General Gaming Article

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• Phantom One Desktop Packs a Punch, is Portable as a Six Pack of Suds
• Kingston Launches Updated HyperX Cloud II Headset
• Let Google Check Your Account Security and Receive 2GB of Drive Storage
• Nvidia Releases Game Ready 347.52 WHQL Evolve Drivers
• Corsair Adds H100i GTX and H80i GT Liquid Coolers to Hydro Series Line
• Bing Your Way to 100GB of Free OneDrive Cloud Storage
• Newegg Daily Deals: Display and Storage Edition!

Phantom One Desktop Packs a Punch, is Portable as a Six Pack of Suds Posted: 10 Feb 2015 01:00 PM PST Style meets substance The folks at One Technology dropped us a line to us know about its Phantom One, a desktop PC that's currently seeking funding on Kickstarter. Not just any desktop, but one that is high performance and "designed to look beautiful on your desk," according to the project's Kickstarter page. It's also compact -- to give you an idea, they shot a photo of the Phantom One next to a six back of Coronas. It's an interesting design that uses aluminum for structural integrity and "aesthetically pleasing materials such as acrylic and bamboo" for the shell, which itself is laser cut to allow for small details and accents. "Our approach was to go against conventional cases that allowed too many choices that users may or may not want. We opted for a completely different design that allowed us to go against standard dimension ratios," One Technology explains. "As a result, Phantom One fits perfectly on any desk and looks great doing so. With a volume smaller than some "next-gen" consoles, you can have a powerful desktop capable of productive means or hardcore gaming without sacrificing the look or size." The team also claims that its Phantom One Bamboo will be the world's first and only bamboo desktop. That's a neat bragging right if it's true, though it apparently comes at a cost -- these systems are a bit pricey, which we'll get to in a moment. Given the compact size, One Technology had to figure out thermals, so what they did was create a "five thermal dissipation system" to avoid recycling hot air inside the case. In addition, both the CPU and GPU are given their own cold air source, the accompanying video explains. They also made the hinges double as heat vents. Alright, what about the hardware? Inside you'll find an Intel Core i7 4790K nestled into an Asus Z97i-Plus mini ITX motehrboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Other specs include 16GB of RAM, 128GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GeForce GTX 970 graphics card, 450W power supply, and Windows 7 64-bit. That's about $1,200 worth of hardware before factoring in the case, and that's where this project may have a tough time. Cost of entry to bring one home through Kickstarter is $1,900 for the "Sleek Black Version," and $1,950 for the bamboo model. The team is looking to raise $50,000 so they can start selling them at $2,400 and up. You can find out more on the project's Kickstarter page. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Kingston Launches Updated HyperX Cloud II Headset Posted: 10 Feb 2015 12:19 PM PST Now with better USB sound Kingston said it's begun shipping its new HyperX Cloud II headset featuring a retooled USB sound card audio control box with 7.1 virtual surround sound. It's a hardware-based solution that doesn't require any special drivers -- just plug it and get grooving (or fragging) with independent audio and microphone volume control. There's also a button to toggle on 7.1 virtual surround. When it's on, the headset is supposed to emulate having seven positional speakers. These things are hit or miss -- usually miss -- though we'll reserve judgement until we've have had a chance to try on a pair for ourselves. For chatter bugs, Kingston says the microphone is digitally enhanced with noise cancellation, auto gain control, and echo cancellation, all of which is processed through the USB sound card. A look at some specs: Transducer Type: dynamic Ø 53mm Frequency Response: 15Hz–25,000 Hz Nominal SPL: 98±3dB Operating principle: closed Nominal impedance: 60 Ω per system T.H.D.: < 2% Power handling capacity: 150mW Sound coupling to the ear: circumaural Ambient noise attenuation: approx. 20 dBa Headband pressure: 5N Weight with microphone and cable: 320g Cable length and type: 1m + 2m extension Connection: single mini stereo jack plug (3.5 mm) Color options include red, gun metal, and limited edition pink (coming soon). MSRP looks to be $150, as that's how much they're going for on Kingston's website, though street pricing is closer to $100 shipped (check Newegg and Amazon). In related news, Kingston also launched its second gaming surface, the HyperX Fury Pro Gaming Mouse Pad. It's made of cloth material and soft padding. There are four sizes and they're portable, which we take to mean that they roll up. No word yet on price or availability. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Let Google Check Your Account Security and Receive 2GB of Drive Storage Posted: 10 Feb 2015 11:42 AM PST Easier than a trip to the doctor Free storage is out there for the taking. Earlier today we told you about Microsoft's desire to reward you with 100GB of free OneDrive storage simply for signing up for Bing Rewards. Well, it turns out Google is in a giving mood as well, just to a lesser extent -- in recognition of today being Safer Internet Day, Google will inflate your Drive storage by 2GB just for taking a quick security checkup. It's a quick and painless procedure that Google says will take you 2 minutes to complete, though when I ran it, I was finished in about 30 seconds -- I needed to verify the phone number associated with my main account. The checkup also gives you a chance to view your recent activity for anything suspicious, as well as disable access for less secure apps and double-check your account permissions. "While everything stored in Drive is always encrypted in transit and at rest in Google's custom-built data centers, this checkup ensures you're making the most of the 24/7 protection you already get from Google. As our way of saying thanks for completing the checkup by 17 February 2015, we'll give you a permanent 2 gigabyte bump in your Google Drive storage plan," Google says. You can run the checkup tool at any time, something Google advises doing every so often just to make sure there's no funny business going on. Ready to give it a go? Just click here. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Nvidia Releases Game Ready 347.52 WHQL Evolve Drivers Posted: 10 Feb 2015 11:14 AM PST Driver release coincides with Evolve's debut Nvidia says its been working with publisher 2K Games and developer Turtle Rock Studios to make Evolve "awesome on the PC." Part of that means a new driver release -- Nvidia's Game Ready 347.52 WHQL drivers are now available to download, offering day one support for the anticipated shooter. The latest driver package also contains one-click game setting optimizations within GeForce Experience. "Just in time for the highly anticipated title Evolve, this new GeForce Game Ready driver ensures you'll have the best possible gaming experience," Nvidia states in the release notes (PDF). Included in this release is support for GeForce Experience one-click OPS profiles and SLI configurations so you can enjoy Evolve on day one and get the most out of your GeForce GPU. In addition, we are delivering performance improvements across GeForce GPUs that will immediately benefit a wide variety of titles at various resolutions." Nvidia seems super stoked about Evolve, dedicating a blog post to waxing excited about the game. The GPU maker also posted a bunch of in-house benchmarks and is hosting half a dozen Evolve wallpapers in sizes ranging from 1024x768 to 3840x2160. Other than tweaks for the newest shooter, Nvidia's 347.52 WHQL drivers feature new and updated profiles: Alone in the Dark: Updated SLI profile Black Desert - Updated SLI profile Dying Light - Updated SLI profile (previously released via GeForce Experience) Evolve - Added SLI profile H1Z1 - Added SLI profile Heroes of the Storm - Updated SLI profile Saint's Row - Gat out of Hell - Added SLI profile Total War: Attila - Added SLI profile Triad Wars - Added SLI profile You can grab the new drivers here. And while you're clicking links, our sister site PC Gamer posted a review of Evolve. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Corsair Adds H100i GTX and H80i GT Liquid Coolers to Hydro Series Line Posted: 10 Feb 2015 09:26 AM PST Don't lose your cool Maintenance free liquid cooling options are all around, and many of them belong to Corsair -- the company's been releasing liquid CPU coolers at a ferocious pace, it seems. In fact, Corsair just announced two new chilly companions for your CPU, the Hydro Series H100i GTX with 240mm radiator and H80i GT with 120mm radiator. Both options feature a next generation cooling block like the one found on the recently released H110i GT. Since it sports a 240mm dual-fan radiator, the H100i GTX is a bit bigger overall. It has an improved coldplate and pump design, tool-free mounting bracket for faster installation, and built-in Corsair Link support for configuring fan and pump speeds, along with the RGB LED lighting. The self-contained cooler supports Intel LGA 115x, 1366, 2011, and 2011-3 platforms, and AMD AM2, AM3, FM1, and FM2 boards. It carries an MSRP of $120 and is backed by a 5-year warranty. As to its smaller sibling, the H80i GT, it uses an "extra thick" radiator that measures 38mm wide, which is 13mm more than the H100i GTX. It's also a single-fan solution, but otherwise shares the sames specs, including support for the same Intel and AMD sockets. The H80i GT is also a little more affordable at $100 and comes with the same 5-year warranty. If you want to know how the specs compare to other models in Corsair's Hydro Series link, the company posted a handy chart on its website. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Bing Your Way to 100GB of Free OneDrive Cloud Storage Posted: 10 Feb 2015 06:02 AM PST No credits required for this Bing Reward Microsoft is giving away (or lending, if you prefer to view it that way) 100GB of OneDrive cloud storage for two years when you sign up for for Bing Rewards, a free program that rewards you for using Bing (imagine that!). And if you're already a Bing Rewards member, you're eligible as well. There are no points required to cash in on this deal, you just have to stake your claim by February 28, 2015. "No credits required! Get 100GB of OneDrive storage for two years," Microsoft says. "Keep your photos, videos, and documents in one place. Access an share them from all your devices." This is a neat deal even if you don't use Bing. While the intent is to bring more users into its rewards program and ultimately increase Bing's market share, you can claim your 100GB of OneDrive storage immediately after becoming a member and continue using your search engine of choice. If you do decide to keep using Bing, you can earn other rewards, which are typically redeemed by trading in points you've earned simply by searching the web. There are a few caveats with regards to the OneDrive promo. The first is that the free storage is good for two years, though by then, who knows what additional offers will be available. Secondly, there's really no benefit to Office 365 subscribers, who already have access to unlimited OneDrive storage (on an as-needed basis). And finally, the promotion is only available to U.S. residents. You can sign up for Bing Rewards here. If you're already a member, go here to claim your 100GB. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Newegg Daily Deals: Display and Storage Edition! Posted: 10 Feb 2015 05:29 AM PST Top Deal: If the eyes are the windows to your soul, then what's a PC monitor? It must be the window to your system's soul, and if you're going to peer at such a thing, you can get a better look with an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel. Looking for one? If so, check out today's top deal for a Dell P2714H Black 27-Inch Widescreen IPS Monitor for $260 with free shipping (normally $300 - use coupon code: [EMCANAT35]). It has D-Sub, DVI, and DisplayPort connectors, a fully adjustable stand, wide viewing angles. Other Deals: Acer G6 Series G206HQLbd Black 19.5-inch 5ms LCD Monitor for $80 with $2 shipping (normally $90 - use coupon code: [EMCANAT34]) Asus VS228H-P Black 21.5-inch 5ms LCD Monitor for $130 with $2 shipping (normally $140 - use coupon code: [EMCANAT66]; additional $10 Mail-in rebate) Seagate Backup Plus 5TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive for $130 with free shipping (normally $160 - use coupon code: [EMCANAT36]) BenQ GL2460HM Black 24-inch 2ms LCD Monitor for $150 with $2 shipping (normally $170 - use coupon code: [EMCANAT65])

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MMORPG News

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• Firefall: War in the Amazon Update Expected Today
• Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: From the Community
• Monster Hunter 4: Ultimate: The Original BAMs
• Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Roadmap Through 2015
• Elder Scrolls Online: Orc & Redguard Armor Receiving Some Love
• General: Best MMOs to Play as a Couple on Valentine’s Day
• Shadow Realms: UPDATE: Cancellation Official due to SWTOR's Big Year
• General: Only 6% of F2P MMO Players Remain After the First Year?
• KingsRoad: Head East to Participate in the Tournament of Jade
• Guild Wars 2: Tackling The Little Things (No, Not Asura)
• Trove: Take Flight Update Arriving February 10th
• Star Wars: The Old Republic: Preliminary Patch 3.1 Notes Posted
• Neverwinter: Drowned Shore Visited in New Developer Blog
• General: The Daily Quest - How often do you group up?

Firefall: War in the Amazon Update Expected Today Posted: 10 Feb 2015 07:19 AM PST Firefall players will have a lot to do when servers come back up from maintenance that will deploy the War in the Amazon update. Players will be taking on The Chosen in the Amazon basin and working cooperatively to retake bases, protect supply lines and more. To show off some of the new features, Red 5 has released a brand new trailer. Check it out!

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: From the Community Posted: 09 Feb 2015 02:45 PM PST Looking for some recommended reading and viewing material for that time you're not spending playing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn? Look no further!

Monster Hunter 4: Ultimate: The Original BAMs Posted: 08 Feb 2015 07:09 PM PST Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is the newest addition to the long running and wildly successful Monster Hunter franchise from Capcom. The game does not take long to thrust you into the action with one of the biggest threats you'll face making its appearance at the onset. In the opening minutes you are sailing the high seas made of sand and are pursued by a gigantic dragon that can also swim in the sand! He puts the sarlacc to shame.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Roadmap Through 2015 Posted: 08 Feb 2015 05:10 PM PST Star Wars: The Old Republic Producer Bruce Maclean has posted a brand new blog article that lays out the roadmap for 2015. The letter reminds players of the four pillars that SWTOR launched with: combat, exploration, progression and story. As previously announced, 2015 will be focused primarily on bringing more story to players, a process that began with December 2014's Shadow of Revan expansion.

Elder Scrolls Online: Orc & Redguard Armor Receiving Some Love Posted: 09 Feb 2015 02:29 PM PST The Elder Scrolls Online team has posted a boatload of screenshots to show off some of the detail work that has been put into both the Redguard and Orc armor sets to give them a more realistic look. The screens show off the overall look with some pretty cool close ups to show the detail-view. Check out the one below before heading to the Elder Scrolls Online site to see the rest.

General: Best MMOs to Play as a Couple on Valentine’s Day Posted: 08 Feb 2015 03:07 PM PST Love is in the air this time of year. Stores are lines with pink and red decorations, flowers poke out in every direction, and romantic gifts are littered across the aisles. In fact, the upcoming holiday Valentine's Day just so happens to be on a Saturday this year.

Shadow Realms: UPDATE: Cancellation Official due to SWTOR's Big Year Posted: 09 Feb 2015 11:24 AM PST GameInformer.com is reporting that "multiple sources" are telling them that Bioware's much-hyped Shadow Realms is dead in the water. There are no links to original sources for the rumors nor any word as to whether or not those providing the tips have inside information. What we do know is that little to no information about the darling of last year's Gamescom has come out since that time.

General: Only 6% of F2P MMO Players Remain After the First Year? Posted: 08 Feb 2015 02:48 PM PST Free to play MMOs are in a significant position in the market today, as things have shifted toward a fewer strings attached model over time. First mostly limited to imported, cheaper games funded entirely through cash shops, today' s free to play game may be from a AAA developer or a small, independent one. A new report released last week looks at player retention---how many players continue to play a given game--in free to play MMOs and features some important numbers.

KingsRoad: Head East to Participate in the Tournament of Jade Posted: 09 Feb 2015 09:39 AM PST KingsRoad players will have the opportunity to participate in a new event from Monday, February 9th through Monday, March 9th with the arrival of the Tournament of Jade. During the event, players will travel to the East to Tojin to take on the Dragon Clan and gain access to powerful items and goods.

Guild Wars 2: Tackling The Little Things (No, Not Asura) Posted: 08 Feb 2015 02:42 PM PST Heart of Thorns promises to change how you play Guild Wars 2 in a big way, but here are some of our picks for smaller improvements that would make the game experience a lot better.

Trove: Take Flight Update Arriving February 10th Posted: 09 Feb 2015 07:43 AM PST Trove players are being urged to prepare for tomorrow's release of the "Take Flight" update. The patch will be deployed during scheduled downtime on Tuesday, February 10th.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Preliminary Patch 3.1 Notes Posted Posted: 09 Feb 2015 07:38 AM PST On Tuesday, February 10th, Star Wars: The Old Republic servers will be brought down for maintenance and the deployment of the v3.1, "Conflict on Rishi", update. The update brings several notable things into the game, including the Relics of the Gree event which will run from February 24th through March 3rd.

Neverwinter: Drowned Shore Visited in New Developer Blog Posted: 09 Feb 2015 07:21 AM PST Content Designers Scott Crawford and Brian Gillmore have posted a new developer blog on the Neverwinter site that gives players both lore and design backgrounds on the Drowned Shore zone (formerly known as "Blackdagger Ruins) that will arrive with Module 6: Elemental Evil.

General: The Daily Quest - How often do you group up? Posted: 09 Feb 2015 06:26 AM PST MMOs are inherently about being online in a world or at least a zone with other people playing simultaneously. But just because they're around, doesn't mean you need to always be playing with someone else. At least, that's what the MMOs of the modern era have become. So today's quest, should you choose to accept, is to answer "How often do you group up?"

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