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Google AI defeats Go world champion in-game 1 of showdown
Back in January, Google's DeepMind AI beat the European champion of the complex board game Go, marking a major achievement for AI. Today -- or yesterday, depending where you are in the world -- began the matchup against world champion Lee Sedol, widely regarded as significantly more skilled than the previous opponent Fan Hui.
To the surprise of even the commentators, DeepMind took the first game of the five game series, which will play out over the next few days. While it's just one game, it proves DeepMind can hang with the best of the best -- all the more impressive given it was projected to not be able to even beat the European champion for another decade.
Continue reading: Google AI defeats Go world champion in-game 1 of showdown (full post)
Driveclub March update gets small UI change, drift scores and new cars
Driveclub just keeps getting better and better with each update. And the March update, which weighs in at a small 300MB, is no exception, even if it's going to be a bit small.
That 300MB includes an all new Drift Mode that's actually scored, with a leaderboard to compare your scores against others. Just remember to try not to slam into walls, even if it's the natural thing to do for the uninitiated. They've also added 25 more levels for Elite and the normal Driver level, so the Elite caps out at 60 and Driver at 120. 35 new club levels have also been added, capping that at 120 as well.
Some of the UI has also been updated a bit to help showcase some of the #PS4share images that are shared throughout the Interwebs. If you participate, then you might also find your photo being enjoyed by others in the future, if you're lucky. Two new cars and two new bikes are also making into the update; the Koeniggsegg Regera and the Jaguar XJ220, MV Agusta Brutale 1090 Corsa and the MV Agusta F4RC. The full patch notes are right here if you need to take a look
Continue reading: Driveclub March update gets small UI change, drift scores and new cars (full post)
Destinations lets you plan vacations directly from Google mobile
Google saw a tremendous 50 percent increase in travel questions on mobile phones last year, so it's only logical they came up with Destinations, a new set of functionality for Google mobile search that accommodates your vacation needs.
It works as simply as you could hope for: search something like "europe vacation" and various travel destinations in Europe will pop up, complete with pictures, and dates and prices for flights and hotels. If you want to get more specific, quick tabs let you change dates, travelers, interests, and your budget. And if you're thinking long-term, you can compare prices across the next six months. Finally, the Explore tab lets you see what the weather is like year-round wherever it is you're thinking about going.
With any luck, Destinations will expand beyond mobile before too long.
Continue reading: Destinations lets you plan vacations directly from Google mobile (full post)
DOOM closed beta coming soon, recommended PC specs listed
iD Software has finally announced the dates that the closed-beta for DOOM will be running, and it'll be on all platforms at the same time, not spread out like some others.
Starting March 31st and lasting until April 3rd 2016 you'll get the chance to enjoy some fast-paced demon hunting destruction in their closed-beta test. But to get in, you have to have pre-ordered or purchased Wolfenstein: The New Order digitally prior to May 26th 2014. If you did, you should have had a DOOM beta code in your email from doing that. Better go check your digital receipts to see if you qualify.
The closed-beta will encompass the multiplayer mode only, to stress-test network functionality and look for the usual bugs that might crop up in their new iD Tech 6 engine in the first wide-spread test. They've also listed the recommended PC specifications to play the beta, which may not translate over to the final game, of course.
Continue reading: DOOM closed beta coming soon, recommended PC specs listed (full post)
XCOM 2's first expansion has some details and a release date
XCOM 2 hasn't even been out for six months yet and we're already getting word that the first expansion will come flying in on March 17th.
It's called Anarchy's Children is more of a customizer's dream than anything else, with more than 100 different, new and colorful different options to personalize your soldiers. That means there will be more hairstyles, armor, decals, helmets, masks and even different styles of face paint to make your crew look great while fending off the Alien overlords.
The pack is $5 if purchased by itself, or it's included in the XCOM 2 Reinforcement Pack that's $20 total, but includes additional stuff as well. This will be the first of many different DLC packs that'll be coming to the game, giving you official customization options if you don't want to chance those fan-made mods.
Continue reading: XCOM 2's first expansion has some details and a release date (full post)
Batman DLC hits Rocket League as its popularity skyrockets
With us recently reporting that Rocket League has tipped over 1,000,000 users, this popular video game has just announced a brand new DLC to hit the e-shelves, released in unison with the upcoming Batman v Superman film.
The Batman DLC allows gamers to adopt their very own Batmobile in-game and is available to Windows PC, Microsft Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4 users. Priced at $1.99, this DLC has been officially licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and was announced in a recently issued press release.
The above YouTube video gives you a look at what you can own if this DLC tickles your fancy, further containing three exclusive Antenna Flags along with the Batmobile itself.
Continue reading: Batman DLC hits Rocket League as its popularity skyrockets (full post)
Forza 6 on PC won't have cross-play with Xbox One
With the announcement of Forza Motorsport 6 Apex Edition, the thought was that we'd be able to compete with our friends on the Xbox One, at least with the courses available. That, however, has just been debunked and is completely untrue. Cross-play functionality is not going to make it into the PC version of Forza 6.
Aaron Greenberg explained that the curated nature of the experience means that it's a Windows 10 only ordeal. He stated that it's not planned at the moment, though that it could be an option in the future. Right now they're concentrating on getting the game polished and released, with that feature possibly on the roadmap later. Of course, with enough pressure from fans, it might become a reality.
Forza Motorsport, and Horizon, have previously been Xbox exclusive games relegated to being the definitive racing sim experience on that platform. This will mark its debut on the PC following Microsoft's commitment to bridging the gap between console and PC games. Turn 10 Studios will be developing the PC version and implementing DirectX 12 and other more advanced effects as befits a proper PC port. Considering the wider use of UWP, this port could theoretically run quite well when released, if lessons are learned from the release of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on the PC.
Continue reading: Forza 6 on PC won't have cross-play with Xbox One (full post)
Building a form factor PC? Corsair released new 600W, 450W modular PSU
Modular in design and created for small PC builds, Corsair has just announced its new SF600W and SF450W SFX form factor power supplies, with the SF450W being available immediately and the SF600W to follow soon.
Described as offering "80 plus Gold-certified efficiency with tight voltage regulation" that will deliver "ATX performance in an SFX form factor," these new models come packed with 100% 105-degree celsius Japanese capacitors, a seven year warranty and a 90mm cooling fan with Corsair's Zero RPM Fan Mode switching technology.
Both units are created for SFX form factor PC builds, peaking interest for users looking at building their own Steam machine, media PC and miniature gaming rig. More information on the SF600 here and the SF450 here.
Continue reading: Building a form factor PC? Corsair released new 600W, 450W modular PSU (full post)
Gears of War 4 story takes place over a 24-hour period
The Coalition is making some great progress on Gears of War 4, bringing back the cover-based shooter to its overarching roots. Some new information regarding how the game will be played has surfaced. Notably a new cooperative play mechanism and just how the story will unfold.
Cooperative play has been a hallmark of the series over the year, where you and three other friends can play through the game together, suffering through some of the worst of times, and the best of times. That co-op has been reduced to only support two total players. Player one is always JD Fenix, and the second person can play as either Kait or Del.
Gears is now taking a page out of the book of some very successful series', where the action unfolds in real-time. That is, the entire story unfolds over a 24-hour period, which starts 25 years after the events of Gears of War 3. Does that mean that there's only 24 potential hours of gameplay? Possibly, but then again, the replay value is most notably going to be in the multiplayer.
Continue reading: Gears of War 4 story takes place over a 24-hour period (full post)
Is air back in style? ID-Cooling releases new blue LED twin CPU cooler
Named the SE-904 and announced recently to the public, ID-Cooling's new air-based beast is aiming to show the public that air cooling is still a viable option.
With many members of the public being forced over to the liquid cooled side of things thanks to the advancement of DIY kits and all-in-one units, there is seemingly still a strong place in the market for air cooling options. The SE-904 utilizes 92mm fans to push and pull air through two 40-fin head spreader stacks, which are connected to four 6mm copper heat pipes.
Compatible with LGA2011v3, LGA115x, AM3+, and FM2+ sockets, this product features a hefty weight of 550g, blue LEDs on the fans and is rated at 38.5 CFM of air pushing power with a 14-23.8 dBA noise output. Standing at 100 mm x 121.9 mm x 124 mm (LxWxH), techPowerUp! also tells us that the fans will work with any PC through its 4-pin PWM connection.
Continue reading: Is air back in style? ID-Cooling releases new blue LED twin CPU cooler (full post)