Katrina Filippidis

Contributing Writer

Katrina majored in Japanese and Neuroscience at Melbourne University, but fate (and a love for writing) drew her towards video game journalism. When not obsessively cataloging 3D platformers, she enjoys rocking out to power metal, drawing, and reminiscing about flip phones.

Articles by Katrina Filippidis

EA will launch its premium Origin Access subscription next week
When EA's Origin Access service launched in 2016, it gave PC gamers the chance to try out a selection of games from 'The Vault' -- an expanding catalog of EA titles -- for a monthly subscription fee. One caveat was that, like PlayStation Plus and Games with Gold, the lineup wasn't always filled with the most recent releases. However, with Origin Access Premier, a higher tier subscription originally unveiled during E3 and set to go live next week, you'll finally be able to get your fix.
Samsung begins producing its battery-saving memory chips for phones
Smartphone makers are finding it difficult to make their phones stand out in an increasingly competitive market. As well as continuously rolling out new software features and improved displays, sometimes an effective solution can be as simple as upgrading internal components to guarantee better performance and longer battery life. That's what Samsung's second-generation 10nm (1y-nm) class 16Gb LPDDR4X Mobile DRAM is all about.
Realm Royale’s closed beta starts on consoles next week
After amassing thousands of viewers on Twitch.tv, and briefly cracking Steam's top five most-played games in its second week of release, Hi-Rez Studio's decision to bring its free-to-play fantasy shooter Realm Royale (formerly Paladins: Battlegrounds) to consoles could be a wise one, even if it has plenty of competition from the likes of H1Z1, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and Fortnite: Battle Royale.
The next stop for Whole Foods delivery is NYC
Amazon is expanding its Whole Foods Delivery service to five new cities. Prime Now subscribers in New York City, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Long Island will be able to sift through a variety of dairy, meat, everyday staples and seafood options.
Russia may send a robot 'crew' to space in 2019
Leveraging robotics to undertake dangerous missions has obvious benefits for mankind, and space travel is no exception. In 2011, NASA sent its dexterous assistant 'Robonaut 2' on a trip to the International Space Station (ISS) with the objective of working alongside presiding astronauts. Now a "source in the rocket and space industry" tells RIA Novosti that a Russian android duo could be following suit as early as next year.
Breathtaking photos show Saturn's moon in a new light
Photos of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, have typically captured the muted, apricot tones of its nitrogen-rich atmosphere. But thanks to more than a decade of data gathered by the Cassini spacecraft, new photographs of an atmosphere-free Titan can show us the mesmerizing beauty of its surface.
Three top FBI officials quit as US cybersecurity threats mount
Looming cybersecurity threats are reportedly behind the departure of several cybersecurity officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to The Wall Street Journal, three of the top FBI officials -- Scott Smith, David Resch, and Carl Ghattas -- are exiting the bureau.
Nissan's Leaf E-Plus may offer more range and extra power in 2019
Nissan's 2018 Leaf model upped the ante with a ProPilot Assist system and 150-mile travel range on full battery. That was a solid improvement compared to the original Leaf's 107 miles, and positioned it somewhere between the Hyundai Iconiq EV and Tesla's Model 3. Still, it left many hungry for a vehicle that could offer a longer range. Now, the best-selling EV maker has confirmed its 2019 model will boost mileage and battery power.
DARPA's insect-sized SHRIMP robots could aid disaster relief
DARPA's efforts to propel military technology forward often manifest in a diverse fashion, spanning everything from drone submarine development to a biostasis program that aims to buy more time to rescue soldiers on the battlefield. The SHRIMP program, short for SHort-Range Independent Microrobotic Platforms, is another potentially life-saving initiative that is being designed to navigate through hazardous natural disaster zones.
You can legally download 3D-printed gun designs next month
3D gun printing advocate Defense Distributed has emerged triumphant in a legal battle to freely publish online blueprints that could allow users to manufacture firearms.
UK video streaming subscribers topple pay-TV for the first time
Popular online streaming services like Amazon Prime and Netflix are for the first time outshining traditional pay-TV in Britain.
Google's job search feature comes to the UK
Google is well aware of AI's power. When it's used for good, it can help predict the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases, augment podcast apps, and even help job hunters more easily pinpoint new local opportunities. That's what Google Jobs was designed to do when it launched in 2017 for US users, and today, the feature is finally available for UK jobseekers.
Samsung's new DRAM chip will make phones run faster and longer
Samsung has been busy improving its microSD range, introducing SSDs with faster write speeds, and opening the world's biggest mobile factory, but the electronics maker doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon -- it's just completed tests on a 8Gb LPDDR5 DRAM prototype, a faster, low power RAM that will be used to power machine learning applications and AI in 5G phones.
Valve temporarily stops adding adult games to Steam
In recent months, the question of which games should be granted access to Steam -- Valve's online marketplace -- has become an increasingly heated one. After initially warning developers whose games contained adult or violent subject matter to remove explicit themes, Valve settled on a new, watered down content policy that did allow controversial content -- so long as it wasn't illegal. But one visual novel developer claims the moderation isn't over.
Scientists develop the world's first 3D color X-rays
A New Zealand company has generated the first 3D color X-Ray images of the human body by using an advanced medical scanner. The scanner utilizes CERN's Medipix3 technology and has been in development for a decade. It's able to produce high resolution images thanks to particle tracking technology.
Blockbuster is one store away from extinction in the US
Although it's well known that there aren't many Blockbuster stores left open, the announced closure of Alaska's remaining two outlets is a deathblow. Kevin Daymude, the General Manager of Blockbuster Alaska confirmed via a Facebook post that rental operations in Fairbanks and DeBarr Road will cease next week, before the stores reopen to sell off inventory until August's end.
Surreal adventure game ‘The Gardens Between’ is coming to Switch
Independent developer The Voxel Agents has announced it plans to release abstract puzzle title The Gardens Between for Nintendo Switch in addition to previously disclosed PlayStation 4, PC and Mac platforms. It's expected to arrive sometime in Q3 this year.
‘Dota 2’ update improves the subscription's in-game coach
In March, Dota 2 players were introduced to Dota Plus, a monthly subscription service Valve likened to an evolved battle pass. Gamers who sign up get access to an in-game coach, special challenges and better post-match analytics. Today, Valve is rolling out a summer update that improves the Dota Plus experience even further.
Dolby Vision is coming to Xbox One
Starting today, Microsoft is giving Xbox Insiders a preview of system update 1810. Xbox Wire reveals the update contains several new features -- some of which will be trickling out over the coming weeks, including Dolby Vision video streaming, dashboard avatars, an expanded search feature, and improved linguistic diversity when using the narrator function.
GoPro has now sold more than 30 million Hero action cams
GoPro has been dealing with significant business challenges in recent months, but the camera maker has managed to keep its chin above water. The company today revealed it has surpassed 30 million sales of its Hero action video camera since the first HD model came out nine years ago. Its Hero5 Black model -- an affordable all-rounder for outdoorsy types -- has sold four million units and gains the honor of becoming GoPro's best- selling camera.

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