Author - Jerry Paxton

Shuttle Launches Small New 3-liter PCs

2012/01/17
Jerry Paxton
News

Shuttle has announced the launch of a new 3-liter slim PC featuring the Sandy Bridge processor line from Intel. Checkout the press release below for more information!

Press Release

Shuttle Launches 3-Liter Slim PC for 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i3, i5 and i7 Processors

City of Industry, California – Shuttle Computer, an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance small form factor (SFF) PC solutions and creator of the XPC, today announced the launch of the Shuttle XH61, a new 3-liter slim PC for Intel’s Sandy Bridge processors.

Shuttle XH61 features class-leading power in a compact size, delivering the performance of bigger desktops in a package that is less than 3-inches tall.  The new slim PC desktop platform is based on the Intel® H61 Express Chipset, supporting 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i3, i5 and i7 processors for socket LGA 1155 with a TDP of 65W max., and two slots of memory for up to 16GB of DDR3.

Media HTPC

A media HTPC in a small footprint, the Shuttle XH61 features 7.1 sound, both an HDMI and D-Sub port, and smooth HD playback with improved graphics integrated in the 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processors.  Though compact in size, XH61 still has space for a slim optical drive for Blu-ray or DVD playback.  

Digital Signage

Powerful and flexible, the Shuttle XH61 is well-suited as a digital signage media player.  The Shuttle XH61 is capable of delivering more demanding digital signage content, with the latest Intel® processors and up to an impressive 16GB of memory inside.  Compact in size (2.9”H x 7.9”W x 9.5”D), XH61 can be fitted almost anywhere, including behind a screen with the optional PV02 VESA monitor mount.

Busta Rhymes Hits Dance Central 2

2012/01/17
Jerry Paxton
News
1 Comment

Harmonix has announced that a new track from Busta Rhymes is set to be available today for their dance title, Dance Central 2. Checkout the information below for details!

Press Release

Cambridge, Mass. – January 16th, 2012 – Harmonix is excited to announce that tomorrow, January 17th, Busta Rhymes’ single “Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em)” will be available in the Dance Central™2 Music Store!

In 2008, Busta Rhymes called a national security alert with his digital single, “Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em).” Busta’s trademark rapid-fire delivery combined with a funky sample from 60s soul group The Diplomats’ “I Can Give You Love” make for an amazingly danceable track. This song will be available for 240 Microsoft Points in Dance Central 2’s in-game Music Store, or from the Xbox LIVE® Marketplace.

  • Artist – Busta Rhymes
  • Song – “Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em)”
  • Difficulty – Tough
  • DC Choreographer – Devin Woolridge
  • Price – 240 MS Points
  • Release date – January 17th

Dance Central 2 supports over 100 danceable songs, available via on-disc tracks, song importing from the original Dance Central, and downloadable content from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The party never has to stop, with downloadable content added weekly to keep your body moving on the dance floor!

Play as Antagonist in Upcoming Dead Island DLC

2012/01/17
Jerry Paxton
News

Deep Silver and Techland have announced a new, upcoming DLC pack for their zombie-RPG, Dead Island. This new DLC pack will allow players to experience the game’s story from the perspective of Ryder White, its main antagonist. Checkout the full release below for more information:

16th January 2012 – Hampshire, UK/… Deep Silver today announced the upcoming release of a brand new story DLC for the award-winning game Dead Island.

This DLC offers a unique new perspective into the incidents in the main story of Dead Island: This time the player will get the chance to play as Ryder White, the antagonist of the main game; learn more about his motivations and why, from his point of view, he did what he had to do. This fresh take on the Dead Island story shows Ryder White both as a military man and a loving husband.

The DLC stars Ryder White as a newly playable character and offers a single player campaign with several hours of story content with twists and turns that will shed new light on the game’s happenings. Two blueprints and weapons will further expand the already impressive arsenal of Dead Island.

The DLC will be available on February 01, 2012 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. It will be available for 800 Microsoft points on Xbox LIVE Marketplace or for £7.99 on PSN and Steam.

THQ Answers Rumors – Looks Like They Were False

2012/01/15
Jerry Paxton
News

THQ has sent us an official response to the rumors which began earlier today regarding their status as a company. THQ is denying that they have canceled their 2014 lineup but is saying that they are “strategically addressing the most attractive markets”. Nothing to see here, folks, looks like they are giving us a big thumbs up!

Statement from THQ:

“THQ has not cancelled its 2014 line-up, and has not made any decisions regarding the planned MMO. As part of the ongoing review of our business, we have made decisions to ensure that the company is strategically addressing the most attractive markets. As we have previously announced, we have dramatically reduced our commitment to the kids’ boxed games sector which leads to a significantly more focused release schedule moving forward. Our slate for calendar 2012 and beyond is focused on high-quality core games and continues to build our digital platform and business. We are excited for our pipeline of original and high-quality content along with our relationships with some of the best talent in the industry.

Additionally, we are thrilled with the great performance of Saints Row: The Third, which on a like for like period in North America has tripled in sell-through from Saints Row 2. In addition, WWE ’12’s worldwide sell-through sales are up almost 40% year-over-year for the same sales period with fewer platforms. According to NPD, for the month of December and the 2011 year, THQ was the #5 publisher overall, #4 third party, with reported sell through growing over 18% in a market that was down almost 6%. And coming up next, we have two great titles for the first half of the year including UFC Undisputed 3 and Darksiders 2.”

THQ on the Rocks, Cancels 2014 Lineup, Looking for Buyer [RUMOR]

2012/01/15
Jerry Paxton
News

It seems as though video game developer/publisher THQ may be in some serious trouble. According to a rash of Tweets sent out by Kevin Dent, who claims to head up the IGDA’s Mobile Special Interest Group, THQ has canceled its 2014 games lineup and is looking for someone to buy them out. Here are some of the Tweets he sent out:

Also heard that THQ are offering themselves to Asian firms to increase value!

@PeterSkerritt they cancelled all of their 2014

In addition, word is spreading that THQ has returned IP to Disney AFTER paying the advance, with no refund.

THQ has some very popular IPs in the gaming industry under their umbrella – with Saint’s Row, Red Faction, and Warhammer 40k to name a few. Hopefully, these rumors turn out to be false. We have sent a request for comment to THQ and will update you guys as soon as we hear more.

Wargame: European Escalation Trailer

2012/01/14
Jerry Paxton
News

Eugen Systems and Focus Home Interactive have released a new trailer for their upcoming, realistic RTS, Wargame: European Escalation, which is due out sometime in the first quarter of this year.

Trailer

The Edgar Winter Group and KoRn Coming to Rock Band

2012/01/14
Jerry Paxton
News

Harmonix has announced that tracks from The Edgar Winter Group and KoRn will be coming to the Rock Band Music Store on January 17th, 2012.

Available on Xbox 360, Wii™and PlayStation®3 system (January 17th, 2012):

  • The Edgar Winter Group – “Free Ride” O
  • The Edgar Winter Group – “Frankenstein” O X
  • KoRn – “Freak on a Leash”
  • KoRn – “Falling Away from Me”

(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation®3 system January 18th)

Tracks marked with “O” feature support for keyboards; tracks marked with “X” will offer Pro Guitar and Pro Bass expansions for $0.99 per song.

Price:                   
$1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points, 200 Wii Points) per song
$0.99 USD (100 Wii Points™/80 Microsoft Points), £0.59 UK, €0.79 EU per song for eligible Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrade

cd Projeckt’s Open Letter Against Piracy

2012/01/14
Jerry Paxton
News

Marcin Iwinski, co-founder of The Witcher developer cd Project RED, has released on open letter to the gaming community at large regarding their stance on software piracy. The letter is a response to criticism against their “direct dealing” policy on piracy. cd Projekt RED has had a long-history of avoiding DRM and, instead, directly contacting those who are stealing their software. They will no longer be doing so. No word on whether or not this means that future products from the developer WILL use DRM.

An Open Letter to the Gaming Community from CD Projekt RED

In early December, an article was published about a law firm acting on behalf of CD Projekt RED, contacting individuals who had downloaded The Witcher 2 illegally and seeking financial compensation for copyright infringement. The news about our decision to combat piracy directly, instead of with DRM, spread quickly and with it came a number of concerns from the community. Repeatedly, gamers just like you have said that our methods might wrongly accuse people who have never violated our copyright and expressed serious concern about our actions.

Being part of a community is a give-and-take process. We only succeed because you have faith in us, and we have worked hard over the years to build up that trust. We were sorry to see that many gamers felt that our actions didn’t respect the faith that they have put into CD Projekt RED. Our fans always have been and remain our greatest concern, and we pride ourselves on the fact that you all know that we listen to you and take your opinions to heart. While we are confident that no one who legally owns one of our games has been required to compensate us for copyright infringement, we value our fans, our supporters, and our community too highly to take the chance that we might ever falsely accuse even one individual.

So we’ve decided that we will immediately cease identifying and contacting pirates.

Let’s make this clear: we don’t support piracy. It hurts us, the developers. It hurts the industry as a whole. Though we are staunch opponents of DRM because we don’t believe it has any effect on reducing piracy, we still do not condone copying games illegally. We’re doing our part to keep our relationship with you, our gaming audience, a positive one. We’ve heard your concerns, listened to your voices, and we’re responding to them. But you need to help us and do your part: don’t be indifferent to piracy. If you see a friend playing an illegal copy of a game–any game–tell your friend that they’re undermining the possible success of the developer who created the very game that they are enjoying. Unless you support the developers who make the games you play, unless you pay for those games, we won’t be able to produce new excellent titles for you.

Keep on playing,

Marcin Iwinski
co-founder
CD Projekt RED

Mass Effect 3 Is Origin-Only, No Steam Support

2012/01/14
Jerry Paxton
News

Chris Priestly, BioWare’s community and pr guy, has posted up some bad (but not unforseen) news on the official BioWare forums: Mass Effect 3 will NOT be sold on Steam and will only be downloadable via Electronic Arts’ crappy Origin digital distribution service.

Basically, this means that I am now going to buy my copy in a retail store and then activate it via Origin, as I do not want to contribute any purchases on that awful system.

Full Forum Post

Below are answers to the most commonly asked questions about Origin and Mass Effect 3. Thank you for your patience as we have worked to answer them.

1) Will Origin be a requirement to play all versions of Mass Effect 3? (Digital and/or from a retail brick and mortar store)
Yes, Origin is required for all PC editions of Mass Effect 3, physical or digital.

2) Is constant Origin connection required or is it a single one off authentication when the game is first installed. Is there also a limit to the number of installations available?
Mass Effect 3 will require a one time, single authorization for the single player game. There is no limit to the number of installs. Playing Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer will require a constant connection.

3) Is Origin required for the retail versions of the game?
Origin is required for the PC versions of Mass Effect 3, both physical and digital.

4) Will ME3 be available on Steam?
During initial release Mass Effect 3 will be available on Origin and a number of other 3rd party digital retailers, but not on Steam at this time. Steam has adopted a set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to deliver patches and other downloadable content.  We are intent on providing Mass Effect to players with the best possible experience no matter where they purchase or play their game, and are happy to partner with any download service that does not restrict our ability to connect directly with our consumers.

5) Is there an opt in or opt out clause for data collection? 
Users will be allowed to opt-out of Mass Effect 3 data collection from inside the game.

6) I’ve seen reports that Origin is spyware.  Is this true?
Origin is not spyware, and does not use or install spyware on user’s machines.  In order to allow Origin to install games and their patches for everyone to use, Origin implements a permission change that results in Windows, not Origin, reviewing the filenames in the ProgramData/Origin folder.   This is an ordinary Windows function, not an information-gathering process. 

7) Has the Origin EULA been updated following recent questions in Germany?
The German Origin EULA has been updated.  For more information, please review the Origin EULA here: http://www.ea.com/1/product-eulas.

8) Is there a double-opt in for Mass Effect 3 marketing emails for German residents?
Yes, we always adhere to the German requirement of a double opt-in standard for marketing emails.  Mass Effect 3 users must opt-in twice to receive these emails.

I appreciate everyone’s patience on this topic. Please continue to ask questions about Mass Effect 3 and Origin and I will continue to try to get the answers for you.