It is a big day here at Gear Diary as we welcome the newest member of the Gear Diary Team into the world. Yes, you read that right, Carly and Sarah have just become parents for the first time. Their son made his debut late this afternoon. He is gorgeous and everyone is doing great. So… Please join us in wishing the three of them our very best!!!

XBONE Running Windows 7

Everyone who has followed the E3 game conference for more than a year knows the basics – new hardware is introduced, and hot new awesome looking games are trotted out just to demonstrate how hot and awesome everything will be once it all ships. In years past some of this was done by way of screenshots and trailers … but those became known as ‘bullshots’, because it became immediately clear that none of it was actually real game screens or footage.

More recently the bullshots moved to E3 product demos, in which product managers showing off games would take their hand off the controller to talk and suddenly something would happen in the video that made it clear they weren’t actually playing the game. Pre-rendered game demos remain popular as they minimize the potential for an embarrassing crash or glitch.

While it is clear that game software makers want perfect demos, the stakes are even higher for hardware – new hardware comes out much less frequently, so perfect performance is incredibly important. Because they are doing demos before hardware release, they are generally using ‘developer kits with equivalent hardware’.

But when it comes right down to it … what ARE those developer kits? They are actually Windows PCs.

And as shown in the image above, the demo units at E3 for at least some of the games on display were actually Windows 7 PCs with NVidia GTX cards. The GTX is beefier hardware than is in either the XBOne or PS4, so naturally there is concern that this demo is an inaccurate representation of what will be released in the fall. At the same time, a Windows PC has significantly more overhead than a dedicated game console, so it is really a difficult comparison.

Because ‘spot the bullshot’ has become such a spectator sport following these events, it is perhaps unsurprising that someone discovered another hint that a demo was actually running on a PC rather than the XBOne – in this case it was Battlefield 4. It is hard to see, but in the upper right corner of the screen there is a ‘backspace’ key icon rather than a console controller button.

Battlefield 4 XBOne Actually Running on PC

How much does any of this REALLY matter? Not much … the PS3 and XBOX360 were no more powerful than an average gaming PC when they were released several years ago, but developers have managed to squeeze loads of excellent years of graphics and gameplay out of them. So we can assume that with this new hardware and an ever-evolving operating environment we should have great looking games for years to come.

And if you want a fun but NSFW look at the new console hardware, the always-irreverant Yahtzee has a great video!

Torchlight Free on GoG.com

Every summer GoG.com puts on a huge summer sale … and this year is no exception! For the next 17 days they will have more than 500 games on sale! This massive catalog os great games is ENTIRELY DRM-free, meaning that once you buy and download the game, you are free to install it and keep your install file and never worry about being online or needing a special client or anything else.

In addition to the huge general sale, GoG.com is also offering 150 games on ‘daily specials’ up to 85% off! For the first day they have their entire D&D collection for 80% off, including such classics as Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2, Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2, Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale 1 & 2 and more. They are also breaking the ‘up to 85%’ by offering Alan Wake and Alan Wake’s American Nightmare for 90% off! Finally, for the next 48 hours they are offering the 2009 action-RPG Torchlight for FREE!

continue reading

Jay-Z Magna Carta Holy Grail

In the rap and hip-hop world, few artists loom as large as Jay-Z. Emerging in 1996 with a blockbuster debut that was as successful critically as it was commercially, he seemed to fade for a few years before emerging with the excellent ‘The Blueprint’. Then some more mediocre minor releases before what he claimed would be his last release, 2003′s ‘The Black Album’. Since then he has worked more as a producer and executive developing new artists than as an artist himself. That all changes on July 4th with the release of “Magna Carta Holy Grail”. But this one has a twist that makes it even more interesting – read on to find out more! continue reading

If you are a frequent traveler throughout the year, you’ve probably encountered a number of unpleasant environments where rooms or areas are so dry you might feel like your skin and sinuses decided to vacation in the Mojave Desert. Desiccation might be in order if you are a piece of jerky, but our bodies tend to prefer a fair amount of moisture. With the Satechi USB Portable Humidifier, savvy travelers can use a filtered water bottle as a moisture source to  increase area humidity. No need to put up with bone-dry areas again!

continue reading

AT&T has been rolling out Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) for some time. The service is now being added to iPhone 4s and 5 phones through an over the air update. The alerts are sent via free messages and are issued according to geographic location. The alerts focus on messages of threats to life and property, amber alerts, and alerts from the president. I assume most of the threat alerts will be weather and natural disaster related. Amber alerts are obviously for abducted children in the area, but what exactly are presidential updates?

continue reading

As summer gets into full swing, many of you will spend a lot of time outside soaking up the sun and having a great time. Nothing makes these kind of days more enjoyable than some of your favorite music. When I take my boys to the pool or we camp, we always have some tunes that match the occasion playing in the background. Of course, most people have some sort of mobile device capable of streaming or playing their music collection, but the speakers are usually less than desirable. What everyone needs is a way to listen to the music that improves on the device’s speakers that also is mobile and easy to use. Dream Cheeky has introduced The Cube wireless speaker which is due to ship at the end of this month.

continue reading

Remember that scene from the Crocodile Dundee movie where the protagonist is threatened with a small switchblade retorts “That’s not a knife…“, then proceeds to pull out his own much larger knife and says “That’s a knife!” and saves the day? In the world of camera lens add-ons for your phones, owners of Samsung Galaxy S4 phones equipped with a couple of USBFever’s latest phone lenses specially designed for them can now say “That’s not a phone camera lens…THIS is a phone camera lens” when they show off the new SLR 37mm 0.45X Wide Angle + Marco Lens (shown above) or SLR 37mm 0.25X Super Fisheye Lens (below).

The Super Fisheye Lens

Wide Angle Lens shown disassembled

It’s a simple, clever design: snap the back case/cover over your S4, screw on the 37mm adapter ring and attach the lens type of your choice—you can even use other 37mm D/SLR camera lenses—and presto! you are ready for shooting like a pro! Plus, using the S4′s Air Gestures, the whole process can appear like magic to Muggle-ish bystanders, particularly if you are adept at coming up with pseudo-Latin phrases like Camera Incantatem! or Expecto Imagum!

The Arriba! Adapter – 2 in 1 iPhone 5 Adapter + Keychain – first patent drawing

You’re in your buddy’s car, and your iPhone’s battery is low. Typical, right? And of course, you forgot the Lightning cable for your iPhone 5. Your friend has a car charger, but it’s for his 30-pin iPhone, and he’s using it anyway. Buried under an open bag of chips and some diaper wipes, he has an old microUSB cable. That’s not much help, is it? Or maybe it is, if you happen to have the Arriba! Adapter attached to your keyring.

Plug in that microUSB cable, stick the Arriba! Adapter’s Lightning plug into your iPhone 5′s port, and plug the microUSB cable into the Arriba! Adapter, and now you are in business!

continue reading

The ARRL Repeater Directory App

A while back I reviewed an app for finding Amateur Radio repeaters called Repeater Book.  In that review, I fondly remembered leafing through the Repeater Book that the American Radio Relay League (or ARRL) printed for years upon years.  I have not bought one of those in some time, and I think the ARRL noticed that a lot of other hams haven’t either.

At Dayton, the ARRL showed a new product that doesn’t replace the Repeater Book of old, but rather takes it and puts in on your phone in a similar way to the Repeater Book app I previously reviewed with one important difference — it also includes a map.

continue reading

As far as waking up in the morning, my wife and I are polar opposites. Whereas I’m nearly an “instant-on” waking up, my wife…not so much. Perhaps what she needs is Stereomood’s Mood O’Clock app to help set the right mood when she wakes up. Mood O’Clock is a clock/alarm application for iOS and Android devices that allows users to not just set a wake-up time, but set the mood for waking up. There are eleven alarm mood types to choose from, from “dreamy” to “sexy and furious”. Within each mood setting is a selection of themed tunes and a screen image, allowing users to experience different flavors within their chosen mood type wake-up call, averting excessive repetition.

Users need only choose a mood type, set the alarm clock date(s) and time, and choose one of four volume schemes. Incidentally, if users lack a WiFi or Data network connection on their given device, a 40MB downloadable Moodpack is available, permitting users to listen to a Stereomood-chosen soundtrack. Mood O’Clock serves up a variety of curated song choices, offering users a great way to discover new music, even offering the option to purchase the track from within the app straight from iTunes.

Myself, being something of an amateur geologist, might find gazing up at a sleeping stratovolcano something less than calming in the “calm” setting, but I’m probably overthinking it (a disadvantage of being able to wake up fast?). At any rate, Mood O’Clock also allows users to share their moods on Facebook and Twitter, so you can do your family, friends and coworkers a service by letting them know your mood type and react accordingly. You can find Mood O’Clock in the App Store here for $0.99, as well as the Google Play Store, also priced at $0.99. If you do give Mood O’Clock a whirl, let us know what you think in the comments below!

continue reading

I reviewed Moxtra about a month ago, and was very impressed with this digital binder/scrapbook app. It loos great and makes it easy to organize and collaborate on all sorts of projects. At the time, my biggest complaint was that I couldn’t easily get documents and web clips to Moxtra without stopping in Dropbox or Box first.

Moxtra was just updated to add Google Drive, and a web browser for clipping, plus an Android app! I took a quick look at the update; does it impress as much as the original?

continue reading

The summer heat is upon us, and it is time to play outdoors. A favorite activity for my boys and me is to have water gun fights. Of course, we only have two guns that are worth using, so I always get stuck with a small, useless water weapon. Getting stuck with the smaller water gun not only means that I cannot deliver enough spray to get anyone wet, but I also have to refill more often. In fact, my boys think it is really funny to attack and soak me when I am filling up my tiny water gun. The folks over at Gadgets and Gear have the perfect solution to help me take back my yard for the entire summer. The monster water cannon with tripod promises to help win the water battle.

The water cannon boasts a 100 feet shooting distance which can devastate most other guns. The added tripod allows the cannon to be more stable and makes aiming much easier. Many might think the tripod will make them a sitting duck in any water war since it is not very mobile. While that is true, the cannon can be attached to a water hose making it have a constant supply of water. So while running around may not be an option, there is no need to refill. Why not hook up the monster water cannon to the hose, and turn the kids loose in the yard, and then move them every 10 minutes or so? Before you know it, the yard will be watered and the kids will have had a blast.

Monster Water Cannon With Tripod

MSRP: $39.95

Lowpro’s recently announced their new Transit Series of camera bags. This “design-forward” line is comprised of the Transit Sling 250 AW and Backpack 350 AW. Both bags feature fast-access, front to back rotation for rapid camera retrieval and UltraFlex™ fit system for endless organization options. The UltraFlex system is particularly interesting. The best way to understand what it offers is to see it in action.

Both bags look great, are packed with features and are priced nicely. (The Transit Sling 250 AW is under $100 and the Transit Backpack 350 AW is under $120.) Which bag is right for you is going to depend on your specific gear needs and preferred carry-style. continue reading

Microsoft revealed the release date and price for the Xbox One at this year’s presentation at E3- November 2013 and $499. The Xbox One Day One Edition is now on sale on Amazon and GameStop (all as special bundles with games).

Microsoft also revealed Xbox One DVR features for game recording like recording key gameplay moments and special social media touches like adding commentary and text comments before posting. The new Twitch service will offer live game streaming for even more exposure.

Xbox Live service will no longer use points as the currency (will be real currency) and will lift the 100-friend cap.  Xbox Live Gold subscribers can enjoy several upcoming free game downloads including Assassin’s Creed 2 and Halo 3.

The big news in exclusive games was the next Halo installment and the sci-fi multiplayer Titanfall coming in 2014. A reboot of the fighting game series Killer Instinct was also a major game announcement (oh, I remember those days playing it on the Super Nintendo).

Third-party game announcements included the shooter Titanfall (coming this spring), which features giant robots and human-like robots in capture-the-flag style battles and more.

Do you think Microsoft is number “One” at this year’s E3?

All eyes were on Sony last night to see how they would counter Microsoft’s earlier presentation, particularly regarding the new PlayStation 4 console versus the Xbox One.

Sony began their presentation with the usual pomp and circumstance to get the crowd pumped up then concentrated on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita (125 games and counting since its launch).

Game announcements for the PlayStation Vita, the “companion for PS4″, included a remaster God of War HD 1 & 2, Final Fantasy 10 and 10-2, Flower, Dead Nation.

Other upcoming PlayStation Vita titles include:

continue reading

Now to concentrate on the main content at the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) – the games!

Microsoft has plenty of new Xbox One launch games coming before the end of the year including Ryse, the racing sequel Forza Motorsport 5 and Quantum Break, a sci-fi action game that will release at the same time as the television series.

Sony will have their PlayStation 4 launch games in full force including the racing game sequel Gran Turismo 6, action shooter Killzone: Shadow Fall (set 30 years after Killzone 3), the action adventure filled Knack featuring an advanced robot as the central character, and another racer DriveClub.

The Nintendo Wii U high-profile games include The Legend of Zelda: the Wind Waker HD, Bayonetta 2, Mario Kart Wii U, Donkey Kong Country Returns: Tropical Freeze, Super Mario 3D Wii U, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, MarioKart 8 (Spring 2014), new Art Academy art tools (summer), Wii Party U (October), Wii Fit U (December), Just Dance 2014 (Oct. 8; also on Wii), the long-awaited Pikmin 3, Super Smash Bros. (also on 3DS) and The Wonderful 101 where players get customized superheroes to repel aliens and protect earth.

Fitness fans will love Zumba Fitness World Party from Majesco on Wii, Wii U and Xbox One. The current consoles will still have several offerings as well including Dragon Age III on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 exclusive BEYOND: Two Souls.

continue reading

Nintendo concentrated on boosting their game library, especially for the Wii U console and handheld 3DS console, in their annual E3 presentation (pre-recorded) this year (they still have their regular large display area).

Players can get their own taste of E3 by taking advantage of Nintendo’s partnership with Best Buy. Select stores will off advanced playable demo versions of Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and Donkey Kong Country Returns: Tropical Freeze on Wednesday, June 12 at 4-8 p.m. local times and 1-5 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 15.

continue reading

Think budget smartphones need to be cheap? Think again. The Sprint Vital is sprint’s newest 4G LTE smartphone and it is available Friday, June 14. And while it is inexpensive-just $99 on contract plus a $50 mail-in rebate- the phone actually has some terrific high-end features. Among those features are Android 4.1.2, Jelly Bean, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and video capture, a 1-megapixel front-facing camera and Sprint 4G LTE for speed.

continue reading

The Samsung Wireless Charging Pad for the Galaxy S 4

I’ve been spending the last week testing out the Samsung Galaxy S 4; it truly is one of the most capable and feature-filled smartphones available, but there is one trick it can’t do — inductive charging. But as of today, that is no longer the case. Galaxy S 4 owners can now purchase a Samsung Wireless Charging Pad and Wireless Charging Battery Cover, which will allow them to conveniently charge their smartphones without fumbling for cables or plugs.

In case you read the last sentence quickly, let me make sure that you caught the fact that this isn’t a case, it is a battery cover that replaces the one that ships with the S 4.

continue reading

Dan reviewed the Seagate Slim back in April of 2011.  He liked it at the time, and two years later it is still going strong. Dan tells me it is one of the mainstays in his gear bag, and he depends on it so much that when making a list of the gear he will bring when he is traveling, he doesn’t even need to make note of it – it is simply there — ready to go when he needs the extra space.

We recently included one of the drives in our huge giveaway with Technabob and The Awesomer. Seagate also sent one of the Seagate Slim Portable External Drives to me for a second look review. I’m glad they did, since it is already seeing plenty of use. More on that in a moment.

continue reading

I own an HP Touchpad, and I have to admit, it’s still one of the most enjoyable tablet OSes I’ve used to date. I’ve tweaked some of the software and hardware with Preware, set up dual-booting with CyanogenMod 9, and its been fun doing all this. However, it was revealed that one of the key certificates governing HP WebOS cloud services, particularly those items relating to HP App Catalog and cloud backups, was set to expire on July 23, 2013. Were that to occur, access to WebOS catalog apps, app purchase history and device cloud backup would almost certainly fail, leaving a large number of WebOS phones and tablets orphaned.

Fear not, for those users of WebOS devices like me, rejoice! HP late yesterday released a root certificate patch via their App Catalog (“App Catalog Update”) for WebOS versions 2.1 and up. Expiration dates are now pushed off until 2037, so barring any apocalyptic scenarios currently in media vogue, I may not have to give up my Touchpad until after I retire. However, for those currently in possession of a WebOS device, I strongly urge you to update your devices before July 23. For those using WebOS 2.1 or newer, simply fire up Software Manager and you should see a prompt for an update, and once done,  HP App Catalog  should list its new version as 5.0.3500. Older WebOS versions may need to go into App Catalog and manually install the app “HP App Catalog”.  Happy Updating!

Deus Ex The Fall

The history of the Deus Ex goes back to the PC-only release of the 2000 cyberpunk story-based action-RPG shooter hybrid from Warren Spector and ION Storm (a PS2 port came in 2002). To say that the game was groundbreaking doesn’t begin to cover it … the combination of elements from various genres were each done extremely well – so shooter fans loved it, RPG fans loved it, adventure-story fans loved it, graphics fans loved it and so on. In fact:

continue reading

nine inch nails 2013

Nine Inch Nails is back! Trent Reznor’s ‘band’ (he is the only official member) has been making industrial rock for 25 years now, and each release has had something of interest. Most reknowned for their work in the 1990s such as ‘Pretty Hate Machine’ and ‘Downward Spiral’, Reznor also created the music and effects for the classic video game Quake, which earned them the honor of having their logo emblazoned on ammo crates in that and later entries of the franchise.

Back in 2008 they released Ghosts I–IV and The Slip, both as free downloads before going up for standard purchase – which led many to pay for the music after freely downloading. And while it was not Reznor’s best stuff, there were definitely some cool moments.

NIN has announced that they are releasing their new album, called Hesitation Marks, on September 3rd. And to go along with the announcement they have released the first song – Come Back Haunted.

In my opinion it is the best stuff from Nine Inch Nails since the 90s, and brings Reznor’s classic industrial rock sensibilities into the current retro-techno production values. Layering up to 60 elements at times to create the densely packed yet clean sounds, Come Back Haunted is a sonic explosion definitely worth checking out!

You can also check it out on SoundCloud

There is little doubt that next week’s WWDC- World Wide Developer Conference will bring with it the announcement of iOS 7.0. The next iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS will likely bring a “flatter” design with cleaner shapes and colors as well as a host of new and updated features. Still, while Apple will likely ANNOUNCE iOS 7.0 next week it would be surprising to see it actually released until the fall. That means the current Apple Operating System, iOS 6 (actually iOS 6.1.4 right now) has at least a few more months of life. If you have an iPhone, iPad, iPad mini or iPod touch why would you want to continue underutilizing it until iOS 7.0 is released?

How to use your iPhone: iOS 6 will help you do more with your iOS device. It covers Safari, the camera app, iCloud and much much more. Just a few minutes looking at it and I have already recommended it to a few different members of my family. After all, why waste all the power the iPhone and iPad have just because you haven’t taken the time to learn about it. Best of all How to use your iPhone: iOS 6 is absolutely free. Click here to download it.

Have a parent, grandparent, friend or spouse who only used their iPhone for calls and their iPad for reading? Why not send them the link so they can get a copy for themselves too? Just forward this post or copy this link- “An Underused iPhone is a Such a Shame“- and share it with them.

Get your late summer action now! The Saints Row IV Collector’s Edition: the Super Dangerous Wub Wub Edition is now available for preorder on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 at all participating North American retailers in limited quantities.

This collector’s edition is listed at a MSP of $99.99 and will officially release with the standard version (PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360) and Commander in Chief Edition (PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360) on August 20, 2013. The Saints Row IV Collector’s Edition: the Super Dangerous Wub Wub Edition will include a 12 inch Dub Step gun replica that will deliver music and also will feature a laser sight.  This edition will also include a 8 inch Johnny Gat Memorial Statue and pocket-sized Dubstep Doomsday Button.

In-game items in this collector’s edition will include all items from the Saints Row IV Commander in Chief Edition (PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360) pre-order bonus, which include alternate box art, a special “Merica” gun weapon, a limited-edition American-iconic ‘Uncle Sam’ uniform and the Screaming Eagle VTOL that fires rockets out of its talons and includes “Sonic Scream” attack.

This latest installment continues the storyline of the Third Street Saints, who must now save the world from an alien invasion; expect some interesting alliances, upgraded “superpowers” and incredible action. Saints Row IV Collector’s Edition: the Super Dangerous Wub Wub Edition is now available for preorder in North America.

NOTE: This collaborative article was co-written with our special correspondent Wayne Beck.

This year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) will bring more details about the highly anticipated new consoles from Sony and Microsoft, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, while Nintendo looks to bolster their WiiU game library. The used game market, high-profile games, and independent sleep hits will also be on our radar.

The main festivities of the E3 show occur on-site in California on Tuesday, June 11 (noon to 6 p.m.), June 12 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and Thursday June 13 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Here are some major press conference events:

Thursday, June 6

Konami – Pre-E3 Show (10:00 a.m. PDT)

Monday, June 10

Microsoft (9:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT)

Electronic Arts (1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDT)

Ubisoft (3:00 – 4:00 p.m. PDT)

Sony (6:00 – 8:00 p.m. PDT)

Tuesday, June 11

Nintendo (via an Online Nintendo Direct@7:00 a.m. PDT)

We’re likely not to be on-site this year, but look for our continuing coverage and analysis on these companies plus many other electronic entertainment areas. Enjoy all the latest updates, surprises, and anticipated entertainment!

What game and console coverage will most interest you?

The other day, Carly brought word that Eton had announced the ruckus rugged Bluetooth speaker. Today they announced the availability of the Etón rukus XL. The Eton ruckus XL is a portable, Bluetooth wireless, solar-powered boom box that will never run out of power. This is possible thanks to an “efficient 72-square-inch monocrystalline solar panel”. The solar panel on the rukus XL will fully recharge the internal lithium battery in 5 hours. And if there is no sun you can still fully charge the battery in about 2.5 hours using the included AC adaptor. In additional to the solar feature the rukus includes a built-in mobile device storage compartment. It not only holds a smartphone but, thanks to a USB connector, it will also charge your smartphone. An integrated carrying handle makes it simple to bring it all with you no matter where your adventure takes you.

The ruckus XL has 22W of combined audio power and features eight speaker drivers. Weighing in at 7 pounds, the 14.5”x 8.1” x 5.2” the ruckus XL is a serious speaker system for hours of outdoor music enjoyment. Eton rukus XL is available from Crutchfield.com and Amazon.com and has an MSRP $199.99. Check it out.

BullGuard Premium Protection ID Theft Solution

In a world where, increasingly, social media drives things on the Web (sometimes I think if I hear one more person from Company X say, “We really need to concentrate on social media”, I think I’m going to go postal), and where that stuff is more interconnected than ever — with your Twitter account linked to your Facebook account linked to your email account linked to your Tumblr account linked to god-knows-what account — identity theft protection is becoming a trickier business than ever.  Which was one long sentence.  But you get the gist, right?

ID protection:  Hard these days!  So what do you do?  Well, maybe you look to a product like BullGuard Premium Protection:

It’s a complete, simple-to-use security suite that protects against ID theft, malware, online data leaks, financial fraud, and helps you keep your kids safe on those ever-popular social networks.  BullGuard Premium allows you to choose the personal and financial details you want to protect; notifies you about inappropriate content on your kid’s Facebook accounts; provides 25GB of online backup space for FREE; provides you PC Tuneups to keep your PC running fast (also for FREE); and provides (did I mention FREE) 24/7 customer support.

So, been worrying about identity theft?  Think that your tendency to Facebook and Tweet all the time is putting you at risk and want to do something about it?  May BullGuard Premium Protection is what you’re after.  Surf on over to their website and take a look; it’s available at $99 for a one-year subscription with 25GB storage, and the price goes up from there.  If you get it for yourself (or your kids, or your Mom, or whoever), be sure to let us know how it works out for you!

Ossian The Shadow Sun

Back in the early Fall of 2010, Ossian Studios released the first screens and information for their in-progress iOS RPG called ‘The Shadow Sun’. Ossian was already known to RPG fans as the studio formed by ex-Bioware producer Alan Miranda, which had created some of the best third-party content for Neverwinter Nights and Neverwinter Nights 2. In short, these guys know their stuff, and they put forth their mission – the “ultimate goal of creating a top-quality PC/console RPG experience on iOS.”

Since then there has been little news other than delays and removal of a specific time frame for release, and no new media since those initial screens. But today we get great news – a revamped web page for the game, new info, a bunch of screens – and a release date of ‘Summer 2013′!

Here is the basic description of what to expect:
The Shadow Sun is a dark, heroic fantasy RPG that combines the classic adventure of Dungeons & Dragons, the fear of otherworldly horrors of H.P. Lovecraft, and the grim sword and sorcery of Conan the Barbarian. Rendered in full 3D graphics using the Unity engine, the game offers a deep, single-player role-playing experience with a gripping story, important player choices, dynamic NPC dialogues, and multiple ways of solving quests. Do battle against the strange creatures native to Shar and unspeakable horrors not of this world in real-time, visceral combat like The Witcher 2, using a dozen different weapon types, special melee attacks, powerful magical spells, and deadly traps.

Here are some of the features to expect in the game:
* A full 3D Western RPG with a complex story and characters.
* A 10-15 hour campaign
* Gorgeous graphics using the Unity engine, including normal/specular mapping and dynamic lighting on the characters, as well as anti-aliasing and bloom.
* Create your own male or female character and customize them with different appearances.
* Ally with one of four companions to adventure alongside you, each with their own personality, abilities, and romance options, and gain their approval or disapproval on your actions.
* A striking and compelling orchestral music score by long-time Ossian composer, David John.
* Includes Apple Game Center support.
* A universal app for iPhone (3GS and up), iPod touch (3rd gen and up), and iPad (1st gen and up), with Retina display support. Graphics will scale with device.

You can get even more info at the official Shadow Sun site. But for now, enjoy these screens and keep your eyes on Gear Diary for more news and information as the release date approaches!