Gaming

We’ve been calling PlayStation’s X button wrong all this time

Published

September 15, 2019

Luigi Leonardo

Regardless of which gaming console you have, the X button unites us all. Every console available today — the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch — has some form of the same button. That said, what do you call it? Both the Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch use other letters — Y, A, and B — for their other buttons. Naturally, majority vote calls for pronouncing it as the “ex” button.

However, Sony doesn’t use the same letter scheme. Instead of letters, the PlayStation’s DualShock controller uses shapes: Triangle, Circle, Square… and X? Do we still call it the “ex” button? According to the official PlayStation Twitter accounts, absolutely not.

In a now-infamous series of tweets, Sony has laid down the verdict in an argument we’ve probably never even thought about. Apparently, PlayStation users should pronounce each button according to their respective shapes. According to that logic, the X button should be called the Cross button.

As you might expect, the revelation didn’t go well with the gaming community. Twitter users have outrageously and creatively expressed their dismay.

What do you call it?

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 7, 2019

In response to the outrage, the PlayStation account posted a three-option poll asking what gamers call the controversial button. The more traditional X button won by a landslide: 81 percent. Meanwhile, a joke answer — “+ rotated 45°” — got 11 percent of the votes. The “correct” answer — “Cross” — got only 8 percent.

That didn’t stop the memes. Twitter user @TheDrencom posted a more hilarious compromise. PlayStation even retweeted and allowed the weird alternative. Should we call it the “no pizza” button?

The actual names of the PS buttons pic.twitter.com/pCK0RK3cPB

— Drencrom (@TheDrencrom) September 5, 2019

The Cross button’s supporters also had a few things to say in their defense. Based on the actual geometry of the icon, it’s more accurate to say “Cross,” rather than X.

Because this debate grinds my gears, I'll finish it once and for all:

– Crosses have the same distance between each stick.
– Crosses form a square.

– Exes don't have the same distance between each stick.
– Exes form a rectangle.

Basic geometry. pic.twitter.com/gz8jCJd3Bn

— Reinhardt needs a Refine (@SIECrimson) September 5, 2019

Of course, Sony owns the PlayStation. They can call it whatever they want. Still, the console already has a massive following calling it by a more ubiquitous name. Are you going to call it the Cross button now?

Deals

ASUS ROG laptops will come with freebies

Plus up to PhP 25,000 discount on some models

Published

July 11, 2020

Kenrick Buduan

Buying a new laptop can be frustrating at times. Luckily, ASUS’ new promo for ROG laptops will make deciding easier. With every purchase of ROG laptops, customers can snag big discounts and great freebies.

This July, select ROG laptops will come with ASUS gaming monitors as a freebie bundle. On top of that, some of these laptops will come with up to PhP 25,000 discount. Laptops that will join the promo include the top-of-the-line ROG Zephrus S and Strix Scar.

Zephyrus S

GX531GX (15-inch 144Hz FHD, i7-8750, 1TB SSD, RTX 2080) — from PhP 189,995 to PhP 164,995 + free VA326H gaming monitor, ROG Impact gaming mouse and ultra slim sleeve
GX701GV (17-inch 144Hz FHD, i7-8750H, 512GB SSD, RTX 2060) — from PhP 139,995 to PhP 129,995 + free VG258Q gaming monitor and ROG Gladius gaming mouse
GX531GW (15-inch 144Hz FHD, i7-8750, 512GB SSD, RTX 2070) — from PhP 149,995 to PhP 139,995 + free ROG Impact gaming mouse and ultra slim sleeve
GX501GI (15-inch 144Hz FHD, i7-8750, 1TB SSD, GTX 1080 Max-Q) — from PhP 149,995 to PhP 129,995 + free ROG Impact gaming mouse
GX531GM (15-inch 144Hz FHD, i7-8750, 512GB SSD, GTX 1060) — from PhP 104,995 to PhP 89,995 + free ROG Impact gaming mouse and ultra slim sleeve

Strix Scar

GL704GW (17-inch 144Hz FHD, i7-8750H, 1TB SSHD + 256GB SSD, RTX 2070) — from PhP 134,995 to PhP 129,995 + free VG248Q gaming monitor, ROG Gladius gaming mouse, and ROG backpack
GL504GW (15-inch 144Hz FHD, i7-8750H, 1TB SSHD + 256GB SSD, RTX 2070) — from PhP 129,995 to PhP 119,995 + free VG248Q gaming monitor, ROG Gladius gaming mouse, and ROG backpack

Individuals who need a work and gaming laptop in one should really look no further than ASUS’ ROG laptops, especially with the big discounts and freebies. Hurry though, since the discounts and freebies are available only on all ASUS stores nationwide until supplies last.

For more information about ASUS ROG’s latest promo, visit their Facebook and Twitter page.

Gaming

Sony unveils what the PS5 game boxes will look like

Lovely white rectangle

Published

July 10, 2020

Luigi Leonardo

Last month, Sony kicked off the PlayStation 5 hype with a bang. Starting off its massive games showcase, the PlayStation 5 announced one of the biggest titles for the next generation: Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The web-slinging action adventure game brings back New York City with an all-new hero, Miles Morales as Spider-Man.

However, the tease was just plainly… a tease. We don’t know much more about the game besides being a separate game from the original Spider-Man. Now, we know just a bit more.

Sony has officially revealed the look of the PlayStation 5’s physical game cases. In a blog post, the company used Spider-Man: Miles Morales as an example. Now, we know both the look of the next generation cases and the official box art of the game.

First, the game. The art doesn’t reveal much. However, Miles Morales is wielding what looks like a lightning punch. Now, we’re not up to speed with every aspect of the Marvel multiverse, but we’re fairly sure Spider-Man is known for lightning reflexes, not lightning punches. Could this hint at a larger part for Electro, a classic Spidey villain?

Secondly, the look of the case. You might remember that the PlayStation 4 cases are brilliantly blue: blue case, blue band on the top. Though the PlayStation 5 will still have blue cases, the band on top is now white, clearly delineating the new games on retail shelves. Of course, this might not mean much if you’re going for the Digital Edition. What do you think of the change?

The PlayStation 5 series is expected to launch later this year during the holiday season. With the amount of details piling up, the next generation of gaming is looking pretty spectacular.

Gaming

ICYMI: The World University Cyber League 2020 has begun

The best gamers from the brightest in the region duke it out for gaming supremacy

Published

July 7, 2020

Gab Orlina

Tencent Sports wanted to up the competition a little bit more in Southeast Asia, following Esports’ rapid rise in the region. Obviously, the best option for that is to hold a tournament to bring in the best of the best for some healthy competition. With the help of Mineski Global, they’ve done exactly just that, and are now on their final stages of the entire tournament.

The World University Cyber League 2020 started last June 28, and featured players from four markets in Southeast Asia. This time around, these players don’t come from established teams and franchises from their home countries. Instead, they are university-sponsored students, as they compete for a prize pool of over US$ 5,000. The Philippines host the SEA qualifiers, through Mineski Global’s Philippine division and its Youth Esports Program.

Students from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand are competing across three different games. The roster of games Tencent prepared include popular mobile games like Clash Royale and PUBG Mobile, and an Esports classic in League of Legends.

Qualifiers will end on July 9, with the best teams moving to the WUCL Finals from July 10-15. To know more about the WUCL, you may visit their official website.