General Gaming Article

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• Cherry Releases an Encrypted Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Bundle
• Upgraded Standard Sets Sights on 8K Displays for Laptops and All-In-One PCs
• Mining for Mods: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• Microsoft's "Windows 365" Trademark Hints at Subscription Model
• Biostar Kicks Off New Gaming Hardware Series with Gaming Z97X Motherboard
• Newegg Daily Deals: MSI GP Series GP60 Leopard-472 Laptop, AMD FX-9370 Vishera, and More!
• AMD Radeon 300 Series GPUs Nearing Release
• Raspberry Pi Freezes When Subjected to Xenon Flash
• More Project Spartan Images, Details Emerge

Cherry Releases an Encrypted Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Bundle Posted: 09 Feb 2015 01:43 PM PST Because you never know who's snooping Privacy's a hot topic, especially since our innocence was shattered when former NSA subcontractor Edward Snowden confirmed that we can't even pass gas without the government knowing what we ate for lunch. Like it or not, it's the world we live in, though it doesn't mean we have to wave the white flag. To thwart more casual snoopers, Cherry's JD-0400EU Encrypted Wireless Keyboard and Mouse combo might do the trick. According to Cherry, you're "guaranteed secure data transmission with an advanced energy supply" when using its wireless keyboard and mouse bundle. The set includes AES 128-bit encryption with a cable charging function for both the keyboard and mouse. The peripherals also feature rechargeable NiMH batteries with a low self-discharge rate. Unfortunately the keyboard doesn't use Cherry MX key switches, and is instead based on SX (scissor switch) technology. The keys also look to be low profile, which can be a plus or minus depending on your preference. The mouse is ambidextrous, has three buttons, and up to a 2000 dpi. No word yet on when the combo will appear in retail or for how much. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Upgraded Standard Sets Sights on 8K Displays for Laptops and All-In-One PCs Posted: 09 Feb 2015 11:55 AM PST Looking beyond 4K Ultra HD Consumers have yet to fully embrace 4K Ultra HD displays, but now that the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has published the Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) 1.4a standard, it will only be a matter of time before 8K resolution panels end up on all-in-one PCs, laptops, and even mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. The new standard replaces eDP 1.4 published a year ago this month. It also borrows from the previous standard by implementing its new higher HBR3 (High Bit Rate) link rate, which operates at 8.1Gbps per lane. Now part of the eDP 1.4a standard, HRB43 combines with the DSC (Display Stream Compression) v1.1 standard to support 8K resolution panels. Another term you're likely to run into is Multi-SST Operation," or MSO. This supports a new type of display architecture that VESA calls "Segmented Panel Display." What it does is allow four high-speed eDP data lanes within the eDP interface to be divided up between either two or four independent panel segments. Lower resolutions will use two panel segments, while higher resolution displays will use four of them. Each segment can have its own timing controller and integrated source drivers. "The Multi-SST Architecture enables greater design flexibility and power savings in new LCD panel technologies for embedded high resolution displays. Samsung proposed this feature in order to permit panel makers to make even broader usage of the eDP interface in advanced panels, as well as reduce panel thickness, reduce power draw, and reduce cost," said Bong-Hyun You, VP of Samsung Display Co. This is a work in progress that will continue to evolve along with DisplayPort, though it won't be a particularly slow evolution. VESA expects to see systems using eDP 1.4a as early as next year. Image Credit: documentary.net Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Mining for Mods: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Posted: 09 Feb 2015 11:27 AM PST Take a look at some Skyrim graphics mods One of the best reasons to be a PC gamer is modding. There is a passionate and dedicated community that helps to breathe new life into many PC games because of it. Yet while the scope and diversity of mods available are vast, we are focusing on mods that will improve a game's graphics. Of course, we can't talk about mods without mentioning Bethesda's popular game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Skyrim, and previous installments in the franchise, has a very large modding community and a plethora of mods that enhance its graphics. Because there are so many different mods, we are picking a small selection where the changes will be noticeable while keeping the game as stable as possible. We're also focusing on mods that improve the outdoor settings in the game rather than structures.  The mods we'll be showcasing are Skyrim HD, Skyrim Floral Overhaul, Realistic Water Two, Enhanced Lights and FX mods, and Static Mesh Improvement Mod. These particular mods, we feel, will enhance the game in a noticeable fashion without too much fiddling, and should be easy for newcomers to implement. We'll be looking more at outdoor environments rather than towns, since we find that we spend more time travelling through the wilds than in towns. It made sense to focus our efforts on where we will be spending most of our time in the game.  For video capturing and screenshots, we went with the AMD Phenom II X4 965 processer, 8GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 with the game's settings set to Ultra. Installation of mods is relatively simple, depending on how you do it. But before you begin to download and install any Skyrim mods, there are a couple of things you'll need. A Nexus Mod account, so you can download mod files, and WinRAR to extract the .zip files.  When you've taken care of that, you can install the mods manually in four easy steps. 1) Download the mod you want. 2) Extract the file using WinRAR, WinZIP, or 7-Zip. 3) Extract the contents to Skyrim's data folder. In our case, it is located here: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\skyrim\Data 4) Once done, just launch Skyrim and choose Data Files. When you do, you'll see a list of the mods you extracted to the Data folder. Click the ones you want to use. The other way to install mods is with the Nexus Mod Manager, which makes the process easier. However, not all of the mods available will work with the NMM program, which is still in open beta. For our purposes this is not an issue, as all of the mods used here work with NMM. For those wishing to install a variety of mods, you should be aware that, depending on what you want to enhance, some mods will conflict with each other. In some cases, we've had to choose one mod over another because of incompatibility issues that caused game crashes. In other cases, we've installed some mods on top of others. For example, we wanted to have the best looking water possible (you know how much we love our water here). In order to do this, we installed Skyrim HD first, then we installed Realistic Water Two and replaced the water texture files that came with Skyrim HD. That way, the game still benefits from the HD textures Skyrim HD brings with it for landscape and flora, but with improved water from Realistic Water 2 (look at the comparison pictures in the gallery and you will see the difference). Stock vs. Mod Comparisons: We've provided a couple of pictures that show the stock version and final modded version so that you can see the differences the mods will make when combined together.  In the first picture, you'll notice an immediate change to the flora, with the pine tree becoming larger and more fleshed out (don't ask us for the specific variety of pine, botany is not our forte). Looking at the road in the modded version, you can see that the stones are dirtied up, or not as white, but can still be seen. The wall contains more rocks in its contruction, while the wood has been given a different texture. Click on the image above to see an animated GIF comparison We were psyched to mod the game's water. As you can see, RW2 reduced the wave's choppiness for this particular river, smoothing it out with a gentle flowing and ripple effect. You can also see the reflection of the trees better in the smoother water as well.  Click on the image above to see an animated GIF comparison Installing these mods will take some patience and, depending on how ambitious you are with the amount of mods you want to install, plenty of trial and error. But in the end, it's worth it. Your "new and improved" Skyrim will look great. What mods do you use for Skyrim? Follow Sean on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Microsoft's "Windows 365" Trademark Hints at Subscription Model Posted: 09 Feb 2015 09:13 AM PST Examining the different scenarios Microsoft has been granted a patent for "Windows 365" by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and of course, the immediate reaction is that Windows is headed toward a subscription model similar to Office 365. Indeed that may be the case, though from everything that we know, it probably won't apply to Windows 10, which will remain a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users for the first year. Some people took the free upgrade announcement to mean that after the first year, a subscription fee would kick in. That's not our understanding of things, though the Windows 365 trademark is certainly an interesting development. Here are three possible scenarios we see playing out. 1. Windows 10 Goes the Subscription Route We'll say right off the bat that this is highly unlikely, at least as an all-or-nothing affair. As we understand the free upgrade path to Windows 10, Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users will have a year to make the upgrade at no cost, and after that, it will cost a flat fee, just like Windows does now. This is similar to what Microsoft's done in the past, except instead of offering a free upgrade, it offered a reduced rate and discounted family packs. That said, we could see Microsoft rolling out a subscription pricing plan as an option, just as it does with its Office suite. So, just as you can purchase Office 2013 or subscribe to Office 365, perhaps you'll be able to choose between Windows 10 and Windows 365, the latter of which would be an ongoing subscription that ensures you'll receive all futures versions of Windows, so long as your subscription is current. 2. Going All-In with Microsoft Similar to the above scenario, Microsoft could offer an all-inclusive package of Windows products on a subscription basis. This could include Windows OS releases, Office, Skype, OneDrive storage, and even Xbox Live, though the more it bundles in, the higher the subscription. Alternately, it could relate to an all-inclusive package of Windows products, save for Windows itself. Microsoft COO Kevin Turner said during the Windows 10 event that "We've got to monetize [Windows 10] differently, and there are services involved." We don't want to extract too much out of that comment, though it could mean charging a subscription fee for certain products and services that tie into Windows 10. 3. Post–Windows 10 Era One other possible scenario is that Windows 365 will follow Windows 10. Microsoft is heavily invested in the cloud and sees it being an integral part of its future, so perhaps Windows 10 will be the last flat-fee version of Windows. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of hints in the trademark itself, which is posted at Neowin. It covers everything from computer software and operating systems to telecommunications services and providing education and training. Including all those things would seem to support scenario number two above, though it's more likely Microsoft is simply covering all of its bases. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Biostar Kicks Off New Gaming Hardware Series with Gaming Z97X Motherboard Posted: 09 Feb 2015 05:47 AM PST Say hello to USB 3.1 Biostar's been making a concerted effort to gain a reputation as a high-end hardware player, and it's doing it by releasing boards with enthusiast-grade and sometimes unique feature-sets. We saw it last summer with the release of the TD85, a motherboard with half a dozen PCI-E slots intended for Bitcoin miners, and more recently with the Hi-F iZ97Z7. Continuing the trend, Biostar today launched the first in a new line of gaming hardware, the Gaming Z97X motherboard with USB 3.1 support. According to Biostar, the Gaming Z97X is the first motherboard to come with onboard USB 3.1—there are two connectors. Also known as SuperSpeed+, USB 3.1 doubles the data transfer rate from 5Gbps to 10Gbps and is backward-compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. The board also has three PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, PCIe M.2 support, dual GbE LAN ports (Intel + Killer), Super Hi-Fi audio, two HDMI ports supporting 4K and 2K resolutions, a SATA express connector, 12-phase power for the LGA 1150 CPU, 100 percent solid capacitors, and a super conductive heatsink design. The board comes with Biostar's new external Gaming Command box. It fits in a 5.25-inch bay and allows voice control over certain situations. The box features an independent USB DAC, dedicated mic input and line output jacks, buttons for adjusting the volume, diagnostic LEDs, and a few other tidbits. No word yet on when Biostar Z97X Gaming will be available or for how much. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Newegg Daily Deals: MSI GP Series GP60 Leopard-472 Laptop, AMD FX-9370 Vishera, and More! Posted: 09 Feb 2015 05:12 AM PST Top Deal: Haven't you heard? iPad sales are down and tablet growth as a whole has slowed considerably. If we were analysts jumping the gun, we'd call this the post-tablet era. Either way, if you've had your fill of the tablet life and now find yourself in the market for an affordable gaming laptop, check out today's top deal for an MSI GP Series GP60 Leopard-472 Gaming Laptop for $779 with free shipping (normally $899 - use coupon code: [EMCANAT32]). This 15.6-inch laptop sports an INtel Core i7 4710HQ processor, 8GB of RAM, 1TB HDD, and Nvidia GeForce GT 840M graphics. Other Deals: G.Skill Sniper Series 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory for $122 with free shipping (normally $137 - use coupon code: [EMCANAT28]) AMD FX-9370 Vishera 8-Core 4.4GHz Socket AM3+ Desktop Processor for $210 with free shipping (normally $220 - use coupon code: [EMCANAT77]) Seagate Hybrid Drives ST500LM000 500GB NCQ 2.5-inch Laptop SSHD for $60 with free shipping (normally $65 - use coupon code: [ESCANAT63]) Western Digital Green WD30EZRX 3TB IntelliPower 3.5-inch Internal Hard Drive for $95 with free shipping (normally $105 - use coupon code: [ESCANAT24])

AMD Radeon 300 Series GPUs Nearing Release Posted: 09 Feb 2015 03:44 AM PST Company is 'putting finishing touches' Ever since the furor over GTX 970's specs first erupted last month, AMD has been having plenty of fun rubbing salt into Nvidia's self-inflicted wounds, reminding GTX 970 owners how Nvidia lied to them and asking those interested in getting a "real video card at a decent price" to go for one of its products instead. Seemingly convinced by the sales pitch, a former GTX 970 owner from Down Under recently took to AMD's Facebook page to know about the odds of either the R9 390x or R9 380x making it to the market in time for GTA V's PC release. Here's what AMD had to say: "Hey mate, we don't have an official date to share just yet but the second we know, we will definitely announce it on Facebook. We're still putting the finishing touches on the 300 series to make sure they live up to expectation. Can't wait to reveal them though. We're pretty excited." During the chipmaker's latest earnings call, CEO Lisa Su promised to launch some  "very good" graphics cards during the second quarter of 2015. It also expects to begin shipping its new "Carrizo" accelerated processing units (APUs) during the same period. Follow Pulkit on Google+

Raspberry Pi Freezes When Subjected to Xenon Flash Posted: 09 Feb 2015 01:50 AM PST SMPS chip to blame The Raspberry Pi 2 credit card-sized computer that went on sale a week back has been a talking point ever since. Initially, it was all about its many improvements over the first-gen Pi and the fact that it will eventually be to run a free version of Windows 10. Now, however, the focus (pun intended) has turned to its strange behavior when showered in xenon flash. On Friday, a RaspberryPi.org forum user, who goes by the handle "PeterO", opened a new thread to notify the rest of the  community about the apparent camera-shyness of the Pi2 in his possession: "I have discovered that my PI2 is camera-shy! Taking its picture with a flash causes an instant power off! I've done it three times now, and same thing happens each time. First two times, I didn't realise what had happened, as I wasn't looking at the screen at the time and only noticed a few minutes afterwards. Third time, I did it just to watch the screen... Instant power off." It didn't take long for others to reproduce the issue and, ultimately, zero in on the culprit, which it turns out is the diminutive single-board computer's "uncapped" U16 SMPS (switched mode power supply). According to one user, covering the said part with Blu-Tack is all that is needed to prevent this issue, while another user suggests alternatives like black vinyl insulating tape, opaque epoxy, hot glue or RTV.   Meanwhile, PeterO has changed his forum signature to read: "Discoverer of the Pi 2 xenon death flash!" Follow Pulkit on Google+

More Project Spartan Images, Details Emerge Posted: 09 Feb 2015 12:09 AM PST Current version of Project Spartan is said to be only marginally better than IE11 in HTML5 compliance When it officially unveiled the Project Spartan (codename) browser last month, Microsoft said it would not be part of "our first few Insider builds." It is hard to say how much longer we might have to wait for the first publicly available Windows 10 preview build with Project Spartan, but one thing is for sure: leaks, whether of entire builds or images therefrom, are never far off. The latest set of Windows 10 leaks, or purported leaks, comes to us from Chinese site ITHome.it. A couple of days back, a series of images, allegedly showing some new icons from an as-yet unreleased build of  the Windows 10 Tech Preview (build 10009), appeared on the site. On Saturday, it delivered a second, more interesting tranche of images, that of the Project Spartan browser. Apart from the images, which can be found below, the site has also posted the browser's HTML5test.com score to give us an idea about its current level of HTML5 compliance. Although nothing to write home about, the HTML5test.com score of 360 points (out of a possible 555 points) that the site attributes to its test build of Project Spartan is marginally better than the 343 points that it says Internet Explorer 11 notched up. Curiously, however, the online HTML5 compliance tool is said to have identified Project Spartan, supposedly an entirely different browser with a new rendering engine, as IE11. Image Credit: ITHome.it Follow Pulkit on Google+

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MMORPG News

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• Albion Online: We Came. We Claimed. We Conquered
• The Crew: New PvP Elimination Race Added in New Patch
• Skyforge: Character Customization and First Moments

Albion Online: We Came. We Claimed. We Conquered Posted: 08 Feb 2015 02:25 PM PST We came. We claimed. We conquered. Albion Online is a Free-to-Play game in its alpha-testing stage which offers a cross-platform sandbox MMO on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. Think of it as a living world with no NPC vendors, no questlines and no NPCs to report to. Instead you, your guild and your friends decide who owns what: it is an entirely player-driven economy with full-loot hardcore PvP.

The Crew: New PvP Elimination Race Added in New Patch Posted: 09 Feb 2015 03:44 AM PST Ubisoft has posted the latest patch notes for The Crew. Of particular note is the addition of a new PvP mode in the form of a ten-player elimination race. Players can also expect to see improvements to cooperative missions and the way cars handle in addition to graphical enhancements to stabilize the framerate in cockpit view.

Skyforge: Character Customization and First Moments Posted: 09 Feb 2015 03:34 AM PST The Skyforge Russian beta is currently underway and a user has posted a video showing off character customization and the initial steps into the game world. We get a first look at the Cryomancer, Paladin and the Priest with more to come as the beta goes on. Check it out and let us know what you think!

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MMOGaming News

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• TOP 5 Classic Mobile Football Games You Should Not Miss
• The Lastest Interview Unveiled More Details about Blade and Soul CN in 2015
• Revelation Giving Away CBT Keys for New Server
• ArcheAge New Update Brings Cute Plushie Pet for Valentine's Day
• Marvel Heroes Winter Soldier Live
• Heroes of the Storm New Skins Preview
• MMO! Show Episode 61 "Week 2/8/2015" From the Forge to the Storm
• Skyforge - Character Customization and Classes in The Russian Beta
• Rift: New 20-Player Raid Tyrant's Forge Waiting for Your Challenge
• Soul Seeker - F2P Action-RPG is out on Android and iOS
• Survarium Dev Diary Unveils Freeplay Mode
• Echo of Soul(KR) New Sexy Costumes and Hidden Bosses Drops Preview

TOP 5 Classic Mobile Football Games You Should Not Miss Posted: When it comes to football games, FIFA, Football Manager Handheld and Pro Evolution Soccer are the well-known classic ones for sports enthusiasts and football fans. Here we list five best football mobile games for you. Continue reading TOP 5 Classic Mobile Football Games You Should Not Miss.

The Lastest Interview Unveiled More Details about Blade and Soul CN in 2015 Posted: After the launch of new class Shaman and new 1v24 instance zone, what will Blade and Soul bring to us next? According to an interview with Blade and Soul CN team, they revealed that they would release a new class and more new gameplays in this year. Let's have a look at their description of Blade and Soul this year's plan. Continue reading The Lastest Interview Unveiled More Details about Blade and Soul CN in 2015.

Revelation Giving Away CBT Keys for New Server Posted: Wanna join in the CBT of Revelation, but didn't get the CBT key? Here comes your chance! Continue reading Revelation Giving Away CBT Keys for New Server.

ArcheAge New Update Brings Cute Plushie Pet for Valentine's Day Posted: With the coming of Valentine's Day, game publishers are all busy in preparing events, so does the team behind ArcheAge. They just made an update in the marketplace on Feb. 6th, bringing an adorable pet in the Valentine Package Continue reading ArcheAge New Update Brings Cute Plushie Pet for Valentine's Day.

Marvel Heroes Winter Soldier Live Posted: Once the best friend of Captain Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes was tragically turned into one of the most deadly assassins the world has seen, before reclaiming his memory to fight alongside S.H.I.E.L.D. and Cap himself. The Winter Soldier is now available in Marvel Heroes 2015 and is voiced by none other than Solid Snake himself David Hayter! Continue reading Marvel Heroes Winter Soldier Live.

Heroes of the Storm New Skins Preview Posted: Eager to take center stage with your minions as a chequered trickster? What about partying with friends in the latest and greatest comfy pajamas? Whether you long to roam the Battlegrounds of the Nexus in search of revenge against the zerg or prefer the skittering of happy little insect feet, Blizzard have been concocting some new additions to Heroes of the Storm that are sure to delight and entertain. Continue reading Heroes of the Storm New Skins Preview.

MMO! Show Episode 61 "Week 2/8/2015" From the Forge to the Storm Posted: Interesting week for sure. We had a English patch for Black Desert. Several games announce intention for the year. And some MMO's will be at GDC next month 2-8th of March.The question for the week is this. What game do you think this years MMO front runner will be? Continue reading MMO! Show Episode 61 "Week 2/8/2015" From the Forge to the Storm.

Skyforge - Character Customization and Classes in The Russian Beta Posted: Considering the Skyforge RU beta is full access wahoo. This video is the character customization and showing some classes available in the beginning. Continue reading Skyforge - Character Customization and Classes in The Russian Beta.

Rift: New 20-Player Raid Tyrant's Forge Waiting for Your Challenge Posted: Last week we had a report about the Rift's new update: Storm at Sea. In this report we mentioned the Tyrant's Forge, a 20-player Raid new added in game. Today let's take a look at this new raid Continue reading Rift: New 20-Player Raid Tyrant's Forge Waiting for Your Challenge.

Soul Seeker - F2P Action-RPG is out on Android and iOS Posted: Soul Seeker, Com2uS's F2P action-RPG which will let you to be an eagle warrior, is out on Android and iOS. Continue reading Soul Seeker - F2P Action-RPG is out on Android and iOS.

Survarium Dev Diary Unveils Freeplay Mode Posted: The development team of Survarium has recently published the Dev Diary part 4 of the game, which is about the Freeplay mode. Today let's take a preview of this greatly anticipated mode. Continue reading Survarium Dev Diary Unveils Freeplay Mode.

Echo of Soul(KR) New Sexy Costumes and Hidden Bosses Drops Preview Posted: Hello everybody, today we will check the New Costumes of Echo of Soul online, the upcoming all around MMORPG. Continue reading Echo of Soul(KR) New Sexy Costumes and Hidden Bosses Drops Preview.

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