NVIDIA announces GameStream, G-Sync, ShadowPlay and the GTX 780 Ti Unknown12:34 AM 0 comments

NVIDIA announces GameStream, G-Sync, ShadowPlay and the GTX 780 Ti:

Gamestream allows you to stream games from PC to SHIELD to TV, G-Sync makes stutter and tearing a thing of the past, Shadowplay allows GeForce Experience to stream to Twitch directly and the new 780 Ti well, takes everything up a notch!

Day two of the NVIDIA Editor’s Day in Montreal began with a bang and a slew of announcements that promise to radically change the way we are going to experience games in the near future. Here’s our roundup of what was announced, how everything works, and how it’s going to affect you.

Gamestream

The new technology announced is sort of like NVIDIA’s Airplay - something that even Jen Hsun alluded to in his presentation. Of all the platforms, PC gaming has always been the farthest from from the living room TV and the powers that be (not just NVIDIA) seem to be making lots of efforts to change that. With NVIDIA’s Gamestream you will be able to stream games to your large screen TV from a number of sources including your PC. Of course streaming Android games from the SHIELD is an option and going by the slide below it seems streaming from GRID will also be an option too (possibly in the near future).

While streaming from the PC the system is able to handle 1080p @ 60 Hz on a wired connection while on wireless it can do 720. We got to watch a demo of Arkham Origins being launched from within Steam (in the big picture mode) while the SHIELD was put in “console mode”. In the console mode the SHEILD needs to be paired with a low latency controller (like a Nyko). Can you pair a low-latency keyboard and mouse to bring the complete PC experience into the living room? “That’s something we’re working” on said Andrew Coonrad, from NVIDIA. 

 The trouble right now is that the keyboard and mice are precision input instruments and Android isn’t there just yet. “But once we figure out how to give an optimal experience on that front, we’ll have a list of recommended SKUs that you can go out and buy”, added Andrew.

This is where NVIDIA comes in with G-Sync, with which the GPU will be able to drive monitor timing. This needs a hardware level handshake between the monitor and GPU which comes via a module that G-Sync compliant monitors will have embedded in them. The monitor now will not update until the frame is done drawing. So in other words variable refresh rates. “The logic is so fundamentally simple but the implementation is incredibly complicated. Liquid crystals don’t like being driven with sporadic levels of timing,” .

 

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Sony unveils new PS4 commercial, 24 exclusive games confirmed Unknown12:14 AM 0 comments

Sony unveils new PS4 commercial, 24 exclusive games confirmed:

Sony has released a new PS4 commercial claiming 24 exclusive PS4 titles including KillZone: Shadow Fall, Infamous: Second Son and The Order: 1886. 14 studios are already making PS4 games and 180 titles are currently in development for the PS4.

Sony has unveiled a new commercial for the PlayStation 4, making some rather remarkable claims about what to expect for the next-gen console's library of games.

To begin with, the ad states that 24 exclusives games for the PS4 have been confirmed so far, including the likes of KillZone: Shadow Fall, Infamous: Second Son and The Order: 1886. With a few a major setbacks this past week over launch delays and rumours suggesting that PS4 launch lineup is getting soft in the wake of these delays, this commercial seems to be a deliberate message from Sony.

The new commercial also mentions that 14 'award winning studios are developing games for the PS4'. This points to Sony's stout portfolio of first party developers, including Sucker Punch (Infamous), Media Molecule (LittleBigPlanet), Guerrila Games (KillZone), Sony Santa Monica (God of War) and more.

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Grand Theft Auto V Unknown6:56 AM 0 comments

Grand Theft Auto V

Release date: September 17, 2013

A Rockstar representative told Games Industry, "We are in the process of investigating early 'sales' to determine how and why that is occurring." Some are speculating that Amazon decided to ship some copies early so as to not overload the UK’s Royal Mail service because of the massive demand for GTA5.

Earlier videos released by Rockstar showed off the ability to switch the main characters on the fly. While you play and roam around the city as one of the characters, the others will be living their own lives. You can switch to these other characters and continue their activities at any moment. As the lady in the trailer describes it, you can indulge in some voyeurism.

There also seems to be some improvement in the core gameplay itself—driving and shooting. The ability to change guns too seems to have been changed to use a radial menu instead of the traditional ‘switch weapons one-by-one’ system of the earlier games. Driving also seems to be much more fast and fluid, with less emphasis on realism.

GTA 5 will also have some great variety in its game world, with everything ranging from the city to the country side, urban decay to untouched natural scenery. Needless to say, there will also be some new side-activities. These include playing tennis, taking part in bicycle races, skydiving, or even hunting (both bounty and animals).

Grand Theft Auto 5 is coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. There has been no word from Rockstar about a possible PC release.

17 morsels of GTA 5 goodness to tide you over:

With GTA 5′s September 17 release date looming, gamers around the world are waiting patiently for the game to land on their doorsteps. Gameplay trailers, online teasers and leaked footage abound, there has been plenty of Grand Theft Auto V coverage to pour over, but here are some facts you may not have heard…

1. You can turn car engines off

Presumably for no other reason than to look badass when you pull up to someone’s apartment for a stakeout.

2. You can watch an in-game TV show spoof of ‘World Wildest Police Videos’ set in Los Santos

It airs on the ‘CNT network’ around town and is called The Underbelly of Paradise.

3. You can set fire to oil slicks

Gasonline can leak during crashes in GTA 5, adding a new level of danger to motorway pile-ups. Trails of oil, whether originating from a vehicle or the jerrycan you emptied on a hapless victim, can be ignited or shot at from distance to blow things up. Very cinematic.

4. Blaine County looks utterly brilliant

5. There is a fort, a prison, a power station, two mountain ranges and a ‘wilderness’ area

The leak of the game’s official map revealed some awesome landmarks, with the prison getting its own no-fly zone and Mount Chiliad being serviced by a cable car system.

6. Unlike the last San Andreas-set game, there doesn’t seem to be girlfriends

Which will save you a lot of tedious trips to bowling alleys and highway code-friendly drives home.

7. GTA V is huge – but fortunately there’s turbo sprint

Given the immense size of San Andreas, there’s likely to be Skyrim-levels of disorientation when you dive from a burning car somewhere in the countryside. Fortunately, in addition to walking and sprinting, there is a turbo sprint function to aid you in finding your way back to town, although it requires repeatedly tapping sprint, so prepare for some thumb ache.

8. You can buy your own bong shop

Smoke In The Water, seen in the gameplay trailer, is a purchasable property serving San Andreas residents with a medical marijuana license.

9. GTA Online has at least 700 missions

While GTA IV’s online version saw players running around like Uzi-toting headless chickens, V’s will be more structured, plot-driven and hopefully infinitely more rewarding.

10. ‘Cover of darkness’ is a viable tactic now

Those who have played the game say non-playable characters struggle to see you in the dark much like a stealth game, so you may want to consider leaving your heists until nightfall. NPCs are also smarter, however, and will hit the gas if they think you’re about carjack them.

11. The radio stations serve as an awesome soundtrack to destruction

From an experimental hip hop show presented by Flying Lotus, to a lo-fi punk and indie show curated by Wavves, the radio stations (preview them here) are more thoughtful (and more esoteric) than ever.

12. You can download apps and games on your in-game phone

…If for some reason you’d rather play a Candy Crush variant than base jump with a flamethrower.

13.  Pedestrians look crazier than ever

14. You can drive trains

But they’re on rails, remember, so this might sound more fun than it actually is.

15. Roads remain detailed even when you’re high up

Before they would be stripped down and look empty, but as seen in leaked gameplay footage of Franlin stealing a jet plane, traffic is still visible even as you soar above the skyscrapers.

16. Vinewood has its own HOLLYWOOD sign

That you can clamber over if you so desire.

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