Just Another Blog

2011-04-09T10:49:00.000+05:30

Event: GameKshetra 2011, Pune
Format: LAN
Game Info: JnP vs Error (Both from India)

It's Raining Metal

2011-04-09T09:41:00.000+05:30

"Into the forest I walk alone
Down the winding path, through trees
I feel their eyes fastened upon me
I feel their evil stare"

- Very few can fathom the artistic salvation metal music has to offer. Others just listen and become part of the ever growing metal community in the country.

After being featured in the Global Metal documentary, being proud winners of the "Metal Hammer's Golden Gods" award, being invited to play in the metal fests in Europe, Demonic Resurrection is creating quite a stir in the world wide metal community and is certainly a must on the metal watch list.

Their latest masterpiece album "The Return To Darkness" has gained them worldwide applause and recognition for its quality. Music websites on the internet have termed this as "one of the best from India" with most of the reviews showing up a rewarding 8/10.

Founded in 2000, Demonic Resurrection, led by Sahil Makhija, the band's axe-man, vocalist and composer, has also been part of bands like Workshop, Infinite Hate Project, Reptilian Death, just to name a few. He also runs his own record label "Demonstealer Records" and has just launched a new initiative to help the upcoming metal scene in India- Demonic Consultancy.

Just like Demonic Resurrection, Another band from Hyderabad has slowly been catching up to the glamour of the metal industry - "Skrypt". Then, there is "Exhumation" from Mumbai who's fans are awaiting their new album slated to release on 7th March this year. Jack Daniel's Annual Rock Awards 2010 winner "Scribe" is a common household name and suddenly, there is just so much activity in the Indian Metal scene that it gets impossible to report all of it on a single page.

Bands like Demonic Resurrection, Exhumation, Asylum, Slain, Skrypt are certainly spear heading the metal music scene in India at the moment. What does that mean for the ever growing metal consumer market? Well, this invites some of the best metal bands over the world to play to the Indian audience, better our exposure to world metal music and help send into the Colosseum some of the best Indian Metal Gladiators.

The current metal scene has a larger following than all the years put together in history. Indian Metal Music has struggled through the years to be recognized in the international arena and now, with production quality reaching standards comparable to western bands, Indian bands have their stage set to bring out their creative juices and be heard by a larger audience. This is the dawn of a new era for the Metal and Rock industry as a whole. For us, who can't get enough of this ear-candy, we await the release of a next ground-breaking musical epic.

Note: This is an old article. I thought I'd share what I wrote. Hope you liked it.

Thanks a lot for reading this and please leave your comments/feedback.

AMD's 6xxx series cards?

2010-12-21T14:33:00.001+05:30

What is really going on with the release of these new cards and a new naming system?
Well I'm totally confused. When I first read about these cards a few weeks ago, I didn't know what to expect from these cards because I couldn't understand what to expect from a specific model.
Is the 6870 a 5870 replacement?
Well, no.. Read on..
Now for the people who are interested in the new 6xxx series, I've tried to do my best in compiling bits of information that I could gather from the internet.

Firstly, The Name Change:

From the information that I've been able to gather, TSMC, ATI's fabrication plant was unable to deliver cards based on the 32nm manufacturing technology. Now the 32nm would have allowed ATI to reduce the cost per GPU die while achieving higher clock speeds and lowering power consumption. What ATI have gone ahead and done is continuing to manufacture the 5700 series cards while renaming this to the new 6800 series.
Check out this article for more: (http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/10/22/ati-radeon-hd-6870-review/1)

Allright, So first we have the 6800 series cards. 6870 and the 6850.

These cards are based on the Barts core that we saw in the 5700 series.

In the 6900 Series, We've got 6970 and the 6950.

Up to 880MHz Engine Clock
2GB GDDR5 Memory
1375MHz Memory Clock (5.5 Gbps GDDR5)
176 GB/s memory bandwidth (maximum)
2.7 TFLOPs Single Precision compute power
683 GFLOPs Double Precision compute power
TeraScale 3 Unified Processing Architecture
- 1536 Stream Processors
- 96 Texture Units
- 128 Z/Stencil ROP Units
- 32 Color ROP Units
- Dual geometry and dual rendering engines and so on and so forth!
(For full specs: http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/amd-radeon-hd-6000/hd-6970/Pages/amd-radeon-hd-6970-overview.aspx#2)

Up to 800MHz Engine Clock
2GB GDDR5 Memory
1250MHz Memory Clock (5.0 Gbps GDDR5)
160 GB/s memory bandwidth (maximum)
2.25 TFLOPs Single Precision compute power
562.5 GFLOPs Double Precision compute power
Double slot form factor

TeraScale 3 Unified Processing Architecture

1408 Stream Processors
88 Texture Units
128 Z/Stencil ROP Units
32 Color ROP Units and so on..

(For full specs: http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/amd-radeon-hd-6000/hd-6950/Pages/amd-radeon-hd-6950-overview.aspx#2)

Prices:

AMD Radeon 6870 - $239 ( Around Rs. 11k to 12k)
AMD Radeon 6850 - $179 (Around Rs. 9k to Rs. 10k)
AMD Radeon 6970 - $369.99 (Around Rs.17k to 20k)
AMD Radeon 6950 - $299.99 (Around Rs. 16k to Rs. 18k)

Now, Check this out!! (Source HEXUS.net)

GPU comparisons
Graphics cards	Current pricing	GPU clock (MHz)	Stream processors	Shader clock (MHz)	Memory clock (MHz)	Memory bus (bits)	Graphics driver
HIS Radeon HD 5970 2,048MB	£425	725	1,600 x 2	725	4,000	256 x 2	Catalyst 10.10P
HIS Radeon HD 6970 2,048MB XF	£558	880	1,536 x 2	775	5,500	256 x 2	Catalyst 10.12P
HIS Radeon HD 6970 2,048MB	£279	880	1,536	775	5,500	256	Catalyst 10.12P
AMD Radeon HD 6950 2,048MB	£225	800	1,408	775	5,000	256	Catalyst 10.12P
Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 1,024MB XF	£290	775	960 x 2	775	4,000	256 x 2	Catalyst 10.10P
Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 1,024MB	£145	775	960	775	4,000	256	Catalyst 10.10P
Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 1,024MB	£235	825	1,600	825	4,800	256	Catalyst 10.10P
HIS Radeon HD 6870 1,024MB	£180	900	1,120	900	4,200	256	Catalyst 10.10P
HIS Radeon HD 5850 1,024MB XF	£360	725	1,440 x 2	725	4,000	256 x2	Catalyst 10.10P
HIS Radeon HD 5850 1,024MB	£180	725	1,440	725	4,000	256	Catalyst 10.10P
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 1,536MB SLI	£778	772	512 x 2	1,544	4,008	384 x 2	ForceWare 262.99
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 1,536MB	£389	772	512	1,544	4,008	384	ForceWare 262.99
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 1,280MB	£259	732	480	1,464	3,800	320	ForceWare 263.09
ASUS GeForce GTX 480 1,536MB	£320	700	480	1,401	3,698	384	ForceWare 262.99
ASUS GeForce GTX 470 1,280MB	£189	607	448	1,215	3,348	320	ForceWare 260.89
KFA GeForce GTX 460 1,024MB SLI	£290	675	336 x 2	1,350	3,600	256 x 2	ForceWare 260.89
KFA GeForce GTX 460 1,024MB	£145	675	336	1,350	3,600	256	ForceWare 260.89
EVGA GeForce GTX 460 768MB	£125	675	336	1,350	3,600	192	ForceWare 260.89

If you had the money, Would you buy an ATI 6-series card or would you buy a nVidia 5 series?

Calling all Gamers, This is our Revolution!

2010-12-08T08:29:00.001+05:30

I've finally decided on getting something done with my life and I'm really happy about the fact that I've got some great, intelligent, intellectual friends who I know can carry this with me.

Well, I'm talking about my new job and also my new project. I am the new self-proclaimed "Editor-in-Chief" for my dear friend Wykrhm "Arthas" Reddy's venture AE Corporation. I (no, "we") have also come up with a great idea of an information portal for all the gamers in India. With the gaming scene developing in India, There is really no place where Indian gamers can call "home" or "hang-out" or even make friends or network with others who share the same interests. True that we have portals like Zapak.com, Gamerguru.in and these are great websites however, I really did not find anything interesting about them. Why? Because they don't talk about gaming on a general level. They don't provide information to a gamer about what is going on in the gaming industry nor do they talk about events in India! No wonder gamers here have no idea of what is going on except for word-of-mouth which usually comes from Friends and "cafe-mates". And being a gamer, honestly, we all do feel left out.

So, we've decided on dedicating our jobless lives in giving something back to the community. We've decided on creating a Portal where gamers can find everything they would want to know about gaming in India, Events, updates from the Indian and international Game industry, Previews, reviews, you demand, you get.

This platform will focus on content that will cater to a wide gaming audience - hey, your dad might like Ping Pong, Mario, Zelda or Solitaire. What if we can get him playing with other dads on the interwebs? Isn't that cool? Certainly is when he gets easily convinced to buy you the new Assassin's Creed :) (win-win?)

We want to create a platform to give you a sense of achievement, a feeling of attachment with gaming. You've worked hard, You've played tournaments, You wish to be known, You want to know how people are playing, You want to read minds! WE will give you all that; WE want you gamers to stand up to the international gaming scene. We want "us" to become a potential market for all major players in the industry.

We want to give you content that you will love the most, event updates, what people are playing, Hell, we will also give you a live-stream and a chatbox to talk to people. Maybe, you might just find someone interesting! Who can make this possible? YOU. Join us. We will set the stage on which we can revolutionize Gaming for India, by India.

Our aim is in building an inclusive ecosystem. If you've just read a review, share your feedback. If you think you need to get that game, We will have an online store implemented where you can buy it from sellers or other users or even better, borrow!
Do you like art, photography, music, kung-fu or anything under the sun? Join us in our discussion boards where you will meet a million people with same or like interests! Are you a game programmer? Story writer? Do you want to teach people what you know? Hell, you're at the right place! Show people what you know! Are you a website or a freelancer? Hop-on! We've got a million seats on our train of glory. You want to partner us? We love friends! Who doesn't?

We want this to be the dawn of a new era for Gaming in India.
Lets draw our Swords together!

Artherian Entertainment Corporation http://aecorp.in

Sincere thanks to WyKrhm Reddy (aka StacyzMom, Ins@ne, Archfiend), Sreekanth (aka Mango), Naveen Raj (aka Masenko), Gautham Pasupulate and ME OFCOURSE! Santosh Subramanian (aka Inferno).
WyKrhm Reddy - Godfounder and CEO.
Sreekanth - Overkill Project Manager
Naveen Raj - Pro-Chief Gaming Officer
Santosh Subramanian (ME!) - God Editor-in-Chief
Gautam Pasupulate - Pagespawner Content Manager.

Design Change

2010-06-04T00:29:00.002+05:30

Hello People..

I thought it would be a good idea to change the template. I think its fits really well :)

Aion Classes

2010-05-21T08:11:00.007+05:30

There are four primary classes that players can select from when they create a new character: Warrior, Scout, Mage and Priest. Once you have gained enough experience, you will be able to ascend to one of the two specialized classes available to your primary class.

Asmodian Character Selection Screen

Elyos Character Selection Screen

"While these specialized classes have well defined roles, feel free to try different classes in order to find the right one for your particular style of play!" - AION ONLINE.

Classes in Aion

1. The Warrior
2. The Scout
3. The Mage
4. The Priest

THE WARRIOR

Fearsome and hulking, a Warrior’s way is found more through brute force and great resilience than guile and trickery. However, do not be fooled into thinking that Warriors are brainless or simple-minded. A Warrior bears the brunt of the attack and can reply with tremendous force and power. Do not fail to appreciate what these soldiers can do for you or your group.

Once a warrior completes its ascension quest it will be able to wear plate armor after choosing to become one of the following subclasses:

:: Templar

Calling the Templar a maestro of defense wouldn’t be far from the truth, but one shouldn’t mistake its only purpose: to be an Atreian punching bag. With their high defense and various shield skills, Templars can also inflict some serious damage on their opponents. Depending on the situation, a Templar can swap a sword or mace (and shield) for a greatsword. While its ability to deal damage may be lower when compared to other classes, it would be unwise to ignore the Templar’s powerful attacks.

:: Gladiator

Gladiators are Daevas who follow the Star of the Sword. They expertly wield most melee weapons and are especially proficient using polearms. Their ultimate goal is to obtain a variety of battle skills according to each weapon’s properties. However, rather than flamboyant techniques or tricks, they prefer to attack the enemy with power and accuracy. Therefore, Gladiators reveal their true value in close combat. They also perform crucial roles in most legions.

THE SCOUT

If the Warrior is about grit, power and sheer strength, then the Scout concerns itself more with speed, agility and awareness. Scouts are complex men and women who pride themselves on a delicate touch and a measured approach. Once they learn their inherent strengths and weaknesses, Scouts can be formidable opponents.

Although leather armor does not mitigate damage well, the Scout’s ability to evade most attacks makes them hard to hit and allows them to strike back with devastating counterattacks.

Two paths for a Scout

:: Assassin

The Assassin is a killing specialist that follows the Star of Death. After hiding itself, an Assassin quietly approaches the enemy and aims for vital spots to inflict the greatest damage in the quickest time. This is one of the Assassin’s trademark combat skills. Some Daevas have criticized this class for ambushing defenseless enemies or using poisoned blades. However, the Assassin is necessary in the legions for the roles of infiltration, disruption, assassination, and more.

:: Ranger

A Ranger is a Daeva with exceptional archery skills. Not only can a Ranger expertly wield a bow, but can make good use of a sword and dagger for close combat. The Ranger is also a master with various traps, making it both a formidable opponent on its own and a valued member of any group. Being skilled in both short and long range attacks combined with the ability to manipulate traps makes the Ranger able to adapt easily to nearly any situation. However, arrows and especially trap ingredients can become costly, making the Ranger one of the more expensive classes.

THE MAGE

A Mage, while incredibly powerful, can be exceptionally vulnerable. They are able to deal out terrifying, awe-inspiring levels of damage at range, while taking little in return. Mages have command over the elements, summoning raging fireballs and chains of the coldest ice to wreak havoc over ranks of the enemy. They can even speak to the shattered planet, calling forth roots to bind enemies in place.

The mage comes equipped with cloth armor, and while not very resilient, it allows the caster the ability to move around the battlefield casting spells that slow and, in some cases, even stop their opponents in their tracks. This gives them the opportunity to unload with spells that deal immense amounts of damage to their opponents.

Two paths for a Mage in Aion.

:: Sorcerer

The Sorcerer is a Daeva who follows the Star of Magic. They are able to freely wield the destructive power of the natural elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. A Sorcerer is a scholar at heart, evident by the spellbooks and orbs they normally carry with them. However, these items can be dangerous weapons in their hands as they help increase a Sorcerer’s power.

:: Spiritmaster

The Spiritmaster is a Daeva born under the Star of Spirits, and is able to control spirits of Water, Fire, Earth, and Wind. It can call upon these spirits to attack directly, but it can also use indirect tactics such as borrowing the strength of the spirits to weaken an enemy or to inflict fear.

THE PRIEST

Finally, the Priest is arguably the backbone of any successful group. Their ability to keep allies alive even in the direst of circumstances cannot be underestimated, and Priests can be absolutely vital in ensuring groups survive against the most pressing challenges in Atreia. Who would go into battle without a trustworthy Priest by their side?

However, do not mistake the Priest’s ability to heal for a lack of offense. While their offensive spells and melee attacks each may lack compared to other classes, the combination of the two and the ability to heal make the Priest a resilient and effective combatant.

The paths for a priest in Aion are

:: Chanter

The Chanter can be explained in two words: commandment and conviction. It rigorously trains the body and mind to become skillful in healing, attacking, and enhancement magic. In addition to its magical abilities, it also possesses exceptional skills involving the use of the staff. The chanter uses mantra magic to inspire the morale of allies, and since it can strengthen abilities, it is the gathering center during battle.

:: Cleric

The Cleric is a Daeva who follows the Star of Healing. It uses magic power to strengthen the body and to heal injuries. It can also restore life by using a revival spell when a Daeva’s soul and body are separated. In addition to supporting its allies, it is also capable of wielding a mace and shield when a melee battle occurs.

- Source Aion Online - PowerWiki.

Unlock cores on an AMD Phenom II processor!

2010-05-09T02:30:00.003+05:30

source: overclock.net (raxen) (http://www.overclock.net/amd-cpus/535501-amd-phenom-ii-core-unlocking-guide.html)

Introduction
Core unlocking of AMD processors has been the hot topic of discussion all over the internet. The possibility of spending a mere Rs.4,500 for a x2 or a x3 processor and unlocking the factory locked cores to yield a x4 chip (Rs. 9,500- Rs. 11,000) is exactly the dream for every over clocker around - spend the least amount of money possible and get the most bang for your buck. This is exactly what people have been wanting to do from the time the processor is installed.

I've consolidated all information I could find on the internet to help you unlock your cores and answer your questions. Oh and remember - CORE UNLOCKING IS NOT ALWAYS 100% SUCCESSFULL.

Architecture and Information
The Phenom II is AMD's answer to Intel's Core2Duo and Core2Quad series. Manufacturing series for the Phenom II are Phenom II x4 (Quad Core), Phenom II x3 (Tri-Core) and Phenom II x2 (Dual-Core).

At the fabrication plant (Global Foundries) all processors were being manufactured as a Quad Core, not all the processors make it successfully- there might be a faulty core. Now what AMD does here is, instead of discarding the faulty processor, they could just lock the faulty core or cores and have them retailed as Dual core or Tri core processors. Not only is AMD benefitting from this, also saving the consumer budget market by providing them with processors that are very affordable.

Now, depending on increase in market demand, a few of these Quad core processors might deliberately have a lock set on 2 cores or 3 cores. If this is the kind of processor that you have, then you are in for a treat!

Now, Let's look at some specifications of the Phenom II x2

Clock Frequency - 3.1 GHz
Max TDP- 80 Watts
Cache- L1 Cache 64k (per core), Each for instruction
L2 Cache 512KB per core
L3 Cache 6MB Shared
Process Technology - 45 nanometer SOI (Silicon-On-Insulator) technology
Transistors - Approximately 758 MILLION.

The surge in demand for these processors started when a Korean overclocker unlocked a Phenom II x3 720BE using Advanced Clock Calibration (ACC) on a motherboard with the SB750 Southbridge which supported that. The motherboard the guy used was a Biostar TA790GX. Soon after, others reported successful unlocks and thus led the rise in demand for the processor.
AMD at this point, deliberately locked cores on a x4 processor to satisfy this market demand.
"so?" ... Well, the chances that you might have a un-lockable processor just got better :)

Parts needed
:: AMD Phenom II processor [Heka (Tri-Core) OR Callisto (Dual-Core)]
(**AMD Athlon II x2 and x3 can be used.)
:: A motherboard with ACC support (SB710 or SB750 Southbridge) or NCC (nVidia's ACC) AND should
support core-unlocking.

Choosing the right processor
As specified before, Phenom II x2 processors are actually x4 processors with 2 disabled cores and
Phenom II x3 processors are actually x processors with 1 disabled core.
If ACC is enabled with the motherboard that has a feature of unlocking cores, you've got yourself a winner!
Basically, you could choose from a Phenom II x2 550 Black Edition or,
Phenom II x2 555 Black Edition or,
Phenom II x3 720 Black Edition.
Why these processors? Because if the unlock does not happen, you can always overclock these processors (Black editions).

If you need help with a particular stepping, have a look at these links:

FOR ALL MOTHERBOARDS- GO TO THE END OF THE POST

THE UNLOCKING PROCESS

All right, let's get down to business. Core unlocking is quite simple.

Step1 : Get into the BIOS of your computer.
Step2: Set the Automatic Clock Calibration (ACC) or nVidia Core Calibration (NCC) to AUTO.
*Important: Some motherboards feature a setting "EC Firmware" . Now, this needs to be
set to "special" (also "hybrid" on some motherboards). For a few ASUS and
Gigabyte motherboards, you will need to enable Unleashing.
Step3: Reboot!

If this process is successful, you should see your processor information showing you x4 for 4 CORES. You probably just unlocked your processor .. Congratulations!!

Boot into Windows and run stability tests on the processor. Suggested test: Use Prime95 "Blend Test", run it for 12 hours to ensure stability before overclocking the processor.

I see x4, But I have only 2 cores
Some users have been reported seeing the "X4" designation, but no unlocked cores when verifying through CPU-Z. Please ensure that you have set Windows to use all 4 cores by going to "msconfig --> Boot --> Advanced Options --> Number of Processors." If you still don't see unlocked cores, then most likely that your disabled cores are defective.

HELP!! My computer can't POST!!
If your computer didn't POST, don’t despair. Here's a list of things you should verify and try, one after the other.

Do you have the proper BIOS version installed?
*For those with Asus motherboards, please update your bios to the latest version. It fixes significant problems encountered with unlocking.*
Is ACC or NCC enabled? For Asus/Gigabyte motherboards, how about "Unleashing" and "EC Firmware"?
Did you incrementally increase Vcore from 1.325 to 1.4v?
Did you incrementally increase Vcpu-nb from 1.2 to 1.35v after trying to increase Vcore?

The voltage boosts may be needed when making the fourth core stable enough to boot into windows.
If your computer still doesn't POST, then most likely your disabled cores are defective. In general, the unlocking process is really that simple. There are no hidden options or tricks.

If you want to get back to the way it was, Clear the CMOS settings on the motherboard using the CMOS jumper. Check your motherboard manual for the JUMPER location and how to perform this step.

Unlocking disabled cores should be seen as a bonus, and not a feature.

My Phenom II x2 550 BE unlocked to x4! CPU-Z VALIDATION

Consequences of Unlocking
While some of you will be lucky enough to see the "X4" designation during POST, not all of you will be able to boot into Windows. A simple Vcore/Vcpu-nb boost may help stabilize the unlocked cores, but ultimately the cpu may remain unstable and crash later on. Unfortunately, your disabled cores are most likely defective.

For those who can unlock and pass any stability test you can throw at the computer, congratulations. However, you may have already noticed that you can no longer monitor your cpu core temperatures. Fortunately, most motherboards have a cpu temperature sensor located in the cpu socket area. It is up to you to find out how closely this temperature reading relates to the actual cpu core temperatures.

To do so, revert back to a locked X2/X3 state and download HWMonitor. Depending on your motherboard, the cpu socket temperature sensor can be TMPIN0, TMPIN1, or TMPIN2. Next, observe how closely TMPIN0 or TMPIN1 or TMPIN2 relates to core temperatures at 100% load. This will tell you your approximate temperatures when unlocked. You can use this reading as a rough estimate of your core temperatures.

You may also notice that your computer runs hotter after unlocking. This is perfectly normal, as you've got an extra core or two generating heat. As a result, for those who plan on unlocking, get the best cooler you can possibly afford. For those on a budget, the Xigmatech s1283, OCZ Vendetta 2, and the Sunbeam Core Contact Freezer are the recommended choices. Those who have unlimited budgets will want a Prolimatech Megahalem, or more exotic cooling solutions such as water or TEC. Keep your cpu cool, and it will reward you back with high overclocks.

Conclusion
Good luck with Phenom II core unlocking. The take-home point however, is the following:
AMD Phenom II X2 and X3 processors have disabled cores which can be unlocked using the right motherboard and BIOS. Ultimately, however, those cores were disabled for a reason.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Motherboard List (Ongoing Work):
CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME!! - If you see your mobo not on the list but you have successfully unlocked, post a screenshot of CPU-Z showing 4 cores and the mobo + bios revision like the sample below and I'll add it to the list.
This list is NOT COMPLETE WHATSOEVER. If your motherboard is not on the list, don't assume it won't work. Give things a try with the directions below.

Asus *See Special Note Above*
GeForce 8300
M4N78 Pro - 1004 Official Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks Henderson*
nForce 980a SLI
M4N82 Deluxe - 0906 Official Bios - SUCCESS!! Pending screenshot *Thanks biaxident*
770G/SB710
M4A77TD PRO - 1007/0316 Official Bios - SUCCESS!! / SUCCESS!! *Thanks flex0r and mymsll*
785G/SB710
M4A785D-M PRO - 405 Official Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks ptblank*
M4A785M - 0503 Official Bios - SUCCESS!! - *Thanks Bkobe7*
785G/SB750
M4A785TD-V EVO - 0410/0602 Official Bios - SUCCESS!!/SUCCESS!! - *Thanks Frefox1337 and DJLanceRock*
790X/SB750
M4A79XTD EVO - 0605/0704 Official Bios - SUCCESS!! / SUCCESS!! - *Thanks Mr Sprinkles and Lancer33*
790FX/SB750
M3A79-T Deluxe – 0030 Mod Bios - SUCCESS!!
M4A79 Deluxe – 1602 Official Bios – SUCCESS!!
M4A79T Deluxe – 0079 Mod Bios/1801 Official Bios – SUCCESS!!/TRI-CORE SUCCESS!! *Thanks T1Cybernetic*
Crosshair III Formula - 0702 / 1003 - FAILURE / SUCCESS!! *Thanks Gz1*
790GX/SB750
M3A78-T – 0023 Mod Bios – SUCCESS!!
M4A78-E – 1204/1803 Official Bios – SUCCESS!! / SUCCESS!! *Thanks Tyr5*
M4A78-E SE – 0023 Mod Bios – SUCCESS!!
M4A78T-E – 1402 Official Bios – SUCCESS!! - SUCCESS #2!! *Thanks AMDRick*
890GX/SB850
M4A89GTD-PRO/USB3 - 0307 Official Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks habib_his*

Asrock
780G/SB710
A780GMH/128M - 1.50 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks giveen*
785G/SB750
A785GMH/128M - 1.00 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks cokesodacan*
790GX/SB750
AOD790GX/128M – 1.40 Bios – SUCCESS!!
A790GMH/128M - 1.20 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks fortesquieu*
A790GXH/128M – 1.20 Bios - SUCCESS!!
A790GX/128M - ???

Biostar
For Biostar special bioses for core unlocking, visit this thread
For ALL Biostar bioses released + modded ones, visit here
785G/SB710
TA785G3 - ???
TA785GE 128m - 88GCO720CE Mod Bios - SUCCESS!!
790GX/SB750
TA790GXB3 - ???
TA790GXBE - ??? - SUCCESS!! *Thanks alg33k*
TA790GXE - Mod Bios available - ???
TA790GXE 128M - Mod Bios available - ???
TA790GX A3+ - 78DAA616 Mod bios – SUCCESS!!
TA790GXB A2 - Mod Bios available - ???
TA790GX 128M – 78DEA113 Official bios – SUCCESS!!
TA790GX3 A2+ - A78DA113 - SUCCESS!! *Thanks DesertRat*
TA790GX XE - Mod Bios available - ???
TA790GX A2+ - 78DBA113 Official bios - SUCCESS!!

DFI
790X/SB750
DK 790X-M2RS - ???
790FX/SB750
DK 790FXB-M3H5 – 04/02/2009 Bios – SUCCESS!!
DK 790FXB-M2RSH – 03/10/2009 Bios- SUCCESS!!
DK 790FXB-M2RS - 02/24/2009 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks eXe.Lilith*
790GX/SB750
DK 790GX-M2RS - ???
JR 790GX-M2RS – 10/30/2008 Bios – SUCCESS!!

ECS
Unfortunately, ECS has decided not to support unlocking in line of motherboards. LINK

Gigabyte
nForce 720D
GA-M720-US3 - F4 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks rnscotch*
760G/SB710
GA-MA78LM-S2 - F1 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks Zaishen*
770X/SB710
GA-770TA-UD3 - F1 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks cloud8521*
GA-MA770T-UD3P - F2c/F3 Bios - SUCCESS!!/SUCCESS!! *Thanks Miked270 and oxymorosis*
785G/SB710
GA-MA785GM-US2H - F5 bios SUCCESS!! *Thanks khoas07*
GA-MA785GMT-UD2H - F3/F5 Bios - SUCCESS!! / SUCCESS!! *Thanks KayCi and mR_sage*
785GX/SB750
GA-MA785G-UD3H - F1/F5b Bios - SUCCESS!! / SUCCESS!! *Thanks Nubster and Nburnes*
GA-MA785GT-UD3H - F4/F5a Bios - SUCCESS!! / SUCCESS!! - *Thanks kkoychev and lance4791*
GA-785GMT-USB3 - F1 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks 5monkey*
790X/SB750
GA-MA790X-DS4 - ????
GA-MA790X-UD3P - F4 Bios - SUCCESS!!
GA-MA790X-UD4 – F3 Bios – SUCCESS!! *Thanks kromar*
GA-MA790X-UD4P – F5/F7/F9 Bios – SUCCESS!! / SUCCESS!! / SUCCESS!! *Thanks Deuces*
GA-MA790XT-UD4P - F4G/F5/F6/F7 Bios - SUCCESS!! / SUCCESS!! /SUCCESS!! *Thanks Broodman, Dramamine, and derekb*
790FX/SB750
GA-MA790FX-UD5P - F4c Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks PKV*
GA-MA790FXT-UD5P – F3b/F5 Bios – SUCCESS!! / SUCCESS!! *Thanks jbranton*
790GX/SB750
GA-MA790GP-DS4H – F3h Bios – SUCCESS!!
GA-MA790GP-UD3H - F1 Bios - SUCCESS!!
GA-MA790GP-UD4H – F3h Bios – SUCCESS!!
GA-MA790GPT-UD3H - F2 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks inimical*

MSI
For MSI special bioses for core unlocking, visit this thread.
770X/SB710
770-C35 - Special Bios – ???
770-C45 – 1.3 Offical Bios/1.3B2 Special Bios/10.2 – SUCCESS!!/SUCCESS!!/SUCCESS!! *Thanks Edgemeal and Chickenfoot*
785G/SB710
785GT-E63 - 28.0 08/13/2009 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks rolanista*
785GTM-E45 - 8.0 09/07/2009 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks tacoman*
785GM-E65 - 2.3 Official Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks /\/uLL*
790X/SB710
790XT-G45 - ???
790FX/SB750
790FX-GD70 – 1.5B1/1.5B2/1.5B3/1.7 Bios – SUCCESS!! - (Solves previous 1.4 bios lockup problems, but 1.5B2 and 1.5B3 has HT link stuck at 8x and 10x multiplier respectively. See thread for details.)/ SUCCESS!! *Thanks Kryton*
790GX/SB750
790GX-G65 – 1.4B2 Special Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks mr.05'rsx*
DKA790GX - 1.8 Bios for Platinum version of mobo - SUCCESS!! *Thanks NeoAnderson*
DKA790GX Platinum – 1.9b2 Bios - SUCCESS!! *Thanks Rosaki*
KA790GX - FAILURE
KA790GX-M - FAILURE
Special note about KA790GX/KA790GX-M motherboards: Even though these two motherboards have a SB750, the traces to activate ACC are not soldered on the PCB. As a result, they WILL NOT unlock anything.

ALL CREDITS TO RAXEN ! (Overclock.net)

Game Preview: RAGE (PC) from id Software. Previewed at Quakecon 2009

2009-09-14T05:48:00.001+05:30

Source: 1UP.

Launching a new IP is a nerve-wracking experience for any developer. If you are legendary game maker id Software showing off your first new IP since the mid-1990s, the level of pressure must be excruciating. After two years, two trailers, and even some confusion about the game's genre, id finally pulls back the curtain on its multi-platform post-apocalyptic shooter, Rage, and shows a live demo to both press and the public at QuakeCon 2009.

With Rage, id is trying to reshape what people think about when they hear the name "id." As the creators of the first person shooter genre, that's not an easy task. Despite Rage's early genre confusion (is it a shooter or a vehicular combat racer?), it's clear from this demo that Rage is definitely a first person shooter first -- but with added layers (like the aforementioned vehicular combat, and even character interaction) to enhance the experience.

Our demo begins with a little backstory that sets the stage for the new world we are about to see in-motion for the first time. Rage takes place on a future Earth -- about 80-to-100 years after an asteroid was supposed to destroy the world. In preparation for the impending disaster, the governments of the world banded together for a last ditch effort to save humanity: the Eden project. For Eden, special arks were then buried underground -- arks where approximately a dozen specially chosen people (military personnel, scientists, government officials) would lie in cryogenic sleep until a future date to then wake up to a new and better world.

The game begins with your character waking up from his cryogenic sleep, but there's a problem: Everyone else in his ark is dead. The ark is apparently damaged, and surfaces early. Soon afterwards, you discover that you are not alone, and this future world is far different than expected. Segments of society have survived the disaster, but have instead devolved from the early pre-asteroid Earth, and have no memory of the Eden project.

Id's demo starts about an hour or two into the game. Your character has been sent on a mission to the regional hub city of Wellspring to find the mayor and gather supplies to resupply a local settlement that he's been helping. As you leave this starting area, the game world opens up for the first time.

This is the first time we see the desert buggy that you'll be driving on your journey. Shortly into the trip, mercenaries attack you with their own vehicles -- of course, our vehicle brandishes two roof-mounted machine guns that pack a mean punch. These guns auto-aim onto any vehicle that crosses our frontal cone of fire. We also notice that instead of a traditional radar box, the interface utilizes a circular HUD wrapping around your car, with arrows pointing toward threats. Matt Hooper, Rage's lead designer, mentions several times that the car combat is an, "extension of the FPS experience," and that he wants players to grow attached to their vehicles much like how Link felt for his horse Epona in the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Within moments the enemies are dispatched, and we arrive at Wellspring. After loading into town, a quick musical flourish plays which sounds partially Old West -- but with an Asian sound that stylistically communicates the city's societal makeup. While walking around the town, you're met with equal parts disdain and apathy. Most citizens ignore you, while others comment on how goofy you look in your ark outfit.

The city's architectural design combines rusted shantytown with steam punk. Its citizens wear odd clothing combinations -- like pauper pants alongside a waist jacket and monocle. This whole aesthetic is a bit strange, but it adds to the world's bizarre beauty. The developers at id clearly spent their time planning the look of this world. Parts of the environment feel familiar, yet at the same time completely alien. It's hard not to just sit and stare at the beautiful lighting and particle effects in town -- especially indoors, where the game does a great job of recreating the effect of sunlight reflecting off of dust floating in the air near windows.

At this point in the demo, we jump forward in the story a little bit to a sun-soaked dusty office where we discover, through a conversation, that you've been working for the local sheriff. Although there were several conversations with NPC's during our demo, it's clear that id isn't trying to copy the conversations systems of Fallout 3 or Mass Effect. "We're trying to implement an action storytelling experience, rather than a five-page text conversation," says creative director Tim Willits. Most of these conversations appear one-sided, and include either exposition about the world, or merely an explanation of a new mission. The sheriff explains that he needs you to explore a Shrouded clan base in the north, because they've been using remote controlled cars packed with C4 (called RC-Bombs) to destroy vehicles. Once inside the base, you have to find their bomb cache and -- guess what -- blow it up.

Before leaving Wellspring, you have to visit Mick's garage to your vehicle of choice and take off. The choices for this part of the demo include the Monarch (a larger, more heavily armored vehicle) and your trusty Dune Buster buggy. You can upgrade each component of your vehicle at this garage as well. One nice visual touch is that while selecting upgrades, you view the car as a wire frame model that disassembles and reassembles each part as you change the options.

Rather than driving to the location, we once again skip forward to the facility where we not only get our first extensive look at combat, but also get a chance use the Shrouded's own RC-bombs to blow up their explosive caches. According to Hooper, players can visit any location in the game at any time. "The player is allowed to come here [the Shrouded clan base] before he actually has the mission [to destroy the cache]. Perhaps the bandits will be too tough, but we allow [players] the freedom to explore the world in an open, but directed, experience."

Once inside, we quickly encounter enemies. The gunplay looks similar to many previous id titles (it's worth noting that this demo was being played on a PC with the use of an Xbox 360 controller). Besides your somewhat standard pistol, machine gun, and shotgun, we also notice the crossbow weapon. The designers intend to offer a "streamlined" list of ammo types. "We don't want to add ammo types just to say we have ammo types," Hooper adds, "we always want a short list of meaningful items that provide the player choices." As an example, we see the crossbow with an electrical bolt take out the front entry without alerting enemies further down the tunnel. Another stealth-oriented weapon is a three-sided boomerang called a wingstick that you can throw from great distances. If stealth isn't your thing, the last ammo type id shows off is the "fat boy" -- a type of bullet for the pistol that increases stopping power for close quarters combat.

In addition to standard weapons you also have access to a variety of engineering gizmos that enhance the base combat. In one encounter the player gets the attention of a group of enemies with a poorly aimed crossbow shot -- but instead of attacking the attacking bandits head on, he then places an automatic guard turret at the only entrance to the balcony, and it mows the enemies down. After dispatching all the enemies, the player can actually use one of the enemy's RC-Bombs as a reusable engineering item to enter the explosive cache from a tunnel entrance and then detonate to finish off the cache (and the mission).

Once back in town, we pay a visit to the vehicle upgrade vendor, Rusty. After a short conversation we discover that he gets paid in racing certificates -- ones that you can only win by competing at the Wellspring speedway. Once you accept this racing assignment, you can then choose between several events: Time Trial, Combat Speed, Dusty 8 Open, and Southern Highway. We opt for Combat Speed: a three-lap race where the fastest time wins. As the name suggests, you also have access to your vehicular weaponry during the race; this ends up playing out like a mix between Motorstorm and Full Auto. You can destroy your opponents during the race, but they will respawn and continue racing. The benefit for doling out damage is an extra racing certificate for each vehicle you destroy. Also, littered throughout the track are both ammunition and nitrous oxides power-ups. It's actually surprising how complete the transition from FPS to racer is in these events.

After winning the race we see another aspect of the racing scene: sponsorships. In order to gain access to more powerful vehicles, you have to be part of a sponsor class race. So while talking to Slim (the race scheduler), you might learn that Mutant Bash TV is looking to sponsor a racer -- so you might want to visit their studios. Once there, you meet J.K. Stiles, the corpulent neckerchief-wearing producer of MB TV -- a show that is a mixture of gladiatorial games and a funhouse carnival gone mad. One interesting thing we notice during our demo is a disfigurement to J.K. Stiles' feet. After asking the developers about this, we find out that he's part mutant -- adding a self-loathing psychological element to his desire for mutant destruction.

If the title of the show isn't a clue the premise is simple: complete each challenge room by killing all the mutants while surviving their attacks and any environmental hazards along the way. One room requires constant movement as you race around the area, shooting mutants while avoiding spikes that randomly shoot up through the ground. After making your way through several crazy rooms, you then unlock a bonus round for an opportunity to gain powerups -- but there's a risk. The bonus round features a gigantic slot machine that works by shooting a target in front of each spinning wheel to make it stop. Land on three combinations of dollar signs, and you gain rewards. But hit a spinning skull, and a swarm of mutants bursts out of the machine to attack you. Id concludes the demo after finishing the bonus round.

For a first look at a game, id showed off surprising amount of content, and the id folks assure that this is only a taste of what Rage has to offer. The developers confirmed that Rage's campaign is split in two parts -- each with a very distinct look and feel. At the moment the singleplayer campaign is scheduled to ship on two DVDs for the Xbox 360 and PC, with a third disc featuring some type of multiplayer component isn't up for discussion yet. The PlayStation 3 version will fill up a dual-layer Blu-Ray, and feature less compression to the game's megatextures. We're still not quite sure what to make of Rage's unique mix of game elements, but the even just the technical achievements associated with producing a game that looks and runs this well make this a game worth keeping an eye on.

RAGE

2009-09-14T04:56:00.001+05:30

RAGE Trailer from Quakecon 2009

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Overclocked to 7.1 GHz (WORLD RECORD!!!)

2009-09-07T07:37:00.001+05:30

A group called LimitTeam managed to overclock AMD's Phenom II X4 955 processor and reach a record speed of 7.1 GHz.

A group named LimitTeam successfully overclocked AMD's Deneb 45nm Phenom II X4 955 processor (Black Edition) back on April 30, and submitted the results for validation to CPU-Z.

During the process, the group used the Asus M4A79T Deluxe motherboard, dubbed as the Asus "multidimensional performance platform" featuring support for an AMD 140W CPU and the AMD 790FX/SB750 chipset. Additionally, the group threw in 4 GB of DDR3 memory from Apacer Technology and a ATI Radeon HD 4800 series graphics card. As a result, the group reached 7.127 GHz, beating the previous score of 6.7 GHz. However, LimitTeam didn't reveal any specifics in regards to cooling during the overclocking process.

Late last month, AMD said that it managed to hit 7 GHz in "extreme overclocking tests," more than doubling the original 3.2 GHz clock speeds enjoyed right out of the box. Apparently the CPU can be safely overclocked at home with speeds up to 3.8 GHz; anything greater will need "exotic cooling materials." AMD's product manager Brent Barry was noted saying that liquid nitrogen and liquid helium are best suited for high-overclocking environments, the former bringing the temperature down to about -140 degrees and the latter to around -240 degrees. Unfortunately, both solutions are somewhat dangerous to use. "This is fairly insane, science experiment stuff," Davis said.

Earlier in February, Team Finland reached 6.7 GHz with an early version of the Phenom II X4 955 chip using a similar configuration.

The Validation:

Source : http://www.tomshardware.com/news/AMD-Phenom-II-Overclocked,7747.html

Behemoth

2008-11-26T00:31:00.001+05:30

Check this Song by Behemoth- Conquer All.

Kick Ass Behemoth Video from their new album "The Apostasy"

Behemoth- At the left hand ov God
Music Video from the Album "The Apostasy"

Behemoth

2008-11-26T00:26:00.000+05:30

Check this Song by Behemoth- Conquer All.

Behemoth - Conquer All

Rohan Online Review and Personal Experience

2008-10-07T07:01:00.004+05:30

Rohan Online: First Look Preview

Rohan Online: Blood Feud is a fantasy free-to-play MMORPG built atop a persistent world that is filled with hard fought battles and countless quests to embark upon. As with any modern MMORPG, you may choose to go at it alone, or journey together with friends to solidify your place among Rohan’s greatest of warriors. As you shape your identity in Rohan, you may choose to form guilds and as such, fight for the respect you and your warriors deserve. Furthermore, just last month YNK Interactive announced the addition of Township battles, which will extend the fight from PvP to guild versus guild. In addition to the in-game battles and quests, Rohan has an impressive trade center which consists of a web-based item mall and exchange market. So, let’s take a deeper look at Rohan by discussing the various classes that are available to players, the battle system, a few of the things that make Rohan an awesome MMO, and lastly we can briefly discuss the details of the Trading Center.

Rohan’s Battle System

As with any MMORPG, the warriors you command in Rohan get wiser and stronger with every monster killed and quest you complete. These individual achievements give you experience points, which are used to get your character(s) to the next level. Now, let’s talk specifically on how Rohan’s leveling system is distinct from the other MMOs you are currently familiar with.

Leveling Up

One thing that I noticed right off is how ‘informational’ Rohan is when it comes to how close/far you are from attaining the next levels for your characters. There are several indicators to inform you that your character is reaching the experience points thresholds to get you to the next level. And as you achieve new levels, your character’s health and magic power (mana) are of course raised. In addition to those accolades, you also acquire ability points and skill points. Ability points are dispensable for the generic attributes of your character’s such as strength and dexterity, whereas skill points are used to acquire much more specific powers and abilities.

Distributing Skill Points

There is certainly a method to the ‘madness’ when distributing your acquired Skill Points in Rohan. You see, every time you level up, you acquire one Skill Point. That Skill Point can be distributed on what I’ve labelled as your “Skills Matrix”, which includes all of the unique skills and abilities that your character could possibly achieve. Now depending now how you distribute those Skill Points as you acquire them will determine how well a specific skill has been mastered. On this ’skills matrix’, certain skills lead to mastering other skills which all contribute to the uniqueness of your character. As I would imagine the possibilities are almost infinite!

Before we move on to the trade center discussion, let’s briefly cover a few more distinctive characteristics of Rohan Online: Blood Feud.

What makes Rohan so different?

Modes of Transportation

From beasts, to bindstones, to portal stones, Rohan provides you with numerous ways to move around the continent. And much like sports cars, those mountable beasts certainly separate you from the pedestrianized crowd.

Companionship

Cute, cuddly, and armed with an arsenal of abilities to aid you in your quest, you can acquire pets in Rohan. This certainly puts a spin on the term “man’s best friend”, especially when they can kick in with some extra HP when you need it.

Mini Games

Tired of the old hack and slash? Well, Rohan’s got you covered with plenty of mini games to keep you interested.

Established Economy

Weapons shops, Armories, Style shops and the like are all affordable from Rohan. Want to set up a shop yourself? Put up a Kiosk and become that merchant in town with all the ‘pimped out’ gear. :)

My Personal Rohan Online experience

Well I believe me and a few of my friends started off playing Rohan Online a few months back. To be honest, we’ve kept track of the YNK website to check when the game was available for download and I believe my friend Srikanth was the first to see the ”DOWNLOAD NOW!” link on the site lol.

After, like a day, we got to play the game.. Each one of us, with A3 India online gaming experience on our heads, set to choose the perfect character to suit our gameplay style, look and feel. I’ve experienced many MMOs and I knew what exactly I wanted to play in this MMO. I wanted to break from the “tanker” shackles. Most of the MMOs I’ve played, I’ve always chosen to play a tanker lol.. Rohan was different. I chose a Dekhan. Dekhans are descendants of an ancient Dragon kin.. Their bodies are full of rage and war. Blood of the mighty dragon warriors flow inside a Dekhan. They are warriors of Rohan Online and the best “sexed” out part is that at a particular stage in the game, THEY CAN TRANSFORM INTO DRAGONS! Now that is what I call a WARRIOR.. This interested me even more apart from the looks which is what makes me choose a class :P

So, I login the game. The game kicks me out saying “Connection Lost.. Please click to Exit”. I was like “wtf?”.. I made use of Rohan’s help and support center (Amazing place.. Very good support system). I was on chat with a GM asking him what’s wrong with the game. GM Alex, a god, assured me no worries. He asked me to disable or uninstall NOD32 Antivirus on the computer and check if I could play. Well, I uninstalled the anti-virus and fired the game. It kicks me out again! Now I uninstall the game and re-install it to check if it might work (most problems are usually fixed this way).. Well, the goddamn anti-virus seemed to have gotten pissed. The dirty bastard didn’t leave my computer when I clicked the uninstall button.

In a fit of rage and with the spirit of revenge, I re-installed the whole goddamn OS. Windows XP’s fresh screen made me so fucking happy. I fired the game AND WOOHOO… I was in the game baby!

I chose my class- DEKHAN and I moved to the world.. Believe me, this game works like a dream on good machines. It seemed to perform OK on my computer. I had absolutely no complaints.

I was welcomed by a training bot and a welcome message.. wow.. the tutorial was fantastic. You can actually spend lots of time in the tutorial area. I’ve seen people stay in the tutorial zone till they touch level 15 or 16.. I wanted more action.. I set out to seek my destiny in the world of Rohan. The game system lets you be an Anonymous player (Assasin Mode) or a normal player (Peace Mode). Use Assasin mode to PK people :) . A player in the Assasin mode cannot enter a few other towns belonging to different classes. A Peace Mode Dekhan can see the world of Rohan, has no restrictions in any town.

As I progressed, What made me notice the most was the beautiful graphics and the amazing detail to everything in the game.. From weapons to Armor suits; From trees to air bubbles in the water- Simply beautiful.

The game is so addictive initially that you would definitely not find time for other things in normal life lol.. However, as you progress in-game, you know your role and you know what exactly to do.. It is just differently you do the same things that set you apart from others in-game.

Getting Started- Applying for a Game Tester Job

2008-10-07T06:29:00.001+05:30

Want a job as a Game Tester??

It is recommended that you have a college degree even if it is from an Online University before applying for a job as a Game Tester though it is possible to get the job without one. Our ultimate goal might be to get into the Production Floor or Design Team as a Producer or a Designer for which a degree is helpful.

The three attributes that is needed first and foremost to be a Game Tester..

:: Communication Skills - The tester must be able to communicate effectively in two ways: via the written word and via the spoken word.

*Written communication skills- Bug reports are submitted in writing. They have to be clear and concise. The tester needs to be a good speller (and needs to be fluent with punctuation marks and the Shift key). Darn my hide, I put that in parentheses, and it's really important. Let me say that again. A tester must type in complete sentences. A tester must understand, and habitually use, proper punctuation and capitalization. You cannot become a tester at a game company where everybody uses English, if you cannot communicate properly in written English. Here's an exercise that will help you...

To develop your written communication skills, write an essay or a game critique or a game idea. As you write, put yourself in the place of the reader. Every time you express an idea that could raise a question in the mind of the reader, answer the question. By the time your article is complete, there should be no questions in the mind of the reader - except questions that you want to remain unanswered.

- The bug-writing exercise. Check out this example of a written bug report: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=407098. Now make up a totally different bug, on a different platform. That example bug is for a web-based game on a computer. So write a bug for a PS3 game. And one for a DS game.

* Verbal communication skills. The tester must be well-spoken. Words that come out of a tester's mouth must convey his thoughts clearly, giving information to the listener. Imagine these two exercises, which will help the tester in developing verbal communication skills. How a tester performs in these exercises also reveals the level of his existing verbal communication skills. Both of these exercises are best performed in neighboring cubicles -- the two people taking part in the exercise can easily converse but cannot see what the other is doing.

- The paperclip exercise. In this exercise, the tester must describe a randomly-bent paper clip to another person who has a pencil and paper. The goal is for the tester to get the listener/"customer" to draw a picture of the bent paper clip, without the tester ever saying the words "paper clip" or describing what the object is made of or was originally used for in any way whatsoever. Simply describing how the paper clip looks in its present state, the tester must obtain a correct picture of the paper clip on the second person's piece of paper. It can be enlightening for the tester to see what the drawing looks like, after completing the exercise. This exercise can also be performed using pipecleaners or twist-ties. The clip should be bent in a flat (2D) shape, not a 3D shape, since the listener/"customer" is drawing on 2D paper.

- The building blocks exercise. This exercise is used at Nintendo of America to train or test their Customer Support representatives, but I think it applies equally well to the communication skills needed for testing. Both parties to the exercise have identical boxes of wooden building blocks (it could also work with Legos, I suppose). The tester builds a structure from his building blocks and describes his structure to the other participant in the exercise. If the tester does it well, the two structures will be identical. If the two structures are not identical, the tester can learn how he ought to improve.

- The telephone exercise. This is an actual question that a testing applicant was tested with. "Describe the use of a telephone." He thought it was a stupid question and gave a stupid answer. Don't do what he did! When you're applying for a QA job, you will be asked to prove that you'd make a good tester. So if you're asked how to use a common everyday appliance like a telephone, give a clear and coherent description of how to use it. "There are two uses of a telephone: it's for receiving calls, and it's for making calls." Then describe how to act when the telephone rings. Describe how this works for a user of a phone with a wired handset, a wireless handset, and a mobile phone. Then describe how to make a call - if you have a dial phone, if you have a touch-tone phone, and if you have a mobile phone. If you can't do this, you'll never get hired to test games.

:: Computer Literacy - Testers know how to take computers apart and put them back together. Testers know how to browse the Internet, and they know all about email, instant messaging, and chat room netiquette. Testers know how to troubleshoot installation issues, download drivers, update virus DAT files, and upgrade computers. Testers know how to use word processors, imaging programs, scanners, and modems. Testers are often called upon to make screen shots of games, so you need to know how to grab a shot, and crop it in Photoshop or GIMP. Especially important: know how to use a database program. Check out Bugzilla and Mantis, fool around with them to create some sample bug reports.

:: Game Literacy - Play as many games as you can. Compare the pros and cons of this game versus that game. Read game magazines. Know the difference between an FRP and an RTS. Online games, console games, handheld games, board games, CCGs.

Game Testing Resources

2008-10-07T05:39:00.004+05:30

Hello Guys,

Me and most of my friends are gamers and I was wondering maybe this information about QA- Game testing might be useful. We all want to get into the game industry somehow ;)

This rip-off from Wikipedia (xD) provides an insight into Game Testing.

Game Testing

Game testing refers to the process of software testing for video games. The formal process, performed by professional game testers, begins well into game development, depending on the game's allotted budget for testing. High-budget flagship titles (called "AAA", pronounced "triple-A") may begin testing with the first playable to otheralpha, while low-budget and casual games might not enter testing until a release candidate (RC) is ready. Professional game testing may involve general playtesting but should not be confused with "public betas" or "stress tests" in which players simply do as they please and report bugs that are found incidentally. Public releases such as these are almost certainly late betas or RCs.

Areas of testing

Functionality

This is the type of testing that is most commonly associated with the phrase "game testing", as it usually entails playing the game in some form. Functionality testing does not require much in the way of technical knowledge, though understanding basic concepts about programming can give testers insight about the possible cause of a problem, which both reduces the amount of work they have to do, and generally makes their reports easier to understand by the developer. Functionality testers look for general problems within the game itself or its user interface. Major issues include stability (does the game crash?), correctness of game mechanics (does the sword deal damage?), and integrity of game assets (are textures corrupted?).

Compliance

In large part, compliance testing is the raison d'etre for the existence of game testing labs. First-party licensors for console platforms (e.g. Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft) have strict technical requirements for each title that is licensed for their platforms. Sony publishes a Technical Requirements Checklist (TRC), while Microsoft publishes Technical Certification Requirements (TCR), and Nintendo publishes a set of "guidelines"(Lot Check) that serve a similar purpose. Some of these requirements are highly technical in nature and fall outside the scope of the game tester; however, other parts, most notably the formatting of standard error messages, handling of memory card data, and handling of legally trademarked and copyrighted material, do fall within the responsibility of the game testers to test. If even a single violation is found by the first party during submission for license approval, the game can be rejected (kicked back) to the publisher, possibly costing tens of thousands of dollars in additional testing and resubmission fees. In addition, the delay may cause the title to miss an important launch window, potentially costing the publisher even larger sums of money. The title cannot be published for the system without first-party approval, so it is in the publisher's financial interest to ensure that the title is tested for compliance as rigorously and as frequently as possible.

The requirements themselves are proprietary documents released to developers and publishers under confidentiality agreements. They are not available for the general public to review, although familiarity with these standards is considered a valuable skill to have as a tester.

Compliance may also refer to regulatory bodies such as the ESRB, if the game targets a particular content rating. Testers must flag "objectionable content" in the game that may be inappropriate for the desired rating. As with licensing, games that do not receive the desired rating must be re-edited, retested, and resubmitted at additional cost.

Compatibility

Compatibility testing is normally required only for PC titles, and testers assigned to this task are expected to have at least basic knowledge of PC hardware. An individual who can assemble their own PCs and setup an operating system is minimally qualified for this job. Compatibility testing differs from functionality testing in that the tester does not really care whether the game itself is correct, but simply that it runs on different configurations of hardware. The tester is usually provided with multiple PCs and/or extra parts. This collection of hardware encompasses various brands of CPUs, video cards, sound cards, and input peripherals such as gamepads and joysticks, and possibly other components as well. The tester is also expected to cross-test different hardware configurations with different operating systems. In addition to a basic pass/fail test, the tester may also be asked to evaluate performance. The results of these performance tests will be used to determine the game's advertised minimum system requirements. In some cases, compatibility or performance issues may be fixed by the developer, especially if a popular brand and model of a certain component is affected. In other cases, especially with legacy hardware or software, support will simply be dropped, and the game's system requirements will reflect this.

Localization

While general text issues are a minor part of functionality testing, some QA departments use dedicated localization testers. This is especially true with Japanese publishers. Early Japanese game translations were rife with Engrish, and in recent years this has become a more serious concern with Japanese developers as games have taken on a more cinematic presentation. To maintain the impact of the drama, localization testers are employed to review the game's script (which may be thousands of pages long for RPGs or other story-driven experiences), looking to make technical corrections as well as reviewing the translation work itself to ensure that it matches natural speech patterns. Thus, a localization tester acts as an editor. Though localization testing is currently a mainstay of Japanese game development, it will likely expand as the Chinese, Korean, and Russian game industries gain global traction. Those seeking work in this area do not necessarily need to speak foreign languages, but being able to understand the original texts is a helpful and desirable skill. Unlike other forms of testing, however, localization may involve very little actual game interaction. In some cases, the only times that the tester needs to play the game is to understand the context of dialog or interface messages that are not immediately obvious. The game's "script", which is not a script in the literary sense, but rather a collection of all the text strings referenced in the game, is typically cataloged in a spreadsheet that the tester is given to work with.

Soaking

Main article: Soak testing

Soaking, in the context of video games, typically involves leaving the game running for a period of hours or days in various modes of operation, such as idling, paused, or at the title screen. This test requires no user interaction beyond initial setup, and is therefore usually managed by lead testers. The purpose of soaking is to detect the presence of memory leaks or rounding errors that manifest over time, resulting in system instability or odd game behavior. Soak tests are one of the checked requirements for first-party compliance and must be performed on every title. Because it requires no user interaction, soaking is also a euphemism for employees shirking their duties (i.e. not playing the game).

Methodology

Main article: Software testing

There is no "gold standard" method for game testing, and most methodologies are developed in-house, by individual video game developers and publishers. And, methodologies are refined from time to time and may differ for different types of games (for example, the methodology to test a MMORPG will be different from the testing for a casual game). But outlined below is a typical methodology of game testing.

Identification: Incorrect program behavior is analyzed and identified as a bug.
Reporting: The bug is reported to the developers using a defect tracking system. At minimum, the circumstances of the bug and steps to reproduce are included in the report. Developers sometimes request additional documentation such as real-time video of the bug's manifestation.
Analysis: This step of the process involves the developer responsible for the bug, such as an artist, programmer or game designer. It is outside the scope of the game tester's duties, though if there are inconsistencies in the bug report, the tester may be approached to provide more information or evidence.
Verification: After the developer claims the bug to be fixed, it is the responsibility of the tester to verify that the bug no longer occurs. Not all bugs are addressed by the developer. Reported bugs may be claimed as features (often expressed as "NAB" or "not a bug"), and may also be waived (given permission to be ignored) by producers, game designers, or even lead testers, according to company policy.
Regression testing: As game development progresses, closed bugs are checked again to ensure that they have not regressed, or re-manifested. For example, a programmer might undo a fix, having forgotten why the change was made in the first place. Though tedious, this type of testing is important since unexpected changes to code can cause old problems to resurface in the same or different ways.
Standards testing: Consoles manufacturers such as Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft have standards they require to be met for games for their platforms. Not all manufacturers standards are alike and some testers are dedicated only to ensuring these standards are met.

As a career

Within the game industry, testing usually falls under a title such as quality assurance (QA). However, game QA is far less technical than general software QA. Many game testers have only a high school diploma and no technical expertise. Game testing is normally a full-time job with expectation of regular overtime, but many employees are usually hired as temps and the length of employment varies. In some cases, if the tester is working for a publisher, the tester may be sent off to work at the developer's site rather than in his employer's own offices. The most aggressive recruiting season is late summer/early autumn, as this is the start of the crunch period for games to be finished and shipped in time for the holiday season.

A common misconception is that professional game testing is akin to a public beta test or stress test, where players are expected to enjoy the game and report any bugs they happen to find. In reality, game testing is highly focused on finding bugs, often using tedious methodologies. Even if one could play the game freely, there is no guarantee that the game is stable or fun enough to be enjoyable. A tester may be required to play the same portion of a game repeatedly for hours at a time. Understandably, burn-out is common in this field.

Despite the demanding and risky nature of the job, game testing doesn't pay a great deal and is usually paid hourly, with wages ranging from USD$8 to $15 per hour. As temps, testers typically receive no benefits or holidays and simply take unpaid vacation days when desired. Many game testers take this job because they enjoy gaming as a hobby; unfortunately this "love of the game" is exploited to its fullest by employers.^{[citation needed]} Some testers use the job as a stepping stone in the game industry, but the success of this strategy is unproven, and depends on which part of the game industry the tester desires to work in. QA resumés, which display non-technical skill sets, tend towards management, then to marketing or production. Those wishing to land a job in programming, art, or design usually need to demonstrate their skills in these areas, either by taking jobs outside the industry and/or working on mods.

Hierarchy

The organization of any test group differs between organizations, but a typical one may include the individuals below.

Game producer: responsible for the game as a whole. Producers are typically assigned on a per-game basis. They look at the game from a broad perspective, and rarely on a daily basis. In addition to testing, they are responsible for setting deadlines in coordination with marketing. Their approval is required for final submission or "gold" status.
Manager: responsible for all games assigned to his testing department. The manager rarely tests games himself, but instead coordinates all of the different game projects and ensures that they are on track. They also communicate with (or act as) the human resources department, making decisions for hiring, firing, or settling other issues related to employees, though not on a daily basis. The manager gives final test approval for any project, possibly overriding the recommendations of those beneath him. Managers in turn can be overridden by a producer, though this is rare due to liability concerns. However, if a project is extremely late and/or over-budget, the producer may be forced to override QA's recommendation.

Supervisor: the most visible authority in the office, supervisors are typically long-term and experienced employees who interact directly with testers and serve as a middleman between them and upper management. Supervisors are usually assigned to multiple titles and may test each to a limited degree. They also handle menial management tasks such as collecting employee timecards. Like managers, supervisors sign off on projects, but mostly in an advisory role. The QA manager will usually base his approval on the supervisor's, since the manager typically does not have intimate knowledge of the game's issues.

Lead Tester: assigned on a per-game basis. They are ultimately responsible for the testing that occurs on that title, and may communicate directly with the supervisor, manager, or producer where the game is concerned. They are responsible for filing daily reports on bugs and progress. Senior leads are also often the ones responsible for writing test plans, which are then approved by the supervisor, manager, and producer. Junior leads may receive assistance from the supervisor or other leads in creating test plans. Leads are expected to test the game whenever they are not performing their lead duties, and they are responsible for approving bugs and maintaining the bug database for their project. Lead testers do sign off on projects, but have almost no influence over the final decision to ship; their recommendations are usually redundant with the supervisor's since both are mostly aware of remaining issues. Lead testers are also typically responsible for compiling representative samples of game footage for submission to regulatory bodies such as the ESRB and PEGI.

Assistant Lead Tester: Though fundamentally not much different than a regular tester, an assistant lead is generally recognized as having more experience and/or being of higher caliber, and may be groomed into a full lead position. The assistant lead may handle the more menial tasks of leadership, such as training new team members or dealing with trivial issues. He may also be asked to fill lead duties if the lead tester is absent. Assistant leads may be given higher permissions in the bug database and help with maintenance, though they usually lack full permissions. Assistant leads may or may not be asked to sign off on projects, but in any case their opinion is largely unimportant and is usually identical to the lead's.
Testers: more formally called "Analysts", these are the rank-and-file workers of varying commitment and skill who are expected to test whatever game they are assigned to. Testers may be assigned to a single game during its entire production, or they may be shuffled around or temporarily brought onto other projects as demanded by the department's schedule and specific needs. They report directly to the lead or assistant lead for any game-related issues, but still go to their supervisors for more general issues concerning employment. Regular testers usually have minimal database permissions, with the ability to add bug reports that must be approved by a lead.

In the media

The main characters in the 2006 film Grandma's Boy worked as video game testers. The main game used in the movie, Demonik, was in reality developed by Terminal Reality, but has been canceled by the publisher.

"Testers", a 2007 webseries, depicts the weekly adventures of a video game tester. The series itself is touted as a viral video game, where the viewer votes and chooses what should happen next.

Check out these informational links:

Sloperama: "Working as a Tester" from game industry veteran, Tom Sloper

IGDA's Quality Assurance Special Interest Group

New Black/Death/Viking/Thrash/Goth Metal Albums of 2008

2008-08-28T12:25:00.005+05:30

2008 has been the year for Music. We've seen a lot of bands come out with an album this year. Most of them being Masterpieces- Works of Art!
Who wouldn't like the sound of Guitars and Drums pounding inside our ears. Orgasmic innit ?

Well, Read on!

Deathrow - Raging Steel [ReRelease] (2008),Thrash Metal

Artist: Deathrow
Album: Raging Steel
Year: 2008
Genre: Thrash Metal
Country: Germany

Tracklist:
01.The Dawn 01:25
02.Raging Steel 04:17
03.Scattered by the Wind (Pt. I) 02:05
04.Scattered by the Wind (Pt. II) 03:04
05.Dragons Blood 05:57
06.The Thing Within 05:59
07.Pledge to Die 04:07
08.Mortal Dread 04:51
09.The Undead Cry 04:06
10.Beyond the Light 06:42
11.Intro (Bonus Track) 01:00
12.Slaughtered (Bonus Track) 04:01
13.Violent Omen (Bonus Track) 04:36
14.Riders of Doom (Bonus Track) 05:14
15.Samhain (Bonus Track) 06:40
******************************
Total playing time: 01:04:04

Demonizer - Triumphator (2008), Black/Thrash Metal

Artist: Demonizer
Album: Triumphator
Year: 2008
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
Country: Belgium

Tracklist:
01. Terror, Chaos, Bloodlust, Death 05:03
02. Alcoholic 04:18
03. The Wolf Inside 05:16
04. Triumphator 07:24
05. Bright the Stars Must Shine Tonight 03:45
06. Purity in Legacy 05:21
07. Into the Dark Void 04:54
08. Let Them Hate 03:41
09. Bestial Ejaculation 05:02
******************************
Total playing time: 44:40

Poisonblack - A Dead Heavy Day (2008),Gothic Metal

Artist: Poisonblack
Album: A Dead Heavy Day
Year: 2008
Genre: Gothic Metal
Country: Finland

TrackList:
1. Intro 00:31
2. Diane 03:57
3. Left Behind 04:45
4. Bear The Cross 03:52
5. A Dead Heavy Day 05:07
6. Me Myself And I 04:31
7. X 06:10
8. Human-Compost 05:24
9. The Days Between 06:20
10. Hatelove 03:58
11. Low Life 04:28
12. Only You Can Tear Me Apart 07:46
******************************
Total playing time: 56:23

Dream Evil - Gold Medal In Metal (Alive & Archive) (2008),Heavy Metal

Artist: Dream Evil
Album: Gold Medal In Metal (Alive & Archive)
Year: 2008
Genre: Heavy Metal
Country: Sweden

TrackList:

CD I
1. United 04:02
2. Blind Evil 04:23
3. Fire! Battle! In Metal! 03:17
4. In Flames You Burn 04:25
5. Crusaders' Anthem 04:06
6. Back From the Dead 04:27
7. Higher on Fire 04:20
8. The Prophecy 04:21
9. Made of Metal 04:06
10. Heavy Metal in the Night 05:00
11. Let Me Out 04:46
12. The Chosen Ones 05:58
13. The Book of Heavy Metal 04:56
14. Chasing the Dragon 04:13
15. Children of the Night 04:29

CD II
1. Dominator 03:23
2. Fight for Metal 03:52
3. December 25th 04:16
4. Pain Patrol 03:14
5. Lady of Pleasure 03:27
6. Chapter 6 04:03
7. Gold Medal In Metal 03:11
8. Point of No Return 03:52
9. The Enemy 03:15
10. Hero of Zeroes 04:30
11. Bringing the Metal Back 03:43
12. Betrayed 04:01
13. Evilized (unplugged) 04:56
14. Dragonheart 03:35
15. Take the World 04:09
16. Crusader's Anthem (demo) 04:03
17. Touring is My Life (live) 01:56
******************************************

Aura Noir - Hades Rise (2008),Black/Thrash Metal

Artist: Aura Noir
Album: Hades Rise
Year: 2008
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
Country: Norway

Tracklist:
1. Aura Noir - Hades Rise (3:25)
2. Aura Noir - Gaping Grave Awaits (4:00)
3. Aura Noir - Unleash the Demon (3:47)
4. Aura Noir - Pestilent Streams (3:26)
5. Aura Noir - Schitzoid Paranoid (2:45)
6. Aura Noir - Death-Mask (3:35)
7. Aura Noir - Shadows of Death (5:47)
8. Aura Noir - Iron Night/Torment Storm (5:09)
9. Aura Noir - South American Death (3:13)
10. Aura Noir - The Stalker (3:07)
******************************
Total playing time: 38:14

Volbeat - Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood (2008),Heavy/Groove Metal/Rock'n'Roll

Artist: Volbeat
Album: Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
Year: 2008
Genre: Heavy/Groove Metal/Rock'n'Roll
Country: Denmark

TrackList:
1. Intro / End of the World 1:05
2. Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood 3:08
3. Back to Prom 1:51
4. Mary Ann's Place 3:41
5. Hallelujah Goat 3:30
6. Maybelenne i Hofteholder 3:20
7. We 3:46
8. Still Counting 4:21
9. Light a Way 4:42
10. Wild Rover of Hell 3:42
11. I'm So Lonely I Could Cry 3:21
12. A Broken Man and the Dawn 4:45
13. Find That Soul 3:43
14. Making Believe 3:29
******************************
Total playing time: 48:24

Purgatory - Cultus Luciferi-The Splendour Of Chaos (2008), Death Metal

Artist: Purgatory
Album: Cultus Luciferi-The Splendour Of Chaos
Year: 2008
Genre: Death Metal
Country: Germany

Tracklist:
01. Realm Of The Vortex 03:02
02. Chaos Aeon 03:00
03. Ruler Of The East 03:40
04. Forbidden Wisdom 03:17
05. Red Prison 03:40
06. Hammering The Nails-Vengeance Of The Damned 05:42
07. Pits Of Utmuno (Morgoth Cover) 04:44
08. Burial Of A Plague 03:36
09. The Enemy Within 04:59
10. Seeds Of Annihilation (Live-Bonustrack) 03:33
******************************
Total playing time: 39:13

Lower Hell - Asphyxia [ep] (2008), Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore

Artist: Lower Hell
Album: Asphyxia [ep]
Year: 2008
Genre: Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore
Country: Germany

Tracklist:
1. Intro 01:02
2. Alchemist Academy 04:43
3. Asphyxia 04:03
4. Lip Gloss 06:07
5. Beloved Murder 05:45
6. Don't Let Me Down 04:37
7. To Your Ash 04:00
******************************
Total playing time: 30:17

Sven Busam - Vocals
Steffen Busam - Guitar
Bruno Sucher - Guitar
Bloodlust Joe - Bass
Bastian Springmann - Drums

Omnium Gatherum - Redshift (2008), Melodic Death Metal

Artist: Omnium Gatherum
Album: Redshift
Year: 2008
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Country: Finland

Tracklist:
01. Nail
02. A Shadowkey
03. Chameleon Skin
04. No Breaking Point
05. The Return
06. Shapes And Shades
07. The Redshifter
08. Greeneyes
09. The Second Flame
10. Song For December
11. Distant Light Highway
******************************
Total playing time: 47:59

See You Next Tuesday - Intervals (2008),Experimental / Deathcore / Grindcore

Artist: See You Next Tuesday
Album: Intervals
Year: 2008
Genre: Experimental / Deathcore / Grindcore
Country: USA

Track List:
01. Nascence
02. In The End
03. The Life In Death
04. Eternity?
05. Alpha
06. She Once Said I Was A Romantic
07. Daydreams
08. Nightmares
09. In The Beginning
10. Forever On Deaf Ears
11. Goodnight (Our Last Dance)
12. This Time The Keys Are Broken
13. Dedication To A New Era
14. One Of These Days
15. Omega
16. 11/22/07
17. January And On

Sothis - De Oppresso Liber (2008),Black Metal

Artist: Sothis
Album: De Oppresso Liber
Year: 2008
Genre: Black Metal
Country: USA

Tracklist:
01. Of Night And Silence ( 3:58)
02. De Oppresso Liber ( 5:32)
03. Beneath A Black Boiling Sky ( 5:50)
04. Lunar Descent ( 4:50)
05. Obsidian Throne ( 5:32)
06. Defiance ( 6:56)
07. The Cold Disconnection ( 4:21)
08. Lair Of The Benighted ( 5:29)
09. Perpetual ( 5:58)
******************************
Total playing time: 48:26

Belligerence - Out:Red [2008],Melodic Black/Death Metal

Artist: Belligerence
Album: Out:Red
Year: 2008
Genre: Melodic Black/Death Metal [female vocal]
Country: Czech Republic

Track List:
01. Confused Perception 04:54
02. Deal 04:06
03. Denigrated Faith 03:33
04. Overfilled 05:12
05. Stigmatic 05:29
06. Warfare 05:27
07. Wounds 04:43
08. Belligerence 03:42
09. Out:Red 04:07
10. 200.4 01:44

Ordog - Life is too Short for Learning to Live (2008),Exprimental Doom / Death Metal

Artist: Ordog
Album: Life is too Short for Learning to Live
Year: 2008
Genre: Exprimental Doom / Death Metal
Country: Finland

Tracklist:
1. Death's Cold Embrance 1:26
2. Live Fast, Die Slow 7:21
3. Drown in Yourself 0:44
4. Chapelle Ardente 11:33
5. Learning to Live 2:34
6. Pokol 19:35
7. Innocence 4:09
******************************
Total playing time: 47:22

ScareCrown - Letters From The Darkness (2008),Gothic Metal

Artist: ScareCrown
Album: Letters From The Darkness(Female Vocal)
Year: 2008
Genre: Gothic Metal
Country: Italy

TrackList:
1. My own devil
2. She
3. Howling
4. Night-like eyes
5. Drops
6. Without voice
7. Show me your face
8. Unknown land
9. Double blade kiss
10. Letters from the darkness
******************************
Total playing time: 37:56

Lord Belial - The Black Curse (2008).Melodic Black Metal

Artist: Lord Belial
Album: The Black Curse
Year: 2008
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Country: Sweden

TrackList:
1. Pazuzu - Lord of Fevers and Plague (3:49)
2. Trumpets of Doom (5:10)
3. Sworn (4:18)
4. Inexorable Retribution (4:46)
5. Antichrist Reborn (5:16)
6. Primordial Incantation (6:08)
7. Devilish Enlightenment (5:26)
8. Ascension of Lilith (7:11)
9. Unorthodox Catharsis (5:30)
10. Soulgate (4:54)
******************************
Total playing time: 52.27

Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God (2008),Melodic Death Metal

Artist: Amon Amarth
Album: Twilight of the Thunder God
Year: 2008
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Country: Sweden

TrackList:
1. Twilight of the Thunder God
2. Free Will Sacrifice
3. Guardians of Asgaard
4. Where Is Your God?
5. Varyags of Miklagaard
6. Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags
7. No Fear For the Setting Sun
8. The Hero
9. Live For the Kill
10. Embrace of the Endless Ocean
******************************
Total playing time: 42:14
Johan Hegg - Vocals
Olavi Mikkonen - Guitar
Johan Sцderberg - Guitar
Ted Lundstrцm - Bass (Eternal Oath (Swe))
Fredrik Andersson - Drums (A Canorous Quintet/The Plague (Swe)/This Ending, Curriculum Mortis (Swe), Guidance of Sin, Laid to Unrest, Beyond Dreams, The Dead (Swe))

Agalloch - The Demonstration Archive 1996 - 1998 [best of /compilation] (2008),Atmospheric Folk/Dark Metal

Artist: Agalloch
Album: The Demonstration Archive 1996 - 1998 [best of / compilation]
Year: 2008
Genre: Atmospheric Folk/Dark Metal
Country: USA

Track List:
"From Which of this Oak" (1997)
1. The Wilderness
2. As Embers Dress The Sky
3. This Old Cabin
"Of Stone, Wind, and Pillor" unreleased 7-inch (1998)
4. Of Stone, Wind, and Pillor
5. Foliorum Viridium
6. Haunting Birds
"Promo '98" (1998)
7. Hallways Of Enchanted Ebony
8. The Melancholy Spirit
******************************
Total playing time: 59:03

Cloudscape - Global Drama (2008),Progressive Metal

Artist: Cloudscape
Album: Global Drama
Year: 2008
Genre: Progressive Metal
Country: Sweden

TrackList:
1. Mind Diary 05:49
2. Darkest Legacy 03:41
3. Cloak & Daggers 06:34
4. Pain In Blood 03:57
5. The Silence Within 05:06
6. One Silent Moment 04:34
7. Alogoas 08:24
8. Static 05:46
9. Fragile 04:10
10. Eyes Of Jealousy 09:09
11. Ritual Of The Blade 05:03
12. Justice 05:07

Memoira - Memoira (2008),Gothic Metal

Artist: Memoira
Album: Memoira
Year: 2008
Genre: Gothic Metal(Female Vocal)
Country: Finland

TrackList:
1. Arise (Intro)
2. Experimenters Farewell
3. Haunted
4. Destiny Of Yours
5. Incurable
6. Shadow On My Name
7. Half Alive
8. Liberation
9. Amortization
******************************
Total playing time: 41.08

Neronoia - Il Rumore Delle Cose (2008),Dark Atmospheric Gothic Metal

Artist: Neronoia
Album: Il Rumore Delle Cose
Year: 2008
Genre: Dark Atmospheric Gothic Metal
Country: Italy

TrackList:
1. XI
2. XII
3. XIII
4. XIV
5. XV
6. XVI
7. XVII
8. XVIII
9. XIX
10. XX
******************************
Total playing time: 40.30

Incantation - Blasphemous Cremation [ep] (2008),Death Metal

Artist: Incantation
Album: Blasphemous Cremation
Year: 2008
Genre: Death Metal
Country: United States

Track List:
1. Rotting Spiritual Embodiment (5:39)
2. Blasphemous Cremation (4:53)
3. Godsend (5:29)
4. Profanation (5:30)
5. Christening The Afterbirth (5:47)
6. Eternal Torture (3:48)
******************************
Total playing time: 31:06

Current line-up:
John McEntee - Guitar, Vocals (Goreaphobia, Mortician (US), Funerus, Immolation, Revenant)
Chuck Sherwood - Bass (Blood Storm)
Alex Bouks - Guitar (Engorge (US), Goreaphobia)
Jim Roe - Drums (Morbid Sin, WOMB, Disciples of Mockery, Engorge (US), 2006 Tour Drummer for Speed Kill Hate, Mr. Grim)

End Of Green - The Sick's Sense (2008),Gothic Metal

Artist: End Of Green
Album: The Sick's Sense
Year: 2008
Genre: Gothic Metal
Country: Germany

TrackList:
CD1:
1. Dead City Lights 4:42
2. Killhoney 4:58
3. Anthem For A New Wave 3:10
4. Hurter 5:37
5. Die Lover Die 4:38
6. Let Sleeping Gods Lie 5:40
7. My Crying Veins 6:42
8. Pain Hates Me 3:40
9. The Sickness Crown 4:32
10. Ghostdance 3:10
11. Sunday Mourning 5:51
12. Bury Me Down (The End) 4:52

CD2 (Acoustic):
1. Tragedy Insane 4:58
2. Melanchoholic 4:40
3. Hurter 4:42
4. Demons 3:57
5. Everywhere 3:47
******************************
Total playing time: 79.28

Frost Like Ashes - Born To Pieces (2008),Black Metal

Artist: Frost Like Ashes
Album: Born To Pieces
Year: 2008
Genre: Black Metal
Country: USA

TrackList:
01. Born To Pieces 7:21
02. Pale Shadows 5:49
03. Immortals 3:43
04. Plan 2 (Saint Cover) 8:13
05. When The Man Comes Around (Johnny Cash Cover) 4:43
06. Nightfall's Cold Kiss 5:33
07. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent 4:44
08. Nightfall's Cold Kiss (Acoustic) 6:02
09. A Cruel Verse (Rehearsal Tape) 4:44
10. Adorers Of Blood (Rehearsal Tape) 6:21
******************************
Total playing time: 55:13

Carnal Decay - Chopping Off The Head (2008),Death Metal/Grind

Artist: Carnal Decay
Album: Chopping Off The Head
Year: 2008
Genre: Death Metal/Grind
Country: Switzerland

Track List:
01 Mary and the 3 Kings 02:43
02 Shotgun Facelift 03:06
03 Chopping Off the Head 03:49
04 One by One 03:28
05 Bowel Bondage 03:35
06 Raptured by Torturing 03:37
07 Fartover 03:37
08 Mutilation is My Passion 02:29
09 Redatory Instinct 03:29
******************************
Total playing time: 29:49

Hello!

2008-08-27T13:17:00.003+05:30

Hello All!

Welcome to my Blog- Xairo666 where we can talk about anything under the sun. I would mostly post stuff that interest me, for example, about Music, Artists, New Albums and Discography Information and a lot of other things as well.
I would also post random topics about Image Manipulation and stuff like that.
Forgive me for the bullshitting I may give :P

Happy Blogging!

For any questions please mail me : onestepcloser.9@gmail.com

Just Another Blog

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AMD's 6xxx series cards?

GPU comparisons

Calling all Gamers, This is our Revolution!

Design Change

Aion Classes

Unlock cores on an AMD Phenom II processor!

Game Preview: RAGE (PC) from id Software. Previewed at Quakecon 2009

RAGE

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Overclocked to 7.1 GHz (WORLD RECORD!!!)

Behemoth

Behemoth

Rohan Online Review and Personal Experience

Getting Started- Applying for a Game Tester Job

Game Testing Resources

New Black/Death/Viking/Thrash/Goth Metal Albums of 2008

Hello!