I will be honest with you when I say that we have reported on the SteelSeries Shift before. Since I have received the Siberia V2, the company was nice enough to send over the Shift.
I have reviewed a similar keyboard years ago with the Zboard, and the Shift has a removable keyboard that can be switched out for games like World of Warcraft or AION. These keyboards fold up when not in use, and are easily switchable.
The Shift also has a few ports. There are two gold plated microphone-in and audio-out ports, as well as two USB 2.0 ports. By the way, you have to plug in the Shift to your laptop or desktop into the headphone and microphone ports, and you need to plug in two USB plugs to get the two USB ports on the keyboard to work.
Another feature is the easy to record macros. You know those moves in MMO games that require several buttons to accomplish? Imagine being able to do that move with one button. Now imagine having seven more buttons for your macros.
By the way, the Shift also has some easy-to-access media keys on the side. Other features include adjustable rubberized feet for 3 different height settings as well as Fine-Tuned Heat Spots.
You should be able to get the Shift from the SteelSeries site for about $99.99. The shiftable keyboards will cost about $24.99.
2011年12月12日星期一
2011年12月11日星期日
West gegen Ost – Das Beispiel Lineage 2
Wie jeden Sonntag erwartet dich auch heute eine neue Ausgabe unserer Kolumne “Ausgespielt”, die sich um alles dreht, was mit Spielen zu tun hat. Diese Woche Thema ist West gegen Ost oder auch: Der Fall Lineage 2.
Lineage 2 erschien 2003 in Korea und Anfang 2004 im Westen. In Korea schlug der zweite Teil ein wie eine Bombe, im Westen avancierte es bestenfalls zum Geheimtipp unter den PvP-Fans. Als NCSoft Ost dann bei West nachfragte, warum denn das Spiel nicht bei den Leuten ankme, kam die Antwort: Es ist ein Hardcore-PvP-Game, das sei nichts fr den Westen.
Die Wahrheit sah in Wirklichkeit ganz anders aus. Werbung wurde fr das Spiel in Westen so gut wie nicht gemacht, Support geschweige denn GMs suchte man vergebens. Auch die Updates fr das Spiel brauchten lnger, um in den Westen zu kommen, als man es gewohnt war. Vermutlich drfte es auch eine Rolle gespielt haben, dass ein Jahr spter schon das hauseigene Kind von NCSoft West erscheinen sollte, Guild Wars. Das hatte zwar keine Burgenbelagerungen wie bei LA 2 aber dennoch war es auf PvP ausgerichtet. Vielleicht wollte man einfach keinen Konkurrenten im Westen haben.
Was auch immer es war, es sorgte dafr, dass LA 2 zumindest in Europa in die Bedeutungslosigkeit abrutschte und gerade als man glaubte, schlimmer geht es gar nicht mehr, wurde es genau das. ber Nacht zogen die China-Farmer ins Spiel ein und berrannten frmlich die Server. Da es keinen GM-Support im Westen gab, wurde auch nicht gegengesteuert. Die meisten Spieler hatten dann so die Nase voll, dass sie auf Privatserver flchteten. Weitere Jahre vergingen und LA 2 wurde beinahe vergessen, bis das Spiel vor Kurzem nun auf Free2Play umgestellt wurde.
Und was durch diese Umstellung mit dem Spiel im Westen passierte, drfte bei NCsoft West mehr als nur Magenschmerzen ausgelst haben. Am Tag der Umstellung auf Free2Play wurden die Server berrannt. NCsoft West kam kaum hinterher, neue Server hochzuschalten. Nicht nur alte Spieler kamen wieder, auch neue Spieler, die von dem Spiel nur gehrt hatten, kamen und blieben dort.
Das drfte dem Vorstand von NCsoft West Schwei?perlen auf die Stirn treiben, denn wie erklrt man der Mutterfirma diesen pltzlichen Erfolg? Aber das Vertrauen zum westlichen Zweig drfte so oder so ziemlich gelitten haben. Besonders wenn man sich die zum Teil sehr mangelhafte Arbeit bei Aion anschaut wird einem klar, warum sich um LA 2 in Europa jetzt ein neuer Publisher kmmert. Dieser Publisher hei?t Innova und kommt aus Russland. Innova kmmerte sich sowieso schon um die NCsoft-Produkte und hat nun die Chance bekommen, das in Europa ebenfalls zu tun.
Bis jetzt sieht das, was die Russen mit LA2 machen, ziemlich gut aus. Sie werden das ganze Spiel nach 8 Jahren nicht nur auf Deutsch herausbringen, sondern kmmern sich jetzt schon liebevoller um das Spiel als es NCsoft West je getan hat. So hat Innova z.B. damit begonnen, GMs auf den europischen Server zu stellen, die nicht nur mit Rat und Tat bei Problemen zur Seite stehen, sondern auch mal bei akuten Mobmangel neue Mobs erscheinen lassen. Genauso wird wenig Mitleid mit den Goldsellern und Bottern gezeigt, die momentan schneller aus dem Spiel fliegen als man gucken kann. Zu NCsoft-Zeiten undenkbar.
Innova kann auf jeden Fall gelassen in die Zukunft blicken, denn besser gemacht als NCsoft West haben sie es jetzt schon. Fr NCsoft West wiederum drften das ziemlich unschne Wochen werden, besonders wenn man bedenkt, dass sie dieses Mal wohl keine Ausrede mehr parat haben drften, um die Mutterfirma zu beschwichtigen. Bei LineAge 2 bleibt natrlich abzuwarten, ob sich die Spielerzahl auch nach dem ersten Ansturm halten und weiter entwickeln kann.
Lineage 2 erschien 2003 in Korea und Anfang 2004 im Westen. In Korea schlug der zweite Teil ein wie eine Bombe, im Westen avancierte es bestenfalls zum Geheimtipp unter den PvP-Fans. Als NCSoft Ost dann bei West nachfragte, warum denn das Spiel nicht bei den Leuten ankme, kam die Antwort: Es ist ein Hardcore-PvP-Game, das sei nichts fr den Westen.
Die Wahrheit sah in Wirklichkeit ganz anders aus. Werbung wurde fr das Spiel in Westen so gut wie nicht gemacht, Support geschweige denn GMs suchte man vergebens. Auch die Updates fr das Spiel brauchten lnger, um in den Westen zu kommen, als man es gewohnt war. Vermutlich drfte es auch eine Rolle gespielt haben, dass ein Jahr spter schon das hauseigene Kind von NCSoft West erscheinen sollte, Guild Wars. Das hatte zwar keine Burgenbelagerungen wie bei LA 2 aber dennoch war es auf PvP ausgerichtet. Vielleicht wollte man einfach keinen Konkurrenten im Westen haben.
Was auch immer es war, es sorgte dafr, dass LA 2 zumindest in Europa in die Bedeutungslosigkeit abrutschte und gerade als man glaubte, schlimmer geht es gar nicht mehr, wurde es genau das. ber Nacht zogen die China-Farmer ins Spiel ein und berrannten frmlich die Server. Da es keinen GM-Support im Westen gab, wurde auch nicht gegengesteuert. Die meisten Spieler hatten dann so die Nase voll, dass sie auf Privatserver flchteten. Weitere Jahre vergingen und LA 2 wurde beinahe vergessen, bis das Spiel vor Kurzem nun auf Free2Play umgestellt wurde.
Und was durch diese Umstellung mit dem Spiel im Westen passierte, drfte bei NCsoft West mehr als nur Magenschmerzen ausgelst haben. Am Tag der Umstellung auf Free2Play wurden die Server berrannt. NCsoft West kam kaum hinterher, neue Server hochzuschalten. Nicht nur alte Spieler kamen wieder, auch neue Spieler, die von dem Spiel nur gehrt hatten, kamen und blieben dort.
Das drfte dem Vorstand von NCsoft West Schwei?perlen auf die Stirn treiben, denn wie erklrt man der Mutterfirma diesen pltzlichen Erfolg? Aber das Vertrauen zum westlichen Zweig drfte so oder so ziemlich gelitten haben. Besonders wenn man sich die zum Teil sehr mangelhafte Arbeit bei Aion anschaut wird einem klar, warum sich um LA 2 in Europa jetzt ein neuer Publisher kmmert. Dieser Publisher hei?t Innova und kommt aus Russland. Innova kmmerte sich sowieso schon um die NCsoft-Produkte und hat nun die Chance bekommen, das in Europa ebenfalls zu tun.
Bis jetzt sieht das, was die Russen mit LA2 machen, ziemlich gut aus. Sie werden das ganze Spiel nach 8 Jahren nicht nur auf Deutsch herausbringen, sondern kmmern sich jetzt schon liebevoller um das Spiel als es NCsoft West je getan hat. So hat Innova z.B. damit begonnen, GMs auf den europischen Server zu stellen, die nicht nur mit Rat und Tat bei Problemen zur Seite stehen, sondern auch mal bei akuten Mobmangel neue Mobs erscheinen lassen. Genauso wird wenig Mitleid mit den Goldsellern und Bottern gezeigt, die momentan schneller aus dem Spiel fliegen als man gucken kann. Zu NCsoft-Zeiten undenkbar.
Innova kann auf jeden Fall gelassen in die Zukunft blicken, denn besser gemacht als NCsoft West haben sie es jetzt schon. Fr NCsoft West wiederum drften das ziemlich unschne Wochen werden, besonders wenn man bedenkt, dass sie dieses Mal wohl keine Ausrede mehr parat haben drften, um die Mutterfirma zu beschwichtigen. Bei LineAge 2 bleibt natrlich abzuwarten, ob sich die Spielerzahl auch nach dem ersten Ansturm halten und weiter entwickeln kann.
2011年12月8日星期四
Big bands, poetry, food, beverages -- what's not to like?
This is the time of year when people like me are supposed to be compiling lists upon lists of things that've been notable in the past year. Top albums of 2011, favorite meals, oddest stories -- that kind of thing. No dice. Either I've lost my reflective gear or I'm just too busy with the present and unable to think about the rest of the year.
I'm fine at coming up with things you should look at today. Right now. Immediately. Search this site for "Five Things" and you'll see what I mean.
But when it comes to thinking back, I'm going to have to rely on some local events this weekend to knock me out of the here-and-now. Here's what's on the slate:
This week marks 70 years since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, spurring national remembrance of World War II and the 1940s. Fitting, then, that Saturday from 6 p.m. until deep into the night -- 1 a.m., even -- you can doll yourself up '40s-style and enjoy the Big Band Christmas Ball . On the slate are '40s and '50s holiday fun with music from The Hot Tomatoes and from performers in the style of Sinatra and the Andrews Sisters, reenactments from popular old-timey Christmas movies and, possibly, maybe... enchantment. Tickets are $45 and, as of this writing, are still available.
My big-band-nerd sources say it's a good old time -- and photos from previous events organized by the same folks look really incredible. Period dress is strongly recommended.
Speaking of anniversaries, Innisfree Poetry Bookstore and Café , 1203 13th St., is celebrating one year of poetry and caffeine this Saturday. Know what'll be at the celebration? Poetry and caffeine -- and a 20 percent discount on all books, all day. There will also be live music at times throughout the day, and at night, the café hosts the Winter Art Gala with food from nearby Café Aion, a silent art auction, poetry readings and plenty more.
I asked proprietor Brian Buckley to send over a poem he thought was in some way representative of the year at Innisfree and he quickly emailed over Sylvia Plath's "Morning Song."
"Kate and I feel the store is our third child -- we have two daughters," wrote Buckley. "This poem reminds us of 'birthing' the store and the so many clear vowels we have seen rise in the store during our first year of weekly readings."
By the way? Off the top of my head? Top album: Thurston Moore, Demolished Thoughts. Favorite meal (excluding the week I got married, because that's not a fair fight): coffee and donuts outside at the Pinyon at sunset with my special lady friend. Oddest story: Gotta be the guy who was hiding in the portable toilet.
See? You can do anything if you convince yourself that you have to -- no matter how inane! Good luck getting your end-of-year stuff done and have fun this weekend.
I'm fine at coming up with things you should look at today. Right now. Immediately. Search this site for "Five Things" and you'll see what I mean.
But when it comes to thinking back, I'm going to have to rely on some local events this weekend to knock me out of the here-and-now. Here's what's on the slate:
This week marks 70 years since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, spurring national remembrance of World War II and the 1940s. Fitting, then, that Saturday from 6 p.m. until deep into the night -- 1 a.m., even -- you can doll yourself up '40s-style and enjoy the Big Band Christmas Ball . On the slate are '40s and '50s holiday fun with music from The Hot Tomatoes and from performers in the style of Sinatra and the Andrews Sisters, reenactments from popular old-timey Christmas movies and, possibly, maybe... enchantment. Tickets are $45 and, as of this writing, are still available.
My big-band-nerd sources say it's a good old time -- and photos from previous events organized by the same folks look really incredible. Period dress is strongly recommended.
Speaking of anniversaries, Innisfree Poetry Bookstore and Café , 1203 13th St., is celebrating one year of poetry and caffeine this Saturday. Know what'll be at the celebration? Poetry and caffeine -- and a 20 percent discount on all books, all day. There will also be live music at times throughout the day, and at night, the café hosts the Winter Art Gala with food from nearby Café Aion, a silent art auction, poetry readings and plenty more.
I asked proprietor Brian Buckley to send over a poem he thought was in some way representative of the year at Innisfree and he quickly emailed over Sylvia Plath's "Morning Song."
"Kate and I feel the store is our third child -- we have two daughters," wrote Buckley. "This poem reminds us of 'birthing' the store and the so many clear vowels we have seen rise in the store during our first year of weekly readings."
By the way? Off the top of my head? Top album: Thurston Moore, Demolished Thoughts. Favorite meal (excluding the week I got married, because that's not a fair fight): coffee and donuts outside at the Pinyon at sunset with my special lady friend. Oddest story: Gotta be the guy who was hiding in the portable toilet.
See? You can do anything if you convince yourself that you have to -- no matter how inane! Good luck getting your end-of-year stuff done and have fun this weekend.
2011年12月7日星期三
La beta di Star Wars The Old Republic tocca quota 2 milioni di utenti
The Old Republic ha già fatto registrare numeri da record, facendo presagire ottimi risultati in vista dell'esordio ufficiale. Due milioni di fan hanno infatti già preso parte alle fasi di test.
"Il gioco possiede già una base pre-esistente di fan. Abbiamo avuto 2.4 milioni di persone registrate sul fan site di Star Wars, e oltre due milioni hanno deciso di aderire gratuitamente alla beta", ha commentato Eric Brown, CFO di Electronic Arts, nella giornata odierna.
Il titolo ha registrato ben 725.000 utenti unici solamente nello scorso weekend (che negli USA ha combaciato con il giorno del 'Ringraziamento'), durante il quale il totale di ore giocate è stato pari a 9 milioni. La media per ogni giocatore loggato in questa tre giorni è stata di 12 ore a testa, secondo i dati forniti da Gamasutra.
"Per quanto riguarda il picco di utenti in contemporanea abbiamo avuto oltre mezzo milione di persone che hanno giocato simultaneamente", ha aggiunto Brown.
Vi ricordiamo che la versione definitiva di Star Wars: The Old Republic è prevista sia in Nord America che in Europa a partire dal prossimo 20 dicembre.
Nei prossimi giorni pubblicheremo un approfondimento su tutte le caratteristiche di gioco di The Old Republic e le nostre prime impressioni.
"Il gioco possiede già una base pre-esistente di fan. Abbiamo avuto 2.4 milioni di persone registrate sul fan site di Star Wars, e oltre due milioni hanno deciso di aderire gratuitamente alla beta", ha commentato Eric Brown, CFO di Electronic Arts, nella giornata odierna.
Il titolo ha registrato ben 725.000 utenti unici solamente nello scorso weekend (che negli USA ha combaciato con il giorno del 'Ringraziamento'), durante il quale il totale di ore giocate è stato pari a 9 milioni. La media per ogni giocatore loggato in questa tre giorni è stata di 12 ore a testa, secondo i dati forniti da Gamasutra.
"Per quanto riguarda il picco di utenti in contemporanea abbiamo avuto oltre mezzo milione di persone che hanno giocato simultaneamente", ha aggiunto Brown.
Vi ricordiamo che la versione definitiva di Star Wars: The Old Republic è prevista sia in Nord America che in Europa a partire dal prossimo 20 dicembre.
Nei prossimi giorni pubblicheremo un approfondimento su tutte le caratteristiche di gioco di The Old Republic e le nostre prime impressioni.
2011年12月6日星期二
The Old Republic - Mehr als zwei Millionen Anmeldungen für den Beta-Test
Am vergangenen Wochenende fand die letzte Phase des Beta-Tests von dem Online-Rollenspiel Star Wars: The Old Republic statt. Für den Publisher Electronic Arts ist dies allem Anschein nach ein guter Grund, um Bilanz zu ziehen.
Eric Brown, der Chief Financial Officer von Electronic Arts, gab jetzt im Rahmen einer Konferenz einige interessante Statistiken rund um den Beta-Test bekannt. Demnach haben sich mehr als zwei Millionen Freiwillige für den Test angemeldet. Am langen Thanksgiving-Wochenende (24. bis 27. November 2011) loggten sich mehr als 725.000 Menschen auf die Beta-Server ein, von denen im Durchschnitt jeder zw?lf Stunden innerhalb des besagten Zeitraums spielten. Die maximale Anzahl an gleichzeitig spielenden Testern lag laut Brown bei zirka 250.000.
Die Vorzeichen für Star Wars: The Old Republic kurz vor dem Release am 20. Dezember 2011 stehen somit gut. Sollten die Verkaufszahlen ein ?hnlich hohes Niveau erreichen wie die Anzahl der Beta-Anmeldungen, dürften Electronic Arts und BioWare sicherlich zufrieden sein.
Eric Brown, der Chief Financial Officer von Electronic Arts, gab jetzt im Rahmen einer Konferenz einige interessante Statistiken rund um den Beta-Test bekannt. Demnach haben sich mehr als zwei Millionen Freiwillige für den Test angemeldet. Am langen Thanksgiving-Wochenende (24. bis 27. November 2011) loggten sich mehr als 725.000 Menschen auf die Beta-Server ein, von denen im Durchschnitt jeder zw?lf Stunden innerhalb des besagten Zeitraums spielten. Die maximale Anzahl an gleichzeitig spielenden Testern lag laut Brown bei zirka 250.000.
Die Vorzeichen für Star Wars: The Old Republic kurz vor dem Release am 20. Dezember 2011 stehen somit gut. Sollten die Verkaufszahlen ein ?hnlich hohes Niveau erreichen wie die Anzahl der Beta-Anmeldungen, dürften Electronic Arts und BioWare sicherlich zufrieden sein.
2011年12月4日星期日
Even the rain could not undermine the Rauma artificial atmosphere of the opening of the ice
The thermometer shows plus four. The sky ropisee Wacky rain. Greening up the lawn.
Such, this is often still on the west coast during December.
Yet, Pyynp?? Raumanmeri school and the school between the skates on the ground, dozens of people, a light red face.
Freezing Equipment found plenty of punch, if it is able to hold the ice together
Rauma, a new artificial ice rink brings a whole new dimension to the local ice sports.
- Just a good will is, though a bit sataakin. I'm going to come here once again, but when possible, lock the E-junior player with Rasmus August enthusiasts.
Enthusiastic little among the junior skates a couple of little more leisurely moving adult men. The city council's chairman, Vesa and lock Heino strong influence Rauno Mokkakin hokkarit are dug up.
- I live right there next to you, but without the ice it just because of this built in, Heino says with a laugh.
- City staff worked really hard work for three days, that they were the opening ceremony of the ice shape, Suede says.
Of input subsidy to benefit from the kes?palloilijatkin, artificial ice for the summer because the site is installed artificial turf sand.
New tekoj?? serves mostly common in urban areas, because most of the time of use is free.
Such, this is often still on the west coast during December.
Yet, Pyynp?? Raumanmeri school and the school between the skates on the ground, dozens of people, a light red face.
Freezing Equipment found plenty of punch, if it is able to hold the ice together
Rauma, a new artificial ice rink brings a whole new dimension to the local ice sports.
- Just a good will is, though a bit sataakin. I'm going to come here once again, but when possible, lock the E-junior player with Rasmus August enthusiasts.
Enthusiastic little among the junior skates a couple of little more leisurely moving adult men. The city council's chairman, Vesa and lock Heino strong influence Rauno Mokkakin hokkarit are dug up.
- I live right there next to you, but without the ice it just because of this built in, Heino says with a laugh.
- City staff worked really hard work for three days, that they were the opening ceremony of the ice shape, Suede says.
Of input subsidy to benefit from the kes?palloilijatkin, artificial ice for the summer because the site is installed artificial turf sand.
New tekoj?? serves mostly common in urban areas, because most of the time of use is free.
2011年12月1日星期四
Mind tricks are the lazy way of doing things edition
Recently, I've become enamored of the Bavarian Fire Drill. For those who don't want to click on that link (it's work-safe in the sense that it contains no cursing and not work-safe in the sense that you'll be clicking for hours), it's the art of infiltrating a building by carrying a clipboard and acting like you're supposed to be there. Sure, you could just wave your hand and tell people that these aren't the droids they're looking for, but wouldn't you rather have the chutzpah to just walk around like it wasn't a thing?
That leads very naturally to this week's installment of Ask Massively, in which we discuss whether or not leveling mechanics have worn our their collective welcomes in MMOs.
Kaahn Stewart asked: Do you think it's time to do away with leveling? It seems like the leveling process is becoming more and more trivialized, which makes me wonder why it's even there in the first place. Why not have a game start at endgame and provide players new abilities or skills for running content, rather than grinding needless levels?
Because that's still leveling -- it's just leveling through a different set of criteria.
Some games are certainly trying to do away with the idea of gating things to level whatever -- The Secret World, for instance, has a rather different way of having characters grow and improve over time. But even if you switch new abilities and skills to being locked behind content rather than via reaching some high-water mark of experience points, you still have a situation in which you need to do X in order to learn how to do Y.
In some ways, actually, leveling is a better way to handle things than strict content gating. You need to earn a total number of points to level up, but the game doesn't care how you earn them.
Now, a lot of games have also made it easier to level up, which can be seen as making leveling less relevant. This is really a conscious move, I suspect, since slower leveling just makes gaining levels more tedious rather than more difficult. (Your primary enemy should not be boredom.) It makes it easier for players who want to push up to max level to do precisely that, but it doesn't force players to do so -- you can take your time, explore a bit, and head off the beaten path if you so desire.
Is it time to play around with different ways to gate abilities and progression? Certainly. But leveling itself is still serving its purpose. Sometimes it needs a bit more fine-tuning than it receives, but there's no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
That leads very naturally to this week's installment of Ask Massively, in which we discuss whether or not leveling mechanics have worn our their collective welcomes in MMOs.
Kaahn Stewart asked: Do you think it's time to do away with leveling? It seems like the leveling process is becoming more and more trivialized, which makes me wonder why it's even there in the first place. Why not have a game start at endgame and provide players new abilities or skills for running content, rather than grinding needless levels?
Because that's still leveling -- it's just leveling through a different set of criteria.
Some games are certainly trying to do away with the idea of gating things to level whatever -- The Secret World, for instance, has a rather different way of having characters grow and improve over time. But even if you switch new abilities and skills to being locked behind content rather than via reaching some high-water mark of experience points, you still have a situation in which you need to do X in order to learn how to do Y.
In some ways, actually, leveling is a better way to handle things than strict content gating. You need to earn a total number of points to level up, but the game doesn't care how you earn them.
Now, a lot of games have also made it easier to level up, which can be seen as making leveling less relevant. This is really a conscious move, I suspect, since slower leveling just makes gaining levels more tedious rather than more difficult. (Your primary enemy should not be boredom.) It makes it easier for players who want to push up to max level to do precisely that, but it doesn't force players to do so -- you can take your time, explore a bit, and head off the beaten path if you so desire.
Is it time to play around with different ways to gate abilities and progression? Certainly. But leveling itself is still serving its purpose. Sometimes it needs a bit more fine-tuning than it receives, but there's no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
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