Category: #gaming

Black Desert Mobile Soft Launching for Android in Select Countries, Ireland included. #BlackDesert #Gaming

Pearl Abyss is today soft launching Black Desert Mobile for Android via the Google Play Store in seven countries after more than two million users pre-registered for the game just within 2 weeks. Now available to download in Canada, Chile, Sweden, Malaysia, Turkey, Ireland and Australia, the open-world action MMORPG will be launching on iOS and Android across the world later this year.

 

Pre-register now on the Google Play Store or pre-order on iOS App Store ahead of the global launch.

Black Desert Mobile offers fast-paced action combat and deep character customization that differentiate from other mobile MMORPGs. Experience an open-world filled with relaxing life skills and more, including:

  • Combat – Explore a deep combat system that allows players to experience the same core action of Black Desert on their mobile phone.
  • Customization – Discover your potential through a detailed character creation system. Design a unique adventurer by choosing from five classes and distinct skill sets to reflect your personal playstyle.
  • Life Skills – Hone your skills by fishing, gathering, trading, horse breeding, and camp managing your way to riches.
  • Leveling – Grow your character’s strength with different attributes including Equipment Enhancement, Accessories, the Black Spirit, and various Pets.
  • In-Depth Gameplay – In-game systems offer an immersive gameplay experience, such as social Guilds, weather changes, Black Spirit Mode, and a real-time marketplace environment.

Players can begin their new adventures by choosing from five character classes: Warrior, Ranger, Giant, Witch, or Valkyrie. Pick from masters of melee combat to those who attack from afar with range, or select a magic-based class for offensive and defensive skills.

For more information about Black Desert Mobile, visit the official website and connect on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Almost one-quarter of Irish adults stream esports – Pure Telecom survey. #Streaming #Gaming #esports

Pure Telecom, Ireland’s high-speed broadband and telecoms provider, has found that almost one-quarter (22%) of Irish adults watch or participate in esports, a form of competitive video gaming. The online research was carried out by Censuswide, on behalf of Pure Telecom, with 1,000 adults surveyed across Ireland.

As competitive leagues and tournaments for games such as League of Legends and Fortnite grow in popularity worldwide, Pure Telecom found the counties where esports are most popular. At 33% of the county’s adult population, Laois residents are the biggest streamers of esports in the country, followed by Dublin (29%) and Limerick (27%). Men are more likely to follow esports than women, with 34% streaming esports weekly compared to only 16% of women.

The survey also looked into the wider growth of online gaming in Ireland. More than one-third (36%) of Irish adults say they play video games that rely on internet connectivity. When it comes to time spent playing video games online, the average gamer spends six hours per week playing online, rising to 10 hours for Gen Z gamers (aged 16 – 22).

Pure Telecom’s research found that the majority of gamers use two or more devices for gaming and watching esports, with multi-device streaming demanding significant bandwidth. Fast upload and download speeds, as well as large amounts of data, are all required for online gaming, and 46% of online gamers indicated they would – or already do – pay more for their internet service to enable more effective online gaming.

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom

 

Commenting on the findings, Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: “The esports community is huge in Ireland and the survey has helped to show the extent of this. The results also show the growing popularity of online gaming and esports amongst younger generations, pointing to this becoming one of the leading forms of entertainment in the near-future.

“Clearly the growth of competitive esports is a significant contributor to the demand for high speed broadband. We know that people who have faster broadband enjoy a significant advantage over those with slow speeds, especially in the highly popular first person shooter genre. We were really interested to see that almost half of Irish gamers are prepared to pay more for a better internet service to enable them to enjoy a better gaming experience. At Pure Telecom, we strive to provide every one of our customers with the best possible broadband connection available in their location.”

PlayStation NOW games subscription service gets lower prices and more blockbuster games. #Gaming #PlaystationNow

Following PlayStation Now’s recent global expansion to cover 19 territories, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) today announced its pioneering cloud game subscription service will offer lower pricing and expand with more blockbuster games. PlayStation Now subscriptions will start at €9.99 monthly, while adding marquee, limited-time titles such as Grand Theft Auto V* and God of War to the more than 700 games available on the service. PlayStation Now is the first and only console game subscription service on the market that uses cloud technology to deliver a breadth of unprecedented games.

PlayStation Now, which is available on PlayStation®4  systems and PC, will be offered at the following prices, keeping in line with pricing for other entertainment streaming services. Current customers will see this price change in their next billing cycle.

EU: €9.99 – monthly / €24.99 – quarterly / €59.99 – yearly (from 14.99/ (N/A)/ 99.99)

PlayStation Now will also expand on the industry’s largest games library for a console subscription service, with additional blockbuster content available for a limited window. These games can be streamed on a PS4 system or PC or downloaded to a PS4 system. The new content is among the most played and highly acclaimed games on the PS4 platform, and will be added on a monthly basis. Launching today are:

  • God of War – From Santa Monica Studio, God of War won numerous 2018 “Game of the Year” honors worldwide.
  • Grand Theft Auto V – From Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto V is the best-selling title of the current generation.
  • inFAMOUS Second Son™ – From Sucker Punch Productions, one of the best-selling PlayStation 4 games to-date.
  • UNCHARTED 4: A Thief’s End™ – Naughty Dog’s 2016 award winning game, including BAFTA’s 2017 “Best Game.”

“Following PlayStation Now’s expansion earlier this year, we have coverage for more than 70 percent of our global PS4 user base, making it the ideal time to revamp the service with a more compelling price and stronger content offering,” said Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. “We have accumulated a wealth of knowledge in cloud gaming since PlayStation Now’s launch in 2014. That, coupled with our 25-year legacy in the games business and strong partnerships we’ve forged with publishers, positions us to continue leading and innovating in this field as the gaming industry evolves.”

God of War, Grand Theft Auto V, inFAMOUS Second Son and UNCHARTED 4: A Thief’s End will be available from October 1, 2019 until January 2, 2020. Each month, the service will add a refreshed selection of marquee games that will be available for a limited period. This marquee content is on top of the existing offering of popular evergreen titles that are added to PlayStation Now on a regular basis.

With its recent expansion, SIE also begins its first-ever global marketing campaign for PlayStation Now to increase awareness in all 19 territories where the service is offered. This includes broadcast and digital campaigns, along with a new look and feel for the PlayStation Now branding. The new TV spot can be viewed below..

https://youtu.be/JtjRraT8zyE

The GameSir G6S – the First iPhone Gaming Controller with Customizable Vibrating Buttons #Gaming #iPhone

The GameSir G6S Touchroller is a hybrid game controller that has been developed specifically for mobile gaming on the iPhone. A new term coined by GameSir, ‘Touchroller’ describes the combination of gamepad and touchscreen controls for the perfect in game control and experience.

Designed specifically for FPS, MOBA and games that need the combination of gamepad and touch screen controls, the G6S is the world’s first mobile gaming controller where the vibrating buttons can be customised.

Using the left controller to move or jump, you can then focus on precise aiming using the right touchscreen making sure the entire battlefield is in your hands. The professional layout of 10 configurable buttons and an ultra-thin 3D joystick enables optimal combination control of moving, aiming, jumping, shooting, tactical positioning and combo attacks in a variety of game genres. 

Equipped with Bluetooth 5.0, the GameSir G6S will provide a strong connection to the controller when game playing, so you don’t need worry about missing a play. 

Play without worrying that your iPhone will fall out of the controller – the two stage retractable structure ensures a strong fit for even the largest iPhone, meaning you can stay focused on winning your battle!

The GameSir G6S is available for RRP £39.99. For more information head to www.gamesir.hk

Google Stadia launches in Ireland this November. #Gaming #GoogleStadia

Ditch the console?? Perhaps not but for some this is the way forward and less hassle also less space taken up and right now you can pre-order with some value on top..

You can now pre-order the Stadia Founder’s Edition at the Google Store – a limited number are available, so if you want to be one of the “founders,” be sure to get it before it’s gone. The Founder’s Edition packs nearly €300 of value into just €129.99 and includes:

  • A Chromecast Ultra
  • A limited-edition Night Blue Stadia Controller
  • Three months of Stadia Pro (more on that below)
  • A three month Buddy Pass to bring one friend along for the ride
  • Dibs on selecting a Stadia Name

The Founder’s Edition gives our first set of fans the highest quality gaming experience—you’ll get Stadia Pro and the ability to play your favourite games across multiple screens (for those of you with a 4K TV and Stadia Pro,  you’ll get up to 4K HDR resolution at 60 frames per second with 5.1 surround sound). Stadia Pro will include free content, as well as discounts on titles you buy. The first free tile is “Destiny 2,” and it comes with the base game, all previous add-ons, the upcoming Shadowkeep expansion and the annual pass. And after your free 3-month subscription ends, Stadia Pro is only €9.99 per month.

If you want to pick up an extra controller for multiplayer games, for your laptop, or just to keep a spare in your backpack, they come in three colours—Just Black, Clearly White or Wasabi—for €69.99.

You’ll be able to access Stadia at launch this November in 14 countries: Ireland, U.S., Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, U.K.—and we’re working to expand to additional countries in 2020.

And if you don’t need 4K quality resolution, you can still play your favourite games on virtually any screen with instant access and no downloads, updates, or patches. Coming in 2020, Stadia Base is how you will play games you purchase in up to 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second without an active subscription to Stadia Pro. Stadia Founder’s Edition is the first way to get Stadia in November. Visit stadia.com/faq See the Google blog more more and regional news

Country Currency Controller (GStore) Founder’s Edition (GStore) Stadia Pro Subscription
Ireland EUR €69.00 €129.00 €9.99

https://youtube.com/watch?v=nx21mOYsb2k

 

 

Bring Arcade classics with a cabinet into your home with Arcade1Up. #Gaming #Retro #Tech #Arcade1Up

Arcade1Up is a range of officially licenced large-sized arcade cabinets featuring classic video games from the 70s and 80s. Made by US toy company Tastemakers and led by CEO Scott Bachrach, it started off as a passion project for Scott where he wanted to capture that feeling of playing old arcade video games, just as it was in the 70s / 80s. With modern versions being largely mini handhelds or console-based, he felt that the ‘feeling’ of the old school arcades just wasn’t being delivered. And so the project started to make officially licenced affordable arcade cabinets!

A year later and they have had a hugely successful launch recently winning the prestigious award of TECH TOY OF THE YEAR 2019 at the New York toy fair! The full line-up will be available nationwide this month.These cabinets where actually something I once sought myself after the faded away from arcades over the years and they were pricey back then and the price now is not bad for some retro custom gaming cabinets.

Launching first in the US, the machines have gone down a storm with fans finally having their favourite cabinets in their homes,This year they showed the games at Toy Fairs in London and New York and with the games now available for retail sale in the UK.

Arcade1Up are officially licensed versions of original videogames machines from the ‘Golden Age’ of gaming. These are ¾ scale replica copies of original arcade cabinets (full-size when used with an optional riser), complete with original artwork, controls (including rotary sticks, rollerballs and joysticks).

Each machine comes with multiple games and these are the original-code versions of the games, complete with techniques and tactics to learn, hidden features to exploit. So, if you could master Space Invaders patterns, exploit using the edge of the screen in Asteroids or rack-up extra lives in Defender back in the day… there’s nothing stopping you living that dream again!

The current Q1/Q2 line-up is:

ASTEROIDS
Asteroids, Major Havoc, Lunar Lander and Tempest

RAMPAGE
Rampage, Gauntlet, Joust, Defender

SPACE INVADERS
Space Invaders, Space Invaders Color

STREET FIGHTER II
Street Fighter II: Championship Edition, Super Street Fighter II: The new Challengers, Super Street Fighter TM II Turbo

Arcade1Up will be available nationwide this month from £349rrp.  https://arcade1up.com/

Review – HyperX Cloud Stinger Wireless Gaming Headphones. #Gaming #HyperX

Wireless is the way to go when gaming end of story and this goes for control pads and so on but even more so these days Headphones. I do a bit of gaming but nothing heavy like true gamers but when I do I like to have the right equipment at hand and these headphones deliver here on all aspects.

Comfort is a priority as well as sound and with these headphones they pass the test easily making them great for long term usage as many gamers do. An hour or two is enough for me and during my testing period these deliver on comfort,quality and sound and the sound is excellent all round giving you an immersive experience throughout and easy to use controls..

 

The headphones have a matte finish yet robust all round and no creaking and the comfort is simply great and cover the ears which is how I like it personally. Using the mic is also great and the noise cancelling is excellent when in use and its all done by a simple swivel operation which keeps it out of your way when not in use. The music repro is good and plenty aloud but I have heard  louder but thats my personal taste and the same applies to my headphones or earbuds I use and I just like loud.

Connection is simple with a small dongle which you can plug into your PS4 or Laptop and the same applies to audio should you be using your laptop for gaming or even You Tube the sound is good,crisp and clear and overall all sound reproduced quite well. When connected to PC for example you will get an indicator on screen to state the volume level which is adjusted by the wheel on the right which goes from 0-100, The control is solid and not loose moving but firm giving you precise control.

Battery life is on par with the manufacturers claims of around 17 hours which is quite good considering other offerings out there even by normal music aimed headsets and earbuds so you will have plenty of time without the need to be worrying about recharging. When it comes to range you will be fine in your house at it allows a range of around 12 metres which is at the lower end of distance by today’s standards but this is more than adequate for most households and again how one is set up.

Overall for the price you pay here you cant really complain in short and you get a robust comfortable great sounding headset simple to set up which also simply rests around your neck when not in use and there is no need to remove them for a break either.

Features

  • Gaming-grade wireless ideal for PS4™ systems

  • Signature HyperX comfort

  • Immersive in-game audio

  • Durable, adjustable steel sliders

  • Long-lasting battery life

  • Swivel-to-mute noise-cancellation microphone

  • Two Year warranty

 

BUY HERE

 

Review – The HyperX Pulsefire Core (RGB Gaming Mouse) #Gaming #HyperX #RGB

The HyperX Pulsefire Core delivers the essentials for gamers looking for a solid, comfortable, wired RGB gaming mouse. The Pixart 3327 optical sensor gives players precise, smooth tracking with no hardware acceleration, and has native DPI settings of up to 6200 DPI. The Pulsefire Core mouse has textured side grips for a comfortable, non-slip grip and its symmetrical shape is suitable for both palm and claw grips. Customise lighting, DPI settings and macros for 7 programmable buttons with HyperX NGenuity software and set your mouse up just the way you want it. The large skates on Pulsefire Core help deliver accurate aiming by giving you a smooth, controlled glide as you move the mouse around your mat.

 

Features

  • Pixart 3327 optical sensor with native DPI of up to 6,200
  • Comfortable symmetric design
  • Seven programmable buttons
  • Easy customisation with HyperX NGenuity software
  • Large mouse skates for smooth, controlled gliding

 

Specifications

Mouse

Ergonomics:                            Symmetrical

Sensor:                                    Pixart PAW3327

Resolution:                              Up to 6,200 DPI

DPI presets:                             800 / 1600 / 2400 / 3200 DPI

Speed:                                     220 IPS

Acceleration:                           30G

Buttons:                                   7

Left/right buttons durability:  20 million clicks

Backlight:                                RGB (16,777,216 colours)

Light effects:                           1 lighting zone and 4 brightness levels1

On-board memory:                 1 profile

Connection type:                     USB 2.0

Polling rate:                             1000Hz

USB data format:                    16 bits/axis

Cable type:                              Braided

Weight (without cable):          87g

Weight (with cable):               123g

Dimensions    

Length:                                    119.30mm

Height :                                   41.30mm

Width:                                     63.90mm

Cable length:                           1.8m

 

Key Features

  • Pixart 3327 optical sensor                                                                                         

The solid Pixart 3327 sensor provides precise tracking without hardware acceleration and supports native DPI settings of up to 6200.

  • Seven programmable buttons Pulsefire Core features seven programmable buttons with switches that provide crisp tactile feedback and are rated for 20 million clicks.
  • Easy customisation with HyperX NGenuity software                                                         

Create macros, customise RGB lighting and DPI and save it to the Pulsefire onboard memory

  • Customisable RGB lighting                                                                                                    

Add a personalised touch of RGB style to your setup.

Overall view

The HyperX Pulsefire Core  RGB Gaming Mouse is a precise smooth moving and comfortable mouse. This mouse is a fast mouse with allot of advanced features.  This can be used in an office as the lights are not that distracting with the option of selected any colour using the software. The 7 controllable buttons is ideal for any type of gamer and even better for streamers and professional gamers as the mouse does have a bit of flash to catch their audiences eye as they play and stream. The 2 year warranty and the technical support is also a plus.  This mouse would be better for higher up gamers as it is still a bit pricey for a mouse at €49.99.

BUY 

 

HyperX Announces Official Sponsorship of ESL Katowice Royale – Featuring Fortnite #HyperX #Gaming

 HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced it is the official peripheral, memory and SSD partner of the inaugural ESL Katowice Royale – Featuring Fortnite. All tournament PCs and PlayStation®4 gaming stations will be equipped with HyperX peripherals, including gaming headsets, keyboards, mice, mousepads, memory, and SSDs. The HyperX esports Truck will also be onsite in Katowice, Poland, entertaining fans on the mobile esports stage for the first time in the history of the global circuit.

“We have a longstanding relationship with HyperX and are thrilled that they are partnering with us for ESL’s first international Fortnite competition,” said Paul Brewer, SVP of Brand Partnerships, ESL North America. “As the official peripheral and memory partner, HyperX will be able to showcase their world-class gaming experiences for players and fans alike.”

The first-ever ESL Katowice Royale – Featuring Fortnite, taking place at the IEM Katowice Expo 2019 across two weekends, will showcase 200 of the world’s best Fortnite players and influencers. Players will battle it out for the lion’s share of a $100,000 USD prize pool at the Polish Edition on February 23-24 and a $500,000 USD prize pool at the International Edition, taking place on March 1-3. HyperX sponsored team Navi will be one of the teams competing.

While fans will have the opportunity to spectate the competition, they will also be able to try their Fortnite skills through integrated competitions in the free-to-play area. Systems will be equipped with HyperX peripherals, including gaming headsets, keyboards, mice and mousepads. ESL Katowice Royale – Featuring Fortnite will offer every participant of the free-to-play area the chance to win material prizes worth more than $50,000 USD.

“HyperX values its relationship with ESL, and we are excited to be part of history by sponsoring the company’s first Fortnite integration at the IEM Expo this year,” said Paul Leaman, vice president, HyperX EMEA. “By providing our peripheral products onsite, we hope to emphasize the benefit of using top-of-the-line equipment to enhance gaming.”

Additionally, HyperX will exhibit products within the IEM Expo, the leading esports-centric tradeshow, located adjacent to the Spodek Arena. For a chance to try out the newest HyperX peripherals and experience the award-winning HyperX Cloud headsets, fans can stop by the HyperX booth.

The HyperX esports truck, an 18-wheeler truck that converts into a full-size five on five player mobile gaming stage, will be onsite hosting gaming competitions, giveaways, listening stations showcasing HyperX’s latest products, Polish influencers, Cosplay competitions, and more.