General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

Oculus Hires Kenneth Scott for First-Party Content Team

Posted: 14 May 2014 05:18 PM PDT

OculusAssembling team for first-party titles

Oculus VR announced on its Twitter account that it has hired Kenneth Scott for the position of Oculus art director for its first-party content team. Scott will be in charge of building the team, according to the tweet, though no information has been provided as to what kind of content will be developed.

Scott was the former art director at 343 Industries, the developer for the Halo franchise since Bungie's departure from Microsoft, and was responsible for building up the developer's art department in 2008. He left the company back in January.

Scott's hiring comes a week after Oculus ceo Brendan Iribe talked about the possibility of the team developing a MMO that could simultaneously support one billion people. Such a project could certainly be feasible given that Oculus was purchased by Facebook for $2 billion.

Despite a dispute between Oculus VR and Zenimax Studios, Oculus is still looking to hire additional people. Aside from hardware and software engineers, Oculus is also seeking a 3D animator as well as a 3D artist and modeler.

Could we see first-party Oculus games in the future? Sound off in the comments below!

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Blue Screen of Death Survival Guide: Every Error Explained

Posted: 14 May 2014 02:25 PM PDT

Every Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) deciphered (Updated!)

If you're returning here by way of bookmark, first off, please accept our condolences. There's only reason you spend time reading a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) article, and that's to try and solve a problem you're having with your own system. If we could give out a teddy bear stuffed with cash to each person that visited this article, we'd do it. Sadly, we don't have teddy bears, and what little cash we have is usually spent at the pub.

Secondly, you must we wondering, "Oh snap! I see change, and I hate change! Where's the old BSoD article I bookmarked?!" Not to fear, we realize you hate change, which is why come hell or high water, you're sticking it out with Windows XP even after Microsoft stopped supporting it on April 8, 2014. We have your back, and the original article is still here. All of it. So what are we doing here?

The first is we're updating verbiage where necessary. If there was something that seemed difficult to understand before, it should now be easier to decipher. The second thing we've done is added some new information. You see, BSoDs are far less common in the Windows 8/8.1 era, and that was true in the Windows 7 days as well. We've updated this article to explain what happened and what's changed.

Finally, we've added a picture gallery. No, it's not filled with cute fuzzy kittens and lolcats, though we're not opposed to either one. It is, however, populated with some of the most embarrassing and comical BSoDs to have ever occurred. Hopefully you'll get a chuckle out of it, or at the very least come to realize that the BSoD you're dealing with isn't as bad as could be.

BSOD Errors

Sound like a plan? Great! Let's get started!

Picture this: It's late at night, you're sitting at your computer playing a game or working on a project when, suddenly, Windows freezes completely. All your work is gone, and you find a blue screen full of gibberish staring back at you. Windows is dead, Jim, at least until you reboot it. You have no choice but to sigh loudly, shake your fist at Bill Gates and angrily push the reset button. You've just been visited by the ghost of windows crashed: The blue screen of death.

Also known as the BSoD, the Blue Screen of Death appears when Windows crashes or locks up. It's actually a Windows "stop" screen, and is designed to do two things: tell you the reason for the error, and to calm your nerves, hence the use of the color blue (studies show it has a relaxing effect on people). Though Blue Screens are difficult to decipher, all the information you need to figure out what caused it is right there in front of you in blue and white—and that's where we come in. We're going to show you how to dissect the blue screen error details, so you can fix the problem that's causing them.

BSoD 101: A Crash Course

Error Name

There are many parts to a BSoD, but the most important is right at the top. The actual name of the error is presented in all caps with an underscore between each word. In some cases this will be all that's needed to get to the root of the problem (thanks to the handy guide you are about to read). Most of the time, however, more information will be required.

Troubleshooting Advice

Nearly every BSoD includes a portion of text with some basic troubleshooting advice, the first of which recommends restarting your computer. Gee, thanks for the tip Microsoft. Before you restart, copy the exact all-caps error code and hexadecimal values shown above and below this portion of generic text. The next paragraph provides sound advice, alerting the user to check to make sure their hardware is installed properly, or to undo any recent software or hardware upgrades.

Memory Dump

Every BSoD is accompanied by a memory dump. What this means is when Windows crashes, it dumps whatever it is holding in system memory to a file, and saves the file on your hard drive for debugging purposes. If you contact Microsoft for technical assistance, they'll want to know the contents of this file.

Stop Code

The "technical information" section portion contains the actual Windows stop code, in oh-so-easy-to-read hexadecimal form. Despite appearing unintelligible at first glance, this combination of numbers and letters is instrumental in determining the cause of the crash. Pay particular attention to the first set of numbers and letters. It precedes the other four, which are enclosed in parenthesis. If a specific driver is associated with the crash, it will be listed on the very next line.

 

 

I Run Vista, so I'm Immune to BSoDs, Right?

Unfortunately, no. A common misconception is that blue screens don't even exist in Vista, but not only are they still there, but we're here to tell you we've seen them first hand. The good news is Microsoft put a lot of work into how Vista handles critical errors and other glitches that in previous OSes would cause a system crash. Most of the time, if a problem occurs, Vista will attempt to fix the problem without any interruption. For example, if your videocard crashes, you may see a message saying "Display driver stopped responding and has recovered." In XP and previous OSes, this almost always would have resulted in a system crash.

In some cases, Vista will be unable recover on its own, and the result is a blue screen. By default, Vista will reboot itself after briefly flashing the blue screen. It happens so fast you might miss it, but once Windows reloads, you'll be greeted with an error message similar to the above. You can try clicking the 'Check for solution' button, just as you can try your hand playing the lotto. Neither one is likely to result in anything.

Instead, scroll down and take note of the blue screen codes. Armed with this information, you can perform your own detective work. Alternately, if you'd prefer to see the actual blue screen rather than automatically rebooting, right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, select Properties, and click on Advanced System Settings. In the System Properties window that appears, select the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery, and uncheck the box that says 'Automatically Restart.' The same steps also apply to XP.

In another nod towards streamlining the troubleshooting process, Vista's Problem Reports and Solutions wizard can save you oodles of time in PC detective work, and may even alert you to potential conflicts you weren't even aware existed. You can find this applet by name in your Control Panel, or just type Problem Reports and Solutions in Vista's search box. Once loaded, click 'Check for new solutions' in the left-hand column. If Vista finds any conflicts, it will list them in the main window, along with any potential resolutions.

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (0x0000000A)

The most common cause of this conflict is improperly installed drivers for a piece of hardware you recently installed. For example, if you've installed a webcam two weeks ago, and have been getting BSoDs ever since, start your investigation with the webcam. First, disconnect the hardware, and uninstall the drivers for it completely. If that fixes the blue screen, you can search for updated drivers or contact the manufacturer.

If you haven't installed any new drivers recently, you'll need to do some more detective work. Start by examining the blue screen to see if it lists a specific driver. Looking at the blue screen, check the text at the very bottom of the screen. You'll probably see a file name. This is the driver that caused the problem. If, for example, the driver in question is named nv4_disp.dll (an nVidia-related file), and you've recently switched from an Nvidia videocard to an AMD part, then it's reasonable to assume that either the old driver was not uninstalled correctly, or the new drivers weren't properly installed.

Swapping Videocards

If you've narrowed your search of offending drivers down to those associated with your videocard, turn off the system, disconnect the power, and remove and reseat the videocard. Next, go into the BIOS (press F2 or Delete when your BIOS prompts you to do this, or consult your user manual or motherboard manufacturer's website) and check the bus speed for your videocard. We typically recommend leaving the PCI-E frequency set to Auto in the BIOS, but if you've overclocked your system, it can inadvertently knock the bus speed beyond a stable spec, which can cause blue screens. If that's the case, manually set your PCI-E frequency to 100MHz.

You're more like to experience this IRQL error when switching form one videocard brand to another, as the drivers will conflict with each other. The safe way to swap videocards is to completely remove all remnants of your old videocard drivers. On older systems, you can try Driver Cleaner, or the freebie alternative Driver Sweeper  To begin the process, open up your Control Panel, select Add or Remove Programs in XP or Programs and Features in Vista, highlight the videocard drivers, and click Uninstall. Reboot the computer, holding down the F8 key to enter safe mode. Run the Driver Cleaner utility to scrub away any remnants of the previous drivers that a typical uninstall overlooks. After you reboot, install the appropriate drivers for your new videocard.

It's not entirely necessary to use a third-party utility, though if problems linger when trying to uninstall drivers on your own, it's worth a shot.

Some Sound Advice

When the error is related to an audio driver, take note of the program that was running when the BSoD occurred. Make sure the offending application's sound options are configured correctly -- it's especially important that it uses the correct audio device -- and download any patches available that address known issues. You should update your soundcard's drivers as well.

If you're using an add-in soundcard, verify that the motherboard's onboard audio is disabled in the BIOS, so the two audio drivers don't conflict with each other.

Change Doctors

System services known to cause this error include virus scanners and backup utilities. We've had good luck sticking with the major players, such as AVG, Norton, Kaspersky, AntiVir, and Nod32 for our antivirus scanning, and Norton Ghost and Acronis TrueImage for backup duties. Do not run more than one antivirus application on your computer at the same time!

DATA_BUS_ERROR (0x0000002E)

This is one of the easier BSoDs to diagnose, as faulty memory sticks are almost always to blame. If you get this error, think for a second: Are those DIMMs you just added compatible with your motherboard? Your motherboard manufacturer's website will have a list of specific brands verified to work with your particular board, although these are often incomplete.


(Image Credit: Corsair)

Next (and more importantly), are they installed in the correct slots? Some motherboards are more finicky than others when it comes to proper slot placement, and the situation is compounded when dealing with a dual-channel, tri-channel, and quad-channel configurations. Most motherboards that run dual-channel require that you install matching sets of RAM in the same-color slots, while others, such as some MSI boards, require that you install them in alternate slots. And if you have a Core i7 setup, you may need to install your RAM starting with the slot farthest from the CPU. When in doubt, poke your head in the user's manual.

Once you've verified that your RAM is installed correctly and is compatible with your motherboard, check to make sure they're running within spec. It's possible you may have set your memory's latency timings too aggressive, or maybe the sticks can't handle the frequency you're trying to run them at. Your BIOS could also mis-read the SPD settings. Whatever the case, look up the correct parameters for your RAM and try manually setting them in the BIOS.


(Image Credit: pplware.com)

If the problem persists, the the problem is likely a bad stick. To find out which stick is bad you can simply remove one stick, then run your system for a while to see if the blue screens stop. Then swap the sticks and run your test again. If the machine blue screens with one stick, but not the other, you've found your culprit. You can also run a diagnostic program such as Memtest86+ to help determine which stick is defective. If you're running Vista, you can also use Microsoft's Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool. Type the name of the program in Vista's search box, and once selected, it will run the next time you reboot. Because most RAM sold today includes a lifetime warranty, be sure to check with your vendor before you toss out a bad stick.

NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM or FAT_FILE_SYSTEM (0x00000024 or 0x00000023)

While many blue screens can be traced back to a new hardware install or bad memory, this particular error screams in capital letters that something is fishy with your hard drive. The error that gets displayed depends on the file system your OS is using. In most cases, the file system will be NTFS. With really old systems, the error will read FAT16. If you get this error, be sure to do one thing immediately, before you even being to contemplate its cause: Back up your important data.

Call the Cable Guy


(Image Credit: Tomshardware)

The easiest solutions are often the most overclocked, but they can also be the most effective. Checking your hard drive's cable connections falls into this category. SATA cables are notorious for working themselves loose --we've had this happen to us on many occasions. If using a SATA drive, make sure you have only one power cable connected, not two (many SATA hard drives include a SATA power cable and a legacy four-pin connector). With a PATA drive, remove the ribbon cable and look for any bent or broken pins. Carefully line up the cable and push it securely into place. You might also have a bad cable, so if you have a space cable lying around -- one you know to be good -- swap it with the one in your PC.

Check Please!

Now it's time to check your drive for errors. To do this, we'll first run a diagnostic scan. In XP, click Start, then Run, and type cmd. In Vista, simply type cmd in the Start Search box, then right-click cmd.exe and select Run as Administrator.. At the flashing command prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and reboot the system if prompted. The /f and /r switches attempt to fix file-system errors, then look for an mark any bad sectors before automatically rebooting when the scan completes.

Change Drivers

Even though we don't really think about hard drives as needing drivers, the controller's they're attached to most certainly do. A buggy SATA controller driver can wreak havoc on your data. Your motherboard's chipset drivers include specific drivers for the IDE/ATA controller tha the hard drives are connect to, so you'll need to install the latest version for your motherboard. To find your chipset drivers, you'll need to go to your motherboard manufacturer's website and search the support section, or head directly to your chipset manufacturer's website.

UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP (0x0000007F)

If you see this blue screen, you're probably overclocking your CPU, but this is not always the case. The 7F error is known to attack indiscriminately, lashing out at more than just overclockers. This particular BSoD can rear its head in response to bad RAM, a faulty motherboard, or a corrupted BIOS.

Overzealous Overclocking

If you've overclocked, the first thing you should do to isolate the problem (or any problem, for that matter) is to revert your overclocked components to their default speeds. If the blue screen goes away, then your overclock was too aggressive. The best way to ensure that your overclock is stable is to stress the hell out of your PC. To do this, many enthusiasts turn to the torture test named Prime95. This utility stressed your rig's CPU and memory subsystems. If any errors are found, it's a good indication that your system is not completely stable.

Hot Potato!

This BSoD could also be generated by an overheating PC, so it's a good practice to monitor your system temps on a regular basis. There are several temp monitoring programs available, such as Core Temp, Real Temp, SpeedFan, and many others.

As far as temperatures go, most CPUs can get very hot without incurring any damage. Temperatures of 75C under load aren't unheard of for hot-running CPUs, though most newer chips probably won't get as high. In general, it's a good idea to keep your CPU below 70C, and below 50C at idle. This will vary by processor make, model, and even steppings (revisions) of the same chip.

If a processor is running hot, examine your case's airflow and see if there are any obstructions. Check your fans for dust buildup, including the top of the heatsink that's cooling your CPU. A high-quality cooler will also bring temperatures down. And you should always have some sort of thermal paste between the CPU and the cooler. Finally, verify that all fans are spinning. If the fan is plugged in and still not spinning, replace the defective fan immediately.

The BIOS Beckons

If your BIOS is corrupt or has trouble with a new component, such as newly released processor core, your first order of business is to update to the latest version. Before updating the BIOS, you should change its settings back to default (there is usually a "reset to default" setting in the BIOS that makes this process easy, or you can simply clear the CMOS via the jumper on your motherboard). You should never attempt to update your BIOS on a system that is overclocked and unstable. A sudden reboot in the middle of the BIOS-flashing process will destroy your motherboard, turning it into a fancy doorstop. And remember: Never, under any circumstances, restart or shut down the system while you're flashing yoru BIOS. You can download the latest BIOS from your motherboard manufacturer's website.

When there are several different versions to choose from, skip right to the latest release rather than updating incrementally. Some motherboard vendors include utilities for updating the BIOS from within Windows. This makes the process easy enough for even novices to undertake, but for obvious reasons, we recommend avoiding this route when a system is prone to blue screens.

Mating Memory

Mismatched or bad memory sticks can also cause this blue screen. To scratch this one off of the troubleshooting list, run a single stick of RAM that Memtest86 has verified to be error free. If this solves the problem, replace the bad stick. If not, move on to the next step.

CPU is Kaput

We don't see this often, but another known cause for this particular error is a bad processor. Most people don't have the means to test the CPU in another system, so your options here may be limited. Local computer repair shops are sometimes willing to run the processor for a night or two for a nominal cost, but you can also contact AMD or Intel for a replacement if it's within the warranty period.

Bent Pins

Other Notable BSoDs

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

Faulty hardware, including RAM (system, video, or L2 cache).

INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE

Caused by improperly configured jumpers on PATA hard drives, a boot sector virus, or incorrect IDE controller drives, which can also occur when installing the wrong chipset drivers.

VIDEO_DRIVER_INIT_FAILURE

Caused by installing the wrong drivers for a videocard or rebooting before driver installation could complete.

BAD_POOL_CALLER

Caused by a faulty or incompatible hardware driver, particularly when upgrading Windows XP instead of performing a clean install.

PFN_LIST_CORRUPT

Caused by faulty RAM.

MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION

A bad CPU -- or one that is too aggressively overclocked, or an underpowered or faulty power supply.

An End Run Around the BSoD

Reading blue screens of death is fun and all, but there's another, easier way to discover what your PC's problem is: the Event Viewer. When an error occurs in Windows, the OS adds a note to the system's log files. These logs are accessible through the Windows Event Viewer, and they contain all the information we need to know what ails our poor computer.

In XP, go the Start menu and open the Control Panel. Click Administrative Tools, then double-click the Event Viewer icon. Alternately, select Run from the Start menu and type eventvwr.msc, which will bring you right into the Event Viewer. In Vista, just type Event Viewer in the Start Search box.

Event Viewer

On the left-hand pane, highlight the application or system icon (under Windows Logs in Vista). On the right-hand pane, you'll see up to three different events labeled Information, Warning, and Error. These are sorted by the time in which they occurred. Scroll to the approximate time of the last system restart and double-click the events.

This brings up a Properties window detailing information that should clue you in on any problem. For example, if one of the events contains a bugcheck message with 0x0000002E, we know this is a DATA_BUS_ERROR, and is usually indicative of faulty RAM. On the other hand, there might be several events pointing to a specific driver, such as nv4_disp.dll. This tells us we should focus on the videocard and any recent changes related to the display hardware.

Armed with this information, we're ready to begin the troubleshooting steps outlined previously. If typing the event ID into Google and Microsoft's Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com) doesn't help, head over to www.eventid.net. This site contains a repository of comments and errors from other users, as well as the steps they took to alleviate their problems.

We recommend you familiarize yourself with the event viewer, even if your system is healthy. Rooting out minor problems before they progress will ensure your Windows install keeps humming along uneventfully.

The Rare Red Screen of Death!

Here's a fun fact. You may have heard about a Red Screen of Death (RSoD) and thought to yourself it was a hoax. It actually exists, or at least it did. As was explained by Microsoft employee blogger Michael Kaplan (the blog has since vanished from the web), very early builds of Vista (then referred to as Longhorn) would spit out a red screen for more serious errors. Here's what it looked like:

Red Screen of Death

Not very soothing, is it? That's why we're pretty sure it never made it out of the Longhorn beta and into the final build of Vista.

Do BSoDs Still Exist?

It's unlikely you'll ever see a BSoD in Windows 7, and especially in Windows 8/8.1. Why? BSoDs mainly occurred during the Windows XP and Vista days because of faulty or poorly coded device drivers.  These were the main causes of crashes prior to Windows 7, so it makes sense that BSoDs are now rare.

Notice we said "rare" and not "non-existent." That's because you might still run into a problem, even in Windows 8. To be fair, Microsoft has done an incredible job researching driver issues and coming up with ways to prevent them from happening, and the result is a much more stable Windows than ever before. However, you might see something like this:

Windows 8 Error

No more gibberish. Microsoft wanted to make Windows 8 as user friendly as possible, and if you're going that route, you can't bombard users with a bunch of complicated text if something goes wrong. Instead, in the rare case that Windows 8 runs into a serious problem, it spits out an emoticon as if to say, "Ah shucks!" before automatically restarting. Like the RSoD, you'll likely never see this one, either.

Olympic Size Fail
At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, an XP system failed during the opening ceremony. That would have been fine, except that the failed system was beaming images in the Birds Nest for all to see, and what everyone saw was an Olympic sized BSoD! Presentation Gone Wrong
Bill Gates could do nothing by smile awkwardly during a Windows 98 presentation that quickly took a turn for the hilarious. While trying to demonstrate how easy it is to install a scanner via USB, the system crashed into a BSoD in front of a live audience. Do'h! Denver, We Have a Problem
Flickr's a great place to look up BSoD errors, and this one shows an alarming error screen in a Denver airport. Hopefully any would-be passengers who saw this weren't afraid of flying. Hey, At Least It's Free!
It's nice that a company is offering passersby free Internet service. What's not so nice is the BSoD that reared its ugly head and ruined the experience for anyone hoping to hop on the web to check their email. Oh well, that's what smartphones are for, right? Touch of Fail
In Microsoft's defense, there's nothing particularly brilliant about a feature phone. That said, Samsung couldn't have been too happy that this electronic ad that crashed into a BSoD, though it obviously didn't prevent the company from selling a quintillion phones since then. Bilingual BSoD
Ever seen a BSoD in German? Well, now you have, and ironically enough, most will find it just as illegible as the English version. Well, That Explains Steam OS!
Gabe Newell hasn't been bashful about his contempt towards Windows 8. What's with all the hate? If we're playing armchair psychologist, we'd say Newell still harbors deep seeded resentment from when a BSoD left him flustered at an awards ceremony. Your Money is Safe! No, Really!
Did you know that most ATMs are running Windows XP, the same OS that Microsoft is getting ready to stop supporting? Hopefully it won't lead to displays like this being commonplace, lest we have to start hiding money in the mattress again. All Aboard!
This display was supposed to be showing people ads as they entered the subway. Instead, it showed pedestrians an error message for several days before someone got around to rebooting the system.

General Motors to OnStar to Deliver 4G LTE Data in Cars Starting at $5 Per Month

Posted: 14 May 2014 10:23 AM PDT

OnStar GMOnStar will offer data plans in select GM vehicles

Beginning next month, OnStar will make available 4G LTE data plans in the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu, followed by 30 other Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles by the end of the year. New car buyers will receive a trial period that runs three months or three gigabytes, whichever comes first. After that, plans start as little as $5 per month ($10 for non-OnStar subscribers) for 200MB of data, which OnStar says is enough to stream more than 6.5 hours of music, surf the web for 13 hours, or send more than 10,000 emails without attachments.

"Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac will be the first vehicle brands to market with 4G LTE connectivity offered on such a broad scale, and we're excited to give millions of customers an opportunity to explore the technology without paying extra for a data plan for three months or three gigabytes," said OnStar President Mary Chan. "Later this year, we will begin to offer data plans and our customers will be able to connect for as little as $5 per month."

Heavy data users and/or those accompanied by a significant other and kids might chew through 200MB of data rather quickly. If that's not enough, OnStar offers larger data plans:

  • 1GB/month: $15 ($20 for non-OnStar subscribers)
  • 3GB/month: $30 (everyone)
  • 5GB/month: $50 (everyone)

There are also one-time purchase packages available:

  • 250MB/1 day: $5 (everyone)
  • 10GB/12 months: $150 ($200 for non-OnStar subscribers)

OnStar GM Vehicles

Existing AT&T customers can add a 4G LTE-equipped GM vehicle to a Mobile Share Plan for $10 per month, OnStar says.

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Humble Bundle Kicks Off Two Weeks of Daily Refreshed Game Deals

Posted: 14 May 2014 09:40 AM PDT

Humble BundleCheck in daily for new deals

We know, you already have a stockpile of unplayed games that reaches from here to eternity, all of which you picked up on sale. But who knows, maybe tomorrow you'll hit the jackpot, retire from your job, and spend the next three years doing nothing but plowing through all those titles you bought. You just never know, so it's best to keep adding to your collection. Humble Bundle makes it easy to do that, and over the course of the next two weeks, you'll see a new bundle of games up for grabs each day.

The two-week run actually started yesterday, though at the time of this writing, there's still over an hour left to take advantage of the initial set of games. They include Saints Row: The Third, Saints Row 2, Risen 2: Dark Waters, and Sacred 2: Gold Edition. Pay more than the average -- currently $6.27 -- and you'll also unlock Dead Island GOTY, the full DLC package for Saints Row: The Third, Metrol 2033, Risen, and Sacred Citadel. Finally, pay $9 or more and you'll also unlock Dead Island: Riptide (Complete Edition).

If none of those catch your eye, keep checking back. There will be a new set of deals posted every 24 hours, including some "unique bundles curated specifically for this event," Humble Bundle says.

Head on over to Humble Bundle's website to check it out!

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D-Link Adds a Dash of Color to AC750 Wi-Fi Router Line

Posted: 14 May 2014 09:13 AM PDT

D-Link DIR-818LWNew Wi-Fi routers from D-Link come in four different color options

Some of D-Link's newer Wi-Fi routers already sport a distinct aesthetic with a cylindrical design that's somewhat reminiscent of Apple's Mac Pro (but smaller). Someone decided D-Link's routers still needed more flair, so the company released a new and colorful line of AC750 routers. D-Link's new DIR-818LW model is available in red, teal, black, and white, each of which features the familiar cylinder design and AC750 Wi-Fi connectivity.

"Wi-Fi routers have never had the reputation of being the most aesthetically pleasing products in the home, and we set out to change that with our color routers," said Daniel Kelley, vice president of marketing, D-Link Systems, Inc. "With the launch of our new line of AC750 Wi-Fi Routers, customers not only get a powerful home network capable of supporting the most demanding applications, they also have a stylish device they can proudly display on the desk rather than buried underneath it."

Color options aside, the DIR-818LW is a dual-band router with support for up to 433Mbps on the 5GHz band in 802.11ac mode and up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band in 802.11n mode. It also has four built-in GbE ports, USB 2.0 port, and support for mydlink Cloud Services, which allows you to remotely monitor your network using your tablet or smartphone.

The DIR-818LW isn't the fastest spec'd 802.11ac router on the market, though it's one of the more affordably priced at $80 MSRP (available exclusively at Amazon through May).

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Google Glass Available to the Public (Again), Still $1,500 to Play

Posted: 14 May 2014 08:52 AM PDT

Google GlassHere's another chance to join the Explorer Program

Google's Explorer Program is once again open to the public, just as it was last month. Like before, cost of entry is $1,500, which in return makes you an "Explorer," which is Google's clever way of avoiding the term "beta tester." Not that there's anything wrong with being a beta tester, especially when the product is fairly refined, but Explorer sure does sound a whole lot better when you're being asked to plunk down one and a half large to join the party.

When Google opened up its Explorer Program to the general public last month, users flocked to Glass and quickly depleted Google of it's "Cotton" (white) Glass inventory. As of this writing, Cotton is again available, though "Charcoal" (black) is currently out of stock. The remaining three colors are up for grabs and include "Tangerine" (orange), "Shale" (gray), and "Sky" (blue).

"Last week we told you we'd be trying out new ways to find Explorers. Well, we weren't kidding. We learned a lot when we opened our site a few weeks ago, so we've decided to move to a more open beta. We're still in the Explorer Program while we continue to improve our hardware and software, but starting today anyone in the US can buy the Glass Explorer Edition, as long as we have it on hand," Google stated on Google+.

There's been a bit of hubbub since the last time Google offered up its Glass devices to mere mortals (read: non-celebrities). A teardown analysis suggested the bill of materials of each Glass is just $80, the most expensive part being the processor. However, the teardown didn't take into consideration research and development costs. A spokesman for Google denied the BOM cost, calling the estimate "absolutely wrong."

If you want to join (or just check it out), head over to the Glass website.

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AOC Takes Integrated Sound Seriously, Packs Dual 7W Onkyo Speakers Inside 24-inch Monitor

Posted: 14 May 2014 08:19 AM PDT

AOC i2473PwmTwo 7W Onkyo stereo speakers sit in the base

We can't recall ever being blown away by a monitor's integrated speakers. Most of the time, the cans that pass for speakers in a display are tinny and muffled at worst, and serviceable at best, which isn't exactly a glowing recommendation. Looking to change that, AOC injected a pair of 7W Onkyo stereo speakers into its newest 24-inch IPS display (i2473Pwm), which sit in an oversized base.

Onkyo is a name that's well known (and respected) in the audio industry. That said, we're going off of paper specs here -- we don't have this monitor in-house, though we do have high hopes that the 7W Onkyo speakers will stand head and shoulders above what we usually hear out of a monitor's integrated speakers.

Outside of the sound, the i2473Pwm is a 24-inch IPS monitor with a Full HD 1080p display, 5ms refresh rate, 250 cd/m2 typical brightness, and 50,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Connectivity options include VGA and HDMI, along with MHL (mobile high definition link), the latter of which allows you to connect mobile devices for quick charging and/or to mirror content to the display.

AOC i2473Pwm Base

The AOC i2473Pwm is available to pre-order at Amazon for $250.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Corsair Hydro Series H55 Liquid Cooler, AMD A10 7850K, and More!

Posted: 14 May 2014 07:55 AM PDT

Corsair H55newegg logo

Top Deal:

Making the leap to liquid cooling isn't nearly as scary as it used to be. Rather than piece parts together to make a custom cooling solution (which is still an option), self contained kits have made the process super easy and relatively low risk. Curious? Have a gander a today's top deal for a Corsair Hyrdo Series H55 Quiet Edition Liquid CPU Cooler for $45 with free shipping (normally $70 - use coupon code: [EMCPEWG47]). Designed to be low noise, the H55 sports a 120mm rad and is supposed to be easy to install.

Other Deals:

LG 24M45H Black 24-inch 5ms HDMI Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor for $130 with free shipping (normally $150 - use coupon code: [EMCPEWG24])

WD Black Series 4TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5-inch Internal Hard Drive for $240 with free shipping (normally $260 - use coupon code: [EMCPEWG58])

AMD A10-7850K Kaveri 3.7GHz Socket FM2+ 95W Desktop Processor for $170 with free shipping and Free Digital copy of Thief Game w/purchase.

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory for $72 with free shipping (normally $79 - use coupon code: [EMCPEWG64])
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMO Updates

MMO Updates

Analysts: 75 percent of US core gamers prefer physical copies

Posted: 14 May 2014 10:00 AM PDT

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ESO collector's edition
According to sales and marketing analyst NPD Group, 75 percent of American core gamers prefer physical game copies to digital distribution. The firm surveyed 7,900 core gamers to arrive at its conclusion. It defines "core gamer" as someone who plays at least five hours worth of action, adventure, fighting, flight, MMO, racing, RTS, RPG, shooter, or sports games per week on PCs, Microsoft or Sony consoles, or Macs.

The firm concludes that 34 million US gamers fall under its core definition, with the average core gamer playing 22 hours per week.

NPD's report also claims that while the overwhelming majority of its survey participants favor physical game copies, digital distribution is up five percent year-over-year.

MassivelyAnalysts: 75 percent of US core gamers prefer physical copies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ESO and other MMOs still behind Microsoft's console paywall

Posted: 14 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

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ESO paywall
Microsoft announced yesterday that its Xbox Live Gold subscription will no longer be required in order to use Netflix, HBO Go, and other entertainment apps. The company's new-found generosity doesn't apply to free-to-play games and MMOs including The Elder Scrolls Online, though.

Microsoft's Phil Spencer told Joystiq that "engineering constraints, policy constraints, and partner constraints" are to blame, though Bethesda has previously expressed its dissatisfaction with the arrangement.

ZeniMax recently announced that ESO's console release has been delayed by six months.

MassivelyESO and other MMOs still behind Microsoft's console paywall originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wildstar's Gaffney praises ESO marketing

Posted: 14 May 2014 08:00 AM PDT

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wildstarreport.com
In a recent thread on Reddit's Elder Scrolls Online subreddit, a user by the name of Nuclayer is curious about the approach Zenimax and Bethesda are taking for the paid promotion of the newly launched fantasy MMO. "Maybe I just missed all the stuff about it," the user says, "but from my personal perspective [it] feels like they really didn't put that much into letting us know about this game."

Because Wildstar was mentioned in the post as a game that's doing marketing right, Carbine's Jeremy Gaffney jumped into the thread to offer his own opinion. "Elder Scrolls is redonculously huge as a franchise," the Wildstar Exec Producer offers. "Skyrim sold, what, 16 million copies? So everyone knows about it in advance - check out the Facebook, TESO has literally 10x the likes. So Zen can be much more broad in their marketing."

Gaffney goes on to explain -- quite candidly -- about the marketing strategy for Wildstar and how they are probably spending way less than Zenimax is for ESO. He makes sure to give plenty of kudos to Zenimax for what they've done so far with ESO and manages to throw in a few references back to the work they've been doing on Wildstar so far.

Check out the whole thread for more from the fans of both games. Spoiler alert: It's actually a friendly Reddit thread.

MassivelyWildstar's Gaffney praises ESO marketing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sci-fi MMORTS Astro Lords: Oort Cloud arrives in July

Posted: 14 May 2014 07:00 AM PDT

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Astro Lords
Astro Lords: Oort Cloud. Yeah, it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but it is a new free-to-play sci-fi MMO en route to English, German, and French gamers this year.

Developer Aratog Studios claims that Astro Lords is "the first MMORTS to combine three major game genres in a consistent world: construction management, arcade-style shooting, and strategic raid warfare." Gameplay progresses as "players manage and grow their asteroid base, their generals board spaceships to shoot and destroy enemy spaceships and bosses, and they raid other asteroids to loot or capture them." It'll be a cross-platform MMO available both in-browser and within a standalone client.

Astro Lords is expected to enter closed beta on June 10th, with open beta a week later and formal launch on July 1st.

[Source: Aratog Studios press release]

MassivelySci-fi MMORTS Astro Lords: Oort Cloud arrives in July originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Daily Grind: What MMO issue do we fuss about too much?

    Posted: 14 May 2014 06:00 AM PDT

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    EverQuest
    Part of the fun and joy of being involved in a communal hobby is getting into passionate "discussions" with others about various aspects of your mutual interest. This is the same in gaming as it is elsewhere and I wouldn't have it any other way. Yet sometimes I wonder if we get perhaps a tad bit too worked up over things that, honestly, do not matter -- even within MMO gaming.

    So what MMO issue do we fuss about too much? Are we too uptight over the whole "raiders vs. casuals" issue? Does throwing a tempter tantrum over a lack of a guild vault make us come off as spoiled children? Do we fixate on the many horrible failings of Elf culture?* Does there come a point when you just roll your eyes at another rehashed rant spouted by people who just won't let the little things go? Are we merely addicted to the drama that comes with these debates?

    *The answer is no. We can never badmouth Elves enough for the horrors that they have inflicted on the fantasy genre.

    Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

    MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What MMO issue do we fuss about too much? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Darkfall Unholy Wars unveils the new custom roles

      Posted: 13 May 2014 07:00 PM PDT

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      Sitting isn't a role. You can't specialize in sitting. Choose a real role.
      You want to do your own thing in Darkfall Unholy Wars, but how are you going to do that? Simple -- you're going to make use of the game's upcoming custom roles to build exactly your sort of character. This represents a fundamental shift to the game's mechanics, and the latest development post on the official site stresses that this first iteration is going to be modified over time. But it's still something novel, and it's a chance to have more control over your character's development.

      Players will be able to pick out any 9 school skills (with 1 Ultimate skill) and several common skills for a given build, with a grand total of 16 skills from school skills and common skills. Players will also be able to mix and match armor types to create just the right sort of playstyle. Builds can be altered at any point if a character has been out of combat mode for 15 minutes, so you're not locked into one configuration. Check out the official post for more details on the mechanical shift.

      MassivelyDarkfall Unholy Wars unveils the new custom roles originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Jukebox Heroes: A civil chat with Dawngate's Jeff Broadbent

      Posted: 13 May 2014 06:00 PM PDT

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      Dawngate
      Massively: Today we have tea, crumpets, and the ever-so-delightful company of Composer Jeff Broadbent. Mr. Broadbent is here to talk about his work on the score for the upcoming MOBA Dawngate. So is working in the online video game world becoming a habit for you, going from PlanetSide 2 to Dawngate?

      Jeff Broadbent: It does seem the online video games are becoming the norm! I am actually working on a couple of new online games also at the moment. The interesting thing about the game market today is that there are many different platforms including mobile, downloadable, online, and console, so it's quite diversified.

      The Dawngate gig came about through audio director Caleb Epps. I was staying in touch with Caleb, and he let me know about a new project he was working on. He had me create a couple of demo tracks for the game, and based on that material, I was given the opportunity to score the game.

      Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: A civil chat with Dawngate's Jeff Broadbent

      MassivelyJukebox Heroes: A civil chat with Dawngate's Jeff Broadbent originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Ascent adds in a colonization city-building sim

        Posted: 13 May 2014 05:00 PM PDT

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        Ascent
        The galaxy is now open to colonization in Ascent: The Space Game -- and there's plenty of room for everyone.

        Developer James Hicks has added in a colonization system to the sandbox MMO, allowing players to engage in a city-building sim among the billions of star systems. Colonization is intended to be the endgame for industrial players, with a great amount of complexity and no upper limit on the number of buildings or colonists. Every planet can be colonized, although ones with hostile environments will require more work and protective domes. To build up their colonies, players will need to recruit colonists, bring them to the planet, and task them with farming and mining the new world.

        "My intent from here is to expand on the city building aspects -- giving the population more complex needs and desires, making the recruitment aspect deeper and more meaningful, and adding new production types, new structures for interacting with other players like starport facilities and stock markets, and expand on the 'out of ship' play," Hicks wrote.

        MassivelyAscent adds in a colonization city-building sim originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Meet Pantheon's god-killer, the WarWizard

        Posted: 13 May 2014 04:00 PM PDT

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        Pantheon
        Pantheon's move to continue development via a team of all volunteers is producing results, albeit small ones. "We are having great success re-building the team, including the lore and moderator teams," Brad McQuaid posted. "One of my main next goals is to find a Unity programmer who can take over from where the project itself was left."

        The team posted a new piece of concept art and lore yesterday covering powerful figures known as WarWizards. WarWizards were created by external forces to help battle the god-kings of Terminus. A few talented individuals were chosen to be elevated with the ability to master both magic and weapons. In the Deicide Wars, WarWizards smacked down many god-kings and cemented their legacy in the process.

        WarWizards have retreated into myth and legend, although the post certainly hints that they might return if Terminus faces another great threat.

        MassivelyMeet Pantheon's god-killer, the WarWizard originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        WildStar's name registration is on again, off again, on again [Updated]

        Posted: 13 May 2014 03:30 PM PDT

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        WildStar
        After a lengthy delay earlier this afternoon, Carbine has declared WildStar's pre-order name registration open once again, though readers and Massively staffers still report problems with the service.

        "There are over 15,000 trying to access 1 single page, slow load times are going to happen. Just gotta refresh and try again," says Carbine via Twitter. "If you see a timer, that means your name is saved and you are good. If you are seeing "[question marks]" wait a couple minutes and try again."

        Have you been able to register yet? And did you steal Justin's name?

        Update: CRB_Gaffer has posted a statement about the downtime to Reddit. We've included it below:

        Continue reading WildStar's name registration is on again, off again, on again [Updated]

        MassivelyWildStar's name registration is on again, off again, on again [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2014 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Massively Speaking Episode 297: WildStar's Chad Moore

        Posted: 13 May 2014 03:00 PM PDT

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        Chad Moore
        We're on a countdown to WildStar's launch, and so we welcome Carbine Studios Creative Director Chad Moore to the show to talk about the ins and outs of life on Nexus. Eliot and Justin also check out the top news of the week and your pressing mail queries.

        Get all of our opinions and analysis on the most important stories of the past week right here on Massively Speaking, the industry's leading MMO podcast. And if you have a comment, question, or topic for the podcasters, send an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

        Get the podcast:
        [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
        [MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
        [iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.
        [Stitcher] Follow the podcast on Stitcher Radio.
        Listen here on the page:



        Read below the cut for the full show notes.

        Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 297: WildStar's Chad Moore

        MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 297: WildStar's Chad Moore originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Elder Scrolls Online invites you to learn how to group

          Posted: 13 May 2014 02:00 PM PDT

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          ESO
          Trying to make sense of Elder Scrolls Online's grouping tools? Need a hand in hooking up with other players to plunder dungeons? ZeniMax has you covered.

          The studio posted a new video today that takes you through ESO's group mechanics and grouping tools, step by step. It also contains helpful tidbits such as the fact that groups get 10% extra XP. You can check out the seven-minute grouping tutorial video after the break.

          Continue reading Elder Scrolls Online invites you to learn how to group

          MassivelyElder Scrolls Online invites you to learn how to group originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          World of Warcraft finally integrates Night Elf ears

          Posted: 13 May 2014 01:30 PM PDT

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          WoW
          Lest you forget, with World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, the older character models in the game will receive a huge visual update. Today Blizzard posted a preview of what the Night Elf female will look like come this fall, and it appears that she's due for more than her first change of underwear since 2004.

          "Overall, we've made her new model a little more defined, made some of her proportions a bit more realistic, and added a bit more muscle tone," the studio wrote. "We wanted to visually communicate that she is a fully capable warrior huntress, and small details like muscle definition help highlight that."

          One interesting fact about this makeover is that the Night Elf ears will finally be "fully integrated" into the model itself instead of being separate pieces that were tacked on to the head.

          MassivelyWorld of Warcraft finally integrates Night Elf ears originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          EQ Next roundtable covers combat in Landmark; Landmark arrives on Steam

          Posted: 13 May 2014 01:00 PM PDT

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          One feature that many Landmark followers are watching for is combat, and the 35th EQ Next Round Table Response addresses just that. In the video, Lead Systems Designer Michael Mann and Senior Brand Manager Omeed Dariani discuss the difference between the class-based combat of EQN and the sandbox combat of Landmark. In the latter, all players are adventurers, so instead of combat abilities being determined by class, they will be dictated by what is equipped. Focusing on versatility, players will be able to switch between weapons during combat to access the various abilities. The number of weapons available to players will increase over time; a small subset will release first, but more will be added based on player feedback. And yes, there will be magic!

          How do movement tools play into the combat scene? Players can utilized grappling hooks as a means to gain distance quickly and then use ranged abilities. There will also be abilities that trigger from other movement types, such as dashing and dodging. Hear about all these details in the video below.

          [Update: In other Landmark news, SOE has just announced that Landmark is now on Steam! Dave Georgeson has stated on Twitter that SOE is not dealing in Steam keys for existing users right now; you'll have to use the old "add game" trick.]

          Continue reading EQ Next roundtable covers combat in Landmark; Landmark arrives on Steam

          MassivelyEQ Next roundtable covers combat in Landmark; Landmark arrives on Steam originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Shards Online launches its Kickstarter

          Posted: 13 May 2014 12:00 PM PDT

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          And the armor design looks nice, so that's cool.
          If you had a dollar for every Kickstarter MMO that advertised itself as a fantasy sandbox, you'd have... well, a fair bit of money. We've lost count. Shards Online, though, is a bit of a different beast, as it's not reserving its sandbox nature to mechanics. Players will be able to influence and take control of server rules, creating individual shards where things are arranged just right for particular playstyles. The prospect of unlimited custom rulesets for servers is pretty different, isn't it?

          The game's Kickstarter campaign has just launched, aiming for $320,000 by 6/12/14. It includes most of the things that you'd expect in an MMO Kickstarter -- beta access, digital copies, and so forth. If you've got $10,000 to throw at the game, you can even get a custom-designed house and have the developers show up as gods to run a one-time live event. If you're interested in the concepts, check out the Kickstarter and consider throwing a few dollars toward it.

          MassivelyShards Online launches its Kickstarter originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Posted by Shri Krishna
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