Senin, 30 April 2018

Best PC gaming chair 2018: the best gaming chairs to play in comfort

Are you tired of walking away from a PC gaming session looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame after hunching over your desk while gaming? Well, there’s a solution: you can kick back and get comfy in one of the best PC gaming chairs you can buy in 2018. Because if you’re ruling the leaderboards, shouldn’t you be comfortable in one of these gaming thrones? But, look, we get it, it’s easy to grow complacent with your old clunker of a seat rather than take the time to shop for one of the best PC gaming chairs.

And, that’s why we made this list of the best gaming chairs for you – in classic TechRadar style. To be clear, there are a ton of gaming chairs out there. Some look like traditional office chairs, featuring all-black, ‘real-leather’ designs, like our number one choice, the noblechairs Epic Real Leather. Others fully embrace the gamer aesthetic, and intend to make you look like a futuristic race car driver, which is awesome – even if you are just playing DOTA 2.

Whatever your personal style and fashion taste, you can trust our opinions on the six best PC gaming chairs around. We don’t mean to brag, but we’ve done our fair share of sitting, and we’ve done so in all of the following gaming PC chairs at that. After hours of deep contemplation, you will find our top picks below. From the biggest names in video game-centric seatware, including Nitro and Vertagear, you won’t find anything out of place. 

It’s no exaggeration to call the Noblechairs Epic Real Leather the best gaming chair. From the cross-thatched embroidery to the real leather of its namesake, if you’re looking for a no-compromises gaming throne, this is it. Plus, it’s surprisingly quick and easy to set up. And, once the set-up is complete, the Epic Real Leather is a dream to sit on – and you can customise your position however you want. Just do us a favor, and read the instructions while you’re setting it up.

Corsair is known for making popular and high-end PC components and gaming peripherals. It’s only fitting, then, that they dip their toes into the gaming chair game – and they may have made one of the best gaming chairs yet. Covered top to bottom in breathable PU leather with neck and lumbar pillows wrapped in microfiber, you’ll be able to game both in comfort and style. And with its rollerblade-style wheels, you’ll be able to move it around on any surface without having to worry about scratching up your floor. 

  • This product is only available in the US and Australia at the time of this writing. UK readers: check out a fine alternative in the noblechairs Epic Real Leather 

It’s testament to Noblechairs’ pedigree that two of its products earn the highest rankings on this list – and the Noblechairs Icon gaming chair demonstrates why. While it’s more affordable than the flagship Epic Real Leather, it’s still one of the best gaming chairs you can buy, and one of the most comfortable seats you’ll sit in. This is thanks to the nice lumbar pillow included with the chair, and even if you find that pillow tedious, you can easily remove it. 

The Vertagear Racing Series S-Line SL4000 Gaming Chair is certainly one of the most striking chairs we’ve ever had the pleasure of sitting in. Not only is this chair supremely comfortable and sturdy, but you’ll get comments from anyone who walks through your office. Just be prepared to clean it regularly – as its white leather is a magnet for dirt.

Another day, another Noblechairs gaming seat – and the Noblechairs Epic is the best gaming chair for the classier gamer. It features a faux-leather covering inspired by car seats, combining both comfort and a high-end design to make it one of the best gaming chairs you can buy today. And, if you’re the type that shies away from the ‘gamer aesthetic,’ the Epic’s subtle black design is far more elegant than some of the more brightly-colored seats on this list.

For the gamer looking for some extra room in their seat, the Vertagear Racing Series PL6000 is a must-have. Specially designed to provide both added width and height, this is the best gaming chair for anyone with a larger frame – no matter how tall you are, the adjustable headrest means you’ll never experience discomfort. However, this is a complicated chair to assemble, so use the buddy system to build this masterpiece.

The Nitro Concepts C80 is a beautiful, comfy gaming chair that could easily double as an office chair – it looks more expensive than it is. Nitro Concepts was able to keep the price down by making a few compromises that don’t affect the quality of the chair – like using polyurethane instead of leather. And, no compromises were made in the build quality, as this is an impressively sturdy gaming chair. Just make sure you get a friend to help you assemble it – putting it together had us tearing our hair out.

  • This product is only available in the UK at the time of this writing. US and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the noblechairs Icon 

It can be hard to find a gaming chair that always matches the ... uh, decor of your room. Racing stripes and loud color palettes might be perfect for some tastes, but sometimes a more subtle look may be the route to go. If your gaming area is the same location that you do your business work when you're at home, Respawn's Respawn-115 Racing Style Gaming Chair is the happy compromise. It has the basic sculpt of traditional gaming chairs including lumbar support padding, reclining back and adjustable arms, but has an exterior visage that works for offices, too.  The only small gripe we have with the chair is that the lumbar support isn't connected to the chair in any way which means you'll need to re-adjust it every time you leave your seat. Small problems aside, though, this is a fantastic-looking gaming chair for the more mature gaming audience.

  • This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the noblechairs Icon 

May 01, 2018 at 04:20AM
Kane Fulton,Matt Hanson

Atari's new retro console is ready for your money ... but it won’t ship until 2019

Since the Atari VCS was announced (and then known as the Ataribox), we've had a lot of questions about it. While many remain unanswered, the pre-sale date has been announced in a press release for the Atari VCS: It will go on sale May 30. 

Just how much is Atari expecting you to fork over for the new console? Well, you'll be able to find the Atari VCS on sale at Indiegogo with packages starting at $199.

Packages? Plural? Atari has confirmed a few different packages, including an Atari VCS Collector's Edition with a retro wood front and an Onyx version in all black. Atari will also have packages that bundle in a "Classic Joystick" or "Modern Controller" at what will likely be higher prices.

Now comes the bad news: Despite what has already been a long wait since the announcement of this product, orders aren't expected to ship until Spring 2019.

Speak up before taking my money

Beyond the dates, new details on the Atari VCS remain sparse. 

The press release says the console will run on a custom but unspecified AMD processor with Radeon graphics. It will also support 4K, HDR, and 60fps content (note: this should not be confused for gaming at 60fps in 4K HDR). It will include expandable on-board storage, and support connectivity via dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and USB 3.0, all of which will be hooked into a proprietary version of Linux that has a custom Atari interface.

The Atari VCS will include access to 100 classic games in the Atari Vault, but whether it will be able to handle more current titles is up in the air. 

From out hands-on experience with the Atari VCS, it seems unlikely that the console will come close in performance to an Xbox One S or PS4 despite having a similar price. Think of this one as more of a collectors item than Atari's attempt to re-enter the console market proper.


May 01, 2018 at 02:03AM
Mark Knapp

Atari VCS: everything you need to know about Atari's comeback console

Amazon's one-day PC gaming sale: Save up to 35%

Today's a great day to get some gaming deals, as Amazon is taking up to 35% off a selection of PC gaming equipment. (Non-gamers will enjoy some of these deals too.) Included are laptops, monitors, headsets, external hard drives, keyboards, and more. The discount translates to savings of as much as $200. 

If you want to score these deals, though, you don't want to wait as this sale is for one day only and ends tonight. To assist you in picking out some new gear, we've highlighted our favorite deals below.


April 30, 2018 at 10:31PM
Stephen Slaybaugh

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia is a free update to FIFA 18 and out in May

With all the talk and controversy surrounding loot-box cash grabs in gaming, EA has decided to buck the trend by announcing that it will be making 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia a free update to FIFA 18, not a standalone game. 

Obviously this means that you will need a copy of FIFA 18 on Xbox One, PS4, PC or Nintendo Switch but once you have this a download will be available come 29 May. 

The update adds an officially-licensed World Cup mode. So expect teams, stadiums and kits - alongside the official match ball and trophy. 

Game modes included in the update are: FIFA World Cup Kick-Off; FIFA World Cup Tournament; and FIFA World Cup Ultimate Team. 

Iconic players

There is a custom tournament mode and all 12 Russian stadiums are available through the update, as well as cinematic scenes so you can dream and see what it’s like for your preferred team to win the World Cup (yes, even England).

It won’t just be new players that take center stage but a gaggle of the “most iconic player’s from the tournament’s history” - so expect the likes of Kleberson, Roque Junior and Simone Barone to be right up there.

To whet your appetite, there is a trailer for the game which features a little-known star of football, called Cristiano Ronaldo. We reckon he’s going to go far. 

Oh, and if you have still yet to buy FIFA 18, our review reckons it’s “still the best football sim money can buy.”


April 30, 2018 at 10:01PM
Marc Chacksfield

New Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer drops Wednesday – and art book leaks

Red Dead Redemption 2 news is like the mirage in the desert; hovering just out of sight, promising water, but the closer you get, the further away it seems to be. 

Well, we’ve got a couple of tantalizing pieces of news relating to Rockstar’s much-anticipated much-delayed western sequel to what is arguably one of the greatest games of all time.

The official Rockstar Twitter account has tweeted that the third Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer will be going live May 2, 11am ET. As we’re a good long way before the October 26 release date, we’re sure it won’t be the last trailer, but given how much of the world we saw in the last one, we’re excited.

Double the trouble

If you just can’t wait for the trailer, Rockstar has included a video in the teaser for the trailer, that you can hold up to your parched lips, trying to sup any hydration from its meagre offering (below). 

But hold your horses partner, that’s not all we’ve got for you. We’ve heard the distant hooves of an Amazon delivery horse carrying a Red Dead Redemption 2 art book imaginatively titled The Art of Red Dead Redemption 2. 

Now, the listing has since been pulled from Amazon, but thanks to PCGamesN we know it’ll be published by Random House, and will be “a peek behind the curtain of Rockstar Games and its intensely guarded approach to the creation of the lush, Old West open-world gameplay”.

  • Want to make sure you’re up-to-date with all things Red Dead 2? Head over to the Red Dead Saloon

April 30, 2018 at 09:35PM
Andrew London

Get the cheapest UK iMac price with our exclusive voucher code

This isn't usually the best time of year for a great iMac price, but thanks to our exclusive KRCS voucher code we can bring you the only new iMac deal under £1000 for the mid-2017 model.

KRCS is a Premium Apple reseller (these are new models and not refurbs or pre-owned machines though), and it's offering TechRadar readers an exclusive 8% off voucher code with TECHRADARIMAC8 for any new iMac on the website.

We've highlighted the absolute cheapest deal below on the most affordable version of the mid-2017 iMac Pro. For your money, you're getting a 7th generation 2.3Ghz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 and two thunderbolt ports. You're also getting a 21.5-inch HD display with a Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Keyboard.

If you'd like to tweak the spec though - opt for more RAM or a larger hard drive and such - then you can still use our TECHRADARIMAC8 voucher code on any new KRCS iMac.


April 30, 2018 at 05:41PM
Brendan Griffiths

Never played the original Witcher? You can now get it for free

Several great PC games have been made available to download free in recent times, and another has just strolled into view, with GOG.com giving you the chance to bag the first outing in the Witcher series for absolutely nothing.

Well, no cash anyway; if you want a free copy of The Witcher: Enhanced Edition, you’ll have to sign up to the site’s newsletter (you’ll also get a free card keg for Gwent, the Hearthstone-alike card game). Grab the offer here.

The Witcher was released just over a decade ago now, and while the original may not be as refined as the follow-ups, it's still well worth playing if you never tried your hand back in the day.

Premium pedigree

As you’re doubtless aware, the series has a considerable pedigree, and indeed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt picked up the Golden Joystick award as the ultimate game of the year back in 2015.

As mentioned, we’ve seen a good number of corking free games being offered to PC players of late, including the likes of Dead Space and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Those offers were for a limited time and have now expired, but one game that was made a free download at the end of last year is still available – namely StarCraft II.

It isn’t clear how long this particular Witcher freebie will be available for, but if you’re at all inclined, move quickly to avoid potential disappointment.

Via PC Gamer


April 30, 2018 at 04:51PM
Darren Allan

Minggu, 29 April 2018

De bästa VR-spelen 2018: de 29 bästa VR-spelen för PC, konsol och mobil

De bästa spelen inom virtuell verklighet (VR) blir bara bättre och bättre. För två år sedan kändes framtiden inom VR tvivelaktig, men utvecklarna har fortsatt att pumpa ut nya VR-spel som får oss att tappa andan gång på gång. Med lägre priser på Oculus Rift, HTC Vive och PlayStation VR (artiklar på engelska), är det dessutom enklare än någonsin att bege dig till nya virtuella världar.

Vi väntar fortfarande på att Triple-A-utvecklare verkligen ska lägga ned sig på en VR-titel som byggs upp från grunden, men det finns ingen brist på mindre utvecklare som redan gör fantastiska spel för VR. Några större företag börjar åtminstone rikta sin uppmärksamhet mot VR, genom att portera över populära titlar som Skyrim.

Eftersom marknaden för VR växer allt snabbare, kan du förvänta dig att se nya titlar ersätta de gamla som de bästa VR-spelen på marknaden. Se därför till att gå tillbaka till den här artikeln, för att se vart de hamnar bland våra favoriter. För nuvarande är detta enligt oss de bästa VR-spelen under 2018. Alla är definitivt värda en titt om du har ett headset, varav vissa är värda att gå ut och köpa allt du behöver för att få en ultimat upplevelse.

[Uppdatering: Vi har uppdaterat vår lista över de bästa VR-spelen med några nya titlar. Robo Recall är en utmärkt VR-upplevelse från tillverkarna av Borderlands. End Space är ett luftstridsspel för Samsung Gear VR. Sprint Vector är ett måste för alla Mario Kart-fans. Echo Arena är en ny sport gjord för VR. Skyrim behöver knappast någon introduktion. Vi har dessutom uppdaterat detaljerna på spel som gjorts tillgängliga på fler plattformar.]

Oavsett om du är känslig för illamående i VR eller inte, finns det något för alla. Det är dags att greppa tag i ditt VR-headset och göra dig redo för en åktur med de bästa VR-spelen på marknaden.

Kolla in videon nedanför för att se det senaste inom VR-teknologin!

Joe Osborne har Gabe Carey har också bidragit till denna artikel.

Robo Recall är en av de mest polerade spelupplevelserna för VR. Det utspelar sig i en futuristisk värld full av robotar och allt är frid och fröjd, tills en AI blir galen och smittar alla robotar. Detta efter att den upptäckt internet och dess enorma utbud av kattvideor. Nämnde vi att spelet skapades av samma studio som Borderlands?

Den ena halvan av Robo Recall är ett komiskt spex, där du har som uppgift att "recalla" (läs: utplåna) alla trasiga robotar. Den andra halvan är ett galet skjutspel, där robotsvärmar attackerar och du är tvungen att använda din kreativitet för att döda dem. Till hands har du ett arsenal av uppgraderbara vapen samt din praktiska förmåga att kunna teleportera och sakta ned tiden. 

Det finns inget som går att jämföra med känslan när du greppar tag i en robot och använder den som en sköld i vänster hand, samtidigt som du kastar vapnet i höger hand på en fiende, fångar det igen när det studsar från deras ansikte och skjuter. Trots den höga intensiteten, är detta ett ganska behagligt spel för dem som är känsliga för att bli åksjuka i VR. 

Även om Robo Recall är exlusivt för Oculus, är det så bra att det definitivt är värt mödan för HTC Vive-ägare att lista ut hur de kan spela Oculus spel (artikel på engelska).

Echo Arena är en helt ny sport som uppfunnits enbart för VR och är dessutom helt gratis för dem som äger Oculus Rift. I spelet svävar olika robotlag runt tyngdlöst och försöker fånga en skiva och samla poäng genom att kasta in skivan i motståndarlagets mål.

Det kanske låter som ett simpelt spel, men blir briljant tack vare hur spelarna kan interagera med varandra. Med hjälp av Oculus Touch-kontrollerna, kan spelare boxas med spelare i motståndarlaget och stunna dem med ett slag på huvudet. En annan funktion i spelet låter dig greppa tag i andra spelare och kasta dig själv framåt från dem, för att uppnå otroliga hastigheter. Det är en galen sport som skiljer sig från allt annat vi tidigare spelat och är ett utmärkt spelval, speciellt med tanke på att kostnaden är noll kronor.

Vid det här laget borde Skyrim inte behöva någon introduktion. Det har lanserats, lanserats och lanserats igen. Den här gången är det dags för Oculus Rift, HTC Vive och PlayStation VR att lansera spelet och erbjuder därmed det största äventyrsspelet du någonsin sett i VR.

Det är inte bara möjligt att återuppleva grundspelet i VR, utan även expansionspaketen Dawnguard, Hearthfire och Dragonborn. Även om Skyrim VR inte är helt perfekt, bland annat på grund av lite utdaterad grafik (som kan förbättras med moddar) och på grund av att spelet inte är gjort för VR från grunden, är det fortfarande ett äventyr som utan tvekan är värt att prova på.

Sprint Vector är unikt bland racingspel, då du får ett helt träningspass när du spelar det. I spelet tvingas du spela rollen som en racingförare (din karaktär blir bokstavligen bortförd och tvingad att tävla) på en rad olika utomjordiska världar. Du måste faktiskt svinga runt med armarna i verkligheten för att din karaktär ska accelerera och nå topphastigheterna som krävs för att vinna.

Sprint Vector har en färgglad stil och innehåller Mario Kart-liknande power-ups som ger dig små fördelar under tävlingarna. Om du vill ha lite roligt och röra på dig samtidigt, är Sprint Vector ett utmärkt val. Vi var helt slut i armarna efter några lopp och våra fitness trackers hade applåderat oss om vi kört igenom samtliga av spelets 21 banor.

Även om möjligheterna för övertygande mobila VR-spel hamnar i skuggan av PC- och konsolversionerna för VR, finns det fortfarande några bra alternativ för dem som har Samsung Gear VR. End Space är ett bra exempel på detta. Spelet placerar dig i ett rymdskepp och låter dig utkämpa luftstrider som påminner om dem i Eve: Valkyrie.

VR är väl anpassat för spel som involverar en cockpit av något slag, eftersom kontrollbrädan skymmer din sikt något. Detta gör upplevelsen mycket otäckare och mer spännande. Skaparna av End Space är medvetna om detta och levererar.

Efter vad som kändes som en evighet, kom Moss äntligen ut till PlayStation VR i februari 2018. Hjältinnan Quill i den här berättelsen må vara pytteliten (och har en svans och musöron), men gnagar-protagonisten använder sin storlek till sin fördel genom att ge spelaren samma perspektiv som hon själv har .

Det är ett familjevänligt VR-äventyr, där du guidar Quill genom skogar och ruiner, leder henne förbi fiender och tar direkt kontroll över delar i miljön för att lösa pussel. Syftet är att rädda Quills farbror. Genom att ge dig kontroll över både en karaktär och ge dig ett allsmäktigt inflytande över hennes omgivning, utnyttjar spelet möjligheterna med VR perfekt.

Det må vara över trettio år gammalt, men Elite franchisen lever fortfarande kvar, detta tack vare skaparen David Brabens kamp för att återfå dess rättigheter.

Detta spel har med delar från det första spelet, som till exempel byteshandeln, utforskningen och combatsystemet i ett enormt universum. Trots att spelets handling utspelar sig år 3304, är Elit: Dangerous verkligen ett Elite-spel som passar in bland resten av 2000-talets spel.

Nämnde vi förresten att spelet är en massmultiplayer? Att utforska nya områden har aldrig känt så socialt och anslutet. Elite: Dangerous är definitivt ett spel som upplevs bäst online och i VR.

Förutsatt att du känner någon som är villig att skriva ut den 23-sidor långa manualen, är Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes nästa Mario Party, åtminstone i den meningen att det kommer få alla dina vänner att hata dig. Det är utvecklat av Steel Crate Games och kräver en hel del uppmärksamhet mellan rekommenderade 2 till 6 spelare. Under tiden som en spelare försöker desarmera en bomb, är de övrigas uppgift att ge tydliga instruktioner om hur det ska göras.

Detta kräver intensivt samarbete mellan dig och dina vänner. Därför är Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes ett roligt spel tillsammans med rätt personer och ännu roligare i VR, med antingen Samsung Gear VR eller ett Oculus Rift-headset. Kom ihåg att det är valfritt att använda en gamepad med Gear VR-versionen, medan Oculus Rift versionen kräver att du använder en kontroller.

Vid år 2050 kommer karriärval som "kock" och "mekaniker" förmodligen inte finnas längre, eftersom de ersatts av programmerare och den AI de skapar. Job Simulator har tagit på sig uppgiften att samla moderna jobb i ett slags museum, som går att upplevas av spelaren i form av simulatorer.

Detta betyder såklart att museet, som även är en nöjespark, drivs av robotar som inte riktigt kommer ihåg hur saker och ting ska göras. Kockar mikrar till exempel en brödskiva toppad med ett ostblock när de ska göra pizza. Det finns totalt fyra yrken att välja mellan: Office Worker (kontorsarbetare), Gourmet Chef (gourmetkock), Store Clerk (expedit) och Auto Mechanic (bilmekaniker) som var och en har en unik och sardonisk tvist.

Spelmekaniken i Rick and Morty Simulator: Virtual Rick-ality liknar Owlchemy Labs senaste VR-spel Job Simulator väldigt mycket.

Det är ett ganska enkelt pussel- och äventyrsspel, men som även har spelmekanik som låter dig kombinera föremål i omgivningen för att lösa pussel. Det har dessutom samma vassa humor, som gör Job Simulator till en så minnesvärd VR-upplevelse. Det blir ännu bättre tack vare Justin Roilands medverkan, som gör rösterna till både Rick och Morty i tv-serien.

Om Virtual Rick-ality är en minnesvärd upplevelse beror helt och hållet på om du tycker om serien eller inte. Om du sett serien tidigare och tycker om den, är det definitivt värt att även prova på VR-spelet. Om du inte sett serien ännu eller har sett den men inte är något fan, kan du skippa Rick and Morty Simulator.

Med tanke på att även en större del av de bästa VR-spelen är i byte-storlek, är Resident Evil 7: Biohazard ett uppfriskande (men skräckinjagande) tillskott. Trots möjligheten att spela det på både PC, Xbox One och PlayStation 4, är detta seriens första titel som tydligt designades med virtuell verklighet i åtanke. Till skillnad från de tidigare titlarna, spelas Resident Evil 7 nämligen ur ett förstapersonsperspektiv.

Förmoda inte att du kan springa och skjuta din väg fram genom spelet, Capcom har nämligen tagit franchisen tillbaka till sina skräckrötter med Resident Evil 7. Det betyder att du måste tänka taktiskt över hur du ska överleva möten med spelets otäcka och galna fiender. Du spelar som Ethan Winters som bor i Dulvey i Louisiana, vars partner försvunnit tre år tidigare. Ditt uppdrag blir att undersöka ett gammalt övergivet hus i ett försök att hitta henne.

Stora delar av spelet utspelar sig på en och samma plats, så förvänta dig ingenting alltför kaotiskt, förutom en generös mängd jump-scares.

Kommer du ihåg det tidigt lanserade spelet till Nintendo 64, där du svävade genom molnen och flög genom ringar för att klara uppdragen? Eagle Flight liknar Pilotwings, fast du spelar som en örn istället för en obehaglig karikatyrmänniska.

Spelet finns tillgängligt för Oculus Rift, HTC Vive och PlayStation VR. Ubisofts VR-debut Eagle Flight ger spelare chansen att ta till skyarna och utforska Paris som aldrig förr: 50 år efter att mänskligheten dött ut. Något som är ännu bättre, är att du kan spela tillsammans med vänner och tävla i intensiva luftstrider i flerspelarläget.

Även om franchisen redan funnits med på en rad olika plattformar, är Batman: Arkham VR uppföljaren till Arkham Knight som ingen förväntade sig. Efter att Rocksteady Studios meddelade att den tredje titeln i Batman Arkham-universumet skulle bli den sista, dröjde det inte länge för utvecklaren att tillkännage denna PlayStation VR-exlusiva titeln (som senare skulle komma ut till alla tre headsets).

Batman: Arkham VR lutar mer åt en självständig detektivhistoria, än en uppföljare till de tidigare Arkham-spelen. Du kommer inte banka skurkar medvetslösa i en VR-version av Rocksteadys kännetecknande combatsystem. Du kan dock förvänta dig något som liknar ett 90-minuter långt expansionspaket, till en bråkdel av priset för de övriga spelen.

Det är för tillfället ganska tomt på långa VR-upplevelser och det är en anledning till varför Arizona Sunshine är en sådan njutbar upplevelse.

Spelet äger rum i ett zombiedrabbat vilda västern, är uppfriskande långt och står i stark kontrast till de mer arkadliknande upplevelserna som många andra spel erbjuder.

Du tar dig fram i spelet genom att teleportera runt dig i omgivningen, som gör det möjligt för dig att täcka stora avstånd utan att bli åksjuk. Du laddar om och byter vapen genom att flytta ned vapnet till ditt ammunitionsbälte.

Av alla VR-spel vi provat hittills, har Arizona Sunshine hintat mest om hur VR-spel kommer att kunna bli i framtiden, när utvecklare har mer tid och pengar till att skapa VR-upplevelser i full längd.

För tillfället nöjer vi oss med att utforska gamla gruvor med en pickadoll i ena handen och en blinkande ficklampa i den andra, vilket är minst sagt coolt. Vi rekommenderar dock att begränsa spelsessionerna till trettio minuter, för att hålla nerverna under kontroll.

Precis som Alien Isolation handlar Surgeon Simulator 2013 också om utomjordingar, men istället för att fly från dem, spelar du som en kirurg som tar hand om dem. Spelets uppgifter liknar dem i Job Simulator, men fokuserar på avancerade kirurgiska ingrepp som hjärt- och hjärntransplantationer. Hela upplevelsen känns väldigt verklig tack vare det unika gränssnittet ditt VR-headset ger.

Spelet gjordes ursprungligen för Oculus Rift, men nu har det kommit ytterligare en version som heter Surgeon Simulator VR: Meet the Medic, som finns att ladda ned gratis till HTC Vive via Steam. En nyare version för multiplattform finns dessutom tillgänglig via Steam och PlayStation store.

Även om det bara finns i early acces för HTC Vive och Oculus Rift, är Gunheart ett co-op skjutspel som skapades specifikt med VR i åtanke.

Det är tydligt att spelet hämtat inspiration från Borderlands och går ut på att du och dina vänner måste skjuta ned utomjordiska insekter. Detta för att samla föremål, så ni kan uppgradera era vapen och förmågor. Spelet erbjuder timtal med actionfylld underhållning och har struntat i den ibland krångliga teleporteringsmekaniken som finns i så många andra VR-spel.

Du kan välja mellan ett stort utbud av artilleri, från SMG:s som låser sig fast på målen till laser armborst. Gunheart handlar lika mycket om transport som blodsutgjutning. Du och dina vänner spelar som en grupp robotlika prisjägare, som kan välja att ta sig genom banorna snabbt för att antingen undvika strid eller för att komma till dem snabbare.

Det är officiellt: världens mest populära blockspel har äntligen kommit till VR. Minecraft Windows 10 utgåvan finns nu ute till Oculus Rift (artikel på engelska), men du behöver inte lägga ut runt 5 000 kronor (kostnaden för Rift) för upplevelsen. Detta eftersom spelet även finns tillgängligt på Samsung Gear VR (artikel på engelska), med samma funktioner som Oculus-versionen erbjuder. Windows Mixed Reality-plattformar stöds också. Du kan till och med välja om du vill spela i förstapersons-läge eller genom vad som ser ut som en vanlig tv-skärm, om förstapersons-läget skulle kännas för intensivt.

Vi kan inte bestämma oss vad som är det bästa med att utforska Minecraft i VR, att springa från creepers i den mörka natten eller greppa tag i järnhackan och börja gräva. Båda två är lika roliga.

Hover Junker dök upp på vår VR-radar första gången för några år sedan, när dess första gameplay videor dök upp på internet. Handlingen är lite rörig: Jorden har nästan slut på vatten, så alla flyger omkring på svävare och försöker skjuta av varandras skallar. Vi kan dock överse detta, eftersom Junkers fantastiska actionfyllda flerspelarläge är en riktigt rolig spelupplevelse.

Du rör på de två Vive-kontrollerna och ditt headset för att röra dig och titta dig omkring. Ditt uppdrag är att skjuta fienderna, samtidigt som du tar skydd på din svävare från inkommande attacker. Den stora rörelsefriheten gör spelet väldigt annorlunda från vanliga skjutspel. Du får bland annat möjlighet att trolla andra spelare (artikel på engelska) eller till och med skjuta dig själv i huvudet (om du skulle vilja). Detta är spelet vi alla har väntat på, eller?

Ja, Eve: Valkyrie kommer få dig att känna dig lite åksjuk, men är inte en episk spelupplevelse värd lite obehag? Det började som en spektakulär demo från de isländska utvecklarna av Eve: Online och har utvecklats till en snabb, lagbaserad luftstrids-simulator som utspelar sig i rymden.

Huvudfokus ligger på spelets combat, något som gör det mycket mindre realistiskt och mer arkadliknande jämfört med dess konkurrenter. Det kanske inte kan ge långvarig spänning, men om du vill förbluffas över vad Oculus Rift har att erbjuda är Eve: Valkyrie värt ett försök.

Har du någonsin velat spela biljard med dina vänner, men inte känt för att lämna huset och gå till en bar? Med SportsBar VR kan du spela biljard och få samma roliga upplvelse, till och med ölskålandet finns med. VR har äntligen bevisat att det är möjligt att spela biljard utan en gamepad.

Gör dig redo att kasta barstolar och tomma ölflaskor på väggen när du förlorar, då SportsBar VR är den mest komiska och på något sätt mest realistiska skildringen av allas favorit barsport. Du får inte bara möjlighet att spela biljard, utvecklaren Cherry Pop Games ger dig tillgång till hela baren, så varför inte köra några rundor pilkastning när du ändå håller på?

Virtuell verklighet blir inte mycket socialare än så här. Detta är ett spel där du och tre andra spelare samarbetar för att styra ett Federation-rymdskepp från den kända Star Trek franchisen.

Spelet erbjuder även ett enspelarläge, men upplevelsen är utan tvekan bäst tillsammans med vänner. Ni kommer snabbt falla in i en rytm, där ni lyssnar på varandras behov och anpassar era handlingar därefter.

Du behöver inte oroa dig om du inte har några vänner med samma headset som du, Ubisoft har nämligen gjort det möjligt att spela tillsammans på olika plattformar. Därför är det möjligt för spelare med PlayStation VR, Oculus och Vive att spela tillsammans och ta sig an Klingons som ett lag.

Vi har aldrig riktigt varit bilfanatiker (men vi vet att de röda brukar gå snabbast), så vi kan inte riktigt kommentera på hur bra Assetto Corsa-spelet är.

Vi känner dock bilfanatiker som säger att det är bland de bästa bilspelen som finns ute nu och recensionerna håller med. Detta är främst tack vare möjligheten att modda spelet, som gör det möjligt för spelare att lägga till alla sorters snygga bilar och banor till detta fantastiska bilspel.

Det stöder Oculus och HTC Vive och det är underbart att kunna kolla sig omkring när du kör, oavsett om du kör ett rally eller i en F1-tävling.

VR är utmärkt för att skapa en känsla av närvaro i en värld, även om det ibland kan vara svårt att interagera med världen. Därför är det perfekt med simulatorer som denna, där stora delar av spelet består av att vandra omkring. 

Dear Esther är ett utforskarspel, där du vandrar på en avlägsen skotsk ö. Du utforskar dess höjder och djup, samtidigt som din karaktär gnäller över livet. Det kanske låter som en tolkning av en J.G. Ballard roman, men spelet är otroligt vackert att utforska.

Det krävdes en dyr PlayStation VR Aim Controller för att uppnå, men Sony har bevisat att ett förstapersons skjutspel i kampanjläge kan kännas helt rätt i VR med sitt spel Farpoint. Spelet är cirka fem timmar långt, som vi tycker är alldeles lagom. Farpoint har verkligen lyckats behålla fokus på kvalitet över kvantitet. Det känns som ett komplett, finslipat spel med en stor variation av fiender och joystick-kontroller som lägger till ytterligare djup till upplevelsen.

Till skillnad från många andra spel som gjorts för VR, förväxlas inte Farpoint för en demo. Handlingen som berättas genom cutscener är inte direkt fängslande, men den är åtminstone någorlunda välskriven. Om du tycker att det är tråkigt att spela själv, finns det möjlighet att spela co-op online. Det läget erbjuder utmanande banor, som är designade för spelare för att tävla om höga poäng. Om du tröttnar på din Aim Controller, kan du alltid byta tillbaka till DualShock 4.

När det gäller VR-spel blir det inte mycket enklare än förstapersons actionspelet Raw Data, som ställer dig inför vågor av fiender i en kontrollerad miljö. Förvänta dig inte några överdrivet komplexa RPG-inslag, då Raw Data prioriterar finslipad combatmekanik och bekväma kontroller över variation i spelstil.

Spelet består inte av särskilt mycket mer än att välja en hjälte, som ska ta sig an horder av utmanande fiender med ett vapen (eller svärd). Du behöver inte spela ensam, då det finns både co-op och PvP tillgängligt. Spelet har lagt så mycket fokus på detaljer, att det kan kännas som en utmaning i sig att plocka upp och ladda om vapnet.

Subnautica ser ut att vara ett enkelt dykningsspel, men sedan inser du att du inte känner igen några av "fiskarna"... eller himlen eller solen.

I själva verket är det ett överlevnadsspel i en avlägsen värld som till stora delar är täckt av hav. Ditt uppdrag är att bygga utrustning, köra ubåtar och göra undervattensvärlden beboelig för mänskligt liv. Allt detta samtidigt som du måste överleva de fientliga vilda djuren, vulkaner och jättebläckfiskar. Subnautica skapades från början inte för VR och upplevelsen är därför begränsad, men det är fortfarande oerhört spännande att dyka ned i djupen med VR.

Lucky's Tale är ett av två spel (det andra är luftstridsspelet EVE: Valkyrie) som följer med tillsammans med Oculus Rift och är ett intressant litet plattformsspel. Tänk dig Mario 64 blandat med Crash Bandicoot, sett ur ett tredjepersonsperspektiv som du kan justera genom att röra huvudet och du är halvvägs där.

Tack vare VR, kan du kika runt på banorna under tiden du spelar. Det kanske låter ointressant, men genom att utforska omgivningen kan du faktiskt upptäcka hemligheter i kommande banor. Spelet får dig kanske inte att tappa andan som andra VR-spel, men Lucky's Tale bevisar att VR kan ge nytt liv till gamla och i stort sett döda genrer.

The Climb bör inte förvirras med Miley Curys populära singel, utan är ett spel från utvecklaren Crytek, som är känd för att få grafikkort att svettas (sök på: "But Can It Run Crysis?"-memen). The Climb är inte något undantag. Den vackert rendrade omgivningen får den extrema vandringen att kännas mindre jobbig, i ett spel som i princip är Uncharted utan combat. Något som vi tycker låter fräckt.

Om du letar efter ett passande VR-spel att visa upp för din familj och avlägsna släktingar vid nästa familjeträff, är The Climb ett utmärkt alternativ.

Shooting Showdown 2 visar upp en ny version av konceptet för förstapersons skjutspel till VR. Du siktar genom att luta på huvudet för att flytta på hårkorset i mitten av skärmen och använder en Bluetooth-kontroller för att skjuta ned mål spridda över banan. Dessa kan vara allt från måltavlor till robotar eller trafikljus där du ska skjuta den gröna lampan.

Det betraktas som ett av de bästa spelen för Samsung Gear VR och ger dig dessutom möjlighet att möta andra spelare, där ni tävlar om vem som kan få högsta poäng.

När Owlchemy Labs släppte Job Simulator under 2016, fastnade vi för dess charm på en gång. I en värld full av kassa "simulator"-titlar från alla håll och kanter, kändes Job Simulator som en uppfriskande vind. När det officiellt bekräftades att Vacation Simulator kommer ut under året, kände vi något av en förväntan.

Vacation Simulator siktar på att behålla samma färgglada stil och ton som sin föregångare, men med en mer avslappnad atmosfär. Vacation Simulator utspelar sig precis som Job Simulator i en futuristisk värld, som är full av nostalgi från den moderna mänskligheten. Gör dig redo för en dag på stranden och en eventuell solbränna, precis som de tidigare människorna från 2000-talet gjorde före dig.


April 29, 2018 at 05:03PM
Amanda Westberg

Jumat, 27 April 2018

Nintendo just announced its next mobile game … but you’ll have to wait to play it

Nintendo has just inked a deal with developer Cygames to create a new mobile game called Dragalia Lost. Details are sparse, but the game will be a traditional JRPG with a real-time battle system and loot box-style microtransactions. 

Too bad you’re going to be waiting awhile to play it.

The plan is that the game will come first to Asian markets - Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau - starting in a few months. A North American and European release has been confirmed, but it won’t happen until later Nintendo says.

One potential reason for this is that the game’s developer, Cygames, is responsible for the incredibly popular Granblue Fantasy, a mobile title that had over 16 million registered players in Japan. 

Dragalia Lost will borrow some of the same mechanics as Granblue Fantasy - including its loot box-based rewards system in which items, characters and upgrades are unlocked at random by spending in-game currency.

To seal the deal, Nintendo has obtained 5% stake in Cygames, just like it did with Pokemon Go developer Niantic when that partnership was announced.

Nintendo’s train keeps a’rolling 

The news of the Cygames mobile RPG comes in Nintendo’s end-of-year financial briefing, which also contains some juicy tidbits on how well the company has done in the last 12 months. 

The big takeaway is that Nintendo is basically printing money at this point. 

Nintendo had a good first year with the Nintendo Switch (selling 15 million units), the Nintendo 3DS family of systems hit a landmark 72 million units in sales this year and Nintendo plans to keep up the pace with Super Smash Bros on Switch, Mario Tennis Aces and the Splatoon 2 DLC, Octo Expansion. 

We also know that Nintendo has other mobile games in the works, including Mario Kart Tour - however, they're still a ways off. 

Nintendo today announced the time and date of its E3 2018 Direct, though, so we won't have to wait long to hear from new Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa. 


April 28, 2018 at 12:24AM
Nick Pino

The best laptop for music production and DJs

If you're a DJ, or you're looking for the best laptop for music production, then you've come to the right place, as we've gathered together the top laptops for making music on.

For the best laptop for music production, you're looking for a machine that has plenty of processing power and RAM to handle multiple music tracks. A large (and fast) hard drive or SSD (solid state drive) is also essential, as you're going to be working with large file sizes. Excellent speakers, or at least connectivity to external speakers, is also important.

If you're a DJ and are looking for the best laptop for your needs, then you're going to need something that is reliable and robust, so it can withstand knocks and bumps as you travel from gig to gig. As you're going to be doing a lot of travelling, a laptop that is thin and light is also preferable. The best laptop for DJs will also have a large hard drive or SSD to store all of your track on. There's loads of choice out there, and while Apple products are the main choice for music makers, there's a lot of excellent Windows laptops available for DJs and music production as well.

To make your choice easy, our price comparison tools will show you where you can buy each one for the absolute cheapest price, so you won't have to trawl through the web comparing prices. If you want to see a more comprehensive list of prices and retailers, simply click the 'view all prices' link on each widget!

The best laptops for music production and DJs:

Apple MacBook Pro

The new Apple Macbook is the slimmest, slickest and best-looking Macbook Apple has ever built and it's one of the most popular and best-selling laptops on the planet. This, along with the excellent music production software available for Macs, means it's the best laptop for DJs and Music production. It's a super slim and light Macbook that you can take anywhere without even noticing the weight, and gives you the same slick OS X performance.

Read the full review: Apple Macbook

If you're after the latest and greatest laptop from Apple, welcome to the 13-inch Macbook Pro with touchbar. It's the best laptop Apple has ever made, and builds new features into the classic design. Of course the headline feature is the touchbar - it's a thin OLED display at the top of the keyboard which can be used for any number of things, whether that be auto-suggesting words as you type or offering Touch ID so you can log in with just your fingerprint. The Macbook Pro also offers more power than the Macbook, which means if you're a music producer, this is the best laptop for you, as it can handle complex arrangements with multiple audio tracks with ease. There's cheaper alternatives on this best laptop for DJs and music production list, but if speed and quality are the most important considerations, then this is the laptop for you.

Read the full review: Apple Macbook with touchbar (2017)
See more like this: The best Macs and Macbooks 2017

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is 2017's best laptop for you if you're looking for the perfect cross between a nimble Windows tablet and a fully functional laptop. The base version of the Surface Pro 4 is just a tablet - you get the main unit itself with kickstand but if you want the Surface Pen or the fantastic Type Cover keyboard you'll need to pay extra for a bundle or buy it separately. Again, this is a great laptop for writers who can use a stylus to jot down their notes to later turn into editable text. As the Surface Pro 4 is a tablet 2-in-1 that runs the full version of Windows 10, it means it is an extremely portable device that can run any music mixing and editing programs that are available for Windows.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 4
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017 

For a few years in a row now, the Dell XPS 13 has been one of the best laptops you can buy, and the 2018 iteration keeps this tradition going. For aspiring music producers, the XPS’ move to an 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake R CPU should be appealing, as it will trim down the time it takes to process tracks, allowing you to minimize downtime. Unfortunately you won’t be able to find a 1TB storage drive anymore, but when you get a laptop as fast as this – and looks good to boot – it’s a worthy tradeoff.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2018)

If you're after a cheap laptop for writing that offers something a bit special, look no further than the Lenovo Yoga Book 2017. As with all Yoga devices, the screen folds flat so you can use it either as a tablet or a laptop. To add more versatility, Lenovo has now added the option to buy it with either Windows 10 or Android 6.0 onboard - which one you choose will depend how you're more likely to use the device. The screen on this thing defies the cheap asking price and the keyboard and capacitive touch-keyboard are both fantastic too. While this is a bit under-powered for music production, if you're a DJ looking for the best portable laptop for playing and mixing your music, this is an excellent choice.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga Book
See more like this:
The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017

13-inch MacBook Air - Best Mac 2016

The Macbook Air is in an interesting spot. While it's still one of the most popular and well-known notebooks around, the iPad Pro and 12-inch MacBook have stolen much of its thunder. That is, unless you need the legacy USB 3, Thunderbolt 2 and SDXC card connectivity. Even without a Retina display or Force Touch trackpad, the 13-inch MacBook Air is a very capable machine, even if the 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage leave a lot to be desired. Plus it still has the beloved MagSafe 2 charger onboard as well as an impeccable battery life. So, if you don't mind having a slightly older machine, the Macbook Air is an excellent - and now more affordable - choice for DJs and music production.

Read the full review: 13-inch MacBook Air (2015)

If you're looking for a larger and more powerful laptop for running music production software on, then the Dell XPS 15 could be for you. Packing the same InfinityEdge technology as the smaller XPS 13, the screen extends right to the edge of the machine which means it's as small as it's possible to make a 15-inch laptop in 2017. It's quite pricey though, depending on which version you get. The very top end version has a 4K color-accurate display, which can give you an excellent overview of all the tracks you're working on.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15


April 27, 2018 at 10:15PM
Matt Hanson

Shadow of the Tomb Raider release date, news and trailers

[Update: Shadow of the Tomb Raider has now been revealed to the world. Check out our hands-on with the first hour of the game and read on for the brand new trailer and more details about what to expect in the last game in the trilogy.]

After plenty of leaks, we now know from Square Enix itself that Shadow of the Tomb Raider is indeed the name of the next Tomb Raider title and that it'll be released on September 14 2018. 

Shadow of the Tomb Raider marks the end of Lara's Origin story, with Square Enix calling it a "climactic finale" and "the end of the beginning". Of course, this doesn't mean the end of Tomb Raider entirely, but we imagine the next time we see Lara she'll be an older and more mature character.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The sequel to Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider
  • When it is out?September 14 2018
  • What can I play it on? PC, Xbox One and PS4

Release date

We now know that Shadow of the Tomb Raider will be released on September 14 2018 on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

A reveal event for the game will take place on April 27 where we'll have the chance to see in-game footage.

Trailer

The latest trailer for the game was unveiled during the global reveal on April 27 and you can watch it for yourself below. Dark and gritty, it shows a Lara that has a lot on her shoulders and a great deal to prove.

The very first teaser trailer for Shadow of the Tomb Raider was revealed on March 15. It's a collection of quick shots but we can see Lara in a mountainous environment with plenty of ancient pyramids (Mayan by the looks of it). Sounds like Tomb Raider to us. 

News and rumors

The global reveal

After the game's official announcement, fans have been awaiting more information on Shadow of the Tomb Raider which came in abundance during the game's April 27 global reveal. A new trailer, brand new screenshots, and hands-on write ups all came together to paint an altogether clearer picture of what Lara's next adventure will bring.

What will it be about?

Shadow of the Tomb Raider will take Lara and her fight against the evil Trinity organisation to South America. Here she's racing against time to save the world from a Maya apocalypse.

It's an apt area of ancient history to explore for the final game in the trilogy.  

The Mayas were able to accurately predict solar eclipses hundreds of years in advance and the Dresden Codex shows this. According to Susan Milbrath, the curator of Latin American art and archaeology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, groups of indigenous Mayas associated eclipses with end times and destruction. 

The Ch’orti’, she reported in an article in the New York Times, believed “an eclipse of the sun that lasts more than a day will bring the end of the world, and the spirits of the dead will come to life and eat those on earth.”  The Lacandón, on the other hand,  thought that during an eclipse the Earth would split and that jaguars would emerge “and eat most of the people.”

The first stage of the apocalypse in the actual game is a tsunami which washes away an entire town. We're not sure where things go from there but if that's stage one we imagine it isn't good.

All of this ties in very well to a finale for Lara's journey. An eclipse means the end of an age and the beginning of a new one. It'll be interesting to see how this will all come together. 

The title implies a darker take on Lara’s journey so far, but the games have already been pretty dark, with supernatural goings-on, Lara’s struggle to become the confident raider of tombs we all know and love, and her troubled family history.  

This time around, we're seeing Lara face up to some personal demons. She's stronger and more grizzled as a result of her previous adventures but she also has moments of selfishness and petulance which have been exacerbated by her periods of isolation. 

In Shadow of the Tomb Raider we'll see Lara face up to the fact that her actions and her fight against Trinity is about more than herself and the lives of innocent people are on the line. The outcome of the game and Lara's final decision will undoubtedly have a massive impact on her character and any future games in the franchise.

Writer Rhianna Pratchett has recently said she'd like to tackle an older and more grizzled Lara, perhaps we'll see a set up for that in the end of this series. 

What's the gameplay like?

Anyone who's played previous Tomb Raider games will be familiar with what's on offer here. There's a mix of combat, stealth and puzzle solving involved as well as some tense moments that depend on button mashing for survival. 

The environment you're in will change your gameplay. In enemy infested areas in the jungle, Lara will use her surroundings to hide herself and stealthily take enemies out. When they're down to a manageable number she'll have the option to leap out of cover and start a shoot out.

Outside of this, there are exploration elements which involve climbing using a pick axe and rappelling down mountains.

Once in tombs, Lara is working against her environment rather than using it to her advantage. Here the game's puzzle solving elements come into play. Though the game isn't open world, Lara will have to look around her full environment and solve puzzles to move onto the next stage. There are also a myriad of times where Lara's exploration will take her underwater and it's here that time is of the essence. 

The official announcement

After leaks and promises aplenty, the official confirmation that Lara's 2018 adventure would be called Shadow of the Tomb Raider took place on March 15. The game's official website opened up to show the official release date as September 14 alongside a trailer.

It was also confirmed that the game wll be coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC on the same date. So no timed exclusives.

More information on the game will come on its official reveal event which will take place at several locations around the world on April 27. Pre-orders will also open on this date.

The leaks

The title, and other snippets of information about Shadow of the Tomb Raider were leaked in November last year when an eagle-eyed Reddit user saw someone - presumably an employee of Square Enix Montreal, Eidos Montreal or someone from Crystal Dynamics on a work trip - open their laptop to have a look at a Tomb Raider slideshow presentation. The title on the slide, “Shadow of the Tomb Raider”, is now known to be the name of the game.

  • We expect Lara will be a presence at E3 2018

April 27, 2018 at 09:11PM
Kate Gray,Emma Boyle

Shadow of the Tomb Raider: hands-on with Lara's next adventure

Gaming has shed its geeky image to become a ‘cool’ hobby

A new survey on gaming carried out by Dell (the firm which makes Alienware machines) has found that the pastime is no longer the domain of geeks, and is now considered to be a ‘cool’ pursuit – and one that can develop useful real-life skills.

Gone are the days when the gamer was typically considered to be a loner teenager locked in his or her bedroom, and the very label ‘gamer’ was tied closely to the concept of geekery.

The global survey (which encompassed nearly 6,000 videogame players across 11 countries) showed that gamers are now your co-workers, siblings or friends, and that fewer than 10% of respondents felt embarrassed, judged or guilty of some childish crime to be called a ‘gamer’.

Indeed, gamer is now considered a positive term, with 35% of respondents equating it to ‘fun’, 29% considering it to be ‘cool’ in terms of a hobby, and 26% labelling it ‘exciting’.

The popularity of esports and social media is helping to spread the word about how enjoyable gaming can be, and gamers are now less shy about sharing their passion with others, with a quarter of respondents having introduced five or more people to the hobby.

Developing diversity

Diversity is also becoming a stronger suit for gamers, with the research pointing to a sharp increase in the numbers of female players in recent times – 47% of respondents had a female friend who games.

And, 86% of those surveyed said the gender of those who they were matched up against in online play was of no consequence (you may well expect this to be higher, of course, but let’s face it, there’s always a toxic element when it comes to online gaming).

When it came to online match-ups, the principal concern was the opponent’s skill level, with 40% of respondents saying this was important. The ethnicity, political views and sexual orientation of opponents were inconsequential to most folks, as you would hope, only being a concern to 8%, 7% and 6% respectively (the toxic minority strikes again).

Another interesting point is that gaming isn’t just regarded as fun, but also a way of honing skills, with 37% believing it improved their hand-eye coordination, and 36% thinking it made their reaction times better.

Gaming isn’t just about reactions and twitch skills, though, and can also sharpen the mind. In fact, the largest percentage – 39% – said it made them more strategic thinkers, and 27% said it enhanced their teamwork skills.


April 27, 2018 at 06:16PM
Darren Allan

Gaming has shed its geeky image to become a ‘cool’ hobby

A new survey on gaming carried out by Dell (the firm which makes Alienware machines) has found that the pastime is no longer the domain of geeks, and is now considered to be a ‘cool’ pursuit – and one that can develop useful real-life skills.

Gone are the days when the gamer was typically considered to be a loner teenager locked in his or her bedroom, and the very label ‘gamer’ was tied closely to the concept of geekery.

The global survey (which encompassed nearly 6,000 videogame players across 11 countries) showed that gamers are now your co-workers, siblings or friends, and that fewer than 10% of respondents felt embarrassed, judged or guilty of some childish crime to be called a ‘gamer’.

Indeed, gamer is now considered a positive term, with 35% of respondents equating it to ‘fun’, 29% considering it to be ‘cool’ in terms of a hobby, and 26% labelling it ‘exciting’.

The popularity of esports and social media is helping to spread the word about how enjoyable gaming can be, and gamers are now less shy about sharing their passion with others, with a quarter of respondents having introduced five or more people to the hobby.

Developing diversity

Diversity is also becoming a stronger suit for gamers, with the research pointing to a sharp increase in the numbers of female players in recent times – 47% of respondents had a female friend who games.

And, 86% of those surveyed said the gender of those who they were matched up against in online play was of no consequence (you may well expect this to be higher, of course, but let’s face it, there’s always a toxic element when it comes to online gaming).

When it came to online match-ups, the principal concern was the opponent’s skill level, with 40% of respondents saying this was important. The ethnicity, political views and sexual orientation of opponents were inconsequential to most folks, as you would hope, only being a concern to 8%, 7% and 6% respectively (the toxic minority strikes again).

Another interesting point is that gaming isn’t just regarded as fun, but also a way of honing skills, with 37% believing it improved their hand-eye coordination, and 36% thinking it made their reaction times better.

Gaming isn’t just about reactions and twitch skills, though, and can also sharpen the mind. In fact, the largest percentage – 39% – said it made them more strategic thinkers, and 27% said it enhanced their teamwork skills.


April 27, 2018 at 06:16PM
Darren Allan

10 things we learned from the Detroit: Become Human demo

It’s been four and a half years since Quantic Dream and studio head David Cage last brought us one their unique interactive stories. It doesn't seem like such a long time, but it's long enough that their upcoming game, Detroit: Become Human, marks the first title the studio has built for PS4. 

This new semi-futuristic tale - set in a world where life has been transformed by the integration of lifelike and subservient androids - boasts many of the hallmarks you’d expect from the developer that brought you Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls. But it also features some welcome changes that the consequence-based gameplay was sorely in need of. 

We’ve spent plenty of time with the newly-released ‘The Hostage’ demo, and we’ve come out the other side with ten things you need to know before the full game arrives on 25 May. Do be aware - there are spoilers for both the demo and the game below. 

It's one of the most accomplished-looking titles on PS4

Quantic Dream built a brand new engine for Detroit, which seems rather fitting considering the entire game is based off a PS3 tech demo first shown off in 2012. Advances in motion capture and a long development cycle have culminated in a genuinely captivating experience. 

Running on PS4 Pro, Detroit looks remarkable in 4K (you’ll never be able to look at Heavy Rain’s awkward ‘sex’ scenes again, if you wanted to that is), and it even looks mightily impressive on a vanilla PS4. It might not offer the same sense of agency as God of War or Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, but it gives both a run for their money in the looks department.

You'll play as three different androids

Following a narrative path similar to that of 2010’s Heavy Rain, Detroit will split its story of androids questioning their place in society into three distinct storylines, though you only get to experience one of them during the demo.  

You’ll play as Marcus, an artificial caretaker tending to a painter who believes all androids should be free; Kara, a robotic housekeeper faced with an abusive father; and Connor, a highly advanced negotiator tasked with tracking down rogue AI. 

So yes, it’s obvious David Cage has been watching a lot of Blade Runner, but the opening chapter that serves as a demo still manages to capture how small decisions can often have big impacts on the story to come.

Connor can analyse crime scenes with Sherlock-style skills

Connor is the star of the show in the Detroit demo and he offers a gameplay style that’s highly individual and different to those of fellow protagonists Kara and Marcus. 

As an advanced model, he has the power to rapidly analyse his surroundings, taking in multiple clues and details when he enters a crime scene. Each clue or detail will offer new dialogue choices, potentially opening up new branching paths in the story. 

Inspecting, exploring and indulging your curiosity is key to playing as Connor as when he eventually enters the rooftop and is faced with a frantic android brandishing a gun to the head of a young girl at the climax of the demo, he’ll need as much evidence for making his choices as possible.

Major characters can die at any time (and the story will unfold without them)

Consequence has become a favored mechanic for many a developer, but putting the lives of main characters on the line with permadeath? That’s new, even for David Cage. 

The Hostage demo can be played out with a variety of endings, one of which involves negotiator Connor sacrificing his own ‘life’ in order to protect the life of the little girl caught up. We’re a little cautious about how permanent such a decision is to the wider story - there’s every chance Conor could be revived, he is an android after all. But it’s an intriguing dimension if treated with actual reverence, and one that will make your decisions all the more vital.

Higher difficulties mean greater risks

Quantic Dream’s games have never been known for their intricate control schemes and Detroit: Become Human won’t be breaking that tradition. But the simplicity of moving one of its three characters around the screen also comes with added risks - namely an increased chance of negative outcomes. 

The higher the difficulty you choose (Casual and Experienced are the two available in the demo), the shorter the amount of time you have to assess a situation and make your choice. Considering a single dialogue choice or a missed environmental clue can potentially condemn a character to death, it’s a risky scenario that could either be invigorating or consistently irritating.

There is no right or wrong

Many of Detroit: Become Human’s scenarios will provide you with a success rate, a percentage that increases and decreases depending on the environmental clues you’ve collected, dialogue choices you’ve made and decisions you’ve elected to make from previous episodes (some of which will lock out potential narrative avenues completely). 

As you might expect, very few of these decisions or endings are truly ‘right’, with most of its avenues sitting in a grey area that requires you to decide which choice hurts the least. Even making the right choices in The Hostage demo will likely end up killing someone. Expect plenty of guilt.

Connor can recreate crime scenes, Batman-style

Connor, being a negotiator for the police, comes with a few enhanced abilities not found with his fellow protagonists. Examining and scanning clues won’t just net new dialogue choices or narrative paths, it will also provide the ability to recreate a simulation of past events. Think the memory manipulation of Remember Me mixed with the deductive aspect of Batman’s Detective mode in the Arkham series. 

You’ll use ‘triangle’ to pick out key points of interest, and when you’ve collected them all you can use ‘L2’ and ‘R2’ to replay the memory. Moving the camera will potentially reveal new clues, adding extra threads to your investigation.

You can track your story progress at any time

If you’ve played any of Quantic Dream’s other games, you’ll know it was often a challenge to know how well you had or hadn’t done from one scene to another. Cage has revealed that this has been a long-term issue for the studio, so in order to give you more agency throughout the story, there's a new ‘Flowchart’ which you access at any time from the pause menu. 

Here, you can see each of the branching paths and the eventual six endings to each chapter. Previous actions can completely lock access to certain paths, with these narrative lines greyed out completely. You’ll also be able to review it at the end of the chapter and see how your choices compared to other players.

You'll be able to reload checkpoints

Detroit: Become Human sees a real departure for Quantic Dream’s previous approach to storytelling design. In fact, David Cage and co have pulled back the opaque curtain of previous entries to create a setup that’s far more forgiving (but no less deep in its choices and branching narrative paths). 

Marking a first for the series, Detroit will also include the ability to reload certain checkpoints if you make a major decision you’re not too happy with it. It's kind of like keeping your finger anchored in a key page in a choose your own adventure novel. Don’t expect this option to available at every juncture, but the fact it exists is a sign the developer is finally listening to fan feedback.

There are multiple endings to unlock

There are a total of six endings to unlock in the demo of Detroit: Become Human, with each varying in style and outcome depending on the actions and choices you make during your playthrough. 

Thanks to the aforementioned story flow chart detailed previously, it’s not actually that hard to unlock each one, but it’s very easy to miss them if you’re not paying attention to everything on screen. Each of three stories will have chapters which merge into one another, so decisions made in one will affect key moments in the next.


April 27, 2018 at 06:00PM
Dom Reseigh-Lincoln

Super Smash Bros Switch release date, trailer and news

[Update: Good news for those excited about Super Smash Bros: it looks like the game will be the star of Nintendo's E3 show. Nintendo has confirmed that its annual E3 Direct will be taking place on June 12 at 9am PT/ 5pm BST and that Super Smash Bros will feature both in that and in the Treehouse Live gameplay demonstration that follows. Not only that, the game will be the center of Nintendo's show floor, where fans will get the chance to go hands on with it. ]

Fighting games haven’t really ever gone out of fashion – just look at how well Street Fighter 5, Tekken 7, Injustice 2 and Marvel Vs Capcom Infinite have performed recently for proof of that. However, for all their success not one of them has felt quite as timeless as Super Smash Bros.

A fighting game with Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach? If you’re not a fan of the series (yet) then it’s a pretty barmy idea at first glance, but spend a few rounds brawling your way through a four-player showdown and you’ll be forever convinced of its unique brilliance. 

You can imagine, then, just how much the Super Smash Bros community wants a new entry in the series, particularly now that the Nintendo Switch is consistently proving itself to be a system worth investing in. 

Super Smash Bros has featured on most of Nintendo’s major systems (including Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Wii, Wii U and 3DS) so it's nice to see that it's been confirmed for the Switch, especially with such potent eSports potential.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The highly anticipated fifth entry in the Nintendo fighting game series 
  • When can I play it? 2018
  • What can I play it on? Nintendo Switch will be its next home, although a 3DS version could follow (as it did with Super Smash Bros 4)

Super Smash Bros – release date

Following the Nintendo Direct teaser, we know Super Smash Bros is coming at some point in 2018, though we can't be sure exactly when. It seems likely that we'll see more about the game at this year's E3 in June, before a release comes towards the end of the year. 

We’ve already got Metroid Prime 4 booked for this year, so it would make sense for Nintendo to slate Super Smash Bros Switch at a reasonable distance from it to ensure the handheld/tabletop console can keep rolling out new games you won’t find on PS4, Xbox One or PC and massively bolster the console's second year.  

Super Smash Bros – trailers

So far the only trailer we have is the teaser from the March Nintendo Direct but it's a good one. You can watch it below:

Super Smash Bros – news and rumors

Marcus Sellars rumors

Now that Super Smash Bros has been confirmed the rumors about which characters will make an appearance are everywhere. The latest is from industry insider Marcus Sellars, who claims on Twitter that the Ice Climbers will return and that the game will include a two-player coop story mode. 

Though we'd recommend taking these rumors with a pinch of salt, it's worth noting that Sellars has been on the money a few times recently, accurately reporting on Call of Duty Black Ops 4 and Dark Souls Remastered.

Masahiro Sakurai is on board

The series creator of Super Smash Bros, Masahiro Sakurai, has confirmed that he is working on the newly announced Nintendo Switch title.

Sakurai said in a tweet (via Siliconera) that he's been "quietly working on it day after day" asking for fans to "please wait until we can reveal its content, or until the time of its release!!"

Sakurai's involvement is unsurprising but promising given that he's been involved with every other Super Smash Bros release. 

A confirmation

Nintendo confirmed that Super Smash Bros would be coming to the Nintendo Switch in 2018 during its March 8 Nintendo Direct. It didn't, however, give any more information than this.

A port or something more?

There are two schools of thought when it comes to what the next Super Smash Bros might be. One argument says the next entry will likely be a ‘deluxe’ re-release of Super Smash Bros 4 (the one that appeared simultaneously on Wii U and 3DS in 2014).

This is based on Nintendo’s decision to re-release Mario Kart 8 (which originally arrived on Wii U in 2014) as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch. The same thing happened with Pokkén Tournament, which debuted on Wii U in 2016 before dropping on Switch this year with a similar complete edition earlier this year.

Taking this approach would be an easier and faster way for Nintendo and developer Bandai Namco Games to release a Super Smash Bros Switch as the base game is already there. Adding new content would make the game seem fresh and exciting, and it'd also justify slapping on another big price tag. 

Bundling in new characters and stages (much in the same way Nintendo included fresh racers for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe) would be a great way to sell a remastered version, as would including new skins for the current 58 characters on the roster. Gearing these skins around recent Switch/3DS releases (such as Link’s new look for Breath Of The Wild and Mario’s revealing attire for Odyssey) would also make a lot of sense.

The other argument is that Super Smash Bros Switch would be a brand new entry, built from the ground up for Switch. The new console is the most powerful bit of hardware Nintendo has ever released, so offering a bespoke entry just for Switch would make the next Super Smash Bros entry extra special and a much more attractive sell to new and existing players.

The recent teaser trailer certainly suggests we're looking at a brand new entry rather than any kind of port, especially given new characters (the inklings from Splatoon and Link) appear.

At this point, though, we can't be 100% sure whether this is a re-skin or a brand new entry but we can't wait to find out.

Super Smash Bros Switch - which characters will appear? 

As we mentioned, the previous entry in the series had 58 characters (including on-disc ones and DLC) so we'd expect to see a similarly big number this time around. 

There are plenty of characters that have become staples in the series (such as Mario, Peach, Captain Falco and Kirby) and others (such as Sonic The Hedgehog, Ryu and Pac-Man) that have come and gone over the years.

After the recent trailer we know at the very least that the Inklings from Splatoon 2 and Link from The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild will appear. We'd also love to see Rex and Pyra from Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The meme-inducing popularity suggest Breath Of The Wild’s Prince Sidon could get appearance alongside Nipha. We’d love to see the new version of Zelda, too, considering how well-received her makeover was.

We could see some off-the-wall additions as well. Could Skyrim's arrival on Nintendo Switch mean we’ll see the classic look of the Dovahkiin in the new Smash Bros? Those dragon shouts would certainly come in useful.

Then again, now that we know Crash Bandicoot is coming to the console we'd love to see him appear in game. His wild spin is made for Smash Bros and we can see a TNT-themed special move.

We certainly wouldn't be surprised to see the Rabbid rabbits after the success of their joint venture with Mario in 2017.

Naturally fans have characters they'd love to see appear in the game. One character who's been a top request for years now is Dragon Ball Z's Goku and demands are making the rounds again. This time, however, Funimation is in on the act and the company has even sent a tweet to Nintendo asking when Goku will make his debut.

Another character request is a more recent one but we love it just as much - LaboMan. Inspired by the small cardboard man who appeared in the trailer for the upcoming Nintendo Labo accessory, Javed L Sterritt designed LaboMan and animated him for a Smash Bros appearance. His main move would be to sling the Joy-Con on his back at enemies but he'll also be able to transform into the Labo piano for a super smash. LaboMan would be a different addition to the roster but an adorable and on-brand one to be sure.

Will there be eSports?

eSports is an ever-growing field and Super Smash Bros would certainly be an excellent title for Nintendo to make a splash. The videos of fans screaming at the game's announcement make it clear there would be an audience for competitive Smash Bros and it'd be a great way to show what Nintendo's full online service can do when it launches in September.

More significantly, Japan has started to reduce the regulations around paid tournaments  which has stopped eSports flourishing in the country so it's possible that Nintendo may warm to this kind of play. 

However, Nintendo has historically been rather cautious when it comes to eSports and it's unlikely the company would wish to alienate the players who have no interest in the genre. However, times are rapidly changing and online streaming is becoming intricately tied with a game's success - just look at PUBG, Fortnite and Sea of Thieves. Super Smash Bros would be the right title for Nintendo to start taking the genre more seriously, particularly as earlier versions of the game are already being used in eSports in the US.


April 27, 2018 at 03:21PM
Emma Boyle