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Apple made how-to videos for a Watch you can't buy yet
Let's say you've devoured just about everything you can find on the Apple Watch but are still craving more. That's perfectly natural. Well, Cupertino has a guided tour of the wearable that should help answer any remaining questions you might have. For now there are four separate videos with a disembodied voice talking through the different features (messages, general functionality, digital touch and faces), showing how they work and generally being pretty informative. The digital crown, for example, is apparently as integral to Watch as the clickwheel was to the original iPod. Huh.
The history of EverQuest Next, Cliffs Notes version
If there was ever a world with a deep, rich history behind it, it's Norrath. But EverQuest Next is giving its own spin to the lore. If you're tired of feeling left out and clueless in conversations about the Dragon War because you haven't had time to read through the 11 lore e-books that have been published, you've got a chance to get in the know! EQHammer offers a handy Cliffs Notes-style overview that gives fans a foundation of the story, from the formation of the world up though the Combine Era. Go ahead and read through it to grab the major highlights, then you can delve into the full story in the e-books when you find larger chunks of spare time.
Get a video overview of Dragon's Prophet right here, right now
Runewaker's follow-up to Runes of Magic, Dragon's Prophet, promises to "evolutionize" MMOs. Now that you've been mortally wounded by a pun, perhaps you want to spend your last few minutes on this earth by watching a dev interview about this upcoming fantasy title? Dragon's Prophet's core feature is bonding players with dragons as they go about adventuring. Dragons can be ridden as mounts, leveled up, and used as fighting companions. But that's not all! If you order now in the next 10 minutes, your dragon will be available for production and gathering tasks. Operators are standing by! The seven-minute video is a good primer to the world of Dragon's Prophet, and it's all yours after the break. [Thanks to Hirundo for the tip!]
EVE's Crucible 1.5 patch hits tomorrow, brings new launcher
As part of CCP's refocusing on EVE Online, the studio announced that work had begun on a new game launcher last November. Players with an out-of-date client currently receive a patch popup on logging in that requires the client to be restarted, and frequent optional patches to fix non-critical issues can force you to restart the client several times. The new patcher brings EVE up to the industry standard for MMO clients, pre-loading the game in the background and announcing when it's ready to launch. The new launcher will go live tomorrow with the Crucible 1.5 update, but it's not the only thing getting some much-needed attention in the patch. All of the rookie ships have been visually revamped, three new 2/10 DED complexes have been added for newer highsec explorers, and the overview will now be more responsive. The patch also brings a whole host of user interface changes and bug fixes.
Choose My Adventure: Atys refugee blues
Last week's polls were enough for me to get started in the world of Ryzom over the weekend, so I took my first steps back into the game that I haven't played for quite some time. I still remembered how some of it worked, thankfully, but there were a lot of elements that I'd almost completely forgotten. And while I'm still knee-deep in the starter area, I've played enough to at least get some starter impressions. But let's make this a full narrative, yes? When we left off, the group verdict was that I would be starting out as a Zorai with the Magic starter package based off of a female Shakespearean tragic character. And thus, with only a little extra effort, Corlede was born into the world of Ryzom. The character creator offers a variety of features, allowing you to select your character's build in fine detail but offering a strange lack of certain other options. There are also some odd constraints on character types -- you find yourself always locked within a certain general band of height, for instance, so there are no really tall Trykers.
New Origins of Malu video highlights story-based sandbox design
We've been looking forward to Origins of Malu for a while now, even though the sci-fantasy sandbox from Burning Dog Media has been kept pretty tightly under wraps. That's starting to change as the company ramps up its presence at various gaming outlets in anticipation of an Origins closed beta in the near future. Electric Playground has what amounts to the first official Origins trailer, and the clip features a good bit of in-game alpha footage as well as brief interview clips and commentary from lead designer Michael Dunham. During the course of the video, you'll get a taste of the world and its backstory, and Dunham describes Malu as a "gigantic network of portals around the universe [that are] linked through inter-dimensions." Dunham also explains a bit about the mechanical philosophy behind Origins, stating that "we wanted to build a story-based sandbox game where the user is able to do what they want to do from the beginning [...] it can't be just a complete free-for-all, but at the same time we don't want railroad tracks," he says. Journey past the cut for the full video.
Verizon-branded, LTE-enabled Galaxy Nexus confirmed in official Google video
Say, what's this? A 4G LTE-enabled Galaxy Nexus with a Verizon Wireless logo on the back? Certainly is, and it's being discovered this morning in a series of overview / getting started videos hosted up on Google's own YouTube channel. There's still no word on when this guy's hitting store shelves, but at least the whole "maybe it's vaporware!" thing is now firmly in the past. As if it were ever in the present. Head on past the break to get yourself worked into an even zanier lather.Update: In case these promo videos weren't enough, the official specifications list for the LTE Galaxy Nexus has been published![Thanks, Matt]
LG Thrill 4G review
Sharp's Aquos Phone 102SH brings 3D 720p display, 12 megapixel CMOS sensor to Japan Nokia N9 review LG Thrill 4G officially arrives at AT&T for $100, fairy tales can come true Just a few weeks after the LG Optimus 3D got placed in the hot seat at our European offices, we're ready to give its American counterpart its fair share of warmth. Better known in the states as the Thrill 4G, this AT&T device is the latest smartphone to follow in the footsteps of the HTC EVO 3D by tossing an extra dimension into the mix. As it so happens, two rear cameras and some fancy special effects are just enough to change a person's judgement of the device in a split-second. We get it. Few people want to spend their hard-earned cash on a gimmick. But like any other phone with a defining feature, there's more to this glasses-free 3D handset than meets the eye (pun intended). And after peering under the hood and seeing what the Thrill is capable of, there's a possibility this phone can hold its own against the competition in the same price range ($100 on AT&T). How does it differ from its European counterpart? Does the phone's 3D match up against Sprint's contribution? And how does this handset perform apart from that extra D? Join us as we dig through all three dimensions to get to the root of the Thrill 4G. %Gallery-132966%
EVE Evolved: Building a better UI
It's no secret that EVE Online has a poor user interface. With its drop-down menus for interacting with objects and text lists to show information like market orders and nearby objects in space, EVE has thoroughly earned the nickname "spreadsheets in space." The UI has changed drastically since I started playing in 2004, but in recent years, it's fallen behind the development curve. In a new devblog this week, CCP Snowlax suggested that the UI developers at CCP have lacked the framework necessary to do what they wanted with it. The existing framework had become bloated with eight years of development, and the underlying rendering engine wasn't even capable of using custom shaders. With Incursion 1.6, CCP pushed live a completely new UI framework that makes cool features like holographic UI elements possible. With the new Carbon UI framework in place, developers are taking another look at redesigning the EVE user interface. Screenshots of the new features being used in the upcoming Incarna expansion are impressive, but that's all taking place inside stations. I can't help but wonder how these new technologies could be applied to the space-faring portion of EVE and whether there are more fundamental challenges to overcome in UI design than adding flashy graphics. In this week's EVE Evolved, I give some thoughts on the development of EVE's UI, from the necessary evil of the overview to some things I'd like to see change.
WAKFU offers an overview of unique gameplay
WAKFU, a tactical turn-based sprite-animated free-to-play game from Square-Enix and Ankama, is among the more interesting offerings heading toward launch. It's precisely because of that unique blend of flavor, animation, and stylized design that it's also attracting a fair bit of attention as it approaches release. And while the beta for North American players has been a bit delayed (it's starting elsewhere on April 27th), the new trailer should help salve the pain... or possibly make it even worse. While it's only a two-minute trailer, this offering gives players a broad overview of how the game will work, from character creation to the customizable battle system and the playstyles of the 14 different character classes. It also talks about the game's ecosystem, a unique feature whereby damaging the landscape will have long-term repercussions. If you're excited to get your hands on WAKFU from what you've seen and heard so far, the trailer is well worth the time it takes to watch.
HTC Flyer parades its many unique qualities in latest video from the company
Android tablets, everyone's got one, but none are quite like HTC's 7-inch Flyer. Built out of a single piece of aluminum and a great many chunks of silicon, it struts along at a 1.5GHz pace, carries a handy dandy capacitive stylus called Scribe, and offers up a tablet-ified version of HTC's Sense skin on a 1024 x 600 display. It's also the only portable of its kind (so far) to offer the OnLive cloud gaming service. So many features, you'd think someone would go to the effort of summarizing them, perhaps in the form of a stylish video, no? Well, HTC has done exactly that, and its latest product overview vid is embedded for you just after the break.
GDC 2011: GameSamba talks about its upcoming plans
While you may have only heard about GameSamba from our recent beta key giveaway post, the company's intent is to hit the ground running in the free-to-play market this year. How will it accomplish that? The plan is to bring out a bunch of fun games that all kinds of people will enjoy. Currently, the company's site only shows two games -- Remnant Knights and Cocolani Island -- which are both in closed beta. However, we understand from our talk at GDC that the publisher is working on releasing six more titles in the near future so it can give players even more gaming choices. For now, we wanted to focus on finding out more about the two GameSamba free-to-play titles that players will be able to check out soon: Remnant Knights and Cocolani Island. So if you like the idea of adorable anime girls with obnoxiously enormous guns or tiki-themed minigame madness, join us behind the break for videos and more -- and don't forget the galleries! %Gallery-118257%
Alter Ego: Scarred for life edition
Earlier this week saw the arrival of the highly anticipated February update in DC Universe Online. Like any other large patch in an MMO, this update not only added quite a bit of great new content and fixed some glaring exploits but introduced several issues that weren't there before. My personal pick for "worst new bug" since the patch? The F9 button no longer takes screenshots. First world problems, I know. Of course, this means I'll be dedicating this week's column to looking at some aspects of our new patchy overlord. Is it all that we hoped it would be? No. I don't think even Sony Online Entertainment would be boastful enough to make that claim. Still, I do think this first major content patch to DC Universe Online is an equally major step in the right direction. However, the tying together of PC and PS3 patches means that we won't likely see another major game-fixing update until next month since whatever the devs push out has to be able to pass muster on both platforms. That said, there's more than enough to talk about this week (and next, really), so let's get to it!
Everything you need to know about Champions F2P
It's no secret that Champions Online is rolling out with its free-to-play update tomorrow. In addition to everything offered for free members, there's just a ton of new stuff. While this patch isn't quite Revelations in terms of content, it is one of the biggest full expansions Champions has seen. Whether you're a returning player giving CO another shot, a new player checking out all the free stuff, or a current player itching for a rundown of all the added features, we've got you covered. With this full review of all of CO's latest features, you'll be well-equipped to start your new adventures in Millennium City and beyond.
Live Stream: Archaeology 101
Hello, class, and welcome to Archaeology 101. Today, we'll show you how to get started in this profession, as well as where to go, what to do and how to do it. I know I'm not as dreamy as Indiana Jones, so I won't be expecting apples on my desk or eyelid tattoos. But I'll also not be interrupting class to run after Nazis, so I've got that going for me ... which is nice. I will be taking questions and comments from the chat room, however, which is after the break. Update: The stream is now over. You can watch the video replay by clicking the image above.
Choose My Adventure: Farewell, Vanguard
It's been an interesting six weeks in Vanguard, but the time has come to wind down and leave the lands of Telon behind. From massive landscapes to odd bugs, it has been a varied adventure. For the final week I'd wanted to tackle one of the larger in-game dungeons as opposed to the mini-dungeons that Orin and I had been taking on, but sadly that wasn't to be. Despite attempting to look around in the LFG tool and sending requests over continent chat, I wound up spending the remaining time soloing or checking out things like player housing. Curious about my final thoughts on this MMO? Join me after the break as I look over the last six weeks and give my impressions on the adventure you chose for me! %Gallery-104309%
First Impressions: LEGO Universe
Playing. It's one of our earliest lessons from childhood, and one that we as gamers hold on to with gusto. Let's face it -- in just about every gamer out there is a kid who, at least in some small way, refuses to grow up entirely. We love to play. It's that love, coupled with childhood memories of clicking tons of brightly colored LEGO blocks together, that has made the idea of LEGO videogames a huge hit. Now have a new contender to the LEGO gaming play-space: LEGO Universe. It's a game that has the potential to offer all the things we as MMO gamers would love: an open-ended world, a great known IP that reminds us of youthful days, and the social aspects many of us enjoy. Aside from this, LEGO Universe also offers many things that parents of young gamers will value. As someone I spoke with recently asked: "What's stopping people from building offensive adult-themed content with LEGO bricks that my child might see?" The answer lies in LEGO Universe's moderation team, known as the Mythran (a shadowy group actually written into the lore of the game), which personally reviews personal free-build areas for compliance. The Mythrans also oversee character and pet names. When combined with a speedchat and whitelisted word chat system, it makes for a very workable solution to keeping kids safe online. Curious about a look into LEGO Universe? Join me behind the break as I take a more detailed look at this colorful game, and be sure to check out the extensive gallery below! %Gallery-105603%
HTC Desire HD detailed in appropriately HD video
Feeling like you're insufficiently saturated with Desire HD info? HTC's got your back, as usual, with one of its expansive video overviews, setting the specs and features you already know about to a background of soothing music and cutesy visuals. Nothing wrong with that, we say, and it makes for a great sales pitch if you're trying to convince your significant other of the life-changing benefits of purchasing said handset. Skip past the break, set your eyeballs to 720p mode, and enjoy the show.
Anti-Aliased: A few thoughts on the Final Fantasy XIV beta
Holy crap. Look at that sweet screenshot. It's a veritable action movie! There. That's your article. Now, if you could excuse me, I'm going to go explore Eorzea some more. Oh. You're still here. Damn. I was hoping you'd all be distracted by the pretty. I'm guessing you've all figured out that I've been getting some time in on the Final Fantasy XIV beta, and I've been enjoying myself so far. While I understand that many people have plenty of dislike for the title (and some of that dislike is well-deserved, I do admit), I have to say that something about this game has gripped me in the right way. While I can't claim a huge amount of time with the title just yet, I do want to devote some time to picking out the good and bad areas of my visit in Eorzea so far. So join me this week as we discuss the ups and downs of Final Fantasy XIV's eclectic design, as well as the starting portions of Gridania and Limisa Lomisa. %Gallery-69600%
E3 2010: Bigpoint offers more info on Battlestar Galactica Online
As we saw earlier this year at GDC, Bigpoint has something very big indeed planned for their next game: Battlestar Galactica Online. However, outside of hearing that the game would be a free-to-play, browser-based title, and a handful of other details, there have been only teasers (well, and a tasty trailer earlier this month) for the game. Thankfully, we got a chance to sit down at E3 with Philip Reisberger, Head of Games for Bigpoint, and learn a bit more about what players can expect from this fan-favorite IP game. Some of the features they mentioned to us are the use of Unity as their primary platform to create a gorgeous 3-D setting; the intent to set the game within the tail-end of the second season of the BSG series without tying it too closely to the series' storyline; and their ambitious goal to launch by the end of this year. So if you'd like to check out our juicy Q&A, hit the frakkin' break already! Also be sure to check the gallery below for a sweet selection of screenshots we managed to snag, offering a first look at the in-game graphics. %Gallery-95434%
