Call of Duty: World at War - Launch Trailer

DivX 7 Player 7.0 Beta 1 with H.264 support released

By Wolfgang Gruener

Chicago (IL) – DivX has released a preview of its upcoming v7.0 video playback software, which now includes support for high definition H.264 files, with an extension for most Windows media players, and the surround sound AAC audio format.

DivX is gearing up for a major release of its media player software and the new 7.0 Beta 1, released earlier today, provides a first glimpse what the software will be capable of.

As a key feature, the new DivX Player 7.0 Beta 1 supports H.264 high-definition video data wrapped into MKV files. H.264 is generally considered as important video compression standard that delivers a much better video quality, but requires much more CPU and GPU horsepower than previous formats. DivX previously released three beta versions of the H.264 decoder as part of its “Remoulade” project, but the DivX Player 7.0 Beta 1 is the first DivX player that actually contains this capability.

DivX said that the Beta software also includes the DivX H.264 Decoder filter and the DivX MKV Demux filter, which are DirectShow filters that extend playback support for MKV files with H.264 video streams to all other DirectShow-based media players.

In August of this year, DivX released a first alpha version of its H.264 encoder.

Another noteworthy feature is the integration of AAC audio. A format that comes with support for multichannel audio and studio-quality sample rates, which promise movie theater-like surround sound. While DivX said that it used MP3 as the standard audio format in all previous DivX media player versions, it said that AAC audio has “fewer audible artifacts than MP3 at very low bitrates and requires less bitrate to achieve transparency.”

The DivX Player 7.0 Beta 1 can be downloaded here (registration required).

FarCry 2 gets patched

Written by Nedim Hadzic

by Maarten Goldstein The first Far Cry 2 patch has been released by Ubisoft, updating the recently released shooter from Ubisoft Montreal to version 1.01. A 42MB update, the patch offers multiplayer, singleplayer and map editor bug fixes. Multiplayer - Server’s IP address now displays in lobby, beside the match’s name (for direct IP join to work) - Dedicated Server can now be launched in command line. - Improved match start conditions. Ranked games can now also start if the player max is attained and everybody but the host is ready. - Fixed a bug causing random crashes when joining a game. - Ranked matches in progress will no longer display in the match list. - Fixed players with same name by using identifiers instead of names. - Fixed crash when creating a LAN game without a network cable. - The diamond pool is now always validated after class upgrades, reset or rank up to avoid getting more diamonds than you are supposed to for your rank. - When creating a dedicated server with PunkBuster enabled, then close it to create another but this time with PunkBuster disabled, PunkBuster will still be considered ON, on this new server. - Fixed a problem where a player could get stuck (and couldn’t get killed) after pressing the interaction key while wounded and getting rescued by a teammate at the same time. - Fixed players getting disconnected if they have too many user maps and try to enter the map rotation menu in a Player or Ranked match. - Vehicles will now always respawn even if they are never used. - Fixed users not being able to see a match if the host switched match mode after a rank. - Fixed a glitch that could make a player invisible to another. - Fixed incorrect check for negative values when adjusting diamond count. - Fixed a problem where a player would render through objects if healing a wounded playing while being wounded at the same time. - Fixed reload not being interrupted on the host when a client picks a weapon while reloading. - Fixed Field Manuals not unlocking after game mode change. Singleplayer - Fixed health not changing with the difficulty level. - Keyboard controls remapping in single mode now carry into multiplayer mode. -A buddy will no longer get stuck when healing him while player is receiving damage. - Stats of favourite weapon are now properly reset between loaded save games. - The mortar will no longer move the player through wall. - Mission objectives markers are now show properly after loading a save game. General - Fixed glider key remapping. - Game will now minimize in order to show the website when clicking on ubi.com. - Dolby 5.1 is now supported for most sound cards. - Fixed a random crash that could happen when pressing ESC to cancel a Benchmark run. - Added CPU Intensive benchmark test run. - Fixed Jackal Tapes and Partner Tapes pages. Map editor - Fixed crash in editor when deleting many objects in very rapid succession. - Fixed crash in editor during parsing of the map headers.

What is the sale strategy for Circuit City?

Written by David Stellmack

It is all up to the liquidator to decide It seems that everyone is abuzz as to what the liquidators might be doing with the stock that is to be sold from the 155 Circuit City stores to be closed. According to the company they have no clue what the liquidator will do or how it will handle the sales. It is all up to them to decide. At this point we have not even been able to confirm identity of the company that is doing the actual liquidation. All we really know is that they will be responsible for handling the entire process of the liquidation, including setting the prices, the discounts, and the advertising of the liquidation of the stores that are being closed. The speculation is running rampant on what in fact might be on sale when the stores re-open, and it has led to more of a needle in the haystack situation that people might find good deals as inventory is blown out. However, it could be that the liquidator intends to mark the inventory up first, which is a common tactic before they start applying percentage discounts to the merchandise each week until the inventory is gone. While everyone likes a deal, it is also possible that the liquidators have already sent some of the inventory to other blow out companies for higher prices on the dollar than they are expected to get by selling it off at liquidation. The fact remains that everyone will continue to watch the situation closely, as it would a

Circuit City closings confirmed

Written by David Stellmack

Additional details now becoming clear As we let you know yesterday, Circuit City is planning to close 20 percent of its stores, which equals 155 units to be shut down. Now we have additional details that have become clearer since our last story. With the 155 stores that the company is closing, it will be exiting a total of 12 media markets across the US out of the 55 media markets that the company is currently in. The company claims that the 155 stores that are being closed are underperforming or are stores that are no longer a strategic fit for the company. As part of the store closing initiative, the company is also not going to open 10 new locations that were expected to be opened during fiscal 2009, but two stores that were scheduled to open during fiscal 2009 are still on track to be opened as announced previously. Additional store openings will be suspended starting in fiscal 2010. In an effort to help the company get back on track, Circuit City will be reaching out to the landlords in an attempt to renegotiate existing leases with the goal of lowering the rent. In some cases if rent reductions can not be obtained, the company will evaluate the situation and move to negotiate a termination of the current lease to exit. With the store closures, the company will be reducing the overall payroll by about 17 percent of the domestic employees. The company will be embarking on a get tough strategy focused on cost reduction and will attempt to reduce operating expenses at every level and curb marketing expenses, as well. The company will continue to evaluate all options and right now as far as we can tell nothing is yet off the table. As for the stores that are closing, it is expected now that these units will be closed November 4th and reopen on November 5th under liquidator control. No announcements have been made as to the liquidation sales of the merchandise in the stores slated for closure yet.

Sapphire will have a 1GB HD 4850 X2

Written by Slobodan Simic

Not yet priced In addition to the recently announced and picture HD 4850 X2 card with 2GB of memory (1GB per GPU), Sapphire is going to launch yet another card which is practically the same but with half the amount of memory. We reported 4850 X2 cards with 1GB of memory would appear back in August, here. The new HD 4850 X2 1GB is probably going to be clocked at 625MHz for the GPU and 1,000MHz for the memory, same as the 2GB version. It even looks the same, as nothing has changed except for the memory chips and the memory sticker on the box. Unfortunately, the price of this card is still unknown, while the 2GB version sells at US$419 or €333/£270 +VAT. The 1GB version will of course be somewhat cheaper so we expect it to sell much better than the 2GB version, which is a bit overpriced for our taste, as you can get two 4850 cards for just over €250. Also read Sapphire gets official with Radeon HD 4850 X2 Sapphire’s HD 4850 X2 previewed Sapphire HD 4850 X2 listed in Europe Sapphire’s Radeon HD 4850 X2 gets pictured

Windows 7 pre-beta floating around

Written by David Stellmack

Showed up on BitTorrent after PDC release Microsoft can’t be happy at all that the Windows 7 pre-beta that they handed out at the professional developers’ conference showed up on BitTorrent shortly after they handed it out. However, the good news might be that downloading of it via BitTorrent continues to be brisk. While complaints from the BitTorrent community continue that the version of the Windows 7 pre-beta was not the latest build, that did not stop the number of people that were both downloading and uploading it. Of course, the typical complaints were filtering in from those downloading, saying that the download speeds were very slow. What might be more telling is the fact that the initial reaction to the Windows 7 pre-beta was very disappointing, according to the majority of those that have posted their impressions to a variety of places. This little peek at what Microsoft is doing with Windows 7 is already being called an attempt to revise Vista to increase the adoption rate. The BitTorrent distribution of the Windows 7 pre-beta and the negative feedback that it has been receiving has to be troubling for Microsoft. Still, those that download it need to remember that this is an early pre-beta release that was intended to be nothing more than a glimpse of what is going on with the development and nothing more. In the meantime we are sure that many who download it will scrutinize it and see which direction Microsoft is heading and hopefully not pass judgment on the future of the product based on a leaked pre-beta release.

20% Circuit City stores to be closed

Written by David Stellmack

155 stores to be closed before the end of the year Well, as we expected after hearing from our sources last week, Circuit City is in trouble and the trouble is perhaps a bit worse than some thought. The company will be sending in liquidators to 155 stores starting next week as the company embarks in a reorganization plan to curb the bleeding and get things back on track. The closure of 155 stores represents 20 percent of the company’s current number of 711 stores in North America. The news was not received well on the NYSE, as they warned the company that they are in danger of being kicked off the exchange as the stock has lost 90 percent in value since the first of the year. From what we know our sources tell us those employees in affected stores were told of the company’s closure plans this morning. Stores that have Firedog and Car Installation services will stop offering these services in the next day or so and the Firedog and Card Installation employees in affected stores will be let go. As for the plans for the liquidation of the 155 stores that will be closed, the plan is that the liquidation team will set prices as they see fit. Effective once the liquidation team takes over the no price match guarantee, employee discounts, Circuit City ads, and the one price guarantee programs will all cease in the stores that are being closed. If you happen to have a return of a Circuit City item or need warranty exchange, you will have to seek out a Circuit City store that is still being operating by corporate and is not being closed. Stores that are being closed will receive no new inventory and will sell off all inventories to the bare walls, and once this is completed the employees will be let go. As for deals it is unknown how Circuit City’s liquidators will proceed on moving the inventory out of the stores. We suspect that they will not really start marking down the merchandise until it gets closer to the end. We do suspect that some deals will be able to be had, but it will take some time for the prices to get very good. In the meantime it will be interesting to see how Circuit City will rebound from this round of closures and what the future will hold for the company. The news has to be welcomed by Best Buy who will gain a virtual stranglehold on electronics sales in communities that only offer a Circuit City and a Best Buy. The lack of competition, however, could lead to Best Buy increasing its prices in stores that have no other real local competition.

Deneb samples are almost out

Written by Fuad Abazovic

Late November, early December shipping Deneb, the long awaited 45nm quad-core from AMD, is finally getting its final shape. Deneb was always scheduled for the second half of 2008 and when AMD’s prettiest VP, Leslie Sobon, talked to us last time we knew that 2H 2008 will actually translate to Q4 2008; and judging from the facts it will rather be the last month of the last quarter. AMD is doing the final touch to its quad-cores and from what we’ve heard, the new 45nm quad-core should overclock much better than the previous one. You can definitely expect that the normal 45nm sample should work over 3GHz, but we learned to be cautious about AMD’s promises as this company definitely taught us that we should see it to believe it. The chips will debut either in very late November or early December and we would bet on late December. It looks that chips will be widely available in December, while samples should be out in November.

PC version of GTA IV looks much better

Written by Nedim Hadzic

Requirements? Our colleagues from GamesRadar.com have had a chance to try out the PC version of GTA IV and they found that the game looks much better on the PC, which is not quite shocking as this was the case in previous installments too. However, it comes at a price as longer draw distances, smoother faces and graphics in general, etc., require some serious gaming power. In case you think you’ll run it on just any PC you’re dead wrong – so here are the recommended and optimum requirements for this game: Minimum System Requirements OS: Windows Vista - Service Pack 1 / XP - Service Pack 3 Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8Ghz, AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4Ghz Memory: 1.5GB, 16GB Free Hard Drive Space Video Card: 256MB NVIDIA 7900 / 256MB ATI X1900 Recommended System Requirements OS: Windows Vista - Service Pack 1 / XP - Service Pack 3 Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz, AMD Phenom X3 2.1Ghz Memory:  2 GB (Windows XP) 2.5 GB (Windows Vista) 18 GB Free Hard Drive Space Video Card: 512MB NVIDIA 8600 / 512MB ATI 3870 The game is hitting the shelves on November 18th, so sit tight.

Mirror’s Edge - Demo Trailer

Grand Theft Auto 4 PC Delay Confirmed, System Requirements

by Maarten Goldstein

Confirming a release date change on retailer websites earlier this week, IGN reports that the PC version of Grand Theft Auto 4 is now indeed shipping December 2. Publisher Rockstar Games did not specify as to why the game was moved back two weeks.

IGN’s story notes the following minimum system requirements for the game, in addition to the recommended specs revealed in September.

Minimum System Requirements

• OS: Windows Vista - Service Pack 1 / XP - Service Pack 3
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8Ghz, AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4Ghz
• Memory: 1.5GB, 16GB Free Hard Drive Space
• Video Card: 256MB NVIDIA 7900 / 256MB ATI X1900

Recommended System Requirements

• OS: Windows Vista - Service Pack 1 / XP - Service Pack 3
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz, AMD Phenom X3 2.1Ghz
• Memory: 2 GB (Windows XP) 2.5 GB (Windows Vista)
• 18 GB Free Hard Drive Space
• Video Card: 512MB NVIDIA 8600 / 512MB ATI 3870

Obama and Palin Becoming Playable Characters in Mercenaries 2

by Blake Ellison

Not to be outdone by another open-world action game making an election-season publicity grab, presidential and vice-presidential candidates Barack Obama and Sarah Palin are to become playable characters in Pandemic’s Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (PC, 360, PS3, PS2).G4 got the exclusive story from Pandemic’s Tom Stratton, who offered up this explanation:

Mercenaries 2 is a game seemingly ripped straight out of today’s headlines and fueled with the same type of over-the-top action found in the best summer blockbuster films. It only makes sense we inject the game with a spin on current affairs. The timing was too good to let pass.

The playable politicos are expected to be included in the explosive-laden game’s first paid downloadable content pack, which is due in November.

Tomb Raider: Underworld PC Demo Released

by Maarten Goldstein

As expected, a demo for the PC version of Tomb Raider: Underworld is now available. Like the Xbox 360 demo released earlier this week, the 1.20GB download offers an introductory level set in Thailand.

Tomb Raider: Underworld will be released for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS November 18.

Verizon allowed Alltel merger

Written by Nick Farrell

Now the biggest wireless carrier The U.S. Justice Department gave Verizon Wireless the nod to buy Alltel in a $28 billion deal that would create the nation’s largest wireless carrier. The deal between Verizon, and  Britain’s Vodafone already has agreed to the government’s condition that it flog off  assets in 22 states to allow the merger with Alltel. The deal has to be approved by the FCC next week but with DoJ approval it is fairly likely to go ahead. Originally the DoJ joined seven states in a lawsuit to block the merger, but also filed a proposed settlement that would require Verizon Wireless to divest assets in 100 markets. Under terms of the deal, Verizon Wireless will buy Alltel for $5.9 billion.  It will take on $22.2 billion of Alltel debt. It will sell assets in 100 areas, including holdings in the entire states of North Dakota and South Dakota and large portions of Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming. Verizon also must sell assets in Alabama, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. However the combined outfit will have about 78 million subscribers nationwide and be the biggest wireless company in the US.