Dell Updates High-End XPS Gaming System

The new XPS 720 H2C gaming desktop from Dell adds a new graphics card, quad core processor, and Blu-ray drive for serious gamers.

Today Dell updated its high-end XPS gaming system to challenge gaming PC manufacturers. The new version—the Dell XPS 720 H2C—is basically a "speed bump" from the previous XPS 710 series, with the addition of the newest graphics cards and quad core processors, as well as support for Blu-ray drives.

The system starts with a quad-core Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 processor (originally at 2.66GHz, factory overclocked to 3.46GHz) nVidia nForce i680 SLi motherboard chipset, and Dual nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX cards in a SLI configuration. The CPU is cooled by Dell's H2C Thermo-electric/liquid cooling technology.

Its 2GB of 800MHz DDR2 memory, factory overclocked to 1066MHz, is tunable by the end user using included utilities like nVidia's nTune overclocking software. A 2X Blu-ray optical drive and dual 160GB drives complete the system for a total price of $5,999.

Optional upgrades include the faster QX6800 processor (overclocked to 3.73GHz), GeForce 8800 Ultra graphics cards, and an AGEIA PhysX physics co-processor. Even without these extras, the XPS 720 is likely to be in the same league as its predecessor.

To gild the lily, Dell is offering the LightFX toolkit with the XPS 720 H2C, providing the user with animated LED effects like changing colors and "chase" lights.

Source.

Raiden X

OBJECTIVES
The sequel to Raiden I and Raiden II, RaidenX is a 2D vertical-shooter Flash game. There are 8 levels and this new version allows you to save your game after each level (yay!)

On the main menu of the game, go to "SETTING" then choose "DIFFICULTY." There are three levels to choose from - EASY, NORMAL and HARD. Normal should be okay for most players, but choose Easy if you suck; Hard if you rock.

Cheats

-- 5 Bombs --
On the title screen, select "New Game" whenever the background animation is flashing white. If you get the timing right, you'll start with 5 bombs instead of 3!

For a better success rate, play at normal resolution (300x350) to reduce lagging.

-- Hidden 1UP --
In stage 3, just before you reach the open harbour, you'll see a blue box marked with a "?". Don't shoot at it (if you have homing missiles or a wide-spread gun, let go of the FIRE key). Try not to die either, or the debris of your ship may hit the box.

Wait until a nearby tank comes out of its base and runs over the box to break it. Taadaa! Out comes your free 1UP!

-- Invisibility Mode --
During the takeoff sequence after stage 5, press CTRL. A textbox at the bottom-right corner will pop out. Type in "go0gleypower" and after the animation (stage 6), you'll remain invisible for 20-30 seconds. Survival guaranteed!

You'll return to normal at around the time you see the ruby (which gives you a 1UP).

Try Raiden NOW.

Anarchy Online - play for free

What is Anarchy Online?

# Anarchy Online is the Ultimate Sci-Fi based Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG)

# Play with tens of thousands of other gamers online in a massive virtual world on the planet of Rubi-Ka

# Create and customise your own character, choosing from fourteen diverse professions. Be a Soldier, Doctor, Engineer or many more, the choice is yours!

# Utilise our ground breaking auto-generated content system to enjoy personalised mission dungeons tailored to your level and location!

# Experience the fast and exciting Player versus Player Action

# Develop your character with thousands of items of armour, weapons and other upgrades!

Visit the site now!

Video Game Industry : Return of Nintendo

THE RISE OF NINTENDO

1983 - Famicom is released in Japan and becomes a major hit in the country. The Video Game industry collapses in North America.

1984 - Famicom continues to dominate while North American retailers try to get rid of video game products for good. Many computer-based consoles are released in North America and Nintendo plans for a possible North American release of the Famicom despite the industry’s destruction.

1985 - Nintendo Entertainment System (American version of the Famicom) has a limited release and sees success. Super Mario Bros. Is released in North America and changes the way video games are played.

1986 - Nintendo Entertainment System goes national and by late 1986 the gaming industry is revived. Nintendo becomes an international phenomenon and a part of American Pop Culture.

1987 - Nintendo explodes in sales that would have the company gain over a billion in profits per annum. The Legend of Zelda is released while Final Fantasy and Double Dragon take stage. Nintendo faces competition in Japan with SEGA’s Master System.

1988 - Super Mario Bros. 2 is released and becomes a major success despite it’s different approach then it’s predecessor. Nintendo Power is born which would be the start of popular magazines like GamePro to EGM. SEGA Master System is released in North America although it did well in Europe and Japan, it barely scratched the surface in North America.

1989 - Nintendo, who revolutionized the third-party development standard, faced lawsuits for it’s monopolistic nature regarding third-parties. Gameboy is released, the handheld that would go on to become the best selling video game unit of all time along with Tetris and Super Mario Land. By this time, Mario becomes more popular then Mickey Mouse. “The Wizard” is released in theatres and becomes known as Nintendo’s 100-Minute Commercial.

1990 - Super Mario Bros. 3 is released and becomes the best-selling standalone title of all time. Nintendo releases the 16-bit Super Famicom in Japan to challenge SEGA’s Mega Drive and the PC-Engine.

1991 - Super Nintendo Entertainment System is released in North America, challenging SEGA’s Genesis and the Turbografx 16, which was near it’s decline. Super Mario World is launched with the SNES and becomes the most complete Mario game ever made.

1992 - SEGA defeats Nintendo in the market and takes 55% of the market. SNES is finally released in Europe. Development begins on the Virtual Boy. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is released on the SNES becoming one of the greatest Zelda games ever.

1993 - Project Reality, which would later become Ultra 64 begins, a project that would take gamers into a 3D world. SEGA continued to dominate North America and increased market share while Super NES dominated Japan. Mortal Kombat is released which causes controversy, unfortunately it was the beginning of Nintendo’s “kiddy” image. Super Mario Bros. The Movie is released in theatres and becomes a failure despite the huge hype and high-calibre actors in the film.

1994 - Super Metroid is released and becomes one of the greatest games of all time. Nintendo commits itself to cartridge-based media and calls 1994 “The Year of the Cartridge” after projects with Sony and Phillips didn’t go through as planned. Donkey Kong Country is released becoming a major blockbuster due to it’s futuristic graphics and would become the turning point in the console wars. Nintendo Entertainment System reaches it’s end. By the end of 2004 Nintendo becomes market leader once again in the world.

THE FALL OF NINTENDO

1995 - Virtual Boy is released and becomes a huge disaster. Earthbound and Chrono Trigger is released on the SNES becoming one of the greatest classics of all time. Nintendo faces competition with the likes of the SEGA Saturn and Sony Playstation. Satellaview is released in Japan which would be the first “online” system that became a success.

1996 - Gameboy Pocket is released as a smaller version of the original Gameboy. The powerful Nintendo 64 is released in Japan and North America along with the smash hit Super Mario 64. Third-Parties begin to shift to Sony’s Playstation including Square-Enix. Nintendo’s competitor SEGA is defeated in the market with it’s failed Saturn while Sony takes off, dominating the market.

1997 - Nintendo 64 is finally released in Europe and Australia. A redesigned SNES is released. Goldeneye 007 is released on the N64 making it one of the most popular classics of all time.

1998 - Gameboy Color is released. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is released in Japan and North America becoming known as the greatest game of all time. The SNES in North America sees it’s end.

1999 - Super Smash Bros is released. SEGA tries for one more round with the Dreamcast, which becomes a smash hit at launch. Nintendo is defeated in the market by Sony. Nintendo 64DD is released in Japan.

2000 - Nintendo works on Project Dolphin, a next-generation console. At around this point Nintendo isn’t profiting over a Billion per annum as it used too. Over 100 Million Original Gameboy’s have been sold. Nintendo’s competitor Sony releases the Playstation 2 becoming an international phenomenon that crushes Dreamcast.

2001 - Earlier in the year, Dreamcast production is halted and becomes discountinued as SEGA becomes a third-party developer. Relations between SEGA and Nintendo improves. Nintendo releases it’s Gamecube console while a new competitor, Microsoft releases it’s Xbox. Nintendo 64 sees it’s demise. Gameboy Advance is released and would go on selling over 75 million units throughout it’s lifetime.

2002 - Gamecube becomes a disaster from the start of the year with a lack of software bringing analysts to question Nintendo’s future. Hiroshi Yamauchi, Nintendo’s President resigns and Satoru Iwata becomes his successor. The transfer of power allowed for Nintendo to continue for the rest of the year with the Gamecube bringing the console behind the Playstation 2 in console sales. Super Mario Sunshine is released and becomes in many ways the weakest Mario title in the franchise. Metroid Prime is released.

2003 - The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is released in North America. The redesigned Gameboy Advance, known as the GBA SP is released becoming a smash hit. Famicom and Super Famicom are officially discontinued in Japan. Satoru Iwata begins to fix third-party relationships including Square-Enix and Namco.

2004 - Microsoft’s Xbox becomes a success with it’s “Live” online system and by mid-late 2004 defeats Nintendo in the market placing the Gamecube at the No.3 spot worldwide despite Xbox’s failure in Japan. Nintendo releases the Nintendo DS, an answer to Sony’s threat to enter the handheld market. Nintendo works on the Revolution, a next-generation console.

2005 - Resident Evil 4 is released on the Gamecube as a timed Exclusive becoming one of the best games of all time and would later become No. 2 on Nintendo Power’s Top 200 list behind Ocarina of Time. Playstation Portable releases as the threat against Nintendo’s handheld dominance. Nintendo reveals it’s Revolution console with backwards compatibility, a back catalogue of classics and an online service. Sony unviels it’s Playstation 3 becoming one of the most hyped consoles of our time. Revolution’s controller is revealed as a motion-sensing remote control along with an analogy stick attachment. Microsoft releases it’s Xbox 360.

THE RETURN OF NINTENDO (?)

2006-Present Time - Nintendo grosses over $808 Million USD for the 2005 fiscal year proving that the company is in great shape for the future. Revolution becomes known as the Wii as it gains huge third-party support and Nintendo takes it’s first major victory at the most popular gaming tradeshow, E3-2006. DS Lite is released world-wide and becomes a huge success and defeates Sony’s PSP in every territory. The Wii will be released in Q4 with games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Red Steel, promising to change the face of the company and the industry forever. Analysts begin to predict huge success for Nintendo. Many third-parties have begun to shift to the Wii from the PS3, a possible historic repetition of what happened a decade ago, only vice-versa.

2007 - Gameboy Advance is expected to see it’s demise along with the Gamecube early on. Nintendo is expected to release Super Mario Galaxy and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

2008 - The year of which the Console Wars determines a market leader.

2009 and Beyond - Nintendo is expected to release a Wii-like HD-powered video game system combining graphics and gameplay.

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