Articles about Gaming

Spring is officially here, and for many people, that signals the start of cleaning their homes. "Spring Cleaning," as it is typically called, sees people throwing out unused items, donating old clothes, and rearranging clutter.

If you aren't in the mood for cleaning, Microsoft is offering a less responsible alternative -- shopping. The company's "Spring Sale" starts tomorrow and offers amazing deals on video games, apps, music, TV shows, movies, and hardware. There is great content to be had for Windows, Xbox One, and even Xbox 360. If you need a Windows PC, Microsoft will be offering 33 percent off select models too.

Continue reading →

There are a large number of emulators out there, including a wide range of Xbox and PlayStation emulators. These give gamers the opportunity to play their favorite console games on their PC, but Microsoft has now formally banned such software from the Windows Store.

Emulators have long been the subject of legal wranglings because of concerns about copyright and intellectual property infringements, and now the Windows-maker has put its foot down. The developers of NES emulator NESBox are among those affected by the ban, and point to a recent change in Microsoft's rules for the Window Store -- affecting not only Windows 10, but also Xbox One users.

Continue reading →

When it comes to gaming, there are often three types of consumers -- budget, hardcore, and those that fall in between. Being a budget shopper doesn't necessarily mean you can't afford the best, although that is sometimes the case. Some people just respect money and do not want to buy more power than they need. Heck, some hardcore shoppers put the most expensive offering on a credit card, paying interest just for bragging rights -- foolish.

Today, NVIDIA unveils the latest card for those that want the absolute best. The TITAN Xp is insanely powerful (12 TFLOPs), but there is a big catch -- the cost. Seriously, folks, you won't believe how much you have to spend for this beast! Strangely, it offers Mac support, but no modern Apple computers can accommodate it. The last legit Mac that can run this card is the Mac Pro (Mid 2012). Is NVIDIA catering to the "Hackintosh" crowd?

Continue reading →

The next addition to the Xbox family is code-named Project Scorpio, and today details about the next-generation console have emerged. Rather unusually, these details have come neither direct from Microsoft nor through a series of leaks.

For reasons best known to Microsoft, the company chose to invite Digital Foundry to its Redmond campus and reveal Project Scorpio details. Due for release later this year (Q4 to be a little more precise), the console is said to be running ahead of schedule, and boasts some impressive specs that will have gamers drooling.

Continue reading →

It used to be that a desktop gaming PC would almost always be a monstrous tower. In more recent years, however, these rigs have become much more svelte. Heck, there are even respectable gaming laptops nowadays. Small gaming machines not only save space, but they are arguably more aesthetically pleasing too.

Earlier this year, MSI launched a beautiful mini gaming PC called the Trident 3, for which the company has received the IF Design award. To celebrate this achievement, today, the company unveils a limited edition "Frosty" variant. With a beautiful white chassis and customizable lighting, the Trident 3 Arctic stands out from boring conservative designs.

Continue reading →

If you are a PC gamer, there is a good chance that you enjoy building your own computers. After all, building them yourself guarantees that you select every single component that goes inside. Not only can you pick the parts from a performance perspective, but aesthetically too -- for some folks, looks matter.

While a self-built gaming rig can be rewarding, it can be an expensive headache too. If something goes wrong, you have to reach out to each component manufacturer for support and warranty purposes. Alternatively, when you buy a pre-built machine, you have a single company to contact. Today, PC component maker CORSAIR announces an all-new gaming computer series -- its first ever. Simply called "ONE," it is designed to be both svelte and powerful. The hardcore mini PC is rather pricey, however, as it starts at $1,800 -- there are several "PRO" variants which will increase the cost dramatically. Unfortunately for AMD fans, this is an Intel/NVIDIA-only affair.

Continue reading →

It is quite some time since Super Mario Run arrived for iOS and took the world by storm. Right from the start there were questions about when the Android version would appear, and the delay from Nintendo saw the springing up of a batch of malicious fakers.

Pre-registration for the Super Mario Run for Android opened up in late-December, and now Nintendo has finally revealed the launch date for one of the most eagerly-awaited Android games of all time. The Android version of Super Mario Run will launch on 23 March -- just days away!

Continue reading →

Mechanical keyboards are all the rage with gamers nowadays, and it is easy to see why. Not only are they usually solidly built, but they provide a satisfying typing and clicking experience -- arguably better than cheaper membrane variants.

Today, CORSAIR launches a new tenkeyless (no number pad) mechanical keyboard, called K63. This product features CHERRY MX Red switches and is quite affordable. It even has both dedicated media and volume buttons, plus a Windows Start button lock -- no more accidentally clicking "Windows" and exiting a game. Best of all? It is available now!

Continue reading →

The issue of ad blocking once again resurfaced at the 2017 Mobile World Congress. Leading network provider, O2 announced that it is looking to give users the ability to block ads if they feel "plagued by advertising." This follows on from similar threats at the 2016 MWC from Three Mobile -- another leading network provider in the UK. Although there have been no legislative changes or work regarding ad blocking, the debate is very much in the headlines and in the public domain.

Ad blocking uptake has slowed, but brands should not be resting on their laurels just yet. According to statistics from Campaign magazine, during 2017, 41.1 percent of millennials will use ad-blockers, versus 26.9 percent of Generation X and 13.9 percent of baby boomers. The increase in mobile phone usage will force marketers to think more carefully about exactly how they will reach these people, so that users do not feel interrupted, specifically during mobile gaming. Consumers are so used to advertising on television and radio, but mobile is a very different medium. Ultimately, advertisers need to be less invasive and more creative in their approach to reach their target audience.

Continue reading →

There is a new trend in console gaming, where existing consoles are enhanced rather than replaced. For instance, the Xbox One S and PlayStation 4 Pro aren't really new consoles, but upgrades of the current generation. They may have new features, but they play the exact same games.

Microsoft's next generation of video game console is currently called "Project Scorpio." This will be a truly new console, although it will be backwards compatible with all Xbox One games -- nice. In fact, you will even be able to use your Xbox One controllers and other accessories. While we do not have a definitive date of when it will go on sale, today the next Xbox console makes its debut in the Microsoft Store. We even get a slightly better idea of when it will be in stores.

Continue reading →

PC gaming is a huge business nowadays, with consumers not only spending a lot of money on games and hardware, but dedicating much time to the pastime too. Heck, people don't just play video games themselves, they also watch other people play them. Amazon's Twitch platform is full of people streaming themselves playing games, and even more people watching them.

As the gaming scene grows, the hardware offerings seem to get better and better. After all, the bigger the market, the bigger the incentive to cater to it. Logitech has long supported the PC gaming community, especially with its iconic "G" series of hardware. Today, the company is bringing a new professional-level keyboard to market. Called "G Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard," it is designed for those that take their gaming sessions seriously and are willing to invest in quality accessories.

Continue reading →

Just as operating systems borrow ideas from each other, the same is true of social networks -- and just about all sites and services feature social networking elements. Twitch, the streaming video platform for gamers, is copying Twitter and launching a social media feed called Pulse.

Described as "a place where streamers can post and engage with all of their followers and the greater Twitch community right from the Twitch front page", Pulse is not just about text updates, but also sharing GIFs.

Continue reading →

If you were one of the many gamers who unwrapped a Nintendo Switch this weekend, there are a few little tidbits that you might be interested in. Whether you've opted for a standard Joy-Con controller, or the Switch Pro Controller there are secrets waiting to be discovered.

In the US, UK and Japan, sales of Nintendo's latest console have been impressive, so there are lot of gamers out there ready to explore the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But before you devote hours to whatever games you bought, take a look at the controller in your hand because it has more to offer than you might first think.

Continue reading →

AMD recently released its all-new Ryzen 7 desktop processors, and many folks are excited. Well, I am sure Intel isn't too happy, actually. Why? AMD's new chips are comparable from a performance standpoint, but at lower prices. Believe it or not, with this new AM4 platform, this is AMD's fist time embracing DDR4 memory.

If you want powerful and compatible RAM for a new Ryzen build, there are many choices. With that said, there is one popular brand of memory that many gamers enjoy nowadays -- G.SKILL. Today, the company announces two new RAM kits -- Flare X and FORTIS. They can be had in various speeds and capacities, with the Flare X being offered with frequencies up to 3,466MHz!

Continue reading →

Microsoft has promised that the arrival of Game Mode in Windows 10 Creators Update will improve the performance of games. This sounds great in principle, but how does it work?

Microsoft has already said a little about what's going on, but really it has not gone far beyond saying that more processor and GPU cycles will be dedicated to compatible games. But speaking at the Game Developers Conference this week, Xbox Advanced Technology Group's Eric Walston went into a little more detail.

Continue reading →