News: Microsoft points to be phased out

According to an article on Inside Mobile Apps Microsoft are phasing out the use of Microsoft points in favour of using the appropriate currency for the country.

"By the end of 2012, all transactions will be based on the region set on the purchasing account and real money will be used to purchase all Windows Phone content. The move puts the Windows Phone Marketplace in line with the purchasing practices used in the App Store and the Android Market."


No indication has been given as to what will happen with those of us with Microsoft points after this date so it might be prudent to spend them now.

News: Skyrim 1.4 Beta

For those who haven't seen them yet here are the patch notes for Skyrim 1.4 update;

NEW FEATURES

• Skyrim launcher support for Steam Workshop (PC)

BUG FIXES

• General optimizations for memory and performance
• Fixed occasional issue with armor and clothing not displaying properly when placed on mannequin's in player's house. (PS3)
• Improved compiler optimization settings (PC)
• Long term play optimizations for memory and performance (PS3)
• Memory optimizations related to scripting
• Fixed crashes related to pathing and AI
• Fixed crash in Haemar's Shame if player had already completed "A Daedra's Best Friend"
• Fixed rare crash with loading saved games
• Fixed issue with accented characters not displaying properly at the end of a line
• Master Criminal achievement/trophy unlocks properly in French, German, Spanish and Italian
• Fixed issue where dragon priest masks would not render correctly
• Fixed issue where quests would incorrectly progress after reloading a save
• Fixed issues with placing and removing books from bookshelves in the player's home
• Fixed issue where weapon racks and plaques would not work correctly in player's house if player immediately visits their house before purchasing any furnishing.
• Fixed issue where the player house in Windhelm would not clean up properly
• Fixed crash related to giant attacks and absorb spells
• Fixed issue with ash piles not cleaning up properly
• Fixed occasional issue where overwriting an existing save would fail
• Fixed memory crash with container menu
• Fixed infinite loop with bookshelves
• Fixed issue where traps in Shalidor's Maze would not work properly in French, German, Spanish and Italian versions
• Fixed issue where transforming back to human from werewolf would occasionally not fail
• Bows and daggers will display properly when placed on weapon racks

QUEST FIXES

• The Unusual Gem inside the Thalmor Embassy is now accessible after finishing "Diplomatic Immunity"
• In "Breaching Security", the quest token is no longer required to receive a fortune reading from Olava the Feeble
• Fixed issue where Galmar would not complete Joining the Stormcloaks properly if "Season Unending" was an active quest
• Fixed issue where starting "Season Unending" after finishing "Joining the Stormcloaks" would prevent "The Jagged Crown" from starting properly.
• Fixed issue progressing through "Message to Whiterun" while "Season Unending" was still open would block progression for both quests.
• In "Arniel's Endeavor", fixed issue where a quest journal would trigger multiple times
• In "Forbidden Legend", the amulet fragment can no longer disappear after player leaves a dungeon without taking it
• Fixed rare issue in "Forbidden Legend" where killing Mikrul Gauldurson while sneaking would make his corpose unaccessible
• In "The White Phial", the phial can no longer disappear if player leaves dungeon without taking it
• "The White Phial" will now start properly if player already has a briar heart in their inventory
• Player can no longer get stuck in Misty Grove after completing "A Night to Remember"
• Fixed issue where leaving Riften during "A Chance Arrangement" would prevent quest from progressing
• In "Darkness Returns", a door in Twilight Sepulcher will properly open if the player leaves the dungeon for an extended period of time before completing the quest
• In "Under New Management", if the player leaves the Oculory for an extended period of time after placing the focusing crystal and returns, the quest will proceed correctly
• "Onmund's Request" will now start properly if player has already found Enthir's staff before receiving this quest
• Fixed instance where Tonilia would stop buying stolen items and also would not give Guild Leader Armor
• "Repairing the Phial" will start properly if player already has unmelting snow or mammoth tusk in their inventory
• Finding Pantea's Flute before speaking with Pantea no longer prevents her quest from updating
• In "The Coming of the Dawn", fixed rare instance where a quest object would spawn incorrectly on the Katariah during Hail Sithis
• Fixed rare issue in "The Mind of Madness" where player is unable to equip the Wabbajack
• Fixed issue in "Pieces of the Past" where Mehrunes Dagon's Razor will not trigger properly if player leaves the cell for extended period of time before activating it
• "Blood's Honor" will start properly if you visited and completed Driftshade and an extended period of time passes before starting the quest.
• Fixed rare issue where "Dampened Spirits" would not start properly
• Fixed issue where player would be unable to become Thane of Riften if they purchased a home first
• Fixed issue where killing guards in Cidhna Mine woud block progression for "No One Escapes Cidhna Mine"
• Fixed numerous issues with "Blood on the Ice" not triggering properly
• In "Blood on the Ice", Calixto can now be killed if player owns a house in Windhelm
• In "The Cure for Madness", killing Cicero then resurrecting him no longer impedes quest progress
• Fixed rare issue in "To Kill an Empire" where an NPC would fail to die properly
• Clearing Knifepoint Ridge before starting "Boethiah's Champion" no longer prevents quest from starting.

Looks like alot of issues will be fixed! For those of you who are feeling quite brave it's possible to try the beta version of the update. All you need to do is;

1. Start up steam.
2. Click on "Steam".
3. Click on settings.
4. Click the "Change" button under Beta Participation.
5. On the dialog that appears select Skyrim Beta.

Don't forget to backup your save files first!

Funny: Macho Dragon

For no reason other than it made me laugh. Enjoy.

News: Mass Effect 3 Specifications released!

As well as the news of the upcoming demo, which will be available on February 14, Bioware have revealed the minimum specification for the upcoming finale to the Mass Effect series.

Mass Effect 3 System Requirements

Minimum Spec:

OS - Windows XP SP3/Vista SP1, Win 7
CPU: 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (equivalent AMD CPU)
RAM: 1GB for XP / 2GB RAM for Vista/Win 7
Disc Drive: 1x speed
Hard Drive: 2.5 GB of free space
Video: 256 MB* (with Pixel Shader 3.0 support)
*Supported chipsets: NVIDIA 7900 or better; ATI X1800 or better. Please note that NVIDIA GeForce 9300, 8500, 8400, and 8300 are below minimum system requirements, as are AMD/ATI Radeon HD3200, HD3300, and HD4350. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required.
Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c August 2009 (included)


Recommended Spec:

OS: Windows XP SP3/Vista SP1, Win 7
CPU: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (equivalent AMD CPU)
RAM: 2GB for XP / 4GB RAM for Vista/Win 7
Disc Drive: 1x speed
Hard Drive: 2.5 GB of free space
Video: AMD/ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB or greater, NVidia GeForce 9800 GT 512 MB or greater
Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible

Nothing particularly bank breaking. In fact if you've upgraded your PC for the likes of Battlefield 3 then you've already got a more than capable machine. While community man Chris Priestly says the specifications might change it's likely to be just the hard drive requirement.

News: Intel caught faking Ivy Bridge Demo

In a rather odd move Intel were caught faking the prowess of the Ivy Bridge HD Graphics 2500 GPU last night at CES 2012. During a play through of F1 2011 you can clearly see that the tell-tale controls of the VLC media player pop up as the demo begins. Here's a screen shot;

Strangely though Intel vice president and PC group general manager Mooly Eden carried on with the demonstration before saying that it was actually being played back stage.

A rather odd series of events considering the circumstances as well as the fact that there has been a working demonstration of the Ivy Bridge GPU. Intel have since responded by saying the video was used "for expediency".

Guide: Saints Row The Third. Matt Miller bug

Saints Row The Third is a fantastic game and those of you who haven't bought it should check it out now. Unfortunately though there is a nasty little bug that can prevent you from completing an important mission.

The cause of the problem!

During Deckers.Die you encounter a larger than life boss in a virtual world. As you bring his health down a cut scene should occur where you copy his form and proceed to kick butt . Unfortunately those of us who updated on the 360 won't get the cutscene and find the boss just vanishes leaving you stranded in cyber purgatory. Thankfully though there is a work around. Just clear your system cache and ensure you don't download any further updates. While this has the side effect of having to redownload updates for your other games it seems to be the only way to consistently to avoid this bug. Here's how to clear your system cache.

To clear the system cache

• Press the Guide button on your controller, go to Settings, and select System Settings.
• Select Storage or Memory
• Highlight any storage device, and then press Y on your controller. (It doesn't matter which storage device you select; the cache will be cleared for all storage devices.)
• Select Clear System Cache.
• When prompted to confirm storage device maintenance, select Yes.