Tech News
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Announcing Borderlands The Pre-Sequel - We are going to the moon!
With only two days left before the start of PAX East we have an official announcement. The Borderlands Pre-Sequel is actually a thing and will be released later in 2014. It would seem the rumormill is true for once.
Set between Borderlands and Borderlands 2, you'll play as four new characters classes fighting alongside Handsome Jack, witnessing his transformation into the ruthless tyrant you loved to hate in Borderlands 2, and assisting with the rise of the Hyperion Corporation. The signature shoot 'n' loot gameplay of the Borderlands series expands with the addition of low-gravity and oxygen-powered jetpack combat, the icy 'Cryo' elemental damage type, the deadly laser weapon class, and new vehicles to help you explore the lunar landscape.
Yes! we are going to the moon!
Based on the information in the 2K blog the Pre-Sequel started around the time the first DLC was released. The game engine is exactly the same so all 2K had to do was swap out the assets and create their own story.
Per the Borderlands recipe there will be four playable characters including Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha and Claptrap. The gameplay will be a little different with low gravity impacting how you move and oxygen coming into play helping with player movement.
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Rumormill Claims Borderlands sequel called "The Pre-Sequel!"
I often think back to the days of Duke Nukem 3D and how shortly after finishing the expansion pack I started to see news talking about the next installment, Duke Nukem 4. Duke was a big name title and news of development was pretty easy to find. As we know they started out using the Quake 2 engine and later after the first Unreal dropped they switched to the Unreal Engine.
Of course, shortly after that Duke Nukem Forever went into vaporware status until Gearbox Software decided to buy the IP and finish the game.
So what really happened between Duke Nukem 3D and now? Well, there is the Wikipedia story backed by news accounts and there is what I think.
Duke Nukem 3D was a popular title and they needed a way to keep 3DRealms in the news given that Quake had just released. So, someone leaked a story saying that Duke Nukem 4 was in development and even spent some time doing up a few tech demos. I figure the initial announcement was a rumor gone bad and since the story got traction they had "peer pressure" to deliver and when the noise died down so did development, that is until they realized that a vaporware status could work to their advantage.
Well, long story short (too late) there is another rumor out today claiming that Randy wasn't "wrong" when he said Gearbox isn't working on Borderlands 3 because they are working on "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!" (<-- with the bang). The story is set on the Moonbase and will introduce four new characters.
Set on the moon of Elpis and Hyperions ominous H shaped moon base, the game sees Handsome Jack in the days when he was just a humble programmer called John, hunting a powerful alien artefact (what else!!). Players will be able to select one of Jack/Johns four lieutenants to play as in Athena The Gladiator, Wilhelm The Enforcer, Nisha The Lawbringer and Fragtrap, a militarised claptrap..
The astute amongst you may recognise some of the names from their appearances in previous instalments, Wilhelm is the half human, half Hyperion Loader boss from Borderlands 2 and Athena made an appearance in the General Knoxx DLC for the first game as a Lance Assassin gone mercenary. Nisha bears a striking resemblance to the seconds games Sheriff of Lynchwood, who was also Jacks girlfriend.
Athena will be a melee focused character able to absorb incoming fire with here kinetic shield while dispatching enemies with her plasma sword. While Wilhelm(sadly before he became a badass loader) will be able to make use of a shoulder mounter cannon and drones which you can call down to aid you in combat.I'm not sure I would believe a story like this especially considering the bad spelling and very detailed rumor description but, it is Borderlands news and any news is good news.
Even if it is fake.
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Introducing the Cooler Master QuickFire Rapid-i
Fully Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with ActivLite Technology
Chino, CA – 4/2/2014 – Cooler Master, a leading creator, innovator and manufacturer of desktop components, mobile accessories, and gaming peripherals, today announced the much requested QuickFire Rapid-i, a fully featured and backlit mechanical keyboard. QuickFire Rapid-i builds upon its predecessor’s legacy with full keyboard illumination and unique lighting effects through its new ActivLite technology.
Information on the new QuickFire Rapid-I, including features and notification of availability can be found at a unique, brand new micro-site here.Stylistic Illumination
Powered by a 32-bit ARM processor, Rapid-i’s ActivLite Technology incorporates 5 lighting modes with 5 brightness levels. Using ActivLite, users find themselves adding a richer aesthetic to their space. One such mode enables the backlighting to brightly illuminate upon each key press and fade softly as your fingers move on to the next key. The effect is a deeply satisfying visual trail to bring a unique effect to your typing experience. ActivLite also allows users to individually program keys for unique game and application uses, while the onboard memory makes it possible to save profiles that store up to four different presets.
Featuring a smooth and clean aesthetic, QuickFire Rapid-i includes laser-marked keycaps and a non-glossy matte finish over tactile and quiet mechanical switches. A response time of 1ms, in USB mode, offers gamers a necessary consistency to respond quickly in the latest games. Multimedia shortcuts are available to ensure that media can be controlled with ease. With N Key Rollover (NKRO), users deploying the QuickFire Rapid-i in either USB or PS/2 mode can activate many keys on the keyboard simultaneously.Ergonomic Size with Hassle-free Travel
Travel with ease by simply removing the included braided USB cable and storing it. At all times, the QuickFire Rapid-i makes itself a more journey-ready partner with its super-slim body. It allows the keyboard to be more ergonomically-friendly while being easier to transport than most full-sized mechanical keyboards.
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A Real Start Menu for Windows 8.1
There has been some major developments in the Windows world starting with adjustments to licensing programs, better ways to get desktop apps to smartphones and a real start menu.
Yes that is right, Microsoft has promised to bring back a real start menu similar to the one we have come to enjoy ever since the days of Windows 95.
You heard right, devout desktop lovers: The Start menu is coming back to Windows, Microsoft operating system head Terry Myerson announced at Build on Wednesday.
The details are hazy, aside from the fact that it's going to be pushed to all Windows 8.1 users as an update at some point in the future. But it's a-coming—though it's not quite the Start menu you're familiar with. Beyond the traditional mouse-friendly features, the Windows 8.1 Start menu will be crammed with Live Tiles, along with the ability to find and install Microsoft's universal Windows apps, also announced Wednesday.By the looks of it they plan to bring back a vertical menu we are familiar with but since they still need to shove metro down our visual throats have decided to hang tiles off the side.
My guess is that an order came down to reverse negativity surrounding Windows 8 and instead of a blatant "fuck you" from the UI designers, like last time, they figured a viewport populated with what everyone hates was a nice compromise.
Either way I'm happy to see they are finally making some progress or really good at lasting april fools jokes.
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NZXT H440 Mid-Tower Case Review @ [H]
Some people love this case, others (like myself) feel the design is leading a market that doesn't exist. Lets see what HardOCP has to say.
The NZXT H440 Mid Tower Case is a steel enclosure that is solidly built and not priced incredibly high. Its designers have focused on a very clean look inside and out without forgetting about all the actual needs and wants enthusiasts have when it comes to a new chassis. NZXT do not short your on quality fans to make sure you keep your cool either.
The quote talks about the needs and wants of enthusiasts which remind me of a video review from Bill Owen related to this case where the reviewers actually complain that there is no 5.25" drive bays. Yes, there will be a time when 5.25" drive bays and devices for those bays will no longer be needed however, until Blu-ray is no longer a "thing" I can think of a few reasons why a mondern case should still have a few.
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Vortex KBT Race II Mechanical Keyboard Review @ HCW
How do you like your keyboards? Mech, bubble, scissor, capacitive, they all have something in common. They are the primary input device for your computer and without them you would have a broken Windows 8.1 system and virtually no desktop gaming experience.
HWC has a new review posted that is showcasing a new mechanical keyboard from Vortex called the Race II ??
In our Vortex KBT Race II review, we are looking at a mechanical keyboard that was designed by enthusiasts to be modified and customized to a great degree.
It looks a lot like an old Cooler Master keyboard that was all compact and didn't have a 10-key hanging off the side. The only difference is the Vortex is all white and has the key text where it should be.
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Seagate Business 4-Bay 16TB NAS Review @ NitroWare
I read somewhere that QNAP and Seagate are now partners in the NAS space. It really makes a lot of sense considering that Western Digital has their own NAS devices and consumers can use either drive in an ASUSTOR NAS. The question is, does having a personal NAS device really help you embrace the "cloud" or can you get the same performance from an internal application server.
*hint* they are the same thing.
It's all about the private cloud...
Seagate is relatively unknown for Network Attached Storage and have tried to add their own twist via unique features for their consumer and business oriented models. However, like competing devices, NAS are heavily reliant on hardware specifications to perform as advertised. We review Seagate's 16 TB model for Business and explain why processing power and fast interfaces like USB 3.0 matter for a storage deviceBased on the first page of the review and screenshots of the setup page I'm not sure they really like the device and the second page was simply too painful.
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Asylum: Review Block - Video Cards mashed with Motherboards
I'm a little sad for not attending GDC and won't be flying to Boston for PAX East. However, I did discover that ASUS has been seeding samples to sites (say that lots of times fast) including some high dollar motherboards and video cards.
Heck there is even a 780 Round-Up in the list, which is totally legit.
Video Cards
- ASUS ROG POSEIDON GTX 780 Video Card Review @ [H]
- ASUS Poseidon GTX 780 Video Card Review @ Legit Reviews
- ASUS Radeon R9-290X Matrix review
- Gigabyte GTX 750 Ti Windforce @ PureOverclock
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti Video Card Roundup @ Legit Reviews
- ASUS GeForce GTX 780 Ti Matrix Platinum Edition review
- XFX R9 290 Double Dissipation Review @ Hardware Canucks
Motherboards
- Asus X79 Deluxe Motherboard Review @ Hardware360
- ASUS Rampage IV Black Edition Motherboard Review @ [H]
- Gigabyte's G1.Sniper 5 motherboard reviewed
- Gigabyte Z87X-UD7 TH Motherboard @ Hardware Secrets
- ASUS H87-PRO Motherboard @ Hardware Secrets
- GIGABYTE Z87X-UD7-TH LGA 1150 Motherboard Review @ [H]And now begins the lull before the storm of nines.
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LanOC V14 Recap @ LanOC Reviews
With what appears to be 14 LAN Parties under their belt it would seem that LanOC knows how to have a good time. Its too bad the computer community in "my" area doesn't support these kinds of activities else there might be an "Asylum Nights" sort of LAN event.
A week ago at the time of this writing, we were within hours of LanOC v14.0 coming to end, though things certainly showed no signs of winding down. We were right in the middle of two tournaments with plenty of spectators watching over shoulders, attendees and staff alike roaming the floor to take a final look at the case show-off entries, and our network gear receiving no reprieve from the remainder of over 130 gamers in their title of choice. Before we revisit the final wrap-up of the event, let’s start back at the beginning of LanOC v14.0, which truly started the day before.
Have to admit, they went all out with the making of the pancakes and if they keep that up I might be time to buy a seat for V15.
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Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2014 (Razer Green Switches) @ Custom PC Review
You know how almost every mechanical keyboard is subtitled saying they are using Cherry brand key switches?? Well turns out there are a few companies doing mechanical switches now and they are finally making it into real products.
While a whole lot of manufacturers did a whole lot of talking about the future of their mechanical keyboards and switches, one manufacturer who didn’t even mention mechanical keyboard at CES was Razer, so imagine my surprise when I received a press release out of the blue regarding Razer’s new in-house mechanical switch along with a sample.
Thermaltake also has an in-house mechanical switch and I suspect more will follow.
