Phison is showing off its latest PCIe Gen 5 SSD controller chip, known as the E26 (opens in new tab), at CES including providing access to a fully functioning demo drive. Apart from increased peak performance of over 10GB/s for both reads and writes, the big news for gamers is proper support for Microsoft’s DirectStorage tech.
The latter is designed to accelerate in-game storage performance and make level loading and in-game content streaming much faster.
As we reported last year (opens in new tab), Gen 5 SSDs are already overdue. So it’s good that Phison, perhaps the biggest supplier of third-party controller chips to the SSD industry, is pushing on with its Gen 5 tech in the E26 controller chip.
The engineering drive Phison is showing off is a little constrained by the NAND flash in use. With Micron 232L NAND clocked at 1600 MT/s, it’s running well below the 2400MT/s the chip is capable of supporting. So, peak throughput of around 10GB/s for both reads and writes is some way off the 14GB/s we’ll eventually see with Gen 5 drives (Phison says the E26 tops out at 14GB/s for reads and 11.8GB/s for writes).
However, it’s arguably other areas of performance that are more critical, day-to-day. One is 4K random access. By the specs, the E26 is good for 1.5M read IOPS and 2M write IOPS, which is an improvement, albeit not a massive one, on existing PCIe Gen 4 controllers.
Phison has released this snapshot of E26 performance paired with 1600MT/s NAND flash memory. (Image credit: Phison)
In its own internal benchmarking, Phison is claiming 100MB/s for 4K QD1 reads and over 400MB/s for writes. The latter is particularly impressive compared to the best Gen 4 drives, which come in under 300MB/s. The 4K reads are a bit disappointing compared to the circa 80MB/s of Gen 4 drives. It’s also worth remembering that Intel’s dearly departed Optane P5800X can do 400MB/s 4K reads and writes over a PCIe Gen 4 interface.
The other part of the puzzle is the aforementioned DirectStorage technology. In simple terms, DirectStorage moves game data decompression from the CPU to the GPU, simplifying and accelerating the process of loading data like graphical textures from the SSD. Microsoft says game level load times can be improved by 40% (opens in new tab) . DirectStorage should free up CPU resources for actual gameplay and allow game levels to load seamlessly in the background during gameplay as opposed to punctuating play with specific moments for loading new levels.
Phison says the E26’s I/O+ Technology is specifically designed with DirectStorage in mind. As for how much benefit that brings, Microsoft has developed a synthetic benchmark to test DirectStorage. Known as Expanse, it tests texture streaming. Early results indicate (opens in new tab) that the E26 engineering drive delivers over 7.5GB/s of texture streaming bandwidth. The fastest Gen 4 drive, the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus hits 7GB/s, while the WD SN850X clocks 6.3GB/s.
Exactly how much difference all of this will make to gaming performance is yet to be determined. And it’s likely that the performance of Gen 5 drives will improve pretty dramatically over time. So, this early look at Gen 5 performance is far from definitive.
But with both Intel and AMD platforms now supporting PCIe Gen 5, it’s good to see that the SSD half of the equation seems to be progressing nearer to actual availability, even if Phison isn’t putting an exact date on when we’ll see the first drives. Given that Phison itself doesn’t sell drives, that bit isn’t really under its control.
https://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1672902989_Phison-has-its-14GBs-PCIe-50-SSD-controller-ready-but.jpeg7201200Carlos Pachecohttps://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Website-Logo-300x74.pngCarlos Pacheco2023-01-04 17:34:072023-01-04 17:34:07Phison has its 14GB/s PCIe 5.0 SSD controller ready but there are no drives in sight
Since the first iteration of the Elgato Stream Deck launched a couple of years back, they’ve become a must-have accessory for any peeps who stream on Twitch or YouTube and want to make accessing their most used functions as easy as pie. There’s been an entire family of these products released since the first version, and the latest in that long line of succession is the one I’ve been able to get my greasy hands on today:the Elgato Stream Deck +, or Plus if you don’t like symbols.
The big thing here is the addition of a series of four knobs to the bottom of the Deck (please, don’t make jokes, you’re better than that), which adds some more analogue and especially tactile functionality to a device that’s literally a USB-powered button box.
Elgato markets those four dials as helping to integrate this particular Stream Deck into the wider brand of streaming gear the Corsair-owned brand provides, such as with its Wave line of microphones, or sets of key lights. With the dials, you can adjust things such as mic gain and key light colour temperature, which is especially handy.
You can also use those dials for controlling system volume if you want, among other things, and each dial also has a press-down button for things such as muting, giving you double the functionality. Speaking of more functionality, the Stream Deck software (more on it in a moment) also has this Dial Stack feature, where you can assign multiple functions to a single dial.
Stream Deck + specs
(Image credit: Future)
No. of buttons/dials: 8 buttons, 4 dials Connectivity: USB Type-C Cable: USB Type-C, detachable Dimensions: 140 x 138 x 110 mm Weight: 465g/ 1lbs Price: $200 / £20
Even if there isn’t too much to pick from compared to the vast swathes of button-based customisation and functionality, there should still be enough to keep people busy.
Outside of the addition of four metal and tactile feeling dials, the Stream Deck + is another classic iteration of Elgato’s marvellous product. There are a total of eight buttons that you can control, each with their own display so you can quickly glance down to one and see what you’ve set it as, thanks to a myriad of selectable icons within Elgato’s software. While the main use for these buttons is for use on Twitch or YouTube, or in programs such as OBS, there is a shedload of plugins available for other apps to make the Stream Deck + an excellent device for productivity.
(Image credit: Future)
For instance, you can control PowerPoint or Keynote presentations with it, as well as to select specific functions in Photoshop. Or, if you’re feeling particularly clever, there are even games you can play using the buttons, or simply set a button up with a button press counter, so you can waste time pressing it and watching the number creep up with every mash. I think I’m up to nearly 200 by this point, and no, I’m not stopping before you ask.
The long and short of it is that the Stream Deck + is an immensely enjoyable product to use, with seemingly endless amounts of functionality. Other versions of it may have more buttons, but the additional dials just add another form of control. All of these different doodads, plugins and gizmos you can use with the Stream Deck + can be found within Elgato’s Stream Deck software, which is remarkably easy to use. Once you’ve got the device plugged in, simply download the software, and it’ll recognise you’ve got the device plugged in.
(Image credit: Future)
Grabbing plugins for the Stream Deck is as easy as downloading them from the free store contained within the app, and once they’re downloaded, they should show up on the right hand side of the app’s main interface. Getting them onto the Stream Deck + is a classic exercise in dragging and dropping, and once that’s been done, the actual buttons will show an icon for whatever you’ve set it up to have. Mine’s got media playback controls for Spotify, a widget for CPU power, as well as one for weather, an analogue clock, and stocks, because why not!
Another classic iteration of Elgato’s marvellous product.
In a more general sense, the Stream Deck + is a good-looking contraption, with a commanding presence on your desk, and a solid feeling textured plastic frame that at least goes to justify the $200/£200 price tag. The angle it sits at is a comfortable one, with no real straining if you want to peer over and quickly remind yourself what each button and dial you’ve set up does. The buttons themselves are pretty big, and the displays inside them are bright enough for both daytime and after-dark working, while the touch bar (yes, really) above the dials is also pretty responsive to use, as are the dials themselves. It may be easy to assume such a device may need a variety of cables to work, but everything is conveniently taken care of by one USB Type-C cable.
(Image credit: Future)
Maybe one day Elgato, or parent company Corsair, will make a wireless version of the Stream Deck in a few years, but for now, a single USB Type-C cable is decent enough.
The Stream Deck + is definitely a useful tool for not only streamers, but also those who simply want to make their workflows as simple and easy as possible. Slapping down too hundred big ones for the sake of adding some dials may not appeal to some though, not least if you already own a Stream Deck that comes with more buttons already and therefore as much if not more functionality as this one, just in a different form. For those of us who haven’t had the pleasure of using one before though, it’s pretty easy to see the appeal.
The idea of getting a good webcam seems to have become more paramount as time has passed, especially if you’re into the old streaming thing on Twitch, YouTube, or other platforms. This Toucan Pro Streaming Webcam is the latest contender to jump into the world of mid-range webcams, offering all the fun of decent resolution/fps output in a sweet-lookin’ chassis, and with convenient connectivity, too.
It makes sense to get right into details of the Toucan Pro Streaming Webcam when it comes to how its output looks. Well, it provides the opportunity for you to record at either 1080p/60fps, like a lot of other webcams at this price, or even up to 1440p at 30fps. It’s kind of the best of both worlds on offer, and in testing, the video I recorded one Saturday afternoon looks pretty good, as you’ll see from the sample footage below.
With that being said, there may not be as much noticeable detail increases in the sample video, but 1440p provided a little more definition to proceedings when recording, it must be said.
The fact there’s also the option to record at 1080/60fps gives you the benefit of more frames to play with, and therefore smoother motion in videos at the cost of a lower resolution. In addition, recording at 1080p is likely to be more stable than at 1440p, and to be truthful, it was a more consistent performance at the lower resolution, and there isn’t too much of a sacrifice in terms of overall image quality. Personally, I’d keep things at 1080p/60fps for that more consistent performance, although the addition of QHD-res output is a welcome addition for the sake of choice.
Toucan Pro specs
(Image credit: Future)
Recording resolution: 1080p/60fps, 1440p/30fps FOV: 89 degrees Features: Plug and play connectivity, detachable USB Type-C cable, integrated stand Price: $80/£80
Intriguingly, there’s no mention of this Toucan webcam featuring any auto low-light correction, unlike other webcams at this price range, but generally speaking, it deals with lower light environments pretty well. Recording in OBS revealed some additional warmth added to the tone of the webcam’s video, which seems to have corrected for the otherwise beige wall I was recording against to offer a little more vibrancy.
The omni-directional mic present, as you’ll hear, offered up some clear pickup of my voice with some decent body to it, although there are some clipping and juddering noises, which isn’t the best thing in the world for video calls and meetings.
1440p @ 30fps test video
1080p @ 60fps test video
As for design, this Toucan webcam is a little different to others I’ve used and tested in the past, offering some handy swivel adjustment to get it up and facing you. That’s pretty reassuring for privacy, as when it’s not in use, you can simply pop the webcam down, and there’s no way that people could peer in if the webcam’s lens is pointing downwards. The swivel negates the need for any form of privacy shutter, although that may have been nice to have as a secondary barrier.
The actual camera module comes mounted on its own little stand, which means you can use it without screwing anything into the ¼ inch thread mount on the bottom, and get up and running pretty much instantly. Toucan provides a standard-issue monitor mount for this webcam though, which I used to fasten it to the top of my MacBook for testing. The connection when it’s there is secure, and there’s no need to worry about the camera potentially falling off, especially given the underside of that attachment is rubberised and seemingly non-slip, too.
Low light test video
It’s comprised of some pretty solid feeling plastics, and unlike other more affordable webcams, these ones don’t feel cheap or scratchy. There’s a nice heft to this Toucan webcam that’s reassuring, and despite its larger stature by comparison to more traditional looking webcams, this particular option doesn’t feel bulky in any way. You could certainly chuck it in a bag if you wanted to take a dedicated webcam on your travels. The notion of this also being more of a portable webcam is also reflected in the simple fact the USB Type-C cable it uses is detachable, which just provides a little more peace of mind. Other webcams feature a fixed cable, which means if it goes wrong, you’re a little bit stuffed to say the least.
(Image credit: Future)
Much like the Streamplify Cam (opens in new tab) I looked at earlier this year, this is a simple plug and play webcam, with no additional software required, which keeps things especially easy. With that plug and play nature in mind, it’s perhaps unsurprising that this Toucan webcam shows up pretty much immediately within settings for capture programs such as OBS. If you’re a budding streamer and you want a webcam with simple means of setup, this is a solid choice.
So, to sum up then. The Toucan Pro Streaming Webcam is a pretty good all-round webcam for both conferencing and streaming, offering pretty good video output in both good and low light situations, as well as a sturdy chassis and as easy as pie connectivity. The addition of convenient USB Type-C connectivity is excellent, and the omnidirectional microphone offers decent pickup, too. Even without any additional software, the fact is, if you’re a streamer who just wants an easy to use and capable webcam, this should be a handy choice.
The idea of getting a good webcam seems to have become more paramount as time has passed, especially if you’re into the old streaming thing on Twitch, YouTube, or other platforms. This Toucan Pro Streaming Webcam is the latest contender to jump into the world of mid-range webcams, offering all the fun of decent resolution/fps output in a sweet-lookin’ chassis, and with convenient connectivity, too.
It makes sense to get right into details of the Toucan Pro Streaming Webcam when it comes to how its output looks. Well, it provides the opportunity for you to record at either 1080p/60fps, like a lot of other webcams at this price, or even up to 1440p at 30fps. It’s kind of the best of both worlds on offer, and in testing, the video I recorded one Saturday afternoon looks pretty good, as you’ll see from the sample footage below.
With that being said, there may not be as much noticeable detail increases in the sample video, but 1440p provided a little more definition to proceedings when recording, it must be said.
The fact there’s also the option to record at 1080/60fps gives you the benefit of more frames to play with, and therefore smoother motion in videos at the cost of a lower resolution. In addition, recording at 1080p is likely to be more stable than at 1440p, and to be truthful, it was a more consistent performance at the lower resolution, and there isn’t too much of a sacrifice in terms of overall image quality. Personally, I’d keep things at 1080p/60fps for that more consistent performance, although the addition of QHD-res output is a welcome addition for the sake of choice.
Toucan Pro specs
(Image credit: Future)
Recording resolution: 1080p/60fps, 1440p/30fps FOV: 89 degrees Features: Plug and play connectivity, detachable USB Type-C cable, integrated stand Price: $80/£80
Intriguingly, there’s no mention of this Toucan webcam featuring any auto low-light correction, unlike other webcams at this price range, but generally speaking, it deals with lower light environments pretty well. Recording in OBS revealed some additional warmth added to the tone of the webcam’s video, which seems to have corrected for the otherwise beige wall I was recording against to offer a little more vibrancy.
The omni-directional mic present, as you’ll hear, offered up some clear pickup of my voice with some decent body to it, although there are some clipping and juddering noises, which isn’t the best thing in the world for video calls and meetings.
1440p @ 30fps test video
1080p @ 60fps test video
As for design, this Toucan webcam is a little different to others I’ve used and tested in the past, offering some handy swivel adjustment to get it up and facing you. That’s pretty reassuring for privacy, as when it’s not in use, you can simply pop the webcam down, and there’s no way that people could peer in if the webcam’s lens is pointing downwards. The swivel negates the need for any form of privacy shutter, although that may have been nice to have as a secondary barrier.
The actual camera module comes mounted on its own little stand, which means you can use it without screwing anything into the ¼ inch thread mount on the bottom, and get up and running pretty much instantly. Toucan provides a standard-issue monitor mount for this webcam though, which I used to fasten it to the top of my MacBook for testing. The connection when it’s there is secure, and there’s no need to worry about the camera potentially falling off, especially given the underside of that attachment is rubberised and seemingly non-slip, too.
Low light test video
It’s comprised of some pretty solid feeling plastics, and unlike other more affordable webcams, these ones don’t feel cheap or scratchy. There’s a nice heft to this Toucan webcam that’s reassuring, and despite its larger stature by comparison to more traditional looking webcams, this particular option doesn’t feel bulky in any way. You could certainly chuck it in a bag if you wanted to take a dedicated webcam on your travels. The notion of this also being more of a portable webcam is also reflected in the simple fact the USB Type-C cable it uses is detachable, which just provides a little more peace of mind. Other webcams feature a fixed cable, which means if it goes wrong, you’re a little bit stuffed to say the least.
(Image credit: Future)
Much like the Streamplify Cam (opens in new tab) I looked at earlier this year, this is a simple plug and play webcam, with no additional software required, which keeps things especially easy. With that plug and play nature in mind, it’s perhaps unsurprising that this Toucan webcam shows up pretty much immediately within settings for capture programs such as OBS. If you’re a budding streamer and you want a webcam with simple means of setup, this is a solid choice.
So, to sum up then. The Toucan Pro Streaming Webcam is a pretty good all-round webcam for both conferencing and streaming, offering pretty good video output in both good and low light situations, as well as a sturdy chassis and as easy as pie connectivity. The addition of convenient USB Type-C connectivity is excellent, and the omnidirectional microphone offers decent pickup, too. Even without any additional software, the fact is, if you’re a streamer who just wants an easy to use and capable webcam, this should be a handy choice.
Since the release of AMD’s RX 7000-series with the RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT, some reports have arisen suggesting that AMD-designed cards may be heating up to an uncomfortable level—reportedly up to 110°C on what’s known as the hotspot temperature reading on these cards. So much so that AMD has now admitted that there may be an issue affecting a limited number of reference design cards.
“We are working to determine the root cause of the unexpected performance limitation of the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics cards,” AMD says in a statement (via Hardwareluxx (opens in new tab)). “Based on our observations so far, we believe the issue is related to the thermal solution used in the AMD reference design and with a limited number of cards sold. We are working to resolve this issue for the affected cards.
“Customers experiencing this unexpected limitation should contact AMD Support (opens in new tab).”
This statement follows reports from Igor’s Lab (opens in new tab) and Computerbase (opens in new tab) which suggested a batch of cards could have been affected, meaning a number of cards may have to be returned to AMD for a fix. It has also been suggested by overclocker der8auer (opens in new tab) that a faulty vapor chamber is the cause for concern on the cards, though AMD has not confirmed this specific detail as of yet. Process of elimination would suggest this is the likely cause, however.
In affected cards, der8auer found a much higher delta between GPU and GPU hotspot temperature readings than on unaffected cards. Essentially, affected cards suffer from isolated hotspots far higher than the average GPU temperature, causing thermal protection measures to kick in and throttle the clock speed.
Some users that experienced high temperatures have reportedly spoken to AMD support prior to this statement only to be told these temperatures are normal (opens in new tab) or that an RMA was not possible due to an open box (opens in new tab). These complaints have been dealt with in the time since. While it’s true that high temperatures can be just fine in some circumstances, it’s clear that these specific high temperatures are actually rather unacceptable.
If you find your card is affected by this issue, you should contact AMD and get it RMA’d. You can check by running an application that lists the hotspot temperature, such as MSI Afterburner (opens in new tab) (noted as GPU temperature 2) or HWInfo (opens in new tab).
I have been running our review RX 7900 XTX (opens in new tab) to see if our card is impacted by the issue, and, yes, it did get pretty toasty under load. Even during a modest three runs of F1 22, I saw a GPU average temperature of 72°C. Alright, that’s fine. Ah, but 107°C hotspot temp… and rising. That is indeed a very hot spot.
You can see the high hotspot temp recorded here under ‘GPU temperature 2’. The lower than expected clock speed is also shown in the graphs. These results are taken from a three lap run of F1 22’s benchmark at Ultra settings and 4K. (Image credit: Future)
With that result from within my personal PC case, I decided to mount the XTX back into our test bench, which uses a vertical GPU configuration. There has been some talk of this improving temperatures somewhat, though I had no such luck. The hotspot temp swiftly shot up to 110°C, with an average GPU temp around 81°C. The clock speed also dropped to around 1,754MHz, which is a damn sight lower than the 2,300MHz Game Clock advertised with this particular model of card.
Unfortunately this clock speed discrepancy on the XTX is nothing new, it is one of the things I point out as odd in my review. However, the Frameview software we use for power and thermal measurements doesn’t record hotspot temperature, only average temperature, so that important piece of information flew under the radar. In comparison, the RX 7900 XT (opens in new tab), which is reportedly not affected acutely by the XTX’s issue, does not see such a large dip in clock speed.
I’m going to look further into our card’s heat issue and get in touch with AMD to see about further investigation. If you’re sure you’re also affected, now’s the time to reach out to AMD support.
https://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1672913443_AMD-admits-some-RX-7900-XTX-GPUs-have-an-overheating.jpg6751200Carlos Pachecohttps://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Website-Logo-300x74.pngCarlos Pacheco2023-01-04 16:14:212023-01-04 16:14:21AMD admits some RX 7900 XTX GPUs have an overheating problem
Alright, what’s with these funky 16:10 gaming laptop screen ratios at CES 2023? I swear every other gaming laptop announcement over the past couple of days has been slapped with a WQXGA or WUXGA display specification. But what does it mean? To the unaffiliated, it may look like a string of letters equating to no more than marketing gibberish. But the 16:10 aspect ratio these precious acronyms represent is very much sought after in the world of productivity. When it comes to gaming though, it’s been seen as a point of contention.
In case you’re wondering, an aspect ratio represents a panel’s width relative to its height. WUXGA stands for Wide Ultra Extended Graphics Array and comes in at 1920×1200 pixel resolution. WQXGA means Wide Quad Extended Graphics Array, in 2560×1600 res. Why the X stands for extended, we don’t know. What we do know is that these are becoming a standard aspect ratio for the higher end laptops, and gaming manufacturers are catching on.
So far this year, both Acer and Asus have hit us with high-end 16:10 gaming laptops, backed by RTX 40-series mobile GPUs. Case in point, this year’s Asus Zephyrus gaming laptop (opens in new tab) lineup offers 16:10 Nebula panels as an option, and Acer’s recently announced Predator Helios 16 and 18 (opens in new tab), and Nitro 16 gaming laptops will all see their panel’s vertically stretched, too.
Plenty of other manufacturers are expected to follow suit, though whether these will be well received is another matter. So why is it happening?
Dictated in large part by the scale of the HDTV market setting a 16:9 standard, real time monitor statistics (opens in new tab) show that boring old 1080p is still very much dominant. Slip into any online tech forum thread about the 16:10 ratio, however, and you’ll see droves of gamers both embracing and condemning it for a different reasons.
As I discovered a while back in speaking to an expert on the subject, a more expansive screen (opens in new tab) could level up your gaming potential. Though it makes sense why some gamers are hard pressed to adopt 16:10. It’s one of those suited to certain kinds of games. RTS players, city builders and the like are going to be well pleased with more gaming laptops touting the 16:10 ratio, as it’ll let them see more of the map and keep an eye out for invaders on your North and South borders.
Those more into shooters are likely to shrug at the idea, since only a wider screen would deliver a better field of view—online shooters don’t even allow wider FOV because it creates an unfair advantage, in fact, so why would 16:10 help? Well it wouldn’t, but it’s not just gamers using gaming laptops now is it?
Business people, coders, and productivity nerds, on the other hand, see 16:10 in a more resoundingly positive light. You’ll hear them cry out in glee the second you present them with a slightly taller panel than they’re used to. Just being able to see a few more lines of code is indispensable when you haven’t got the ability to swivel your laptop screen into portrait mode.
My guess is we’re seeing a boom in the adoption of 16:10 in gaming since people are using their machines for more than just productivity or gaming alone. As we move into an age where gaming grows ever more popular, more people want to switch back and forth between gaming and productivity tasks. And while some may not like it, PC gaming is no longer some exclusive club.
With gaming laptops adopting the productivity panels of preference in, that fact is doubly underlined. Now we can really get some multitasking done. Embracing something practical that’s outside of the standard? We seem to be evolving. I dub this new evolution of man: Homo Visio, or something.
God love Hideo Kojima because the guy is never boring. Following the announcement of Death Stranding 2 (opens in new tab) late last year, the Japanese creator gave a festive interview to IGN Japan (opens in new tab), during which he jawed on about setting up Kojima Productions, his time at Konami, and yes: his future as an AI.
This is, of course, being said slightly tongue-in-cheek, but it comes in response to a question about the philosophies of Kojima Productions, and what the creator would like to leave behind in that institutional sense.
“I’ve never really thought about that,” said Kojima. “I’ll keep leading so long as I’m around, and all that matters to me is that our roots when it comes to creation are kept intact. But you know, I’ll probably become an AI and stick around. You need to be stimulated in lots of different ways if you want to keep creating new things, so I imagine I’ll keep collaborating with others and taking in new things even if I’m an AI”.
I wonder if they’ll all say “A Hideo KojimAI game” before every chapter. Cheery thoughts of surviving death as an algorithm aside, though, there is something here for Kojima fans to get more excited about. While Kojima does not address his departure from Konami directly in this interview, he does talk at some length about the company, and with a great deal of warmth, too. There’s been an icy atmosphere between the creator and the company ever since the split, which is an enormous shame, but this suggests that relations are thawing.
“I learned so many things at Konami,” said Kojima. “It was rare for a creator to work on both development and business, but I even worked as an executive there, and they thoroughly taught me everything down to how to run a business […] It was a company willing to leave things to people who took action themselves and under their own risk”.
A particular fondness is reserved for Kagemasa Kozuki, the 82-year-old founder and still chairman of Konami. It is clear that Kozuki recognised a special talent in the young Kojima, and endeavoured to nurture it at the company: First of all, by allowing Kojima to run his own company-within-the-company from 1996. “It gave me an incredible amount of freedom when creating games”, said Kojima. Much more importantly, when events outside of anyone’s control threatened Kojima’s work, Kozuki backed the director to the hilt.
“9/11 took place in 2001 right before the release of Metal Gear Solid 2,” said Kojima. “We’d just sent off the master, but the game featured both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It seemed impossible to release the game. I was called to the board of directors and they all turned pale when I explained the situation. Nobody would tell me what to do, with the exception of Mr. Kozuki, who tackled the issue.
“As I thought about what to do, I went to speak with Mr. Kozuki about possibly quitting the company. That’s when he told me: ‘When this game comes out and society has their say about it, they’ll be talking about you, its creator, and me, the person who sold it. I doubt they’ll say anything about anyone else. What will you do? I’m ready for whatever happens.’
“When I heard how far he was willing to go, I made the firm decision that we’d release it together. The rest is history”.
It’s fantastic to hear Kojima speak about the positives of his time at Konami because, while he’s never going back, it’s deeply sad that such a tremendous collaborative legacy is now semi-consigned to history. I’d love to see Kojima at least talking about his older games again, and it would be great if Konami could pull its finger out about ensuring that Metal Gear has a future too.
The signs are at least positive here. Kojima ends his MGS2 reminiscing by talking about what an awful state he was in once the game was finished, and “ended up being passed from one hospital to the next. Mr. Kozuki was the only one who worried about me then. Looking back, I feel like he showed more concern for me than anyone whenever I was having trouble”.
https://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1672845130_Screw-dying-says-Hideo-Kojima-Ill-probably-become-an-AI.png6751200Carlos Pachecohttps://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Website-Logo-300x74.pngCarlos Pacheco2023-01-04 14:27:002023-01-04 17:05:19Screw dying, says Hideo Kojima, ‘I’ll probably become an AI and stick around’
Apple is now probably better-known for the iPhone than anything, but the origins and a sizeable portion of the contemporary company remain in bespoke personal computing. The launchpad for everything was the Apple II, the first iteration of which was launched in 1977, an all-in-one home computer so successful it would be produced until 1993. Which meant, like many Apple products, it got copied.
In the early 1980s a company called Franklin produced a clone of the Apple II with the frankly unbeatable name of the Ace 100. I’d never heard of this hardware until writer David Friedman’s latest newsletter (opens in new tab) flagged up the most unusual aspect: the wild guidance manual that came with it.
The first 40 pages of the manual (opens in new tab) contain pearls of wisdom such as that personal computers “are just super fast, super expensive calculators” and its role in your life is “more as a flunky” than running it. It also opens with this semi-inspiring straight-talking:
“Since you’re reading this, some fast-talking salesperson has probably already persuaded you that the ACE will make your life complete. […] Dispel those doubts! Put your second thoughts aside and press on regardless! You CAN use your ACE to good purpose!”
Later comes a new chapter: The Ancestral Territorial Imperatives of the Trumpeter Swan. “Unless you were fascinated by birds, you probably wouldn’t turn to this section of the manual first.” Point taken. This is the ‘getting started’ part of the manual but, as the writer explains, if they’d just called it that then you might have skipped the introduction.
The whole manual is worth a skim because every single page seems to have a joke on it, and a lot are aimed at… computer nerds. This is perhaps the funniest thing about the Ace 100 manual: It’s clearly been written by someone with a healthy scepticism of the computer industry and the types who accumulate around it, who are also probably the only people who were ever going to buy this thing. It contains tips for not getting ripped off by your computer dealer, advises you ignore silly jargon like “bits and bytes”, and then best of all goes on to celebrate piracy and its own status as a pirated computer.
“Program manufacturers are natural paranoids” says the manual. Those bastards want you to pay for their work! Not when the ACE 100 is around, my friend. The manual includes an entire section explaining to the user how to circumvent typical 1980s software copy protection in order to make “personal backups”, before going on to explain that there are three types of crook in the computer world.
The first is “Them”, the salespeople that flog these things with over-inflated promises. The second is “You”, because as our manual explains the industry will treat you like a crook with their licensing deals.
“These licensing agreements typically stop just short of requiring you to sign away your life, your house, and your first-born child. Nobody in his right mind would sign one of them. But personal computerists do it. Are they of unsound mind? Possibly, but signing a licensing agreement doesn’t prove it.”
The third category of crooks is “Us”, Franklin themselves, who are selling you an Apple II clone with a copy of the Apple OS. The entry simply reads, and I can’t get an echo of Richard Nixon out of my head here, “we are not crooks”.
I mean, OK.
It may surprise you to know that the US justice system did not agree with Franklin. Apple sued the company for copying its operating system in the ACE 100 and the later ACE 1000 machines, which is now a landmark case in computer history: The first time a court ruled that a computer’s BIOS could be protected by copyright (opens in new tab). Franklin initially won but then lost on appeal, and by 1988 had to withdraw all its copies of Apple machines from the market. Franklin Computers remains a going concern (opens in new tab), though not quite on Apple’s scale.
David Friedman goes into much more detail on the manual in his writeup (opens in new tab), including tracking down the writer, Sal Manetta, former Franklin programmer Bob Applegate, and exploring the differences between versions. Applegate does have some idea why Manetta had the attitude he did: “Engineering was in a long, narrow building with no windows, nicknamed ‘the cave’. Sal was never exposed to engineers before Franklin, and we sometimes overwhelmed him. He often said ‘Abandon hope all ye who enter’ to people on their first visit to our building.”
Credit where credit is due though. Franklin may have started out as copycats, but it really was upfront about how much it hated licensing and copy protection:
“Someday, enough consumers will get fed up with this nonsense to put an end to it. It hasn’t happened yet though.”
https://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1672837796_This-may-be-the-most-bizarre-PC-manual-ever.jpg6751200Carlos Pachecohttps://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Website-Logo-300x74.pngCarlos Pacheco2023-01-04 12:57:292023-01-04 17:05:40This may be the most bizarre PC manual ever
Asus has formally launched its 27-inch entry into the burgeoning OLED monitor market. The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM rocks a QHD 2,560 by 1,440 pixel native resolution and runs at up to 240Hz refresh. Alongside this new OLED panel, Asus is rolling out a 540Hz 1080p monitor, a 49-inch 5K monster and a super-fast 160Hz 4K screen.
As is quickly becoming the norm with OLED monitors, Asus is making some eye-popping claims when it comes to pixel response, rating the PG27AQDM at 0.03ms for GtG response, with full on/off response coming in at 0.1ms. Both figures are in excess of an order of magnitude better than any conventional LCD monitor.
Very likely, the new Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM is using LG panel technology and very likely the same OLED panel seen in LG’s own UltraGear 27GR95QE-B (opens in new tab).
Asus hasn’t priced up the PG27AQDM as yet, but the $999 sticker of the LG version is probably a good indicator. This OLED monitor is going to be hella expensive for a 27-inch 1440p model.
It will also be interesting to see what brightness Asus can achieve. Asus claims 1,000 nits peak brightness, but as yet we haven’t seen a full-screen figure. The PG27AQDM has a custom heatsink, which bodes well. But, thus far, gaming monitors based on LG as opposed to Samsung OLED technology have struggled to deliver decent full-screen brightness.
The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM is going to be seriously pricey for a 1440p panel. (Image credit: Asus)
Next up, for speed freaks Asus has the new Swift Pro PG248QP, a 24-inch 1080p panel using TN LCD tech to achieve 540Hz refresh. TN tech has fallen out of fashion of late, with IPS becoming the go-to option for quick LCD monitors.
The Asus Swift Pro PG248QP hits 540Hz thanks to TN panel tech. (Image credit: Asus)
However, TN remains the fastest LCD technology available, making it essential for achieving that sky-high refresh rate. Asus isn’t quoting response times for now, only stating that the new panel offers 60% better response times than “standard” TH panels. For now, pricing hasn’t been confirmed.
The Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXR hits 4k@160Hz thanks to DisplayPort 2.1. (Image credit: Asus)
Finally, the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXR is Asus’s first DisplayPort 2.1 monitor, enabling it to combine full 4K with 160Hz refresh. It’s a 32-inch IPS model with a mini-LED backlight comprising 576 zones. Brightness is pegged at 1,000 nits.
Like the rest of Asus’s CES screen debutants, rather annoyingly there’s no pricing for the new Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXR. But it absolutely, positively won’t be cheap.
All of which means Asus has something for everyone in terms of screen tech at CES this year. Well, except for anyone on a remotely constrained budget, that is. Never mind.
Asus has formally launched its 27-inch entry into the burgeoning OLED monitor market. The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM rocks a QHD 2,560 by 1,440 pixel native resolution and runs at up to 240Hz refresh. Alongside this new OLED panel, Asus is rolling out a 540Hz 1080p monitor, a 49-inch 5K monster and a super-fast 160Hz 4K screen.
As is quickly becoming the norm with OLED monitors, Asus is making some eye-popping claims when it comes to pixel response, rating the PG27AQDM at 0.03ms for GtG response, with full on/off response coming in at 0.1ms. Both figures are in excess of an order of magnitude better than any conventional LCD monitor.
Very likely, the new Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM is using LG panel technology and very likely the same OLED panel seen in LG’s own UltraGear 27GR95QE-B (opens in new tab).
Asus hasn’t priced up the PG27AQDM as yet, but the $999 sticker of the LG version is probably a good indicator. This OLED monitor is going to be hella expensive for a 27-inch 1440p model.
It will also be interesting to see what brightness Asus can achieve. Asus claims 1,000 nits peak brightness, but as yet we haven’t seen a full-screen figure. The PG27AQDM has a custom heatsink, which bodes well. But, thus far, gaming monitors based on LG as opposed to Samsung OLED technology have struggled to deliver decent full-screen brightness.
The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM is going to be seriously pricey for a 1440p panel. (Image credit: Asus)
Next up, for speed freaks Asus has the new Swift Pro PG248QP, a 24-inch 1080p panel using TN LCD tech to achieve 540Hz refresh. TN tech has fallen out of fashion of late, with IPS becoming the go-to option for quick LCD monitors.
The Asus Swift Pro PG248QP hits 540Hz thanks to TN panel tech. (Image credit: Asus)
However, TN remains the fastest LCD technology available, making it essential for achieving that sky-high refresh rate. Asus isn’t quoting response times for now, only stating that the new panel offers 60% better response times than “standard” TH panels. For now, pricing hasn’t been confirmed.
The Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXR hits 4k@160Hz thanks to DisplayPort 2.1. (Image credit: Asus)
Finally, the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXR is Asus’s first DisplayPort 2.1 monitor, enabling it to combine full 4K with 160Hz refresh. It’s a 32-inch IPS model with a mini-LED backlight comprising 576 zones. Brightness is pegged at 1,000 nits.
Like the rest of Asus’s CES screen debutants, rather annoyingly there’s no pricing for the new Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXR. But it absolutely, positively won’t be cheap.
All of which means Asus has something for everyone in terms of screen tech at CES this year. Well, except for anyone on a remotely constrained budget, that is. Never mind.
Feeling a little stuck with the daily Wordle? Don’t worry about it because I have all the help you could possibly need right here. Save your win streak with the answer to the January 4 (564) puzzle, take in a handy clue to help point you in the right direction, or brush up on some general hints and tips—it’s all just a short scroll away.
I was lucky enough to have a full row on my second go—a full row of yellows, that is. Knowing the answer’s right there but also definitely not is always a little confusing, so it was something of a relief to see them all turn green on my next go.
Wordle hint
A Wordle hint for Wednesday, January 4
The answer today refers to a thin sheet of something, a collection of objects placed neatly on top of another, or a covering for something else. Think of sliced potatoes on top of a dish, an extra jumper, a blanket on top of a bed, a fresh _____ of snow on the ground. There are two vowels to find today.
Wordle help: 3 tips for beating Wordle every day
If there’s one thing better than playing Wordle, it’s playing Wordle well, which is why I’m going to share a few quick tips to help set you on the path to success:
A good opener contains a balanced mix of unique vowels and consonants.
A tactical second guess helps to narrow down the pool of letters quickly.
The solution may contain repeat letters.
There’s no time pressure beyond making sure it’s done by midnight. So there’s no reason to not treat the game like a casual newspaper crossword and come back to it later if you’re coming up blank.
Today’s Wordle answer
(Image credit: Josh Wardle)
What is the Wordle 564 answer?
Let’s keep you winning. The January 4 (564) Wordle answer is LAYER.
Previous answers
Wordle archive: Which words have been used
The more past Wordle answers you can cram into your memory banks, the better your chances of guessing today’s Wordle answer without accidentally picking a solution that’s already been used. Past Wordle answers can also give you some excellent ideas for fun starting words that keep your daily puzzle solving fresh.
Here are some recent Wordle solutions:
January 3: ANTIC
January 2: SKIRT
January 1: WHINE
December 31: MANLY
December 30: MOLAR
December 29: HAVOC
December 28: IMPEL
December 27: CONDO
December 26: JUDGE
December 25: EXTRA
Learn more about Wordle
Every day Wordle presents you with six rows of five boxes, and it’s up to you to work out which secret five-letter word is hiding inside them.
You’ll want to start with a strong word (opens in new tab) like ALERT—something containing multiple vowels, common consonants, and no repeat letters. Hit Enter and the boxes will show you which letters you’ve got right or wrong. If a box turns ⬛️, it means that letter isn’t in the secret word at all. 🟨 means the letter is in the word, but not in that position. 🟩 means you’ve got the right letter in the right spot.
You’ll want your second go to compliment the first, using another “good” word to cover any common letters you missed last time while also trying to avoid any letter you now know for a fact isn’t present in today’s answer.
After that it’s just a case of using what you’ve learned to narrow your guesses down to the right word. You have six tries in total and can only use real words (so no filling the boxes with EEEEE to see if there’s an E). Don’t forget letters can repeat too (ex: BOOKS).
If you need any further advice feel free to check out our Wordle tips (opens in new tab), and if you’d like to find out which words have already been used you’ll find those below.
Originally, Wordle was dreamed up by software engineer Josh Wardle (opens in new tab), as a surprise for his partner who loves word games. From there it spread to his family, and finally got released to the public. The word puzzle game has since inspired tons of games like Wordle (opens in new tab), refocusing the daily gimmick around music or math or geography. It wasn’t long before Wordle became so popular it was sold to the New York Times for seven figures (opens in new tab). Surely it’s only a matter of time before we all solely communicate in tricolor boxes.
Feeling a little stuck with the daily Wordle? Don’t worry about it because I have all the help you could possibly need right here. Save your win streak with the answer to the January 4 (564) puzzle, take in a handy clue to help point you in the right direction, or brush up on some general hints and tips—it’s all just a short scroll away.
I was lucky enough to have a full row on my second go—a full row of yellows, that is. Knowing the answer’s right there but also definitely not is always a little confusing, so it was something of a relief to see them all turn green on my next go.
Wordle hint
A Wordle hint for Wednesday, January 4
The answer today refers to a thin sheet of something, a collection of objects placed neatly on top of another, or a covering for something else. Think of sliced potatoes on top of a dish, an extra jumper, a blanket on top of a bed, a fresh _____ of snow on the ground. There are two vowels to find today.
Wordle help: 3 tips for beating Wordle every day
If there’s one thing better than playing Wordle, it’s playing Wordle well, which is why I’m going to share a few quick tips to help set you on the path to success:
A good opener contains a balanced mix of unique vowels and consonants.
A tactical second guess helps to narrow down the pool of letters quickly.
The solution may contain repeat letters.
There’s no time pressure beyond making sure it’s done by midnight. So there’s no reason to not treat the game like a casual newspaper crossword and come back to it later if you’re coming up blank.
Today’s Wordle answer
(Image credit: Josh Wardle)
What is the Wordle 564 answer?
Let’s keep you winning. The January 4 (564) Wordle answer is LAYER.
Previous answers
Wordle archive: Which words have been used
The more past Wordle answers you can cram into your memory banks, the better your chances of guessing today’s Wordle answer without accidentally picking a solution that’s already been used. Past Wordle answers can also give you some excellent ideas for fun starting words that keep your daily puzzle solving fresh.
Here are some recent Wordle solutions:
January 3: ANTIC
January 2: SKIRT
January 1: WHINE
December 31: MANLY
December 30: MOLAR
December 29: HAVOC
December 28: IMPEL
December 27: CONDO
December 26: JUDGE
December 25: EXTRA
Learn more about Wordle
Every day Wordle presents you with six rows of five boxes, and it’s up to you to work out which secret five-letter word is hiding inside them.
You’ll want to start with a strong word (opens in new tab) like ALERT—something containing multiple vowels, common consonants, and no repeat letters. Hit Enter and the boxes will show you which letters you’ve got right or wrong. If a box turns ⬛️, it means that letter isn’t in the secret word at all. 🟨 means the letter is in the word, but not in that position. 🟩 means you’ve got the right letter in the right spot.
You’ll want your second go to compliment the first, using another “good” word to cover any common letters you missed last time while also trying to avoid any letter you now know for a fact isn’t present in today’s answer.
After that it’s just a case of using what you’ve learned to narrow your guesses down to the right word. You have six tries in total and can only use real words (so no filling the boxes with EEEEE to see if there’s an E). Don’t forget letters can repeat too (ex: BOOKS).
If you need any further advice feel free to check out our Wordle tips (opens in new tab), and if you’d like to find out which words have already been used you’ll find those below.
Originally, Wordle was dreamed up by software engineer Josh Wardle (opens in new tab), as a surprise for his partner who loves word games. From there it spread to his family, and finally got released to the public. The word puzzle game has since inspired tons of games like Wordle (opens in new tab), refocusing the daily gimmick around music or math or geography. It wasn’t long before Wordle became so popular it was sold to the New York Times for seven figures (opens in new tab). Surely it’s only a matter of time before we all solely communicate in tricolor boxes.
https://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1672823082_Todays-Wordle-564-answer-and-hint-for-Wednesday-January-4.jpg6071200Carlos Pachecohttps://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Website-Logo-300x74.pngCarlos Pacheco2023-01-04 08:05:252023-01-04 17:06:37Today’s Wordle 564 answer and hint for Wednesday, January 4
Wizards of the Coast, publisher of Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, has canceled at least five of the videogames it had in development, Bloomberg (opens in new tab) reports. The publisher declined to comment on individual games when PC Gamer reached out, offering the reply, “We remain committed to using digital games as a cornerstone of our strategy for bringing our games to players around the world. We have made some changes to our long-term portfolio to focus on games which are strategically aligned with developing our existing brands and those which show promise in expanding or engaging our audience in new ways.”
In 2019, Wizards of the Coast announced that it had “seven or eight” Dungeons & Dragons videogames in the works. That included Baldur’s Gate 3, currently in early access, and co-op brawler Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance, released to a mixed reception in 2021, but the other games have yet to come out or be formally announced. They may not all be in danger, however. The part of Wizards’ statement about focusing on “existing brands” suggests D&D-related projects might be safer than others.
We know that Hidden Path Entertainment, creator of the Defense Grid series, was working on a big-budget open world D&D game. It still has five job openings related to the project listed on its website (opens in new tab). Meanwhile Otherside Entertainment, the developer that counts immersive sim legends Paul Neurath and Warren Spector among its key staff, was working on a game set in the Forgotten Realms that Spector said was “going well” last year. Though its job listings have been taken down, they mentioned “multiplayer gameplay systems” and were accompanied by a picture of a halfling stealing a crime lord’s goldfish could be interpreted as suggesting a heist game? That might have been wishful thinking on my part.
Wizards of the Coast also has internal videogame studios. Tuque Games, developer of D&D: Dark Alliance, was acquired by Wizards and rebranded as Invoke Studios. A press release (opens in new tab) declared it was working on “a AAA game derived from the Dungeons & Dragons universe and developed on the Unreal 5 engine”. There’s also Skeleton Key Studio, which had yet to announce the project it was working on, and Archetype Entertainment, led by ex-BioWare developers including James Ohlen, working on a narrative RPG “set in a new science fiction universe”. It sure would be a shame to lose a sci-fi RPG with the lead designer of Knights of the Old Republic heading its studio.
Bloomberg reports that fewer than 15 Wizards of the Coast employees will lose their jobs as a result of these cancellations, and all of them will have the opportunity to apply for new roles within the publisher.
https://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1672797470_Wizards-of-the-Coast-has-reportedly-canceled-at-least-five.jpg7001200Carlos Pachecohttps://gamingarmyunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Website-Logo-300x74.pngCarlos Pacheco2023-01-04 01:40:132023-01-04 17:06:54Wizards of the Coast has reportedly canceled at least five videogames in development
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