MMORPG News

MMORPG News

General: Tank Ace: Open Beta Rumbles to a Start Today

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:04 AM PDT

GamesCampus has announced that its WWII game, Tank Ace, will be officially commencing its open beta phase of development at 11:00 a.m. PST. A new update will be deployed that will includes new content along with a new achievement system, better graphics, a Power Bunker and more.

Guild Wars 2: Guild Drama...Oh NOOOO!

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:45 AM PDT

In his latest blog post, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Bill Murphy offers a few thoughts about the recent announcement that Guild Wars 2 players will be able to be members of multiple guilds. If that's not enough to create bodacious amounts of guild drama, nothing is! Read more in the MMORPG.com Staff Blog.

Voyage Century: More to Explore

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:40 AM PDT

Voyage Century Online players have more to explore with the recent addition of the North Island and Bimini Island. As the name implies, North Island takes sailors to the frozen Arctic. Bimini Island is a tropical paradise.

Final Fantasy XIV: New Patch to Feature Chocobo Mounts & Airships

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:15 AM PDT

The latest edition of the Final Fantasy XIV Producer's Letter has hit the official site. The letter contains the usual (and impressive) list of changes being implemented in the patch as well as the interesting news that both chocobo mounts and airships will be making their debut as "fast travel" options.

Firefall: Beta Invites Coming Soon

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:08 AM PDT

According to a new update on the Firefall web site, beta invites will start being sent out by the end of this week if all goes according to plan. According to Community Manager Matthew DeWald, the first wave of invites will be "small". As a point of clarification: Those signing up via the web site have the same opportunity to be chosen for the beta as those who signed up during the summer's conventions.

Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising: Week Long Free Trial Offered

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:03 AM PDT

Heatwave Interactive has announced that a new free trial period for Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising has been implemented. Players opting for a subscription after the free trial will not lose characters or progress.

General: The Holy Trinity is Great

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 09:36 AM PDT

Many MMOs "require" the Holy Trinity in order to complete end-game content. It's been a hot topic of discussion among players for a long time, most players calling for its banishment. In today's Devil's Advocate, MMORPG.com Community Manager Mike Bitton begs to differ and says that there's nothing wrong with the Holy Trinity and that those in opposition to it are all wet. Check it out and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

General: No RPG in my MMORPG

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 10:35 AM PDT

In today's Coyote's Howling, venerable Coyote takes on the notion that all MMOs today are WoW clones and that innovation is rather lacking. Check out Coyote's thoughts about reading quests, deadly zones and something called "corpse zones". Leave us a couple of comments after you're finished reading.

WildStar: PAX 2011 - Stepping into a Pixar Movie

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 10:10 AM PDT

During PAX 2011, MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh and Bill Murphy each had a chance for a hands on look at the just-revealed WildStar. Each has their own impressions to offer about Carbine's inaugural title. Read on and then let us know what you think.

Guild Wars 2: PAX 2011 - Hands On with the Asura Guardian

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 09:52 AM PDT

During PAX 2011, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Bill Murphy had the opportunity for a hands on experience with Guild Wars 2 which later became the MMORPG.com Best in Show. Bill played the cute but deadly Asura Guardian and has a full report on his experience that you won't want to miss. Keep reading!

Prius Online: Free Convenience Pack Giveaway!

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 11:36 PM PDT

gPotato and MMORPG are teaming up to bring you the Convenience Pack & Mount Giveaway! This handy bundle will give you everything you need to help you earn a little independence in the world of Prius. Summon your own personal Auctioneer, or store and repair items on the fly - it's all in there!

General: Get Your Closed Beta Key For Immortal King!

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 11:03 PM PDT

Immortal King will begin its closed beta test from September 7, 2011. To offer players a free and awesome game experience, a limited number of beta keys will be given out from Sept 1- Sept 6, 2011. Get your key while you can!

Star Trek Online: F2P Model Coming in 2011

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 08:22 PM PDT

During a question and answer session between investors and Perfect World Entertainment's CEO Michael Chi and CFO Kelvin Lau it was revealed that a free to play version of Star Trek Online will be launched before the end of 2011.

Age of Conan: Unchained: Big Changes Coming for Tradeskills

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 03:58 PM PDT

In the latest Monthly Development Update, the Age of Conan: Unchained team talks about the deployment of the Savage Coast of Turan, a new adventure pack coming in early 2012 and upcoming changes to the tradeskills system. It's a terrific look at what the team has been up to since the release of the free to play "Unchained" version of the game.

Champions Online: Put On Your Dancin' Shoes for the 2nd Anniversary

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 03:55 PM PDT

Cryptic Studios and the Champions Online team are asking players to get ready for a party royale as the second anniversary of the game nears. The party begins on Thursday, September 1st and runs thorough Monday, September 5th. The team has party favors, costume unlocks and other perks planned for players.

Black Prophecy: Upgrading the PvP Experience

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 11:32 AM PDT

Gamigo has announced that PvP will see some major improvements and an expansion of the feature with Black Prophecy: Episode 2: Species War. Species War is scheduled to go live in early September and bring warzones into the game. Groups of players will battle one another for control of the opposing team's outpost.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Release 'Definitely Tied' to Beta Reception

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 10:05 AM PDT

In a new interview, EA's Frank Gibeau has said that the release of Star Wars: The Old Republic is "definitely tied to the beta test feedback that's ongoing and so far, so good." As the pool of players continues to expand, more feedback will be gathered and it's possible the release date could slip.

Lucent Heart: Scaena Expansion Released

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 09:30 AM PDT

Gamania and the Lucent Heart dev team have announced that the Scaena expansion has been released. Among the many features included, players will be able to choreograph their own dances, participate in GvG action, explore new zones and complete a bunch of new quests.

EVE Online: New Wiki Beta Makes Its Debut

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 09:23 AM PDT

EVE Online players who know the game inside and out may want to head over to the new and improved beta version of the EVE Online Wiki. Devs have implemented several structural changes as well as removed the moderation queue and more.

Uncharted Waters Online: New Shipbuilding System Released

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 09:18 AM PDT

Uncharted Waters developers have announced that a new shipbuilding system has been deployed that will give players more options in customization and in the upgrading options for their ships. Players can choose the materials for the hull, sails and gunport to build their own unique ships.

Mythos: Foggy Horror Show

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 09:14 AM PDT

Frogster and the Mythos team have announced that a new zone has been added to the game. Called the Fog Island of Horror, the area is filled with zombies and includes new dungeons and cliffs that players can fall off to their deaths.
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMORPG Reviews

MMORPG Reviews

Exclusive Rusty Hearts video review showing Angela’s Gameplay

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 01:39 AM PDT

Today we present this exclusive video review introducing Angela one of the three playable characters in Rusty hearts. Angela Strraughend is a witch apprentice who comes from a small village in the Fog Forest of Rumania. She has been sent to Bramunez, in order to help in the siege on the Curtis Castle. Because she [...]

Vindictus exclusive gameplay videos

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 12:48 AM PDT

Take a look to this 2 exclusive videos of Vindictus; in the videos you can see some gameplay of Fiona and Lann. Vindictus is the first physics-based multiplayer action role-playing game that combines stunning visuals with high-speed combat. The storyline, inspired by Celtic mythology, is slowly uncovered as players progress in the game. Players join [...]

Intro of Eredan iTGC

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 11:41 PM PDT

Eredan iTCG is an online trading card game set in Eredan, an original medieval fantasy universe. The world of Eredan already plagued by violent rivalries, all hell breaks loose when a meteor crashes on the most coveted territory. This is the start of a dark and violent age where Guilds confront eachother in a never [...]

Best August 2011 Free MMORPGs

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT

These are our best August 2011 Free MMORPGs. Enjoy it and don't forget to comment. Do you agree with our list? 10 Allods is a revolutionary massively multiplayer RPG. The largest game development project in Russian history ($12 million), Allods features state of the art graphics by top award-winning artists and a cinematic soundtrack by [...]

- Gamescom 2011 – Exclusive ingame videos of Tribes Ascend

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 08:50 AM PDT

Enjoy this exclusive gameplay footage of the awaited free-to-play multiplayer FPS Tribes: Ascend. In the videos you can see the combat, the heavy and the vehicles that you are going to see in the game. Character selection and combat gameplay Heavy weapons Vehicles

Black Prophecy introduces its new expansion, Episode 2: Species War

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 08:26 AM PDT

Black Prophecy, has announced the upcoming launch of its upcoming expansion, Black Prophecy – Episode 2: Species War, in which the vast darkness of space is about to light up with the fiery glow of burning and exploding starships. Black Prophecy – Episode 2: Species War, is arriving in early September, and improves the PvP [...]

Exclusive gameplay videos of WildStar

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 06:39 AM PDT

Take a look to this exclusive videos of WildStar from the Gamescom. In Wildstar we get into the skin of explorers, soldiers, scientists and settlers and claim their place in Nexus a planet located on the fringes of known space. You can register yourself to get a beta here. In the videos you can see [...]

Angels Online has presented some screenshots of the House Decorations

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 03:04 AM PDT

Angels Online House Party system allows players to create and personalize their own in-game home. The interior design of the houses is entirely in the player's hands, ranging from the size and shape of the house to its interior, including furniture and fittings or other decorative touches such as carpets, wallpapers and a variety of [...]
Posted by Shri Krishna


General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

Facebook to Finally Announce Music Streaming Service in September

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 03:24 PM PDT

fbmThe rumors have been swirling for months, but according to CNBC, a Facebook music platform is set to launch in September. The source claims that Facebook will be partnering with some music streaming heavyweights in Spotify, Pandora, and MOG. Facebook is staying silent, but the frequency and specificity of the rumors lead most to believe something is coming soon.

The date of September 22 is being floated for an announcement, which coincides with the Facebook F8 conference. There are already ways to connect music services with Facebook Connect, but the site would benefit from keeping people logged on while they listen. This would give Facebook more data, and more opportunities to serve ads.

Facebook has not been negotiating to become a music retailer itself, much to the dismay of record labels. So the streaming option would likely be standalone. We assume there would be social listening features built in. Perhaps users will be able to listen simultaneously to the same track. Would you use a Facebook music service? If there is a fee, what is fair?

Future Tense: Unintended Consequences

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 03:04 PM PDT

 

First of all, it is pronounced noo-klee-ar.  Not noo-koo-lur.   

 

Please.  If we accomplish nothing else in the next twelve hundred words, could we at least stop mispronouncing it?

Without fail, every August anniversary of the first atomic war (Hiroshima and Nagasaki), the commentariat trots out the usual Monday morning afterthoughts about the rightness or wrongness of President Truman's 1945 decision to use nuclear weapons.    

Regardless of which side of the argument you take today, we also have to consider the circumstances under which the decision was made and the thinking of the moment.  With the victory in Europe secured, Americans wanted the war in the Pacific to end as well.  The nation was emotionally exhausted.  

The prospect of an invasion of Japan was daunting.  Some military planners estimated a half million casualties or more.  Soldiers who had fought their way across Europe were already being shipped to the Pacific theater.  Marines who had island-hopped all the way from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima knew how ferocious the Japanese soldiers were, and many did not believe they would survive an assault on the home islands of Japan.  

From Truman's perspective, the decision to use the bomb was dictated by circumstances.  On the one hand, he could invade Japan in a long expensive, brutal, and bloody campaign that would cost hundreds of thousands of American lives and untold Japanese troops and civilians as well—a campaign that could go on for another year or two or three.  On the other hand, he could use the bomb and demonstrate to the Japanese that continued resistance was suicidal, forcing them to surrender.  Truman is quoted as saying that if he did not use the bomb, he would one day have to answer a million American mothers asking, "If you had a weapon that could have ended the war and saved my son's life, why didn't you use it?"

That's the generally agreed-upon history of the decision.  But there was another factor as well that doesn't get talked about very much.  

It's this simple.  Very few people on the planet understood the human dimension of nuclear weapons.  The first atomic test at Alamagordo in July of 1945 gave Robert Oppenheimer, Edward Teller, Leo Szilard, and the other scientists who had created the bomb, their first inkling that what they had unleashed was going to transform the world.  By all reports, it was a very uncomfortable realization.  Oppenheimer quoted the Bhagavad Gita.  "Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds."

And this is my point.  Not one of those people involved in the decision to drop the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki understood what nuclear weapons really meant to the world.  They had a lot of theory, they had the stats, they had the predictions—but they had no personal experience of the reality of nuclear weapons, so they saw everything filtered through everything they had experienced in the past.  To the military, the bomb was just a bigger and better boom—a more efficient way to destroy a city than sending hundreds of planes dropping incendiaries to create an all-consuming firestorm.

The idea that you could destroy a city a city with a single bomb, that people would suffer radiation burns and radiation sickness—that was the stuff of science fiction.  Except the science fiction writers of the time hadn't even begun to consider the terrifying possibilities.  It wasn't until the fifties that the realities of nuclear war became a science fiction theme in novels like Pat Frank's Alas Babylon.  Only after human beings had actual experience of the reality.  

The military justified the decisions to destroy Hiroshima and then Nagasaki as part of the cold calculations of war.  President Truman justified his decision (partly) based on the emotional exhaustion of the nation and the consequences of not using the bomb.  But whatever the reasons and justifications for the decisions to proceed—those decisions were also made in an experiential vacuum, because few people at the time could reliably predict or understand the vast future of unrecognized consequences that would inevitably occur.  

Before Hiroshima, each global conflict was worse than the last, each had an exponentially higher death toll.  Today, we still have wars, but not on the same scale.  We've stopped raising the ante on ourselves.  Some military strategists say that's because the realities of nuclear warfare are now so well known and understood that those consequences inspire genuine terror in politicians and military leaders alike, a very different understanding of the consequences than existed in 1945.  

Now…what does any of this have to do with your phone, your laptop, your tablet, your gaming machine, or your desktop computer?  

Everything.  

Today, we build new technologies because we can—because engineers and researchers see opportunities things that are newer, cheaper, faster, better, different.   Even the lay person can see the possibility that a cell phone or an iPod or a tablet will provide an advantageous access to information and communication.  But even as we build those things, we're still looking in the rear view mirror—we're designing them out of our experience of the past, so we can do more of the  things that we did in the past, only better.  What we keep on forgetting is that what comes along for the ride, every time, are the unrecognized and unintended consequences. And those consequences are almost always transformative.  

Things get changed—often drastically.  And in ways that are unpredictable before the event and look inevitable only afterward.  

The cumulative effect of little things can be the most dramatic.  One automobile is no big deal.  A billion automobiles is a pollution problem.  One light bulb is nothing much.  A billion light bulbs is an energy problem.  One computer is interesting.  A billion computers is a network, and that's an opportunity for thieves and hackers and malware of all kinds.  It's also an opportunity for instantaneous global communication, for political and social movements, for viral uprisings and flash mobs.  

Even though we have been building and using personal computers for 35 years, we are still in the infancy of the information revolution.  We still have only a glimmering of how technology is ultimately going to change our lives.  Even ten years out, we cannot foresee the changes we are about to experience—the cultural and economic and emotional and personal effects that the hyper-liquidity of information will create, not to mention what happens when our cars can drive themselves, when Skyping is commonplace, when cameras are so ubiquitous that privacy disappears, when personal biology is augmented by implants of all kinds, when software agents are managing all the myriad details of memory.  

Already today, we're seeing transformations.  The internet has changed global politics.  Twitter produces virtual flash crowds—and real ones too.  The tablet is making the internet a portable interface.  Smartphones and YouTube have validated Andy Warhol's prophecy—"In the future, everybody will be famous for fifteen minutes."  Do something above and beyond the call of ordinary stupidity and you'll not only get a million hits, you'll even get a web-redemption from Daniel Tosh.  

And all of this is still only the beginning.  

Tanith Lee, in her wonderful book The Silver-Metal Lover, postulated a world where body-modding was commonplace, where sexuality was fluid, where the cultural moment shifted so fast that there was no continuing culture at all.  Authors like Frederik Pohl and Damon Knight wrote of walled communities that locked themselves into specifically defined and limited cultures.  Still other authors have written of worlds where cultural phenomena rise and fall in a matter of hours—along with fortunes.  That last one may have been the most prescient.  Before the internet, back in the days of fanzines, a good flame war could last months, even years.  Today, it's rare that an online flame war goes for more than a week before the participants either give up, go away, or move on to the next topic.   

The unintended consequence of all of our computer technology has been a dramatic acceleration of the pace of life.  We are bombarded daily with more information than we can assimilate and it is coming in at ever-increasing rates.  Email, social networks, Twitter, advertising, television—everything.  We are advancing both the scale and pace of all of our economic and social interactions—and we're doing it without any serious recognition of the ultimate limitations of the human mind and body.  There are going to be consequences, both for the individual and for society at large.  

We will experience the effects medically, socially, emotionally, and personally.  Increased rates of autism, irrational and delusional behavior, extremists of all flavors, greater investment in conspiracy theories, a general increase in neuroses and superstitions, and that impending sense of doom that feeds into end-of-the-world manias—all of these and more have been postulated as consequences of our unstoppable headlong rush into an accelerated world.  

Fat Man and Little Boy transformed our world, and not necessarily for the better—the risks of nuclear disaster, nuclear terrorism, even nuclear war, are still with us.  The technology revolution will be even more transformative and possibly even more dangerous.  It's the unintended and unrecognized consequences that will have the greatest impact on all of us.  

The future is going to be very exciting—and like that famous Chinese curse, we are going to be living in interesting times.  Perhaps we will also be smart enough to use our new technologies to make ourselves more humane.  

What do you think?  What would  you predict?

 

—————

David Gerrold is a Hugo and Nebula award-winning author. He has written more than 50 books, including "The Man Who Folded Himself" and "When HARLIE Was One," as well as hundreds of short stories and articles. His autobiographical story "The Martian Child" was the basis of the 2007 movie starring John Cusack and Amanda Peet. He has also written for television, including episodes of Star Trek, Babylon 5, Twilight Zone, and Land Of The Lost. He is best known for creating tribbles, sleestaks, and Chtorrans. In his spare time, he redesigns his website, www.gerrold.com

 

 

 

 

 

Apple Wants Prototype MacBook Back

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 02:49 PM PDT

mbpA North Carolina man is in the hot seat as Apple legal representatives are asking him to return a MacBook prototype he purchased on Craigslist several months ago. Carl Frega purchased the laptop for parts to use in his computer repair business, but realized soon after that it was no ordinary MacBook. This device was a riff on the 2007 version of the notebook, but has a 3G radio and magnetic antenna.

The laptop has the internal components for a 3G SIM card, but it appears to be non-functional. More interesting is the antenna design, which takes some cues from the MagSafe power connector. It attaches to the screen bezel with a series of magnets. Frega posted about the machine on the Anandtech forums after buying it, but users seemed uninterested. He says this led him to believe it was not particularly rare.

Under the aluminum shell, the device has red circuit boards, clearly marking it as an Apple prototype. Frega attempted to sell the device on eBay recently after realizing some collectors may be interested. The bidding reached over $70,000 before Apple shut it down. Now Frega has received a letter asking for the computer to be returned. Do you think he should return it to Apple?

Windows Phone 7 App of the Week: Tasks

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 01:04 PM PDT

Windows Phone 7 is one of the better mobile platforms for getting work done. The fact that Microsoft owns much of the business and enterprise technology products is obviously a large contributing factor. Microsoft's Exchange, SharePoint, and Office products are all integrated into Windows Phone 7 to some level. Strangely though Microsoft left out a business tool that can be integral to managing your daily schedule, this being some sort of task management or to-do list utility.

   

The aptly-named Tasks for Windows Phone 7 is a task management application for your Windows Phone. Sadly synchronization tools or services are unsupported, though the Tasks team promises they will be made available in the next release. What Tasks does offer is a beautiful and efficient user interface that gives you all the information you need to keep your priorities in order. Using the standard panoramic UI that Windows Phone users have become familiar with, Tasks offers visibility of your tasks based on schedule or associated projects or categories. New tasks can be created with pictures or voice memos in addition to more typical data such as an email address or the URL of a website.

   

Tasks is available as a free download from the Windows Phone Marketplace.

OCZ's RevoDrive Hybrid Mixes HDD, SSD And PCIe To Create Face-Meltingly Fast Speeds

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 11:12 AM PDT

If you're looking for the blazing-fast read/write speeds of a solid state drive combined with the massive storage capacities of traditional models, OCZ just announced a hybrid drive with your name on it. The RevoDrive Hybrid does more than just mash-up a 100GB SSD and a 1TB HDD, it also tosses PCIe transfer technology into the mix, allowing it to achieve data transfer speeds much faster than the SATA-sporting Seagate hybrids on the market.

How fast is fast? OCZ claims the RevoDrive Hybrid achieves 910MB/s sequential read rates and 120,000 IOPS with 4K random writes.  A large part of that efficiency comes courtesy of the software packed into the hard drive. We'll let OCZ explain it:

The drive comes bundled with Dataplex caching software which dynamically manages the use of the 100GB SSD with the 1TB HDD for superior overall storage performance. This combination creates an environment where the most frequently used "hot" data stays on the ultra-fast SSD, while the "cold" data remains on the larger capacity HDD. Advanced caching algorithms learn user behavior and adapt storage policies to ensure optimal performance for each individual user, maximizing productivity for the most demanded programs and applications.

Sounds pretty spiffy. If the RevoDrive Hybrid strikes your fancy, you can pick one up for $500. To help sweeten the pot, it's backed by a three year warranty.

How to Repair a Faulty Windows Installation Without Reformatting

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 11:03 AM PDT

Corrupted system files don't have to ruin your day

Nothing will put a crimp in your computing style quite like a Windows error. Although Microsoft's OS has gotten exponentially more stable over the years, it's still very possible for Windows system files to become corrupt, which can cause your system to slow down, freeze, or (in the worst case) refuse to load your operating system at all.

When you encounter a Windows error, your first instinct may be to back up your data, grab the ol' installation disk, and weep silently as you press the Reformat button. We're here to tell you there's another way. Still back up your data, of course, but by following this guide, you might well be able to repair your Windows install without dropping the nuke.

Note: Though these guides are written for Windows 7, a very similar process will work for Vista or XP.

Method 1: Repair Windows Even If You Can't Get To Your Desktop

The first method will allow you to repair corrupt system files, even if the problem is so severe that you can't boot all the way to your desktop. For this method, you'll need a Windows installation DVD, so track down yours or borrow one from a friend—it doesn't matter if the DVD's version matches your license, as long as it's the correct bit count.

Step 1: Insert the Install Disc and Reboot

If your system won't boot into Windows, you'll need to boot from somewhere else—in this case, the installation DVD. Your computer should be set up to boot from your optical drive before your hard drive, but if it's not, you can always change the boot priority in the BIOS. When the system starts up, make sure you press a key when prompted to boot from the Windows installation disc. When you do, you'll see the familiar Windows installation language-selection screen (image below).

Step 2: Get to the Command Prompt

The recovery tool we're going to use is run from the command prompt, which can (thankfully) be accessed through the Windows installation disc. To get there, don't click Install Now in the middle of the screen, but instead click Repair Your Computer in the lower left. Click Next on the first menu that pops up.

The next menu will have two radio buttons. Make sure the first one is selected, and note that in the text box, your System drive might not have the drive letter C. If that's the case, make a note of the drive letter used. Click Next, and on the following screen (image above), select the bottom option, marked Command Prompt.

Step 3: Scan Your System

Finally you're ready to scan your system files for errors. To do that simply run the following command:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=[DRIVELETTER]:\ /offwindir=[DRIVELETTER]:\windows

Substitute the drive letter you noted earlier for [DRIVELETTER]. There should be no square brackets in the command (image below).

Windows will now attempt to find and repair any errors in your system files. If the scan finds errors, you may need to repeat the steps in this guide until it finds no more errors. To restart your computer, enter the exit command, then click the Restart button. When you're ready to try booting into Windows again, remove the install disc and restart one final time.

Method 2: Reinstall Windows Without Losing Any Data

If you are still able to get to your desktop, you've got additional options. You can still use the command prompt to scan as in the previous method, but there's another way that may be more thorough: reinstall Windows.

Wait, didn't we say you wouldn't have to reformat? We did, and you don't. It's possible to do an in-place, nondestructive reinstall of Windows, which will restore all your system files to pristine condition without damaging any of your personal data or installed programs. All you'll need is a Windows install DVD and your Windows CD key. Hopefully you still have your key written down somewhere, but if you don't, you're not out of luck. You can use a program like ProduKey, available for free, to quickly recover your Windows product key from the registry.

Important: Before continuing this process, note that it can cause problems with your installed programs, so don't do it just for fun, and make sure to back up your important data and create a restore point before continuing.

Step 1: Do Some Prep Work

Before you can get started, there's one important consideration: You can't repair a Windows 7 SP1 install with a pre-SP1 install disc. The ideal solution is to borrow a newer install disc with SP1 included (or download it, if you have access to a TechNet account), but it's also possible to uninstall SP1. To do this, open the Control Panel, select Uninstall a Program, and then choose the option to view updates (image below). You can right-click the Service Pack update to uninstall it.

Step 2: Insert the Install Disc

We're once again using the Windows install disc, but this time we're not going to boot from it. Simply insert the disc, and when the autorun menu pops up, choose to run setup.exe. Once again, you'll find yourself staring at the Windows 7 install screen. This time, do click the Install now button (image below).

Step 3: Reinstall Windows

Finally, it's time to get down to business. After the installer gets past the Copying Temporary Files… screen, you'll be asked about getting updates for installation files. Go ahead and do this, as long as your computer's network connection is still working.

When the installer asks what sort of installation you'd like to perform (image below), ignore your natural instinct to choose Custom, and instead click Upgrade. Sure, you're not technically upgrading from one version of Windows to another, but we do want to do the kind of nondestructive install that the update option performs. Think of it as upgrading from a broken version to a non-broken version, if you must.

After that, all that's left is to sit through the usual Windows 7 installation process, with its multiple reboots and endless progress bars. When it's done, you'll have to reactivate Windows by entering the product key that you found or wrote down earlier.

All that's left to do is to let Windows install any security updates or service packs that it's missing, and reboot. All your system files should now be fully restored!

Oops! Acer Ultrabook S3 Price, Specs Prematurely Leaked By Italian Retail Site

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 10:48 AM PDT

Rumors and whispers abound about the upcoming Ultrabook line of notebooks – you know, the ones that Intel hopes will be MacBook Air killers – but despite all the talk, we haven't seen any hard facts as far as components or price points go. That may have changed today, thanks to a new product page on an Italian retailer's site that appears to have gone up a bit prematurely.

 

The product page was first found by Notebook Italia, whose words are legible thanks to a quick arrangement with Google Translate. The purported Acer Ultrabook S3 packs an Intel Core i5-2467M, 4GB RAM, a 320GB hard drive and an additional 20GB SSD into its slim n' fit half-inch-thick frame. Not too shabby.

MonClick lists the price as 786 euros, which converts to $1,135 in American currency. That's slightly higher than Intel's highly pushed sub-$1000 price tag, but remember that this is an Italian retailer; the cost of the notebook could be reduced when it hits US shores.

Acer (along with Asus) is expected to have some Ultrabook announcements for our consumption at this year's IFA 2011. Acer's official IFA conference takes place on Friday, so prepare yourself for a flood of Ultrabook news over the next couple of days.

Google Bringing Offline Mode Back To Gmail, Docs and Calendar

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 10:20 AM PDT

Google placed its bets on a cloud computing-filled future with the Chromebook, a nifty little line that advance's Google's goal to have everybody's data available anywhere, anytime. While it's a wonderful concept, accessing the Web anywhere, anytime requires Internet access that's available anywhere, anytime. Frankly, we're not quite there yet. Google admitted this fact (and helped make Chrome OS and Google Apps a little more useful) with today's announcement of the return of an offline mode for Gmail, Google Docs and Google Calendar.

Gmail Offline is available right now as a Chrome extension, Product Manager Benoît de Boursetty said on the Gmail Blog. The extension's based on the offline-capable Gmail tablet app. After installing the extension, if you're working in Gmail and your connection craps out, clicking on the "Gmail Offline" button on Chrome's "New Tab" page lets you continue browsing your correspondence.

Offline mode for Calendar and Docs is rolling out over the next week. Working with Google Calendar and Google Docs offline starts by clicking on the gear icon in the black Google nav bar while working with Calendar or Docs, then selecting "Set up docs offline" from the drop-down menu. After agreeing to allow the files to sync with your computer, you're prompted to install an extension for the app. Currently, you can't do much more than view appointments or documents when working offline, but de Boursetty promises that the team is hard at work at making it possible to edit files offline.

Global Internet Speedup Initiative Kicks Web Surfing into High Gear

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 09:03 AM PDT

Your Internet experience may feel faster than what it was a couple of days ago, and if so, that's by design. How so? If you're wearing a tin foil hat, it's probably because the government needs to stack up more evidence against you and decided to boost your connection speed. Bummer. For everyone else noticing a speed gain, it could be the result of the Global Internet Speedup initiative.

Here's the deal. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) feed Internet data to your PC and other connected devices based on the location of your Domain Name System (DNS) server. In many cases, your DNS server is far removed from the location of your PC, so it's not entirely tuned for performance.

The Global Internet Speedup improves upon the current architecture by routing page requests based on the location of the user and not just the user's OpenDNS or Google Public DNS server. It's a simple solution that uses open Internet standards among OpenDNS, Google, and leading CDNs to deliver faster webpage load times and quicker downloads.

"We're very excited to team with Google and the world's leading CDNs on such a significant improvement to the speed of the Internet," said OpenDNS CEO David Ulevitch. "The initiative we've partnered on is based on open standards that any other network can adopt, making this technology available to anyone. We're proud to be leading the charge together with the world's leading Internet companies and CDNs and we're stoked to be delivering speed improvements to our more than 30 million users and thousands of enterprise businesses."

You may have already guessed the 'gotcha,' which is that you need to be using DNS servers belonging to OpenDNS or Google Public DNS, and accessing websites powered by a participating CDN for this initiative to have any effect whatsoever, at least for now. And on that note, a couple of handy links:

How To: Boost Your Web Browsing Performance Like an IT Pro Using DNS
How To: Speed Up, Customize, and Secure Firefox, Chrome, IE8, and Opera

Violent Videogames Blamed for Negative Brand Reception, Too

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 08:38 AM PDT

There's a fine line between adding to realism with in-game advertising and blatantly selling out. One can actually improve the game's atmosphere, and the other is a quick road to riches. There is, however, another factor to consider. According to a new report, advertising in violent videogames can backfire and actually create a negative perception of the product being pitched, as well as lower brand recall.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin came up with that conclusion, and noted that women in particular are sensitive to ads in violent games.

"Although violent video games are very popular and can reach a young, highly engaged audience, their effectiveness as an advertising medium is questionable," said Jorge Peña, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies and one of the study's authors. "Our study demonstrates that featured violence diminishes brand memory and primes more negative attitudes toward the brand."

Researchers carried out the study by dividing participants into two groups. One group played through a violet game with avaters brandishing guns and shooting it up in rooms covered in blood. The other group weaved their way through the same avatars, only they were weaponless and the rooms were soaked in water.

"Brand recall and recognition, and attitudes were significantly lower for participants who navigated violent videogames compared to those who navigated the non-violent videogames," according to the study. "Women that played the violent videogames developed even more negative brand attitudes than women exposed to the non-violent videogames (11.29 percent decrease in brand liking). This could be attributed to women typically having less experience playing violent videogames, or men -- who typically play more violent videogames -- being desensitized to the violence and not noticing it."

Does the study hold any merit? That's something advertisers would be wise to look into as spending on in-game advertising is expected to be a billion dollar industry next year.
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMO News

MMO News

Immortal King Closed Beta announced

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 05:10 PM PDT

NGames announced Immortal King’s closed beta will begin on September 7.  Immortal King puts players in mythological Greece to build an empire and topple the Greek Gods.

Beta keys will be available from September 1 to September 6 in several different ways.  You may fill out a survey on the Immortal King website, update your MSN signature, sharing details about the release elsewhere, providing a single sentence on their forums as to why Immortal King appeals to you, and many more.

NGames is also the publisher of Navy Force and Pockie Ninja.

immortal-king-world-map

Immortal King Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

Immortal King closed beta date announced – get your key now!

Greek mythology MMORTS ready for testing on September 7th

NGames have revealed the closed beta date for their brand new Greek mythology inspired MMORTS, Immortal King. Starting on September 7th, 2011, there are various ways to claim your beta key in advance.

Ever want to become a legendary figure in Greek mythology? Reckon you can build a massive army and gallop across the battlefield to victory? Then mark September 7th in your diary, because Immortal King, NGames’ anticipated new MMORTS, is finally launching its closed beta.

Immortal King plunges you into a world steeped in Greek mythology, challenging you to command a powerful army of troops, govern an empire, become a legendary figure, and even conquer the infamous Greek gods themselves.

A limited number of beta keys will be made available from September 1st – September 6th, which can be claimed through one of following methods.

Immortal King website survey

The official Immortal King website is launching on Sept 1st. Once live, there will be a special closed beta survey that you can complete to be entered into a giveaway.

Be sure to visit the official Immortal King website when it launches to avoid disappointment: http://ik.game321.com/

Update MSN and win a key

You could win closed beta access just by updating your MSN signature!

Simply add “immortal_king@live.cn” to your friends list and update your signature to something Immortal King related. NGames will be keeping an eye on all signatures from Sept 1st – Set 6th and will randomly pick winners in time for the closed beta launch.

For example: “Can’t wait to fight with the Gods? Immortal King is your best choice. http://www.game321.com/”

Share the game and win a key

You can win a key by helping NGames spread the word of Immortal King’s upcoming release.

All you need to do is mention and link to Immortal King on a popular website of your choice. When you’re ready, take a screenshot and post it on the official Immortal King forum, along with a link to the website you used to mention Immortal King.

For example, you could post this on a Facebook forum: “Proving your worth and establishing your heroic deeds, here in Immortal King, you can realise your dreams – http://www.game321.com/”

Get creative!

From Sept 1st – Sept 6th, the Immortal King forums will have a specific thread where you can create your best Immortal King related sentences. The sentence can be absolutely anything Immortal King related, and the best entrants will receive a key to play the closed beta.

The sentences must include “Immortal King” to be eligible for a key. For example: “I want to play Immortal King because I love Greek mythology.”

Be as creative as you can! NGames will be checking all entries before selecting the winners, so make yours as memorable as possible.

Reply and win

There will be special forum threads on the official Immortal King website from September 1st – September 6th. Simply reply and get active in these threads and you could be rewarded with a beta key to play the game when it’s released.

But there’s a twist – your total post count must be a multiple of 3 in order to win. Make sure you keep a careful eye on your activity and don’t accidentally finish on an incorrect number!

Win a key on major gaming sites

NGames have partnered with many major MMO gaming websites to giveaway a limited number of closed beta keys. Keep an eye on the likes of ONRPG, MMORPG, MMOHut, MMOLife and BBGSite from Sept 1st – Sept 6th, where you can enter into a draw to win a key.

The Immortal King before beta is launching on September 7th.
Immortal King will be available through the popular Game321 portal, where you can play multiple titles such as Pockie Ninja, Navy Force, and Immortal King, with a single account.

To learn more about the game and the upcoming beta test, follow Immortal King on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Immortal-King/228055803906961

There will also be a dedicated Facebook app for the game, available here: http://apps.facebook.com/iking-game/

Remember to check out the official Immortal King website when it launches on Sept 1st: http://ik.game321.com/ and to claim your keys before the beta starts: http://ik.game321.com/activities/accode/accodeactiviy.shtml
Posted by Shri Krishna
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