Armory Staff

Ubisoft reveals that Assassin’s Creed Rogue is officially slated to launch on PC in early 2015. http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/Assassin%27s_Creed_Rogue_PC_Thumbnail.jpg?itok=oesDPbf1 View the full article

Looking to optimize your Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Evil Within experiences with the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX Game-Ready driver? Click to learn more and download. http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/news-featured-nvidia-geforce-drivers_12.jpg?itok=gnYOxgYG View the full article

Gearbox provides a sneak peek at some of the deadly firepower featured in its forthcoming FPS, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/Borderlands_TPS_Weapons.jpg?itok=UY71zGqe View the full article

Last week, the Battlefield 4 Fall Update released on all platforms bringing a wealth of changes to the Battlefield. Taking a look around, we wanted to see how it’s being received so that you and your friends can wreak havoc on land, sea and air once more. We’re happy to see all the positivity on [...] The post What is Everyone Saying about the Fall Update? appeared first on The Battlefield Blog. View the full article

Last week, the Battlefield 4 Fall Update released on all platforms bringing a wealth of changes to the Battlefield. Taking a look around, we wanted to see how it’s being received so that you and your friends can wreak havoc on land, sea and air once more. We’re happy to see all the positivity on our channels and yours. IMPRESSIONS FROM TOP PLAYERS http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-fall-update-impressions-1.png Rechyyy – https://twitter.com/rechyyy/status/517665690082635776 http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-fall-update-impressions-2.png Wintergore – https://twitter.com/Wintergore/status/517845489744904192 http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-fall-update-impressions-3.png Westie – https://twitter.com/MrProWestie/status/517640023144161280 VIDEOS & TUTORIALS FROM THE COMMUNITY JackFrags – BF4 PATCH – Important Stuff you need to know! XfactorGaming – Battlefield 4 2.0 How to be a better Noob – What is that sound? LevelCapGaming – BF4 Fall Patch Gun Changes – What You Need To Know | Battlefield 4 Gameplay Dontrevivemebro – CTE Fall Patch HUD UI Adjustments Tutorial TWEETS FROM THE COMMUNITY http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-fall-update-impressions-4.png https://twitter.com/LatinoJedi/status/517997240422772736 http://wp.battlelog.esn.me/en/files/2014/10/bf4-fall-update-impressions-mrsinterpret.png https://twitter.com/mrs_interpret/status/517857039432056832 http://wp.battlelog.esn.me/en/files/2014/10/bf4-fall-update-impressions-bdavis1998.png https://twitter.com/Bdavis1998Davis/status/519630567755624448 http://wp.battlelog.esn.me/en/files/2014/10/bf4-fall-update-impressions-officialimicca.png https://twitter.com/officialimicca/status/519632109955059712 http://wp.battlelog.esn.me/en/files/2014/10/bf4-fall-update-impressions-snapeliminator.png https://twitter.com/SnapELIMINATOR/statuses/517672846580277248 Thanks for your continued support and providing us feedback so that we can continue to make Battlefield 4 even more fun. Now squad up and PTFO! The post What is Everyone Saying about the Fall Update? appeared first on The Battlefield Blog. View the full article

The celebration of the Recon class in our second BF4 Class Week continues with a sneaky stroll down memory lane. Learn more about how the Recon has changed in appearance, name and weaponry over the years… Battlefield 1942 This is where it all started. Back when the Battlefield franchise was brand new, the origin [...] The post History of the Recon in Battlefield appeared first on The Battlefield Blog. View the full article

The celebration of the Recon class in our second BF4 Class Week continues with a sneaky stroll down memory lane. Learn more about how the Recon has changed in appearance, name and weaponry over the years… http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-history-of-recon-1.jpg Battlefield 1942 This is where it all started. Back when the Battlefield franchise was brand new, the origin of what we now call Recon was born. Binoculars and rifle in hand, the Scout class of Battlefield 1942 engaged enemies at long ranges and helped out the team by designating targets for allied artillery. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-history-of-recon-2.jpg http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-history-of-recon-3.jpg Battlefield 2 As with the other classes, the Sniper saw many changes as the Battlefield series transitioned to a modern-day setting. Concealed by the iconic ghillie suit and blessed with a higher moving speed, the Battlefield 2 Sniper was silent and deadly. Remember the Zip Line Crossbow gadget introduced in Battlefield 2: Special Forces? It’s an inspiration to a certain gadget in the upcoming Battlefield Hardline… http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-history-of-recon-4.jpg Battlefield 2142 Taking an even further leap into to the future, Battlefield 2142 equipped the sneaky class with a new name – Recon – and futuristic weaponry unlike anything we had seen before. The duties of taking out distant enemies and utilizing hi-tech gadgets were the same though. Putting down RDX (futuristic C4) and making ourselves almost invisible with the IT-33 Active Camouflage made the 22nd century a true blast for the Recon. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-history-of-recon-5.png http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-history-of-recon-6.png Battlefield 1943 Remember racking up headshots and marking targets on the timeless maps of Wake Island, Guadalcanal, and Iwo Jima? DICE remembers. In Battlefield 1943, the Scout also had access to TNT – previously bestowed upon other classes – which was put to great use when attached to empty vehicles we parked on strategic places. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-history-of-recon-7_2.png Battlefield: Bad Company 2 The enemy had to wake up pretty darn early in the AM to stand a chance against a skilled and seasoned Recon player in Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Besides delivering precise headshots concealed in camouflage, the Recon showed immense power via gadgets such as the all-time classic C4, the intelligence-gathering Motion Sensor, and the powerful Mortar Strike. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-history-of-recon-8_3.pnghttp://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-history-of-recon-9_2.png Battlefield 3 In Battlefield 3, the reconnaissance aspect of the Recon was expanded and through gadgets like the Motion Sensor we could gather invaluable intel on the enemies. The Recon could also give its squad a new, strategic spawn point with the handy Radio Beacon. However, in order to get enemies a sporting chance the Scope Glint was introduced, making the Recon a bit more visible when sniping at their foes. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-history-of-recon-101.jpg Battlefield 4 …and that takes us to the present. In Battlefield 4, the Recon is as important for the team as ever. We hope you are having tons of fun using Recon gadgets and perfecting your sniping by using the PLD and zeroing your rifle. Keep that Recon action going and remember to lay out lots of C4 – returned to the Recon’s arsenal as of Battlefield 4. We love stories from Battlefield veterans, so share your Battlefield 1942 Scout memories in the comments below! THE DEPICTION OF ANY WEAPON OR VEHICLE IN THIS GAME DOES NOT INDICATE AFFILIATION, SPONSORSHIP OR ENDORSEMENT BY ANY WEAPON OR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. The post History of the Recon in Battlefield appeared first on The Battlefield Blog. View the full article

Take a tour of the newly-minted offices of Boss Key Productions, then kick back with Cliff Bleszinski in a GAME24 live chat where he talks about his return to PC gaming, budgeting for today’s AAA game development, and the impact NVIDIA’s Maxwell architecture is having on the development of Project Bluestreak. http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/BossKey2.png?itok=KgkzVNsa View the full article

Introduced by popular demand through the Battlefield 4 Fall Update, the Classic Mode rule preset gives players even more choice in how to enjoy Battlefield 4 multiplayer. Since some of you may not know everything Classic Mode entails we wanted to provide you a little more detail. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-classic-mode-blog1.jpg Unlike Hardcore mode, all HUD elements, including health and ammo, are visible in Classic Mode. Increasing the Challenge Classic Mode is influenced by the play style of Battlefield 2 and is designed for players seeking stronger team play and tougher challenges in their multiplayer experience. Difficulty-wise, Classic Mode can be placed somewhere between Normal and Hardcore mode in Battlefield 4, with some of the assisting features removed or altered, and a heavy emphasis on working together as a team. The shape of Classic Mode comes from your feedback, and we at DICE have truly enjoyed trying out this preset together with the community. Let’s look at the major rule changes in Classic Mode: No 3D spotting: Spotting an enemy will not make a triangle-shaped icon appear above the enemy’s head in Classic Mode. Spotted enemies will however be visible on the mini-map as usual. Health and no regeneration: In Classic Mode, the health level is the same as in the Normal preset. However, the health of a soldier or a vehicle will not regenerate automatically, making Medpacks and Repair Tools even more crucial. Make sure to have the Engineer and Assault players nearby! Squad leader spawn: Your squad leader is now your lifeline to jumping into the heat of battle as you can’t spawn on your other squad members. Move as a squad and protect your squad leader in order to maintain the upper hand! Reloading: As every good Battlefield player knows: every bullet counts. In Classic Mode this is truer than ever, since a reload results in the loss of any remaining bullets in your mag. Grab a Support player with an Ammo box and hang tight to him if you want to keep pumping out bullets! No third-person vehicle cam: Jumping into a thrilling Classic Mode dogfight or tank battle? Then prepare to rely on your skills piloting vehicles in first person – and first person only. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-classic-mode-blog2.jpg When you’re deploying in Classic Mode you can only spawn on your squad leader. Other Features of Classic Mode Other Classic Mode rules worth mentioning is that Friendly Fire is turned off by default, and the Killcam is disabled. You’ll still see who killed you and with what weapon, but the orange silhouette of your foe and his position and direction from where you were killed won’t be there. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-classic-mode-blog3.jpg Finding Classic Mode Servers On PC, you’ll find the Classic Mode preset on Battlelog’s server browser, and on console in the in-game server browser. Scroll down to the “Preset†menu and tick the “Classic†box to search for servers running the mode. Choose “Apply Filterâ€, find a server that suits you, and hit the Battlefield! Setting up Classic Mode through Rent-A-Server Those who want to host their own servers running Classic Mode can do so through our Rent-A-Server program. Apart from altering server settings like game modes and map rotation, you can choose to setup BF4 games running Classic Mode. All details on Renting Battlefield 4 Servers Thank you for reading and have a blast trying out the new Classic Mode! We’re always listening to your comments and feedback, so make your voice heard in the comment section. The post Battlefield 4 Classic Mode Explained appeared first on The Battlefield Blog. View the full article

Konami confirms that Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is set to launch on Steam this holiday season, and will be followed by The Phantom Pain at a later date. http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/MGS_V_Steam_Launch_Thumbnail_0.jpg?itok=VRxqvR_6 View the full article

LED strips with thousands of colors and remote control can turn an ordinary gaming rig into a beacon of PC gaming awesomeness. Here’s how it’s done! http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/thumb-gfgarage-video4.jpg?itok=L5aHH1uP View the full article

Enhance your mobile gaming with faster frame rates, better battery life, and a raft of NVIDIA technologies that improve graphical fidelity and give you new ways to play. http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/NVcom-GF-GTX-980M_970M-Notebook-699x199-Header-2_1.jpg?itok=lxeemwjY View the full article

/files/u154082/dr_evil_billions.jpgJimmy and Sean disagree on whether or not it was wise of Microsoft to purchase Mojang for $2.5 billion Welcome to Maximum’s inaugural Maximum Debate article, a new opinion column where two Maximum PC editors duke it out over a specific topic. This time around, Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang and Contributing Editor Sean Knight debate the merits of whether or not it was a good idea for Microsoft to purchase Minecraft developer Mojang for $2.5 billion dollars. Read through the debate below and let us know where you stand by voting in our poll at the end of the article or by leaving a comment. Sean's opening statement: Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Minecraft developer Mojang has been the subject of many discussions lately. While the acquisition of Mojang is a good move on Microsoft’s part, the company paying $2.5 billion for the developer has surprised everyone. It’s a lot of money for a small developer with one successful game, so far, under its belt. But is Microsoft’s acquisition of Mojang worth it? I personally think that this deal is definitely worth it for the company. Not only is Minecraft a very popular title, but it has been downloaded 100 million times on the PC and, last we were told, had sold around 54 million units total over the various platforms it is on. It is a juggernaut that has captured the attention of not only older gamers, but the next generation of gamers, and there is no sign of its popularity waning anytime soon. /files/u166440/minecraft_004.jpg Should we be counting our chickens yet? Jimmy's opening statement: To put how much money 2.5 BILLION dollars into perspective, that’s roughly 2.5x the amount Amazon bought the world’s most popular game streaming website Twitch for (which some suggest is also too much). In general, if you were to ask me about all these massive tech buyouts, I’d say it’s unsustainable and is a bubble just waiting to burst, but that’s a different matter. Off the top of my head, I’d say there’s really only three current gaming franchises that are perhaps worth that pretty penny moving forward: League of Legends, Dota 2, and the World of Warcraft. Like Minecraft, all those aforementioned games have a large player base, but unlike the Mojang-developed title, they are cash cows that consistently bring in revenue via either a monthly subscription or micro-transactions. They are, for the most part, rock solid revenue generators. As Minecraft stands right now, you spend $20-something bucks and you’re all set. I would imagine Microsoft will try to monetize the game further with micro-transactions, but considering that most of the Minecraft audience isn’t used to that business model, an abrupt shift could be off putting and hurt the existing community. Furthermore, how do we know that Minecraft hasn’t hit critical mass and reached saturation? While you could also say that of the other aforementioned games I've mentioned, I’d argue that they’re still safer bets considering they bring in a constant barrage of money via micro-transactions each month from huge user bases. That’s not to say that Minecraft isn’t a cash cow in its own right. Considering the game has sold 54 million copies to date across all platforms, it’s certainly also in a league of its own. But when you crunch the numbers, there's still a steep hill to climb in making $2.5 billion moving forward. Considering the game sells for $27 (with the mobile and console versions being significantly cheaper, but we’ll disregard that), total revenue equates to around $1.4 billion in a best-case scenario. This is no small chunk of change, mind you, but that’s still more than $1 billion shy of what Microsoft paid for the developer, and roughly the amount Microsoft had to lay down to resolve that nasty red ring catastrophe with the Xbox 360. And again, who’s to say that Minecraft hasn’t already reached critical mass? I can understand why Microsoft would want Mojang and Minecraft, but in my humble opinion, they should take a lesson on learning how to buy low to sell high. /files/u166440/minecraft_055.jpg A storm is brewing over this debate Sean's rebuttle: Minecraft is far from reaching critical mass. There is still a huge market for it on PCs, consoles, and mobile devices. It’s safe to say that Minecraft has been a cash cow for Mojang as well. In addition to selling the game, there are LEGO Minecraft sets and a variety of merchandise such as plushies, hoodies, foam pickaxes, keychains, stickers, cups, caps, and more. On consoles, there are texture packs that are being sold to gamers and even themed-texture packs for games such as Halo. As for mobile devices, the pocket edition is in the Top 10 apps for both Android and iOS devices on a consistent basis. So imagine if Microsoft were to start offering mobile users texture packs for sale? But Microsoft could take things even further. Just look at its Halo franchise. That franchise has had a webseries, will have a live TV series debuting later this year, and a Halo channel that will be launching soon. A Halo channel dedicated solely to Halo! So I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw something similar with Minecraft from cartoons to, as crazy as it sounds, a movie. Minecraft may not have a story, but this game is appealing to a ton of kids. Kids who tend to go on YouTube to watch Let’s Play and Minecraft-related videos. That is the target audience Microsoft will, presumedly, focus on. An audience that will continue to grow unless Microsoft screws things up. We also have to look at China, now that Microsoft’s Xbox One has just launched there since the country’s 14-year ban on consoles has been lifted. So far, there are only 10 games available for the Xbox One in China and titles such as Halo are not among them due to Chinese regulators being wary of violent games. This means that Minecraft could easily be brought over to the Chinese market. I also believe that Minecraft is the equivalent of Nintendo’s Mario and LEGOs rolled into one. For many, Mario was the gaming icon for a generation of gamers while LEGO continues to be relevant and profitable because it appeals to the imagination of children. Minecraft is this generation’s Mario and could have the endurance similar of that to the LEGO brand. Microsoft just needs to be smart and continue to cultivate the audience that has grown around Mojang and Minecraft. /files/u166440/minecraft_002.jpg Does the deal provide endless possibilities? Jimmy's rebuttle: While it is debateable whether or not Minecraft has reached critical mass, Mojang did lose its prominent founder Markus “Notch†Persson, which would be akin to the Mario franchise losing Shigeru Miyamoto (game designer behind Mario and Zelda). In other words, it’s a big blow to the franchise. And without Notch’s presence, who’s to say Microsoft won’t screw the franchise up? After all, they turned Rare from the beloved developer of Goldeneye to an average developer making mediocre Kinect games. /files/u166440/goldeneye_box.jpg Before Microsoft bought Rare In regards to your comments about them being able to push Xbox Ones in China, I highly doubt it will have much of an impact unfortunately due to the high amount of piracy that happens there. /files/u166440/kinect_sports.jpg After Microsoft bought Rare Moreover, if Minecraft falters, they have no other established IPs to rely on considering Mojang has ever only made one game. Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket. When Activision acquired Blizzard, at least they got WoW, StarCraft, and Diablo. /files/u166440/minecraft_foam_sword.jpg Do these swords look like they are worth $2.5 billion to you? And sure, they can try to make a Minecraft TV show (though I find that a little challenging considering, as you mentioned, there is no story to Minecraft) and they’ll continue to sell Minecraft foam axes and whatnot, but call me skeptical, but I don’t think they’ll be able to sell $2.5 billion worth of it. That's what we think anyways, what do you think? Vote in the poll below! Do you think Microsoft purchasing Mojang for $2.5 billion was a good deal? A) Yes, I think it was a good dealB) No, I don't think it's a good deal pollcode.com free polls View the full article

The founders of Epic Games reflect on the impact of the GPU in the evolution of PC gaming graphics, and chortle over that classic 1997 “Next Generation†cover featuring Unreal. http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/Epic2.png?itok=5grD_m9s View the full article

In the cavernous studio where Assassin’s Creed Unity is being developed, Ubisoft Montreal drops some hints about what the Revolution has in store for PC gamers. http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/Ubi3.png?itok=fv0UpQ5s View the full article

A by-the-numbers look at our first of its kind gaming celebration. http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/game24-thumb.jpg?itok=AKCrQZm4 View the full article

/monthly_10_2014/post-2-0-30710300-1412354854.jpgMicrosoft confirms that DirectX 12 will be included in the final release of Windows 10 In case you were wondering, Microsoft fully intends to bake DirectX 12 support into the final version of Windows 10 when it releases next year, the company confirmed in a DX developer blog post. Oh, and also in case you were wondering, Microsoft thinks "it's going to be awesome," which is much better than the company saying, "Meh, it's simply okay. Actually, it kind of sucks, but we're including it anyway." Game developers who want to get a head start playing with the API can register for the DirectX Early Access Program. Those who are accepted will receive updated runtimes, API headers, drivers, documentation, and samples, all of which Microsoft says will work with the Windows 10 Technical Preview. But wait, there's more! Microsoft has teamed up with Epic to create a DX12 branch on the Unreal Engine 4 GitHub repository. It supports UE 4.4, which is the latest publicly released version of the Unreal 4 Engine. Those who also subscribe to Unreal Engine 4 can join Microsoft's open development project. Like AMD's Mantle technology, the DX12 API offers developers deeper access into hardware to improve performance. It also introduces a set of new rendering pipeline features that Microsoft says will "dramatically improve the efficiency of algorithms." Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook View the full article

The timeless dungeon brawler returns in a gripping new adventure you can play on the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet and SHIELD Portable via GameStream. http://www.geforce.com/sites/default/files-world/styles/210x100/public/thumbnail_image/Featured_SHIELD_Game_Gauntlet_Header_Art.jpg?itok=yGJx2oXk View the full article

/monthly_10_2014/post-2-0-51718500-1412354677_thumb.jpgKick Windows 10's tires for free Microsoft surprised quite a few people yesterday when it unveiled its next generation of Windows. It wasn't that Microsoft announced a new version of Windows, but that it decided to skip over Windows 9 and go straight to Windows 10. The reason behind the decision is because the new version is the beginning of a new era for the Windows platform, so Microsoft decided it warranted a numerical skip. Curious about the new OS? If you join the Windows Insider program (free), you can download and install the Windows 10 Technical Preview today (also free). "As a member of the Windows Insider community, you will have an active role in helping us build Windows 10 and be among the first to see new stuff," Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc explains in a blog post. "You will automatically receive new builds as we release them with the latest features we’re experimenting with – and our freshest bugs. Some of these features may not be fully 'baked' – meaning they may not work correctly as you are seeing these features as we work on them. And there’s no guarantee that what you see will be part of the final release. But as a Windows Insider, you’ll have the ability to impact and influence those types of product decisions." Keep in mind that this is pre-release software you'd be dealing with, so it's probably not wise to install the Technical Preview on a mission critical system or any other rig that favors reliability. However, if you're curious about Windows 10 and want to help shape the direction it goes in, this is your chance to give it a spin and let your voice be heard. There's a Windows Feedback app you can use to report any issues you run into, or to simply tell Microsoft, "Hey, I don't like this feature and that feature," but hopefully with more detail than that. Also bear in mind that what you see today isn't the whole Windows 10 package. The final version will ship in 2015, and by then, it's likely to look and act a bit differently than what the Technical Preview portrays at this moment in time. All that said, if you still want to check out the Windows 10 Technical Preview, click here and follow the instructions. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook View the full article

Picking off enemies from afar and infiltrating enemy lines, the Recon is the sneaky, versatile hero of the Battlefield. In a new BF4 Class Week, veteran Battlefield developer Thomas Andersson gives you his thoughts on the class, and announces a Recon-based Community Mission! http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-class-week-recon-1.jpg A Versatile Class The first thing that springs to mind hearing the word “Recon†is usually the lone wolf with nerves of steel, sniping at enemies from great distances. Although that is of course one key factor, the Recon class is one of the most versatile in Battlefield 4. From Battlefield 2 and onward, the class has basically been shaped by two kits merging into one. So now, in Battlefield 4, the Recon fulfills two main fantasies: being the long range marksman and the spec ops infiltrator, scouting behind enemy lines. Personally, although I love sniping and experimenting with rifles and scopes, I tend to prefer the spec ops infiltrator type when playing Recon – making sure we can insert behind enemy lines and take objectives. The AK5C is a favorite carbine of mine, and of course I take advantage of the Spec Ops field upgrade. As you’ll see in the Pro Tips below, mastering all the gadgets is also key to success. And speaking of gadgets, we have a challenge for you… http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-class-week-recon-2.jpg Recon Community Mission: Get 4 Million C4 Kills C4 explosives is one of the most beloved gadgets in Battlefield history, and in Battlefield 4 we brought the gadget back to the Recon class. Its ability to stick to any surface (including vehicles) makes C4 ideal for experimentation and often hilarious results. Now, we want you to take on a Recon Community Mission and get 4 Million kills using C4. This mission will be active between Oct 1, 9AM PDT, and October 8, 2AM PDT. I will do my part and I hope to see a lot of my “class mates†do the same this week! There is an exclusive Recon wallpaper artwork in it for you if you succeed… http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bf4-class-week-recon-3.jpg Recon Shortcut Kit Sale For those who quickly want to sample all the guns and gadgets the Recon class has to offer, the Recon Shortcut Kit is a great way to make up for lost time, or just catch up if you’re new to the game. In celebration of the Recon week, we can offer you a 30% discount on this kit – available on all formats worldwide, except for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, which will only be available in North America. The sale is active between September 30, 2014 and October 6, 2014. 30% Off on the Recon Shortcut Kit Top 4 Recon Pro Tips Sniping: Be Patient! It can be argued that the Recon is the most complex Battlefield 4 class to master. Learning about distance to your target, how the bullet travels and drops, and zeroing your rifle can be overwhelming, but you’re in for a sweet reward when those headshots start pouring in. Find Your Happy Place Knowing the maps of Battlefield 4 and where you can take your dear Recon to maximize its abilities is crucial. Yes, there are benefits of staying in the same place for a while (even though some will yell the C-word at you) but consider moving after you got a kill since your enemy will know your location. All Them Gadgets The Recon has a great amount of gadgets to play around with. You should master them all. An important function of the recon kit is intel gathering for your team like spotting your enemies and for that purpose you should learn all about the T-UGS, PLD, Motion Sensor, SOFLAM, and MAV. Help Your Team Spawn Another signature function the Recon provides for the squad is the ability to place spawn points in strategic places through the use of the Radio Beacon gadget. To play the objective and truly be a team player, learn where these strategic places are and communicate with your team. Best wishes to all Recon players out there. I hope you will enjoy this Class Week, kick ass in the Community Mission Thomas Andersson Creative Director, Battlefield 4 | DICE LA  Community Mission Disclaimer: THIS OFFER IS BEING ISSUED TO YOU FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CREDIT, CHARGE, DEBIT OR GIFT CARD. REQUIRES BATTLEFIELD 4 (“PRODUCTâ€) ON APPLICABLE PLATFORM AND INTERNET CONNECTION TO PARTICIPATE. VALID WHEREVER BATTLEFIELD 4 IS OFFERED. MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER, GIFT CARD, REBATE OR DISCOUNT COUPON. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED, TAXED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.  Recon Shortcut Kit 30% off Disclaimer: THIS OFFER IS BEING ISSUED TO YOU FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CREDIT, CHARGE, DEBIT OR GIFT CARD. OFFER EXPIRES OCTOBER 6, 2014 AT 12:00AM PDT. VALID FOR NEW PURCHASES OF BATTLEFIELD 4 RECON SHORTCUT KIT (“PRODUCT”) FROM MICROSOFT AND SONY DIGITAL STOREFRONTS. VALUE OF DISCOUNT WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM PRODUCT LIST PRICE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. BATTLEFIELD 4 FOR APPLICABLE PLATFORM (NOT INCLUDED IN PRODUCT) REQUIRED TO PLAY. FOR PC, XBOX 360 AND XBOX ONE, OFFER VALID WHEREVER PRODUCT IS SOLD. FOR PLAYSTATION 3 AND PLAYSTATION 4, OFFER VALID ONLY IN U.S., CANADA, MEXICO. LIMIT ONE OFFER PER PERSON. OFFER MAY NOT BE SUBSTITUTED, EXCHANGED, SOLD OR REDEEMED FOR CASH OR OTHER GOODS OR SERVICES. MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER, GIFT CARD, REBATE OR OTHER DISCOUNT COUPONS. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING, HANDLING AND APPLICABLE SALES TAX. RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND EMPLOYEES OF ELECTRONIC ARTS INC. AND THEIR AGENCIES/AFFILIATES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED, TAXED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. The post BF4 Class Week: The Recon appeared first on The Battlefield Blog. View the full article

SteelSeries talks gaming headsets, mechanical keyboards, gaming mice, and more! SteelSeries wanted to drop by to show off its latest Sibera gaming headsets so we thought we would round them up in the podcast room to talk about that and more. In addition to headset talk, on episode 233 of the No BS Podcast, we discuss mechanical keyboards, wired/wireless gaming mice, the possibility of future Steam Machine peripherals, potential VR controllers, and much more. As we’ve stated before, the old podcast format isn’t going anywhere, but we want the Maximum PC No BS Podcast to be the place where all the coolest PC industry insiders come. Are there any guests/companies that you would like to have on the show? Let us know in the comments below! /files/u160416/rss-audiomp3.png /files/u160416/chicklet_rss-2_0.png /files/u160416/chicklet_itunes.gif Subscribe to the magazine for only 99 cents an issue: In print On Zinio On Google Play On iTunes On the Amazon Kindle Store On the Barnes & Noble Nook Store Stalk us in a number of ways: Become a fan on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to us on Youtube Subscribe to our RSS feed Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes email us at: maximumpcpodcast AT gmail DOT com Leave us a voicemail at 877-404-1337 x1337 View the full article

Many of you have been asking about the Battlefield 4 Fall Update and we’re excited to tell you that it is now live. This update enhances and improves a wealth of things with Battlefield 4. Read below for the full list and we’ll see you on the Battlefield. http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/bf4-fallpatch-berdu-1.jpg Screenshot by: Berduu A Huge Thank You Before we roll into the updates for the game we want to thank you, the Battlefield community, and especially those taking part in the Community Test Environment (CTE). We’ve been listening to all your feedback and it has been tremendous. It’s because of that feedback that we’ve been able to implement so many tweaks and changes with this update. So once again, thank you from the entire Battlefield team. Keep it coming because we are listening! http://blogscdn.battlefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/bf4-fallpatch-berdu-2.jpg Screenshot by: Berduu What We are Improving We want to highlight a few key updates and enhancements we’ve made based on your feedback, but if you’d like to dive deeper into the full update notes they can be found at the link here: Full Battlefield 4 Update Notes Core Changes Here are some of the tweaks and changes we’ve made to BF4 with this update. We’ll continue to listen to your feedback to see how we can further improve the BF4 experience so keep that feedback coming. - Player movement has been improved to more closely match that of Battlefield 3, while still maintaining the animation fidelity of Battlefield 4. - The High Frequency Network Update has now been added to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and is set to default. This makes the server update the client on what is happening with greater frequency, resulting in a smoother, more “correct†player experience. - Reduced visual recoil of guns. This includes all medium and close range sights (except iron sights, IRNV and FLIR). - The BF4 â€netcode†has seen several tweaks and is now the fastest in the franchise’s history, counting client-to-client values. The delay is now lower than ever, and we’re also looking to improve hit detection. Classic Mode By popular demand, the Fall Update introduces a new preset called “Classic Modeâ€. Rules on these servers hone back to Battlefield 2/3 and are designed for skilled players looking for more of a challenge and seeking stricter rules. For instance, you are able to spawn on only the squad leader in Classic Mode, increasing the challenge and need for greater tactical thinking as a squad leader. In-Game UI streamlined We’ve also made several improvements and customization options to the Battlefield 4 HUD. The user interface is more intuitive than ever, and you can now tinker with settings to find a display that suits your needs on the Battlefield the best. For instance, you can change settings for the in-world icons that are visible when aiming down the sights. Some players don’t want to see their teammates in this view, and that is something you can toggle on and off. Furthermore: the size of the mini map can be increased by up to 250% and you can also change the transparency of icons to your liking. Once again, see the full update notes for details. Again, these are just a few of the improvements and enhancements the Fall Update introduces to BF4. Thanks again for all the Battlefield fans out there and your continued support, keep the feedback coming because we are listening. We look forward to seeing you on the Battlefield! Game On! Fredrik Loving General Manager, DICE LA The post Battlefield 4 “Fall Update†Now Live appeared first on The Battlefield Blog. View the full article

Cross your fingers the launch goes smoother than BF4's did Battlefield 4's launch went about as smooth as the Andrea Gail's trip out to sea in the nonfiction book-turned-movie The Perfect Storm. Hey, at least BF4 didn't sink -- the developers eventually ironed out most of the bugs and server issues, though it's understandable that some gamers are worried about Battlefield: Hardline going through similar growing pains. There's no need to be, according to Ian Milham, creative director for Visceral Games, who says that Battlefield: Hardline is in "great shape." Heath Hindman, a journalist for Game Revolution, caught up with Milham at the Tokyo Game Show and had a short chat about the upcoming game. Hindman said he expressed concern over Hardline's ability to fully function at launch considering that BF4 had several issues. "What you're basically asking is, 'Is your gaming going to work?' and the answer is yes, it's gonna work," Milham said, adding that his development team began work more than a year before Battlefield 4 was released. "We've been working with the DICE guys for a long time; some of our engineering work is actually in Battlefield 4 and things they've been doing since then. It's in pretty great shape now and all that work is gonna come into what we're doing doing." That's not to say there won't be some hiccups. In fact, Milham readily admits that bugs are virtually unavoidable when dealing with a game as big as Hardline, especially when planning for five different platforms. However, he doesn't foresee any major issues like there were with BF4. "We taking shipping a working game pretty seriously," Milham said. "So yes, the game will work." Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook View the full article

Driver version: 14.301.1001 View the full article

http://www.maximumpc.com/files/windows_9_1_1.jpg ‘Threshold’ will be officially unveiled on September 30, 2014 Microsoft has scheduled a special invite-only event for Tuesday, September 30, 2014, where it is widely expected to introduce the next version of its popular desktop operating system (codenamed “Threshold†but popularly referred to as Windows 9). As is usually the case, the event’s imminence hasn’t resulted in a moratorium on Windows 9 rumors and speculation, but instead caused the tech rumor mill to kick into high gear, with the latest juicy Windows 9-related tidbit coming to us all the way from Indonesia — and apparently straight from the horse’s mouth. According to Indonesian news portal Detik, existing Windows 8 users will be able to upgrade to Microsoft’s next operating system absolutely free of cost. And how exactly do they know this, you ask? Well, Microsoft Indonesia president Andreas Diantoro said so in Jakarta Thursday. Actually, rumors to this effect have been doing the rounds for sometime now but this is the first time that someone from Microsoft — someone as powerful as Diantoro at that — has commented on the subject, let alone outright confirmed the rumor. Although this particular report is silent on the upcoming operating system’s likely cost for those who don’t own a Windows 8 copy, Russian Microsoft leaker WZOR last month claimed that Microsoft was readying an “awesome’ upgrade offer for Windows XP users. Follow Pulkit on Google+ View the full article