Diablo 3 in a New Light

 

Some of you might have already bored yourself to death after reaching level 60 in Diablo 3 with your characters, and some of you might have already quit. It’s demoralizing to play through hours without getting any awesome drops and spending tens of thousands on repairs from your piggybank.  Blizzard knows and they listened.

They changed all that through the release of Patch 1.0.4. There are now one hundred extra levels, up to 300% permanent MF & GF, and badass legendary improvements.  This move will surely bring some folks back who lost their enthusiasm in the game, at least this it brought me back! I’m currently using a DH at level 60 paragon 7 with semi-tank/cannon built. What characters do you use and what do you guys think about the new system? Is it worth it? Or do you think the change is still not good enough?

 

Shin F

Product

 

Getting back into the game!

It’s sad to admit that I haven’t played games in a very long time! With all the traveling I do for events and multiple odd jobs I work here and there, I’ve found that I haven’t had much time to sit down for a good gaming session. However, I definitely want to change that! Especially since Guild Wars 2 launches in just a few hours :)

Before my schedule got really hectic, I used to do more streaming on Twitch.tv and scrimming. I’ve been itching to get back into live-streaming so I can game with everyone again! I’m going to be much more proactive with my gaming channels and I’d love to game with some of you guys once I re-launch them! I find it very enjoyable when you can play a game with others even though it’s not multiplayer, which is why I think people who stream or make YouTube videos are awesome. I’d love to hear your opinions about what you think about live-streaming and YouTube. What do you guys prefer and who are your favorite internet personalities?

Join me for some gaming at Twitch.tv or Youtube

Kitty Mach

Marketing Department

My Unnecessary Upgrade

To /r/buildapc readers, this may be slightly repetitive, for that I apologize.

My personal computer recently underwent a massive upgrade. After over 3 years of trust service I gave my Nehalem build the boot. It has served me well and to be honest, it really did not need upgrading, it ran everything well and I expected to see little to no gains in performance. I had gotten the chip as a gift and decided to splurge a bit on the motherboard and picked up the Sabertooth X79, living near Fry’s is awesome. Thanks to the relatively stagnant developments expansion standards everything else carried over, in over the last few months I had already made major upgrades in the GPU, RAM, case, CPU cooler, SSD, and all the peripherals (full specs below). The carryover was a breeze, I expected to only be using 4 sticks of memory, but the motherboard explicitly stated 6 were fine and I even got to keep all 24 GB of RAM. The only close call was the Havik140, the RAM slots were significantly closer to the CPU socket and the Havik was not going to fit horizontally, which wasn’t an issue for me as I previously had it mounted vertically.

Took a day to get everything completely reinstalled, first thing I did was set the one touch overclock to 4.3ghz (awesome feature), did a burn-in with LinX and temps all were under 65, I was very impressed. I then ran BF3 on a 64 player full server, FPS floated between 50-80 with ultra-settings and maxed AA; this was not any noticeable improvement over my i7 920. Despite proving my assumptions correct, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed in my new hardware, this was essentially a $900 upgrade on old hardware and my gaming experience was exactly the same. In my disappointment I turned to work for comfort (like most of us do) and fired up Solidworks. Generally the files I work with are rather large with a lot of parts and rendering can take a while. I decided to give rendering a spin on a case and to my surprise it was at least 4 times faster! It may not have justified the upgrade but my tech addiction had been appeased and I was reinvigorated, not to mention it runs Minecraft like nobody’s business.

To recap, anyone with a quad core Nehalem, using it for anything short of raw calculation or rendering should feel no reason to upgrade to anything right now, you got a great deal on a CPU with a fantastic lifecycle, enjoy it and don’t be envious of 3770’s.

PS: OCZ Power supply is the next thing to get the boot.

-Rob Teller
NZXT. Product Development

Full Image Album: http://imgur.com/a/ekqTz

Type Item Price
CPU Intel Core i7-3930K 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor
Free
CPU Cooler NZXT HAVIK-140 90.3 CFM CPU Cooler
Preproduction Sample
Motherboard Asus Sabertooth X79 ATX LGA2011 Motherboard
$314.99 @ Fry’s
Memory Patriot Viper II Sector 7 Edition 24GB (6 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
$94.99 @ Fry’s
Hard Drive Kingston HyperX 120GB 2.5″ Solid State Disk
$109.99 @ Amazon
Hard Drive Western Digital Caviar Green 500GB 3.5″ 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive
$49.99 @ BestBuy
Hard Drive Samsung Spinpoint F4 2TB 3.5″ 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive
$69.99 @ Newegg
Hard Drive Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5″ 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
$49.99 @ Newegg
Video Card EVGA GeForce GTX 680 2GB Video Card
$499.99 @ Undisclosed
Case NZXT Switch 810 Full Tower Case
Preproduction Sample
Power Supply OCZ 700W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply
$59.99 @ Microcenter
Fan Controller NZXT Sentry Mix
Preproduction Sample
Monitor Asus VS247H-P 23.6″ Monitor
$174.99 @ Undisclosed
Monitor TCL LE40FHDP21TA 40in LED TV
$399.99 @ Walmart
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (64-bit)
Free @ Intel Retail Edge
Keyboard Corsair Vengeance K90 Wired Gaming Keyboard
$99.99 @ Fry’s
Mouse Logitech Performance Wireless Laser Mouse
$64.99 @ Logitech
Fan NZXT FN-140 x 7
Samples
Fan Noctua NF-P14
Sample
Card Reader NZXT Aperture M
Preproduction Sample
LEDs NZXT Hue
Preproduction Sample
Sleeved Cables NZXT Premium Cable Starter Kit
Preproduction Sample

Happy Wheels is Violently Addicting

There’s just something about the blood and gore  from insane decapitations in Jim Bonacchi’s Happy Wheels that makes this game super addicting. I just can’t get enough  of Irresponsible Dad, which is my favorite character to choose from in every level. It’s also amazing how much time and effort some players put into creating their own custom levels. Each time I’m blown away by a great map, I make sure to return the favor by rating 5 stars and leaving a comment. My all time favorite game mode is the Sword/Ball Throw, rope swing, and impossible level courses. You guys should definitely try those map types out when you get a chance! Happy Wheels is certainly the go-to game when you only have a few minutes to play. There were a few levels I highly recommend: Toilet Adventures, Pokemon Gym, and Wipeout map. Check those levels out if you’re interested!

Wishing I was at #SDCC,

-Irene P.
Marketing Department

Thanks to all the Modders

Today, me and couple good friends are going to LAN and try out one of the most popular mods for Minecraft – Survival Games 2. Basically it takes the concept from the book Hunger games and applies it to the Minecraft world, survival + massive killing. It always amazes me how much time the community of PC gaming is able to take a game and take it way beyond what the developers originally envisioned it. This is the same as the community of amazing modders who take NZXT’s products and take it to a completely different level. So I salute you, modders of hardware and software, for keeping the innovation going beyond what anyone has ever imagined.

Shoutout to MBO for his Mass Effect 3 Switch 810 Mod :)

- Johnny Hou, Founder

Birth of a Nephalem

As a follow up to my previous blog, I’ve decided to play Diablo 3. It’s exactly what I expected of the game. There wasn’t anything that lowered or raised the expectations to a point of being a Frisbee or an addiction that messes with my current lifestyle. This makes it a well worth purchase.

This is by far the most popular game at the workplace. There has been constant chattering about Diablo 3. It ranges from what level, items, progress, etc. These guys are very enthusiastic about the game. They would even talk to coworkers who don’t play pc games. I didn’t play until maybe a month after the release, but I’ve had multiple people from work and off work trying to persuade me to play.

Enough about my thoughts of the game and lets go into my current status in D3.

Level 60 Witch Doctor
59k Health
400+ to All Resistance
15k DPS (40k damage per Zombie Bear)
Act 2 Inferno

Level 38 Barbarian
8k Health
Resistance not important at the moment
800 DPS
Act 2 Nightmare

300k Gold

From my experience, I can solo all the way past Act 1 Inferno. Act 2 Inferno is no joke; it’s ridiculously hard. Don’t laugh at the amount of gold I have. I like buying gear from the Auction House.

Va T.
-Product Team

Lovin’ my new Alienware

This week I made a purchase I never expected to ever make. I bought an Alienware…

As a kid I had pined for an Alienware, then it was for Voodoo, and by the time I had enough income to support that kind of purchase, it no longer made any sense. Alienware’s business is completely built on image and marketing and it has worked very well for them, but in the end, the customer is only paying the premium for that and to different people that can have a very polarizing effect. Most notably to the people who would consume our products, I am fairly confident that the majority of you reading this were ready to hear a sob story about how I wasted my money…

I absolutely love my new Alienware. Granted, there are two caveats. The first is that it was a notebook, not a desktop and my other alternatives were generics. The second was that it was heavily discounted.

I was previously using a Compal JHL90 with a Core 2 Duo and 9600M GT video card. It had been a trooper, but my many accidents and time took quite the toll on it. The Bluetooth, webcam, female power connector, power brick, hard drive, optical drive, battery and speakers have all broken at some point with most remaining unfixed. Next Monday I will be traveling to Taiwan for CES for two weeks and was not confident it would be able to sustain my usage any more so I set out for deals. Mother’s Day weekend arrived with just what I was looking for. I picked up the Alienware M14X R2 with a 3610QM, 6gb DDR3, GT 650M 1gb, 500gb 7200RPM drive, and an upgraded screen for $650 out the door. Arguably this was the best deal I have ever gotten on a new computer.

I really wasn’t expecting to be impressed by anything other than the specs of the components, but once it was in my hands, my perception began to change. The exterior was covered an a fairly scratch resistant rubber coating, Windows included no bloatware, the power saving options were immense, the LEDs were really fun and neat especially when I loaded up Battlefield 3 and they synced with my health without any configuration, speakers sounded fantastic, the BIOs allowed plenty of options and overclocking control and was preconfigured for RAID which made adding my MSATA cache drive a breeze, and the CPU and GPU had discreet cooling systems which kept the laptop at comfortable temps while gaming. A lot of what makes the M14X different from its competitors are aesthetic features, but it is no slouch and does a great job of not sacrificing performance for beauty.

Admittedly, I would not have bought this laptop without such a deep discount and many of the features it provides are available on other laptops, however my experience has been fantastic thus far. It may have superfluous features but in no way does that make it a lesser product and after my time with it I can’t even say that I would be unhappy with the laptop had I paid $1,000 for it. Will my next desktop be an Alienware? LOL, no. I still dislike that I can’t compile my own laptop out of individual parts, and there is no getting around the fact that Alienware is charging for things no one needs in a computer which in return just makes it harder to justify the purchase. The end of the day Alienware is still doing things no one else is doing, they aren’t revolutionary, but they are still unique and I like my laptop.

-Rob Teller
Product Development

A Reason to Build Again

Diablo III’s release is just around the corner. It seems as though we’ve been waiting a lifetime for this blockbuster title to emerge. Now we can all rejoice as it will be here in less than 2 weeks. BUT – I’m more looking forward to Guild Wars 2’s release. I had a chance to participate in beta last weekend. It was a great experience as 8 hours flashed by in the blink of an eye.

What really caught my eye was how fluid the combat system was as I slay my foes in close combat. Nothing is more epic than running around as an Elementalist, kiting mobs and casting spells without having to worry about breaking spell interruptions due to movement. This already 1UPs World of Warcraft Vanilla days (the only time when WoW was the best game I’ve ever played). With that in mind, GW2 gives me a solid reason to build again. It’s been 4 years since I last upgraded my PC. The long haul has made me feel less inclined to want to experience any awesome games on my rig because it has become dated in terms of performance. But now I can finally breathe life back into my PC by gathering together high-end components for my next build (YES, I’m going all out because really that’s the only way to build). I’m also stoked for The Elder Scrolls Online. It’s going to be a memorable experience to spam FUS RO DAH on party members! Can’t wait to try out D3 on not one, or two, but THREE GTX 680 GPU’s ;)

It’s GO TIME!

Irene P.
Marketing Department

A Matter of Life and Death

As many of you may know, 2012 will hold the release of Diablo 3, Torchlight 2, and Guild Wars 2.  All three of these games peak my interest, but one does not simply commit to all three.  Here are the PROs of each.

Diablo 3 – Action Role Playing Game

1. This is the most anticipated of the three globally.
2. Played Diablo 1 and 2 so I can familiarize myself with the third release.
3. Can sell items legally and possibly make back what I spent for the game.
4. Most of my friends will be playing.

Torchlight 2 – Action Role Playing Game

1. Gameplay is simpler than Diablo 3.
2. Played Torchlight 1 and found it really enjoyable.
3. Now has multiplayer which I wanted when I was playing the first release.
4. I found the items to be much more diverse.

Guild Wars 2 – Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game

1. I really like MMORPGs.
2. Enjoy the fact that I have more control of my character.
3. Prefer the excitement of group battles.
4. MMORPG PvP is better than Action Role Playing Game.

My fellow gamers, if you have comments to help me make this decision, feel free to express yourself.

 

 

Va T.
Product Team

App Recommendations From an iOS Junkie

As some of you may know, I’m hooked on iOS apps – especially games. Most days at the office, I spend my lunch playing while eating with fellow teammates. So I decided to take this time to blog a mini review of the top games I’ve played and currently playing. Though I should tell you readers right now, I prefer games that that I can easily put down and continue later; ‘cause you know, I don’t have a problem… so I haven’t really gotten into any RPG games… don’t judge me.

 

1. TripleTown (free)

When I started this game, I just couldn’t put it down for a month and a half straight. It’s a puzzle match-three game; where you match three of the same item adjacent to each other and it upgrades to the next item up (3 grass = bush, 3 bush = tree, 3 tree = hut, etc). The strategy is getting the next item to line up with the other matching items to upgrade. What I like about it is, every new game you start is a different map and the next item you get is unpredictable. It’s fun and refreshing.

2. Tiny Wings ($0.99)

Help the chubby bird by tap and hold down hills to give him momentum to fly (release when uphill). There are many objectives in the game to achieve the next ‘Nest’. I’ve made it to the 9th nest and can’t seem to get 5 perfect landing after each island jump; the task is rather frustrating, yet, addictive.

3. Temple Run (free)

Need a quick game to keep you occupied? This is the game to go to. A high-score Indiana Jones inspired theme. Your character is running from angry monkeys while dodging obstacles with a swipe or tilt on the device. Bored of beating your own high-score? There are mini objectives you can beat too, such as “run 2,500 meters without tripping” or “collect 500 coins”. My stats: Highest score 2,129,505. Longest run: 10,196m. Most coins: 3,816.

4. Fruit Ninja ($0.99)

Can’t stand fruits? Neither can I. So I enjoy slicing those suckers up every chance I get. A good feature on this game is the multiplayer option, where you can battle your friends on who hates fruits more. My highest score on Arcade Mode is 1,068.

5. Where’s My Water? ($0.99)

All this gator wants to do is take a nice shower with clean water. Get the water to Swampy by swiping around obstacles such as: poison, sludge, and other things. For $0.99 this app is constantly updating with new levels to unlock (currently 160 levels). My goal is to always get 3 rubber duckies before moving on.

6. Scramble With Friends (free)

Exercise your brain and expand your vocabulary with the multiplayer game. Swipe and drag vertically or diagonally to form words and use power ups to buy yourself more time or hints. The trick to doing well in this game is to focus on an area and get all the words you can out of it, if there’s an ‘S’, double your points by making it plural!

7. Draw Something (free)

How could I not like this game, it’s DRAWING! When I started I had limited friends playing so it was pretty easy to keep up. Now I have 30+ games going and it has become quite a task to knock them down. But some of the drawings I get can be pretty epic… like watching a 3yr old drawing done by a 30yr old. Oh, and what makes this app awesome is that it’s cross-platform! Androids and Apples UNITE! (don’t kill me for saying that…)

8. World of Goo HD ($4.99) or non HD ($2.99)

An excellent puzzle game where you drag and drop globs of goo to build structures to get to the pipe; the design of the game is dark and strange but the levels can be challenging.

9. Diner Dash/Hotel Dash/ Supermarket Mania ($2.99)

I’m kind of a sucker for time-management games. The tasks can be repetitive, but the thrill is to not piss off any of the “customers” and finish each level with Expert. I’ve finished all of these.

10. Sims Free Play (free)

I can’t have a mini game review without mentioning Sims. I’ve played several of The Sims app games and on Nintendo DS. They do not come close to the PC version in any way, shape, or form – just of bunch of meaningless repetitive tasks. But Sims Free Play exceeds any of those apps on so many levels. You have TOTAL control over customizing your Sims and their homes, yes, plural SIMS AND HOMES. You can create a whole town AND have pets! There are goals to achieve and traits to give your Sim more character. Though this is an app game, it still has its limitations compared to the PC version, but this is what the original Sims app games SHOULD have been. Did I mention it’s FREE?

So there goes my top 10 (in no particular order). I am not a professional reviewer in any way, just an average Jane who enjoys casual gaming. I hope some of you out there found this helpful, and if you play any of the games listed above, share your thoughts. If you have games you would like to recommend me, I’ll be happy to try them.

Signing off,

Tina
Lead Graphic Designer