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Cool Gear Showcased at E3 2019

Joyce Lee
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Cool Gear Showcased at E3 2019

At E3 2019, while there are hundreds of games to check out, there’s also plenty of hardware to see: from controllers, mice, keyboards and so on, all the way to maxed-out gaming rigs. You cannot have one experience without the other. Here, we take a look at a few of the many hardware vendors and their wares made with gamers in mind.

VoltEdge

High-performance games accessories developer VoltEdge™ showcased their brand new 3D Sound Array for PC gamers at E3 2019.

3D Sound Array (Photo Credit: VoltEdge)

What exactly is a 3D Sound Array? And how can something audio be 3D? All good questions and ones we were itching to answer when learning about this new, first of its kind, piece of technology.

VoltEdge’s 3D Sound Array (created in partnership with Dysonics) is a device consisting of a set of small, linearly arranged speakers which work together using signal processing techniques to isolate the left and right ear audio signals. In other words, when someone is sitting directly in front of the speakers, the 3D Gaming Audio Array enables them to hear sounds near and far, left and right and up and down thus providing a truly 3D audio experience. Created with gamers in mind, the device is a single platform that fits underneath a gaming monitor or laptop. The device also comes with a built-in subwoofer, EQ and personalization settings, and a headphone jack with the same 3D audio capabilities.

The price and release date have yet to be announced. For more information on the 3D Sound Array, please visit https://voltedge.co/product/3d-sound-array/.

VoltEdge’s TX70 Wireless Headset (Photo Credit: VoltEdge)

In addition to the announcement of the 3D Sound Array, VoltEdge also launched the TX70 – a low latency, 2.4 GHz wireless headset which boasts to offer the best bang for your buck for someone looking for a high-quality headset without a high impact to their wallet. Not only is the headset extremely comfortable and light (which is great if you are prone to headaches after an hour or two of headphone use), it offers great sound quality at an extremely affordable $59.99 price point.

“For the price of a video game you can now have a high-quality wireless headset,” said Chris Richards, co-founder and CEO of VoltEdge. “We challenged ourselves to bring the most sought-after feature in headsets – wireless – to all gamers, and to do it while enhancing sound performance and comfort. We feel very confident that VoltEdge will set a new standard for the industry in terms of advanced design combined with affordability.”

The headset will feature wireless compatibility with the PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch, 50mm temper tuned drivers for crystal clear audio, boasts 15 hours of battery life comes and high-quality athletic mesh cushions for long gaming sessions. I have yet to see how these headsets perform with long-term use, but from what we experienced at their booth at E3, we were quite impressed. The sound quality and comfortability of this headset almost seems like a steal for its low price point.

You can check out more of VoltEdge’s products and keep tabs on release dates for these cool products at https://voltedge.co/.

Logitech

Logitech has been making waves upgrading its gear lineup and winning awards for design over the past year. At E3, the company announced that it would be upgrading the Logitech G903 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse, Logitech® G703 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse, and Logitech G403 HERO Gaming Mouse with Logitech’s high-performance HERO 16K sensor The HERO 16K Sensor offers 10x the power efficiency of the previous generation sensor and delivers precision performance with 1:1 tracking and 16,000 max DPI – in other words, more accurate tracking and longer battery life. Each mouse comes with unique features and a different price point depending on your personal needs and preferences.

Logitech G903 LIGHTSPEED mouse (Photo credit: Logitech)

The G903, which retails at $149.99, is designed with the ambidextrous gamer in mind. It is smooth and streamlined for both right-handed and left-handed players, boasts an incredible 140 hours of battery, and comes with 11 programmable buttons.

Logitech G703 LIGHTSPEED mouse (Photo credit: Logitech)

The G703 LIGHTSPEED (which is, if you are right-handed, is, in my opinion, the most comfortable mouse of the three HERO mice) now features an improved battery life of up to 35 hours on a single charge with its HERO upgrade. If you don’t need the ambidextrous capabilities of the G903, you’ll be happy to note that this mouse does have a lower price point of $99.99. Both the G903 and the G703 are compatible with the Logitech G’s POWERPLAY Wireless Charging System, which will wireless charge your mouse as you play and comes in a size perfect for more active mouse use frequently required for gaming.

Logitech G403 HERO mouse (Photo credit: Logitech)

For those who don’t need a wireless mouse, the wired G403 HERO, retailing at $69.99, is a nice option. With its HERO upgrade, the G403 now weighs 10g lighter than its previous version. It is sleek to the touch and comes with six programmable buttons.

All three mice are sleek in design, smooth and comfortable to the touch, responsive and feature Logitech’s LIGHTSYNC RGB lighting programmable through the Logitech G HUB. The Powerplay Wireless Charging System retails for $99.99. You honestly can’t go wrong with any of these choices – it all depends on your personal preferences for your gaming setup.

To learn more about these products, visit https://www.logitechg.com/en-us.

Astrogaming

Astrogaming A50 + Base Station (Photo Credit: Astrogaming)

Astrogaming unveiled its new A50 wireless headset and boy, is it loaded with a ton of cool features! Built with the audiophile and gamer in mind, the A50 features Dolby® Headphone 7.1 surround sound, a 5 GHz wireless transmitter for low-latency gameplay with Astro Base Station Transmitter, and a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery for up to 15 hours of battery life – plenty of time for any lengthy gaming session. Astrogaming is well-known for its fun, customizable headsets and the A50 does not disappoint in that regard. It is fully mod-kit ready with magnetic interchangeable pieces so you can customize your headset to your own specific aesthetic tastes and comfortability needs. Not only does the A50 sound great, but it is also light, which is great if you’re one prone to getting headaches after wearing a heavier headset for a couple of hours.

The A50 is also extremely versatile with compatibility for PC, Xbox, and PS4 and is designed to fit comfortably over your HTC Vive, Oculus or PS VR headset! It is Discord certified and comes in two colors – black or grey and retails for $299.99.

For more information on A50, visit Astrogaming’s website at www.astrogaming.com.

marseille

Ever wish you could play your favorite old console games in 1080p? Or boost the resolution on your movies to your television’s full capabilities? Well, marseille may have the answer for you. E4G came across Marseille’s booth on the E3 show floor and were duly impressed. Their two products – the mCable and the mClassic have the ability to upscale the resolution of your media to HD and even 4K Cinema (depending on your monitor or television’s capabilities).

Side by side comparison of an image without and with the mClass in use. Photo credit: marseille

But how is this possible? The brand new mClassic features a high-performance scaler that scale pixels from SD to HD and also from HD to 4K Cinema and nifty algorithms that not only analyze and determine the best depth of field relevancy in an image but also the “sharpness” of an image, all processed in, according to marseille, real-time (less than 1 ms). The result is a beautiful, crisper image with enhanced resolution and beautiful colors.

The mCable, the mClassic’s predecessor, looks similar to an HDMI cable and comes in a cinema version and gaming versions for different console types (including retro consoles!) with different algorithms designed for each type of use. The mCable retails at a starting price of $119.99 (depending on the length of the cable) and is available now. The mClassic typically retails for $99.99 but is currently available for $79.00 on Indiegogo.

For more information on the mCable and the mClassic, please visit https://www.marseilleinc.com/.

Alienware

Alienware’s AW310H Stereo Gaming Headset in “Dark Side of the Moon.” (Photo Credit: Alienware)

Alienware’s E3 booth featured several new pieces of gear behind a fun, LED light waterfall. Amongst the new items was the Alienware AW 510H 7.1 Gaming Headset and the Alienware AW310H Stereo Gaming Headset. Both headsets feature custom-tuned 50mm drivers for more dynamic sound stage, custom-designed acoustic chambers, a professional Discord certified uni-directional noise cancellation retractable boom microphone and memory foam earpads for a deeper acoustic chamber with noise isolation. For gamers who use their headset on multiple platforms, each headset also comes with a detachable 3.5mm cable.

Alienware AW510H 7.1 Gaming Headset in “Lunar Light.” (Photo Credit: Alienware)

Both headsets are designed for long periods of wear with ideal clamp force to avoid slippage during gameplay and a hybrid of plush memory foam, sports fabric and leatherette on the earcups for cooling, comfort, and enhanced noise cancellation. Both headsets will be available on July 31, 2019, at $99.99 for the Alienware 7.1 Gaming Headset and $79.99 for the Alienware Stereo Gaming Headset. If you love high-quality sound and have the extra $20 to spend, it is well worth it to get the AW510H over the AW310H. Both of these headsets are beautifully designed and comfortable to wear, but the audiophile in your will thank you for the upgrade.

For more information on Alienware, please visit their website at www.alienware.com.

Events for Gamers’ PAX West 2019 Party List (2nd Update)

Paul Philleo
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Events for Gamers’ PAX West 2019 Party List (2nd Update)

It’s that time of year again! PAX West 2019 is at our doorstep, and with it the parties, meetups, and other events gamers of all stripes in the Seattle area may want to check out.

Like our GDC 2019 event and party list from a few months ago, this list is curating only the publicly listed and searchable events out there. But if you are hosting an event at PAX West 2019 you want added (or removed) to the list, let us know.

Keep an eye out for further updates, as the list is made as current as possible just before PAX West 2019 kicks off.

Thursday, August 29th:

Event: ID@Xbox Open House 2019
Time: 5-9PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Microsoft Building 33, 16070 Northeast 36th Way, Redmond, WA 98052
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/idxbox-open-house-2019-tickets-68575718821
Description: “Play more than 50 upcoming ID@Xbox titles, including several new announces and first playables! Meet the developers of some of our most highly anticipated titles, and get a 1:1 hands on experience with them and their game.”

Event: The Start of Term Feast
Time: 6-8:30PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: No
Location: Rhein Haus Seattle, 912 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-start-of-term-feast-tickets-63078291869
Description: “The Start-of-Term Feast is a yearly dinner held in Capital Hill the night before PAX West that gives PAXers, both new and old, a chance to hang out, eat a ton of great food, and get to know each other! It also gives everyone attending The Triwizard Drinking Tournament, a chance to eat before a merry night of drinking and charity fund raising which you should totally sign up for!”

Event: PAX Countdown at PAX West
Time: 7PM-1AM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: None required
Location: Neighbours Nightclub & Lounge 1509 Broadway, Seattle, Washington 98122
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/329431081277019/
Description: “It’s time to return to Seattle to kickOff our 6th ANNUAL PAX West GGP Party. Join us for an evening celebrating PRIDE and Gaming with DJs spinning, cocktails pouring, an Oculus Quest Lounge and a night full of revelry!” No PAX badge required, except proof of being 21+to join in the fun.”

Event: Geek Out! Trivia Night!: PAX West Edition
Time: 7:30PM-9:30PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: None required
Location: Raygun Lounge, 501 E Pine St Seattle, Washington 98122
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2934669033270282/
Description: “Get ready for an influx of gamers as the weekend of PAX West begins with Geek Out! Trivia! There will be prizes and fun to be had. See you there!”

Sudsy in Seattle
As Seattle is a craft beer hub, expect to see this featured at many age 21+ parties (photo: (photo: CC0 license)

Event: The Triwizard Drinking Tournament 2019
Time: 8:30 PM-11:30 AM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Limited
Location: Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/triwizard-drinking-tournament-2019-tickets-63084176470
Description:  “The Triwizard Drinking Tournament is a yearly charity pub crawl hosted by the Penny Arcade community in which the four houses of Hogwarts are split into two teams of fifty and unleashed upon Capitol Hill for a night of merrymaking and fund raising.”

Friday, August 30th:

Event: True Dungeon at PAX West
Time: Through Monday,September 2nd.
Cost: $68
Tickets available: Limited
Location: The Westin Seattle, 1900 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2417030781904764/
Description: “An amazing two-hour, seven-room, live-action, escape room adventure awaits you at PAX West! Do you have what it takes to solve group puzzles and fight animatronic monsters to complete this highly immersive adventure? Come play what Wil Wheaton, Patrick Rothfuss and Gary Gygax have said is an amazing event. Almost 8,000 tickets sold out at this year’s Gen Con.”

Event: Guild Wars 2‘s Living World Live Event
Time: 9AM-?
Cost: Free
Tickets available: No ticket required
Location: Moore Theatre, 1932 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/join-us-for-a-special-live-event-on-august-30/
Description: Join the Guild Wars 2 team for about 45 minutes or so, for a live announcement about the next chapter to come in Living World. The first 500 attendees get a swag bag, and the event will be first-comes-first-served with no badge or other ticket required.

Event: DigiPen Alumni PAX West Reception
Time: 5:30-8:30 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Tap House Grill, 1506 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pax-west-alumni-reception-2019-tickets-64702106743
Description: If you’re among the merry band of DigiPen alumni, this meetup hosted by the game development school at a Seattle bar at PAX was organized just for you.

Event: Screenwave Media Checkpoint @ PAX West
Time: 6-9 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: ReBar, 1114 Howell Street, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screenwave-media-checkpoint-pax-west-tickets-70923591371?
Description: “Take a break from the convention floor & join us in a relaxed atmosphere with lo-fi chill beats to network to! This event is open to everybody 21+, no badges required, and you’ll receive 2 complimentary drink tokens & concessions with an industry business card.”

Event: The MIX Seattle 2019
Time: 6-11 PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location:  Block 41, 115 Bell Street, Seattle WA 98121
Link: https://www.mediaindieexchange.com/event/the-mix-seattle-2019/
Description: “At The MIX Seattle, guests can play unreleased amazing indie titles with the teams creating them! This year’s event will return to the spacious and stylish Block 41 where the MIX Seattle started a few years back. We’ll have food and drinks available to purchase, giveaways for prize packages, and more!”

Event: 4th Annual Night of Gaming for Good on Top of the World, PAX Edition!
Time: 6PM-1AM
Cost: $89-$99
Tickets available: Limited
Location: Columbia Tower Club, 701 5th Avenue, Floor 76, Seattle, WA, 98104
Link: http://pax2019.shindigg.com/
Description: “Join us for an evening with the gaming community to celebrate and play games we love, partake in fine dining, enjoy Top of the World views, and win gaming raffle prizes. All to support a great cause: our beneficiary, the Imagine Guild, supports the Seattle Children’s Hospital, Uncompensated Care program.”

Event: PAX Prime Game Writer’s Dinner!
Time: 6:30-9:30PM
Cost: Free (Cash required for dining)
Tickets available: No
Location: Villa Escondida, 2203 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pax-2019-writers-dinner-tickets-68730022347
Description: This is the second year of this dinner event centered on writers in the game industry. If an escort is required from the convention center, that can be arranged. Keep in mind, payment is required for dinner, so only RSVP if you’re 100% sure you can attend.

Event: Relax at PAX with Life is Strange 2 and What’s Good Games!
Time: 7–10PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Art Marble 21, 731 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/649398132240258/
Description: “We’re stoked to announce we’re partnering with our friends at Square Enix and Life is Strange 2 for another PAX West party! Come hang out Friday, August 30th from 7-10pm at Art Marble 21. (We will be on the SECOND floor.) You might want to get there early – the first 100 people in line will get a free drink on us! And we know liquid calories aren’t necessarily the best calories, so we’ll have yummy snacks available as well. This event is free (PAX badges aren’t required) and is open to all ages until 9pm, at which point you must be 21+.”

Event: Gamedev Super!Mingle
Time: 7PM–12AM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: PennyRoyal, 2000 2nd Ave #100, Seattle, WA 98121
Link: https://mingle.super.com/
Description: “Join us for the first-ever Gamedev Super!Mingle in Seattle! It’s a great opportunity to network in a relaxed atmosphere at one of the coziest places in the city.

Food and drinks are on us. Don’t miss out!”

Event: PAX West Nerd Music Showcase
Time: 7:30PM-1:30AM
Cost: Free (with PAX badge, $10 for everyone else)
Tickets available: Yes
Location: LoFi Seattle, 429 Eastlake Ave, E Seattle, WA 98109
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pax-west-nerd-music-showcase-tickets-67865805451
Description: “We’re back at the LoFi this Year, Friday Night of PAX. Come for the geek music, stay for the booze and and friendship, and prizes, and music, cause there are a ton of artists!”

Event: Indie Forest by Game Jolt, Devolver Digital and DreamHack
Time: 8-11:59PM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Fred Wildlife Refuge, 128 Boylston Avenue, East Seattle, WA 98102
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indie-forest-by-game-jolt-devolver-digital-and-dreamhack-tickets-67927120847
Description: “Come grab a drink and play some indie games with us and their creators in the Indie Forest at Fred Wildlife Refuge. We’ll have many games on display for gamedevs to show off their creations in person. Sip indie themed cocktails while grooving to DJ-blended retro tunes.”

Event: IGN | PAX WEST COSPLAY PARTY
Time: 8PM-12AM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Waitlist
Location: The Crocodile Back Bar, 2200 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ign-pax-west-cosplay-party-tickets-69067943077
Description: “Get inspired by the world of Cyberpunk 2077 and take part in one of the biggest cosplay contests ever! Create a getup based on an existing character from the game or come show your support and cheer on the contestants.” Attendees will need to be 21+ only, and no PAX West badge is needed,

Plenty of live music and DJing during PAX West
Live music, DJs and more entertainment aplenty at PAX West (photo: CC0 license)

Event: Sonicboombox PAX Afterparty
Time: 8PM-2AM
Cost: $10
Tickets available: Yes
Location: SPIN Seattle, 1511 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sonicboombox-pax-afterparty-tickets-66968421351
Description: “Sonicboombox’s first ever PAX Afterparty, featuring live DJ, dancing, cosplay, drink specials, free ping pong, photobooth & more!”

Event: Borderlands 3 Community Party
Time: 9PM-?
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: Showbox SoDo, 1700 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
Link: https://nerdist.com/article/borderlands-3-pax-west-2019-sponsored-gearbox/
Description: “Swing by Showbox SoDo (1700 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134) on Friday, August 30 at 9:00 PM Pacific for a PAX party unlike any other. Not only will it be a packed house with music and dancing to rival the Borderlands 3 trailer, Nerdist’s own Dan Casey is hosting a cosplay runway event featuring partygoers with stunning costumes and props!”

Event: MAGFest Jamspace at PAX West 2019
Time: 10PM-1AM
Cost: Free
Tickets available: Yes
Location: PAX WEST Convention Place Seattle, WA 98101
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/magfest-jamspace-at-pax-west-2019-tickets-67848222861
Description: “After nearly a decade of absence from the west coast, MAGFest’s Jamspace is returning to PAX West with a full lineup of stellar performers from all points in the nerd spectrum, as well as opportunities for anyone of the musical persuasion to get in on the action!” Note: PAX West event badge needed!

There’s a weekend and more of PAX West 2019 events on the list from Saturday, August 31 to Monday, September 2 on the next page!

DreamHack to Make U.S. West Coast Debut in Anaheim February 21-23, 2020

Paul Philleo
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DreamHack to Make U.S. West Coast Debut in Anaheim February 21-23, 2020

STOCKHOLM — DreamHack, the premier gaming lifestyle festival, has announced it will make its U.S. West Coast debut with DreamHack Anaheim in Anaheim, CA February 21-23, 2020, at the Anaheim Convention Center.  The 24 hour-a-day festival weekend will feature everything gaming under one roof and will be jam-packed with pro esports tournaments, amateur and varsity gaming tournaments, world-famous bring your own computer (BYOC) LAN party, cosplay championship, panels, art, activities, expo, screenings, live music and more. Tickets will be available HERE beginning Friday, September 20, 2019.

“I cannot express our excitement at bringing DreamHack to the great city of Anaheim for our first-ever West Coast festival weekend — especially because it comes on the heels of our 25th-anniversary celebration,” said DreamHack Co-CEO Marcus Lindmark. “This debut event in Anaheim will be a not-to-be-missed experience for fans of esports and all things gaming.”

“We are thrilled to be bringing DreamHack to the West Coast for the first time in the history of the event,” said Visit Anaheim Vice President of Sports Development Roy Edmonson.  “Events like DreamHack are perfect for Anaheim, as we have the largest convention center on the west coast,  and this is a great addition to our portfolio of clients.”

2019 was a tremendous year of growth for DreamHack, including inaugural events in South America (DreamHack Rio); Dallas, TX (DreamHack Dallas); and Rotterdam, Netherlands (DreamHack Rotterdam). The festival experience will continue to innovate and improve the experience for both attendees and fans alike. The complete 2020 festival schedule will be announced in December.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Tickets

  • Kids under five FREE
  • Tickets will be available HERE beginning Friday, September 20, 2019
Social

Preview Event: Hot Shot Burn

Paul Philleo
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Preview Event: Hot Shot Burn

The Event

Hot Shot Burn, published by the Polish-based Artifex Mundi and developed by an internal team, Flaming Flamingo, was demoed at a spacious AirBnB in downtown San Francisco for one-at-a-time demos of a late beta build with media folks. Going with living room party theme, the “arena party brawler” game was playable on a computer and a big screen TV, presented before a table full of snacks. Very homey.

Hot Shot Burn developer team
Hot Shot Burn dev team alongside their game demo (image credit: E4G)

Three developers walked visitors through thewild and wacky world of Hot Shot Burn. But this stop was only the first leg of a lengthier trip, which continued with the fighting game-focused EVO 2019 event in Las Vegas.

Following the showing of Hot Shot Burn at EVO 2019 …

… the game will be shown off at Gamescom, PAX West, and Dreamhack Atlanta, so there will be plenty of other chances to see the game “in the wild” before the end of the year.

The Game

As for the game and my time with it, Hot Shot Burn is an approachable, fun party-style combat game for 2-4 players that fully embraces its cartoony violence and fast-paced gaming style.

Getting started with Hot Shot Burn, up to four slots can be filled from the six available players (via Steam Early Access) are selected. Skins are selected and skills can be viewed by the players, whether online, local or AI bots — and the game is set. Players jump into a variety of maps, including a neon-tinged map reminiscent of an air hockey table, a watery world with moss and bubble-emitting grates, a junkyard with conveyor belts serving up fast-moving trash that can flatten players, among others.

 

Flame blast hazards, bushes and power-ups for all four players in this map
So many paths to victory or death in this map (image credit: Flaming Flamingo)
 s

Neon-themed map in Hot Shot Burn
This map’s theme is a little bit like Atari’s Berzerk, a little bit like an air hockey table (image credit: Flaming Flamingo)

Power-ups randomly turn up over maps, which can potentially turn the tide for players in need of inflicting a quick take-down. Also randomly appearing on the map, like the helpful snacks they are, are nachos as represented by yellow chips. Players can grab those for extra points to pad their score.

The unique character skills and attributes that, mixed together with the hazards and walls and blinds on each map, create a recipe for a madcap, fun sort of party-style game experience for players.

Each player kill (or survival by outlasting everyone else) and nacho grabbed is a set number of points; and the more you get, the closer you are to winning the game. Each game is quick, usually taking about 30-60 seconds, After a set time, the map is shrunken by red bars on either side (a la battle royale games) until the game is ended one way or another. After the game is concluded, the points are tallied so that everyone knows who the leader — and the one everyone is chasing. Victory is achieved not by meeting the finish line but crossing it, which takes two rounds and also gives competitors an extra chance to snag a win from the jaws of defeat.

It only took a few moments of watching Hot Shot Burn in action to catch moments of tribute to several classic console and arcade games: Bomberman, Smash TV, among others. Even some aspects of the music track were reminiscent of the bouncy, energetic Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo. Those moments did not happen by accident, as members of the development team happen to be fans of retrogames.

My go-to character was Chuck, a character who could be re-skinned to a Mr T. or Hulk Hogan-type melee tank player. You don’t have to be subtle with this fella. Among his brute force tactics is that he can be sent careening around the map in a trail of flames that clear enemies out of the way. I was able to win my first set of matches with Chuck, which was plenty of fun when matched locally against the developers. Subtle details are not forgotten: If you can catch your breath between the mayhem, you can even hit a button to change the character’s expression during the matches. Other characters to pick from, each with their own strengths to leverage, include a potted cactus, a hooded grey alien, a green-haired soldier, and so on.

Hot Shot Burn character select screen
Selecting from some of the wacky character choices in Hot Shot Burn (image credit: Flaming Flamingo)

One thing Hot Shot Burn is not is an esports game, insisted the developers. Instead, it’s better to see it as a party game for esports people, whether on a casual or hardcore basis. There may be ranked and tournament game play, but during early access, it may be added in as a feature.

One thing I noted and appreciated was the interest the Flaming Flamingo developers had for taking ideas from the community and improving and adding to Hot Shot Burn, based on ideas that could be baked into the game later on. Following the developer Discord chat is one way to share feedback.

Speaking of improvements to work on, the game’s keyboard control needs to be refined, according to the developers. I did not try the game with a keyboard setup, but I can see how this game is more precise and reflexive with a controller. Emulating the “naturalness” of using controller for this game does seem like a challenge.

The only issue that really caught my attention was the replay right after the end of a match, which probably needed to be tagged with “replay” text on the screen. Once or twice, it felt like I was still playing when I was actually watching an immediate replay after the finish of a match.

Hot Shot Burn arrives on Steam Early Access on August 15th. and it seems likely PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch versions are planned for the future, perhaps next year. Given how controller play fits this game like a glove, console versions make perfect sense. Cross-platform play is also planned as well. Hot Shot Burn looks like it will be a great addition to the pantheon of great party video games.

Oculus Connect 6 (OC6) News: Registration Now Open, Plus First Wave of Sessions Announced

Mathew Anderson
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Oculus Connect 6 (OC6) News: Registration Now Open, Plus First Wave of Sessions Announced

Now in its sixth year, Oculus Connect returns to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center September 25 – 26. And now is the time to register online at oculusconnect.com!

Whether you’re building immersive experiences for consumers or businesses, join us at OC6 to discovercutting-edge innovations, develop imaginative new worlds, and distribute your work to a growing audience. From storytelling and gaming to training and beyond, join industry experts, fellow developers, and AR/VR leaders at Facebook to see what the future holds and learn best practices for today.

We’ll talk about the future of the AR/VR industry and bring back fan favorites like John Carmack’s App Reviews. Oculus Connect 6 is also an amazing opportunity to see the latest from game developers around the world.Respawn Entertainment (Apex Legends™ and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™) will join us at this year’s show to reveal a new AAA first-person combat title made in partnership with Oculus Studios, including the first hands-on playable demo.

Of course, we know that learning from each other is one of the most valuable parts of Connect, so here’s a sneak peek at some more of this year’s sessions covering innovation, development, and monetization across the AR/VR industry:

Long Live 360 (and 180)!

Eric Cheng, Immersive Media Lead, Facebook; Asad Sheth, Product Manager, Facebook; Abesh Thakur, Product Manager, Facebook

You spoke, we listened. Workflows, ingestion, and distribution for immersive-media creators have been riddled with friction over the past several years. Join the Facebook AR/VR Media Team to learn about new opportunities and approaches for creation, ingestion, and distribution of your content with the latest products made especially to reduce friction and support VR-first media. We’ll also share ways that you, as a creator, can build a presence and grow your audience.

Oculus for Business: Scalable, Professional, Secure

Matt Terrell, Product Manager, Facebook; Isabel Tewes, Product Manager, Facebook

Enterprise VR continues to make waves and prove results as innovate companies leverage the technology for training, collaboration, design, and much more. The logistics of scaling this powerful tech, however, can be daunting. Join the Enterprise product team as they give you a first look at Oculus for Business solution, which will help companies deploy VR in a new professional, secure, and scalable way.

Safety By Design: How to Bake Safety and People into Product Development

Sarah Ryan, Policy Associate, Facebook; Lindsay Young, Product Manager, Facebook

Online abuse—like bullying and harassment— isn’t new, but VR brings a whole new set of immersive and visceral abuse vectors that require bespoke responses from platforms and developers. Protecting people from abuse is especially important for vulnerable groups, including women and people of color. This session will explore how various VR developers are thinking about and tackling user safety—both proactively and reactively—to help build safer experiences. You’ll hear from product and community managers on how they bake safety by design into their products and work with their communities to create safe and welcoming cultures.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Success on the Oculus Store

Panelists TBA

Oculus has three flagship VR headsets: Oculus Go, Rift S, and Quest. Each platform differs not only in terms of technical capability, but also the type of content players engage with as well as player expectations for quality. This session aims to shine more light on store curation decisions made by Oculus, where your title may fit best, and what to do if your app doesn’t make the cut on the first try.

Technological Tethers: How AR + VR Connect Us to the World

Lisa Brown Jaloza, Technology Communications Manager, Facebook (Moderator)

From dystopian futures to escapist fantasies, the possibilities of virtual and augmented reality are often misrepresented or misunderstood. In this session, we’ll explore how these technologies actually deepen our connection to the world around us.

This is shaping up to be another incredible Connect. We’ll have more details to share as we get closer to the event, so keep an eye out for updates. For now, check out Oculus Connect 6 at oculusconnect.com for information on hotels and travel—and register to attend OC6 September 25 – 26 in San Jose.

We hope you’ll join us at Oculus Connect.

22nd Edition of Independent Games Festival Submissions Now Open Through September 30

Mathew Anderson
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22nd Edition of Independent Games Festival Submissions Now Open Through September 30

Finalists to Be Honored During the Independent Games Festival Awards

On March 18, 2020 at the Game Developers Conference 2020

SAN FRANCISCO – July 30, 2019 – Informa Tech, organizer of the Game Developers Conference® (GDC) 2020, is now accepting submissions for the 22nd annual Independent Games Festival (IGF), the longest running festival, summit and showcase of independent games.

The IGF is part of the Game Developers Conference 2020, which will take place from March 16th through March 20th at San Francisco’s Moscone Convention Center. Entries for all of the IGF categories will be accepted now through September 30, 2019, with finalists announced in early January 2020.

Finalists will be selected by hundreds of industry peers across game development & media, with specially selected juries picking the winner of each award. As well as the prestige of the nomination or win, tens of thousands of dollars in prize money and stipends will be awarded again this year.

The IGF will nominate standout titles for Excellence in Visual Art, Excellence in Audio, Excellence in Design, Excellence in Narrative and Best Student Game, with six finalists each. The special Nuovo Award, which honors the title that ‘makes the jurors think differently about games as a medium’, will have eight finalists.

The IGF Audience Award will be decided by a public vote from all of the competition finalists. Finally, six finalists will be selected to compete for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. Each of these prizes will award $2,000 for the winner, with $10,000 for the Grand Prize winner. And, new for this year, all Independent Games Festival finalists will receive a $1,000 stipend, regardless of whether they win an award.

Outside of the Festival itself, the affiliated alt.ctrl.GDC Award ($2,000) will be given out during the IGF ceremony, honoring intriguing and inventive games using unique one-of-a-kind controllers. Finalists and the winner for this award will be picked from entries into the popular on-site GDC 2020 exhibit of the same name.

The Independent Games Festival has served as a springboard for games that have gone on to become critical and cultural hits. Previous IGF prize winners from the past 20 years include Return of the Obra Dinn, Night in the Woods, Quadrilateral Cowboy, Her Story, Papers, Please, Spelunky, Minecraft, Limbo, World of Goo, Braid, Castle Crashers, Everyday Shooter and many more of the game industry’s breakthrough independent titles.

Submissions to the competition are now open to all independent game developers. Important dates for IGF 2020 are as follows:

  • July 30, 2019 – Submissions are Open
  • September 30, 2019 – Submission Deadline
  • Early January, 2020 – IGF Finalists Announced
  • March 16 – March 20, 2020 – Game Developers Conference 2020
  • March 16 – March 17, 2020 – Independent Games Summit @ GDC 2020
  • March 18 – March 20, 2020 – IGF Pavilion @ GDC 2020
  • March 18, 2020 – IGF Awards Ceremony (Winners announced)

Independent Games Festival organizers are particularly interested in receiving submissions from those making interesting or experimental works who might otherwise not enter because of the fee. Those under-represented creators interested in applying for a waiver on the full ($75) entry fee can find additional details and the waiver application form on the submissions page: http://igf.com/submit-your-game. Entries should be submitted by September 13th, and if selected, they will be given the opportunity to enter IGF 2020 for free.

For more information on the 2020 Independent Games Festival, including submission specifics and frequently asked questions, please visit the official Independent Games Festival website. IGF entries can be submitted here.

For more information on GDC 2020 in general visit the show’s official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS. Official photos are available via the Official GDC Flickr account.

About GDC

The Game Developers Conference® (GDC) is the world’s largest professional game industry event with market-defining content for programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, business decision makers, and others involved in the development of interactive games and immersive experiences. GDC brings together the global game development community year-round through events and digital media, including the Virtual Reality Developers Conference (VRDC), XRDC, GDC Vault, Gamasutra, Game Career Guide, Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards.

GDC is organized by Informa Tech (https://tech.informa.com/)

CONTACT:

fortyseven communications

(323) 658-1200

gdcpress@fortyseven.com

Product Review: MXL AC-404 LED Microphone

Paul Philleo
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Product Review: MXL AC-404 LED Microphone

Is it too much to ask the gods of audio-video accessories to hope for a durable microphone that can travel well and be useful for gaming, content creation, and even web conferencing for those with more business-minded pursuits?

We’ll find that out by reviewing the MXL AC-404 LED boundary microphone. First of all, lest expectations be subversed, this mic is not like a headphone boom mic, tabletop, or hanging mic — nope, this is a boundary mic. If you are not familiar with the technology, here’s the 411 on it: Consider a boundary a “surface,” whether a table or a floor, for example. An omnidirectional diaphragm microphone capsule is placed on or near the surface, capturing sound for the diaphragm. As a type, boundary microphones are ideal for picking up sound from different parts of even noisy and reverberant rooms. In theory, this mic should be optimal for locations in busier places, such as conventions, panels, and other spots outside of a recording studio.

Let’s put that to the test by seeing if theory meets results.

The package deal

Front of MXL AC-404 LED mic box
Front of the MXL AC-404 LED mic box (image credit: E4G)

Rear of MXL AC-404 LED mic box
…and the back of the box (image credit: E4G)

The mic comes packaged in a glossy black cardboard box. It’s familiar, but it does the job well enough. Packed densely within is a coiled USB cord, a thin manual and layered foam that fills most of the box. Inside the cut-out foam is the plastic-wrapped microphone and microfiber cloth with mini Phillips screwdriver.

What's inside the MXL AC-404 LED box and packaging
What’s inside the MXL AC-404 LED box and packaging (image credit: E4G)

The USB cable is on the longer side, about 6 feet in length, which will make a difference for more precise positioning in placement of the mic for optimal recording.

The AC-404 LED mic has some heft to it, weighing in at over 8 ounces. It’s definitely best suited for a backpack or shoulder bag when carrying it.

The topside of the microphone is a wedge-styled design, with the MXL logo at the back, with a nostalgia-inducing black metal mesh wrapping around to a rubber bumper. Behind the back of the mic and the logo, the USB input and 3.5mm analog microphone input/output.

Close-up look at the rear of the AC-404 LED mic
Close-up look at the rear of the AC-404 LED mic (image credit: E4G)

Between the mesh and the rubber sole underneath is the plastic layer or letting the LED lighting shine through, all the way around the microphone. When the AC-404 LED is plugged in, the illumination shines through the grating and the wraparound plastic. Gratefully, it’s not an excessively flashy sort of lighting and is actually rather understated. The rubber on the feet and sides are designed to keep the device from skidding and getting bumped too hard when moved around, which should limit dings and other damage when in use.

Top of the AC-404 LED mic
Top of the AC-404 LED mic (image credit: E4G)

Setup and usability

The AC-404 LED microphone is easy to set up. Remove the USB cord from the plastic, plug it into the microphone and into the computer. There’s a reason why the manual is so brief, since little effort is required to set it up.

Once plugged in, go to the Control Panel on a Windows PC (the MSI PE60 2QD laptop, in my case) and make the recording and playback option defaulted to the microphone’s setting. I found playback worked best when setting the computer’s default speakers as the default in Windows 10. Mac users will have instructions included for their setup, too. Voilà … that’s about all there is to it.

Part of the reason the microphone is simple to use is because it is basic, or I could say “old school” by gaming standards. If there’s any doubt the AC-404 LED microphone goes old school, consider that the LED isn’t controlled by any software or even a button — but by the turn of a screw, using the included mini screwdriver, to select one of eight illumination options. The default color-cycling option is what you get when you plug in the AC-404-LED. Some may be fine with a manual approach to adjusting LED lighting, but I’m thinking most consumers would appreciate the convenience of a user interface that requires less work for lighting.

Specs

  • Type: USB power mic
  • Capsule: 3 capsule boundary design with 180-degree coverage
  • Power: USB
  • Frequency Response: 40Hz – 16kHz
  • Sampling Rate: 44.1kHz – 48kHz
  • USB compatibility: USB 1.1 and 2.0
  • Size: 109mm x 76 x 51mm / 4.3in. x 2.95in. x 2in.
  • A/D converter: 16-bit Delta Sigma with THD+N – 0.01%

Performance

The MXL AC-404 features a wide-pattern boundary type microphone with three microphone capsules, described as 180 degrees in coverage. I found recording tests yielded better clearer and more resonant results when orienting the front of the microphone (the slanted wedge) toward myself. In that sense, the AC-404 mic pickup pattern is less of a omnidirectional style of microphone and more of a directional and focused — or cardoid dynamic style — microphone when it’s facing “forward” toward the sound source, whether a podcaster, streamer, gamer, on-stage panel, etc. The mic can be placed on the the floor, table or any other surface that represents a boundary. Regardless of location, positioning for this mic is definitely an important consideration.

How would the mic work in a quiet environment versus a busy environment?

Using Free Audio Recorder on the software side, I recorded a short audio clip at MP3 192kbps quality from about three feet away on a table with a sound loop of a crowded room playing about 8 feet behind me. While this doesn’t represent an event environment quite accurately nor the software a streamer or gamer might use, it does demonstrate to what extent the MX AC-404 can record in a cluttered audio environment like a conference, expo, or the like.

For contrast, here is the same audio clip with the background noise off.

When I turned the mic around to the backside, this is the recording quality with background sound off. It’s clearly more muffled, so with background sound added, it would be safe to assume it would be even tougher to record cleanly.

In my estimation, the MXL AC-404 is a very good solution for most recording situations where mobility is required and recording outside of a studio environment represents the lion’s share of the audio recording work.

Pros

  • The retail pricing is not bad for the LED-equipped version of the AC-404 mic at $79.95, but at $59.95, the value for the version without the LED is better.
  • With simple plug-and-play USB 1.1 to 3.0 usability, it’s usable for most recording setups.
  • Sturdy metal retro-styled build
  • High-quality voice recording capability

Cons

  • In the age of software or even mobile fine-tuning, the old school functionality will not be for everyone, such as adjusting lighting with a screwdriver.
  • Positioning for the best sound pickup will take a little trial and error.

Ideal for:
The strongest use case for the AC-404 LED microphone is in noisier environments, such as a convention expo area or an esports event. The sensitivity will help with picking up sound even from a cluttered audio environment, and this mic does a very solid job of it. No, this microphone will not replace a home or studio mic for streamers and other content creators, but then again, it’s not meant for those environments. Since the microphone is designed to be set down for use, it’s a good fit for mobility.

For some the LED lighting is an either-way-is-fine kind of option, especially given the retail price of $79.95. But MXL offers an identical microphone sans the lighting for $59.95. This may be the better choice for consumers who don’t need the fancy (or distracting) LED illumination and are minding their budget more closely.

For more information about the MXL AC-404 LED microphone, visit the official site.

August 2019 Game Industry Events Calendar

Mathew Anderson
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August 2019 Game Industry Events Calendar

We’re excited to be presenting yet another great list of upcoming industry events! To help you discover upcoming game industry conferences, conventions, festivals and other events, we post a consolidated list here on Events for Gamers each month.

View August’s event list below. You can also click here for the main calendar view.

July 28-August 1: SIGGRAPH (Los Angeles, USA)
August 1-4: Replay FX (Pittsburgh, USA)
1-4: Assembly Summer (Helsinki, Finland)
1-4: GENCON (Indianapolis, USA)
2-4: EVO (Las Vegas, USA)
2-4: Animanga (Los Angeles, USA)
2-5: ChinaJoy (Shanghai, China)
5-7: IEEE SeGAH (Kyoto, Japan)
10: Ettin Con Winter (Sydney, Australia)
15: Mobile Growth Summit Canada (Toronto, Canada)
20-23: IEEE Conference on Games (COG) (London, UK)
20-24: gamescom (Cologne, Germany)
23-25: 2D Con Wasteland (Minneapolis, USA)
26-30: Foundations of Digital Games (Pacific Grove, USA)
27-29: Casual Connect USA (Los Angeles, USA)
28-29: PAX Dev (Seattle, USA)
29-2: Dragon Con (Atlanta, USA)
30-1: Crunchyroll Expo (San Jose, USA)
30-2: Gateway (Strategicon) (Los Angeles, USA)
31: Family Gaming Night (Cambridgeshire, UK)

This list is obtained from the main calendar. Did we miss an event? Let us know!

Preview Event: Torchlight II and Remnant: From the Ashes

Paul Philleo
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Preview Event: Torchlight II and Remnant: From the Ashes

The Event

Perfect World Entertainment recently invited members of the press to San Francisco’s Folsom Street Foundry, an event venue with a suitably gritty industrial sort of aesthetic and is frequently home to competitive gaming events and showcases.

Perfect World at Folsom Street Foundry
Perfect World taking over Folsom Street Foundry (image credit: E4G)

Here, the Chinese game developer and publisher offered some hands-on time with action role-playing game, Torchlight II and Remnant: from the Ashes, a third-person survival-action shooter, both of which are on the way by Q3 this year.

Most of the lower floor of the venue was sectioned off for the demo stations and lounge areas to play both games, with access to the bar and lounge seating (particularly to fire up Torchlight II on the Nintendo Switch). Hanging banners marked the location for each of the games and added more visual flair above and beyond the colored lighting in the relatively intimate-feeling space.

Leading into the main event area for the showcase was the check-in table, interview stations and a swag table with branded items, like etched leather-styled notebooks, knit hats, and so on.

All in all, it was an impressive production by Perfect World and the company’s partners. Let’s call the presentation and frills the appetizer, but let’s dive into the meat and potatoes of the showcase: the games.

The Games
Torchlight II

Torchlight II logo
Torchlight II (image credit: Perfect World)

The classic isometric action-RPG Torchlight II (from the now-shuttered Runic Games studio) is approaching seven years of age. The game likely brings back fond memories for many virtual adventurers and role-players. Heck, many PC gamers still play Torchlight I and II to this day.

But now, console gamers are about to get a taste of the action, thanks to Panic Button Games, a developer who has a track record for solid Nintendo Switch adaptations of technically-demanding games like DOOM, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, among other ports. And, of all the Torchlight II ports to make their way to the console, the port to the Switch is the toughest — and it’s the version I had the opportunity to try with the docked (television mode) version of the game on a premium Switch controller, which arguably makes it the most interesting conversion.

Thanks to a streamlined user interface and console controls, Torchlight II feels like a game that is eminently “approachable,” which is the word that sat in the forefront of my mind when first jumping in to the game. Menus, maps, and options layouts are clean and simple and don’t clutter the screen, which for a Switch game is important since there are usually fewer pixels to play with.

In Torchlight II, there are four character classes to pick from, with customizable features and skillsets. I feel like I may have jumped into the game in the most accessible way possible, selecting the melee-friendly berserker-class character (seen in the YouTube video below). While, of course, there are many quests to take up, many subtle ways to fine-tune your character stats and gear, the game is, at it’s heart, an open world dungeon crawler with hack-and-slash gameplay, which suits it well for console conversion. Torchlight II can be as complicated or as simple as the player wants it to be.

While Torchlight II can be played solo or co-op online with up to four players, I only explored the solo mode. I imagine the game would be even more intense with up to four players, but I’d be curious to see how well the Switch hardware could keep pace.

Taking a swing in battle in Torchlight II
Taking a swing in battle in Torchlight II (image credit: Perfect World)

Visually, the particle and lighting effects and mobs keep Torchlight II’s action periodically intense and visually interesting to, at times, approaching beautiful. But in the preview build at least, all that action all at once kicked the frame rate down at certain times. The audio effects and music are also clean and atmospheric, suiting the various moods and moments of the game well, but the tunes are not something you’d look to play outside the game.

Torchlight II screenshot
Atmospheric quiet time screenshot in Torchlight II (image credit: Perfect World)

I also tried out Torchlight II in the mobile version of the Switch. It’s in that mode where the more streamlined UI really shines, appearing crisp and easy-to-use on the smaller 720p display. The action can be a little harder to follow, because of the action-packed into every corner of that screen, but it still is nearly as playable in that regard as the big screen Switch version.

Before I forget to mention it, exclusive pets are being brought to the table for each console version. Yapper from Torchlight Frontiers is bundled with any pre-purchase of the game for any console, while the Faerie comes with the PlayStation 4 purchase; the Molten Imp comes with the XBOX One game purchase; and last but not least a mystery unannounced pet for the Switch when buying the game.

If you’ve been wanting to play a Diablo-esque game with plenty of replayability, at least in my opinion of the preview, Torchlight II looks like it will deliver an adventurous blast from the past for this current generation of consoles. But I’m still crossing my fingers the Switch version is optimized a little more before launch.

The $19.99 price point should make the game approachable for a wider variety of gamers, too. Torchlight II arrives on the Switch, XBOX One, and PlayStation 4 on September 3rd. 

To read about the Remnant: From the Ashes game preview, continue to the next page!

PAX South 2020 Dates Announced

Mathew Anderson
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PAX South 2020 Dates Announced
Attendees can Lasso Badges Beginning in August

SAN ANTONIO – July 25, 2019 – Giddy up, partner! Grab them cowboy boots, pack up the wagon, and get ready to hit the trail for the Alamo City, as PAX South 2020 badges go on sale Aug. 1 ahead of the show’s return to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Jan. 17 – 19.

A stone’s throw from San Antonio’s lively River Walk, PAX South kicks off 2020 with a rootin’-tootin’ weekend-long gaming fiesta. Attendees have the year’s first opportunity to saddle up with the most exciting upcoming projects from major publishers and independent studios. There are also chances to watch thrilling esports competitions in the PAX Arena, including Stream Stars, where fan favorites from the worlds of YouTube and Twitch face off in an epic tournament.

PAX South, the most-attended gaming event in the Southern United States, also hosts an amazing array of panels featuring new game reveals, entertaining discussions with popular personalities, live shows featuring the Penny Arcade crew, concerts, and more. The full event schedule and list of exhibitors are currently in the works and coming soon.

Three-day badges for PAX South can be wrangled for $95. Meanwhile, individual badges for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will go for $45 apiece. Sunday is a great day to bring the whole family, as special Sunday badges for buckaroos ages 12 and younger can be acquired for only $10. Badges to hitch a desktop in the Bring Your Own Computer section are available for $40.

A collection of exclusive show merchandise, featuring a new 2020 PAX University theme, will go on sale when badges become available for purchase on Aug. 1. The pre-sale items include a PAX South 2020 long-sleeve t-shirt for $30, tin lunch box for $20, and spinning crest keychain for $15. Merchandise orders will be delivered approximately two weeks before the show.

“PAX South is when we kick off another year of shows,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder, Penny Arcade. “We love visiting San Antonio because nobody can agree on where the best taco place is, or the barbecue, so some days you eat lunch three or four times. Get your badges when they go on sale August 1st, and we’ll see you there. Also, Tacos N Salsa has the best tacos. They have a taco called the “Trash Can” and it seems like that wouldn’t be good but it is very good.”

The international lineup of PAX shows (West, East, South, Aus, Dev, and Unplugged), produced by ReedPOP in conjunction with Penny Arcade, comprise some of the world’s largest gaming festivals. PAX events connect the industry’s greatest creative minds from across the worlds of both video and tabletop gaming, directly to passionate audiences.

Working journalists and content creators interested in attending PAX South in order to produce show coverage can apply for media credentials beginning in October.

For more updates on PAX South 2020, follow PAX on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

PAX

PAX or Penny Arcade Expo is a festival for gamers to celebrate gaming culture. First held in Seattle in 2004, PAX has nearly doubled in size each successive year, with PAX Prime 2014 selling out of tickets in a matter of minutes. Connecting the world’s leading game publishers with their most avid and influential fans, PAX expanded with a second show in Boston in 2010 and a third in San Antonio in 2015, making it the three largest gaming shows in North America. The first international PAX was held in Melbourne, Australia in 2013. In 2017, Penny Arcade established PAX Unplugged, its first tabletop focused show, held in Philadelphia.

ReedPOP

ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions – the world’s leading event organizer. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events across the globe as well as a full-service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPOP currently features events in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, India, Africa, and Australia, including: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, South, and Australia, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), MCM Comic Con, BookCon, Oz Comic Con, EGX, Comic Con India, Comic Con Paris, Comic Con Seoul, Comic Con Africa, Star Wars Celebration, and ComplexCon. ReedPOP also runs and operates Gamer Network and its portfolio of leading gaming websites including Eurogamer, RockPaperShotgun, and GamesIndustry.biz. The staff at ReedPOP are a fan-based, globally focused group of professionals that are uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion.

About Penny Arcade

Penny Arcade has been the world’s most popular webcomic for over 20 years, with over 3.5 million readers. Started in 1998 in the living room of Mike Krahulik & Jerry Holkins, it has grown into a media empire encompassing multiple beloved properties such as Lookouts, Automata, and beloved D&D live-play series Acquisitions Incorporated. Penny Arcade was responsible for the creation of Child’s Play, a gaming charity that has raised over $45 million dollars for children across the world. They are also the founders of PAX, the number one consumer gaming festival in North America, with hundreds of thousands of loyal visitors every year.

Media Contacts

Kyle M. Burleson / Carter Dotson
Stride PR for ReedPOP
kyle@stridepr.com / carter@stridepr.com

Product Review: SecureData SecureDrive BT 250GB External SSD

Paul Philleo
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Product Review: SecureData SecureDrive BT 250GB External SSD

In game developer circles, the impact of data potentially exposed for various reasons, including security checkpoints at airports, has been a simmering discussion for some time now. With travel security checkpoints an issue for device and data inspection, or even the addition of malware in some cases, figuring out how to be on the go with data can become a serious question mark.

In fact, in part because of the concern around personal and data safety and security issues with travel, this year independent developer Rami Ismail created an online-only global game developer conference.

So, what options are there if you are a game developer, a gamer, or someone else who has reason to travel with data, who worries about invasive data access, theft, or the risks of losing a device or data?

There’s a lot of ways to answer that question (which, alas, we won’t address comprehensively in this review). But, we can looking at whether at least part of the question can be answered through taking a closer look at the security-centric SecureData SecureDrive BT 250GB encrypted SSD. If you may not be familiar with SecureData, it’s a company with it’s mind on data security and recovery, whether in software or hardware.

SecureData SecureDrive 250GB external SSD in box
SecureData SecureDrive 250GB external SSD in box (image credit: E4G)

The package deal

To find a way inside the rounded plastic case with a removable cap — which, perhaps appropriately enough — requires unlocking tiny, tough tabs in the corner, will take a little bit of nimble finger work.

Once inside, the packaging contains the external SSD drive itself mounted on the other end of the plastic cap. a folded leaflet for installing and using the associated iOS and Android app, and a shortish USB 3.0 cord in a plastic sheath with protective caps for both ends of the plug. There’s not much to it, but there doesn’t need to be, which is probably the point.

SSD drive, accessories, and box
Behold the simplicity: drive, accessories, and the box they came in (image credit: E4G)

The SecureDrive BT SSDss measures out at about 5″ x 3.0 x 0.5 inches and fits comfortably in the palm of my hand. The SSD weighs in at a fairly unobtrusive 5.8 oz.

The SSD features a slim, brushed-style dark blue metal build with black parts on both ends, underscoring its simple but solid design. Many secure SSDs feature a keypad interface, but for this drive, the app handles access and other management functions.

SecureDrive SSD in hand
SecureData SecureDrive SSD in hand (image credit: E4G)

“SecureDrive Bluetooth” branding is on the face, which is also where the red, green, and blue status lighting is located. On the backside is a peel-able three-step instructions sticker.

On the connection end is the USB 3.1 port with a device ID above it for enabling connection at the app level; and on the other end is “SecureData” branding.

Setup and usability

Setting up is as easy as installing the app (in my case, the Android version). The SecureData SecureDrive BT 250GB external SSD can plug into any USB 2.0 port, with access to USB 3.0 or 3,1 a much better option, on any USB-connectable device, although most users will connect to computers, such as PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, tablets, etc. The SSD is otherwise platform and OS agnostic, since the main functionality resides on the phone.

Think of the ClevX DataLock app as a command center for this device, and nothing happens without the app being installed. Once the DataLock app is installed and the SSD is plugged in to the computer and with mobile device Bluetooth connectivity activated, connection is made possible automatically or by manual addition.

Inputting Device ID to pair drive with app
Inputting Device ID to pair drive with app (image credit: E4G)

SSD paired and locked
SSD paired and locked (image credit: E4G)

Once recognized, enter the device ID to bump the SSD to activated and locked (red locked light on). Unlocking is achieved through the default eight-character password.
Once unlocked, the SSD will show a green light (unlocked) and data transfer (blue light) as well as access to the main security-focused features can be accessed via the DataLock app.

Entering password to unlock drive
Enter password to unlock drive (image credit: E4G)

Achievement (or drive) unlocked
Achievement (or drive) unlocked! (image credit: E4G)

For many folks, the security features are likely to be the heart of the offering, as much or more than the storage itself. Numerous password, locking, remote wiping, and other options are available from here, which can be managed through Bluetooth if no other wireless connection is available.

Security command center for the DataLock app
Security command center in the DataLock app (image credit: E4G)

Some of the most robust features above and beyond the usual spectrum of password capabilities lies in the inactivity auto-locking and set-away auto-locking features, which allows for one to 60 minutes of inactive before auto-locking and locking in seconds after being moved away from the host device. While not shown here, biometric access options in the app, like face and fingerprint recognition for locking and unlocking a phone, add another layer of security.

Preparing to set up remote wipe
When very sure the data needs to go: the remote wipe option (image credit: E4G)

Deleting all data remotely or automatically after a trigger is tripped represents the nuclear option. If the SecureData SSD is compromised, lost, a brute force hack is attempted too many times or the password is forgotten, the data is deleted and the drive is reset. The only user-enabled option is the remote wipe option which can be set via the app. Once activated, the SecureData SSD will reset the next time it’s detected by any device with DataLock installed.

What's on the SecureData by default
What’s on the SecureData by default (image credit: E4G)

Looking deeper by looking at the SSD’s folder on my computer after installation, it contains an antivirus and USB-to-cloud backup software plus manuals for both software options plus the full manual for the drive itself.

Beyond the app level and external software options, the SSD is physically secured (and certified) at the FIPS 140-2 Level 3, which protects data if physical tampering occurs. The stored data itself is encrypted with the military-grade AES 256-bit XTS standard. Pretty thorough security!

Specs

  • 256GB-8TB SSD (250GB SDD for review)
  • FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Validated: Certificate #3349
  • Remote Management Ready
  • Convenient Unlocking Options – TouchID, FaceID, Face Recognition, Fingerprints (iOS & Android)
  • Password Recovery, 2FA, Remote Wipe
  • Hardware Encryption – AES256-bit XTS
  • OS Independent. Works across and with any OS and Devices
  • Secure Wireless User Authentication via Mobile Phone / DataLock App (iOS/Android)
  • Locking Step-Away Option
  • Admin/User Mode, Read-Only Mode, Time Out Auto-Lock
  • 2 Year Limited Warranty

Performance
Going with mobility as the theme, I benchmarked the SecureData SecureDrive BT 250GB external SSD on an MSI PE60 2QD laptop. CrystalDiskMark measured the read performance at 283.9 MB/s and write performance at 283.5 MB/s. The AS SSD tool marked higher performance on the read side at 317.88 MB/s and a bit higher on the write side at 298.82 MB/s. Transferring a 10GB test BIN file was completed in 51 seconds.

For a quick-and-dirty comparison with speed, the internal Samsung 850 EVO SSD in the laptop pulled a 547.9 MB/s read and a 519.5 Mb/s write speed on CrystalDiskMark. So there is definitely difference in speed, but we are comparing an internal SSD versus a fully-encrypted security-first external drive. Compared to just about any mobile platter-based drive, there would be no contest: the SecureData SecureDrive BT SSD would win hand’s down in performance.

Pros

  • Easy to set up, easy to use
  • Feels like a fully thought-out product in all security aspects
  • Physically, like Fort Knox for data
  • Simple, slim, elegant and well-built product design

Cons

  • Not a speedy SSD
  • It’s got a steeper price tag than most 250GB SSDs (but for an encrypted SSD of similar size, its $319 MSRP pricing places it in the middle of the pricing pack).

Ideal for

At the beginning of this review, I wanted to look at this device from the specific perspective of a game developer (or broadly, any professional or security conscious person) who travels frequently and is concerned about the safety and security of their data. The remote wipe option, the baked-in layers of encryption, and the no-traditional-software approach makes sure SecureData’s SSD secures data efficiently and easily, whatever the risks to the data may be. This device can’t solve all data on-the-go concerns, but it can make securing data at home or on the go a lot more worry-free.

In short, SecureData’s SecureDrive BT 250GB external SSD does the job like a beast of a tank: It’s not very fast or very inexpensive, but it is well-armored and very effective at what it can do.

Mondobox Adds Layer of Audience Engagement for Esports Spectators

Paul Philleo
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Mondobox Adds Layer of Audience Engagement for Esports Spectators

Oakland, California, USA | Wednesday 07.24.19: MondoBox is announcing the immediate launch of the MondoBox platform, the first gamer-focused, free contest platform where viewers interact with live streams to win cash prizes.

By injecting gameplay predictions directly into streamed content, MondoBox brings spectators, their favorite content and popular streaming personalities together in an exciting and highly engaging way. Spectators compete on daily, weekly and monthly leaderboards, earning points for correctly predicting the streamers next moves and gameplay outcomes. Those spectators with the most correct predictions can win increasingly valuable cash prizes.

Gaming and eSports spectators across the globe spend tens of millions of dollars a year in donations and subscriptions while watching streaming content. Yet, beyond messaging, sending donations, or simply devoting time to passionately following their favorite players — spectators don’t participate in content they’re actively watching.

A study carried out by technology consulting firm Activate predicts that by 2020, 250 million people around the world will be watching live and online eSports content at any one time, amounting to over 11 billion hours a year watched by approximately three billion individuals. MondoBox believes that by offering a meta-game experience relating to the content they watch and rewarding them with prizes, there is an opportunity to create more interaction within the spectator community, to improve the viewership experience, and to increase audience engagement.

Work on the concept began last October, before MondoBox was founded as a Delaware C corp in February of this year. Two entrepreneurs, with over 30 years’ experience in gaming product development, are leading the platform’s development:

Ahern Knox, CEO and co-founder: “I was working with an eSports startup, engaging gamers by spreading in-game missions and quests. I realized there was an entire market of gaming-centric spectators, watching gaming content on a very regular basis — most often, daily — that would love a different way of interacting with that content.

“I thought there was a genuine opportunity to offer these guys a more engaging way of viewing eSports and Mike and I began talking about what that would look like. Based on various projects we’d been involved with over the years, we looked at combining ideas from eSports and iGaming to develop a first-of-its-kind spectator engagement platform.”

Mike Reaves, president and co-founder: “Traditional TV viewing is dead. Most viewers in our target demographic stream their content from the Internet. The goal of MondoBox is to create an additional outlet for spectators to engage with their favorite streamed content — and have the chance to win money while doing so. At the same time, we will drive better retention for streamers without them having to change their behavior at all. We will, effectively, layer in fun competitions and activities which can lead to cash prizes. These are primarily designed to subsidize spectator donations and subscriptions.

“All of this is discretionary and delivered at zero cost to the viewer or the streamer. It’s also important to note that MondoBox is not a streaming service. We layer in our service by re-broadcasting matches offered on Twitch and other streaming platforms in real-time with our proprietary client-server system. The system is cloud-based and ensures scalability to millions of concurrent participants with no lag.”

Targeting an initial North American and Western European launch, MondoBox will eventually expand to audiences worldwide. The company is launching its platform atop Fortnite matches, but will soon expand to League of Legends, Overwatch, Dota 2, Apex Legends, and other popular eSports games. MondoBox launches this week. Players can sign up for the service at https://www.mondobox.com, using their Discord account. To celebrate the launch, for a limited time, in addition to an Invincibility PowerUp, MondoBox will be giving players $1 for each friend that they refer that registers and plays a round. Players can expect to compete for cash prizes totaling nearly $10,000 during July and August.

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