gaming

Leaked screenshots of Lenovo Legion Gaming Phone shows a new take on the pop-up camera design




gaming

Case Study: Deliveing an immersive gaming experience for Intel based hybrid devices

  Abstract Tencent wanted to give gamers the best experience on Intel® Ultrabook™ and 2 in 1 systems. Legend of Xuan Yuan was already a successful game, but these systems provided Tencent w...




gaming

Building a gaming PC under Rs. 1 lac

In the world of PC gaming, the bigger the budget, better are the components, which ultimately leads to better gaming experience. We have already created gaming PCs for Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 70,000, so the next step would be to jump to a budget of Rs. 1 lac, and that is exactly what we did. Here are the components you should buy, when building a gaming PC under Rs. 1,00,000.




gaming

Experiencing 4K HDR gaming at the India Gaming Show! | Digit.in

At the India gaming show 2019, Digit wanted to give gamers the ultimate 4K gaming experience. For this, we took the most powerful gaming machines money can buy. We had a PS4 Pro and an Xbox One X connected to 4K HDR TVs to show gamers the potential of gaming consoles.




gaming

Asus Indias Arnold Su talks about the delayed Zephyrus G14 and other upcoming gaming laptops




gaming

Mediatek’s new flagship Dimensity 1000+ chipset features impressive gaming and battery optimizations

When it comes to flagship chipsets for Android phones, Qualcomm is typically regarded as being the top contender with its 800-series processors. That being said, MediaTek has been playing an incredible catchup game as of late with the Dimensity 1000 in late 2019 which put it within a striking range of the new Snapdragon 865 ...




gaming

Woah! Reliance, Facebook Making A Super-App For Shopping, Gaming, Social Media, Tickets!

Reliance Industries and Facebook are exploring the possibility of creating a multipurpose app, said four people in the know of the matter. Read to know more… What is the Fuss About? As per reports on March 24, Facebook was eyeing a multibillion-dollar stake in Reliance Jio. The report said Facebook could pick up 10% in […]

The post Woah! Reliance, Facebook Making A Super-App For Shopping, Gaming, Social Media, Tickets! first appeared on Trak.in . Trak.in Mobile Apps: Android | iOS.




gaming

Hacker Builds An iPad For Nintendo Gaming




gaming

10 of the best gaming PCs: Why we love Corsair, Lenovo, Dell, and more

BEST DEALS ON GAMING PCS:


The popularity of gaming PCs has exploded in recent years. Sure, there are plenty of people who won’t abandoned their beloved consoles. But a large number of gaming enthusiasts have been shifting their attention. And with good reason. 

For starters, the games are cheaper and the breadth available is truly astounding. After all, console exclusives are (mostly) a thing of the past. You can use your PC to play the latest strategy and simulation games as well as the top offerings in eSports and first person shooters. Additionally, thanks to the PC’s open platform, you also have access to a wide array of wildly inventive independent games. No matter your penchant and preferences, you’re always guaranteed to find something that matches your mood, skill and desires. Read more...

More about Tech, Gaming, Computers, Pcs, and Mashable Shopping
IMAGE: Best Buy

BEST QUIET PERFORMANCE

Corsair One Pro

If you’re tight on space but crave the HD and 4K power of a larger machine, consider the Corsair.

  • Processor Speed: 4.2 GHz
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 960 GB
$2,300 from Best Buy

IMAGE: iBuyPower

BEST DESIGN

iBuyPower Snowblind

  • Processor: 3.7 GHz
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
$1,299 from iBuyPower

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST VALUE

CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme

Runs great right out of the gate but can also be upgraded at a future date.

  • Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
$779 from Amazon

IMAGE: Lenovo

BEST PORTABILITY

Lenovo Legion C530 Cube

  • Processor Speed: Up to 4.60 GHz
  • RAM : Up to 16GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
$819.99 from Lenovo

IMAGE: Walmart

BEST FOR THE NEW GAMER

Acer Aspire Gaming Desktop GX-281

Great brand with even greater support.

  • Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 1000 GB
$820.33 from Walmart

IMAGE: Dell

BEST BUDGET PICK

Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop 5680

  • Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 1.25 TB
$649.99 from Dell

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST GRAPHICS

CyberPowerPC Gamer Panzer

  • Processor Speed:: 3.8 GHz
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 2048 GB
$3,177 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST UPGRADABILITY

Alienware Aurora R7

If you're in the market for a gaming PC with impressive accessibility and function, the Alienware Aurora R7 is a solid choice. Its tool-less design allows for upgrades to ensure a future-proof system.

  • Processor Speed: 4.6 GHz
  • RAM: 64 GB
  • Storage: 2 TB
$1 from Amazon

IMAGE: Best Buy

BEST PERSONALIZATION

OMEN Obelisk by HP

The OMEN Obelisk by HP provides a smooth gaming experience, customizable features, and an impressive amount of storage.

  • Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
  • RAM: 32 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
$1 from Best Buy

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST STYLISH BUDGET-FRIENDLY PC

SkyTech Blaze II

Coming through with a light-up LED design and an impressive amount of RAM, the SkyTech Blaze II is a solid pre-built option.

  • Processor speed : 3.9 GHz
  • Processor Speed: 3.9 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 1 TB
$749.99 from Amazon




gaming

Level up: The best laptops to boost your gaming experience

BEST DEALS ON GAMING LAPTOPS:


It's time to level up.

If you didn't already know, PC gamers take great pride in the way they play. These are the folks who delight in the fact that PC gaming is just so much better than playing on a console, and if this Reddit thread is any indication — this way of thinking isn't going away any time soon.

While it can take a year or two for gaming consoles to adapt to updated technology, PCs see that improvement hit almost instantly. New rigs and laptops hit the market faster, as opposed to consoles that make you wait for months until their release.  Read more...

More about Laptops, Pc Gaming, Gaming Laptops, Mashable Shopping, and Tech
IMAGE: Walmart

BEST CHOICE OVERALL

MSI GP63 Leopard

A dependable graphics card, excellent speeds, and a lightweight build make this the complete package.

  • Processor: Intel Core i7-8750
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
  • Storage: 1TB HDD + 256GB SSD
  • Weight: 4.8 lbs
$1 from Walmart

IMAGE: Walmart

BEST FOR VR AND VIDEO QUALITY

MSI GT75 Titan 4K-071

While it carries a hefty price tag, the MSI GT75 Titan is everything you could want out of a gaming laptop, down to VR and 4K.

  • Processor: Intel Core i9-8950HK
  • RAM: 32GB
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB
  • Storage: 1TB HDD + 1TB SDD
  • Weight: 10.05 lbs
$120.93 from Walmart

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR GAMERS ON A BUDGET

Dell Gaming Laptop G5587

While you may not have $2000 to drop on some higher performance gaming laptop, you can still get reliable gaming performance with the Dell Gaming Laptop G5587.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8300
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
  • Storage: 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
  • Weight: 6.28 lbs
$1 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR POWER IN A SLIM DESIGN

ASUS ROG Zephyrus M

ASUS offers the best of both worlds with a slim and light gaming laptop that doesn't skimp on the power under the hood.

  • Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB
  • Storage: 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD
  • Weight: 5.4 lbs
$1 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR NEW GAMERS

Acer Nitro 5

If you're new to PC gaming, the Acer Nitro 5 delivers a reliable laptop at a reasonable price.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-7300HQ
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
  • Storage: 256GB SSD
  • Weight: 2.65 lbs
$749.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR TRADITIONAL/HARDCORE GAMERS

Acer Predator Triton 700

Hardcore gamers expect power out of their platform of choice, and Acer delivers on that power with the Predator Triton 700 laptop.

  • Processor: Intel Core i7-7700HQ
  • RAM: 32GB
  • Graphics Card: GeForce GTX 1080
  • Storage: 512GB SSD
  • Weight: 5.4 lbs
$1 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR BUDGET VR

Alienware 15

Alienware is one of the most recognized names in PC gaming, and the Alienware 15 lives up to that namesake, even delivering a reliable VR laptop.

  • Processor: Intel Core i7-7700HQ
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
  • Storage: 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD
  • Weight: 8 lbs
$1 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR PERFORMANCE

MSI GS65 Stealth THIN-051

This is one of the thinnest laptops built for intense gaming on-the-go.

  • Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H 6 Core
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Weight: 4.14 lbs
$1,282 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR SLEEK DESIGN

Razer Blade 15

Think of this as the Apple MacBook Pro of gaming laptops.

  • Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H 6 Core
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q
  • Storage: 512GB SSD
  • Weight: 4.56 lbs
$1 from Amazon




gaming

6 of the best gaming laptops that cost less than $1,000

BEST DEALS ON GAMING LAPTOPS:


My first gaming laptop cost $1,500 more than 10 years ago, and that was considered affordable. It wasn't a top-of-the-line model, but it wasn't a slouch either, sporting one of the better mid-tier graphics cards and a reliable processor/RAM combination.  

But my, how things have changed.

Today, you can go on Amazon and find plenty of laptops for less than $1,000 that would have been at least $1,500 a few years ago, thus opening doors to people who want to try out PC gaming for themselves. (And if it's Prime Day or Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you can expect deal prices to dip even lower.) But sorting through all of the options and deciding which is best presents its own unique challenge. Read more...

More about Gaming, Laptop, Mashable Shopping, Tech, and Gaming
IMAGE: Amazon

OUR TOP PICK

Lenovo Legion Y520

Lenovo balances price and power to deliver a well-rounded gaming laptop that can handle most of what the average gamer can throw at it.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-7300HQ
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
  • Storage: 256GB SSD
  • Screen: 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) LED-lit
$999.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR A BUDGET

Asus TUF Gaming FX504

The Asus TUF Gaming FX504 offers reliable performance without breaking the bank for gamers on a budget.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8300H
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GTX 1050 2GB
  • Storage: 1TB FireCuda SSHD
  • Screen: 15.6” Full HD
$999.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST POWER FOR THE PRICE

Dell G5 Gaming Laptop

With plenty of graphical power for an affordable price, the Dell G5 gaming laptop is proof that price doesn't have to lock out performance.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8300H
  • RAM: 8GB(up to 32GB)
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
  • Storage: 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD
  • Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display
$937 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR NEW GAMERS

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Gaming Edition 5577

If you're new to the gaming scene and looking for a good place to start, the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is a great pick.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-7300HQ
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 4GB GDDR5 VRAM
  • Storage: 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD
  • Screen: 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) anti-glare LED-backlit
$749 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST MULTI-PURPOSE LAPTOP

Acer Aspire 7

With the Acer Aspire 7, you'll be ready for anything life or gaming has to throw at you.

  • Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
  • Storage: 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD
  • Screen: 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display
$839.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST NAME BRAND LAPTOP

OMEN by HP 15.6" Gaming Laptop

HP integrates its trusted brand design with plenty of power in the Omen 15.6" gaming laptop.

  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8300H
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with dedicated 4 GB GDDR5
  • Storage: 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD
  • Screen: 15.6" diagonal FHD IPS BrightView micro-edge WLED-backlit
$929 from Amazon




gaming

Dentons advises Bragg Gaming on the sale of its online media division to SN&CK Media

Dentons has advised TSXV listed Bragg Gaming Group Inc., a next generation gaming group, on the sale of its online media division to SN&CK Media Limited. The sale follows a strategic review initiated by CEO, Dominic Mansour, and will allow Bragg to focus its efforts and resources on Oryx,  the group's rapidly growing B2B online gaming business.




gaming

JBL® Elevates the Gaming Experience with the Launch of the JBL Quantum Range at CES 2020

CES 2020 – LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 6, 2020 – When it comes to competitive gaming, sound is survival – and JBL knows great sound. Today at CES, the company unveiled the first-ever JBL headset range and PC speaker designed exclusively for gamers, featuring...




gaming

JBL Celebrates 100 Million Headphones Sold while Announcing its entry into the Gaming Category

CES 2020, LAS VEGAS – JANUARY 6, 2020 – HARMAN International Industries, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., focused on connected technologies for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, is announcing its entry into the gaming...




gaming

When JBL Entered Gaming: Q&A with HARMAN’s Alfredo Fernandez Franco

Every sound makes a difference. This is of particular importance while playing today’s technology-powered and immersive video games. Since its inception, JBL has introduced countless innovative audio solutions that unlock unforgettable experiences....




gaming

JBL Quantum Announced as Official Global Gaming Headset Partner of 100 Thieves

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – APRIL 28, 2020 – Following the award-winning debut of the JBL Quantum Range gaming headsets earlier this year, today JBL continues to elevate the gaming space by teaming up with lifestyle power brand and leading esports organization...




gaming

JBL Quantum One Gaming Headset Review




gaming

GTA 6 release date: Rockstar debate splits opinion of gaming's trusted insiders



A public disagreement between a trusted games journalist and the GTA community is showing Rockstar just how eager people are for a GTA 6 announcement





gaming

I’m Gaming My Way Through Quarantine — and That’s Nothing to Feel Guilty About

Video games can fill the productivity and social void in this unusual time




gaming

Facebook’s new Gaming app launches on Android, with iOS version coming soon

Facebook’s dedicated Gaming app is now live on Android, months before its planned June release. The social media giant pushed the app out two months prior to its scheduled unveiling amid a global pandemic that’s left people all over the world isolated at home, rapidly burning through entertainment options. The New York Times announced the […]




gaming

Disruptor Beam relaunches as gaming infrastructure-maker Beamable

Disruptor Beam, the mobile gaming startup behind Star Trek Timelines, has a new name and a new business. It’s now calling itself Beamable, and it’s selling a set of tools to help game developers add commerce and social functionality to their titles. The company’s direction became clear earlier this year when it sold Timelines to […]




gaming

5 top gaming investors explain how the pandemic is reshaping MMOs and social games

Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced millions into isolation, video games are seeing a surge in usage as people seek entertainment and social interaction. When we surveyed gaming-focused VCs in October, Andreessen Horowitz partner Jonathan Lai predicted that “next-generation games will be bigger than anything we’ve seen yet,” eventually reaching “Facebook scale.” This month, […]




gaming

Guilded raises $7 million for its competitive gaming-focused chat app

Gaming platforms have earned serious clout with investors in recent years. Add in the VC excitement surrounding collaboration tools and it’s no surprised there’s interest in backing another gaming chat app. Guilded is creating a chat platform designed for competitive gaming and esports that focuses heavily on keeping gamers organized and connected with their teams. […]




gaming

VCs see opportunities for gaming infrastructure startups and incumbents

As the infrastructure for developing games becomes more advanced, studios have turned to buying best-in-class technology from others instead of building everything from scratch (often with inferior quality). This shift underpinned Unity’s rise as the most popular game engine. The current focus on games as ever-evolving social hubs that can remain popular for a decade […]




gaming

The Best Phone Controllers for Serious Mobile Gaming

If you're always gaming on the go with your smartphone, you'll definitely want the best phone controller.




gaming

Get Comfortable and Play for Hours and Hours on These Gaming Chairs

From pure, racing-style gaming chairs to rockers and recliners, we've got the bet gaming chairs to fit your seating needs.




gaming

'Call of Duty: Warzone' sets its sights on battle royale gaming

Free-to-play online games like "Fortnite" will earn about $88 billion globally in 2020, as Activision's new "Call of Duty" enters the mix.

      




gaming

What does Clash of Clans maker’s $10 billion sale say about the future of gaming?

Developer says it has over 100 million daily players for 4 games, including Clash.




gaming

Despite backlash, loot boxes could be essential to gaming’s future

Analysis sees loot box spending ballooning 62 percent, to $47 billion, by 2022.




gaming

Paul Pogba and Ousmane Dembele join Antoine Griezmann gaming marathon for Red Cross coronavirus appeal

Barcelona star Antoine Griezmann has raised almost €30,000 for the Red Cross after enlisting the help of French teammates Paul Pogba and Ousmane Dembele for a gaming marathon.




gaming

ASUS adds new Intel chips to its Zephyrus gaming laptops

ASUS has refreshed its line of gaming laptops with new 10th Generation Intel Core processors, NVIDIA RTX 2070/2080 Super graphics and a bunch of other features designed to make gaming and content creation slicker and smoother. First up, the new Zephyrus S17 (pictured), which comes with a 17.3-inch display with super narrow bezels in an 18.7-millimeter-thin chassis. A 300 Hz refresh rate and 3ms grey-to-grey response time means the display is lightning fast, and it comes with Pantone-validated color accuracy as well.




gaming

Acer gaming laptops add RTX Super graphics and 10th-gen Intel CPUs

Acer is joining a flurry of PC makers in adopting the next wave of NVIDIA and Intel chips inside its laptops. It's updating its 15.6-inch Predator Triton 500 (above) and Nitro 5 (below) gaming portables to use NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX Super laptop GPUs as well as Intel's 10th-generation Core H-series processors. As you might guess, the premium Predator series is the highlight. It comes with up to a GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q to deliver speedier and more efficient graphics, and mates that with a 300Hz, 3ms response IPS display and per-key RGB keyboard lighting.




gaming

ASUS' ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 is a gaming laptop with a built-in second screen

ASUS has been pushing laptops with second screens for a couple of years now, but it's still searching for a winning formula. Last year's ZenBook Pro Duo pushed the keyboard down to the edge of the laptop's body, with the rest of the surface housing a second screen. The problem with that configuration was an awkwardly placed trackpad. But, you know who cares less about trackpad placement? Gamers. Hence, almost a year later, the company's Republic Of Gamers (ROG) division has its own spin on the concept: the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15.




gaming

Lenovo's latest gaming laptops pack more efficient NVIDIA graphics

Lenovo is leaping quickly on the latest NVIDIA and Intel technology for its gaming laptops. It's introducing Legion 5i and Legion 7i portables (successors to the Y540 and Y740 respectively) that, most notably, are among the first to use NVIDIA's Advanced Optimus graphics switching. The tech both lowers power consumption in less-intensive moments and ramps up performance in GPU-heavy situations, theoretically giving you added battery life and higher frame rates in the same package. The Legion 7i also touts the option of new GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q graphics if you insist on the best possible visuals.




gaming

The forgotten dream of second-screen gaming

The original iPad came out on April 3rd, 2010, at a time when most smartphone manufacturers were making the awkward transition from full QWERTY keyboards to touchscreen-only devices. Apple sold 1 million iPads in that first month, and by the end of 2010, that figure had climbed to 15 million.

That same year, the top video games were Fallout: New Vegas, Bayonetta, Red Dead Redemption, Super Meat Boy and StarCraft II. The alpha version of Minecraft was generating some slight buzz.




gaming

Coronavirus cancels E3 convention, leaving a hole in L.A.'s gaming community

Canceled Wednesday, this year's E3 was particularly anticipated because new consoles from Sony and Microsoft are due to be released by the end of the year.




gaming

Off the charts: Online gaming hitting huge numbers during pandemic

With stay-at-home restrictions in place across Australia, online gaming is set to take a big step towards mainstream adoption.




gaming

What Microsoft's Xbox Series X preview does and doesn't tell us about the future of gaming

Coronavirus muted the hype of Microsoft's Xbox Series X reveal. But there was "Assassin's Creed Valhalla" excitement and a "Madden NFL 21" end run.




gaming

Super League Gaming Secures $5,000,000 Series C Funding

Super League Gaming is the world's first recreational video game league in a cool movie theater. Every week gamers bring a laptop and friends to a nearby Regal, AMC, Cinemark or iPic. Super League creates the best entertaining gameplay experience - ever.




gaming

Two Individuals Indicted for Trafficking Counterfeit Gaming Machines and Computer Programs

Rodolfo Rodriguez Cabrera, 43, a Cuban national, and Henry Mantilla, 35, of Cape Coral, Fla., have been charged in a scheme to produce and sell counterfeit International Game Technology (IGT)-brand video gaming machines, commonly known as slot machines, and counterfeit IGT computer programs.



  • OPA Press Releases

gaming

Gamer Charged with Hacking into and Disabling New Hampshire Gaming Company’s Computer Servers

Anil Kheda, 24, of the Netherlands, is charged with one count of conspiring to commit computer intrusion and one count of making extortionate interstate threats.



  • OPA Press Releases

gaming

Fifty-Seven Charged with Operating Illegal Online Sports Gaming Business

Thirty-four individuals and 23 entities have been indicted and accused of operating an illegal sports bookmaking business that solicited more than $1 billion in illegal bets.



  • OPA Press Releases

gaming

Live Free. Couch Hard.: Totino's Pizza Rollsâ„¢ Unveils First-Ever 'Bucking Couch' to Deliver the Ultimate Gaming Experience Before the Big Game - Brad Hiranga Interview

Brad Hiranga, General Mills Business Unit Director, Pizza and Tacos Business Unit discusses the Bucking Couch and Bucking Couch Bowl.






gaming

Watch out Macau, this may be the next gaming hub

Can South Korea's first foreign-owned casino give casino hotspots like Vegas and Macau a run for their money? CNBC's Julia Wood, Susan Li and Bernie Lo discuss.




gaming

How to build a gaming PC for 2020, part two: choosing a mouse, keyboard and monitor

You’ve bought the perfect PC – now you need to complete your setup to get the best from your games. Here are our suggestions

When you’re buying a new gaming PC from scratch, the machine itself is only part of the picture. To get the very best out of the most demanding modern games, you’ll need the rest of your setup to be working hard too – especially if you ever want to win at Call of Duty: Warzone.

Here then, are our picks for the best gaming monitors, keyboards and mice. Helping me to make the selection are Alan Dexter, senior hardware editor at PC Gamer, Chris Wilson, design director at Cardboard Sword, Al Bickham, communications manager at Creative Assembly, and Nic Claassen, head of product business at Acer UK.

Continue reading...




gaming

India against the world: The future of gaming in the country

Representational picture

In India, gaming is considered as a hobby and was less than inclined towards gaming from the get- go. But the scenario is slowling changing. Looking at the growth of the industry over the years, we have finally come to a point where families have started being supportive of this career choice. Rather than opting for a 9-to-5 job, more and more gamers have started taking their careers seriously and are transitioning into professional esports athletes and streamers.

So what is gaming? Gaming is a form of entertainment which is consumed via interaction, participation and viewership. It encompasses PC gaming, mobile gaming and console gaming and is multi-billion dollar industry globally. This industry comprises of gamers who can be a casual or an enthusiast, an amateur or a professional, a player or a viewer. Gaming can be as simple as picking up your mobile and launching some birds at hostile pigs in a castle, or as complex as dedicating years to learning and mastering a game and competing against other similarly dedicated players globally with millions of dollars at stake.

The term 'esports' seem new but the concept isn't. Esports is the part of gaming that’s competitive, where various genres of games are played competitively against other players, on different platforms. From fighting against your friend at the local arcade with a barrage of virtual punches and kicks to being seated together and connected to 100s of other gamers and being the last person alive in a perilous deserted island. Esports is as old as gaming is. The only difference we see nowadays, is the higher stakes and the dedication gamers put in to reach the top. With prize pools running in the millions and a loyal audience who travel halfway across the globe to watch their teams play, esports has become a global phenomenon with major brands investing heavily in the industry and corporations building stadiums larger than conventional sports stadiums.

Professional athletes train their body and mind, regularly to stay at the best of conditions and are supported with the state-of-the-art facilities and a salary for playing their game. Another term people might be unfamiliar with is "video game live streaming”. Streaming is a form of online video broadcast on specialised platforms where you play games and entertain your viewers. A viewer might be engrossed by your playstyle or your witty humour. There can be thousands of players watching you at a point of time and cheering for you. Streaming has become a full-time job for a lot of people with them earning a comfortable six-figure income monthly by just regularly entertaining their viewers. Brands sponsor these streamers to advertise and endorse their products on their stream.

The global gaming industry is still growing at a rapid pace with a valuation of $108.9 billion and a YoY growth of 7.8% in 2017. The Asia Pacific region contributes to 47% of this with India ranked 17 th globally valued at $818 million with an 11.14% CAGR. Gaming in India is still nascent with a lot of scope for growth and recognition. Esports plays a huge part in gaming with $696 million market and whopping 385.5 million viewers watching their favourite teams and players fight for glory. That’s thrice as many subscribers Netflix has.

So how far has India come? India is slowly catching up with the rest of the world. We have 253.2 million gamers in India with 81% of them in the age group of 16 – 30. We have professional teams in India who compete globally against other teams. We have people who have taken up streaming as their jobs. Rather than pursuing a regular career like your average John and Jane, we have emerging brave souls who want to stand out and make their dreams come true. And the space is filled with brands who want to work hand in hand with these people, empowering and enabling such a career into reality.

Insight of target audience by COBX games

Gaming in India has been given a boost in the recent years with the advent of 4G and FTTH. Prices have grown more competitive which has helped not only companies but also gamers across India. We have seen a spike in mobile gaming with 4G being introduced in India and will play a major role in the industry. FTTH, which is already being deployed in tier-1 cities, provides high-speed internet connection over optical fibre directly to your home from the ISP which has increased the quality of service. In tier-2 cities, gaming cafés and colleges act as hotspots for gamers and most tournaments are hosted in these colleges, due to the presence of stable infrastructure which, in turn, promotes the growth of gaming.

Esports is on the rise in India with multiple tournaments being announced with unprecedented prize pools. Esports is dynamically changing the industry with numerous brands joining in and helping the space flourish. Monthly tournaments provide a scope for professional gamers to sustain a living and also provides growth to multiple domains attached to esports like cosplayers, shoutcasters, and analysts and so on. From small tournaments in cafés and college labs to huge events filled with gamers, esports has come a long way in India. 2018 saw numerous companies invest heavily in esports by announcing multiple tournaments with prize pools of over Rs 1 crore.

Mujahid Rupani, Co-founder & C.E.O of COBX Gaming says, "We are also expecting an increase in VR and AR gaming in India. VR gears are being readily accessible to people and families are opting in for the virtual reality experience. Mobile phones are growing powerful every day and proving to be effective AR devices. New games are being launched every day which take advantage of augmented reality and taking use experience to a whole new level. Mobile gaming is also on the rise in India due to the ease of entry and affordable and stable internet connection. With the amount of time people invest on mobiles, a lot of developers are shifting their focus to mobile games and catering to a big chunk of gamers who prefer mobiles over expensive PCs and consoles as their gaming gear. With the number of game development studies in our country, the next big title might be from India."

With the ecosystem growing and evolving every year, the future for gaming in India is bright. Gaming in India is an incipient industry and has a long way to go. We hope to see more professional players, more streamers and more parents supporting their kid’s dream. There was a time when you would idolise a sportsperson, the day is here when kids idolise their favourite professional gamer or streamer. We have a generation of parents who are gamers too and encourage their kids and help them balance gaming along with other life priorities. We hope to see more companies and brands invest their time and resource in the gaming industry and maybe one day, a kid who wants to grow up and be a professional gamer.

Also Read: Hrithik Roshan: Gaming In India Gaining Exponential Popularity

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Game review: Starcraft's good gaming bones get better

How do you improve on a 1998 game that is so good it is still played today? Not many games can make that claim but Starcraft can with legions of fans and stadium level competitions not bad for a 20-year-old game.

The original Starcraft is free and so anyone with a battle.net account can potentially download and play it, no fancy hardware required. The remastered version, however, costs $15 and it is worth every penny. The game's graphics and sound have had a major update, you can also play multiplayer online complete with leaderboards.

While the new game is friendly to first-time players the online multiplayer is brutal. Prepare to die in minutes. Unfortunately, there is no system in place to train players in the complexity of multiplayer battles in a game that people have been potentially been playing for 20 years.

For fans of Starcraft there is everything that you would ever want in the game. The original game mechanisms are untouched which means everything plays as it should.

Starcraft Remastered
Rating: 4/5
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Platform: PC, Mac
Price: $14.99 (Rs 960 approx)