IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 8/5/2014

Elon Musk says that AI could be 'more dangerous than nukes'
Elon Musk has founded some of the biggest companies involving technology, such as PayPal, SpaceX and Tesla Motors. Musk thinks we need to build a home for humans on Mars as soon as possible, but when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), he has his reservations.

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Over the weekend, Musk tweeted about a book recommendation, but after that he said: "We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes." Musk isn't new to his stance on AI, where back in June the SpaceX founder said he has even considred the possibility of a 'Terminator'-like scenario. Musk has also admitted that he's even invested money into AI companies, where he wants to keep an eye on where AI is going.

Crucial lists its DDR4 RAM kits for pre-order on OverclockersUK
We've already seen DDR4 hit the shelves of Japan, and just a few days ago we saw official confirmation that ADATA had launched its new DDR4 kits. Now it's Crucial's turn, listing a bunch of DDR4-powered kits of RAM on OverclockersUK.

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Every kit of RAM is quad channel, with 4x8GB (32GB) and 4x4GB kits (16GB) up for pre-order, with a shipping data of the 29th of August. We have multiple speeds on offer, starting from 2133MHz, with an option for 2400MHz, 2666MHz and the blistering 3000MHz option for a huge $1120 (or so).

New world record for data transfer sits at 5.4TB per second
Whatever Internet access you've ever used, be it personal or professional, probably doesn't even begin to come close to what the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is playing around with in their labs.

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A team at DTU has just set a record for the fastest ever data transfer speeds, at 43 terabits of data in a single second - this equates to around 5.4TB of data, or 1GB of data in a barely-there 0.2 milliseconds. This technology uses a single laser down a single line of fiber, the same fiber lines that are used in fiber-optic connections.

Google Photos rumored to become its own service
Google is rumored to be reworking its social networking service, Google+, where it will break apart some of its services such as Photos, into their standalone service. Google is looking to increase its presence in the photo sharing space to better compete against its competitors in Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Flickr.

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If Google end up doing this, Photos could soon feature its own suite of filters and image enhancement tools, something that would require a Google+ account to use. Bloomberg reports: "the service, called Google+ Photos, would still work with the social network's users and may be rebranded as part of the move, one of the people said."
We can already see the beginnings of this move, with Android now featuring its own "Photos" app alongside the usual "Gallery" app. Photos is a great service, something I personally use across all of my devices, but being standalone could be much better again.

Feel the 'Need for Speed' in our latest Blu-ray giveaway
Thanks to our friends at Disney Home Entertainment Australia, we have copies of this weeks Blu-ray release of the big screen adaptation of EA Games 'The Need for Speed' to give away to three lucky readers.
Buckle up with star Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad"), Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi), Dakota Johnson and Michael Keaton in this high-speed tale about an underground driver (Paul) who sets off on a race for revenge against the wealthy ex-NASCAR driver (Cooper) who framed him for a crime he didn't commit. Delivering real speed, real danger and real action, this turbo-charged thriller explodes on screen on Blu-ray and Digital HD with spectacular high definition picture and sound!

To go into the running to take one Blu-ray copy home, simply correctly answer the following question:
What year was the first 'Need for Speed' game released?
To enter, simply 'like' this post and share via Facebook or Twitter and send your answers, along with your postal address to ben at TweakTown.com before the competition closes on August 7th. The total prize pool is approximately $119.85.

'Need for Speed' is available on 3D Blu-ray, 2D Blu-ray, DVD and Digital from Australian retailers on August 6th.

A post on 4Chan that says 'This post is art' sells for $90,900
An eBay seller has shelled some $90,900 for a post on 4Chan, nothing physical, but a post on the infamous Internet forum. The seller had the starting price at $500, but it blasted up to $90,900 pretty quickly.

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Within 36 hours the post reached the massive $90,900 price point, which would point toward this auction or at least the bid itself being fake, or the usual troll work we can expect from 4Chan.

300: Rise of an Empire (2014) Blu-ray Movie Review

300: Rise of an Empire (2014)

Coming some eight years after the success of the theatrical adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel 300, which proved to be the breakout picture for Director Zack Snyder, Rise of an Empire seeks to re-claim some of the epic glory with an even more camp and bloodthirsty feature than the first. Sadly, the highest heights of its predecessor are no match for the dull direction of Noam Murro, who exhibits none of Snyder's penchant for visual flair.

Unfolding roughly parallel to the events of 300 from a different perspective, Rise of an Empire follows Athenian General Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton) leading his army against skirmishes with the Persian Empire, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro).
Whilst launching an assault on the Spartans from the Aegean Sea, Naval commander Artemisia (Eva Green) attempts to use her feminine wiles to convince Themistocles to defect from Sparta, but when her advances are rejected, a more elaborate, more personal war begins, which could cloud the judgment of both leaders in the high stakes battle for glory.
300 burst out of the ranks in 2006 to be a solid success, whilst also permeating pop culture, including the film's iconic line "This is Sparta!". Sadly, the sequel does little to leverage off the freshness of its predecessor, re-hashing much of the recognizable flourishes with diminishing returns. All this leaves Rise of an Empire feeling particularly stale.
Despite small roles in films such as Gangster Squad and The Hunter, Australian newcomer Sullivan Stapleton takes pole position on the theatrical poster, and whilst he's reasonably effective in the role, his lack of aggressive grunt leaves viewers pining for Gerard Butler's return. Much more impressive is Eva Green who provides a manic edge to an on-paper un-compelling villain. Rodrigo Santoro returns as Xerxes, but with his role significantly reduced and given essentially nothing to do, his role feels forced.
The real fault of the film probably lies in the half-baked script, which was expected to be based off Frank Miller's unpublished graphic novel Xerxes, but forced to change course when Miller wouldn't put pen to paper. Coupled with this, Director Noam Murro provides little evidence of any of Snyder's visual acuity and he seems out of his depth. Why Hollywood continues to think giving $120 million plus to unproven directors is a great idea, not matter how great their pitch, is confusing at best.
Whilst Rise of an Empire made a tidy $330 worldwide, which in the eyes of Hollywood equals unbridled success, there is no altering the fact that the film is little more than pretty visuals in want of a worthy story. Simply transposing the same battles on the sea instead of the desert just doesn't cut the mustard. Fans deserved more.

Video

300: Rise of an Empire is encoded with AVC MPEG-4 compression and presented in the intended aspect ratio of 2.40:1.
Lensed digitally utilized RED EPIC digital cameras and finished in a 2K digital intermediate, which is heavily modified to fit the comic book visual style of its predecessor, 300: Rise of an Empire equals visual perfection - although it won't be to everybody's liking.
Heavily desaturated with a constant soft glow and smatterings of film grain are the copyrighted look of the 300 movies, and it flows through to the sequel. As such, this isn't going to be a razor sharp transfer, but it is entirely faithful to the theatrical presentation. I didn't notice any macroblocking, or aliasing, or any other digital nasties.
Overall, 300: Rise of an Empire is a technically proficient effort from a heavily tinkered digital image.

Audio

300: Rise of an Empire is presented in DTS HD Master Audio 7.1, at 24 bits.
For a big-budget action flick with such hot blooded subject matter, it's unsurprising that 300: Rise of an Empire features a stunning and aggressive audio mix which impresses with plenty of bombast to spare.
Surround channels are kept incredibly immersive, throwing the viewer into the thick of battle. Effects fly every which way, creating a true 360 degree environment, especially convincing if you are sporting a 7.1 setup. The subwoofer channel is loud and deep, emitting punchy and distinct sounds alongside general rumble and grumble.

Extras

Compared to the generous extra features produced for the collector's edition of the original 300, which included (for the dedicated) the complete film with original blue screen footage, Rise of an Empire isn't quite as packed, but befits the films lowered standing. Let's take a look.
First up is the four part 'The 300 Effect' making-of documentary which over 30 minutes takes a look at specific elements of production, from cracking the story, to the evolution of the films visual look at special effects, to the climactic sea battle.
The remaining features are reasonably brief, including 'Real Leaders & Legends' which looks at the actual Battle of Salamis and where this film differs from reality. Surprise - quite a bit, Women Warriors (12 minutes) which is focused on the heroine and villain played by Lena Headey and Eva Green respectively, Savage Warships (11 mins) which touches on the brutal efficiency of the Greek hordes at sea and Becoming a Warrior (5 minutes) which seeks to dispel the probable myth levelled at the first 300 that the manly six-packs were somehow a slight of digital effects.
PRICING: You can find the 300: Rise of an Empire Blu-ray for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The 300: Rise of an Empire Blu-ray retails for $24.96 at Amazon.
Canada: The 300: Rise of an Empire Blu-ray retails for CDN$24.99 at Amazon Canada.

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Gods Will Be Watching (GWBW) PC Game Review

Devolver Digital has made a habit of picking up games from game jams and turning them into full products. They recently picked up Titan Souls and have released a few others. The latest of which is Gods Will Be Watching, a survival point and click adventure game that began as a popular flash game. Devolver saw clear potential in the idea and just under two years later, we have the final product, and in theory, the concept would work incredibly well as a game. It's just a shame that such a unique and interesting premise is let down by some poor game design decisions.
Gods Will Be Watching (GWBW) begins with you and a squad crew camped around a fire wondering where it all went wrong. You play as Burden, the leader of an intergalactic crew who end up in the middle of a major space war and in a fight for survival. Over the course of six chapters, you have to guide your crew through some harrowing times, and ultimately try to keep them all alive. That last part is what the goal of this game is. Keep as many people alive as possible, whilst retaining some semblance of humanity doing it.

The main gameplay around GWBW is tough, moral decisions. At its core, it is somewhat like a point and click adventure, with time management mechanics thrown in, as well as a dose of tough decision making. Each chapter throws up a different challenge at you, and how you handle it will determine ultimately if you are successful, or you end up dead like the rest of your crew. This is a brutal game and one that quite frankly is as difficult, if not more so, than Dark Souls.
Each chapter throws you into a different situation, one which you need to become accustomed to before having any chance of success. The first few tries of each mission generally is about learning the mechanics and requirements of the level, before you finally put it all together and come up with a winning plan. Pen and paper will be sometimes required to solve the puzzles and come up with ideas, something that is quite rare in video games these days. If you are not a patient gamer, GWBW is most definitely not for you. However, in most cases, if you put the effort into learning the missions, the payoff is significantly rewarding once completed.

For example, in the opening chapter, you are holding hostages in a space craft, whilst the space SWAT crew storm in. You have four hostages as bargaining chips against the police incursion. At the same time, you need to complete a task of hacking the computer system and then escaping. You need to manage the hostages in many ways. For example, if you let a hostage become too relaxed, they may do a runner, forcing you to let them flee or shoot them. You can avoid this by shooting their knee to keep them in check. Of course, the flip side is that if you lose hostages either by fleeing or pushing their torture too far, the police become less likely to hold back. You can't just shoot everyone and expect to win.
And this is basically what GWBW is all about. Throwing you into tough chapters with increasingly tougher time management challenges. It's also a game that can become easier the more that you are willing to look past the inhumanity of some decisions. For example, in a mission where you need to keep everyone fed, killing a character not only will provide you with extra food for the squad, but also leave you with one less mouth to feed. It's brutal and you won't feel good about yourself, but there really is no winning in this game - survival of the fittest reigns.
However, as good as this sounds, and as interesting as this sounds as a premise, the developers have made some poor decisions in-game design that really hold it back. First of all, the chapters are quite long. Now this is not necessarily an issue other than the fact you cannot save your game and a fail means a complete restart.
Multiple times we had completed over twenty minutes of a chapter, only to fail, and have to restart it all again. This does lead to a sense of accomplishment once a chapter is completed, but wanting to put your first through the monitor during fail states is not conducive to fun gameplay. It could have been easily avoided with checkpoints.

Then there is some of the actual design within the missions. Each time you start or re-start a mission, various parts of it can be mixed up (the game uses an RNG system). This obviously means that walkthroughs are pointless and that everyone's experience will be different, but it also exacerbates some of the issues with the game. In one such chapter, it is nothing but blind luck that you manage to finish it. We have no doubt that many people will stop playing at this chapter (5, for those who are familiar with the game), because no matter how good your strategy, you can still lose due to its random nature.
It's also not really a point and click adventure game, despite being touted as one. Instead, it's more time management. You generally need to manage characters stamina, health and abilities to complete each mission. If you come into this game expecting a point and click adventure, you are going to be horribly disappointed by what you find. It's not that P&C fans won't like the game, it's likely you will, but an adventure game, it is not. The decisions also in some ways are not as wide ranging as they could be. For example, if you choose to shoot a character, they still appear in later chapters, which somewhat completely breaks the whole 'your decisions count' feel the game is going for.
One area where the game does excel is in its visuals. The pixel art style really fits the themes of the game well, and it also means that those of you who do not have the most powerful systems around will be able to run this. Again, however, there is an area of frustration that comes into play here, and that is the UI. It is so ridiculously easy to accidentally select the wrong option and that could, for example, lead to instant failure. Pairing that with the lack of saves and it really can be game over very quickly.

GWBW is a game that has a fantastic premise and intriguing gameplay mechanics that is ultimately let down significantly by some poor game design decisions. We see why they would want to not have a save or checkpoint system (increase tension, and make each decision count), but there has to be a better way than that which is currently present.
As it is, this game can really be only recommended to those with huge amounts of patience. If you have that, and are willing to put the time in, you will find a very interesting game. An update or two could alleviate some of these issues and really send this game to the heights that its unique idea could have very easily seen it at. As it is, it's worth playing, but be prepared for frustration.

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Available Tags:DDR4 , Google , Blu-ray ,

Monday, August 4, 2014

IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 8/5/2014

300: Rise of an Empire (2014)

Video

Audio

Extras

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