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Acer Shows off the C720 Chromebook

Chris Hare

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Oct 10, 2013

Acer today debuts its new Acer C720 Chromebook that features a processor based on the Haswell micro-architecture for faster performance and up to 8.5 hours of battery life.

This third-generation Chromebook has a design that is 30 percent thinner than its predecessor. It’s also lighter and for the first time, it features an anti-glare display, making it ideal for families and students who want a Chromebook that can be enjoyed in a range of settings, even outdoors in sunlight.

“The Acer C720 is a significant step forward for our highly-acclaimed Acer Chromebook line, as it delivers speedy performance, quick boot times, a matte anti-glare display and a slimmer design that is portable enough for anywhere use,” said John Miedema, director product marketing, Acer Europe. “These key advances allow families and students to continue collaborating, learning and playing in exciting ways, all while staying secure since Chrome OS includes multiple layers of protection from online threats.”

The new Acer C720 Chromebook builds on the popular Acer C710 Chromebook, which was lauded for its performance and integration of Google’s Chrome operating system at a ground-breaking affordable price. It meets the needs of students, families, anyone on a budget, and the growing number of customers who enjoy the Google ecosystem for school, work and entertainment.

Speedy Performance and Long Battery Life

You can begin your online fun, research and social networking quickly with the Acer C720. It boots up in less than 7 seconds and resumes nearly instantly from sleep mode thanks to the 16GB Solid State Drive. The new Chromebook is powered by an Intel Celeron 2955U processor based on the Intel Haswell micro-architecture, so it delivers a noticeable boost in both performance and battery life. The battery keeps customers productive for up to 8.5 hours, ideal for all day productivity and fun. Customers can power through web pages and docs, and will also enjoy fluid HD video and apps with the support of up to 4GB of DDR3L memory. Plus, the Acer C720 quickly connects to hotspots and wireless networks via 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi.

Security for Multiple Users, Collaboration

Customers will appreciate that the Chrome OS is updated automatically, so it always has the latest features. Multiple layers of security features including data encryption and verified boot defend the Acer C720 Chromebook against online threats, malware and viruses. This is especially useful for parents and school administrators who are responsible for protecting students. IT administrators can also manage the Chromebooks remotely for speedier app roll-outs and increased efficiency.

The Acer C720 Chromebook also keeps data safe when the device is used by multiple users, such as for collaboration in the classroom and for projects for home, school or work. Users can have separate accounts to ensure their project, Gmail and other information is kept safe if the Chromebook is lost, stolen, or lent to a friend. Storage on Google Drive protects files, documents, and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version is always available. Customers can also access files offline, and even open and edit MS Office documents as well as Google Documents. Schools will appreciate that the Acer C720 Chromebooks have a Kensington lock to secure them to a classroom or mobile cart.

Customers can easily access their content at home or on the go—with 100 GB of free storage on Google Drive for two years. By visiting the Chrome Web Store users can customize their Acer C720 Chromebook with applications for work or play.

New Thinner, Lighter Design with all the Extras

The new Acer C720 has a design that is more than 30 percent thinner than its predecessor, measuring only 19.05 mm thick. It still includes a full-sized keyboard, so customers can comfortably create and edit documents and spreadsheets. The device weighs only 1.3 kg, so it’s easy to carry in a backpack or bag. The slim and sleek size of the Acer C720 still provides room for a vibrant 11.6-inch ComfyView HD display with a 1366×768 resolution that keeps websites, images and video crisp and clear. Plus, the display has a matte, anti-glare property, enabling students and families to enjoy the Chromebook outside in sunlight for classwork, reading, playing games and more.

The Acer C720’s integrated HD webcam delivers sharp and detailed images and rich colour saturation. Combined with the microphone, the Chromebook is great for video chatting as well as capturing video and photos for sharing online. Plus, the dual speaker design ensures crisp and clear stereo audio for enjoying music, video and more. The Acer C720 connects to popular consumer electronics devices such as camcorders, digital cameras and smart phones via its fast USB 3.0 port as well as a USB 2.0 port. It also has an HDMI port for pushing video and content to external displays and HDTVs. In addition, customers can access other media and files through the SD card reader that supports up to a 32GB SD card.

Pricing and Availability

The Acer C720 Chromebook will be available end of October in Switzerland, Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Sweden and Finland with a starting price of £199 / €249.

MLG Partners with Gfinity for the effort of eSports

Chris Hare

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Oct 9, 2013

0

MLG Partners with Gfinity for the effort of eSports

MLG has announced that MLG are partnering with Gfinity to align the eSports efforts across the US, Europe and the Middle East to benefit players and fans worldwide.

The partnership kicks off this weekend with MLG broadcasting the Gfinity event in London on MLG.tv on October 12 and 13. Fans can tune in to watch top Call of Duty: Black Ops II teams compete for $70,000 in prizes. The tournament will air on MLG.tv on Saturday, October 12 from 10:00-22:30 (5am – 7:30pm ET) and Sunday, October 13 from 09:00-22:30 (4am – 7:30pm ET).

Through the collaboration, MLG will work with Gfinity to provide a cohesive online and in-person competition schedule which will provide regular competition for all players and regular content for all the fans. Gfinity will leverage the MLG Pro Points system for players to track their competitive status and both organizations will broadcast eSports content and competition coverage via their channels.

New Title Update to Fix GTA Online Problems

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Oct 9, 2013

1

A new title update to address the reported issues of game progress loss in GTA Online as well as other technical fixes, tweaks and enhancements is now available for PlayStation 3, and Rockstar are expecting it to be available by tomorrow (10th Oct) at the latest for Xbox 360. This title update will resolve the cause of players losing their gameplay progress except for some specific instances where players purchase a vehicle and the save does not occur due to a cloud save failure. A fix for that particular issue is being worked on and we will provide an update as soon as we know when this will be resolved.

Fixes in this title update include:

Fixes multiple issues causing character deletion or other loss of progress
Fixes issues causing infinite loading, infinite sky cams, and missing interface options between jobs
Fixes an issue causing the “replay” option to be locked out on certain jobs
Fixes an issue where a player would become stuck in the mod garage when respraying a Sanchez motor bike
Fixes an issue where the Player became stuck inside Los Santos Customs during Online tutorial flow.
Fixes an issue causing the loss of guns and ammo
Fixes issues causing GTA races ending early because of players spawning too far ahead
Fixes issues in Last Team Standing where sessions would not progress past the lobby
Fixes issues with network errors when joining Last Team Standing using Quick Job
Added clarifications around when a player is using a temporary character in GTA Online during Rockstar Cloud server outages
Adjusts the monetary penalty for being killed in a One on One match

Rockstar have apologize for the problems some players have been experiencing with lost characters or game progress due to this issue – please stay tuned for updates as Rockstar are continue to investigate this.

In the meantime, please always remember to save your game before leaving GTA Online, otherwise you may lose any progress since your last save – this can be done by exiting back to Single Player through the pause menu. Until downloading the title update above and in order to minimize the chances of any further data loss, if at any point you receive the message “Rockstar Cloud Servers are unavailable”, please do not either select the “Retry” option or create a temporary Character to play GTA Online. Instead, you should exit to GTAV Story Mode and try entering GTA Online again through the menu in Story Mode.

We talk all things XCOM: Enemy Within with Ananda Gupta from Firaxis

Andrew Edney

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Oct 9, 2013

0

We talk all things XCOM: Enemy Within with Ananda Gupta from Firaxis

At a recent hands-on event for XCOM: Enemy Within, I had the opportunity to talk all things XCOM with Ananda Gupta from Firaxis.

Ananda Gupta is a senior game designer at Firaxis. He has worked in the computer games industry for 10 years, starting his career at BreakAway Games in 2003. Before coming to Firaxis he was the lead systems designer on The Elder Scrolls Online.

He is also the co-designer of Twilight Struggle (2005), a board game about the Cold War that has held the #1 ranking on Boardgamegeek.com for the last three years. He won the 2005 James Dunnigan Award in game design. He came to work at Firaxis in July 2011, contributing to the design of XCOM: Enemy Unknown in many areas, particularly soldier classes, alien abilities, and the Situation Room.

Ananda is currently the lead designer of XCOM: Enemy Within, so over to Ananda:

Enemy Within adds an incredible array of new abilities, upgrades and weapons to combat new enemy and alien threats. This expansion pack also introduces new maps, new tactical and strategic gameplay, and new multiplayer content providing a fresh new gameplay experience.

It will be released on November 15, 2013 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Are you going to buy it? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Drakengard 3 coming to PlayStation 3 in 2013

Andrew Edney

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Oct 9, 2013

0

Square Enix today announced that its action role-playing game Drakengard 3, will be released exclusively for the PlayStation 3 in 2014.

A prequel to the original Drakengard, Drakengard 3 transports players to a medieval world where six goddess-like sisters known as “Intoners” have brought peace to the earth with their power to manipulate magic through song. Harmony is disrupted, however, when the eldest sister, Zero, attempts to murder her younger sisters with the help of her dragon companion Mikhail. As the story progresses, players find themselves in a battle to unravel the mystery of Zero and learn her true intentions.

Featuring the series’ signature brand of action Drakengard 3 pits players against hordes of fiends and foes in remorseless hack-and-slash combat. Quickly switch weapons to launch devastating combo attacks to vanquish enemies that can only be defeated with the correct weaponry. Plus harness the power of your dragon for combat, allowing you to charge, bite, trample your foes and even demolish buildings.

Drakengard 3 is the third title in the Drakengard series and is currently slated for digital release next year on the PlayStation 3.

Archos Announces the GamePad 2

Chris Hare

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Oct 9, 2013

0

ARCHOS is proud to announce its second generation tablet made for Gamers – the ARCHOS GamePad 2 available in Europe at the end of October at £179.99 / €179.99.

“Following the success of the GamePad 1, we knew that we could take the gaming-tablet concept further. With our GamePad 2 we have included an HD screen, better controls, a larger battery and a faster processor,” said Loic Poirier ARCHOS CEO, “We’re excited to be working with a leading games company like Gameloft to pre-install two visually stunning titles for an amazing gaming experience.”

The ARCHOS GamePad 2 includes complete versions of Asphalt 8: Airborne and Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour by Gameloft both revisited for physical controls. “With a tablet that’s as innovative as the ARCHOS GamePad 2, it was an easy decision to optimise our games for the platform,” said Cyril Guilleminot, Gameloft Director for France & Benelux. “Users will be able to take part in a brand new gaming experience with its integrated physical control system.”

HD IPS Screen

The ARCHOS GamePad 2 features a 7 inch HD screen perfect for gaming. The widescreen 1280 x 800 pixel resolution gives an amazing gaming and multimedia experience and IPS technology ensures amazing colours and brightness as well as perfect viewing angles

Powerful Processor, Larger Battery

Powered by an A9 generation quad-core processor running at 1.6GHz coupled with a fast Quad-Core graphics processor and 2GB of system RAM, the ARCHOS GamePad 2 has more than enough power to play the latest 3D games smoothly.

Thanks to super energy-efficient 28 nanometer processor technology and a much larger battery than normally used on a 7 inch tablet, the ARCHOS GamePad 2 has vastly improved battery life whether in gaming or simply when browsing the web.

The ARCHOS GamePad 2 features more precise, incurved dual thumb-sticks, double buttons on each shoulder, a single part directional pad and a vastly improved button click-feeling for a better physical gaming experience.

Combined with the updated version of the critically praised Game Mapping Tool, first featured on the GamePad 1, that lets users map any touch-screen button game to work with the physical controls, the ARCHOS GamePad 2 offers an improved android gaming experience for hundreds of thousands of free and paid games.

ARCHOS created the GamePad Game Zone application; curating over 1 million apps and games in the Google Play™ Store, the Game Zone shows off the best ARCHOS GamePad 2 compatible games.

With downloads, purchases, ratings, comments and game updates all taking place through the Google Play Store, users can get the best from the huge games catalogue available for the ARCHOS GamePad 2.

Though the ARCHOS GamePad 2 was designed with gaming in mind, it’s still a fully functional Android tablet able to do everything that you expect from a tablet… and more, thanks to ARCHOS media applications. Additional key features and specs include:

Android 4.2 ‘Jelly Bean’
Google Certified with full access to the Google Play store and its 1 million apps and games, GamePad Game Zone app also included to find the best games
Amazing Tablet Features: WiFi Display, HDMI, front stereo speakers, Front camera for video calling and an improved multi-media thanks to Archos Media Centre applications

Farming Simulator 2013 Titanium: The Launch Trailer

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Oct 9, 2013

0

Farming Simulator 2013 Titanium: The Launch Trailer

The big, official Titanium expansion of Farming Simulator 2013 will be released tomorrow (10th Oct) on PC in stores and as DLC.

This large expansion is rich in content, and will enable players of Farming Simulator 2013 on PC to discover and enjoy all the new features and original content from the recent console version of Farming Simulator. The launch trailer of the Titanium expansion offers a tantalizing glimpse of what’s on offer, so go ahead and view it right away!

Among these great additions is a vast American backdrop, with its specific crops and a wide range of agricultural vehicles. The Titanium expansion of Farming Simulator has double the size of the gameplay area and a total of 150 vehicles and types of agricultural machinery!

The Titanium expansion of Farming Simulator 2013 will be available tomorrow in stores and for download. It will be available with the full version of Farming Simulator 2013 in the special Farming Simulator 2013 ‘Titanium Edition’, and as an add-on for players of Farming Simulator 2013 on PC.

First Picture of the Mad Catz Killer Instinct Arcade FightStick

Chris Hare

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Oct 9, 2013

0

First Picture of the Mad Catz Killer Instinct Arcade FightStick

Last Week Major Nelson posted on Twitter that while he walked into a conference room he noticed the Killer Instinct Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2 for the Xbox One, so he posted a quick picture of Mad Catz Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition. We first posted the information on this Mad Catz FightStick back in July

Walked into a conference room and this #XboxOne accessory was there as well. This will be a good meeting http://t.co/x6HXmcCDm3

— Larry Hryb (@majornelson) October 3, 2013

The Bureau XCOM Declassified Hangar 6 RD available now

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

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Oct 9, 2013

0

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified has some DLC called Hangar 6 R&D, and it’s out now.

Set prior to the events of The Bureau, players take control of new protagonist Agent Nico DaSilva and his squad as they volunteer for a series of secret psycho-medical experiments to save a fellow Bureau agent infected with the “Sleepwalker” pathogen.

Hangar 6 R&D creates skin-of-your-teeth moments that challenge players’ mastery of The Bureau’s core tactical gameplay. The story-driven add-on content further explores the fascinating 1960s Cold War vibe by transporting players to an all-new clandestine location known only by Bureau agents as Hangar 6. Along with high-level squad mates and rich XP rewards, players now have access to even more dangerous weapons, such as the AK-47, and the prototype Microwave Gun that cooks enemies from the inside out. Agent DaSilva also has a new series of powers and perks based on his “plant and trigger” bomb abilities that allow players to better utilize the game’s most complex squad tactics.

Here are some more screenshots:

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Hangar 6 R&D is available now for the Xbox 360 priced at $4.99.

Are you going to buy it? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

LEGO Meets Thor: The Dark World in New Poster

News

Chris Hare

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Oct 9, 2013

2

LEGO Meets Thor: The Dark World in New Poster

Verily, Odin has shone favour upon us this day!

Here is the LEGO version of the Thor: The Dark World movie poster, only in theatres October 30th, to celebrate the upcoming release of LEGO Marvel Super Heroes for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, and PC. The game will also be available for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in November. A special downloadable character (DLC) pack will be available for LEGO Marvel Super Heroes at launch. The Asgard DLC pack will include eight playable characters, all of whom are also featured in the film.

Created in the same style as the poster for the upcoming theatrical release, you’ll find that all of the characters in the upcoming film, from Thor and Jane Foster, to Malekith have been transformed into LEGO perfection.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes also will be prominently featured during the Marvel Videogames Panel at this weekend’s New York Comic Con! TT Games game director Arthur Parsons will be showcasing new sections of the game, unveiling several playable characters, and there’ll be exclusive announcements, special LEGO Marvel giveaways and more! Here are the details:

· Date/Time: October 12, 12:15pm
· Location: Javits Convention Center, Empire Stage 1-E

Auto Club Revolution Dev Diary of Brands Hatch

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Oct 9, 2013

0

Auto Club Revolution Dev Diary of Brands Hatch

Check out the Developer Diary from the team at Eutcehnyx, showcasing how laser scanning was used to recreate the iconic British track, Brand Hatch for Auto Club Revolution. Brands Hatch will be released tomorrow and is the first laser scanned track to be released in the Free-to-Play game.

New Behind-the-Scenes video for Infinite Crisis

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Oct 9, 2013

0

New Behind-the-Scenes video for Infinite Crisis

Cars are exploding. Walls are falling down.

This can only mean it’s time for a brand new behind-the-scenes look at Infinite Crisis, the all-new multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game set in DC Comics’ legendary Multiverse in development by Turbine, the award winning studio behind the free-to-play online games such as The Lord of The Rings Online.

In this video, the Turbine development team discusses the catastrophic event system and the destructible environments contained in the maps in Infinite Crisis – and how they change the game entirely.

In addition to the behind-the-scenes video and in celebration of DC Entertainment’s Villain’s Month, we’re releasing three new Joker key art from Infinite Crisis: Prime Joker, Atomic Joker, and Gaslight Joker. Look for them soon in Infinite Crisis.

Sign-up for the closed beta to be among the first to test your skills in the Infinite Crisis battle arena or purchase a Founders Program pack to get exclusive limited edition costumes and early access to the newly released Coast City map.

First gameplay trailer for THIEF unveiled

Andrew Edney

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Oct 9, 2013

0

Square Enix and Eidos-Montréal, the award winning studio behind the critically acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution today released the first gameplay trailer for THIEF.

Get your first in-game look at Garrett’s hideout, the dark alleys of the City, and your old friend and fence Basso. See all the pillars of Thief gameplay in action – Infiltration, Theft and Escape – as Garrett enters Baron Northcrest’s manor to steal the Heart of the Lion before making his escape.

I recently got to go hands-on with Thief and interview Joe Khoury from Eidos-Montréal, so watch this space.

THIEF is due for release on Windows PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on 28^th February 2014 in Europe and other PAL territories.

XCOM: Enemy Within new screenshots declassified

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

-

Oct 9, 2013

1

2K Games have just released some new screenshots for their forthcoming release XCOM: Enemy Within.

XCOM: Enemy Within is the expansion to the 2012 Game of the Year award-winning strategy game XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

Enemy Within adds an incredible array of new abilities, upgrades and weapons to combat new enemy and alien threats. This expansion pack also introduces new maps, new tactical and strategic gameplay, and new multiplayer content providing a fresh new gameplay experience.

It will be released on November 15, 2013.

We recently went hands-on with XCOM: Enemy Within, so watch this space!