Press: Smartphone becomes powerful PC peripheral

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Out now: free Power-Grid app turns smartphones into PC and game remote control

Hamburg - October 22, 2013 – ROCCAT’s highly acclaimed Power-Grid app is now available to the public for free download as the software reaches its open beta phase. The game-changing software consists of a smartphone app, which runs on iOS and Android devices, and accompanying host software, which runs on Windows. This technology is used to turn the smartphone into a sophisticated, fully customizable remote control for the PC, extending the environment of the gamer onto their smartphone. Power-Grid features countless preset Grids and Controls that offer functionality ranging from adjusting Windows settings to executing in-game macro sequences in popular games such as StarCraft II and League of Legends. The software also provides gamers with the ability to create their own extensively configurable Grids and Controls, allowing them to cater to their own specific needs and desires. The new Power-Grid website – launched simultaneously – provides a database for those searching for additional Grids and Controls. The database will feature ROCCAT as well as community content, the latter being facilitated by the launcher software’s easy-to-use Grid and Control import/export process.
ROCCAT CEO and founder René Korte comments: “Power-Grid opens up a whole new world of opportunities for PC gamers. Finally you are able to connect your smartphone to your gaming environment – it just feels natural and makes perfect sense. Forget about inflexible solutions like keyboards with integrated displays; create your own command center and benefit from this innovative ROCCAT technology.”
Power-Grid uses WiFi to connect the smartphone to the PC. This means that commands from the phone are executed on the PC in real time. Information from games and software can be displayed on the smartphone, too, meaning it can also be used as an effective second screen. In order to empower the full potential, ROCCAT provides a SDK for Power-Grid. “Professional developers and studios will make use of this just like ambitious amateur coders”, say René Korte. “At GDC Europe this year people were amazed by the possibilities and openness of Power-Grid and its SDK. A lot of creative minds out there will do a lot of unseen things with it – and so will we.”
The duration of the open beta is not defined yet. ROCCAT will implement new features and optimize the software based on the user feedback.  
Power-Grid does not require any ROCCAT hardware in order to be used, the only prerequisite being an iOS or Android smartphone. 2014 will, however, see the company release a new range of gaming peripherals designed to benefit from the rich features offered by the app.

ROCCAT Power-Grid: 5 fast and easy steps to create your PC control center- Go to www.power-grid.roccat.org, create an account and download the software. Users who already have a ROCCAT World account can download the software straight away.
- Install the host software on your PC.
- Go to the Apple or Google store on your phone and download the app.
- Ensure PC and phone are connected to the same network.
- Log-in to your host software on the PC and start the app on your phone, then follow the on-screen instructions and voilà, you are good to go.

Links
ROCCAT Power-Grid Homepage
ROCCAT Power-Grid VideoROCCAT Power-Grid Presskit
About ROCCAT Studios 
Founded in 2007 in Hamburg, Germany, ROCCAT Studios produces innovative, high-quality products for today’s ambitious computer gamer. Always operating in close collaboration with the gaming community, the company’s advanced input devices, headsets and accessories offer extreme precision, first-class ease-of-use and unique, eye-catching design. ROCCAT™ entered the scene with its Kone gaming mouse – a high-performance device that still ranks as one of the world’s premier gaming peripherals. A long list of international awards attests to the ingenious design and world-class quality of ROCCAT products.

Planetside 2 - Review

1st person shooter

This time i will take a look at the game Planetside 2. There have been a lot of positive talking about it while it was in beta, and also after the release. I've been playing around with the game and i must say that it's a really great game. I've enjoyed alot of time in the space as Vanu Sovereignty and Terran Republic, even though people say you have to be loyal for your race, did i choose to try out two of the three races anyways. The last one is New Conglomerate.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Planetside 2 consists of the three races or clans who is in constant fight on three continents. The clans have to work together like a real team, since the whole game, other than being a normal FPS (First Person Shooter) with tanks, planes, cars, etc., it's also a strategy game, you have to take over bases to expand your territory, on same time you also have to defend your own bases so the opponents what get them. The rounds can take really long time, and when i'm saying really long time, i do mean it, i've seen some keep going for a whole weeks. I think it's a plus, it makes you feel like you are in a real war. I've been playing for hours every day, and i could use more if i had the time. I felt like the polictican who controlled the war, but also the private in the match. When you are playing you can choose between 5 classes (actually 6, but the last one is a bit weird).

  1. Infiltrator - Basicly a sniper/spy
  2. Light Assault - Fast running soldier. Light weapons and light gear
  3. Combat Medic - A bit like Light Assault, but doesn't do so much damage, but instead are you able to revive and heal your friends
  4. Engineer - Being like Light Assault and fixing the vehicles
  5. Heavy Assault - A bit slower than the Light Assault and with heavier weapons but does more damage
  6. MAX - This the special one, you can't spawn as this but you have to buy it in the base within you go to war. Imagine Iron Man, but bigger and better. Thats the MAX Suit, and it hurts as hell.
The controlling of the soldiers are like in every other FPS games, not as realistic as in Battlefield 3, but Planetside 2 have been developed with a quite smaller amount of resources than Battlefield. The controls of the vehicles are easy to dive into. When talking airborne vehicles, i always suck at it, but in Planetside 2 it was easy and i had no problems learning to fly (i believe i can fly.. I belive i can touch the sky!)

Graphics

The graphic in the game is okay, not more and not less, but compared to the scale of the universe you're playing in, i think it's quite fair. It's obvious that the main focus have been the characters, the big bases and the vehicles, as the other graphics ain't in same quality. A quite cool thing is that there is high quality planets and stars in the sky, that really makes you feel like you are in the space.

Advantages/Disadvantages

Advantages:

  • It's free
  • A lot of hours entertainment with friends and strangers
  • Big world
  • First Person Shooter and Strategy game on same time
Disadvantages:
  • Takes a bit of time to get used to the gameplay
  • Bugs when trying to change continent
  • No voicechat in your sqaud/clan

Final Comment

Planetside is a great game for everyone who likes FPS games, but on same time also likes strategy, as it's a big part of the game. Personally i would have given 20 bucks, if Sony chose to make it cost. For those who waited for the game to be finished, can easy be glad, it's a really great game that you can play for hours.
Planetside 2 is on Steam for free, so what are you waiting for?


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