In today’s computer gaming news, learn more about the mood-lifting effects of the psychedelic anesthetic ketamine were shown to last significantly longer in people who played computer games meant to improve self-esteem. Researchers report in the American Journal of Psychiatry that their research of 154 persons who received a ketamine infusion revealed that those who played games featuring happy faces and positive words stayed depressed-free for three months after the infusion ended. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Pavel Djundik, author of SteamDB and regular dataminer, tweeted about a new finding he had made in Steam’s code: a “peer content” client/server mode. The consensus among the developers he spoke with corroborated his conclusion that “Valve is seemingly working on peer-to-peer Steam downloads over LAN.” Lastly, HyperX has added the Armada 25 and 27 game displays to its array of PC gaming hardware, marking the company’s first foray into the monitor market. HyperX’s latest displays do away with the standard desktop pedestal in favor of sleek VESA mounts. That’s because they follow the industry-standard model for supporting monitors, so they should be compatible with any screen you might have lying around.
Self-esteem-boosting Games May Help Patients Fight Depression
Original Source: Smiling faces might help the drug ketamine keep depression at bay
Computer games that increase self-esteem extend the antidepressant effects of ketamine.
A study of 154 persons indicated that those who played games with happy faces and optimistic messaging stayed depressed-free three months following ketamine infusion.
People who used ketamine alone relapsed within a week.
“We need new techniques to help individuals feel better sooner and remain well,” says research author Rebecca Price, a psychiatry and psychology professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
Established medications like Prozac and Zoloft take weeks to relieve depression and don’t work for every patient. Ketamine can provide rapid relief, but its effects diminish quickly.
“Repeated infusions to maintain relief can be difficult and pricey,” Price says. “It’s not accessible to all individuals.”
How to boost ketamine’s antidepressant effects
So Price and his team intended to make ketamine’s antidepressant effects linger longer. They focused on depressive symptoms poor self-esteem and self-loathing.
The team used evidence suggesting ketamine affects some brain areas to build new connections. During this time, the brain is more open to learning and change.
“So we tried to leverage that window of time shortly after ketamine to reinforce links between me, myself, and good information and traits,” explains Price.
Some people played computer games for 30 to 40 minutes a day for four days after getting ketamine.
Positive connotations in the brain
Every time a player saw the letter “I,” positive phrases like “good, lovable, sweet, worthy, etc.” followed, says Price.
In other games, participants clicked on a photo of themselves or a stranger as it flashed on screen.
“Every time people click on their own photo, a happy face shows there,” Price explains.
Games have a big impact.
“These basic computer exercises could extend the antidepressant impact of one ketamine infusion for at least a month,” Price says.
If the results hold up in larger studies and over a longer length of time, the strategy could make ketamine treatment more cheap, adds co-author Dr. Sanjay Mathew.
One ketamine infusion can cost $300 to $800, and insurance rarely covers it. “This is a tremendous barrier for many patients and the main reason we can’t send more to ketamine,” Matthew explains.
Spravato, a nasal form of ketamine approved by the FDA to treat suicidal depression and depression that hasn’t responded to prior therapies, is even more expensive.
A computerized addition to ketamine treatment would be nice right now, adds Mathew.
“It might be broadly distributed in clinics that lack resources for self-esteem and self-belief therapy,” he argues.
The combo method may also work for addiction and alcohol use disorder, adds Mathew.
Steam Functionality Would Help Those With Data Caps or Slow Internet
Original Source: Potential Steam feature would be a godsend for users with data caps or slow internet
SteamDB inventor and dataminer Pavel Djundik posted a fresh discovery in Steam’s code: a “peer content” client/server mode. Other programmers confirmed that “Valve is working on peer-to-peer Steam downloads on LAN.”
Peer-to-peer downloads may remind you of Bittorrent, however this feature doesn’t include downloading games online. The “LAN” aspect focuses on your local network, thus a peer could be your desktop PC or Steam Deck. After launching the mobile gaming system, Valve wants to let gamers transfer their game libraries without redownloading them.
If you have unlimited gigabit internet, LAN transfers won’t matter. It could help players with slower connections or ISP-imposed bandwidth limitations.
Considering how big certain games are, you may save hundreds of megabytes each month simply copying them over your local network. It saves Valve money on download server fees and eases congestion.
According to coders, the new functionality works—but unreliably. To access it, launch Steam in developer mode by adding “-dev” to its shortcut, accessing the console, and setting “@PeerContentClientMode” on one device and “@PeerContentServerMode” on another. I checked the code was there but didn’t test a transfer; given the feature isn’t in Steam’s UI, it’s unfinished.
Steam console with command line to allow P2P downloads.
Twitter user Nouv said, “The client/peer don’t want to meet 100% of the time, or anything” (opens in new tab). “Before you work on this, it’s in an early stage (or something). Sometimes it connects, but it often gives up and isn’t very successful. Needs to age.”
Until I changed to the current Steam beta client, the code wasn’t in the console. So it’s not some abandoned feature that’s been wandering around Steam for years; hopefully that means Valve is actively fiddling with it, and we could see support a few months down the road. If you have numerous PCs and 2.5 GB Ethernet, laugh maniacally.
VESA Arms, Not Stands, Should Be on Gaming Displays
Original Source: Gaming monitors should come with VESA arms, not stands
HyperX just introduced its first gaming monitors, the Armada 25 and 27 screens. The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless headset is our top selection for a wireless PC gaming headset from this brand. This brand has extended out into peripherals in recent years, and we’ve taken note.
HyperX often adds a gamer-focused touch to its equipment, such as a 300-hour battery in a headset or a budget streamer mic with RGB (opens in new tab). Adding monitors is the logical next step in controlling a gamer’s setup, and after seeing them in action at PAX Aus, this gamer-focused mentality is present once again.
HyperX’s Armada screens are clearly oriented at gamers, with the 25 prioritizing refresh rate above resolution and the 27 focusing on immersion. It’s a normal arrangement, and they looked okay on the show floor, but it’s hardly a place to judge the fidelity of a gaming monitor. I loved their stands.
These new HyperX monitors eschew table stands for VESA mounts. Using standard monitor support means they’ll function with other screens, including ones you own. They clip to the back of a desk, freeing up space for other vital items. PC mounts aren’t new, but selling a gaming screen with one feels revolutionary.
But I knew these things aren’t cheap, so I wouldn’t expect much from ones with monitors. Prices for the HyperX Armada 25 and 27 are $449 USD and $719 AUD, respectively. It doesn’t feel like you’re spending much to get a mount included, therefore I expected them to be inexpensive. The VESA mounts offered with these new displays are great, and I’m upset no one else does this.
I saw sturdy mounts during the show. A desk clamp lifts into the main stand. Add numerous arms for multi-monitor installations. One stand can hold two large monitors or four small ones if you have enough arms, and they’re incredibly smooth to use, even with numerous.
Thick metal is easy to move yet feeling powerful and sturdy. They make monitors feel weightless as you spin them easily. Rearrange your work area on the move, and there’s no desktop footprint. Plus, if you update, you can probably keep your setup and just change the screen. You’ll never need a normal screen stand again, and you won’t want one.
Seeing how fantastic these looked and felt, I’m surprised mounts aren’t more common. Walking around the room and seeing other monitors on stands made me angry and sad. Though I saw some insane PC builds. HyperX has seen the light, and I hope more businesses realize that mounted displays are the future of PC gaming.
Summary of Today’s Computer Gaming News
Overall, it appears that self-esteem boosting computer games prolong the antidepressant effects of the mind-altering anesthetic ketamine. A team reports in the American Journal of Psychiatry that a trial of 154 patients found that those who played games with cheerful faces and optimistic themes stayed free of depression up to three months following a ketamine infusion. After receiving an injection of ketamine, some individuals played specific computer games for 30 to 40 minutes every day for four days. The impact of the games was quite potent. “By performing these quite basic computer exercises, we could extend the antidepressant impact of a single ketamine infusion for at least a month,” says Price, adding that the effect can linger for up to three months.
On the other hand, in a tweet sent on Thursday, SteamDB author and regular dataminer Pavel Djundik announced the discovery of a “peer content” client/server mode in the Steam source code. The consensus among the developers he spoke with corroborated his conclusion that “Valve is seemingly working on peer-to-peer Steam downloads over LAN.” While the term “peer-to-peer downloads” may conjure images of file-sharing programs like Bittorrent, this function has nothing to do with obtaining games digitally over the web, and is, in fact, about the reverse. The “LAN” part refers to your home network, thus a peer may be another computer in your house or even a Steam Deck. Valve’s intention in letting gamers bring their game libraries over to the handheld system without having to redownload them after its release is evident.
Finally, a new line of gaming monitors was just introduced by HyperX. HyperX’s latest displays do away with the standard desktop pedestal in favor of sleek VESA mounts. That’s because they follow the industry-standard model for supporting monitors, so they should be compatible with any screen you might have lying around. They attach to the underside of a table, allowing you to use your desktop for anything you wish. Despite the fact that PC mounts have been around for a while, the release of a gaming screen that includes one seems like a huge step forward.
