC Announced

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 08:17 AM PDT

Lord of the Hunt DLC Announced

The Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor team has announced that it will be releasing a new downloadable content package called "Lord of the Hunt". New screens were revealed on the Shadow of Mordor Facebook page.

Lands of Hope: Redemption: New World Bosses & Halloween Activities

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 07:06 AM PDT

New World Bosses & Halloween Activities

Lands of Hope Redemption has been updated with some new world bosses and a new Halloween event, according to the latest information from indie developer Daniel Paull. Players can take on a pair of new world bosses in open world fights.

General: TOME: Immortal Arena Steam Launch Announced

Posted: 29 Oct 2014 08:17 PM PDT

TOME: Immortal Arena Steam Launch Announced

KIXEYE has announced that its MOBA brawler, TOME, will launch on Steam on November 21st. The launch will arrive with a brand new 5v5 map called "Sanctuary".

ArcheAge: Much to Do, But Not Always Worth Doing

Posted: 29 Oct 2014 08:25 PM PDT

Much to Do, But Not Always Worth Doing

After a hundred hours, lots of olives harvested, lives taken, hearings attended, fish captured, and donkeys ridden we're ready to put ArcheAge to the test. Do XLGAMES and Trion Worlds have a winner on their hands? Read on for our full review.

Moonrise: Combat System Revealed

Posted: 31 Oct 2014 05:52 AM PDT

Combat System Revealed

The Moonrise team has posted a lengthy article on the Undead Labs site that gives fans an inside look at how combat will play out. The hallmark and unique feature of combat is that every decision truly matters when taking on an opponent and that the balance of power during battle can shift at any time based on a number of factors.

General: Trion's Halloween Tricks & Treats

Posted: 30 Oct 2014 04:15 PM PDT

Trion

Players in Trove, Defiance, Rift and ArcheAge have a lot of spooky thrills and chills now that Halloween events are in full swing.

Trove: Open Beta to Kick Off on November 5th

Posted: 30 Oct 2014 04:10 PM PDT

Open Beta to Kick Off on November 5th

Trion Worlds has sent word that the Trove open beta will officially begin on Tuesday, November 5th. Players can look forward to starting the game as Knight, Gunslinger, Fae Trickster, or a Neon Ninja, Dracolyte. The team also added that the Candy Barbarian will be coming to Trove soon.

Star Trek Online: Talaxian Playable Species Announced

Posted: 30 Oct 2014 04:06 PM PDT

Talaxian Playable Species Announced

The Star Trek Online site has been updated with the news that the Talaxian species will now be available the game's lifetime subscribers. Players of both Federation and Klingon factions will be able to create Talaxians that also come with a unique species trait. Perfect World is enticing players to buy a lifetime subscription by dropping the price $100 to $199.99.

General: Razer Introduces Naga Epic Chroma Gaming Mouse

Posted: 30 Oct 2014 01:57 PM PDT

Razer Introduces Naga Epic Chroma Gaming Mouse

Razer is introducing the gaming world to a new mouse today in the form of the Naga Epic Chroma tailor made for MMO players with nineteen configurable buttons and 16.8 million color options. The Naga Epic Chroma will mark its official debut on November 7th.

WildStar: More with Less

Posted: 30 Oct 2014 11:13 AM PDT

 More with Less

Last week, NCSoft announced it was "restructuring key operations" across Western properties, with WildStar's Carbine Studios hit particularly hard. In this week's column, Gareth Harmer takes a closer look at the possible impact of the layoffs.

Conquer Online: Conquer Online Newbie Pack Giveaway!

Posted: 30 Oct 2014 11:35 AM PDT

Conquer Online Newbie Pack Giveaway!

Conquer Online's new expansion, King of Kung Fu, is now available! To celebrate this fantastic event, MMORPG is teaming up with Conquer Online to give away limited gift packs! Join the new era as the King of Kung Fu, and challenge the best martial artists in the world of Conquer!

Lord of the Rings Online: The Beornings and Central Gondor Are Coming

Posted: 29 Oct 2014 04:38 PM PDT

The Beornings and Central Gondor Are Coming

Recently, we were invited by Turbine to check out Lord of the Rings Online's Update 15. In it, we were presented with a first look at the Beorning class and also the new big battle that centered around the off-camera lore story of the retaking of Pelargir, an important Gondorian port that Aragorn and the Grey Company needed to liberate in order to prevent a devastating attack upon Minas Tirith.

Shroud of the Avatar: A Tour Around Update 11

Posted: 29 Oct 2014 04:32 PM PDT

A Tour Around Update 11

This week I continued my interview series on the development of Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues by Portalarium. Joining me this month were both the founder of Portalarium Richard "Lord British" Garriott and Executive Producer "Dark" Starr Long. We spent a little over an hour running around New Britannia Tuesday night showing off a number of interesting player and developer created features.

Total Pageviews

statcounter

View My Stats