News:: Twitch Prime is handing out SteamWorld Dig 2, Kingsway, and more

Last month, Twitch Prime users got some great games. This month, it's the same story. SteamWorld Dig 2, Tokyo 42, Kingsway, DubWars, and Tales from the Borderlands are being offered to Prime users at no extra charge through April 30. They're all Windows copies and they're yours to keep.

The one big caveat is that in order to play these games, you'll need to download and install them through the Twitch desktop app. On the plus side, if you have an Amazon Prime account, you don't need to pay for Twitch Prime -- access is included, and you can enable your membership right here.

I never got around to Kingsway, so that's my focus right now. Y'all should play SteamWorld Dig 2.

Get Tokyo 42, Tales from the Borderlands, SteamWorld Dig 2 and more for FREE with April's Free Games with Prime! [Twitch]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/twitch-prime-is-handing-out-steamworld-dig-2-kingsway-and-more-497174.phtml

News:: Hot off the heels of Ready Player One, Universal orders script of Ernest Cline's Armada

Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Ernest Cline's novel Ready Player One came out this past week. Despite Matt's review, the movie is doing quite well at the box office, so it's no surprise that studios are going to be clamoring over all of Cline's other books. Problem is there is only one other, Armada.

Armada, which came out a few years after Ready Player One, is what would happen if you took The Last Starfighter, crossed it with Ender's Game, and shoved it full of cultural references like it were a Thanksgiving Turducken. The story follows nerdy high school senior Zack and shows how just maybe all of those video games and science fiction books he consumed growing up weren't put to waste. The story also borrows some elements from the famous Polybius conspiracy that has circulated around video gaming circles for years.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/hot-off-the-heels-of-ready-player-one-universal-orders-script-of-ernest-cline-s-armada-497166.phtml

News:: Ubisoft is letting PC players mess with 75 game parameters in Assassin's Creed Origins

Assassin's Creed Origins players are in for a treat this month on PC. Ubisoft is prepping the Animus Control Panel, a set of 75 parameters that can be tampered with to your heart's content.

"Ever fancied having three animal companions? The Animus Control Panel is your go-to."

Some other examples include altering your player character, movement speed, and underwater breathing. You can even mess with NPCs' hit boxes, attack speed, and level scale.

This image shows four categories; all told, there will be eleven. Ubisoft says it'll have more details closer to release but did note that players will be able to share their presets on a dedicated forum.

Despite bouncing off the series a few times now, I've convinced myself I need to play Assassin's Creed Origins once everything's said and done -- I'm that sold on Egypt as an open-ended video game locale to muck around in. The game's post-release support and player-friendly features like the Animus Control Panel are going to be just lovely whenever I finally do start it up.

This Month in Assassin's Creed Origins – April [Ubisoft]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/ubisoft-is-letting-pc-players-mess-with-75-game-parameters-in-assassin-s-creed-origins-497161.phtml

News:: Rocket League lands a new Quality Mode for Nintendo Switch and tournaments

It's a big day over in Rocket League land. Psyonix has rolled out update v1.43, otherwise known as the one that adds player-made tournaments and a separate Quality Mode on Nintendo Switch for folks who prefer better visuals over running the game at a steady 60 frames per second.

The full multiplatform patch notes can be seen here, but these are the highlights:

• Players can now create and join Tournaments

• Quality Connection Status icons will appear in the HUD if players are experiencing connection problems

• Players can now receive a "Chat Ban" that restricts the banned player from sending chat messages in online play

• [Nintendo Switch] Video Capture and 'Quality Mode' have been added

• Expanded inventory organization and filtering in the Garage

• Enhanced Crowd Audio

• 'Rocket League x Monstercat Vol. 2' is now available to all players under Music Playlists

As previously touched on, the new Quality Mode for Rocket League on Switch will run at 30FPS/1080p in docked play and 30FPS/720p in handheld play. With the setting enabled, you'll get graphical enhancements like lens flare, light shafts, dynamic shadows, and depth of field.

Patch Notes v1.43 (Tournaments Update) [Rocket League]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/rocket-league-lands-a-new-quality-mode-for-nintendo-switch-and-tournaments-497156.phtml

News:: PUBG will soon let you spectate your killer

One of my most-wanted features when I first got into PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds was the ability to see who had killed me. I wanted to follow my assassin's journey, to watch and learn from their decision making, to witness them make it into the top two and then accidentally give themselves away with a horrible grenade toss and get lit up like a fool. Y'know, the simple pleasures in life.

We've had a death cam in PUBG for a while now, and it's a nice little addition, but the time has come for a full-on spectating option. With the new test-server update on PC, players can now watch their killer in spectator mode and cheer for their untimely demise. Here's how the system can play out:

• Players can now spectate their killer by clicking the "watch" button on their match result screen
• Solo killer spectating
  
  • If you get killed by the Blue Zone, the Red Zone or from falling, you can spectate the nearest player from your death location
  • When the player you were spectating dies, you can continue spectating the killer of that player
  • If the player you were spectating gets disconnected, you can continue spectating their killer
• Duo / Squad killer spectating
  
  • Same as above but can only spectate the enemy team after all your team members are dead
• You can report a player you are spectating in Killer Spectate mode by pressing R
• If you click Death Cam, you won't be able to use the Killer Spectate mode

The killer spectating even chains to your killer's killer and beyond. I really dig this.

PC 1.0 Update #9 [Steam]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/pubg-will-soon-let-you-spectate-your-killer-497151.phtml

News:: 'Shadow of War' will drop its in-game currency system on May 8th

The backlash against heavy-handed in-game purchasing systems is starting to spread to those games that weren't directly caught up in the firestorm. Monolith is phasing out Middle-earth: Shadow of War's Gold currency over the next few months -- you'll lose the option of buying Gold on May 8th, while any existing Gold, the Market and War Chests will cease to exist on July 17th. If you still have leftover Gold on that last date, it'll be converted to in-game items. As Monolith describes it, the virtual currency was souring the experience of the game itself.

Via: NeoGAF

Source: WB Games Community

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/shadow-of-war-will-drop-in-game-currency-on-may-8th/

News:: Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Day One Edition hits Switch in North America May 8

XSEED Games have officially announced that the Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Day One Edition will be available in North America for Nintendo Switch, at selected retailers, on May 8.

The Day One set, which we reported on last week, contains the Switch edition of the game, along with all the DLC expansions to date, as well as new costumes which have their own respective modes. Packaged with the game is a Risky Beats soundtrack CD and a 100-page artbook. This set will retail for around $40.

In North America, the set listed above is exclusively for Nintendo Switch. The only way to get the PS4 edition of the game, as well as the CD and the artbook, is to order the Day One Ultimate Edition from Europe, which is published by PQube and goes on sale April 27. Are you keeping up with all of this? The game will also be available in all territories as a digital download, without any of the additional items.

A new trailer has appeared to celebrate the upcoming release. You can check it out below!

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/shantae-half-genie-hero-day-one-edition-hits-switch-in-north-america-may-8-497121.phtml

News:: In ‘Ready Player One,’ the real world doesn't matter

When Steven Spielberg introduced Ready Player One at SXSW this year, he made a surprising statement: "This is not a film that we've made, this is -- I promise you -- a movie." And really, there's no better way to put it. It's a pop culture-driven, nostalgia-inducing blockbuster that works best as a ride, but it falls apart the moment you think critically about it. It's not something that'll be taking any deep stances on VR, and it certainly doesn't have time for much social commentary (aside from some heavy-handed moralizing at the end).

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/ready-player-one/

News:: Dark Souls: Remastered has some interesting changes

Bandai Namco has been showing off Dark Souls: Remastered ahead of its May 25 release on Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 4. Along with side-by-side comparison videos to get a better sense of how the game has been touched up visually, new details have come about gameplay changes.

IGN has rounded up a big list of new features and tweaks in Remastered and it's worth a look for anyone planning on returning to Lordran. Here's some of the stuff that particularly stood out to me:

• The maximum number of players online has increased from four to six.
• Password Matchmaking is now available, similar to Dark Souls III. When a player is summoned in Password Matchmaking the player level will be synced.
• Healing items will not be available during PvP with the exception of Estus Flasks. To prevent long and drawn out battles, the number of Estus Flasks is halved for phantoms.
• Players can no longer summon ally phantoms consecutively when in combat with enemy phantoms.
• Players can select the number of usable items, such as consumable souls or covenant items, to use instead of one at a time as in the original game.
• A Bonfire has been added next to Vamos the Blacksmith.
• Covenants can be switched at Bonfires.
• Button configuration is available.
• Items will not automatically be registered into an item slot when picked up.
• The online network has been changed from P2P to dedicated servers.

I think there's going to be some give and take with this remaster's differences (including the visuals), but I'm liking most of the changes. I hope and expect to delve further into PvP this time around.

Here Are All the Differences Between Dark Souls and Dark Souls Remastered [IGN]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/dark-souls-remastered-has-some-interesting-changes-497149.phtml

News:: Dragon Quest VR experience coming to VR Zone in Japan

Bandai Namco are teaming with Square Enix for a fun Virtual Reality experience based upon the legendary Dragon Quest RPG series.

The Dragon Quest VR event will allow players to choose a class from Warrior, Mage or Priest, then, armed with choice from a selection of weapons, fully immerse themselves in the Dragon Quest universe, ultimately leading to a battle with boss character Zoma.

The presentation will be hosted at VR Zone Shinjuku in Tokyo on April 25. Anyone who may be in town and wishing to reserve a slot will have to apply via the official site. Applications go live five days before, on April 20.

While the chance of many of us checking this VR trip out is kind of unlikely, the Dragon Quest world would be a pretty cool place to hang out. I'm sure, at the very least, it'll be more fun than early '90s Virtuality adventure Legend Quest.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/dragon-quest-vr-experience-coming-to-vr-zone-in-japan-497141.phtml

News:: Ghost Recon Wildlands is getting a second year of content

Ubisoft has just announced that last year's best selling open-world co-op game, Ghost Recon Wildlands, will be receiving a second year of post launch content. The first of many planned updates will launch on April 10 and will allow Team Ghost to expand their journey into Bolivia with a new PvE mission along with squad customization for AI partners in the campaign. A brand new PvP game mode called "Sabotage" will be released with five new maps and the first of six new classes for competitive play.

You can now buy the "Year 2 Pass" for $29.99 to receive seven day early access to the new PvP classes, nab an exclusive customization pack and receive eight battle crates for player customization (four Special Ops and four Ghost War crates). As for what else is coming in this pack, details are thin apart from a nebulous "four special operation" packs.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/ghost-recon-wildlands-is-getting-a-second-year-of-content-497137.phtml

News:: $1,099 Vive Pro Starter Kit has everything you need for VR but the PC

One of the bigger complaints about the HTC Vive Pro from our review was that the $799 headset felt like an upgrade path for existing Vive owners -- not an entry point for new users. HTC and Valve must've heard those complaints and the pair will start packing its existing $300 accessory pack in with the Vive Pro. The Vive Pro Starter Kit will set you back $1,099, and it comes with the Vive Pro headset, two Vive 1.0 controllers and a pair of Vive 1.0 base stations. More than that, if you already have your Pro, HTC is giving away $100 store credits for the Viveport marketplace. The bundle will go on sale April 5th.

Via: VR Focus

Source: Vive

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/vive-pro-starter-kit/

News:: Chrono Trigger on PC will be getting a 'retro graphics' option

A lot of people were initially stoked when Square Enix announced that beloved old-school RPG Chrono Trigger was coming to Steam. That sweetness turned a little sour when it was then realised that it was the mobile port, which features new visuals and a new UI system that turned off many in the community.

Well, it seems that Square are acknowledging their nostalgia faux-pas, as the publisher have announced that work is being done to, among other things, make the PC port feel more like the SNES original that fans know and love.

"We have been working on addressing the issues that you’ve raised, and will be releasing a number of patches over the coming months," said Square Enix in a post on the game's Steam page. "We’re aiming to release the first of these patches in the first half of April, and the biggest change is that it will include an option to switch between the current high-resolution graphics, and the original graphical style of Chrono Trigger."

The post goes on to say that a full list of changes to the game will be posted in the near future. In addition to this, the availability of the game's Limited Edition has been extended until April 30. Hopefully fans that were disappointed in the initial release of the five-star classic can take heart in these upcoming changes.

Chrono Trigger to receives new patches, classic graphics mode [Steam]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/chrono-trigger-on-pc-will-be-getting-a-retro-graphics-option-497111.phtml

News:: Shaq named new General Manager for Sacramento King's eSports team

This coming May (through August), the King's Guard, the Sacramento King's real eSports team, will begin competing in the NBA 2K League, comprised of 16 other teams. Now, Shaq has their back.

As announced this week, Shaquille O'Neal, who is currently working on a Shaq Fu follow-up as we speak, will serve as the King's Guard's general manager starting today. He's just in time for the draft, which will set the stage for the rest of the 16-week season.

This move isn't a complete surprise, as Shaq has been a minority owner of the Kings since 2013, and he's been constantly talking about upping his game when it comes to eSports. It was only a matter of time!

Shaq [Twitter]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/shaq-named-new-general-manager-for-sacramento-king-s-esports-team-497118.phtml

News:: Psychological stand-off SpyParty finally arrives on Steam Early Access next week

Y'all remember SpyParty? The indie multiplayer title was first announced way back in 2009, and developed by St. Louis resident Chris Heckler? Well, nearly ten years later, the game is ready to land in Steam Early Access. Fashionably late, I guess.

For those unaware, SpyParty is a game of player psychology and keen observation skills. One player takes control of an agent who has infiltrated a gathering, while another player is a sniper, perched on high with a single bullet, tasked to take the intruder down. However, the sniper does not know the identity of the assassin, milling among the crowd.

Thus, it is a game of cat and mouse, as the spy must complete a series of objectives within an allotted time, without the sniper getting a bead on them and taking them out. The spy must, essentially, accurately portray computer-controlled A.I to fool the sniper, while the sniper must use precise observation to spot anything out of place, or suspicious behaviour.

I think it's a fascinating but fun concept for a title, and the game has a cool and classy art-deco aesthetic, which captures the whodunnit vibe of the whole affair. After years of development, SpyParty will enter Steam Early Access on April 12, so oil up that trigger finger and remember: Trust no-one

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/psychological-stand-off-spyparty-finally-arrives-on-steam-early-access-next-week-497064.phtml

News:: Microsoft is prepping a 'big update' for original Xbox backward compatibility

Microsoft has been pivoting toward old game support quite a bit this generation, and for good reason -- people have been asking for it, and its competitors aren't supporting it.

Backward compatibility is a great thing, as it allows my old games to stay relevant in case my older systems die off, and given that Microsoft even allowed disc support, I'm pretty happy with my Xbox despite the lack of exclusives this past year. But one thing that the publisher has been rather quiet on is original Xbox backward compatibility, as there's only 13 games currently supported.

That changes on April 10, as Microsoft has announced that a new episode of Inside Xbox will focus on that very topic, promising a "big update" to kick off the show. I could just list off a bunch of original Xbox games I want to see, but with just 13 currently there's so many more that could eventually see the light of day -- I'd rather just wait and see what's coming!

Inside Xbox Episode 2 [Xbox Wire]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/microsoft-is-prepping-a-big-update-for-original-xbox-backward-compatibility-497116.phtml

News:: Mightier is helping calm kids down through mobile games

Learning how to regulate your emotions is a fundamental skill, but it can be tough for kids, especially those with challenging behaviors, oppositional disorder, ADHD and autism. Mightier, by Neuromotion Labs, is a gaming platform that teaches kids a valuable set of emotion management skills using just a phone, an app and a heart rate monitor.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/mightier-mobile-game-platform-kids-calm/

News:: Square Enix pledges to fix the PC version of 'Chrono Trigger'

Square Enix is going to make it right for Chrono Trigger fans. In late February, the publisher dropped the classic JRPG onto Steam, but it was the oft-derided mobile port from six years ago -- not the original SNES game from 1995. To right that wrong, Square Enix will patch the game with an option to switch between the current visuals and "the original graphical style" of the game.

Via: Polygon

Source: Steam

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/chrono-trigger-steam-version-snes-graphic-patch/

News:: New video shows Sushee Games' work on Fear Effect Remake

Later this year, Hana and chums will return to their own neon-soaked hell when Fear Effect Reinvented, a remake of Focus Entertainment's original PS1 adventure, courtesy of developer Sushee Games.

Yesterday, the team released a video showing of of the game's locations being recreated in the new engine, ending with a before-and-after shot from the 1999 game which, folk may remember actually featured looped FMV backgrounds rather than 3D modeled environments.

The remake won't be the gang's first step back into modern gaming, as last month saw the ruthless outlaws return for isometric adventure Fear Effect Sedna, which absolutely nailed the aesthetics and atmosphere of the classic titles but, frankly, blew its gameplay.

Regardless, Sushee Games are clearly pushing to bring the action-horror original screaming into 2018. I, for one, am very interested to see what we get when Fear Effect Reinvented hits PS4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch later this year.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/new-video-shows-sushee-games-work-on-fear-effect-remake-497050.phtml

News:: You can now download Fortnite on iOS without an invite

I've been randomly popping into Fortnite on iOS for a quick game when I don't feel like booting it up on my PC (Blitz, the limited time mode where games were shorter was perfect for this), and it's served me well so far.

Playing on a mobile device isn't as competitive as using a mouse and keyboard and instantly building defensive walls in a pinch, but it's a relaxed experience, and the full seamless account linking for progress is a selling point.

Before yesterday gaming on a mobile device was a privileged, an invite-only affair, but Epic Games has opened the floodgates now and anyone on iOS can jump right in. Just note that you'll need iOS 11, and at least an iPhone 6S to get in on the action.

In case you were wondering, Fornite Battle Royale is in active development for Android, so they're still toiling away with that version.

Fornite [Twitter]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/you-can-now-download-fortnite-on-ios-without-an-invite-497115.phtml

News:: 'Dragon Quest VR' brings giant virtual slimes to Japan's arcades

What do you mean you haven't ever played Dragon Quest? One of few JPRGs to have gone toe-to-toe with Final Fantasy and lived to tell the angsty tale, the series is still huge in Japan, even if the games have struggled to amass similar fanbases elsewhere. (Something that its Minecraft-esque spin-off has been trying to fix.)

Via: The Verge

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/dragon-quest-vr-brings-giant-virtual-slimes-to-japans-arcades/

News:: Far Cry 5 leads the congregation in this week's UK Charts

Eden's Gate just got a helluva lot of new members, as Ubisoft's open-world shooter Far Cry 5 slammed straight into the number one spot of this week's UK charts. The Montana-based iteration is the fastest-selling Far Cry release to date.

The Easter holiday weekend made for some interesting sales, many of which were likely gifts purchased to keep the kids quiet. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch popped the clutch and sped back into the Top Five, with bestselling mainstream titles FIFA 18, Assassin's Creed Origins and Call of Duty: WWII all climbing back up the rankings.

Microsoft's pirate adventure Sea of Thieves still holds a very respectable third place, but pretty RPG Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom peaked hard, dropping from number three to number 21. Elsewhere in the charts, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Gran Turismo: Sport, Forza Motorsport 7 and DOOM all made re-entries. Back in my day, you just got a cheaply-produced chocolate egg and that was your lot, bucko.

Tune in next week to see if The Father and his two-dimensional family members can hold fort for a second week.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/far-cry-5-leads-the-congregation-in-this-week-s-uk-charts-497041.phtml

News:: New God of War clip re-iterates that every troll is unique, takes a look at loot

I'm a little more into God of War now than I was when it was announced. The whole Last of Us thing really spawned a Dad subgenre, some of which are more effective than others, but recent footage of Kratos' son Atreus drop-kicking enemies sold me.

This new clip from Sony showcases several other elements of the upcoming action romp, including some lore bits and a quick rundown of loot. Some of the latter will be tied to quasi-puzzles, like the age old "collect the keys to unlock the chest" concept.

The video also emphasizes yet again that the game is a little more open than the average action game, encouraging players to find optional bosses and areas. I'm into it!

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/new-god-of-war-clip-re-iterates-that-every-troll-is-unique-takes-a-look-at-loot-497114.phtml

News:: Samsung's latest gaming laptop has a 6-core i7 processor too

The Samsung Odyssey Z -- not to be confused with the Magnavox Odyssey or Samsung's VR headset -- is the electronics juggernaut's latest gaming laptop. Once you open the lid, you'll see just how far that design ethos goes. The keyboard has been pushed to the lowest portion of the tray, and in between that and the 1080p display is what Samsung calls the Z AeroFlow Cooling System. Here's how the company describes it:

Source: Samsung

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/samsung-odyssey-z-laptop/

News:: ASUS’ Zephyrus M is a thin gaming laptop with a six-core i7

Today, ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) announced the Zephyrus M laptop, which is the thinnest gaming laptop to have an eighth generation Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics. The laptop will be available for preorder starting April 3rd. The laptop starts at $1499, with the top-of-the-line model at $2199.

Source: Business Wire (1), Business Wire (2)

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/asus-zephyrus-m-gaming-laptop-pricing-pre-order/

News:: Shadow of War to remove all microtransactions and paid loot boxes

Warner Bros. have made the announcement that the controversial microtransactions and real-money loot boxes implemented into Middle-Earth sequel Shadow of War are to be removed from the game this Summer. The news came via a post made recently on the game's official blog.

Shadow of War launched just six months ago and immediately came under fire for its in-game gold and "War Chests" which could be purchased with real money in order to buy followers for your army, XP boosts and other goodies, somewhat negating the brand's acclaimed "Nemesis" system, which allows players to build their own orc battalion through coercion, revenge and other nefarious means.

"Loot Chests" will remain in-game, but will no longer be purchasable with real money. Players with cash still in their accounts have until July 17 to spend it. After that, the in-game marketplace will be removed. Warner Bros. also noted that Shadow of War will see an overhaul in the near future, in order to improve narrative elements and streamline the gameplay for a "more cohesive experience."

This is a chin-strokingly familiar story to EA's recent U-turn on Star Wars Battlefront II's awful market mechanics. But is it too little, too late? I really enjoyed Shadow of Mordor, but I didn't buy the sequel because I assumed the pay-to-win mechanics would fuck with the gameplay. Now, whether I was right or wrong about that is irrelevant, because regardless, it's a sale that didn't happen specifically because of said business decision.

It's easy for a lot video game fans to feel a sense of schadenfreude when these U-turns occur, but let's not pretend that Shadow of War won't have made a ton of dollar off of these boxes since original release, even if not as much as WB had expected. Perhaps turnarounds such as these point to a gradual abandonment of the controversial practice. Time will tell.

Shadow of War will be removing microtransactions in July [Official site]

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/shadow-of-war-to-remove-all-microtransactions-and-paid-loot-boxes-497106.phtml

News:: Origin's EVO15-S packs a lot of gaming power into a 4.3-pound laptop

With Intel's release of new Core-i7 and i9 chips for portable PCs, a lot of interesting new lightweight gaming laptops are hitting the market. Origin, for one, just launched the EVO15-S and business-oriented NT-15 laptops that fit pretty incredible specs into a small size. They both pack NVIDIA GTX 1070 Max-Q graphics, up to 32GB of RAM, and Intel's six-core i7-8750H processor into a 4.3 pound, one-inch thick package, which should please gamers and video editors alike.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/origin-evo15-s-nt-15-lighweight-gaming-laptops/

News:: MSI's 4.1-lb slim gaming laptop has a 144hz, 15-inch screen

The race is on to making gaming laptops thinner and lighter than before. We were wowed by ASUS's ROG Zephyrus last year, which packed in an NVIDIA GTX 1080 Max-Q GPU in an incredibly svelte frame. Now MSI is taking that on directly with its new GS65 "Stealth Thin," an even slimmer addition to its lightweight gaming lineup. It clocks in at just 4.1 pounds, while also fitting in a 15.6-inch 144Hz display (which should make gameplay look incredibly smooth), an NVIDIA GTX 1070 Max-Q GPU and Intel's 8th generation Core i7 CPU.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/msi-gs65-stealth-thin/

News:: HTC Vive Pro review: Better in every way -- but it’s not for you

What if HTC could make the Vive VR headset again, but with better ergonomics, and higher quality screens? That's basically the Vive Pro. It's not a sequel -- it's more of a remaster. One that incorporates everything VR headset makers have learned over the past few years. (Spoiler: Comfort matters. A lot.) At $799 with no sensors or controllers, though, it's strictly for enthusiasts and professionals with plenty of disposable income.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/04/03/htc-vive-pro-review/

News:: Review: Minit

What's one minute of your life? I woke up today and spent 12 minutes scrolling through Twitter, looking at statements and jokes that I didn't particularly care to see. Later, I spent three minutes trying to remember other mundane wastes of time from this morning. (I eventually settled on the meta-waste from the sentence you just read.)

The point is that 60 seconds flies by. Minit knows this and Minit accentuates this. Minit explores the exact length of one minute, cranks the font up to size 50, underlines it, and adds 10 exclamation points. Minit is astonishingly proficient at examining how one minute is enough time to be startling efficient and woefully inept.

Really, it's all so incredible.

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/review-minit-497030.phtml