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Wine is a great way to run your favorite Windows programs on Linux, but if you don’t want to mess with a program’s settings to get it just right, free app PlayOnLinux has a bunch in its database that you can install with one click. More »
from Lifehacker
Yeah, streaming Skyrim on a Tegra 3-powered Ice Cream Sandwich tablet is nice and all, but what about folks who want a more immersive experience with their beloved time sink? One tech-savvy gamer took matters into his own hands — conjuring a bit of electronics alchemy by throwing together Sony’s HMZ-T1 head-mounted display with a Kinect sensor, a TrackIR5 for head tracking and voice recognition software. The result is an experience that allows any wannabe adventurer to press onward into Tamriel’s frozen north by marching in place while imbibing in a true, head-mounted first-person perspective. Admittedly, stomping around and flailing one’s arms may lack the elegance and playability of The Gadget Show’s $650,000 Battlefield 3 simulator, but at $1500, it’s a homegrown virtual reality experience that’s actuallywithin reach. Now go forth and explore the video after the break.
Continue reading Kinect makes pact with head-mounted display, virtual reality Skyrim ensues
from Engadget
PC RPG game classics are about to get even cooler!!!!
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It’s been a good week for fans of old-school PC RPGs. First, a team led by Interplay’s Brian Fargo found Kickstarter funding for a sequel to post-apocalyptic RPG Wasteland. Then, a months-long countdown clock on BaldursGate.com expired to reveal the existence of Enhanced Edition updates for the first two games in the popular Dungeons and Dragons-inspired Baldur’s Gate series.
The new edition is a joint effort between Atari, Wizards of the Coast, and Beamdog, which previously released an HD update for third-person shooter MDK2. Few details are available on how exactly the new editions will change the series’ classic gameplay, but the development team, headed by BioWare veteran Trent Oster and including “original Baldur’s Gate developers,” has promised “to remain true to the spirit of the game.”
Crucial details like planned platforms and a release date are still unknown, but a Beamdog rep tells Joystiq to expect “regular announcements every week” regarding the game’s development. Beamdog’s Cameron Tofer also told GameSpy that a true Baldur’s Gate 3 sequel remains a “long term goal” that might work as a future Kickstarter project, but that such a sequel is definitely not in the works yet. Way to tease us, Tofer!
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from Ars Technica
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! There goes productivity!!!!
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After a few delays and many recitations of Blizzard’s “We’ll release it when it’s ready” mantra, Diablo III finally has a release date: May 15th. On that date, Blizzard’s click-heavy action RPG will be available on PC and Mac for $59.99 USD in almost every region. Latin American and Russian players will need to wait until June 7th.
Digital presales for Diablo III start today, World of Warcraft players interested in picking up a free copy may still do so by purchasing a WoW Annual Pass before May 1st.
For interested parties, Blizzard will also be selling a Diablo III Collector’s Edition for $99.99. The retail exclusive package includes a behind-the-scenes Blu-ray/DVD set, a soundtrack CD, a 208-page art book, and a 4GB USB trinket carrying full versions of Diablo II and Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. It will also come with exclusive content for Diablo III, World of Warcraft, and Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty – most likely in-game items along the lines of a WoW minipet.
The press release touts Diablo III’s real money auction house and robust Battle.net-based matchmaking, yet it makes no mention of the planned player-versus-player arena. This is likely because Diablo III will be launching without it. “The PvP game and systems aren’t yet living up to our standards,†Blizzard’s Jay Wilson wrote on Battle.net last week. “After a lot of consideration and discussion, we ultimately felt that delaying the whole game purely for PvP would just be punishing to everyone who’s waiting to enjoy the campaign and core solo/co-op content.â€
Source: Blizzard
from AnandTech
The first analysis of team dynamics in a multiplayer first person shooter reveals that friendship is an important factor in success
In many fields of endeavour, the notion of team spirit is an important component of success. The idea is that friendships and understanding between team members will help them perform at a higher level.
Super Mario, Donkey Kong and other classic games belong to class of hard mathematical puzzles – and playing Mario could be used to solve real-world problems
