T3 India

valve

Steam Picnic Sale 2016 begins

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Valve has begun the Steam Picnic Sale from today which will go on till 4 July. While there doesn’t seem to be any meta-game or activity for users this time around, free trading cards can be obtained by browsing the discovery queue. However, users can only get 3 cards per day and they will disappear from the inventory after the sale ends so it’s best to trade them or craft a badge to obtain XP and level up.

There are no flash deals and instead everyday bargains will be highlighted on the front page. But some publishers will be offering discounts only for a limited period of time so it’s best to buy your wishlisted/most wanted games as soon as possible.

In the event that a user doesn’t like a game, they have the choice to refund it but it will only return as money for your steam wallet. Take note that it can only be done if a user has played the game for less than 2 hours. Also, games purchased in India can only be gifted to Indian users as they are region locked to prevent price abuse.

[Via Steam]

Experiencing HTC Vive

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Mobile VR solutions like Google’s Cardboard and Samsung’s very own Gear VR have been in the market for quite a while, but it’s the dedicated VR solution from Oculus, HTC and Sony that will really step up the VR experience. Last week, we got a chance to experience HTC Vive and trust me, the hype claiming VR is the next big thing in technology is real. The possibilities are endless and will teleport you into an alternate reality.

HTC had a number of demos on offer with each one distinct from the other, giving a taste of how VR can be immersive, if done right. First up was a space shooter, where you stand on the deck with the controllers and shoot at incoming enemies, which, in my opinion, was good enough but still not what you’d expect from a VR game.

However, theBlu is perfect for someone who has no VR experience. theBlu places you on a wrecked ship underwater where you can take a gander at the various fishes and a big 80-foot whale. It’s pretty amazing! Another thing I like is the fact that Vive is comfortable even for users who wear spectacles.

All said and done, dedicated VR solutions, including Vive, are expensive and out of reach of the masses. While HTC hasn’t announced if Vive will come to India, the international pricing is $799, which obviously excludes the cost of a powerful PC to deliver these experiences.

You can learn more about the Vive at this link or take a look at all the games and content here.