Author - Jerry Paxton

Razer Releases Game Booster Beta

2012/09/20
Jerry Paxton
News

CARLSBAD, Calif.  – Sept. 20, 2012 –Razer™, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, today announced the beta release of Razer Game Booster, software that optimizes a user’s system settings, improving game performance and providing the ability to share favorite moments with friends. This software enhances in-game experiences that players of all skill levels—from professional to casual—will appreciate. With the click of a button, gameplay becomes faster, smoother and easier to launch. The program is the latest evolution of the CNET Editor five-star-rated IObit Game Booster software, an immensely popular precursor that has been downloaded over 100 million times.

Razer Game Booster includes the following features:

Game Mode

Focus in on your game by temporarily shutting down unnecessary functions and applications, concentrating all of your resources purely on gaming. Applications shut down prior to gaming are restored when user exits the game.

Calibrate Mode

Simplify the process of setting up your PC’s performance by conveniently providing you with the option to tweak, defrag, or update any outdated drivers.

Share Mode

A bonus feature where you can show off your skills, create tutorials, and more, with the ability to record real-time audio/video and capture screenshots.

Razer did extensive research and testing in partnership with IObit during the development of Razer Game Booster, improving and updating features to bring about the most intuitive and powerful application possible. The software conveniently stores all games under one hub, and provides a unique boosting feature that enhances the functions of a PC for maximum game performance.

“Razer Game Booster takes what Razer is all about and supercharges it,” said Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff, president of Razer USA. “We are huge fans of IObit’s Game Booster software and we are dedicated to providing gamers with the absolute best experience possible. To that end, we are committed to everything that adds performance and fun to gaming, which includes software and the systems they run on.”

Razer Game Booster is in internal closed beta, but fans have the opportunity to be part of an exclusive team of testers. Sign-up atwww.razerzone.com/gamebooster.

Bohemia CEO Comments on Dev Detainment

2012/09/20
Jerry Paxton
News

Bohemia Interactive CEO Marek Spanel has written a letter to the gaming community regarding the detainment of two of the company’s developers while on a trip to Greece.

From Marek Spanel:

My colleagues and I were shocked when we found out about the detention of our co-workers and friends, Martin Pezlar and Ivan Buchta, on the Greek island of Lemnos. Everybody who knows them realizes that they’re not spies and certainly never intended to threaten Greek national security.

The guys visited the island as tourists. Their trip to Lemnos was personal, organized via travel agent, with the single goal of experiencing the place that had inspired the virtual environments of Arma 3, a computer game that they’ve been working on over the past two years.

Our company has never gathered or collected any restricted information, such as photos or blueprints of military installations of any nation, nor have we ever tasked anybody else to do it on our behalf. We always respect the law and we develop all of our products using publicly available materials only – Arma 3 is no exception.

According to media sources, the Greek ministry of National Defence actually examined our game, after local authorities raised this topic. They assured that the game is fine. Originally planned for release in autumn of this year, it is based upon a fictional future, set in 2035.

The whole incident is a terrible personal tragedy for Ivan, Martin and their families; I believe it to be no more than a deep misunderstanding, one which will be swiftly explained. I’m ready to support the guys and their families in these difficult times as much as I can.

Marek Španěl

Bohemia Interactive a.s.

CEO

LeetUP Tour Postponed

2012/09/19
Jerry Paxton
News

LOS ANGELES – September 19, 2012 – Due to conflicting promotional obligations from added markets for Kevin Pereira’s new Warner Bros. show, “Let’s Ask America,” the inaugural leetUP “Awesomesauce.Live” tour has been postponed. The interactive comedy variety show, which Complex Magazine dubbed “Kevin Pereira’s Coachella for Nerds” was set to descend upon and ravage pop culture fanatics in 10 cities this fall, beginning September 20 in Seattle, with stops in Portland, Austin, Dallas, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Madison, and Chicago. Pereira, who was to be joined on tour by a series of geeky celebs and interweb stars including Epic Meal Time, VJ Mike Relm and YouTube darling, Grace Helbig, assures fans efforts will be made to bring leetUP to a city near them as scheduling permits.

Said Pereira, “It was not an easy decision to postpone, but it’s the right one. We know our fans deserve nothing short of an over-the-top spectacle and we will deliver when the time is right. We are sorry for any temporarily broken hearts. Email us at iamsad@leetup.com and we will get back to you with digital hugs and gratitude.”

Promoters of the tour remain enthusiastic about leetUP “Awesomesauce.Live!” and are looking at dates to reschedule. “With the great success of the first leetUP in Los Angeles, we fully support and are looking forward to promoting dates in the future,” said Lesley Olenik, Talent Buyer for Goldenvoice.

Ticketholders can get refunds at original point of purchase.

Fans are encouraged to visit www.leetup.com for more information and future dates.

Artorias of the Abyss Coming to Dark Souls on Consoles

2012/09/19
Jerry Paxton
News

SAN JOSE, Calif,. – (September 19, 2012) – NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today announced that the Artorias of the Abyss™ content that debuted in Dark Souls®: Prepare to Die Edition™ is coming to consoles and will be available for purchase via digital download on both the PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE® on October 23, 2012 in North America. In Dark Souls® : Artorias of the Abyss™, acclaimed developersFromSoftware take console gamers into the depths of hell through torturous dungeons, unrelenting boss battles, and the most challenging of gameplay experiences in video games today. The Artorias of the Abyss DLC content will also provide console players with an enhanced online PVP (player vs. player) mode allowing players to assemble battles against one another for all-out fights to the death that console fans have been waiting for.

Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss will include sprawling new maps and environments, new boss characters, enemies, non-player characters (NPCs), an arsenal of new weapons and armor and additional challenging content for unrelenting heroes to face as they return to the deadly world of Lordran. Darkness born in the forests of Oolacile is expanding and engulfing the kingdom and all of its people. Only the strongest players will be able to stop the encroaching darkness. Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss will include an online match-making feature allowing console gamers to showcase their skills against other Dark Souls players around the world.

Intense dungeon crawling and epic enemy encounters are all part of the seamlessly intertwined experience awaiting gamers in Dark Souls: Atorias of the Abyss. This new chapter in the Dark Souls lore allows console gamers to experience gruesome battles, diabolical challenges, powerful weaponry and magic, and gives players the flexibility to customize each character to suit their desired play style. The innovative online component allows gamers to draw from the collective experience of the Dark Souls community as they either assist or maliciously sabotage each other on the journey through the world of Lordran to save the land from darkness. Featuring a massive, seamless world design; Dark Souls: Atorias of the Abyss thrusts players into challenges presented to them and demands that players fully immerse themselves into the deep exploration and adaptable gameplay experience that only Dark Souls can provide.

Dark Souls: Atorias of the Abyss for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft is available for DLC purchase on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. For more information on the game please visitwww.facebook.com/DarkSouls, www.PrepareToDie.com.

Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E 7 Gaming Keyboard Review

2012/09/18
Jerry Paxton
News, Reviews

When Mad Catz announced their S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 gaming keyboard, I initially chuckled in shock. The thing was the most over-the-top gaming keyboard I had ever seen in pictures. Thankfully, the keyboard every bit lives up to its over-the-top looks with its over-the-top performance and features. We were thrilled to get playtime with this monster and hope you will also before making a snap judgment based on looks alone.

The S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 is made up of multiple, modular pieces that can be arranged and re-arranged as you wish. There are quite a few configurations possible, depending on your needs. This kind of customization has, to the best of my knowledge, never been seen in a keyboard before. Mad Catz pulled out all the stops with this entry into the gaming keyboard market. It also features 24 programmable keys with three different possible profiles, for lots of key customization, not to mention removable arrow and WASD keys (it comes with various types to put in place).

One of the more interesting things about the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 is its membrane keyboard which is meant to mimic the performance of a mechanical model without the noise and finger stress. How did they do this? I have no idea, but I am guessing it involved some sort of primitive ritual sacrifice. Whatever dark magics were involved, the results were worth it: The S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 keyboard provides an excellent gaming experience. Not only is it quiet, but it also features one of the quickest double-taps I have ever seen in a keyboard. In terms of comfort, the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 delivers with two wrist rests – each comfortable and pressure-reducing. Even after many, many hours of gaming, I had no finger or wrist tightness or soreness. Between the special keyboard mechanism and the wrist rest, your comfort is assured.

My one wish that the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 did not deliver on was having a built-in webcam. The Mad Catz logo area next to the touchscreen would have been a great spot to house a small webcam for video chatting.

Obviously, you can’t review this behemoth of a gaming keyboard without talking up the LCD touchscreen with V.E.N.O.M. interface. Built into the keyboard are a plethora of apps designed to help your gaming be more efficient, more fun, and more fragtastic (I just made that word up).

Some examples of the apps:

  • Program-specific volume control
  • Custom macro button layout
  • Quicklaunch of programs/games/apps
  • Journal for making game specific notes
  • Teamspeak
  • Backlighting Adjustment
  • Clock / Timer
  • Window Key Locking
  • Media Controls

Now, some of these are self-explanatory – program-specific volume and media controls being two examples. However, the journal app is what really made my inner-geek take flight. The journal app allows your to type notes on a per-game basis while you are still IN THE GAME and WITHOUT having to quit it. The keyboard simple switches from game input to journal input at the touch of the screen. In my game playing fun, I took the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 through many, many sorties in DCS A-10C Warthog, probably the most-realistic home combat flight sim on the market. Being able to jot down target data and other navigational notes without using a knee board or piece of paper was heavenly! This app just makes my day. The Teamspeak app on the touchscreen is also insanely useful, allowing the user to navigate chat rooms and see who is talking currently just by glancing down at the little screen.

Additionally, the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 features two USB ports on the back of the touchscreen housing that uses the included AC adapter for high speeds and power – great for charging mobile devices or whatever else. The USB ports will work as a HUB without the AC power, but at a lower speed.

Overall, the Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 gaming keyboard is an absolute monster of gaming power. It has so many cool and useful features in it that you will not regretting spending the dough on it. Speaking of which, the S.T.R.I.K.E 7 retails for $299.99 and is available now.

Gallery

Razer NAGA Gets New Features with Software Update

2012/09/18
Jerry Paxton
News

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Sept. 18, 2012 – Razer™, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, announced that its award-winning Razer Naga and Razer Naga Epic MMO gaming mice are getting substantial software upgrades to allow them to continue to be gamers’ preferred weapons of destruction.

The three new features added to the Synapse 2.0 software suite for the Razer Naga are:

  • Keymapping
  • Unlimited profiles
  • Profile import/export

A keymapping feature lets gamers keep settings like lighting and DPI, but change the layout of the 17-buttons on the Razer Naga on-the-fly. Gamers can cycle through eight keymaps per profile, essentially increasing the available buttons on the Razer Naga eightfold. Alternatively, users may assign temporary keymap toggles for dynamic keymap swapping, useful for temporary in-game skill swaps when changing stances or weapons.

With unlimited profiles stored in Razer’s proprietary cloud system, gamers can have a different profile for each MMO or application they use. Profiles are saved and synced automatically from the dedicated remote server and can be bound to applications for effortless profile customization.

Users will now also be able to export their profiles and macros and share them with friends via the new profile import/export function. The feature also allows settings to be imported from older models of mice for seamless transitions, making hardware upgrades easier, and changing out a gaming mouse simple.

“We’re extremely dedicated to our MMO products and the Naga has become a hallmark for Razer,” said Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff, president of Razer USA. “These new software upgrades mean that users can customize and switch between more than just a couple of profiles. The Naga is now limitless.”

About the Naga MMO Gaming Mouse

The best-selling MMO gaming mouse of all-time, the Razer Naga, is evolving to take the MMO games of the next generation head-on.  Engineered for improved comfort and control, the all-new Razer Naga has a redesigned anti-slip, anti-fingerprint matte finish, re-optimized button placement, and three interchangeable side grips to suit your personal grip style.

Price:  $79.99

Availability:

RazerStore – Available Now

US & EU – Available Now

Worldwide – Available Now

Product Features

  • 17 MMO-optimized buttons (including 12-button thumb grid)
  • 3 interchangeable side panels
  • Razer Synapse 2.0 enabled
  • 5600 dpi Razer Precision 3.5G Laser Sensor
  • 1000 Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response time
  • 200 in. per sec. max tracking speed
  • Zero-acoustic Ultraslick™ mouse feet

For more information on the new Razer Naga, please visit www.razerzone.com/getimba

iPhone 5 Pre-Orders Top 2 Million in First Day

2012/09/18
Jerry Paxton
News

CUPERTINO, California—September 17, 2012—Apple® today announced pre-orders of its iPhone® 5 topped two million in just 24 hours, more than double the previous record of one million held by iPhone 4S. Demand for iPhone 5 exceeds the initial supply and while the majority of pre-orders will be delivered to customers on September 21, many are scheduled to be delivered in October. iPhone 5 is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, completely redesigned to feature a stunning new 4-inch Retina™ display; an Apple-designed A6 chip for blazing fast performance; and ultrafast wireless technology*—all while delivering even better battery life.**

“iPhone 5 pre-orders have shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S and the customer response to iPhone 5 has been phenomenal,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone 5 is the best iPhone yet, the most beautiful product we’ve ever made, and we hope customers love it as much as we do.”

iPhone 5 comes with iOS 6, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new user features including: an all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation and an amazing new Flyover™ view; Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, with the ability to post directly from Notification Center; Passbook®, the simplest way to get all your passes in one place; new Siri® features, including support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings;*** Siri and Facebook-enabled apps like Photos, Safari® and Maps; and Shared Photo Streams via iCloud®.

Pricing & Availability
iPhone 5 will be available at 356 Apple retail stores in the US beginning at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, September 21. Every customer who buys an iPhone 5 at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup service, helping them customize their iPhone 5 by setting up email, showing them new apps from the App Store and more, so they’ll be up and running with their new iPhone before they leave the store.

iPhone 5 comes in either white & silver or black & slate, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model. iPhone 5 will be available from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores, and through AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, select Best Buy, RadioShack, Target and Walmart stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 4S will also be available for just $99 (US) and iPhone 4 will be available for free with a two-year contract.****

iPhone 5 will roll out worldwide to 22 more countries on September 28, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

* LTE is available through select carriers. Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks, check with your carrier for details.
** Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.
*** Not all features are supported in all countries.
**** Availability varies by carrier.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.