By Kristian Vättö @ AnandTech

G.Skill hasn’t been a very visible SSD OEM lately. Like many DRAM module companies, G.Skill entered the market early around 2009 when the market was very immature and profits were high, but lately the company has more or less been on a hiatus from the market. Even though G.Skill has had an SF-2281 based Phoenix III in the lineup for quite some time, it never really did anything to push the product and a Google search yields zero reviews for that drive (at least from any major tech review outlet). However, back at Computex this year G.Skill showcased a prototype of its next generation SSD: the Phoenix Blade. Unlike most SSDs on the market, the Phoenix Blade utilizes a PCIe 2.0 x8 interface, but unfortunately it is not the native PCIe drive many of you have been waiting for. It is driven by four SandForce SF-2281 controllers in a RAID 0 configuration. It makes sense for G.Skill to pursue the ultra high-end niche because the SATA SSD market is currently extremely populated. It ends up being close to impossible for the smaller OEMs to compete against giants like Samsung, SanDisk and Crucial/Micron while being profitable, since ultimately the NAND manufacturers that are vertically integrated will always have a cost advantage.

Read The Review Here

Check out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

• Spire Announces Curvature Ergonomic Keyboard
• DeepCool Intros Quanta DQ650 EVO Power Supply
• Razer Debuts Seirēn Digital Microphone with Studio-Grade Recording Quality
• Ozone Launches Argon Ocelote World Gaming Mouse
• COUGAR Announces 500K Gaming Keyboard
• GIGABYTE Secret OC Session Unlocks 9 World Records
• Toshiba Canvio AeroCast Wireless Hard Drive Now Available
• X99 Chipset Problems Force Intel to Pull a Driver, Orders Partners to Do the Same
• PNY Launches HP v231w “Goat” Flash Drive
• Digital Storm Eclipse SFF Gaming PC Unveiled – Slim Gaming Tower – VIDEO

The Scarborough Naval Raid, December 1914

By John Dudek @ The Wargamer

The silent grey line of massive battle cruisers sailed majestically and intimidatingly out from the mist shrouded winter sea wastes, and the fog shrouded cloud banks seemed to part out of respect at their passing. Morning was coming to these northerly latitudes, but it would be some time yet before the winter sun’s rays could cut through most of the foggy gloom. However, a freshening offshore breeze raised the fog, revealing the intended targets ashore. The warship’s main gun turrets swung out for a full broadside salvo as firing solution data was relayed from the range finders. The gun barrels now adjusted their elevation accordingly. Bright booming flashes belched forth from the gun muzzles followed by gouts of black cordite smoke as the giant shells arched their way across the sky towards their intended targets inland. The other warships inline followed suit, adding their own explosive steel to the man made hell they were creating ashore. The high explosive shells detonated throughout the town and upon its factories, shipyard and support facilities, causing great consternation and considerable civilian casualties amongst those who were then on their way to work. However, this was not some historical scenario from WWII taking place along the shores of occupied Europe, this scenario actually took place in three towns along the Yorkshire coastline. Nor were the affected civilians German, French, Belgian, Dutch or Norwegian, they were British civilians and the warships offshore delivering this punishing artillery bombardment were German battle cruisers of the WWI German High Seas Fleet carrying out a series of punitive shore bombardments upon the towns of Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby England in December 1914.

Read on…

“Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul” (Michel de Montaigne – French Writer)

Sword, Juno, Omaha, Utah, Gold! 5 names that made their mark on history forever. 5 Normandy beaches that shattered the Atlantic Wall and brought a decisive advantage to the Allied forces in Western Europe. 5 thorns in the German side that made Berlin tremble. This massive seaborne operation was one of the main turning points that gave victory to the Allies!

70 years after the Normandy landings, players have the opportunity to relive this key moment of WW2 in Frontline: The Longest Day. They will have to lead their troops across beaches heavily defended by veteran soldiers of the Wehrmacht. Finding a path through minefields, bunkers, artillery barrages, and antitank barriers will require courage and tactical science! Successor to the very successful Frontline: Road to Moscow that reached the top of the charts on iPad this past spring, The Longest Day keeps all the ingredients that made the previous game highly addictive while introducing brand new battlefields, plenty of units, and more complex combat mechanics for an intense experience of the D-Day operations!

Today we have the pleasure to announce that the game from developer 88mm is finally released on all platforms. So whether players own an iOS, Android or PC device, they will have a chance to jump on a Landing Craft Assault and fight on the frontline with the Allied forces!

Frontline: The Longest Day is available via Steam now!

Click here to view the games launch trailer.

Get more information on Frontline: The Longest Day from its official product page.

Source: Blue’s News

An update to Battlelog has word that Final Stand is not the final DLC for Battlefield 4, as EA announces that more content is coming to the military shooter sequel. They are playing this close to the vest for now, saying: “We will share details on exactly what this new content will be, and when it will arrive, in the near future. We understand that this may lead to even more questions about our plans, but rest assured that we’ll get back to you on the future of Battlefield 4 when the time is right.” One hint about where they are going with this comes as the solicit suggestions from fans for classic Battlefield maps they hope to see remade.

Dovetail Games, the multi award-winning developer and publisher of the Train Simulator series and Dovetail Games Fishing, today gave flight sim fans a lift for the holiday season with the announcement that Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition will launch on December 18 at a spectacular introductory price.

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition delivers an authentically accurate aerial experience for simulation enthusiasts and those with a passion for all things flight. Pilots can climb into the cockpits of over twenty aircraft, from commercial and fighter jets to single-engine private planes and helicopters. More than 80 missions will test players in a variety of ways, including search and rescue challenges, test pilot scenarios, races and more. The game features updated multiplayer functionality, Windows 8.1 support and over 24,000 airports, delivering a beautiful, connected world and vast horizon begging to be explored.

First released in 2006, Microsoft Flight Simulator X’s arrival on Steam marks the first exciting steps in the global licensing deal between Dovetail Games and Microsoft announced earlier this year. In addition to distributing Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition, Dovetail Games is also working on its own original titles based on Microsoft’s flight technology, carrying on nearly three decades of tradition established by this award-winning franchise. Dovetail Games and partners will also be launching a range of add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition on Steam in the New Year.

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition will be available on Windows PC via Steam on December 18.

There’s something momentous on the horizon, and you’re just the salty-dog to get the job done. We’re looking for a few good sailors to join us in testing the latest build for World of Warships! We’ve got a cargo hold full of keys to distribute, so scope the information below and get in on all the high-seas action!

• Begins: Friday, December 12 at 15:00 PST / 18:00 EST
• Ends: Sunday, December 14 at 23:59 PST / 02:59 EST on December 15

“This weekend with World of Warships, we are starting with a new model of testing and are looking forward to seeing the results of this new approach,” states Daniil Volkov, World of Warships Development Director. “The game is still in the early stages of development. Opening it to a larger audience will allow us to get a lot of relevant feedback that will be instrumental in defining player expectations and outlining what we are to focus on in the coming months.”

The event will feature three classes of military vessels, offering players the chance to experience the unique “Rock-Paper-Scissors” approach to naval combat. Players will have the opportunity to command American cruisers and destroyers as well as Japanese battleships, cruisers, and destroyers.

Once they’re up and running, you’ll be able to head to any one of our media partners’ sites for details on how to secure a ticket aboard this weekend’s World of Warships testing event.

• IGN
• Gamespot
• MMORPG
• Curse (requires login)
• TenTonHammer

Activating Your Key
After you’ve run the gauntlet and secured your key, it’s time to click on this link and follow the directions! Please keep in mind that there is a non-disclosure agreement and an embargo on any media impressions or reviews at this time.

Watch the first World of Warships gameplay video HERE.

New game world launched featuring warfare across a European world map, adds capacity for tens of thousands of extra active players

Firefly Studios has opened a ‘Europe’ game world to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of active players who log in every month to their castle MMO. Accurately based on the current day map of Europe, this new world is a direct response to requests from the community for more game worlds on a grander scale than those based on single countries. Since launch more than 3.5 million players have signed up to play Stronghold Kingdoms, two years since launch it remains one of the most actively played games on Steam.

Expanding Kingdoms with the addition of a new ‘Europe’ world provides both new and experienced players with the opportunity make their mark on an untouched landscape. ‘Europe’ promises extraordinary riches to those who take control of the 33 different countries in this persistent game world, stretching from the warm and inviting coasts of Portugal to the cooler and unforgiving trenches of Eastern Ukraine. As one of the most popular free-to-play games on Steam, Kingdoms will continue to grow through releases of new map types, community-driven updates and larger expansion-style feature updates coming in 2015, working with players to remain the leader in its genre.

With monthly active players in the hundreds of thousands, Stronghold Kingdoms continues to be enjoyed by fans and Firefly as a small independent developer. Although Kingdoms already has players from over 100 different countries, Firefly plans to expand into further territories and release new types of game world in 2015. Players enjoy the ability to build a castle near their real life home town and engage in local and country-wide politics, something Firefly is keenly aware of. New worlds will continue this trend by allowing players to expand their empire, dominate nearby regions and eventually rule over entire continents. Currently the largest game world on offer, ‘Europe’ features 33 different medieval countries and a fully persistent game world to be claimed by players, in an often brutal fight for domination and glory.

Stronghold Kingdoms can be downloaded and played for free at the Stronghold Kingdoms website.

New Expansion Brings More Role-playing Options to Rulers Everywhere

Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio today announced that Crusader Kings II: Way of Life, the next expansion for the award winning strategy franchise, will be released on December 16th via digital storefronts worldwide. Way of Life will be available on PC, Mac, and Linux for $7.99.

Way of Life delves into the role-playing aspects of Crusader Kings II, giving players the ability to fine-tune their methods of seduction and break ups, and also the ability to set a Focus for your character that will influence the types of events that befall your character during their lifetime. Featuring hundreds of new events as well as over 20 new event pictures, Way of Life will give players control over their characters in ways never before available—for better, for worse, or for entertainment.

PRESS RELEASE

By Parm Mann @ HEXUS

Fractal Design‘s venture into the world of liquid cooling has been common knowledge for a number of months – we brought you a sneak-peek way back in March – and said coolers are now ready to make their retail debut.

Three ‘Kelvin’ models are officially launched today. The Kelvin T12, featuring a 120mm radiator, is priced at £75 and represents Fractal’s entry-level solution. The Kelvin S24 includes a 240mm radiator at a cost of £90, while the range-topping Kelvin S36 offers a triple-fan 360mm radiator for £105.

Fractal has a good selection of price points covered, and it’s the middle-of-the-pack S24 that’s first under the review spotlight.

Read The Review Here