March, 2011 | Gaming, Technology, and Whatever

Gaming Deals of the Day

Deals, Gaming, Gaming Deals, PC Gaming No Responses »

Mar 102011

A few noteworthy deals to pass along. One thing that’s starting to become apparent is that Amazon is making a serious push into the digital distribution of PC games, and might even try and give Steam a run for their money. For example they’ve matched Steam’s mid-week deal of Mafia II for $7.50. From what I know about Amazon’s download service, is that it’s not all that different than how Direct2Drive works. Download the game as many times as you need to, and they add no additional DRM. Any DRM in the game is from the publisher only. Their selection is still limited, but if anyone can compete with Steam on price, it’s Amazon.

Keep in mind these deals are usually limited so act quickly if you are interested.

Direct2Drive: 20% off of anything (even preorders) with code “hangover”
Steam: Mafia II for $7.50
Amazon: Mafia II (digital download) for $7.50
Amazon: Metro 2033 (digital download) for $15.95

AppleTV gets 5.1 Dolby Netflix, MLB.tv & NBA League Pass

Technology News No Responses »

Mar 092011

I was wondering when Apple would get around to adding more content to the current AppleTV, it was just a matter of time. Today comes announcements of both MLB’s and NBA’s live game video streaming services are now on the AppleTV 2. You’ll have to be a subscriber of either service to take advantage of it, but it’s good to see things starting to happen on the AppleTV. What other services would you like to see on the AppleTV?

Also, along with today’s AppleTV update, 5.1 Dolby Digital sound is now enabled in the Netflix app (for select titles), which makes it the second device to support that feature (the PS3 being the other).

Linkage:

MLB.TV on AppleTV
NBA League Pass on AppleTV

What’s New in iOS 4.3

Technology News 6 Responses »

Mar 092011

Apple’s latest update for your favorite iDevices is out, and you’re probably wondering what’s new. The 4.3 release isn’t as flashy as some of the previous releases, but let’s quickly go over what to look for.

What devices is it for?

iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 (GSM only)
iPod Touch (3rd/2009 and 4th/2010 generation)
iPad 1 and iPad 2

All other devices are left out in the cold. No Verizon iPhone update this time around which already has some of the features from 4.3. At some point, expect iOS versions to converge again across all current devices, like 4.2 did with the iPad. I’d guess iOS 5, which may be announced in April.

What’s new and exciting in 4.3?

Apple’s own iOS page gives us some of the bigger details, and there’s a few small tweaks not mentioned as well.

Airplay Enhancements
Third party apps can now take advantage of Airplay video streaming to the AppleTV. Previously it was limited to Apple’s own apps like Youtube and the iPod app. Now it’s open for all to use. The catch is, a developer will actually have to add this support into their app, and some, like Hulu, I would guess will never add this functionality. Netflix has also said they won’t add Airplay support their app because Netflix is already natively supported on the AppleTV, so it doesn’t make much sense to stream to it from an iPhone or iPad. The great AirVideo app already supports Airplay video, and provides a great way to stream almost any video format to your iPhone or iPad, which can now then, in turn, stream to your TV via the AppleTV. Expect more apps to support it in the future.

Safari Javascript Performance
Mobile Safari is getting Apple’s “Nitro” javascript engine that’s already present in the desktop version of Safari. Early testing shows this to increase the overall responsiveness in Safari some, but don’t expect it to be a huge difference. This seems more of an incremental update, but still nice to have.

iTunes Home Sharing
Through iTunes Home Sharing, you can now stream to your iPhone or iPad content from your PC’s iTunes library. A nice addition, but this will only work while you’re on the same local network as your PC. Since it’s through iTunes, this will only work with media files that iTunes supports.

iPad Side Switch Configuration
After the internet uproar when iOS 4.2 changed the switch on the iPad from a rotation lock to a mute switch, Apple has appeased those who complained by letting you decide how the switch should work. In the Settings app, you can pick from a mute switch or a rotation lock. It’s your call!

Personal Hotspot for iPhone 4
Already available on the Verizon iPhone, GSM iPhones will be able to share their connection via Wifi with up to 3 devices. Carriers can request the device cap be upped to five. For AT&T users, it’s limited to 3 devices, and also means you’ll have to add the tethering and hotspot feature to your plan, at a cost of an extra $20 a month. This comes with a 4GB / month data cap, and can be added and removed at any time, no long term commitment needed. For those still grandfathered in on the AT&T unlimited plan, to get the hotspot feature, you’ll have to give up unlimited data forever — there’s no going back. This will end up costing you a net of $15 more per month, since unlimited data is $30, and the standard 2GB plan which you’ll be switching to is $25 (+$20 for hotspot/tethering).

Other Minor Tweaks
Some other minor, but nice adjustments in 4.3 is that you can cancel app downloads in progress. Maybe you started to download an app that’s taking too long, or you’ve changed your mind mid-download; now just hold your finger down on the app and delete it like you would any other app. Also added is simultaneous downloads of app updates. 4.3 lets you download and install to 3 apps at once, which should definitely help streamline the on-device update process.

Additionally, some of the new text tones that were added in the last update have been adjusted and shortened to make for more appropriate text tone notifications.
Garage Band and iMovie
Apple’s exisiting iMovie app will be going universal, for significant video editing on the iPad. The only catch is that it will only work on the iPad 2, presumably due to the added horsepower the iPad 2 has with its dual core CPU. Another iLife program, Garage Band, is coming to both versions of the iPad. It even supports connecting real instruments to the iPad by using an appropriate adapter. Both apps are $4.99 in the App Store.

That pretty much covers what to look for in the latest update. Apply the update by connecting your device to iTunes and clicking the “Check for updates” button.

PSN Down for a Whopping 11 Hours Today

Console Gaming, Gaming 1 Response »

Mar 092011

The Playstation Network will be down for what seems to be an inordinate amount of time today — 11 hours — for “maintenance.” Sony says the downtime will start at 8:00am Pacific and will come back online at 7:00pm Pacific. During that time, the Playstation Store, online games, friends and messaging will be offline.

Read Sony’s details here.

Any bets the maintenance window running longer than expected? I’ll take the over.

Google releases stable version of Chrome 10 – TechSpot

Technology News 1 Response »

Mar 082011

Google releases stable version of Chrome 10 – TechSpot. I have recently moved from my long favorite web browser Firefox to Chrome. Originally, it was going to be a week long trial. But quite frankly, after a day or so, it was obvious that Chrome had better performance than Firefox.

Google upped the browser war 2.0 again by releasing Chrome 10 today.

Some of the key highlights of today’s upgrade involve security & speed:

23 Security Vulnerabilites fixed
Faster JavaScript engine
Better malware reporting
Sandboxing Adobe Flash on Windows (because someone has to)

As Firefox marches towards its long awaited 4 release, we will see if it can keep up with Google’s development pace. As Chrome uses WebKit, Safari should also benefit from Google’s code.

Crysis 2 Demo Patch

Gaming, PC Gaming No Responses »

Mar 082011

A post on the Crysis 2 Ea Blog alerts us to a new patch for the Crysis 2 multiplayer demo. A few “welcome” changes in the list, the most important being the un-consolification of the demo, by changing the text on the first screen from “Press start to begin” to “Press enter to begin. ” Also, now the servers show no ping at all. Nice work guys.

The patch will auto-update the next time you launch the game, and will also be pushed out via Steam.

“Press Start to Begin” has been changed to “Press Enter to Begin” on the main menu
Ping changes in server browser – no ping for anyone now (all 0)
Fixed crash if getting force disconnected from a dedicated server (although the force disconnect issue has been resolved anyway)
Account creation now works properly
G35 headset fix now implemented
People not able to sign in with certain characters such as “-“ or “numbers” in their username, now can

The servers for this multiplayer demo will only be active for another week, so if you’re planning on checking it out, now’s the time.

Games on our radar for 2011

Gaming No Responses »

Mar 072011

Here’s an unscientific, fairly lazy list of gaming-related titles that caught our eye for 2011. Inclusion in this list is not a stamp of approval. We’ve listed hotly-anticipated titles right alongside games that we absolutely dread, games whose mere prospect may knot our guts in a clenched ball of searing terror.

We do our best to keep this updated as new games or release dates are announced, but feel free to post any corrections – or suggestions of games that we missed.

2011 hardware!
Nintendo 3DS: 3/27

Confirmed
Released:
Lost in Shadow (Wii): 1/4
Little Big Planet 2 (PS3): 1/18
Dead Space 2 (PC/PS3/60): 1/25
Breach (PC/360): 1/26
Magicka (PC): 1/26
You Don’t Know Jack (PC/PS3/60): 2/8
Dungeons (PC): 2/8
Bulletstorm (PC/PS3/60): 2/22
Killzone 3 (PS3): 2/22
Dragon Age 2 (PC/PS3/60): 3/8
Shogun 2: Total War (PC): 3/15
Yakuza 4 (PS3): 3/15
Homefront (PC/PS3/60): 3/15
Okamiden (DS): 3/15
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (PC): 3/17
Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime (PC/360): 3/18
Crysis 2 (PC/PS3/60): 3/22
Battlefield Play4Free (PC): 3/31
Darkspore (PC/PS3/60): 4/1
Hoard (PC/OS X): 4/4
Magicka: Vietnam (PC): 4/15
Sanctum (PC): 4/15
Portal 2 (PC/OS X/PS3/60): 4/19
IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover (PC): 4/19
The Conduit 2 (Wii): 4/19
SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs (PS3): 4/19
Section 8: Prejudice (XBLA): 4/20
Outland (XBLA): 4/25 (and to be released for PSN once service is restored)
Mount and Blade: With Fire and Sword (PC): 5/3
Section 8: Prejudice (PC): 5/4
Hydrophobia: Prophecy (PC): 5/9
My The First Templar (PC/360): 5/10
Brink (PC/PS3/60): 5/10
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (PC): 5/17
Fable 3 (PC): 5/17
L.A. Noire (PS3/60): 5/17
Dirt 3 (PC/PS3/60): 5/24
Dungeons and Dragons: Daggerdale (PC/PS3/60): 5/24
Hunted: The Demon’s Forge (PC/PS3/60): 5/31
Red Faction: Armageddon (PC/PS3/60): 6/7
Infamous 2 (PS3): 6/7
Operation Flashpoint: Red River (PC): 6/7
American McGee Presents American McGee‘s Alice: American McGee’s Madness American McGee Returns (PC/PS3/60): 6/14
Outland (PSN/XBLA): 6/14
Duke Nukem Forever (PC/PS3/60): 6/14
Dungeon Siege 3 (PC/PS3/60): 6/17
Might and Magic: Heroes VI (PC): 6/21
F.E.A.R. 3 (PC/PS3/60): 6/21
Shadows of the Damned (PS3/60): 6/21
Air Conflicts: Secret Wars (PC): 7/1
Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (PS3/60): 7/5
Panzer Corps (PC): 7/11
Bastion (XBLA): 7/20
From Dust (PC/XBLA): 7/27
Limbo (PC): 8/2
Section 8: Prejudice (PSN): 8/2
Bastion (PC): 8/15
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (PS3/60): 8/16

Upcoming:
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PC/PS3/60): 8/23
Tropico 4 (PC): 8/30
Rock of Ages (PC/XBLA/PSN): 8/31
Dead Island (PC/PS3/60): 9/6
Resistance 3 (PS3): 9/6
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (PC/PS3/60): 9/6
Rage (PC/PS3/60/iPhone/toaster): 9/13
Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad (PC): 9/13
Sengoku (PC): 9/13
Saint’s Row 3 (PC/PS3/60): 9/15
Defenders of Ardania (PC): 9/27
Gears of War 3 (360): 9/30
The Darkness 2 (PC/PS3/60): 10/4
Dark Souls (PC3/60): 10/4
The Cursed Crusade (PC/PS3/60): 10/11
Batman: Arkham City (PC/PS3/60): 10/18
Battlefield 3 (PC/PS3/60): 10/25
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PS3): 11/1
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC/PS3/60): 11/11
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii): 11/20

Unconfirmed dates (roughly in order)
Amy (PSN): September 2011
Hard Reset (PC): September 2011
Trine 2: September 2011
Nuclear Dawn (PC): September 2011
Warp (PC/PSN/XBLA): Q3 2011
Serious Sam 3: BFE (PC/PS3/60): Q3 2011
Sword of the Stars 2 (PC): Q3 2011
Orcs Must Die! (PC/XBLA): Q3 2011
Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC): Fall 2011
Dyad (PSN): Fall 2011
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (PC/PS3/60): November 2011
Need For Speed: The Run (PC/PS3/60): November 2011
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (PC/PS3/60): Winter 2011
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2011
Final Fantasy Tactics (iPhone): TBA 2011
Torchlight 2 (PC): TBA 2011
Dungeon Defenders (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2011 (“First Wave” already out for Android and iOS)
Toy Soldiers (PC; XBLA already out): TBA 2011
Elemental: Fallen Enchantress (PC): TBA 2011
Dear Esther (PC): TBA 2011
The Shadow Sun (iOS): TBA 2011
Tribes: Ascend (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2011
Renegade Ops (PC/PSN/XBLA): TBA 2011
ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection (PS3): TBA 2011
Scivelation (PC): TBA 2011
The Witness (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2011
Jagged Alliance 2: Reloaded (PC): TBA 2011
Lego Star Wars III: ~~Begun~~ These Clone Wars ~~Have~~ (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2011
I Am Alive (?): TBA 2011
X: Rebirth (PC): Q4 2011
Trenched: TBA 2011
Red Orchestra 2: Rising Storm (expansion; PC): TBA 2011, after RO2 (duh)
Half-Life 2: Episode Three (PC/360): TBA 2011…or 2012…or…
Alan Wake (PC): Never – unless you think MS is full of hot air and will end up releasing a shoddy PC port for extra cash monies in 9 months, after they’ve convinced everybody possible to buy the 360 version

Confirmed for 2012 or later
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (PC/PS3/60): 2/7/2012
Mass Effect 3 (PC/PS3/60): 3/6/2012
XCOM (PC/360): 3/12/2012
Planetside 2 (PC): Early 2012
Max Payne 3 (PC/PS3/60): March 2012
Secret World (PC): April 2012
Aliens: Colonial Marines (PC/PS3/60): Q2 2012
Bioshock: Infinite: TBA 2012
Far Cry 3 (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
Dishonored (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
Spec Ops: The Line (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
God of War 4: War Harder (PS3): TBA 2012
Mirror’s Edge 2 (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
Beyond Good and Evil 2 (?): TBA 2012
A Valley Without Wind (PC/OS X): TBA 2012
Age of Decadence (PC): TBA 2012
The Last Guardian (PS3): TBA 2012
Blackout (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
Prototype 2 (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
Silent Hill 2 and 3 HD (PS3/60): TBA 2012
Hitman 5 (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
Dead State (PC): TBA 2012
Zone of the Enders 1 and 2 HD (PS3/60): TBA 2012
Metal Gear Solid Collection HD (PS3/60): TBA 2012
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
Darksiders 2 (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
Metro: Last Light (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
Fallen Frontier (PC/PSN/XBLA): TBA 2012
Prey 2 (PC/PS3/60): TBA 2012
STALKER 2: TBA 2012
Diablo 3 (PC): TBA 2012
Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm (PC): TBA 2012

Lost in Shadow (Wii): 1/4

Optimizing an indie game

Gaming No Responses »

Mar 072011

I’ve been following Iron Tower Studio’s Age of Decadence for a few years, and the game looks increasingly like it’ll land sometime in 2011. The lead artist recently posted an account of optimizing AoD’s adaptation of the Torque Engine for higher performance, complete with screenshots reflecting the iterative steps their team followed. The post offers an interesting look at tuning performance with Torque, but it’s also a reminder that indie teams often have to spend as much time on the nuts-and-bolts as big commercial projects do. There’s a lot of talent out there, working on promising smaller-scale projects like this.

If you’re new to AoD, check out Iron Tower Studio for screenshots, videos, and a general introduction to the game. Keep an eye on ITS – they’re also the group supporting Dead State, the upcoming turn-based zombie/survival RPG from industry vets Brian Mitsoda and Annie Carlson.

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