Gaming

In search of an outstanding and durable gaming mouse? You must have done your math and found out what CPI you need to go for, Lift-off Distance, Ergonomics, Acceleration and whatnot. Above all, there is one question is left for you to answer.

Have you researched the sensor, its role, and type? If you haven’t, you have left a crucial performance factor behind.

Sensor – Laser or Optical. Who is the Winner?

There are never-ending wars between technologies. One of the most famous is the battle to produce the best sensor. Basically, a mouse comes with three categories of sensors.

• Mechanical
• Optical
• Laser

The mechanical mouse was the old-man and now obsolete technology. If you remember correctly before the arrival of optical technology mouse used a moving ball and electromechanical transducers. Due to the nature of the mouse, there were drastic errors. Furthermore, this type of mouse was prone to mechanical failures often.

Optical Mouse – A Game Changer

The arrival of the optical mouse made a thrilling change and it was massive for pros like graphic artists and gamers. In truth, if you look into the internals you will be more thrilled.

Let’s look at the mechanics for a bit. To begin with, have you ever wondered how the optical mouse works? Here is a fact that may knock you off! In truth, it functions as a basic digital camera!

An optical mouse uses light as the source and senses changes in the reflected beam. It consists of a light-emitting diode (LED) or laser light, an optical sensor (more of a camera) and a digital processing unit. In reality, the sensor takes hundreds of snapshots per second and the processing system detects the movements by analyzing the changes in light.

Both the laser and LED use optical measures although laser mouse is not categorized as optical. In reality, both have similarities and dissimilarities.

Optical or Laser? Who is the Winner?

First, let’s look at important dissimilarities.

A laser mouse is compatible with most surfaces including glossy ones. On the other hand, an optical mouse isn’t doing a great job with such surfaces. In addition, the laser may offer more accuracy given the surface types and short distance. However, for a gamer, there are even more important things to worry about. What if you make rapid and long glides?

Want to take a guess? The optical mouse is the winner here. Surprised? Not to mention, it is understandable if you are new to tech. Let’s get a clear picture here.

The Acceleration is a technical issue governing the fact here. When you move the mouse, the cursor follows. In fact, it moves by a proportional distance across the screen. To keep up with certain games you move your mouse rather quickly and long.

Mouse Acceleration

Mouse Acceleration occurs when the mouse cannot keep up the phase with your speed. At this rate, the mouse is overwhelmed with the incoming sensor data (unimportant light variance) due to the speed. As a result, loss of synchronization and inconsistency appear and bugs the accuracy. This does not often occur with an optical mouse and that is when used with a good mouse pad or a decent surface of course.

In addition to the category, you need to look for the type of sensor. In fact, it is the next critical performer.

There is a handful of sensors namely, PMW, Hero16K, ADNS, TrueMove, Pro-Optic(R3) and more. At this point, carefully look for the best from this alphabet soup, as it is definitely a game-changer in terms of performance.

In the next few sections, we will be looking into the details.

PMW

PMW is the sensor manufactured by PixArt. PWM has the following variants.

• PMM-3325: This is a budget-class mouse with low CPI such as 5000. On the contrary, if you are looking for crazy CPI numbers, this is not for you. The maximum tracking speed is 100ips* and is decent. Acceleration, on the other hand, is not impressive (20G).
• PMW-3330: CPI has increased to 7500 while IPS is at 150, and the Acceleration is enhanced to 30G.
• PMW-3310: This is slightly better than 3325 having 5000CPI, 130ips and acceleration is at G30. Tough gamers utilize products from vendors such as Zowie which included 3310.
• PMW-3360, 3366 and 3360: PMW-3360 is considered as the apex of its generation. By this time, you get a massive boost of up to 16k CPI. It outperforms the rest by having terrific 250ips and an impressive acceleration of 50G that is the industry standard. Both Zowie and Logitech utilized the sensor in their G403 and G Pro and some other products.

IPS – IPS stands for Inches per Second. This is the maximum speed a mouse can glide before the sensor loses the ability to track the moves. It shines when there is less CPI as the mouse has to travel more rapidly at extreme levels. In fact, the higher the better.

SDNS-3989

SDNS does not belong to the PMW category. In fact, it is not considered as a top-level sensor although it has better statistics. Although the CPI is 6400, 200ips and acceleration of 50G are impressive.

This guarantees accuracy and control and is one of the reasons why Razer’s “Deathadder”, the widely recognized as the #1 among the player utilize this sensor. This sensor also features in Cougar mice.

Logitech Hero

Logitech is at the paramount of its structural engineering and continues to amaze us with advanced wireless technology and this ultra-performance sensor with extremely low hungry for power. As a matter of fact, it has a massive 16K CPI and a staggering 400ips. In addition, with an acceleration of 40G, it outperforms the rest in its class.

ROCCAT Pro-Optic Sensor

The most recent release of the Pro-Optic sensor is Pro-Optic R8 and it is utilized in ROCCAT’s KAIN 100 AIMO. Coupled with the sensor, the mouse features 8500 CPI, 300ips and acceleration of 35G.

Owl-Eye

PixArt is dominant in the sensor industry and Owl-eye is its “Bar-raising” new technology. Straightaway, it was modified to suit ROCCAT’s new and impressive mice. At this time, the sensor features an impressive 12000 CPI, 250ips and a 50G industry-standard acceleration. In reality, it is their own PMW 3360 modified (PixArt PMW 3361).

TrueMove

Steelseries is a big name in the peripheral industry and widely accepted for technical advancements. Above all, TrueMove Pro is their latest addition featuring astonishing 18000 CPI, 450ips and 50G acceleration.

Conclusion

To sum up, when selecting the best out of the big names and products, it is always important to have a solid understanding of some technical stuff about the products. For this reason, keeping the names and statistics in mind helps you to filter and compare the inside before considering the rest of the factors. Among the important factors such as CPI/DPI, IPS, Acceleration, Lift-off Distance (LoD), Polling rate and whatnot, the critical role plays by none other than the optical sensor itself. In a word, to become an outstanding gamer, it is always better to keep up with the technical aspects as it puts you a better position in terms of compatibility, efficiency, and performance.

 

If you’re curious as to why online gaming has become so popular and esports are starting to draw mainstream attention, simply continue reading to discover why online games like Mega888 is becoming increasingly more popular.

The Hype About Online Gaming:

It’s the perfect challenge for competitive individuals:

If you naturally have a competitive personality and enjoy the challenge of competing against other individuals, you’ll love being ability to compete at against individuals around the world, from the comfort of your own home, by playing popular online games. Instead of opting to play single player campaigns, where you play against an AI opponent instead of a real gamer. As an example, if you think that you’re a skilled poker player or will be able to beat other real life players at casino style games such as roulette. it’s well worth trying to play a few online casino games like SCR888.

No matter what time of day you play online games you won’t have any trouble finding competitors to play with:

Another reason why online games are so popular is that even if you can’t sleep in the middle of the night and start playing an online game, there will be countless players who you’ll be able to challenge or team up with. While it may be the middle of the night in your location, it will be midday in other parts of the world. So next time you have trouble falling asleep, it may be worth playing an online game until you feel tired enough to drop off to sleep naturally, instead of counting sheep.

Anyone can play online games:

Online gaming appeals to a wide demographic. As an example while kids, teenagers and young adults naturally gravitate towards online games, online gaming also appeals to retirees and working professionals. As there are online games to suit every individual’s interests whether they are a newbie to gaming or a pro.

Playing online games is a great way to unwind and destress:

As modern life can be fast paced and chaotic, you may find it relaxing to play online games as a way to relax and destress after a particularly stressful day.

You can make new friends without leaving your house:

As online gaming is such a popular hobby, it’s highly likely that you’ll come across individuals playing online games who you’ll want to befriend and get to know better, outside of the game that you choose to play.

You can play online games from any location:

Online games are popular as you can play your favorite online games when you’re lying in bed, curled up on your sofa or waiting to board a plane flight. You can even play online games when you’re lying on a white sandy beach on a tropical vacation.

Some games offer real prizes:

While many online games only offer the satisfaction of winning and don’t offer prizes some online games offer prizes, such as cash prizes for their top players.

So if you always wondered why online gaming is becoming so popular and has become a fairly mainstream hobby, hopefully the article above has convinced you of why you should jump on the bandwagon and become an online gamer. If you’re not sure where to start, you can download Mega888 or any simple game from your smartphone app store!

 

Sometimes, when a brand new edition of a great game hits stores, everybody rushes out to buy it. In other cases, they look upon it in amazement and wonder why it’s been released at all. The last time Square Enix released a ‘definitive edition’ of a Tomb Raider game was back in 2013, and it was done because brand new versions of the PlayStation and Xbox had been released. The new game was a remastering of a previous one, taking advantage of the leap forward in technology. That isn’t the case this time around, so why is there a ‘definitive edition’ of ‘Shadow of the Tomb Raider’ being released now, and is it worth buying as a full-priced game?

It’s fair to say that any game featuring Lara Croft is likely to find an audience. When what we’ll now have to refer to as the ‘standard’ edition of the game was released a little over a year ago, it was a huge success. Since then, it’s been expanded and kept alive through a series of subsequent DLC releases, which have kept players hooked and brought more money into the studio. There were seven pieces of DLC released in total, the last arriving in May this year. Square Enix has been dropping heavy hints that there was something new coming in the ‘Tomb Raider’ universe for some time, which led to some players speculating that an eighth piece of DLC might be in the offing, but it turns out that this is all they had up their sleeve. There’s no new content. Seven pieces of DLC are all we’re getting.

It’s the DLC that apparently makes this (not very) new version of the game ‘definitive.’ All of the additional content comes pre-packaged in this version of the game, meaning there’s no incentive to buy it if you already own the original edition, and you picked up the DLC as and when it became available. If there is anything here that can be described as ‘new,’ it’s one new outfit for Lara. Described as a ‘fitness’ outfit, it’s some leisure wear which is probably more practical for raiding tombs that the slightly skimpy attire she generally wears as standard. It looks great, but nobody would seriously argue that it’s worth handing over a further fifty dollars to own.

Square Enix at least hasn’t run the risk of annoying existing players by making the outfit exclusive to the new release. If you already own ‘Shadow of the Tomb Raider,’ and you’ve already got all of the DLC, your game will simply automatically upgrade to the new version by way of a download. That might have happened already, although if you haven’t played the game for a while, you may have to open it up to kick off the download. That means this new version of the game is for brand new players only, and so it begs the question of who the publisher thinks their audience is likely to be. After all, what kind of ‘Tomb Raider’ fan wouldn’t have the game already?

The answer to that question might lie with Google. They’re about to launch their long-awaited ‘Stadia’ platform, and ‘Shadow of the Tomb Raider’ is one of the games scheduled to be available on it from day one. Google is hoping to attract players who don’t already own a games console, and those players will want high-profile games to play. Tomb Raider games definitely fall under the category of ‘high-profile,’ and so we can probably construe this as Square Enix teaming up with Google with the intention of capturing a brand new audience. Its chances of returning a profit therefore likely hinge on Google Stadia being a hit with players. We’ll know more about that a few months from now when numbers become available.

With this being firmly positioned as the last launch for ‘Shadow of the Tomb Raider,’ it may now be a few years before we get to see Lara have any new video game adventures. There were more than five years between this game and the last official ‘Tomb Raider’ installment, and so if Square Enix stays true to their usual pattern of releases, we suspect we won’t see Lara star in a new console adventure until the early 2020s. That’s sad news for fans, but there are still other ways to engage with her in the meantime.

If you pay close attention to all things Lara Croft (and we’re not ashamed to say that we do), you’ll know it’s been a big news year for the world’s most popular fictional grave robber. She’s broken into the casinos, where ‘Lara Croft: Temples and Tombs’ has been one of the most-played mobile slots games of 2019. Only the biggest names in video gaming get their own mobile slots games, with Sonic The Hedgehog, Call of Duty, and Street Fighter 2 all being represented at mobile slots casinos like RoseSlots.com. Even Mario doesn’t have his own mobile slots game, so Lara is in rare company there.

She’ll also be returning to Hollywood sooner rather than later. As was revealed back in September, there will be a second ‘Tomb Raider’ movie starring Alicia Vikander in the title role released by 2021. Ben Wheatley will be in the director’s chair, and the film will pick up where the last one left off. The response to the first of the films wasn’t as enthusiastic as one received by the more-famous Angelina Jolie ‘Tomb Raider’ films, and nor did it make as much money at the box office, but the studio saw enough in it to give it a second chance. Lara might be taking a time-out from fresh gaming adventures, but it’s clear we’ll be seeing plenty of her in other formats until she decides it’s time to break open another tomb in the virtual world.

If you didn’t catch the game first time around and you want to find out what all the fuss is about, ‘Shadow of the Tomb Raider: The Definitive Edition’ is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The Google Stadia version will go live with the platform on November 19^th.

 

During the past decade, online gaming has become popular among players. It has evolved significantly and with high-tech smartphones, it has never been easier to play online. Indeed, the online gaming trend is a different kind of entertainment. There’s no need for any skill or fitness levels needed to play online. Needless to say, there are various types of games for players of every level. Here are the 3 main reasons why online gaming has taken the world by storm.

• Availability: A Wide Choice of Games

One of the reasons why online entertainment is consistently growing in popularity is mainly because of its wide choice of games. There’s no limit on the quantity, in fact, if casino games are your thing, you’ll find a pool of games such as slots, Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat. These games replicate the games found in a real casino. In addition, it comes with a bunch of real casino bonuses and prizes. Online games vary in themes, style and genres. From single shooter games to car racing and sports, you can go online and enjoy your favorite games. Gone are the days where you had few options, nowadays players have more choice than ever.

• Accessibility: Mobile Gaming

Nowadays, traditional games like bingo have undergone online makeovers thanks to online bingo sites. No need to wait for the next tournament in your local bingo hall, once online you can play bingo games with other enthusiastic players using your smartphone. Same goes for online casino sites. Players are always a few clicks away from the best bonuses and promotions. While waiting in a queue or on the bus, they can play casino games on the best pay by mobile casino sites. More and more websites are compatible with iOS and Android devices, a real game-changer in the online gaming world. So, while you are out and about, you can get a kick out of your mobile gaming experience at any time.

• Affordability: Budget-friendly Entertainment

Sometimes buying a games console or a physical game can cost an arm and a leg. Thankfully, online it’s another story. The games can be cheaper than some purchased from stores. Playing online does come with a wide range of convenience. You can download a game and it usually doesn’t cost a penny. Thus, as new versions surface on the web, a simple update or a minimal price might be needed to track the updates. Easy-peasy! What’s more, there are tons of online game platforms with a number of free games to choose from. Besides, many offer premium ones for every budget. This way to can choose between the various options and select what suits you best.

Playing online is a breeze these days. There are thousands of online platforms chock-a-block with edge-of-your-seat-games such as multiplayer online games, first-person shooters or even cross-platform online play. The availability, accessibility and affordability of online gaming are some of the top reasons why they are increasingly popular. Online gaming entertainment really packs a punch for players of all levels.

 

You can tell a serious video gamer from a faker by asking them to name the main character in the ‘Zelda’ series of video games. Those who aren’t at expert level will look at you as if it’s a trick question, and say ‘Zelda.’ Those of us who have been playing games for a lot longer (and, we suspect, with a lot more of our spare time) know full well that the character is called Link – and Link is a bonafide video game legend. We’re absolutely thrilled to say that Link (and the whole ‘Zelda’ universe) is back on the Nintendo Switch as of this month.

If you remember the Game Boy – or you’re a retro gaming fan and have picked a Game Boy up just find out how your parents used to play video games – you’ll probably get a warm, fuzzy feeling whenever you think about ‘The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.’ The 1993 game was the very first ‘Zelda’ game to be released in handheld format, and is seen by most reviewers as one of the best Game Boy games ever released. When it got a coat of fresh paint and a re-release for the Game Boy Color in 1998, respected review website IGN gave it a perfect score.

Now, it’s coming back yet again. We’re in a new era of gaming, and Nintendo has decided that the time is right to recreate the game a third time. ‘The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening’ will be released for the Nintendo Switch on September 20^th. So what is it that keeps us coming back to this 33-year-old classic character?

Zelda’s Legend

Zelda games date back to almost the beginning of home video consoles. There’s a full timeline of Zelda games online at this link, but discussing the entire franchise would take us all day. This Switch version of the game is the 25^th Zelda game in total, and the sixth in the past five years. Most franchises in their fourth decade of operation would probably be slowing down. Zelda appears to be speeding up. Even with this new release imminent, we already know that there’s another game – a sequel to 2017’s ‘Breath Of The Wild,’ due for release in 2020.

Such has been the success of Zelda that Link, the Princess, and several of the other characters have crossed over into various different mediums. There was a short-lived TV series based on Zelda in 1989. A Zelda-themed version of monopoly was issued in 2014. A mobile slots game called ‘The Legend of Link’ was launched in 2017. As there’s no official branding on it, we can’t be sure that the mobile slots game is actually a licensed product, but even if it isn’t, it demonstrates the level of affection and nostalgia that comes with Zelda games. Very few video games have crossed over into the strictly-adult world of mobile slots. Lara Croft is one (Lara Croft: Temples and Tombs being one of the better video-game themed mobile slots we’re aware of). Super Mario is another. That’s the kind of company this game series keeps.

As for what makes it so special? It’s the sheer quality of the games. The genre isn’t particularly special, and the stories aren’t especially original. You could argue that games like ‘Final Fantasy’ have taken inspiration from Zelda and gone much further with the same idea. It’s simply the playing experience which keeps players coming back for more. As we said earlier, the original Game Boy version of ‘The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening’ was seen as near perfection. ‘Ocarina of Time’ for the N64 scored perfect grades when it was released in 1998. ‘Breath of the Wild’ did the same again two years ago. Zelda games seem to bring the very best out of Nintendo.

We don’t have to worry about whether this new Switch game will live up to the same quality standards, because it’s simply a revival of the much older original. But have Nintendo added anything extra to it?

The Modern Age

For the main part, this third incarnation of the game sticks close to what made it successful from the beginning. It’s a top-down game which has the occasional side-scrolling sections. If you were particularly attached to ‘the color dungeon’ from the Game Boy Color version of the game – which was designed specifically to show off the device’s color display – you’ll be pleased to know it’s in here, too. There are, however, a few minor adjustments to reflect that times have changed since this particular chapter of the Link saga last got an airing.

The major changes are all in the game’s combat sections. For a start, Link always has his shield and sword equipped, along with any upgrades. This means additional items can be equipped to action buttons – something which was raised as one of the very few criticisms of the original. There’s also a 20 heart limit as opposed to the original 14.

Many minigames that players will remember well – for example the claw minigame – have also had a tweak to make the physics more realistic. Rooms from dungeons that players have completed can be collected, and then used to build new dungeons of your own if you so desire. That gives the game a sandbox-like feel which would have been completely impossible when making games back in the 1980s. Once you’ve built your own dungeon, you can battle through it as a time attack, and win special rewards that can’t be obtained elsewhere in the game.

The addition of a ‘build your own dungeon’ mode feels like a way to allow players to get more game-time out of the game. After all, this is a 30-plus-year-old game. It doesn’t have the hours of gameplay that we now expect from new releases, because software and hardware devices of the 1980s and 1990s simply didn’t have the capacity to allow for games of that length. You won’t find this version of ‘The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening’ any more challenging or time-consuming than you did when you were a child – but it’s bound to give you a deep, warm, sense of nostalgia. We suspect that’s the entire point of it.