Gaming

In the good ol' days of video games, we didn't really care what the console or the controllers looked like -- it was just about playing the games. Nowadays, however, the kiddies seem to love having unique colors and designs for hardware -- a way to stand out from their friends, maybe. Microsoft, for instance, absolutely litters the market with differently styled Xbox controllers.

Nintendo is not immune to this trend, and the company has long released different colors and variants of its hardware. The Nintendo Switch Lite, for instance, can be had in several colors, but later in the year, yet another color will become available -- blue. While I am usually a fan of that color, I must say Nintendo has chosen one of the ugliest shades possible. Yuck!

For the most part, Android smartphones are pretty boring nowadays. LG has often been a risk-taker in the Android market, taking chances with unique phones that have funky designs and cool features. Sadly, LG has decided to leave the mobile market. Thankfully, Lenovo seems ready to take the reins with its brave new Legion Phone Duel 2 -- a drool-worthy gaming-focused 5G smartphone that is a successor to last year's model.

What makes the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 so special? Well, it builds upon its predecessor with better specifications and a nicer overall design. It has a huge (6.92-inch) high-resolution (2460 x 1080) AMOLED HDR display, 44MP front camera, and 64MP rear shooter. The front camera pops out from the side of the phone, meaning there is no notch to interfere with the screen.

Bluetooth headphones are very cool, but they have a huge problem -- they run on batteries. And so, while people seem happy to invest in expensive wireless options like Apple AirPods, when they run out of power, they can leave the consumer feeling quite foolish. Why? Because "old school" wired headphones never had this problem.

Sadly, many smartphone manufacturers have done away with 3.5mm audio jacks, making it harder than ever to use traditional headphones. Logitech wants to cater to fans of wires, however, as the company today launches the G333 wired USB-C gaming earphones with integrated microphone.

Every once in a while, storage card manufacturers will release cards that are branded for gaming. People often wonder if there is anything different about these cards that can actually benefit gamers. The answer is largely no. A storage card that is designed for gaming is really just marketing hype. With that said, there is nothing wrong with these cards, although they can carry a premium price.

Today, Lexar launches the PLAY microSDXC UHS-I Card for Nintendo Switch and mobile gaming devices such as Android phones and tablets. It should be a great choice for a Raspberry Pi too. This card has a beautiful red color and comes in capacities up to 1TB. Believe it or not, despite its gaming branding it really isn't overpriced. In fact, you can score one of these cards for less than $22.

When it comes to delivering an immersive, exciting, and balanced gaming experience for the player, AI is certainly one of the focus points for developers. From building realism in a virtual world to making sure a game adapts to skill level, it has an increasingly important role to play in the industry.

To take a quick temperature check on the importance of AI for gamers, just look at what can happen when things aren't up to scratch. It was impossible to miss the burning wreckage of Cyberpunk 2077 as it came crashing down last year, with a buggy and faulty AI on display for all to see (among all the other issues). The internet was quickly filled with clips of enemies spawning out of the ether and cars circling the same roundabout ten times before vanishing. The bugs were enough to ruin the game's launch for many, with underperforming sales the end result.

Do you ever get tired of the flashy designs that many gaming products have these days? I know I am personally fatigued by it sometimes. Look, I enjoy RGB lighting and computers that look like alien spaceships as much as the next guy, but sometimes I crave a more conservative design style.

And that is why I am very intrigued by Corsair's newest gaming mouse. Called "KATAR PRO XT," the device has a no-nonsense design that makes it appropriate for an executive's desk without being entirely boring. Best of all, it is very affordable -- you will be shocked by the low price.

PC gamers usually come to a fork in the road when needing a new gaming rig -- build one or buy one. While building a PC can be rewarding, sometimes there are pre-built machines that are worth considering instead -- particularly when they are beyond what you can reasonably do yourself.

As an example, today, MSI launches the MEG Aegis Ti5 gaming desktop and it takes things to another level. It is powered by either an Intel Core i7-10700K or i9-10900K CPU and either a GeForce RTX 3070 or 3080 graphics card. What makes this computer unique, however, is its gorgeous chassis -- it looks futuristic. The case even has a special LED dial on the front for quick and easy tweaks.

There are two curved displays in my home --a television in my living room and a computer monitor in my office. Both look cool, but to be honest, the curve doesn't really make a difference in my living room. Since I sit far back from the TV, the curve doesn't add any benefit. On the computer monitor where I sit much closer, however, the curvature adds to the overall immersion -- it is quite remarkable. I can't recommend curved computer monitors enough.

Today, MSI officially launches its newest curved display, and it is heavily focused on gaming. Called "MPG Artymis 343CQR," the 34-inch UWQHD display has a dramatic 1000R curve and a drop-dead gorgeous design that would make it look at home on any gamer's desk. And yes, it is compatible with AMD FreeSync.

Microsoft increased the price of Xbox Live Gold yesterday, albeit briefly. The company announced that the cost of one-month membership would go up by $1 per month, with three-month membership increasing by $5.

Unsurprisingly, gamers were not happy at the prospect of paying more, and there was a vocal outcry at what Microsoft had planned. Ever conscious of keeping the customer happy, the company has now backtracked and said that pricing will stay the same. But more than this, it is now possible to play free-to-play games without an Xbox Live Gold subscription.

When it comes to computer mice, there are typically two types of designs that consumers desire. Some folks prefer simplicity, while others like tons of features and buttons. Neither is better, really, as it comes down to personal preference. For me, I like a simple mouse for regular computer use (I always insist on thumb buttons, though). When gaming, however, I like a mouse that is loaded to the gills with buttons and options.

Today, famed accessory-maker Mad Catz unveils an all-new wireless gaming mouse that looks like alien technology. Called "R.A.T. DWS," it is the exact opposite of "simplistic," as it features an insane 14 buttons. This is the first mouse to use the company's new DAKOTA mechanical switch.

RGB lighting is amazing -- it's a fact. It has the ability to make a great product even better. True, some people hate the inclusion of RGB in so many products nowadays, but to them I say, either buy a different product or simply turn the lighting off. You see, many of these products allow you to turn off the lighting effects entirely, so there really is no downside.

Today, ADATA announces its latest solid state drive, and yes, it features RGB lighting. Called "SPECTRIX S20G," this PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD carries the company's XPG branding, meaning it is intended for gaming. With that said, even non-gamers can enjoy the performance and good looks of this SSD.

MSI is a company popular for many of its products, but it is probably best known for its excellent motherboards. Many PC builders choose that company's boards when building a new gaming computer. Of course, MSI makes other great products, such as desktops, laptops, and more.

Today, MSI launches its latest monitor, and gamers should take notice. Called "MAG274QRF-QD," this 27-inch display (2560 x 1440 resolution) features Quantum Dot technology and NVIDIA G-Sync. Not to mention, it looks absolutely gorgeous -- it would look wonderful next to a gaming PC.

In ancient Greek mythology, Zeus was the god of thunder. With that said, "Zeus" makes a really cool product name for PC gaming components, as gamers are sure to enjoy the rumble of bass coming from their speakers as they set off bombs and fire guns in their favorite games.

And so, TEAMGROUP has selected the aforementioned god's name to represent its new DDR4 gaming memory. Called "T-FORCE ZEUS," there are sticks of RAM available for both desktop and laptop computers. Not only should they perform well, but they are quite attractive too. Keep in mind, while the SO-DIMM sticks are technically designed for laptops, they will also work with mini computers, such as the Intel NUC.

The weather is finally getting colder -- do you know what that means? We computer nerds and PC gamers don't have to feel bad about staying indoors while playing on our computers. During the spring and summer, you can sometimes feel bad about playing video games all day instead of enjoying the weather. In the fall and winter, however, it is totally justified!

You know what else is in the winter? Holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah. This means you can ask friends and family to buy you new PC hardware as gifts. It is the perfect time to ask mom or dad for a new keyboard or mouse, for instance.

Christmas is fast approaching, and AMD recently released new processors, making this a prime time for people to start building PCs for themselves or for others as gifts. This means people will be searching for components like SSDs, RAM, Power Supply Units, and more.

Of course, all of these things must be housed in a case, and while it is largely superficial (it can impact cooling, however), a chassis is still a very important part of any build. Nowadays people seem to like small computers, but I still prefer full-ATX so I can get a motherboard with plenty of expandability. Thankfully, there are compact PC cases that will accommodate a full-ATX board.