February Live Magazine

FEBRUARY 2015 ISSUE

Who else loves Star Wars Comics?

ASSASSIN’S CREED Rogue & Unity Full Reviews Page 44

We visit

Nintendo World!

Page 72

Page 92

Games to look our for in

2015!

Page 16

EXCLUSIVES SPECIALS PROMOTIONS TONS MORE!

GET YOURS IN STORE.

INSIDE

FROM THE EDITOR Boy that was quick!

16 40 72 102

Games in 2015 to look out for Reviews

Nintendo World

Cosplay

THE LIVE TEAM

Yes it’s all over folks. Holidays have ended and reality has set in - I won’t have another long break (apart from Easter) for 12 months. Oh well, lucky there’s a ton of great gaming and cool tech stuff due out in 2015. As I write this, I’m thinking about our writers who are spread across the world. In the U.S it’s winter, cold, wet and miserable. Same with the U.K where snow is covering many homes and roads.

Publisher: Rob Jenkins (Gametraders Operations Centre)

In Australia where the fabulous Kylie and Nick (our gaming editors) live it’s summer and beach weather. But the one thing we all have in common is our love of games, tech, pop culture and so on. We love when cool new stuff is due out - there’s an excitement as release date approaches. Games like Below, Cuphead and Evolve are high up on our editors’ wish list. Tech like the Apple Watch, Oculus Rift and exciting new smartphones are on the horizon and have many tech heads (like me) salivating with anticipation.

Game Review & Preview Editors: Nick Getley & Kylie Tuttle (Sticky Trigger)

Here at Live Magazine we’re excited about all these things and for the cosplayers out there, there is a new event called CosCon in Adelaide that’s coming up in early March that promises to be the place for cosplayers and photographers wanting to learn about taking great cosplay pics.

Yeah 2015 is looking pretty interesting!

Art Director: Giselle Capozza (Gametraders Operations Centre)

Retro Writer: Jess Wilson UK Writer: Elliott Buddo US Writer: Serwa Aboagye Sticky Trigger Writers: Kylie Tuttle Nick Getley Alex Holmes Sam Babu Nick Pearce Aaron Milligan Ben Rachow Elliott Buddo Bridget Sweeney Sean Fox Miranda Nelson Tim Arnold Matthew Raspe Sasha Karen Liam Church

E L B LA I A !

AV B E

F 0 1

CTC Available on PC, PS4, XB1

FEBRUARY

GAME RELEASES! DATE

TITLE

FORMATS

10/02/2015

Evolve with Preorder DLC

PC, XB1, PS4

12/02/2015

Don Bradman Cricket

PC, PS4

14/02/2015

The Legend of Zelda Majoras Mask 3D

3DS

14/02/2015

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

3DS

20/02/2015

The Order 1886

PS4

20/02/2015

Dead or Alive 5 Last Round

XB1, PS4

26/02/2015

Dragon Ball Xenoverse

360, PS3, XB1, PS4

26/02/2015

Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires

XB1, PS4

Get ‘em at

AVA ILAB LE 14

FEB!

Only on 3DS!

PRE-ORDER OR BUY THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA’S MASK 3D FROM GAMETRADERS FOR YOUR CHANCE TO

WIN

THIS ZELDA BOX SET VALUED AT $249!

Visit www.gametraders.com.au/zeldaprize to enter.

Winner announced Friday 6 March and will be advised by email. Ask staff for details.

FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0 The war-torn land of Orience is the setting of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, a remastering of the Japanese PlayStation Portable blockbuster from 2011 and one of the most wanted games for Final Fantasy fans.

Pre-order now at Gametraders!

PROJECT CARS Project CARS is the most authentic, beautiful, intense, and technically-advanced racing game on the planet.

Create a driver, pick from a variety of motorsports, and shift into high gear to chase a number of Historic Goals and enter the Hall Of Fame. Then test your skills online either in competitive fully-loaded race weekends, leaderboard-based time challenges, or continuallyupdated community events.

Featuring world-class graphics and handling, a groundbreaking dynamic time of day & weather system, and deep tuning & pit stop functionality, Project CARS leaves the competition behind in the dust.

Pre-order now at Gametraders!

WHAT’S NEW?

WINDOWS 10 This could be super exciting or super disappointing. We can only wait to see what the team from Microsoft come up with after a bit of a miss with Windows 8. If you’re wondering what happened to Windows 9, PC World suggests that Microsoft is eager to “break with the past” and according to the head of Microsofts Operating Systems Group, Terry Myerson, they are not “building an incremental product”.

According to the official Windows blog … “it’s time for a new Windows. This new Windows must be built from the ground-up for a mobilefirst, cloud-first world. This new Windows must help our customers be productive in both their digital work and their digital life.

This new Windows must empower people and organizations to do great things.

That new Windows is Windows 10.

Windows 10 represents the first step of a whole new generation of Windows. Windows 10 unlocks new experiences for customers to work, play and connect. Windows 10 embodies what our customers (both consumers and enterprises) demand and what we will deliver.”

Fingers crossed this will be awesome for gamers too!

APPLE WATCH

By now most of us are back to work/school and getting set for a long year. It’s not all bad though. There’s some great games coming out in 2015 and with developers really knowing the ins and outs of the current systems we can expect some hot games coming out. Here’s a couple we’re looking forward to…

We’re hoping to see the new Apple Watch soon. While we are not sure how this affects or influences game developers on the iPhone and iPad platforms we’re expecting some clever developers to be creative and include the new device in some aspects of gaming, if not immediately, then down the track a bit. At least the Watch sport might be able to monitor your activity and remind you to put the controller down now and then and move around and get some stretching and exercise to allow you to play longer…? Maybe, maybe not.

WHAT'S HOT IN T

GA

THE US

AMING IN THE US

2014 bought us some amazing games, however a lot of them were shooters or platforms and whilst they are great and all, nothing seemed to challenge me mentally like I would have liked it to. What I want to see from gaming developers in 2015 are some games which we’re like the 2010 interactive game, Heavy Rain from developers Quantic Dream.

For those of you not familiar with the title, Heavy Rain (released on the Playstation 3) was an interactive ‘chose your fate’ style game where you one of four protagonists who were involved in solving the mystery around a serial killer called the Origami Killer. The choices you make in the game affected the outcome and ending of the game.

Who dies? That choice was yours to make so you had to choose your decisions wisely.

What I liked about ‘Heavy Rain’ was that it was hard to put the controller down and you just had to keep on going! The only similar title that hit the shelves in the last few years would have been Beyond: Two Souls in 2013 (again from the developers at Quantic Dream) and in 2014 would have to be TellTales ‘Wolf Amoung Us’ and even though it’s an amazing game, it was short and left me wanting more.

The interactive genre is one that I feel needs to be explored more in 2015 and Quantum Break to be released on the Xbox One may fill that gap with its ‘how you play the

game, impacts the end result’ premise.

Is Quantic Dream the only developer dedicated to the interactive genre? I mean look at their back title – 4 releases, 3 of which have been interactive titles and the 5th title coming out in 2015/2016 which is currently in development – they know how to develop games, they know they have a dedicated audience who is hungry for more interactive gaming and less blow up the baddie or shoot the alien! Why haven’t other developers caught on to this niche genre and invested time and effort into developing more games which challenge a person to make conscious decisions? Why? Why? Why? First person shooters and action are the market leader, we know this and it’s not going to change anytime soon, but if gamers and the market place are presented with more interactive titles to challenge the gamer, interactive titles could climb up the ladder and be a contender with the likes of Battlefield and COD. Heavy Rain was rated one of the best titles in 2010. Beyond: Two Souls was one of the top 20 games pre-ordered in 2013. There is a market for the interactive genre, gamers just need the developers to seize that niche gap in the market and feed the masses what they want!

Do you think the interaction genre needs more games? Let us know your thoughts!

WRITTEN BY serwa Aboagye

WHAT'S HOT IN T

GA

THE UK

AMING IN THE UK

Just like 2014, 2015 has some great games coming out. Some that we have been waiting what feels like an eternity (I’m looking at you Batman Arkham Knight!) and some that many of you may not have heard of.

Regardless of what you might be picking up this year, there are some pretty cool releases heading to your local game stores shelves.

It’s a real mixed bag for releases in the first quarter and gamers of all genres should be pretty happy with the lineup!

Towards the end of February sees a new 3DS game for Pokémon fans – Pokémon Shuffle. Similar to the Pokémon Trozei, more so the more recent Pokémon Link: Battle!, players will come across a wild Pokémon, and must battle it by chaining groups of Pokémon in the touch screen that has a type that is super effective to the wild Pokémon and reduce its health to zero within a set number of moves. However, a difference to this game compared to the other games in the series is that some Pokémon have their Mega Evolutions available, and players start with five hearts, with one heart used every time per battle. If these hearts reach zero, you can’t battle.

Pokémon fans will be happy with the release I’m sure!

Also hitting the shelves in February is the first episode of Resident Evil: Revelations 2. Evolving the episodic chapter set-up of the original Resident Evil Revelations, Resident Evil Revelations 2 will initially release as a weekly series of epi-

sodic downloads. Each of the four episodes features hours of terrifying gameplay ending with dramatic cliff-hangers that leave players fully engrossed and anticipating the next twist in the gripping horror story. A digital download option of the Complete Season will also be available to ensure fans can get each episode as it rolls out, and a retail disc version will arrive following the final episode. Both the disc version and Complete Season will include additional game content, which will be detailed in the coming weeks and months. With the variety of options available, Resident Evil fans will have more choices available to them than ever before.

March sees the long anticipated release of Battlefield Hardline finally hit the shelves. Still getting mixed reviews as to whether it’s going to be another cookie cutter game from the previous instalments, this ‘cops and robbers’ style game looks to be action packed with some great MMO action! Playing Nick Mendoza, a young detective, you’ll go on a cross-country vendetta, seeking revenge against some once trusted partners on the force. Ooooo we love a good drama! Wait, what?!

An action game with some drama, revenge and retaliation? Now that we wanna see!

Between June to October I will warn you that there will be a bit of a gamers drought! There are a stack of games listed with ‘TBA 2015’ and until E3 2015 happens, your guess is as good as ours as to what we will see hitting the shelves at the end of the year!

WRITTEN BY elliott buddo

AVAILABLE NOW! Available on PS3, 360, PS4, XB1

PRE-ORDER NOW! Y S S O M T O O R G POP! VINYL

GAMES IN

2015 TO LOOK

OUT FOR!

BY STICKY TRIGGER

A

s 2014 came to a close, developers started to release some of gameplay screens and gameplay trailers for some of the most anticipated games for 2015. Now whilst this this list does not include every title that will hit the shelves, we have collected our top picks and there are few that we just can’t wait to get our hands on!

Platform: XB1, PC RELEASE DATE: 2015

BELOW Below is a narrative dungeon-delving RPG card game you can play in your web browser. It combines the old-school delights of exploration, looting treasure and subterranean peril with a contemporary approach to storytelling. In Below your life in the world above is as important as your adventures beneath it. Only a fool risks their life for a fistful of gold. But would you do it to protect your family, to drive the invaders from your home, to gain the revenge you deserve?

After all, who would explore the terrible places under the earth without a good reason?

For Below, we’re drawing from the sources that inspired the grand tradition of dungeons in gaming. The grim halls of Moria. Beowulf’s grisly battle in Grendel’s lair. Theseus daring the Minotaur in the Labyrinth at Knossos. Le Guin’s Tombs of Atuan.

Real people. Deep dungeons. Powerful stories.

Platform: XB1, PC RELEASE DATE: 2015

CUPHEAD An ID@Xbox title, “Cuphead” is a single player or co-op run-and-gun platformer, heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by 1930s cartoons, the visuals are hand-drawn and inked, and the music is all original jazz recordings. Cuphead & Mugman traverse strange worlds, acquire new weapons, learn powerful super moves and uncover hidden secrets.

The hand drawn, 1930’s style graphics on this game look AMAZING!! SHUT UP AND TAKE OUR MONEY!!

Platform: PS4, XB1, PC RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

EVOLVE Evolve is a unique 4v1 shooter where four Hunters face off against a single, player-controlled Monster in adrenaline-pumping matches. Play as the Monster to use savage abilities and an animalistic sense to kill your human enemies, or choose one of four Hunter classes (Trapper, Support, Assault, and Medic) and team up to take down the beast on the planet Shear, where flora and fauna act as an adversary to Hunter and Monster alike. “Evolve� includes three Monsters, 12 Hunters, 16 maps, four game modes (Hunt, Nest, Rescue, and Defend), and a unique, dynamic, and highly replayable gameplay experience called Evacuation.

Platform: XB1, PC RELEASE DATE: EARLY 2015

ORI AND THE BLIND FOREST The forest of Nibel is dying. After a powerful storm sets a series of devastating events in motion, an unlikely hero must journey to find his courage and confront a dark nemesis to save his home. “Ori and the Blind Forest” tells the tale of a young orphan destined for heroics, through a visually stunning action-platformer crafted by Moon Studios for Xbox One and PC. Featuring hand-painted artwork, meticulously animated character performance, and a fully orchestrated score, “Ori and the Blind Forest” explores a deeply emotional story about love and sacrifice, and the hope that exists in us all.

We have one word…. STUNNING!! The game play in this looks amazing and we are a sucker here at Sticky Trigger for cute games!

Platform: PS4, XB1, PC RELEASE DATE: 19 MAY 2015

THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT “The Witcher” is a story-driven, next-generation open world role-playing game, set in a visually stunning fantasy universe, full of meaningful choices and impactful consequences. In “The Witcher,” you play as Geralt of Rivia and confront a foe darker than anything humanity has faced so far—the Wild Hunt.

This game was due to be out in February, however developers felt that the game wasn’t ready just yet and wanted to tweak out some areas. Expect this title to hit shelves in May!

Platform: PS4, XB1, PC RELEASE DATE: 2015

TOM CLANCY'S THE DIVISION Initially scheduled for release in 2014, “Tom Clancy’s The Division” takes place three weeks after a devastating pandemic sweeps through New York City on Black Friday. One by one, basic services have failed and society has collapsed into chaos. The Division, an autonomous unit of tactical agents, is activated. Leading seemingly ordinary lives among us, these agents are trained to operate independently in order to save society. In a persistent and dynamic environment where exploration and player progression are essential, team up with other Division agents to restore order, investigate the source of the virus, and take back New York.

Platform: XB1, PC RELEASE DATE: 2015

FABLE LEGENDS “Fable Legends” unites the classic gameplay that players have come to love with all of the next-generation capabilities of Xbox One. Rally your friends and go on adventures – up to four Heroes can cooperatively discover the quests and stories of Albion. Or, for the first time in the franchise, play the Villain and mastermind the game in real time, clashing against the Heroes in thrilling 4v1 battles. “Fable Legends” takes advantage of the processing power of Xbox One, and when coupled with Unreal Engine 4, delivers a rich and beautiful world. Players can register interest in the multiplayer beta, which will continue to expand in the coming months, at FableLegends.com.

Platform: XB1, PC RELEASE DATE: 2015

QUANTUM BREAK “Quantum Break” leads a new generation of interactive entertainment by fusing the frenetic action of a video game with the tension and drama of a scripted television show into one experience. From the makers of “Alan Wake” and “Max Payne,” critically-acclaimed Remedy Entertainment brings forth the world of “Quantum Break,” blending innovative, adrenaline-fueled gameplay and Time Manipulation features with deep and thoughtful narrative. “Quantum Break” will come exclusively to Xbox One in 2015.

This is one title we definitely want to get our hands on!

Platform: XB1 RELEASE DATE: 2015

RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER In her first adventure, Lara Croft was forged into a true survivor, but she glimpsed a deeper, secret world.

In the next chapter of her journey, Lara must use her survival skills and wits, learn to trust new friends, and ultimately accept her destiny as the Tomb Raider. Featuring epic, high-octane action moments, “Rise of the Tomb Raider” will take gamers to multiple locations around the world filled with exploration spaces that are some of the most beautifully hostile places on earth. In addition, after hearing the cry from fans loud and clear, the game will put the tombs back into “Tomb Raider,” all in the franchise’s gritty Survival-Action style.

Last but not least….

HALO 5: GUARDIANS

Platform: XB1 RELEASE DATE: 2015

Developed by award-winning 343 Industries, the evolution of combat continues as your team becomes your greatest weapon in “Halo 5: Guardians.” Featuring Arena multiplayer, new modes and all-new Spartan Abilities, a new chapter in the “Halo” saga arrives exclusively on Xbox One in late 2015.

Let the pre-order’s begin!

Also, keep your eye out for Battlefield Hardline, Project CARS, Resident Evil Revelations, Bloodborne, Batman: Arkham Knight and The Elder Scrolls Online for XBO and PS4. E3 2015 will certainly be an interesting event to see what else developers have up their sleeves!

We would love to know what titles you are waiting for this year! Shoot us an email!

NEW RANGE OF BOARD GAMES!

COMING TO GAMETRADERS IN 2015!

COSCON brought to you by:

special guests:

katyuska moonfox hayley elise plus more!

7 March 2015 CosCon & Afterparty Adelaide Convention Centre www.cosplaylive.com.au

Australia’s first dedicated cosplay convention & afterparty!

workshops . tutorials . demonstrations . activities . and more!

2015

SHAPEUP REVIEW

Physical fitness and video games haven’t always gone hand in hand.

During the 90s, video games were often blamed in conjunction with MTV other elements of the time for creating a generation of couch potatoes. Parents complained that their children had become zombies – slaves to their “personal computer games and rock and roll”. While video games did not create zombies, they often relied on quick reaction times, lateral thinking and minor muscle control – hardly a physical workout.

Last generation, video games began to utilise the potential of motion control (though it wasn’t the industry’s first attempt), thanks to the efforts of Nintendo and Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral. While a lot of games were gimmick-ridden shovel ware, a few fitness-focused games popped up, though these were quite often bland and simply not engaging enough.

Ubisoft’s ‘Shape Up’ aims to change all that. An ambitious mix of video game and fitness software, the aim of Shape Up is to get gamers of all experience levels up off their couch

and into the game, where physical activity is intense and yet the game still remains “fun”. Can fitness software be entertaining to gamers?

Can Shape Up boast positive health benefits and engaging gameplay?

It’s certainly an ambitious undertaking, yet Shape Up delivers on its promise.

When you first begin Shape Up, you’re greeted by your two trainers, who will introduce you to Shape Up’s game modes, various workouts and other features. They’re likable, though their smiles and

effortless workout ghosts (recordings) deceptively hide just how hard Shape Up is going to kick your ass.

This is no walk in the virtual park.

Speaking of game modes, you’re able to get a quick workout in an activity of your choice, play some local multiplayer or embark on your own personal fitness quest – with a choice of strength or cardio training.

Local multiplayer sees two friends on the same Xbox One battle each other in the same play space, though my multiplayer sessions were far from competitive – we were actually

8/10 pushing and encouraging each other so that we could finish the tougher workouts!

sweat but you’ll be focusing on the music – like a physically demanding Rocksmith mini-game.

There are a number of activities in Shape Up, each one revolving around a different form of work out.

You can tone your upper body, increase your stamina, shape your lower body, work on your co-ordination, burn fat or partake in a combination of these. It seems as though Ubisoft Montreal have really done their homework – there isn’t anything missing from the mix of activities.

Which reminds me of something that various promotional materials (as well as the in-game trainers) for Shape Up have boasted frequently: you won’t feel like you’re working out, but you will get results. While you would have to be in a coma to not realise you’re sweating buckets as you’re jogging on the spot or hopping on a piano like Tom Hanks in Big, Shape Up does manage to find a brilliant balance between punishing high-intensity interval training and a platformer (of sorts) for Kinect. You will get results from

My personal favourite activity is Stunt Run, where the player is tasked with running in a virtual environment while

"..have found that Shape Up is possible of delivering better results than long sessions on the treadmill" they jump, duck and dodge from side to side various obstacles. Running along the top of a train while dodging signs and ducking under bridges is much more exciting than my usual routine of running on a treadmill at my local gym!

Another fun activity sees you jumping and hopping on virtual piano keys, playing various songs such as ‘I Was Made for Loving You’ and the immensely motivating ‘Eye of the Tiger’. This one really tests your balance and reaction speeds as what starts off as simple one leg hopping and two-legged jumps quickly complicates into rapid-fire combinations of both that sometimes require a change in position. Your heart-rate will fire up, you’ll crank out a mean

it, but you won’t feel as though you are working out as hard as you are.

Shape Up has found a way into my regularly played games. While the game won’t appeal to everyone, I urge those who are interested or undecided about whether or not they want it to give it a go. I myself am looking to improve my personal fitness, and have found that Shape Up is possible of delivering better results than long sessions on the treadmill (My first Stunt Run session was able to burn 700 calories an hour!). The best part is, it is a genuinely fun title – just be sure to stay hydrated and urge friends to bring a spare shirt if you intend on playing multiplayer.

PROS: LOTS OF FUN WILL DEFINITELY IMPROVE YOUR FITNESS LEVELS LOTS OF CONTENT

CONS: NO CASUAL WORKOUTS OR TUTORIALS – IT’S “GO HARD OR GO HOME” WON’T APPEAL TO EVERYONE (THOUGH I WISH IT DID)

WRITTEN BY nick getley

WWW.STICKYTRIGGERENTERTAINMENT.COM.AU

ASSASS

SIN'S CREED: UNITY

REVIEW

Walking through Paris on a stormy day in Assassin’s Creed Unity, I turn to notice the epic Notre Dame Cathedral painstakingly modelled and placed for me to climb and explore.

In this moment, I’m reminded of why I play Assassin’s Creed; I love history. It is still a game, though, and as for the gameplay itself, there have been features added, features lost, and an all-around overhaul of much of the system. With so much to cover, let’s get straight into it!

Mysterious murders just seem to follow protagonist Arno Dorian around. His Assassin father was murdered when he was a child and the Templar who raised him is then murdered soon after he reaches adulthood. He decides to investigate his Assassin roots to get revenge, all the while pining for Elise, the daughter of the Templar who

As part of this detail, not only is the architecture perfect, the city is positively brimming with activity. It’s rare to find a spot on the ground where there aren’t people going about their business (or protesting as part of the upheaval). This all adds to the feeling of anonymity that an assassin should have.

Mission structures have been drastically altered, offering more options for hopeful assassins to decide how they want to play. You can create multiple kinds of distractions using the large crowds or find hidden access points to buildings. Using a trial and error can establish which plan will actually work best in each situation but the challenge is there.

If you feel you want to walk brazenly into an assassination and try to take on every guard, you can do so.

"Unity rewards stealth above all else.." took him in. It sounds strange but that’s secret societies for you. This mostly takes place in Paris during the French Revolution, a point in history rife with violence, uncertainty, and influential figures.

The first thing to know about Unity is that it is absolutely gorgeous.

This is not to say that previous AC games weren’t beautiful but complete switch to the current generation is immediately apparent.

The breathtaking panoramic views when synchronising the map are now backed up by minute details at street level.

For those who choose to rush in, it might not go as well as it has in the past. Combat has been changed to move away from the counter-kill dependency of the past. No longer can you grab the attention of 20 guards and expect to get away clean, particularly in the more difficult sections of the city where the guards are better trained. It’s best to parry your opponent’s moves quickly and go on the offensive, all while keeping an eye on any of his buddies in case they ready their guns. Unity rewards stealth above all else because now that’s the only way to get a hassle free kill.

Now, because stealth has become so much more important, it makes sense that Ubisoft has finally given us a crouch and quiet walk feature.

This is really handy indoors as you duck behind furniture before taking out guards. The crouch is a little bit fiddly at times, sadly, so it could use a little more work before being the assassin’s best friend.

The parkour aspect has received attention too, with the introduction of free running down a building. Honestly, despite spending time trapped atop tall buildings like a kitten stuck in a tree in previous games, I didn’t think this was a priority. Now I’m surprised by how much I use it. Arno’s movements are more than just about getting around now as well. Sometimes he’ll add a special turn or hold while climbing and jumping, making the parkour seem that much more authentic.

Although I’m not into the co-op play, I can see why others enjoy it. I’m the sort of person who plays games to limit contact with other people and thankfully, there’s no real need to play the co-op missions if you don’t want to. The best rewards out of these missions are some pieces of gear and laughing at the failure of others.

So there’s plenty to love about Unity.

On the other hands, there are some major hiccups that warrant discussion.

The first of these is the fact that Unity shipped with an enormous amount of bugs, the most horrific of which affect PC gamers. I play on PS4 but even the consoles are not immune.

The bugs I experienced include, but are not limited to: frame rate issues, NPCs randomly spawning onscreen, getting stuck in strange spots, and oddly jumpy camera angles. Many of

the game-breaking bugs have now been patched but, really, Ubisoft should have tested it more thoroughly before release. Some bugs are to be expected in such a complex game but this was over the line.

Audiences don’t tend to appreciate paying full price to beta test a game.

It would be pointless to give the game a low score just because of this. These problems are fixable and there’s no point in saying, “I’ll never play it,” when patches exist.

A huge aspect of scoring for me is how much fun I have playing a game and Unity is fun. The problems are reflected in my score but a kneejerk reaction is unnecessary when I know there is a good game at the core of it.

Essentially, I think some of these problems could have been avoided by cutting down on the side content. There are four types of chests in Unity: ordinary ones anyone can

opment. For the first time, you can duck into a lot of buildings as you run throughout the city. This is a lot of fun but it doesn’t really make sense that you jump into someone’s house while they are there and no one really kicks up a fuss. It also doesn’t make sense to have shopkeepers stand out on the street when you are able to walk into buildings. These shops sell a huge amount of armour, weaponry, and consumables – where are they supposed to keep it all?

This staggering amount of gear available for purchase and customisation means that your Arno can play to different strengths and look quite unique. This is excellent, for the most part. I like to focus on stealth but still have a reasonable amount of health should I engage in combat and I can now purchase armour specifically for that. What I don’t need is the ability to dye Arno’s clothes with a huge palette of colours or change every piece of his armour individually. I

"Unity needed more development time. Ubisoft may have set their sights too high.." open; red ones that require you to build up a lockpicking skill; blue ones that require you play the companion app on a smartphone; and gold ones linked to your Assassin’s Creed Initiate profile. This is insane.

I abhor map clutter and would usually collect everything in a game but this time I just filtered the icons I viewed, sometimes picking up a nearby chest here and there. I didn’t buy a console game to play an app on a small screen and I can’t think of anyone who would be happy with that. Then there are just those confusing things that it seems no one gave any hard thought to in devel-

grew out of playing dress-up many years ago. I only want that level of customisation in a pure role-playing game, not an action-adventure title.

It just distracts from the stabbing!

The final upsetting thing for me was that although the setting screamed France, the voice acting did not.

I don’t care that the Animus (the technology used to view the memories of ancestors) is supposed to be translating the words for you, as explained by Ubisoft. Having a variety of English accents just made the whole thing confusing. I ended up switching the language to French

6.5/10 PROS: STUNNING VISUALS MORE OPTIONS FOR FREE RUNNING MULTIPLE WAYS TO CARRY OUT ASSASSINATION MISSIONS

CONS: BUGS INDICATE GAME NEEDED MORE DEVELOPMENT/TESTING TIME STORY WASN’T AS INTERTWINED WITH THE SETTING AS HOPED TOO MANY TIE-IN PRODUCTS AND ILL-THOUGHT OUT IDEAS with English subtitles and enjoyed it far more.

I do want to point out that much of this didn’t affect how much I enjoyed the game too much. It simply reflects the fact that Unity needed more development time. Ubisoft may have set their sights too high by aiming to release a new Assassin’s Creed title every year (which obviously ended up being two along with Assassin’s Creed Rogue).

Is Unity worth playing? I say yes. It’s easy to go on and on about the bugs but that doesn’t change the fact that the game itself is enjoyable. Ubisoft are tripping over themselves to apologise and must realise by now that they have made a mistake by releasing too early. If they haven’t, it could spell more trouble down the line. After all, it’s not the end of the world if a game is delayed as long as the finished product is good.

WRITTEN BY BRIDGET SWEENEY WWW.STICKYTRIGGERENTERTAINMENT.COM.AU

ROCKSMITH: ALL N

NEW 2014 EDITION

REVIEW

Rocksmith was a fantastic surprise to me when I picked it up in 2013.

Not because the songs present were decent, or that the mini games were fun, but because the game did exactly what it said it would on the box. Rocksmith 2014 took everything great Rocksmith and made it even better with more songs and more mini-games. Rocksmith 2014 on the Xbox One and PS4 goes one step even further with improved loading times, more mini-games and a set-list that rivaled the first game’s.

My guitar and bass skills have improved dramatically since I began playing it and in a short while I went from knowing a few bass riffs to playing Iron Maiden with my eyes closed. I’m challenging myself daily on my bass guitar but I’m also prone to simply losing myself in catchy songs like ‘Take Me Out‘ from Franz Ferdinand or the wonderfully diverse ‘Knights of Cydonia‘ from Muse. One of the few games that saw me constantly revisiting my Xbox 360, Rocksmith 2014 was the ultimate guitar tool.

It might seem odd to some people then, that Rocksmith 2014 has been ported to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles. This new updated version of RS 2014 sees with it a few updates and tweaks though, making it the ultimate version of the “fastest way to learn guitar”. There’s no better time to jump into the Rocksmith experience!

In case you are unaware of what Rocksmith is, allow me to introduce you to it. Rocksmith is a rhythm game/educational software hybrid, which allows people to learn and improve their guitar and bass skills while playing music (as well

a mini-games) and receiving feedback from the game. It sounds too good to be true but believe me, it works – and it works damn well. I myself have gone from knowing a few bass-lines from classic Metallica songs to being able to play multiple songs from start to finish without even needing the notes on screen – something I consider a fantastic achievement.

The beauty of Rocksmith is that it works so well and that it’s so much fun. If you’ve played games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band but are thinking that Rocksmith will be too hard to be enjoyable, think again.

Rocksmith manages to be fun without seeming like a piece of bland instructional software. Do you remember playing Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? and not realising you were actually learning geography and knowledge of the world? Rocksmith will also hood-

that menus and songs load quicker means less time mucking about on your rig while you wait for a song or game to start was noticeable and appreciated by myself.

Secondly, Rocksmith 2014 on the PS4 and Xbox One looks better thanks to it running at a higher resolution. While the game has a more minimalist design it still benefits from a higher resolution as you need to be able to recognise what frets to hold down and quickly, as well as what technique certain notes require while playing – the higher resolution found in the current-gen versions allows this to be just that little bit easier.

Thirdly, all previously bought DLC will work on the Xbox One and PS4 versions – and be free of charge.

All the songs I previously bought were free when I clicked on them in Rocksmith 2014‘s in-game shop.

"The beauty of Rocksmith is that it works so well and that it's so much fun." wink you – you’ll feel like you’re simply jamming along to different songs, but in actuality you are playing the same chords, notes, and lead as your favourite musicians.

Can Guitar Hero do that?

Seeing as I’ve already played and reviewed Rocksmith 2014 (read our review here), I will be focusing on the updates in this review. They might not seem like much to the average person , but they make for a decently improved title overall.

Firstly, the game loads quicker on current-gen consoles. It might not sound all that important, but the fact

I did have some trouble with song packs that I bought, though I’m sure that Ubisoft are aware of this problem and are hard at work patching it.

9.5/10 PROS: WILL IMPROVE YOUR GUITAR AND BASS SKILLS AS WELL AS KNOWLEDGE ACCESSIBLE – ANYONE CAN LEARN FANTASTIC SET LIST

CONS: OCCASIONAL DIFFICULTY SPIKE CAN OFTEN ASSUME YOU’RE AS GOOD ON ONE INSTRUMENT AS YOU ARE WITH THE OTHER, MEANING YOU HAVE TO RESET PROGRESS WHEN SWITCHING INSTRUMENTS.

WRITTEN BY NICK GETLEY

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LIT

TTLE BIG PLANET 3

REVIEW

One of the biggest hits for PlayStation last generation was without a doubt LittleBigPlanet. Here was a game with creativity, addicting platforming and multiplayer gameplay that truly felt rewarding. Not only that, LittleBigPlanet contains a playfulness that seems to escape most other games. Far too often developers aim for a mature or dark video game that predominantly appeals to older males, whereas lovable little Sackboy and his games have universal appeal. Given LittleBigPlanet’s immense popularity, it seemed inevitable that a LBP game would arrive on the PlayStation 4. Now it is finally upon us, and Sackboy’s newest adventure is easily his greatest to date.

LittleBigPlanet 3’s gameplay will be familiar to fans of the series, as well as accessible to newcomers. This isn’t the same ol’ LBP though, Sackboy has brought three new friends along for the adventure! Each character has their own unique skills to help traverse the game’s various levels and puzzles, making for a greater focus on co-operative gameplay.

throughout the levels, which give players various abilities. Players can even create their own for use within custom levels! It’s also worth mentioning that all downloadable content (included created levels) from LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2 is transferrable to LittleBigPlanet 3, so if you still want to wear your Hawkeye or Punisher outfit, you can!

For the first time in the LBP games,

"The core experience here is a very well rounded dungeon crawling adventure."

There’s Oddsock, who behaves like a dog though I’m not 100% sure if he actually is one, Swoop, a bird who is able to pick up characters and objects as well as fly over obstacles and Big Toggle, who can shrink to a smaller size than Sackboy to fit through tight gaps but also lower pressure plates when in his normal form. Sackboy himself has learnt a few new tricks as well, such as being able to climb ropes and vines.

In addition to the new characters, there are also power ups littered

there is a fully voice-acted story which includes cutscenes. Stephen Fry returns as the ever-charming narrator, Hugh Laurie (House) is wonderful as the antagonist Newton and the extremely talented Tara Strong and Nolan North also feature. Whereas previous LBP games felt more about the creativity and platforming, LittleBigPlanet 3 manages to also provide a whimsical narrative in addition to engaging level design. In fact, the game overall feels as though it has much more direction, thanks to the story

cutscenes and the addition of new characters.

While the levels and gameplay have been refined since LittleBigPlanet 2, I do wish there was a little more variety in the gameplay itself. There could have been sequences where you ride Oddsock through obstacleridden sequences (like the polar bear sequence in Crash Bandicoot 2), or hang onto Swoop through an aerial equivalent. Even if these were just end of level bonuses they would have helped to further shine a light on the new characters and help each player get their moment of glory in a multiplayer game. There isn’t anything wrong with LBP 3’s gameplay but it just would have been nice for the gameplay to deviate from its tried and true platforming once in a while.

The word “charm” gets criminally overused in video game reviews but there really is no other way to describe Sackboy and his games – especially LittleBigPlanet 3. It runs at 1080p resolution (a first for the series) and simply looks gorgeous.

The game’s many textures all pop with vibrancy and the levels are just that little bit easier to read. The soundtrack and voice acting are also stellar, lending to the immersion and enjoyment of the game.

9./10

PROS: ENJOYMENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY – QUITE A RARE ACHIEVEMENT THESE DAYS! NEW FLESHED-OUT STORY IS EXECUTED FLAWLESSLY LOOKS GORGEOUS

CONS: OCCASIONAL BUGS REPETITIVE GAMEPLAY

WRITTEN BY KYLIE TUTTLE

WWW.STICKYTRIGGERENTERTAINMENT.COM.AU

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ASSASS

SIN'S CREED: ROGUE

REVIEW

With the mixed reception of Assassin’s Creed Unity, it would be all too easy to make assumptions about the other offering from the franchise released on the same day.

Released for last generation consoles and with limited marketing, it appears as an optional side quest for those looking to get the full Assassin’s Creed experience. Yet it’s so much more than that. Let me tell you why Rogue is the quiet achiever in all this.

The game opens on protagonist Shay Cormac and his friend Liam running through a wintery scene in North America. Set after the events of Black Flag but before Assassin’s Creed III, Shay is a newly established assassin who, like many of his predecessors in the series, doesn’t take his role very seriously. Thanks to some slightly unethical decisions

world isn’t as black and white as he believed. It isn’t just a case of changing sides for a lark. It runs perfectly with events in previous games and incorporates the setting very well.

This all comes once again through a first person silent player character in the present working for Abstergo.

Call me crazy, but I actually like this link and would prefer to see more of it. I miss wandering around in the present day and learning more about what the constantly warring groups are doing now.

To me, it’s weird that this game didn’t get more publicity since it really turns the whole series on its head.

Rogue is, after all, part of Ubisoft’s apparent commitment to creating experiences for those who can’t afford to upgrade to the latest console

"rogue is still lovely, it just feels a bit... off" of his superiors and after witnessing the power of the Pieces of Eden, he begins to question the assassin order and whether it’s something he wants to be part of. He is then contacted by the Templars to work with them to stop the assassins from destroying the world.

By this point, we’ve played out the story of a guy who joins the assassin order four times in the main games. None of that here. Shay is already an assassin, albeit not a very respected one. He knows how to do his job and thought he knew what the order was about. This is the story of his realisation that the

or don’t want to. As it stands, it feels almost like a waste to relegate such an interesting twist to last generation platforms. They could revisit the idea of playing a Templar at another point but it would be less of a shock.

Part of that sense of waste comes from the main plot being so short.

There are only six sequences (or chapters, if you will) to the game.

That’s half the length of previous titles in the series. It’s surprising that Shay feels as fleshed out as he does in that time and that it’s possible to be genuinely invested in the story. The plot is extremely tight but it doesn’t feel too rushed. Of course, it would be better to have more se-

quences in there and extra character development, especially considering this is a full price release.

Playing through the story and exploring the world, there is a huge sense of familiarity. This all comes down to the amount of recycling with assets from Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed III. It’d be crazy to expect that nothing would be reused, particularly in such a short development cycle (why redesign areas that already exist?) but it does cross a line sometimes. The series has featured some extraordinary landscapes in the past and while Rogue is still lovely, it just feels a bit… off.

That said, I had no objection to sailing around again. You still get to break new ground in the frosty northern seas and deal with other ships trying to board yours instead of just attacking others, as in Black Flag. There’s still that sense of freedom where you’re forging your own future and can take your ship and crew anywhere you want to go.

It’s clear that there wasn’t a lot of room for innovation during development but that doesn’t mean everything is the same. Most of the changes centre on the fact that Shay left the order. The assassins aren’t too pleased with him abandoning the cause and make attempts on his life in all ways the player would use on their targets. Using eagle vision, you can spot assassins hiding in hay carts, in bushes, up trees, etc.

It’s best not to ignore these threats lest you end up in combat at a really awkward point. Having to outstealth your old friends is an excellent addition.

8/10

Shay also utilises an air rifle as a silent long-range weapon for various darts and grenades. This is a new delivery method for these and it’s incredibly handy for creating distractions or just laughing as enemies turn on each other when hit with the classic berserker darts.

Perhaps best of all is that although the accents in the voice acting sometimes slip a bit, they actually make sense. There are French characters with French accents, English with English, and Irish with Irish. It’s just that simple.

I consider Assassin’s Creed Rogue to be an important part of the AC experience. Every other console release had so much marketing force behind it but Rogue was sort of left by the wayside when it shouldn’t have been. If you’re a fan of Black Flag (and popular opinion seems to indicate that many people are), Rogue could be the AC game for you this year. Templar or assassin, piracy is enjoyable either way.

PROS: MORE FUN ON THE HIGH SEAS TIGHT STORY ALSO FILLS IN GAPS IN ASSASSIN’S CREED LORE PLAYING AS A TEMPLAR CHANGES HOW YOU ENGAGE ENEMIES

CONS: RECYCLED ENVIRONMENTS AND ANIMATIONS AREN’T AS INTERESTING CAMPAIGN SLIGHTLY SHORT WITH TOO MANY BIT PLAYERS

WRITTEN BY BRIDGET SWEENEY WWW.STICKYTRIGGERENTERTAINMENT.COM.AU

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THE WONDERFUL PLACE THAT IS

NINTENDO WORLD

At the end of last year, I was privileged to be holidaying in New York City for the third time in my life.

There were many things to look forward to, but there was one thing to do at the top of the list. Was it to see the Statue of Liberty? Eat a hotdog from a street vendor? See a Broadway show? It was none other than returning to my home away from home, the Nintendo World store.

Nintendo World is the only store of its kind. The location first opened up in 2001 as a Pokémon Center, a location that’s dedicated to selling Pokémon merchandise. The only other Pokémon Centers at the time were located in Japan, so this gave the Western world a slice of the merchandise pie, even if it was one location. In 2005, the Pokémon Center was remodelled, and three months later the store became Nintendo World, the only store in the world to sell Nintendo merchandise exclusively of all kinds. Remnants of its Pokémon Center former self

Throughout my many return trips, I saw strangers sitting down and talking with each other.

An abundance of Nintendo apparel was also found on the first floor, articles of clothing that can’t be bought anywhere else. It’s a treasure cove of exclusivity that you have to exchange your money for the treasure. It’s still some pretty cool treasure, so it’s worth it.

Not to mention the fact that Nintendo World sees ample stock of amiibo, which on return visits included the ever-elusive Little Mac amiibo.

Also found downstairs were an abundance of 3DS consoles and title for sale. Not pictured were the large amount of people I StreetPassed. Every time I cleared the ten in my plaza, another ten StreetPasses flooded into my 3DS. Nintendo World was ready for the Christmas season with this Donkey Kong: Jungle Freeze display and was given a festive twist. Past

"people coming together under one banner, that's the power of nintendo world." were incorporated into Nintendo World and can still be noticed today, with the doorhandles shaped into a PokéBall, and a portion of the second story dedicated to Pokémon merchandise.

What does Nintendo World have in store for the intrepid Nintendo fan?

Two floors of clothes, of soft toys, of figures, of amiibo, of games and of gamers.

Nintendo World still hasn’t given up its Pokémon personality in other ways, with a large portion of downstairs dedicated to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire demos.

Donkey Kong and up the stairs saw even more Nintendo treasures waiting to be discovered.

Besides the Pokémon Center section was the museum and Wii U sections. On display were a visual timeline of Nintendo handhelds. Included in this timeline was a Game Boy that was bombed in the Gulf War and was still operable.

Across from the handheld exhibit was the location of the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS National Open Tournament. Here were collections based on various char-

acters, which would see any Nintendo fan go green with envy.

Also on this floor, Wii U demo stations could be found, which were playing Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Mario Kart 8, and Captain Toad Treasure Tracker among other games. In addition, Wii U consoles and games were available for sale, including eShop download codes for games and Virtual Console titles, like Earthbound. There were many people scrambling for the Super Smash Bros. stations. They didn’t know who they were playing with, but they were smashing and chatting with each other as if they were long lost friends.

People coming together under one banner, that’s the power of Nintendo World. No matter where you come from, everyone who picks up a controller is welcome with a smile, by customers and staff alike. The cashiers don’t mind having a little chat with you as long as it isn’t extremely busy, and even the security staff have a vested interest in where they work, noticing I had a new Nintendo 3DS, which hasn’t been released outside of Oceania.

Nintendo World is home, and I wish for every Nintendo fan to come home at least once in their life. Not just to buy merchandise (which is still a good reason to go to Nintendo World), but to come to what could be considered the largest consistent Nintendo gathering in the Western hemisphere, if not the world.

WRITTEN BY sasha karen

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5 retro titles to play o This time of the year I wish I could go north of the equator to escape the heat. Being a red head with fair skin I don’t spend a lot of time out in the sun if I can help it. So what is a pasty skinned lad with a penchant for burning to do? Well if I can’t go outside I suppose the next option is to stay in and play video games. It’s a hard life…

This month I thought we would have a look at five games that will help you to stay cool and forget about the heat outside. So turn on the air conditioner, sit down, relax and we’ll get started!

“Fire and Ice” is a 16-bit platformer starring “Cool Coyote” that was released in 1992. Originally released on the Amiga computer, it was later ported to the Amiga CD32, Atari ST, DOS and Sega Master System. A port was rumoured to be developed

“Christmas Lemmings” was released in various incarnations between 1991 and 1994 for the Commodore Amiga, PC and Apple Macintosh systems.

That’s a far cry from the multitude of systems the original “Lemmings’ was released on, but if you have one of these computers and enjoy Lemmings then this port comes highly recommended. Its a short game with only a fraction of the levels that appeared in the original game, but there’s something about seeing all that snow and the lemmings themselves all rugged up in their Santa costumes that puts a smile on your face. As with the original “Lemmings” the graphics are simple and the focus is on playability. if you’ve never played a Lemmings game before, you have a group of lemmings who need to be guided safely to the exit of the level. You are often allowed a couple of casualties along the way, but not too many!

"They won't keep you cool, but they will keep you entertained!" for the Megadrive but it was never released, if it actually exists. Cool Coyote roams around the wintery levels looking for the key to unlock the exit door, all the while avoiding enemies and freezing them by throwing ice at them. Personally I own the CD32 version and when I get that console out, this is one of the first games I put in. The controls are very easy to get to grips with and the game is so colourful, it looks gorgeous!

“Winter Games” by Epyx is not a game that I personally enjoy, but it was suggested by someone that I put it in here as it is quite popular.

Ported to all the major systems at the time, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad, Commodore, Spectrum and many more, “Winter Games” comprises of 8 sporting events for you to take part in. I always found these games to have basic controls that are borderline unresponsive, poor graph-

ics, and I just don’t understand the hype behind them. I feel the same way about “Summer Games” and the so called fan favourite “California Games”. I’m just not a fan, but plenty are. If you like sports games then you may want to give this a try, just avoid the NES version which is supposed to be horrible.

“Frost Byte” is a game you’re going to either love or hate. Released by Mikro Gen in 1986, the first time I encountered this game was in ‘Amstrad Computer User’ magazine, when I saw a map for it and game preview (in the same issue I think…)

You control a character shaped like a slinky and this is where a lot of the people criticise the game, as it is frustrating to control… at first! If you keep bashing away at it you’ll find there’s a bit of depth there, not too much but enough. It’s actually quite fun once you get your head around the game mechanics. You have to rescue your 5 friends and defeat the monsters on the ice planet in this platformer that was also ported to the Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari ST and Amiga. The story is far from original, but it’s worth giving it a go!

“Ice Climber” is a Nintendo classic that you can download onto your 3DS or Wii U right now. Originally released in 1985, the game features a pair of ice climbers who simply have to dig upwards through the ice to reach the top of the level. It features decent graphics for an early NES title and very responsive controls. The ice climbers themselves have appeared in a couple of the

on hot summer nights RETRO

Super Smash Bros games and the game continues to be released on each new console on the Nintendo store. Very playable and very fun!

So there are five icy games to surround yourself with this summer.

They won’t keep you cool, but they will keep you entertained!

WRITTEN BY paul monopoli

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TECH & POP

P CULTURE! Every month we look at cool new stuff in the world of pop culture, technology & more!

Contents Collectibles Comics Board Games

kotobukiya bishoujo nightm Kotobukiya continue to push the boundaries with their statues, and diversify their characters into material they haven’t traditionally dealt with.

When I first saw the teaser artwork for their versions of the classic horror movies in Nightmare on Elm St and Friday the 13th, I knew I had to have them!

And the final result is even better than I expected! They have released an incredibly gorgeous statue that has little details that elevate it above most in this price range.

As soon as you take this out of the box, you’re immediately amazed at all the little details, from the sculpting to the paint app to the use of different materials! First up, the base

sexy look. The hair is made from a transluscent plastic similar to that used for the Mara Jade statue, but of course blonde this time. The sulpting of the hair flows beautifully and gives great dynamism to the sculpt.

The gloved claws and right forearm are a softer material and can be moved slightly. But the leather look on the glove and metallic sheen on the claws is nicely done, and look great in that playful gesture.

The tattered shirt is also nicely sculpted, with tears and folds in all the right places. Of course being a Bishoujo there’s the obligatory fan service with the revealing bra that suits the playful and sexy look of the character.

"A mix of horror, sexiness, and Japanese anime fan service.." is different to other Bishoujos in that this time Kotobukiya have opted for a magnetic base. This is similar to the technique they use with their ArtFX+ statues, but usually they use pegs for Bishoujos. This time the base is a nice pool of blood with a metal strip underneath, which allows the magnets in the feet to hold to the base quite firmly.

The face sculpt and skin tone is perfect, and fits in with the rest of the Bishoujo look of these statues. I particularly love the paint used for the eyes and lips that give her a really

Perhaps the best part of the statue for me, which was a surprise, is the fishnet stocking on the left leg.

I thought it would be a painted application, but is actually real fabric material fitted over the leg! It’s such a nice touch and really makes this statue shine against others in this price range.

The right leg stocking is still molded though, but fits in nicely with the sculpted boots. Together, the look is very nice indeed!

Of course the fan service then ex-

mare on elm st freddy statue COLLECTIBLES

tends to her shorts that don’t leave much to the imagination! The molded denim is really nicely painted and sculpted. Previously I thought the Mara Jade statue had the best backside in the galaxy, but I think this Freddy here definitely has her beat! :) The extra details in the scratches and blood streaks add a nice touch along her shoulder and thigh. The red is sharply applied with no real smearing at all, which is why Kotobukiya are known for such great paint application.

Together with the upcoming Jason statue from Friday the 13th, these two will make for an awesome display piece in any collection. If you’re a fan of the horror movies, these will definitely make for a unique interpretation of the characters. A mix of horror, sexiness, and Japanese anime fan service combined to make one gorgeous statue that I highly recommend :)

WRITTEN BY

KHAI AT KOOL KOLLECTIBLES

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A Long Time Ago... In a G In 1977 the world was changed forever with the release of George Lucas’s Star Wars. Popular culture was revolutionised, filmmaking was brought into the 20th century and kids all around the world fell in love with their new heroes and villains.

Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and Darth Vader became household names and would be for decades to come. Merchandising was the big thing! Toys, lunch boxes, bubble-gum cards and of course COMIC BOOKS! Star Wars comic books have been a major success since Marvel Comics first released them back in the day.

Eventually George Lucas would sell the Star Wars license to Dark Horse Comics and there it continued a steady and healthy life on the comic book store shelves. However it never really had the same magic of the old Marvel comic’s versions.

In 2012 Disney bought LucasFilm for four billion dollars. They very quickly announced that in 2015 we would see a return of Star Wars to the big screens in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the world collectively lost its mind! So this year we see the return of all old heroes on cinema screens world-wide in December… Until then though we have the return of Marvel Comics STAR WARS! That’s right now that Disney own Marvel and Star Wars we are getting all new stories, art and adventure from that galaxy far, far away!

Star Wars #1 hit the shelves last week and according to pre-sales it has already become one of the high-

est selling comics in the last twenty years! And oh my, is it good! It was one of those strange moments reading Star Wars #1 where I immediately reverted back to my childhood and it made me all the more excited about Episode VII! Star Wars is one of those all-powerful things that can reduce a grown man to an 8 year old boy in a matter of seconds and I for one am so glad to go back to the days of X-Wings, Tie-fighters and the Millennium Falcon! Reading the comic book was one of those moments that made me truly appreciate my childhood and the joy I have seen in people picking up issue 1 off the shelves has been a true delight to see and made me appreciate my job at GT all the more. Comic books are still magic, combine that with Star Wars and you can’t go wrong! I recommend everyone go out and find issue 1 while you still can! Issue 2 will be out in February and I for one can’t wait!

It is going to be a very big year for Star Wars fans, with new waves of Star Wars merchandise coming out plus all the new toys for Ep VII, it’s going to be big! Star Wars Rebels is

"... it has already become one of the highest selling comics in the last twenty years!" performing really well on TV screens around the world and is also worth a watch. The series set in the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope also helped in that emotional nostalgic throwback!

2015 has proven to be a big year in comics already and it is only January. I can’t wait to see what else is coming out this year!

Galaxy Far Far Away...

COMICS

WRITTEN BYSCOTT F. SOWTER @SCOTTFSOWTER

board games r After the resurgence of interest in Board and Card Games in 2014, 2015 looks to release another awesome onslaught of options to play.

The new games coming out this year will not disappoint those who are craving new and exciting games to play. With completely new board and card games as well as multiple new expansions expected for many favourites, this year’s releases will have something for everyone. Below we take a look at new IP’s as well as returning favourites.

Boss Monster 2 The original Boss Monster created

by Brotherwise Games was successfully funded on the 18th of November 2012 through Kickstarter. The game is a standalone card game that allows 2-4 players to become videogame style villains. Players build deadly side scrolling dungeons in the hopes of luring the most hero adventures to their lair however if the hero is too strong for the dungeon and boss they face at the end they might triumph and kill your boss first. Boss Monster is jammed full of references to 8 bit video games and the 155 full colour cards feature amazing pixel art. The expansion Tools of the Hero Kind added 26 new playing cards.

These included 4 Advanced Room Cards, 2 Spell Cards and the new feature the Item card. These cards add extra layers and strategy when building your dungeon as the more powerful heroes will also yield a reward if you manage to defeat them.

The Second Boss Monster includes a full set of new cards including Dark Heroes, new Bosses and more new

classes for the Bosses. The game is due early this year.

Star Wars: Armada Star Wars: Armada is a miniatures game of epic proportions. Set amongst the epic Star Wars space battles, Armada pits two players against each other playing as either the Rebels or the Imperial Fleets in a fight to determine the fate of the galaxy. In Armada you must assemble your fleet, form your battle plan, plot your course, take your shots and bring down the enemy. The game provides rules that make for assess-

having fallen, New York under a pile of rubble and satellites detecting UFO’s in orbit over Russia, Brazil and Mexico fear and anxiety have gripped the planet. The military has proven ineffective against the onslaught and the fate of the planet rests in the hands of the leaders of the elite, international organisation known as XCOM. Up to four players assumes these roles using the resources at hand to try and save humanity. The game includes 1 game board, 12 XCOM soldiers, 8 Interceptors, 24 UFO’s, 5 custom dice and more than 200 cards and tokens. Due out later this year this

"..a fun quirky game that is great for beginners to jump into.." able play and new experiences each play through. It is the job of the player to use the tools provided and to issue the tactical commends that will either result in victory or the crushing feeling of defeat. The Core set provides everything to get started including: The rules, more than 130 cards and tokens, an articulated manoeuvre tool, six command dials, nine attack dice, a range ruler, ten unpainted squadrons and three prepainted ship miniatures. Star War: Armada is due early 2015.

XCOM: The Board Game “You are humanities last hope” is the catch phrase used to describe XCOM: The Board Game. Aliens are attacking the earth and with Paris

game will appeal to both fans of the video game series and anyone who loves an old fashioned shoot out with aliens.

Conan The latest version of a Conan game to be released is a miniatures game. One player assumes the roles of the overload that controls tribes of no good lowlifes, hordes of savage tribesman and many an undead minion. The player playing as the Overlord is pitted against 1-40 players who take on the role of the legendary Conan and his fellow adventures. The gameplay is asymmetric with the Overlord possessing a large selection of models and objectives. In stark contrast the hero’s are played from a first person

releasing in 2015! board games

perspective making it fell very much like a role playing game. A round of Conan will last for an hour as you pit you tactics, wits and daring against your foe. The gameplay is played on one of the beautifully presented game boards included. Conan offers quite a selection of items included in the box. Found inside are: 74 highly detailed 32mm plastic models, 25 coloured base sleaves, 2 double sided game boards, over 80 tokens and a rule book with 8 scenarios included. Conan is due out later this year.

Kingdom Death: Monsters Kingdom Death: Monsters is a cooperative table top board game set

in a nightmare-horror induced world.

Set in an unique nightmarish world players must fight for their lives, craft, scavenge and band together to survive. Players control a settlement at the dawn of its existence which needs to ensure its survival from generation to generation. The aim of the developers is to submerge the players in a world that portrays the brutal physics and the mental torment the human race would go through if we lived in a world where we are at the bottom of a monstrous ecology. The game includes a whopping 223 page rule book, game board and a variety of tiles, cards, locations and gear.

The project was successfully funded on January 8th, 2013 through Kickstarter and the game is due out later this year.

These are just a handful of board games 2015 has to offer. As I own both Boss Monster and the expansion, Boss Monster two is defiantly the game I am most looking forward to this year. XCOM: The Board Game has really intrigued me and this one will be high on my radar to keep an eye out for. With a ton more to be released and with Gametraders stocking such a wide range I hope everyone finds something that suits their taste.

WRITTEN BY jess wilson

THE INTERVIEW www.theinterviewmovie.com.au

FEBRUARY 12 Cast:

James Franco, Seth Rogen, Lizzy Caplan

Genre: Comedy

Directors:

Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg

Dave Skylark (James Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen) run the popular celebrity tabloid TV show “Skylark Tonight”. When they discover that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is a fan of the show, they land an interview with him in an attempt to legitimize themselves as journalists.

As Dave and Aaron prepare to travel to Pyongyang, their plans change when the CIA recruits them, perhaps the two least-qualified men imaginable, to assassinate Kim Jong-un.

Only at the movies! February 12 (c) 2015 CTMG. All Rights Reserved.

WIN TICKETS! WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: www.TheInterviewMovie.com.au

AND FACEBOOK INBOX US THE ANSWER! www.facebook.com/Gametraders.Australia

NAME ONE OTHER MOVIE THAT JAMES FRANCO & SETH ROGEN FEATURE IN TOGETHER..

THE INTERVIEW www.theinterviewmovie.com.au

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Inside: Interview with: Dahlia Thomas Beethy Pugoffka & more!

Special Report: Photography tips Cosplay tips

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dahlia thomas www.facebook.com/DahliaThomasCosplay Hi Dahlia, tell us a bit about how you got into cosplay.

What’s been your favorite con you’ve visited?

I got into cosplay three years ago. A friend asked me to attend a convention with him, and said people like to dress up. I chose to be Morrigan from Dragon Age Origins. The crowd at the convention I was at were so inclusive, happy, and very kind, I was hooked ever since.

Megacon is one of my favorite conventions that I’ve attended in Florida (US). I get to meet so many new people at Megacon every year.

You describe yourself as a gamer, cosplayer, Youtube and Vlogger.

Tell us a bit about all those different roles and do you have any time left for traveling to cons?

I find a way to make them all collide and go together into one. I’m slowly working on getting together a twitch stream and doing Let’s Plays on YouTube for highlights of gaming. I vlog my photoshoots, travels to conventions, after parties, and boothing to showcase what a lifestyle in cosplay looks like without the harsh editing of a reality show. I’m starting new video projects in cosplay such as time-lapse videos (start to finish builds fast forwarded from the ground up until the costume is complete), tutorials, and documenting what all goes into a costume itself. I build costumes and between drying, curing, and setting times I pick up a controller and play a video game to avoid poking the object that needs more time to be ready for the next step. There’s a lot of time management that goes into these silly projects, I find a harmony in which I can pick one up at a time.

You’ve been photographed by David Love, one of our favourite cosplay photographers, what’s a typical shoot like and how do you prepare?

I’ve been working with David Love since June of 2014. David is an excellent photographer, artists, and just a good person in general. A typical shoot consists of us watching videos on YouTube, playing the video game, or researching the characters for nearly 1-3 hours. We both find at least 2-3 photos we’d like to get inspiration from and go from there.

I’ll be in charge of the facial expressions, costumes, and posing. David is in charge of the lighting, composition, and editing. We collaborate and work really hard to make the images look as if you’re peering into their worlds.

What’s been you’re favourite costume you’ve made?

Liara T’Soni from Mass Effect 3, Shadow broker outfit. I spent a lot of time making that costume, and I learned a lot of challenging materials upon making it. 375 hours went into making the headpiece that consists of 407 Liquid Latex. I learned how to make armor out of Worbla [a thermo-

COSPLAY

plastic], contour my face with make up, how to blend a prosthetic seam line with liquid latex, and how to use an airbrush kit.

Whats’ the cosplay scene in Gainesville like? Are there many opportunities to get together with other cosplayers and fans?

The cosplay scene is rather dead over here. I’m stuck in a small college town that cares about football more than anything else. Most of my cosplaying and costuming friends are long distance friends, for that reason, we party hard at conventions because we’re all together. Conventions are where I get to meet “fans”.

I’m always looking for more conventions to attend so I can branch out and meet more people.

Do you see a full time career for cosplayers in the future?

No idea, wherever it takes me.

We’d love to show readers more of your work, where can they go to find out a bit more about you and your cosplay??

Instagram: Dahlia_Thomas Twitter: Dahlia Thomas Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ DahliaThomasCosplay Pretty much anything Dahlia Thomas on Deviant Art, Tumblr, etc… that’s me

All photographs by David Love Photography: www.facebook.com/davidlovephotography

DAHLIA THOMAS

DAHLIA THOMAS

DAHLIA THOMAS

DAHLIA THOMAS

All photographs by David Love Photography: www.facebook.com/davidlovephotography

07.03

2015 CosCon

Afterparty

Adelaide Convention Centre

workshops . tutorials . demonstrations . activities . and more!

www.cosplaylive.com.au brought to you by gametraders

BEETHY www.facebook.com/beethyphotography This month we visited with Beethy, one of Australia’s most respected cosplay photographers and someone who has a very distinct and fresh style of photography.

Beethy, welcome to Live. Can you tell us how you got started as a photographer?

Years ago I was given a small and very primitive 2 megapixel digital camera just to play around with. This was back when digital cameras were still kinda a new thing. I enjoyed it straight away since I had a background in art. Taking photos was simpler than painting or drawing, so it might have been my inherent laziness that got me into it initially.

minute shoot with a Samus cosplayer down there. Those pictures were really well received by everybody down there. This made me feel great! Cosplayers are super appreciative of decent photos.

You’ve photographed some of the best cosplayers around, how did you meet them and get them to be your subject?

I think it’s all about appreciating the art of cosplay. The things some of these people can create blows my mind. I approach cosplayers with the idea that I want to create something amazing with them. It’s all about being passionate about what you do.

As time went on I realized I loved taking photos of people. I liked the collaborative concept of it.

There is a unique look to your photography, tell us how you’d describe it and how did you develop that style?

What about Cosplay - where and when and how did that come about?

I try and paint every picture rather than have it just be a photograph.

That’s how I approach every shot.

I’ve been going to conventions for a while since I’ve always been a nerd.

Been playing video games my whole life.

Are you inspired by other cosplay photographers?

In 2009 before going to Supanova in Sydney, my girlfriend at the time suggested I should take photos of people in cosplay. I thought the idea was silly because I didn’t think cosplayers would want to do photoshoots with me at all.

I was very wrong. I did a small five

Eric over at BigWhiteBazooka inspired me early on before I got into cosplay photography. I’ve had a lot of help from photographers over the years. This is a very supportive community.

Kris Ezergailis from What A Big Camera taught me how to use off camera flash. Eric, Darshelle Stevens, Elysiam Entertainment and BGZ Studios

PHOTOGRAPHER

have shown me lots of tricks when it comes to post processing.

It’s because of this reason that I help every single person who sends me a private message. That’s what will keep this community alive.

Now there’s some exciting news, you’re Kickstarter you’re involved in has taken off - can you tell us about that?

It was crazy. Creating and preparing that Kickstarter took weeks. We wanted to present a proper package and we also wanted to make sure that we could deliver on every single reward in order to avoid controversy.

I am personally so grateful to all of our backers since my time in America was an absolute blast. I worked my fingers to the bone to shoot nearly every single day I was down there, but once it was evening time it was my time to have fun. Meeting all of my friends for the first time was an unforgettable experience.

Ok, time for a bit of controversy, do you feel some cosplay photography is more about the sexy side of the subject and what are your thoughts on this?

I’ll be real honest here. Over the years there have been more ex porn stars and cam girls entering the scene. Is there anything wrong with that? I don’t think so. We shouldn’t judge these people based on what they’re wearing or what they do out-

side of cosplay. This community is all about acceptance, it’s the only way it’ll thrive. Images that are more sexually appealing will often drive more traffic, this isn’t just exclusive to cosplay. However we can’t immediately assume the cosplayer is intentionally doing this to drive more traffic. Often times if a girl is cosplaying something a little skimpy, it’s because they actually really dig the design or the character. You’d be surprised how many of these people are actually hardcore nerds.

You do some quality post processing, without giving too much away, what sort of things do you do to a photo before it’s finished?

Thank you! My general process is simple. First I clean up the image.

This means I remove distracting elements in the background and I retouch the subject. If a cosplayer’s costume has taken some damage I’ll fix that too. My final step is creating the atmosphere by adjusting the colour. This is done through a series of steps.

And what’s in your camera bag and why?

A Canon 6D, 50mm f/1.4, 17-40mm f/4 and a small reflector.

I like to travel very light and I love shooting fast. I mostly just use my 50mm.

We’d love to see more of your photography, where can readers go and view your work.

Everything is on my Facebook page right here: https://www.facebook. com/BeethyPhotography I interact with my audience so if people have any questions, they can message me right there too.

BEETHY PHOTOGRAPHY

BEETHY PHOTOGRAPHY

BEETHY PHOTOGRAPHY

BEETHY PHOTOGRAPHY

BEETHY PHOTOGRAPHY

australia's best cosplay competition!

at coscon 2015

cash prizes!

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Plus prizes and awards for many other winning Cosplay categories!

You’ll have to be in it to win it, find out more info at www.cosplaylive.com.au

COSPLAYLIVE

special guests: katyuska moonfox hayley elise

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ustralia's most popular can at coscon!

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PUGoFFKA www.facebook.com/pugoffka.sama Hi Alena, tell us how you got into photography.

It happened more than five years ago. I started out with a very simple camera, and used it to take pictures of my cat and flowers. Then I switched to a reflex camera and took a chance on photographing people. With each photo shoot I tried to complicate models’ images - we were looking for more locations, I purchased more devices (reflectors, flashes)… Later I understood that I needed more variety in images, and then I discovered cosplay photography. Since then I have done more than 500 cosplay photo shoots.

And what about cosplay photography, what got you interested in that genre?

Apart from cosplay, I also shoot fashion portfolios, coverages for sports magazines, office parties, weddings.

But, of course, cosplay photography will always be my favorite genre.

When I discovered it, I realized that a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to embody all of my ideas and to portray all of my favorite images. Each new photo shoot is a difficult riddle for me to solve. Where to shoot, how to shoot, how to get the cosplayer to show the right emotion, how to edit. The most important thing is to make sure that the result transmits the character’s essence on a photograph.

Tell us a bit about your first few cosplay photography sessions.

My first cosplay photo shoot was a failure. We shot Sailor Moon on a very hot and sunny day. Costumes were made of glossy fabric and it shone a lot on the sun. At that time I hadn’t yet mastered my equipment and the reflector. But on that day I decided that it’d be a good idea to direct the reflector’s light right on the models’ faces. They couldn’t open their eyes and cried. As a result, their make-up was ruined. I thought that was my first and last cosplay shoot.

But right on the following day I shot Black Butler cosplay, and it was such a success that it open the door to my career as a cosplay-photographer.

When that shoot spread everywhere on the Internet, all the cosplayers wanted to get similar pictures themselves.

Do you attend any cosplay conventions?

Of course, I do. I attend some events in Ucraine (Lvov, Odessa). I am also a coorganizer of Kiev’s convention.

I also visit Russia, Moscow, very often, and try to combine photoshoots with events. Sometimes I get invitations to different conventions as a jury. This year I was invited to judge the OtakuFestival in Bucharest, Romania, and Japan Weekend Madrid, in Spain..

What about gear, what do you take to a typical photo shoot?

My equipment depends on the conditions of the shoot. Of course, if it takes place in a studio, I only take

PHOTOGRAPHER

my camera and lenses. It is more difficult to shoot in nature. I take everything I have because the weather can be unpredictable. Flashes, reflectors, soft-boxes, supports, umbrellas... depending on the situation, I use one or another device. On a night photo shoot I use two flashes, plus umbrellas and a reflector.

We’d love some tips on shooting cosplay, particularly for new photographers. Any tips to help them with their cosplay photos?

The most important thing for a photographer of any genre is persistence and practice. Have in mind that the first steps in photography don’t always have to be a success, so get prepared to be criticized.

Don’t give up, keep developing your skills, when shooting, and when editing. Basic advices on the photoshoot organization: 1. Get familiarized with cosplay’s original source. If you don’t have time to play or watch it, you can look through characters’ fanart. 2. Once you get in touch with the character, search for the location for the shoot. It has to suit the character logically. 3. Depending on the location and conditions of the shoot decide which additional devices you have to take. 4. The photographer needs to know about the character’s personality, to ask the model to show right emotions. These are the basic moments. The rest is practice, and more practice.

pugofFk

ka

PUGOFFKA

PUGOFFKA

PUGOFFKA

PUGOFFKA

PUGOFFKA

PUGOFFKA

SKULLY COSPLAY www.facebook.com/pages/Skully-Cosplay/763281087091554 Hi Meagan, what’s the cosplay scene like in Canberra? Are there many events to go to?

This makes me even happier when I do my Ruby as I can do joint cosplay with friends.

Hello GameTraders, thanks for the interview oppurtunity.

Tell us a bit about your recent photo shoot. Was it your first?

How did it go?

There is not a lot of Cosplay related events that you can go to in Canberra. this is because being such a small state the Cosplay community can not compare to the larger states like Sydney & Melbourne where they tend to have much more conventions so you have more of a chance to show off your Cosplay.

The only real cosplay related events in Canberra are Otaku Festival, Gamma Con and The Cosplay Masquerade ball.

What characters do you enjoy most when it comes to cosplay?

It would have to be Ruby Rose from RWBY. Not only do I feel that I can best portray her look and personality I am a major fan of the series. The girl who is cosplaying as Weiss Schnee is Sang Hime is my friend from Canberra :).

My very first photo shoot would had to be done by my friend Jamie Lee Kadabra who took shoots of me as Ruby at Supanova.

I do now have another photographer who is a lot closer to me which is great!

COSPLAY

pull of well. I plan to do the following cosplays at these events: - Skyrim Dark brotherhood at both Supanova and Pax - Princess Zelda Skyward Sword at Gamma Con and also at Pax Other conventions are still being planned so keep an eye out ;) Finally where can you readers go to find out a bit more about you?

My Cosplay Page is Skully Cosplay.

This would be my friend Benjamin Rose who recently took photos me while cosplayed as Zelda.

You can visit it at: https://www. facebook.com/pages/Skully-Cosplay/763281087091554

I hand made the Zelda costume and Ben found a gorgeus location at the Canberra Arboretum to do the photo shoot. it was a long day but one i really enjoyed.

I would like to Special Thank for Ben & Jaime Lee Kadabra.

What have you got planned for 2015? Any new costumes and events to visit?

I have a few ideas for cosplay in 2015. while I am not doing alot of diffrent cosplays I am planning to stick to a few I really like and believe I can

Ben Rose Photo Facebook photo page Page: https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Benjamin-Rose-Photography/150073061731018 Jaime Lee Kadabra Facebook Photo page: www.facebook.com/ mumei88

Resin casti

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/HayleyEliseCosplay

Part2: MAKING THE MOULD

The most important part of making a mould are what’s going to hold it all in – the mould walls. I usually just build these out of oil based clay, but you can also buy wooden mould walls, use a piece of PVC pipe, even build them out of cardboard. The same thing goes as for the positive, however – these must be properly sealed to the board, or else your silicone will leak out the sides! The best way to do this is again using oil based clay – both on the inside and the outside of the walls! I have also used hot glue in a pinch, however, as it forms a solid seal between the mould walls and the board. It doesn’t have to look pretty, so long as it does its job.

Time to mix up your silicone! Pay careful attention to the mix ratios – and whether it is mixed by weight or volume. If you are using silicone for the first time, look for a silicone with an easy mix ratio, like a 1:1 mix by volume. This means if you pour the same amount of each into two cups, you’ve got the right ratio, no weighing needed. Also look for a silicone with a pigmented part B, so you can tell if the silicone is mixed right by the evenness of the colour!

Once you’ve mixed up your silicone, you only have a limited time to pour it. You want to begin pouring it as soon as possible, as once it starts to set it might not settle properly in your mould, and may leave you with air bubbles. Pour into the lowest point of your mould, and allow the silicone to fill up and over any high points. This way you will avoid air bubbles. Make sure you fill at least half a centimetre above the highest point of your positive at the minimum, or else your silicone might be too thin and may tear. You will know it’s on the way to curing properly when you see small bubbles popping up in the top of your silicone!

Check the cure time of the silicone that you are using, and don’t touch it until at least that much time has passed! Once cured, pull the mould walls away first and then lift your silicone from the positive – it might require a little cleaning out with soap and water, but you’ve got yourself a mould!

Check back next month for part 3!

ing isn't scary!

COSPLAY TUTORIAL

WRITTEN BY HAYLEY ELISE

“

coscon & No doubt if you’ve been reading Live Magazine for a while, you’ve seen ads for the Coscon which is happening in Adelaide in early March. Cocoon is the first cosplay convention or event I know of that focuses on the cosplayers and the people who love photographing them. The event will feature a ton of workshops. Yep workshops for cosplayers and photographers. So unlike many other events that are about stalls and celebrities, Coscon is about teaching cosplayers and cosplay fans and photographers how to create things, pose for photos, use materials in cosplay costuming, take better photos, make up, styling, martial arts posing and so much more then I can list here.

If you’re a photographer and you’re either based in South Australia or can get there, check out Coscon, it promises to be one of the best cosplay events in Australia. Plus they have a massive after con party too. There will be a ton of opportunities to learn about cosplay photography, lighting, posing and more so visit this link to see more. www.cosplaylive.com.au

& photography

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

BY ROB JENKINS

DEALING WITH C Many of us hit a slump at some time during our lives. Creative people particularly can find themselves stuck in a rut, and it seems that no matter what you do, you can’t easily escape it. Photographers can find themselves struggling with self doubt at different times of their photographic journey. Jumping on sites like 500px and Pinterest and browsing other people’s work can inspire you, but it can have the opposite effect; I know it has for me, when I realize just how amazing some people’s work is compared to mine. So rather than create a list along the lines of “10 Ways to Get Out of Your Slump,” we decided to ask one of our favourite musicians and songwriters for a different perspective on motivating yourself. Sara Melson is a singer/ songwriter and actress based in the U.S. whose songs have been featured in numerous film and TV shows, including Grey’s Anatomy. Sara, welcome to Live Magazine….

Hi Sara, can you tell us a bit about your journey as a musician.

I wanted to be a singer ever since I can remember, but my parents were both professors, and no one in my family or my small town in the midwestern US knew anyone who had ever done anything professional in the arts. So it was never encouraged as a possibility. I had pretty much the opposite of what you’d call “stage parents”. They wanted

me to be a professor like them, or an author, or a teacher. You know, something brainy. I played violin and piano classically as a kid but had no idea you could even play an instrument to accompany yourself to sing, let alone make up your own songs.

I didn’t even discover that until college, when I finally picked up the guitar and taught myself by immediately writing my own songs on it.

That’s when I returned to the piano and started composing on it.

ing since 2003 and I’m wondering if you go through creative slumps, and how do you work through them?

Your also an actress too - tell us a bit about that.

Do actors also struggle with self doubt, and how have you coped and worked through it?

Well, I was kind of a child actor, in the sense that I was acting since age 12 in all the school plays. I didn’t have the chops to make it as a musician after college, not yet... So I decided to do the other impossible thing, which is to pursue a career as an actress in Los Angeles. I came out to LA and was a typical actress / waitress, except what was not typical was that I began working in film and tv almost right away. About 6 months after getting there. I love acting, but it can also be frustrating, because the words you’re saying are not you’re own. So if it’s good writing, and a great project with other good actors, then it’s wonderful and fun. If it’s bad and crappy, it can be super depressing, because you feel like you’re pretending to be someone you’re not, but you’re also then part of the “pollution” and not the “solution”, if you know what I mean.

You’ve been writing and perform-

Of course. I tend toward a bit of depression, which means I write a really good, moving love ballad. But I also can get serious writer’s block when that happens. Either that or I write like ten songs in a week. It goes in huge fits and starts for me, is not consistent at all.

Actors have THE MOST self-doubt of anyone on the planet. MUCH more than musicians. At least as a musician, you’re actively doing something, making something, very personal and very meaningful, on a daily basis. The very act of doing it is your choice and in your control, and is inherently meditative, liberating, and fulfilling, even if no one else hears a thing you do. On the other hand, acting DEPENDS on an audience. It also depends on being granted permission by someone -- a director or producer or casting director or studio -- to do the part.

If you don’t get the part, you’re not acting. It’s an inherently disempowering profession, because you have a complete lack of control over your fate. It’s kind of awful. Fun when you’re doing a good role, but ultimately not necessarily worth all the rest of it. That’s not to say I wouldn’t happily do it again. I love acting. But

CREATIVE SLUMPS I would only do it now as an adjunct to the spiritual life I’ve worked hard to cultivate for myself via my music -and also via my yoga practice, which is hugely central to my life now.

Do you have some tips you can share on how you cope with a creative block? You practise and teach yoga and I’m guessing that helps with focus and release, what other tips do you have for our readers who may be going through a tough time with their creativity?

INTERVIEW WITH SARA MELSON

Walking and hiking are great. So is meditating. Anything that focuses your mind inward, rather than outward, where it usually gets quite distracted.

We’re talking just before Christmas 2014, by the time this is published it will be early 2015, does the start of a new year mean new projects, renewed energy levels for you? What have you got planned for the next 12 months?

Yes. Stay tuned for some very cool new tracks coming your way!

Finally Sara, where can our readers go to find out more about you?

Sure! I’m all over the web. Search the iTunes store under Sara Melson, and I should come up. My soudcloud page offers a glimpse into the process, as I sometimes post works-inprogress up there. So I have some new unreleased stuff up there that’s

fun to check out, and if you check back in a couple of months, you’ll get to see how those songs are changing and evolving. http://soundcloud. com/saramelson... Also, I like twit-

ter and instagram a lot. Find me on there @saramelson ... Fun!

...Trading cards, tournaments, accessories & more. Get it all at Gametraders.

FEBRUARY STORE EVENTS GAMETRADERS

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INGLE FARM No current tournaments.

NSW

BLACKTOWN YU-GI-OH REGIONALS - 28 February from 10:30am Advanced Yu-Gi-Oh - Saturday & Sunday 10am

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Pokémon - Saturday 2pm

YU-GI-OH REGIONALS - 7 February from 10am

Magic the Gathering - Thursday 6:30pm

Pokémon - Monday 6pm

Cardfight!! Vanguard - Sunday 2pm

Cardfight!! Vanguard - Tuesday 6pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Wednesday 6pm

MACARTHUR SQUARE (CAMPBELLTOWN)

Magic the Gathering - Friday 6pm (Arrive 5:30)

Yu-Gi-Oh - Wednesday 5:30pm

MT. BARKER

PARRAMATTA

Yu-Gi-Oh - Saturday 4:00pm

Yu-Gi-Oh - Thursday 6pm, Saturday 2pm Magic the Gathering - Sunday 11am

SEAFORD

Cardfight!! Vanguard - Sunday 2pm

Yu-Gi-Oh - Thursday 6pm (5:30pm registration)

Weiss Schwarz - Saturday 10am

Cardfight!! Vanguard - Friday 4:30pm Magic the Gathering - Monday 6pm (5:30pm registration)

School Holiday Additional Tournaments:

Pokémon - Sunday 1pm (12:30 registration)

Yu-Gi-Oh - Monday, Wednesday & Friday 2pm

My Little Pony - Tuesday 5pm (4:30pm registration)

Cardfight!! Vanguard - Tuesday & Thursday 2pm

Future Card Buddyfight - Thursday 5:30pm

GAMETRADERS LIVE PENRITH

Board Game Nights - Wednesdays from 5-8pm

Cardfight!! Vanguard - Saturday 5pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Saturday 5pm & Sunday 11:30am

SALISBURY

Magic the Gathering - Friday 7pm

Yu-Gi-Oh (Advanced Format) - Saturday 12.30pm

Weiss Schwarz - Saturday 6pm

VIC Magic the Gathering - Friday 5:30pm BACCHUS MARSH HIGHPOINT Yu-Gi-Oh - Sunday 3pm

Board Game Night - Wednesday 6pm Nintendo Fight Night - Thursday 7pm

QLD

MILDURA YU-GI-OH REGIONALS - 22 February from 12pm Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering and Cardfight!!

Vanguard every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Check their Facebook page for times and event details.

ACT Yu-Gi-Oh - Saturday 10am HYPERDOME

Pokémon - Saturday 2pm

CHERMSIDE Yu-Gi-Oh - Sunday 3pm Cardfight!! Vanguard - Wednesday 6:30pm Pokémon - Saturday 3pm Magic the Gathering - Tuesday & Friday 6:30pm

LOGAN HYPERDOME YU-GI-OH REGIONALS - 21 February from 10am MAGIC PPQT - 7 February from 10:30am Magic the Gathering - Friday 7pm (doors open 6pm) Yu-Gi-Oh - Sunday 2pm (doors open 1pm) Cardfight!! Vanguard - Fortnightly (Check FB) Pokémon - Saturday 2pm (Check FB. Doors open 1pm) Tournaments held at: Unit 5 20-22 Ellerslie Road, Meadowbrook Qld 4131.

did you know

each store has their own facebook page! just search gametraders followed by their store locatioN OR VISIT WWW.GAMETRADERS.COM.AU/STORES.

MACKAY Yu-Gi-Oh - Sundays 3:45pm Magic the Gathering - Friday 6:15pm

MORAYFIELD Magic the Gathering - Friday 6:30pm (5:30pm registration) Yu-Gi-Oh - Sunday 2pm (1pm registration)

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South Australia Ingle Farm.................................. (08) 8265 7283 Marion....................................... (08) 8296 1144 Mt Barker................................... (08) 8391 6300 Salisbury.................................... (08) 8281 0966 Seaford...................................... (08) 8327 1966 ACT Hyperdome................................ (02) 6293 3751

New South Wales Gametraders LIVE Penrith.........(02) 4731 3894 Blacktown................................. (02) 9676 1411 Macarthur Square (Campbelltown) (02) 4620 0750 Parramatta................................ (02) 9633 2833 Victoria Bacchus Marsh......................... (03) 5367 0717 Highpoint................................... (03) 9317 0188 Gametraders LIVE Mildura........ (03) 5023 7702

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For more info visit: www.gametraders.com.au Queensland Chermside................................. (07) 3861 5000 Logan Hyperdome..................... (07) 3801 5599 Mackay...................................... (07) 4944 0998 Morayfield.................................. (07) 5495 7705