https://www.scmp.com/rss/326195/feed Ravi Hiranand is the Deputy Digital Director at the South China Morning Post. He previously served as head of Abacus, covering China tech for a global audience. After 14 years at CNN International, he joined the SCMP in 2018 to indulge his lifelong passion in technology. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Tencent’s mysterious Pokémon project has finally been revealed -- and it looks like the Chinese giant is drawing inspiration from its most famous game. Pokémon Unite is a new five-on-five team battle game coming to Nintendo Switch and smartphones. Players team up in multiplayer battles, each picking a Pokémon like Pikachu, Charmander or Snorlax. Then they venture out into an arena to battle wild Pokémon and capture territory from the opposing team -- while defending their own from attack. If... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3090471/tencents-pokemon-unite-league-legends-pikachu-nintendo-switch-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3090471/tencents-pokemon-unite-league-legends-pikachu-nintendo-switch-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jun 2020 15:06:22 +0000 Dear Abacus readers, Over the last two and a half years, you’ve been with us as we’ve told you everything you need to know about China’s consumer tech scene. Now, we invite you to join us on the next stage of our journey. On June 15th, Abacus moved to a new home: SCMP.com/Abacus. We’ve always been a part of the South China Morning Post, but now we’re joining forces with their Technology desk to form one of the biggest reporting teams dedicated to China tech. We’ll be pooling our expertise to... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/article/3089205/abacus-moving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/article/3089205/abacus-moving?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jun 2020 03:46:08 +0000 This story originally appeared as an opinion piece on Abacus The PlayStation 5 is almost here. Sony will show off their new console in a pre-recorded video on Thursday. Gamers around the world will be tuning in for their first glimpse at the latest PlayStation… even in China, where it’ll be 4am. “Staying up late!” said one poster on Weibo. Another said “I’ll just buy it the moment it launches!” The PlayStation 5 will arrive right as China’s massive gaming industry is investing more in console... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3088621/can-sony-finally-crack-china-playstation-5?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3088621/can-sony-finally-crack-china-playstation-5?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2020 08:34:04 +0000 The PlayStation 5 is almost here. Sony will show off their new console in a pre-recorded video on Thursday. Gamers around the world will be tuning in for their first glimpse at the latest PlayStation… even in China, where it’ll be 4am. “Staying up late!” said one poster on Weibo. Another said “I’ll just buy it the moment it launches!” The PlayStation 5 will arrive right as China’s massive gaming industry is investing more in console games than ever before. But that doesn’t mean the PS5’s success... https://www.scmp.com/games/can-sony-finally-crack-china-playstation-5/article/3088475?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/games/can-sony-finally-crack-china-playstation-5/article/3088475?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2020 08:34:02 +0000 Over the last two and a half years, you’ve been with us as we’ve told you everything you need to know about China’s consumer tech scene. Now, we invite you to join us on the next stage of our journey. On June 15th, Abacus will move to a new home: SCMP.com/Abacus. We’ve always been a part of the South China Morning Post, but now we’re joining forces with their Technology desk to form one of the biggest reporting teams dedicated to China tech. We’ll be pooling our expertise to enhance our... https://www.scmp.com/note-our-readers/article/3088177?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/note-our-readers/article/3088177?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jun 2020 08:14:31 +0000 This story originally appeared as an opinion piece on Abacus I spent a large chunk of my university days in the United Kingdom in a homesick haze. There was a lot I missed about Hong Kong: My family. The food. My friends. And the Octopus card. Every time I fumbled for change in a store in London or dug through my pockets hoping I hadn’t lost my Tube ticket, I’d think about how much easier life was in Hong Kong with an Octopus card. With that one card, I could take a train, buy a drink and pay... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3087551/octopus-apple-pay-too-little-too-late?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3087551/octopus-apple-pay-too-little-too-late?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2020 08:39:37 +0000 I spent a large chunk of my university days in the United Kingdom in a homesick haze. There was a lot I missed about Hong Kong: My family. The food. My friends. And the Octopus card. Every time I fumbled for change in a store in London or dug through my pockets hoping I hadn’t lost my Tube ticket, I’d think about how much easier life was in Hong Kong with an Octopus card. With that one card, I could take a train, buy a drink and pay for groceries — all without taking it out of my wallet. It felt... https://www.scmp.com/tech/octopus-apple-pay-too-little-too-late/article/3087396?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/octopus-apple-pay-too-little-too-late/article/3087396?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2020 08:39:33 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Xiaomi has a new smartwatch. And it looks very familiar. There’s a lot of things I’d like to talk about with the Mi Watch. I’d like to talk about the fact that it runs the Android-based Wear OS, or that Xiaomi says it’s the first smartwatch to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset. But it’s hard to overlook the obvious here: Xiaomi’s smartwatch looks just like the Apple Watch. Despite support for circular screens in Wear OS, Xiaomi has gone with... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3036473/surprise-xiaomis-mi-watch-looks-apple-watch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3036473/surprise-xiaomis-mi-watch-looks-apple-watch?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Nov 2019 16:17:29 +0000 Xiaomi has a new smartwatch. And it looks very familiar. There’s a lot of things I’d like to talk about with the Mi Watch. I’d like to talk about the fact that it runs the Android-based Wear OS, or that Xiaomi says it’s the first smartwatch to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset. But it’s hard to overlook the obvious here: Xiaomi’s smartwatch looks just like the Apple Watch. Despite support for circular screens in Wear OS, Xiaomi has gone with a rectangular display like Apple. There’s a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/surprise-xiaomis-mi-watch-looks-apple-watch/article/3036459?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/surprise-xiaomis-mi-watch-looks-apple-watch/article/3036459?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Nov 2019 16:17:27 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Sending GIFs in messages is popular and easy. Plenty of messaging apps now have search functions to grab just the right GIF from anywhere on the web as a witty retort to your friends. But the app Apple bundles with iMessage appears to be restricting certain searches related to China. If you search for “China” or “Chinese” using Apple’s own GIF search app inside iMessage, you won’t get any results at all. Similarly, searching for contentious terms... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3031087/apples-gif-search-wont-find-some-images-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3031087/apples-gif-search-wont-find-some-images-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Oct 2019 05:41:23 +0000 Sending GIFs in messages is popular and easy. Plenty of messaging apps now have search functions to grab just the right GIF from anywhere on the web as a witty retort to your friends. But the app Apple bundles with iMessage appears to be restricting certain searches related to China. If you search for “China” or “Chinese” using Apple’s own GIF search app inside iMessage, you won’t get any results at all. Similarly, searching for contentious terms related to China, like “Xinjiang” or “Falun... https://www.scmp.com/tech/apples-gif-search-wont-find-some-images-china/article/3031036?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/apples-gif-search-wont-find-some-images-china/article/3031036?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 15:38:40 +0000 This story originally appeared as an opinion piece on Abacus You’d think the idea of playing any game on any device would be something gamers are interested in. Google and Microsoft, among many others, are investing heavily in the hope that they will be. But many are wary of cloud gaming. Cloud gaming’s promise is why Microsoft, Google and Tencent are all diving in Cloud gaming means you never have to download a game again. Instead of running on the PC in your house or the iPhone in your hand,... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3030883/why-china-perfect-place-cloud-gaming-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3030883/why-china-perfect-place-cloud-gaming-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 02:33:38 +0000 You’d think the idea of playing any game on any device would be something gamers are interested in. Google and Microsoft, among many others, are investing heavily in the hope that they will be. But many are wary of cloud gaming.   Cloud gaming means you never have to download a game again. Instead of running on the PC in your house or the iPhone in your hand, games run on servers in the cloud. Your device sends your commands -- run, jump, shoot -- over the internet to those servers, while they... https://www.scmp.com/games/why-china-perfect-place-cloud-gaming-succeed/article/3030659?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/games/why-china-perfect-place-cloud-gaming-succeed/article/3030659?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Sep 2019 10:53:03 +0000 There’s a narrative out there that you’ve probably seen before. It popped up again in the wake of Apple’s (unsurprising) new iPhone announcements: Apple isn’t a leader anymore, and the real innovation is coming from China. It’s a narrative that I can’t disagree with more. As an iPhone owner, you’ll call me biased. Sure. I probably am! But at the same time, as an iPhone owner, at no point do I look at any of the wild handset announcements from China and go: “Damn. Apple’s really falling behind... https://www.scmp.com/tech/chinese-smartphone-makers-focus-gimmicks-not-innovation/article/3029586?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/chinese-smartphone-makers-focus-gimmicks-not-innovation/article/3029586?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Sep 2019 07:00:06 +0000 This story originally appeared as an opinion piece on Abacus There’s a narrative out there that you’ve probably seen before. It popped up again in the wake of Apple’s (unsurprising) new iPhone announcements: Apple isn’t a leader anymore, and the real innovation is coming from China. It’s a narrative that I can’t disagree with more. As an iPhone owner, you’ll call me biased. Sure. I probably am! But at the same time, as an iPhone owner, at no point do I look at any of the wild handset... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3096356/chinese-smartphone-makers-focus-gimmicks-not-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3096356/chinese-smartphone-makers-focus-gimmicks-not-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Sep 2019 07:00:00 +0000 What were you doing 22 years ago? A lot can change in a couple of years, let alone a couple of decades. In one case, one kid finally achieved the dream he’s been working towards since 1997. Yup: Ash Ketchum is finally a Pokémon League Champion. After years of failure, the hero of the long-running Pokémon animated series won the Alola League last week, and fans around the world are celebrating with him. “22 years, seven tournaments, and no giving up,” said one commenter on Weibo. “He did it.... https://www.scmp.com/culture/ash-finally-pokemon-league-champion-and-china-loves-it/article/3027647?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/ash-finally-pokemon-league-champion-and-china-loves-it/article/3027647?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Sep 2019 15:03:45 +0000 What were you doing 22 years ago? A lot can change in a couple of years, let alone a couple of decades. In one case, one kid finally achieved the dream he’s been working towards since 1997. Yup: Ash Ketchum is finally a Pokémon League Champion. After years of failure, the hero of the long-running Pokémon animated series won the Alola League last week, and fans around the world are celebrating with him. “22 years, seven tournaments, and no giving up,” said one commenter on Weibo. “He did it.... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3096353/ash-finally-pokemon-league-champion-and-china-loves-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3096353/ash-finally-pokemon-league-champion-and-china-loves-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Sep 2019 15:03:00 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS E3 has come and gone. So who were the big winners? Watch Dogs: Legion was a huge surprise for me. I haven't been a fan of previous games in the series -- they just felt too generic, somehow, despite having a really unique premise -- but this one's core mechanic of recruiting anyone to be your playable character frankly looks incredible. And Nintendo's surprise trailer for the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a show-stopper...... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029433/watch-dogs-breath-wild-2-headline-e3-our-gaming-podcast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029433/watch-dogs-breath-wild-2-headline-e3-our-gaming-podcast?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Jun 2019 10:59:38 +0000 E3 has come and gone. So who were the big winners? Watch Dogs: Legion was a huge surprise for me. I haven't been a fan of previous games in the series -- they just felt too generic, somehow, despite having a really unique premise -- but this one's core mechanic of recruiting anyone to be your playable character frankly looks incredible. And Nintendo's surprise trailer for the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a show-stopper... moreso for us, because two years later, Victoria... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/you-died-xiii/article/3015519?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/you-died-xiii/article/3015519?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Jun 2019 10:59:38 +0000 From Chun-Li’s stage in Street Fighter II to Lijiang Towers in Overwatch, China has long been a popular background for games. But neither of those games are actually from China. The country has hundreds of millions of players and some of the world’s biggest gaming companies, but still some of the best games about China come from developers in the rest of the world. “Every time I see foreigners take our Three Kingdoms history and turn it into something so marvelous, I feel so envious,” one... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/top-ten-games-about-china-arent-china/article/3014505?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/top-ten-games-about-china-arent-china/article/3014505?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Jun 2019 11:48:28 +0000 From Chun-Li’s stage in Street Fighter II to Lijiang Towers in Overwatch, China has long been a popular background for games. But neither of those games are actually from China. The country has hundreds of millions of players and some of the world’s biggest gaming companies, but still some of the best games about China come from developers in the rest of the world. “Every time I see foreigners take our Three Kingdoms history and turn it into something so marvelous, I feel so envious,” one... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029417/top-ten-games-about-china-arent-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029417/top-ten-games-about-china-arent-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Jun 2019 11:48:28 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS It's the biggest week in gaming: E3 is almost here. GET HYPE. But it's also going to be a slightly weird show, because for the first time, Sony won't be there. Beyond the fact that Sony are one of gaming's three giants, PlayStation's fortunes always seem to have gone hand-in-hand with the show. The very first E3 was notable for Sony's Steve Race introducing PlayStation with the shortest of speeches: "$299", a full US$100 cheaper than the Sega... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029403/what-watch-e3-gamings-biggest-event-our-podcast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029403/what-watch-e3-gamings-biggest-event-our-podcast?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jun 2019 10:08:34 +0000 It's the biggest week in gaming: E3 is almost here. GET HYPE. But it's also going to be a slightly weird show, because for the first time, Sony won't be there. Beyond the fact that Sony are one of gaming's three giants, PlayStation's fortunes always seem to have gone hand-in-hand with the show. The very first E3 was notable for Sony's Steve Race introducing PlayStation with the shortest of speeches: "$299", a full US$100 cheaper than the Sega Saturn. Still, that's not to say there won't be lots... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/what-watch-e3-gamings-biggest-event-our-podcast/article/3013573?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/what-watch-e3-gamings-biggest-event-our-podcast/article/3013573?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jun 2019 10:08:34 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Is the curse of the bad video game movie over? The Detective Pikachu film is... quite decent! Yeah, it's a kid's film, so don't expect a super-deep plot here. But it somehow manages to take Pokémon -- fantastical cartoon creatures -- and put them naturally into the real world. Whatever you think of the plot or the characters, that in itself is one hell of an achievement. But maybe the bigger achievement is making a video game film that isn't abjectly... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029374/did-detective-pikachu-kill-curse-gaming-movies-find-out-our-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029374/did-detective-pikachu-kill-curse-gaming-movies-find-out-our-new?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 May 2019 12:03:37 +0000 Is the curse of the bad video game movie over? The Detective Pikachu film is... quite decent! Yeah, it's a kid's film, so don't expect a super-deep plot here. But it somehow manages to take Pokémon -- fantastical cartoon creatures -- and put them naturally into the real world. Whatever you think of the plot or the characters, that in itself is one hell of an achievement. But maybe the bigger achievement is making a video game film that isn't abjectly terrible. We ran down some of our "favorites"... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/did-detective-pikachu-kill-curse-gaming-movies-find-out-our-new-podcast/article/3011651?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/did-detective-pikachu-kill-curse-gaming-movies-find-out-our-new-podcast/article/3011651?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 May 2019 12:03:37 +0000 Everyone is watching Game of Thrones... even in China. Every episode of the mega-hit HBO show is eagerly consumed by viewers in the country, who either watch the official Chinese stream on Tencent Video or from some, let's say, "unofficial" sources. And just like viewers everywhere else, when they're done, they flood social media with their commentary -- sometimes with a local twist. Here are some of our favorite memes from Season 8 so far. But before you go further, a warning: There are... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/here-are-best-game-thrones-memes-china/article/3010671?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/here-are-best-game-thrones-memes-china/article/3010671?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 May 2019 16:12:31 +0000 Everyone is watching Game of Thrones... even in China. Every episode of the mega-hit HBO show is eagerly consumed by viewers in the country, who either watch the official Chinese stream on Tencent Video or from some, let's say, "unofficial" sources. And just like viewers everywhere else, when they're done, they flood social media with their commentary -- sometimes with a local twist. Here are some of our favorite memes from Season 8 so far. But before you go further, a warning: There are... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029361/here-are-best-game-thrones-memes-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029361/here-are-best-game-thrones-memes-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 May 2019 16:12:31 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS OnePlus has just unveiled their newest flagship handset — and we’ve already got our hands on the OnePlus 7 Pro. I have to confess: I’m an iPhone guy. Even so, my early impressions of this Android phone are mostly positive. At first glance, there aren’t many surprises here. Virtually everything about the phone has been leaked over the last few months, from the (almost) bezel-free front and pop-up selfie camera, to the in-screen fingerprint sensor and... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029352/hands-oneplus-7-pro?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029352/hands-oneplus-7-pro?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 May 2019 16:11:35 +0000 OnePlus has just unveiled their newest flagship handset — and we’ve already got our hands on the OnePlus 7 Pro. I have to confess: I’m an iPhone guy. Even so, my early impressions of this Android phone are mostly positive. At first glance, there aren’t many surprises here. Virtually everything about the phone has been leaked over the last few months, from the (almost) bezel-free front and pop-up selfie camera, to the in-screen fingerprint sensor and triple-camera array on the back. On the whole,... https://www.scmp.com/start-ups/hands-oneplus-7-pro/article/3010186?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/start-ups/hands-oneplus-7-pro/article/3010186?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 May 2019 16:11:35 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Is a game better when it's cheap? Shea and I have both been playing Crackdown 3. And while we have different opinions of the game, it's hard to deny that it's partially influenced by the fact that we didn't have to pay for it directly: We both downloaded it on GamePass, Microsoft's subscription service that offers access to over a hundred games for one flat rate. Meanwhile, Victoria tells us why she loves Dynasty Warriors so much, while I explain why... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029341/crackdown-3-sekiro-and-dynasty-warriors-headline-episode-you-died?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029341/crackdown-3-sekiro-and-dynasty-warriors-headline-episode-you-died?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 May 2019 12:25:13 +0000 Is a game better when it's cheap? Shea and I have both been playing Crackdown 3. And while we have different opinions of the game, it's hard to deny that it's partially influenced by the fact that we didn't have to pay for it directly: We both downloaded it on GamePass, Microsoft's subscription service that offers access to over a hundred games for one flat rate. Meanwhile, Victoria tells us why she loves Dynasty Warriors so much, while I explain why I've gotten back into Burnout Paradise... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/crackdown-3-sekiro-and-dynasty-warriors-headline-episode-you-died/article/3009758?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/crackdown-3-sekiro-and-dynasty-warriors-headline-episode-you-died/article/3009758?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 May 2019 12:25:13 +0000 Paying people to play games with you, the Sega Genesis Mini, Iron Man VR and Nintendo Direct speculation: We've got it all on this edition of You Died! Victoria and Shea join me for a round-up of what we're playing, their take on the news of the week, and engaged in the big debate of our time... Yoshi or Kirby? And we're also joined by Josh from Abacus to tell us about his experiences with a "game companion" service in China. He paid women US$4.50 an hour to play games with him, acting as a... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/game-companions-iron-man-vr-and-yoshi-vs-kirby-episode-you-died/article/3004862?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/game-companions-iron-man-vr-and-yoshi-vs-kirby-episode-you-died/article/3004862?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Apr 2019 11:52:42 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Paying people to play games with you, the Sega Genesis Mini, Iron Man VR and Nintendo Direct speculation: We've got it all on this edition of You Died! Victoria and Shea join me for a round-up of what we're playing, their take on the news of the week, and engaged in the big debate of our time... Yoshi or Kirby? And we're also joined by Josh from Abacus to tell us about his experiences with a "game companion" service in China. He paid women US$4.50 an... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029265/game-companions-iron-man-vr-and-yoshi-vs-kirby-episode-you-died?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029265/game-companions-iron-man-vr-and-yoshi-vs-kirby-episode-you-died?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Apr 2019 11:52:42 +0000 Min-Liang Tan is the sort of CEO who will say "dick move" on camera and play a round of Apex Legends with you. His company, Razer, is a staple in the gaming and esports industries, known for a selection of high-end hardware -- everything from smartphones and laptops to keyboards and even mousepads -- designed with gamers in mind. And the CEO is adamant that he's a hardcore gamer, just like his customers. It is undoubtedly a bit of showmanship and marketing. But it's also true. Tan sat down with... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029237/razers-ceo-super-excited-about-5gs-impact-gaming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029237/razers-ceo-super-excited-about-5gs-impact-gaming?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Mar 2019 16:58:25 +0000 Min-Liang Tan is the sort of CEO who will say "dick move" on camera and play a round of Apex Legends with you. His company, Razer, is a staple in the gaming and esports industries, known for a selection of high-end hardware -- everything from smartphones and laptops to keyboards and even mousepads -- designed with gamers in mind. And the CEO is adamant that he's a hardcore gamer, just like his customers. It is undoubtedly a bit of showmanship and marketing. But it's also true. Tan sat down with... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/razers-ceo-super-excited-about-5gs-impact-gaming/article/3002879?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/razers-ceo-super-excited-about-5gs-impact-gaming/article/3002879?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Mar 2019 16:58:25 +0000 Google finally took the wraps off their game streaming service this week. And we broke it all down on the latest episode of our gaming podcast, You Died. Google Stadia is part of a new generation of services that stream your games directly from the cloud. Instead of having the game operate on your device -- requiring a console, or smartphone or PC powerful enough to run the game -- the game runs on a server in the cloud. Your device receives the video as a live stream -- broadly similar to... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/will-google-stadia-be-netflix-games-we-discuss-our-podcast/article/3002877?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/will-google-stadia-be-netflix-games-we-discuss-our-podcast/article/3002877?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Mar 2019 11:39:54 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Google finally took the wraps off their game streaming service this week. And we broke it all down on the latest episode of our gaming podcast, You Died. Google Stadia is part of a new generation of services that stream your games directly from the cloud. Instead of having the game operate on your device -- requiring a console, or smartphone or PC powerful enough to run the game -- the game runs on a server in the cloud. Your device receives the video... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029235/will-google-stadia-be-netflix-games-we-discuss-our-podcast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029235/will-google-stadia-be-netflix-games-we-discuss-our-podcast?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Mar 2019 11:39:54 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Marie Kondo would not like me. Admittedly, my knowledge of the Japanese clean-up guru comes solely from cultural knowledge; I have not watched her Netflix series or read her books. Still, when Victoria suggested we use the KonMari Method on our gaming collection, I knew what that meant -- stripping down our list of games to the bare essentials, keeping only the ones that "spark joy". I even got aggressive with it. Marie Kondo supposedly keeps only 30... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029207/does-marie-kondo-method-work-games-listen-our-latest-podcast-find-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029207/does-marie-kondo-method-work-games-listen-our-latest-podcast-find-out?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Mar 2019 11:27:34 +0000 Marie Kondo would not like me. Admittedly, my knowledge of the Japanese clean-up guru comes solely from cultural knowledge; I have not watched her Netflix series or read her books. Still, when Victoria suggested we use the KonMari Method on our gaming collection, I knew what that meant -- stripping down our list of games to the bare essentials, keeping only the ones that "spark joy". I even got aggressive with it. Marie Kondo supposedly keeps only 30 books. Thirty is too many, I said, brashly.... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/does-marie-kondo-method-work-games-listen-our-latest-podcast-find-out/article/3000903?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/does-marie-kondo-method-work-games-listen-our-latest-podcast-find-out/article/3000903?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Mar 2019 11:27:34 +0000 Yeah, I know, this took a while. But it's worth it. I finally finished Red Dead Redemption 2's quite magnificent story, allowing us to tackle this game on our podcast one last time. (I promise!) As such, a warning: There are some serious spoilers in this podcast. But hey, it's been almost four months since the game was released. Surely you're not as slow as me? Join Victoria and I for a deep dive into the story, going over everything from big questions like whether the epilogue undercuts... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/we-dive/article/3000902?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/we-dive/article/3000902?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Feb 2019 12:38:23 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Yeah, I know, this took a while. But it's worth it. I finally finished Red Dead Redemption 2's quite magnificent story, allowing us to tackle this game on our podcast one last time. (I promise!) As such, a warning: There are some serious spoilers in this podcast. But hey, it's been almost four months since the game was released. Surely you're not as slow as me? Join Victoria and I for a deep dive into the story, going over everything from big... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029176/we-dive-deep-red-dead-redemption-2s-storyline-spoiler-filled-podcast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029176/we-dive-deep-red-dead-redemption-2s-storyline-spoiler-filled-podcast?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Feb 2019 12:38:23 +0000 In just two weeks, Apex Legends has become the hottest game in the world. Now it might be heading to the world's biggest gaming market. Tencent is reportedly in talks with Electronic Arts to bring the hit battle royale game to China, according to the South China Morning Post.   It would complete a remarkable trio for Tencent, which already has the rights to Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) in China, not to mention the global rights to publish PUBG Mobile. But even though it's... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/apex-legends-might-be-coming-china/article/3000835?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/apex-legends-might-be-coming-china/article/3000835?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Feb 2019 15:28:21 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS In just two weeks, Apex Legends has become the hottest game in the world. Now it might be heading to the world's biggest gaming market. Tencent is reportedly in talks with Electronic Arts to bring the hit battle royale game to China, according to the South China Morning Post. How Fortnite and PUBG made battle royale the hottest trend in gaming It would complete a remarkable trio for Tencent, which already has the rights to Fortnite and... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029163/apex-legends-might-be-coming-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029163/apex-legends-might-be-coming-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Feb 2019 15:28:21 +0000 Some games have complicated, high-concept pitches. The Hong Kong Massacre is not one of those games. It’s the video game version of a John Woo film, taking all the slow motion dual-pistol acrobatics of Hard Boiled, and combining it with the indie gaming classic Hotline Miami. It’s a great combination, adding a heavy dose of cinematic style to Hotline Miami’s fast-paced ultraviolence. To be honest, it’s hard not to continually compare the two games, because they share so much in common. The... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/reviewed/article/3029152/review-hong-kong-massacre-bloody-good-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/reviewed/article/3029152/review-hong-kong-massacre-bloody-good-time?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Feb 2019 14:15:31 +0000 Some games have complicated, high-concept pitches. The Hong Kong Massacre is not one of those games. It’s the video game version of a John Woo film, taking all the slow motion dual-pistol acrobatics of Hard Boiled, and combining it with the indie gaming classic Hotline Miami. It’s a great combination, adding a heavy dose of cinematic style to Hotline Miami’s fast-paced ultraviolence. To be honest, it’s hard not to continually compare the two games, because they share so much in common. The... https://www.scmp.com/reviewed/review-hong-kong-massacre-bloody-good-time/article/3000663?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/reviewed/review-hong-kong-massacre-bloody-good-time/article/3000663?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Feb 2019 14:15:31 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Happy Lunar New Year! With the Year of the Pig upon us, it only seemed right to mark the biggest holiday of the year here in Hong Kong with a special edition of the podcast focusing on the animals of the zodiac. In case you don't know, the Chinese zodiac system has twelve animals in it. In order from first to last, they are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Victoria and I ran down the list to find our... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029147/solid-snake-raving-rabbids-our-podcast-covers-gaming-animals-lunar-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029147/solid-snake-raving-rabbids-our-podcast-covers-gaming-animals-lunar-new?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Feb 2019 13:31:04 +0000 Happy Lunar New Year! With the Year of the Pig upon us, it only seemed right to mark the biggest holiday of the year here in Hong Kong with a special edition of the podcast focusing on the animals of the zodiac. In case you don't know, the Chinese zodiac system has twelve animals in it. In order from first to last, they are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Victoria and I ran down the list to find our favorite gaming "animals" to match each one.... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/solid-snake-raving-rabbids-our-podcast-covers-gaming-animals-lunar-new-year/article/3000704?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/solid-snake-raving-rabbids-our-podcast-covers-gaming-animals-lunar-new-year/article/3000704?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Feb 2019 13:31:04 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Chinese tech companies have long had to battle the accusation that they’re just copycats. They might be struggling to shake the tag because, well, Xiaomi’s stores look exactly like Apple Stores, Huawei’s wireless earbuds look just like AirPods, and NetEase’s mobile battle royale game Knives Out launched as a shameless PUBG clone. But it’s even harder to shed the idea when the country’s top court seemingly engages in IP theft. China’s Supreme People’s... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029135/chinas-top-court-rips-super-mario-social-video?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029135/chinas-top-court-rips-super-mario-social-video?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jan 2019 14:22:10 +0000 Chinese tech companies have long had to battle the accusation that they’re just copycats. They might be struggling to shake the tag because, well, Xiaomi’s stores look exactly like Apple Stores, Huawei’s wireless earbuds look just like AirPods, and NetEase’s mobile battle royale game Knives Out launched as a shameless PUBG clone. But it’s even harder to shed the idea when the country’s top court seemingly engages in IP theft. China’s Supreme People’s Court posted this video to Weibo, according... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/chinas-top-court-rips-super-mario-social-video/article/3000662?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/chinas-top-court-rips-super-mario-social-video/article/3000662?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jan 2019 14:22:10 +0000 I love playing games. But I also have a job that keeps me in the office for 12 hours a day. Where's the time to play? I can't reduce the time spent at work. But I also can't -- or rather, won't -- reduce the time I spend playing games. How do you balance being a responsible adult, with a job, with errands, with a life... but also remain a hardcore gamer? That's the subject of this week's podcast, one very close to the hearts of Victoria and I, because it's one we just don't have an answer to.... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/how-do-you-juggle-gaming-adult-responsibilities-our-new-podcast-tackles-question/article/3000609?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/how-do-you-juggle-gaming-adult-responsibilities-our-new-podcast-tackles-question/article/3000609?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jan 2019 13:16:37 +0000