ISSUE 68 / Vol.6 February 2015
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D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die The Swapper and more...
Ice Cold Cool looks for
Hunted!
Asus’ Sabertooth
4v1 action in Evolve
In Time...
Get Wet!
D4 investigated...
Modern Art?
Cooler Master’s Nepton 240M
Are figurines art or toys?
In The Shadows Fighting evil in The Order: 1886
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Given to games and hardware that score above 90
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Given to games and hardware that score above 85
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Given to games and hardware that score above 80
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Ed’s Choice
Given to products that stand out for various reasons. This award is not dependent on score.
From the Editor
Borderless by Walt Pretorius
W
here there is a will, there is a way. This is a lesson that the entertainment industry has yet to learn, and with the massive leaps forward in technology, the ways are getting easier. The overall entertainment industry needs to start learning all about playing catch-up. It started with music and, through unfortunate means the whole way it works had to change. Thanks to rampant piracy, the whole industry had to rethink almost every aspect of the way music is made and sold. Then came movies and TV series, which are debatably currently in the grip of that same dilemma. When you walk through a mall and see that a store belonging to a massive music and DVD retailer has shut its doors, you know that the times are changing. The video game industry has long been victim to piracy, but has handled things differently. By placing a strong focus on platforms that are more difficult to engage in piracy on (read as consoles) and sidelining those that are easy for pirates to use (read as PCs) the video game industry is engaged in its age old tussle with those who want to play the games but don’t want to support the people who make them financially. Now there’s a new trend. It has been around for a while, but it really is gaining traction. It is happening to companies like Netflix all over the world (in countries that they aren’t officially doing business in) and it happens to the video game industry when they
make moves that are not quite so smart. See, regional control (or region locking) is an outdated idea, thanks to the internet. It is ineffective when it is so very easy to spoof your location. Hell, there are services out there who will do it for you. So when a company like Warner Bros delays the release of a game like Dying Light in certain territories, those that want it will still get it, thanks to a combination of digital sales and spoofing. And that’s exactly what is happening here. Dying Light was delayed by a month for certain territories, but gamers living in those areas are already playing the game, thanks to fake accounts and a little ingenuity. Ultimately, Warner Bros still makes their money in this scenario. It is the local distributor who may feel the pinch. There is always a victim… it just seems a little unfair that companies who work hard to deliver gaming goodness to “far flung” regions need to be the ones who suffer. Right, enough with the rant… January was a slow month for games and tech, but things are looking up for February, with three big releases on the way: the much anticipated Evolve, the stunning looking The Order: 1886 and the delayed Dying Light. We look at the first two in this issue, as well as some awesome hardware. We also cast an eye at CES 2015, and wander through the history of action figures. So stop reading this and get going with the magazine, already… g mgeect 2 c7a 6 8 ggl a ad
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THIS MONTH’S COVER
Fighting ancient foes in The Order: 1886
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Regular: Did you know Some fun facts from the world of gaming
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Feature: The Ages Old War Taking on ancient evil in The Order: 1886
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Previews: Games 13 titles to look forward to
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Feature: Fear the Beast Taking on 4v1 in Evolve
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Reviews: Games 4 games disected
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Regular: Legacy Doom - the game that defined a genre
Publisher / Editor: Walt Pretorius walt@novamentis.co.za
Publisher / Art Director Katia Taliadoros Katia@novamentis.co.za
Writers: Alex Scanlon Charlie Fripp Iwan Pienaar Lein Baart Nthato Morakabi Rob Edwards Suvesh Arumugam Walt Pretorius Letters: letters@gameccamag.com
Competition Entries: competitions@gameccamag.com
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Column: Ramjet’s Rantality A whole new kind of crazy...
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Marketing Contact: marketing@novamentis.co.za
Copyright © Nova Mentis (Pty) Ltd 2009 - 2015
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Taking fun seriously! All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.
GAMECCA is published by Nova Mentis (Pty) Ltd
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Feature: What Happened in Vegas A brief look at CES 2015
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reviews: Hardware Seven pieces of PC tech
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Regular: Internet It’s madness!
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Regular: Security Don’t take the bait
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Gamecca Vol. 6 Issue 68 February 2015
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Column: Technically Speaking Get ready for replay...
Feature: Strike a Pose Figurines are the ultimate in geek art
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Column: The Time Betwixt If RPGs were real...
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COOL STUFF Some cool comics to consider
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Looking forward ...
“The Order: 1886 will have the ideas of narrative and setting well taken care of.�
Features 12 52
The Ages Old War Fear The Beast
PReviews 18 22 24 26 28 30 32 36 38 42 44 46 48
Mortal Kombat X Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Hatred Code Name S.T.E.A.M. EA Sports PGA Tour Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward Life is Strange Oh My Gore! Dead Island 2 Silence: The Whispered World 2 FIRE The Devil’s Men Splatoon
Reviews 58 62 64 66
D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die The Swapper Whoa Dave! Invizimals: The Resistance
RegularS 10 68
Did you know Legacy
COLUMN 72
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Ramjet’s Rantality
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Did You
Know?
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1…
that Dying Light has a Destiny loot cave Easter egg? Dying Light might have been delayed from release across the world (except in the US and digital download), but that hasn’t stopped early adopters from spotting that seemed a bit familiar, if not strange. Taking a stab at Destiny’s infamous loot cave that dropped goodies at an alarming rate, the developers included a cave in the top right of the map. If you go inside, a message will pop up on the screen that read “Your destiny is to build your legend (and get loot).” This is in reference to the message that popped up after Destiny’s cave was patched.
2…
that Dark Souls can be completed in under an hour? Just thinking about Dark Souls give us a manner of the shivers. It probably did to for Twitch user Kahmul78, who figured out a way to complete the entire game in 49 minutes and 55 seconds. But before you throw your hands on the air, he did make use of an exploit to complete his record-breaking speed run. Making use of the Kiln Slip technique, players skip almost the entire second half of the game. Even after that, Kahmul78 wasn’t very happy with the time he posted. “That was a really bad run. That was a really bad run. It was so bad,” he said.
3…
that Microsoft sold 6.6m Xbox consoles in the last quarter? Microsoft and Sony have been in a perpetual battle in who can sell the most consoles in a calendar quarter. With the release of the Xbox One console, where it is pretty much available anywhere around the world now, sales of the console have been climbing. But how many consoles have been sold in the last quarter of last year? Well, Microsoft isn’t saying, with the only bit of information coming out of the tech giant being that 6.6 million consoles in total have been sold: that includes Xbox 360 and Xbox One. How many of those are Xbox One only, is anybody’s guess. We’ll like to wagers that it’s a pretty big chunk.
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DID YOU KNOW
Geek out on the gaming facts...
4…
that PS4 20th Anniversary Edition unit No. 00001 sold for £85K? Sony released a limited amount of PlayStation 4 consoles to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first PlayStation release. As opportunistic gamers would have it, the very first console in the anniversary edition went up for sale – and someone bought unit No. 00001 for a whopping £85K. The consoles were put up for sale in the UK, but the first one was put under the hammer at auction. “We appreciate all who participated in the auction and are surprised at the highest bid price, which was higher than our expectations,” a Sony representative told Wall Street Journal.
5…
that Dragon Age: Inquisition’s tavern songs are available for free? Dragon Age: Inquisition was one of the best games released last year, and while hundreds of hours have been spent hunting dragons and completing missions, gamers occasional made their way to one of the many taverns. Walking through the door, a lovely bard would usually start their song of choice. Well, EA has decided to make all the bard’s songs available as a free download on the Dragon Age website. But if you want to get your hands on the musical tales of the game, you will have to hurry. The 10-track ‘album’ is only being made available for free until around 6 February, after which a small fee will be charged. Even if its $5, it’s really worth every cent.
6…
that Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy is being remastered for Steam? Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy was one of the great PC games back in the day, and while it flew under the radar for most, the complete title is being remastered for a release on Steam. The title was the spiritual predecessor of Heavy Rain, the PlayStation-exclusive that was dubbed as one of the best interactive movies. The game has been updated with better graphics (if that is even possible) and its various glitches and bugs have been tweaked to present a better representation if it was developed today. If you enjoy games that have a morale system and where different actions matter, better get your hands on it pretty quickly. g gamecca68
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The Age Wa GAMING
Taking on half-breed 12
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The Order: 1886
by Walt Pretorius
es Old ar
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over-based shooters are the kind of game that can either work exceptionally well (like the last two Mass Effect games) or can go all kinds of wrong (Alpha Protocol springs to mind). With dynamics that are inevitably similar to games that have come before, they have a serious reliance on compelling narratives and interesting settings – not to mention characters and equipment – to bring freshness to the table. That could, of course, be said about numerous game genres, but it seems that people ignore things like first-person shooters and tend to direct their attention towards cover-based games. It seems like The Order: 1886 will have the ideas of narrative and setting well taken care of. While information about the game has been
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sparse (in fact, for a major release, The Order: 1886 has seen comparatively little hype) there are certain things that we do know… and they look pretty exciting. First off, there’s the setting, which lends itself to the nature of the game rather nicely. The Order: 1886 will take place in Victorian London, but with a twist. The game follows an alternate history, and at the height of its take on the Industrial Revolution, things look quite different. Technology within the game will be more advanced than it should be, with a strong steam punk feel applied to the gadgets that the player will employ, as well as to the overall setting. Airships and elevated trains will be seen in areas that are otherwise familiar, and the player will be able to see landmarks like the Palace of Westminster, Mayfair, Whitechapel, Crystal
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The Order: 1886
Palace, Big Ben and the London Underground shrouded in the mist, steam and smoke of this alternate age. In this setting, three groups will play a major role. The first is the titular Order, a small group of knights who fight against unearthly threats from the shadows, keeping humanity safe. The second are the half-breeds, nightmarish creatures who prey on humanity – it was their very existence that necessitated the founding of the Order. The third are the rebels, a group formed by the people of London as a reaction to draconian laws and increasing poverty. These human warriors have declared war on the very organisation that keeps them safe, seeing the Order as the source of their woes, rather than their protectors. The combination of these three groups, along
with the unique and potentially rich setting, sets the tone for what may just work out to be a very interesting tale. Thanks to the power of the PS4, which will be the exclusive release platform for The Order: 1886, players will be able to enjoy this tale in extreme detail, with seamless transitions between game play and cut scenes, as well as highly detailed, motion captured characters. The characters that the player will deal with the most will be four member of the Order. This organisation was founded centuries before the game, as a reaction to the threat posed by the half-breeds. Using a mysterious substance named blackwater, the Order have managed to lengthen the lives and improve the abilities of their members, all to better combat the inhuman menace. The principle characters within the
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game are Sir Galahad, a jaded veteran of the Order, Sir Percival (aka Sebastian Mallory), another veteran who will bend the law as needs require, Lady Igraine (aka Isabeau D’Argyll), the youngest member of the Order, and Marquis de Lafayette, a tactical genius tempered by the French Revolution and American War of Independence. In addition to these characters, the player can expect, during the course of the narrative, to meet several other unique and interesting NPCs, many of which are based on actual historical characters (perhaps taking a page out of the Assassin’s Creed book). Tying the characters to the environment will be their arsenal of weapons and equipment. Only a few things have been revealed, but they already
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look pretty exciting. And there are sure to be more items available, including a few surprises. Thus far, things like the Arc gun (firing electricity, no doubt), the Thermite gun (for explosive, fiery carnage) and fragmentation grenades have been revealed, to name but a few. There are a number of things that we don’t know about yet, but from videos that are floating around the internet, we can see that The Order: 1886 will combine several dynamics into a seamless, cinematic experience. The player will experience both stealth and all-out action sections, and will have to solve mini-game puzzles and react to quick-time events during some of the more scripted sequences. We also know that the game will be a third-person perspective, and that there may be a degree of squad-based play. As to
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The Order: 1886
character progression, things are a little unclear, but it may be safe to assume that some kind of skill upgrading and equipment acquisition will take place. One thing that we do know is that The Order: 1886 will not feature a multiplayer component, which is a rather unusual move these days. Hopefully the game will be long, and there will be elements to warrant multiple play-throughs. The biggest mystery surrounding The Order: 1886, though, doesn’t form part of game dynamics or character progression – it stems from the development team. Ready at Dawn are not a new studio; rather, they cut their teeth on games like Daxter, God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta. All of these games were developed for the PlayStation Vita. In fact, only two games developed by this team were not for
the Sony hand-held: Okami (Wii) and God of War: Origins Collection (PS3). The Order: 1886 will be their first foray into PlayStation 4 territory, which may raise an eyebrow or two. In addition, with the exception of Okami, it is also the first time they are relying on their own IP, which may raise eyebrows even further. However, the consistently good ratings that their projects have received, combined with the videos showing game play and graphics, give a strong sense that The Order: 1886 will have a lot going for it. The Order: 1886 has been in development since 2010, and went gold on the 19th of January. ON the 20th of February we will finally be able to see how Ready at Dawn’s new vision translates as we take on the alternate world that it will present to us. g
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Mortal Kom GAMING
For the next bout‌ 18
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Three years after the franchise was rebooted with the rather remarkable Mortal Kombat, X will deliver players the first experience of this rich and intricate universe – which started out as a coin-op game many, many moons ago – on the latest hardware. And that, of course, means that the graphics promise to be out of this world. And, just for the long-time fans, they will include the return of X-Ray and Finishing Moves, just to elevate the brutality of the game that extra little bit. In addition, each character will have three variants, each with their own fighting style, strengths and weaknesses. This Mortal Kombat successor promises to offer more variation than ever before. Kano, as seen in a video a while ago, will have the Cutthroat, Cybernetic and Commando variants,
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id you know – assuming you know something about the history of Mortal Kombat and its increasingly convoluted back-story – that Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage had a thing for each other? Well, apparently they did, and the resulting offspring is one Cassie Cage. She will be one of several combatants making a debut appearance in Mortal Kombat X, the latest instalment in this extremely popular fighting franchise. Other new names joining the ranks include characters like Kotal Kahn, Ferra-Torr and D’Vorah, and they will be joining a roster of classic and fan favourite characters (Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden and Kano, to name a few) when this long awaited game hits the shelves.
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Mortal Kombat X
There haven’t been many fighting games released for the latest consoles yet, so Mortal Kombat X is both very welcome and well poised to make a significant impact on the market. Not that it would have had a tough fight – this franchise has always proved to be extremely popular, and it’s dark setting and tale, mixed with fantasy and sci-fi, has consistently managed to thrill players. Hopefully the miss-steps that the franchise made before the reboot won’t surface here again… but judging by the 2011 release, we should have a lot of well-balanced, excellent fighting action to look forward to. And we don’t have to wait too long - Mortal Kombat, with its overthe-top action and pervasive brutality, should be hitting shelves (hopefully) in mid-April. g
AT A GLANCE Fighting
The next instalment in this popular fighting franchise looks crammed with potential and options! Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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NetherRealms Studios Warner Bros Ster Kinekor
Apr 2015
Platforms
GENRE
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by Walt Pretorius
for example. Each will require a different approach, and will open different opportunities for mayhem. It’s almost as if the game will have three times the number of listed characters! The story told in this latest offering from NetherRealm Studios will be set around 25 years after the events that took place in the reboot. What isn’t clear is whether the player will be able to select a single character to get through the single player campaign with, or whether the tale will once again be told through the eyes of several fighters. Either way, it is sure to be action packed, and the multiplayer – Mortal Kombat’s traditional strongest offering – is certain to be crammed full of bone-jarring action.
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Dark Souls Scholar of First Sin GAMING
Now you can die in next-gen shinin
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AT A GLANCE RPG Adventure
More Dark Souls can only be a good thing, though the idea of paid patch will certainly raise a cry from PC gamers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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From Software Bandai Namco Games Megarom
ETA
Apr 2015
Platforms
GENRE
by Lein Baart
2: f the
ness
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin
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he Souls franchise has always had a polarising effect, either leaving gamers fuming after having smashed their keyboard/ controllers to pieces or masochistically begging for more. It’s a style of game that is definitely not for everyone, but for those that have been drawn into the brutally challenging worlds that From Software have created the experience can be quite unlike anything mainstream titles have to offer. Dark Souls 2 proved no exception to the rule, and now the developers are looking to bring their particular brand of sadism to the latest generation of consoles. More of an expansion than a remastered edition, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin will include the original game along with all of its DLC, namely Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King and Crown of the Ivory King. Besides a host of new features and changes, which mostly seems to be focussed on online play and matchmaking, the main thrust of the new release appears to be on fleshing out the narrative of the game through the introduction of the eponymous Scholar of the First Sin. While the expansion will not add any maps, the developers have promised to mix up the gameplay by changing enemy positions and offering new paths to locations. Players who bought the original title will relieved to hear that they have not been forgotten, and most of the changes and new content will be implemented via a free patch in early February, though this will not include the DLC. PC gamers however will have to pay to receive the visual update to DX11, a move that is bound to cause some controversy. g
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Hatred
The ratings board is going to love this
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Creations, is not exactly in the path to revolutionise the gaming industry, but it has been getting almost as much attention as Doom did in the early days. To put it in a different way, Hatred is 2015’s version of Postal. The game is actually very simple to explain: there are no specific missions (besides the obvious) and your sole purpose in the game is to kill people. That might sound like just about every other first-person shooter, but there really is no reason for the wanton violence. As the grisly voice-over in the trailer explains, “This is the time of vengeance and no life is worth saving. And I will put in the grave as many as I can.
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here have been many, many titles in the history of video games that raised the ire of conservatives and progressive players alike. In the entire catalogue of titles released since the first chip was inserted into a motherboard, developers have been pushing the envelope with what they can and can’t do. One of the most famous ones that come to mind is Doom, and maybe a bit after that was Heretic. Both titles were labelled satanic by almost every corner of the gaming community (depending on your view point), but look at where Doom took video games in general. Hatred, from Polish developer Destructive
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Hatred
doing. Doom had a lasting effect on the video games market, spawning a number of sequels and gathering a cult following. Heretic one the other hand, did see a sequel but more than that, it didn’t really have. Could Hatred be the Doom of this decade? Only time will tell, but one thing is sure. The game is ultra-violent, it is mostly in black and white and the main character looks like the dude from Dethklok. Needless to say, the announcement trailer has been met with mixed reaction, with most of the mainstream media calling the title “extremely violent, and very tacky” and “ultra-violent”. g
AT A GLANCE Shooter
It’s ultra-violent and will cause controversy.
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Destructive Creations Destructive Creations TBC
Q2 2015
Platforms
GENRE
ETA
PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS
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by Charlie Fripp
It’s time for me to kill. And it’s time for me to die. My genocide crusade begins here.” Yep, that is the entire game – you play as a rampaging psychopath who simply wants to kill as many people as he can. The main character is well aware that he will not survive, which just further spurs him on. During certain points in the game, players can activate an execution, which will kill the poor citizen in an incredibly close-up and gory way. We are not so sure where Hatred falls in the scope of video games, as it could be seen as extreme freedom of expression and creative vision, but on the other side of the scale it is senseless violence from a maniac who is keenly aware of what he is
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Code name: S.T.E.A.M GAMING
Literary heroes wage war against
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Code Name S.T.E.A.M.
AT A GLANCE RPG-Strategy
President Abraham Lincoln has initiated S.T.E.A.M, a task force assigned the important role of defending earth against enemies from outer space. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Intelligent Systems Nintendo Core Group
ETA
Mar 2015
Platforms
GENRE
by Nthato Morakabi
t alien scum.
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t is the year for pioneers and engineers as the world is transformed into a modern utopia, with the introduction of steam powered technology. London is on the rise and the grand opening for the Steamgate Bridge crossing over the river Thames is at hand. However, an alien invasion disrupts the event, and president Abraham Lincoln jumps into the action with his air-ship Lady Liberty to protect the world from the attack. With a focus on steam powered technology, Code Name STEAM will rely heavily on the gas or various gameplay aspects. Attacks, scouting, movement and use abilities will require steam to execute. Storing this steam will allow for player bonuses, cutting the wait time to allow faster attacks and for interrupting enemies during their turn; all part of the strategy. A unique cast will feature as playable characters, memorable for their tie in with literary works, such as Henry Fleming from The Red Badge of Courage, Tiger Lily from Peter Pan, Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz and Tom Sawyer from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Each character will use abilities and weapons shaped to their personalities, unique in execution and style; an amalgamation of humour and action. Code Name S.T.E.A.M will be compatible with the Amiibo figurines from the Super Smash Bros series. Ike, Lucina, Marth and Robin from Fire Emblem. These are scanned on the bottom screen of the Nintendo 3DS, bringing the scanned character into the game as a playable character. Crafted by the team responsible for Fire Emblem and Advanced Wars, tactical titles developed over the years, should be reason enough to consider this turnbased strategy game. g
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EA Sports PGA Tour GAMING
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EA Sports PGA Tour
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AT A GLANCE
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Sports
Using the Frostbite engine, it should be a riot.
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ETA
EA Sports Electronic Arts Prima Interactive
Platforms
GENRE
by Charlie Fripp
part from EA’s annual golfing titles, there really isn’t many other on the market that can actually compete with the PGA Tour franchise. The series took a little bit of a break last year after the company decided to drop former World number one Tiger Woods from the cover, but this year it will be back with a bang. EA Sports PGA Tour, as it will now officially be known, is doing a number of things a little bit differently than usual – which is always a good thing as the franchise lacked innovation in the past two or so titles. Originally to launch at the end of March, EA decided to push the title back by a number of months in order to add the necessary polish. But if you haven’t seen any screenshot just yet, do yourself a favour and go have a look – it looks absolutely amazing! Beside for the usual game mechanics and stunning graphics, EA Sports PGA Tour will feature a number of fantasy course. They have done that in the past, but what makes this one special is that it will allow gamers to play a round in an active war zone featuring battleships, fighter jets and a lot of explosions. The war zone isn’t the only course that EA will have in terms of fantasy, but it’s the only one the company revealed. And whenever there are explosions and EA is involved, the company like to use the Frostbite engine – and that is exactly what they are using for this one. It might seem a bit strange, but trust us, it is going to awesome. If you are a golfing fan, put this on your radar. g
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Final Fantasy Heavensward GAMING
The Adventure Never Ends
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Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
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MMORPG
The world of Hydaelyn is home to the realm known as Eorzea, it is within the towering mountains, and bleak desert that the story unfolds. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Square Enix Square Enix Megarom
ETA
Q2-Q3 2015
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AT A GLANCE
by Nthato Morakabi
y XIV: d
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inal Fantasy XIV: Heavensward is the first expansion pack for Final Fantasy XIV: A Real Reborn, featuring two new key plot points and introducing a number of features, areas and levels to the popular online multiplayer from Square Enix. The lore of Final Fantasy XIV is set in the world known as Hydaelyn and within it, the realm that is Eorzea. It is here within the towering mountains in the north, and bleak stretch of desert in the south that the story unfolds. The bloody thousand-year long conflict between Ishgard and Dravia, called Dragonsong, will be one of the two key plot points players will participate in. The other is The Wyrmking’s battle against Thordan and the Knights Twelve. An introduction to two new job roles will be part of the Heavensward launch. The healing class based on support spells will be the Astrologian, drawing their power from the stars. The gunner-type class employing ranged and physical damageper-second will be the Machinist. Both of these jobs will be part of the classes released with the expansion, with the tank class Dark Knight. Loot and drops from raids is what makes MMORPGs, and Heavensward will include a new raid: the Goblins have summoned a primal essence within the gigantic, abandoned Mechanical Fortress Alexander; Alexander must be defeated. The Collector’s Edition will include an art book featuring amazing artwork from the development team as well as and video disc with unknown content at the moment. Part of the Collectors Edition will be unique in-game items which include a flying Griffin mount, a Cecil inspired headpiece for the Dark Knight class and a Wind-Up Kain minion. g
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Life is Stran GAMING
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six weeks between instalments, Life is Strange will be a point-and-click adventure title that will see gamers play as Maxine Caufield, a high school photography senior who has returned to her hometown of Arcadia Bay, Oregon only to discover she has unlocked the power to rewind time. Initially used to save her estranged friend Chloe, soon both girls will “find themselves exposed to the darker side of Arcadia Bay” as they seek to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of another student. While the plot may sound slightly generic at first, Dontnod are promising “a beautifully written modern adventure game” where the focus will be as much on the friendship between Chloe and Maxine as the
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pisodic gaming is not a format of release commonly associated with major publishers or triple A titles. While it has actually been around in some form or another for a couple of decades, it wasn’t until the advent of Telltale Games, with the likes of Back to the Future, Walking Dead and Tales of Monkey Island, that the concept truly began to stake its claim as a viable means of development. It is however one thing to experiment with development for games that are based on existing popular media, and quite another to implement the idea for original IP, which is exactly what Square Enix and Dontnod Entertainment are planning to do with Life is Strange. Split across five episodes with a planned delay of
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immediate or distant future. To that end, expect past decisions to haunt you across all the episodes, along with multiple endings that will depend on the choices you have made. Life is Strange appears to be a game that draws heavily from other titles, especially Telltale Games’ past works and even Dontnod’s last release, Remember Me. While its inspirations may be clear though this is a game that appears to have plenty of promise on its own, with a clear identity and a very intriguing mechanic, if it is done right. By the time you read this the first episode will have hit the digital shelves, and adventure games would do well to keep this game in mind. g
AT A GLANCE Adventure
Combing time travel, teen angst and mystery, Life is Strange definitely has some tantalising potential Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Dontnod Entertainment Square Enix TBC
Jan 2015
Platforms
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by Lein Baart
mystery itself. Supernatural elements aside, Dontnod are hoping the settings, visuals and music (which will include a “distinct, licensed indie soundtrack”) will combine to create a story centred on the coming-of-age of the two girls, and how our choices affect who we are. Of course the ability to manipulate time will have a drastic influence on each decision, with players having the option to rewind even while engaged in dialogue, allowing past errors to be erased and the optimal solution to be found. That’s the idea at least. The studio has stressed that even small changes can lead to significant differences, and a guiding theme behind the writing has been that every positive can have an unforeseen negative consequence, be it in the
E M W A VIE G E R P
Oh My Gore! GAMING
Revenge is best served pixelated.
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GENRE
Strategy
The good gods have banished you from the realm of the living and when you are summoned back, revenge fuels your fury into destruction. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Bumblebee Daedalic Entertainment Steam
ETA
Q1-Q2 2015
Platforms
AT A GLANCE
by Nthato Morakabi
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Oh My Gore!
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o be a deity is hard enough, worse when the “good� gods banish you from the realm of the living to suffer in solitude. So it is with much glee when ages of pent up anger unleash wrath on all who dared to cause such harm; it is time to exact much needed revenge. With an army of orcs, zombies, skeletons trolls, warg-riders, witches, as the villain to the people, it is time to wage war against the forces of good. Oh My Gore! is a title incorporating real-time strategy with tower defence gameplay. Conquering enemy castles and keeps and while defending own territory, is the core aspect of the title, with a focus on the fact that the player will be an evil god bent on causing havoc upon the world. Utilizing the army of monstrous creatures and the ever necessary Fortress of Evil, the elves, angels, paladins and mages on the other side of the battlefield will not be able to withstand. Pixelated artwork reminiscent of old school tower defence games, complete with a top-down view, will be the style of the title. A pixel-liquid system for flowing lava, water and blood will ensure the massacres are bloody and levels dynamic; a burst dam could flood camps or lava consume troops. Cited to be offering at least 7 to 8 hours of gameplay in the narrated campaign, a selection of side quests of which some include recruiting heroes into the fold, and other elements taken from the RPG genre, look to give this title a unique perspective on the popular tower defence genre. Oh My Gore! will be available on PC, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. g
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Dead Island GAMING
To the mainland!
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franchise, or whether they migrate over to Dying Light. That would be telling, now wouldn’t it? Whatever the case may be, you really can’t get enough of bashing shambling dead, so Dead Island 2 is a welcome addition to the year’s release schedule. The game will be set several months after the events of the first two titles, which saw the island paradise of Banoi become a zombie-infested wasteland. And although the word “island” is still in the name, Dead Island 2 will leave fictional tropical islands behind and head towards the very real mainland. This game will be set in California. In the game, the US military has turned Caifornia into a quarantine zone, due to a zombie outbreak. The result
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he previous Dead Island games may have had more than a few warts, but they were still great fun to play. And they proved to be popular enough for publisher Deep Silver to throw their hat in the ring with a sequel. It’s pretty interesting, actually, because original developer Techland has moved onto a new IP – the equally undead Dying Light – leaving Deep Silver to turn to Yager for the development of this sequel. In other words, we should soon have two first-person brawler, zombie bashing games to choose from. The rivalry might just hit Battlefield vs CoD levels… What will be truly interesting will be to see if the aforementioned warts stay with the Dead Island
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assuming that the game will be pretty huge. All the press release tells us is that it will include areas like Golden Gate and Venice Beach… a real world distance of more than 500 kilometers. But we don’t know if the game will allow that much freedom, will make use of a rescaled environment, or will provide the setting in chunks. And good looking, of course (if you can use that terms for a game full of rotting corpses.) Yager is making use of the Unreal 4 engine to power physics and graphics in Dead Island 2, so we’re pretty certain it’s going to look as good as a battered zombie can. And you should be able to play it within the next few months. g
AT A GLANCE First-person brawler
The zombies have left the tropics and arrived in California... it’s bashing time! Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Yager Deep Silver Apex Interactive
Q2 2015
Platforms
GENRE
ETA
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by Walt Pretorius
is that those who refuse to leave their homes, and those who are looking for extremely dangerous adventure, rub shoulders with zombies. And that, of course, mean lots of hand-to-hand action, complete with a whole bunch of new weapon modifications and tense action. As before, Dead Island 2 will allow for four player coop to take place… arguably the best way to survive the dangers that the Sunny State will throw at the player. There will be dedicated player classes to choose from, and a skill system to reward progress. In short, a lot like what we had before, just presumably bigger. How big, exactly, is unclear. We’re not sure how much of California will be accessible within this open world game, but with the power of the latest hardware, we’re
E M W A VIE G E R P
Silence: The Whisper World 2
GAMING
dare to delve once more into the poignant world of stillness
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Silence: The Whispered World 2
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red
AT A GLANCE Adventure
With its arresting visuals and the promise of narrative that will enchant, this is a title adventure game fans should be keep an eye on Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
gamecca68
Daedalic Entertainment Daedalic Entertainment TBC
ETA
Q1 2015
Platforms
GENRE
by Lein Baart
eveloper and publisher Daedalic Entertainment is not a studio you are likely to know off-hand, though it is certainly one that is quickly building a reputation for itself, especially when it comes to adventure games. With titles like Edna and Harvey, Deponia and Memoria to its name, the German developer has become known for creating compelling worlds and plots, a style which 2009’s The Whispered World firmly maintained. Despite its flaws, including poor English voice-acting and some really arbitrary puzzles, the game was generally well received, with beautiful visuals and a narrative that could somehow be both sorrowful and humorous. Silence: The Whispered World 2 appears to be a game built in the same vein as its predecessor. With players once again returning to the land of Silence, the sequel will feature 16 year old Noah (the protagonist of the first game) and his sister Renie escaping from an air raid into the world of dreams, though the intervening years have seen it become ravaged by war and monsters. Transitioning from the traditional 2D format of adventure games into 3D, Silence looks to be a visually stunning title, with Daedalic using a method they have named “camera projection” to place gorgeous 2D artwork into the title. Like the original, Silence will also feature a strong focus on its narrative, with the developers promising that puzzles will seek to drive the plot forward rather present barriers to its continuation. To this end the game will eschew the usual inventory in favour of entirely contextual solutions that Daedalic are claiming will be “kept on a logical, comprehensible level”, perhaps a lesson learnt from past criticisms. g
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FIRE GAMING
Bumbling through the Stone Age
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FIRE
AT A GLANCE Adventure
The search for the somewhat elusive element known as fire drives Neanderthal Ungh on an adventure hoping to restore his place back in the tribe. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
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Daedalic Entertainment Daedalic Entertainment TBC
ETA
Apr 2015
Platforms
GENRE
by Nthato Morakabi
e…
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ngh, the lovable yet exceedingly chaotic Neanderthal falls asleep while on his very first night watch. When morning comes and the knowledge that this necessary element to the village has gone up in smoke, Ungh is exiled from the village and must now venture out to find a new fire. Boasting 10 beautifully hand-drawn sceneries, a vividly animated Stone Age world and enough fumbling from the disaster-prone Ungh, for a savagely hilarious story. Travel across frigid landscapes, arid lands, fiery lava pits, the innards of a dinosaur and every nook and cranny of the prehistoric world. Rich colours splashed on to each level create a visually stunning title both simplistic in its visuals yet intricate in its execution. Featuring no text or dialogue, this title will look to thought bubbles and Ungh’s theatrical antics to tell the story. An atmospheric soundtrack from the composer of the 2013 title “The Night of the Rabbit”, will compliment this humorous exploratory adventure. Gameplay will be built to be easy and intuitive, one click or swipe and the environment will come to life. Every object triggers a reaction from either the environment or from Ungh himself for an interactive experience. Progress through each of the levels will require solving perceptive puzzles, alternating play style by transforming into an animal, playing hero by rescuing a damsel in distress or even shooting coconuts from a mammoth’s trunk. Day and night will also play an important aspect to puzzle solving, getting players to explore every aspect of their screens. Fire is currently available on pre-order on Steam and Daedalic Entertainment is giving a 10% discount to all who preorder. g
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The Devil’s M
GAMING
There is something strange going in old England
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The Devil’s Men
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AT A GLANCE
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2015
Adventure
A point-and-click mystery to solve...
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
ETA
Daedalic Entertainment Daedalic Entertainment TBC
Platforms
GENRE
by Charlie Fripp
ho would have thought that point-and-click adventure games would be making a comeback in 2015? Well, that is exactly what Daedalic Entertainment is trying to do with their newest title The Devil’s Men. Details are actually a bit scarce to come by, but it was written by Kevin Mentz and takes place in 1871 England. The player is on a mission to solve a number of murders which have been sweeping the English countryside. The point-and-click adventure game will have gamers take control of the many main characters as they try to figure exactly what is going on – while uncovering the mystery of The Devil’s Men. Exactly who they are, what they want and how they go about their business is all up for investigation. The style of the game play might be from gaming’s heyday, but it won’t solely be based on it. The Devil’s Men will incorporate story telling techniques and mechanics that many players will be familiar with, such as a choice system. Saying the wrong thing or acting in a specific manner will determine the outcome of the plot, a mechanic which often ensure that players will come back to the title more often, and even play the game several times to get different endings. Writer Kevin Mentz summed it up rather nicely when he said it presents something new: “I wanted to show that transition also as a transition from a historically somehow real era into something fantastical. You could describe it as the origin story of a new steampunk universe.” It definitely looks to be rather interesting, and we haven’t seen a decent point-and-click adventure game in a long time. So maybe this one will be it... g
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E M W A VIE G E R P
Splatoon GAMING
Colour my world 48
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colour and the team with the most territory covered will be the victors; however, the enemy players will be fair game too. The single player campaign will be based on the player infiltrating the enemy octopus camp which is kitted out in its own arsenal of ink weapons. The online multiplayer mode will pit two teams of up to 8 players, that is four per team, against each other in an effort to cover as much of the level as they can. Strategy will be a key aspect in Splatoon, as the requirements to cover as much territory as possible will be influenced by a variety of factors. As more of the level is covered, the weapons will be powered up to cover more of the space, making enemies easier
GAMING
he battlefield extends across the city, two enemy camps hold their weapons at the ready. Territory is at the fore of their campaign and the warzone is about to be awash with the colour of the victorious camp. The ink-spewing, shape-shifting, squid-like creatures known as the Inklings are the warriors waging this war. Welcome to Splatoon, where death by colour is the order of business. A Wii U exclusive title combining the thrill and competition of third-person shooters with the egotistical drive to claim territory for a unique colour splattering experience. The premise of the game will be to cover as much of the battlefield with the team
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point near their allies. Two weapons will be at the players’ disposal, consisting of a primary weapon and secondary weapon. Like most games of the genre, the primary weapon will either be some form of mid-range gun or a sniper rifle, however keeping consistent with the theme, there will be an option for a giant paintbrush or giant roller as a primary weapon. Secondary weapons will include an ink grenade, ink curtain, ink sprinkler and in the event of covering enough of the level, a special weapon. Splatoon has been praised for its unique take on a genre that has a tendency to be repetitive. As a new shooter IP from Nintendo, Splatoon might be the title to revitalise the Wii U console. g
AT A GLANCE Third-person Shooter
Paint the battlefield and all enemies in dashing colours and claim your territory in splashes of ink. Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
gamecca68
Nintendo Nintendo Core Group
May 2015
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by Nthato Morakabi
to dispatch and when enemies are defeated, they will explode in a splattering of colour. Transforming into the multi-legged squid is merely a single push of a button which will allow players to move through their own ink faster, scale walls and even move through grates. The ink will also be available at a replenish point to keep the ink-fuelled weapons at full stock. The Wii U gamepad will offer a variety of control options, including the use of the gyroscope sensor as means to look around the level and perfect both aim and control of the character. The gamepad will be most effective during online matches where the screen will act as a map as well as allow players to select a spawn
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Who ever said
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by:
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Lein Baart
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Evolve
he Beast
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tu a Fe
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simple: four people playing as hunters will team up to battle it out against a human controlled monster. Put in another way, this will be ultimate boss battle, or at least that’s what Turtle Rock is hoping for. This is a developer that has proven they know how to create great multiplayer experiences though, and if the name sounds familiar, that’s because this was the team that, in conjunction with Valve, created Left 4 Dead. Indeed, in retrospect Evolve seems like a natural, well, evolution of the studio’s first title. Itself a four person co-operative game, Left 4 Dead was a first-person shooter that saw players battling to survive through five campaigns against swarms of what were essentially zombies. One of the major features of the game though was an A.I. system called the Director which actively monitored each player’s current situation, status and skill to dynamically generate content such as item and enemy placement. As such it acted almost like a human opponent, providing tremendous replay value to the game, a quality which Turtle Rock Studios is no doubt hoping will carry over into Evolve. The development of the game hasn’t been without its challenges however. After reforming in 2010 after
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Evolve
It can be a fascinating thing to track the shifts in the tides of gaming. Mostly the industry progresses through incremental changes, with releases building on the foundations of games that came before them. In this way we have seen the slow diffusion of RPG mechanics into almost every other genre, witnessed the transformation of the first person shooter from challenge driven bulletfests into spectacle filled puppet shows, and watched the rise and fall of genres like the 2D platformer. Every now and again however, whether by chance or by design it seems like a slew of developers hit on the same idea and suddenly we find ourselves playing titles that have created whole new standards in gaming. While seamless multiplayer appears to be the flavour of choice at the moment, with Shadow Realms and Fable Legends due later this year, 2015 looks set to play host to new modes of online gaming, one in which the playing fields are not level and imbalance is the whole point. Asymmetrical multiplayer has arrived, and Turtle Rock Studios is leading the charge with Evolve. If you’ve somehow managed to avoid the massive amount of hype Evolve has generated, the premise of the game is rather
its split with Valve, the studio began work on Evolve in early 2011, with the publishing rights being acquired by THQ. It was not a relationship that would last, as barely a year after striking the deal the publisher, once a major player in the industry, had declared bankruptcy. Evolve’s potential must have been evident even at this early stage though, as Take-Two Interactive snapped up the IP in the ensuing auction, and since then it appears to have been mostly smooth sailing for Turtle Rock Studios. So what exactly will Evolve be? To start, while there is a nominal attempt at a backstory, even the developers admit that it doesn’t really matter. Officially the game will take place on the planet of Shear, a frontier world at the fringe of human controlled space. As mankind has expanded and encountered alien life on the planets we have occupied, a new class of warriors known as planet tamers have arisen, specialists in protecting settlements from hostile native species. Shear has proven different, with monsters that far outmatch the capabilities of the settlers’ defences. Thus William Cabot, a retired planet tamer himself, has assembled an elite group of hunters to combat the threat and try save the colony. It’s not exactly award
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winning fiction, but it does the job of setting up the conflict. Each match will see four hunters going up against one marauding monster, with each team being composed of four classes. All the classes have distinct roles in combat, with the assault there to provide raw damage, the trapper to pin the monster in place, the support to supply team-wide benefits and the medic to heal any wounded comrades. This may sound like a simple combination, but each class will at launch have a choice of three characters, which while sharing one ability amongst themselves will have unique skills and weapons. For instance, all three trappers can place a dome over the immediate area that prevents the monster from escaping, but bounty hunter Abe can use tracking darts whereas enigmatic Maggie has a pet alien dog that can heal her companions. While this variety should enable a compelling level of strategy, it will also mean a heavy reliance on your teammates to see you through a fight against a monster easily a capable of ripping you to shreds, and Turtle Rock have emphasised the need for co-operation and communication among players. For those less inclined to revel in the camaraderie of co-
operative multiplayer (along with the inevitable expletives and insults), the monsters should offer up more than enough power to satisfy any egomaniacal sadist. At launch Evolve will have three very different monsters to choose from (four if you pre-order or buy the DLC), all definitely capable in their own right. For gamers that prefer their carnage up close and personal, the fire-spewing Goliath should fit the bill, while the electricshooting Kraken will probably suit more cautious players. The most recent reveal, the Wraith, has the ability to cloak itself as well as abduct individual hunters, and the Behemoth (the previously mentioned fourth monster) is the organic equivalent of a tank - slow and lumbering but enormously powerful. Playing as one of these creatures will demand more than just brute force however, as each match will require you to feed from slaughtered wildlife in order to evolve to a higher level (to a maximum of 3), which beyond increasing health and armour will provide points to spend on upgrading your powers. Any game that focuses so heavily on type particular type of gameplay is at risk of becoming monotonous once the novelty fades,
and Turtle Rock have made great pains to allay these fears. While individual matches, called quick plays, will be available, there will also be the option to engage in a miniature five-round campaign that will see players face-off in four modes (defend, nest, rescue and hunt), where each victory will give the team an advantage going into the next map. The developers have even claimed that, factoring in characters, monsters, maps and modes, there are 800000 possible ways for each campaign to play out, creating what should be a unique experience in each play through. The studio has also announced extensive DLC support, a move that some have criticised, but have promised that new maps and modes will be released free of charge. Anyone who has picked up the little known cult classic Giants: Citizen Kabuto can appreciate the unbelievable amount of enjoyment there is to be had in asymmetrical multiplayer. Evolve will require an immense amount of fine tuning and balancing to get right, but should it come together as we are hoping you can have little doubt that this game will be hogging bandwidth at the very least for months to come. g
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E M W A IE G EV R
D4: Dark Dre Don’t Die GAMING
Time travel and murder
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D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die
eams
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Now, those games were pretty good and the mechanics worked pretty well. The problem with D4 is that it’s from a Japanese studio. I have nothing against Japanese games, although I’m not a huge fan of their RPGs, but it seemed like the studio tried to combine what Telltale did and mash that into their own adaptation. This doesn’t work really well as you get a combination of Japanese cel-shaded graphics and a watered-down version of the mechanics that made Telltale Games famous again. This leaves the gamer a little bit confused as to which one he is actually playing. Is it a Japanese game? Is it a bad clone of a Telltale game? During the first scenes of the game, you control the main character while he is sitting in the bathroom, and even though you don’t have direct control over his
GAMING
have to be completely honest in saying that D4, which stands for Dark Dreams Don’t Die, is one of the weirdest games I’ve ever played. Okay, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration but still, it is pretty strange. Everybody has seen or at least heard of what Telltale Games did with games like The Walking Dead, The Wolf among Us and the Game of Thrones adaptation. Instead of controlling a single character on the screen like a traditional video game, you have to input actions that are then actioned by the characters on the screen. For example, you can point the character in the general direction and then a number of selections will pop up on the screen. Depending on what you do, every gesture and action will influence the story and the possible future actions available to you.
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named David Young, whose wife has been murdered. To make a long story short, the traumatic events surrounding her death has given Young the ability to travel through time – which he naturally uses to undo her murder. It’s a rather interesting premise, but plot alone isn’t enough to pull a game through. To make matters worse, the title has a huge desire to force its Kinect integration upon the player. The game makes use of voice commands and hand gestures to perform actions. While Kinect is much better than the previous version, its better suited for voice than gestures – making the game jittery. The game might not be for everyone, but I’m are sure there could be some players will find it immensely satisfying. I didn’t play it long enough to find out… g
AT A GLANCE GENRE
Adventure
REVIEWED BY
XO
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Access Games Microsoft Studios Microsoft
PARENTAL ADVISORY
16+ gamecca68
PLATFORMS
Apparently Telltale clone games don’t die either
Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice
ACCESSIBILITY
Hard-Core Medium Casual
PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS
Score
65 61
by Charlie Fripp
actions like walking around and talking, there are certain points during the cut scenes were you have to quickly press a button in order to action something. These button prompts are so small that you can hardly see them if you don’t know that they are there. I actually missed the first couple, and if you do miss them, that affects the outcome of the scene. If you’re missing something because you don’t see it, is it your fault if something terrible happens in the game? In terms of graphics, the game is typically Japanese, although it does borrow some elements from the Telltale Games. It might seem like we are stuck like a broken record over the comparisons, but there is no other way to successfully explain it. It’s even released episodically, just like… oh yeah, those games. For the plot, it revolves around a private investigator
E M W A IE G EV R
The Swapper Bring in the clones
I
nameless astronaut trapped in a crumbling excavation on an alien world. The look and feel of the game is unique, largely thanks to the fact that the developers hand made everything in the game in plasticine. Yep, they handmoulded every aspect of the game in painstaking detail, digitised it and then imported it into the game. This technique lends The Swapper a gritty, unique feel that is rather appealing, and adds significantly to the overall haunting quality of the title. Back to the astronaut. Right, so to navigate this excavation requires the use of several people to solve puzzles. The problem is that the astronaut is alone – that is until he finds a device called The Swapper. With this “gun” he can project a cloned version of himself into the level, and even change consciousness with it. In this way, the player can create multiple copies of the astronaut,
GAMING
ndie games are, at the moment, enjoying something of a “golden age”. Thanks to services like Xbox Live and PSN, indie games are not only getting out to the masses, but often they’re supplied for free, allowing players to experience the talent that is out there, but not necessarily handled by a big-name publisher. Until the shine wears off (if it ever does) indie developers have a lot of opportunities to make names for themselves. Of course, there are also checks and balanced that (theoretically) are in place at major publishers, and indie games aren’t always subject to these quality controls. The result is a game like The Swapper, which manages to be a brilliantly challenging puzzle game and an infuriating frustration all at the same time. The Swapper places the player in the role of a
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needs to hurry to avert impending doom, the pace is quite leisurely. It is this kind of inconsistency, as well as the inconsistencies in difficulty, that keeps The Swapper from true greatness. It is also the kind of thing that marks the difference between an indie game and a major release – although we’re not so sure about that anymore. But it is still a really enjoyable game, when all is said and done. The puzzles are all traversal based, with switches that need to be activated, tough areas that need to be reached, and so on. If you can get your head around the cloning mechanics (and can get past some of the more frustrating bits in the later stages) The Swapper will prove to be enjoyable enough, even if it is plagued by occasional inconsistencies. The idea, at very least, is pretty unique, and will have you scratching your head more often than not. g
AT A GLANCE Puzzle
REVIEWED BY
This puzzle-platformer may suffer from a few inconsistencies, but it is still fun to get through.
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Facepalm Games Curve Studios Online
PARENTAL ADVISORY
7+ gamecca68
Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice
ACCESSIBILITY
Hard-Core Medium Casual
PS4 PLATFORMS
GENRE
PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS
Score
80 63
by Walt Pretorius
and use them to solve the puzzles. The catch – there is always a catch – is that the clones mimic the player’s movements. So placing a clone on a ledge may have him falling off if the player moves. Things are further complicated by red and blue lights that prevent effective use of the gun. But what makes it even more challenging is that The Swapper can be extremely demanding, even overly so. In later stages the game requires an extremely high degree of precision. In fact, this rises into the realms of being unreasonable, and the player will often find that just being a tiny bit off of where the developers wanted you to be will result in failure. And then there’s the pace of the game. Even when the plot (which is crammed with a few heavy handed philosophical questions) is screaming that the player
E M W A IE G EV R
Whoa Dave ! GAMING
New Old School
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by Rob Edwards
hoa Dave is a game that goes a very long way to prove that complexity is not required for a game to be fun. Awesome graphics, massive settings, a wide array of weapons, a large skill tree and comprehensive controls… you will find none of these things here. Instead you will find a platformer that is visually blocky, and features only three control actions: run, jump and throw. You will find simplified platformer levels that only change when the mandatory lava rises or falls. You will find simple enemies and few options. And yet, if you dig into Whoa Dave, you will also discover a game that, in its absolute simplicity, is excellent. Sure, this is a game that won’t appeal to everyone, bu those that it sinks it’s pixelated hooks into will be stuck on it for ages. It’s fast paced and strategically far more complex that you might assume, but it still leaves the player enough room to construct strategies on the fly and approach levels as they see fit. Whoa Dave can be extremely frustrating because, particularly in later levels, it gets pretty tough. The forced interaction that the game delivers, in the way that running past something automatically picks it up, and things carried for too long explode, adds an even deeper level of strategy to a game that certainly shouldn’t be judged purely by appearances. In a world where fancy graphics and complex settings have all but supplanted great game dynamics, Whoa Dave breaks all kinds of moulds, and delivers an experience that feels very classic, yet manages to have a modern edge in its frantic dynamics. Give it a try, at very least… g
AT A GLANCE Platform
REVIEWED BY
It may not look like much, but Whoa Dave is an addictive, awesome platforming experience.
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Choice Provisions Choice Provisions Online
PARENTAL ADVISORY
16+ gamecca68
Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice
ACCESSIBILITY
Hard-Core Medium Casual
PSV PLATFORMS
GENRE
PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS
Score
79 65
E M W A IE G EV R
Invizimals: The Resistance Hunt and fight, fight and hunt…
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– as expected – tasked with collecting the critters and doing battle against others. The story will come across as sterilised to older players, because even in times of crisis, the actors seem a little too upbeat for their own good. Such is the nature of this beast. The main areas of the game lie in two distinct sectors. The first is the augmented reality bit, which employs several mini-games and the like, all with a background of the real world, in which the player principally captures Invizimals. The good news is that AR cards are no longer a requirement. The bad news is that, every now and then, the game loses track of the real world a bit, and things shift and move in ways they’re not supposed to. Of course, the AR section will require bright lighting, and a variety of environments to hunt Invizimals. The other bit comes in the form of the battle arena.
GAMING
iming a game at just the right target market can be tricky, but a title like Invizimals: The Resistance makes use of the right platform (in the form of the PlayStation Vita) and a steadily growing pedigree to ensure that younger gamers will be nagging their parents for it until they (either party) are blue in the face. And then they seal the deal by delivering a game that is pretty much identical to everything that came before, but with enough tweaks and freshness to remain enjoyable. The plot – such as there is – is largely told by way of high quality live action cut scenes, and the legendary Brian Blessed reprises his utterly hammed up role as Dr Dawson for this Invizimals outing. The player (once again) takes on the role of a young newcomer to the secret group that work with Invizimals, and is
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Invizimals: The Resistance
need to be rested after a lot of fighting. And once the single player game is handled, there is always online play to consider… Playing online needs a bit of preparation, because there are players out there who have very powerful creatures, and who really know their stuff. Practicing in single player, and going through the long slog of building up Invizimals is a pretty good idea if online is where you see yourself heading with this game. On the whole, Invizimals: The Resistance is an enjoyable game, but it doesn’t do too much that is new. The tried and tested formula is adhered to strenuously here, and what little originality the game brings to the table isn’t extremely obvious. But for youngsters who enjoyed the other Invizimals games, Resistance is a good fit. g
AT A GLANCE Fighting
REVIEWED BY
It’s not particularly fresh, but this title will appeal to youngsters who enjoyed the other Invizimals games.
Developer: Publisher: Distributer:
Novarama SCEE Ster Kinekor
PARENTAL ADVISORY
16+ gamecca68
Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice
ACCESSIBILITY
Hard-Core Medium Casual
PSV PLATFORMS
GENRE
PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS
Score
79 67
by Alex Scanlon
This is the meat and bones of Invizimals, and the game dynamics are surprisingly complex for a game aimed at youngsters. The real time battles between Invizimals require more strategy than you may first assume, and the implementation of a stamina bar means that button mashing will lead to losses. Rather, the player needs to plan attacks carefully, and make more strategic moves, rather than just smashing buttons. The player can also carry vectors (read as buffs and augmentations) into the battle, which can be accessed using the D-Pad. These can add an even deeper level of strategy, particularly later in the game. Invizimals are levelled up by fighting, and the player can improve them as they see fit with earned skill points. Getting through all of the creatures the game has to offer will take a while, particularly when the Invizimals
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Raising
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Legacy: Doom
y: Doom
g Hell
By Lein Baart
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GAMING
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ast month I wrote about Wolfenstein 3D, id Software’s pioneering game that can rightfully be considered the granddaddy of all first-person shooters. This however is not the title you have to thank for the horde of FPSs we find cluttering store shelves and release schedules. For that, you have to look at the game that set the bar for all shooters to come, and to this day remains one of the most important releases in gaming history: the one and only Doom.
game is like story in a porn movie. It’s expected to be there, but it’s not that important”), ultimately leading to Hall’s resignation in 1993. While several ideas did find their way into the final release, most noticeably the trip to Hell, the resulting game was one with a heavy focus on action and speed over realism and narrative, and was an almost instant success.
Why was it created?
With its frantic gunfights, hellish theme and massive level of intensity, Doom built upon the foundations of Wolfenstein 3D, cementing a style of gameplay for FPS’s that we still see in modern shooters. A large contributor to its success, the engine allowed a level of immersion not seen before, adding to the horror of its theme and setting, while the use of outrageous and truly destructive weaponry remained a staple of the genre for years to come. The game was so successful in fact that companies such as Intel had to implement policies to prevent people from playing deathmatches in the workplace, while the ability to modify the game through the use of WAD files ensured that the game was constantly receiving new input from the community at large. Doom also set another all too familiar trend, with its use of its satanic imagery and (for the time) extreme graphical violence triggering outrage from parent and religious groups for years to come. Its popularity persisted however, and through its various sequels, spinoffs and remakes, it will always be the remembered as one of the most important titles to have ever hit the shelves. g
With Wolfenstein 3D having been achieved relatively good success on its release in early 1992, id Software set about creating a prequel titled the Spear of Destiny which would see B.J. Blazkowicz battling Nazis for control of the legendary artefact. SoD was built using the same technology that powered the original title however, and thus gave John Carmack time to work on a new 3D engine, one which allowed more dynamic encounters such as floors raising or lowering or multiple heights within a map, as well as variable lighting and full texture mapping. Known as id Tech 1, or more commonly the Doom engine, this formed the backbone of the development once the team finished SoD in late 1992 and could turn their full attention to their next release. Surprisingly, Doom was originally envisioned by designer Tom Hall as vastly different game to its final form, with multiple playable characters, an elaborate sci-fi plot set on an alien planet and a hub system. Laid out in a document Hall called the Doom Bible, the concept was opposed by John Carmack (stating that “Story in a
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Why do we care?
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Legacy: Doom
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BY rAMJET
Enter the Gameopath... i
Ramjet’s rantality
had an extremely interesting conversation with another gaming journalist the other day, and something he said got me thinking. Yes, I am capable of having conversations – I don’t spend my whole life on a soap-box. Anyway, that’s beside the point. We were talking about this idiotic tendency that gamers have of denigrating other gamers, based on their choice of platform. What the other guy said made a lot of sense. It went something like this: “By cutting out other platforms, you severely restrict your experience… not just of hardware, but of games that are exclusively released on certain platforms. A true gamer wants to play every game, and therefore should be looking at multiple platforms – not ripping off the ones he doesn’t own.” OK, that heavily paraphrased, but it was the central message. And it is, from a mature, logical and level-headed perspective, true. Then again, finding a gamer that is mature, logical and levelheaded is like trying to find… well, um… actually, there is no fitting comparison, because there are at least a handful of ethical lawyers, and maybe three honest politicians. Even avian dentistry has better luck. So I starting thinking a little deeper into the idea, and I discovered what can only be
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described as a strange pathology throughout gaming communities. Most gamers (thankfully not all) suffer from what I am going to “Gamopathy”. They’re going to write my name in psychological journals for years to come for identifying this, I tell you. I might not know the root cause, but I have managed to identify this weird mental illness that gamers have. And it’s pretty nasty. Gamopathy has a number of symptoms that display its insidious, mind-destroying effects. 1. Obsessive gaming. Not just playing games, but constantly talking about them too. Obsession is a symptom in many mental illnesses. 2. Narcissism. The need for everyone to look at the person suffering from Gamopathy – like an annoying kid running around yelling “look at me” while the adults are trying to drink. Narcissism is a symptom in many mental illnesses, in addition to being an illness all by itself. 3. Megalomania. The idea that no-one is more powerful or superior to the Gamopath, particularly in terms of their gaming. Megalomania is a pretty serious mental disorder. But the strangest behaviour of the Gamopath could only be described as anti-social tendencies within his own chosen peer group.
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In other words, the Gamopath chooses to enter the world of video games, and joins millions of other video gamers. He then tries to stop anyone else from enjoying themselves by expounding half-baked opinions as truth, and denigrates those who don’t agree with his own choices. You know how PC gamers knock consoles? That. You know how Battlefield fans rip off CoD players? That. You know how no gamer will ever congratulate you on playing well, and will rather blame their equipment, lag, service providers, game creators, the Asian sociopolitical landscape, aberrant weather patterns or virtually anything else, rather than admitting that hey, actually, they suck? That. Basically, Gamopaths are in the majority, and they are their own worst enemies, as well as being enemies to what they claim to want the most – growth in gaming. So next time you’re itching to rip some guy off because he bought a PS4 instead of an Xbox One, or because he plays a game that you don’t, think about this: are you helping gaming with your comments? Are you fostering a healthier gaming industry and community? Or are you ( more likely) just a self-centred Gamopath who should probably be spending money on therapy rather than on games? g
FeatureS 76
What Happened in Vegas...
HARDWARE Reviews 82 84 86 88 89 90 92
Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark S Motherboard Acer C720P Chromebook Cooler Master CM 690 III PC Case Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 PSU Adata XPG SX900 256GB SSD Cooler Master Nepton 240M CPU Cooler Adata XPG 16GB DDR3 RAM kit
RegularS 94 98
Internet Security
COLUMN 100
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Technically Speaking
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What Happe TECHNOLOGY
CES 2015 was all abou
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What Happens in Vegas‌
ens in Vegas
ut continuing trends‌
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TECHNOLOGY
T
he annual CES show in Las Vegas, which used to go by its full name of the Consumer Electronics Show, is without a doubt the premier event on the technology conference calendar. Where Mobile World Congress in February focus on smartphone and tablets, CES is where almost every company goes to exhibit and announce their new wares. But in between all the light, blaring music and thousands of visitors, there are naturally some companies that make more noise than anybody else – these are the heavy-weights in the technology industry, and their keynotes are always bursting at the seams. So what was the biggest news to come from this year’s show?
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Televisions take centre stage
To track the evolution of the humble television, you might be stumped to see just how far we have come since the days of black and white squares that awkwardly stood in many living rooms. Go beyond the plasma screen, LCD, LED, OLED and widescreen, the definite keyword in 2015 was ‘curved’. LG showed off its curved G Flex 2 smartphone, but the highlight of their presentation was their new line-up of OLED screens. Naturally it is 4K enabled, which means that their resolution is four times that of standard HD. Ranging througj 55 inch, 65 inch and 77 inch models, in total about seven units will be brought to market, all will be powered by quad core
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What Happens in Vegas…
processors and the latest version of the WebOS operating system. Samsung attempted to steal the show with their own curved versions. What makes Samsung’s television special for the Korean manufacturer, is that they released their new S-Ultra High Definition (S-UHD) models. These sets boast better clarity with incredible sharpness, and needless to say, they were all 4K enable. And instead of making use of Android to power the models, Samsung also opted to go with Tizen, their own developed operating system. Samsung plans to offer the range in nine screen sizes, from 48-inch right up to 88-inches. Oh yes, and don’t forget that it makes use of nanocrystals, so no more OLED. Not to be outdone, Sony had some televisions up their sleeves as well. It showed off its new X930C series of 4K televisions, which it hopes to
release in 55 inch, 65 inch and 75 inch sizes. In contrast to Samsung, who actively moved away from Google, Sony is embracing the tech giants Android TV as its TV operating system of choice. The fun thing about Sony’s models are that they are only 4.7mm thick. That is some really thin sets, let alone bezels.
Wearables are still a thing
When wearables, technology that you wear on your body, started to become a bit of a buzzword in the industry, most of the unit and selection on offer focussed heavily on health applications. While that was great, tech companies realised that their core business wasn’t so much into running, cycling and keep heart rates in check. So with this year’s show, the emphasis shifted
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TECHNOLOGY
away somewhat from healthy living to technology that actually be useful to the majority some techsavvy consumers. First out of the gate was Sony with their SmartWatch 3. While the watch was announced at IFA in Berlin last year, Sony came to CES with a new casing. Where the previous models held the watch in place with a rugged plastic band, the new version makes use of a metal strap. For the fashion conscious, watch maker Guess release a connect watch, which as one would guess (see what we did there?) connects your smartphone to the time-teller. Other wearable highlights included Garmin’s Fenix 3 fitness watch, a partnership between LG and Audi to launch a range of automotive watches, and gaming company Razer showing off a new version of its Nabu X tracker.
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Sony also unveiled a fitness-orientated progress tracker in the Smart B Trainer, which kind of puts a personal trainer in your head. It’s a pair of headphones, but depending on your exercise regime, it will tell you if you need to work harder or take it easy.
Virtual reality and smart glasses Virtual Reality is making a massive come back this year, with Oculus V.R leading the way with their Rift virtual reality glasses. But as the technology become more mainstream and accepted by the masses, other company are also jumping on the VR train. Sony’s SmartEyeglass is just one such product, which it hopes will compete with Google’s Glass.
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What Happens in Vegas…
Taking a step into augmented reality, it makes use of a display that projects the image in front of both eyes, which according to people in the know, is much better in terms of orientation. Samsung also launched their version of virtual reality. But how, you may ask, does a predominantly smartphone company get into VR? Well, it’s pretty easy actually. The company launched what they call Gear VR, and it’s essentially a headstrap in which you pop a Galaxy Note 4. The Note 4’s screen becomes the business end, and magically transports you to a different world.
A little bit of PC
While computer technology falls into a number of categories, it always makes a strong showing
at CES. This year there were numerous things to see, with most new ideas being the extensions of already well established trends. One important announcement, however, came in the form of a whole new standard: USB 3.1. This new standard will effectively double transfer speeds via USB, making data transfer faster and peripherals so much more responsive. USB 3.1 also includes the type C connector, a new interface port that allows the USB plug to be inserted more easily. With a centrally mounted interface, there is no more “right side up” for USB plugs, making life easier and quicker for end users. The port is also much smaller than a standard USB port. This does mean that there will be a period during which peripheral manufacturers will have to catch up, so it may take a while before USB 3.1 becomes standard. g
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Asus
H C EW E T VI E R
Sabertooth Coo
TECHNOLOGY
l as Ice
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Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark S Motherboard
Motherboard
P
by Walt Pretorius
erhaps the most remarkable thing about Asus’ Sabertooth Z97 Mark S (which is remarkable on many fronts) is that it looks unlike any other motherboard you may have seen up until now. Sure, we could say that easily based on the fact that this board carries the now-expected armour that has become a hallmark of the Sabertooth range, but the truth is that the intake of breath you experience when first seeing this board is not really because of that. Rather, it is a purely aesthetic matter; this board is light grey in colour. And not just any light grey, mind you, but rather three shades making up a camouflage pattern that covers the entire thermal armour. The board itself is also light grey, making it (visually, at very least) extremely unique. It looks fantastic in a case with a window – you wouldn’t want it any other way if this is your choice of system backbone. Perhaps Asus went with the arctic camo look because they wanted to highlight one of the Sabertooth’s strongest features… the cooling system. The TUF Thermal Armor is there to protect the board from many dangers, including physical damage and dust (thanks to a series of dust covers that plug up ports and the like when not in use) but it also protects against that heat bugbear, and it does so with style. Using a system that boosts airflow and improves heat dissipation, the Sabertooth is a great fit for those who want to use more conventional air cooling. But it also supports liquid cooling beautifully, making it a great all-rounder in the cooling stakes. It also comes armed with Thermal Rader 2 software, allowing full control over the entire system’s cooling, and with backward blowing fan capabilities, dust becomes less of an issue, too. At the core of the cooling system is the TUF Ice chip, which improves temperature monitoring and fan control. The protection that the Sabertooth provides to the system doesn’t just come from the unique and visually striking thermal armour, though. The board makes use of several ideas, including higher grade components and protective systems that guard against numerous issues (including ESD). In other words, this boatrd doesn’t only look great (something which cannot be said of a motherboard all that often) but it protects the system beautifully. And performance? Well, there is little that can be faulted when it comes to how well the Sabertooth operates. Perhaps the only real issue that could be levelled comes down to price. That said, if you’re after a unique board that offers everything you could conceivably wish for, saving up a while longer for the Sabertooth Z97 Mark S is not a bad idea. g
AT A GLANCE: Summary
It looks fantastic, and delivers an excellent level of performance.
Ma nuf a c t ure r D i s t ri but e r: Onl i ne :
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Tech Specs: • • • • • • •
Intel Z97 chipset Max 32GB RAM 8x USB 3.0 ports 8x USB 2.0 ports TUF Armor technology MemOK Function Water-cooling compatible
SCORE
97 83
Acer
H C EW E T VI E R
C720P The Simpler Life
TECHNOLOGY
W
hile Apple and Microsoft (through the form of nonApple PCs) have been waging as close to a war over operating systems as the tech world comes to full blown combat, Google have snuck in something pretty cool. OK, not that it was completely unexpected – Google have been talking OS for a while, and the development of their online systems was focussed on creating a user-friendly, cloud based OS. Android provided invaluable experience, and now Google’s Chrome OS is rolling out in the form of the latest fad in notebooks – Chromebooks. While the Chromebook experience is perhaps not something that power-users will necessarily flock to, it does provide the user with a lighter, friendlier way of doing things. And thanks to ideas like Google Documents and other smart ideas from the search giant, it does so at the fraction of the cost associated with an Apple or Windows based PC. While you likely won’t be playing hard-core games on any of the Chromebooks – including this Acer C720P – you will be able to do pretty much anything else with it, which makes a device like this a smart choice for people who want cloudbased computing abilities in a neat package. While you might want to level the accusation that the C720P is little more than a tablet with a keyboard, the user
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experience is very different, thanks to the fact that it doesn’t use Android as an OS. In terms of specs, it doesn’t get much bigger than a tablet – or even a smartphone. A 1.4GHz CPU is supported by 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage. It features an 11 inch touch sensitive screen, as well as a compact keyboard, card reader, webcam, headphone output and two USB ports (one 2.o and one 3.0). Some of these extras, as well as the Chrome OS, move the C720P away from the whole tablet idea. The device is all about convenience. It tales around seven seconds to power up, and offers a battery life of up to 8 hours. Because of its Chrome OS, it is internet dependant, and requires a Wi-Fi connection to operate properly. This is a bit of a downside locally, because widespread Wi-Fi (although we’re getting there) is still not as pervasive as it should be. Still, there are many ways in which Acer’s C720P makes a lot of sense. It is highly portable, and allows the user to make use of all kinds of software native to the Google platform, without extra licensing or purchasing costs. And the unit itself is really reasonably priced. And that’s where the biggest win is; Google functionality at a good price. If you need computing on the go, and don’t need to make use of tons of high-end programs, it really is a solid option. g gamecca68
Chromebook
Acer C720P Chromebook
Summary A smart solution for those who want powerful computing without the extra expenses involved…
Tech Specs: • • • • • • •
11.6” touchscreen 1.4GHz CPU 4GB RAM 32GB internal storage Chrome OS
Ma nuf a c t ure r: Ac e r D i s t ri but e r: A c er Onl i ne : w w w . a c e r .c om
SCORE
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by Alex Scanlon
AT A GLANCE:
Cooler Master
CM 690 The master, untied‌
TECHNOLOGY
H C EW E T VI E R
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PC
Cooler Master CM 690 III PC Case
Case
SUMMARY
A stylish, understated aesthetic mingles with great features and excellent airflow.
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that all-important air-flow… something crucial even to water-cooled systems. Even the bottom of the case and the HDD cage have spaces for optional 120mm fans. Speaking of which, the side-mounted HDD bays also double as SSD bays, thanks to included screwless adapters. In fact, the case is virtually screwless throughout, making installation and maintenance pretty painless. The case is wide enough to allow for a generous cable space behind the motherboard – it even features an additional SSD bracket behind the motherboard, just in case the generous bay allotment isn’t enough for you. Everything is rounded out by a generous serving of front-side ports, complete with a protective cover and a top compartment. On the whole, choosing this case would leave anyone secure in the knowledge that their system is well protected and, above all, well cooled. g
SCORE
95 Manufacturer: Cooler Master Distributer: Cooler Master www.coolermaster.com
by Walt Pretorius
The striking lines of the case and the overall design eschew the sharp angles and nooks and crannies that many manufacturers seem to think makes the case look all “gamer” and mean. Instead, the CM 690 III employs simpler, curved lines and mesh covered surfaces to help maximise air flow. And because they know their cooling, Cooler Master have ensured that this case allows for plenty of cooling options. The case comes with a 200mm fan fitted to the front, and has support for another at the top. Alternatively, the top can also house a 240mm radiator for water cooling systems. A 120mm radiator can be fitted to the rear, and the front can also house a 240mm radiator. The side panel has space for two 120mm fans, or yet another 200mm fan. That’s a lot of fan options, and the neat interior, bottom mounted PSU bracket and numerous other features mean that the CM 690 III is great for
AT A GLANCE:
O
ne of the most important decisions that anyone investing in a computer can make – which is, strangely, one of the last things most people consider – is the case that the machine will be built into. This is doubly true for those that want high-powered PC, because high-end machine generate a lot of heat, and the case is vital in making sure that the temperatures of the components don’t get out of hand. And, of course, the case has to protect all those precious components, and look good while it’s at it. Cooler Master didn’t pick their name for fun – here is a company that understands the necessity of high end cooling, and manages to get it right consistenly. Sure, they have expanded into peripherals and the like over the years, but at their heart, they’re about making things like the CM 690 III PC case. And it is, quite simply, a beauty.
TECH SPECS • • • • • • •
HDD / SSD trays Water cooling support 2x frontside USB 3.0 ports Screwless Supports long GPUs
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The strong, silent type…
PSU
by Walt Pretorius
Cooler Master
Silent
Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 PSU
H C EW E T VI E R
AT A GLANCE: Summary
Tech Specs:
TECHNOLOGY
A
good source of power is key in stable PC operation, and Cooler Master present a variety of excellent options with their Silent Pro M2 range. With a variety of power output options, the Silent Pro range takes care of all needs quietly and efficiently. Very quietly, in fact, thanks to a 135mm hydraulic dynamic bearing fan. An internal copper aluminium heat sink keeps operation temperatures down, and the eco-friendly design ensures that the PC system will not draw more power than it needs. In addition, the Silent Pro M2 range of PSUs make use of a modular cable system, allowing the user to only use the power cables that they need inside their case – which means better airflow, better cooling and, ultimately, lower power consumption. If you are after a sensible, effective power solution for your PC, the Silent Pro M2 range is well worth investigating. g
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• • • • • • •
Modular design 135mm hydraulic Dynamic bearing fan Copper aluminium heatsink Eco-friendly design
Manufacturer: Cooler Master Distributer: Cooler Master www.coolermaster.com
SCORE
88
Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 PSU
With numerous output choices, modular design and a very quiet fan, the Silent Pro M2 range is a great PSU series.
256GB SSD
A solid drive…
by Walt Pretorius
Adata
XPG
Adata XPG SX900 256GB SSD
H C EW E T VI E R
AT A GLANCE: Summary As solid state drives go, this 256GB option might be a little small, but it really is reliable and quick!
TECHNOLOGY
T
he move towards SSD is still running strong, with the speed and reliability of solid state storage devices improving the overall PC experience quite significantly. Adata’s SX900 range offers a good option for those who want to take their system to a faster place. While the 256GB model we got to look at might seem a little shy on storage space, the range does go up to 512GB (and starts at 64GB, but let’s not go there). As a boot drive, this particular unit is a fantastic option. It’s stable and quick, and doesn’t have the moving parts that could lead to problems in a traditional HDD. With a read speed of up to 560MB/s and a write speed slightly lower than that, it makes for a very quick performer. With less heat and weight on offer than a more traditional HDD, this type of drive will certainly enhance your PC experience. g gamecca68
• • • • • • •
256GB 2.5 inch Read up to 560MB/s Write up to 540MB/s SATA 6Gb/s
Ma nuf a c t ure r : A d a t a D i s t ri but e r: Ad a t a w w w . a da t a . c om
Adata XPG SX900 256GB SSD
Tech Specs:
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TECHNOLOGY
Cooler Master
H C EW E T VI E R
90
Nepton 240M Self-contained cooling
A
lthough it has been around for some time, and the systems it is used in don’t inexplicably explode (like many seem to think they would), liquid cooling is still something that many users are wary of. The truth is, though, that the systems for liquid cooling that came out a few years ago – requiring lots of construction, modification, installation and a little praying – have come a long way. Some of them, like this Nepton 240M from Cooler Master, manage to even take all the hassle out by coming as a pre-assembled unit. This includes the coolant solution being put into the system at the factory, and tested so that the Nepton 240M won’t need any maintenance for several years. The system is made up of a large radiator, equipped with two high pressure 120mm fans, a pump and water block, and two FEP tubes that take the coolant between the water block and the radiator. The fans are custom designed to deliver low noise and a long lifespan, and really do force a lot of air (and therefore a lot of cooling) through the radiator. Travelling by way of the robust, ridged FEP tubing, the cooled solution arrives at the water block (which is mounted directly on top of the CPU). Here it absorbs heat and then travels back to the radiator, where it is
cooled. The clever pump design (also housed in the water block) ensures smooth, constant cooling. The water block’s large copper base and skived fin design is extremely effective at whisking heat away from the CPU. In short, this is an extremely effective, and relatively quiet, way to keep your CPU temperatures down. One of the best things about this system is that it is really easy to set up. The radiator and fan assembly fits into the top of the box – where top mounted fans would normally sit) and the water block gets fitted over the CPU. That’s just about it. No messing with solution mixes or filling the system. It takes some of the perceived risk out of using liquid cooling, because you’re not working with liquids anywhere near your system – they’re all neatly contained. One could argue that the two additional pipes in the interior of the box might affect airflow negatively, but the area which they take up is important for CPU airflow, which they negate to a degree. IN essence, the CPU heat is delivered right to the outside of the box, thanks to the radiator, making overall interior temperatures that bit better. While some may still balk of the idea of using liquid cooling, the Nepton 240M is an extremely effective – and pretty much fool proof – cooling solution. g
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Summary The pre-built nature of this product makes it an even better solution for those who want high-end CPU cooling.
Tech Specs: • • • • • • •
2x 120mm fans Large radiator Integrated pump & water block FEP tubing Copper plate
Manufacturer: Cooler Master Distributer: Cooler Master www.coolermaster.com
SCORE
90 gamecca68
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by Walt Pretorius
AT A GLANCE:
Cooler Master Nepton 240M CPU Cooler
CPU Cooler
Ram kit
Fast and reliable
by Rob Edwards
Adata
XPG 16GB
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AT A GLANCE:
TECHNOLOGY
W
hile one can argue that performance gains or losses from high end RAM in specific configurations can be almost negligible, the truth is that reliable RAM, and enough of it, can make an impact on the overall computing experience. With Adata’s XPG 16GB DDR3 kit, that’s pretty much what you’re getting – reliable, quick RAM in a relatively large dose. It’s not the cheapest option around, but it is extremely effective. And, to top it all off, Adata’s XPG RAM modules are visually striking. That’s thanks to a large heat sink that follows a rather unconventional design. Instead of being blocky – which most heat sinks, even the really good looking ones, are – the XPG range takes on a less conventional, more striking shape. Looks aren’t all that important for RAM though, unlike overall performance. And in this regard, the user certainly won’t be disappointed. This is fast, reliable stuff, at the end of the day. g
SUMMARY
It looks good, and (more importantly) it performs really well; the XPG range of RAM is a great option.
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TECH SPECS • • 16GB kit • DDR3 • Enlarged heat sinks • • •
Adata XPG 16GB DDR3 RAM kit
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by Suvesh Arumugam
Social Psychopaths
sychopaths
righteous fight‌
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wrote a column a few months back about the two types of people to avoid (especially for brands) on social media: genuinely unhappy people who complain about bad service, bad experiences or stuff that makes them lose their marbles; and trolls who take pleasure in the discomfort and indignation of others (usually individuals). But I am starting to realise that there is a third type of person that exists out there in cyberspace, and I was unfortunate enough to discover this first hand. The mistake I made was to try and create categories of behaviour that defined one set or the other, but humans don’t work that way. Many people are shades in between, and what would you get if you crossed someone with a genuine (or perceived) wrong that needs righting and someone who is prepared to go to any lengths to provoke a reaction? The answer is a kind of social psychopath, a person prepared to throw down at the drop of a hat, and who doesn’t know of any boundaries or filters with regard to the violence or vulgarity of their outburst, a relentless, unapologetic attacker whose aim is not recognition or compensation, but total and utter annihilation. So Wikipedia, which is generally my main source of information these days, defines psychopathy as:“a personality disorder characterised by enduring antisocial behaviour, diminished empathy and
remorse, and disinhibited or bold behaviour” So think about your favourite psycho/serial killer. Both fictional and the horrific true serial killers of our time are characterised by a complete unawareness (one may even say an oblivious disregard) for the norms of society and harbour fantasies of carrying out their true nature in plain sight. While they understand that it’s basically wrong to, I don’t know, eat human body parts or wear a suit made of human skin - they just really want to do these things and deep down don’t think that they’re really wrong (and seem genuinely puzzled at
“Nothing you say can
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appease them, because their desire is your complete obliteration.”
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why we feel that they are horrific). Looking at recent online behaviour, where, for example, a dissatisfied customer will start tweeting about the company being racist or xenophobic and hurling insults and death threats at the employees or management over a trivial matter by spamming their timelines or bombarding management and employees with emails, it’s certainly easy to see how the definition might apply. Here’s a little more science the definition of psychosis: “People experiencing psychosis may exhibit some personality changes and thought disorder. Depending on its severity, this may be accompanied by unusual
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or bizarre behaviour, as well as difficulty with social interaction and impairment in carrying out daily life activities” In a recent exchange between one of these types, I was almost knocked off my chair when I read that someone violently tweeting about a company, using words that start with C and rhyme with runt, was retweeting articles about aliens and Prince Andrew’s sex life in between their violent attacks. I simply couldn’t reconcile how someone with the amount of hatred and resentment it would take a regular person to formulate the kind of ideas in their horrendous posts could have space for trivial thoughts at the same time. But then I started to think a little bit about the movie example. While we may see someone delving into the deepest pits of vulgarity as a Hannibal Lector or Ted Bundy, asking ourselves how anyone could stoop so low or speak without conscience, the people on the other end are seeing themselves in a very different movie. They probably liken themselves to Liam Neeson in the Taken movies, a righteous injured party, pushed to extremes, crusading against a relentless enemy using any and all means, justifying any course of action. So they are on a self-righteous high, which allows for the occasional tangent. Strangely enough, the actor recently distanced himself from the gun toting violent characters he portrays in the movies, saying that while movies
were fantas that kind of in everyday disgrace”. some contr company th arms for th in the trilog from the fil for a boyco films. That the definiti centred and psychopath least the m of it gets th From the perspective treatment f tendencies medication be used to more abhor like violenc predation, of empathy can never b Similarly, th guaranteed violent soci by a relentl While an un can be app getting dow of their dis negotiating their dema can be igno where they or find a ne on, your ch social psyc likely. Wha set off the you in his c suffering is source of a righteous s be won at a you say can because th complete o If you’re f internet is as Whitech 1800’s, you Much like a
hosted a web site for more than five minutes will tell you, internet attacks are just a reality of the internet environment and it’s something you do everything to avoid and pray for the end of should it ever come your way. Like the dark alley you avoid on your way back to your car, we’re starting to realise that the internet is a breeding ground for a new kind of behaviour that is extremely difficult to bear and impossible to control. We rely on Facebook and Twitter to do something to protect us, after all they have features like blocking and reporting to give the impression that you can be made safe. But the reality is that while in real society it’s in everyone’s interest to control antisocial behaviour, in online society the opposite applies. Ongoing social media meltdowns and angry reactions and harassment make for great publicity to drive web traffic to social media sites, and generally fuel the amusement of the crowds, like a reality show without paying for a DSTv subscription. So it’s a lot less Taylor Swift and a lot more Jeffrey Dahmer. So like you avoid the small gang of overly tattooed youths with their heads shaved wearing bombers jackets and Doc Martens, the internet needs to be respected for the multilayered urban landscape that it is. If you know where you’re going, go straight there and surround yourself with people you know and trust, chances are you’ll do OK. But there is always a small chance that Freddy’s coming for you... g
Social Psychopaths
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No boundaries or filters with regard to violence or vulgarity...
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by Iwan Pienaar
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here never seems to be an ideal time to discuss phishing as it is always a hot button topic. From banks complaining about confirming passwords to Nigerian millionaires and long-lost relatives in the UK wanting to give you money, if you have an email address then chances are good you probably received one of these emails. Phishing (pronounced “fishing”) scams are almost as old as the internet itself and is one of the most common forms of malicious attacks today. Apart from ensuring you install security software, the best way to combat scams is to learn what phishing looks like. When fraudsters go on phishing expeditions, they lure their targets into a false sense of security by hijacking the familiar, trusted logos of established, legitimate companies. A typical phishing scam starts with a fraudster sending out millions of emails that appear to come from a highprofile financial services provider for example. The email will usually ask you to provide valuable information about yourself or to “verify” information that you previously provided when you created your online account. It is clear that phishing is identity theft pure and simple. By using fraudulent Web sites and false emails, attackers want to steal your personal data that include passwords and credit card information. This is done through the aforementioned emails and sending you links to sites that look like the ones you trust, such as your online banking provider or social networks, and are able to steal your data as you enter it. No
site is spared so if you are a regular on the likes of kalahari or takealot just remember you might also be targeted. Defend, defend, defend Always be careful of emails asking for confidential information especially that of a financial nature. Legitimate organisations will never request sensitive information via email. Also, never feel pressured into providing sensitive information. Phishers like to use scare tactics, and may threaten to disable an account or delay services until you update certain information. So contact the merchant directly to confirm the authenticity of their request. Phishing knows no boundaries, and can reach you in any language. In general, they are poorly written or translated, so this may be another indicator that something is wrong. Watch out for genericlooking requests for information. Fraudulent emails are often not personalised, while authentic emails from your bank often reference an account you have with them. Many phishing emails begin with “Dear Sir/ Madam”, and some come from a bank with which you do not even have an account. Never submit confidential information via forms embedded within email messages. Senders are often able to track all information entered. Never use links in an email to connect to a Web site unless you are absolutely sure they are authentic. Instead, open a new browser window and type the URL directly into
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the address bar. Often a phishing site will look identical to the original. Look at the address bar to make sure that this is the case. Also, never open attachments in these suspicious or strange emails. Word, Excel, PowerPoint or PDF files are usually the dangerous ones. In addition to having virus protection software on your computer, it is crucial to use a password manger to manage your online credentials. It is vital to have different passwords for all the Web sites you log in to because if a data breach ever occurs, malicious attackers will try using the discovered credentials across the Web. One of the best features of password managers is that they usually automatically fill in login forms to minimise clicking around. Additionally, many password managers include portable editions that can be saved to a USB drive, ensuring that you can take your passwords wherever you go. Never simply throw away your monthly account statements. Read them thoroughly as soon as they arrive to make sure that all transactions shown are ones that you actually made, and check to see whether all of the transactions that you thought you made appear as well. Be sure that the company has current contact information for you, including your mailing address and email address. You can also visit www. antiphishing.org for a list of current phishing attacks and the latest news in the fight to prevent phishing. There you will find more information about phishing and links to helpful resources. So be safe. Until next month! g
Social networking tips and tricks
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Safegaurding Against Phishing
Safeguarding Against Phishing
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Technically Speaking
f you are a serious video game player like me, you play around 30 to 40 hours of console gaming a week. That is a huge chunk of my time that I spend in front of the TV, but there is one big problem though when it comes to console gaming around this time of the year. In case you haven’t noticed or you still need deep digging into Destiny, the game releases around this time of the year are lacking. There seems to be only one or two titles that will really grab the attention of gamers, but for the rest of them, they are pretty mediocre. That begs the question: why do gaming developers and distributors release games during the middle of the year and more towards the end of the year? Is there some form of financial motivation for them to do that? Why are the first four months of the year so dry when it comes to video game releases? To be honest, the only game that I am looking forward to right now is The Witcher 3, which is only launching in May. So why don’t game developers and distributors released the games with a steady pace throughout the whole year? Surely they can make a killing if they launch games when the period is traditionally very quiet.
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Myself included, a lot of gamers really have nothing to play at this stage, so I will grab any opportunity to play something to occupy my time. I’ve spoken about it in a number of columns, but you can only play Destiny for so long before it gets incredibly boring and monotonous, and you can only revisit old games so many times before you know every nook and cranny of every map. To me it would make a lot more sense if they releasing some games in January, some games in March, and then maybe some games in May and June. We all know the biggest gaming conference, E3, is happening in June and that is when most of the games get released or new trailers are shown to create hype going towards the end of the year. I still don’t understand why distributors and developers all feel the need to cram as many games into the end of the release cycle as they can. I really don’t understand why they’re fighting tooth and nail for our very last dollar at the end of the year when they can gladly take my money when there is a dry spell. But as I am writing this I think I may have figured it out: I think it is ploy by the developers to starve you of your gaming
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BYcHARLIE Fripp
Of Fickle Minds & Inconsistent Release Dates...
experience for as long as they can and when they eventually launch a game competing against other titles, they know that you will clamber to get as many games as you can to hold you over for the next title in the release cycle. One can argue that games are developed with a certain release date in mind but surely they can speed up or slow down the development so that they release the games at a time when there is virtually nothing on the market to occupy my fickle mind. I guess developers can’t claim victory over a rival title if you didn’t get released at the same time and I have nothing to compare it to. What fun is there in claiming that video game A had more sales than video game B if the two weren’t released at the same time on a level playing field. Right now I don’t have an answer as to why there are virtually no good games being released in the first half of the year. All I know is that my fingers, mind, and eyes have no idea what to do with themselves until the next big hit hits the shelves. If you are a game development company, please feel free to explain to me how the annual release cycle works. But until then, I have a high score in Peggle 2 to beat. g
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Ant-Man #1 Chew TP Vol. 1 Star Wars #1 Superior Foes of Spider-Man TP Vol.1
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Figurines are the Ultimate in Geek Art 104
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ometime between 28 000 and 25 000 BCE, a primitive human being in what is today known as Austria picked up simple tools and began carving one of the oldest (and certainly one of the most famous) figurines on record. The Venus of Willendorf might not be the oldest example of early figurines, but it does prove an undeniable fact: decorative figurines – whatever their purpose may have been – have been around for a very long time. The human need to decorate and commemorate is as old as the hills, and figurines have been a way of doing just that for almost 100 000 years. Through the ages, figurines evolved in several directions. Materials became more varied, and included wooden carvings and porcelain. In addition, several branches of figurines began emerging, including religious iconography, decorative art pieces and, of course, toys. This last category are normally called dolls, and the classification requires that they be models of human beings. While dolls date back as far as 2000 BCE, with examples of these ancient models having been found in Egyptian tombs, and tales of girls playing with dolls date back to 100 AD in Ancient Greece. Roman rage dolls have been dated back to 300 BCE. These would often be used as a dedication to a chosen deity upon the girl’s marriage. These decorative and entertainment object followed the growth and evolution of humanity, and are still very much a part of society today. With mass manufacturing techniques, figurines have become extremely commonplace – there isn’t a mall that doesn’t offer a store that has figurines on sale, and many of these are still service either religious or decorative purposes. The combination of mass production, modern materials and geek culture has led to a proliferation of figurines based on popular culture, including movie characters, comic characters, anime characters and more. In fact, for some, these modern figurines have become an
obsession, and collectors will spend huge amounts to build up their collections. Modern collectible figurines fall into two categories. The first type are the more traditional display pieces, intended to be shown off rather than played with, and come in a fixed, not-adjustable form. They are called by a number of names, including statues, statuettes, inaction figures (because of their static nature) and station figures (a combination of the words statue and action figure). Often these statuettes will come – in geek culture, at least – as part of a limited run. The other classification of modern collectible figurine is action figures. This is arguably the more popular of the two classes because, unlike statuettes, action figures can be posed. In fact, modern action figures even feature interchangeable parts, like hands and heads. These allow the collector to not only display the pieces, but also to pose and customise them in a desired fashion – adding a degree of personalisation to the figure, and the collection as a whole. The “action figure” concept came from toy manufacturer Hasbro in 1964, when they began marketing their original G.I Joe figurines. The term was coined to avoid the idea that boys don’t play with dolls because, essentially, that’s exactly what these original action figures were. Just like a doll, they were pose-able and featured different, interchangeable clothes in the form of uniforms. While the idea took some time to gain traction in the market (Rosko Industries’ Johnny Hero failed in 1965, because the term action figure was not widespread enough as yet, and it became known as a “boy’s doll) it did steadily grow, and soon the 11.5 inch figurines were licensed out to different manufacturers. Additionally, other manufacturers started creating their own versions of action figures, including Palitoy’s very popular Action Man. While under a manufacturing license from Hasbro, Japanese company Takara began producing their own action figure, in the form of the Henshin Cyborg-1. The main feature of this 11.5 inch action figure was its clear plastic gamecca68
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torso, which revealed the cyborg insides, as well as a bright chrome head. However, an oil supply crisis during the 1970s made production of 11.5 inch figurines very expensive, and Takara took a step that would change the action figure market; they went smaller. Their first 3.75 inch figuring, called Microman, hit the market in 1974. While essentially a smaller version of the cyborg toy, Microman featured interchangeable parts. Unknowingly, Takara was laying foundations for smaller figurines and transformable products. In 1971, Marvel and DC licenses were acquired by Mego, and the idea of figurines based on popular culture truly took root. While Mego met with decent successes, their loss of the Star Wars figurine license to Kenner in 1976 saw them take a back seat in the market. Kenner, in the meantime, produced 3.75 inch Star Wars figurines that would become a multi-million dollar secondary business for movie studios, and effectively spurring on a boom trend that would carry until today. The 1980s, with a proliferation of popular TV series, saw huge number of action figures based on these television properties hitting the market. Lies included the A-Team, Masters of the Universe and Thundercats. In the meantime, Japanese robot anime (like Gundam) spurred Takara into creating a line of toys based on living robots. This evolved into the Micro Change line of toys which, when licenced by Hasbro in the US and combined with Diaclone’s transforming cars, resulted in the creation of the Transformers in 1984. By the end of the ‘80s, manufacturers were flooding the market with so many action figures that collection value on lines like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle lines dropped significantly – purely because they were so common. This trend continued for some time, but the next real big step occurred in the mid ‘90s… it became clear, with the release of figurines once again based on Star Wars and characters like Spawn, that
action figures weren’t just for kids anymore. The golden age of the collector dawned, and while some of the older and more obscure action figures were still sought after, these new ideas prompted even more growth in the market, and in the number of active collectors. Today, action figures (and statuettes) are big business, and are produced by companies like McFarlane Toys, NECA and Hot Toys (an extremely popular brand of expensive, yet highly detailed, figurines). Numerous popular culture subject matters, including comics, video games, sports, urban legends, TV series and all manner of movies and anime, result in thousands licensed figurines being created, and limited edition versions of these action figures add significantly to their value. The action figure market is booming. But are these “toy” figurines still art, like their predecessors were in times gone by? In the strictest sense of the concept, one could argue that they are not really part of the fine art scene, because of ideas like mass manufacture and materials not often associated with art, including plastics. But art today does get mass manufactured, with many people appreciating prints of original works, rather than the originals themselves. That, combined with the high level of artistry involved in the creation of these figurines (as well as the fact that many independent artists are producing them as “fan art”) turns the concept on its head. Just because these objects are based on popular culture and are produced in significant numbers doesn’t mean that they hold no artistic value – something which any collector will attest to. Whatever the case may be, the figurine market continues to grow and evolve, with innovative techniques and ideas evolving the products constantly. Action figures have become a defining category of geek culture, and they are here to stay. g
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BY Lein Baart
Real-Life Role-Playing... N
The Time Betwixt
owadays we see RPG mechanics in everything. Off-hand, I can’t even think of a genre that hasn’t had some form of levelling or skill system appended to it, no matter how tortured it may be. Hell, it’s even tempting to think that the genre itself is being subsumed by the industry, no longer a type of game in its own right but merely a de-facto standard for all others, like saving or day-one patches. It’s easy to see why it fits so easily into everything though. Even the lightest RPG system provides an easy way to show to a player’s progress and provide them with tangible rewards, i.e. “You’ve swung your sword x times, killing x amount of enemies, so now you’re able to swing it a little better”. It is also, to my mind, the most “natural” representation of how the real
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world works. We do something a lot, we get better at it. There’ll always be that one idiot that doesn’t know when to quit, but that’s true for most of us. That got me thinking though, what would it be like if we implemented RPG elements in real life? In other words, what would our own personal character sheets look like? Granted everyone would lie through their teeth, but let’s just make believe and pretend that we have an impartial overlord recording every single action we take every single second of the day, making notes and weighing and measuring us constantly. What would happen, for instance, if you screwed up at work and managed to piss off your boss? Minus ten to that relationship? And what about abilities and feats? I mean, I can consume ten
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cups of coffee a day before I start talking to inanimate objects, so I’ll just mark that down as an increased fortitude. I also possess the amazing ability to procrastinate until the absolute last moment, then spend half an hour writing totally meaningless crap so that I can get a column finished in time for the deadline. That definitely deserves a mention somewhere. Another question, would we metagame, or do we do it already? On second thought, scratch this idea. I hate the Sims because I find it pointless, and this sounds all too familiar. I’ll just go back to getting good at hammering stuff with my simulated sword so that I can improve my non-existent avatar in order to resolve some imaginary problem for a fictitious person. These are real problems in my life. g
a COUGAR 200M Mouse! Courtesy of Corex TO ENTER: Send an email to competitions@gameccamag.com Insert “COUGAR” in the mail’s subject line Name the COUGAR mouse reviewed in the Jan 2015 issue of Gamecca Subscribe to www.gameccamag.com (Optional) Like Gamecca’s Facebook Page (Optional) Competition closes 28 February 2014. Gamecca subscribers only. South African residents only. Prizes may not be exchanged for cash. Competition closed to employees (& employee’s family) of Nova Mentis (Pty) Ltd and COUGAR. The judges’ decision is final. co mp e t i t i on • c o mp et it io n • c o mp et i ti on • com pe ti ti on • com pe ti ti on • com p etition •
com p e ti ti on • com p e ti ti on • com p e ti ti on • com p e ti ti on • com pe ti ti on • com petition • c omp et itio n • c ompetition • co mpetition
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COOL STUFF
Ant-Man #1 Title: Writer: Artist: Publisher:
Ant-Man #1 Nick Spencer Ramon Rosanas Marvel
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by Clive Burmeister
Scott Lang is the new Ant-Man, and that’s about the only thing he’s ever had going for him. He is a divorced, “ex” low level criminal, an unreliable screwup, and probably far too selfish to be seriously considered a hero. But he has the suit, and holds the power of AntMan. Even with that power, his life still seems to be crashing down around him. How can he use his skills and abilities to turn his life around, maybe find the perfect score, or even the perfect job. Can he do right by his daughter, the one person in his life who really matters to him, or will he always just be a screw-up? And there’s an Ant-Man
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Chew TP
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P Vol. 1 Title:
Chew TP Vol. 1
Writer:
John Layman
Artist:
Rob Guillory
Publisher:
Image
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by Clive Burmeister
Meet Tony Chu, he’s a cibopath, a person who can get psychic indications of memories and experiences of things he eats. For example, eating some fruit might show Tony where it was grown, and how it is harvested. Eating some beef might show Tony the conditions in which the cow lived, and how it was slaughtered. But eating, say, a human finger, might give Tony the person’s life story, who they were and what they did. A useful gift for a cop, or an FDA agent. In a world where chicken is outlawed and crime runs rampant, Tony Chu is the flavour of the month in law enforcement. Chew is, in a word,
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COOL STUFF
Star Wars #1 Title:
Star Wars 1
Writer:
Jason Aaron
Artist: Publisher:
John Cassaday Marvel
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by Clive Burmeister
Star Wars has returned to Marvel publishers, and their first issue is a zinger. If you’re a fan of the original trilogy then you are in for a real treat. Star Wars #1 plays out like one of the original movies, from the opening sequence, to the cinematography from scene to scene, to the plot and escalation of action as things develop, through to the dialogue. Although this is a totally new story, set after the destruction of the Death Star, and featuring all the old characters we love, it captures the atmosphere of the original movie trilogy seamlessly. Aaron and Cassady, both much-admired names in the comic book industry, have done an excellent job on Marvel’s flagship title of the new Star Wars Line.
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Superior Foes of Spi
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COOL STUFF
ider-Man TP Vol.1 Title:
Super Foes of Spider-Man Vol.1
Writer:
Nick Spencer
Artist:
Steve Lieber
Publisher:
Marvel
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by Clive Burmeister
Boomerang and his group of B-Rate villains fancy themselves as the next “Sinister Six”. The fact that there are only five of them doesn’t deter them from this aspiration, they feel it merely adds a mysterious pretense to their team. Nor does it seem beneath them to knock off pet shops and comic book stores, it’s just all part of the journey to the top. They’ve got big plans. Money, power, revenge on that bothersome SpiderMan, and maybe even a way to do all that without getting caught or killed. Sometimes you don’t know whether to laugh or just feel sorry for these “superior foes”, but only sometimes. Most of the time you’ll be laughing you head off.
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THE OBSERVER
o I took a good hard look at my reality in the last couple of months and came up with this: load shedding in South Africa has started to become a pain in the ass. They say that every experience in life is linked to a lesson that your higher self is trying to teach you. If you are unable to recognise the lesson or have the revelation of the experience, well, it apparently keeps coming around with an even harder slap than before… until you finally get it. So I asked myself: what is the lesson of this annoying experience? Most everything in one’s environment needs electricity to perform a task. At first, having your tools taken away from you as your productivity is in high momentum is like having the pleasure of being dunked in an ice cold bucket of water only to come out looking like a drowned confused unprepared idiot with bad hair. This followed by that split second realisation that your day is officially now in a low-frequency time-warp for the next couple of hours. So what is the lesson… how to walk and talk in slooooow mooooootion?
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On Tuesday the 27th January 2015, Facebook decided to give us all a collective small cardiac arrest as it went down for an hour and two minutes. I was speaking to a colleague who mentioned that for a brief moment there was a panic in the back of his mind at the prospect of no more Facebook…ever! Ha! The look on his face was priceless…until I thought about it for a second and shamelessly felt the same panic begin to immerge. No Facebook? In this particular reality, for a moment in time, one of the strongest social media networks in the world went down, with the combined experience of our very own unnatural disaster here in South Africa - the delightful musical chairs of load shedding. Where are we heading? What would it do to our psyche if this were to become a serious reality? How would the next generation adapt to the world if we lost our “connections”? What if everything just stopped? Would we, in our current state of mind, attitude and reality, really be prepared? We are having a taste of it and no, it probably won’t
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BY Katia Taliadoros
Slap...
happen, but you can’t help entertain the thought from time to time and fall into the trap where paradox gets engulfed in paranoia. What is most disconcerting is something far beyond time management, charged laptops and generators; the fact that we are becoming increasingly disconnected due to our own, man-made reality, which ironically is such a paradoxical joke. We believe we live in a world where technology is so focused on connectivity. We live in a world where ambiguity has become the norm in our society and we are not only blind to this reality of this disconnection, we aimlessly seek it out. But then something else begins to happen, after grumbling about it and being forced to take a breath. After a couple of these sessions, you begin to prepare and adapt. One gets creative and, yes, the work does eventually get done and you are somehow forced to stop and surrender to the fact that perhaps the lesson is simply this: shit happens. Deal with it. Oh and from time to time… stop and smell the flowers. g