W♥M

Weekend Gamer: Baldur's Gate 3, GOG Galaxy 2, and Stadia

Baldur’s Gate 3 GOG Galaxy 2 Stadia Read More GOG At least there’s still GOG (Good Old Games)... which will likely be my #1 PC gaming solution now. This company doesn’t require you to be online to play games you own. . … Nvidia I wanted the best of the best Android TV, and eventually just bought the Nvidia Shield when they had a sale. I was holding out for a new model of this device (since the internal hardware had not been changed … Games Pathfinder: Kingmaker is not out yet, but I was so excited about this game coming out on GOG that I pre-ordered it. This game is based on the Pathfinder tabletop game, which was and offspring of Dungeon and Dragons…

As a Weekend Gamer, I’m very excited about some of the news that is coming out from the forthcoming E3 2019 (Electronic Entertainment Expo). Ahead of the expo (officially starting June 11 to June 13), there are a ton of news that leaked (intentional or otherwise).



BALDUR’S GATE 3
baldursgate3.game

First, I’m very happy to hear that Larian Studios will be making Baldur’s Gate 3. The last Baldur’s Gate game came out in 2000, so it’ll be a good 20 years since the last game (considering that BG3 probably won’t launch until 2020).

As you know, I’m a huge Black Isle Studios (the original Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale game developer) and would love a modern version of their games. I’m already familiar with Larian Studios via their excellent Divinity series (owning the semi-recent Divinity: Original Sin one and two).



GOG GALAXY 2.0
gogalaxy.com

I’m already a big GOG fan (it’s my launcher choice over Steam), so I was very happy to hear about GOG Galaxy 2.0. According to the developer, it’s the one launcher to unite them all. If it works, all my games on (Steam, Epic, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Blizzard) will be accessible with Galaxy 2. On top of that, any of your friends on various launchers will also make it out - you’ll just have to authorize them once for GOG.

It sounds too good to be true and I can’t wait for it. I’ve already signed up for the beta, so I’ll let you know if it’s any good.

This could potentially fail if the other launchers refuse to play ball (or even block GOG from access).



STADIA
stadia.google.com

I think the biggest loser in this gaming news is Google’s Stadia platform - set to launch in November 2019. I will be avoiding Stadia, and you should too.

I’ll break down the problem that I have with Stadia:

It’s a subscription service at $10 a month (at launch only 31 titles will be available). That price doesn’t include any modern games. Current games, you’ll still have to shell out another $60 (or retail price) per title. Compare that to Xbox’s Game Pass ($15 a month for more games and no additional cost for current games) or Sony’s PlayStation Now ($20 a month but no additional cost for current games) or NVIDIA’s GeForce Now (currently free), it’s a hard sell.

In order to use Stadia in 2019, you’ll also have to spend $130 for their “Founder’s Edition” (which includes 3 months free… after that, you’ll have to spend another $10 a month).

You need a very fast internet connection. WiFi gaming is really not an option. This is based on my own personal experience with game streaming using other services over WiFi.

I’m not exactly sure who Stadia is meant for. As someone who buys and plays games regularly, this Stadia service is not very appealing to me at all. Hardcore games cares about frames and buffer, so playing it on their high-end CPU is preferred. Casual games don’t care about Doom or other Triple-A titles. General gamers already own a game console like PS4 or Xbox One.

Stadia just sounds like a bad joke. I can’t see a future where they’ll be the dominate format. If that’s the future, I want no part of it.

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

GeForce Now

GeForce Now Benefits Underserved Mac gamers, now you can play any PC game on your Mac without Bootcamp or Parallels. It also supports macOS 10.10 or better. All supported GeForce NOW titles work on Macs. With over 400 supported top games, like PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS, Fortnite, and more from Steam, Uplay, and other popular digital stores, you can play your favorite PC games on nearly any device anywhere you go. Select games from your personal PC game library or purchase new ones, with new games being added all the time. Your favorite titles load faster and stay up-to-date with the latest patches when you stream from the GeForce NOW cloud service. Ease and Accessibility: With the technology of tomorrow available today, it’s never been easier to use your existing devices as high-powered gaming rigs. Transform nearly any laptop, desktop, or even your SHIELD TV streaming device into the gaming PC you’ve been dreaming about with GeForce NOW. It’s powered by NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, so quality and performance are covered. Winning the game is up to you. AAA Windows PC Games: You provide your own game content--whether it’s your own vast library of titles or your collection of free-to-play favorites. Don’t own a game? Look at our GeForce NOW supported games list to see where you can get started. Enjoy your favorite PC games, like PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS, Fortnite, Far: Lone Sails, and access to over 200 pre-installed popular titles, with new games getting added all the time. Instant Installs; No Maintenance Required: Instantly install supported games on GeForce NOW directly onto your cloud gaming rig in seconds. Say adios to long wait times for game patches and driver updates. GeForce NOW eliminates the lengthy wait so you can focus on the win. Ultra Streaming Mode: This mode increases the speed that GeForce NOW streams games to your Mac, Windows PC, or SHIELD TV from 60 FPS to 120 FPS or higher, reducing latency. You’re welcome. Read More Nvidia I wanted the best of the best Android TV, and eventually just bought the Nvidia Shield when they had a sale. I was holding out for a new model of this device (since the internal hardware had not been changed …

When I first heard about Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service, I thought that there are several services out already, including Sony’s PlayStation Now and Nvidia’s GeForce Now… so why is anybody excited about Stadia? If Google could solve the latency problem of WiFi, perhaps by a combination of compression and auto-downloading in the background… then streaming games might be more attractive.

I haven’t used PS Now, since it’s expensive at $19.99 a month, but I have dipped my foot in the water with GeForce Now. Originally, I used GeForce Now via my Nvidia Shield… but later I started using it on my PC.

The GeForce Now service is currently free, while Nvidia’s service is in beta. The price they want to charge is $7.99 a month. That price is low, because you can only stream games you already own. You’re essentially paying for the option to stream a game from one of Nvidia’s computers.

The beauty of GeForce Now is that I might play a game on a low-powered laptop instantly (without having to download the software), and then continue the same game (using cloud saves) on another local (but more powerful) computer.

With that in mind, here’s a scenario you might have: While you install a game on a local computer, you could potentially be playing that same game using GeForce Now. By the time your regular computer downloads and installed your game, you can pick it up right where you left it off from GeForce Now.

Now for the negatives:

For streaming purposes, resolution is reduced to 540 or 480p.

Does not support Ultrawide resolution (21:9)

Not recommended playing over WiFi (you need to be on a fast network).

Lots of artifacts and frame skipping if you’re on WiFi

Not intuitive, for example it’s not clear that you have to “install” the game first

Cannot change third party login option, especially if you don’t have an account with another service.

If you’re on WiFi, the service will work, but based on the low resolution and video artifacts, I can’t really recommend playing games over WiFi. I haven’t tested it out using a direct connection to the router, but my computer situation prevents me from trying. I can imagine the game will run much better.

Is the service worth $7.99 once they start charging for it? I would have to say no for now. For $0.00, I do think you should at least give it a try. You do have to request a key from nvidia.com, but it’ll be worth it.

For now, I think I’ll be gaming on my computer… unless I’m in a bind and need to continue the game on my television (using my Nvidia Shield).

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Weekend Gamer: Free Edition

Read More Games Pathfinder: Kingmaker is not out yet, but I was so excited about this game coming out on GOG that I pre-ordered it. This game is based on the Pathfinder tabletop game, which was and offspring of Dungeon and Dragons… Blizzard Internet connection required: For piracy issues, Blizzard requires you to log into their server (battle.net) to authenticate the game that you bought. If you're not online, you can't play your single-player ..… Xbox One As a weekend gamer, I’ve been following the Xbox One X (formerly known as Xbox Scorpio) for a while. Over the E3 gaming expo weekend, Microsoft … GOG At least there’s still GOG (Good Old Games)... which will likely be my #1 PC gaming solution now. This company doesn’t require you to be online to play games you own. . … Vudu Tip: If you want to grow your iTunes library on the cheap, you can do the Vudu to Go conversation with 10 Blu-Ray Discs for $10 ($1 per film). Once you have the HD Digital Copy . …

With China’s Singles’ Day (or 光棍节 / Guanggun Jie) (11/11) here and United States’ Black Friday (11/22) coming up, we’re seeing huge savings on products across the board. While most of these items won't be on sale until the set dates, some retailers are already slashing prices this week in celebration.

Clearly you don’t have to spend any money, as some companies are just giving away stuff…. If you’re a Weekend Gamer like me, you’ll appreciate the free games. Even if you have no intention of playing these games, it’ll be good to have access to them if you decide to give it a go.



DESTINY 2
blizzard.com

Activision Blizzard is giving away Destiny 2 for free for two weeks (ends November 18), as part of their celebration at BlizzCon annual convention. The game was originally priced at $59.99 at launch.

The company mentioned that they're making money from core players, who purchase in-game purchases, like cosmetic skins and upgrade packages.

I actually have played a bit of this game via PS4, and I can confirm you can play the single player campaign without the need of PlayStation Plus.

To get the game for free on your PC, download the Blizzard Application from their website and login. You'll find a Destiny 2 key in your inbox.



XBOX
xbox.com

Microsoft's XBox is giving away a couple of free games. The first is part of their free multiplayer celebration this weekend (November 8-11), you can grab PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (aka PUBG) and Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 (aka PES 2019) for free to all XBox Live members (not just Gold members).

Although you do own the game, it may be useless if you don't actually have Xbox Gold, since those games requires the subscription to play.

Also, Crackdown is free. The 2007 game can be played on both Xbox One (via backward compatibility) and Xbox 360, you can get it here microsoft.com.

With the free games from MicroSoft, I’d say they are winning. Sony is too cheap to give away any games on their popular PS4 (unless you pay for PlayStation Plus, of course).



THE WITCHER
thewitcher.com

Normally $10, this full concert movie Video Game Show — The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is currently free for a limited time. If you love the Witcher, as much as I do, you need to get this, especially for free.

The 90-min orchestra concert was filmed live during the Film Music Festival 2016 in Kraków, Poland.

Head over to gog.com and click on "giveaway".



VUDU
vudu.com

Fairy Tail Season 1, Part 1 and Attack on Titan Season 1, Part 1, are both free on Vudu for a limited time. Obviously, they want you to buy Part 2 after you get hooked. You know what they say, the first taste is free…

Attack On Titan is actually a very popular anime and manga, so it’s actually worth checking out if you’re into anime.



FREE MUSIC ARCHIVE
freemusicarchive.org

Due to lack of funding, the Free Music Archive is going offline, its end date is currently November 16th. You can grab all the free music on the website before they migrate the content over to archive.org (where we store all our old W♥M podcasts).

Although FMA have been around since 2009, I’ve actually never heard of it until they announced they were going away.

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Xbox One S

Read More Xbox One As a weekend gamer, I’ve been following the Xbox One X (formerly known as Xbox Scorpio) for a while. Over the E3 gaming expo weekend, Microsoft … Playstation 4 Last week my PlayStation Network account got hacked/compromised. The person removed my email and added his or her email and took $50 from my bank account (that is tied to my account …

Originally, I wanted to get the Xbox One X (originally called Scorpio), but after hearing the disappointing pricing of $500, I decided it was in my best interest to get an Xbox One S instead. I was waiting to see if prices would drop when the Xbox One X is released, or at the least, wait until Black Friday to see if I could get a deal on the S console, but I ended up purchasing a refurbished gaming system for about $229. With a little buyer’s remorse, maybe I should’ve just paid more and get a bundle with a game or a different color/special edition. Still, the Xbox One S is currently my go-to media playback device.

Since I also own the original PlayStation 4, I will let you know the key differences between the two systems.

Games: Both Xbox and PS4 offer the same basic games, but PS4 seems to have more exclusive titles. However, you have to take into consideration that MicroSoft has backward compatibility, which means that most of your Xbox 360 games will run on your new system. If you take that into account, suddenly the Xbox’s library is a little more appealing (especially, if you’re like me and own a ton of Xbox 360 games already).

4K: The main reason why I wanted an Xbox One is for its 4K drive. It’s no secret that I’ve been buying 4K discs (usually for a discount or special steelbook editions), so I really did need a player to make the most of my film collection. If you’re in the same market, I really recommend getting the Xbox One, as the PS4 Slim can only handle 1080p output. Sony does offer their 4k model called the PS4 Pro, but no disc playback and costs $200 more.

Audio: Xbox wins over PS4 by supporting Spatial Audio, if your speakers has Premium Dolby Atmos or DTS:X audio. Like the PS4, Xbox One does not have an analog audio output.

HMDI input: The coolest thing about the Xbox One is the HDMI input! This was originally included in the system for live television, either via an old fashion digital antenna/convert box or your cable television digital box. However, you can plug in any HDMI device, such as the Roku or MiBox. This is so great, as it frees up one of your television’s HDMI inputs. Unfortunately, you will require to power up the Xbox One if you want the Roku content… but that seemed like a small price to pay, in my opinion. The PS4 does not offer such HDMI passthrough.

Controllers: With a pair of standard AA batteries the Xbox One Controller will last about 30 hours of gameplay. That’s much longer than my PS4 controller, which lasts about 6 hours. This is because whoever that designed the PS4 controller build in light tracking system (that cannot be turned off!) Disposable batteries aren’t really that expensive (recently purchased a 12 pack for $4), but you can choose to pay another $25 for an official rechargeable battery pack.

Video Playback: Both Sony and Microsoft’s standard media playback applications sucks. Neither official app will display subtitles or the ability to select alternative audio tracks. However, only Xbox offers the VLC Player, which could play different audio tracks and display subtitles. VLC will play back almost any media format (including MKV) and the free app is clearly the superior app compared to the default video player. VLC is not available on PS4.

Speaking from someone who owns all the major gaming systems (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS Vita, Apple iOS, Android, Roku, and Gaming PC), I am really enjoying my Xbox One S. If you’re looking for a system, you need to pick one for your needs. If you are into video entertainment (particularly 4k), the Xbox One is the right choice for you. If you are only interested in gaming as many titles are out there, then you need a good Gaming PC. If you’re interested in Virtual Reality, the PS4 is attractive. If you are rarely home and need gaming on the road, then take a look at the Nintendo Switch.

It could all change, but at this very moment, the Xbox One S is currently the one device that I have running on my 4k television. If I get bored of playing my local videos using VLC Player, I can switch over to my MiBox using the HMDI passthrough and watch Haystack or Pluto TV.

PS, I've officially retired my old PS3. I'm not really sure what to do with it, it's just gathering dusts under my TV stand.

Compare	Xbox One S	PS4 Slim
Price:	$245.99	$299.99
CPU:	1.75GHz AMD Jaguar 8-core	1.6 GHz 8-core X86 AMD Jaguar
GPU:	1.4 T-FLOPS, 12 compute units @ 914MHz with 8GB DDR3 RAM + 32MB eSRAM @ 219GB/s	1.84 T-FLOPS, AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next Engine with 8GB GDDR5 RAM
Optical Drive:	4K/HDR Blu-ray drive	Blu-ray drive
Resolution:	4k	1080p
Exclusive Titles:	226	715
Backward Compatible:	YES	NO
USB:	3 USB 3	2 USB 3

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Xbox One X

Read More Playstation 4 Last week my PlayStation Network account got hacked/compromised. The person removed my email and added his or her email and took $50 from my bank account (that is tied to my account … Nintendo Switch I’ve wanted the Nintendo Switch since I first heard about it last October 2016. The system launched in March 2017, but it immediately sold out everywhere. …

As a weekend gamer, I’ve been following the Xbox One X (formerly known as Xbox Scorpio) for a while. Over the E3 gaming expo weekend, Microsoft finally unveil details and pricing of their upcoming console. I’ve been holding out on buying any Xbox until we hear more about Scorpio.

The biggest disappointment for me is the pricing. It’s $499, which is more than I want to pay. Suddenly the $249 price of the regular Xbox One Slim (comes with a 4k Optical Drive and backward compatible games) is more attractive to me.

If you don’t care for 4k gaming, I think either the regular PS4 or XBS could be the right choice for you.

When it’ll be release, the XBX will be the most powerful console. This is necessary when you consider that it will have true native 4k gaming support. From what I’ve read of the PS4 Pro, not all games are 4k compatible. This may be the same case for XBX, unless the Xbox’s software automatically upscale to 4k.

Despite the Ars Technica article saying that 1.5% users use the backward compatible feature (Xbox has already responded that this is incorrect), I truly believe this is the main selling point for me. I still own some old Xbox 360 games and would just like the option to play them. Sony won’t support PS3 compatibility because, I believe, they want to sell you their gaming streaming service PlayStation Now.

Come November, will the XBX put Microsoft over the top? Probably no. Even though I knew the price would probably land around $500, to finally see it ... I think the price is too much. Its other uphill battle is that Sony will apply pressure by lowering the price of their PS4 this November. Think about it, if the PS4 Pro lists at $350 vs XBX’s $500, there’s no contest.

The other flaw in the Xbox family is that it doesn’t have a lot of gaming exclusives. Currently, Xbox’s main exclusive game is the Halo series... but PS4 has some great exclusives: The Last of Us, Nathan Drake, Final Fantasy, God of War, etc.

Also, let’s not count out Nintendo. Sure, the Nintendo Switch doesn’t even compare to power and graphics (it will upgrade to 900p when docked, not even 1080p!), but what it does offer is the ability to take games with you on the go. Plus, only Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon, etc., are playable on their consoles.

Compare	Xbox One X	PS4 Pro	Nintendo Switch
Price:	$499	$399	$299
Date:	07 Nov 2017	10 Nov 2016	03 Mar 2017
CPU:	2.3GHz 8-core AMD custom “Jaguar” CPU	2.1GHz 8-core AMD custom “Jaguar” CPU	1020MHz Nvidia custom Tegra SOC
Drive:	4K/HDR Blu-ray drive	Blu-ray drive	None
Resolution:	4k (Bluray/Gaming)	4k (Gaming only)	720p
Storage:	1TB	1TB	32GB
Size:	11.8x9.5x2.4 inches	12.8x11.6x2.1 inches	4x9.4x.54 inches
Backward Compatible:	YES	NO	NO

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Weekend Gamer: Omikron and Steam

Read More David Bowie I woke up to the sad news that legendary singer, songwriter, actor, space travelling alien from another planet, David Bowie, has died. …

OMIKRON: THE NOMAD SOUL
square-enix.com

With the unexpected passing of David Bowie, video game publisher Square Enix is giving way copies of Omikron: The Nomad Soul for free until January 22nd. The game featured David Bowie in the role of Boz and also as a role of a nameless lead singer of a fictional musical group called "The Dreamers". The game featured some tracks from his Hours... album.

Head over to square-enix.com and check out Omikron using the promo code "omikron" at checkout to get your free copy.

After you completed the transaction, Square Enix will issue you a Steam Key... so you'll have to also have Steam in order to activate the game.

As it is free, it is totally worth just adding it to your library (even if you have no intention of running the game).

Synopsis:

"I have many things to tell you and very little time I come from a universe parallel to yours. My world is desperately in need of your help. Only YOU can save us."

Responding to the desperate pleas of a mysterious character from another dimension, your soul must enter the dark and futuristic city of Omikron. This heralds the beginning of an epic adventure through an increasingly strange and dazzling parallel world, trying to solve the many puzzles that prevent you escaping alive. Think, fight and interact with the immense gaming environment to defeat the menacing demons that have tried to trap you.

Read More The Witcher I also picked up The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, at Walmart, which came with a lot of bonus items like a DVD and Soundtrack (all at the normal cost of a game product). They are on the right track, I definitely …

STEAM CONTROLLER
steampowered.com

Speaking of Steam, it took some convincing, but I've decided to go all-in on the gaming distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation. Sure, I'm still a fan of GOG (and still buy their games), but since GOG can't match Steam's library, I really have to go where the games are.

My idea is to eventually get a semi-decent Steam Machine and/or a gaming laptop to play games on a big screen television set... but that's for another time.

Currently, my Steam setup is on my PC with a regular-sized wired Xbox 360 controller or a wired PS3 controller. These game controllers are just great, they feel great in the hand.

With the idea of getting the Steam Machine, I decided to get the new Steam Controller at my local Game Stop. At first, I didn't quite "get" the Steam Controller. After all, it pretty much sucked at being a controller... at least compared to either the Xbox or PS controller. It only has one thumbstick, so using the Steam Controller as a first person shooter is just terrible.

I hated the haptic feedback. I hated the XABY buttons to be so close to the center (it's awkward to hit using your thumb). I hate that you must have Steam running to use the controller. Plus, it's just not a very comfortable controller. It's like whoever designed this thing had never used a regular gaming controller before.

It's a definitely a different controller. It's basically a controller for games that does not have controller support. The unfortunate thing is that you absolutely have to use Steam, and for its setting, Steam's Big Picture Mode.

Every game has a different controller setting (usually set by players). You can fine-tuned it, but it just takes so much time to configure it exactly to your liking.

Right now, the Steam Controller is my go-to for Mass Effect 3 since that game did not have controller support and using the Steam Controller felt pretty good. For all other shooters, just use the standard Xbox controller and you should be fine.

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Site Update: October 2014

Team Viewer (on the iPad) Read More Site Update I have been meaning to upgrade the graphics card in my computer for a long time now. The integrated Intel video card, for the most part, worked fine, but it won't exactly run graphically intensive games (shooters, big diablo-style …

Hey guys, this is Vu with your W♥M October Update. As you can see from the daily previews for Rocktober - this month will be just insane... Anyway, here is what I've been up to lately:

iPad: So this is how I've been writing articles - as usual, I've been writing some articles on my iPad via a bluetooth keyboard and mouse (you will need a jailbroken iPad to run the bluetooth mouse pointer). The iPad thing is nice because it's mobile and I can take it anywhere and sit down and type away... At this moment, I'm sitting on my couch, watching YouTube on my TV via the PS3.

I'm writing on the standard iOS Notepad, which is synced with my email account - so basically I can pull up the text later on my desktop (which is located in my room) for finalized formatting and editing.

Team Viewer: I'm not always on my desktop, as I previously mentioned. If I need to access and control my desktop - there is an app called Team Viewer. I believe Microsoft has built-in remote on their "Professional" version of Windows, but when I bought my computer, it only came with Windows 8 Home Edition. Since I didn't want to spend another $100 to 'upgrade' just for one or two functions, installing the free Team Viewer software was a better option.

This was pretty easy to setup, you need to install the Team Viewer application on your desktop to generate a random user number/password. Then you use the Team Viewer app on your iPad to login, and that's it. If you have a firewall, you'll need to add Team Viewer to the exception list.

Overall, Team Viewer works as advertised, you can access your desktop remotely. For private usage, it's free, so I can't complain too much for this, considering that other similar services (like Logmein) costs money for essentially the same thing.

DisplayOut: I thought I would be happy with just the standard built in Apple Display Out, but after being unhappy with the 4:3 external display - I got the jailbroken DisplayOut and set it to stretch to my television screen.

This works really well for any app that does not support Airplay (fullscreen), for example the Apple Trailer app, Crackle, or Vudu app (none of which supports Airplay).

Realtree® Camo Mini Pro EX Controller for Xbox 360 PowerA

Xbox 360 Controller: Speaking of the desktop - there are a couple of things that I've added to my work computer. Mostly thanks to the new video card, so I can run modern games. It's kind of fun to finally able to install and run games that I bought two years ago!

I could not get Windows 8 to recognize my PS3 (and PS4) controllers, so I caved in and bought a standard Xbox 360 Controller. The Xbox controller automatically worked with many (new) games. As much as I love the mouse/keyboard gaming, sometime games are just designed for the controller - for example Dungeon Siege III, Witcher 2, Fable Anniversary, and Dark Souls II. These games just works better with a controller. The controller I bought was on clearance at Walmart, it's normally $30 at the manufacturer's website.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to. Hopefully, if there is enough breathing room in Rocktober, I will write about some of the games I've been playing.

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

PS4 vs Xbox One

Read More New Xbox 360 S vs PS3 Fat Ask anyone that's ever own an Xbox 360, and they'll tell you they've experienced the dreaded Red Ring of Death. In fact, they've probably had it several times in their console's life cycle.…

My friends know that I am interested in the gaming consoles, so with the new PS4 and Xbox One coming out this holiday, I'm looking to buy one or the other. I've made up my mind already, but if you're not so hip to the latest news, I've broken down some a comparison chart for you.

Some key things to note: Xbox One requires an internet connection. It checks with Microsoft's servers every 24 hours to verify that you own and can play the game your purchased. Here are some scenarios why this always online thought is bad. Some of these things prevent you from connecting online:

1. Your ISP goes down for a few days (this has happened to me before during a bad thunderstorm).
2. Your TV is located in an area that does not receive WiFi reliably (this is a thing that I've experienced)
3. You do not have internet (when I moved houses, I was without internet for a month)
4. Microsoft's servers is taken offline (I've seen this happen to other gaming companies)
5. You are in the military and personal internet is not an option

So think about this: if these things happened to you, you cannot run a game you own. Imagine if you bought an iPod that will only work if it's online or a camera that needs to be connected online to take a photo. It's just bad, especially for a product that you own.

The other thing that the Xbox One did is that they've eliminated the used game market. Looking for cheap games? Don't bother with Xbox One. Sure, I sometime buy new games, but the majority of games I've purchased are on the secondary market.

The only advantage Xbox One has over the PS4 is that it has voice commands and motion control out of the box (via the Kinect). The PS4 you will have to buy additional add-ons… but that's OK considering that personally, I probably won't buy the Sony Camera.

See also Xbox 360 vs PS3.

Compare	PS4	XBOX ONE	WINNER
Looks	Personally preference, both look similar but I like at least PS4 is trying to look interesting.	The first time I saw the Xbox One, I thought it was just ugly. It's just a black box basically.	PS4
Price	$399	$499	PS4
Harddrive	500GB (upgradeable)	500GB (noreplaceable)	PS4
Online	Online optional	Online requirement mandatory. Xbox checks every 24 hours to verify your account.	PS4
Online Gaming	Requires Playstation Plus ($49.99 a year and includes free monthly games, all other online ability like watching YouTube is free)	Requires Xbox Gold ($59.99 a year, this is a requirement for watching YouTube).	PS4
Used Games	Yes, you can sell and buy used PS4 games.	Not really. This is a little more complicated to answer, but the short answer is no, you cannot buy or sell used games.	PS4
Independent Games	YES	NO (not at this time).	PS4
Mandatory Game Installs	NO (Save space)	YES	PS4
Independent Games	YES	NO (not at this time).	PS4
Region Lock	NO	YES	PS4
Motion Controller	NO (need to purchase Sony Eye)	YES (Kinect)	XBOX ONE
Voice Activation	NO	YES (Kinect)	XBOX ONE
Analog Output	YES	NO	PS4
HDMI	YES (supports 4k)	YES (supports 4k, supports input HDMI)	XBOX ONE

When it comes down to it, you should go with what you think is right for you. If you have reliable internet and don't mind paying an extra $100 for the Xbox, by all means go with the Xbox. Personally, I will be getting the PS4, even though I just bought a PS3 to replace my broken PS3-Fat!

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

This is the One

Read More Saturday Looks Good To Me The lyrics "Hands in the Snow" also appears on their song, "Make a Plan" (the song is available for download on myspace.com). If you listen to it, you'll realize that these guys are pretty good. .…

SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME
slgtm.com

Okay, I'll just get it out of the way, I like Saturday Looks Good To Me. Anyone that likes Belle & Sebastian and Saves the Day will probably like them by association.

Saturday Looks Good To Me is back. Their new album, One Kiss Ends It All, just came out last Tuesday on Polyvinyl Records. You can stream the entire thing over at Paste Magazine, although I believe this may be for a limited time (so hurry!).



Expect more tour dates to be announced, these are the ones I know of:

05/24/13 Toledo, OH Mainstreet Bar & Grill
05/25/13 Ferndale, MI The Loving Touch
09/25/13 Midwest Fest 2013 - Mount Pleasant, MI
09/26/13 Pygmalion Music Festival
09/27/13 Pygmalion Music Festival
09/28/13 Pygmalion Music Festival

Read More Tying Tiffany The song is by a Suicide Girl called Tying Tiffany, from Italy. I was doing "research" on the suicide girls website and I noticed that she posted on her blog on March 21, 2007. .…

TYING TIFFANY
tyingtiffany.com

Italy's Tying Tiffany latest release is the One EP, which includes songs like:

1. One Second
2. One Girl
3. One Place
4. One End

I admire her for her themed EP, so obviously I had to include her here.

USA Today recently premiered the song on Pop Candy, but you can listen below:



Trivia: You may remember that we mentioned Tying Tiffany's other project T.T.L. here, that they had music featured in the Hunger Games trailer? They're doing it again with the upcoming Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Read More Xbox Just to be clear on my thoughts on this: Xbox Gold is a scam. Imagine this: you buy a computer and when you want to send an email*, or play an online game like World of Warcraft, or Netflix, or Twitter, or Facebook. .…

XBOX ONE
xbox.com

Microsoft has a big problem, in my opinion. As soon as they announced the terribly-named "Xbox One", people were calling it "Xbone". It got so bad, they had to issue a press release asking people to not call it "Xbone". They deserve it, I mean what a terrible name. This is the third Xbox, calling it Xbox One is just plain confusing.

The other problem is that it's still tied to Xbox Gold, which is a $80 a year requirement if you want to use your Xbox online (we're talking watching YouTube or browse the internet).

Their biggest problem right now is the online requirement. I know the console is not even out yet, but there are all these unanswered or conflicting answers. From my understanding: your Xbox needs to be online. The hardware checks online once a day to verify your account. Playing games requires registration of the game (which is tied to your Xbox account). So what that means is you can't really sell your game after you purchase it (unless you de-authorize the game in your account). If none of that is true, then let me know, because I can't understand what Microsoft is trying to tell me.

At the moment, Xbone is nowhere on my wishlist.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

The Next Generation of Gaming Consoles

Sony announced the PlayStation 4 yesterday (February 20th), without actually show it off. Instead, you're only given vague information about the upcoming system, some game announcements, and showing off the controller (this was probably a given since there were leaks online prior to the announcement). I am interested in Diablo III, but will it require its terrible "always online" requirement? I hope not. That was the one reason why I refuse to give Blizzard any more of my money.

Why should you be interested in these systems? Outside of gaming, these machines make amazing media boxes for your television. Most people (like me) use them to watch all my media or listen to all my music via a Network Attached Storage (NAS).

Based on PS3's already established "Apps" model, I wouldn't be surprised to see more video or music-related apps. Right now, you can get "Music Unlimited", which is a subscription-based model. As I wrote in my review, I think $10 is too much to ask to pay, but the $4 model won't get you very far.

Below is a comparison chart between the 'next' generation consoles. Since the Xbox has not been announced, all the information I listed below are pretty much rumors - based on a development kit via Kotaku.

Product:	PlayStation 4 (PS4)	Xbox 720 (rumor)	Wii U
CPU:	AMD's "Jaguar" 8-core 64-bit x86 CPU	Unknown 8-core, 64-bit 1.6ghz CPU	CPU Tri-Core IBM PowerPC "Espresso"
Graphics:	Custom AMD Radeon GPU	800mhz DirectX 11.x graphics processor units	550 MHz AMD Radeon GPU "Latte"
Memory:	8 GB GDDR5	8GB of DDR3	2 GB DDR3-1600 DRAM
Media:	Blu-ray, DVD, CD	Blu-ray, DVD, CD	12 cm 25 GB Wii U Optical Disc (does not support DVD, Blu-Ray or CD)
Storage:	Hard drive, size(s) unannounced	500GB hard drive, speeds of up to 50 MB/sec.	8 GB or 32 GB Flash Memory
Camera:	PlayStation 4 Eye	Kinect (requirement)	Wii U GamePad

Again, I should stress that much of the Xbox information are rumors.

I was afraid that the PS4 will require an always online connection - but Sony's game studios chief, Shuhei Yoshida said it doesn't have to be online. Xbox, on the other hand, is said to require online to play all their games. They have not squash the rumor, and I actually believe that Xbox will require online - after all, most PC games require online activation in order to run it. Remember: this is the same company that requires you to pay $80 a year to have the ability to watch YouTube.

Other interesting note is that both consoles can quietly install games in the background while you play your game. The PS4 has a duo chip, with one of the chip dedicated to such tasks - while the Xbox will also have a dedicated "block".

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic