PC gaming does Cyber Monday: Downloadable PC games

Amazon's site navigation is kind of a mess. You can find the discounted, downloadable PC games here.

In total, Amazon lists 429 results, encompassing full games and downloadable content (DLC), with discounts up to 75 percent. You also get a $5 credit with any downloaded game purchase to use in January 2013 on any "2012 Editor's Choice" game.

Amazon's deal inventory dwarfs that of its major competition. In comparison, GameStop has 20 discounted PC titles. Valve Software has six.

The trick for Amazon is that it lists bundles as well as individual games. A bundle can include an entire series of games, a la the Bioshock collection, or a game and its season pass, as with Max Payne Complete. The latter entitles you to the core Max Payne III game, as well as all current and future DLC.

Of Amazon's offers, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a highlight. Amazon sells it for $24.99. Other online retailers only have it for upward of $35.

Other standout deals on Amazon include the aforementioned Max Payne Complete for $19.99, and Kingdoms of Amalur Complete for $11.99, or $4 less than publisher Electronic Arts' own discounted version. (I'll offer the fact that I just purchased the discounted Kingdoms of Amalur as a cautionary tale about the perils of conducting this research).

For more family-oriented games, Amazon lists the Disney Kids and Family pack download for $9.99 (including Toy Story 3, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean, and G-Force games), along with an assortment of card and puzzle games. Again, click here for Amazon's complete list of discounted downloadable PC games.

View the Original article

Report: Microsoft working on 7-inch Xbox Surface gaming tablet

The Verge has reported today that Microsoft is creating a 7-inch gaming tablet called the Xbox Surface.Sources supposedly confirmed the plans, with the company already in development of the tablet.

The tablet will run a version of Windows 8, but not Windows 8 Pro since the tablet will be based on an ARM SoC. It is unclear whether the tablet will pack Windows RT, however.

Specifications of the alleged tablet are an ARM-based Texas Instruments processor with 288MB of RLDRAM 2 and a resolution of 1280 x 720. The rest of the supposed specs are posted below.

Adds Tom Warren of the Verge:

Microsoft has developed a secret hardware production process for its Surface tablets that is separated from partners that traditionally manufacturer the company's Xbox console. We're told that the Xbox Surface will likely be manufactured in the same factory, but that any future "Xbox 720" console will be manufactured in mass quantities by companies like Pegatron or Foxconn.

We've learned that part of the Xbox Surface is being developed at Microsoft's offices in Silicon Valley. The software giant recently locked down several Xbox-related buildings, limiting employee access to the company's Interactive Entertainment Business division. The lock down is likely related to Microsoft's increased testing of the tablet, providing a way for other parts of the Xbox team to build games and software for the device. Providing the project doesn't get killed in favor of a full 7-inch Windows tablet, in the same way Microsoft axed Courier, expect to see the Xbox Surface debut ahead of Microsoft's future Xbox console.

View the Original article