Hasta La Gadget!

If you’ve ever wondered just how popular the free-to-play model has become, new data from Ipsos Media CT and ISFE has suggested that free-to-play games have accounted for half of the European games market in the last 12 months, a pretty impressive figure we have to admit! According to their definition of half the market, it means that free-to-play games accounted for 50% of titles acquired during that 12 month period.

For those unfamiliar with the free-to-play model, it’s basically where the game itself is offered for free. Instead the developer makes money by charging gamers for micro-transactions that are either purely cosmetic or are needed if gamers want to advance to the next level. Personally I’d rather buy a game right off than having to pay for micro-transactions, but as we can see if this data, not everyone feels the same way. What about you guys? Do you prefer the free-to-play model or would you rather just pay a one-off fee?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Star Wars: The Old Republic adds free-to-play option, iPhone 4S Sales to Decline until the next iPhone Arrives,

Archaeologists have announced that they’ve identified the oldest known Roman military fortress in Germany. The archaeologists believe that the ancient fort was constructed to house thousands of Roman troops during Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul in the late 50s BC. Ancient fragments of pottery and damaged sandal fragments helped the archaeologists to date the discovery.

According to the archaeologists, this discovery is important because it’s one of the few archaeological sites that documents Julius Caesar’s campaign in Gaul. The archaeological site is close to a German town known as Hermeskeil near the French border. This particular site has been known since the 19th century but until now, there was no evidence indicating what the site was.

Part of the difficulty in identifying the ruins had to do with the fact that it was partially covered or destroyed by agricultural development. The scientists note that remains of the wall were preserved in the forest, but it had been impossible to prove it was a Roman military camp as was suspected. The piece of evidence that allowed the archaeologists to identify the site as a Roman military camp was an ancient and tiny nail out of a Roman soldiers sandal.

The nail was discovered between paving stones and presumably work its way out as the soldier walked across the stone road. According to the archaeologists, the underside of the nail was discovered have a pattern with a cross and four studs, which was common in the time period. The little nail measured only 2.6 cm in diameter. The Roman fort was located 3 miles from a Celtic settlement that was once inhabited by the Treveri tribe, famous for massive fortifications called the Circle of the Huns.

[via Livescience]

Archaeologists discover ancient fort that helped Julius Caesar conquer Gaul is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Germany just can’t get enough of Engadget, it seems. Just two weeks after the close of IFA in Berlin, we’re back in the land of Bier and Honig, for a camera-fueled journey to Cologne. This giant photography trade show is held only once every two years — the last Photokina was way back in 2010 — and it’s arguably the industry’s biggest event, drawing manufacturers the world abound to launch their latest prosumer and professional devices. We won’t likely see a blockbuster product like Samsung’s Galaxy Camera, but there could be another Android shooter or two in store, along with plenty of updates to last year’s advanced compacts and mirrorless cams, and a modest spattering of full-frame DSLRs. We’ll be bringing you all the news as it happens, so keep your eyes peeled to this very site to catch the action as it goes down.

Filed under: Announcements, Cameras

We’re live from Photokina 2012 in Cologne, Germany! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic has officially introduced its successor to the GH2, the Lumix GH3 (via DPReview) a Micro Four Thirds camera that looks and, in many ways, behaves like a DSLR. The GH2 was a shooter that caught on with pros, especially due to its impressive video performance. In fact, many held it up as the standard to beat for more expensive cameras and supposedly more professional devices, including even the much more expensive 5D Mk II. Panasonic looks to hope to please the GH2′s avid fan base with more pro-focused features, and a new 72Mbps codec for video capture that should do away with the imperfections AVCHD (used on most mirrorless cameras) introduces into the mix.

The GH3 is definitely a beast, with a magnesium alloy body that pro shooters will find feels familiar to their DSLRs, complete with some degree of weather-resistance via dust- and splash-proof construction. It gets a slightly upgraded sensor, capable of 16.05MP capture with a native ISO range of 200 to 12,800, and an expanded range of 125 to 25,600. On the video front, in addition to the new high-bandwidth codec, the GH3 has no cap on recording time thanks to an internal layout designed to dissipate heat, and it can record in AVCHD, AVCHD Progressive, MP4, or MOV formats. The GH3 can also support an external mic via a 3.5mm stereo input jack, and also boasts another for headphone monitoring.

Panasonic has taken great pains to minimize noise on low-light shots and video, thanks to a refined image processor, as well as a redesigned low pass filter to reduce moire (all of which is to say that images off all kinds should appear clearer, sharper, and truer to the original, especially in low-light situations). A new 6fps burst mode makes things a little quicker than rapid-fire still shooting on its predecessor, and the camera comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, providing remote control and remote monitor capabilities via smartphone and tablet, plus immediate transfer of files either to Lumix’s own cloud, or to local network devices.

The camera also debuts alongside a fast, f/2.8 35-100mm zoom, which, like the GF3, boasts a splash- and dust-proof design. The company clearly sees these two as a good pairing, and indeed it would seem like that focal range at that aperture will appeal to Panasonic’s prosumer audience for the GH3. The only thing that might be hard to swallow: The camera will be around the $2,000 mark when it hits shelves later this year, according to Engadget. That’s a far cry above the current $800 or so you’d pay for the GH2, so it’ll be interesting to see if consumers and reviewers think the upgrades are worth it. Stay tuned for more as Photokina gets underway this week and other companies debut new equipment.

Nikon just announced its D600, a $2,100 DSLR with a full-frame sensor. Now, just four days later, we have a similar (and identically priced) offering from Canon. Coincidence? Not likely. Industry backchannel conspiracies aside, however, it’s only to our advantage to have a choice — if you’re looking to upgrade your digital SLR without taking out a second mortgage, you can now pick Nikon’s model, or the EOS 6D from Canon. The latter flavor, which offers built-in WiFi (the D600 requires an adapter), packs a 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, and it’s 20 percent lighter than the 5D Mark III, which will remain on the market, targeting professional users. The camera features a sensitivity range of ISO 100 through 102,400, it can shoot 4.5 fps stills and offers 1080/30p video capture. It also has an optical viewfinder, paired with a 3-inch 1.04-million-dot LCD on the rear, which looks just as sharp as you might expect.

What really blew us away, though, is the new camera’s size and weight. It’s more compact than the 5D and even the 7D, an APS-C camera, weighing in at 690 grams — a 20-percent decrease from that larger pro model. 20 percent may not sound like a tremendous improvement, but it’s certainly noticeable, boosting the 6D’s versatility, and making it an ideal choice for street and travel photography. We haven’t had a chance to shoot with the new high-end DSLR just yet, but it felt quite solid in hand, despite the more compact design and significant weight drop. Take a closer look in our gallery below, followed by our hands-on video after the break.

Continue reading Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video)

Filed under: Cameras

Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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