Posts Tagged ‘Game’

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World’s first video game ‘Spacewar!’ was made 50 years ago

February 13th, 2012
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Computer games have been around a long time now but the first ever video game was made 50 years ago. Games have come a long way and the hardware on which they run are much superior than ‘Spacewar!’, what is the world’s first computer game was run on. The game was coded by Steve Russell in the midst of the space travel around that period. CNET has a story on recreating the system on which the game was made. After a year, a team of developers that consisted of Pete Samson, Dan Edwards and Martin Graetz made some changes to the game and made it available for free to a company called Digital Equipment.

It was also installed onto PDP-1 machines to demonstrate that they were working perfectly. The game was really simple as compared to the ones seen on computers these days. The game allowed two players to use the controls to destroy each other’s spaceships using rockets. One of the unique things of the game was to allow users to move the spaceship to a random spot on the screen by using a feature called ‘Hyperspace’. MIT students decided to recreate the game on the more cheaper, and freely available Arduino chip, which is now priced at a fraction of the price of the PDP-1 machine of 1962 but offers the same performance. Back then, Spacewar! was made into an arcade game and eventually a game for home computers, but it didn’t receive the same appreciation as some of the other titles such as Asteroids.

Spacewar! was a little more complicated for its time. The game required you to fight the gravitational pull of the Sun and make changes to the controls accordingly. For a new game, users had to get used the controls whereas Asteroids was downright simple to understand and control. Upto that point, computers were used for calculations and serious work. A game such as Spacewar changed the image of computing machines completely.

Source:http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/worlds-first-video-game-spacewar-was-made-50-years-ago_666506.html

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AverMedia Game Capture HD Review

January 28th, 2012
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I was fairly impressed with the Roxio Game Capture device. Sure, you have to run cables from the console, through the device and into your display and PC, but if all your stuff is in one room that’s not such a big issue. AverMedia Game Capture HDAverMedia contacted me asking to send one of their Game Capture HD devices for review and I agreed. I mean, who doesn’t want all sorts of cool stuff. Plus, we could totally use this for game review videos here at GDN.

The AverMedia Game Capture HD does have some other advantages, aside from not needing to be directly connected to a PC, it can capture and output 1080i, something the other could not. It also has two modes, one that lowers latency so that you can play and capture without any loss of response and another with the full on-screen display so that you can do playback, file management, etc. The only way to achieve anything with the Roxio is to have a fairly strong PC.

The unit is fairly small and is designed to fit into your gaming console area. It connects between the console and the display device and the signal passes through it. Setup is extremely easy as there are just a power plug and two sets of component and audio input and output.

Internally you can store a 2.5″ SATA hard drive. I happened to have an OCZ 60GB SSD that fit right in so I installed that. It’s also got a USB port right on the front of the unit. What I do is record to the SSD because then I can just copy the files off to a USB drive as I wish and still maintain a central repository of all the files. It’s not really necessary and you could record to the USB drive if you wanted. I have a stack of USB jump drives so I use them for quick file moving. When I get the USB drive to the PC then I just leave them on the drive to edit and save the edited videos to the desktop. If I were in an office where the computer wasn’t near the consoles or if I were at home where the consoles are in the living room and the PC in another room it would be a fast way to get files to and fro. What would have been even cooler would have been network connectivity so that yo could then use the AverMedia Game Capture HD as a sort of network-attached storage unit and just transfer the files when you needed to use them. Perhaps they’ll look into that in the next iteration of the device.

Source:http://www.gamersdailynews.com/article-3235-AverMedia-Game-Capture-HD-Review-hardware.html

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Antec Unveils Three Hundred Two Gaming Chassis

January 25th, 2012
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The latest member of Antec’s gaming chassis family is the Three Hundred Two, a case that features eight expansion slots, eleven drive bays (3 x 5.25-inch, 6 x 3.5-inch, and 2 dedicated 2.5-inch), 170mm of clearance for the CPU cooler, and 318mm for up to three graphics cards.

The Three Hundred Two supports ATX, microATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. The front panel includes audio jacks and a pair of USB 3.0 ports and features a mesh design for optimized airflow.

The case supports up to six 120/140mm fans, with one rear and one top fan included, and the mesh air filters are easily removable and washable. The Antec Three Hundred Two is available now for $79.95.

The global leader in high-performance computer components, announces the Three Hundred Two enclosure, the latest addition to the Gaming Series. This sleek chassis is designed to handle today’s and tomorrow’s high-performance systems that are custom built for gamers from the inside-out.

The Three Hundred Two is perfect for gamers, system integrators and casual builders alike because of its extensive cooling advantages and expandability.

High Performance Cooling Advantages – The Three Hundred Two is built for maximum cooling thanks to its perforated front bezel, included top & rear TwoCool™ fans, and four optional fans, including a 120 mm CPU exhaust fan behind the motherboard, to ensure gamers can play well into the night.

Extensive Compatibility and Expandability – The Three Hundred Two utilizes eight expansion slots for up to three 12.5” (318 mm) graphics cards, demonstrating compatibility with most of the longest GPUs available.

Intelligent Design – This enclosure has removable, washable PSU and front intake air filters, along with a cable management system that features four strategically placed holes and 3 cm of space behind the motherboard tray. It’s even easier for builders to start using their new PC right away thanks to the Three Hundred Two’s three 5.25” and six 3.5” tool-less drive bays.

“The Three Hundred Two is an excellent enclosure for those who want to build a reliable, long-lasting PC,” said Mafalda Cogliani, Global Marketing Director at Antec. “The enclosure has great cooling and expandability options, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking to build a new and affordable gaming PC with high functionality and design.”

Availability
The Three Hundred Two is now available in the United States on Newegg, Frys and other retailers and in Canada on NCIX and Canada Computers with a MSRP of $79.95.

Source:http://hothardware.com/News/Antec-Unveils-Three-Hundred-Two-Gaming-Chassis/

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Game looks to new hardware to halt slide

January 11th, 2012
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Shares in computer games retailer Game (LON:GMG) slumped by 25% as it warned tough trading over Christmas meant it would breach one of its loan covenants.
The retailer said the difficult market conditions made it likely it would not meet its EBITDA covenants (fixed charge coverage and leverage) for the period to 31 January 2012.

Game expects to have £120 million cash at its year end and the debt service covenant should be met satisfactorily, it added.
Game has been battered by a widespread slump in the computer games market, which has suffered due to general economic conditions and a shift by people to downloading games or playing online.

Today it dashed hopes of a revival over Christmas when it revealed like-for-like sales fell by 12.9% in the eight weeks to 7 January. Total sales fell by 14.7%.
For year so far, sales were down by 11.9% with like-for-like sales 10% lower.

Ian Shepherd, chief executive said: “Our industry had an incredibly tough 2011, and so did we. We remain the market leader and have a clear strategy which will return the business to growth. We are adapting to the changing market and are well prepared for the next hardware cycle.”

The PlayStation Vita will launch in Europe on 22 February, and the Nintendo Wii U is scheduled to launch later in the year.

Game said it expects to be European market leader for each launch.

Source:http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/37633/game-looks-to-new-hardware-to-halt-slide-37633.html

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Gems of the game

January 2nd, 2012
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
If you like fantasy CRPGs (Computer Role Player Games) and miss the days of Baldur’s Gate, Planescape and the like, then Skyrim fits the bill. Offering a huge sand-box setting, players are still trying to complete all the sub-quests and explore every nook and cranny of the world since its release. Available on the PC, XBOX 360 and PS3.

Portal 2
The insanely successful sequel to the much loved original, Portal 2 is best described as a 4th dimensional platform puzzle game. The 4th dimension supplied by the portal gun makes Portal a truly unique game along with excellent level design, characters and story. Available on the PC, XBOX 360 and PS3.

Batman: Arkham City
“I am Baaaaat-man.” No one can resist saying that famous quote while playing Arkham City. Pushing your hardware to the limit, Arkham City captures the world of Batman beautifully. Combat brings more than the usual “Whamo, Pow, Slam, Zim” as you really feel like the Bats bringing on the hurt to baddies for the unresolved personal baggage you are carrying since your parents’ death. The only problem is that for the PC version, one needs a fairly higher end system to enjoy it. Consider getting the console versions if you have a 360 or PS3.

Modern Warfare 3

Love it or hate it, it is one of the most popular First Person Shooters out there. With non-stop, nail-biting, action packed campaign mode, coupled with a near perfect multiplayer squad style combat, Modern Warfare 3 is non-stop instant action and instant gratification in a can. Available on the PC, XBOX 360 and PS3.

Battlefield 3

The other most popular First Person Shooters out there. Battlefield 3’s approach is massive battles with lots of vehicles thrown in. It is the best game for all out war, unfortunately sometimes a single soldier gets lost in the conflict but some players like it that way. Available on the PC, XBOX 360 and PS3.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Eidos Montreal showing Gearbox Software how franchise revival is done in half the time. Human Revolution is a prequel to the first Deus Ex game, bringing back all the goodness of a dystopian cyber-future. With multiple routes to solve major quests, its cover system and fantastic character development makes this one of my favorite RPGs of the year. Available on the PC, XBOX 360 and PS3.

Saints Row: The Third

It is Grand Theft Auto but bigger, better and totally insane. Saints Row has everything that was lacking in GTA, customisation, Predator Drones and generally non-stop insanity. It is a grand, tongue-in-cheek homage to all the real-world sandbox games out there. Available on the PC, XBOX 360 and PS3.

Minecraft

It is the game to rule all SIM worlds. Minecraft has come a long way and is still probably the only game out there that you will have to start out by sharpening sticks and chipping rocks to make toys and end up with a kilometre long rollercoaster or a full scale castle. Words cannot describe this virtual Lego world: Only way to understand the sheer awesomeness is to experience it. Only for the PC.

tHE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWORD SWORD

Not to leave the other console out of the fun, on the Wii, we have The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Skyward Sword takes place before Ocarina Of Time, it is loaded with tons of puzzles, mostly of the gathering kind but players should get a workout with the Wii controller nonetheless.
Ms.’Splosion Man
XBOX 360 may or may not have intended it but Ms.’Splosion Man is to XBOX 360 like Sonic is to Sega. It is insanely fast and fun. It is Sonic meets Dee Dee from Dexter’s Laboratory, yes imagine it, then get it.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

The PS3 got their wunder child Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, drawing mass crowds of fans and players cannot wait to see what misadventures Drake gets into. It recycles a bit too much from the earlier games’ puzzles and seems to be combat heavier compared to the last one, but players find it hard to put down the controller.

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection

A hidden gem is Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. That’s right. All three Metal Gear Solid games re-mastered for HD. Play it chronographically or your favourite first. It does not matter.

Source:http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/tech/gems-of-the-game-1.26529

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Dell’s Alienware Aurora Delivers Extreme Gaming Performance and Experience as Game Developers Intended in Most Advanced Desktop Ever

December 14th, 2011
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Helps Competitive Gamers Push the Limits of Hardcore Gaming

–Tweet This: Dell unveils Alienware Aurora: the most advanced gaming desktop ever. Link #Alienware

Competitive gamers asked for the ultimate gaming pc, and Dell’s new Alienware Aurora gaming desktop computer, unveiled today, delivers. It is the company’s most advanced desktop ever delivering the extreme gaming performance and experience game developers intended for their players. With the latest technology and intelligent design, gamers can envelop themselves in the action, experience blazing fast performance and immersive graphics.

– The Aurora desktop delivers the pure, raw power that gamers crave. The systems come loaded with the new 2nd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3000 series six-core CPUs, factory overclocked(1) and liquid cooled, with the Intel X79 Express Chipset (Dell’s first consumer system to offer this chipset), Quad Channel DDR3(2) memory and the latest SATA technology.

– Gamers can literally “see” all that power firsthand. Dual graphics cards and beyond 1080p gaming with immersive multi-display and 3D HD(3) capabilities allow gamers to experience any game at its best — as intended by the game developers.

– And the gaming desktops are intelligently designed for unparalleled customization. In addition to raw power, an innovative chassis design and intuitive internal component layout allows for user-friendly upgrades and optimized thermal management.

Purposeful Cool Design

Designed from the inside out with performance, function and style in mind, Alienware Aurora’s chassis delivers a purposeful internal layout in a sleek, beautiful and compact form factor.

The desktop’s maintenance-free, high performance CPU Liquid Cooling replaces the standard heat sink and fan that comes with most PCs, and its Active Venting system provides additional heat dissipation during heavy gaming. This unique design increases component longevity and allows Aurora to stay nearly twice as quiet as competitors with traditional heat sink and fan layouts. Additionally, all core components inside the Aurora are purposefully compartmentalized in chambers that provide clean, clear and easy tool-less access for upgrades, maintenance or showing off.

Supporting AMD CrossFireX technology, Alienware Aurora is capable of housing two graphics cards for maximum performance and extreme graphics power. All Aurora graphics cards use GDDR5 graphics memory(2), the most advanced offering available. With Microsoft’s DirectX 11 graphics API, complex virtual worlds will come alive.

“The PC gaming industry continues to grow rapidly, and our customers are demanding systems that can keep up with the most graphic-intensive games on the market,” said Arthur Lewis, vice president, Alienware and Product Management for Consumer, Small and Medium Business. “Alienware Aurora, our most advanced gaming desktop ever, delivers an experience that will exceed the expectations of any serious gamer.”

Complete Control

All Alienware laptops and desktops come complete with the Alienware Command Center, which provides intuitive, user-friendly access to exclusive applications and controls, including AlienFX lighting effects, Thermal Controls and AlienFusion power management system. AlienFX allows users to customize the exterior lighting zones on the chassis with over 25 billion color combinations for a one-of-a-kind personalized experience. Updates and new releases download directly into Command Center, creating a constantly evolving tool for users to modify and personalize their gaming computer.

Gaming Supremacy

Alienware is recognized throughout the industry and with customers alike for performance, functionality and design. The Alienware M17x gaming laptop with Intel Sandy Bridge processors recently won Gold in the Gaming category for “The Best Products of 2011″ from PC Magazine, and the Alienware M11x R3 laptop won Silver. As new technology is released, look for Alienware to continually offer the latest in PC gaming hardware, partnering with other industry leaders to deliver an optimized gaming experience.

Source:http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dells-alienware-aurora-delivers-extreme-gaming-performance-and-experience-as-game-developers-intended-in-most-advanced-desktop-ever-2011-12-13

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NVIDIA SLI Multi-GPU Technology Paired With Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition Processors Power World’s Fastest Desktop Gaming Platforms

November 15th, 2011
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NVIDIA today announced that system builders worldwide are now shipping the fastest PC gaming platforms ever built, thanks in part to NVIDIA(R) SLI(R) technology and the just-released Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition processors and X79 chipset-based motherboards.

The combination of NVIDIA SLI technology — which allows for multiple GPUs to run on a single PC — and new X79-based motherboards allow gamers to customize their PC experience with up to four NVIDIA GeForce(R) GTX GPUs, including the GeForce GTX 580 and GTX 570, the world’s fastest DX11 GPUs. Licensed by the world’s leading motherboard manufacturers — including Intel, ASUS, ASRock, EVGA, Foxconn, Gigabyte and MSI, SLI technology is crucial for playing this year’s hottest graphics-intensive games, such as the recently released Battlefield 3 and upcoming Batman: Arkham City with detail, resolution and immersion settings cranked up.

“Falcon’s entire desktop lineup will be moving to Sandy Bridge-E, and NVIDIA SLI technology was an absolute necessity for every model we make,” said Kelt Reeves, president of Falcon Northwest. “It was critical for us to offer our clients multi-GPU options, and pairing Sandy Bridge’s monstrous new CPU horsepower with SLI’s monstrous graphics power will give gamers and enthusiasts smoother frame rates and a better visual experience.”

NVIDIA SLI technology is now available for all consumer-based desktop and mobile PC platforms, including previous versions of Intel Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo processors, as well as those based on the AMD Bulldozer and Phenom II CPUs.

NVIDIA DX11 GPUs are designed to deliver the world’s fastest performance for DX11 games, and are the only consumer GPUs to feature multiple tessellation engines for advanced graphics rendering capabilities. NVIDIA GeForce GPUs also provide gamers with additional features not found on any other discrete graphics solutions, such as NVIDIA PhysX(R) technology for deeper gaming immersion, and support for NVIDIA 3D Vision(TM) technology, delivering eye-popping stereoscopic 3D on a single display or spanning across three screens for an immersive gaming environment.

For more information on NVIDIA SLI technology, please visit: http://bit.ly/grvFP8 .

Note to editors: to download images of new X79/SLI systems and motherboards from companies listed in this press release, please visit: http://bit.ly/srWPgJ .

Partner Quotes

“The combination of an Intel X79 motherboard and NVIDIA GeForce GTX SLI will break all the existing performance barriers raising the gaming standard for the power user. The wait is finally over.” — LL Shiu, Chief Operating Officer at ASRock

“PC gaming is growing at a rapid pace. With so many hot games rolling into the market, it’s time for gamers to switch the gear. All hardcore gamers looking for the best bang for the buck will naturally gravitate towards an Intel X79 motherboard and GeForce GTX GPUs as this combination will provide enthusiasts with the best gaming platforms for 2011 and 2012.” — Kent Chien, General Manager, Multimedia Business Unit at Asus

“CyberpowerPC gaming systems powered by Intel’s blazing fast X79 chipset along with NVIDIA’s fastest single GPU on the planet in single, dual, triple or quad GPU configuration yields uncompromising gaming performance for maximum high-definition gaming.” — Eric Cheung, CEO of Cyberpower

“A Digital Storm Hailstorm system equipped with three NVIDIA GTX 580s in TRI-SLI and Intel’s new X79 platform has blown away all our previous performance records making it the most dominant gaming system we’ve ever built.” — Harjit Chana, chief marketing officer at Digital Storm

“EVGA is extremely excited to be launching new NVIDIA SLI-ready Intel X79 chipset based motherboards. Right now is a great time to be a PC gamer, and with the latest game titles, the need for enthusiast performance hardware is more apparent than ever.” — Bob Klase, VP of Sales at EVGA

“For playing any of today’s hottest PC titles, the pairing of Intel X79 motherboard and GeForce GTX SLI is one awesome combination that our customers have been asking for.” — Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit

“MAINGEAR’s got what gamers want: expertise, extreme performance, and options galore. If you’re looking for a new PC featuring the new Intel X79 platform with extreme overclocking and NVIDIA GeForce graphics in single, dual, 3-way or even quad SLI, combined with MAINGEAR’s EPIC liquid cooling solutions, gamers can have the best immersive gaming experience possible.” — Wallace Santos, CEO of MAINGEAR

“Gamers know that the best way to experience their games is with an Intel CPU and NVIDIA GPUs. Now, they will be able to harness the power of multiple GPUs for even more performance and immersion features with our Intel X79 motherboard and GeForce GTX GPUs.” — Jeremy Liao, Assistant Vice President of Multimedia Department at MSI

“ORIGIN PC is gearing up this holiday season with NVIDIA GeForce GPUs and the new Intel X79 processors. Our ORIGIN PC GENESIS desktops and EON laptops are ready for battle, using Intel X79 processors to slay dragons, and NVIDIA GeForce GPUs in SLI to clean out Arkham City. It’s time to gear up for the win!” — Kevin Wasielewski, CEO and co-founder of ORIGIN PC

Source:http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nvidia-sli-multi-gpu-technology-paired-with-intel-core-i7-extreme-edition-processors-power-worlds-fastest-desktop-gaming-platforms-2011-11-14?reflink=MW_news_stmp

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