This Week in Gaming (Week 6)

Welcome to February proper, a week that brings one fairly big AAA release, followed by a few lesser titles. We have sparky tales, a remake by MicroProse, dungeons, inquisitors and a space based RPG game for you, none of which can be considered major releases, but might still be fun to play.

Helldivers 2 / This week's AAA release / Thursday 8 February
Helldivers 2 is a 3rd person squad-based shooter that sees the elite forces of the Helldivers battling to win an intergalactic struggle to rid the galaxy of the rising alien threats. From a 3rd person perspective, players use a variety of weapons (pistols, machine guns, flamethrowers) and stratagems (turrets, airstrikes, etc.) to shoot and kill the alien threats. Players can also aim down the sights for a more accurate 1st person camera view. Combat is accompanied by frequent sprays of blood and dismemberment as players exterminate the alien forces or players and squad mates are hit by environmental explosions or friendly fire. Enemy encampments and battlefield environments depict bloodstains and dismembered corpses. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/318697/this-...ing-week-6

Chinese Researchers Develop FlexRAM Liquid Metal RAM Using Biomimicry

Researchers from Tsinghua University in Beijing have developed FlexRAM, the first fully flexible resistive RAM memory built using liquid metal. The innovative approach suspends droplets of gallium-based liquid metal in a soft biopolymer material. Applying voltage pulses oxidizes or reduces the metal, mimicking neuron polarization. This allows the reversible switching between high and low resistance states corresponding to bit 1s and 0s for data storage. Even when powered off, data persists in the inert liquid for 43,200 seconds (or 12 hours). The current FlexRAM prototype consists of 8 independent 1-bit memory units, storing a total of 1 byte. It has demonstrated over 3,500 write cycles, though further endurance improvements are needed for practical use. Commercial RAM is rated for millions of read/write cycles. The millimeter-scale metal droplets could eventually reach nanometer sizes, dramatically increasing memory density.

FlexRAM represents a breakthrough in circuits and electronics that can freely bend and flex. The researchers envision applications from soft robotics, medical implants, and flexible wearable devices. Compatibility with stretchable substrates unlocks enormous potential for emerging technologies. While still in the early conceptual stages, FlexRAM proves that computing and memory innovations that were once thought impossible or fanciful can become real through relentless scientific creativity. It joins a wave of pioneering flexible electronics research attaining more flexibility than rigid silicon allows. There are still challenges to solve before FlexRAM and liquid electronics can transform computing. But by proving a fluid-state memory device possible, the technology flows toward a radically different future for electronics and computation. Below, you can see the liquid metal droplet that is the FlexRAM breakthrough.


https://www.techpowerup.com/318169/chine...biomimicry

(PR) AAEON Unveils the UP Xtreme 7100 Mini PC

AAEON's UP brand, renowned for producing sophisticated developer boards with industrial-grade specifications, has announced the release of the UP Xtreme 7100, an all-in-one robotics solution available as both a single-board and Mini PC. Both the UP Xtreme 7100 and its system-level counterpart, the UP Xtreme 7100 Edge, are available in SKUs powered by Intel Core i3-N305 or Intel Processor N97 CPUs, chosen due to their balance of low power consumption and high performance. The platform consequently provides the sensor data processing, integrated graphics, and resources required for path planning and control algorithms needed to bring AGV, AGV + AI, and AMR solutions to market.

Consistent with previous product lines from AAEON's UP Division, the UP Xtreme 7100 and UP Xtreme 7100 Edge are built on compact form factors in order to address space restraints. Consequently, the UP Xtreme 7100 board-level solution measures just 120.35 mm x 122.5 mm, while the edge system version comes in at 152 mm x 124 mm x 40 mm. Targeting areas in robotics such as AGV and AMR, the UP Xtreme 7100 and UP Xtreme 7100 Edge are equipped with a number of terminal blocks for serial communication, along with a 30-pin board-to-board connector that offers digital I/O, GPIO, and isolated RS-232/422/485 function. Further, CAN 2.0B, a DIP switch, and LED indicators are onboard to make the solution conducive to establishing communication with other devices on the CANBus network. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/317866/aaeon...00-mini-pc

Publisher Secured for "Twinsen's Little Big Adventure" Remake

Developer 2:12 experienced a grim summertime last year—their "Twinsen's Little Big Adventure" reboot was canned due to lack of publisher interest, and members of the team were—unfortunately—let go. CEO Ben Limare outlined a Plan B that pivoted on 2:12's ongoing remaster projects: "(we will) channel our focus and energy into the remastered version of Twinsen's Little Big Adventure (TLBA Remastered). We will explore whether we can reincorporate the reboot's ideas into the remaster, but that's a conversation for another time." Securing a publishing deal for said remaster was a key goal, and this seems to have been achieved according to a pre-Christmas 2023 announcement.

Limare shared the good news, although he stopped short of naming the game's new financier: "after months of hard work behind the scenes, we are thrilled to share a great piece of news: we have a publisher! Twinsen is (really) back! Our first collaboration will be the remake of Twinsen's Little Big Adventure Classic...yes, you read that right: a remake!" 2:12 released a late December update that explained the scope of this slightly rejigged remake. Read on below. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/317803/publi...ure-remake

INNOCN Gaming Monitors at 2024 CES: OLED and Fast IPS with MiniLED Dominate

INNOCN brought its latest gaming monitors to the 2024 International CES; it didn't waste out time with monitors based on 15 year old tech; but rolled out the very latest—IPS with miniLED backlighting, and OLED. The Titan Army P27A6V is a 27-inch planar display with 4K Ultra HD resolution and a blistering 144 Hz refresh rate (which is high, considering this is 4K). This display uses an IPS panel with miniLED backlighting, and meets DisplayHDR 1000 spec. Display connectivity include HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4, both of which provide enough bandwidth of 4K HDR @ 144 Hz. Brilliant stuff, but this is "only" a 27-inch display, which will incur Hi-DPI scaling. Need something bigger? Check out the Titan Army P32A6V, which has identical specs to the P27A6V, but in a larger 32-inch planar format. Both these displays come in gunmetal gray and matte-white body color variants.

Switching up gears is the INNOCN M27E6V, a 27-inch planar display with a Fast IPS panel paired with miniLED backlighting. This one provides 4K Ultra HD with even faster 160 Hz refresh rate, and support for HDR 1400, and 99% coverage of DCI-P3. Inputs include DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, and USB type-C (DisplayPort passthrough). You can use the monitor in single cable mode if the USB-C connection is capable of delivering 90 W. The next premium display is the Titan Army G27E8S, a 26.5-inch planar display that uses an OLED panel, and meant for performance gaming. You get a lower WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution than the other three displays we mentioned so far; but at higher 240 Hz refresh rate, and under 0.5 ms GTG response time, thanks to the OLED panel. Inputs include DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1. The display meets HDR10 spec. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/317773/innoc...d-dominate

(PR) Incase to Re-Launch Microsoft PC Accessory Portfolio in 2024

Incase, a leading global design-driven carry and protection brand, today announced it will re-launch products from the Microsoft accessories portfolio in 2024. Onward Brands, the parent company of Incase, has licensed rights and associated intellectual property from the Microsoft accessories portfolio. The deal includes manufacturing components of well known Microsoft accessories, ensuring that the products stay true to the favorites that consumers enjoy and trust.

The strategic partnership allows Incase to leverage Microsoft's world-class product design and proven technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Incase will manufacture and distribute a broad suite of Microsoft accessory products including Keyboards, Mice, Webcams, Headsets and Speakers. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/317433/incas...io-in-2024

This Week in Gaming (Week 1)

Welcome to the first week of new games of 2024, although the first week of the year isn't exactly starting with a bang. In fact, there are so few new releases that we couldn't even get one per day, but luckily there were enough new games being released on other days for a full roundup. We got everything from bootleggers to tiny cars and a point and click adventure to keep you busy this coming week.

Bootlegger's Mafia Racing Story / Monday 1 January
Step back in time to the roaring 1930s and immerse yourself in the high-stakes world of bootlegging during America's Prohibition era. Get ready to join John Hamerton, a retired car engineer and mechanic, as he embarks on a daring journey to save his house and pay off his tax debt. Read full story


https://www.techpowerup.com/317246/this-...ing-week-1

GIGABYTE Releases AGESA 1.1.0.1a AM5 Motherboard BIOS Updates, Suggests 8700G Based

GIGABYTE released UEFI firmware (BIOS) updates for its Socket AM5 motherboards encapsulating the AMD AGESA ComboAM5 PI 1.1.0.1a microcode. This latest version of AGESA has sparked speculation that some of AMD's upcoming Ryzen 8000G desktop APUs are in fact based on the newer "Hawk Point" silicon, and not "Phoenix." AMD released its Ryzen 8040 series "Hawk Point" mobile processors earlier this month, with a faster NPU that results in an up to 40% increase in AI interference performance over that of "Phoenix." "Hawk Point" is essentially identical to "Phoenix," including its first generation XDNA architecture based NPU, however the NPU's clock speed has been dialed up. If AMD is building some of its Ryzen 8000G desktop APU models on "Hawk Point" instead of "Phoenix," then we have our first solid hint that AMD is bringing Ryzen AI to the desktop platform, and that the Ryzen 8000G will end up being the first desktop processors with an NPU.

AMD is expected to be building at least two APU models based on the "Hawk Point" silicon, the Ryzen 7 8700G, and the Ryzen 5 8600G. The lower models, namely the 8500G and Ryzen 3 8300G, are expected to be based on the smaller "Phoenix 2" silicon, with a hybrid CPU that combines two "Zen 4" cores with up to four "Zen 4c" cores. The "Zen 4c" cores may feature an identical instruction set architecture (ISA) and IPC to the regular "Zen 4" cores, but have tighter Vcore limits, and operate at lower clock speeds. This makes the two available "Zen 4" cores the de facto "performance" cores, and AMD flags them as UEFI CPPC "preferred cores," ensuring the OS guides a bulk of its processing traffic to them. Both "Phoenix" and "Hawk Point" feature an identical CPU setup, with up to eight "Zen 4" cores.


https://www.techpowerup.com/317195/gigab...ot-phoenix

Seasonic Unveils 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR Successor) Cable, Invites Beta Testing

Seasonic is ready with a modular PSU cable for the new 12V-2x6 standard, which succeeds 12VHPWR. Intel felt the need to introduce the new cable standard as part of the new ATX 3.1 specification as the 12VHPWR is flimsy, and poses a burn-out hazard in case of an improper contact. For modular PSU manufacturers, implementing the new connector is as easy as selling or giving away a modular cable that plugs into the 12VHPWR connector on the PSU's backplane, and puts out a 12V-2x6 connector on the other end, and so as a leading power supply OEM, Seasonic is handing out such cables for free, but there's a catch.

Seasonic is giving away a modular PSU cable that plugs into a 12VHPWR on the PSU's backplate on one end, and puts out a new ATX 3.1 standards compliant 12V-2x6 connector on the other end, which promises greater mechanical stability over the 12VHPWR. The cable is free, however, it requires users to sign up to a "Beta Tester Program" by Seasonic. We haven't read the terms and conditions of the program, but we predict it to be a form of waiver against any damage liability—you use the cable at your own risk. The cable features 16-AWG wires, and a connector that's aligned at a 90° angle. The capable is capable of 600 W of continuous output and excursions within the ATX 3.1 and PCIe CEM 5.1 specifications.


https://www.techpowerup.com/317127/seaso...ta-testing

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series "Blackwell" On Course for Q4-2024

NVIDIA's next-generation GeForce RTX 50-series "Blackwell" gaming GPUs are on course to debut toward the end of 2024, with a Moore's Law is Dead report pinning the launch to Q4-2024. This is an easy to predict timeline, as every GeForce RTX generation tends to have 2 years of market presence, with the RTX 40-series "Ada" having debuted in Q4-2022 (October 2022), and the RTX 30-series "Ampere" in late-Q3 2020 (September 2020).

NVIDIA's roadmap for 2024 sees a Q1 debut of the RTX 40-series SUPER, with three high-end SKUs refreshing the upper half of the RTX 40-series. The MLID report goes on to speculate that the generational performance uplift of "Blackwell" over "Ada" will be smaller still, than that of "Ada" over "Ampere." With AI HPC GPUs outselling gaming GPUs by 5:1 in terms of revenues, and AMD rumored to be retreating from the enthusiast segment for its next-gen RDNA4, we get to see why this is the case.


https://www.techpowerup.com/317052/nvidi...or-q4-2024