Hardcore PC gamers have been hearing about dual-core technology for months. PC makers have promised to use two chips running simultaneously to smooth fast-paced graphics and pump the adrenaline-rushing audio while giving the computer opponent more smarts than ever. All in all, a more challenging video game experience.
Dell recently announced two dual-core computers, one for high-end professionals such as video editors and computer-aided designers and another, the Dimension XPS, aimed squarely at gamers. The Dimension XPS lets consumers play the most computer-grinding 3D games while streaming music or running their security software.
In your typical the-chicken-or-the-egg scenario, there aren’t a lot of software programs that are designed to work with two-chip systems, because there aren’t a lot of two-chip systems in people’s homes and offices.
“Over time, dual-core systems will become more and more standard for desktop computing as customers seek increased performance in more complex tasks,” said Roger Kay, vice president of client computing at market researcher IDC. “Dual core shows particular promise in situations in which several compute-intensive tasks like video rendering and audio streaming need to be done at the same time.”
A LESSON IN FEEDING THE HUNGRY
Kids age 8 to 13 can help save the starving people of a fictional island in the new video game “Food Force.” The UN World Food Programme unveiled the PC- or Mac-playable game last week to shed light on the plight of nearly 1 billion hungry people worldwide.
In “Food Force,” players drop aid from a helicopter, deal with hostile forces on the war-torn Sehylan and set up farms to grow food for the future.
After each of the six missions, a “Food Force” character provides a short video on such topics as where food comes from and how the UN World Food Programme tries to help the millions of hungry people around the world.
“So many parents complain about the blood and gratuitous violence that kids are so frequently exposed to in video games. This is a fun action-packed alternative,” said WFP spokesman Neil Gallagher, launching the game last week.
The game can be downloaded for free from www.food-force.com.
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egwinn@tribune.com
