impact
Latest
Aftereffects of the Activision-Blizzard merger
Unless something crazy happens, it seems that the Activision-Blizzard merger (which is really the Activision-Vivendi merger, actually) will go down without a problem -- shareholders are voting on it this week, so by next week we should see confirmation that Guitar Hero and World of Warcraft are under the same umbrella.Gamasutra has posted a nice long feature about what exactly that means, for both companies and for the rest of the industry. As we predicted, there probably won't be huge repercussions for either of the biggest companies involved -- both Activision and Blizzard will continue to go their own separate ways for now, sharing only a name among investors (Gamasutra even says the names on the game boxes won't change at all). The biggest impact will be on the little guys in between -- Activision's previous shareholders now have to answer to Vivendi (who will hold a majority stock in the company), and Viviendi's smaller division, the former glory of Sierra Games, will have to answer to Activision before publishing any of their titles.And of course the other big consequence we've seen so far is that Bobby Kotick apparently feels he knows everything there is to know about the MMO game. Sure. For now, though, it's business as usual for both Activision and Blizzard -- if there will be any change in either company because of the merger, we likely won't see it for a while.[via Blizzplanet]
Everex rolls out $300 IMPACT GC3502 PC
Everex looks to be lowering the already low barrier to entry to its line of IMPACT desktop computers, with the company today introducing its $300 GC3502 model, which it's touting as an ideal back-to-school PC. Helping it in that department is the pre-loaded OpenOffice software, which shouldn't be too taxing on the system's 1.5GHz VIA C7-D processor and 1GB of RAM. Rounding out the specs, you'll find an 80GB hard drive, a DVD/CD-RW combo drive, integrated Ethernet (no WiFi), and VIA Chrome9 HC IGP integrated graphics. Needless to say, gamers need not apply, but those less demanding can get the system now exclusively at Wal-Mart.
SET readies in-car black box / crash recorder for release
Although Sindan Electrical Trading (SET) prefers to draw similarities between its forthcoming RoadBOX Driving Recorder and the infamous black box contraptions that are finding their way into vehicles everywhere, this accident recorder actually relates more closely to the DREC1000 and TS-1L. Slated to hit the Dubai market in mid-March, this in-car recording device is mounted atop and inside the vehicle's windshield where it continuously captures video of whatever's happening in front of the car. If an impact is detected, or if the driver slams on brakes, the machine stores the video, as well as acceleration data, 14 seconds before the incident and 6 seconds after. As expected, the video file and speed data can be transferred to a computer via USB (if the box isn't too mangled, that is), and specialized software creates charts to match the acceleration / braking data and get closer to the "truth" behind an accident. Interestingly, it seems the company is actually marketing these to corporations who rely on employee-driven vehicles as a way to accurately place (or remove) blame on peon screw-ups while behind the wheel of a company car. Nevertheless, those of you interested in making any future traffic cases a bit easier on a lawyer (be it yours or the other guy's) can snap this up in about six weeks for Dh1,500, or around $176.[Thanks, Paul S.]
Everex kicks out Vista-equipped IMPACT desktops
Once Japan's own CTO brought a lappie to American shores under the Everex moniker, we knew a similar desktop wasn't too far behind, and now it looks like the company has waited for Vista to make its "debut" before loosing them Stateside. The IMPACT series desktops are admittedly lacking in the style department, but they do offer average components for everyday computing if you're not concerned with fashion, and Everex even gives the polarized CPU camp a choice between Intel and AMD. The GE6315J houses a 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, dual-layer DVD burner, 8-channel onboard audio, four USB 2.0 ports, audio in / out, VGA out, Ethernet, Intel's 945G Express integrated graphics set, Vista Home Premium, 250GB hard drive, a ho hum collection of peripherals, and a 19-inch WXGA+ LCD to finish it off. The AMD-powered GM3515J packs an Athlon 64 3500+, NVIDIA's GeForce 6100 graphics set, up to 160GB hard drive, two USB 2.0 ports, and otherwise mimics its Intel-based counterpart. As expected, both of these units are slated to go on sale tomorrow alongside Windows Vista, and while no hard prices were available, you can tell by looking that these shouldn't demand too steep a premium.[Via Impress]
