We had the honor of being invited to a tech reveal... and I had to share the first look at Xencelabs first pen tablet. Shout out to the artists out there.
Xencelabs Technologies Limited is comprised of professionals that have worked in the industry for quite some time, we're talking veterans from Wacom, Autodesk, and other companies.
What I appreciated first and foremost was the fact that they didn't just bring a tablet to market, they wanted to reach out and make sure that they were bringing the right tablet to the market to be competitive. They sought feedback from professional artists in the industry to find out their yays and nays when it comes to pen tablets... and ultimately created the tablet you see here.
The second thing that caught my attention during the presentation... was the battery icon I saw not only for the Xencelabs Quick Keys remote but also for the Xencelabs Pen Tablet. I know it was the duh of the day, but I had to raise my hand and double-check to see if the tablet was wireless... and it is. You can use it while connected to the cord also (second duh), but the ability to move around freely is awesome. YAY!
I could see this being utilized by someone at a meeting to present different concepts, drawing from a distance while using a larger screen, or someone like myself who would move to a different part of the desk or something to get a bit more comfortable (I can even PC hop without unhooking wires. Also, the cords can get in the way at times with hardwired tablets, even if they're in a non-intrusive area of the tablet. If you want to shift those tablets... you can end up with a snag or something, but you can move this tablet around freely and hold it if you desire to do so.
I don't want to put words in their mouth, even if they confirmed questions to a degree but... this is their initial tablet as the company continues to blossom. According to Xencelabs there will be more to come down the road (most likely a screened tablet), but as veterans in the industry... they wanted to come in with a bang (as far as their new company and product is concerned).
Yes it comes with a pen and tablet... but it also comes with:
A nice full-sized pen case packed with Nibs (10) + the Nib Extracting Ring
A second pen (one thin pen, and a 3-button pen for 2D + 3D work)
8192 Pressure Levels + 60 degree (both pens)
A dongle to get your wireless drawing on
A Glove Medium (which I'd just use the one I have if that's too small, but... it's free)
A Tablet Sleeve
A Xencelabs Quick Keys device
I'm not giving praise just to give praise... but just like with bundles for games, this is how you make an impression. It's a new company comprised of veterans going into an industry with plenty of options (some of which they were part of), and they decided to take the extra mile to stand out. I think that curve at the bottom of the tablet is going to feel nice, but I can't say whether it is or not... yet. As soon as we get the opportunity to review one, you will know about it.
I don't normally recommend tablets, and I can't say that I'm recommending this tablet to everyone... but if you're an artist this may be the tablet for you (or someone looking for a good competitor to the Surface Go 2).
You know how pricey the Microsoft Surface tablets can be, not to mention iPads, so to come across a solid one at a reasonable price... I just had to present the one I've been eyeing. The reason why I'm more so being specific about who I'm presenting this to... is because a lot of artists are in the market for drawing tablets.
Having a drawing tablet that connects to your PC is great, but not all artists want to connect to a desktop and have their tablet stuck at the desk or they don't wish to drag around a laptop to draw on a connectable tablet (like I do in rare cases).
There are artists who seek a solid tablet with the ability to draw, and it may come at the cost of lacking some of the pressure sensitivity of drawing tablets that are exclusively made for artists... or in a price range to where artists were in mind via the creative design, but there are solid options that actually measure up.
That's where the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Tablet comes into play. These tablets start at $499.99, but... the best option is only $599.99 unless you use coupon code "P11FORPROS" to save $100.00 (on either option)! So technically you can get the model with the lowest specs for $400 and the best for $500.
This is a similar price range for some of the corded tablets... but it's not just a screen that requires input from an outside source. This isn't a diss to drawing tablets, I own a few (i.e. Wacom Cintiq)... but that doesn't mean I don't want to get up and just go (wherever... whenever) with a single unit for drawing.
The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Tablet comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G Octa-Core Processor (8x Kyro 470 CPU, up to 2.2 GHz). I would've liked to see an upgradable option for to get reach at least 3GHz, but I could like with a 2.2 GHz for my target uses.
Android 10 OS (I wonder if this will be upgradable to 12)
11.5" WQXGA (2560 x 1600) OLED, touchscreen, 350 nits display
Dolby Vision
Quad JBL speakers tuned by Dolby Atmos
TUV Rheinland Certified (for eye comfort)
4 to 6GB uMCP soldered memory (which shouldn't have to be IMO)
128 GB Hard drive (they should totally have an upgradable SSD option)
Finger Print Scan + Facial Recognition
Bluetooth 5.0
Camera specs:
- Front: 8MP RGB + 8MP IR & RGB Fixed Focus
- Rear: 13MP Auto Focus + 5MP Fixed Focus
Wi-Fi 802.11AC (2 x 2)
Battery allegedly runs for 15 hours on a full charge
One Year Warranty
The specs you see here are under the hood of a 5.8mm/.23in thin lightweight aluminum-alloy unibody design rocking rocking a dual-tone finish + four-sided 6.9mm/.27in narrow bezel display. This delivers enough drawing space for me... as far as a portable drawing tablet goes, and that brings me to the pressure levels fellow artists were waiting to hear about.
The Lenovo Precision Pen 2 delivers 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt detection drawing (same as the Surface Pen). Bamboo Paper + Squid apps are preloaded, though I'd probably hit the appstore to get my hands on Sketchbook ASAP.
The lower to mid cost models don't include a pen or a keyboard, while the best model has both... along with the best specs. There isn't much of a stretch between the models, but... with the coupon code you're getting the best model and the bundle for $100 more.
The closest option I can compare this to would be the Surface Go 2 10.5" starting at $399.99, but... we're talking 1920 x 1280 (220 PPI) resolution on the Go 2 vs 11.5" 2560 x 1600 OLED on the P11 Pro.
You do get an SSD on this one but for the price you only get 64GB and 4GB of RAM. Like the P11 Pro, you do not get the pen or keyboard with the cheapest model of the Surface Go 2. You don't get the Microsoft Complete Protection Plan with your surface, and plans range from $99 (2 years) to $189.00 (for 4 years).
After adding in the 2 year protection on the Surface + bumping the specs up to 8GB RAM w/ 128SSD + Surface Go Type Cover - English + Surface Pen... we're talking $788.97! So while I won't this is good or bad, right or wrong... the P11 Pro get's my attention more so because it delivers without breaking the bank. By the way, shout out to Lenovo for simply spelling out... that the Precision Pen is a compatible accessory.
Speaking of Microsoft, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Tablet... comes equipped with Microsoft Office apps with reviewers seem to appreciate in combination with the laptop-class keyboard. So there you have it, that's why I'm eyeing this tablet... I don't want a bare minimum served up to have a product released at a lower price tag. I want a damn good deal... and think this is going to do it for me.
Once I get through the easy mode of Muse Dash, I'm cranking up the difficulty setting.
Have a great Monday... and may it extend to the rest of the week. Mask up, keep the drama at a minimum, and game on! If you want more information on how to increase the good vibes in your life, check out the latest episode of the Blu + You Podcast below!
Welcome to a wonderous all-action show, the likes of which has never been seen before!
BALAN WONDERWORLD is a wondrous action platformer game themed around the Balan Theatre. Led by the enigmatic maestro named Balan, the stars of the show Emma and Leo will use special abilities from a multitude of characterful costumes as they adventure in the bizarre and imaginary land of Wonderworld. Here memories and vistas from the real world mix with the things that people hold dear.
Twelve different tales await our stars in the Wonderworld, each with their own unique quirks. They will explore all corners of these labyrinthine stages, filled with a myriad of tricks and traps, to get to the heart of each story.
Wonderworld exists in people's hearts and imagination
The setting for this tale is the fantastic, bizarre land of Wonderworld; a place where people's happy and positive memories mix with their restless worries and negativity.
Leo and Emma are led into Wonderworld by the mysterious clown Balan and set off on a journey to find what is important to them.
Before they can return to the real world, they must first restore the lost balance in their hearts...
Over 80 different costumes open up all the action you could want!
The stars of the show can use powers from the inhabitants of Wonderworld by wearing their colourful costumes, with over 80 different ones to try on!
Bash your enemies, walk in the air, freeze time or manipulate all kinds of objects... the possibilities are endless when you pick up a new costume.
Two Legendary Creators Reunite!
Come one, come all and enjoy the pinnacle of Square Enix storytelling in an all-action world of wonder created by the legendary Naka Yuji.
For the first time in 20 years Naka Yuji and Oshima Naoto join forces forming the BALAN COMPANY team; founded around, bringing together action game development, video and music production professionals from both inside and outside of the company.
Shout out to Coconut Island Games for supplying a copy of Rhythm Fighter for our review. Now that I've gotten that out of the way... let's check out this award-winning indie game!
Rhythm Fighter is just that... a Roguelike game that challenges you to move to the rhythm while taking on baddies, obtain power-ups, etc. all while staying on the beat.
Gameplay:The gameplay in Rhythm Fighter is... interesting. Everything is according to the beat, from moving from section to section in an area... dashing, attacking, performing special attacks, taking on bosses, etc. It's all on beat, the only thing that has no need for rhythm is when you pick up items like health, weapons, and powerups. Before I go on... check out some gameplay:
As you see, Rhythm Fighter places your selected fighter into a random location with randomized levels. Currently, you have a total of 6 locations... with their own set themes. One is more like a cityscape, another is like a European museum, two with an Asian theme, an Egyptian theme, and a space-based final location.
One thing I appreciate about the game... is the simple controls, I can't stress the importance of having controls that you don't have to wrestle with so that you can focus on the gameplay. The on-screen buttons led me to believe that this game was initially for mobile... but they may work for tablets if they actually function (the game isn't on Google Play from what I see). The buttons don't get in the way and definitely work for the game on console... because you have that constant reminder of what your items are and you may need a reminder that you can't jump.
The controls are simple, but... you can find yourself getting lost in the moment and forgetting to move on beat. If you miss the beat altogether, you will find yourself unable to move/evade attacks, etc. So try to bob your head or something... in order to get in sync with the beat so that you can be more effective in the field.
You have a variety of enemies to take on overall, though they're definitely repetitive in each location... aside from the boss. So hopefully the team considers creating new locations moving forward.
Fun Factor: The fun factor in this game is based on you... and how much you enjoy rhythm games. Moving to the rhythm can get a bit taxing for some gamers because some gamers just don't desire to move to a beat in order to perform basic skills like moving forward or fighting to move forward, fight, and to evade.
Just keep that in mind, but at the same time... you never know how you may ultimately feel about different genres unless you give them a try. There are other rhythm games that involve tapping, holding... and just moving to the beat in different ways. In this game, rather than moving on a track awaiting upcoming blocks, circles, lines, and etceteras... there is 2D beat-em-up action involved.
Replay Value: Believe it or not, this game is chock full of replay value. You know that you're going to set locations that deliver similar experiences, but you don't know what the layout of the map will be... and what items you will obtain from one playthrough to the next.
If I could give this game one con when it comes to the rhythm game genre, is that it lacks the music library that other titles have. Perhaps the price justifies that, but hopefully, there will be updates that deliver more. At the same time, I won't give it that con, because it's not really a standard rhythm game where you take on a track... it's a 2D beat 'em up to a beat... hybrid. Before you write the game off for the lack of a music library, I'm happy to say that you're able to kick butt to your own music library!
You have the basic game with the various locations mentioned above, as well as Daily Challenges that place a specific character into the rhythmic world.
You have 6 characters to choose from for now, but there are pods for 2 more characters. The characters I currently have access to are:
DJ Daxx... the number 1 DJ on Beatara for 8 years and counting. His active skill is Sonic Boom +, which deals' DMG to surrounding enemies and pushes them back. Your actions in the next 5 beats will be marked as perfect.
Spice Lee... a chef with an appetite for spice, who becomes stronger the more he eats. His active skill is Ghost Pepper, which increases ATK by 10% of Current HP for 10 beats.
Agent Jackal... a mysterious secret agent with powerful teleportation and explosive abilities. This character reminds me of Snake from Metal Gear Solid. His active skill allows him to rush forward and perform a strike and then dash back to the original spot with an attack.
Kid Cubbs... is a mischievous kid with incredible endurance and intelligence. I think this character was inspired by the Cub Scouts. His active skill is the slingshot, which allows you to fire an orb of energy that explodes and deals DMG.
Lookout Lynx... is a security guard with an incredible sense of duty, immense strength, a short temper, and poor hearing. He becomes enraged after taking DMG. His active skill is... a spin that rapidly attacks nearby enemies. The benefit of this skill is that it increases Res DMG for the first 2 beats. DMG taken will increase DMG dealt by this skill.
Courier Pengu... is a selfless full-dad and a part-time courier, he takes joy from high flying. His active skill is the flying dash, which allows him to fly forward to deal DMG to enemies and knock them into the air.
Now that you know the current roster of fighters... that leaves one question, where are... the ladies?! Hopefully the last 2 pods will have female protagonists to switch things up..
You also have other things like the Laboratory... which allows you to use tech to unlock various things like:
Coin Vaccum 1... which increases coin and beat energy by 10%. By the way, any skill that helps you gain more tech and coin to buy various things like more skills... those are the things I'd recommend unlocking ASAP. Granted you have to make your way down in order to unlock certain skills like that, obtain them before others in that section.
Automat Hacker II... is also a good one, which reduces the price of items at the automat by 20%.
There are a total of 22 to unlock, including the radiation pod... which I really want. It recovers 100% HP upon reviving and increases Res DMG by 90% for 20 beats... because revivals don't fill you up (they just prevent you from staying down for the count).
On top of that, you also have a slew of Achievements, which include unlockable characters. You have 26 unlockable rewards that require a certain amount of trophies, and... in the section next to it are the achievements that allow you to gain the trophies to unlock those rewards. Some of these keep a tally based on the number of times you do something (i.e. buy 100 items from the automat), others like the baby steps objective that requires you to collect 10,000 coins total).
On top of that... you have even more replay value via the special training. You can take on the different vegetables, beat commanders (mini-bosses), you can try out 25 different weapons, 31 tactical items... that give you a strong attack (like the Hadoken Bracers), and 99 beat cards that give you different abilities (i.e. Rhythm Shell that gives you invincibility when you land perfect... it lasts 1 beat so stay on perfect beat and you should be good).
Automat... gives you access to certain beat cards for tech points. I really didn't use this that often, but it gives me access to specific beat cards if I desire to have them before my fighter takes the flush.
Price: Pricewise, Rhythm Fighter flows nicely at $14.99. I can't argue with the price, it delivers a solid experience with plenty of replay value and leaves the door open for you to brawl to your own tunes.
