T3 India

Gaming

U&i Unveils Three New Bluetooth Audio Products

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U&i, has added three new BT devices to its range of audio products. The company has come out with the Trans 2.0 Series and Vengo Series for frequent travelers who require a convenient wireless audio solution for their personal entertainment. The company has also introduced Jungle Series desktop speaker cum portable soundbar that produces crystal clear sound and is fitted with 15 RGB lights that will turn any workspace into a happening dance zone.

U&i Trans 2.0 Series – Wireless Neckband

The Trans 2.0 pair of neckband-styled earphones boasts a total standby time of 400 hours (over 16 days). Powered by a 300mAh battery, these earphones can provide 40 hours of talk time and music time before needing a recharge via its USB Type-C port. The two 3mW speaker drivers are fitted with dynamic bass units. They can provide sound output in the frequency range of 20Hz – 20KHz and have an impedance of 32 ohms. The Trans 2.0 is equipped with Bluetooth version 5.3, with support for HSP, HFP, A2DP, and AVRCP profiles. The neckband comes with a built-in mic—with -42dB sensitivity and 2200 ohms impedance—for clear sound pickup during voice calls. These earphones also provide noise reduction for clear reception and are available in four colors, namely orange, yellow, purple and black.

U&i Vengo Series – Wireless Neckband

The Vengo Series is a pair of Bluetooth neckband-style earphones that offer an even longer standby time. These earphones provide a standby time of up to 500 hours (20+ days) without needing to be recharged via its USB Type-C port. When fully charged, which only takes two hours; its 300mAh built-in battery is capable of providing up to 50 hours of talk time and music time to its listener. The Vengo Series are equipped with 3mW earphone drivers that are capable of emitting clear sound with deep bass. The earphones are also fitted with magnets, allowing you to conveniently place them back together and avoid getting the wires tangled each time. The earphones also feature a vibration mode that alerts the wearer about an incoming call. The U&i Vengo series is available in two colors Blue and Black.

U&i Jungle Series – Soundbar

The Jungle desktop speaker is fitted with 15 RGB lights that will set the mood by selecting from one of its 6 different light modes. The speaker requires a 5V/1A input to charge its 1500mAh battery, which in turn drives two 5W/4-ohm speakers (total 10W RMS power) fitted inside its sleek little frame. It emits a full-bodied sound with clear highs, balanced mids and a tight bass that will instantly draw attention to it. Besides Bluetooth, this speaker is also equipped with an FM receiver, allowing you to listen to your favorite radio shows across the 87.5Hz-108MHz spectrum. You also get buttons on the speaker to power it on/off and control the volume levels quickly.

 Pricing and Availability

The U&i Trans 2.0 Series and Vengo Series neckbands are priced at INR 2,199 and 2,799 respectively. While the Jungle Series desktop speaker is priced at INR 3,999. All the products can be purchased from U&i outlets and other leading retail stores across India.

Review: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

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Back to basics
Rs. 3,499; PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Ubisoft’s recent releases of Assassin’s Creed games hovered more on the RPG elements and combat. We liked the changes to the extent that we spent a questionable amount of hours playing them but there’s also the fact that the revamped formula deviated the series to something different. Enter Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

Dubbed as a tribute to the original, Assassin’s Creed Mirage brings the elements that made the early Assassin’s Creed games fan favourites. Mixed with modern gameplay, the Mirage takes place in the 9th century and tells the story of a young Basim and how he becomes the Hidden One to take on the Order of the Ancients. He is the same Basim that we came across in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla but the Mirage touches upon Basim’s pickpocketing days and his ambition to do something bigger.

Unlike previous Assassin’s Creed games that featured a huge map to explore, Assassin’s Creed Mirage concentrates on a smaller area. The events in Mirage happen in the lively and vibrant city of Baghdad. The well-designed historic architecture and simple elements like hearing the call to prayer (Azan) give an authentic feel of living in an Islamic city. The game also lets you learn the rich heritage of Baghdad by discovering sixty-six historical sites, each dropping some knowledgeable insights.

You will find plenty of crowds to blend in and the NPCs are smart as well. The NPCs observe Basim’s actions and if he’s caught pickpocketing or doing something illegal, they report it to the authorities. The game also adds the notoriety feature and depending on the unacceptable activities you do, citizens will report you, making it difficult to lose the guards or you can bribe someone (Munadi) to take down the notoriety level.  

The Mirage aims to be close to the original games and this is why you’ll see focus on gameplay elements like parkour, stealth and assassination. Parkouring through the buildings of Baghdad feels natural and requires looking for handholds for successful climbs. Mastering it also plays to the advantage as it becomes easier to lose the enemies.

An ideal assassin is the one who completes the mission undetected and that’s what Mirage wants us to do. The risk-to-reward ratio for engaging in a fight is less compared to completing the objective without being detected. Moving like a hidden assassin is also more satisfying. The combat is swift and relies on sword attacks and parrying for maximum impact. The story is on the shorter side and can be completed in about 20 hours for the campaign.

Despite the shorter length compared to the previous Assassin’s Creed games, Mirage perfectly encapsulates the franchise’ loved features.

RATING

WE’RE IMPRESSED Gameplay, Detailed world
WE’D IMPROVE Skill tree
THE LAST WORD Assassin’s Creed Mirage goes back to the franchise roots by bringing parkour and stealth to the fore 

Review: The Crew Motorfest

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Racing through the scenic Hawaii
Prices vary; PS4, PS5 (reviewed), Xbox Series One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Ever since we got a chance to play the Forza Horizon series on the Xbox and PC, we have always wondered what if Forza Horizon was released on the PlayStation platform. Now thanks to Ubisoft, consider our wish fulfilled. Developer, Ubisoft Ivory Tower takes inspiration from Playground Games’ hit franchise, repackages it as The Crew Motorfest and delivers an almost similar experience, if not the same for PlayStation users to enjoy.

The 2018 Crew 2 allowed players to travel through the vast American land, but The Crew Motorfest goes for a more compact, tighter map. The game is set on the island of O‘ahu, Hawaii, and just like Forza Horizon style, a motoring festival has taken over the island giving players unprecedented access to explore the pristine landscapes with breathtaking views in the vehicle of your choice.

There are a few ways to enjoy the beautiful vistas Hawaii has to offer – go on a ‘Freedrive’ that lets you just roam around the island, or you can play through the thematic campaigns called Playlists. There are around 15 Playlists to play through the game and each comes with a specific objective, gameplay, rewards and music. For instance, the Hawaii scenic tour takes you through different parts of Hawaii in a loaned vehicle. The Made in Japan Playlist tips its hat to the Japanese underground street racing scene and the Vintage Garage takes you back to simpler times with classic cars. You will also find Playlists like Rule the Streets or Dream Cars from real-life car enthusiasts like James Pumphrey (Donut Media) or Alexandra Hirschi aka Supercar Blondie. In short, there’s something for everyone, and Ubisoft will continue to introduce new Playlists that give players an incentive to return to the game and complete them for rewards.

The Crew Motorfest has a wide range of over 600 vehicles, but expanding your collection can take some time. One can, of course, buy vehicles from the in-game money they earn while finishing races or as rewards by completing Playlists. Another way to expand the collection if you have played The Crew 2 is that you can import the existing collection to the new game. The vehicles are amazingly detailed, including the cockpit area. The only gripe on detailing is the foggy mirrors rendering them unusable in the cockpit camera mode, which suggests Ubisoft wants players to use the external camera mode and enjoy the views.

Driving, sailing or even flying is fun that can be instantly changed with the click of the R3 button. But don’t expect it to be sim-like. It’s an arcade racer at the end of the day. The game lets you upgrade the vehicles by applying ‘Perf Parts’ that can improve the overall performance of a particular vehicle.

On the multiplayer front, the game offers live competitions via Custom Show, Demolition Royale, Grand Race and the Summit Contest. We enjoyed the few Demolition Royale games, but finding players takes a while.

The Crew Motorfest comes with its share of quirks. In addition to the foggy mirrors, the mandatory online requirement is cumbersome and won’t allow to play the game if we are disconnected from the internet. However, The Crew Motorfest is the most fun we have had from an arcade racer recently and scratches the itch of playing a Forza Horizon-like game on the PlayStation platform.

RATING

WE’RE IMPRESSED Vehicles, Visuals
WE’D IMPROVE Always-online
THE LAST WORD The Hawaiian setting for The Crew Motorfest coupled with a huge vehicle roster and activities makes it a fun racing game 

Review: Cricket 24

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Big Ant’s Cricket game is back with more licensed content
Rs. 4,299; PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

The release of the Cricket 22 had a tepid response and it was mainly due to a long list of bugs and janky AI, but to its credit, Big Ant Studios patched it over the next few months to make it an enjoyable video game for cricket fans. With over 70 hours of game time over the last two years, Cricket 22 is still a good cricket game with strong community support. This year, Big Ant Studios is following up with Cricket 24 and has timed the release with the Cricket World Cup along with Sony backing its support by releasing a special bundle for the PlayStation 5 in India. But does it deliver?

One of the biggest highlights for a sports game is its licensed content and this time around, the developer has done a commendable job securing official licenses for tournaments The Ashes, the KFC BBL and Weber WBBL, The Hundred, the Caribbean Premier League and the Pakistan Super League. The Ashes has been a mainstay for the developer and features a dedicated game mode which isn’t surprising but Big Ant managed to score several IPL teams, including Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans and five more. However, they are not allowed to use the IPL name.

The result of the official licenses is the use of real player names, kits and most importantly, the player semblance to the ones in real life, thanks to the full photogrammetry of over 200 players. Big Ant has confirmed they will continue to add more players’ photogrammetry but in case you can’t find one, there’s the community to the rescue. Similar to Cricket 22, the Cricket 24 community allows users to change the unlicensed roster and teams with the actual ones with better kits and player likeliness, all created by other Cricket 24 players.

There are many game modes to play, including official tournaments but the Career Mode is interesting because you can create a player and live through the struggle of a struggling cricketer. The career mode is detailed and fun but can take a while before you can represent your favourite country or team. One thing we would have liked is the transfer of career progression from Cricket 22 like how MLB The Show does. This would save the trouble of jumping over the same hoops in the career mode in the new game. Batting, bowling or fielding is straightforward with Arcade or Pro control schemes but you may need some time to get used to it.

If Cricket 24 shines through the licenses and the gameplay, the game disappoints with the fielding AI and random bugs. For instance, fielders would slide in every ball to field even if it came directly to them. The batsman hitting the ball and running would reach the non-striker’s end first then the runner. The AI will overthrow or just throw the ball to another fielder allowing you to steal an extra run. Many times, the commentators are out of sync with what’s happening in the match. The bugs are not frustrating but take the fun out of what can be a promising outing at the Lord’s or the Wankhede Stadium.

In its current form, Cricket 24 is purely for the fans who seek licensed content. For Cricket 22 players, there’s little incentive to jump and should wait till the bugs are ironed out.

RATING

WE’RE IMPRESSED Official licenses, Community
WE’D IMPROVE Bugs, AI
THE LAST WORD Cricket 24 offers a lot for cricket enthusiasts but that is undermined by the erratic AI and random bugs

BenQ Introduces Google EDLA-Certified Smart Boards

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BenQ unveil its next-generation smart boards, the BenQ Board Pro RP04 and the BenQ Board Master RM04, at InfoComm India 2023, a tradeshow platform for Pro-AV solutions, being held from 25th to 27th October, 2023 at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. These smartboards are India’s 1st fully integrated boards with Google Mobile Services (GMS) and officially certified under the Google Enterprise Devices Licensing Agreement (EDLA). This innovative collaboration brings the power of Google’s suite of applications and APIs to corporates and educational institutions, enhancing the experiences of business professionals, students, and educators.

The new BenQ smartboards seamlessly integrate Google services such as Google Drive, Maps, Meet, and YouTube. Google Workspace apps such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides can now be installed and utilized directly from Google Play. These boards also safeguard user data by offering encrypted network communications and proxy-level security options. BenQ also hosts its cloud services on a secure AWS cloud infrastructure. This integration fosters an interactive and collaborative environment in both offices and classrooms.

“Embracing and conceptualising cutting-edge technology is at the heart of what we do at BenQ. The integration of Google Mobile Services into our smart boards marks a significant milestone in revolutionizing the user experience. This partnership not only enhances collaboration but also ensures a seamless and secure digital environment for work and education,” says Rajeev Singh, Managing Director at BenQ South Asia.

Additionally, the smart boards come equipped with powerful tools like EZWrite 6, an innovative whiteboarding software, and InstaShare 2, a wireless screen sharing solution. EZWrite 6 enables corporates and educators to conduct engaging sessions and utilize specialized tools, while InstaShare 2 allows up to 9 persons to share and control their screens simultaneously, promoting collaborative work and learning.

Inclusivity is a key focus of the new BenQ Boards, featuring Text-to-Speech functionality for the visually impaired, multilingual translation for diverse language support, and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to convert images and documents into editable text, aiding the visually impaired in their endeavours.

Jeffrey Liang, President of BenQ Asia Pacific Corporation further highlights the benefits that the smart boards would provide. “At BenQ, we have always been passionate about innovation and these smart boards are our way of furthering this revolution. With powerful tools such as EZWrite 6 integrated into the RP04 and RM04, we are empowering corporates and educators to make sessions fun again, while delivering their messages in the most effective manner. We hope to create stable, progressive learning and work environments and these smart boards are a part of this vision.”

BenQ simplifies user and device management with the BenQ Account Management System (AMS) and the BenQ Device Management Solution (DMS), ensuring a seamless transition for institutions already using Google accounts and enabling efficient remote control of BenQ Board settings. In addition to their GMS integration and other features, the new BenQ Boards also offer a number of health-focused features, such as Eyesafe® Certified 2.0 screens and Air quality sensors.

AVAILABILITY – From Jan 2024