Battlefield 4 PC Benchmarked - Notebookcheck.net

Even though the Battlefield 3 graphics were stunning, its successor manages even more. BF 4 is one of the few PC titles to attain to the same graphics quality as Crysis 3, and in some places it even surpasses it. Alongside the tack-sharp textures, the effects are particularly jaw-dropping. Whether you're talking about light, shadows, water, smoke, snow or any other kind of particle: DICE deserves no criticism.

We must say, though, that the developers have perhaps overdone it a bit. If the player's character is blinded by the sun or some other reflective object and shot at from all directions (flying sparks, vision distortion, mud on the “camera”, etc.), you can hardly tell what's happening in the game. Destructible level elements contribute to the chaos, though they also make the atmosphere even more thrilling.

In general, the environments are chock-full of detail. DICE put a lot of effort into saturating the campaign with spirit. Speaking of environments: While some levels -- as per usual with ego-shooter games -- are built very linearly, in some scenes you get a surprising amount of freedom, which evokes the multi-player feeling. As our screenshots prove, the campaign certainly isn't short of impressive panoramas.

Unfortunately, being so young, the technology still has its problems. In our several hours of testing, we encountered a variety of issues. One time, the game complained of missing DirectX 9 files, even though everything was up-to-date. On another notebook, Origin supposedly wasn't correctly installed. Every now and then, in single player mode the game crashed -- despite the fact that we were using current (beta) drivers (desktop system with Radeon R9 280X and Windows 7 64 bit).


 

Playstation 4 launch : The aftermath

Sony’s PlayStation 4 has had an interesting launch week, with a ridiculous unboxing trailer, reports of numerous problems with already shipped units and a huge game reveal. How has the Internet responded now that the PlayStation 4 has been released in North America?

The PlayStation 4 was released in North America on November 15, allowing Sony to focus on this launch before the console comes out in Europe on November 29. In contrast, Xbox One will release in both territories on November 22.

Sony further attempted to reduce launch problems by allowing the important day one update for the PlayStation 4, which contained many key software features, to be pre-downloaded from its website – to be transferred to the console via a USB stick. That way, the strain on Sony’s servers would be reduced.

Nevertheless, some users reported problems with the PlayStation Network. In addition, a number of users reported broken HDMI cables, error messages upon attempting to download games, problems with ejecting discs and the ominous Red Line of Death.

Sony maintains that these problems are limited to 0.4% of shipped PlayStation 4 consoles. The omnipresence of social media has likely exaggerated the extent of the problems; this is the first major console release (sorry, Wii U) since Twitter and Facebook have taken hold.

In addition, the launch line-up of PlayStation 4 games is hardly strong, with lukewarm reviews received for PlayStation 4 exclusives Knack and Killzone: Shadow Fall. Further exclusives such as Infamous: Second Son and Uncharted 4 will of course strengthen the PlayStation 4′s position over the Xbox One, but for now, at least, gamers are left with very few reasons to choose the PlayStation 4 over the Xbox One, in terms of games.

Commentators have also discussed the importance of the next generation consoles. Does the popularity of mobile gaming diminish the significance of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One releases or does it highlight the gulf in quality and class between the platforms? What about PCs? It appears that this generation of consoles barely match up to the specs of current mid-range gaming PCs.

What have been your initial experiences with the PlayStation 4? Are you happy with your purchase?






 

Weekend Hot Topic, part 2: Xbox One and PS4 launch games

GameCentral readers name the next gen launch games they’re most looking forwards to, from Killzone: Shadow Fall to Ryse.

With the Xbox One out next week and the PlayStation 4 the week after the latest Hot Topic focuses on the first wave of games being released for both new consoles. Which ones do you find the most interesting and what do you think of each launch line-up – and how do you think they compare to the launch of previous consoles?

The response was not ecstatic and although many admitted to looking forwards to the new consoles few expected any of the exclusives to be especially memorable. In fact cross-generational games Lego Marvel and Battlefield 4 seemed to be the most eagerly awaited, rather than anything from Sony or Microsoft.

 

How to Sell Your PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 for the Best Price

The release of the next-gen Sony PlayStation 4$517.96 at Walmart and Microsoft Xbox One$499.99 at Microsoft Store consoles are upon us, which means your Sony PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 is on its way out. But before you spend $399 for a PS4 or $499 for an Xbox One, why not get some cash for your old system? (Assuming you're not worried about the lack of backwards compatibility with old games at least, in which case you may want to hold on to your old beast for a bit longer.)

As you may have guessed, there are plenty of sites and stores that will give you cash or credit for your PS3 and Xbox 360. Prices vary depending on the condition and storage capacity of your console, but every dollar helps. The $38 or so you could get for your 250GB Xbox 360 won't cover the cost of a new console, but it will bring in over half of what you'll pay for the new Call of Duty: Ghosts$59.96 at Amazon.

But first, a word of advice: don't pack up your past pastime pal until you've removed your personal info by reformatting your PS3 or your Xbox 360. You don't want the new owner having access to your passwords or credit card info after all.

Once you're ready to sell, check out our list of the top places to take your PS3 or Xbox 360 off your hands. Then ship off your old console and decide which new system you want by consulting "Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4: Upcoming Consoles Compared." If you're not much of a gamer and are ditching your old console, but you're not sure if it's worth getting a new one, read "PS4 or Xbox One: Which Game Console Is Best for Non-Gamers?"

Ready to check out how much you can cash out for?
Usell
The brand, model, and condition of your console are the only info Usell needs to get you offers from its partners. Select one, get a shipping kit sent to you, then pack up the system and wait to get paid by PayPal or check.

BuyMyTronics.com
Type in your console on BuyMyTronics.com, choose the model you have, and check off its condition and components. You'll get a price quote, and if you accept it you can either print out a label or wait for a shipping kit to arrive and send off your console. About a week later you'll receive your money by your choice of PayPal or check.

NextWorth
On NextWorth simply get a quote, then print out a prepaid shipping label and pack up your PlayStation or Xbox. In about a week you'll receive payment in the form of either a Discover prepaid card, Target gift card, or via check or PayPal.






 

GameStop hosting Xbox One pre-launch events

GameStop will hold Xbox One pre-launch events on Sunday, November 17 at all U.S. stores where shoppers can trade in hardware and receive a 90 percent trade-in bonus credit if applied to paying off a preordered Xbox One. GameStop help similar events earlier this month for the PlayStation 4, which is now officially on sale.Customers are free to trade in software and accessories for trade-in credit, but the 90 percent offer is only good when applied toward paying off a preordered Xbox One. The same parameters were in place for the special PS4 offer.Looking ahead to launch, GameStop said it is currently finalizing midnight launch plans. All eligible stores will remain open the evening of November 21 for the midnight release and those who have a preordered unit can officially purchase the system at 12:01 a.m. local time on November 22.Microsoft is also hosting Xbox One midnight launch parties. The company's festivities will kick off in New Zealand (where 20 tiger sand sharks are guarding the first Xbox One), and will continue on to marquee events in New York City and Los Angeles.

Need for Speed Rivals Review

Twenty titles in a single franchise… Think about that for a minute. Could you imagine Uncharted 20, or twenty iterations of anything other than a sports related game? How do you keep a franchise fresh and new when you already have nineteen games in the franchise? Here are a few hints: new cars, new maps, new challenges, upgraded graphics.

The Need for Speed franchise started out back in 1994 while some of our readers weren’t even born yet, and here we are 19 years later, with a brand new generation of consoles and a brand new installment to the long-lived and fast-paced franchise. Developer Ghost Games, with help from Criterion, took a lot of elements from previous titles, added in some cool new features, and created a game suited to kick off the next generation in style.

The game gives you two full careers to race through, as it lets you play as both a cop and a mysterious racer named Zephyr. These are two separate and unique experiences, with their own cars (for the most part), their own game types, and each with their own progression and career level. Swapping between careers is as simple as getting to a hideout or a command post and selecting the opposite career from your menu. Playing through the tutorial for both before completely diving into one or the other is the best way to understand how to play the game and can help you get into the mindset of your opponent, AI or otherwise.

New cars are unlocked by completing a set of objectives called speedlists, and completing these speedlists earns you—wait for it—speedpoints. While new cars are given to the cops once they are unlocked, racers must use speedpoints to purchase cars once they unlock them. While that doesn’t exactly seem fair, we must assume that the taxpayers of Redview County are footing the bill, which in essence means it’s the racers that are helping the cops get better and faster cars (if they do happen to pay taxes).

NFS games can generally be split into two types of gameplay: simulation or arcade. Need for Speed Rivals is clearly an arcade racer when it comes to driving, but looks more like a sim when you check out the modeling, details and designs of the cars. These are real world machines with names like Bugatti, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, and the return of Ferrari, to name just a few. Now I’m not exactly sure how any police department in any country could afford a Bugatti Veyron cruiser, but the Redwood County PD seems to have figured out how to snag one. I’m thinking it must have been a drug related forfeiture.



 

Project CARS Now Headed to Xbox One, PS4, and Valve’s Steam OS

 

Need for Speed Shift developer Slightly Mad Studios has announced that its crowd-funded racing title Project CARS will now be coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Steam OS in 2014.

“Project CARS has always led the pack in terms of insane detail,” said head of studio Ian Bell in a statement. “Whether that’s graphically in the craftsmanship of our cars and tracks, technically in the way we’ve approached weather and time of day, or emotionally in how each car feels and responds to your touch.”

“These powerful new platforms allow us therefore to not compromise on the quality of our vision and ultimately that means players are going to experience something truly breathtaking when they get behind the wheel.”

Project CARS will be available for the PS4, Xbox One, Steam OS, PC, and Wii U later next year. Versions for Xbox 360 and PS3 are no longer mentioned.

“Tens of thousands” of fans have already been playing in-development builds of Project CARS on PC as Slightly Mad Studios works towards the finished project.

 

Need for Speed Rivals - Launch Trailer

Top games for Sony Playstation 4

Sony PlayStation 4 display at a store in Chicago. While the PlayStation 4 came out on Friday in the US, the Xbox One, goes on sale next week.

Sony's PlayStation 4 is now in stores, ushering in a new era of high-definition video games. Perhaps you've already read the largely enthusiastic reviews, pored over the tech specs and watched the eye-catching online videos. And you've decided to fork over $400 and invite the new machine into your home.

Of course, you have to buy some games too. That's easier than ever, thanks to the online PlayStation Store, through which you can download any of the 22 PS4 games now available. If you prefer the more traditional approach - buying a game on a disc that comes in a plastic box - you can drive back to the mall and grab 14 of those items.

Whichever way you go, here are the best titles available so far for the PS4:

* "Need for Speed Rivals" (Electronic Arts, $59.99): This addictive arcade racer pits cops against crooks in an alternate California that's blissfully free of traffic jams. The cars and environments look gorgeous, but what makes "Rivals" compelling is the smooth flow of events. You can start off in an innocuous head-to-head race and end up on the run from half the highway patrol.

* "Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag" (Ubisoft, $59.99): This swashbuckling pirate adventure, set in the Caribbean during the 1700s, is even more rousing with the PS4's vivid graphics. When the waves are crashing onto the deck of your ship, you can almost taste the salt water.

* "NBA 2K14" (2K Sports, $59.99): The reigning champion of sports sims bounces into the next generation with a new "Eco-Motion" engine. Not only are physics, lighting and player animations more realistic, but the ballers seem to react emotionally to events during the game. You don't want to make Kobe Bryant angry.

* "Battlefield 4" (Electronic Arts, $59.99): Console warriors have never before seen combat on such an epic scale. You can join forces with or against up to 63 other humans online, and EA's "Levolution" system turns the theater of war into a constantly changing circus of destruction. Think gunfire is scary? How about having a skyscraper collapse on you?

* "Killzone: Shadow Fall" (Sony, $59.99): The only shooter built from the ground up for the PS4, "Killzone" is a somewhat hackneyed tale of humans fighting a relentless alien foe. But it looks phenomenal, showing off the machine's graphic power with breathtaking landscapes and an uncanny attention to detail.

* "Skylanders Swap Force" (Activision, $74.99): The Skylanders phenomenon - collectible figurines who come to life on your TV screen - has exploded over the past two years. "Swap Force" was already the best of the Skylanders adventures, but on the PS4, the animation approaches Pixar quality. Best of all: If your kids already own a bunch of the figurines from earlier years, they can still play with them on the PS4.

The following are available via download only:

* "Resogun" (Sony, $14.99): This retro outer-space shoot-em-up will appeal to fans of the arcade classic "Defender." It's a fast-paced, nerve-racking test of reflexes as you fight off wave after wave of smartly designed alien invaders. Before you set off that smart bomb, be prepared for a jaw-dropping fireworks show.

* "Flower" (thatgamecompany, free): This mellow, contemplative journey * you control the wind as it races across a meadow - is even more hypnotic on the PS4, whose graphic prowess brings every bit of grass to life. And Sony's new DualShock 4 controller, with its upgraded motion sensors, makes exploring this peaceable kingdom smoother and more intuitive than ever.

Microsoft congratulates Sony on PS4 launch

Microsoft has spoken out to congratulate Sony on the recent launch of the PlayStation 4, with various Xbox executives and team members praising their rival last night on Twitter.

"Congrats to the PS4 team on the launch of the PlayStation 4," Microsoft Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer said, calling out Sony executives Jack Tretton, Shuhei Yoshida, and Adam Boyes by name.

In addition, Xbox Live director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb said, "Congratulations to @PlayStation on their North American launch. cc [Shuhei Yoshida] and [Adam Boyes]."

The praise was reciprocated, with Yoshida responding, "Thanks, Larry. Your turn next week!," while Boyes said, "Thanks, Larry. Good luck next week!"

The Xbox One launches next Friday, November 22. Microsoft will hold midnight launch parties across the world, including marquee events in New York City and Los Angeles featuring concerts from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (NYC) and Deadmau5 (Los Angeles).

GameSpot will have more video and written content on the Xbox One leading up to launch. Keep checking back for more.


 

Playstation "defines gaming" says Sony

The PlayStation brand "defines gaming," according to SCEA CEO Jack Tretton. In a new Bloomberg TV interview, Tretton said Sony is putting its best foot forward with the PlayStation 4 and sees no reason why PlayStation's position as a market leader will change going forward.

"We've always been console leaders. We're at 80 million plus on the PlayStation 3, which is on par with our competition," Tretton said. "We're relevant on a worldwide basis and have been for three generations in a row. So we really think that PlayStation defines gaming and PlayStation 4 is our best effort yet. And the consumer reaction has been phenomenal, the development community is behind us, so we really have a lot of headwinds behind us."

Tretton did not stop there in asserting Sony's favorable position in the next-generation market. He said the PS4 software and hardware is superior to what Microsoft is offering.

"Well, 399 dollars, a hundred dollars cheaper than the other new entrant on the market. Far and away the best lineup of games, 180 games in development, 23 available on day one," Tretton said about the PS4. "And far and away the most powerful console. Ten times more powerful than the state of the art Playstation 3."

For more on the PS4, check out GameSpot's video demonstration on how to install a new hard drive, an in-depth look at the new UI and dashboard, and a general hardware overview. In addition, check out GameSpot's review roundup for more on the games currently available for the next-generation system.

UNCHARTED PS4 Teaser Video