Friday, May 21, 2010

Aion Classes

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.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Unlock cores on an AMD Phenom II processor!

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:

  1. 550BE Steppings with Successful/Failed Unlocks
  2. 720BE Steppings with Successful/Failed Unlocks

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.

  1. 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.*
  2. Is ACC or NCC enabled? For Asus/Gigabyte motherboards, how about "Unleashing" and "EC Firmware"?
  3. Did you incrementally increase Vcore from 1.325 to 1.4v?
  4. 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)

Monday, September 14, 2009

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

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.

clip_image001

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.

clip_image002

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.

clip_image003

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.