Author - Jerry Paxton

Corsair Unveils New VENGEANCE 8100 Series Gaming PCs

2023/02/02

CORSAIR®, a world leader in high-performance gear and systems for gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts, today announced two new models for its lineup of VENGEANCE Gaming PCs – the VENGEANCE a8100 and i8100. Both systems offer world-class performance with the powerful NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4090 graphics card, as well as the latest Intel® or AMD processors available. Experience advanced ray tracing, smooth 4K gaming performance, and more.

The NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4090 is the fastest gaming graphics card available to date. It’s powered by the ultra-efficient NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture which delivers a quantum leap in both performance and AI-powered graphics. Experience lifelike virtual worlds with ray tracing and ultra-high FPS gaming with the lowest latency. 16,384 CUDA cores and 24GB of GDDR6X Memory offer unprecedented workflow acceleration and enable content creators to move forward with confidence. Bring home a new level of power for projects on applications like Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Blender. For improved, beautiful image quality, look no further than the latest VENGEANCE Gaming PCs to meet both your gaming and content creation needs.

On top of its spectacular performance, the CORSAIR VENGEANCE a8100 and CORSAIR VENGEANCE i8100 are also built with CORSAIR’s lineup of dependable hardware. Enjoy innovative cooling with the iCUE H150i ELITE CAPPELIX Liquid CPU Cooler, 64GB (2x32GB) of DOMINATOR Platinum DDR5 DRAM, two 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe storage drives, and more. Aside from the record-breaking performance available with the systems today, the 5000T VENGEANCE presents a beautiful, unique aesthetic, accented lighting via 160 integrated RGB LEDs, and easy access to upgradability with its innovative design. An exceptional 1000W 80+ GOLD Power Supply Unit and Z790 Motherboard, also prepare the systems to stand the test of time. Dependable Liquid CPU cooling and maximum airflow provided by the 5000T guarantees that the system’s top-tier hardware runs at peak performance and also promotes increased lifespans.

With the help of the powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, alongside the strongest desktop processors from either Intel or AMD, the CORSAIR VENGEANCE a8100 and CORSAIR VENGEANCE i8100 redefine the expectations of a top-of-the-line PC gaming experience.

Availability, Warranty, and Pricing

The CORSAIR VENGEANCE a8100 and CORSAIR VENGEANCE i8100 are available immediately from the CORSAIR webstore in North America. For up-to-date availability information, please refer to the CORSAIR website or contact your local CORSAIR sales or PR representative.

The CORSAIR VENGEANCE a8100 and CORSAIR VENGEANCE i8100 are backed by a two-year warranty, alongside the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.

For up-to-date pricing of the CORSAIR VENGEANCE a8100 and CORSAIR VENGEANCE i8100, please refer to the CORSAIR website or contact your local CORSAIR sales or PR representative.

Web Pages

To learn more about the CORSAIR VENGEANCE a8100, please visit:

https://www.corsair.com/vengeance-a8100

To learn more about the CORSAIR VENGEANCE i8100, please visit:

https://www.corsair.com/vengeance-i8100

For a complete list of all CORSAIR systems, please visit:

http://corsair.com/gaming-pcs

Psychological Horror Game Paranoid Demo Out Now

2023/02/02

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

We invite you to check out the trailer of our new psychological horror – Paranoid. The demo will be available to anyone interested on 6th February, during the Steam Next Fest event. The full version of the game will be released during Halloween 2023!

About Paranoid
The game tells the story of Patrick Calman, a 31-year-old man who lost his entire family in mysterious circumstances – his parents died brutally, and his sister suddenly disappeared for unknown reasons. The trauma of losing loved ones shattered Patrick’s psyche and turned his own apartment into a prison. The only member of Patrick’s family left alive is his sister, who disappeared more than 10 years ago. One day, he receives a phone call, and the voice in the receiver seems to belong to his lost sibling. She announces her arrival – several years after her disappearance. The whole event forces Patrick to break his previous life of isolation, exposing himself to nightmarish experiences bordering on madness.

Dixit Disney Edition Announced

2023/02/02

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos

Today, innovative board game publisher Libellud announced its first collaboration with Disney, the world’s premier entertainment company, with the introduction of Dixit Disney. This new, standalone game in the Dixit universe, is based on the beloved themes and characters found in Disney and Pixar films.

Dixit Disney is a simple and lighthearted game of storytelling, interpretation, and guesswork. Players will be challenged and delighted as they reveal a series of cards featuring gorgeous Disney-themed images. Their connection: an enigmatic statement centered on one of the revealed cards. Find the correct image and score points. With 84 new cards based on iconic Disney & Pixar films, from Steamboat Willie to Turning Red, Dixit Disney will captivate players.

The game’s enchanting artwork, by Illustrator Natalie Dombois, took two years from conception to completion. Creating the 84 cards (each based on one of 84 Disney and Pixar films) relied on a meticulous process, comprised of multiple stages, and involving contributions from the entire Libellud team – over 500 written proposals! The finished images pay tribute to Disney’ iconic themes, while staying true to the layered concepts in the Dixit universe.

Dixit Disney Edition

“We’re really excited about this collaboration,” says Libellud Head of Studio, Mathieu Aubert. “Dixit Disney brings together two beloved brands, who share values of creativity, inspiration and a commitment to quality. This partnership and the opportunity to create artwork from the Disney universe are a dream come true and we cannot wait to bring the game to fans across the globe.”

An engaging way to spend time connecting with family and friends, Dixit Disney will launch first in the U.S. at Barnes and Noble as part of their “First to Market” program in fall 2023 for an MSRP of $39.99 USD.

Dixit Disney – Key Features and Components

Magical game of imagery and storytelling, based on the world of Disney
84 new and beautifully illustrated cards by Natalie Dombois
Compatible with past and future Dixit Universe games and expansions
6 Wooden, Disney-shaped meeples
6 Voting dials
Game board
Plastic tray
Rulebook
Played using the same rules as the base game and includes new material from the Dixit 3-to-8-player refresh
Supports 3 – 6 players
Designed for ages 8+
Duration of ~30 minutes

Razer Unveils Viper Mini Signature Edition High-End Gaming Mouse

2023/02/02

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News, Trailers / Videos

Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition, the epitome of gaming mouse technology. Built as a result of years of meticulous craftsmanship and engineering, the Viper Mini Signature Edition is an ultra-high-end, hyper-lightweight wireless performance gaming mouse that is turbocharged with Razer’s best-in-class technologies.

Engineered for the gamers that dare to want it all, the Viper Mini Signature Edition is the pinnacle of gaming mouse performance. Weighing an astonishing 49 grams, gamers can experience true perfection with a master-grade gaming peripheral packed with our best-in-class technologies, all in one perfect form.

Hyper-Lightweight at just 49 g

“We set out to create the best lightweight performance gaming mouse,” said Barrie Ooi, Head of Razer’s PC Gaming Division. “We went beyond our usual design process to look at material selection and alternate industrial designs to create an ultra-durable magnesium alloy exoskeleton chassis in the fan-favorite Viper Mini shape. As a result, the Viper Mini Signature Edition is just 49 grams light with no compromises, making it our lightest mouse ever.”

The use of magnesium alloy and injection-molding techniques enabled significant weight reduction in the mouse without compromising on durability, while still allowing for a comfortable grip in the popular Viper Mini design. These choices enabled the Viper Mini Signature Edition to remain hyper-lightweight at just 49 grams while still delivering world-class performance.

Magnesium Alloy Exoskeleton

Crafted from high-grade magnesium alloy, the Viper Mini Signature Edition features an exceptional weight-to-strength ratio, owing to a new intricate, ultra-durable design created using an injection molding technique.

“The Viper Mini Signature Edition represents the most ambitious design and engineering project we’ve ever undertaken,” said Charlie Bolton, Head of Industrial Design at Razer. “We wanted to push beyond the traditional honeycomb design and this required a material with an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio. After evaluating plastics, carbon fiber, and even titanium, we ultimately chose magnesium alloy for its exceptional properties.”

Each unit of the Viper Mini Signature Edition is created with an injection-molded exoskeleton that is then CNC machined, and polished. The exoskeleton shell then undergoes passivation to reduce any susceptibility to corrosion, after which it is painted and assembled. At each step, each unit is meticulously inspected to uphold only the highest quality.

Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition Case

Industry-Leading Performance

Armed with the latest innovations, the Viper Mini Signature Edition is a high-end mouse that holds nothing back.

Boasting the Razer™ Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor, Razer™ Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3, and HyperPolling Wireless with true 4000 Hz wireless polling rates, the Viper Mini Signature Edition features the fastest wireless gaming technology from Razer for higher speeds and stable performance. In addition, the Viper Mini Signature Edition can fully charge in under 90 minutes thanks to a 2C charging rate, which is four times the peak charging capacity of most other wireless mice.

The Viper Mini Signature Edition comes with a pre-paired Razer HyperPolling Wireless Dongle, a set of Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 Mouse Feet, micro-fiber cleaning cloth, 2 Razer Mouse Grip Tape sets, and 2 alcohol prep pads. As an added benefit, the Viper Mini Signature Edition also includes a 3 year extended warranty.

Graphical user interface, website

The Viper Mini Signature Edition is the ultimate choice for gamers who demand a hyper-lightweight high-performance gaming mouse that does not compromise on performance or features, making it Razer’s best gaming mouse ever.

ABOUT THE RAZER VIPER MINI SIGNATURE EDITION

Razer HyperSpeed Wireless and Wired modes
Razer™ Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor
Up to 750 inches per second (IPS) / 70 G acceleration
99.8% resolution accuracy
Razer™ Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 rated for 90M clicks
Battery Life: Up to 60 hours with HyperSpeed wireless
True wireless 4000 Hz polling rate with Razer HyperPolling Wireless Dongle
1.8 m / 6 ft Speedflex Type C cable for charging and wired use
Approximate size: 119 mm / 4.68 in (Length) x 62 mm / 2.44 in (Width) x 39 mm / 1.53 in (Height)
Approximate weight: 49g / 1.72oz (Excluding cable)

For more information on the Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition, please visit here.

For more information on how Razer empowers you to #WinItYourWay, please see here.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

$279.99 USD / 319.99€ MSRP

Exclusively available on Razer.com – First drop at 8PM PST February 11, 2023

Railway Empire 2 Getting Coop Mode

2023/02/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

Publisher Kalypso Media and in–house developer Gaming Minds Studios have today announced two key features for the much-anticipated railway management simulator, Railway Empire 2. It can now be confirmed that players on select platforms, can team up with fellow tycoons with all-new cooperative multiplayer mode for up to four players – a highly requested feature from the Railway Empire community. The upcoming sequel will also now launch on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This is alongside the previously confirmed release with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC, as well as Xbox Series X|S consoles, PlayStation 5, PC and Nintendo Switch™.

Unleash your inner conductor to build an empire with a selection of 60 steam engines pulled from the pages of history, transporting you back to the 1830’s as North American and European train development laid the tracks of the modern railway. Railway Empire 2 builds off the engaging gameplay of its predecessor with improved construction, real-time terraforming, and expansive regional maps, offering new ways to explore and fortify your rail network. Buy a ticket for two (or three or four) and engage in newly announced cooperative gameplay to establish the greatest railway corporation on the continent. Or, take on the compelling single-player campaign with customizable free play and construction modes, including 5 campaigns and 14 scenarios to take your railway management skills to the next level.

All aboard for 2023, when Railway Empire 2 will be released with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC and will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles (supported through Smart Delivery), PlayStation 4|5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

The Mandalorian Season 3 Gets New Key Art and Trailer

2023/02/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

Today, Disney+ shared brand-new key art and an exciting featurette for the third season of “The Mandalorian,” the critically acclaimed, original, live-action series from Lucasfilm, streaming exclusively on Disney+ starting March 1. Watch the new featurette and join Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Rick Famuyiwa and others as they explore how “The Mandalorian” and its fan-favorite character Grogu rose to engage the world and win the hearts of viewers across the globe.

The journeys of the Mandalorian through the Star Wars galaxy continue. Once a lone bounty hunter, Din Djarin has reunited with Grogu. Meanwhile, the New Republic struggles to lead the galaxy away from its dark history. The Mandalorian will cross paths with old allies and make new enemies as he and Grogu continue their journey together.

The series stars Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers, Amy Sedaris, Emily Swallow and Giancarlo Esposito. The directors of the eight-episode Season 3 include Rick Famuyiwa, Rachel Morrison, Lee Isaac Chung, Carl Weathers, Peter Ramsey and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Jon Favreau is the showrunner/head writer and serves as an executive producer along with Dave Filoni, Rick Famuyiwa, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. Karen Gilchrist and Carrie Beck are co-executive producers.

The Mandalorian Season 3

Twitter: @DisneyPlus; @starwars; @TheMandalorian

Instagram: @DisneyPlus; @starwars; @TheMandalorian

Facebook: @DisneyPlus; @starwars

TikTok: @DisneyPlus

Hashtag: #DisneyPlus

SpongeBob SquarePants – The Cosmic Shake Official Launch Trailer

2023/02/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

We interrupt whatever it is you’re doing for a Bikini Bottom special news report! Recent reports from our fish on the ground have described the scene as wild, claiming that the news “SpongeBob SquarePants – The Cosmic Shake is now available” has thrown Bikini Bottom into disarray: Innocent citizens and beloved landmarks have disappeared into strange, magical portals!

Officials are asking the population to stay calm and have come out with an official statement: “Notorious Bikini Bottom residents SpongeBob
and Patrick are on the case!” Of course, this leads us to a number of questions.

Will our heroes brave the many dangers of the fantastical WishWorlds? Will they rescue their friends and bring them home safely? Will fancy moves and even fancier costumes prevail?! And will the Chum Bucket serve something edible for a change? Bikini Bottom is counting on you! If you want to learn more, check our footage directly from the scene.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake launches today on PC, PlayStation®4, Xbox One™, and Nintendo Switch™. The game is available at an SRP of € 39.99 / $ 39.99 / £ 34.99.

Sound Blaster X5 DAC Announced

2023/02/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Tech News

Creative Technology today launched Sound Blaster X5, its latest USB DAC and amplifier sound card that ticks all the boxes on a discerning audiophile’s gear wish list. Decked with class-leading components, breakthrough audio technologies, a comprehensive connectivity profile and sporting a premium look and feel in a sleek build, the X5 simply pulls out all the stops as a compelling audio solution like no other.

This is It for Pristine Audio

Sound Blaster X5 personifies the best of Creative’s audio engineering and design expertise, equipped with audiophile-grade components to achieve exceptional audio quality. It is the first Sound Blaster to feature a dual-DAC design – 2 Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs deliver high-resolution lossless playback in 32-bit / 384 kHz over PCM with ultra-high dynamic range of up to 130 dB DNR. These DACs can also decode audio formats in DoP128 and DSD256 for high-fidelity audio streaming. Audio distortion is practically non-existent with an oversampled multi-bit modulator for an incredibly low Total Harmonic Distortion rating of 0.00018%.

From studio-grade headphones with impedance of up to 600 ohms, including the most demanding planar-magnetic headphones, to sensitive in-ear monitors with 1 ohm output impedance, Sound Blaster X5 drives them all effortlessly. The award-winning Xamp discrete headphone bi-amplification technology, which is found in the high-end Sound Blaster AE series and Sound BlasterX G6, receives a design upgrade that, coupled with a dual-DAC and dual-Xamp configuration, delivers a fully-balanced headphone output and experience on the X5. A next-level design for audio fidelity makes its debut, using 2 dedicated Xamp circuits that amplifies the left and right channels separately in isolation throughout the entire chain of amplification, effectively eliminating in-circuit interference, noise and cross-talk. What makes the X5 stand out even more is the fact that this type of audio design is a rare find in its price category (sub-US$300).

Audiophiles with a lean to customize their own audio signatures can do just that with the Sound Blaster X5. When connected to the Creative app, they can make adjustments with a 10-band equalization frequency graph, add on Acoustic Engine effects like Surround, Crystalizer, Bass or Dialog+, or use CrystalVoice to improve communication quality. When in the mood for gaming, Scout Mode enhances in-game audio cues to highlight details for a competitive edge.

Sound Blaster X5 also supports ASIO 2.2 for low-latency playback and recording, as well as easy access to multiple audio inputs and outputs.

Full Marks for Connectivity

Sound Blaster X5 is a competent audio hub in its own right; its versatility means it is also compatible with various devices, including gaming consoles, DVD players and other living room entertainment systems. There are two-way RCA and TOSLINK Optical connectors, a convenient USB-C audio and power port, as well as a 3.5 mm microphone-in port with an easy-to-access mic gain knob. There is also a 4.4 mm port for studio-grade balanced headphones, and a 3.5 mm port for regular headphones. All 3 ports use premium gold-plated connectors for better performance. It features a Bluetooth 5.0 receiver and a dedicated USB-A host audio port for connection to wireless audio transmitters, as well as external USB speakers, headsets and microphones.

With a set of controls designed for an intuitive user experience, Sound Blaster X5’s front-mounted buttons and switches are easy to access and right at the fingertips for the audiophile’s convenience.

Pricing and Availability

Sound Blaster X5 is priced at US$279.99 and is available at the Creative online store.

For more information on Sound Blaster X5, visit creative.com/SBX5.

Steel Seed Announcement Trailer

2023/02/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox Series X News

Italian development studio Storm in a Teacup is excited to share a first glimpse at STEEL SEED, its next project following on from 2019’s historic horror adventure, Close to the Sun.

Thousands of years have passed since the human race took the planet to the brink of destruction, causing the AI machines to take all means necessary to save a number of them. Hiding deep below earth’s surface, the last survivors are kept safe, but a new threat has presented itself.

Is it human? Or Machine? And what does it mean for the remnants of the Human Race and their machine guardians?

Carlo Ivo Alimo Bianchi, Storm in a Teacup CEO & Creative Director said “STEEL SEED represents the most challenging project till now for Storm in a Teacup, featuring both a varied combat/stealth system and incredibly deep and emotional storytelling. STEEL SEED is an epic journey that will test your humanity.”

STEEL SEED is a Storm in a Teacup’s take on Stealth/Action gaming coming to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles in 2024.

For further updates, be sure to follow Storm in a Teacup on social media – Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram

World Championship Boxing Manager 2 Review – I Didn’t Hear No Bell!

2023/02/01

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

I first got some experience with Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2 (WCBM2) while playing its demo on Steam. I had a lot of fun training up my boxer and putting him up against opponents in various bouts. But, I didn’t get the whole game experience. I recently got the chance to play the full game, which is now out on Steam, and have enough time under my belt to bring this review to bear. World Championship Boxing Manager 2 is the sequel to the 1991 game, World Championship Boxing Manager. In the game, you act as the manager and do everything from hire boxers to send them to training, give them advice during matches, and keep the money flowing in from (hopefully) how victorious they are in the ring.

A Critical Punch

World Championship Boxing Manager 2 has a fun story mode with a full plot in which you manage a young boxer named Axel to glory. It’s meant as the game’s tutorial and tends to be on the easier side of things in term of opponents. In the career mode, you will manage one or several fighters and their regiments depending on how good you are at managing them. The game mechanics are fairly easy to understand and the fights can provide a good challenge. I was a bit confounded by the lack of weight classes in the game, but I digress. Training your fighters consists of planning their regiment a week at a time. Some days you may opt for rest so they renew their energy reserves while other days you can have them hit the gym, run, swim, and a lot more. During boxing matches, you will be able to instruct your boxer to fighter in various styles and provide them with a health or stamina boost each round.

The Manager

The game’s visual presentation is very reminiscent of those fun SEGA training-based games like Derby Owner’s Club, etc. It’s got a fun 90’s pixel art vibe that serves it well. Boxing matches are interesting to watch and provide enough suspense as to when or if your boxer will take (or give) a good punch. Unfortunately, there is a lot of repetition to be found in the game. Boxers both stand in the center trading punches without moving around a whole lot. It would make the rounds even more interesting if they would perform a few more punch animations and perhaps danced a bit around each other. Not that the game isn’t fun for short bursts of play, but it does suffer from “more of the same” syndrome if you play long enough.

Overall, World Championship Boxing Manager 2 is a fun game to spend some time with. However, there is a lot of repetitiveness to be found here and that could affect just how long you stick with the game. It’s available now on Steam for a very reasonably priced $12.99.

Author - Jerry Paxton

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars