Gamecca Magazine January 2018

ISSUE 103 / Vol.9 January 2018

www.gameccamag.com

Doom VFR The Sims 4 Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package and more...

Seven: The Days Long Gone

Monster Box

Reinvented

Xbox One X

He’s Back

Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package

Console Life Sims 4

Blast!

Doom VFR

Bestof2017 Our top ten picks

Free Online Mag

H W

Read Online for Free!

Read all new and back original and unaltered issues free at:

Bronze Award SCORE 80-84

Read on www/gameccamag.com Read on Issuu (Also available on your App Store) Read on Facebook

Silver Award SCORE 85-89

Gold Award SCORE 90-94

Platinum Award SCORE 95-100

Please Note: Gamecca is a monthly digital magazine!

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All Game Reviews in Gamecca Magazine are based on code provided by Publishers / Official Distributers.

Nova Mentis (Pty) Ltd / Gamecca Magazine do not hold any responsibility for any malicious exploitation that any reader should experience due to unauthorised distribution. Nova Mentis (Pty) Ltd / Gamecca Magazine will not be held accountable for any injurious detriment or pernicious damage to personal equipment or software due to use of unauthorised downloaded files. Action will be taken against any person or persons engaging in unauthorised distribution of Gamecca Magazine.

Gamecca Magazine: © Copyright Nova Mentis (Pty) Ltd. (2009 – 2016)

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Ed’s Choice Awar

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by Walt Pretorius

appy New Year! The

Call of Cthulhu, Skull & Bones,

last of the champagne

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown,

corks have popped, the

Soulcalibur VI, Tropico 6 and a

last of the hangovers

few others. Undoubtedly, more

have (hopefully) worn

will be announced as the year

off, the last hoarse

winds on, and at the mid-point,

voices have healed

E3 and GamesCom will have

and everyone is looking ahead to

even more news for us. And, of

what promises to be a year filled

course, we can pretty much bet

with hope and promise. Just like

on getting a new version of all

last year.

those games that have fallen into

We’re not off to the greatest start in the world of gaming,

a yearly iteration cycle.

But while we so keenly look

though – last year ended with the

forward, it would be good to

delay of one of the year’s first

remember the year that was.

big releases, Far Cry 5. Not a

2017 had many ups and downs,

massive delay, true, but February

and it also had some truly great

wil be looking all the more sparse

games released. That’s why, in

now.

this issue, we are bringing you

It is something of a stark

our Top Ten of 2017 (something

reminder that things don’t really

we do every January for the year

change much from year to year.

before) so that you can see which

I hate to sound like a downer,

games we thought you should

but things will pretty much keep

have played, and should possibly

rolling on this year as they did

still be playing. In the fast moving

in the last. There will be a few

world of the video game industry,

changes, of course… EA’s heart-

it’s easy to forget what came

stopping moments with Star

before, and the history of video

Wars: Battlefront 2 will likely

gaming contains some really

get the whole industry to rethink

great titles… particularly the

a few tactics and strategies,

recent history.

which is not a bad thing…

Right, that’s just about

microtransactions were starting

enough from me. Before I sign

to get a little out of hand, let’s be

off and let you get on with

honest.

reading this 103rd issue of

There is also a lot to look

From the Editor

rd

2018

Gamecca Magazine, allow me

forward to this year, in terms of

the opportunity to, on behalf of

games. Titles we know about

the entire Gamecca Crew, wish

thus far include Monster Hunter:

you and yours a very happy

World, UFC 3, Metal Gear

and prosperous 2018! Here’s to

Survive, Far Cry 5, The Crew 2,

having a blast! g mgeect 2 c7a 1 0 3 ggl a ad

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THIS MONTH’S COVER

We look at the top ten games of 2017...

Publishing Editor Walt Pretorius

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32

Previews: Games 8 games arriving soon

46

Reviews: Games 6 Games checked out

64

Regular: IndieView In protest...

walt@novamentis.co.za

Art Director Katia Taliadoros katia@novamentis.co.za

Writers: Alex Scanlon Christo van Gemert Clive Burmeister Iwan Pienaar Lein Baart Noelle Adams Nthato Morakabi Rob Edwards Sibonisile Motha Suvesh Arumugam Walt Pretorius

Feature: Top 10 of 2017 Our picks of the best of last year

Letters: letters@gameccamag.com

Competition Entries: competitions@gameccamag.com

Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gameccamag.com

Marketing Contact:

Copyright Š Nova Mentis (Pty) Ltd 2009 - 2018

walt@novamentis.co.za

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: X Marks the Spot The world’s most powerful console is here

80

Regular: Internet Not so neutral

84

Regular: Living Digital e-education gets top marks

88

COOL STUFF: Movies Flicks to look out for in 2018

98

COOL STUFF: Comics More illustrated literature

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Gamecca Vol. 9 Issue 103 January 2018

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s e d’ c E oi h C

“…gives the player oodles of time to explore the massive setting, drenched in all of its Christmas cheer”

Dead Rising 4: Franks Big Package

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32 36 38 39 40 41 62 63

Features Top 10 of 2017

PReviews UFC 3 Legends of the Universe: Cosmic Bounty Moss Crossing Souls The Red Strings Club Armello: Special Edition Dead in Vinland Railway Empire

Reviews 46 48 52 56 60 62

Seven: The Days Long Gone Doom VFR The Sims 4 Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package LocoRoco 2 Remastered Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition

RegularS 64

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IndieView

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TOP 10

GAMES OF 2017

2018 already has some very exciting games on the way. But that doesn’t mean that the games that came last year aren’t still awesome... and there

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were a lot of them to enjoy. It’s difficult to pick between so many great games, but we did anyway... so here is our list of the Top 10 Games of 2017. Let the count-down begin...

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

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Ghost Recon: Wildlands

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

Ghost Recon: Wildlands was not without its problems, but one thing was for sure: it provided the player with plenty to do! Busting the Santa Blanca Cartel was an extremely rewarding experience that took a great many hours. And there was some great DLC too.

But what really made Ghost Recon: Wildlands great was the co-op multiplayer. Few games got as crazy when more than one player joined the fray, and with a total of four players hunting the Cartel, things could get really out of hand – with great fun and some tense moments as a result, all in a massive playground.

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Injustice 2

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

There are plenty of fighting games out there that feature fantastic animations and combat. But what set Injustice 2 apart (and earned it a spot in this list) comes down to two primary factors‌ The first is a massive roster of highly recognisable character, all beautifully recreated and great to play with. The second is that Injustice 2, more than any other fighting game, gives the single player absolute tons to do. While fighting games are best in multiplayer, being able to get your fix for ages when going solo is a big plus. And the game is gorgeous, too.

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Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

Resident Evil took a turn for the better with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. And that’s a good thing; the series was suffering from a few bad releases in previous years. The introduction of a first-person perspective to the franchise really personalised the horror in the game, and made things feel that much creepier.

But the real win here is the fact that this game can be played both with and without VR. As an early PSVR title, it doesn’t check all the boxes, but it does do enough to make it wonderfully scary. Improved gun play and great looks also add to the mix, making a horror game that is well worth experiencing.

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Prey

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

Prey was a reboot, which we are seeing a fair amount of lately. It was also a lot of fun, placing the player aboard a space station that has been taken over by a mysterious, predatory alien race. Prey managed to combine tons of tense action with great puzzle elements, and although there was a lot of back and forth through the massive setting, it never got to the point of being repetitive. Packed with awesome powers and a great arsenal of weapons, Prey was well worth the effort, even if it only granted us a single player experience.

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Nier: Automata

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

Nier: Automata was technically a sequel, but you wouldn’t think it. It had really little to do with the original Nier. What it did do, though, was provide the player with a massive amount to do, while in the guise of a female android. With varied game mechanics, tons of enemies and a great, versatile combat system, Nier: Automata made for a fantastic experience. It also required the player to think before acting – Nier: Automata offered the player myriad ways to mess up, but never went the cheap death route.

And, on top of all of that, it is really great to look at too.

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Persona 5

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

Persona 5 sort of took people by surprise. The Persona franchise has always been a little niche, but this instalment opened it up to the mainstream in quite a big way. Persona 5 combined “real-world” RPG elements with action packed dream sequences as the player’s character, a high-school student, spent nights exploring the minds of evil people and trying to change their ways.

Persona 5 was a deeply complex and compelling game, with excellent level design, a great aesthetic and absolute tons to do. It is a great example of a niche franchise hitting its stride, and there is little doubt that the next Persona game will be awesome.

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Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

Games that explore psychological conditions can often go a little awry, but Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice explored the main character’s mental instability with effective grace and great impact. Making use of a strong audio component, as well as excellent visuals, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice truly put the player in the character’s shoes – and head.

Granted, the combat wasn’t the greatest – it was a little formula driven to be truly excellent – but the game wasn’t really about fighting all that much. Also, the addition of permadeath made it a lot more tense. This game put players on edge and kept them there.

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Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

Another single player experience, and another sequel – Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus was a truly exceptional game, despite all the ill-conceived controversy it spawned.

The real winner here wasn’t the tense, challenging combat, or the weapon upgrades, or even the massive, detailed world (all of which were great, mind you). Rather, it was the excellent portrayal of characters within the game, which took character animation and voice acting to a truly excellent level.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is action packed, disturbing, massive and awesome to look at… not just a tense action game, but also a great story told through excellent characters.

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Horizon: Zero Dawn

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

If Horizon: Zero Daw hadn’t been a PS4 exclusive, it would have got top honours from us this year. This game, set in a post-post-apocalyptic world, is almost beyond excellent. A massive playground, filled with puzzles, quests and many, many dangers, awaited the player here. A large skill tree and tons of varied weapons were also on offer, all tied together by a great narrative and a wonderfully accessible and entertaining lead character.

The developers truly shone with this remarkable game, which took action-adventure and traversal gaming to a fantastic level, setting a high bar for other contenders.

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Assassin’s Creed: Origins

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TOP 10 GAMES of 2017

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has been showing sign of wear over the last few years… until now. After a gap year, Assassin’s Creed: Origins took us back to the beginning, to where it all started for the Assassin’s and their ages-long conflict. But more than that – it revitalised the franchise in many important ways, providing the player with a wonderfully open world and a revamped control scheme. In addition, combat was also overhauled, bringing long-needed freshness to the series.

Assassin’s Creed: Origins proves that flagging fortunes can be reversed, and that a renewed approach can work wonders for a franchise. It was the best Assassin’s Creed title in ages.

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E M W A VIE G E R P

UFC 3 GAMING

Thrills and Spills

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UFC 3

by Lein Baart

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the graphical prowess it put on display, and it appears that EA Canada have not been content to rest on their laurels in this department. Gameplay trailers have shown fighters that animate with startling fluidity and realism, while flecks of sweat and blood fly as punches and kicks are landed over the course of a match. Combined with the sound design, as jabs and roundhouses connect with wince inducing crunches, and a seamless commentary, even at this early stage it can be difficult to tell you’re watching a video game as opposed to the real thing.

Of course aesthetics alone don’t make a game, and to this end UFC 3 will feature a revamped control scheme.

Designed to create a realistic portrayal of the sport,

GAMING

t’s safe to say that 2017 has not been EA’s year. Even for a company usually tarred by a general sense of antipathy from the public, this past year has caused more than a few headaches for the corporate giant, from Mass Effect Andromeda’s less than stellar release to the recent Battlefront 2 catastrophe. It’s a new year however, and safe from the usual feeding frenzy that is the Christmas release schedule it appears that EA is attempting to start 2018 on a high, with UFC 3 looking to tick all right boxes for fans of the visceral sport.

UFC 2, released in 2016, was regarded by most as a competent fighter that was most noticeable for

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UFC 3

behind professional MMA, all with an eye to fashioning your own legend.

Last but not least UFC 3 will also be offering a suite of online options. Stand and Bang, Submission Showdown and a mode that will allow for custom rules will all be on offer for those looking for a quick thrill, while Tournament will let players fight in a bracketbased competition. Ultimate Team, in which you build a roster of both real and imagined fighters, will also make a return, allowing players to customise their combatants. It’s worth noting that UFC 3 will include loot boxes, which given the furore around Battlefront 2 may seem like corporate suicide, although this will be limited to this Ultimate Team only. g

AT A GLANCE GENRE

Fighter

UFC 3, beyond its technical improvements, is hoping to be a faithful recreation of its brutal inspiration Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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EA Canada Electronic Arts Prima Interactive

Feb 2018

Q3 2014

Platforms

the new scheme will let players attack independently of their movement, for instance letting players strike while moving backwards. Defence will also play an important role, with an analogue stick dedicated to controlling the movement of the head and shoulders, allowing players to duck and weave as they setup attacks.

To compliment the technical improvements UFC 3 will feature a far richer career mode, dubbed G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) mode. Players will not only be expected to step into the ring but to actively manage pre-fight activities, such as building hype for a match, through options such as simulated social media and rivalries. While this might sound superfluous, the intent is to recreate not only the brawling but the culture

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

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Legends of the Universe: Cosmic Bounty

E M W A VIE G E R P

Legends of the Universe: Cosmic Bounty Hunt down the rebel.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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LunarCore Games LLC LunarCore Games LLC Online

PLATFORMS

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Jan 2018

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

GENRE

StarCore. A number of traps and enemies will stand in the way of Jekt, but thankfully there will be new abilities to unlock and hidden items to be found for increasing Jekt’s stats. The revealed abilities so far are The Beam, Gliding, and Rapid Shot.

A new Framework was built to let the game run smoother, and there’s more user optimization. What that will look like is yet to be seen. There isn’t much else to say about this indie title so we’ll have to see what Cosmic Bounty will bring to the table. g

AT A GLANCE Platformer

Chase down General Volgat in this indie platformer, playing as Jekt the Bounty Hunter.

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by Nthato Morakabi

I

in the Legends of the Universe series. In the first game, titled StarCore, you play as Trion, leader of an Arkonian team sent to steal the StarCore from Darketh. This time around, you will be stepping into the shoes of a new hero, Jekt.

He is a bounty hunter sent to hunt down the rebel General Volgat. The game is set to be a metroidvania style, action platformer where exploration is key and the areas are all interconnected.

The game promises to have various areas to explore and a more in-depth map compared to

’ve played my share of indie games over the years and with many of them you can somewhat see the influence behind the style, gameplay, and art style. The first thing I think of when I see this upcoming Steam title Legends of the Universe - Cosmic Bounty, is one particular Capcom game from back in 1987. Of course, I checked trailers and screenshots and to be honest this whole game reminds me of classic Mega Man to the T…uhhh M? Legends of the Universe – Cosmic Bounty is actually the second title

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Feb 2018 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Polyarc Polyarc, Inc. TBC

PLATFORMS

A feast for the adventurer

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV PSVR

GENRE

AT A GLANCE Adventure

A magical tale where you really can be the hero. Something different for players in the world of VR.

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by Sibonisile Motha

Moss

R games are on the rise, with many developers working tirelessly to grant players the ultimate VR gaming experience. PlayStation may have the upper hand with their own VR headset and exclusive titles thus far. You can now add another one to that list. Introducing Moss – a magical action-adventure that takes you on a journey into a beautiful and interactive world.

You will play as you. Yes, you. You will be the aid, friend and co-hero to a born-to-be-ahero mouse called Quill. Your presence will deem necessary for Quill as she sets off on a quest to stop an evil and ancient magic that could mean all kinds of disasters for her world. The task is too big for her to go at it alone, and that’s where you come in. You will be able to impact her course by interacting with the world.

Solve puzzles, move objects and help chart her pathway through the unpredictable environments. You can even help Quill even further by battling enemies with and for her. Nothing more has been given away regarding how far the interactions with you and Quill could go in gameplay.

The world of Moss is a truly captivating visual experience.

With views and sounds that make every environment feel as real as possible. With the game created and built specifically for VR, there may be a lot of details that players can discover as they go along in the game.

This is ultimately a storydriven game and the only way to see if all your efforts paid off is to journey your way through right up until the very, with your trusted ally Quill by your side. g

Moss

E M W A VIE G E R P

Crossing Souls

E M W A VIE G E R P

Crossing Souls

The thin line between life and death

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Fourattic Devolver Digital Online

PLATFORMS

GAMING

Feb 2018

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

GENRE

puzzles to solve, while unlocking new items and abilities. The game is set to become more difficult as the story progresses.

Crossing Souls will feature an original score with tracks inspired

by American film producer, John Williams, and American composer and conductor, Jerry Goldsmith. The music will also have radical 80’s Synth-Pop to create an atmosphere throwing you into those old-school movies.

Developers Fourattic look to have really invested into this indie title, recreating the 80’s vibe and feel for an authentic, classic-styled game. g

AT A GLANCE Action-Adventure

An 80’s styled action adventure where five teens experience a summer they will never forget, filled with monsters, thugs and alternate dimensions.

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by Nthato Morakabi

I

game development done right. The entire title is set to be very 80s, including cutscenes that seem straight out of the old school Scooby Doo/ Thundercats era in terms of their art style. Even in-game references will refer to The Goonies, Gremlins, Back to the Future and others.

Each of the characters will have unique abilities and combat styles, with enemies that will require strategy to defeat. Every fight will be in realtime for intense combat, mixed in with heavy boss-battles and special levels inspired by 80’s arcade video games.

There will be a number of diverse

t is the summer of 1986. California.

Five friends discover a pink stone, one with the amazing ability to let them travel between two realms.

The discovery flips their summer upside down, thrusting them into an adventure that sees the government on their tail in the greatest conspiracy to rock their young lives. Now Chris, Matt, Charlie, Big Joe, and Kevin, must fend off street gangs, a secret army, ghosts, and monsters all in an effort to save the world.

Devolver Digital knows how to select their indie games and Crossing Souls is yet another example of indie

The Red Strings Club

E M IEWW A VIE G EEV R PR

The Red Strings Club W

hat is happiness? What is fate? Can these concepts be achieved through technology? These are just some of the questions asked in The Red Strings Club, an indie title set to be a cyberpunk thriller told in narrative form.

Story telling has always found its way into gaming, with less emphasis on the gameplay, and more on the overall story being told. The Red Strings club will focus on the idea of using technology to create a virtual utopia for users. The technology is called the Social Psyche Welfare.

This tech is said to eradicate depression, anger, and fear from society and is run by the corporation known as Supercontinent Ltd. However, a hacker, and bartender of a clandestine club sees this as brainwashing rather than improvement. With the help of a rogue empathy android, this hacker will bring down Supercontinent by any means necessary.

Players will have to use various means to solve the mystery around Supercontinent, using their role as the bartender to read their patrons’ moods in order to mix the perfect cocktail for manipulating their emotions. This will be a way to gather information from employees of the corporation to exploit later.

Players can also create genetic implants that will change the attitude and direction of the corporate’s executive team, and vocal corporate espionage will let players mimic some of these influential figures over the phone to pit these figures against each other and reveal their plans.

In short, The Red Strings Club is about pulling strings in what looks to be a gorgeous pixel retrostyled puzzle narrative set in a cyberpunk world. It looks quite promising, then again the publisher is Devolver Digital. g

GAMING

Jan 2018 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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Deconstructteam Devolver Digital Online

PLATFORMS

by Nthato Morakabi

Can you find happiness in cyberspace?

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

GENRE

AT A GLANCE Platformer

A cyberpunk thriller narrative debating the meaning of happiness.

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E

GAMING

Mar 2018 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

SOEDESCO SOEDESCO TBC

PLATFORMS

Table-top adventure on your console PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

GENRE

AT A GLANCE Adventure, Strategy

Players can now experience this award-winning table-top game that is sure to be thrilling.

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by Sibonisile Motha

Armello: Special Edition

ver been the type to criticize how certain characters in that very popular show try and fail to seize the throne? Well, this is your chance to see if you could do better, well, in way. Armello has been a highly successful title, so much so that it snatched the Australian Game of the Year award by Kotaku when it was released. Armello: Special Edition is coming out in March next year. So what makes it a special edition? Well, the release will see players get their hands on a physical copy of the game as well as physical soundtracks. Developers, SOEDESCO are behind this edition of the game. They even released a trailer to showcase the gameplay as well as expected visuals for the game. The story is still the same, and just in case you haven’t heard of it, allow me to brief you.

The kingdom of Armello is under threat and the king himself is running out of time. It is now up to you to be the hero or heroine and fight your way through and ascend on the throne to become the next King or Queen of Armello. With this being a digital board game, you can expect the unexpected twists and turns that have you holding your breath at each turn and dice roll (the dice are physicsbased by the way). You will be able to heal the king if you want to or directly engage in combat with him to take the throne by force.

There are eight playable heroes and with RPG character rewards, you can shape your identity that will ultimately shape the future of Armello and its people.g

Armello: Special Edition

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Dead in Vinland

E M IEWW A VIE G EEV R PR

Dead in Vinland I

n this sequel to Dead in Bermuda, Dead in Vinland follows the story of a family that has been exiled to an unknown island. You will take the reigns as Eirik, the patriarch of the family. Your job is pretty simple, make sure your family and all those with you are healthy – physically and mentally, and stay alive. Simple enough, right? To do this you will have to strategize your every move as this is a turn-based game. Ration your food and water supply efficiently to ensure basic survival. Events in this game are randomized, meaning you really won’t know what you will have to face next until you are right in the thick of it. If you thought that the random events make this game unpredictable, you forget that you are looking after humans – the most unpredictable species. As you quest on in the game, interaction between your family and others will be ongoing. From romance to jealousy to fights, expect it all.

You can build your community up to a total of 14 characters which can be playable.

The island has its own challenges to bring to the table. The environment will make your humble task just a bit harder to achieve, with droughts and other weather elements. And if that isn’t enough, the island has secrets of its own. Discover these on your way and maybe you might come across aid or disaster, and even others. CCCP’s addition of deeper survival mechanics will make this narrative title something that the player will enjoy discovering along the way. And remember: staying alive is one thing, but surviving is the key. g

GAMING

Q1 2018 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

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CCCP Playdius, Play in digital Online

PLATFORMS

by Sibonisile Motha

Despite the title – Don’t die!

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

GENRE

AT A GLANCE Adventure, RPG, Strategy

With more characters and deeper stories, there’s even more to do in this notso-sequel.

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Railway Empire GAMING

Jan 2018 Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Gaming Minds Kalypso Media TBC

PLATFORMS

Full Steam Ahead

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

GENRE

AT A GLANCE Management

Whilst it should have a relatively niche appeal, for those interested Railway Empire should offer more than enough to keep you interested

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by Lein Baart

alypso, right from its founding, has always had a penchant for the niche.

A publisher that has thrived on embracing mostly lesser known titles and genres, it has always seemed ready to serve a small but passionate fan base with an array of management and strategy titles. It’s little surprise then that Railway Empire, a homage to the original Railway Tycoon that practically launched the “tycoon” sub-genre, is not only being published by Kalypso but is being developed in-house, and for those nostalgic for the days when Sid Meier reigned supreme, there appears there is much to like.

Set during the 1830s and covering roughly a century, Railway Empire will look to take players through the era of the steam trains in the United States of America. Offering players multiple methods to build their dream locomotive empire, including an unrestricted “modelmaking” mode, the majority of the gameplay will lie in the game’s campaign. Rather than a series of structured missions though the game will set one overarching goal with mini-objectives to complete along the way, as you battle against scheming AI opponents that will seek to undercut you at every juncture, including the use of tactics such as corporate espionage to gain an upper hand.

To aid you in getting the edge Railway Empire will offer a staggering level of micromanagement, with players being asked to juggle everything from the type of seating for a passenger car to potential personality clashes between staff, and even more options for the serious train buff. For those not wanting to hassle with the nitty-gritty however there will be several difficulty modes to choose from, with easier modes requiring less attention to minutia. g

Railway Empire

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E M W A IE G EV R

Seven: The Days Long Gone GAMING

Nice try, but…

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Seven: The Days Long Gone

GENRE

Despite a great Seven

by Walt Pretorius

background,

is ultimately a mess of poorly coded

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

18+ AWARDS Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Ed’s Choice

Score

45

AT A GLANCE

PARENTAL ADVISORY

REVIEWED ON

PLATFORMS

elements.

IMGN.PRO IMGN.PRO Online

gamecca103

RPG Adventure

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

with the isometric camera position leaving the player to sometimes have to guess at their surroundings (for example not being able to see a ceiling above their character’s head) or entirely lose sight of their character.

Climbing options are also not always obvious, leading to lots of movement frustration.

For those that want to avoid the long, sometimes dreary travelling section, Seven provides a fast-travel system… which is going to either drop you far from where you want to go, or right into the lap of an enemy hungry for your blood.

Speaking of enemies, Seven’s combat system is less that exciting, and most fights can be avoided by simply running away. Even upgrading gear seems to be of little consequence, and you will be able to navigate the game with the equipment you started with (after a few tweaks) with little effort.

And then there’s the stealth aspect. Thanks to a thoroughly unpredictable (and potentially mentally instable) AI, stealth simply cannot be relied on. There is no real way of knowing when you’re going to be spotted, or even predicting NPC movements… or reactions. The player can use disguises, which works far better, but there is still that insane AI unpredictability to deal with. And no, it doesn’t feel like a smartly written, natural AI. It feels more like the people that inhabit Peh are insane, or the AI code needs a massive overhaul.

Perhaps Seven was too ambitious for the team behind it. Maybe they didn’t realise the polish that was required, which is strange for a team of experienced developers.

Whatever the case may be, while there are parts of Seven that are enjoyable, the overall effect is one of massive frustration and head scratching. The developers really need to go back to the drawing board on this one. g

PC

s

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tating that a new game is developed by members of the team that made a wildly popular older game may seem like a great marketing approach, but it does have a massive pitfall looming in the near future… it creates expectations. So, too, does any amount of hype, really, which Seven: The Days Long Gone had a surprising amount of, considering it really is an indie title. So with fairly high hopes, we undertook the journey through the world of Seven. It was interesting, all right, but for many of the wrong reasons – and a few of the right ones.

On the good side, the island of Peh, in which the narrative unfolds, is brimming with interesting lore and titbits which help create the sense of a well-realised world.

Additionally, the characters that the player will meet in this isometric, free-roaming action-adventure are well put together and interesting. On top of that, the narrative is engaging and well thought out, making the background of Seven luxurious and many layered.

Sadly, though, it may not be enough to pull through this title, which takes on greats like Diablo in terms of execution. In fact, the wellpenned story line and great lore almost highlight the games shortcomings.

Seven is full of great ideas.

It features a unique character progression system and some decidedly clever mechanics principles that could have been the makings of a masterpiece. But somewhere between the initial ideas and the final product, more than a few things went awry.

Let’s begin with movement.

The player has the ability to jump and climb, which we don’t normally see in this genre. It’s a great principle, because of the stealthy, Thief-like nature of the game. But the claustrophobic levels present a problem

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Doom VFR GAMING

Hop, skip, jump…

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by Walt Pretorius

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recently released, either – Doom VFR is built from the ground up, giving VR fans an all new, roughly six-hour experience in the flamboyantly gratuitous world of Doom.

Aside from the obligatory VR headset, Doom VFR can be played with a variety of control options on PS4, including the standard controller, the Move controls and the Aim controller that Farpoint made use of.

To combat motion sickness, Doom VFR makes use of three different movement options. The first is a teleport style affair, in which you select where you want to go and, hey presto, you’re there. It is great for those who can’t deal with motion in VR, and is excellent for telefrags as well. There is also a movement option in which the d-pad can be used to make quick directional movements. For those that don’t want their feet firmly

GAMING

he big thing with VR, really, is motion sickness – that disconnect between what the body is experiencing and the eyes are seeing that leaves some people feeling queasy. Well, id have a solution for that in Doom VFR. And they have a few other things for Doom fans, too.

FPS games really seem to be the most natural fit for VR games but, particularly when it comes to the PSVR (the only VR system that won’t totally wreck the bank account in South Africa), they have been a little scarce. Farpoint arrived in 2017, and although it wasn’t a great FPS, it showed what could be achieved… even so far as using a specialised, rifle-like controller. Now Doom, the grand master of the genre (if only because it was one of the first) has come to VR. And it’s not a rehash of the game that was also

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planted between jumps, there is a smooth movement option as well, but it’s a little hidden in the menus.

As you might expect, Doom VFR is a frantic, bulletslinging, gore-splattered action fest crammed with angry demons to kill. It’s great fun, although sadly the implementation of the Aim controller could have been a little better. But the levels are designed to allow the player to make use of the movement options effectively, and the graphics are surprisingly better than expected, given the lower resolution of the PSVR headset.

On the downside, it doesn’t do much to explain what’s going on. That’s not really in keeping with the franchise that spawned it; Doom has always had a solid story attached, even if the narrative does push every limit of credulity available. But Doom VFR doesn’t tread that path – there is little explanation of what’s going on, or

why… it’s really just about blasting demons.

Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Doom VFR fills a gap that needs filling, and it provides players with an action packed experience that doesn’t require too much deep thought – although a quick trigger finger is a must. And, as is expected while VR is still in its relative infancy, it does feature a few issued here and there, but nothing that is totally ruinous. Thankfully, too, it loads quickly and drops the player into the action right from the word go, making it a great accompaniment to the franchise. It feels like a side-plot, more than a main release, and that is possibly the best way to approach it.

Doom VFR is fun, if not absolutely awesome. More importantly, though, it shows that VR is capable of delivering the kind of VR experience everyone thought it would… motion sickness or not. g

AT A GLANCE First-person shooter

Built from the ground up, Doom VFR fills a gap in the VR market with tense and nonstop action.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

id Software Bethesda Ster Kinekor

PARENTAL ADVISORY

18+ gamecca103

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

AWARDS

Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Casual Ed’s Choice

REVIEWED ON

PS4 PLATFORMS

GENRE

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

Score

79 51

E M W A IE G EV R

The Sims 4 GAMING

On console, at last!

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The Sims 4

by Alex Scanlon

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used.

And then there is the matter of controls. Naturally, there are going to be fiddly bits when transferring a game that traditionally has a keyboard handy to a platform that has a far more limited control set. And, in all fairness, the developers actually did a great job in transferring things to the console platforms… but… the controls are very fiddly. By incorporating multiple menu levels, the developers have tried to make things easier. But they haven’t been tremendously clear about which menu level the player is currently on, making it easy to make mistakes. Thankfully the time controls are on the shoulder buttons, so pausing the action while you’re figuring things out is relatively easy.

Another control issue is that the cursor moves at a fixed speed. You get used to it, sure, but between trying to

GAMING

t took The Sims 4 almost four years to reach consoles. Then again, the franchise hasn’t been available on console for its whole run, so perhaps that shouldn’t be too surprising. The biggest issue, of course, is that the controls available to a console gamer are very different, and much more limited, than those available to a PC gamer. Still, though, a very valiant attempt was made to bring the life simulator to console, with varying degrees of success.

Naturally, modern consoles are more than capable of running a game like The Sims 4, thanks to very powerful hardware. And yet, there are still issues here that should probably not happen – like frame rate drops, particularly when there are lots of sims or furnishings around. Additionally, animations and sound can get out of synch, particularly when faster time settings are

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figure out your menu level and getting the cursor where you want it to be, The Sims 4 can get pretty frustrating, initially at least.

The game also has tons of bugs, like skill bars not disappearing when they should, and the like.

In short, it is an imperfect port of what is a really complex game. And if you keep that in mind, and accept the fact that you’re going to have a few teething problems, The Sims 4 on console is actually quite a lot of fun. The fluidity and pace of the PC game is obviously not there, because it simply couldn’t be. But you get used to it, and once you do, there is a ton of hilarious enjoyment on offer in this version of EA’s popular game.

Additionally, all the free content that has been provided to PC players over the last few years is automatically included here, including things like swimming pools and

such (although, strangely, still no cars).

If you have played The Sims 4 on PC, you are going to have to make a few pretty big adjustments in getting used to this new title. If, on the other hand, you are new to the franchise, you won’t have to relearn much to get into this slightly tweaked, slightly trimmed down version of the game. The developers have done a good job in keeping the essentials and removing the potential fluff, making the console player’s task a little smoother. But there is still the matter of sluggishness in the controls, which isn’t quite alleviated by those omissions.

With all that said, don’t be too quick to write the console versions of The Sims 4 off. It feels a lot more relaxed, and can be as enjoyable as the PC version… provided you wrap your head around exactly how the controls function, and can live with a few bugs. g

AT A GLANCE GENRE

Simulation

REVIEWED ON

x0

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Maxis Electronic Arts Prima Interactive

PARENTAL ADVISORY

12+ gamecca103

PLATFORMS

Sit’s not as slick and quick as the PC version, but there is still fun to be had here...

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

AWARDS

Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Casual Ed’s Choice

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

Score

75 55

E M W A IE G EV R

Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Pack GAMING

Bashing in a winter wonderland

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Dead Rising 4: Frank’s Big Package

by Rob Edwards

kage

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But there was also that sense that one was always too rushed to really dig into the game – given that the large settings were wonderfully explorable, it really came down to a choice of miss stuff to make it in time, or find stuff and fail at the mission, only to have to restart.

This time around, the town of Willamette is going through a less virulent zombie outbreak (because, see, most people are immune now) and that gives the player oodles of time to explore the massive setting, drenched in all of its Christmas cheer.

Take that time pressure away, and Dead Rising 4 becomes more of a sandbox game, allowing players to discover tons of locations and, of course, zany weapon blueprints. That sits really well with me.

GAMING

here are a lot of people that will want to say that Dead Rising 4 s the worst game of the franchise – and pretty much every one of them will be Dead Rising fans.

But when you get down to it, Dead Rising 4: Franks Big Package adds a festive cheer and freedom to the franchise.

And that freedom is something that some fans (this reviewer included) may feel has been lacking from the series as a whole.

Sure, the timed mission thing made sense in previous Dead Rising games. There was a zombie outbreak, people were getting infected, and saving as many as possible before they became flesh craving undead was a matter of making the minutes count.

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What doesn’t really sit as well, though, is the fact that the boss battles feel a lot less like integral parts of the story, and more tacked on.

The bosses lack the crazy character of the past.Instead of chainsaw wielding clowns and overzealous shop owners, now you have a bunch of people in different costumes who want to kill Frank West.

They feel a little light on meaning and context, really.

Yes, Frank is back, returning to Willamette to cover another Zombie news story. There’s a new voice actor responsible for his dialogue, which may anger fans yet again, but Frank remains funny and highly entertaining throughout Dead Rising 4.

The zany humour and crazy weapons combine

with engaging, button mashing combat that is extremely addictive.

The inclusion of powerful exosuits makes things even more fun, and wading through huge hordes of zombies is highly entertaining this time around.

As an added bonus, the PS4 version comes with two sets of DLC… one of which is short and a little forgettable. The other, though, is a set of Capcom hero outfits which imbue Frank with the abilities of the characters on which they were based. Sadly these are only part of the DLC, and cannot be brought into the main campaign, but they are great fun.

Lastly, there’s a co-op mode, which is made up of a number of timed missions… but they aren’t the best part of the game. g

AT A GLANCE Action

REVIEWED ON

Freedom! It’s something that Dead Rising lacked in the past, because of those timed missions... now you have it.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Capcom Capcom Ster Kinekor

PARENTAL ADVISORY

18+ gamecca103

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

AWARDS

Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Casual Ed’s Choice

PS4 PLATFORMS

GENRE

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

Score

80 59

E M W A IE G EV R

LocoRoco 2 Remastered GAMING

Rollin’, Rollin’ Rollin’...

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GENRE

LocoRoco 2 is a great platform puzzler that

by Walt Pretorius

makes a welcome appearance on the

PS4. Easy

to learn, hard to

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

3+

SCE Japan Studio SCEE Ster Kinekor

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

AWARDS Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Ed’s Choice

Score

80

AT A GLANCE

PARENTAL ADVISORY

REVIEWED ON

PLATFORMS

master...

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

gamecca103

Platform

PS4

crispness that really makes the colours pop. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the cut scenes. Like the original remastered in 2017, LocoRoco 2’s cut scenes have been left untouched.

This means that what little story the game has on offer is rendered in a much lower quality, which leads to a slightly jarring effect when the game kicks into these bits of exposition.

With that said, though, the effect is hardly ruinous, and does little more than cause a raised eyebrow or two. Besides which, the story in this game is not one that absolutely has to be followed to get through the game – it is there for interest sake, really.

When LocoRoco and LocoRoco 2 were first released, they marked a blast of exceptionally fresh air in the often stale platform market. Now, with the remasters, the same holds true. The thinking behind LocoRoco 2 is really simple, et the game manages to be thoroughly engaging and really challenging at times.

It favours logic over quick trigger fingers, and some of the levels can result in quite a lot of head scratching. But the game possesses a logic that is easy to learn, and poses challenges that can always be overcome, even if you need to sometimes do a little thinking outside of the box.

As such, this game falls into a great category. It is extremely accessible, yet manages not to alienate those who prefer something a little tougher to get through. That means that LocoRoco is not only great for the whole family, but it also manages to straddle the divide between casual and hardcore quite nicely.

Simply put, you cannot go wrong with this remaster of a truly fun and groundbreaking platform title. g

LocoRoco 2 Remastered

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ometimes you just have to take things slow. Set aside the head shots and kill streaks and chicken dinners, and just relax with a game. Of course, it does help if the game you’re choosing not to get worked up over is a lot of fun, but the remastered version of LocoRoco 2 has that more than covered. It manages to deliver a lighthearted experience without compromising on challenge, which is not an easy feat.

But it does so with grace and style.

If you missed LocoRoco 2 before, you’re in for a treat. Much like the original (which was remastered and released last year, LocoRoco 2 is all about tilting the world to make things happen. See, the player controls a bunch of jelly-like blobs (with eyes, naturally) and makes them move by rotating the level using the shoulder buttons.

The only other real control of note is one button that either makes them split up or bunch together.

It is laughably simple, yet it works an absolute charm.

And that’s something that LocoRoco 2 has over its predecessor. The levels are very similar, but that they have little bit more on offer.

Slightly smarter design, and a few new collectables on offer than we saw in the original LocoRoco. Not that the original is bad, mind you; the sequel is just better.

The sequel also features more mini-games to enjoy, all of which are easy enough to pick up, yet challenging in their own way. There is even a music based mini-game that requires the typical rhythm game style of input, and is great fun to play.

As far as remasters go, LocoRoco 2 looks great.

The graphics are simple, sure, but they really do look spruced up none the less, with an extra level of

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Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition GAMING

Get scared… again…

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GENRE

The complete story

by Alex Scanlon

is now on one disc, offering a great

Resident Evil

PC X0 PS4 Wii U X360 PS3 PSV 3DS

18+

Capcom Capcom Ster Kinekor

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

AWARDS Platinum Gold Silver Bronze Ed’s Choice

Score

84

AT A GLANCE

PARENTAL ADVISORY

REVIEWED ON

PLATFORMS

experience overall.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

gamecca103

Survival horror

PS4

works well outside of VR, too, with a wonderfully rich world to explore and plenty of horror to, err, survive.

And it is one of the few titles available that can be used in and out of VR. Beyond that, though, Capcom managed to create a game that really relooked at the flagging Resident Evil formula, and provided players with a creepy setting, great enemies, and a new, more personal way in which to experience them.

The only real problem was that the plot of the main game left things hanging, necessitating the need for DLC. That’s not so unusual these days, but there really were a lot of unanswered questions in the game.

If you haven’t picked it up yet, you’re in luck. The newly released Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition brings the entire story together in one package.

The main complaint that people had has, therefore, been taken care of. And you’re in for a treat; Resident Evil 7 is crammed full of creepy moments, jump scares and truly pulse-pounding moments that will probably have you needing to take a lie down every now and then. It doesn’t feature the greatest mix of monsters, but the claustrophobic level design and undeniably (signature) creepy nature of the story should scratch that survival horror itch quite nicely.

Also, as a gold edition, it present excellent value for money, as well as an opportunity to experience the whole story without having to wait for DLC downloads and releases, patches or any of that other stuff that interferes with getting the daylights scared out of you.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition is not for the faint hearted, even more so when using it with PSVR. Good luck. g

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition

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esident Evil, as a franchise, holds an almost unassailable position as a game that helped define the survival horror genre.

Along with titles like Silent Hill, Resident Evil has done a lot to truly set the bar for survival horror, and dictate what fans of the genre would expect from such a game. At least, it did, up to a certain point. And then it seemed like Capcom, the people behind the franchise, lost the plot. Things went, like the settings of so many Resident Evil games, to hell in a handbasket. The series was undeniably losing ground, and things were not looking overly great for its future. Until around a year ago, that is…

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was released in January 2017, and it brought with it so many fresh approaches and great ideas that it almost vindicated the missteps that Capcom had taken in the previous few releases. But it also had another shot in the arm that, while maybe not as big as Sony would have hoped, still provided a fresh angle on the franchise: PSVR. Capcom took a whole new approach to the Resident Evil idea by making Resident Evil 7: Biohazard a firstperson perspective game, largely to enable them to make it a release for the PSVR system. While the game is also available on PC and Xbox One, it really was the PSVR, native to the PlayStation (Resident Evil’s traditional home) that seemed to spur this move forward. The end result, while not perfect, is certainly one of the best releases for Sony’s virtual reality system.

But it is not only meant for VR, although the already sharp gun play in the game is even better when strapping on a VR headset.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

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Getting Going Cyberpunk with

A GAMING

one man show narrating against corruption vicariously through gaming and the world of cyberpunk. We caught up

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Studio Cyber Uirusu.

By Nthato Morakabi

g Deep with Taiwanese developer Uirusu and spoke to him about the challenges of going solo, his inspirations, and his upcoming game. gamecca103

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later. How did you start developing games?

1 GM: The online indie

good question. I started

SCU: Last year at this

playing games since I was

time, I had a talk with one

in kindergarten. The first

of my “senpai” in the game

ever game I played was Total

industry about how to start

Annihilation, it was good

my game developing career.

and I still play it from time

He suggested I make a

to time, but it’s not the one

simple visual novel around

that inspired me to develop

twenty thousand words to

my own game. I think it was

get used to the process of

the Metal Gear series which

game development. Before I

really inspired me. And that

decided to take the “twenty

kind of gaming experience is

thousand words” rule to

what Maiden City series is

another level, I did plan and

aiming for.

work on a game named Sweet

community is doing great

Girls Cream and Soda. Well,

things, glad we could

I put her in my archive after

an amazing game so

finally chat. Tell us about

I came up with Maiden City,

that’s quite the standard

Studio Cyber Uirusu.

a darker but much more

you set for yourself. I’m

charming game compared to

guessing gaming and the

Uirusu” is a one man studio

Sweets Girls. The very first

gaming community play a

for now. “Uirusu” is the name

idea of Maiden City actually

big role in your life?

I used in all of my creations.

came from an unexpected

It originates from the

place, one of my regular

started gaming when I was

Japanese word which means

practice session. I didn’t think

little. Gaming has been the

“virus”. The “Studio” part

much when I created Chun,

main element of my life for

simply indicates that we are

later to be the protagonist of

as long as I can remember.

creators. The word “Cyber”

Maiden City. But the second

To me, gaming is like that

in the middle was from the

I finished drawing her, I knew

one girl who has always been

word “Cyberpunk”, which is

this was the stuff.

on my side. Before the day

SCU: “Studio Cyber

the theme of Maiden City series. “What”, “how”, and

4 GM: Metal Gear is

SCU: Well, as I said, I

I started developing Maiden 3 GM: Storytelling first,

City: the Last Collateral

“who”, together, they make

that is quite a unique

Damage, I tried creating

our studio name.

approach. Was there a

novels and graphics. They

particular game that

were equally attractive, but it

influenced you to get

all still came back to her. I put

into game development?

a ring on her because I knew

2 GM: Ah yes, Maiden GAMING

City but we’ll get to that

66

SCU: Wow, that’s a

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that’s what we both wanted.

guess they’re connected. Well

This is all about commitment.

however, it’s not like I was

7 GM: Yes that makes

Not only to her, but also to

thinking “Oh, this will help

sense. You’ve got a lot to

my very existence.

me build Maiden City.” when

juggle on your own and

I chose to study economic

makes me wonder what

community, I think it played

because, as I said, I hadn’t

it means to you being a

an important role in my life.

come up with the idea of

gamer and a developer at

The very first community

Maiden City until last year.

the same time.

As for the gaming

I connected with was my

I actually have been

SCU: Well, as a gamer,

classmates. That’s how I

thinking about studying game

becoming a developer is a

made most of my friends. And

design in the future, but that

step up for me. I started to

later I discovered the game

depends. I think it might help

look at games in a different

changer, the internet. For me,

me with my career.

way, trying to learn from them rather than just playing. As

it always feels good to have somebody with the same

6 GM: How the industry

a developer, I felt like I’ve

taste of games, so I guess

treating you so far? Any

become what I always wanted

gaming community is quite

struggles you’re able to

to be. To be honest, it still

integral to me.

share with us?

doesn’t feel real to me. But I

SCU: Well, I’m still new to 5 GM: Are you currently

guess someday it will.

this industry so I’m not sure 8 GM: Most times it

studying anything and

what can I offer, but I did have

is it related to game

my struggles. First of all, just

doesn’t hit until later. So

development? Are you

like most indie developers,

tell us about your source

planning on studying

public exposure had been one

of inspiration and where

game development?

of my struggles since the very

it comes from.

beginning. Luckily, I have a

SCU: I believe inspiration

economics in National

trustworthy and motivated

is something that builds up

Taiwan University, and the

publisher now who will do her

over time, so I would say

answer to this question

best at promote my game.

everything both inside gaming

will be “perhaps”. I choose

The other struggle is that as

and outside gaming is an

economics because I’m

a one-man company, I have

inspiration in this sense. But

always interested in big topics

to do most things by myself.

of course, I do have a specific

like politics, science, military,

It sometimes leaves me

source of inspiration which

economics, and so on. The

stranded too deep in Maiden

is nothing but a simple visit

drama between politicians,

City which deprives the

to the local bookstore and to

corporations, and the people

vision I need to control what

read anything that catches my

is an irreplaceable element

happens in Maiden City. If

eye. You will be surprised how

of Maiden City series so I

that makes sense to you.

inspiring that could be.

SCU: I’m currently studying

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SCU: Yes, that would

books are like alternate

be Maiden City: the Last

rich country at the year 2099,

worlds with plenty of

Collateral Damage. She’s

regardless of the corruption

inspiration in them.

a prequel for the whole

and danger inside her. The

Speaking of inspiration,

Maiden City series, showing

reason she’s charming to

are there any devs you

the players what happened

whoever knows her is that

have “mad respect” for

before the main game. She’s

she can be the legit future of

and are you part of an

a cyberpunk-themed visual

mankind, and you know it.

indie community? How

novel with a dark tone and

has it helped you?

atmosphere set in the year

SCU: As much as I appreciate indie games, I

11 GM: Wow that is deep. Sounds like it

2099.

Maiden City is a country

would be an amazing

don’t know any indie dev that

built “above” Taiwan, or

novel to read too. What

well to have mad respect for.

Formosa during WWIII.

was your inspiration

However, I do like most indie

The story was about the

behind it?

games I choose to play and I

relationship between three

respect their devs as much as

factions, Summer Child the

corruption of our government

I respect the games.

vigilante group led by our

and corporations, and also

female protagonist, Chun,

some other cyberpunk games

CFN. I think we’re a friendly

Frost Guard the PMSC

and literature.

community, and there are

company owned by our main

devs, PRs, musicians, and

villain Alyson Guard, and

all kinds of people in the

finally Iron Maidens the secret

gaming and other media

industry. It’s an ideal place to

organization led by the true

are a great platform

share your game or anything

villain Catherine, who wants

to speak truth. What

related.

to bring the whole city down.

platforms will it be

Yes, I’m a member of

The community provided a

The thing that makes her

SCU: It was inspired by the

12 GM: I see. Well

released on and do you have a release date?

way to promote myself and

different from other games

my game. It sure was a game

is the unique but realistic

changer. Plus, I actually met

setting of Maiden City. She

is developed for PC, and also

my publisher there.

was set at the time that

for Xbox. Since it’s a visual

mankind had been through

novel, PC is the best platform

WWIII, a financial crisis,

for it, and I think it has the

is always a great place to

and a global pandemic. The

biggest player base among all

get new connections. So,

world was almost freed from

platforms. Xbox is more like a

tell us about the game

the elite society but also

challenge for this series.

you’re developing and

struggling to rebuild the

some of its key features.

human society. Maiden City

GAMING

10 GM: The community

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is the most advanced and

9 GM: Oh, not at all,

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SCU: Maiden City: TLCD

Release? I would say at the end of this year. g

Indie View

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Internet Living Digital

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The most powerful gaming console ever made 74

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ks pot gamecca103

75

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T

he current generation

CPU of the PS4 Pro), a 6 teraflop

of consoles is one

GPU (compared to 4.2 teraflops) and

that has seen many

12GB of GDDR5 RAM (compared

swipes between the

to 8GB). In terms of storage, the

two biggest player –

current Xbox One X offers a 1TB

Microsoft and Sony –

drive, just like the PS4 Pro, but offers

as they try to capture

an improved Blu-ray drive (capable of

the hearts and minds of gamers

4K and HDR). In terms of networking,

around the world. And right out of the

the Pro’s dual band Wi-Fi may result

starting gate, PlayStation managed to

in a better connection. But when it

outmanoeuvre Xbox at almost every

comes to performance, as far as the

turn. The Sony powerhouse had the

specifications go, as well as with the

Microsoft system on the back foot

tests done here at Gamecca, The

time and again, including getting to

Xbox One X is certainly better, even

4K resolution faster, in the form of the

if just by a small margin in certain

PS4 Pro. But sometimes being first to

areas.

market isn’t the best idea… because it allows your competitors to see

than both the Xbox One and Xbox

exactly what you are doing.

One S, as well as the PS4 Pro. With

So while the PS4 Pro managed

more than any other console – not a

had something up their sleeve.

serious problem unless you have a

Codenamed Project Scorpio, the

weak shelf for it to stand on, or are

newest version of the Xbox One

going to be transporting it a lot.

Another win for the PS4 Pro comes

it was announced. And it looked like

in the form of PSVR, although the

it would, in terms of specifications,

overall success of this peripheral

teach the PS4 Pro a thing or two.

system can be called into question.

The Xbox One X arrived in South

Microsoft may well want to look at

Africa literally in a nick of time,

something that fills that gap (like

hitting shelves three days before

their augmented reality system) but

Christmas. That’s a bit later than

whether an addition like that will

other territories, of course, but better

make or break this new console’s

late than never. And now that it

performance remains to be seen.

has arrive, putting the Xbox One X

TECHNOLOGY

that said, it does manage to weigh

to break the 4K ribbon, Xbox

looked promising from the moment

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The console itself is also smaller

When it comes to user experience,

through its paces, and comparing that

which is obviously a very opinion-

performance to the PS4 Pro, is no

based and personal-taste affair,

longer theoretical.

the PS4 Pro still requires fewer

The Xbox One X is, when all is

system updates, which tend to be

said and done, a really impressive

a lot smaller. Xbox One’s software

machine. It beats the PS4 Pro in

overall is data hungry. Additionally,

terms of specifications on pretty much

games patched to 4K resolution can

every level: it has a 2.3GHz 8-core

consume a lot of hard drive space,

CPU (compared to the 2.1GHz 8-core

and obviously necessitate longer

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downloads, but that’s pretty

impressive piece of hardware that

much across the board for any 4K

performs smoothly at extremely

content.

high resolutions. In fact, the

What about the console itself?

Well, like the Xbox One S, it

a powerful gaming PC. It marks a

shows a number of improvements

massive step forward for consoles,

over the original Xbox One. It is

and makes one wonder what the

much (much!) smaller than the

next generation will hold.

original console, as well as the S.

the Xbox One X is expensive,

lines (giving it a somewhat brick-

and unless you’re running 4K

like appearance) but its all-matt

visual hardware (a TV or monitor)

covering and tasteful texturing

the difference won’t be all that

result in a striking end look.

noticeable. At lower resolutions is does deliver steadier frame rates,

an internal power unit, meaning the

though. Additionally, until Microsoft

old power-brick is a thing of the

brings some kind of VR support

past. This is part of the reason why

out for the Xbox system, it will still

the Xbox One X is so much heavier.

be at something of a disadvantage

Its disk slot is well concealed, with

next to the PS4 Pro. However,

a small eject button on the base of

the sleek lines, undeniable power

the console.

and great controller are all big

Conspicuously absent – like the

plus points. Additionally, the 4K

S as well – is the Kinect camera

Blu-ray drive is great for movie

interface. It seems that Microsoft

fans, elevating the Xbox One X

have all but given up on the idea

above the status of ‘just a gaming

of camera based game play and

console’.

voice activation (which was, as

TECHNOLOGY

So should you buy one? Well,

It still makes use of very straight

Like the Xbox One S, the X has

It is the most powerful gaming

an opinion, not the greatest idea

console, hands down. Its

to start with). Another great idea

performance is excellent. And

in the design of the X is that all

there are a large number of titles

venting happens out of the back of

that have already been enhanced

the console, making it stackable.

for 4K, and more on the way. But

Additionally, it can stand vertically,

whether you should buy one or

which is (believe it or not) a big

not really comes down to personal

plus.

requirements and taste. The games

The controller is the same as

that work on the Xbox One X also

the one that shipped with the S.

work on the Xbox One, although at

That means that it has, unlike

lower resolution. And as for picking

the original Xbox One controller,

between the slightly less powerful

an integrates 3.5mm jack for

PS4 Pro and the Xbox One X,

headphones – another great

well… that comes down to the

change that needed to be made.

brand (and exclusive content) you

In short, the Xbox One X is a very

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Breaking internet freedom

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by Suvesh Arumugam

of the Open Internet Rule. Verizon was one of the ISPs who sued the FCC unsuccessfully to repeal net neutrality, as part of the US Telecoms Association in 2015. One article claims that Verizon spent in excess of $100 million since 2009 lobbying Congress against net neutrality.

You might think that net neutrality is a no-brainer. But this case comes down to the finest of nitty-gritties.

The basis for the FCC’s changes to their regulations in 2015 was a reaction to millions of internet users demanding that broadband be defined as a telecommunications service. This was fuelled by the hashtag #OpenInternet and net neutrality advocates like TV Host John Oliver who devoted an entire broadcast in late 2014 to encourage internet users to comment on the FCC’s website. Changing the classification of the service would give the FCC broad powers to regulate the service as an essential utility.

When the US Telecoms Association sued the FCC, the court upheld the decision that broadband should be considered a utility. In other words, this is a necessity for basic living, not a luxury.

The FCC’s new drive to get rid of net neutrality is based on the revoking that assumption and re-classifying broadband as an information service, which would decrease regulation.

According Pai’s argument, this would encourage investment in to broadband by stimulating competition. His ultimate plan would decrease federal regulation of the internet and allow ISP’s to set their own rules and force them to negotiate pricing with each other, as well as with major websites and applications.

Pai’s plans have been widely criticised,

“...how on Earth this could have happened in the first place.”

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he fight for a free and unregulated internet was dealt a crippling blow this week with the US Federal Communications Commission voting to repeal net neutrality regulations which were adopted in 2015.

The regulations essentially prevented ISPs from slowing down or blocking content or applications on their networks, but also prevented them from charging service providers like Netflix premiums not to do so. The repeal of the 2015 regulations means that ISPs are free to block, throttle or charge as they see fit.

This could see massive increases (in the US) for providers like Netflix, who may have to pay networks’ premium prices to have their services run at high speed (especially for high resolution video). This cost will undoubtedly find its way to the consumers pocket and make streaming a less attractive option. At the moment many users are abandoning their cable subscriptions for specific streaming services in combinations that suit them.

The US congress is publicly claiming that they will force a repeal of the repeal under the Congressional Review Act and the Senate claims they will push for a vote to force the FCC to reinstate the regulations.

However, the real question is how on Earth this could have happened in the first place. Many internet user’s initial amusement turned to horror that the FCC pursued their agenda to repeal the Open Internet Order. At the beginning of this year, Ajit Pai was appointed by incoming US President Donald Trump as head of the FCC. Pai is a lawyer by trade, who cut his teeth with Verizon, one of the vocal opposers

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with the likes of Sir Tim Berners-Lee (widely credited as the inventor of the internet) urging the FCC to reconsider in many public statements and open letters.

However, a few days ago the vote was finalised with the majority (3-2) voting for repealing the Open Internet Order.

Even though John Oliver mobilised his fans in a similar way this year when the FCC opened their website to comments from the public, when over 10 million comments were received in a short space of time, alarm bells went off. Over 50% of the comments were dismissed as fake (this would still leave more genuine comments than the first round of comments in 2014), and ultimately the public’s objections were ignored.

“...Gamers will probably feel the effect soon.”

TECHNOLOGY

Even though 18 states attorney generals requested the vote to be delayed, to investigate the public comment process, the vote went ahead.

The net neutrality regulations, also referred to as Title II, put the US in line with most of the world in terms of net neutrality. Some countries have recognised the need for regulation as early as 2010. Even Russia has approved regulations in that regard.

The question many are asking is “How will this affect me?” Obviously if you live in the US that answer will be apparent very soon as ISPs begin to implement their individual rules. What they implement and how they implement will make a huge difference, but it’s likely that the big losers will be bandwidth heavy services like YouTube and Netflix.

Gamers will probably feel the effect soon. Gaming communities are often international, but depending on the

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relationship their game hosts have with their ISP, this could affect their latency and ability to connect to servers internationally (if those servers are blocked due to ISP rules). Premium hosts like Steam or Blizzard may increase their prices to cover the costs of prioritised bandwidth.

If you have a website or blog, where you host may become extremely important, based on the experience your customer could have if the hosting network doesn’t have the proper agreements in place, or is not prepared to pay a premium for the fastest connectivity.

Anti-Neutrality supporters will probably argue that this is healthy for the economy, as it will generate more revenue for ISPs to invest in their networks, and also encourage competition amongst ISPs to provide a better experience. However, it’s more likely that the effect would be the opposite. The bigger ISPs will be able to shut out smaller networks and hosts, and promote the services they’d prefer their customers to use. While giants like Netflix may be able to bear the additional expense to ensure their services aren’t throttled, smaller niche services may be unable to compete. It also opens the door for unfair competition where a relationship exists that may favour one service over another, like a subsidiary.

It’s ironic that the FCC under Ajit Pai called the repeal initiative “Restoring Internet Freedom”. While one would imagine that freedom in terms of the internet would be “freedom” of an open, equal internet, where all players (big or small) have the same access and advantages); rather than simply giving corporations the “freedom” to operate without regulation, and will put our everyday experience into private hands where we have absolutely no say. g

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HOT TOPIC TECHNOLOGY

Back to [Tech] School!

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A New Way Education forms one of the cornerstones of society. Without it, there can be no economic growth.

And, even though it might seem a contradiction in terms, using technology is one of the best ways of expanding it into rural areas. Just consider how South Africa embraced mobile phones to overcome a lack of telecommunication infrastructure in remote areas.

At one stage, South Africa’s mobile network was one of the most technologically advanced in

By Iwan Pienaar

the world. The reason is simple. It had to be if the population were to communicate. So, too the education sector needs to reconsider its strategy of utilising technology.

It is about more than just giving students a tablet containing their handbooks. It is about equipping them with the skills necessary to become employable in a digital world.

To many, digital transformation is a buzzword best left to the boardroom.

But its importance as the means to empower all citizens of a country cannot be underestimated. There is a difference to paying lip-service to a concept and embracing it wholeheartedly. Government has made it clear that it wants to provide people with the expertise they need to find work in an information economy. Using technology as the means to do this is inevitable.

The Business of Education A study conducted by Global Market Insights found that e-learning, already estimated to be worth $150 million in 2016, will grow at an annual rate of 5% between 2017 and 2024. While there are many reasons for this, one of the more significant ones is how technology companies have started moving into the business of education.

Even in South Africa we are seeing this when looking at the growing importance of data.

Companies need effective data analysis and management if they are to differentiate themselves from their competitors. But the required skills to unlock this are hardly coming off the ‘university floor’. So, you have a situation where there is a desperate need for data scientists, but qualifications are few and far between.

This has resulted in several ICT organisations partnering with tertiary institutions and enhancing gamecca103

their degree courses with additional tools (and skills) required for the digital age. Even at high school and primary school stages, there are expectations to provide learners with the tools they need to pursue opportunities in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines.

The Digital Future While the challenge to bridge the digital divide in schools across developing countries is significant, it is not impossible to overcome.

Fortunately, the benefits of public private partnerships are starting to pay dividends in several rural communities in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the Northern Cape.

One of the misconceptions around e-learning is that learners must be tech-savvy and understand how technology works before using it in a classroom environment.

However, modern systems embrace a more user-friendly interface that transcends the technology barrier. Typically, these solutions are developed around a ‘pointand-click’ methodology with significant functionality built-in to the background. Even teachers not comfortable with using tablets or notebooks can easily use these e-learning systems to enhance the learning experience for students.

There is no one way to address how technology is used in classrooms around South Africa.

While private schools are left to their own devices in a manner of speaking, the Department of Basic Education is driving a more technology-rich environment for public schools.

However, learners (and teachers) need to be willing to embrace different ways and sustainability needs to be built in with the necessary partnerships in place.

Once done, our children will be able to prepare themselves for the digital world. g

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Hot Topic

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ooking at the stats, it is clear technology has a significant role to play in education in South Africa. With more than 26 000 schools and over 12 million learners across the country, government needs to become more pro-active in how technology is used in the classroom.

E-learning is a hot topic considering unemployment is close to 27 percent. In 2016, the matric pass rate was 76.2 percent, a slight increase from the 74 percent of the previous year. With private schools easily embracing the benefits technology brings, the government school system is under pressure to follow suit. But how do you justify rolling out computer laboratories, tablets, and WiFi in areas where running water and electricity are considered luxuries?

Even corporate sponsorship can only go so far. Getting organisations to donate equipment and connectivity are well and good, but what happens after the cameras disappear and communities must manage the technology themselves?

Of course, this is hardly a South African or even African problem. In developing countries, people are questioning how best to balance digitally enhanced education with the short-term priorities of infrastructure and access to food and water.

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Look Forward Upcoming Movies for 2018

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From superheroes to highly anticipated animated sequels, here’s what’s in store for you at the cinema. gamecca

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t’s a new year, and that means a fresh new slate of films waiting for you over the coming 12 months.

Gamecca will be profiling some of these blockbusters in coming issues, but in the meanwhile, here are ten biggies to stoke your

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Cool Stuff: Movies

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BLACK PANTHER A handful of 2018 movies centre on Marvel Comics superheroes, and first out the gate is Black Panther. The character is historically significant as the first ever superhero of African descent, and already made his big screen debut in Captain America: Civil War. In the Black Panther solo movie, Chadwick Boseman returns as T’Challa, the newly appointed king of isolationist African nation Wakanda. While struggling with his new responsibilities, T’Challa must deal with Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), an exile who wants to overthrow him. Black Panther presents a vibrant, technologically advanced Africa unlike anything seen onscreen before. The film is a conscious showcase of talented people of colour. It’s directed by Creed’s Ryan Coogler and also stars Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker.

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TOMB RAIDER It’s been 17 years since Angelina Jolie first sported a braid, very short shorts and twin pistols to play daredevil archaeologist Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. This year, the film series – based on the iconic action-adventure video game franchise – finally gets a reboot.

Taking its cue from the 2013 and 2015 games, Tomb Raider is intended to be a gritty origin tale. It centres on a directionless 21 year old Lara Croft (Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander), who ventures off to a long-lost island to uncover the fate of her father, Lord Richard Croft (Dominic West).

Walton Goggins is the film’s villain, while Kristin Scott Thomas also appears. Out of interest, Tomb Raider was shot on location in South Africa.

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elease date: 16 March

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READY PLAYER ONE There are a lot of sequels on this list, but Ready Player One isn’t one of them. This science fiction adventure is based on Ernest Cline’s bestselling 2011 novel, though, which has already become a contemporary classic due to its incredible number of pop culture references. Expectations for the movie are high, and boosted by the fact Steven Spielberg directs.

Ready Player One is set in a dystopian future where people escape the hopelessness of their lives in the virtual reality world of OASIS. Tye Sheridan plays Wade Owen Watts, a teen who sets out to find the Easter Egg left in OASIS by its creator. This will grant Wade control of OASIS, and a hundred-billion dollar fortune.

Meanwhile, evil corporates want those same things, triggering a race against time.

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AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Certainly the biggest superhero movie out in 2018 – in terms of cast size and scope – is the third Avengers movie, Infinity War. When galactic overlord Thanos (Josh Brolin) comes to Earth to retrieve the powerful Infinity Stones, all heroes must stand together.

This includes Avengers veterans like Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Vision (Paul Bettany) and War Machine (Don Cheadle). Newer recruits for the battle include Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), SpiderMan (Tom Holland), and even the Guardians of the Galaxy.

The two-part Infinity War story will conclude in a second film next year. It promises to be a “Finale” for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it currently stands. It’s directed by the Russo brothers, who made Captain America: Winter Soldier and Civil War.

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elease date: 27 April (SA)

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INCREDIBLES 2 Disney-Pixar’s The Incredibles is arguably one of the most loved animated films of all time. It took 14 years for writer-director Brad Bird to feel he had a strong enough follow-up story, but the sequel to the Oscar-winning original is finally here.

Incredibles 2 will continue where The Incredibles left off, exploring how the Parr family cope with juggling everyday responsibilities and their secret lives as superheroes. Although plot details are unclear, it’s reported that Incredibles 2 will focus more on Elastigirl (voiced once again by Holly Hunter), the Parr family matriarch. For the record, all the major voice actors from the first movie are back. This includes Craig T. Nelson as dad Mr Incredible, and Samuel L. Jackson as Frozone.

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Pacific Rim: Uprising

Sadly Guillermo del Toro isn’t back to direct this sequel to his 2013 cult hit about giant robots (Jaegers) fighting giant monsters from the sea (Kaiju). Set ten years after Pacific Rim, Star Wars’s John Boyega plays Jaeger pilot Jake Pentecost, the son of Idris Elba’s character from the first movie. Rinko Kikuchi is back as fan favourite heroine, Mako Mori.

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elease date: 23 March

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Lucasfilm and Disney are busy alternating the release of their new Star Wars trilogy and standalone movies set in the same universe. Solo: A Star Wars Story falls into the second category. Alden Ehrenreich steps into Harrison Ford’s immense shoes to play young smuggler Han Solo in this origin tale. Donald Glover is a young Lando Calrissian. Ron Howard is the film’s replacement director.

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elease date: 25 May

Deadpool 2

Ant-Man, Venom, Aquaman and the X-Men are some of the other superhero films out in 2018, but Deadpool 2 seems to be riding the largest hype wave. Ryan Reynolds returns as the rapid-healing “Merc with a Mouth” for more R-rated action comedy. Beloved X-Men character Cable appears in the movie, and is played by Josh Brolin. John Wick and Atomic Blonde’s David Leitch directs so expect mind-blowing action scenes.

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elease date: 1 June

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

You can’t keep a good (or bad) dinosaur down, especially when there’s potential for human-munching carnage. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a follow-up to Jurassic World, making it the fifth Jurassic Park movie. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return from the last instalment, while the big news is that Jeff Goldblum’s cynical mathematician Dr. Ian Malcom is back as well. The plot of Fallen Kingdom apparently has the humans trying to rescue the dinosaurs before volcanic eruption on the island.

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elease date: 15 June

Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2

LIFESTYLE

Although it lost the Best Animated Feature Oscar to Brave, animated comedy-adventure Wreck-It Ralph did win the Animation Industry’s chief accolade. This year, the sequel transplants its cast of arcade game characters, including Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), online when Vanellope’s machine is plugged into the Internet for repairs. Expect loads of Disney character cameos, along with appearances by new gaming icons.

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TO KEEP ON THE RADAR

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(Graphic Novel)

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GET GRAPHIC

Buffy, The High School Years – Freaks & Geeks Faith Erin Hicks Yishan Li Dark Horse Teen

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by Clive Burmeister

The Buffy High School Years graphic novels are set during the Season 1 time period, when Buffy is still quite new to Sunnydale, and vampire slaying in general. The graphics, while still enjoyable to older readers, are written in a way for teens to relate to the characters better, focusing on teenage dramas like balancing time for school, friends, dating, studying, etc. And in Buffy’s case, finding the time to be the chosen one and save the world from hordes of vampires and other evil beasties on top of what other girls need to deal with. In Freaks & Geeks, a group of newly turned geeky vampires try to outsmart the slayer so she will drop her guard enough for them to kill her, but have they only underestimated Buffy like so many before them?

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(Trade Paperback)

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GET GRAPHIC Civil War II Brian Michael Bendis David Marquez

Publisher:

Marvel

Rated:

Teen +

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by Clive Burmeister

Marvel’s first Civil War storyline posed some intriguing questions to the world, questions which resulted in a major conflict as the two sides of the argument grew more and more passionate and refused to budge.

Civil War II continues asking the deeper questions about what it is to be a hero, and what rights do heroes have to endanger the lives or freedoms of those they are supposed to protect.

When a new inhuman is discovered, one with amazing powers of precognition, the question arises: is it right, moral, or fair, to act on crimes before they happen?

Is the improved chance of success in saving those affected by acting before the disaster strikes worth sacrificing everyone’s freedom of letting things happen, essentially letting people choose their actions before punishing them for crimes they have not yet committed?

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GET GRAPHIC Magdalena Vol. 4 – Reformation Christian DiBari Sean Phillips Image Teen +

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by Clive Burmeister

Every generation, dating back to Christ, has had a Magdalena, a holy female warrior equipped to defend the world against the forces of evil.

The last Magdalena left the Church and decided to operate on her own, but without their support the already deadly job has become even more challenging.

And although she has lived longer than any previous Magdalena, as events unfold, it becomes clear that a new Magdalena should be found and trained.

But is it already too late for that, as Marchosias, a Duke of Hell, finds a way to manifest on earth with the goal of eradicating the sacred bloodline of the Magdalena. If he were to succeed, could anything stand in the way of a literal Hell on Earth.

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GET GRAPHIC Redneck Vol. 1 Donny Cates Lisandro Estherren Image Mature

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by Clive Burmeister

Donny Cates, the writer for God Country, is no stranger to weaving a layered story that mixes a supernatural action book with some thought provoking commentary on society, for those who like to dig a little deeper through the blood and grit of his fast paced and gripping scripting.

In Redneck, an old family of vampires have been living hidden among humans for ages, on the outskirts of a small town in Texas, by living off the cow’s blood from the barbeque joint they run and never drinking from people.

But when some of the younger vampires go out for a night on the town, events unfold that will lead to the conflict that the Bowman family has been trying to avoid for years. As things start to get out of hand between man and vampire, it becomes harder to tell who the monsters of the story really are.

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2

Last word

017 ended, in gaming terms, with a whimper. It was weird to see the big name games dry up so quickly.

October, huge. November (normally huge) not so much. December… crickets.

With a few exceptions, December was exceptionally quiet on the gaming front.

But the last quarter of 2017 still held some valuable lessons for the video game industry, force fed to it by the very people that it makes games for.

Being a South African, one can understand the effect of mass action – or, at times, the apparent futility of it.

Protests are things that happen a lot here, and all over the world. How those being protested against respond to those actions relies, normally, on how it will affect them if they either listen or choose to remain unmoved. One of the factors, of course, that will certainly make those who protests are aimed at sit up and listen is, of course, that old grease of the world’s axis… money.

So when gamers spoke out

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against EA’s rather ruthless monetisation policies late last year, the company had no choice but to sit up and pay attention to the people who were fast deciding that they wouldn’t buy their games. And even though EA did make changes to some of their policies, it was too little, too late. They were punched right in the game publisher’s equivalent of testicles – the bank balance.

Share prices fell, and EA lost money at retail. It must have hurt like hell.

But I don’t want to rub salt into any wounds here.

Rather, I want to mention something – two things, really – that I never thought would happen. The first was that the gaming community stood together in their outrage. It was a massive protest, when all is said and done, and just because noone saw people gathered in a single spot doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen, and that it wasn’t breath-taking.

The second thing – perhaps more surprising – is that a massive publisher like EA listened. And they took action in response

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By wALT Pretorius

Victory...

to the protest. Sure, they didn’t do enough, but these things generally end in some kind of compromise, rather than an all-out victory for one side or the other. The amazing thing is not what they did, but that they did anything at all. That is the true victory here. And it belongs to the gamers.

You have a voice, a massive and powerful one.

And while it shouldn’t be abused – not every battle is worthwhile, and there will always need to be a level of give-and-take in the love-hate relationship between those that make games and those that play them – it should certainly be used when the time is right. And while this maybe isn’t the first time that the voice was heard, it certainly was the loudest. EA aren’t the only publisher that listened to it. There were others that realised that in-game monetisation and micro-transactions need to be handled very carefully. It may just have been a pivotal moment for the industry… and that would be the greatest victory of all. g