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by Published on November 9th, 2012 23:41- Categories:
- PC News
Hey, bud. You want a real steal? Yeah, you know the kind I'm talking about. The legal kind. Oh yeah.
A PC download of Grand Theft Auto 4 complete edition is $7.50 on Amazonright now, 75 percent off the list price of $30. The Complete Collection includes the full game and Episodes from Liberty City. This might be a great time to make off with Grand Theft Auto 4 on the cheap, since Grand Theft Auto 5 isramping up for a launch next spring.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...G&linkCode=as2 ...by Published on November 9th, 2012 21:09- Categories:
- PC News
Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 together mark a rare confluence for Microsoft: they represent the first instance of the company's desktop and phone platforms sharing the same browser base, and that has wide-reaching implications for what developers can do. The Redmond team doesn't want anyone plunging headlong into web apps without knowing what to expect, however, and it just reminded us in a blog post that there are still a few off-limits areas for Internet Explorer 10 on the mobile side. Not surprisingly, elements that demand a truly big screen or a windowed interface won't fly -- there's nowhere to drag-and-drop from or open a new window to. A few other aspects are more likely to catch web developers off-guard, such as the lack of in-line video, a handful of touch inputs, ActiveX and the level of file access. The most important common ground stems from simply having a modern rendering engine whose HTML5 and CSS3 support will prevent any rude shocks. There's much more at the source link, although Microsoft and designers may just be happy that any Windows Phone web development is a question of finding those few things that won't work, rather than reinventing the wheel.
http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/09/m...ndows-phone-8/ ...by Published on November 9th, 2012 20:07- Categories:
- PS3 News,
- PC News,
- Xbox 360 News,
- Wii U News
All the research suggests that Call of Duty has peaked.
Last year’s Modern Warfare 3 sold significantly fewer units in the UK than 2010’s Black Ops and 2009’s Modern Warfare 2.
Anecdotally, MCV has been told that online traffic and magazine sales for Call of Duty editorial and covers have dropped year-on-year.
Yet it’s wrong to suggest Call of Duty is in a death spiral. Modern Warfare 3 is the fifth best-selling game in UK?history, and is close to overtaking Modern Warfare 2 to become the second highest grossing UK game since records began.
Activision’s shareholders may disagree, but when a game is selling this much, does it matter if it’s peaked?
ANSWERING THE CALL
Yet as the movie makers behind Saw will attest, releasing a blockbuster every year can lead to diminishing returns as consumers get bored of the formulae.
And with a drop in sales for Modern Warfare 3, there’s more pressure on Activision to try something a little different with Black Ops II. Developer Treyarch has sought to ‘surprise’ fans this year, with a futuristic setting and a new-look multiplayer, both of which took centre-stage in the game’s high-profile live-action TV ad.
“‘Surprise’ is one of the many messages around Black Ops II,” Activision’s UK boss Peter Hepworth told MCV
“Black Ops II delivers innovation at every level, and for many this will drive a re-assessment of a franchise.
“With 40m players it’s important to deliver an experience which feels fresh every year, while retaining the features which our core fans know and love. With such a massive community you have to ensure there is something for everyone.”
Each year Activision has sought to raise the bar in terms of spectacle. The firm has recruited Hollywood talent – and not just for the game. Even the live-action TV ad was directed by Guy Ritchie and starred A-lister Robert Downey Jr.
“Every year Call of Duty pushes media boundaries to ensure we deliver a high impact campaign,” continued Hepworth.
“This year is no different with presence at key events such as the Champions League Final and The Dark Knight Rises. At launch the campaign will be unavoidable, encompassing TV, press, radio, outdoor and digital.
“Call of Duty is now blurring the lines of entertainment with many parallels with Hollywood and cinema being drawn. This link is apparent in the level of talent which Treyarch has been able to recruit to create the most ambitious Call of Duty yet, such as scriptwriter David S. Goyer [who co-wrote the Batman trilogy], musical talents such as Trent Reznor [who won an Oscar for The Social Network score] and Jack Wall, as well as A-list actors Sam Worthington and Michael Rooker. The TV ad is the embodiment of this.”
LONG-TERM SUCCESS?
In terms of revenue, Black Ops II will almost certainly be the biggest entertainment launch of the year. Activision’s marketing muscle, plus its A-list supporting cast will ensure that.
The game’s biggest rival is the new James Bond movie Skyfall, which made £37.2m in Box Office receipts in its first week in the UK. Compare that to last year’s Call of Duty, which generated over £90m in its first week, and Black Ops II would need to suffer a 60 per cent drop in sales year-on-year to tumble behind Skyfall (it’s important to note that cinema tickets are considerably cheaper than video games, so Skyfall has a larger audience).
But the real challenge for Activision and Call of Duty is how it is performing in three months’ time. Modern Warfare 3’s sales curve dropped off sharply after launch, far more severely than in previous years.
Can Black Ops II prove a longer-term success? It won’t be easy. Next year is a busy one for video games, with a congested Q1 release schedule, plus the highly anticipated arrival of Grand Theft Auto V in spring. It will be interesting to see what Activision has planned for Black Ops II in the New Year.
DOES IT MATTER?
Ultimately a bit of perspective is needed. Will Black Ops II beat Black Ops? Probably not.
We’re talking about a game that has sold almost 4m units in the UK, generating well over £150m. If next week’s shooter comes even close to that it will be deemed a triumph, particularly when you consider how the games retail market has struggled this year.
Next week UK stores are expecting to make around £80m in less than a week from one game alone. Even if it has peaked, even if it is in decline, Call of Duty is still the biggest entertainment launch of the year.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/will-...matter/0106121 ...by Published on November 8th, 2012 21:04- Categories:
- PC News
Microsoft has opened a competition to inspire independent UK developers to make and publish Windows game apps to the Windows 8 App Store.
Having launched its Windows 8 operating system, the platform holder is looking to “support and foster” a vibrant and successful sector by giving developers, and their titles, the best chance of success through profile and discoverability.
The competition began this week and closes on December 14th, 2012.
All Windows 8 game apps submitted as part of the competition will be initially reviewed by a Microsoft panel of judges who will shortlist 10 games that will be submitted to the final judging panel of Microsoft and independent judges, which includes Microsoft Studios, UKIE, The Trailer Farm, Yo Yo Games, Nokia, TIGA, Train2Game, Dolby Sounds and selected media.
The final judging decision will be made by Friday, January 11th, 2013. Games will be judged on originality of the game idea, design and artwork, use of Windows 8 app features and graphical UI, playability of the game and use of audio.
http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...dows-8-contest ...by Published on November 7th, 2012 14:24- Categories:
- PC News
Samsung's experiment with a Ghost Recon SSD bundle must have been a hit with gamers, since it's coming back for a second round the very same year. The upgrade-minded buying 128GB, 256GB or 512GB versions of the SSD 840 Pro can get a free downloadable copy of Assassin's Creed III for a "limited time" to take advantage of those 540MB/s peak read speeds while they skew the fate of the American Revolutionary War. The bundle comes not-so-coincidentally as Samsung has shipped and priced the wider SSD 840 line itself: while we knew the Pro line's impact on our wallets, the regular models are now ready to sell at prices between $140 for a 120GB drive to $700 for a 500GB model. That's a $50 to $190 savings over the Pro models, but we'll leave it to you to decide whether faster write speeds, slightly more capacity and Connor's secret fight with the Templars are worth the premium.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...Ck%3Assd%20840 ...by Published on November 7th, 2012 00:31- Categories:
- PC News
New gaming-specific 7-inch device could arrive before Xbox 720
Microsoft is working on a 7-inch gaming tablet, according to “multiple sources”.
Several sources aware of plans within Microsoft’s Redmond HQ have told The Verge that initial hardware planning for an Xbox Surface has begun.
Specifications for an Xbox Surface 7-inch tablet computer leaked back in June ahead of Microsoft's Surface announcement. The news outlet says the final implementation of new Xbox tablet is being worked on now.
The Xbox Surface will reportedly include a custom ARM processor and high-bandwidth RAM designed specifically for gaming tasks. Its specifications could be altered to include an unannounced Intel SoC and it is apparently being developed to be independent of specific hardware architecture. The device won't run a full version of Windows, but a custom Windows kernel – Microsoft’s current Surface tablet runs an alternative OS called Windows RT.
This gaming-specific tablet is supposedly being developed using a secret hardware production process away from the companies that traditionally manufacturer Microsoft’s Xbox console. Xbox Surface will likely be manufactured at the same facility, however future Xbox consoles will be manufactured in mass quantities.
http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...-gaming-tablet
...by Published on November 7th, 2012 00:10- Categories:
- PC News
We all know that exposés of poor computer repairs by consumer campaigners lower customer confidence and damage reputations. But what can or should be done about it?
PCR reported last month that TV programme Watchdoginvestigated a computer repair outfit following a series of customer complaints.
Since then, it's become clear that the effects of that show have hit some businesses very hard.
Consider that many computing firms have similar names.
Ronald Bannister of Click4 Computers has had several enquiries on his Facebook page from customers wondering if his was the firm exposed (it’s not).
ONE MAN'S STORY
Bannister told PCR: “Yes I have been affected by it. Recently I started trying to advertise online. I started to get a few calls through Google Adwords, and it seemed to be working well.
"But then Watchdog featured the companies Click4 PC and Click Computers, and unfortunately the name I am trading as is similar, so when people headed onto the internet searching for the company, they found me.
"People then started posting questions on my Facebook page. I left the first one on there, asking if I was the company on Watchdog, to which I replied stating I wasn't and listing how my business practices are different.
"I also noticed a large increase in clicks on my Google Adwords ad, which rapidly decreased my advertising credit. Then I started to receive a number of prank calls.
"I contacted Watchdog regarding this, and they said there was nothing they could do. In the end they just offered to send me a letter to show to customers confirming it was not me.
"But I don't know what damage has been done long term to my business. I have many happy customers, and some of them have taken business cards from me to hand out to people. But now I don't know if they might have called me, but won't now after seeing Watchdog and incorrectly assuming my business was the one they featured.
"Prank calls seem to have stopped for the moment, but the long term damage can’t be assessed yet.”
RESEARCH IS A NECESSITY
It's can't be easy, working all hours to build a business, only to see something outside of your control damage your reputation.
But why are consumers attracted to these businesses that are being exposed in the first place?
“It never ceases to amaze me how customers will spend more time researching a plumber to fix their shower than a computer store who is going to work on something where photos, bank details and other sensitive data are stored," said Jason Eccles from SimplyFixIT.
"Customers should spend a bit of time looking for a reputable company to do their computer repairs."
WHICH? FOUND FAILINGS TOO
Watchdog isn't the only consumer campaigner on the case. The magazine Which? sent out 24 laptops for repair, including six to independents, but only half were successful and yet all of them charged. The independents were all Brigantia members.
MOVING ON: EDUCATION AND ACCREDITATION
In light of the report, which it is taking very seriously, Brigantia said that it was working on rolling out an educational programme for members of its National National Laptop Repair scheme.
Education and accreditation must be the way forward.
CompTIA CEO Todd Thibodeaux commented: “Consumers can be confident of their computer and IT services providers if they look for suppliers that have earned industry-supported business credentials, such as the CompTIA Trustmarks and Accredit UK.”
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...pairers/029543 ...by Published on November 5th, 2012 22:13- Categories:
- PC News,
- Android News,
- Apple iPad
Three months is a long time in tablet-land, it seems. Since we last brought you a buyer's guide, a few things have changed. In fact, this is probably the biggest shake-up yet, with not only the long-rumored iPad mini making an appearance, but also new offerings from two other big guns -- Microsoft and Google. Oh, and that means there's a whole new species of device altogether. With Windows RT finally shipping, there's new hardware to go with it, and we expect to see more popping up on the list in the months to come. This is all good news for you prospective tablet owners, as more competition can only mean more choice. With more options, though, comes more confusion. That's where we come in, armed with a few notable picks. Read on to find out what made the cut this season.
10-inch tablets
No, it's not the new iPad. It's the newest iPad. Or, to avoid any confusion, the fourth-generation iPad. Whatever you want to call it, it was a pleasant -- and wholly unexpected -- surprise to see the still relatively young Retina tablet get a refresh. What's new? Well, mainly that A6X processor, which blew our socks off when we tested it, but there's also an improved front-facing camera, and that tiny littleLightning 2 port. Battery life is longer than before, to boot. Fortunately, this fourth-gen iPad costs the same as the previous iteration. That's great news -- unless you just bought the old "new iPad," that is.
When Microsoft announced the Surface for Windows RT tablet, Windows fans took a collective gasp of excitement. In addition to this version of Windows, tailored for ARM-powered devices, prospective buyers will enjoy a minimum of 32GB of storage, an optically bonded, 10.6-inch, 1,366 x 768 display and some solid in / out options (full USB, SD card reader, HD video out). The apps available might not reach the same levels of the competition just yet, but with most of Microsoft's big hitters (Word, Excel,SkyDrive, Internet Explorer) pre-installed, and with more and more big titles coming to the platform every week, this won't be an issue for long. In fact, if you're already on board with Surface for Windows RT, the biggest problem is likely what color Touch Cover keyboard you might want to treat yourself to.
The third big name to launch a new slate in almost as many weeks? That'd be our friends at Mountain View. If there is a tablet-making rulebook, please don't ever send one to Google. What does the new Nexus 10 have to say for itself? New OS? Check, 1.7GHz processor? Yup. Mind-melting 2,560 x 1,600 resolution -- oh lordy. It's real, and it's here. Well, almost. You'll have to wait just a few more days until the official November 13th release, but once that date rolls around, you can get yourself a whole lotta tablet for a not-unreasonable amount of money.
ASUS clearly created a winning formula with its Transformer Pad series of dockable tablets, with at least one making an appearance in every tablet buyer's guide we've published. The TF700 stands on the shoulders of its predecessor, jacking up all the key specs. The quad-core Tegra 3 chip now purrs along at 1.6GHz (and up to 1.7GHz with single-core performance); the resolution jumps from 1,280 x 800 to 1,920 x 1,200; and a little design tweaking promises to sidestep any antenna issues. So, good news all-round? Definitely. So much so that it remains one of the top Android slates out there.
7-inch tablets
When Google rolls into tablet town, you know the rest of the market takes a collective inward-breath. The Nexus 7 made a splashy debut at the company's opening I/O keynote, setting nerds' hearts aflutter the world over. The Nexus 7 has been a huge success, and the family continues to grow. With the 8GB version banished, you can snap up this 32GB varient for the same price as the original 16GB edition. With a 1.2GHz quad-core Tegra 3 chip, 1GB of RAM and that 32GB of storage, this isn't all that different from some of its larger and more expensive competitors. Add in the latest version of Jelly Bean with all its buttery-smooth performance and Google Now goodness, and you've got one formidable package.
Apple was a long time coming to the 7-inch(ish) party, that's for sure. However, when it finally showed up, naturally it did so in its own inimitable style. That means an extra 0.9 inches on the screen size of its peers, front and rear cameras (a relative rarity on tablets this price) and 16- 3- and 64GB storage options. That 7.9-inch display has a 1,024 x 768 resolution and, while the chipset isn't quad-core as on the Nexus 7, that dual-core A5 SoC still delivers smooth performance. A new size also means a new price point and, as you might expect, it's not the cheapest in its class. But if you fancy iOS, or just don't need any additional screen real estate, you can get in on the game from $329.
Barnes & Noble lost its place in the 7-inch tablet section when certain other big players entered the market, but new hardware means another bite of the cherry. The Nook HD is definitely new, and in almost every regard. Taking a quick tour of its feature list, you'll find a new design, a 1,440 x 900 ...by Published on November 5th, 2012 22:06- Categories:
- PC News
RIM’s 3G version of its BlackBerry PlayBook has launched in the UK, with a whopping £420 price tag.
With a 1.5GHz processor, 7-inch screen and 32GB of space, the PlayBook has a 5MP rear-facing camera and a 3MP front facing one.
The tablet’s price is not far off Apple’s 32GB 4G LTE-enabled iPad Mini, making this 3G only device quite pricey. The fact that it is almost £200 more expensive than a 32GB 3G Google Nexus 7 doesn’t help matters either.
With LTE now available in the UK, those interested in getting their hands on a PlayBook may decide to hold out until RIM’s 4G LTE version makes it’s way across the pond.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...ry+PlayBook+3G ...by Published on November 5th, 2012 21:53- Categories:
- PC News
The Command & Conquer beta will begin during the first half of 2013, EA has announced.It will be the longest-running beta in Command & Conquer history, C&C global community manager EA_CIRE wrote on the Command & Conquer blog."Now, we know you have a lot more questions about the new Command & Conquer and you may be wondering why we are so silent about it," he said."We've decided to actually let the game speak for itself, instead of starting the typical marketing noise you normally would expect. That being said, it might be a few more months before we reveal more information - we don't just want to tell you about the game, we want to show you."The new Command & Conquer, in development at BioWare Victory, has divided the series' loyal fanbase. It began life as Generals 2 but was changed to free-to-play, and is described by EA as a platform and service for PC. The Generals universe represents "the first of many free offerings" within the franchise planned to launch with C&C.EA_CIRE acknowledged the negativity around free-to-play and singled out Command & Conquer 4 as being a game in the series that didn't live up to expectations."The team here and I know that previous Command & Conquer titles had issues - some less, some more. C&C4 (yes, I just named it!) was especially far below the expectations and standards a lot of us had for C&C games. So we know how you guys feel - and I am talking a lot with our design team to discuss the game mechanics, features and meta-game of our new Command & Conquer in development."We all have the big picture in our mind where we want to go with this new Command & Conquer, making a great RTS game that can wear the C&C logo with pride. Yes, the direction is new and many probably would say that this is not a 'true' C&C, just as many did when the original Generals came out."For me, Command & Conquer isn't just about Tiberium, Kane and the crazy Yuri. It's been more about fun to play, engaging, and high quality RTS experiences. And that's what we're aiming to deliver, just in a different way."So looking at where we are right now with our game and the ongoing service that comes with Free 2 Play games actually makes me believe that this game can become a great Command & Conquer. And we will be working together with you - The Fans - to make it better and better. "...
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...t-half-of-2013- Search DCEmu
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