Author - Jerry Paxton

World of Warplanes Heavy Fighters Revealed

2012/05/08

8^th May 2012 — Wargaming.net, the award-winning videogame developer and publisher, introduced today Heavy Fighters, the second of several rock-paper-scissors warplane classes that will take over the skies in the company’s highly anticipated flight combat MMO, World of Warplanes.

Featuring such names as the Fw.57, Bf.110, Me.410 and Me.P.1102, heavy fighters are currently represented in the German line of warbirds, and will be gradually added to other national rosters.

Their size, power and armament allow heavy fighters to fulfill a great variety of objectives including interception, head-on attacks and bombing, making them one of the most versatile classes of air forces.

“If you want speed and adrenaline, you will probably go for lighter fighters, whereas heavies provide greater firepower,” said World of Warplanes Project Manager, Alex Zezulin. “Knowing the strengths of your heavy fighter will give you the feel of devastating power under your total control.”

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Trailer

The Old Republic Loses 400k Subscribers

2012/05/07

Jerry Paxton

News

According to today’s quarterly earnings report from Electronic Arts, Star Wars: The Old Republic has dropped from 1.7 million players to 1.3 million – a whopping 400k user subtraction!

Gibeau (EA Labels President) also stressed that “core MMO users” are sticking with the game in good numbers, and suggested that the subscriber drop comes mainly from the expanded audience of non-MMO-obsessed Star Wars fans attracted by a title like The Old Republic. “As the service evolves, some of those initial casual customers have gone through a billing cycle and decided not to subscribe,” Gibeau said.

Thanks to Ars Technica for this!

Path of Exile Announces A Second Public Stress Test

2012/05/07

Jerry Paxton

News

After a successful first Public Stress Test Weekend a month ago, The Path of Exile Beta servers will be once again open to the public for the weekend of May 11-13. Below is a list of answers to frequently asked questions, explaining the details of how it works.
1. What’s the public stress test weekend for?

Primarily, testing to see how the Path of Exile servers run under heavy player load. Our Closed Beta is around the size we need for gameplay feedback, but we need to test to see if we can handle larger number of players in the lead-up to Open Beta. The first weekend was a great success. We want to push it harder this time 🙂
2. What are the specific times that I can play?

We will make the servers public at 5pm on Friday (May 11), Pacific Daylight Time. This is noon Saturday (May 12) in New Zealand. This link will help you convert to other timezones

The public weekend ends at 11:59pm on Sunday (April May 13), Pacific Daylight Time. This is 7pm on Monday (May 14) in New Zealand. This link will help you convert to other timezones.
3. Can I download the game client in advance?

Yes. We’ll have a link up before the event.
4. I have never signed up for an account at pathofexile.com. Can I still play?

Definitely! An account is required to play but you can create one at any time, even while the event is running. These accounts can be upgraded to Closed Beta accounts after the event if a Beta key is added to them (and of course, they become full game accounts once we enter Open Beta).
5. How do I start playing?

Just create an account, download the client, then start playing when the public weekend is live! If you have problems, please post in the forums and we’ll try to help.
6. What content is available during the weekend?

All of the current Closed Beta content. This includes two acts repeated over four difficulties (about 60 levels worth of content), the Maelstrom of Chaos, Default and Hardcore leagues, six character classes, approximately 70 active skills, 45 support gems and hundreds of types of items. The Shadow, our sixth character class, will be enabled this weekend for public play!
7. Will there be any special events during the public weekend?

For the last few months, we’ve been running weekly special events in Path of Exile. For example, a three hour event that rewards the people that reach the highest level or the first people to accomplish certain tasks (completing quests, clearing an area of monsters, etc). We’re going to try to run several of these events during the public stress test weekend. The exact schedule of times as well as more detailed information about rules and prizes will be posted before the weekend starts.

These events take place in temporary leagues that we create on the server specifically for the event. Players must create new characters to participate in these events and they do not have the benefit of any stashed items. Following the event, the league is closed and characters are moved to the appropriate permanent league.
8. What is a league?

A league is a self-contained separate economy within a server. Characters created within a league are unable to interact with characters from other leagues. Read more about leagues here
9. If this is a stress test, are the servers going to be laggy/unstable?

Possibly. It went really well last time, but we’re going to continue to gather data about server performance and stability under load.

Our intention is to allow users to log on freely until we encounter stability issues. At that point, we’ll place a player limit at a stability threshold and attempt to resolve any issues. Once we’re confident our servers can handle more players, we’ll incrementally raise the limit until we run into more issues. This process should help us find and resolve stability issues while also allowing people to play the game without overloading the servers. As a result, there may be a queue to log in while problems are being resolved.
10. Can I interact with Closed Beta testers during the weekend?

Yes, Closed Beta testers will have access to the same leagues that public players will. Since the public Default and Hardcore leagues are being enabled specifically for this weekend, the existing Closed Beta testers must create new characters if they choose to play in them.
11. What happens to my access after the weekend?

Unless you’re already a Closed Beta tester, your access will cease when the weekend ends. Of course, now that you have a Path of Exile account, you’ll be eligible for selection into the Closed Beta. We’re planning to ramp up invitations to the Closed Beta in preparation for the Open Beta. You may find that you get permanent access soon. If you support Path of Exile by pre-purchasing microtransaction credit, you will receive Beta access.
12. What happens to all my characters and items from this weekend?

The public weekend takes place in the leagues that regular Beta testers play in. If you gain access to the Closed Beta later, you’ll be able to pick up and play your characters right where you left off. For current Closed Beta testers, you will of course have continued access to items you have found in the public weekend during the Closed Beta. Remember, characters and items may be wiped at any time while we’re in the Closed Beta phase.
13. Are there future public stress test weekends planned?

Based on the data that we receive from this public weekend we will decide if we need to hold additional stress test weekends. We’ll post details about a week in advance if we have any planned.

ArmA II: Firing Range Gets Augmented

2012/05/07

Jerry Paxton

News

Prague, Czech Republic, May 04^th – Bohemia Interactive, the award-winning independent Czech development studio, is delighted to announce a massive update to the IOS and Android game ARMA II: Firing Range

Augmented Reality: A stunning revolution in mobile gaming technology, Augmented Reality brings exciting new aspects to Arma 2 Firing Range, no longer is your view restricted to what you see on your screen, now Augmented Reality explodes the reality out of your screen into the world around you!

Virtual Previews: This exciting new technology from Bohemia Interactive allows for a virtual preview of in game weapons, when utilizing a specially created printed marker. The virtual preview explodes into the world beyond your fingertips.
Virtual Firing Range: Use the marker to create your own virtual firing range, aiming at a real target on a real wall, that’s Augmented Reality! (We are not responsible for any damages inflicted to your living room wall as a result of accidental firing!)

Video Demonstration: Seeing really is believing! Watch a demonstration of Augmented Reality within Arma 2 Firing Range, on our Official YouTube Channel

What’s New in Version 1.3.8.2:

Augmented Reality support, available for weapon previews and as a new AR firing range
Career mode
New visual features and lot of minor fixes
Fluid weapon swaying, smoother drag controls etc.
New information window
Many bug fixes, tweaks and improvements

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse Announced

2012/05/07

Jerry Paxton

News

Minneapolis, MN – May 7, 2012 – The hilarious Griffin family and their friends from Quahog are coming to gaming consoles this fall in an all-new Family Guy video game from Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and Activision Publishing Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI). Appropriately titled Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse, the title will offer gamers an interactive Family Guy experience inspired by one of the most popular and notable episodes in the series’ history.

“Fans of Family Guy will love that we’ve taken some of the series’ most iconic and memorable moments and built them into an impressive and uncensored video game,” said David Oxford, Executive Vice President, Activision. “Anyone who watches the show will appreciate how much we have adhered to its rich and twisted universe and characters.”

Family Guy is one of the most-watched and influential shows of the last decade, reaching over 33.5 million viewers weekly in the U.S., and is the number one TV show on Facebook with more than 40 million ‘likes’. In the U.S., the series is the number one TV franchise on DVD with more than 25 million copies sold. The new console game from Fox and Activision intends to tap into the core components of the Family Guy spirit.

Jeffrey Godsick, President of Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products said, “With Activision at the helm, we’ve found a world class partner for a Family Guy console video game. Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse will utilize the source material, including the talented voice cast and writers, authentic humor and subversive spirit of the series, giving fans a whole new way to interact with their favorite show.”

More details about the console game will be announced in the near future. To find out all the latest news please visit www.activision.com. For more information on the animated series, visit www.familyguy.com.

Spice Girls and More Hitting Dance Central 2 Music Store

2012/05/07

Jerry Paxton

News

Cambridge, Mass. – May 7^th , 2012– May is a huge month for fresh music and routines for Dance Central™ 2 fans, with hot new add-on content coming to the Music Store this month!

All-girl group Spice Girls blew up the charts in the 90s, with danceable tunes and a Girl Power message that helped define a decade of pop music. On May 8 “Spice Up Your Life,” the group’s 1997 single, comes to the Music Store.

On May 15, “Hello Good Morning,” the Diddy-Dirty Money track from 2010’s Last Train to Paris will be available for download. This hip-hop track features rapper T.I. and was hot on the Billboard charts as well as in dance clubs worldwide.

A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario,” from 1991’s The Low End Theory, comes to the Music Store on May 22. Considered one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time, the routine for this influential track features a “Legit” difficulty level.

Finally, on May 29, Flo Rida’s “Low” comes to the Dance Central 2 Music Store. Flo Rida’s 2007 debut single, “Low” is certified six-times platinum and held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for a stunning ten consecutive weeks!

All tracks will be available in the Dance Central 2 in-game Music Store, or from the Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for 240 MS Points each.

May 8
Spice Girls – “Spice Up Your Life (Stent Radio Mix)”

Difficulty – Simple

DC Choreographer – Marcos Aguirre

May 15
Diddy-Dirty Money ft. T.I. – “Hello Good Morning”

Difficulty – Legit

DC Choreographer – Nick DeMoura

May 22
A Tribe Called Quest – “Scenario”

Difficulty – Legit

DC Choreographer – Devin Woolridge

May 29
Flo Rida – “Low”

Difficulty – Moderate

DC Choreographer – Chanel Thompson

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 every month to keep your body moving on the dance floor!

DCS: P-51D Mustang Pre-Purchase Announced

2012/05/07

Jerry Paxton

News

DUXFORD, UK, May 5th, 2012 – The Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics now offer “DCS: P-51D Mustang” as a digital download pre-purchase for $39.99. Pre-purchase also provides access to pre-release Beta versions of the title.

Pre-purchase “DCS: P-51D Mustang” at:

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/index.php?end_pos=1322&scr=shop&lang=en

The Mustang was among the best and most well-known fighters used by the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Possessing excellent range and maneuverability, the P-51 operated primarily as a long-range escort fighter and also as a ground attack fighter-bomber with bombs, rockets, and machine guns. The Mustang served in nearly every combat zone during WWII and proved to be what many consider the most successful fighter in history.

The DCS: P-51D Mustang offers both highly-detailed simulation and easy-to-play “game” mode options for both hardcore and casual gamers. When in simulation mode, this is the most authentic simulation of the P-51D Mustang that has ever been done for the PC. Enjoy both the thrill of flying this warbird and operating its various weapons against a variety of ground and airborne targets.

An interactive training system puts you in the cockpit with an instructor as he walks you step-by-step of learning to fly the Mustang.

A powerful yet easy-to-use mission editor allows you to create your own missions and campaigns. A one-click Mission Generator also allows you to instantly create battles as small or large as you wish.

Fly online with built-in server browser that supports up to 32 players in both head-to-head and cooperative gameplay. Fly online with other DCS aircraft like the Black Shark and the A-10C Warthog.

Features of the DCS: P-51D Mustang:

Highly detailed six-degrees-of-freedom cockpit. Interact with cockpit controls with your mouse.
Unmatched flight physics and that allow you to truly feel what it’s like to fly this legend.
Accurate P-51D Mustang model, squadron markings, and weapons.
Detailed modeling the P-51D Mustang instruments, weapon, engine, radios, fuel, electrical, and hydraulic systems.
Take part in a Challenge Campaign to test your flying and combat skills.

About The Fighter Collection

The Fighter Collection, as well as developing software for the entertainment and serious game markets, also operates, rebuilds and maintains Europe’s largest collection of airworthy WWII fighters and is based at Duxford Airfield, in the UK. For more information visit our websites: http://www.fighter-collection.com/

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Wargaming.net Expanding into Korean Market

2012/05/07

Jerry Paxton

News

7^th May, 2012 — Wargaming.net, the award-winning videogame developer and publisher, announced today that the company is entering the Korean online game market in May opening its office in Seoul with Park Chan Guk as the Managing Director.

Together with establishing the new entity, Wargaming.net is bringing its highly acclaimed armored warfare MMO World of Tanks to the Korean gamers. The company has celebrated an effective start of operations in Southeast Asia and hopes that Korean presence will be as successful.

World of Tanks will be eventually joined by the company’s other products, including two major titles from the MMO war series-World of Warplanes and World of Battleships.

“We are proud to announce that Wargaming.net is just a couple of steps away from establishing its Korean presence,” said Wargaming.net CEO Viktor Kislyi. “Now that we’re fully prepared to meet high expectations of the Korean gaming community, I don’t see any reasons for World of Tanks not to become a success.”

“I’m honored to become a part of Wargaming.net team,” commented Park Chan Guk, Wargaming LLC in Korea Managing Director. “We’ve gathered a strong team of professionals in Seoul, who will help us reach all goals we’ve set.”

Corsair Vengeance K90 Review (Hardware)

2012/05/07

Jerry Paxton

News, Reviews

We finally got to checkout Corsair’s new Vengeance K90 gaming keyboard. With mechanical key switches, LED backlighting, and aluminum base, the keyboard comes out of the gate swinging and looking to make a mark in the gaming keyboard market.

Upon initial inspection, a gaming keyboard’s construction is what sells its value. Taking a keybaord out of the box and thinking it feels “cheap”, “flimsy”, etc usually tells us all we need to know about it. Thankfully, this was not anywhere near the case with the Corsair Vengeance K90. With a sturdy aluminum base, large layout, and hefty weight of four and a half pounds, the keyboard feels ready for heavy usage. The keyboard’s broad layout features 18 programmable keys on the left side of the QWERTY area, and numeric keypad on the right. It also comes with a removable, full-length wrist rest for user comfort. Above the numeric keypad area is a nice slew of multimedia controls – including a cool roller for volume control.

Setting up and installing the Vengeance K90 is simple enough – just plug it into an available USB 2.0 port and off you go. Of course, you can also install the Vengeance software and assign key macros and profiles to the unit. The amount of customization is pretty impressive. In terms of performance, the Vengeance K90 is one of the more enjoyable keyboards I have used. With Cherry MX Red keys in the QWERTY area, typing or gaming has a tactile “click” and good response. The keyboard has a 20 key rollover and what Corsair calls “full key matrix anti-ghosting” so that, no matter how many keys you push at the same time, your commands WILL get sent to the program or game you are using.

I used the Corsair Vengeance K90 gaming keyboard with titles like Path of Exile to Battlefield 3 and even strategy games like Combat Mission: Normandy. The keyboard never failed me or gave me a hard time. The backlighting has four levels of illumination, selectable on the keyboard, and glows a cool blue that allowed me to play in very low ambient light conditions. Additionally, the keyboard features a nifty USB pass through port so that you can plug a memory stick, mouse, etc into it. I should also note that the Vengeance K90 features a very heavy duty braided cable. I usually appreciate that but, in this case, it is a VERY heavy duty cable. Because of this, it can be a bit hard to slink around things but it is not a huge problems.

Overall, the Corsair Vengeance K90 gaming keyboard is a great choice for dedicated gamers looking for real performance and sturdy constructions. At just shy of $130, we highly recommend it.

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BenQ Joybee GP2 Projector Review (Misc)

2012/05/07

Jerry Paxton

News, Reviews

BenQ’s Joybee GP2 is a very small, easy to pack projector, measuring 2.1” x 5.5” x 5.1”. It also weighs a sleight 1.2 lbs, making it one of the most portable projector units I have used. While you COULD spend money on a “real” projector screen, I prefer the sheet-on-the-wall approach. I picked up a cheap, queen-sized, white sheet and hung it on the wall with some tacks. The bottom of the Joybee GP2 features a threaded hole for use on wall or ceiling mounts as well as a riser in order to increase or decrease the tilt of the projector. Optionally, BenQ sells a portable, rechargeable battery pack that can attach to the bottom of the projector, but I relied on the included AC adapter for power.

Most projectors require some time to warm up and cool down before powering on and off. The Joybee GP2 does not – the projector is up and running within seconds and powers down just as quick. This makes setup a lot easier than most projector units. After powering up, we were greeted by the vibrant user interface, which is simple to navigate via the projector’s radial touchpad or buttons on the included remote control.

BenQ’s Joybee GP2 projector features a multitude of inputs to get your video content onto the screen (or dorm wall) of your choosing. Built right into the top of the projector is an iPhone/iPod Touch dock. Simply plug your iPhone into the dock, choose the input from the Joybee GP2 UI menu, and off you go. It is just that simple. Aside from the built-in iPhone/iPod Touch support, the Joybee GP2 features an HDMI port as well as a SD memory card slot and even USB / mini-USB streaming. The projector also features 2GB of internal memory so that you can copy your videos, music, and pictures internally and take the unit with you. For such a small projector – you have a HUGE number of input options.

Once playing video, I was shocked at how nice the image quality was – considering the unit’s low cost and small form-factor. The Joybee GP2 will support 720p (at 1280×800), 1080i, 576i, 576p, 480i, and 480p resolutions. On the subject of “throw” (or distance from the projector lens to the screen), the Joybee GP2 will provide a 44” image at only 1 meter away! This kind of short-throw capability makes the unit perfect for small dorm rooms or classrooms. For my house, however, I wanted to get a slightly larger image experience. At its max-recommended distance, the Joybee GP2 can be 12.8 feet away from the screen and throw a 160.3” image. That’s HUGE. In my usage, I kept the projector about 9 feet away and enjoyed a roughly 100” image. The quality of my videos were consistently enjoyable and clear, thanks to the 3-LED, DLP projection system. Again, this is $599 projector, and I simply can’t believe the quality of this unit – especially when considering the price point.

The Joybee GP2 also features two internal 2W drivers for sound. However, for outdoor and home theater usage, I would not use them if you could help it. The volume is very minimal and a little “tinny” – but not the worst things ever. Also, the projector only features an IR port for the remote control on the front of the unit, which can make usage tricky if you place the unit away from you, closer to the screen.

There is also one very special use for a projector system like this: gaming. Utilizing the HDMI inputs, you can easily attach a game console or a computer to the unit and enjoy your games on a big screen. There was next to no input lag and I played a multitude of video games on it from several genres. The projector performed beautifully for FPS games as well as flight simulations. The biggest issue I encountered was keeping ambient light out. If you can accomplish this, however, you will not regret your purchasing decision.

For $599, the BenQ Joybee GP2 projector is a beautiful, easy-to-use, and compact projector system that is perfect for your home theater, dorm room, or classroom. I am having a blast using it and can’t recommend it enough.

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