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Democrats press Amazon for details on tornado warehouse deaths
A group of 20 senators and House representatives are seeking answers from the company.
AOC will return to Twitch tonight for another round of 'Among Us'
Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, will be part of the crew.
Podcast: Are the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro worth it?
This week on the show, we dive into our thoughts on the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, AOC's Among Us stream and the death of Quibi.
AOC's 'Among Us' Twitch stream peaked at over 435,000 viewers
US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has joined Twitch, and will play a game of 'Among Us' for her first live stream while encouraging viewers to vote in the upcoming election.
Despite the HQ2 debacle, Amazon will add office space in Manhattan
Early this year, Amazon pulled the plug on plans to build an "HQ2" in Queens after a number of local leaders and activists pushed back against the $3 billion in tax breaks and incentives it would receive. Now the online retail giant has confirmed plans to lease 335,000 square feet of office space in Manhattan, according to the Wall Street Journal. The new NYC expansion will be located in the Hudson Yards neighborhood with more than 1,500 employees. It's a much smaller footprint than what Amazon had proposed for HQ2 -- which shifted to other locations in Virginia and Tennessee -- but it comes with no tax breaks or incentives, and no nationwide contest to lure the company's business. US representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response to the news "Won't you look at that: Amazon is coming to NYC anyway - *without* requiring the public to finance shady deals, helipad handouts for Jeff Bezos, & corporate giveaways."
Age of Conan has its eye on achievements, crafting for 2015
Is Hyboria one of your planned destinations for 2015? If so, then you're in luck, as Joel Bylos has a taste of what's in store for Age of Conan this year in a new game director letter. The two big initiatives for the year revolve around the brand-new achievement and revamped crafting systems. The first iteration of achievements are coming with update 4.5 in a few weeks. These will include achievements for completing speed challenges for dungeons. Following that, players will get to dive into a richer crafting experience. Bylos hinted at a few other highlights for 2015, including the return of the world boss system and PvP festivals. "We are still nailing down our production schedule for the year," he wrote. "You can expect to hear more about the status of Palace of Cetriss and The Slithering Chaos in an upcoming letter."
Age of Conan is selling instant level-80s until January 2nd
Getting a high-level character in Age of Conan now requires you only to break out your wallet and plunk down a few bills. Funcom announced today that players can purchase an instant level 80 character on the cash shop for $40 (or $30 if that player already has another level 80 toon). These new level 80s will come equipped with a set of rare gear, a fast mount, the riding skill, a 56-slot bag, 79 expertise points, and other goodies. If you're planning on picking up one of these "go straight to buff" packages, you'll need to do so before the promotion ends on January 2nd. Age of Conan is also offering bonus free months of subscription and other goods when you sign up or extend your membership by at least three additional months.
Age of Conan gives rewards for testing achievement system
Age of Conan is hopping on board this cool, hip achievement train that all of the kids are talking about these days with its Update 4.5. In November's game director letter, Joel Bylos said that the upcoming achievements will be merely "the first wave" in an ever-expanding system. In fact, if players help the team test achievements before they go live, they will be given a random pet as a thank-you. Bylos said that work is also progressing on revamping the world boss event "to provide a more entertaining experience." He also asked the community for its input on which one of two styles of lore entries that players preferred.
4K, gaming and a tale of two monitors
Unlike most gadgets and peripherals, our computer monitors tend to stay with us for a good chunk of time. My current 23-incher has been with me since the days of my Palm Centro. So when it comes to shopping for a new display, it certainly pays to know what you want out of it. Are you heavily into gaming and need a monitor with crazy-high refresh rates? Would you rather have as big a screen as possible for all those windows you have open every day? I recently spent a month with two of AOC's latest models: a 24-incher with NVIDIA G-Sync support for serious gaming, and a 4K 28-inch display that puts a premium on pixels. Could either one convince me to let go of my trusty Viewsonic?
One Shots: Nowhere to hide
Generally, I don't like to be pessimistic, but I have to say that things don't look good for reader Brad here. Sooner or later his childish game will fall apart, and when that happens, it will be all teeth and claws and slavering fangs. But at least it's for a good cause, right Brad? Oh, it's just to level up his skills. "To get your skills up in Ultima Online, you had to use them over and over," Brad explains. "As they got higher, you had to do more difficult things with some skills. This was me trying to up my hiding skill. Lets just say, trying to hide in front of this many Ophidians, was not easy... but I was gaining skill! They could not get to me up here." Who here feels bad for the Ophidians? Raise your hands please. I thought as much.
Age of Conan's achievement system, Pit of Trials coming soon
It's still spooky in Age of Conan, at least according to today's dev update letter. The Hyborian Halloween event will run through November 12th, but chances are you'll be more interested in Funcom's plans for the game going forward. Chief among those plans is the achievement system slated for update 4.5. Funcom says you'll collect achievements for everything from leveling to PvP stats and minigames to dungeon and raid completion. There's also a lore journal and a panorama mechanic that provides "a camera path, an achievement, and experience" each time you find one. Don't forget about the pit of trials, a level 80 arena designed with both PvEers and PvPers in mind.
Donate to Age of Conan board game Kickstarter for an in-game MMO mount
If you're an avid player of Funcom's Age of Conan MMORPG, chances are good you're a Conan fan and a gaming geek, so why not combine the three with an Age of Conan board game? Funcom posted today that Ares Games is remaking the Conan-flavored strategy board game complete with a new expansion called Adventures in Hyboria. The catch is that the board game's designers are seeking Kickstarter funding, but it's already raised $52,000 more than asked for as of the time of this writing, so faith in the project appears high. There's even a tie-in for Age of Conan MMO players who pledge funds to the campaign. Writes Funcom, [W]e are happy to announce that anyone who contributes to this Kickstarter will get the all new Strategist's Steed mount in our Age of Conan Unchained MMORPG! Once the Kickstarter is finished, anyone who has contributed will receive a key which can be used on the Age of Conan account pages. This key gives the Strategist's Steed armored swift horse in-game (requiring advanced riding training to use), which can then be claimed in the Item Shop once per account. Stretch goal rewards for the Kickstarter include special miniatures, bonus cards, and die-cut board pieces.
Age of Conan's Update 4.4 ushers in new raids, new tier sets
As summer fades into memory, Age of Conan players turn their gaze toward the Halloween event and the next major patch of the game. The latest game director's letter is about exactly those topics, as well, so that works out nicely. While update 4.4 will bring with it new Unchained raids, there are other improvements coming along as well, not the least of which are visual improvements to the Tier 5 sets that will be released along with the raids. The update also brings with it the PvP streak system and new area looting functionality; pressing Shift and V will automatically loot all eligible corpses in the immediate area. Players can also look forward to the upcoming gem system and Thirst of the Serpent God event at the end of the month. Check out the full letter for more details about what's coming next for the game over the next 31 days.
Age of Conan update talks streaking, crafting, and more
Hearken to me, Hyborian faithful, for I've an Age of Conan update to share. Actually, hearken to game director Joel Bylos, who has posted an August update letter that talks about raiding updates and tier 5 gear as well as the new PvP minigame streak system (no, not that kind of streaking, you naughty Barbarian). AoC is also getting a version of The Secret World's achievement and lore system, and the loooooong-delayed crafting revamp is still in process.
Funcom's revenues decrease in Q2
Funcom has released its second-quarter financial results for the year, and it's not a glowing success story. Revenue dropped roughly $600,000 compared to Q1, a drop attributed to weaker in-game item sales over the quarter. Despite this, the report indicates that the company remains on-track as a whole, with the overall pattern of expenses not significantly changed. All of the major MMOs in the studio's portfolio are stated to be cash-flow positive, which is good news for fans. While the company launched several marketing attempts to draw more players into its titles, The Secret World was the most successful at bringing in more players via its most recent major update. The company projects good results for LEGO Minifigures Online when it releases in October. Interested players can look at the full report, which is less overwhelmingly positive than might be ideal but hardly paints a picture of doom.
Jukebox Heroes: Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer's soundtrack
Fans (or ex-fans?) of this column might recall that I went against the grain of popular opinion by pronouncing Age of Conan's soundtrack "adequate" rather than an "outstanding masterpiece." I think that I can extend an olive branch to the player army that's been chasing me since then, however, as I hold the expansion soundtrack in much higher regard. Composer Knut Avenstroup Haugen returned for Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer, creating a 22-track journey through all new barbaric lands. Unlike his first score for this MMO, this one latches onto the Asian themes of the expansion and takes the score in a decidedly Chinese direction. It's well-done across the board and aided by a full orchestra. Really, my biggest complaint is that it's not easy to purchase here in the states for some reason. You can listen to and even download a few samples from the official soundtrack site, which still remains in operation. So let's head to the far east for this week's exploration of MMO soundtracks, looking at the highlights from Rise of the Godslayer!
IRL: A 24-inch AOC monitor that doubles as a gigantic Android tablet
What can you do with 24 inches of Jelly Bean that you can't do with 10? Manufacturers like Acer, Asus and ViewSonic have been building oversized Android-powered devices for a couple years now; I was determined to find out why, so I spent a few weeks with AOC's own all-in-one. The hybrid external monitor will run you $370 on Amazon -- more than twice what you'll pay for a comparable 1080p screen -- but this pricier model adds stock Android 4.2.2 with a touchscreen interface. With the tap of a button, the integrated quad-core processor and eight gigs of storage spring into action, effectively converting this otherwise ordinary monitor into a complete Android-powered machine. There's even an integrated 720p webcam, and with stock Jelly Bean on board, you can install whatever apps you'd like from Google Play.
The AOC G2460PQU 144Hz monitor is a blazingly fast display for gamers
If you're a gamer, you've probably heard a whole lot about the newest crop of monitors that promise to enhance your experience with a refresh rate that blows your 60Hz display out of the water. AOC's new 24-inch, 144Hz gaming monitor (G2460PQU) is one such device, and while it won't necessarily change the way you view your more boring computer tasks, the benefits are clear when it comes to gaming. Specs Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Screen Size: 24"W Viewable Image Size: 609.7mm Pixel Pitch: 0.277 (H)×0.277 (V) mm Display Area: 531.36 (H)×298.89 (V) mm Brightness: 350 cd/m2 Contrast Ratio (typical): 80000000:1 (DCR) Response Time (typical): 1ms Viewing Angle: 170/160 (CR≥10) Scan Frequency H: 30K~83KHz (DVI:30Khz~160Khz) V: 55~76Hz Pixel Frequency: 165MHz Display Colors: 16.7M HDCP Compatible: Yes Inputs: Analog RGB, Dual Link DVI, HDMI and DP Input Connector: 15-pin D-Sub, 24-pin DVI, HDMI and DP Power Supply: 100~240VAC, 50/60Hz Power Consumption: Power On: <33W（Typical), Standby: <0.5W Speakers 2W x 2 Wall-Mount 100mm×100mm Mechanical Function Tilt: -5°~20° Weight (Net /Gross) 4.61/6.10kg Price: US$399.99 Design The first thing you'll notice about the G2460PQU -- but arguably also the least important -- is the striking red bezel that rests at the bottom of the display. It's a slick looking monitor all around, with a slightly textured, brushed metal appearance, and while the red racing stripe doesn't really match anything in my office, it's still a cool look. Once you get past its flashy looks, you'll find that the design is as much about customization as it is about aesthetics. The nondescript base holds the display on an arm that is fully adjustable, allowing you to raise the screen to a maximum height of around 21 inches (measured from the top of the monitor) or lower it to just less than 16 inches. The sliding arm is extremely sturdy and while you might worry that the screen would fall ever so slightly of its own accord, I've seen no problems over several days of use. You can also orient the screen vertically and use it in a "portrait" mode, and if you have the strange desire to have the screen tilted at a diagonal pitch, you can do that, too. Normally you'd need to buy a desk-mounted monitor arm to get this kind of customization out of the display, but the fact that AOC built it right into the default stand is a huge plus. Another great extra is a pair of built-in USB ports on the right side of the display, in addition to the two located on the rear. All of them are USB 2.0, and one is a high-powered port that boasts the ability to charge your gadgets up to three times faster than normal. It's nothing huge, but the inclusion is nice for quick connections and those of us who can just never seem to have enough USB connections. The monitor comes with an optional snap-on cord holder in a red hue that matches the monitor itself, though this is entirely up to you to use. Functionality If you're interested in a 144Hz monitor, you're looking for speed, and in that aspect the G2460PQU absolutely delivers. From the moment you plug it in, the response time and refresh rate are instantly noticeable. Even as you just drag your mouse across the screen you'll notice how much more fluid movement looks when it's being delivered at a speed so much greater than what you're used to. It's actually kind of hard to describe how it looks unless you've seen a one of these monitors in action, but let me try to explain it with a simple test for those of you reading this on a standard 60Hz monitor: Right now, on your computer, rotate your mouse cursor in a circle on your screen. If you do it fast enough, you'll see not only your little pointer but also the ghosts of where your cursor has been. You'll see the gaps in between each cursor ghost because your monitor isn't capable of updating the pixels on the screen fast enough to render your mouse position in the space in between. Now imagine your monitor is fast enough to update the screen so many times per second that all you see is the brief blur of your cursor trailing it as it moves around the circle. That's the effect the 144Hz refresh rate produces. If you move your cursor fast enough, you'll still see some small gaps, but the overall effect is much smoother than what you've seen before. This, of course, pays off when it comes to games, which is what the G2460PQU was made to conquer. When playing a fast-paced game like Counter-Strike, the upgrade from 60Hz to 144Hz not only makes the game look better in terms of fluidity, but it can also be a tactical advantage. In online shooters, FPS (frames per second) is one of the most important metrics (along with ping, of course), and if your computer is capable of delivering insanely high framerates, a monitor like this is the only way to take full advantage of it. Everything from racing games like Grid 2 to card games like Hearthstone look even more fantastic in 144Hz, and after going back to my regular 60Hz monitor once I was done testing, I honestly miss it. It's one of those changes that you won't be able to roll back from without some serious regret. Settings wise, the G2460PQU does a nice job of helping you customize your display with some user-friendly menus and lots of options. You can tweak familiar settings like brightness, contrast, gamma, color temp, and a handful of others, or just choose one of the preset modes. I had my best luck when starting with the standard preset and then tweaking the various options until my desktop looks stunning, but you may find one of the default settings to be perfect for you right from the start. But as awesome as the monitor is in most aspects, I had a couple of issues crop up over the days I had with it: For one, the monitor doesn't really "lock" into an orientation very well. Whether you want it in portrait or landscape mode, turning it as far as you can in either direction doesn't result in a click or a snap or anything that suggests it is perfectly locked at that 90-degree angle. I often thought the monitor was tilted just the slightest bit, and it became such an obsession that I kept a level at my desk for several days. After changing its orientation I could never seem to eyeball it back to a perfectly straight angle, which is where a nice click or locking mechanism would have come in handy. Second, the built-in speakers are a bit on the weak side. If you're a serious gamer, you'll find them to be pretty inadequate compared to a nice sound system or high-end headphones, so don't expect anything great on the audio side of things. Conclusion The G2460PQU is a monitor made for gamers, and as such it is almost perfect. Its display is bright, vibrant, and super fast, and the customization options and extras are just icing on an already tasty cake. In terms of pure functionality, there's really nothing I can imagine being added that would significantly improve its performance, and aside from my admittedly minor sticking points, it's gets a huge recommendation from me. Note: It's important to remember that you'll need a pretty high-end Mac to be able to use this monitor to its full potential. Some lower end machines don't support 144Hz output whatsoever, so be sure to check your compatibility. Rating
Age of Conan's anniversary celebration starts today
Age of Conan turns six today, and doesn't that make you feel old? As we reported last week, Funcom is gifting players with a new PvP-themed Festival of Bloodshed that lead content designer Matthew Bennett calls "arguably our largest PvP patch in the game's history." But wait, there's more! The Shadows of the Past anniversary event sees players uncovering a plot against King Conan and traveling back to Tortage. The event, as well as a cash shop treasure chest giveaway, starts today and runs through June 3rd. The Festival of Bloodshed starts on May 21st, lasts for one week, and will recur on a monthly basis.
Age of Conan kicks off the Festival of Bloodshed for its anniversary
What's the best way to celebrate six years for Age of Conan? Obviously, by encouraging the players to kill each other! In the game, we mean. Put down that hammer. The Festival of Bloodshed is a new event that will be running for one week every month, offering players a chance to take part in all-new PvP modes and events while earning fantastic prizes. On PvP servers, the zone flagged for the Festival will rotate from place to place, while on the game's dedicated PvE server the festival will take place in the Border Kingdoms to ensure all PvP remains consensual. While in these regions, players can take part in the new Fields of Slaughter events (teams holding a designated region against all comers) as well as the Arena of Death. This comes along with new PvP daily quests, improved PvP gear, bonus experience for alternate advancement, and other rewards. So to celebrate six years of the game, read up on how you can reach out and touch someone. With a pointy bit of metal. [Thanks to Anders for the tip!]
