Dhaka Tribune
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 Volume 1, Issue 44
Status of the week
A weekly production of
DhakaTribune Editor Zafar Sobhan Magazine Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad TMAG Team Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Rubab Nayeem Khan Munira Fidai Natasha Rahman Saudia Afrin Tahsin Momin Baizid Haque Joarder Fuad M Hossain Contributors Nasif Chowdhury Nadia Chowdhury Zaki Adnan Graphics Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Mohammed Mahbub Alam Tahsin Momin
Gonna get myself an air gun and shoot that damn bird that’s been going tweet at 6am for the last 10 years, near my window.
Quote of the week I am not perfect. I was never meant to be perfect in the first place.
Lingo of the week Beat Session A gossip session between two males, consisting of idle chatter. How to use in a sentence *Two guys are talking* Girl Once you’re done with your beat session, care to join me for coffee?
More inside PICKS OF THE WEEK 2 Room of the week Tanisha Bukht 3 Doodle of the week Sarah Jahangir 10 The goodsheet “Miss you in a heartbeat” by Def Lepard
Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Kazi Syras Al Mahmood
YOUR WORLD 9 Fiction The very first time 9 Non-fiction Yours truly 9 Comic book “Comics Digest” by Dhaka
Production Masum Billah
9 Book “Counterclock world”
Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Email: tmag@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com
Editor’s note
Comics by Philip K Dick
11 Comic strip The Boy HOROSCOPES 5 Your forecast
FASHION 4 Beauty check Super-dos 4 Wardrobe check Your jeans, your style TMAG SAYS 2 Funk up your room Game space 2 FYI All cons and no pros? 3 School Survival Three must tries 10 Playlist Top ten video OST’s 11 Anime Robotech 10 Music 2014 Peoples Choice Awards 11 Game Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag 11 Web critic Niice.co
Dear Readers, This week we delve into an issue that has been hotly debated by media critics and content creators for decades now: video games, and their influence on society. From violence to misogyny, to an unhealthy lifestyle, the list of evils attributed to this most immersive of entertainment media is a long one. In recent years, however, new research has found increasing evidence of the benefits of being a gamer. This week, we present to you, both sides of the story. Have a look at this week’s Written in the Starts (page 8) for an in-depth look into the world of a competitive gamer and the WCG. Also check out our selection of OST’s from some of your favourite games (page 10). Ever wonder what kind of a gamer are you, check out our quiz and see how you fare (page 12). Lastly, we wish you all a fantastic week, happy gaming, and send us your feedback on our Facebook Page www. facebook.com/dhakatribunetmag. Toodles!
Love from the TMAG desk
Real Life 3 Event Tweets 6 Hot topic For the love of gaming 12 Choose/lose 12 Quiz 12 Blush much
About the cover Naughty or nice? We’re taking videogames into custody, and YOU can be the judge as we weigh the pros and cons. Models Rad Sharar, Avita Maheen Art direction/Design Syed Latif Hossain Photographer Saudia Afrin
4 Look of the week
8 Written in the Stars
10 Spotlight
5 Car
WCG
Hidan Naruto Shippiuden
Ellie Goulding
Fiat 500 Abarth
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Your Life saudia afrin
TMAG’s Room of the week!
Name
tanisha bukht Area
Gulshan Hitting the shelves
Sometimes, your memorabilia can do all the work for you. This room is the perfect showcase for the love of games.
Funk up your room
FYI
all cons and no pros? Video games are bad for your eyes, why don’t you concentrate on your studies rather than such useless things
Game Space Whether you like video games because of their in-built stories, their mental challenges, or the freedom to pillage and plunder without hurting anyone in real life, the big draw of gaming is the ability to immerse oneself in another world. If you want to bring some of that world out into your personal space, here are a few cool decor ideas
Mario wall
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Almost all gamers have heard this and much more from parents while being engrossed with the idea of clearing the current level they were in. And once you did clear that level, oh the feeling of euphoria! And then, no matter how many times you promise yourself, “this is the last level for the night,” the levels just never seem to cease. Video games do have negative effects on people. At times you lose track of time, they occupy you, your eyes hurt and so on. But just like a coin, there is a flipside to it. Research suggests that people do acquire quite a lot of cognitive skills while playing. Studies show that adolescents have improved their grades after playing strategic games which further enhance their problem solving and reasoning skills. Again, the traditional notion that gamers are socially cut off is wrong; in reality, online games like “World of Warcraft” are played with other friends.
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Also, one perk of most multiplayer games is that they promote decision making skills; about who to trust for instance, which may come in handy in real life. In certain games one can learn how to lead a group, which further enhances coordination skills among gamers. Fast paced games increase handeye coordination and quicken reflex time among players. And though this may come as a surprise to many, a test conducted by the North Carolina University showed that a number of older adults have had massive improvements in focusing on things after a two week period of playing World of Warcraft for two hours, on a daily basis. All that being said, there should be a balance and no matter how involved one feels in a video game, it should not take away more time than what is necessary. Baizid Haque Joarder
This works best if you have floating shelves in your room, you know, the kind that are simply boards affixed horizontally to the wall behind your bed. All you have to do then, is to paint a vista of blue sky, white clouds and rolling greens. Voila! The wall becomes a screenshot for Mario Bros type games. You can take it further by putting Mario action figures on the shelves, and lining the headboard of your bed with brown-covered books to mimic bricks, and getting red and white polka dotted cushions to resemble mushrooms.
Controller corner
If you have a number of different game controllers and space becomes an issue, you can find a corner, like
one side of your computer desk, or the side of your standing bookcase or game holder, where you stick in some pegs in a staggered fashion, and hang the controllers from there. This serves the dual purpose of saving space and, if done right, creating a visually arresting space.
Display section
If you have a lot of game-related paraphernalia, then you might as well let go and create a wild game themed section. Load your walls with framed Zelda and Assassin’s Creed posters. Line your shelves with game disks, colour-coded and organised. Throw in a few action figures for variety’s sake, and you’re done. Sabrina Fatma Ahmed
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Schoologistics School Survival
EVENT Tweets
THREe must tries
Run for good
Three games to try before scoffing at video games Borderlands(Yes, all of them)
The Last of Us
It’s hard to not put in a zombie title in the mix, considering the obsession of pop culture with zombies nowadays, but The Last of Us is less of a zombie game considering the humans seem to outnumber the zombies four to one. That being said, the story is gripping right up to the bitter end and while the gameplay is your standard shooter/stealth/puzzle platformer. The characters will grip you from the first moment you pick up the controllers and the thought provoking story will leave you talking about it for months to come. Platform:PlayStation 3
Outlast
No list would be complete without at least one horror title in it. Outlast takes the idea of horror and flips it on its head. No longer are you the most dangerous being in the game, since all you are armed with is a camera, a flashlight, and a very limited supply of batteries. At first glance, stumbling in the dark might seem like a bad game design choice, considering vision and sound are the only things we have to go on in video games, but it’ll be the last thing on your mind when you’re running through the endless corridors of an insane asylum, trying to outrun the beast that would have your head. Platform: PC, Playstation 4
TMAG’s Doodle of the week!
Sarah Jahangir doodled this while she took a break from playing assassin’s creed
If you are a classroom doodler, email your doodle to tmag@dhakatribune.com and see it in our weekly!
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Borderlands spans two genres of game: it’s a shooter that borrows heavily from role-playing games, and the thing that sets Borderlands apart from most other game titles is one word: character, and this game has it by the boatloads. The odd mix of quirky humour and psychotic brutality makes Borderlands an absolute joy to play. It’s also the only title in this list with a very satisfying loot system, and a solid multiplayer. Borderlands is at its best when you’re going at it with three of your friends, all yelling at each other about whose fault it was that you all died. Platform: PC
A race titled “ISD FUN RUN” was held on February20, the proceedings of the event will be donated to the Kajol Project. This year the run’s theme was “Forgo for a while, to go the extra mile.” Students, teachers, and parents were taken to the streets of Bashundhara.
Ruchi School Champion Trophy March 30 - April 15 Venue Military Museum Field
Echche Anko
If your age falls between 6 to 15 get yourself register from any Meena Bazar outlet March 1, 10am Venue Abahani Field, Dhanmondi
Naveed chowdhury
Voice of Youth
On February 22, the Centre for Research and Information organised an event called “let’s talk” held at Spectra Convention Centre, to create an opportunity for the youth to interact and share their ideas with politicians on a personal scale. Nasrul Hamid Bipu, state minister of power, energy and mineral resources, and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister of posts, telecommunications and information technology; were present to hear and discuss the current situation of their subsequent work line. Regarding the fulfilment of electricity, Nasrul Hamid Bipu said: “We want to forget the word ‘load shedding’ and desire to maintain consistency.” The upcoming T20 World Cup is solely organised by Bangladesh, which Zunaid Ahmed Palak believes is a great opportunity to highlight the improvement of the information and technology sector of Bangladesh to the world. He also emphasised on the initiative of empowering women through the “Learning and Earning Training Programme.” Moreover, he expresses the aim to facilitate mobile app developers in the country and improve freelancing, entrepreneurship, build computer labs and multimedia classroom facilities as well. Zunaid Ahmed Palak says: “Only technology can lend transparency to everything. Only technology can reduce corruption everywhere.” The participants were asked to put themselves in the shoes of the ministers themselves and brainstorm solutions on their own, considering the situation. As a result, numerous solutions were suggested with respect to each department and sector. Reducing dependency on quick rental systems, maintenance of facilities, reducing CNG usage in vehicles, further storage for future generations, enhancing government websites and internet availability for mass people etc were some suggestions for both the ministries.
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FASHION FACE-OFF Look of the week
Hidan (naruto shippinden) wielding a triplebladed-scytte and powers of immortality, he finds pleasure in pain
Model Shadab Shayeree Ahmed Photographer Ali Zonaed
Wardrobe Check
Beauty Check
super do’s
Your jeans, your style
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Stud them silly
Rummage through your drawers - gather hair clips, stones that may have fallen off of your ring or necklaces, or even brooches that you don’t want to use. Put these to use by sticking them on your jeans with fabric glue or super glue, and let them dry out for about two hours. If you are a neat freak, with everything in place, you could always get ear studs, old pearls, and an assortment of stones from any tailoring shop, and attach those to your jeans. You could design the back pockets, the ends, or even just one side. Time for the designer in you to spring out!
Bleach a bling on your jeans
If you want a fun set of Capris then it is time you go the whole nine yards for it. A basic pair of blue Capris can be
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There’s a lot you can do with jeans. From baggy denims to skinny jeans, from boot cuts to laced Capris - your pair of jeans can come in handy in more ways than one. Read on to find out how TMAG can zing up your old, sordid pair of jeans zinged up for that “dress to impress” outing. Keep your head on your shoulder and be patient with this though. You will need about two parts water and one part bleach in a bucket, then soak in your Capris for 25 minutes. The solution may creep up a little, therefore it is better if you soak in an inch less than your desired length. Subsequently remove them from the solution and soak the pants in one part water and one part vinegar, this will stop the bleaching. For dyeing the pair you need to prepare the dye: one fourth a cup of liquid dye, half a cup salt, and two cups of boiling hot water. Now in a bucket, add about a gallon of hot water, the dyed mixture and a bit of dishwashing powder. Put the Capri’s into the dye and pull them out; keep repeating till you get the desired tinge you love! Natasha Rahman
It does not matter which part of the world we’re from, which school we go to or how old we are, there is at least one superhero we always want to be. More often than not, our initial transformations into these characters of awesomeness begin in our appearance. Here are a few of the coolest video game hair dos we mortals are able to sport
Super saiyan mode
Dragon Ball Z is the definition of a happy childhood for many. Simply the name of the all-powerful Goku still spells relief while simultaneously sending down shivers down our spines. His super Saiyan mode brings out a wicked hairstyle, the basic idea of which is to make every strand of hair shoot for the moon. This long, spiky style is tried and tested, and looks great if you can pull it off.
Dante angel mode
Dante, son of a demon and an angel, is a half-breed who likes to mince down vile creatures of transcending world like ants. Unbelievably powerful, Dante has a look of remarkable class. His black, short hair is all raised and cut cleanly, a modern trend which never fails to impress.
God of war mode
There are few characters in fictional Greek mythology to rival Kratos. His character is demonic and extreme to the limit. This is reflected in his appearance-his stone-cold, bald head coupled with a sharp, pointed goatee.
Ken mode
Street Fighter is one of the most hard-core fighting games of the recent past. Similar to Mortal Kombat, the characters of this game are unbelievably cool. Ken Masters, one of the core cast, is also one of the strongest and best looking fighters in the game. His partitioned, laid back hair style is a classic. The requirement is moderately long, soft hair which looks best when left on its own. It doesn’t have to be golden like Ken’s, but there’s no doubt it looks classy regardless of colour. RAD SHARAR
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Street Car Talk
HOROSCOPE Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19)
Being a workhorse gets a little tiring; if you can keep up with it, this will be very rewarding for you. Taurus (Apr 20-May 20)
Thinking logically may not work out for you mid week. Let your heart make the judgment call for a change. Gemini (May 21-Jun20)
IThis week is all about opportunities. You just have to do the math to figure out the ones that are worth your time. Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22)
You’ll kick start the week with a lot of confidence. Don’t let unfinished paperwork bring that down.
italian mighty mouse
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22)
Future career prospects maybe knocking on your door at the beginning of this week. Adjust family plans accordingly.
An inherent appeal and a hefty gob of cheek to accompany the performance - here it is, the Fiat 500 and it’s virtually a carbon copy of their legendary car from the 1950s, which was also called the Fiat 500
Virgo (Aug 23- Sep 22)
Someone could come to you for help. Don’t turn them down right away; it could be of some use to you. Libra (Sep 23- Oct 22)
Any new projects you lay your hands on at the beginning of this week will be fruitful for the long run. Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21)
Don’t let distractions get the best of you this week. Get done with prior engagements in order to make space for new plans. Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21)
The skills you’ve acquired previously in school or other institutes will come in handy this week. Make the most of them. Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19)
Responsibilities will come to you from all directions. Try not to get burnt out from the pressure of it all. Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)
Having your hands full can certainly be overwhelming, especially when you don’t have enough hands. Try to keep calm. Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)
Hard work will most certainly be paying off at the beginning of this week. Expect a little cheer from your loved ones.
The only difference is that this little scamp is the 500 Abarth. The 1.4 litre engine has been turbocharged so, it produces 135hp and if that wasn’t enough, there is the SS version fitted with a 165hp engine. Yes, 165hp and that too in a car the size of a shoe. That’s fantastic! Abarth is to Fiat, what AMG is to Mercedes- sort of an in-house tuning company, only that they are madder
than AMG. But the new 500 is missing out on that lunacy of Abarth. If we X-ray the car, we find the chassis is from a Fiat Panda and the engine from a Fiat Punto, a shape from the 50s with some Abarth badges. Apparently, the 500 has eight of those badges on its exterior alone, if you count the wheel centres, and all of them remind you of one thing: a reputation for performance that is as large as the 500 itself.
It certainly looks the part, turned out in Rosso paint and the 17-inch wheels, with red brake callipers peeking out from behind the spokes. The rear drape has the essential vents to match the restyled front air dam, with inlet and exit ducts for the twin intercoolers mounted just inches ahead of the front wheels. The interior gets a restyled shift knob, a chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel, and of course those Abarth badges. Well, they do the intended deed. As in the good old days, the heart of any Abarth is the engine, and this one pushes out nearly 60 percent more hp than the standard car. The transmission remains the same – a five-speed manual unique to the Abarth. Fire it up and it idles like a swarm of bees, that rumpus exiting via twin chromed exhaust tips – a sound track that will completely sweep you off your feet. Under power, the soundtrack features more bass and the car’s intention is heard loud and clear. Setting off, a mash of the throttle sends the boost gauge twirling and the Abarth leaps forward, picking-up 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds. Like the Abarths that have come before, the 500 Abarth has been tuned to be a well-rounded sport coupe. Engineers tweaked anything and everything they could get their hands on and added their version of trickery to it. To remind you, the original car was small and ruthlessly simple but on the contrary, the new car is full of technology. So, what you end up with is a cute and cuddly pet mouse that can run as fast as your race horse. Tahsin Momin
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HOT TOPIC
122222For the love o Video games get a bad rep from media critics everywhere. They are accused of promoting violence, racism, misogyny, anti-social behaviour and dissociation from reality. While many games certainly deserve such concern, there are many out there that don’t, but suffer the shaming anyway. This week, we look at the criticism and the defence of the most immersive form of entertainment.
Entertainment VS Violence Mortal Kombat, Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty: Black Ops, all have one thing in common- violence, (gamers, read thrill). There is where parents go like- “These games will make a murderer out of my child!” Not yet, respected folks. There is massive evidence to support your child’s claim that videogames do not, in actuality, cause violence in kids. Cases like Aaron Alexis’, where the gunman in the tragic Washington Navy Yard shooting, might have played military-style video games for as long as 18 hours a day, further encourage such beliefs as some media pundits began to suggest a direct link between the games and his violent actions. The dispute about video games causing violence dates as long back as the early 80’s but several decades of research have still not found any concrete evidence to conclude the debate. Mixed results came in the
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form of context, where playing violent games increased aggressive behaviour in the short term, but at the same time, violence for a positive reason, i.e. to save a friend, was shown to have reduced levels of aggression. Advocates of gaming may argue too, on why it is only videogames that are targeted whereas there is evidence to suggest that watching more than three hours of TV may also lead to behavioural problems, starting at ages as young as 5. Violence is caused genetically but research has shown that this may be curbed with some help from family. Conclusive evidence prevails that videogames have helped dyslexic children to read better, help in memory formation, increase hand eye coordination and increase ability to concentrate. Violence has always been glamourised in works of fiction (read Shakespeare?), comic books, TV series,
etc. The only thing that has changed is the technology or the medium. It all boils down to the fact that it is up to each person how much of aggression they can take, without getting waylaid by it. Children will treat games as games. Once the console is kept back and family life steps in, violence usually leaves the picture. A good family life where a child is loved and knows how to love, will almost always breed non violent, pro social children who treat games as games and nothing more. Munira Fidai
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HOT TOPIC
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of gaming222229 Devil may advocate Youngsters nowadays spend so much time playing video games that they end up having attention deficit disorders. This is according to a study published in February 2012 in the Journal of Psychology and Popular Media Culture. Dozing off in classrooms and daydreaming while you should be studying would obviously result in sinking grades. Playing videogames for hours, curled up in a couch or sofa won’t bless your love handles or your booming waistline. Gamers get so addicted that their posture starts curling up, leading to skeletal disorders. Also, going hard and fast at a sports/racing game will only lead to carpal tunnel syndrome- which is numbness or pain in the nerve of your wrist! Some videogames also promote the wrong set of morals and values. Hostility amongst the game characters and aggressively having to get your way to cross a level are some of the game rules that get internalised by the players. Usually, gamers do not have the option or the scope to get through certain areas peacefully. They either have to slash the opponent or lose the level. Last, but not the least, regular gamers pick up the crass language in their favourite games and use it in their regular lives. They even confuse fantasy to reality, and manipulate their friends and family to earn favours from them.
Games 101 Action
Because of their fast-paced nature, action games tend to have a large amount of violence. For this very reason, they are rated “M” for “Mature”, and often contain suggestive themes. No brainer that many games from this genre are deemed as inappropriate for children. The gameplay usually pits the player against a contender, occasionally another person, but frequently a nonhuman adversary, such as an alien, or animal. Examples of such games include Halo, Star Wars: Jedi Knight and Enter the Matrix.
been updated and turned 3-D. Some examples are Pacman, Soul Caliber 2 and Frogger.
Strategy
The plot may be based on warfare or may be as simple as chess but this genre requires tactical involvement of players or troops. Also these games need careful and skilled thinking and planning in order to achieve victory. Children might find the content a bit difficult to play. Some examples are Advanced Wars I & II and Chessmaster 2000.
Adventure and Role Playing
Simulation
Arcade
Miscellaneous
Adventure and role playing games are usually less graphic than action games but their surrealism and/or fantasy elements make them alluring. The narrative fantasy themes and interactivity make them very addictive. Examples of this genre are Starfox Adventures, Final Fantasy, Legend of Mana and Billy Hatcher. From the violent Street Fighter to the classic Pacman, Arcade games have a wide range. Many arcade games have
Simulation video games are generally intended to closely create aspects of a real or fictional reality. This genre contains a diverse super-category of games like construction and management simulation, life simulation, and vehicle simulation. Some games in this category include Secret Weapons Over Normandy and SimCity. Other than the ones mentioned, we have puzzles, sports, trivia, card/board as videogames. saudia afrin
Natasha Rahman
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written in the Stars
Game on There are many out there who play videogames to blow off steam after a long school day. On the other hand, there are those who game professionally. Although the notion of being a gamer professionally is something that might catch you unawares, rest assured it exists. Fuad M Hossain looks into this dynamic world of gaming or more appropriately known as “e-sports”
“E-sports” took its sweet time before coming to Bangladesh, in contrast to most Asian countries, which already had a thriving scene. The year 2012 went on to become a stellar year for local gamers as the “World Cyber Games ‘WCG’ Bangladesh 2012” was hosted in the capital. For those unacquainted with WCG, it is the world’s first “Cyber Game Festival,” geared towards the development of a digital entertainment culture. Some even consider it to be the Olympics of computer gaming. In order to get more perspective into this world we spoke to a participant from WCG 2011. Enter Musabbir Ahmed.
Have you ever participated in an event of this magnitude and what were your experiences at the tournament?
When did you start gaming and what inspired you to participate in WCG?
Do you feel these events are important to promoting the gaming culture and if yes, then how?
I am a 20 year old and I have been playing games all my life. I participated in the WCG three years back, during which I considered myself a FIFA extremist and eventually that inspired me to get into the WCG. Besides, WCG that year was being held at my own school.
I have always been indulged in FIFA, which made me even organise my own tournaments throughout Dhaka. Although the magnitude and the amount of gamers participating were lower, the competition and passion from the gamers held a lot of appeal. The tournament overall was exhilarating, as competition between the gamers in Bangladesh is more than anyone would expect.
These events are definitely very much important in promoting the gaming culture in Dhaka. Even though Dhaka is not renowned for gaming, there are thousands of gamers aged 10 to even 40, who spend a lot of their leisure time gaming. Among these individuals are many who game competitively and want their talent to be noticed.
Could you comment on the organising body of the event and if you think they did a good job? I do not know anyone specifically who has organised the event, but I can recall them taking volunteers from renowned institutions like NSU and IUB who actually managed to pull the event off. Although there were big breaks after every game, it’s understandable because the sheer amount of gamers participating in WCG was gargantuous. Do you think this event has a future for aspiring professional gamers? Definitely, although I might suggest, and I am talking for all the gamers out there, that more organisations should take up the responsibilty to organise gaming events for different games. Gaming is a talent and competitive gaming has meaning in Bangladesh.
The last time Bangladesh won a bronze medal was in 2010, and since then there hasn’t been any news of Bangladesh in the WCG. Why do you think it is that way? I participated in WCG back in 2011 and have not heard anything about any tournament after that. I don’t play FIFA religiously anymore and that was the only game in WCG which looked promising to me. One negative thing I could say about WCG is that it does not promote new games. They only focus on the previously popular games which may not be appealing anymore to the Bangladeshi gaming community. n
About Musa I spend most of my time playing competitive Call of Duty and League of Legends. Do you sleep deprive yourself to play games? Every night. It’s possibly my worst habit. Tell us a secret. I have (relatively) stopped studying for my higher education because of my sleep deprived league of legends addiction. Besides gaming, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Big TV show addict. An even bigger F.R.I.E.N.D.S addict. I also like playing table tennis, and music. What would you prefer more, multiplayer games or single player games? I have actually stopped playing single player games for a long time. Multiplayer games are the thing for me. Any gamer would say this, if they have actually tried multiplayer, in my opinion.
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book
YOU WRITE IT
A World Reverse in Time The setting revolves around carcasses reviving in their own graves. People address each other with a “goodbye” and blow smoke into their cigarettes. This is a story of Counter-Clock World that depicts our opposite realm. Written by Philip K Dick and published in 1967, the plot blends philosophy, theocracy, and science fiction in a riveting way. When one of the rising dead is the famous prophet, Anarch Peak, different groups of masses try to track him down with vile intentions. The suspense is what will keep you going all the way to its ending. What happens to the prophet? How does time flow anti-clockwise?
non fiction
Why is the prophet so relevant? The book attempts to keep you hooked to its details and answers questions along the way. You can find the novel at “Words n Pages” in Gulshan or download it electronically in the form of an eBook. It is also available at PBS bookstore in Shantinagar, where you can order it from overseas if they don’t have it in Dhaka. This is one book you are bound to get a kick out of. Whether you enjoy science fiction or not, the story’s seamless plot twists are what make it a great read. Saba Sattar
comicbook
Fiction
yours truly Dear Ma,
The very first time “Can I help you?” “Yes. I, umm… I’m looking for a book, about stars. Stars and their kinds, you know, space and time and stuff like that…” That was the very first time he spoke to me, but now that I sit here gripping on to his lifeless hands trying desperately to somehow bring him back to life again, I think, that was probably the very last time as well. I don’t know how it happened or when it all started, but there he was one day standing in the astronomy section of our school library with an opened book in his hands. And I saw him; maybe for the first time; I saw him watching me and in that brief moment, our eyes met, for the very first time. He had a passion for astronomy, a raging urge to know everything there possibly is to know about our universe and the space. He had the names of every related book memorised; a person that passionate about something, does
not come to someone like me to ask about what it is. After all, I am nobody… “His pulse is dropping! We need to start pumping his heart. How much longer till we get there? This boy doesn’t have much time left!” I jolted back to reality, his hands still tightly entwined in mine. “This boy doesn’t have much time,” that’s all I could hear echoing in my empty mind right now. I don’t have much time, with him. I looked at his face, bloodied and contorted; I could hardly find the boy I knew. The boy I saw watching me from behind his dark-rimmed glasses, hiding behind his armour of books and smiling ever so slightly at his triumph over my heart. He is gone now, and all I could do was watch him slowly breathe his last few breaths as I sit beside his fading existence. I tried miserably to gather the shattering pieces, but in vain I felt my heart slowly break, for the very first time. Tahmina Tasneem Khanam
Dhaka Comics for the win If you were under the impression that comic culture in Dhaka is a fleeting thing, think again. The city’s very own comic house, Dhaka Comics, brings you “Comics Digest.” A collection of 13 comics in one digest; with a combo like that, you really can’t help but pick it up and give it a good read! The first story “Khuun”(murder) delves into the wrongful killings in the city. Crime is at its peak, no doubt about it; but all hell breaks loose when a senior police officer is found dead in his own bathtub. Inspector Zaki sweep the crime scene thoroughly in order to tie up the loose ends. While investigating one case, he comes across cases that have been closed wrongfully based on half-truths and he is completely taken aback
when he discovers the faces behind the murders. “Khuun” has a predictable tone to it; regardless, the story manages to keep you on the edge. After a hardhitting story like that, chill out with stories like “Jeetu,” “Lebu Mama,” “Poltu-Biltu,” “Dadu-Nadu,” and many more. Kudos to Mehdi Haque(editor of Dhaka Comics), Arafat Karim, and Nasir Mohammad Ali for the brilliant artwork and stories. With comics like these, it’s most certain that the love for comic is very much alive and that the treasure chest is quite close to home. Comics Digest is available at www. rokomari.com for Tk250 you get to read 13 comics; that should certainly be a treat for avid comic readers.
You are always there for me. You have been and I know you will be. Whatever you have to say about me, I know it is only for my own good. You think I alienate myself from the world whenever I play on my console and I cannot argue with that. At times when I play Grand Theft Auto (GTA), the on-going mission seems to be of more importance than anything else in the world. And then, there are my studies. Everyone tells me of my potential to excel in all the subjects but I got poor grades in the last exam. We all know why. I know I need to concentrate more on my studies and life in general. I feel I don’t spend enough time with you and abbu as much as I should. That being said, I really love playing video games and that is probably the only type of entertainment I crave for. I feel more confident about myself and the joy I get every time I complete a level is hard to describe. So here I am, pleading to you to have faith in me. I promise to find a balance not only between gaming and studies but time for my family and friends as well. And believe me when I say this, I have acquired many skills while playing different types of games and such skills are actually quite helpful. We share a relationship, a bond that is of the highest state and so if anyone can understand me, it’s you. I love you. A teenage gamer
rubab nayeem khan
TM AG TU E SDAY, FE B R UARY 25, 20 1 4
10 tmag
stereo
The goodsheet Miss You In A Heartbeat Def Leppard Intro: A - E | D | A - E | F#m Verse 1 A#
F
D#
I believe that something deep inside
A# F That shows to me from time to time
A# F
Gm
F
D#
The more you care the more you fall
D#
G#
No need to worry, no need to turn away
A#
F
Chorus A# D#
Gm
‘Cause it don’t matter anyway - baby
F
Uh uh uh - I miss you in a heartbeat A# F Gm Uh uh uh - I miss you right away
A#
F
Gm
Uh uh uh - I miss you in a heartbeat
A#
F
A#
Said: It ain’t love if you give that away
D# F
Verse 2
When we touch I just loose my self control A sad sensation I can’t hide To love is easy, it ain’t easy to walk away I keep the faith and there’s a reason why No need to worry, no need to turn away ‘Cause it don’t matters anyway - baby
Chorus Bridge
Gm D# Now - I ain’t make no promises, I’ve been true to you
Gm D# F
A#
‘Cause I’ll do about anything, so I won’t lie - baby - for you
Solo A# - F | D# | A# - F | F#m | F - D# | G# - D# | A# - F Chorus
TOP gaming
10
music news
THE CHOSEN ONES
Gm
A# F D#
As you fell down for love was such a crime
Tunes and tones
osts’
1. Never forget O’Donnel/Salvatori (Halo 3) 2.
Still Alive Lisa Miskovsky (Mirror’s Edge)
3.
The Only Static X (NFS Underground)
4.
Black, White and Blue Lady Hawk (Fifa 12)
5.
Club Foot Kasabian (Fifa 12)
6. Superman Goldfinger (Tony Hawk Pro-skater) 7.
ADHD Kendrick Lamar (GTA V)
8.
Scars of Time OST Chrono Cross
9.
The Broken Coheed and Cambria (WWE 12)
10. Mr Hangagote Tomas Dvorak (Machinarium)
TM AG TU ESDAY, FEB RUARY 25, 201 4
The 40th annual People’s Choice Awards lifted off with a tremendously entertaining video from the set of “2 Broke Girls” with debutant co-hosts Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings. The star-studded humorous skit progressed on to them receiving two tickets from Kaley Cuoco and hitchhiking Bryan Cranston’s ride to the ceremony. The award-giving ceremony began with Sean Hayes presenting the first award for Favorite Movie Actress to his apparent “wife,” Sandra Bullock. People’s Choice Favorite Album was handed to Justin Timberlake for “The 20/20 Experience” by Jessica Alba. His advocacy for “Suit & Tie” surely seemed to have paid off, as he expressed grace to his wife Jessica Biel for teaching him to appreciate the littlest things like “doing the dishes.” Ellen DeGeneres clinched the Favorite Daytime Host award for the 14th time, while Adam Sandler secured the Favorite Comedic Movie Actor award, thrice in a row. He read out a hilarious fan letter, later revealing it to be from the presenter
spotlight
Pot of Gold If you thought “Lights” was Ellie Gouldings best album, “Halcyon” is about to change your mind. In each song, she manages to incorporate a twist of many different genres and it’s not just Goulding working her magic. You’ve got producers like Jim Eliot, Starsmith, Billboard, MONSTA, Justin Parker, and Justin Spencer waving their wands, composing one great song after another. In fact, she has also recorded collaborations with Calvin Harris and Tinie Tempah for the album. In Halcyon, you will most certainly experience Gouldings versatility; even with that dainty voice she manages to punch you in the ear with changing beats. The choruses are catchy as ever; rest assured that with every song, Ellie Goulding does justice to synth-pop. If that ain’t enough to convince you, tune into soundcloud and lookup “Goodness Gracious,” “Figure 8,” “Anything Could Happen,” and “Burn.” If you’re still clinging to the previous album, Halcyon will most certainly light you up (no pun intended)! Rubab Nayeem Khan
and his dear friend, Drew Barrymore. Among others, the highlights of the night were Stephen Colbert’s virtual award acceptance speech for the Favorite Late Night TV Talk Show Host, Britney Spears’ first ever award for Favourite Pop Artist and her interesting outfit choice, and Robert Downey Jr’s engaging speech while receiving the Favorite Action Movie
Star award for playing Tony Stark in “Iron Man 3.” The ceremony also featured stellar performances by One Republic, Sara Bareilles and Brad Paisley. 2014 People’s Choice Awards was very well received by the stars, audiences and it would certainly be talked about in the coming years. Zaki Adnan
tmag 11
playroom
WE RECOMMEND Anime review
Robotech, one of the finest animes to grace the silver screen in the 90s is a thing of pure magic! In today’s times, war is seen as an absolute evil, although a lot of money and resource is often invested into it. One of the many issues Robotech addressed was the absolute uselessness of war, in the sense that countless lives are lost not to serve
Game review
Guess what dudes and dudettes? Ubisoft has done it again with their latest release. Bet that has got you wondering what they have done now. The latest rendition of the ever popular Assassin’s Creed (AC) franchise is out and this time you are in the shoes of a Welsh pirate Edward Kenway. With ACIII executed poorly, the fans were hoping for a
comic strip
Web Critic
A Childhood Box Full of Chocolates the army or the military, but to serve affluent businessmen and their financial goals. This is of course, not shown directly in the anime, but when one wonders with whose money the army continues to acquire robots and technology after much of the country is already devastated and the government has too many issues at hand, it is no wonder that economics and war efforts are closely inter-linked. One of Robotech’s best points was to interject the personal into the public, in other words, address the lives of soldiers engaged in war. One of the most moving stories within the original
series was one of Roy Focker and his girlfriend, Claudia LaSelle, where Roy, being a white man, dated Claudia, a black woman. Although times are said to have changed nowadays, addressing inter-racial relationships in the 90s was even more difficult to not only portray, but make believable. In achieving this feat, the makers of Robotech proved yet again that the success of their franchise was for a reason. In making their show the wellreceived show of the 90s, a new generation of anime-watchers was born. In itself a gem, Robotech is a show not to be missed! Nadia Chowdhury
Avast, me hearties better version and ACIV: Black Flag has definitely improved on the shortcomings of its predecessor. Edward’s search for riches is what drove him to become a pirate and as a result has landed him right in amid the age-old war between the Templars and the Assassins. The game’s real strength lie in both Edward and his supporting cast, in a nutshell, the characters shine through extremely well. An addition to the general character roster besides NPC’s has been during Templar Hunts missions. During these missions you are put in touch with the lead assassins in those regions. Besides, the game boasts a massive open world with a whole lot of things to do. Imagine going diving into the
Carribean waters, raiding plantations, collecting treasure, and exploring Mayan ruins, to mention a few. Add to that open-world sailing, and you’ve got yourself an absolute treat. You even have your own fleet which seems to be a reboot the “Brotherhood” system. You can send your flee out on missions to plunder treasures or even outright take them over. Without giving too much out, it goes without saying that Black Flag definitely evokes the inner pirate in you, a sense of freedom, and exploration. With jawdropping graphics and excellent level design, if you take the time to explore this world, you are sure to find something to be gobsmacked about. Fuad M Hossain
Now that’s Niiice No matter what kind of subjects you want to specialise in for O and A levels (or SSC/SSC, for that matter), there’s no escaping at least one language test, be it English or Bangla. This means, even if you’re gearing up for pure Science or Commerce, you’re going to have to write that darn essay. During the long journey from class tests to board exam, you’ll have to write several darn essays. Considering the level of competition these days, you’re going to have to be super creative in order to make them stand out. Let’s face it, even the most prolific writers are sometimes stumped for ideas and inspiration. This is where Niice.co comes in. It markets itself as “A search engine with taste.” Basically, what it is, is a search engine for an idea springboard. You type in a keyword or theme, and it will generate a carefully curated selection of photos and artwork corresponding to the word, giving you plenty of visual writing prompts. Browse through a tasteful selection of images, and you have the germ of an idea for your writing. Don’t have a specific theme in mind? Just click on the ‘Surprise Me’ button for random images. This is also a great muse for artists, and students looking for ideas for their class presentations. Partnered up with such sites as Behance, Creattica and Fubiz, you can be sure that the collection is quirky, polished, and unique. Isn’t that niice? Sabrina Fatma Ahmad
TM AG TU E SDAY, FE B R UARY 25, 20 1 4
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Take TMAG’s PERSONALITY QUIZ Now!
TEENARAMA
TMAG tells you to
Choose or Lose
What kind of a gamer are you?
My boyfriend is taking French lessons as he’s planning to go to France for his bachelors. He has taken evening classes four days a week. As a result, we don’t spend time with each other like we used to. He is upset about it too and the amount of fighting between us has increased. Should I call it off?
Choose Question 1
Question 6
What do you do when a smokin’ new game system comes out?
Have you ever been grounded for playing too many games?
a. Save my allowance so I can buy one the day it comes out. b. Ask for one for my birthday so my friends can come and play, play, play! c. Start saving cash, but keep a couple of bucks for munchies and stuff. d. Hope a friend gets one so I can check it out.
a. Twice this month! b. Once or twice, but the games were so cool it was worth it. c. No way! d. Yeah, but only because we were making too much noise.
Question 2 It’s Thursday and school just let out. What do you do?
Question 3 How much time do you spend playing games each week?
MOSTLY B’s are Active Gamers
a. Five-ish, way more if my friends come over. b. Five or more, depending on what I’m doing. c. At least 20, more when I don’t have any homework. d. Five or less, it depends if I get bored.
You just want to have fun and video games are a great way to have a ton of fun. But, so is hanging with your friends, playing a few sports, taking music lessons and maybe going hiking with your mom.
Question 4 Your friends want to get together and play games all Friday night.
MOSTLY C’s are Casual Gamers
a. That’s cool, I’m bringing some pizza and my new CDs too. b. WICKED! I’m bringing two extra controllers and four more games. c. All night? I’ll show up for a bit, but I have three parties to go to. d. I guess, but they’ll just end up asking for my help all night long.
You play a few games and maybe even have the coolest new game system, but you’re more about doing your own thing. Games are mostly to keep you from getting bored while you wait for the next party to start.
Question 5 DS, GBA, or PSP, what’s your favourite handheld game system? a. The DS is sweet, especially the DS Lite. b. The GBA Micro is great, you can take it anywhere! c. The PSP – it has the most power and does a ton of extra stuff! d. The DS is the best, it even lets you load a game demo onto your friend’s DS.
TM AG TU ESDAY, FEB RUARY 25, 201 4
My girlfriend of four years is attending dance rehearsals for her friend’s elder sister’s holud. I picked up that she wasn’t giving me attention and time like she used to and through a friend I found out that one of her former senior crushes from school was attending those rehearsals as well. When I confronted her, she said she had no feelings for me anymore. What should I do?
Lose
MOSTLY A’s are Hardcore Gamers You own every game system and you’ve mastered every game you own. If there’s a power-up, you know how to get it. If there’s an awesome combo, you can do it in your sleep. Your friends come to you for tips on every game and Yoda calls you when the latest Star Wars game has him stumped.
a. See if I can get a date, then head home and play a game before dinner. b. Get home, un-pause my game and finish beating the last boss. c. See if my friends want to get together to play a few games. d. Make plans for the weekend.
Healthy relationships are based on compromises, understanding and love. The shortcomings derived from lack of time fall under compromise. A proper understanding between you two must take centre stage. Give it some time before making a rash decision.
MOSTLY D’s are Non Gamers Playing games is not ideally your thing, you are more of social butterfly. However, one or two games tend to help you blow off steam. Source: www.quotev.com
No matter what the circumstances are, your girlfriend confirms that she doesn’t have feelings for you and that should be the end of it. Even if you try to win her back and succeed, chances are it won’t last long after that because the relationship between you and your girlfriend will not be strong enough. It would be best to let her go. Got a sticky relationship ish? Let us help you make up your mind. Email your story today to tmag@dhakatribune.com
Blush Much?
1
I decided to wear a stark white petticoat underneath a red sari to a function at my university. By the time I realised, my oh-so white petticoat was already saying “Hi” to everyone.
2
I was running my fingers through my hair, being all smug in front of my crush. She came up to me, slapped my shoulder and said “There’s dandruff.”
3
After having dinner at a wedding, I went to the washroom to wash my hands. Right when I was about to wipe my hands, the lights went out. In the dark, I felt a cloth hanging on the wall and began wiping my hands and face with it. When the lights came back on, I realised I was wiping my hands and face with a pair of tattered underwear.
4
This one fine morning I woke up with a throbbing pain on my nose. When I looked at the mirror I found a big fat zit sitting at the tip of my nose, oozing with pus. I had to cancel a date with my boyfriend. Email your confession today to tmag@dhakatribune.com