Bigfoot Network Blog

Amazing Killer Xeno Pro Deal at Newegg Until March 11th

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:47:37 -0700

Have you been wanting to get yourself a Killer Xeno Pro Gaming Network Card, but just haven't been able to scrape up enough cash to get better, smoother online gameplay? Well, Newegg has your back on this one with their latest promotion. They are currently offering the VisionTek Killer Xeno Pro at a vastly reduced price of $69.99 with free shipping through this latest deal.

Bigfoot Networks is heading to GDC 2010

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:34:22 -0700

Tomorrow I will be taking a plane to San Fransisco to join others from Bigfoot Networks for this years Game Developer Conference. GDC, if you don't already know, is one of the most major game industry tradeshows and conferences in the world, where people throughout nearly all fields of the game industry come out to both learn new tricks of the trade, and show off what they've been working on to their peers and press.

Joining in this year, we will be running a booth to show off the enhanced performance of the Killer Xeno Pro and what Bigfoot Networks can do to improve your online gaming performance with some very neat demonstrations. Not only that, but I'll be running around the expo floor, when I'm not helping to run the booth, with a camera in one hand and a smartphone in the other - so keep an eye on both our Facebook page and our Twitter stream for updates throughout the show.

In fact, if you're excited about any particular games or technology that will be getting shown off during GDC this year, just let me know on the forums and I'll see what I can do to help satisfy your curiosity.

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Alienware Arena: Bigfoot Killer Edge Challenge Highlights

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:08:34 -0700

What is it like to see through the eyes of some of the best gamers out there? Featuring highlights from the recent Bigfoot Killer Edge Challenge that we held with Alienware with the Alienware Arena, this video shows exactly that. In the online gaming arena where milliseconds truely matter, take a look at some amazingly epic gaming in Team Fortress 2 by a variety of highly skilled gamers, as they take out huge numbers of enemy players, perform increadable acrobatic feats, and otherwise making the very difficult look all too easy.

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Bigfoot Networks Killer® Xeno Pro Network Gaming Cards Now Available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:00:04 -0700

We have some good news for those of you located in Europe: we are further expanding our reach and the Killer Xeno Pro is now available in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland from Golden Arrow. Be sure to check out the Where to Buy page to find out where you can get yourself a new Killer Xeno Pro. For more information, see the press release below:

What:	Bigfoot Networks announces the availability of Killer® Xeno Pro gaming network cards from Golden Arrow (http://www.goldenarrowcard.com/). Bigfoot Networks and Golden Arrow will exhibit at the CeBIT conference in Hannover, Germany, March 2-6. The cards are now available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland through leading retail, e-commerce and gaming PC companies. igfoot Networks representatives will be at API’s booth in the Planet Reseller area to demo the Killer Xeno Pro and discuss business opportunities. API (http://www.api.de/) is a leading distributor of Bigfoot Networks products in the region. See below for full booth information.
Who:	Bigfoot Networks representatives will be available to meet with media and potential business partners. Bigfoot Networks is a leading developer of networking hardware and software for maximum online gaming performance. Its technology accelerates online gaming and provides a smoother, more responsive experience for voice chat and other high-performance, real-time online applications. To learn more, visit Bigfoot Networks at http://www.bigfootnetworks.com.
When:	March 2–6 9:00am to 6:00pm
Where:	CeBIT 2010 Hannover Exhibition Center Hannover, Germany API booth located in Hall 15, Stand D44
Contact:	Emelyne Interior, LEWIS PR, bigfootnetworks@lewispr.com, 415-992-4400 EMEA Partnership inquiries: Paul Heimbuch at Bigfoot Networks: paul@bigfootnetworks.com.

Picture of the Week: Company Meeting

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:01:05 -0700

Who says a meeting can't be fun? When you're working in a field like we are, there is a good chance that you enjoy what you're doing quite a bit, and that can infuse itself even into meetings. While I can't show you the content of this little get together, what the future holds should be pretty interesting.

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Bigfoot Networks Featured eSports Team: Evil Geniuses

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:16:14 -0700

When it comes to eSports in North America, there can be little doubt that the number one name to know is Evil Geniuses. Since they were founded in 1999, they have been proving that they truly are the premiere professional gaming team in North America. Recently, EG became one of Bigfoot Network's Sponsored Teams, and they are the first team that we will be highlighting in this new feature.

Specializing in titles such as Counter-Strike, StarCraft, Quake, Team Fortress 2, and WarCraft 3, some of the main staples of eSports competitions, Evil Geniuses is comprised of fifty of the best gamers in the world. While they may be based in North America with players located in both the United States and Canada, they've been proving that they are one of the top teams in professional gaming world wide. Just check out this list of recent top placements from 2009:

-1st Place, ESEA League Season 2 (Counter-Strike) – Online
-1st Place, GomTV Invitational (WarCraft 3: Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen) – Online
-1st Place, eStars Seoul (WarCraft 3: Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen) – Seoul, Korea
-1st Place, ESEA League Season 3 (Counter-Strike) – Dallas, TX
-1st Place, QuakeCon (QuakeLive CTF) – Dallas, TX
-2nd Place, Blizzcon (WarCraft 3: Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen) – Anaheim, CA
-1st Place, GameGune Mexico (Counter-Strike) – Mexico City, Mexico
-1st Place, World Cyber Games USA (Counter-Strike) – New York, NY
-5th Place, DreamHack Winter (Counter-Strike) – Jonkopping, Sweden
-3rd Place, Arbalet Cup (Counter-Strike) – Stockholm, Sweden
-1st Place, Intel Extreme Masters NA Finals (QuakeLive: Tim “DaHang” Fogarty) – Edmonton, Canada
-3rd Place, Intel Extreme Masters NA Finals (QuakeLive: Chance Lacina) – Edmonton, Canada
-1st Place, Intel Extreme Masters NA Finals (Counter-Strike) – Edmonton, Canada-1st Place, World eSports Masters (WarCraft 3: Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen

Wins like this highlight the level of professionalism and mastery of gaming shown by members of Evil Geniuses, and Bigfoot Networks is proud to be among their sponsors. No doubt 2010 will be a great year for them as well, now that they are playing with the best online gaming network cards out there, as well stated by the president of Evil Geniuses, Alexander Garfield:

“Terms like lag and ping have been the obsessions of PC gamers for going on two decades, and when you’re competing in an eSports tournament for tens of thousands of dollars, the advantage of just one millisecond can be enough to push you to the top of the podium. Partnering with Bigfoot Networks allows us to give our pro gamers a competitive edge by supplying them all with the awe-inducing Killer™ Xeno Pro. We’re looking forward to seeing our top teams and players bring in more championships in 2010, both in North America and around the world, with the help of Bigfoot Networks.”

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Watch the Latest Videos from Bigfoot Networks on the New Video Page

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:40:00 -0700

Okay, I admit, not all of them are all that new, but you can now head over to our new Videos page to find links to the videos that we have hosted up on YouTube. This should keep things a little more organized, and easier for you to find the relevant videos from us. So, if you're looking to learn a little more about Bigfoot Networks, our products, or just checking out some great interviews with our sponsored teams, then head on over to check them out.

The Rod Trotter Online Gaming PC Giveaway Winner Announcement

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:45:23 -0700

It has been a long time coming, but for those of you who entered into the Rod Trotter Online Gaming PC Giveaway, the time has come. The drawing was held and the winner has been decided. Want to know if you're the grand prize lucky winner of an Alienware Aurora, complete with a Killer Xeno Pro? Then check out the video below, where Rod Trotter has announced the winner like only he can:

Picture of the Week: The Bigfoot Special Sushi Roll

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:06:27 -0700

There is a certain group of people at Bigfoot Networks who have, shall we say, a particular fondness for the fine Japanese dish of sushi (I also happen to be part of said group myself). In fact, our fondness for it is so strong that a large chunk of us go out for sushi once a week at a local Sushi restaurant named Ichiban - who has some of the best sushi in Austin for great prices. Due to our weekly visits, when they created their new special roll, they actually went ahead and named it after Bigfoot Networks. So, check out the menu, which now sports the Bigfoot.

And yes, it is quite good.

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Bigfoot Networks Featured Guild: The Vindicators

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:37:15 -0700

Today is an exciting day: we are releasing our very first Featured Guild interview. Featured Guilds are members of the Bigfoot Networks Guild Partners program who have stood out in such a way that we wish to highlight them to the greater community. In this case, the Vindicators are a long standing, friendly guild, that also holds the honor of being the very first guild to sign up with the Guild Partners Program. We held a brief interview with the guild leader, Vindicore:

1) Who are the Vindicators? How would you describe the organization?
The Vindicators are a gaming community. We have grown from our roots as a simple “outfit” in a single game to one that plays and has played dozens of games together ranging from MMORPGs to flash games and everything in-between.

2) What games do you play, and what attracts you to them, and games like them?
For the past few years we have had our main player base in Voyage Century, a MMORPG from IGG. This game appealed to many of our long term members during its beta due to the fact that it was always intended as free to play. However since our guilds creation in the game it has become much more than just something to play; we have crushed guilds causing them to disband, fought off entire guild alliances and captured multiple cities.

We have started game chapters in both Global Agenda and Star Trek Online, hoping to recruit steadily but slowly to add to our ranks. Global Agenda we have been drawn toward due to the twitch nature of combat combined with the territory control centred PvP. We are also eagerly awaiting Battlefield Bad Company 2 as it involves both infantry and vehicular combat, which appeals to many of our core members due to our foundation in Planetside.

3) How did the Vindicators originally form?
The community started in December 2002 for the MMOFPS Planetside before release as a vapour outfit. Most of the forum outfits were intending to be highly focused in a certain aspect of the game and there was a lack of outfits that would simply fight with all the available weapons and vehicles. Using this as a hook we recruited around 100 members before beta even started and then during the actual beta we ended high up on the score boards when compared to all three of the factions. After beta we only grew and became a dominant presence on the battlefield able to defend bases for several hours at a time or conversely capture stalemated bases with a single swift strike.

4) What do you feel is the best aspect of the Vindicators as a gaming organization?
Due to our maturity and lack of a strict hierarchy we have often been referred to as more of a family than a guild. This comment hopefully conveys the trust and support that exists between our members. In our community you can always find someone on-line to talk to and game with as we have members across the globe.

5) Where do you see yourselves going in the future?
I see the community growing steadily as we continue our efforts in the games we play and as we enter new games. We are always waiting for the next MMOFPS to arrive that will allow us to relive our glory days!

6) Why did you decide to join up with the Bigfoot Networks Guild Partners program?
We decided to join the program primarily due to the companies Community Manager, who was the second member to join the Vindicators back in 2002! We are obviously also interested in increasing our presence on the internet to aid recruitment, and potentially get involved in competitions organised by the company.

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New M1/K1 Drivers Released

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:58:23 -0700

The latest M1/K1 drivers are now officially released. If you are running one of these cards, it is highly recommended that you upgrade to this new driver package, which provides greater support for Windows 7 and 64bit, greater compatibility, and greater stability. A complete list of fixes can be viewed in the change log.

You can download the drivers here and view all of the changes in the change lo

Congratulations to the Bigfoot Killer Edge Challenge Champions

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:17:46 -0700

Congratulations to “compLexity”, winners of the Bigfoot Killer Edge Challenge!

Among over 100 competing teams, compLexity demonstrated exceptional command of Team Fortress 2’s many classes, going undefeated in all 9 of their matches throughout the tournament. For their performance, the team has won $750 cash plus a set of six Killer Xeno Pro network cards sponsored by Bigfoot Networks.

You too can take your gaming performance to the next level with a Killer Xeno Pro network card which provides smoother and more responsive gameplay in all your favorite MMO and FPS games. It’s all made possible through the card’s revolutionary Network Processing Unit (NPU) technology designed specifically for online gaming. It’s the Killer Edge over the competition that you’re looking for! Check it out now at http://www.bigfootnetworks.com/killer-xeno-pro/.

Team compLexity Roster:
Daniel “Carnage” Sturdivant
Michael “Jaeger” Marcin
Kyle “relic” Mims
Carl “xenema” Yangsheng
Manuel “solidsnake00” Sy
Bradford “Pure” Ross

Picture of the Week: Our Newest Machines - Care of Alienware, the Aurora Desktop

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:00:22 -0700

Some interesting things pass by my desk on occasion, but easily two of the very best are these Alienware Aurora ALX Desktops - two machines that have almost silly levels of power. They're beastly, powerful, and look awesome. Even better, while the components themselves are powerful and they look very cool, the internal case design is wonderful. Sliding in new Hard Drives would be a snap, the battery-powered LED would be great while tinkering, and the cooling system is pretty darn nice too. Truly, they're filled with much epic and win. Take a look:

If you're curious about the Internals, they are as follows:

- Intel Core i7 2.67 (Quad Core)
- NVIDIA GeForce 295, Dual GPU SLI
- 6GB RA
- 500GB HDD
- Killer Xeno Pro Gaming Network Card

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Xeno is $10 off on TigerDirect

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:02:46 -0700

Looking to squeeze a bit of savings out of your Xeno Pro purchase, but aren't in the market for a router? You're in luck. The good folks over at TigerDirect announced that they are offering a deal on the Xeno over at their site as well. For a limited time, you can snag yourself a Killer Xeno Pro at a reduced price.

Get a Xeno for $25 off with the Purchase of a Netgear WNDR3700 Router at Newegg

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:16:58 -0700

Occasionally, we get asked if there is a benefit of using a solid router with the Xeno Pro. The answer to that is a definate "yes" - if you have a Xeno Pro in your machine, but you're lacking a router with the right features, or vice versa, then there is still some room for improvement in your home network. Luckily, for those of you who are considering picking up a Xeno, you can snag it for $25 off with the purchase of a Netgear WNDR3700 router to make sure your online gaming reaches the ultimate peak of performance.

If you're curious as to just how a Xeno and a Netgear WNDR3700 can work together to provide you some great benefits, just check out this video:

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Gaming Nexus' CES 2010 Meet Up with Bigfoot Networks

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:52:06 -0700

Bigfoot Networks CEO Michael Howse and VP of Marketing John Drewry got themselves around during CES this year. During the event, they had a chance to talk with Gaming Nexus, who have turned their interview into a great article that goes into some good detail about us and the Xeno. Additionally, they also took the time to give the EverQuest 2 Side-by-Side video a good analysis.

"Since motherboards come equipped with network interfaces, John says we take that part of the computer for granted. Besides the speed increase over the years, Michael argued that there's no innovation in that area. This is where Bigfoot steps in and is looking to offer a product that is both innovative and useful for the gamer."

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Rod Trotter Online Gaming PC Giveaway Drawing to be Held Soon

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:16:56 -0700

The Rod Trotter Online Gaming PC Giveaway has been running for quite a while now, and the musician who sings of ping and latency has given away a ton of great prizes already. However, the time draws near for the grand prize to be given away: an Aliewnare Aurora Online Gaming PC. This machine packs plenty of punch and it is looking for a new home - and it could be yours.

Head on over to RodTrotter.com to enter into the contest for your chance to win. Remember, you only have today to sign up before the contest closes.

Buddah Tribe Becomes a Bigfoot Networks' Sponsored Team

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:20:38 -0700

The great announcements just keep on coming in: Buddah Tribe has just come aboard as another sponsored eSports team!

Buddah Tribe was originally established in 1997 by Aaron Markaverich. (B.T.) is a international platform for both pro players and upcoming stars. Buddah Tribe is not only a professional gaming organization but we also have a brand for clothing/apparel and social networking for gamers. We strive to maintain the highest standard possible in our organization through dedication and loyalty of our players and staff. We wish to attend and compete in major events worldwide to show how proud we are of our organization and sponsors.

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Bigfoot Networks Sponsors Logical eSports

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:15:27 -0700

We are happy to announce the latest eSports team to be sponsored by Bigfoot Networks, the up-and-coming Logical eSports. For a bit more information on them:

Logical eSports was founded in the first few days of 2009. It started as a group of close friends gaming together, but quickly grew to a full-size organisation. Where it all started with Call of Duty 2 online, Logical eSports now has teams and players in Call of Duty 4 and TrackMania Nations representing the Logical eSports name both online as offline.

We look forward to seeing them tearing it up in tournaments. If you have a professional gaming organization, big or small, and you would like to be sponsored by Bigfoot Networks, send an e-mail to teams@bigfootnetworks.com for more information.

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Get 10% Off a Logitech G15 or G19 and Get Even More Out of Dashboard

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:35:01 -0700

Logitech is well known for many of their products, but easily some of their best are their gaming keyboards. After using one of them, the idea of gaming without access to tons of programmable macro-keys becomes an almost frightening idea to even consider. Not only that, but their LCD screens can convey a lot of useful information to top it off.

Right now, Logitech is offering 10% off on the G15 and G19 Gaming Keyboards, making this a great time to snag one. And, if you want to get even more functionality out of your new purchase, then grab yourself a free copy of Bigfoot Networks Dashboard, which integrates with the G-series LCD screens to provide you tons of useful information on your gaming PC.

Welcome to Our First Group of Guild Partners

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:05:33 -0700

Since we launched the Guild Partners program on Friday of last week, I have been impressed to see the number of applications come in from people excited to take advantage of this new program. We've since let in several great guilds with some varied styles and backgrounds - and if you're looking for a new virtual home, then these fantastic groups would be a great place to look.

With that said, I would like to extend a welcome to GamersCoalition, Gamers Next Door , Team Frag'd, The Syndicate, The Vindicators, and Vitality. Whether you're looking for a laid back or truly serious group, whether your an MMO player, or big into FPSs, then you're sure to find some interest in these groups.

UPDATE: Added to that list is now the Silent Warriors, who have just been added to the program. Welcome aboard!

Keep an eye out for more partners joining up, and if you think your guild would be a good fit, then take a look at the application page for more information on the program and how to apply.

[Join the Forum Discussion]

ZAM Interview with Bigfoot Networks

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:45:23 -0700

ZAM has recently published an article from an interview the held with Bigfoot Networks CEO Michael Howse and VP of Marketing John Drewry from this year's CES. This article does an excellent job of summing up what Bigfoot Networks is all about, what our cards can do, and also some of our plans for the future. So, head on over to ZAM for a good read.

"So it was a relief when the ZAM staff met with Michael Howse and John Drewry, the CEO and VP of Marketing of Bigfoot Networks, in an area just off of CES’ North Hall. If you’re not familiar with Bigfoot Networks, you may at least be familiar with their flagship product, the Killer NIC, which unburdens your CPU from the effort of networking through the motherboard and instead pushes it all through the Killer NIC card. Think of it like onboard graphics versus an Nvidia or ATI card, you’d see a substantial difference almost immediately with the change."

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New 4.1.0.144 K1/M1 Beta Drivers Released

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:58:28 -0700

The latest beta driver build for the K1 and M1 cards are now available for download in the downloads section of our website. This update fixes a number of compatibility issues with selected online games, Skype, and Ventrilo, as well as a number of other improvements. You can view a full change log for this latest version of the driver here.

[Post Feedback on the Driver]

Bigfoot Networks Guild Partners Program Begins!

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:13:21 -0700

Bigfoot Networks is proud to announce our new Guild Partnership program. While we sponsor a number of big-name eSports teams, we know that gaming organizations come in many shapes and sizes, and most people are playing together in Guilds and Clans, and not actually in professional teams.

What is the Guild Partnership Program?

As anyone who has run a guild before knows, getting yourself a solid membership-base and getting your name out into the world can be a challenge. Then, when you get yourself up, running, and rocking in the virtual world, it is also nice to get your exploits out into the open to wow your fellow players. The Guild Partnership program is all about that. Check out the advantages of the program:

Bigfoot Networks Guild Partners will be featured in a section of the Bigfoot Website for all to see.We will link your guild's website along with some information about you and your guild's logo to entice potential recruits and others interested in checking you out. We will also prepare banners and the like for you to use on your site to let the world know that you have gained the support from a game hardware company to add that extra, professional touch.
You will also have the chance to get your guild up on our blog as one of our Featured Guilds. We will hold a short interview with our Featured Guilds and publish the interview up on the Bigfoot Networks Blog, along with a video showing off your organization. This video and interview will also get passed around the Internet to make sure that your name gets out to as many people as possible.
Gain more exposure through our blog and social networks. You don't need to be a Featured Guild to get on the blog. Do you have an interesting write-up on your site? Send it on over and we may well publish a link on our own blog to help direct people to you.
Participate in Bigfoot Networks Sponsored Events and Community. Being a Bigfoot Networks Guild Partner is a lot like being involved in a giant, multi-game guild alliance. Not only will you enter into a great community, you will also be able to partake in events with the other guilds, both cooperative and competitive, and maybe even have a chance to win some great swag.

These benefits are just the tip of the iceberg, and more will become available as time goes on. We are dedicated to the betterment of online gaming, and that includes helping out guilds as much as we can. In fact, we're even open to ideas from the community, and we want to hear what you want to see from Bigfoot.

Also, you can put your mind at ease, because becoming a Bigfoot Networks Guild Partner gains you all of these great benefits, but does not mean that we will be solicitating you or your members.

To apply to be Bigfoot Networks Guild Partner, send in an e-mail with "Bigfoot Networks Guild Partner Application" as the subject to community@bigfootnetworks.com with the following information:

Your name - and be sure to note if you're the guild leader or not.
Your guild's name.
A description of your guild.
A link to your guild.
Your guild's logo.

[Join the Forum Discussion]

MMORPG.com Is Giving Away 10 Killer Xeno Pros to Lucky Winners

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:34:56 -0700

Looking for a chance to score a Killer Xeno Pro Gaming Network Card? Then look no further than the latest contest running at one of the best online gaming news sites in existence, MMORPG.com, is running. They will be giving away 10 Xeno Pros to the lucky winners. So, don't let this offer slip on past, and head over to MMORPG.com to sign up!

Get Bigfoot on Your Team

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:55:14 -0700

Bigfoot Networks knows that gaming teams, professional or not, are a critical part of the vibrant online gaming community, and we want to help teams of all sizes be successful with sponsorships and support. If you would like Bigfoot on your team as a sponsor, please send an email with all your information to teams@bigfootnetworks.com. We can help by promoting your team, your events and happenings and in some cases, we’ll even provide prizes, giveaways and other support to make your team a success. Drop us a line and get Bigfoot on your team.

Rod Trotter Keeps the Hit Coming with Emotional Deathmatch

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:21:25 -0700

Rod Trotter, the musician who sings of ping and online gaming, has released another great tune - Emotional Deathmatch. This is his latest free release to the Internet in celebration of his Online Gaming PC Giveaway contest that he is running in conjunction with us. If you haven't signed up for the contest yet, then you're definitely missing out! Head over to RodTrotter.com and sign up - and also head over to his Facebook profile and fan page to become a fan and friend for a chance to win some great weekly prizes. While you're at it, give a listen to some of his other great gaming-inspired tunes.

BuyTV Shows Off the Killer Xeno Pro

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:29:38 -0700

Buy.com, one of the biggest online retail sites out there, is featuring the Killer Xeno Pro on BuyTV. This video, done by our very own Keith Washo, gives a great overview of the Xeno, what it does, and how it is designed to help you in your online gaming. So, take a peek at the video below, and check out Buy.com for the Killer Xeno Pro

Death By Lag - In 140 Characters or Less

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:05:13 -0700

You've been there. Heck, we've all been there. You've gotten into a great groove in your favorite online game, and then suddenly you find your screen frozen for a half second too long and the gernade that you normally would have avoided with no problem has suddenly blown up in your face and you're waiting for a respawn.

Frustrating! And now you can vent your frustrations and have a chance to win some great Killer Bling at the same time. How? Simple! Follow us on Twitter, and tweet about your worst lag death using the hashtag #bfnendlag. The best of the worst will be taking home some great swag!

So, start the the new year off right this January by sharing your past experiences to help make 2010 the Year to End Lag!

[Join the Forum Discussion]

Have A Great 2010

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:20:12 -0700

As 2009 draws to a close, we would like to wish you all a happy New Year. It has been a good and eventful run through 2009, and we're looking forward to seeing what new horizons the next year will bring. We have plenty of great plans, and you will hopefully be seeing some pretty awesome stuff from us in 2010. So, keep an eye out, and above all else, have a safe and happy New Years!

There's Still a Chance to Win an Online Gaming PC and Other Great Prizes from Rod Trotter

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:02:05 -0700

Rod Trotter is still running his Online Gaming PC Giveaway and there is still a chance to win a high-octane machine from him. So, be sure to head on over to RodTrotter.com to enter into the contest, and while you're there, be sure to check out some of his great tunes, like Life is Slow (On the Road). However, even if you have entered into the Giveaway, this fantastic machine isn't the only thing up for grabs. Rod has been giving away some great prizes to those who become a fan and/or friend of him on Facebook. In fact, this week he's giving away Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard!

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Watch the Killer Xeno Pro Remove Symptoms of Lag from EverQuest 2

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:03:54 -0700

Lag is ever-present in Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) Games, even though you may think it might not be there. Slow updates are one of the most major symptoms of lag that can be deadly in gameplay, even in great games like EverQuest II. But please note that lag is not caused by the game; Everquest II is not the problem here. Many times, the problem is outdated networking components inside your PC which slows network traffic and delays updates to and from your game. With that in mind, take a look at our latest game case study to witness the Killer Xeno Pro removing the problem of slow updates.

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Two Ways to Win a Killer Xeno Pro from One of the World's Best eSports Teams, Fnatic

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:01:46 -0700

Fnatic is giving you the opportunity to win a Killer Xeno Pro - and not only that, they're giving you two ways to win it. Much like our recent Facebook contest, if you are a fan of both Fnatic and Bigfoot Networks on Facebook, just post up why you want a Killer Xeno Pro and you will be automatically entered into the contest to win one of two cards. That isn't all though, as Fnatic is also holding a Wallpaper contest over at their site right now. So, if you're an artist, and heck, even if you aren't, head on over to their website to find out further details.

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Unidentified Flying Daevas Spotted Again - Over Canada, Offering an Alienware Aurora Desktop and Copies of Aion

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:29:33 -0700

Not long ago, Unidentified Flying Daevas were spotted souring in the skies over the United States, offering tempting gifts like an Alienware Aurora Desktop and copies of NCSoft's Aion. However, according to ZAM, these Daevas have returned once again, but now over Canada. That's right - Canadians are now able to head over to the ZAM website to sign up for the latest Unidentified Flying Daeva's contest, and their chance to win some fantastic prizes!

Fan Bigfoot Networks on Facebook for a Chance to Win a Killer Xeno Pro!

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:21:55 -0700

If you're looking for a chance to grab a Killer Xeno Pro, SK-Gaming is giving you your chance: Head over to the Bigfoot Networks Facebook page and become a fan. After that, post up why you would like a Killer Xeno Gaming Network Card to our wall (perhaps because you want smoother, more reseponsive online gameplay). Finally, become a fan of SK-Gaming as well, to be entered into a drawing for one of two Xeno Pros!

Last Chance to Get Into the iBuyPower 10th Anniversary Giveaway!

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:50:56 -0700

iBuyPower is celebrating their 10th anniversary with a contest of truly epic proportions. and tonight is your last chance to get involved. They are giving away one of their newly released, and slick looking Chimera 2 gaming computers, each of which include a Killer Xeno Pro, making them ideal for your online gaming needs. That isn't all though, contestants will also have a chance to bring home one of 11 copies of NCSoft's hottest new MMO: Aion. So, head on over to iBuyPower for a chance to get into this great giveaway!

Bigfoot Networks Dashboard Releases!

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:24:38 -0700

Bigfoot Networks Dashboard – the only all-in-one utility to help you look “behind the scenes” of your Online Gaming PC and your network connection – has now officially launched! Use Dashboard to check your Internet latency, see your framerate in online games, check the workload of your network card and more. It works with any network card. To make it more useful, you can save and analyze this data for later, or see it real-time on your Logitech G-series Gaming Keyboards. Download Dashboard here, check out the Quick Setup Guide, and learn more about Dashboard and how to use it here. For a list of the changes from the Beta version, see the Release Notes.

Thanks to everyone who tried out the beta and submitted their feedback!

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New Xeno Pro Drivers Released! 5.0.3.0-19

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:38:34 -0700

New Drivers for the Killer Xeno Pro are here! We’ve fixed bugs and improved compatibility, but most importantly, we’ve improved performance across the board. This is a highly recommended upgrade for all Killer Xeno Pro owners. You can download the driver here and check out the changes in the release notes here.

FIXES IN THIS RELEASE
*General
- Optimized performance for UDP and TCP traffic.
- Fixed compatibility issues with selected online games.
- Fixed compatibility issue on selected PCs that caused improper wake from sleep.
- Optimized numerous low-level firmware and driver operations.
- Improved compatibility with certain hardware configurations.

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M1 and K1 Driver Update Coming in January

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:29:02 -0700

While we are currently working on new drivers for the Killer Xeno Pro, Bigfoot Networks is also developing new, native drivers for the M1 and K1 Killer NIC Gaming Network cards. These drivers will bring native Windows 7 support for both 32 and 64bit flavors, as well as other fixes for the various operating systems that we currently support. Users of these cards can expect an update next month, where we will first release a Beta driver, followed by a stable release.

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The Bigfoot Killer Edge Challenge Has Begun at Alienware Arena!

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:50:27 -0700

Today marks the beginning of the Bigfoot Killer Edge Challenge being held at Alienware Arena! 128 six-player teams will be competing head to head in a series of matches in this great Team Fortress 2 tournament for the chance to win their share of $2,279.94 in cash and prizes, including items such as the Killer Xeno Pro. The challenge will be running until January 30th, where we will find out who the best of the best will be. Good luck to all those who entered!

Rod Trotter's Online Gaming PC Giveaway

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:58:48 -0700

Bigfoot Networks has teamed up with Rod Trotter and a variety of great partners to bring you an exciting new contest: Rod Trotter's Online Gaming PC Giveaway! Rod, who is renowned for his music about online gaming and networking, has signed on with Bigfoot Networks to help drive him back to the top. To celebrate, he is offering up a high-octane online gaming PC, complete with a Killer Xeno Pro to a lucky winner. Not only that, but those of you who enter into the contest, and become a friend and/or fan of Rod Trotter on Facebook will have a chance to win great weekly prizes!

So, head on over to RodTrotter.com for more information on the contest and your chance to win!

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Sk-Gaming 1v1 Counter Srike Aim Tournament

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:21:37 -0700

This weekend, 64 gamers will be pitted against each other in a Counter Strike 1.6 Tournament being held by SK-Gaming, one of the top professional esport teams in Europe, and also one of our sponsored teams. Battling each other on aim_map, the first place winner will be taking home their very own Xeno Pro, along with the chance to face one of SK-Gaming's top professional players of their choices. As a special bonus, the winner who scores the most frags in one game will also be bringing home a Xeno Pro as well!

For more information, head over to SK-Gaming's site, and be sure to check back to find out who the talented winner of this tournament will be.

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Bigfoot Networks Launches Dashboard Beta - An All-In-One Utility For Your Online Gaming PC's Statistics

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:41:49 -0700

Bigfoot Networks introduces Bigfoot Networks Dashboard – the only all-in-one utility to help you look “behind the scenes” of your Online Gaming PC and your network connection. Use Dashboard to check your Internet latency, see your framerate in online games, check the workload of your network card and more. It works with any network card. To make it more useful, you can save and analyze this data for later, or see it real-time on your Logitech G-series Gaming Keyboards. Download Dashboard here, check out the Quick Setup Guide, and learn more about Dashboard and how to use it here.

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World of WarCraft Turns Five Years Old

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:26:53 -0700

Today marks the anniversary of one of the most major milestones in online gaming history: the day that MMOs became a mainstream gaming passtime. Whether you love it or hate it, World of WarCraft has done a lot to bring MMOs into the spotlight, and has given online gaming as a whole a major boost. Now in its fifth year, WoW is still going strong with many millions of players enjoying it, with another expansion on the way.

What are your fondest memories over the last five years?

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iBuyPower 10th Anniversary Giveaway - Win a Chimera 2 with a Killer Xeno Pro!

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:41:16 -0700

iBuyPower is celebrating their 10th anniversary with a contest of truly epic proportions. They are giving away two of their newly released, and slick looking Chimera 2 gaming computers, each of which include a Killer Xeno Pro, making them ideal for your online gaming needs. That isn't all though, contestants will also have a chance to bring home one of 11 copies of NCSoft's hottest new MMO: Aion. So, head on over to iBuyPower for a chance to get into this great giveaway!

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Picture of the Week: Austin vs California - Fridge Battle

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:14:38 -0700

This week, we are actually featuring two pictures: One out of the Austin, Texas office, and the other one out of Redwood City, California. However, the real question is, which image came from which office? Can you tell in this true battle of the Fridges?

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Bigfoot Networks Secures $8 Million Series B Funding and a New VP of Engineering and Board of Director Member

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:30:55 -0700

Things have been pretty interesting over here at Bigfoot Networks, and as a result, I'm here with two major announcements from the company: We've raised a substantial amount in funding, we've brought aboard a new VP of Engineering, Wayne Dunlap, and industry veteran, Greg Ballard, has come to our Board of Directors. This great news will better enable us to move forward with strengthening out products and advance us in the battle against lag. You can see the full press release here.

REDWOOD CITY, CA—November 17, 2009—Bigfoot Networks, the networking technology company behind the Killer line of gaming network cards, today announced it has raised $8 million in a Series B financing round led by existing investors North Bridge Venture Partners, Palomar Ventures and Raven Venture Partners. It will use the investment to fund product development and expand its go-to-market capabilities. Bigfoot Networks has raised a total of $20.75 million in funding to date.

Wayne Dunlap, Vice President, Engineering
Wayne directs development of the company's high-performance online gaming technology. As former CTO and vice president of engineering at Polycom, Wayne brings extensive experience in networking and data communications. At Polycom's Video Solutions Division he was instrumental in creating the top-ranked HDX high-definition videoconferencing product line. Prior to Polycom, Wayne held technical lead and senior engineering positions with Wang Laboratories, Nomadic Systems, and The Complete PC. He has several US patents in visual collaboration.

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New Xeno Beta Drivers Released

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:04:28 -0700

We’ve posted Beta drivers for the Killer Xeno Pro Gaming Network Card in our downloads section. These offer better performance, more stability and some bug fixes. Click here to go to our download section and find the driver for your version of Windows. Make sure to check the README file for our beta release notes. Just remember, this is a Beta release, and we would love to hear your feedback on the forums as we work to complete these drivers for a final release.

Intel and AMD End Legal Disputes

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:21:16 -0700

While having a Killer Xeno Pro in your online gaming PC will provide great benefits to your online gaming, every gamer also knows that a solid processor is important as well. The two top manufacturers for CPUs, AMD and Intel, have been locked in some very major legal disputes for quite some time now, including patent cross licensing and antitrust litigation. No small claims involved in this one at all. However, as announced on the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog, this case has finally come to an end.

Intel sent out a press release today noting that "AMD will withdraw all of its regulatory complaints worldwide," while both companies will gain patent rights "from a new 5-year cross licensing agreement" and also drop any claims for breaching the prior agreement. Also, Intel will be handing AMD $1.25 billion along with that.

This could have some pretty interesting effects on the CPU world. Both companies, in a join statement, said that "While the relationship between the two companies has been difficult in the past, this agreement ends the legal disputes and enables the companies to focus all of our efforts on product innovation and development." This might very well be true, as they funnel less of their revenue into legal cases and more into research and development. The money coming in could also help boost AMD and help to create some solid competition back into the market place.

So, congratulations to both companies for ending their disputes, and good luck in future endeavors!

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Windows 7, Online Games, and Xeno

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:40:50 -0700

Lately, with the launch of Windows 7 and its touted improvements over Windows Vista, we’ve been asked repeatedly “Why would I need a Killer Xeno Pro if I’ve upgraded to Windows 7? I hear it’s faster.”

That may be true for some tasks – Windows 7 has a smaller memory footprint all around, and lots of work has been done to make sure it only runs the stuff you need, rather than the stuff you might need. No longer will your desktop PC run tablet PC services, unless you really want them to.

The same might not be true for online gaming. Your mileage may vary – some gamers have reported better game performance than games in Vista, and others have reported game performance approaching that of Windows XP. As always, your best bet is to try it yourself with your favorite game.

However, one thing we can be sure of is this: The Network Stack used in Windows 7 is identical to the Network Stack used in Windows Vista. That means that the benefit of bypassing that stack for online games is just the same. If a game packet takes the same amount of time to run through Vista as it does with Win 7, then offloading that game traffic still provides the same benefit.

And that hypothesis holds true in our internal tests as well as the reports of our beta testers – using a Killer Xeno Pro in Windows 7 still provides less lag and smoother gameplay than using a standard, non-gaming NIC.

For more background, you can read more about Windows networking technology here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Vista_networking_technologies

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World of WarCraft Banned in China - Again

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:10:48 -0700

SK Gaming has picked up an interesting read for those of you interested in MMOs and world politics. While there are millions of people playing the unquestionably popular online game, World of WarCraft, the Blizzard fans of China are once again not among them. The game has had several issues in the past with the Chinese government, but now it appears they have simply declared the game to be an "undesirable activity" for their people. While this might be one way to break WoW addiction, it no doubt isn't the preferred method for most players.

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The Maingear Shift 'Desktop Supercomputer' Features the Xeno Pro

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:11:48 -0700

While IBM's Blue Gene and Roadrunner are well out of the budget of just about everyone in the world, there is no doubt that Supercomputers like them are just undeniably cool - well, at least if you're a geek, which we are. However, according to PC manufacturer Maingear, Supercomputers aren't quite out of the question if you're looking for something a bit smaller. They are introducing The Maingear Shift - a desktop supercomputer that packs one heck of a punch when it comes to specifications, including Intel's Core i7 and Xeon Processors, very high end graphics with ATI, and NVIDIA options, up to twelve SSDs, and yes, the Killer Xeno Pro.

Head over to Maingear's site to take a look at the two builds available to be purchased. Both the P55 and X58 versions also offer extremely extensive customization options, so by all means, have a blast specing out your own miniature supercomputer.

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SK Gaming Wins IEF 2009, Team Dignitas and Fnatic in Cadred's Top 10!

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:36:48 -0700

Recent history has been quite eventful for several of Bigfoot Networks sponsored eSports teams. SK Gaming has claimed victory over wNv Teamwork CN, making them the champions of the International Esports Festival of 2009! Congratulations are definitely in order for some very well played gaming and a deserved prize. However, SK Gaming aren't the only ones with something to be happy about. Team Dignitas and Fnatic have both placed on Cadred's European Top 10 list for Counter Strike: Source, claiming second and sixth on the list, respectively.

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View Bigfoot Networks Videos over at YouTube

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:47:10 -0600

While plenty of great news ends up on this blog, and there's plenty of activity over at our Facebook and Twitter pages, these are far from the only places where you can learn more about Bigfoot Networks, our sponsored teams, or just to have some fun and kill time. Among those places is one of the most popular sites on the Internet, and the number one video sharing site in the world: YouTube. So, for some great videos, check out the Bigfoot Networks YouTube channel.

The Bigfoot Killer Edge Challenge Comes to Alienware Arena

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:14:15 -0600

The Bigfoot Killer Edge Challenge will be coming to Alienware Arena, allowing players from the United States and Canada to test their skills in one of the most critically acclaimed online games in the world: Team Fortress 2. Teams will be able to compete against each other beginning on November 23rd, with the championship match on January 23rd. The winners will be taking home their share of a $1,500 cash prize pool, as well as a set of Killer Xeno Pro Gaming Network Cards. The Bigfoot Killer Edge Challenge page on the Alienware Arena site features the sign up information, as well as further details on the tournament.

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GeoCities Shuts Down Today

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:56:18 -0600

If you've been hanging around the Internet for a fair while (even more so around the 90s), you're more likely than not familiar with a little place known as GeoCities. While no, it certainly has nothing to do with online gaming - aside from thousands of old gaming fansites - it is pretty significant to the history of the Internet. GeoCities was that place, before blogs, were any random person was basically able to put up a website. However, given that there wasn't fancy pre-designed templates like on today's web, it was also famous for some pretty bad web design. Still, back in the day, there was plenty to find and discover on GeoCities. Today, however, that old (and fairly sizable) chunk of the Internet is going dark. So, in a little tribute to this old, sometimes frightening, and occasionally useful piece of history, check out the temporarily redesigned website for the online web comic XKCD for a little glimpse into the past.

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Picture of the Week: Godzilla vs the Test Room

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:12:39 -0600

This week's Picture of the Week features a nice section of our test room, where we test out the cards, the drivers, and also our performance in games. The room features a number of computer and installs of every supported OS. Also, it apparently houses other dangers:

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Windows 7 Launches - Bigfoot Offers Our Support

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:35:36 -0600

Today marks the release of the latest version of Windows: Windows 7. Microsoft has been getting plenty of positive buzz about Windows 7 from tech sites, beta users, and gamers alike - and you can check out some benchmarks to see what you can expect from your favorite games in Windows 7 over at Driver Heaven - and there is plenty of hype around this release. With plenty of new features and solid performance, no doubt there are plenty of people who will be replacing their old OS. However, the release of a new operating system always creates a few fears for people who are planning on upgrading, and the biggest of those is hardware compatibility. Don't worry though, Bigfoot has you covered:

The Killer Xeno Pro has Windows 7 drivers available for both Windows 7 32bit and Windows 7 64bit flavors.

If you are running with an M1 or K1, then don't fear. We have tested and ensured that our Vista drivers work under Windows 7 as well, and have released compatibility versions of them. You can grab them for both 32bit and 64bit as well. You can also find out more information on M1 and K1 compatibility here.

Congratulations to Microsoft for a great release!

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Bigfoot Networks Partners with VisionTek to Bring Killer Xeno Pro to Online Gamers

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:06:10 -0600

Today, Bigfoot Networks is proud to announce our new partnership with VisionTek, a leading consumer PC peripherals company, to license and distribute the Killer Xeno Pro. This will allow gamers throughout North America, Europe, and Asia to have access to the only network card designed to accelerate online game traffic and provide smoother, more responsive network gameplay, in a greater number of online and retail channels. To view the full press releases, see below.

Bigfoot Networks Press Release:
Bigfoot Networks PARTNERS with VISIONTEK TO BRING KILLER® XENO PRO to ONLINE GAMERS

VisionTek Press Release:
VisionTek and Bigfoot Networks Partner to Revolutionize PC Gaming

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REDWOOD CITY, CA – October 21, 2009 – Bigfoot Networks, the networking technology company behind the Killer® line of gaming network cards, today announced a partnership with VisionTek, a leading consumer PC peripherals company, to license and distribute the Killer Xeno Pro, the only network card designed to accelerate online game traffic and provide smoother, more responsive network gameplay.

VisionTek will distribute the Killer Xeno Pro through online and retail channels in Asia, Europe and North America, giving millions of online PC gamers the opportunity to play today’s bandwidth-intensive games under optimum conditions, with minimal lag and maximum control.

Unidentified Flying Daevas - Grand Prize Winner Announced!

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:42:19 -0600

Congratulations to B. Brady, winner of ZAM's Unidentified Flying Daevas contest, who will be receiving an Alienware Aurora Desktop complete with a copy of the hottest new MMO on the market, NCSoft's Aion! While this brings a close to this latest contest, even if you didn't win this time around, be sure to keep your eyes pealed for future chances to snag yourself some great prizes.

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Examiner.com - How Bigfoot Can Improve Your PC Gaming

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:38:24 -0600

The Examiner of Houston has an interview up on their site with Sean McCann, the Product Marketing Manager over here at Bigfoot Networks. This excellent interview does a great job of explaining where Bigfoot Networks came from, how our cards work, how they can benefit your gaming experience, and what we might be up to for the future. If you're curious to learn more about Bigfoot, even if you aren't the most technically savvy person, you should be able to get quite a bit out of this article.

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The Six Daily Unidentified Flying Daevas Winners Announced - Grand Prize Still Out There

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:24:11 -0600

The six daily winners Unidentified Flying Daevas contest have been announced. Congratulations to all of the winners! We hope that you enjoy your Bigfoot Networks swag, as well as the copy of Aion! However, the final, grand prize is still up for grabs for those of you who have signed up. One lucky winner will be taking home their very own Alienware Aurora Desktop and copy of NCSoft's Aion.

The daily winners are as follows:

Day 1: W. Jones
Day 2: R. Laskowsky
Day 3: H. Edwards
Day 4: L. Maslyn
Day 5: S. Lewis
Day 6: G. Confer

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Star Trek Online to Release Q1 of 2010

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:09:22 -0600

While many MMOs are set in fantasy universes - with a few notable exceptions, of course - there is one that that has one that has a very different goal for setting: to go where millions of geeks have longed to have gone before. Star Trek Online, which promises to offer some new and interesting ideas in the world of MMOs, is going to be released during Q1 of 2010, according to Cryptic. Cryptic, as you might know, developed City of Heroes, and also came out with Champions Online recently.

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Fnatic Opens Signups for PLAY: StarCraft 1vs1

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:01:09 -0600

Open to the entire StarCraft community (with the exception of Chinese players), Fnatic is taking signups for the latest PLAY tournament, featuring some classic 1vs1 action in Blizzard's legendary RTS StarCraft. Up to 128 players will be able to compete in this tournament, which will begin at 2:00pm CET on Sunday, October 18th. Not only that, but the winner will be taking home $100 and their very own Killer Xeno Pro. Second place will also be picking up a Xeno, and the third place winner will receive some great Fnatic apparel. Be sure to head over to Fnatic's site to get the full details.

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Unidentified Flying Daevas - First Daily Winner - All Daily Winners to Receive Aion!

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:07:56 -0600

The first daily winner for ZAM's Unidentified Flying Daevas Contest has been announced. Congratulations to W. Jones! They will be taking home an assortment of great Bigfoot Networks swag. However, not only that, but the stakes of this contest just got a little higher. W. Jones and all the daily winners will now be receiving a copy of Aion, in addition to the Bigfoot Networks swag! No longer reserved for the grand prized winner - although that Alienware Aurora Desktop sure is nice! - all the winners will be receiving a copy of the latest, hottest, and highly rated MMO on the market: Aion! If you haven't entered yet, then what are you waiting for? Head over to ZAM for your chance to win these amazing prizes.

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LanOC Reviews: Rise of the Online Gaming PC

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:01:58 -0600

LanOC Reviews has a new article up on the evolution of online gaming - and the evolution of computers to meet the demands of online gaming requirements. This excellent informational article provides some interesting facts about online gaming, how to build a solid machine for it, and what people think about when building a PC for this type of gameplay. Featured in this article is Bigfoot Networks, and LanOC describes the great benefits that can be gained from a network card optimized for gaming.

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"The answer to this issue is upgrading your own hardware. As mentioned before, having a multi-core processor will help some, but it won't do any good if Windows is distributing network activity poorly. The solution hides in a piece of equipment that is often overlooked: the network card. Every motherboard has an integrated network device that allows for the computer to be connected to a network. However, upgrading to a dedicated card will not only improve LAN speeds (older models, and some newer models as well max out at 100Mbps instead of 1000Mbps), it can also help you operating system with its load. Take Bigfoot Network's Killer line, network cards that are optimized for gaming, for example. The Killer technology will alleviate Windows of the task collecting data to help smooth and accelerate the process. As McCann puts it, "If a packet comes in for a game, it goes directly to the game." It doesn't have to worry about other processes like Windows does, therefore it doesn't wait in line while the OS deals with other data first and places the game data in a queue line."

Win an Alienware Aurora Desktop, a Copy of Aion, and Bigfoot Networks Swag at ZAM!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:52:35 -0600

Bigfoot Networks is teaming up with Alienware, NCSoft, and the ZAM Network for a great new contest - Unidentified Flying Daevas! Head on over to ZAM to enter into the contest for a chance to win a decked out and powerful Alienware Aurora Desktop with a copy of the latest and hottest MMO on the market: Aion. Along with that, six other winners will be taking home some great swag from Bigfoot Networks. Don't miss out on a great chance to take home some truly epic prizes!

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Alienware:
Alienware, Dell’s premier high-performance PC gaming brand, offers unique and award-winning computers that incorporate innovative engineering and are designed with state-of-the-art components. Credited as being one of the first PC gaming hardware manufacturers, Alienware remains committed towards creating industry-leading trends in the high-performance gaming arena. Alienware manufactures a diverse selection of customizable high-performance desktops, notebooks and gaming peripherals that attract a broad range of customers who demand world class performance and design.

Alienware Aurora:
The Aurora is the most upgradeable MicroATX desktop, as well as the smallest mid-sized desktop, Alienware has ever created.

Combining technologies such as a MicroATX motherboard, a liquid cooled CPU, an Intel® X58 chipset with support for dual PCI-Express x16 slots for multi-GPU support, and dual triple-channel DDR3 memory there is an exceptional gaming experience to be had for gamers of every skill-level and enthusiasts who would like to perform upgrades to their system in the future.

In addition to an exceptional gaming experience, the new industrial design available in two colors incorporates several functional features and an AlienFX™ lighting system allowing the user to customize his desktop with up to 160 thousand possible accent lighting color combinations.

A PlanetSide Sequel May be on the Horizon

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:41:37 -0600

While names like EverQuest, Star Wars Galaxies, and Free Realms are likely going to come to mind when someone mentions Sony Online Entertainment, the fellows over there do run several other games that, while they may not offer as big of names, do offer plenty in terms of gameplay. The one that is, perhaps, most remarkable is a little game known as PlanetSide. PlanetSide is a MMOFPS - and one that truly does take advantage of that 'Massive' part, with battles frequently consisting of hundreds of people on each side in a three way war over key points of the world. Oh, and that's per battle. Yet, while this older game never drew a huge crowd, it has still be chugging along with a loyal fanbase. That fanbase, however, might be in for a treat as rumors have been rising about a sequel.

It was quiet at first. A few people supposedly received e-mails asking them what they would think about about PlanetSide 2, and if they would want it. Then, and probably more importantly came this blog post by John Smedly - the President of SOE - talking about a sequel for PlanetSide, and effectively confirming it from what it looks like.

If you are an old player of PlanetSide, or just think the idea of a huge-scale online war is pretty much epic, then this might be worth keeping your eyes out for.

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Don't Leave Yourself Open - Alienware Aurora and Xeno

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:01:39 -0600

Every gamer out there loves the feeling of powering up their rig and knowing it will run their favorite games the way they want. From the moment you press the power button and hear the fans spin up, it's like starting the engine on a race car. I got that feeling powering up the new Alienware Aurora desktop.

With so much talk about the CPU, memory, and video card, people too often forget the benefit of having the right network card. Alienware knows our customers demand the best of the best for their system which is why you can equip them with Bigfoot Network's Killer Xeno Pro.

What makes the difference you ask? No matter how fast your system is, you are still ruled by the network. With the Xeno, that isn't a problem anymore. It prioritizes online game traffic, which reduces lag and gives you smoother, more responsive online gameplay.

You have your video card giving its all to your game, you have your CPU and memory giving its all to your game, so why not your network card? Everyone knows response time is the key in online gaming. From headshots to clutch heals, a second of lag can leave you dead. With the Killer Xeno Pro's intelligent bandwidth control, all your applications, like voice chat and web surfing, are allocated to your specifications. Add to that the gaming firewall which runs off of your card, not you're CPU, and you're all set.

Simply put, the Aurora customized with the Killer Xeno Pro completes your ultimate gaming setup. Go ahead and try online gaming without it – that will just make you a much easier target.

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Picture of the Week - A New Feature

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:03:17 -0600

Today I'd like to announce a new feature to the Bigfoot Networks Blog: the Picture of the Week. For the most part, these images will revolve around the Bigfoot office, our employees, activities, and other related things. This is your chance to get to see what life here is like, and I can say from personal experience that you'll be able to see a lot of fun images from what is a great working environment - and also get a glimpse into some of the work that goes into the cards. So, without further delay, I'll start you off with The Community Cube:

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No, The First Amendment Doesn't Protect You From Being Banned From Online Services

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:34:34 -0600

There are a lot of different aspects to online gaming, but one of the most core and central of them is the ability to communicate with your fellow players. Of course, as every online gamer knows, that communication isn't always of a high level of discourse. Incidentally, a court case has now shown that if you violate user agreements by mouthing off too much, you can be banned and the First Amendment won't protect you from that, since the service is being provided without government support.

Technically, this case revolved around the PlayStation Network, but no doubt the results of the case could be identical to one found for any online service that runs through a PC. That said, are the results of this case somehow surprising? Oh, no. Not at all in fact. However, it is slightly amusing to see someone attempting to circumvent a ban by claiming First Amendment rights. I have to say though, had he won, it would have been a grand day for Trolls everywhere.

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Warhammer Online Prepares a New Player Journey

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:37:22 -0600

Warhammer Online made quite a splash in the MMO world with its release last year, and now they're looking to make their game a bit more friendly to new players with their upcoming patch. While this new update will include a number of changes, including tweaks to the Realm vs Realm PvP combat, they are implementing what they have coined as the "New Player Journey." Designed to help out both new and returning players, this new system includes a number of significant changes:

All players will start in either the Empire or Chaos starting areas, regardless of race.
Mythic is implementing a new visual tutorial system, to help make learning the game more painless.
New global chat channels, including an Advice channel where players can seek help from other players who have tagged themselves as 'Advisors,' along with channels for each level tier.

You can find out more information on this new update over at the Warhammer Herald.

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EVE Fanfest 2009 Highlights

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:46:47 -0600

In the world of Massively Multiplayer Games, there are a number of big names out there. While Blizzard Entertainment and World of WarCraft enjoy a firm position in the spotlight, there are others that have carved out their own niches. One of the most successful of them is EVE Online from CCP. While many people may not relate Iceland to game development, this Icelandic company put together a game that, while it may have started slow, has catered to its audience so well that it manages to consistently increase in subscriber numbers. Not only that, but the space-fairing MMO even features its own yearly fanfest that doesn't just attract quite a bit of attention from fans, is also usually filled with enough craziness that it is worth mentioning in general. This years EVE Fanfest has just come to an end, but Massively has a great write up about the main highlights of the event, which also contains information on their upcoming console-MMOFPS set in the EVE-universe, Dust 514.

There's also a little music video floating around that CCP released which aired at the end of the fanfest but... I'm going to elect to not post it here. I'm sure you can find it easily enough, though.

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DotA's IceFrog to Lead a Team at Valve

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:54:55 -0600

While there has been a lot of online gaming news around here about MMOs, as you all know, the online gaming scene is filled with plenty of other great genres and games. Take for instance Defense of the Ancients, a humble modification to Blizzard's WarCraft 3 that turned into a sensation in online gaming big enough to warrant a song about it. However, a noted by the good folks over at SK Gaming, DotA's developer, IceFrog, has announced that he will be leading a team at Valve. Not only does that alone sound interesting, he has promised that he will still be able to focus on the development of DotA, and that this new position could help to bring great things for the game.

While he has not yet released further details, it should be interesting to see how this develops, and what will come out of it.

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NETGEAR Launches RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router - Bigfoot Networks as a Partner

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:26:16 -0600

NETGEAR, a leading world-wide provider in networking solutions, has announced their latest offering: the RangeMAX Wireless-N Gigabit Router, which comes complete with USB and powerful OpenSource Linux Platform for Developers. Along with this new developer platform, NETGEAR is bringing aboard several companies into their new Developer Partner Program, and Bigfoot Networks is among them. We are excited to be participating in this program where we will be able to further ensure gamers can experience the best that online gaming has to offer.

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A Community of Developers

The NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router with USB is supported by a dedicated opensource router community, http://www.myopenrouter.com, which provides opensource firmware downloads, applications, forums, blogs, articles, source code and user guides. Members also have access to dedicated and responsive support from opensource experts.

NETGEAR is also introducing a Development Partner Program that already includes several software application vendors who are creating custom applications for the WNR3500L router that NETGEAR customers can download and enjoy. Companies include:

BigFoot Networks – network optimized online gaming
Bigfoot Networks (http://www.bigfootnetworks.com) is a networking technology company that develops hardware and software solutions that significantly improve the online gaming experience. Bigfoot Networks is currently working with the NETGEAR WNR3500L router to deliver optimized home networking solutions for online gamers that combine the performance benefits and flexibility of the Bigfoot Networks Killer Xeno Pro and the WNR3500L router.

...

First Impressions Coming Out for Fallen Earth

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:02:39 -0600

While the launch of NCSoft's Aion has been getting a lot of media attention of late, it wasn't the only recent release. The post-apocalyptic MMO, Fallen Earth has also made its way to the public armed with an interesting premise and plenty of ways to blast up mutants and fellow wasteland-thugs alike. With a setting that stands out among the largely fantasy-based crowd, Fallen Earth looks to have a charm of its own, but the question is whether or not that charm holds up for gamers looking to take a romp in a dangerous world. MMORPG writer Joe Iuliani has given his first impressions of the game, to see if it can do just that.

"Players enter the game as in most games with the Character Creation screen. The level of Character Creation is outstanding. They have really done a great job of allowing the player to customize the look and feel of your character. There have been others that have said it, but really this truly deserves extra attention, the creation generation is great. Almost every physical feature can be tweaked and tattooed to you liking. You can really lose your mind here for quite some time. Although I was a more than a little disappointed that after spending way too much too time generating my character just to find myself covered in clothes. I didn’t choose that halter top for nothing. I’m sure there will be more revealing armor as the game goes on. (Yes, yes I am that guy when it comes to designing my character, if I need to look at it for an unknown amount of hours, I better like what I see.)"

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September Newsletter

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:48:04 -0600

The Bigfoot Networks September Newsletter went out just yesterday. However, if you haven't signed up to receive the newsletter yet, that doesn't mean that you're going to miss out on the information. You can check out the full newsletter here, but be sure to sign up to get the next one!

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Bigfoot Networks Forum Makeover

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:26:43 -0600

You might notice a few changes when you head over to the forums today, and hopefully ones that'll make your visit all the better. We've implemented a few alterations that should help make the forums more organized, friendly to use, and a more effective place to communicate. Along with the visual changes, we've also made a few other tweaks, including turning the World of WarCraft forum into a general game discussion forum, and also adding a forum for News/Blog discussion. In fact, I encourage you to use the latter to provide some feedback on what you think of the changes!

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Team Dignitas Player Takes Home a Nissan 350z

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:50:42 -0600

It looks like Team Dignitas has been pretty busy of late. The professional gaming team - and one sponsored by us - has participated in the Grand Final of the Need for Speed Shift UK Championship, where their very own Steven 'Stune' Embling won the tournament! Not only that, but this talented gamer is also taking home a Nissan 350z. This sports car, worth £30000 - roughly US$48000 - is no small prize, but one well deserved for a great game played.

Congratulations!

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Hello Everyone.

Today Team Dignitas will be part of a very special gaming event in the UK. The Grand Final of the Need For Speed Shift UK Championship was held at the Thorpe Park in Chertsey. About 50 participants tried to set the fastest lap, amongst them were our racers Steven 'Stune' Embling and Dave 'Daveyskills' Kelly. The winner of the event put on by EA and Game would go on to win a brand new Nissan 350z sports car!

I am very pleased to announced that Steven 'Stune' Embling won the tournament and the £30000 Nissan 350z sports car!

Newspost - http://www.team-dignitas.org/index.php?id=8939

Gallery - http://www.team-dignitas.org/gallery.php?gid=402&fid=2

We would like to thank EA and Game for putting on such a really cool tournament.

Thank you.

Online Gaming – Week In Review 9/18 – 9/25/09

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:27:56 -0600

The Big News of the week was the launch of "Aion Online", NCSoft's classy competitor to "WoW". With over 400k pre-sales the rush to get online started early and quickly got frustrating for many, as server queues got longer and longer. Once in-game however, many people are saying this is a very highly polished MMO with interesting content and leveling from the get-go. Apparently more servers will come online this weekend which will hopefully ease the wait for people trying to get into the game. Once the initial teething troubles are out of the way this could be one MMO that actually gathers steam and grows.

By contrast, another MMO that launched this week enjoyed a trouble-free start. "Fallen Earth", the post- apocalypse MMO from indie developer Icarus Studios. This looks like being a refreshing alternative to the many online offerings out there today, as you enter an online world that has a "Fallout" flavor to it with "Half-Life" mutations running around that are intent on spoiling your day. This could be a lot of fun! Sure, it probably doesn't have the same crush of people trying to join in as "Aion" did, but still, kudos to Icarus Studios for pulling off a smooth launch and for doing something a little different.

The goofy multiplayer FPS "Battlefield Heroes" has reached 2 million registered users and will celebrate the fact by launching a new map at the end of this month. This is a fun free-to-play title that continues to take on an increasingly "quality" feel to it (guess it doesn't hurt to have someone like EA backing it up).

While we're on the subject of goofy games, one of the original founders of DICE, makers of "Battlefield Heroes", has launched a similarly offbeat online free-to-play game called "Junk:Battles". Another refreshingly different idea (with shades of Whacky Racers & Incredible Machines). Worth a quick look.

"Alliance of Valiant Arms" is a new free-to-play shooter from NHN that is looking to compete with "Combat Arms" and others. It uses Unreal Engine 3 which is pretty swanky for sure! Currently in closed beta thru the end of the month, I wonder if it will suffer from the same level of hacking that goes on in similar titles. We shall see.

NBC Bay Area - Gaming Grows Up, Featuring Bigfoot Networks

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:15:24 -0600

Recently, Bigfoot Networks was interviewed by NBC Bay Area as part of a feature on gaming. This featured, titled Gaming Grows Up has recently aired, and is now available online. The short piece is rather well done, and we certainly are excited to see Bigfoot Networks so prominently in the video. If you're interested in gaming - and if you're reading this, you most likely are - then head over to the NBC Bay Area site, or the Bigfoot Networks' home page and check it out!

Game Industry Tweet Connects You to Game Developers on Twitter

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:33:07 -0600

Bigfoot Networks is a big fan of Twitter, and while you certainly should already be following us, there are also an awful lot of people on Twitter from the Game Industry, be they game developers, game studios, publishers, journalists, or hardware companies and engineers. I've been using Twitter to get in touch with some of these people and to also keep up with some of the latest breaking news in games. Heck, it even makes for great live-blogging during industry events! However, if you want to join in on the fun and start following some professionals in gaming, then Game Industry Tweet has a pretty giant list of contacts, even including Bigfoot Networks!

Harlan Beverly's GDC Lecture on Lag Postmortem and Slides

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:35:39 -0600

Harlan Beverly, co-founder of Bigfoot Networks, gave a fantastic presentation at this year's Game Developers Conference in Austin, Texas on Lag, the Barrier to Innovation. However, just because you weren't able to attend the event doesn't mean that you can't still access the valuable information presented at the lecture. Harlan has posted up a fantastic write-up about his experience as a GDC presentor, and has also put up the slides he used for his presentation - and even will be posting the audio later.

If you are interested in learning ways to combat lag by using better network programming, better design choices, and other tools, you will not want to miss this. Be sure to check out both the write-up and the slides.

Online Gaming - Week in Review 9/11 - 9/18

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:37:00 -0600

George Thorn is back again with another update on online gaming over the past week. Not only that, but he is coming with some fresh knowledge gained from his attendance at this years Austin Game Developers Conference. If you want to keep informed on the latest, biggest news in the online gaming world, be sure to read on!

The Austin Games Developer conference took place this week. Attendance was visibly down on last year - the exhibition show floor was about 2/3 the size and I’d guess there was a similar decline in attendees, as the games industry unsurprisingly reacts to the tough economic climate.

Blizzard provided an interesting keynote that gave some sense of the magnitude of their operation – 13,250 blade servers, 75,000 CPU cores, 112.5 terrabytes of RAM spread over three continents. It seems to me there will only ever be a handful of online games of this magnitude in existence at any one time, and probably none to match the scale of WoW for a very long time to come (except possibly for Blizzard’s “next big thing” - they confirmed they do have another MMO in development).

By contrast, SOE president John Smedley, in his keynote the previous day, made it clear that they are putting a lot of emphasis on “Free Realms” and their attempts to capture a younger audience – Free Realms now has over 5 million registered users, 51% of them younger than 13, and 35% female (as compared to their average audience of 85% 18-34 with only 13% female on their other MMO properties). There are no subscription fees but in-game features can be purchased via their e-store in the game and supposedly business is good. They have ecash-cards placed in most major supermarket chains.

Browser based MMOs were the subject of several presentations and panels. The key attraction for developers was the Flash environment – it is becoming increasingly capable in terms of multimedia capabilities, and it is installed on 97% of all PCs. However it was clear that doing a full 3D MMO in a browser would be a major technical challenge and would not compete with a custom client design in terms of user experience or performance at this time.

Aion Online is gearing up for its official launch on Sept 22. They have announced over 400k pre-sales, making it the largest MMO launch of 2009. They decided to remove the GameGuard anti cheating component for the launch since this had been causing issues for beta players, but they do intend to reintroduce it in a patch at some point soon.

Runes of Magic launches its new expansion The Elven Prophecy this coming week.

SOE is consolidating the number of servers online for their Star Wars Galaxies MMO – down to 13 from 25. Although this is still sufficient to host a large number of players (30K ish?), and it’s certainly better than having deserted shards, it seems that this MMO could be gradually running out of gas.

Eve Online is unique in its single shard design (all players on one server). A good example of how this approach impacts the gameplay experience here… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq2oxt7Nrxo CCP says they will have 340k subscribers by year’s end, but they’ve been claiming 300k for over a year, so growth appears to be slow. I also wonder at what point their single-universe design will reach full capacity..?

Not directly relevant to PC gamers, since it is a PS3-only title, but a further blurring of the lines between MMOs and online FPS titles is coming with MAG from Sony (developer is Zipper Interactive). This title will feature “persistence” for players’ characters (similar to the Battlefield series of games), it ups the player count to 256 players on one map, and features team grouping. I hope we see titles like this coming to the PC at some point soon!

GDC Session: Lag, The Barrier to Innovation in Online Gaming - By Bigfoot Networks Co-Founder Harlan Beverly

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:19:05 -0600

If you are one of the lucky people who are attending this years Game Developers Conference in Austin, Texas - going on right now! - then be sure to keep some time open on Thursday from 11am - 12pm. Bigfoot Networks co-founder, Harlan Beverly, will be delivering a session entitled Lag, The Barrier to Innovation in Online Gaming. This session will cover the causes and effects of lag, and how to fight against it with game design, programming, and other solutions. This is a session that you won't want to miss, and should be very useful to online game designers, programmers, and anyone with an interest in online gaming.

For further details, here is the session description as listed in the on the GDC's website:

Session Description
While innovation has been a constant in the gaming industry, there is one online gaming roadblock--lag. Whether it is caused by the server, the Internet connection or a client’s PC, lag is hindering us from making games look better, play better and perform in an optimal manner. This session will define and explore lag, its causes, effects and solutions. Topics will include: how to fight lag with game design and programming, controlling the variables we can, and working around those we can’t!

Takeaway
This session will define and explore lag, its causes, effects and solutions from a developer standpoint. Topics will include: game design, net code and protocol, proper server infrastructure and scalable graphics systems and low system requirements.

EverQuest Ancient Heroes Allows Players to Experience Classic Content

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:59:45 -0600

The latest update for EverQuest is allowing players a nostalgic experience, among other enhancements. An NPC in the Planes of Knowledge - an area within the game - is now able to morph players into level 50 characters with classic EverQuest equipment to tackle some of the biggest raids the game saw upon release.

While players can now can level far past a mere level 50, which has caused an issue in online games known as 'mudflation' - a term that means old areas, items, and content have become worthless, even though they were originally very important. This expansion seeks to give players a chance to return to that old content, providing some value to it once again.

And, if that doesn't interest you, the update includes a few other benefits - and even the ability to have your character undergo a sex-change, which is definitely different.

Star Wars Galaxies to Close Twelve Servers

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:41:22 -0600

Star Wars Galaxies is a game with a long, colorful history, filled with everything from very high times, to controversy that sometimes seems to have more in common with a Tale of Two Cities than Star Wars. It was just recently announced that the venerable game, which is still continuing its long run, will be closing down twelve of its servers in response to their recent Free Server Transfer program, which has left those servers as virtual ghost towns, as players have consolidated themselves in healthy populations on the remaining thirteen servers. Players who are still on the servers that are being closed are in luck, however, as the Free Server Transfers are being continued until October 15th, the day that those servers go down.

Bigfoot Networks at the Austin Game Developers Conference 2009

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:47:30 -0600

Today marks the beginning of the Austin Game Developer's Conference. Numerous tutorials will be held over the course of the day for industry professionals to learn new techniques and brush up on some old ones as well, in what will no doubt be a fun and interesting day. Of course, the three days following will be the true focus of the conference, where many huge names in the game industry will be speaking in keynotes, round-tables, and panels about the current state, and future of, the game industry.

Bigfoot Networks will be sending out a few representatives to the conference this year, so if you're attending, or if you're just hanging around downtown Austin, be sure to keep an eye out for us!

Runes of Magic Chapter 2 Launches with Elves and New Classes

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:18:12 -0600

Runes of Magic, a game that is often considered to be showing the world that a Free to Play / Microtransaction model is entirely viable, has just launched their latest content update. Chapter II brings in two new classes, the Warden and Druid, as well as a new playable race to join the Humans of the world: Elves. New raids and other content are also being included in this release as well.

To celebrate the launch, the game is featuring a number of promotional events, including a discount on diamonds - a currency that players buy with real money, allowing them to purchase certain items in-game - as well as an increased XP event.

Champions Online Buzz from Around the Web

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:05:16 -0600

There are a few major names in online gaming making a big splash this month, and one of those games is the latest Superhero-based title from Cryptic, Champions Online. If you've been curious about this title, there are already a few places around the web that already feature reviews and first impressions of the game, helping you make an informed choice as to dive into the game, or hold off for the moment. MMORPG.com has a first impressions up right now, and The Escapist also has a review of the game up. Be sure to check both out!

All in all, while there are many issues to be addressed, Champions Online is still a pretty fun game; and we do get the sense that Cryptic Studios has been attentive and generally pretty quick to respond and solve a number of issues with the game thus far. Later this month, we'll spare you the controversies and break down both the good and bad of the game as a whole in our full review. Stay tuned! -- Michael Bitton, MMORPG.com

It becomes apparent from the moment you create your hero that the word of the day here is "customization." Frankly ridiculous amounts of customization, in fact - the depth of the character creator in Champions is staggering. You start out by choosing your power set: Are you a fire-based hero? Are you a superhuman martial artist, a powerful telepath, a sorcerer, or some guy in a suit of robot armor? Beyond that, you can even customize things like the color of your moves - I want my fire blasts to be green, dammit! -- John Funk, The Escapist

QuakeCon 2009 Interview with Team Dignitas

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:02:47 -0600

While out at QuakeCon this year, Bigfoot Networks met up with two players from Team Dignitas, a professional eSports team who came over from Europe to battle among some of the best gamers in the world.

Online Gaming - Week in Review 9/3 - 9/10

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:24:43 -0600

George Thorn, Bigfoot Network's VP of Business Development, has written up a fantastic overview of some of the biggest news pieces in online gaming over this past week. If you'd like a quick update on some of the latest goings on in online game, be sure to read on!

Week in Review

Two big events over the weekend - Pax and Dragon-con, where a number of upcoming multiplayer online titles got premium exposure.

Lots of anticipation and excitement building for Star Wars: The Old Republic – an MMO being developed by Bioware Austin, and featuring some interesting new technologies, including major dialog driven storylines (not text, but real voice talent) and the concept of “taking cover” during firearms combat. Shaping up to be a major MMO success.

All Points Bulletin (APB) is another highly anticipated MMO that is currently nearing completion. Created by the original designers of the Grand Theft Auto series, this puts people into a persistent online world of “cops ‘n robbers”

Champions Online launched this week! A large scale superhero subscription MMO developed by Cryptic Studios (also developing a major Star Trek MMO for launch in 2010)..

Aion Online from NCSoft is set to launch in the US on Sept 22. Highly anticipated as a “WoW Killer”, this is a fantasy MMO (subscription) from Korea where it has proved to be very popular.

Dungeons & Dragons Online (DDO) – Turbine announced a FREE TO PLAY version with built-in micro transactions. They seem to have worked hard on getting the balance right, such that there’s still a reason for hardcore players to subscribe each month, but casual players can come in, have some fun for little or no money.

Fallen Earth is a subscription MMO from Icarus Studios, a small indie developer. Quality looks quite high although it is launching Sept 22 in the midst of some tough competition. For people that pre-ordered the game they will be able to play online from 9/9/09.

Ultima Online, the granddaddy of MMOs is still going after 12 years! They just released an expansion pack (the Stygian Abyss) and are saying there’s plenty of life left in it yet.

What Peope Are Buying

Steam – top sellers this week had MMOs in the 1 & 2 spots, but FPS titles take the rest, and most have an online multiplayer component (COD titles are particularly popular online).

1. Champions Online - Cryptic Studios/Atari
2. Aion (pre-order) - NCsoft
3. Street Fighter IV - Capcom
4. Left 4 Dead - Valve
5. Counter-Strike: Source - Valve
6. THQ Collector Pack - THQ
7. Section 8 - Timegate Studios/Southpeak Games
8. Team Fortress 2 - Valve
9. Killing Floor - Tripwire Interactive
10. The Orange Box - Valve

What People Are Playing

Xfire - snapshot from 9/10/09:

GAME	MINUTES PLAYED
World of Warcraft	4,431,618
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Multiplayer	3,384,885
Call of Duty 2 Multiplayer	1,909,502
Counter-Strike: Source	566,424
Battlefield 2	487,427
Warcraft III - The Frozen Throne	388,385
Silkroad Online	298,768
Call of Duty: World at War Multiplayer	280,522
Metin 2	262,647
Guild Wars	227,027

Architecture + Looks at the Killer NIC

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:42:24 -0600

Architecture +, a blog and virtual world modeling firm, took a look into the future of web technologies. While mentioning things such as 3D browsing, they also brought up voice technologies and, quite prominently in this article, Bigfoot Networks. Intrigued by the Killer NIC, they put together a great summery on the card and its benefits. If you're curious about what the Killer NIC offers, head on over and check out this writeup.

DeBlasio – I think so. And I think video, as it progresses and more and more users increase their expectations of what the video experience is supposed to look like, as they want more and more, video as the consumer of bandwidth that it is, the demands are going to be even more strict. The users will require an online experience that is fast, reliable and of the highest quality.

Dungeons and Dragons Online Now Free to Play

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:44:18 -0600

Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited is now live, as of today. The online version of the classic tabletop RPG is now free to play with this latest update. Supporting a micro-transaction and optional subscription fee, DDO can now otherwise be played without spending a dime. If you've been looking to check out this title, now might well be a good time to do so.

NCSoft's Aion Enters Open Beta

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:05:35 -0600

Starting last Sunday, NCSoft's MMO-with-wings, Aion, has entered into an Open Beta. Making use of Labor Day weekend, gamers with access to the beta were able to hop into the servers to begin exploring the upcoming, and hotly anticipated, online game. NCSoft celebrated the event with a launch party at PAX, which Bigfoot Networks attended while out at the show.

While NCSoft is no stranger to bringing over Korean MMOs, being a the Korean company who developed Lineage and Lineage 2 after all, they don't always capture the Western audiences as well. Aion promises a change in that trend, and time will tell whether or not it will deliver.

Online Golf – In Pursuit Of the Perfect Swing

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:37:59 -0600

Golf games have long been popular on the PC, and just as with almost every other genre of sports game, it's increasingly being played online. Electronic Arts is currently in the process of moving its highly successful and enduring Tiger Woods franchise to the web (after 8 years of gradually declining sales of the PC boxed version). There are some compelling arguments for doing so. It's a game that's ripe for a microtransaction model. Everyone needs that special titanium driver to get an extra 15 yards on their tee shots, right? And a new pair of Callaway Tour Brogues for my avatar wouldn’t go amiss either (hey, there might be girls playing on here, so gotta look sharp!).

So I’ve got my application in to join the closed beta of EA’s new “Tiger Woods Online”, but in the meantime I've discovered another online golf offering that has got me pretty hooked! It's “World Golf Tour and it's highly addictive, even for non-golfers. I was really interested to find out if my trusty Killer NIC would help my online game (and I could sure use any help I can get!). Could it help me earn some of those incredibly hard to win in-game credits (and possibly make them a little less hard to obtain) so that I could upgrade my equipment? The only way to find out was to sign up, log in and play a few tournament rounds, which is exactly what I did.

WGT is a picture book presentation of real golf courses with a superimposed golfer (your avatar) who is equipped with a full complement of clubs, from drivers to wedges to putters. You can choose to play practice rounds or you can enter various competitions trying to beat the thousands of other entrants (whose scores seem incredibly high – er, I mean low). It became clear to me early on that I'd have to dive into the pro shop and purchase a better putter, since I was taking way too many shots on the greens. Four bucks later and I was putting like a god (and feeling a little less embarrassed about my scores).

So, now for the “Killer Effect”…. WGT uses a power meter followed by an accuracy meter to make shots. This latter control requires that you click as exactly as you can while the swing is in motion – too early and you'll hook the ball, too late and you'll slice it, and with either miss-hit you'll shorten the distance. Having played a whole evening with my Killer NIC bypassed (using the standard on-board NIC in my system) I can attest to several instances of lag that definitely affected the critical accuracy of that click, especially on tee shots. No really! I swear I was clicking at exactly the right moment, only to find that my click had registered late with the game server and as a consequence, my ball had ended up going way right (on several occasions, usually ending up in some duck pond or bunker). I can honestly say that after several hours of playing with my Killer NIC enabled I have yet to experience one single miss-hit of this nature. Needless to say, I'm still a crap online golfer, but for someone who knew what they were doing out on the virtual links, the Killer NIC could be the difference between first place and also-ran.

Happy golfing!

Ultima Online: The Stygian Abyss Proves UO is Still Kicking

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:00:34 -0600

As you may well know, Ultima Online was a milestone in online gaming. While not the first Massively Multiplayer Online Game, it was the first to reach 100,000 subscribers. While that may not seem as impressive as a number these days, back then that was quite an achievement. In the days before even EverQuest launched, Ultima Online was carving out a deep online experience with its virtual world. That world, however, is still continuing on today, 12 years after its launch in 1997, and they're proving it with the launch of a new Expansion: The Stygian Abyss.

Massively has an interview that goes into some details about Ultima Online, it's eigth expansion, and the future of the game.

Get EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey With Your Xeno Pro for $99.99

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:50:54 -0600

Now with the purchase of your Xeno Pro, along with a lag-free, smooth gameplay experience, you will be able to explore the vast world of Norrath with a free copy of EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey from the renown Sony Online Entertainment. This includes a free 30 days of play, along with every expansion pack that has been released for EverQuest II. Oh, and just to make it better? The Killer Xeno Pro is now available for $99.99!

To learn more about this offer, and about the Xeno Pro, head over here.

Bigfoot Networks is Headed to PAX 2009!

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:59:13 -0600

Just coming off of a fantastic few weeks at both QuakeCon in Texas, and GamesCom in Germany, Bigfoot Networks is now headed out to the state of Washington for the Penny Arcade Expo; our latest stop in this busy time of year for gaming events. If you will be attending PAX this year, be sure to keep an eye out for us.

We will be posting further updates about the event over the next few days as it officially begins, so be sure to stop by our Twitter and Facebook pages.

Latest Xeno Pro Drivers Now Up on the Downloads Page

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:19:26 -0600

The latest and greatest drivers for the Xeno Pro are now up on the download page of the site. If you haven't upgraded yet, and you have a Xeno Pro, then head on over and grab the update! We've been hearing a lot of positive feedback on these drivers, so hopefully you'll be able to enjoy performance benefits beyond what you even see now with your Killer NIC. The upgraded features and the on-card firewall should also make this update more than worthwhile.

Scott Budman and NBC Bay Area Visit Bigfoot

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:21:23 -0600

The Bigfoot Networks' Californian office was paid a visit by Scott Budman and NBC Bay Area. They held an interview that Bigfoot was happy to be a part of, and shot some footage as part of their upcoming feature on gaming. Be sure to stay tuned for this feature, which should be airing in September.

Check our Facebook page for a few images from the event.

GamesCom 2009 Pictures!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:19:53 -0600

Bigfoot Networks was able to head out to Cologne, Germany recently for the first ever GamesCom, a new show for the game industry that made big promises for greatness and certainly delivered on them. Some major news came out of the show this year, including the European release of the Killer Xeno Pro!

While out at the show, we were able to get some images of the event. Be sure to check them out!

New Xeno Pro Driver Released

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:41:35 -0600

Just in case you missed it, the Killer Xeno Pro has a new driver release! The new driver has a number of great new features, like improved Bandwidth control, the hardware firewall, and numerous fixes and refinements. Users are already reporting great improvements in their gaming with the new driver! So, be sure to head on over here to grab the update.

New eSports Sponsorships

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:18:34 -0600

Did you know that Bigfoot Networks sponsors professional eSports teams? Our growing list of sponsored teams feature some of the very best players in the world, who routinely attend major tournaments, and for them, winning is no uncommon thing. If you follow eSports, then you may recognize the names of Fnatic, ESC Gaming, n!faculty, SK Gaming, and Team Dignitas. You can check out the teams on our current Sponsored Teams page, or even head over to their websites individually.

You can learn more about our new sponsored teams in this release.

You can also read press releases from the teams:

Team Dignitas
Fnatic
SK Gaming
n!faculty (German)

Sean McCann on the Rise of the Online Gaming PC: Optimized for the Skilled, Competitive Gamer

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:03:06 -0600

Our very own Sean McCann has an article up over at the Warcry Network, a prolific media site for online gaming, focusing largely around Massively Multiplayer games. This article takes a look at the growth of online gaming, how an online gaming PC can be different from a normal gaming PC, optimizations necessary for successful online play, and also how Bigfoot can help in that department. However, if you're looking for general advice, Sean covers everything from graphics cards, audio, monitors, and even to mice and keyboards.

If you're looking for some useful information to help improve your online gaming performance, regardless of the area you need improvement in, this article presents some solid advice.

European Online Gaming PC Vendors Choose Bigfoot Networks

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:39:17 -0600

Bigfoot Networks is proud to announce the European availability of the Xeno Pro! In addition to online gaming PCs from existing partners, including Dell, Alienware and CyberPower, Killer Xeno Pro cards will now be integrated into Combat Ready, Massive Machine, Scan Computers, UltimateFX, UltraForce and Zykon Systems PCs.

To find out more information on the European launch, check the full press release here.

Howie's Tournament, Mission Viejo, CA - 5 Xeno Pros Up for Grab!

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:03:44 -0600

GamesiPLAY.NET is teaming up with Howie's Game Shack for a Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare tournament in Mission Viejo, California. The tournament will be held on August 22nd at 12pm, and will feature 5 vs. 5 Search and Destroy gameplay. They are currently looking for 50 people, or 10 teams, to battle it out. However, Howie's can support over 200 players, and the more players the better.

The entry fee of $20 gets you an All-Day-Pass at Howie's, one personal pizza, one Monster beverage, and access to the tournament. However, if that isn't enough, you will be playing for your very own Xeno Pro!

Bigfoot Networks and EVGA are happy to announce that each player of the winning team will receive their very own card!

QuakeCon Killer Xeno Pro Winners!

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:45:18 -0600

QuakeCon was a great event this year, and Bigfoot Networks was happy to have been a part of it. We were able to meet with a huge number of fans, no less than a legion of gamers, and had a fantastic time doing so. Not only that, we were able to give four lucky winners their very own Killer Xeno Pro! Each day of the three-day long contest, we handed out a new card to a lucky winner, with a bonus forth card on the last day of QuakeCon.

Our first winner was Alejandro "Orcid" Guerra, with Les Mercatoris winning the card on day two of the event - who was lucky enough to have his sister Tanya snag the card for him! On day three, Wesley Day was the winner, with Chihi Wu claiming the bonus card. You can see pictures of the winners with their prizes over here.

Congratulations!

Bigfoot Heads to GamesCom in Cologne, Germany

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:39:38 -0600

Fresh from our trip to QuakeCon, Bigfoot Networks is heading to Germany for the upcoming GamesCom! GamesCom is a new event that is being held in conjunction with the Game Developers Conference Europe, which is currently going on right now, and will begin on the last day of the GDC. Game companies such as Sony, EA, Activision, Blizzard, Square Enix, and Microsoft will be showing off some of the most anticipated upcoming titles.

Bigfoot will be joining up with the German-based, online game publisher, Frogster, so be sure to stop by the booth! As an added bonus to everything else that we will be handing out, the first ten people who bring us their Bigfoot dog tags from last year will receive our Killer Bling in return. Don't miss out on a chance to get this unique wearable!

Bigfoot Networks Featured in Dell's Back to School Special

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:42:03 -0600

This year's annual Back to School promotion from Dell is sure to bring a smile to the face of any student hoping to relieve a little stress from long classes and piles of homework with a brand new gaming machine. Included in this year's promotion, along with Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Intel, is Bigfoot Networks. We are supplying our own Killer NICs for your online gaming needs. As an added bonus, at Dell's Back to School site, you can check out a series of Video Answers straight from Bigfoot Networks.

There are 10 days left on this promotion, which features some nice discounts, so don't let this one slip by!

Bigfoot Networks at QuakeCon 2009

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:10:46 -0600

As some of you might know, today marks the first day of QuakeCon, the largest free LAN party in the world, and the largest in North America, period. Along with the thousands of gamers from around the world who are flocking to the Texan event, is Bigfoot Networks. We have our own booth at the event, complete with our own selection of bling and swag.

If you are attending QuakeCon, be sure to check out the booth. For everyone else, we will be posting updates about the event to both our Twitter and Facebook pages. Be sure to check them out!

iBuyPower Release New Chimera Killer Special Edition Gaming PCs

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:36:37 -0600

iBuyPower, the California-based PC manufacturer with an eye on gaming performance, has released two new user-configurable models of the Chimera Killer Special Edition. These gaming PCs come complete with an Intel i7 or Phenom II processor, up to 8GB of RAM, dual graphics cards, 760GB hard drives, and most importantly of all: a Killer Xeno Pro!

Bigfoot Networks Joins the PC Gaming Alliance

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:07:25 -0600

Bigfoot Networks is proud to announce that we are one of the newest members to the PC Gaming Alliance, the non-profit consortium created to promote the PC Gaming Industry. We hope that we will be able to provide valuable contributions to the organization that will help to grow the industry as a whole.

You can view the full press release here.

Bigfoot Networks Named AlwaysOn Global 250 Winner

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:47:27 -0600

Bigfoot Networks is proud to announce that we have been named to the AlwaysOn Global 250 list. AlwaysOn Global 250 winners are private, emerging technology companies that are creating new business opportunities in high-growth markets.

Read the full press release

NetworkWorld Podcast: How Gamers Can Improve Your Network

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:02:00 -0600

Network World sat down with John Drewry of Bigfoot Networks™ to talk about how gamers deal with "lag." Listen to the podcast on Network World's website.

Bigfoot Networks™ at Comic-con

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:27:33 -0600

Bigfoot Networks™ is going to Sony Online Entertainment’s Fourth Annual Block Party, July 25th 2009. Come and enjoy the food and fun, get some of our world-famous K-Bling, and maybe win of the EVGA Killer™ Xeno™ Pro gaming network cards that we’re giving away at the event!

Jon Peddie Research finds that Killer™ Xeno™ Pro provides “a clear performance benefit…”

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:39:06 -0600

After extensive testing of the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Xeno™ Pro Card, Jon Peddie Research announced the results of the tests. Some application during gameplay showed improvements in online performance as high as 58%! Visit the Jon Peddie Research website to read the press release and download the free white paper.

App Mode vs. Game Mode

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:30:09 -0600

The Killer NIC® and Killer Xeno™ support two different modes of use: App Mode and Game Mode. What is the difference between these two? Let’s take a look:

Game Mode: Game mode is the accelerated mode. It installs a bypass around the sluggish Windows networking stack and inserts a custom Linux network stack more designed for low latency operation. It also offloads UDP data from your CPU onto the Killer’s own networking processor (NPU). These two features help to reduce lag and improve the overall gameplay of online games.

App Mode: App Mode is the unaccelerated mode. It disables UDP offload and the Windows network stack bypass the Killer offers. It is designed for use with any application you may use that requires the Windows network stack to be present. The list is getting shorter and shorter with each driver update, but one example is VPN software. A VPN looks for certain parts of the Windows network stack just to function. You might notice that you just can’t connect to these while in LLR Game Mode, so your solution is to switch the Killer to App Mode just while using these programs.

It is usually okay to remain in LLR Game Mode. As long as you can connect to all your applications, there’s no reason to switch to App Mode. The only time to make the switch is if something just won’t connect. If for some reason it won’t connect in either mode (when you know it should), you may want to contact tech support.

Bandwidth vs. Latency

Wed, 20 May 2009 09:31:41 -0600

There are two factors in online gaming when it comes to your internet connection: bandwidth and latency. Let’s review on what each of them means:

Bandwidth – The average rate of successful data transfer through a communications path (usually measured in KB/s or Mb/s – that’s megabits, not megabytes! See below)
Latency – The time it takes for data to be passed from the source to a server and back again (usually measured in milliseconds)

Let’s say you’ve got a 10Mb connection through your ISP. A common mistake is assuming you can download things at 10 megabytes per second. A 10 megabit connection means you can download things at roughly 1 megabyte per second over the internet. But even with this fast connection, you still get lag in your online games. What gives?

Bandwidth is a good thing to have when performing tasks such as large file transfers or streaming video. The more bandwidth you have, the more data it can shove through your Ethernet cable and the faster you’ll get things transferred. Unfortunately, optimizing your connection for heavy bandwidth (like the Windows network stack does) actually hinders your latency for things like online gaming.

The most important part of a connection for online games is latency. We all know what it’s like to put the crosshairs on someone’s head, only to pull the trigger and see them jump 10 feet ahead and you come off with a miss. This is an effect of high latency. The Killer NIC® is designed for online gaming, so the primary focus is alleviating this latency problem. By replacing the throughput-optimized Windows stack with a latency-optimized Linux networking stack, you might see a slight decrease in the transfer rates you’re used to in terms of throughput (and I do mean slight), but you will also see an increase in your gaming performance. But don’t worry about your downloads; the decrease in speed will usually only be present when transferring very large files over a LAN. Common internet bandwidth should remain constant.

Bottom Line: The Windows networking stack and a big bandwidth connection will help you for non-gaming applications, but for gaming, the Killer NIC will produce the low latency connection you need to compete.

Killer NIC® and the Tab Key

Thu, 14 May 2009 11:43:20 -0600

There’s something we need to address. The Killer NIC can lower your latency. It’s true. So why aren’t you seeing a drop in your in-game ping report when you hit the Tab key? There’s a (relatively) simple explanation:
Games can send data to and from your PC in many different ways:

UDP – most games use this data because it’s quicker to get through. It uses smaller pieces of information, throws caution to the wind, and shoots them in whatever order it pleases, then relies on the game to assemble them in the correct order
TCP – A lot of different non-game applications use this protocol because it will keep your data in a nice, neat order and ensure that nothing gets lost when you send it. This is slower than UDP
ICMP – An uncommon delivery system, it’s not usually used except for internal operations like error reporting…with the exception of measuring ping

As mentioned, most games utilize the UDP protocol for their network traffic. Knowing this, the Killer NIC was designed to accelerate UDP data. It offloads the workload from your CPU and puts it onto its own processor (the NPU), and it bypasses the slower Windows networking stack and substitutes its own solution (a custom Linux stack).

So you’ve plugged in the Killer, booted up, installed the drivers, and opened your game. You enter your favorite game server, and smash the tab key to see if it was really true. You notice the ping looks exactly the same as it did before! What gives?

Well, these clever game designers have pulled a fast one. While the game data itself is being sent via the UDP protocol, the task you just assigned it has used either TCP or ICMP protocol. Why? Don’t ask me. That’s just how they do it. So what does this mean for you? Well, it means that specific ping request isn’t being accelerated, because it isn’t part of the UDP family. Does that mean the Killer isn’t working? Of course not! It just means the number on the Tab screen won’t change (too much).

Here’s my suggestion: Play the game. Spend some time with it and experience the difference. The lower latency that the Killer brings provides smoother gameplay, better hit registration, and less frustration. It’s especially noticeable in a very network-intensive situation (i.e.: a 60 man raid or standing in the blast radius of an air strike).

Bottom line: Don’t rely on the tab key! Get in the game and feel the difference!

Win an EVGA Killer Xeno™ Pro

Wed, 06 May 2009 14:19:42 -0600

Visit Curse.com for a chance to win 1 of 5 EVGA Killer Xeno™ Pro Gaming Network Cards.

Enter Now

EVGA Shipping Killer Xeno™ Pro

Fri, 01 May 2009 14:08:24 -0600

The EVGA Killer Xeno™ Pro is now shipping!

Visit EVGA.com for more information or to buy from EVGA.

The EVGA Killer Xeno™ Pro is also available at NewEgg.com with free shipping.

New Executives Added to Management Team

Fri, 01 May 2009 13:37:33 -0600

Bigfoot Networks™ is proud to announce the appointment of two prominent Silicon Valley executives to our management team. Harry Dickinson will be joining Bigfoot Networks as Vice President of Worldwide Sales and John Dewry will be the new Vice President of Marketing. Together they bring more than 40 years' combined experience in growing start up technology companies. They both will be instrumental in advancing Bigfoot Networks as a real-time networking innovator.

Read full press release

IGN: Online Gaming Lag

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:42:07 -0600

Harlan "Tytus" Beverly was asked to contribute to an article for IGN.com discussing the various causes of lag.

Head over to IGN.com to read the full article.

Bigfoot Networks™ Named to OnHollywood 100 Top Private Companies list

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:24:43 -0600

The OnHollywood 100 Award is given to private, emerging technology companies in the media and entertainment industries. Bigfoot Networks™ was selected by the AlwaysOn editorial team based on demonstration of growth, market opportunity, quality of innovation and customer traction.

The OnHollywood 100 winners were selected from among hundreds of other technology companies nominated by investors, bankers, journalists and industry insiders. The AlwaysOn editorial team conducted a rigorous three-month selection process to finalize the 2009 list.

A full list of all the OnHollywood 100 winners can be found on the AlwaysOn website at http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/31890

Read the press release

See Benefits of Killer NIC® in WoW

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:02:48 -0600

World of Warcraft is Huge. So when Zam.com came to our offices for a preview of Xeno and we were able to show them World of Warcraft running smoother on identical machines (except one had a Killer®), I jumped at the chance. Not only was it an impactful demo, but Zam actually filmed it! So, yes, you can visibly see the difference if you look closely at the WoW Jump test. For my part, being a huge WoW player, that means a lot… especially when you realize that with a Killer NIC®, you can get that bump in performance AND be able to do more with your PC in the background.

So, How does the demo work?

The short answer is that it works on 2 principles:
1.) we’ve turned on TCP optimization settings in Killer®. These are settings especially designed to optimize games running on TCP/IP (like World of Warcraft) and especially so with a Killer NIC® which performs a hardware interrupt for every packet (even TCP/IP packets). See our forums here for a more complete explanation.

2.) we didn’t do this for this particular demo (didn’t need to!), but the performance difference gets exaggerated even more when you download large files using HTTP or BitTorrent while running the test.

After that it’s just a matter of having 2 identical PCs logged in to the same server, and pressing the space bar!

Now imagine that Space-bar amplified by EVERY single thing you do in WoW. Every button your press, and every button that your opponents press. You see it faster, smoother, and frankly, more natural… the delay, yes, the Lag, of your actions is visibly less. It makes me (and all our engineers) proud to have worked on the product. Thanks to Andrew Beegle and Zam for taking the time to do the interview and the video. I hope everyone enjoys it. Got questions: direct them to our forums here.

Tytus

Killer Xeno Q & A

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:12:53 -0600

John Callaham, Lead Writer of BigDownload, sat down with Bigfoot Networks CTO Harlan "Tytus" Beverly . The topic of discussion was the new Killer Xeno™ Gaming Network Card. Read the full interview below.

1. First its been a few years since the original Killer NIC card has been released. Can you give us any info on how well that card and its K1 version had sold and if you are pleased with the reception the products received.

Well, I can speak for myself in saying that I am MORE than pleased with the product reception. There are always 3 camps of people when new products come out: people that love the idea, people that hate the idea, and people that don’t know about it. The first 2 are manageable, because you know where they stand. The last camp (people who don’t know about it) is the hardest. Now, with Killer NIC so widely available and shipping as defaults in many Dell & Alienware systems (as well as many other OEMs), we really have moved a lot of people from “don’t know about it” to “love it”. The new card, the EVGA Killer Xeno Pro, was designed after listening to the other camp (people who hate the idea), and we’ve worked very hard to add the features we think will make them understand and fall in love with the idea.

2. When the time came to come up with your next generation network card, the Xeno, what were the main goals of you and the card's development team?

The main goals were
#1.) Add features that people who don’t understand what Network Processing is for would “get it” right away.
#2.) Make it really easy to use and take advantage of all the features “automatically”.
#3.) Make it more affordable.
We spent most of our time on #1… dozens of surveys, customer interviews, online conversations, and trade-show conversations all compiled into a short list of things people think Network Processing would be good for.

We’ve added those things to our new product: namely Voice Chat Offload (why shouldn’t your network card handle all your voice chat?), and also Bandwidth Control (shouldn’t your network card know EXACTLY what applications have higher priority than others & do it automatically?). Both of these are part of Xeno and we’ve made them easy to use, while making the Xeno product line MUCH more affordable starting at just $129.99.

3. Can you give us an overview on the improvements made to the Xeno that make it a better network card than the original?

Well, Xeno is not just a network card. It’s a network processing card. As a network card it is better than the original at RAW data throughput (something irrelevant to gamers, but maybe important to enterprise customers who are also gamers).

As a network processor we’ve increased the RAM allowing for more applications to run in the card & improved the interface (PCI-E is 3x faster than PCI and available on more motherboards). But really the big improvement is Voice Chat capabilities with built-in audio chip & audio interfaces (a mic port, a spkr port, a line-out port all right on the card)… Combine that with partnerships with Teamspeak, Vivox, and Mumble and you get one very powerful Network Processor. Pure game performance should increase by an additional 5-10% when offloading voice chat for example over the prior generation Killer NIC.

4.You also wanted to have more emphasis on hardware acceleration for voice chat in games. First, why do you think this is important?

Well, our customers REALLY wanted it! It just makes sense that your VoIP should be run in an offloaded network processor. Here is a few data-points for you: over 70% of gamers would be more likely to use Voice Chat if they could be assured it would NOT interfere with their gameplay. In short, gamers want Voice Chat, but know that it does have an impact to their system in both networking and CPU!

5. How does the Killer Xeno improve voice chat in games?

Short answer: we offload it fully into the card. Longer answer: running Voice Chat inside our NPU has 3 major benefits: 1.) we can put Voice Chat packets at priority #2 (just below the game, but above everything else). 2.) it reduces CPU cycles and Windows Kernel interrupts & processing time easing system resources and memory footprints dramatically. 3.) it sounds better because we not only bypass the Windows Network stack, but also the Windows AUDIO stack as well…. This leads to lower latencies in your voice chat (and less cross-talk and jabber problems).

6. What other improvements and new features does the Killer Xeno have?

Better throughput, more memory, PCI-E, and easier to use/automatic features like Bandwidth Control are all packaged together with Voice to deliver more value to the gamer at a lower price point. Realize our 1st gen NPU launched at $249.99 and the Xeno Pro is launching at $129.99 with all the new features enabled.

7. Some might still say that having a network card that costs as much as the Killer Xeno is a waste of money as broadband access gets more widespread and faster. What is your response to this?

I’m sure it is true from some people. If you don’t game, don’t bit-torrent, don’t use Voice Chat, etc., then you don’t need our Network Processor. However, if you do any of those things listed (or you are just a tweaking geek like me), you should think consider it. Our card actually works BETTER with more and fatter broadband like FIOS, because the Windows Network stack becomes more of a percentage of the problem… so I think those are probably perfect customers for the Xeno.

8.How important is it for your product to be made available as an option on new Alienware PCs?

Well Alienware is just an awesome company and a great group of guys to work with. They are well known for being first-to-market with new technologies and innovation. It is really awesome to be able to work with them on the launch of our new Xeno. I would say it is very important for both Alienware and Bigfoot Networks to work together and make sure we are making products that gamers will want and love right out of the box.

9.Is Bigfoot already starting to develop the next generation of their products or do you have other gaming PC product ideas in the works?

Definitely. We have a full-time dedicated engineering staff always working on next-gen. We try very hard to release new features of existing products Quarterly (or faster), and also are working on a bunch of new products for the future. For example, on Killer Xeno we are already working on the next 2 driver updates which will include at least 1 new feature at each update.

10. Finally is there anything else you wish to say about the new Killer Xeno card and Bigfoot in general?

I only hope that people will finally get the idea of what Network Processing is really about! Education is a big part of what we are doing (and a personal passion of mine). Realize, Network Processing is NOT about fixing the internet, or fixing severs in some farm out there you can’t control… Network Processing is about letting an NPU handle things it is best at (Networked Applications & Network Packet Processing), your GPU handle what its best at (Graphics Processing), and your CPU do what its best at (General Purpose Processing).

I firmly believe that all gamers and internet users should have a network processor like the Killer Xeno that can handle all the packet processing, and networked applications which have nothing to do with General purpose processing or graphics. Voice Chat is real-time, as is gaming. BitTorrent or Web Downloads are about making lots of networking connections to aggregate downloads and uploads. A Network Processor can do all these things with room to spare, and not burden the CPU, the GPU, or the user with complex utilities and software. Let the hardware do it!

John Callaham
Lead Writer
Big Download
john@bigdownload.com

What a blast at GDC 2009

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:10:04 -0600

Lag is making a come-back. With World of Warcraft peaking at 11MM Subscribers (probably closer to 12MM by now) and now OnLive live streaming of video games coming to a TV/PC near you soon... the NEED for true low-latency low-lag smooth gaming has never been more true. And it is true that our own products (Bigfoot Networks Killer Xeno) don’t solve all the problems posed by OnLive and/or WoW… we can and do make a difference though. GDC 2009 for us was a big announcement and a big show of course! We got some great Tweets, Blogs, and even uber-blogs like Anandtech all with very sincere interested in the Killer Xeno! Why all the hub-bub about a new PCI-E Network Card for Gamers: short answer VOICE!

Voice chat makes old games fun. I designed our GDC 2009 demo purely around this concept of Voice Chat making all the difference…(Anand & team hoped to see more of a “side-by-side” comparison, but a trade-show is a tough place for that kind of demo unfortunately). So I and the team tried hard to make the centerpiece of our Show Demos around playing games you know and love in a new way with Voice Chat! With our partnership with Teamspeak and Vivox (and also our use of the open source called Mumble Voice Chat), we can now make even older games as fun and interesting as Left-4-Dead has become. Well maybe not as fun, but definitely a better experience with voice than without. So what was the demo? Good old Counter-Strike: Source… running at 140+fps, at 5ms of latency, with full ALWAYS-ON (vox) voice chat FULLY offloaded into Xeno. So yes, Mumble and Teamspeak FULLY running inside the new EVGA Killer Xeno, all with 0-impact to the game. God I wish I had this when I was playing competitive Counter-strike! Now, its just DANG fun as MANY hundreds of GDC 2009 attendees … and soon-to-be Xeno customers … can attest to. If you’ve not played CS:S in old-school mode with a small team WITH Voice enabled… you should go back to this awesome classic game! Maybe Killer Xeno can be your excuse to get back in to it. As for me, I’ll see you there on steam: steam-id: hbombers.

Tytus

Announcing Voice Chat Partners

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:13:15 -0600

Bigfoot Networks partners with TeamSpeak, Vivox and Raptr to enhance Killer Xeno™ Gaming Network Platform.

Read full press release

Announcing the Killer Xeno™

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:01:04 -0600

Bigfoot Networks is pleased to announce the launch of the second-generation Gaming Network Card; the Killer Xeno™. The card comes with more memory, an upgraded network processing unit (NPU), and integrated audio for hardware-accelerated voice-chat, all designed to bring gamers the ultimate online experience.

Read the full press release

Bigfoot Networks' new look!

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:50:26 -0600

Hello and welcome to the new Bigfoot Networks website, my new Blog, and our new look. Some of you may wonder, well, why the new look? The short answer is, we're the same old Bigfoot Networks, makers of the Killer NIC, we're just also MUCH MUCH MORE! This little company I founded has gotten big with the recent addition of a world-class executive team (lead by CEO Michael Howse), and new financial backing (lead by North Bridge Venture Partners). We've expanded our scope and purpose and are now not only the makers of the Killer NIC, but also licensing Killer Technology into other new products (such as the new EVGA Killer Xeno Pro), and more coming. We're also developing new products, services, and solutions for all things online. Our new mission statement is simple (and not far from our old one): we make the online experience richer and faster.

So, what can you expect from me in the bigger better Bigfoot Networks? Well, this blog will continue to be off-the-cuff, unfiltered, passionate dedication to my own 2 loves: games and networking. As many of you know from my old blog here: http://www.endlagnow.org, I tend to write about games, gaming trends, networking, and their intersection. Right now, I've got a sick fascination for all things VoIP (Gaming Voice), and I bet you now know why. Having voice in your game, while you game, being able to talk, coordinate, taunt, and otherwise chat, enhances the game so much, that I am shocked I only relized it since I started playing Left-4-Dead. If you havn't played Left-4-Dead http://www.l4d.com on a PC, with voice enabled, you havn't lived yet. You are missing out on what RICH networking and gaming can do.

Links:
http://www.bigfootnetworks.com/executive-profiles/
http://www.northbridge.com
http://www.endlagnow.org
http://www.l4d.com

Game Developers Conference 2009

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:42:53 -0700

Bigfoot Networks is introducing Killer Xeno at GDC 2009, Booth # 6406. We'll be showing off Xeno with our partners: EVGA, Alienware, TeamSpeak, Vivox, and Raptr! If you'll be at GDC, make sure to drop by and see our new technology, but bring your trigger finger...