| JEMC said: About Mantle. I guess that either the AMD guys realized that if they make Mantle a "GCN only" API, that would hurt them once they move on to their next architecture (the next 20nm cards?)... or maybe they knew it from the very beginning and just said that to give the HD7xxx cards and the R?-2X0 ones a push against Nvidia. And I'd go with the later. |
From Mr Andersson's *snicker* presentation Mantle was desingned with GCN in mind in that it was meant to surface all the modern functionality in herent in modern GPUs. But it is still a hardware abstraction (tho a much thiner one than DX of GL) and is meant to be extendable (similar to GL) for specific architectures and platforms. Plus most of the improvements are to do with reducing CPU overhead and giving developers explicit control over memory and draw calls (instead of the graphics driver automatical managing it which creats overhead and latency).
AMD’s Project Discovery sneak peak
November 14th, 2013 at 11:00 pm - Author
Earlier this week we saw AMD announce some key Mobile APU roadmap updates for 2014, in particular “Mullins”, the successor to the Temash tablet platform.
According to AMD, these 2014 AMD Mobile APUs are expected to deliver significant improvements over previous generations including: longer battery life, unique user experiences, double-digit increases in processor and graphics performance and feature-set updates.
Alongside that news, we’ve now uncovered the fact that AMD appears to be getting into the ‘design’ market as we hear that some exciting AMD-designed platforms have already been named winners of the 2014 CES Innovation Awards, announced on Nov. 12th. We hear that the venture – codenamed ‘Project Discovery’ includes an AMD designed tablet and a few peripherals, namely a game controller and docking station.
While we really don’t expect to see these items appear in the market under the AMD brand anytime soon, it’s a great proof point when a company decides to put their money where their mouth is to validate the performance and authenticating the capabilities of “Mullins” for customers and partners – essentially showcasing what the platform really can do. Sounds like CES 2014 is going to be an exciting time for AMD.
Kitguru says: Exciting times ahead for AMD!
Blackguards developer diary features Daedalic team playing around with torture devices
Daedalic Entertainment has released a developer diary for Blackguards discussing the “Daedalic Dungeons” which features various team members trying out various torture devices. Doesn’t appear than anyone was harmed in the making of the video, but you never know. Watch it below. The turn based strategy RPG is now available through Steam Early Access, and one chapter will be released every three weeks. Grab one of the two special early access editions which come loaded with extras through the link. Blackguards is based on the roleplaying property The Dark Eye, and is set for release in January.
Next Car Game work-in-progress video shows first look at gameplay
Bugbear Entertainment has released a work-in-progress video of Next Car Game. It shows footage of the work-in-progress title which is scheduled to be released on PC as a digital download early 2014. The game has been greenlighted on Steam, and is available through Early Access. The title is also up on Kickstarter, and with 16 days to go, 2,060 backers have pledged $68,712 toward the firms $350,000 goal.
Rise of Nations: Tactics – completed Mac title found among 38 Studios’ possessions
Rise of Nations: Tactics was a completed, unreleased game developed by 38 Studios which will go up on the auction block December 11, according to new details unearthed by Heritage Global Partners, which is handling the auction.
Champions Online Lifetime Subscriber rewards now available
Champions Online players can now become a lifetime subscriber which nets the customer access to all Veteran Rewards. Recently, Cryptic Studios updated the Veteran Rewards system, and once a player goes lifetime, they too can instantly receive exclusive items like the Avian Warrior and Glowing Tights Costume sets, along with extra costume and character slots. Those who are already Lifetime Members will get all the rewards that you’ve yet to unlock. If you’re a current monthly subscriber, you can become a lifer for $299.99. More details through the link.
Dark Souls 2 shots show moody environments, enemies
Dark Souls 2 has a new batch of screenshots and the lot is posted over on All Games Beta. Go have a look. Dark Souls 2 has range of exclusive goodies available throughout selected UK and Ireland retailers with pre-orders of the standard and collector’s edition as well as the Black Armour edition. You can have a look at the list in our previous post. The game releases March 14 on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Dota 2 patch brings back Diretide, adds two heroes, makes $38K item non-unique
Dota 2 has received a huge patch, with a number of interesting new additions and changes, including one which has made at least one person very, very unhappy.
Oddworld New ‘n’ Tasty will release post-spring 2014
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Just Add Water has uploaded a new ‘n’ shiny HD trailer for their upcoming remake of 90s classic Oddworld Abe’s Oddysee, due for release next year. The trailer might sound familiar to old time fans, with the dialogue being ripped straight from the haunting intro of the original game.
The explosive origin story of Kerbal Space Program revealed
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All great things start with humble, small beginnings. Unless you're Kerbal Space Program, in which case you start with a bunch of guys playing around with fireworks.
Yes, the beloved space simulator started out as a real game played with physical props in a back yard. A bit like how Baldur’s Gate started as pen and paper Dungeons and Dragons, except with more chance for horrific, explosive-related injuries.
Zero Point is a movie being shot in 360 degree 3D for Oculus Rift
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There’s this fad that exists in movies that makes them more immersive. 3D supposedly, according to studio shirts across Hollywood, “puts you IN the movie!”. So far, I’ve only seen a single film that came close to putting me IN the movie. But as brilliant as Gravity’s stereoscope is, it’s still a far cry from what movie studios want you to believe it is, and pretty much only there to inflate ticket prices rather that artistic immersion.
Zero Point could be different though. It’s a film shot in 360 degree 3D, so the film will envelop you in its world, with 3D beamed into your eyes to make everything appear solidly in front of you. There is, of course, only one device this is possible on: the Oculus Rift.
War Thunder challenges players to access Ground Forces beta
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War Thunder developer Gaijin has announced that the closed beta for the Ground Forces expansion is coming December 4th, and that you can start preparing yourself to get into the exclusive testing phase right now.
Rather than just getting you to sign on the dotted line to declare your interest though, Gaijin are setting players a mission. Succeed, and you can leave the skies behind in favour of being stuck in a cramped metal goliath. Fail, and you’ll have to stick to dog fights for now.
Battlefield 4 PC patch solves "large portion" of common crashes; DICE hopeful for "big difference" in stability
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Battlefield 4’s launch was a high profile cock up - one that our Tim detailed at length. But as players sift through the wreckage, labelling errant bits of wing and still-spinning engines, it’s getting better. A series of hotfixes over the last week or so has culminated in this, the game’s ninth update - a major patch DICE believe will bring an end to frequent crashing and, er, being shot through walls.
X: Rebirth Is Out Tomorrow, Launch Trailer Below
By Graham Smith on November 14th, 2013 at 5:00 pm.
Alright, so this is how it’s going to be, is it? Craig was Scottish and loved space games. Graham’s Scottish so everyone assumes he must love space games too, right? You’d be racist if Scotland was a race. And if I didn’t love space games. But I do.
X: Rebirth is very exciting, it is being released tomorrow, and now there is a launch trailer below.
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Unity of Command Black Turn DLC Out December 10th
By Graham Smith on November 14th, 2013 at 4:00 pm.
Unity of Command is a historical, turn-based strategy game set on the Eastern Front of World War 2. Wait! Come back. It’s also accessible, setting your tank-commanding tactics and supply line-supporting strategies upon a clean, communicative map and making the hows and whys of your decisions as obvious as possible. Kieron liked it. Jim liked it. Adam liked it. John probably still hated it.
So that’s about a thousand reasons to be excited that it’s getting a second piece of DLC, called Black Turn, which lets you command your armies through Operation Barbarossa.
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Reset Wants Your Money, Offers Gameplay Tutorial
By Nathan Grayson on November 14th, 2013 at 1:00 pm.
Reset is a snappy, apt title given its game’s time-rewinding proclivities, but at this point most of the Internet knows it simply as That Really Pretty Game With The Ultra-Sad Robot (Who Is Actually Not A Robot) Standing In The Rain And Each Piano Key Strikes Like A Glass-Shard Encrusted Dagger To My Tear Ducts – despite a recent trailer with a bit of puzzling. But are we looking at a truly excellent, moving experience, or just another case of Dead Island trailer syndrome? Well, we won’t really know until developer Theory Interactive has crowdfunded money coming out of all its wazoos, but it has offered a video tutorial to whet your appetite. See Reset in actual, non-cinematic action below.
Might & Magic X Legacy’s Second Update Brings Modding Tools
Ubisoft has announced that the second update for Might & Magic X – Legacy Early Access is now available. This new update includes the Modding Kit which allows players to actively participate in the development of MMX by proposing their own mods and maps — a very important feature for the Might & Magic community. Continue reading
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