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RuneScape’s New Combat Skill Necromancy Rises in First-Look Reveal Trailer

Who said necromance was dead?

CAMBRIDGE, UK May 30, 2023 — Today RuneScape’s highly anticipated new combat skill Necromancy has been revealed in a brand-new, bone-chilling trailer. Necromancy will transform RuneScape’s current combat system as it branches off and offers a new playstyle independent of the well-established combat triangle currently available in the iconic MMORPG.

Check out the next expansion of RuneScape combat in the Necromancy reveal trailer below

Necromancy will be one of RuneScape’s premiere updates for 2023. This new skill is designed for current, returning and new players to embrace their inner darkness and learn this ancient combat art across a lore-filled and deep story.

Players will unshackle the undead and wage war on the First Necromancer across a series of updates as the new RuneScape season begins. Battle fearsome enemies throughout Gielinor to perfect Necromancy combat, Rituals and Runecrafting skills.

More information on Necromancy will be teased during the developer’s Q&A on the RuneScape Twitch channel on Wednesday, May 31, at 12 p.m. ET.

Necromancy will be free for players up to level 20. For more information, please visit the RuneScape website. RuneScape is available now on PC, Steam, iOS, and Android, complete with cross-platform progression and play on PC and mobile.

About RuneScape

More than twenty years in the making and acclaimed by PC Gamer as “one of the most endearing and unique MMOs available,” RuneScape is an ever-expanding, living game that’s bursting with activity and life. Today RuneScape is one of the world’s longest-running online games, having welcomed almost 350 million player accounts, and is at peak popularity with millions of players.

Set in a medieval fantasy land, begin by creating a character and then embark on epic journeys through a vast sandbox world that’s full of gods, warring races, unexplored dungeons, and glittering riches. Propelled by the game’s narrative, choose your own path through enthralling quests, and progress through 28 diverse skills to shape a single character in a classless world. RuneScape on mobile is now available for iOS and Android devices, featuring cross-platform play between mobile and desktop editions, enabling players to seamlessly jump between devices and take their adventure anywhere. In RuneScape, you get to be the hero you always wanted to be, and with new content added almost every week, there’s always a new and adventurous experience to look forward to. Become the hero you were born to be at www.runescape.com.

About Jagex

A leader in creating deep and engaging live games on PC and mobile, Jagex’s flagship MMORPG, RuneScape, has welcomed almost 350 million player accounts to its world and is a $1 billion lifetime revenue franchise. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond running games in live operations; our titles are living games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds. Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly active worlds, and our community-focused development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped. Now we’re expanding and extending our portfolio with fresh franchise titles and new IP to bring life to the living games of the future. Jagex employs more than 450 people at its Cambridge headquarters. Career information can be found at www.jagex.com.

Friends to the End: Friends vs Friends Launches Today on Steam

Play weapons and powers from your deck of cards in this rapid-fire FPS featuring 1v1 and 2v2 battles!

STOCKHOLM May 30, 2023Friends vs Friends, the delightfully frantic deck-building FPS from developer Brainwash Gang and publisher Raw Fury, releases today on Steam for $9.99|€9,99|£8,50, with an additional 40% limited-time launch discount available for those who dive in right away. Friends vs Friends combines 1v1 or 2v2 combat and deck-building with all the frenetic fun of an online PvP shooter: choose your character, create a custom deck of madcap weapons and abilities, and hop into fast-paced multiplayer mayhem!

Players can also take their friendship to the next level with Friends vs Friends: Deluxe Edition, a bundle which includes the full base game, the digital game soundtrack featuring six music tracks, and the next two Premium Expansions coming later this year.

Friends vs Friends puts a game-changing twist on the classic FPS formula: all your powers, weapons and debuffs are played from your deck of cards! Become a titan, summon friendly turrets, steal health with vampire bullets, or just give your opponent a big head. Earn new cards, level them up, and unlock new characters with unique skills in chaotic 1v1 or 2v2 game modes.

Key Features

  • Friends vs Friends: Matchmake with players worldwide in fast-paced 1v1 or 2v2 combat, or host private matches with your friends. Need support? Invite some pals to spectate!
  • A Game with Character: Choose from a cast of stylish characters, each with their own special abilities that improve the synergies of your deck.
  • Progress to Impress: Level up and get new cards through matched bouts and timed challenges.
  • Stack Your Deck: Collect weapon, trap and curse cards, then level them up to increase their power.
  • Play Dress-Up: Unlock cool cosmetics like skins and card design variants for bragging rights!
  • Practice, Practice, Practice: Go up against bots to try out new card combos and improve your skills for when it really counts.
  • Low Price + High Quality = How?! Keep the crew together! Friends vs Friends levels the playing field on cost, so jumping in is a big-brain move.
  • Updates & Seasonal Content: Expect loads of post-launch content, including new unique characters, cards, maps, and upgrades to your home base!

Friends vs Friends will launch on consoles later this year. For the latest game news and updates, follow Friends vs Friends on Twitter.

About Brainwash Gang

Brainwash Gang is a video game developer with headquarters in Madrid, Spain. Known for Damnview: Built from Nothing, Grotto, Nongunz, The Longest Road on Earth, and more, the Gang rebels against tying itself to a single genre, instead focusing on the feel of games.

Game: https://www.friendsvsfriends.com
Studio: https://brainwashgang.com
Twitter: twitter.com/brainwash_gang

About Raw Fury

Raw Fury is a boutique indie (un)publisher founded in 2015 by Jonas Antonsson, Gordon Van Dyke, and David Martinez. We do not care about genres or mechanics. We care about experiences and emotions. We want to help developers make magic.

Web: rawfury.com
Twitter: twitter.com/rawfury
Discord: discord.gg/rawfury

System Shock – Gameplay

The iconic villain SHODAN is back in the improved and enhanced remake of System Shock. Join us in the first hour of exploring the space station filled with mutated creatures, and dangerous robots all wrapped up in a great combo of first-person shooting, puzzle-solving, and exploration. There are also new game mechanics and a new progression system that allows players to customize their character’s abilities and weapons.

System Shock is the fully fledged remake of the ground breaking original from 1994, combining cult gameplay with all-new HD visuals, updated controls, an overhauled interface and all-new sounds & music; it even has the original voice actor of SHODAN, one of gaming’s most iconic villains. Witness the rebirth of one of the greatest and most influential games ever created.

System Shock
Developer: Nightdive Studios
Publisher: Prime Matter
Website: https://www.nightdivestudios.com/
Platform: Windows
Release Date: 31 May, 2023
Price: $39.99 USD

Available now on Steam – https://store.steampowered.com/app/482400/System_Shock/

Summary:

Recommended – System Shock remake offers a great facelift on almost every front but leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to enemy AI and sound design.”

Check out our review of System Shock here!

Check out all the latest in the world of video games, anime, and entertainment at Capsule Computers:

Website: https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CapsuleComputers
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/capsulecomputer
Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/2666558-Capsule-Computers/
Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/capsulecomputer/

505 GAMES ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF PUZZLE QUEST 3 ON CONSOLE PLATFORMS

Fan-Favorite Puzzle-RPG Series Pushes Genre Forward With Xbox and PlayStation Console Release

CALABASAS, Calif. – May 30, 2023 – Global video game publisher 505 Games announced today that Puzzle Quest 3 (PQ3), the most recent installment to the groundbreaking and highly successful puzzle-RPG franchise, is available today at 5pm PT/31 May at 1am BST and free-to-play on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation®5, and PlayStation®4 gaming consoles.

“When Puzzle Quest 3 launched in March of 2022, we were excited for players to get their hands on a game nearly 10 years in the making,” said Steve Fawkner, CEO and Creative Lead at Infinity Plus Two. “Since then, we have taken player feedback, adding new modes, overhauling systems, and implementing key features to make a game that not only carries the legacy of the original Puzzle Quest but also evolves the franchise’s unique gameplay in different ways.”

“We’re so proud to be able to provide console fans with the best puzzle gaming experience yet, bringing to life our long-term vision of creating free-to-play multiplatform games for players around the globe,” said Clive Robert, Head of Free-to-Play at 505 Games. “This year, we’ve laid the foundation for Puzzle Quest 3, exited Early Access on PC, and launched onto PlayStation and Xbox platforms. Our community has also been an integral part of helping us improve and innovate the genre and make this game the best it can be.”

To celebrate Puzzle Quest 3’s one year anniversary and the game’s launch on console, special rewards valued at over $100 will be available to players across all platforms for a limited time. This includes a 30-day VIP Pass with extra daily free VIP rewards, a free new set of skins for the original group of heroes, and access to the next Premium Quest Pass to earn extra rewards for completing ongoing quests.

In Puzzle Quest 3, players will embark on a heroic journey to discover the meaning behind the ancient Red Dragon’s dying words. Fans will also get a taste of the franchise’s new 3D game graphics as they become the ultimate hero with a familiar, yet updated puzzle board full of colorful gems and skulls, deep systems, recognizable characters, and an epic heroic storyline.

During the past year, the Puzzle Quest 3 team has introduced several new features and updates that will be part of the console launch including:

Gameplay Update: Action Points
Battles now include Action Points (AP) instead of the timer, allowing players to carefully plan out their best moves without the pressure of the timer. 

Larger Puzzle Board
The game has increased the size of the board by 1 column and 1 row, allowing for more potential matches and strategies.

Updated Tutorial Systems – including the Adventurer’s Guide
The tutorial functions have been improved to teach new players in the early stages of the game. The Adventurer’s Guide has also been introduced – in-game guides with pictures and descriptions of the various mechanics of the games that will continue to be expanded as new features come to the game.

Two New Heroes Classes
The Mercenary and The Warlock bring their unique take on puzzle combat, in addition to the original five hero classes.

New Game Modes: Adventure and Hunts
Adventure Mode: Allows heroes to journey through unique maps, each with branching paths, dialogue, rewards, and more. Every adventure is a dynamic experience with various difficulties. The map and play style hearkens back to the original Puzzle Quest.

Hunts Mode: Allows players to target specific chests and loot and provides an alternative game mode to level up secondary heroes.

Major Relic and Shards Rework (Economy Overhaul)
Reduces the number of different collectibles and simplifies the upgrade system of all gear, spells, and minions.

Updated Rewards for VIP and Passes
VIP system and Quest Pass (PQ3’s battle pass) now reflects higher direct player value with more opportunities to let players use their rewards how they want to, and reflects the reduced needs for keys that opened chests in the past.

Six Seasons of Content
Each season has introduced new weapons, new gear, new enemies, and new storylines that follow the adventuring party from the main storyline. All can be accessed via the Seasons Archive in the Battle menu.

Puzzle Quest 3 is available now as a free-to-play title for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation®5, and PlayStation®4 gaming consoles, and is currently available and free-to-play on Steam, App Store, and Google Play Stores.

About 505 Games
505 Games, a Digital Bros’ subsidiary, is a global publisher focused on offering a broad selection of video games for players of all ages and skill levels. The company publishes and distributes premium and free-to-play games on console and PC platforms as well as mobile devices. Publishing highlights include DEATH STRANDING (PC), Control, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Ghostrunner, Gems of War, Journey to the Savage Planet, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. 505 Games has offices in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, China, and Japan. For more information on 505 Games and its products please visit 505games.com.

About Puzzle Quest
Puzzle Quest is a critically acclaimed franchise that has generated over $200 million in revenue and an estimated 32 million users globally. The original Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords launched in 2007 and defined the puzzle-RPG genre by merging match-3 puzzles and fantasy role-playing gameplay. In 2010, the highly successful sequel Puzzle Quest 2 continued the story and further refined the gameplay. The franchise has since expanded into multiple sequels and spin-offs, now with the Puzzle Quest 3 as the latest multiplatform installment in the franchise.

NG23 Spring: A thrill ride of success stories

Malmö, Sweden, May 30th, 2023 – The 23rd Nordic Game Conference from May 23rd to 26th was a resounding success, with speakers and attendees from all over the world exchanging knowledge about the games industry and connecting with each other.

Impressions from NG23 Spring can be found here (flickr). More photos will be added shortly.

The first signs of success came already on the day before the conference started, where Nordic Game had organized two summits – Games Capital Summit, and Exec Summit. Both were filled to the brim with VC investors and industry leaders respectively, and the feedback afterwards were ambiguously positive.

More than 2,000 attendees visited the live event, while another 300+ participated online. 11,000+ unique viewers watched the live streamed talks and sessions from the main theatre at the Slagthuset venue, via streams and the NG Discord. 169 speakers from 33 different countries discussed current trends, best practices and interesting learnings from game development to team management and influencer marketing. Topics such as AI, sustainable design, Web3 and the metaverse, as well as good conduct practices, were debated throughout the show by industry experts and game studio leads.

Safety was also a huge focus area for the organisers, and this year the measures to ensure that all participants at NG23 Spring would have as safe an experience as possible, was expanded on many different fronts, including having professional and independent safety teams walking the conference halls, as well as obligatory sign-off to the NG Code of Conduct visible on entrance badges. As of this date, no incidents were reported to the conference’s independent whistle-blower function.

Business high as usual

Business is one of the three major pillars Nordic Game is built on, and the meeting system MeetToMatch played a very important part of NG23 Spring. They reported some record-breaking results, with the major one being this: During the conference days 3,328 confirmed meetings were held, compared to 2,850 last year.

Networking and celebrations

The conference also once again hosted the Nordic Game Awards, celebrating the best games from the Nordics in 2023. Winner of Best Nordic Game after a tiebreak live on stage was Skábma – Snowfall, a title inspired by the legends and folklore of the Sámi people.

Since NG23 boasted the probably highest concentration of metal heads of all gaming conferences worldwide, the attendees were happy to not only celebrate Metal: Hellsinger winning two awards, but also to headbang to World of Sickness performing live. On top of that, the developers of Best Technology Award winner Virtuoso showcased what creating music in VR can feel and sound like. And those who still didn’t get enough shredded their vocal cords with Ste Curran and Maraoke songs rewritten to be about the gaming industry.

Next year will mark Nordic Game Conference’s 20th anniversary, and it will happen at Slagthuset in Malmö and online from 21-24 May 2024. If you don’t want to wait that long, the next event is going to be NG Helsinki, during the Slush week end-November 2023.

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About the Nordic Game conference

Nordic Game is the leading games conference in Europe, and 2023 will mark its twenty-third and twenty-fourth editions with our return to Malmö, Sweden and online as well as to Helsinki, Finland.

Gathering thousands of industry professionals in the spring and autumn each year, Nordic Game is the one and only “home turf” meeting place for the highly successful game developers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Kingston Returns to COMPUTEX 2023 with New Non-Binary DDR5 Memory and XS1000 External SSD

Kingston Returns to COMPUTEX 2023 with New Non-Binary DDR5 Memory and XS1000 External SSD

  • Step into the future and experience how “Kingston Is With You” in all aspects of your daily life

Taipei March 30, 2023 – Kingston Technology, a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it will make a grand return to COMPUTEX Taipei event after three years. Continuing its philosophy, “Kingston Is With You”, Kingston invites everyone to step into the future with the world’s first “Kingston Future Hub” showroom and “Kingston Starship No.35”.

At COMPUTEX 2023, Kingston showcases its latest products including the non-binary DDR5 memory, XS1000 External SSD, Industrial SD card, Data Center solutions and more. As the leading storage brand and reliable partner of the industry, Kingston’s DataTraveler® microDuo™ 3C (DTDUO3CG3) USB was selected by TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council) as the official media gift for COMPUTEX 2023.

“For over 35 years, Kingston has set many important milestones, such a maintaining its position as the No.1 supplier of third-party DRAM modules for 19 consecutive years, and the leader in channel SSD market share since 2019. This demonstrates Kingston’s consistency in enabling our customers to achieve more.” Kevin Wu, Sales/Marketing and Business Development Vice President of APAC region said, “We’re thrilled to be back at COMPUTEX to present comprehensive solutions that will help users in different fields of their lives succeed, as ‘Kingston Is With You’.”

World’s First Look at the Kingston Future Hub Showroom

The “Kingston Future Hub” showroom exhibits how Kingston enriches the lives of users with its memory and storage solutions. The five zones include:

  • Creator Gadgets, with the ever-increasing demands of data storage and computer performance, Kingston brings in a personal studio equipped with Kingston FURY memory, Kingston SSDs and workstation gadgets. Kingston debuts its non-binary DDR5 memory that satisfies users’ ideal memory-to-core ratios without sacrificing bandwidth. With more flexibility in capacity, the non-binary DDR5 models provide cost-effective options that can drive down system costs.
  • Enterprise Suite, is a walk-in data center that showcases Kingston’s enterprise level SSD and Server Premier DDR5 memory, trusted by leading server manufacturers and the world’s largest data centers. Kingston launches the DC600M Enterprise SSD, optimized for mixed-use workloads with excellent Quality of Service (QoS) that ensures latency and IOPS consistency to hit service-level agreements. Additionally, Kingston introduces Industrial SD Card, ideal for write-intensive recording in harsh working environments.
  • Gamer Ecstasy, shows customized PC builds constructed by the world’s top PC modders, alongside the newest Kingston FURY non-binary DDR5 memory product lines and Kingston FURY Renegade SSD. Kingston FURY DDR4 memory with brand new heat spreader designs will be displayed on-site along with DDR5 RGB options with 18 RGB FURY CTRL™ lighting effects to empower gamers with cutting-edge performance and aggressive style.
  • Vlogger Essentials, showcases Kingston’s best-in-class storage solutions for the generation always on-the-move. Kingston joins forces with its long-term travel partner, EVA Air, a Star Alliance member with a far-reaching global route system to take the smart-travel experience to the next level. Whether it is for work, play or even passion projects, Kingston and EVA Air makes travel easy with its trusted products and services. Kingston gives an exclusive first look at the XS1000 External SSD, the extremely compact form factor offers ultimate portability that helps users save, share and transfer important files and memories on-the-go.
  • Smart Living, dives into Kingston’s embedded solutions for leading global brands, including Acer, ASUS, BBK Electronics, OPPO and more. Kingston’s embedded memory products can be found in smart home devices, drones, eBooks and educational tools, further strengthening the “Kingston Is With You” credo. Even in unexpected places, Kingston is everywhere.

Bringing Kingston Starship No.35 to COMPUTEX 2023

In March, Kingston launched the “Kingston Starship No.35” experiential truck, which brings alive an immersive space exploration that highlights Kingston products’ extreme performance. “Kingston Starship No.35”, which has already reached over 50,000 people, will enter the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Hall during COMPUTEX 2023. Attendees will get a chance to win cash prizes, Kingston swag, or round-trip EVA Air Premium Economy ticket to an Asia destination of their choice.

For more information visit kingston.com.

Kingston can be found on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingstonAPAC
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/KingstonAPAC

About Kingston Technology

From big data, to laptops and PCs, to IoT-based devices like smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver the solutions used to live, work and play. The world’s largest PC makers and cloud-hosting companies depend on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion fuels the technology the world uses every day. We strive beyond our products to see the bigger picture, to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions that make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston Is With You, visit Kingston.com.

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Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. Kingston FURY and the Kingston FURY logo are trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Days of Play 2023 sale kicks off on June 2

Days of Play is back this week, here’s the first look at some of the deals players can find across PlayStation Plus, and PlayStation Store, along with additional offerings available at participating retailers.

Days of Play 2023 will begin on Friday June 2 until Monday 12 June. PlayStation’s official Days of Play website will be updated with more information later this week, so be sure to check the site for the latest details. Please note that offers may vary by region and are available while stocks last.

Here are some of the upcoming deals to look out for:

Save on PlayStation Plus memberships

Players can start, renew, or extend their PlayStation Plus membership during Days of Play at a discount. Get access to quality titles, from Monthly Games, to Game Trials, to the compelling Game Catalogue and Classics Catalogue with hundreds of blockbusters and classics to choose from – depending on the plan they choose.*

For both new and current PlayStation Plus members, all 12-month plans will be offered at 25% off – this includes Essential, Extra, and Deluxe.

Current PlayStation Plus Essential and Extra members can also receive 25% off a 1-month, 3-month, or 12-month membership when upgrading to a higher tier plan – it’s a great time to try PlayStation Plus Deluxe.

Offers on select digital games available on PlayStation Store

This year, save on a variety of digital games and add-ons on PlayStation Store. Offers vary by region, so head to PlayStation Store when Days of Play begins to view the full list of local deals.

There will also be additional deals on PlayStation accessories** during this year’s Days of Play from participating local retailers; offers may vary by region.

Be sure to check back on Friday June 2 for details on this year’s promotion on the Days of Play 2023 site.

To check out the full list of updates, players can head to the PlayStation Blog, PlayStation Store, or PlayStation Plus to find their regional discount.

For the latest PlayStation news, follow PlayStation Australia on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram

*Availability of Classics, Game Trials and Game Catalogue varies over time, region/country, and plan. See https://www.playstation.com/Plus for details and updates on PlayStation Plus offerings. PlayStation Plus is an ongoing subscription subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically (at the then-current PlayStation Store price) at the frequency you choose at purchase until cancellation. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms.

**Offer limited to selected PlayStation games and accessories. Colour(s)/Stock availability may vary by store.

HyperX Announces Cloud III Gaming Headset 

HyperX Redefines Comfort Once Again with the Introduction of Cloud III – HyperX also Introduces Cirro True Wireless Earbuds during Computex

May 30, 2023 HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced the HyperX Cloud III Gaming Headset during COMPUTEX 2023. The Cloud III gaming headset offers signature comfort and an immersive in-game audio experience with re-engineered 53mm angled drivers and lifetime activation of DTS® Headphone:X® for accurate 3D audio spatialisation. Following up on the tremendous success of Cloud II introduced back in 2015, HyperX has improved all aspects of the product to bring the most comfortable and superb sounding gaming headset on the market.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Cloud III, our next generation Cloud gaming headset,” said HyperX. “HyperX Cloud has always stood for the most comfortable gaming headsets on the market and with the Cloud III, we took time to dive deep into what gamers love about Cloud II and enhance every aspect of the new headset. We improved the comfort with new materials and fit. We improved the sound by re-engineering our drivers and tuning. We also improved the communications feature by including a 10mm microphone with noise-cancellation and an internal metal mesh pop filter.” 

HyperX also revealed HyperX Cirro Buds Pro True Wireless designed to provide an enhanced listening experience with utmost comfort. Features include up to 35 hours of battery life, 8mm dynamic drivers and Bluetooth® wireless connectivity. The buds offer precision noise cancelling with hybrid active noise cancellation technology to ensure clear sound without external interferences.  

HyperX continued, “We’re also excited to share the new Cirro Buds Pro with gamers and casual listeners, offering immersive sound and comfort to meet a range of audio needs”. 

The latest HyperX line of products offers new levels of comfort, performance and control and are designed to improve the user experience. More information on the new audio products includes: 

  • HyperX Cloud III Gaming Headset: HyperX has built its now-legendary Cloud gaming headset product line on signature HyperX comfort, and the attention to detail continues with Cloud III. Equipped with the re-engineered 53mm angled drivers and DTS® Headphone:X®, it also delivers immersive and accurate 3D audio spatialisation. HyperX’s acoustic engineering team custom tuned the headset’s drivers for optimal sound and precision. The Cloud III is also designed for extended gaming sessions, thanks to its plush HyperX memory foam ear cushions and extra padding in the headband. The headset includes an ultra-clear 10mm microphone with noise-cancellation and an internal metal mesh pop filter that reduces disruptive noise. It also has simple onboard audio and mic controls, and is compatible with PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. The headset features 3.5mm, USB-C, and USB-A connectors and comes with a slim US adapter that provides both USB-C and USB-A connectivity.
  • HyperX Cirro Buds Pro True Wireless Earbuds: The Cirro Buds Pro earbuds offer precision noise cancelling with hybrid active noise cancellation technology to ensure clear sound. The Cirro Buds Pro earbuds also provide an ambient sound mode for users to stay connected to their surroundings, as well as low-latency audio connectivity for mobile gaming. With Bluetooth® 5.2 connectivity, these earbuds provide wireless freedom while offering HyperX durability with an IPX4 water-resistant rating, and the protective charging case can fully charge the earbuds in just 40 minutes. The earbuds feature three sets of ear tips for a personalised and secure fit and up to 35 hours of battery life. The Cirro Buds Pro are available in black, blue and tan colourways.

Availability

The Cloud III Gaming Headset will be available at most electronics stores and online on May 31 for MSRP AUD 159 and NZD 169. For more information on HyperX products, please visit HyperX www.hyperx.com.

Information about the Cirro Buds Pro local availability will be available soon. 

About HyperX  

For 20 years, HyperX’s mission has been to develop gaming solutions for every type of gamer and the company is consistently recognised for delivering products that provide superb comfort, aesthetics, performance, and reliability. Under the tagline of “WE’RE ALL GAMERS,” HyperX gaming headsets, keyboards, mice, USB microphones, and console accessories are the choice of everyday gamers as well as celebrity ambassadors, pro gamers, tech enthusiasts, streamers and influencers. Visit www.hyperx.com.   

YouTube: youtube.com/hyperx
Facebook: facebook.com/hyperxanz 
Twitter: twitter.com/HyperXAnz

About HP Inc.

HP Inc. is a technology company that believes one thoughtful idea has the power to change the world. Its product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers, and 3D printing solutions helps bring these ideas to life. Visit http://www.hp.com.

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HyperX and the HyperX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of HP Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All registered trademarks and trademarks are property of their respective owners.

System Shock Review

System Shock

Developer: Nightdive Studios
Publisher: Prime Matter
Platforms: Xbox Series XXbox OnePlayStation 4PlayStation 5PC (Reviewed)
Release Date: 30 May 2023
Price: $39.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

Did you know that The Godfather trilogy tops the list of movies that people lie about seeing? A similar thing happens with some cult games. People will nod their heads in approval when you mention Deus Ex, Planescape Torment, The Neverhood, Mafia, and so on but we can’t tell for sure that all of them played it. I had a similar thing with the original System Shock. Watched plenty of playthroughs, and read a lot of reviews, but I never actually played the original. Crazy, I know! But guess what, now is finally my chance to make things right.

Story

We play as a nameless hacker who has been awakened in the Citadel Station where all of its inhabitants are dead or turned into mutants. To make things worse, all robots have been reprogrammed for hostility and those humans that weren’t mutated were transformed into cyborgs by SHODAN. Ah yes, we can’t talk about System Shock without mentioning the iconic antagonist SHODAN (short for Sentient Hyper-Optimized Data Access Network). Soon enough things go south and SHODAN goes rogue, declaring itself a God and trying to destroy all of Earth in the process. SHODAN is an omnipresent entity throughout Citadel Station, watching you via security cameras and observing your every move as you try to thwart its plans.

Gameplay

After a few “introductory” hours of System Shock, the game really starts to unravel once different enemies and weapons are introduced. Specific enemies tend to be immune to specific kinds of damage and that brings a bit of strategic attacking into the mix. For example, electromagnetic pulse weapons heavily damage robots but do not affect mutants. Also, gas grenades are great against mutants but do not damage robotic enemies.

Now, regarding the melee combat in general….it is a bit rough around the edges. Once I got the lead pipe and encountered my first mutated enemies, I was quite disappointed with the sound design and combat melee animations. It was like there was almost no impact when bashing enemies and they barely react to being hit with a heavy steel pipe. And the enemy AI leaves a lot to be desired as well. Many times enemies would notice me peeking around the corner and just start shooting at me while I’m behind the cover, never considering moving or changing their position. Enemies see you, charge at you, telegraph their attacks and that’s pretty much it. Once you figure out every enemy pattern (and you’ll figure it out pretty soon) the game just defaults to easy mode.

Visuals

There have been some significant improvements on this front, regardless if we compare it to the original or System Shock: Enhanced Edition from 2015. The textures are anything but pixelated this time and far more polished, enemies are highly detailed and every section of the original game received a major visual overhaul. The game is also incredibly well-optimized and it can basically run on a toaster, in all of my plays I experienced zero slowdowns and crashes.

Audio

When it comes to overall sound design, the game gets a pass. The atmospheric sounds of the Citadel Station as you sneak around enemies, the shootouts with cyborgs, the omnipresent voice of SHODAN that’s constantly taunting you – all of that is well above average but after a while, you start to notice a lot of shoddy work on this front. As I said, the sound design of enemies and combat is bordering on atrocious, it’s like they took some stock audio from a free library titled “enemies grunting and breathing” and called it a day. In any case, the original System Shock had a rich modding community where a lot of user-made add-ons improved the user experience so let’s hope someone will fix this setback as well through a potential mod.

Overall

If this is your first encounter with System Shock, this remake will offer you more than you bargained for. Not to mention that this remake has been considerably expanded compared to the original, so don’t be surprised if you encounter some new areas or secrets that you never found in the first game. You’ll get to play a cult classic that inspired many more cyberpunk-themed games after it, get to meet one of the most iconic villains in gaming, and get thoroughly lost in anything but the welcoming maze of Citadel Station.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Discover Minecraft Trails & Tales June 7

Minecraft is excited to announce the highly anticipated Trails & Tales Update will release on June 7, 2023 for all players!

As a reminder, here are the major features arriving when the update releases on June 7:

  • ARCHEOLOGY: Archeology adds an increased history to worlds—allowing for more storytelling possibilities. Players will discover suspicious sand in new desert temple rooms and the newly introduced suspicious gravel in ocean ruins or trail ruins, a new structure found in cold biomes. Players can carefully uncover hidden tools, bones, sniffer eggs, and pottery sherds. Craft four of these sherds together to make a pot with patterns telling a unique story.  
  • SNIFFER: The winner of the 2022 Minecraft Live mob vote has been brought back from extinction! Players will find the sniffer eggs in archeology sites. A baby snifflet will hatch from these eggs and grow into the huge sniffer, one of the largest friendly mobs ever in Minecraft! The sniffer will “sniff” out ancient seeds you can grow into the new torchflower and pitcher plant.
  • CAMELS: Another huge mob with a mind of its own, players can saddle it and raise it – but when a camel without a rider wants to sit, it sits. With its tall legs, the camel keeps players out of reach of zombies on the ground allowing you to sprint or dash to safety. Just be careful of skeletons’ ranged attacks! The camel can hold two riders, making it the perfect mob to go on an adventure with a friend.
  • CHERRY GROVES: These beautiful new trees fill the horizon with a stunning shade of pink. These new trees can be crafted into a full pink wood-set, including the newly introduced hanging signs, and cherry tree saplings to grow more of the lovely pink trees. Players will also be delighted to find a unique petal falling particle effect only in the cherry groves, as well as a new pink petals ground cover decoration.
  • ARMOR TRIMS: Using the new smithing templates found across biomes and structures, players can express themselves through their armor by combining different materials and smithing template patterns for a wide variety of customisation options. In total, there are 16 armor trims, including new trims found in ancient cities and trail ruins, and numerous unique combinations.
  • BAMBOO WOOD, CHISELED BOOKSHELVES & MORE: Bamboo can now be crafted into a full set of bamboo wood blocks—including signs and fences! Bamboo rafts function as boats but have a unique look. Players can now add Piglin heads to their worlds, dropped when a Piglin is killed by a charged creeper. Chiseled bookshelves take Minecraft storytelling to the next level, allowing players to record the stories and lore of their world in their own custom bookshelves—alongside their most valuable enchanted books. Hanging signs add new ways to decorate. That’s not all – signs can now have writing on both sides and be edited without destroying them (waxing the signs with honeycomb prevents them from being edited).

You may notice some of the major features have received small tweaks and improvements based off feedback from the community. We’re also excited to share we’ve also made some quality of life changes to features in recent snapshots and previews, including:

  • Calibrated Sculk Sensors: Opening up a plethora of possibilities for redstoners, this new variant of Sculk Sensors which allows you to filter vibrations based on their frequency level. They are not found naturally and can only be crafted.
  • Vibration Resonance: Blocks of Amethyst have a new behavior when placed adjacent to Sculk Sensors. If that Sculk Sensor receives a vibration, the Block of Amethyst will re-emit its frequency as a separate vibration at its location.
  • Full Changelog: You can find the full list of changes as a result of recent snapshots on Minecraft.net.

Alongside the release of Trails & Tales on June 7, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition is releasing on Chromebook, featuring cross-device play with friends, access to Minecraft Marketplace, and the ability to play on Realms. While Minecraft has been in early access on selected Chromebook devices, now everyone with a compatible Chromebook will be able to download it from the Google Play Store. Wherever people play Minecraft, they can play the new Trails & Tales update together!

For players eager to immerse themselves in the new update ahead of launch, check out the Trails & Tales soundtrack here. Stay tuned to @Minecraft on May 26 when we’ll ask players to vote on whether the new custom Minecraft-themed Xbox Series X will be inspired by the camel or sniffer. The winning console will be given to a lucky voter alongside exclusive Xbox Wireless Controllers inspired by the new cherry grove biomes—only available in this giveaway.