General Gaming Article

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• Modders Toolkit: Everything You Need to Make Kick-Ass Custom Case Mods
• Google Unveils Nexus Tablet, Android Jelly Bean and a Social-Focused Media Streamer
• Researchers' Tool Partially Automates CPU Design, Could Cut Development Time From Years To Months
• Report: Patent Trolls Cost Economy $29 Billion In 2011, Often Target The Little Guy
• Second Generation Kindle Fire Tablet Reportedly Slated for July
• Cooler Master Launches Silent Pro M2 Power Supply Series
• Microsoft Granted Minor Relief for Massive Antitrust Fine in Europe
• Apple Wins Appeal; Convinces Judge to Ban Galaxy Tab Imports in U.S.
• Wi-Fi Alliance Begins Testing Devices for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint Program
• Dropbox Blocks Torrent Downloading Service Boxopus Over Piracy Concerns

Modders Toolkit: Everything You Need to Make Kick-Ass Custom Case Mods Posted: 27 Jun 2012 02:13 PM PDT If you're in the habit of giving credence to tired clichés, you're probably aware that a good chef never blames a mistake on his tools. That's not quite true when it comes to case modding. Anybody who's ever tried molding metal (or anything else) into newfound shapes knows that skill is definitely a factor, but even Modderati masters can't turn ducks into swans if their tools aren't up to snuff. On the flip side, solid tools can help novices pump out professional-looking mods. But just what tools does a modder need in his toolkit? We're glad you asked. If you found yourself flipping through our kick-ass case mods gallery and wondering how you -- yes, you -- could craft such beautiful works with your own hands, this handy-dandy guide will get you going in the right direction. Everything from beginning tools to advanced tools to sources for super-advanced services can be found in this lengthy tome… and most of the basic tools could already be sitting in your garage. Expert Modders Drop Knowledge Bombs None of this would have been possible without the help of three Modderati maestros whose innovative builds have been blazing trails and wowing onlookers for years: Bill Owen of Mnpctech rose to fame on the back of his mod-making prowess but he's since expanded Mnpctech into a true resource for case craftsmen, selling tools and custom-made modding accessories. Mnpctech has an extensive series of video tutorials covering basic modding techniques and Bill's Case Mod Blog is a frequently updated resource. Above is the "DiRT Showdown" mod he recently made for an AMD giveaway. Ron Lee Christianson of BHSTECH created the awesome Iron Man mod that was on display at ThermalTake's booth at Computex. He's currently working on a Captain America-themed mod and provided a lot of the pictures of basic modding tools. Sander van der Velden (a.k.a. Asphiax) recently took Tatooine by (sand)storm with his Imperial AT-AT mod. His current work-in-progress, the VENATOR Class Republic Star Destroyer, is gearing up to be just as impressive. Sander's a scratch build fanatic who dropped a lot of knowledge about advanced techniques. Thanks for the assist, guys. Now on to the show! Safety First, Kids Before you pick up your first file or plug in a drill press, make sure you're dressed up in gear that'll keep you safe. Work gloves are a must, as are latex gloves and a respirator if you're working with paint or other chemicals. Doing some heavy machining? Wear some ear plugs. Anti-static straps are a good idea if you're poking around electronics. Then, there are safety glasses, which should be a mainstay on every modder's face. "My most important tool is my safety glasses!" Bill says. His favorite pair is the "stylish and comfortable" Smith and Wesson Elite safety glasses, which he sells through Mnpctech. But what if stylish and comfortable isn't your thing? "No matter what brand or type of safety glasses you use, your safety glasses should meet the High Impact level of the ANSI Z87.1+ safety standards." Got it? Good! Now let's crack open this toolkit. Before You Mod: Planning Out Your Build Most modders recommend formally planning out your build in some way, especially if it requires a lot of precision work. Even a simple drawing on the back of a napkin provides a solid guideline to a basic build. Our Modderati experts go for more intricate planning, however. "A computer program like Adobe Illustrator or SketchUp is great for R&D to get your ideas on a visual scope before to hit the workbench," Ron says. Sander takes a different approach. "I like to build my computers like the Russians built their spacecraft: Trial and error. Try something: if it works, continue, and if it doesn't, go back to the drawing board and start again. That's why I always build a mockup of the object first from MDF or EPS foam to visualize the work I need to do and get paper design impossibilities out of the way." Finally, if you're going to be building anything from scratch -- be it a case window or snakes slithering out of a hard drive bay -- decide which materials you'll want to use for the job, as some materials require special tooling. Sander the scratch modder started out using MDF on his wholly custom builds, but has since converted to aluminum, while Ron prefers using ABS styrene plastic for his home-made accents to premade cases. "It's rigid, durable and it'll stand up to much abuse," he explains. "You can sand, drill, shape and mold it to most any shape, and all ranges of paint -- from water based to urethanes -- will adhere to the surface." Acrylic or Plexiglas is another very popular modding material. It's a bit finicky, though; if your saw blade is too coarse or moving too fast, Plexi cracks and melts like nobody's business. Check out this insanely in-depth article about working with acrylics if there's a new window in your case mod's future. Basic Tools Do Most Of The Work "I don't want to discourage up-and-coming modders into thinking that they need a shop full of high end tools and machines to mod," Ron says. "Ninety percent of the Iron Man and Biohazard builds were made from a straight edge, an X-Acto blade and the Dremel multi-tool." Rotary tools are widely considered the most-used tool of the modding trade; they're relatively inexpensive, with swappable accessories that are perfect for drilling, sanding, cutting, polishing and a whole, whole lot more. Most modders love their trusty Dremel -- in fact, "Dremel" is pretty much a verb when it comes to modding -- but it isn't the only rotary tool out there. "Don't be predictable and list Dremel!" Bill Owen says. "Black & Decker's RTX Rotary Tool is equally as good as Dremel -- for less money -- and it accepts all Dremel brand attachments, including Dremel's #225-01 Flex Shaft Attachment." Don't bother buying a cordless rotary tool, either; Bill says they aren't worth the money. Whether or not your power drill -- another must-have case modding tool, perfect for making small, clean holes in computer cases and other things -- needs a cord is up for debate. Some people prefer the consistent, hassle free oomph a cord provides, while others like the flexibility of a battery-powered cordless model. Sander van der Velden falls firmly in the former camp. "(With cordless drills) I always run out of power when I need it and forget to unplug the charging battery, causing it to go lazy," he says. "So I use a wired power tool/screwdriver. Always enough power at your service." Either way, don't forget to buy bits! Here are some other basic, fairly low-cost tools that belong in a modder's toolkit: Squares, straight edges, measuring tape, markers and pencils - Squares and straight edges are a must-have for lining up straight cuts, while measuring tape and writing utensils to mark measurements off with help with that whole "cutting once" thing. Basic varieties of all of the above will do, but Mnpctech offers an interesting little straight edge called the "PC Modder Ruler." It includes thickness gauges, template locations for both 2.5, 3.5 and 5.25-inch drives, and references and templates for common fan sizes, screw threads, vandal switches, and water cooling barbs and tubes. There's a tap and drill size chart as well as a list of common fraction/metric/inches conversions, too. The ruler's available in either aluminum or an eye-catching copper, though the copper version costs twice as much. Bill sent us one to play around with and we have to say, this handy tool could save modders some time and measurement-related headaches. The amount of information on the 12-inch body is kind of amazing, actually. Plus, it's hefty enough to deter would-be robbers if you swing it at them. Center punch - Punches a guiding dent into metal so that your drill bit doesn't jerk around crazily like your Grandma doing the chicken dance. Hand files - Good for quickly deburring the edges of said cut when you don't want to bust out your rotary tool's sanding attachment, especially in small areas. Hobby knives with miter box - For fine detail work, nothing beats the precision of small hobby knives. The miter boxes found in many hobby knife sets have carved channels for 45-degree and 90-degree cuts. Glues, hot glue gun, epoxy - For, um, gluing two things into one thing. Hot glue should be good enough for most things, while Gorilla Glue ensures a more permanent bond. Epoxy is good for gluing plastic to metal. Acrylic glue actually fuses separate pieces of acrylic (like Plexiglas) into a single piece. Table clamps and vises - These allow you to secure materials to your workbench, ensuring things won't go screwy at the last second when you're making a critical cut. Pliers, screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, normal wrenches, tweezers, etc. - All the tools you'll need to fiddle around with cases, drive bays and the like. A set of precision screwdrivers is a worthwhile investment as many cases use smaller screws. Wire strippers and cutters and a soldering iron - Plan on installing LED lights or any other electrical work? You'll almost definitely need these tools. Some Molex tools probably couldn't hurt, either. Image credit via mignonette-game.com Tin snips and a nibbler - Rotary tools are wondrous things, but their rapidly spinning heads cause metal to heat up and possibly warp if you're not careful. Tin snips and nibblers also make solid cuts, only without the thermal effects. Tin snips work as expected; nibblers (both manual and powered version are available) take small, circular bites out of metal and require a starting hole. Both leave cuts that often need to be filed down for smoothness. Now on to bigger tools that make bigger cuts! Banging out holes Whether you're making a new exhaust fan or the open mouth of a fiery demon, poking a hole through a case is almost inevitable during case modding. There are several options available for making said holes, however, starting with a bi-metal hole saw set.   Bi-metal hole saw sets are specialized attachments that turn everyday power drills into badass machines capable of cutting holes of various sizes, though you'll need an arbor that fits your drill in order to use them. Most can also be used for cutting wood or plastic. "I use these to cut out fan holes and scratch-build pieces like the arc-reactor on the Iron Man build," Ron says. That's right -- that badass Arc Reactor above was built using a simple hole saw set. (And some additional techniques, of course.) Bill Owen's actually made a video guide to using hole saw sets for case modding. He also supplied us with this handy-dandy list of conversions: 80mm = 3-inch hole saw 92mm = 3.5-inch hole saw 120mm = 4.5-inch hole saw 140mm = 5.5-inch hole saw For fan screw holes, Bill suggests using a Roper Whitney No. 5 Jr. Hand Punch. It works fast and comes out clean. If you're super-serious about making clean holes and have a lot of money to throw at modding, Bill recommends investing in knockout punches, specifically knockout punches made by Greenlee. "No need to deburr the edges of a hole saw or jigsaw cut anymore!" he says. Knockout punches use elbow grease and the slow, steady pressure of tightening the punch using a screw to knock holes through metal. Various-sized sets and stand-alone punches can be found online, but be warned: they often cost several hundred dollars. You'll also need a socket wrench to use a knockout punch, and Bill recommends a wrench at least 19 inches long. (It takes a lot of oomph to punch through metal!) He's also made a video guide for using knockout punches. Ultra-precise holes need a drill press. Drill presses remove any chance of either the drill or the material shifting, and they also work with the same accessories as a standard drill, including hole saw sets. Small, basic models can be found  for less than $100 online. "To make sure the holes are perfectly perpendicular to the material I use a drill press," Sander says. "Not a professional one, but a low end one, which is more than enough for this kind of work. Also, drilling a fan hole into a piece of Plexi is so much easier when you use a drill press as it stabilizes the drill, which stops the blade from biting into the Plexi and causing it to crack." Cutting Things Rotary tools are nice, but sometimes their cutting attachments just won't do the trick. When you've got a big, long cut lined up, saws are the best way to go. Modders tend to use band saws and jigsaws. Note that different materials require different cutting speeds and saw tooth density; Plexi requires a slower, finer cut than metals, for example. Bandsaw - "I find myself using the band saw for long straight cuts into various materials, and use a 14tpi (teeth per inch) blade for most my work," Ron says. He, like most modders, considers the tool a must-have. Jigsaw - Jigsaws use thin, fast moving stroke-action blades. A jigsaw can cut straight, sure, but its real advantage lies in its ability to handle curved lines and scrolls as well as its overall versatility; jigsaws work well on almost any case as well as Plexi. They're also much more portable than bandsaws. Proxxon DSH Electrical Fret Saw - Scratch modders take note: "This thing is its weight worth in GOLD!" Sander says. "It's my most used and versatile tool. I use it to cut MDF up to 20mm, Plexi up to 12mm and aluminum up to 10mm. "The blades are detachable so you can drill a hole in a piece of material and saw from the inside. Brilliant for making fan holes, windows, ventilation slots, drive cages and what not. Also, the cuts are straight and clean and I can set two speeds, slow for Plexi and fast for aluminum." We're almost there! The next page has even more advanced tools, links to modding-friendly service providers and some parting words by a couple of our Modderati experts.   Advanced Tools Sander - No, not our scratch builder, an actual power sander, which can help you strip the paint off of cases (and other stuff) much faster and more efficiently than sandpaper alone. Lie the case panel flat on the table and let gravity guide the tool to ensure an even finish. Modders on a budget can stick to sanding blocks or sandpaper instead. The higher the grit, the finer the finish, with sub-100 grits working well for rough work like deburring. Airbrush or paint sprayer - A solid paint job adds a lot to a mod. Paint sprayers are good for flat, solid coats while airbrushes offer a lot more versatility. Check out Airbrush Tutor to brush up on your basic know-how. You'll need an air compressor to go along with a paint sprayer or air gun. Hotwire or thermocutting devices - These sport a heated wire and are normally used for cutting through foam or plastic. Sander uses his Proxxon Thermocutter "to cut EPS foam down to the right size and get organic shapes out of the blocks. You can bend the wire in any shape you like and it will cut through the foam like a warm knife through butter. Great for making fins or small extensions to whatever you are building." He also uses a smaller hotwire device to create bends in Plexiglas up to 6mm thick. That's thinking outside the box! (If you don't have Sander's budget, a heat gun can accomplish the same thing, albeit with less precision.) Aluminum bending table (a.k.a. a bending break) - This is waaaaay more than the average modder needs, but Sander just picked one up and he loves it for scratch builds. "It bends 63 cm strips of 1.5mm aluminum with ease and can be used to create almost everything. Custom eye candy that can take a beating!" Under the pic of the bending table is a pic of the VENATOR build's aluminum base. Service Providers For Even More Advanced Techniques "Sometimes the arsenal of tools the garage won't help, especially when you need to make a truly unique part or creating a scratch built PC," Bill Owen says. "Here are the resources Mnpctech uses and recommends for helping you create a truly custom PC." Karl'z Grafix http://karlzvinylgrafix.com/ karlz.custom.graphics@gmail.com 612-412-1797 "When we need specialty graphics made, we contact Karl Maser, at Karl'z Grafix. He can make any custom graphic or logo applique we need for PC window or panels. He specializes in small quantity orders and one of a kinds." Custom CNC Machined Parts by Centerline Manufacturing Inc. Chris Croy (President) Chris@CLmanufacturing.com Ph.260-348-7400 Fax. 260-693-6356 Laser Cutting & Eteching Services 803 41st Street North Birmingham, Alabama 35212 205-595-7070 FAX 205-595-7021 http://www.lasercuttingservice.net E-MachineShop http://www.emachineshop.com "Emachineshop is expensive, but gives you the ability to make any part using injection molding, milling, turning, laser cutting, waterjet cutting, bending. You can download free, easy-to-use software which they can use to design objects ranging from personal computer chassis and car parts to door knobs in metal, plastic or other materials." Parting words Whew! That was a lengthy journey. Hopefully you're just a bit wiser for sticking it out this long. If you put any of this knowledge to good use, we'd love if you shared the results in the Modders' Workshop section of our forum.  Before we wrap things up, Sander van der Velden (who showed off his USS Eurisko build in the Modders' Workshop) has some parting words of wisdom: "The best tip I can give a modder is not to try to save on your tools. Good preparation is half the work and good tooling is another quarter of that work. For example, when I started with aluminum building I got my first tap from a DIY market. It cost 10 Euros, including the oil. I almost gave up aluminum modding right there as it needed Superman powers to work it! "The blade was dull, the rattler didn't fit properly and the oil was like glue. I went to a small hardware store and bought some good stuff; 30 Euros in total and it just flew! In the time I did one hole with the old setup I did three with the new one using one finger. So if it's possible, try to borrow good tools instead of buying cheap and useless ones -- you'll be happier for it!" Ron Christianson has something to say about a critical tool, too: "The most important tool is your imagination, any thing that you can dream up can be built. With a little hard work and creativity you can bring your ideas from concept to completion." With that, we bid you happy modding! Want to see more mod-related features here on MPC? Let us know in the comments.

Google Unveils Nexus Tablet, Android Jelly Bean and a Social-Focused Media Streamer Posted: 27 Jun 2012 11:21 AM PDT Google was widely expected to bring some new toys to the table today, the opening day of the company's annual I/O developer's conference, and boy, Sergey and co. sure didn't disappoint. The long-rumored Google Nexus tablet is no longer just a rumor, Jelly Bean -- a.k.a. Android 4.1 -- is official, and the company's even moving into the multimedia space with the launch of the Nexus Q multimedia streamer. The 7-inch Google Nexus tablet is already available in the Play Store for the Kindle Fire-competing prices of $199 for an 8GB version and $250 for a 16GB model. For a limited time, you'll get $25 in Play Store credit, a digital copy of the latest Transformers movie and other bundled content if you pick one up. Under the hood, the Nexus tablet outshines the Kindle Fire with a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, a 1280x800 IPS display, NFC capabilities and a 1.2MP front camera. It's also packing in Jelly Bean, the latest version of the Android operating system. Jelly Bean's biggest claim to fame is Project Butter, which allows the OS to speed along at a brisk 60fps frame rate. There's also been some nifty-sounding changes to the way Android handles widgets on home screens, a big improvement to the already stellar notification system and more, all of which you can read about in depth at Engadget. Jelly Bean will be rolling out to Nexus and Xoom devices next month. The Google Nexus Q looks like a big ol' ball and chain, but it's a cloud-based device that lets you stream music, Google Play apps and YouTube videos to your TV. Google Play's music app lets you share playlists with pals, and anybody with an Android device can leap in and share or control content of their own. Connectivity-wise, the Nexus Q is loaded, with HDMI, S/PDIF, micro-USB. Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, banana jack speakers connections and NFC all on board. Google's Play Store will also begin selling movies, magazines and TV shows today. The Nexus Q cost $299 and is expected to start shipping in 2 to 3 weeks. Update: Check out this awesome demonstration of Project Glass.

Researchers' Tool Partially Automates CPU Design, Could Cut Development Time From Years To Months Posted: 27 Jun 2012 10:49 AM PDT Coming up with new CPU designs isn't quite as easy as coming up with new flavors of ice cream. First, you need to figure out exactly what you want the core to accomplish, along with what critical components are needed to meet that goal. Then, after that's sorted, the process moves to a second stage called "design implementation" -- basically, figuring out how to actually make the CPU the architectural engineers dreamed up. It's a long, laborious procedure, but now North Carolina State University researchers claim they've developed a tool to quickly automate the design implementation process. The researchers say their tool allows CPU core designers to simply plug in their architectural specifications; the tool will take it from there and handle all the implementation design dirty work, and in much less time than it takes humans to complete the same task. The university claims that this tool can cut development time for a new CPU design from years down to months. Here's the elevator pitch for the tool, straight from the NCSU website: Specifically, the tool creates a "synthesizable register-transfer-level design" of the core. This design can be used to create the suite of manufacturing blueprints manufacturers need to actually fabricate the cores. "Processor designers will be free to create interesting ensembles of diverse cores because they won't be bogged down by the minutiae of core implementation," says Eric Rotenberg, the lead engineer on the process. "In turn this will lead to faster and more capable computing devices that last longer between battery charges." Heady words, but are they true? Engineering geeks who also happen to be IEEE subscribers can check out the full research paper and judge things for themselves. (Non-subscribers can purchase the article for $19.) The rest of us will just have to wait and see if Intel's tick-tocks start coming out on a quarterly basis. Via Engadget

Report: Patent Trolls Cost Economy $29 Billion In 2011, Often Target The Little Guy Posted: 27 Jun 2012 10:18 AM PDT Don't feed the trolls; the axiom may work well for avoiding Godwin's Law in forum postings, but it isn't working so well in courtrooms around the globe. In fact, a new study from the Boston University School of Law says patent trolls -- companies that deal solely in IP litigation rather than actual services and products -- are fatter and hungrier than ever before, costing the economy a whopping $29 billion in 2011. To put things in perspective, trolling "only" cost the economy roughly $6.7 billion in 2005. James Bessen and Michael J. Meurer examined data from 82 companies that defended themselves against a total of 1,184 claims against patent trolls. That's a hefty sampling, but nowhere near the total number of claims, which goes to show how prevalent patent trolling has become: overall, 2,150 companies defended against a whopping 5,842 claims from patent trolls last year. Patent trolls often say that knowledge is just another commodity, or that they bring ideas from small inventors to the big time or foster innovation in other ways; the BU report says otherwise. The authors found that most trolling victims were small- or mid-sized companies with an average revenue of around $10 million, not major multi-national corporations. And with the legal costs to defend a patent claim averaging out around half a million bucks and an average settlement of $1.33 million, protecting against trolls can leave a small company very bankrupt, very quickly -- leaving them without a budget to invest in the innovation that trolls claim to spur on. "Publicly-traded (patent trolls) cost small and medium-sized firms more money than (the trolls) could possibly transfer to inventors," the authors say. A study by Catherine Tucker is cited by the authors and posits that patent trolls can actually stifle innovation in other ways, too; after a handful of medical imaging companies were sued by a troll, the sued companies stopped innovating as aggressively with their software products, presumably to avoid further litigation and resulting in a one-third loss of sales. So there you have it! Patent trolling sucks, and now you have the numbers to prove it. Via PC World; image via WMPowerUser

Second Generation Kindle Fire Tablet Reportedly Slated for July Posted: 27 Jun 2012 07:11 AM PDT Entry level and/or low-cost tablets are beginning to burn bright in the market place, and none more intense than Amazon's Kindle Fire, currently the second best selling tablet on the planet behind Apple's iPad. Call it a glorified eBook reader if you want, the thing is selling well no matter which category it gets squeezed into, and though the competition is ramping up efforts to compete in the same category, Amazon isn't sitting idly by. On the contrary, there's talk of a Kindle Fire 2 device shipping in July. News of an impending second generation Kindle Fire launch comes from CNet, which was told by a "credible source" that Amazon is targeting July 31. There have been other rumors surrounding Amazon's Kindle Fire roadmap, one of which says the eCommerce behemoth will likely reduce the price of its current generation tablet to $149 as it introduces a newer model at the same $199 price point as current Kindle Fire devices sell for. Amazon's rumored approach appears to follow in the footsteps of Apple, which sees future generation devices debut with upgraded features and hardware without jacking up the price. That would be a wise move for Amazon, which currently dominates the low-cost tablet sector in terms of market share. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Cooler Master Launches Silent Pro M2 Power Supply Series Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:42 AM PDT Case, cooling, and peripheral maker Cooler Master has come up with a successor to its Silent Pro M line of power supplies, the new and aptly named Silent Pro M2 Series. Picking up where the original left off, Cooler Master claims it made improvements to "each aspect" of the PSU, including the addition of a 3.3v DC-to-DC board to increase overall energy efficiency and newer high quality capacitors. The Silent Pro M2 Series is available in 620W, 720W, and 1500W models, each of which offers greater amperage over its predecessors. Cooler Master opted for a single +12V rail design on the 620W and 720W models, and a dual +12V rail design on the 1500W model, which delivers up to 55A and 70A on +12V1 and +12V2, respectively. Other feature highlights include modular cabling, quiet operation (135mm hydraulic dynamic bearing fan), double layer EMI filter, and a five-year warranty. Cooler Master didn't discuss pricing, though did say all three models will available this month. Image Credit: Cooler Master Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Microsoft Granted Minor Relief for Massive Antitrust Fine in Europe Posted: 27 Jun 2012 06:18 AM PDT In the grand scheme of things, there aren't many companies that can afford to cut checks for billion-dollar fines. Microsoft is one of them, but that doesn't mean it will go about it willingly. Even for Microsoft, $1.3 billion, which is roughly the amount the European Union (EU) penalized the software giant for in 2008 when it imposed a fine of 899 million euros for antitrust shenanigans, is a lot of money. Following an appeal, Microsoft won't have to pay quite as much, but it does still owe the bulk of the original fine. The EU's second-highest court saw fit to trim Microsoft's antitrust fine by 4.3 percent to 860 million euros, the Financial Times reports. That works out to about $1.07 billion today, and remains one of the biggest fines ever handed out by the EU. In a statement to the press, EU's General Court said it "essentially upholds the Commission's decision imposing a periodic penalty payment on Microsoft," even though it reduced the fine. Naturally, Microsoft was "disappointed with the court's ruling," though it didn't say whether or not another appeal is order. Should Microsoft settle the matter and make payment in full, it would put an end to any outstanding disagreements it has with the EU, having already settled a dispute in 2009 related to Microsoft's bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Apple Wins Appeal; Convinces Judge to Ban Galaxy Tab Imports in U.S. Posted: 27 Jun 2012 05:44 AM PDT Remember being told, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again?" Apple heard the message loud and clear, and applied that philosophy to our legal system where, on appeal, it was able to win a big victory against Samsung. No longer is Samsung allowed to sell its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in the U.S. after U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, ruled in Apple's favor upon a second examination. The same judge saw no reason to grant Apple's request for a ban the first time Apple argued its case, but had a change of heart after a federal appeals court instructed her to take another look at the complaint. "Although Samsung has a right to compete, it does not have a right to compete unfairly, by flooding the market with infringing products," Koh wrote on Tuesday, Reuters reports. Apple must first post a $2.6 million bond before the order goes into effect. That money could end up in Samsung's pockets as damages if it's later determined the injunction was invalid to begin with. The latest ruling comes not even a full week after a federal judge in Chicago sided with Motorola Mobility in a similar case in which Apple also sought the ban of certain imports. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Wi-Fi Alliance Begins Testing Devices for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint Program Posted: 27 Jun 2012 05:37 AM PDT The Wi-Fi Alliance has begun vetting mobile devices and network equipment for its Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint program, the wireless industry group announced Tuesday. Hailed as a "major milestone" by the Wi-Fi Alliance in its press release, this latest development brings us a step closer to a world where mobile devices will automatically connect to access points—securely at that. The first products to be designated Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint are those that will form the program's test suite. The list includes wireless network gear from BelAir, Broadcom, Cisco, Intel, Marvell, MediaTek, Qualcomm and Ruckus Wireless. "For most users, Passpoint means that there will be no need for manual intervention when entering a hotspot running on Passpoint equipment with a Passpoint mobile device," reads the Wi-FI CERTIFIED Passpoint program FAQ.  "Automatic detection and secured connection will occur provided the user is a subscriber of the entity running the hotspot or is a subscriber of an entity that has a roaming relationship with the entity running the hotspot." "Passpoint devices use industry-agreed uniform mechanisms for discovering and creating secured connections to hotspots. This allows a subscriber to experience seamless Wi-Fi connectivity to a hotspot anywhere in the world his provider covers through roaming agreements." Service providers are expected to begin deploying this technology sometime next year.

Dropbox Blocks Torrent Downloading Service Boxopus Over Piracy Concerns Posted: 27 Jun 2012 05:17 AM PDT When Dropbox announced its "get link" file-sharing feature a couple of months back, a number of tech news outlets, including this one, were quick to report on it. Some of these reports, though, focused more on how the feature could make Dropbox popular among Internet pirates. The cloud storage service responded by saying it employs "a number of measures to ensure that our sharing feature is not misused." If anyone still had any doubts over its intentions, the company laid them to rest on Monday when it blocked (read: killed) Boxopus, a service for downloading torrent files directly to Dropbox, from accessing its API owing to piracy concerns. While this decision underlines its firm resolve against copyright infringement, the ban on Boxopus has surprised many, including Boxopus founder Alex, as initially Dropbox seemed to have no problem with it."Once the alpha version was approved we were pretty sure that Dropbox was okay with it, so we put our efforts into optimizing the service. It took us 3 months to finish the product with a team of 5 people, which was a $30,000 USD investment," Boxopus founder Alex told TorrentFreak. This is what the Dropbox team told Boxopus about its decision to ban the nascent service from accessing its API: "It's come to our attention that latest Boxopus features could be perceived as encouraging users to violate copyright using Dropbox… We recommend removing Dropbox integration from Boxopus." Boxopus founder maintains that the app fully complied with DMCA and Dropbox's own Terms of Service. However, he isn't ready to give up yet and is currently holding talks with other cloud storage services in the hope of replacing Dropbox. What do you think of Dropbox allowing the app at first, only for the permission to be revoked a few months later?

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• Firefall Releases System Requirements
• Valve releases TF2′s Meet The Pyro video and announces Source Filmmaker

The Crown Prince Arrives in Stronghold Kingdoms Posted: 27 Jun 2012 05:22 PM PDT Firefly Studios has released a new update for Stronghold Kingdoms, adding the Crown Prince rank. The Crown Prince rank is an unlimited 23rd rank available for high level players, letting them access up to 25 villages and up to 69 Vassals. The rank can be unlocked with ten million honour, and requires completing a series of sub-ranks and research in the Leadership branch. The update also changes Faction leadership voting so that decisions are made on the majority vote of Faction Officers, makes small tweaks for game performance, implements several bug fixes including those for monk influences and parish names. Stronghold Kingdoms Gameplay Screenshot Source: New Patch Adds Crown Prince Power Rank to Stronghold Kingdoms London , UK –27th May, 2012 – Firefly Studios, creators of Stronghold Kingdoms, currently the second most popular free-to-play game on Steam, have just released a new patch adding a "Crown Prince" rank to Stronghold Kingdoms. The Crown Prince rank, aimed primarily at high level players, has been added to Stronghold Kingdoms as a twist to the endgame of the popular castle MMO. Previously capped at 22 ranks and 15 villages, an unlimited 23rd rank was added earlier today giving players access to as many as 25 villages. The new rank can be unlocked with 10,000,000 honour, after which players will have to climb a series of sub-ranks and invest research points in an extended Leadership branch of the research tree. As part of the endgame, the honour requirements for each sub-rank will be increasingly brutal, but those who invest in the new system will have a distinct edge over their enemies. The new rank also allows for more Vassals. Players will be able to station troops in the castles of up to 69 Vassals, extending their influence and control of the lands further than ever before. Tweaks have been made to Faction leadership voting, with decisions now made by Faction Officers on the basis of a majority vote. The amount of shields displayed at a certain zoom level has been reduced to improve game performance. A counter has also been added to parish donations, useful for tracking achievements. Bug fixes have been made for monk influence, which previously allowed votes to surpass their cap, and parish names, which were being obscured by country borders at certain points on the map. More information on Stronghold Kingdoms and Firefly Studios can be found at www.strongholdkingdoms.com and www.fireflyworlds.com. Kingdoms can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StrongholdKingdoms and on Twitter @shkingdoms. Alternatively you can follow @AskTheWolf to be insulted by a psychotic medieval warlord.

Elsword Introduces Chung Posted: 27 Jun 2012 05:02 PM PDT Kill3rCombo has introduced its newest Elsword character, Chung. Chung is the sixth character to arrive in Elsword. He is a brawler who uses a larger-than-life cannon named Destroyer and can channel himself into a berserk mode sure to startle any opponent. Wearing the Freitunier, a special armor granted to him by birthright, Chung can use Hyper Mode and Cannonballs. At level 15, Chung can specialize as a Shooting Guardian or a Fury Guardian. Elsword: Chung Launch Trailer Source: New Character Chung Blasts His Way Into Action RPG Elsword IRVINE, Calif. – June 27, 2012 – Kill3rCombo has unleashed a brand-new character into the world of Elrios, home of the award-winning manga-inspired massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) Elsword. Starting today, players can assume the role of Chung, the sixth distinct character in the Elsword roster. Although he may not look intimidating at first glance, Chung is a powerful brawler, wields a trademark cannon bigger than himself, and possesses the ability to transform into a merciless berserk mode. "With the addition of Chung to the Elsword lineup, we're deepening the gaming experience for seasoned players while offering newcomers a whole new style of gameplay," said Ben Colayco, CEO of Kill3rCombo. "Our goal is to keep Elsword fresh and exciting for everyone, and the debut of a new character always shakes things up." As prince of the Seiker Family, Chung's birthright entitles him to a set of armor called Freitunier. By donning the Freitunier, Chung is able to become a human fortress, vanquishing enemies with the Destroyer, his trusty cannon. Skillfully navigating levels through the use of Hyper Mode and the Cannonball System, Chung crushes opponents with his offensive power and nimble escapes. Upon reaching level 15, Chung can expand his fighting prowess as a hot-shot Shooting Guardian or damage-dealing Fury Guardian. In Elsword, gamers can choose from six specialized and customizable characters as they explore an immersive world and battle rivals to complete dynamic quests. As players progress through the game, they can evolve their fighting styles by upgrading to new job classes, learn deadly new abilities and master combo attacks. With intuitive and straightforward controls, Elsword offers players of all skill levels the chance to experience the thrill of victory in combat, either on solo missions or cooperatively in a party of up to four players. For those who welcome a challenge, Elsword also delivers action-packed PvP combat.

RuneScape Begins Evolution Of Combat Beta Posted: 27 Jun 2012 04:21 PM PDT 50,000 players are now testing Jagex’s upcoming combat changes to Runescape. Evolution of Combat, the combat update Jagex announced last month, will offer a completely redesigned combat system designed to increase immersion and player involvement while retaining that old RuneScape charm. New features will include the ability to dual wield, the introduction of action bars, abilities that unlock as the battle goes on, critical hits, and new character animations. The test will also add in testers who have been members for the last twelve months, plus weekend-only tests for other Runescape members. RuneScape’s Lead Designer, Mark Ogilvie, commented: “We really wanted to make our conflict game play more about the actual art of combat, so we’ve added amazing abilities which will give the player a wealth of choices to use in PvE and PvP combat, and the way those abilities relate to each other will bring a completely new sense of tactical depth to the game. We've also made huge improvements to the look and sound of combat, meaning the entire game has become a far more gritty, visceral and adrenaline pumping experience. " Jagex also publishes War of Legends and 8Realms. RuneScape Gameplay Screenshot Source: let battle commence: RuneScape unleashes Evolution of Combat Beta Jagex selects 50,000 recruits from hundreds of thousands of applicants to join the fray in the Evolution of Combat Beta features include the introduction of duAl wielding, action and adrenalinE bars, tiered abilities, performance buffs, critical hits, new character animations, and much more Tuesday 26th June 2012, Cambridge, UK – Jagex, makers of the world's most popular free-to-play MMORPG – RuneScape, today announced the opening of their highly anticipated Combat Beta, Evolution of Combat. An elite band of 50,000 testers have been carefully selected from the hundreds of thousands of players who applied for access to the Beta, and have been granted the unique opportunity to shape the development of this colossal update before anyone else.   Through the Evolution of Combat, RuneScape has undergone the most significant change in its 11-year history. Rumours and speculation have been rife among the RuneScape community as players have tried to guess just what this exciting new content will contain. With the developers promising a totally revolutionary change to the game – upping the level of immersion and player involvement while, critically, retaining the features and overall charm that have made the browser-based adventure so popular – players have been rushing to sign up for the chance to take part.   “The Evolution of Combat update is the biggest change we've ever made in RuneScape's long history and we're incredibly excited to finally let our players take part." commented Mark Ogilvie, RuneScape’s Lead Designer. "We really wanted to make our conflict game play more about the actual art of combat, so we’ve added amazing abilities which will give the player a wealth of choices to use in PvE and PvP combat, and the way those abilities relate to each other will bring a completely new sense of tactical depth to the game. We've also made huge improvements to the look and sound of combat, meaning the entire game has become a far more gritty, visceral and adrenaline pumping experience. "   The Evolution of Combat update includes a host of new features designed to add even more excitement and skill to the game. These features include the ability to dual wield weapons; the introduction of action bars; new abilities which unlock as the battle progresses and the new adrenaline bar fills; the ability to cast buffs and weaknesses on your allies and opponents respectively; the ability to produce critical hits and – finally – a whole host of new character animations.   Ogilvie continued, "The entire update has been built to play to RuneScape's strengths and has been designed to refocus combat to be more about player skill, encourage variety in combat equipment and to make combat more enjoyable and challenging. This will revolutionise the way the game is played, making the experience ultimately more rewarding, while not diverting from the essential heart of the game which has made RuneScape so hugely popular for millions around the world."   In addition to the initial 50,000 Beta entrants, all RuneScape players who have been members for the last 12 months and have signed up for access will automatically qualify to take part, and all other members will be able to access the Evolution of Combat Beta during members-only open weekends. These weekends will run from the 7th July till the end of the Beta to give all members the chance to log on and hone their skills before the new combat system is released to the wider community.   RuneScape is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most popular free-to-play massively multiplayer online game. Launched in 2001, RuneScape is played by millions of people around the world every day and is racing towards the mammoth milestone of 200 million accounts created.   With the Evolution of Combat update on the horizon, there has never been a better time to begin your RuneScape adventure. Head over to www.RuneScape.com and create your free account today.

Stronghold Kingdoms Posted: 27 Jun 2012 04:09 PM PDT Stronghold Kingdoms is a castle MMO that puts you in charge of controlling a medieval city. Gather resources quickly and efficiently, because others are trying the same. Build your city efficiently, to ensure its maximum potential. Engage in massive sieges on other territories, to help friends or conquer on your own. Utilize skill cards for maximum benefit and an unexpected turn of the tides of war. Publisher: Firefly Studios Playerbase: ?? Graphics: Medium Type: MMORTS EXP Rate: ?? PvP: Yes Filesize: N/A Pros: +More realism than many RTS games. +Huge battles. +Uses skill and card system to turn the tide of battles. Cons: -May be generic to some. -No initial PvP protection. -Shared resources may be hard to deal with. Overview Stronghold Kingdoms Overview Stronghold Kingdoms is a realistic RTS that lets you develop a medieval town and castle. You have to design the town with efficiency in mind, and you absolutely must design your castle to be able to withstand sieges. PvP can happen anytime, and having a strong defense will ensure your survival. Resources are shared across the map, and many different people can gather from it at the same time. This works well when you’re a part of a guild, however, it can quickly lead to conflict otherwise. Sieges in the game are very large, with siege engines pummeling the walls, and soldiers trying to break through as well. It also offers a card system in battle, with various effects to help your side, or hinder your opponents. Stronghold Kingdoms Screenshots Coming Soon. . . Stronghold Kingdoms Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Stronghold Kingdoms Review Coming Soon… Screenshots Stronghold Kingdoms Screenshots Coming Soon… Videos Stronghold Kingdoms Videos Stronghold Kingdoms MMO Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links Stronghold Kingdoms Links Official Game Site System Requirements Stronghold Kingdoms System Requirements Coming Soon. . .

Tribes Ascend Now On Steam Posted: 27 Jun 2012 03:16 PM PDT Hi-Rez Studios has announced the launch of Tribes Ascend on Steam, along with a new update. The new version (available regularly and through Steam) includes a new map, Stonehenge, designed for Capture the Flag matches, plus  a new Team Deathmatch map called Miasma. Players can also check out the first-person spectator mode, or access new localized versions for German, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese speaking players. Hi-Rez Studios also publishes Global Agenda and SMITE. Tribes Ascend Update #6: Stonehenge Source: Free-to-Play Tribes: Ascend Now Available On Steam Update includes new maps, new features, and localized game client for Germany, Brazil, and Russia ATLANTA — 27 June, 2012– Hi-Rez Studios, independent developer of AAA free-to-play online games, today announced that Tribes: Ascend has launched on Valve's Steam service. The fast-paced, free-to-play multiplayer shooter has received a strong critical reception from the gaming press, including Editor's Choice awards from PC Gamer, IGN, and Gamespy, and 10/10 scores from review sites worldwide including Eurogamer and Ausgamers. Tribes: Ascend has over one million registered users, and the move to Steam, combined with international servers and language support, will expose the title to millions more worldwide. Says Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Studios Chief Operating Officer, "We're very excited to partner with Valve and deliver the World's Fastest Shooter to the world's largest gaming community." The updated version of Tribes: Ascend available on Steam will introduce a new Capture The Flag map called Stonehenge and a new Team Deathmatch map, as well as first-person spectator mode to support the growing Tribes competitive community. The game is also being localized to support German, Russian and Brazilian Portuguese. Beta versions of these languages are available in the latest patch, with final versions and support for additional languages on the way.

Digital Extremes Announces Warframe Posted: 27 Jun 2012 03:06 PM PDT Digital Extremes, known for Unreal, Bioshock, and more, has announced the free-to-play Warframe. Warframe will be a free-to-play co-op shooter set in outer space during a “new Dark Age.” Players will meet the Tenno, a nearly extinct race due to the slavery practices of the Grineer. The Tenno adapt by arming themselves with Warframes, special exo-skeletal technology they can operate, for a chance at survival. The developer has described the game as “MMO-Lite,” where four player squads can band together to advance and battle the Grineer throughout combat missions prepared through an Automatic Mission Generator that will provide unique raids for players to experience. Warframe is set to release this winter, with all gameplay available for free and enhancements available through a cash shop. Warframe: First Look Source: Today Digital Extremes provided a first look of WARFRAMET, a fast-paced co-op shooter currently in development and set to hit the Free-To-Play PC market this winter. A stopped-in-mid-action diorama has gone live on playwarframe.com that gives gamers an appetite-whetting glimpse into the WARFRAME world. It also signals an open call for gamers worldwide to register at playwarframe.com for their chance to help shape the game during the closed Beta Test this fall.   Set in the far reaches of outer space during a new Dark Age, WARFRAME introduces the Tenno, a race on the brink of extinction after being enslaved by the Grineer for centuries. Players enter WARFRAME on the cusp of the Grineer’s victory over the Tenno until they begin to arm themselves with WARFRAMES – an ancient exo-skeletal technology only they can operate. Hidden within the Orokin Derelicts of a lost civilization, new WARFRAMES lie dormant and undiscovered. These artifacts are the Tenno’s only hope for survival.   WARFRAME is a fast-action PvE shooter set in an evolving sci-fi world. Some would call it MMO-Lite as squads of four players band together to advance their characters and battle the oppression of the genocidal Grineer. Throughout their combat missions, players will continually increase the power and abilities of their WARFRAME and weapons. Players will raid new areas of space searching for exotic and powerful weapons and WARFRAME augmentations to customize their arsenal. With WARFRAME’s Automatic Mission Generator, the game will offer endless replay as levels are procedurally configured for a unique raid — every time.   “WARFRAME is a new name for an old game,” explained Steve Sinclair, chief creative director at Digital Extremes. “It was a shelved concept we kept coming back to. High-tech machine-gun Ninjas set in a far-future, over-hyphenated, Manga-Dune mash-up. Free-to-play lets us take risks. It allows us to build WARFRAME with our players.”   Upon its release this winter, WARFRAME will be completely free- to-play to anyone who registers an account at playwarframe.com. After a quick free download, players can enter WARFRAME and enjoy all attributes of the game’s world for as long as they like or can choose to participate in the game’s marketplace where various enhancements to the game will be offered.   “We’ve heard for years now that PC gaming is dead. It isn’t dead; it just went underground for a few years and is now re- emerging with this massively growing free-to-play market that has matured to the point where the quality of games we’re seeing rivals many AAA retail games,” said James Schmalz, CEO of Digital Extremes. “In many ways, we’re going back to our PC action-based roots. Free-to-play is like shareware 2.0! Once again, we’re connected directly to our end-user. They decide whether or not to pay for their experience and we listen to their feedback and continually improve the experience to make it worth paying for. Game development as it should be.”   Registration is now open on playwarframe.com where gamers can reserve their ‘alias’ in the game and will have a chance at joining the Closed Beta Test slated for this fall. In addition, they will receive a free pre-launch only weapon that will be added to their account just for signing up. Further details of the Closed Beta Test will be announced this summer.

Summer Festival Arrives In Digimon Masters Posted: 27 Jun 2012 01:55 PM PDT Digimon Masters Online is preparing for its new Summer Festival update. The update raises the level cap to 90, granting players new skills and four new Maze floors to explore. Two new Mercenaries (Salamon and FanBeemon) have been introduced, while two new field drops for companion Digimon (Dogmon and Armamon) are available, along with Lopmon’s Ultimate form. Players can also discover and try out twelve new avatars for the summer. Digimon Masters Online is published by Joymax, which also publishes Silkroad Online and Karma Online. Digimon Masters Gameplay Screenshot Source: BEAT THE HEAT WITH DIGIMON MASTERS New Summer Festival Update Just In Time For Summer Vacation Seoul, Korea, June 27, 2012— Joymax, leading online game developer and publisher, announced today its latest update for the popular online massive multiplayer title, Digimon Masters. A fantastic universe where our world and the Digital World are closer than anyone would have imagined is about to change in ways never expected! Digimon Masters continues the story and heightened sense of urgency found in the Digimon anime. This summertime update will bring tamers a raised level cap, all-new Digimon, new items and new maps! New and returning players can check out all the fun at the Joymax portal at http://www.joymax.com/portal. The new Summer Festival will have power growing stronger as players and their Digimon can now attain the lofty goal of level 90! With this increased level cap, comes new powers to explore, and players will now have the opportunity to delve deeper into the mazes of the Digital World with four new Maze floors to explore on the journey to 90! New Digimon have also joined the fray including two new Mercenaries: Salamon (who will digivolve to BlackTailmon) and FanBeemon. In addition, Lopmon’s Ultimate form can now be unlocked via the Angel Ring item. Two new field drops for companion Digimon are also included in the update, Dogmon and Armamon, making a total of six new Digimon available for the summer. Salamon was the official winner of the “Most Wanted Digimon Poll” event and Joymax is pleased to add him to the game. Leveling these new partners is the perfect opportunity to try out the hot new items including twelve new summer avatars! Digimon are well known all over the globe as part of the famous Japanese TV animation series. Digimon Masters is the first ever 3D online game based on the Digimon universe with more than 1,000 characters featured from seasons 1 through 5 of the series. Not only is it faithful to the art design, Digimon Masters closely follows the original story that will satisfy both loyal fans of the series as well as the average gamer. The game seamlessly combines pet training simulation with role-playing elements to deliver a one of a kind gaming experience. Featuring real-time combat, Gamers will be thrilled with the challenges brought forth by real-time combat which requires quick thinking and good reflexes. Players can also become one of 8 Royal Knights. Royal Knights are Digimon who are in charge of each area in the Digital World. Leaders of a guild that conquers one of these areas can become a Royal Knight who has the right to impose taxes along with other perks and obligations. To get the latest information and regular contests for amazing prizes, players are encouraged to follow the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/digimonmasters Players can also check out more details at http://twitter.com/dmojoymax/

Forge Of Empires Prepares Update On Backs Of One Million Posted: 27 Jun 2012 01:28 PM PDT InnoGames has announced its reach of the one million player milestone, along with an update slated for next week. The update will allow players to trade freely with other players within their guilds, and will make it easier to replace residential buildings with more effective upgrades more easily than before. The update will also introduce a neighborhood merging system which puts players of the same rank and activity close together to improve the game’s multiplayer aspect. InnoGames also publishes Grepolis and Tribal Wars. Forge of Empires Gameplay Screenshot Source: Forge of Empires: 1,000,000 players in eight weeks Strategic browser game remains enormously successful, implements new features   Hamburg, June 27, 2012. InnoGames announced today, that its strategic browser game Forge of Empires has reached 1,000,000 players so far. The game, which is playable in 18 languages, went into open beta at the end of April. This is the most successful start in InnoGames’ history. Forge of Empires has also been nominated recently as best Browser Game at the European Games Awards. The awards are open for public votes until Monday, August 13.   Additionally, Forge of Empires will receive an update next week, containing a series of new features. From then on, players will not only be able to trade for free within their guilds, but they can also replace residential buildings with their more effective counterparts more easily. On top of that, the new neighborhood merging system dynamically puts players of the same rank and activity in close proximity. All changes are aimed at improving the multiplayer aspects of the game.   Forge of Empires is a browser-based strategy game, where players, tasked with leading their own city to prosperity can research new technologies, build impressive historical buildings and enlarge their sphere of influence through military campaigns and skillful dealing. Other players’ cities can be visited and, while admiring structures and placement of buildings, be supported by polishing decorations or motivating workers for increased happiness or resource outcome. The game also contains a long-term single player campaign, as well as an ever-growing number of PvP-features, which offer months of entertainment. InnoGames provides additional information in the game’s very own blog.   With more than 80 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the world’s leading developers and providers of online games. The Hamburg-based company has scored major successes with games such as Tribal Wars, The West and Grepolis.   Forge of Empires: 1,000,000 players in eight weeks Strategic browser game remains enormously successful, implements new features Hamburg, June 27, 2012. InnoGames announced today, that its strategic browser game Forge of Empires has reached 1,000,000 players so far. The game, which is playable in 18 languages, went into open beta at the end of April. This is the most successful start in InnoGames’ history. Forge of Empires has also been nominated recently as best Browser Game at the European Games Awards. The awards are open for public votes until Monday, August 13. Additionally, Forge of Empires will receive an update next week, containing a series of new features. From then on, players will not only be able to trade for free within their guilds, but they can also replace residential buildings with their more effective counterparts more easily. On top of that, the new neighborhood merging system dynamically puts players of

Firefall Releases System Requirements Posted: 27 Jun 2012 01:11 PM PDT   As a celebration of Firefall reaching 500,000 registered members, Red 5 Studios has released the game’s system requirements. The minimum requirements for Firefall are: OS: Windows XP (32/64-bit) Processor (AMD): Dual Core @ 2.6 Ghz (Athon 64 x2, Athlon II x2, Phenom II x2) Processor (Intel): Dual Core @ 2.2 Ghz (Core 2, Core i3, Pentium Dual Core) GPU: DirectX 9 compatible AMD or Nvidia video card with 1GB RAM (AMD/ATI Radeon HD 4550 or Nvidia Geforce 8600) Memory: 4 GB And the recommended requirements: Processor (AMD): Quad Core @ 2.8 Ghz (Athlon II X4, Phenom, Phenom II X4) Processor (Intel): Quad Core @ 2.4 Ghz (Core 2 Quad, i5, i7) GPU: AMD/ATI Radeon HD 4850 or Nvidia Geforce GTS 450 Memory: 4 GB Firefall is preparing to move into stage two of its exclusive beta, and will be sending out more beta invitations so players can experience new changes to progression and core gameplay mechanics. Red 5 Studios will also bring Firefall to Anime Expo (June 29 – July 1) along with its “LAN-party-on-wheels,” the Mobile Gaming Unit. Firefall Gameplay Screenshot Source: FIREFALL REACHES 500,000 REGISTERED MEMBERS System Requirements Revealed Laguna Hills, CA – June 27, 2012 – Red 5 Studios™ is pleased to announce that Firefall has reached more than 500,000 registered members, a significant milestone for the independent studio. The 500,000 mark represents Red 5's commitment to nurturing a flourishing community which stands behind its innovative approach to online gaming. To prepare the coming wave of new players for their first journey into Firefall's universe, Red 5 has revealed the official system requirements:   Minimum OS: Windows XP (32/64-bit) PROCESSOR (AMD): Dual Core @ 2.6 Ghz (Athon 64 x2, Athlon II x2, Phenom II x2) PROCESSOR (Intel): Dual Core @ 2.2 Ghz (Core 2, Core i3, Pentium Dual Core) GPU: DirectX 9 compatible AMD or Nvidia video card with 1GB RAM (AMD/ATI Radeon HD 4550 or Nvidia Geforce 8600) MEMORY: 4 GB Recommended PROCESSOR (AMD): Quad Core @ 2.8 Ghz (Athlon II X4, Phenom, Phenom II X4) PROCESSOR (Intel): Quad Core @ 2.4 Ghz (Core 2 Quad, i5, i7) GPU: AMD/ATI Radeon HD 4850 or Nvidia Geforce GTS 450 MEMORY: 4 GB “The feedback and support from our community has been an integral part of the development process,” said Mark Kern, CEO of Red 5. "We're treating Firefall as a service, which means it's critical that we're continually adding value and fun for players. Having a large and growing community lets us know that we're on the right track. But more importantly, their feedback helps us stay on the right track."   After recently completing the first stage of Firefall's exclusive beta test, Red 5 is making significant changes to the game based on community input. The Tribe is rolling out a massive update that will affect everything from progression to core gameplay mechanics. VP of Development James Macauley outlined how Firefall is going to change later this summer, in a recent development update: http://www.firefallthegame.com/2012/05/22/firefall-development-update-may-2012/   As Firefall moves into stage two of its exclusive beta, fans can expect to see a large number of invites sent out to meet growing demand. Anyone can sign-up for the chance to be invited into the beta over at the official homepage (http://www.firefallthegame.com), or catch Firefall at Anime Expo on June 29 – July 1, when Red 5 reveals its LAN-party-on-wheels, the "Mobile Gaming Unit".

Valve releases TF2′s Meet The Pyro video and announces Source Filmmaker Posted: 27 Jun 2012 11:42 AM PDT Valve just unveiled the last of the ‘Meet The’ series with the long awaited Pyro. This unveil comes after a 3 day long update to TF2 which provided new items and a new map. With the video Valve also announced Source Filmmaker, a free tool that allows users to create their own cinematic style videos within Valve’s very games. The software was revealed to have been used to create the majority of Valve’s cinematic videos for Portal 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2. Check out ‘Meet The Pyro’ below and click here to find out more about Source Filmmaker.

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