In PC hardware the latest news is that SATA revision 3.2 (SATA Express) will soon be ready for implementation. This is the protocol governing speed of data transfer to your hard disk drive or optical drive. The new protocol will result in not only quicker transfer speeds (up to 16GB per second), but also reduce power consumption for connected devices as well as providing higher performance for solid-state hybrid drives.
The popularity of digital distribution of computer games continues to rise since 2004 and the emergence of online retailers such as Amazon Digital, Origin, Steam and so on. This new and exciting trend has allowed titles from smaller developers to become successful, made classic games more available and often provided deals and cheap bundled game downloads. Titles can be made available to people instantly around the world and updates and bug fixes made conveniently.
Now the rise of smaller indie developers as well as new and innovative digital distribution is driving PC gaming to fresh and interesting heights. While most digital distributors do not allow reselling of bought games, a few sites such as gog.com have a strict non-DRM policy. Another recent development comes from games for the PC who differs from other online distributers in that they allow ‘trade-in’ on your digital copies of games.
And of course there are a slew of PC game titles due out in the near future. Here’s a small selection from the 2013 release list:
Double Fine Adventure
This old-school point-and-click adventure game is hotly anticipated as one of the biggest crowd-funded video game projects in history. Double Fine Adventures are headed by Tim Schafer, who designed popular PC titles including Grim Fandango and the Monkey Island series. Old-school fans should be in for a treat.
The Elder Scrolls Online
This PC exclusive is from Bethesda, creators of the recent best-selling RPG Skyrim. It is an online MMORPG version of the successful Elder Scrolls series. Rumors abound regarding this title – will it be free play or subscription only? Will the release date be in 2013, or get delayed until 2014? Will this be the first major rival to stand a chance of toppling Blizzard’s World of Warcraft as the most popular MMORPG?
Star Wars 1313
The latest in a line of games from this franchise, Star Wars 1313 promises to be darker and more realistic than past games. This is an action-adventure title in which you take on the role of a bounty hunter in the heart of Coruscant. The game emphasises fast-paced device and weapon fighting, rather than the typical Light Sabres more familiar to fans of the Star Wars series.
Watch Dogs
This original game from Ubisoft is a stealth action-adventure in an open world setting, where you control Aiden Pearce, a hacker and spy who lives in a future version of Chicago. It features innovative gameplay that combines traditional gunplay with computer wizardry, giving you the means to hack into the city’s transportation, communication and lighting systems to complete your goals.
