GG Issue 03

GG

WWE 13 THE CRITICAL LUCKY NUMBER?

GOOD GAME

03 VOLUME

BORDERLANDS 2: PRE-ORDER SPECIALS

MICA (P) 135/05/2012

PC GAMING LIKE A BOSS WITH “THE DARK KNIGHT”

DISHONORED

FEEL LIKE A GOD, KILL LIKE A GOD

DARKSIDERS 2 REVIEW BRING DOWN THE HAMMER... AND SCYTHES... AND PAIN. FIND OUT MORE IN

PREVIEWS: F1 2012, DISHONORED, SOUTH PARK: THE STICK OF TRUTH, XCOM: ENEMY UNKNOWN, WWE 13 & MORE

GG

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

GG

GoodGame

02 - Issue 03, 2012

UPCOMING GAMES

RetailerTOP5 THE HOTTESTGAMES OUTNOW

Far Cry 3

Hitman: Absolution

God of War: Ascension

Halo 4

The Last Of Us

Tomb Raider

Resident Evil 6

Assassin’s Creed 3

Metro: Last Light

Aliens: Colonial Marines

1. Darksiders 2 2. Sleeping Dogs 3. Guild Wars 2 4. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron 5. Max Payne 3

Dishonored

Grand Theft Auto V

TEAM PUBLISHER Jacky Choo jacky@playworks.asia

Borderlands 2

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Gibbson Ang gibbson@playworks.asia SENIOR REGIONAL CREATIVE DESIGNER Marcus Greiert marcus@playworks.asia

1. Sleeping Dogs 2. Darksiders 2 3. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron 4. Hatsune Miku: Project Diva f 5. Guild Wars 2

Bioshock Infinite

1. Sleeping Dogs 2. Darksiders 2 3. New Super Mario Bros 2 4. Guild Wars 2 5. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

TOP 5 XBOX LIVE GAMES

DESIGN CONTRIBUTORS Joyce Lee Kai Ting joycelee@playworks.asia MEDIA GROUP HEAD Candice Cheong candice@playworks.asia

1. Guild Wars 2 2. Darksiders 2 3. Sleeping Dogs 4. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron 5. Batman Arkham City GOTY

MEDIA MANAGER Johanna Kuan johanna@playworks.asia ASSISTANT EDITOR Michael Khoo michael@gx.com.sg

Dust: An Elysian Tail

WRITERS Justin Choo, Adam Tun-Aung, Mohd Nizam ADVERTISING SALES AND MARKETING Media Group Head Candice Cheong candice@playworks.asia Media Manager Johanna Kuan johanna@playworks.asia Philippines Correspondant Josephine Oliver PRINTING Printer Colourscan Co (Pte) Ltd 53 Ubi Avenue 3, Singapore 408863 GG is a monthly publication of Playworks Pte Ltd, 42 Kaki Bukit Crescent, Level 3, Singapore 416267 www.playworksonline.com

Deadlight

Hybrid

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD

Wreckateer

1. Sleeping Dogs 2. Guild Wars 2 3. Darksiders 2 4. Max Payne 3 5. Civilization V: Gods and Kings

LATEST BLU-RAY MOVIES

Copyright© 2009, Playworks Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication shall be reproduced, stored in, or introduced to a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means without the prior consent of Playworks Pte Ltd.™ and © for all other products, characters and its graphical depictions contained therein are properties of their respective trademark and copyright owners.

PLAYWORKS PTE LTD 42 Kaki Bukit Crescent, Level 3, Singapore 416267 Tel: +65 6339 3083 Fax: +65 6339 3079 Playworks would like to thank the publications; PSM3, XboxWorld 360, Ngamer, PC Gamer, Edge and GamesMaster for their excellent content, help and support for making the new Playworks magazine possible.

Chronicle

Hugo

John Carter

21 Jump Street

Like us on Facebook to stand a chance to win Blu-ray movies and Xbox Live Arcade titles

PARTICIPATING RETAILERS

• Carrefour • Comics Connection • Funzcentre • GameXtreme • Gamescore • GX.com.sg • SC Games • Gamemartz & Scenic Multimedia • Zepy Games

04 - Issue 03, 2012

THE

GoodGame

FEROCIOUSLY

FABULOUS FOUR Developer: Gearbox Software Publisher: 2K Games Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC Release Date: 21st September 2012

The Hardened Hunk

The Sultry Siren

Meet the main man (well, sort of) of the new cast. He’s your standard no-nonsense soldier who’s a great all-rounder and also the handsome pick of the bunch. He’s got a sad backstory as he was once married to a fellow soldier but she died in battle and he now wears her dog tag around his neck.

He’s also got a Scorpio Turret ala his Borderlands counterpart Roland. But his is named Scorpio Turret 2.0. Why is it 2.0? Why is it named Scorpio to start with? Well, 2.0 because we’re in Borderlands 2 and Scorpio simply because Scorpios are the coolest among the Zodiac signs. That being said, his turret is said to be made by Dahl (not to be confused with the one from Indian cuisine), the multi-conglomerate corporation who has a big presence on the planet Pandora which the Borderlands games take place on.

The main difference between Axton and his Borderlands counterpart Roland is that Axton’s a “Commando” whereas Roland’s a “Soldier” and Axton seems to be less armoured compared to Roland.

Plus, there’s also the more obvious racial difference with Axton being a Caucasian and Roland’s being a brown brother. We can’t call him “African-American right? They’re on Pandora, not Earth!

Whoo-hoo! Hot chick alert. As with the lusty Lilith, Maya’s a siren (there are six of them as per the lore) and she has unbelievable powers (and curves) which she uses in battle. On a purely RPG perspective, these hotties are the mages in the Borderlands series.

Lilith had a special skill named “Phasewalk” in the Borderlands where she can become invisible, invulnerable, and increase her burst damage. Not to be outdone with the “Phase” thing, Maya has a special skill named “Phaselock” where she can lock enemies in another dimension (!) for a short period, making them stuck in motion. Some enemies are too badass to be locked away in another dimension so they take direct damage instead.

As for looks, Maya rocks a shiny blue hairdo unlike Lilith’s red bangs. Basically, Maya has an overall colour scheme of blue as with Lilith’s red scheme. But with the customisation options, this will not be an issue as you can seriously (seriously) tweak the look and colour scheme of each character to your heart’s content.

Name: Axton Class: The Commando Action Skill: Scorpio Turret 2.0 Borderlands Equivalent: Roland

Name: Maya Class: The Siren Action Skill: Curves... um... we mean... Phaselock Borderlands Equivalent: Lilith

Issue 03, 2012 - 05

Borderlands 2 and its brandnew cast of misfits

T

The Devastating Dwarf

The Nifty Ninja

Name: Salvador Class: The Gunzerker Action Skill: Dual-Wield Borderlands Equivalent: Brick

Okay, so he’s not a dwarf. But due to his extensive steroid use since young, he has some sort of a stunted growth problem. Our dear German Marcus would love playing this guy, not because of the slightly similar facial hair each boast but more so because he (Marcus) loves dual-wielding.

If you’re familiar with the lore of the Borderlands series, Pandora is a planet where the stories take place.

It’s a planet that people settled in and most of the main characters do not hail from Pandora originally. Well, Salvador is a true-blue Pandora’s son as he’s a native, unlike the others.

He’s quite a contrast (height-wise) to his Borderlands equivalent Brick as Brick’s a big, bulky guy who prefers using his fists to clobber enemies and Salvador’s a short and stout angry little leprechaun-like guy who prefers to use guns (often two of them simultaneously) to do the talking. Oh, yeah, and he sports a cool faux-hawk.

GoodGame

here is a high chance that by the time you’re reading this, the sequel to 2009’s Borderlands (aptly titled Borderlands 2, just so some people don’t get confused like if, say, Gearbox Software called it Borderlands Redux - “But doesn’t that mean ‘brought back to life’ or ‘restored’ instead of part two, which should have been ‘Part Deux’ and therefore the title should have been Borderlands Part Deux, instead?” - which would be rather annoying) will have hit the stores and crashed the windows and set off a few alarms in shopping malls.

And since the nature of publications work a month (or half a month) in advance, we don’t have the review yet. But don’t fret! We got you covered with some fabulous features to foster your fervent fever for this fantastic FPS. Well, we got you guys a single feature for now, but nonetheless, we foresee that you will feast upon it favourably.

As you know, Borderlands 2 has an entirely new playable cast. So, no more Roland or Modecai or Lilith (mmm... Lilith) or Brick (though they’re set to appear as NPCs). But of course the new cast will follow the character classes of the first four and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Let’s meet these fresh faces, yeah?

Name: Zer0 (though we doubt that’s his real name) Class: The Assassin Action Skill: Deception Borderlands Equivalent: Modecai And last but not least, our favourite of the new characters – Zer0. Why? Because he’s a bloody ninja, that’s why. Heck, we can’t even tell whether Zer0’s a he or a she but from the flatness we’ve seen, we’re assuming he’s a he (or a very unfortunate she). The name Zer0 came to be due to the display “0” showing up on his faceplate as he makes sushi out of enemies.

As if being a ninja is not badass enough, he has an ability named “Deception” where he deploys a holographic decoy of himself as he goes all Predator and becomes cloaked and roams around to dispatch enemies by striking their critical hit areas (which become highlighted). Awesome much?

Zer0’s a definite upgrade in baddassery compared to his Borderlands counterpart Mordecai, who was quite badass himself but was, unfortunately, only a sniper and a hunter. Zer0 wields a badass (How many times have we used the term “badass” for this guy already?) lightsaber-like katana and can be a competent sniper as well. Our money’s on this guy.

GoodGame

06 - Issue 03, 2012

DiRT Showdown Asia Tournament T he DiRT SHOWDOWN Asian Tournament has swept through Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and finally, on the shores of Singapore where the battle royale between all 6 countries took place over the weekend. Asia’s first champion; Thailand’s Kunlasub Wattnaphon received attractive prizes, including a cash prize of S$1,000, a DC apparel pack, an Xbox 360 game, an autographed Ken Block poster, and an exclusive pair of DC shoes, autographed by world-renowned Gymkhana driver, Mr Ken Block himself!

GoodGame

08 - Issue 03, 2012

DISHONORED Feel like a god, kill like a god W

ith Dishonored around the corner and gameplay trailers of this epic new IP sprouting out of the woodwork, waiting for Dishonored has been an excruciating experience to say the least.

You play as, Corvo Atano, a bodyguard who has been conveniently framed for the murder of the Empress.

You’re forced to become an infamous assassin to get closer exacting sweet revenge on those who have conspired against you. You’re not just any regular assassin though; you have magical powers that make you a nightmare to anyone who stands in your way. Of course, you can go about eliminating your targets without resorting to lethal means, but with so many lethal options available, why wouldn’t you want to spill blood?

Death by exploding rat Sure, you can summon Devouring Swarm and watch your foes struggle helplessly, but why do just that when you can strap on spring razors onto a single rodent, possess that rat and walk the rat up to your foes martyrdom style.

Turning on the friendly fire We’re expecting everyone to try this at least once, since putting your own bullets into enemies is so last century. Provoke a hostile to open fire, freeze time (Bend Time), posses him, and walk him in front of his own bullet, leave the poor schmuck’s body and let time resume.

If you’re turning on the ‘friendly fire’ on more than one foe, you might want to teleport (Blink) yourself to

Developer: Arkane Studios Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC Release Date: October 2012

somewhere you can enjoy the murder/suicide you have orchestrated.

Landing pad You WILL take fall damage, so jumping from great heights is a big no-no… unless you possess someone (Possession) right before you land, using his body to break the inertia. Ok, this isn’t lethal or brutal in anyway, but who knows what you might do when you have possessed another person? Walk him into and electrically charged gate perhaps?

We can think of at least 10 other spectacular ways of disengaging the baddies, but that would mean ruining half the fun for you guys. The truth is, Dishonored gives you these skills to let your imagination run wild with creative manslaughter. All this god-like power does

seem enticing, and whether or not you’ll have access to all of them from the beginning is still a mystery.

What we do know is that you will need to level-up each skill/power to make each skill more efficient/more godly, so don’t expect to be able to apesh*t from the get-go.

SOUTH PARK: THE STICK OF TRUTH Fatter, funnier and more foul-mouthed

I

n the late 90s (1997 to be exact), history was made in the genre of animated television shows when South Park, the brainchild of two BFFs Matt Stone and Trey Parker, debuted. Sure, The Simpsons came way before this, but these guys and their foul-mouthed characters took it to a completely different level.

The South Park series went on to become one of the most successful and longest-running series on TV (16 seasons and counting). They won a few awards and their empire now has various merchandise.

Of course, with every popular franchise, there are the video games.

The first-ever one was a first-person-shooter simply titled South Park. It was released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998 and on the PlayStation (1) and PC a year later. By the gods, it was a horrible turd of a game. Sure, the multiplayer was kind of fun but that alone can’t quite compensate for the lack of inspiration found everywhere else in the game, on top of technical issues.

Fast-forward to 2009, another South Park game after a couple of really crummy South Park games came out but this time for the Xbox Live Arcade.

Titled South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play! (unused titles include South Park: Suck My Balls and Snowballin’, the latter which alludes to the name of a sexual practice), the game was much simpler (it’s a tower defense game, just in case you didn’t get it from the title), and also kept true to the series’ art style. It got much better reviews.

Earlier this year, there was another Xbox Live Arcade South Park title – South Park: Tenorman’s Revenge. It was a platformer but it was a tad mediocre and didn’t make much noise.

And now, we’re about to get another dose of a South Park interactive experience. What you’ve read just now is just to emphasize the fact that the upcoming title South Park: The Stick of Truth is going to be a different kind of beast compared to all the other South Park video games.

Ok, first of all, it’s a role-playing-game. And you take control of a brand-new character that you create from scratch. Then you go on a gigantic adventure where you will run into all the well-known characters from the series. But the best thing of it all? Matt and Trey are the writers for the game. Yup, the creators of the series are involved proper in this game (a first for the South Park games) and from what we’ve seen so far, the game is

funny. Not just “Hah! I get the reference from the TV show” kind of funny but more like “Holy s**t dude, that was totally inappropriate and hilarious” type of humour.

But since it is a video game, gameplay plays (heh, pun) a big part in making it a great product. So, for this one, it’s a new kind of game for the series as the previous ones were more focused on the action. A hilarious story with the mechanics of a good RPG? Sounds like a good match.

It’s slated to come out on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Could this be the best South Park game yet? It has all the elements, plus Matt and Trey involved. So, we’re inclined to say that it will be .

Developer: Obsidian Publisher: THQ Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC Release Date: 2013

Issue 03, 2012 - 09

WORLD OF TANKS

URAL Steel Championship 2012

T

he URAL Steel Championship marks a great milestone in the history of World of Tanks for Cyber-sports. This is a large-scale tournament started in 2011 and it can be referred to as the First World WOT Championship. The Championship saw thousands of people from over dozens of countries clashing head on to be the best in a bid to represent their home regions at the

grand Izmailovo Sports Palace in Moscow, Russia.

The name URAL steel was derived from UralVagonZavod – the Russian industrial giant largely responsible for the manufacturing of Russia’s military vehicles – was the main sponsor behind the Ural Steel Tournament and the source of bringing together over 200 players from all over the world to the arena.

This year, Team -Apostles- will be representing SEA

at the Grand Finals which will take place in Moscow on 15-16 September to compete for the championship title and $77,000 in cash prizes. You can be a part of the excitement too by tuning into the live streams that will be made available on the World of Tanks site (http://worldoftanks-sea. com/) so don’t miss out on the biggest event of the year!

GoodGame

GoodGame

10 - Issue 03, 2012

By Nizam

Developer: THQ Publisher: THQ Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii Release Date: November 2012

WWE 13

The critical lucky number?

I

f you’re a huge fan of those World Wresting Entertainment episodes known as RAW and Smackdown, you’d be anticipating this game as much as I do. Every year, without fail, I will get two copies of this game – one for me and the other for my two younger brothers. (We have two consoles at home and we simply cannot wait for each other.) At times, you can even see us playing the game simultaneously.

Long-time publisher THQ, was initially inconsistent with its naming conventions, which seemed tied to a certain superstar or promotion. It then attempted to

correct that with a “SMACKDOWN vs RAW” branding that lasted about five years. Committed to shake things up like Vince McMahon, it started with a fresh, new and simpler title last year – WWE ’12. The game was well-received and delivered its promise to bring tons of features and content, and offered a true-to-livebroadcast experience that is not seen in its earlier releases.

In the midst of it all, some things fell apart, such as online lag, disconnections and shortcomings that only true WWE fans can spot easily. For example, some

generic animations were applied across the board which made them unrealistic according to their in-ring persona. For example, Kane would never do a hug and victory pump in the middle of the ring. I was also exceptionally curious why The Undertaker’s entrance was inaccurate in every instalment. (For the uninitiated, he always removes his hat after his trenchcoat in live broadcast before a match, but this is always inaccurately portrayed in the game).

The good news is THQ acknowledges the shortcomings from the last game based on constant communication with fans and while it’s quite impossible to address all of them, it’s comforting to know that steps are being taken. The bar for WWE’13 has indeed been raised.

Realistic experience We’ve mentioned this in the last issue. A new game engine that was first seen in WWE’12 has been

instalment contains events and highlights from the preceding year. WWE’12 had a Rock vs Cena hype to commemorate with their match announcement at Wrestlemania 27 but it was only this year when they finally squared off. If you look at Wrestlemania 28, there were many great matches including the epic rematch between Triple H and The Undertaker. Just recently, the WWE Universe had celebrated RAW 1000th episode, bringing back a handful of legends and ex superstars.

Imagine the potential if any of these carried over into WWE ’13.

Already, we’ve seen announcements for X-Pac, Mick Foley, Mark Henry ‘Sexual Chocolate version’ and boxing legend Mike Tyson circa D-Generation X era to be made available as downloadable content. Let’s not forget that there is an official Stone Cold Steve Austin edition for WWE ’13.

With ‘Road to Wrestlemania’ game mode removed in this instalment, I guess we could expect something more entertaining that involves all these great superstars. As much as Heartbreak Kid Shawn

“it’s comforting to know that steps are being taken.

The bar for WWE’13 has indeed been raised. ” enhanced to provide smoother match flow. Remastered ring and mat effects ripple the action in the ring. From what was revealed recently, mid-air finishers are now available for specific wrestlers. These are spectacular finishers executed by CM Punk’s GotoSleep move, The Big Show/Kane’s Chokeslam and Chris Jericho’s CodeBreaker. If you who love crashing the announcer’s table, you would be pleased to know that there is a new finisher animation.

‘Giant’ weight class

REVENGE SOLVES EVERYTHING

TM

DISHONORED.COM

© 2012 ZeniMax Media Inc. Developed in association with Arkane Studios. Revenge Solves Everything, Dishonored, Arkane, Bethesda, Bethesda Softworks, ZeniMax and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.

One of the announced changes is the weight class system. With the introduction of ‘Giant’ class, appropriate super heavyweights such as The Big Show and Mark Henry appear like they should. I’m very pleased to learn that smaller-sized grapplers will not be able to do bodyslams on these individuals, and instead would have their corresponding moves replaced. I cringe every time I see cruiserweight wrestlers such as Rey Mysterio perform impossible moves on The Big Show in past games.

Superstar-studded If you are familiar with the annual WWE games, each

Michaels, Edge and The Undertaker making less and limited live appearances, their presence in the game is one of the ways to crystalise their past glory and please fans.

Couple this with WWE’13 new special guest referee matches, there’s a lot of potential ahead.

Synergy with WWE Shows From the way it’s named, you would know that WWE’13 would be the vehicle to escalate the hype of WWE Shows. In August this year, Brock Lesnar is having a match with Triple H. The Rock has recently announced that he will have a championship match at Royal Rumble, and there are rumours of The Undertaker’s return at a pay-per-view event later this year.

These events may or may not culminate into Wrestlemania 29, but their appearances should have an inclination towards the announcement of more downloadable content.

As a fan of the franchise, I’m ecstatic to learn about the announced changes and anticipate the potential of this instalment. At the moment, it’s already looking better than WWE’12 and is set to be a worthy title in your collection.

Issue 03, 2012 - 11

SUPERSTAR LIVE

E

ver envisioned yourself onstage with the shine of the spotlight on your face? Aspiring superstars can now belt out their favourite performances in the comfort and privacy of their rooms. Incorporating singing, dancing and performing, SuperStar Live enables hopefuls to create celebrity versions of themselves without the hassle of auditioning.

Targeted at dancing and singing enthusiasts, IAHGames and Maxis Berhad, Malaysia’s leading integrated communications service provider, presents the latest online free-to-play game which allows those who are reserved in real life to express themselves freely through anime-style avatars and interactive features like sharing live singing, dancing and urban dance-scapes.

“With the recent trend of reality star-search programmes and the invasion of K-pop, we are pleased to be able to bring this game in to the region where players will be able to embark on their own online journey to become a SuperStar. With the recording function, players can share their talents on online portals like YouTube, have a chance to get discovered and become the next SuperStar,” said Mr Roland Ong, IAHGames Group CEO.

Sing your heart out!

Just dance

Croon to favourite English, Chinese, Malay, Korean and Japanese songs in the convenience of homes. Inner Gleeks will delight with the game’s karaoke mode, which will help them hone their vocal talents. The game also uses a unique low capacity/high frequency sound, which produces the same high quality sound as offline karaoke systems.

Budding girl or boy bands can also hold concerts online, with each fully-customisable concert room able to accommodate six singers and up to 20 spectators.

Too shy to show your moves in public? Players with two left feet can party it up with original dance moves in SuperStar Live. Fingers will never get bored with five different dance modes. Those up for a challenge can try out the eight-key expert mode to impress audiences in the concert room.

In-game couples can also try the Couple Dance Mode. The mode features exclusive couple animations and will earn players heart bonus points to boost scores.

GoodGame

Unique customisable avatars and concert rooms Want to look trendy and try out crazy looks? Enhance your avatar’s SuperStar look by creating distinctive appearances with different body types, fashionable apparel, and funky hairstyles. For more choices, pre-paid cards can be purchased to obtain iCash, which can be used to buy unique items like masks and themed costumes from the shop, making sure your avatar turns heads as they walk down the red carpet.

Concert rooms can also be designed with up to 600 different furniture and props, creating a unique space where players can practice their moves and vocals.

Share your talent Take the final step to becoming a real life SuperStar by showcasing your voice online. Record your performance in-game and save it on your computer in various file formats such as mp4, avi, and ogg. The variety of formats allow for players to tweak it to perfection before uploading it to YouTube for the world to see, taking them one step closer to their dreams of fame and stardom.

More details regarding SuperStar Live can be found on IAHGames or at SuperStar Live’s Facebook page. http://superstarlive.net https://www.facebook.com/ SuperStarLive

GoodGame

12 - Issue 03, 2012

XCOM: ENEMY UNKNOWN A Consolation for Consoles, A Special for PC I

t is without doubt that strategy games are best played on PC. As evidently demonstrated by the exclusive release of some of the highly popular games of that genre, making them available for consoles does not seem to be part of their plan.

This leaves many console gamers starving for good strategy games. Some publishers have attempted to fill the void with ‘simplified’ versions of original releases on PC, but generally speaking, these titles don’t hold out for very long. Others tried to make up for the constrained unit navigation by introducing other elements, such as the voice-enabled End Wars back in 2008 and the more recent, voice-enabled strategy action shooter Binary Domain. The closely-structured unit and base set up adopted in Halo Wars wasn’t too bad either. Then there were other titles released in

between, which did little to impress. How many of you remember playing ‘Stormrise’?

The one multiplatform strategy game game that stood out was The Civilization series. In 2008, developer Firaxis introduced Civilization Revolution, a console version of its famed strategy game and although it was very much a skimmed version of its PC counterpart, it was well-received for its intuitive and addictive gameplay.

Incidentally, Firaxis is also responsible for XCOM: Enemy Unknown. With their experience in Civilization Revolution, we feel certain that the game will play well with a gamepad. We’re big fans of Civilization Revolution and believe Firaxis has the enriched experience on how to translate a strategy game appropriately for the consoles.

Preordering XEU (on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC) will earn you an awesome Elite Soldier Pack that allows players to fully customise the outfit and colour of your soldiers with aesthetic items from the Hyperion and Reaper packs. Players will also have the services of a recruit that looks like a classic X-COM Soldier.

While this calls for a celebration for console players, the party somewhat loses its fanfare when we found out that a special edition of the game will be available exclusively on PC. This bundle will comprise an artbook, foldout poster, XCOM insignia patch, soundtrack, art and more. ‘More’ remains UNKNOWN at this point, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they threw in the kitchen sink, really.

GUILD WARS 2 I

f you don’t know what Guild Wars 2 (GW2) is in this era of Google, Wikipedia and the internet, you either live on a bend down by the river or in a cave. This is the upcoming Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game (MMORPG) to be released, this August 28th, by ArenaNet and could be the chosen one to dethrone the almighty World of Warcraft. We’re not asserting that this is the WOW killer for 2012, but here are some reasons why we love it enough to unsubscribe from that Blizzard game.

First off, GW2’s team dynamics have torn away from the old Healer, Tank and DPS trinity. Now players will no longer have a Tank to hide behind or a Healer to depend on for health. Everyone will be responsible for keeping themselves alive and you can do that because each class and race will have at least one healing spell or ability in their skill set.

Furthermore, big attacks from bosses are

avoidable because the game will mark where their attacks or spells will land. You will only have yourself to blame if you die from fire on the ground, poison circles, or the heavy fist of an angry golem. Also, each class-type will have at least one “interrupt ability” to stop those bigger attacks before they land.

Where is the teamwork then, if there are no Tanks and Healers? Teamwork will come in the form of dynamic combat. If a player has a “shield ability”, others on the same team can run into it to avoid an arrow shower from enemies, or fireballs and other magic projectiles from spell-casters. One more interesting thing to note, if someone drops a wall of fire on the ground, any arrows that are shot through the flames will catch fire and inflict additional incendiary damage on targets. Combat is going to be awesome.

The dynamics do not stop there. The skill bar in GW2 changes according to the weapons you hold.

Regardless of the class you choose, almost everyone

Developer: ArenaNet Publisher: NCsoft Platform: PC Release Date: Out Now

WOW Killer?

gets a choice to pick either a ranged or melee weapon with the exception of magic-wielders and engineers.

Depending on the weapons you pick, the skill bar will change skills according to the weapons you equip and you can switch between two sets of weapons, melee or range, while in combat.

The final dynamic feature comes in the form of quests. There is no linear path through a zone and quests come at random times as you explore the world of Tyria. A Non-Player Character(NPC) might randomly come running to you for help with Centaurs raiding the town you’re having drinks in and it will then be a quest for you to defend the town by “stopping the centaurs’ assault”. Fail to defend and the town will be controlled by them. Succeed, and the town will cheer for you, or even build a statue in your honor. Dynamic events like this will be fun because you don’t know what to expect and that is what adventures are all about.

Next up, there will be World vs World vs World

Developer: 2K Games Publisher: Firaxis Games Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC Release Date: October 2012

massive battles. This is the biggest feature in GW2 and puts three servers against each other in one epic-sized map. Conquer as many keeps and areas as possible and unlock bonuses like extra experience points buffs for your server. To get the most out of Guild Wars 2 you are going to have to pull everyone together and fight. How excited are we? Very.

A lot of detail and thought has been put into GW2 by the developers and the production quality of the game has been nothing short of impressive. We have played tons of MMORPGs and Guild Wars 2 has already won us over (this is just the beta mind you) simply with its responsive controls and clean user-interface. It has the expected quality that you would see in a game made for the year 2012. The game is so polished that it even looks exactly like the beautiful concept art you find on their websites.

Finally, there will be no monthly subscription after you buy Guild Wars 2. Additional purchases will come in the form of game expansions and new content. Optional micro-transactions will be available to purchase gems. These gems can be exchanged for cosmetic items from the gem-store.

However, you may purchase these gems from other players using in-game gold. Technically, you don’t have to spend a single cent after the initial purchase. That, in all fairness is a good thing.

From the beta weekends alone, Guild Wars 2 has introduced tons of new concepts for the MMO genre. Will it be the game to kick World of Warcraft out of its throne? Maybe.

REVIEW TESTED ON

Issue 03, 2012 - 13

GoodGame

Developer: Vigil Games Publisher: THQ Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U Release Date: Out Now

DARKSIDERS 2

TESTED ON

Bring down the hammer… and scythes… and gauntlets… and pain

F

ollowing War, Death is the second of the Four

Horsemen of the Apocalypse to have his own game. Darksiders II revolves around Death’s quest to clear his brother’s name and free him from the ‘wrongs’ that he has been accused of. Death may not be the hulking mountain of meat that War is, but his lean-ish stature, agility and parkour skills make him just as deadly as War, if not, more.

Although Darksiders II looks considerably better than the first, it doesn’t do much to break any graphical or performance barriers. Frame rates tend to dip slightly when things get hectic, and you’ll be halted by 2-3 second loads every now and then, either when you enter dungeons or when you’re moving across maps. To be fair, the loading time is somewhat forgivable, considering the scale of the worlds – they are massive. So once you get pass the whole loading

Necromancer tree to further tailor your death-dealing experience. The skills in the Harbinger tree let Death acquire warrior-type abilities while the skills in the Necromancer tree provide mage/summoner-type upgrades. These skills require Wrath (mana) and they’re designed to compliment and add more variety to the hack-and-slash combat of the game.

There are also puzzles that getting increasingly complex and challenging as you dive deeper into the game. These puzzles are surprisingly well thought out and they work exceptionally well with the level design of the dungeons. If you think that Darksiders II is just another third-person beat’em-up game, you’re terribly wrong, because if it’s one thing that really shines in Darksiders II, it’s the puzzles.

Darksiders II isn’t a short game, even if you chose to ignore the side quests and collectibles (which you

“puzzles are surprisingly well thought out and they work exceptionally well with the level design” issue, Darksiders II will cause you to form an almost inseparable bond with your mouse/controller.

Like the first game, Darksiders II does have a slow start, but it is pretty tough to stop playing once the game builds momentum. The maps are big, so it’s a good thing that Despair (Death’s trusty steed) is available right from the get-go, and anytime there is the need to travel across wide open spaces. Fast travelling is another option if you no likey horsey.

Darksiders II is a game that will grow on you, slowly, but surely. Combos are easy to execute and it’s no surprise that you’ll be able to purchase combat abilities. There aren’t a whole lot of combos, but there is more than enough variation to break the monotony that is sometimes associated with hack-and-slash games. There is also a skill tree (two actually) and you can spend skill points on either the Harbinger or

probably won’t). The main storyline is a pretty lengthy (17-20 hours) and its main quest is littered with a bundle of side quests. There’s also New Game+ and Crucible (battle arena) after you’re done, and this makes Darksiders II a very worthy investment. An expansion (Arguls Tomb) that offers additional gameplay content is slated to roll out at a later date, and it is absolutely free for those who have pre-order Darksiders II. Other free DLCs/add-ons include armour, a speed boost for Despair and multiple exclusive side-quests, and they add even more value to this title so if you see a copy of Darksiders II with the “Includes Bonus DLC” sticker on the front of the box, grab it, even if it means knocking down children and senior citizens (what the hell are they doing in a game store anyway?).

It’s tough to put a finger on what type of game

Darksiders II is, simply because the game combines many familiar and enjoyable elements. The game’s influences are apparent, if not immediately, eventually. The most obvious influences are God of War, Prince of Persia and The Legend of Zelda with a dash of Diablo to spice things up. Games that try to marry multiple elements together tend to fall short when compared to the games that they are influenced by, and Darksiders II is no exception. The interesting thing about this game is that although it doesn’t do particularly well in any field (be it combat or platforming) things particularly well, they manage to fall in place. So while Darksiders II won’t outshine its obvious influences, it succeeds by offering different disciplines in one package that will easily please the majority of hardcore gamers.

If you’ve played the first Darksiders, you HAVE to get this game. If you haven’t you’re probably going to pick up War’s game after finishing Death’s journey – like we said ‘slowly, but surely, this game will grow on you’.

Let there be loot!

A loot systems keeps you excited and loot can come in the form of potions, stat-enhancing weapons and gear (armour) and of course, gold. Loot drops are completely random and if you just aren’t getting the good loot, you can purchase epic gear from the merchants.

You can even gift items to friends via an in-game inbox via the game’s Serpent Tome, which acts as your one little portal to your friends.

Armoury of Pain A pair of Scythes aren’t the only weapons at Death’s disposal. You can also equip a secondary weapon (axes, gauntlets, bucklers, claws, hammers, etc.) depending on your preference, and there are very few ‘repeat weapons’ that are modeled to look the same. The weapons and armour you equip also carry over to cutscenes (which is definitely a plus) and although you cannot customise the colour of your gear, your Death will probably look different from your friend’s after the first hour of playing.

HHHHH

94

GG

VERDICT

GreatGadgets

14 - Issue 03, 2012

PC Gaming like a boss with “The Dark Knight” We’ve got epic rigs and great toys in our office to play with, but the problem with having such epic setups to play with is we go home to our not-so-awesome rigs at home and let’s just say that riding on the swing isn’t much fun when you’ve been to Disneyland.

“The Dark Knight” is what our editor, Gibbson, calls his personal gaming rig. For months now, Gibbson has been talking about putting a beastly gaming rig together and it’s finally here, honestly, it pretty darn epic. No lights, no frills, just pure power.

Corsair Obsidian 800D “There are so many reasons I chose this case, I don’t know where to begin. I must say that I’m not a big on fancy-schmancy chassis, and that’s why I chose the 800D – it’s classy. It’s got clean lines and an understated simplicity about it that I just couldn’t resist. I also have the intention to do a fully liquid cooled system in the near future, and the 800D does give me a sunstantial amount of room to play with.”

Cable management is at its finest and hardly takes any time thanks to its well positioned grommets as well as a separate chamber at the bottom where the PSU lies. It’s the perfect chassis for enthusiasts, having awesome build quality, hot swappable drive bays and more room than you can shake a stick at. Heck, it even makes the extended ATX-sized Maximus V Extreme motherboard look tiny. It’s uniformly black, inside and out, and even the cables for the chassis fans and front I/O ports are black.

“Almost every piece of tech that I own is black, so not only does it match my furniture and other appliances, it completes the whole “Dark Knight” theme I’m going after. Try as I might, there is nothing negative I can say about this chassis, absolutely nothing.

Buttons (instead of flimsy thumb screws) to release the side panels, enough room IN the case for almost anything I can think of (even for a 360mm radiator with push-pull configuration on the top), the list goes on, really.“

Asus Maximus V Extreme Hallelujah, this is one huge motherboard, as with all Asus Extreme boards. With great motherboard comes great responsibility right? Actually, no. The Maximus V Extreme makes overclocking something that can either be very noob-friendly or a haven for the hardcore.

“I was able to take Intel’s Core i7-2700K from a base clock of 3.50GHz to a stable 4.70GHz on air cooling (using Cooler Master TPC 812) with a just a couple of clicks in the BIOS. Since I’ve upgraded to a closed-loop liquid cooler, I can probably push my 2700K to at least 4.90GHz. If you don’t intend to splurge on Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors (which this board supports), I suggest a Core i7-2600K as the slight increase that the 2700K gives is quite negligible.”

This board is extremely welcoming, even if you’re

new to the dark art of overclocking. Believe it or not, this devlishly handsome board (along with it’s supporting software and hardware) has the potential to turn newbies into overclockers. The Maximus V Gene and Formula have the same potential, but as you may already know, no overkill = no fun. You have been warned.

It’s a pricey board, no doubt, but good looks aside, the Maximus V Extreme is probably the mightiest Z77 board there is on the market today. It screams excellent quality and yes, quality is exactly what you need for hardcore overclocking. I don’t have any intention to see how far I can push things with liquid nitrogen (although the Maximus V Extreme is more than ready), but I do intend to push things beyond what is deemed average/ acceptable, so having a good board that is designed for extreme overclocking is actually a lot less stressful for me.

Antec Kühler H20 920 Like most closed-loop liquid coolers, it is virtually impossible for the Antec Kühler H20 920 to leak, simply because the water is completely sealed in.

Installation is extremely simple as its pump; reservoir, cold plate and electronics are housed in one compact unit. Radiator aside, this low profile unit leaves a small footprint doesn’t ‘clutter’ your motherboard up like other closed-loop coolers do.

“For it’s quality, this is one of the best-priced closed-loop liquid coolers I’ve come across.

The two 120mm fans for it’s thick (49mm), high fin-density radiator was definitely a plus, but it was the 920’s tubing that made me put my money down. I was still undecided on where my CPU radiator would be mounted when I went shopping for a cooler, and the last thing I wanted was to kink the tubes of my liquid cooler. I’m happy to report, that the thick-walled tubing that the Kühler H20 920 uses does indeed provide a lot of flexibility without compromising or obstructing water flow.”

The Antec Kühler H20 920 also includes software that has tools for monitoring liquid temperature, fan speed, noise level as well as pump speed. You can also adjust fan speeds and lighting on the pump-head with the same, simple-to-use software.

Issue 03, 2012 - 15

2 x Vertex 4 SSD 128GB These two drives that hold his OS (Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit) and although the Vertex 4 supports Windows 7’s TRIM command, TRIM does not support RAID configurations.

When consider all the capacities available in OCZ’s Vertex 4 spread, the 128GB hits the sweet spot with a price tag of about S$200, with sequential read and write speeds of 560MB/s and 430MB/s respectively. As you can already tell, Gibbson is slightly obsessed with boot speed, hence the RAID 0 SSDs.

“Running RAID 0 on a pair of SSDs isn’t necessary for a gaming rig, but I’m terribly impatient and I get rather antsy waiting for my PC to boot up. I reformat my system every 2 – 3 months, so the absence of TRIM command doesn’t affect me, and I reckon it probably won’t affect me even if I reformat my computer once a year.”

A single SSD should do the trick but if you’re on a tight budget, but I if you have the cash, ganging 2 SSDs in RAID 0 wouldn’t hurt.

You get double the space without having to deal with confusing drive letters, and the extra bandwith certainly serves as a nice bonus.

WD Velociraptor 1TB HDD It’ll be awhile before the prices of high-capacity SSDs become acceptable and that is why mechanical hard drives aren’t going anywhere in the near future.

“General storage-wise, I have been using a 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black (SATA 3, 7200rpm, 64MB cache) for a couple of years now and it does live up to its reputation for being and extremely reliable and relatively speedy mechanical hard disk. Unfortunately (for my wallet) SSDs have altered my perception of speed and long story short, here I am, with the fastest possible mechanical hard disk.”

This 1TB WD Velociraptor is definitely an

Seasonic Platinum 1000

G.Skill Trident X 2400MHz RAM (4 x 4GB) “The Trident X modules target the Z77 platform (as the Z77 platform is particular good at running memory at overclocked speeds) but one of the biggest reasons why I picked them was because – wait for it – they fall into the colour scheme that I was going for, and they look awesome.”

This is essentially a plug and play kit that is great out of the box and although he might not be maximising the potential of these modules with his current processor’s memory controller and architecture, he probably went with this kit having intentions to upgrade to an Ivy Bridge processor sometime in the near future.

The awesome looking cooling fins the the Trident X modules can be removed to allow different method of cooling for maximum clocking, but air is enough since Gibbson only intends to make minor voltage tweaks.

Honestly, the cooling fins/blades look too damn epic for me to want to remove them. This flexibility comes in handy if you’re using a large CPU cooler as well. Being able to remove the heatspreaders that get in the way (and lose a little efficiency in heat dissipation) to get DIMMs to fit is definitely a plus in our books.

We wouldn’t call these modules enthusiast-class simply because high-density memory doesn’t go very well with overclocking in general. It is still considered high-end, and a damn good plug and play option.

GreatGadgets

Seasonic is no stranger when it comes to producing PSUs with extremely high efficiency and extremely low noise. Gibbson has been a big fan of their X-Series units and even though they cost more, their products ARE designed for those who want the best of the best and won’t settle for less. In fact, if you’re running a decently high-powered rig, you won’t won’t any PSU that is rated below 80Plus Gold.

“This particular PSU is Seasonic’s first power supply that is rated 80Plus Platinum, which means it boasts up to 92% efficiency.

This efficiency translates to savings, in both idle and in use. Yes, a PSU with a better 80Plus rating is more expensive but it practically pays for itself. Lets just say that I’m going to use the

enthusiast-class performance HDD and it comes with a price tag to match. This is one hell of a high-performance, large capacity HDD that is a very viable option, considering how brutally priced high-capacity SSDs are.

This 2.5” drive is enclosed in a 3.5” enterprise-class mounting frame that has a built-in heatsink, since the drive does tend to generate more heat because of it’s high rotation speed of 10,000rpm. WD Velociraptor hard drives have always been speed demons and if you’ve decided not to jump on the SSD train just yet, this is the boot drive for you. Also, if 1TB is too rich for your blood, WD Velociraptor drives are available in a few capacities starting from 150GB.

Seasonic Platinum 1000 for 7 years (the duration of its warranty), it still makes more sense than cheaping out on one that isn’t 80Plus rated simply because of it’ll consume less energy. Electricity bills are always going up, so when you take power consumption into consideration, the fully-modular Seasonic Platinum 1000’s chic colour scheme is merely a bonus.”

Many aspects make the Seasonic Platinum 1000 desirable; its high manufacturing quality and build, high efficiency, silence, hybrid fan operation mode, Japan-made capacitors, a 7-year warranty and of course, the 80Plus Platinum rating. A 860W model is available and its more than enough for a the rig that we’re showcasing, but we suppose excessive fan noise drives Gibbson crazy, (since PSUs are most efficient and silent at 50%-60% load.)

Asus GTX 680 DCUII Top (x2) “To be honest, I wouldn’t have opted for an SLI set up if I wasn’t testing games – (at least that’s what I tell my fiance.) One GTX 680 DCUII Top is more than enough to run a lot of the games that I love at high to ultra settings with very decent frame rates, so I guess I AM spoiling myself with the whole SLI thing.

But just how good ARE these cards? Well, they were snapped up even before hitting the shelves at Sim Lim Square, and the for about 2 months, I hated myself for not buying another one when I had the chance. Each of these cards occupies 3 expansion slots, so there is hardly any room for me to run anything else with this setup.”

GreatGadgets

16 - Issue 03, 2012

SteelSeries Flux T he SteelSeries Flux was designed to be a no-compromise, anytime, anywhere headset.

It’s travel friendly stature and small footprint does not compromise on build quality, as its hinges feel robust while its headband manages to provide a decent amount of flex, but still feel tough.

It’s pretty darn comfortable, and although sound does have the tendency to escape, it is very manageable. The donut-type on-ear mesh cushions are comfortable and thanks to it’s swivel-able and rotate-able ear cups, and there really isn’t much to complain about the Flux’s fit. Sound wise, the Flux feels like the Jack-of-all-trades, but despite being the master of none, it does cater to a wide range of audio types pretty well.

The Flux comes in either black or white, but other cosmetic options (like donut ear cups, side plates and cables) will be rolling out in the near future. Colourcoding your gear to suit your taste is definitely a plus, but what really made us go gaga for the Flux were the minor details. Details that only gamers would care about.

First, the cables. That there are two separate sets of cables that come with the Flux: one for PC and Mac with audio and mic jack, as well as one single jack for mp3 players, smart phones and tablets. The mics are located along the both cables, and having separate

cables make the Flux a very hot-swappable unit.

The cables on majority of the wired gaming headsets available are located on the left cup and this can be a little inconvenient if your CPU is located on your right. The Flux solves this problem by having ports on BOTH ear cups for it’s detachable cables, but SteelSeries didn’t stop there. Since you only need to use one port, the extra port (on the other cup) allows another headset to be connected. This means you could be watching a clip on your PC, tablet or your smartphone and if someone wants to join in, all they have to do is attach their earphones/headphones to the extra port on your Flux and both of you will be able to enjoy audio from the same source. Absolute win.

Maybe we’re crude, but if you’re looking for a versatile multi-purpose headset, we suggest you go Flux yourself.

Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse

“I CAN’T RECOMMEND SPEC OPS ENOUGH” - Machinima, 9 out of 10

“...SPEC OPS IS A DARING EXPERIMENT WORTH CELEBRATING”

I

ts name doesn’t leave much to the imagination, but the name “Wedge” is a fitting one nonetheless.

The metal accents on the sides of the Microsoft’s Wedge Touch mouse gives it a contemporary, minimalist-type design, and despite its petite stature, it still feels like a solid piece of tech.

Again, as it’s name suggests, this mouse lets you scroll in all four directions just by sliding your fingertip along where the scroll wheel would usually reside.

Unlike the full-sized Microsoft Touch mouse, there isn’t any vibration of feedback on the Wedge’s scroll. It would’ve been nice if the Wedge Touch featured the same kind of feedback, but when you’re talking about a

- IGN, 8 out of 10

AVAILABLE NOW www.specopstheline.com ©2012 Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. 2K Games, Take-Two Interactive Software, and their respective logos are all trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. “PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks and “PS3” and the PlayStation Network logo are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. KINECT, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. This videogame is fictional and depicts invented events, persons, locations, and entities. The inclusion of any brand, weapon, location, vehicle, person or thing does not imply sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of this game. The makers and publishers of this game do not endorse, condone or encourage engaging in conduct depicted in this product.

compact Bluetooth mouse that is no bigger than four AA batteries, we’re willing to let some things slide. This mouse syncs without the need for any dongles for a completely hassle-free experience, so you will need a computer that has Bluetooth support.

The Wedge Touch is built to compliment the road warrior, featuring BlueTrack Technology (that lets you use it on virtually any surface), but it can also be used for media centres. It’s a classy looking mouse with a price tag that suggests its quality, and while this isn’t exactly a gaming-friendly mouse, it’s certainly great for people on the go.

Issue 03, 2012 - 17

Promise Pegasus R6

S

wanky speedy Thunderbolt port all dressed up with nowhere to go? The Promise Pegasus is a thunderbolt storage RAID solution that actually utilises the potential of all that Thunderbolt horsepower, promising up to over 800MB per second input and output speeds in Six HDD RAID configurations (Pegasus R6). You can also daisy chain up to six units to create a massive 36 hard disk drive library ( just because you can).

Designed with Macs in mind, the Pegasus also claims an easy-to-use, made-for-Mac GUI utility.

GreatGadgets

Jawbone Icon HD + The Nerd W hy does this Bluetooth need a dongle?

Because every Icon needs a groupie. The Jawbone Icon HD + The Nerd is essentially the Icon HD with a dongle that lets you use the Icon HD on your Mac or PC for video calls, watching videos and the like.

Pairing the Icon HD with The Nerd is simple, thanks to a dedicated pairing button on the dongle as well an LED indicator that mimics the LED indicator on the Icon HD. The design and colour of The Nerd also matches the design of the Icon HD that it comes with. The Nerd only works with the Icon HD, so in

more ways than one, they were made for each other.

As far as Jawbone’s Noise Assassin technology is concerned, voice pick up is good and there is a clear distinction between your voice and background noise. The Icon HD comes with the array of fit options that you would expect, as well as the ability to be paired to your phone as well as The Nerd.

NoiseAssassin 2.5, App support and the ability to listen to HD-quality audio made the Icon HD the great headset that it is, and because it works with a Mac or PC now, it’s even more awesome than the ever.

GreatGadgets

18 - Issue 03, 2012

CM Storm Stryker T he CM Storm Trooper made its debut in Q4 last year and while that was one of the most remarkable chassis ever to sport the CM Storm branding and it was regarded by many tech enthusiasts as one of the best towers that Cooler Master has produced. It is practical, mod-friendly, mega-stylish, user-friendly and doesn’t have the demanding price tag that the Cosmos II exhibits. That said, the Cosmos II isn’t inferior to the Trooper at all. It’s just that when you put the dollars and cents together, the Trooper seems to make more sense than anything else Cooler Master can whip up.

The CM Storm Stryker is next in line for the CM Storm franchise and it is essentially a white CM Storm Trooper with a few subtle tweaks. The Stryker’s appearance is enough to make some favour it over the Trooper, sporting an eye-catching mix of glossy whites and matte blacks. No amount of box art or high-res images will do the Stryker’s finish any justice because the paintjob on this chassis is just exquisite. Even the four fans (1 x 200mm, 1 x 140mm, 2 x 120mm) of the

Accutone Taurus G oing about trying to pick a pair of earphones can be quite the conundrum, since you won’t really know if you’ll like how they sound until you’ve tried them on – after paying for them of course.

We’ve tried dozens of headsets (to say the least), and even WE can’t tell if we’d like how a certain headset sounds just by scrutinising the literature on the back of the box. The Accutone Taurus effectively solves this problem for you, and you can take our word for it.

There are people who prefer earphones over headphones, and in that group of people who would opt for earphones, there are typically two groups: those who prefer earphones with stronger bass, and those who’d rather have less intimidating bass levels. If you’re fall into the ‘I prefer earphones’ category, the Accutone Taurus significantly reduces your margin of error/regret by allowing you to tune your own bass levels.

The Accutone Taurus is tuned for punchy bass levels, making them an excellent choice for Hop-Hop and RnB tunes, but it also gives users the flexibility to control bass output from the Taurus with an in-built tuning switch. This switch is located on the rear of both earphones, and a special (very small) screwdriver is used to make these adjustments.

Apart from customisable bass, the Accutone Taurus also features an aluminium spin cable knob that allows the cable of the earphones to positioned two ways; straight down, or over the ear for a more secure fit.

Another special feature of the Taurus is its in-line volume control – located further down the cable, away from mic and answer button – it takes the form of a tube. All you have to do to adjust the volume is twist the tube (the same way you would unscrew a pen).

The Accutone Taurus kit includes a couple of very nifty accessories as well. Three pairs of silicon earbuds, a pair of memory foam earbuds, a Nokia phone adaptor, a cable winder, and a leatherette case completes this awesome kit and at just under S$80, it’s an awfully irresistible proposition.

Stryker are white, making it irresistible to anyone who has a white fetish.

Unlike the Trooper, the Stryker does not have an external eSATA port. Besides this minor inconvenience, everything that made the Trooper the legend it was can be found on the Stryker. The chassis’ positionable HDD cages, removable and rotatable combo cages, thoughtful cable management options, top and bottom dust filters, impressive build and ultra-strong carrying handle make the Stryker (or Trooper, if you prefer a black one) go-to cases.

We love the Stryker’s ‘secret’ compartment at the bottom of the front panel (it’s great for storing spare bits and screws). We love the unbelievably comfortable grip of the carrying handle and most of all; we love how easy it is to have a tidy looking rig thanks to the myriad of cable management clips and spacious grommets.

We’re bigger fans of black products in general, but the CM Storm Stryker is an exception and a rare one at that.

Issue 03, 2012 - 19

GreatGadgets

Armaggeddon Infinitron T9 I

f you wanted to use one word to describe the Infinitron T9, “Huge” wouldn’t cut it. Try gargantuan, because this server-type chassis is a monster.

The Infinitron T9 was built for everything, and has more than enough space for anything else.

Trying to fit the Armaggeddon under a table can be a problem due to its stature, but that’s something you ought to be prepared for when you’re gunning for a chassis that’ll fit almost any component you can install in a PC chassis.

The T9 allows two systems to be installed onto the same chassis, easily accommodating the largest motherboards on its main body and a Mini ATX system near the top. Yes, there is enough room on the top part of this chassis for a mini ATX board, additional power supply and drive bays. There is always room. Of course, two systems mean two separate power buttons, I/O ports, USB ports and audio+mic ports, all conveniently located on the top of this mega-tower.

It’s front panel (for your main system) features four 2.5” and six 3.5” HDD hot-swap bays, as well as four ODD drive bays. Cleverly placed grommets and a

relatively spacious back panel ought to make cable management a breeze, while ten expansion slots on the back of the case is more than enough to make way for 3-way SLI or CrossFireX. We equipped with T9 with an Asus Maximus V Extreme motherboard with three Asus Radeon HD 7970s and it still manages to feel a little empty. The four 120mm case fans (2 top, 2 front) and 140mm rear exhaust fan are fairly silent, but we do encourage extra fans for more efficient cooling, especially if you’re not using a XL-ATX motherboard. If you decide to upgrade and build a fully liquid-cooled system, the T9 wouldn’t stop you either.

From the look and feel of it, the Infinitron T9 is more useful than it is flashy – and that’s not a bad thing.

Besides mechanical vents (top), a panel window (that is way too small to draw any attention) and the Armageddon branding, there isn’t much to scream about the T9’s appearance. That said, when you consider the nifty things like removable dust filters and an abundance of space (for water-cooling radiators, etc.), the Armaggeddon is indeed a very sturdy and versatile solution.

Armaggeddon GF890 Ziinfinifreeze

L

ike most liquid cooling kits, the GF890 made for the nut that wants to push his (or her) multi core CPU to the limit, without resorting to liquid nitrogen. While liquid coolers like the GF890 won’t give you ground-breaking synthetic results (which are not practical for everyday gaming) with your overclocking, they do provide the cooling needed to nudge the performance of your processors a little more without compromising stability and heat dissipation.

There are a couple of things about the GF890 Ziinfinifreeze that make it a very compelling choice for speed freaks (besides its catchy name), the most obvious one being its reservoir with pump. Because the reservoir and pump are a single unit, the GF890 will take up considerably less space in your chassis. Having the pump in the reservoir also ensures that your pump never runs dry, especially in the filling phase.

A lengthy 2m 7/16” clear silicone rubber hose is more than enough should you choose to have the reservoir located outside the chassis. Included with the six bards are handy fasteners and they make installing and securing the hose a relatively simple and neat affair.

As far as performance goes, you can expect the GF890 to provide the cooling that air coolers just can’t match. The vibration from its pump is fairly low and it is relatively silent. We were considering coloured liquids at first, but after installing the blue LED (included) that fits

nicely on the outside of the reservoir, we changed our minds. In a case where nothing else is lit, the tubes omit a faint glow that is rather pleasing and pretty unique. Of course, if you want a ballin’ rig, blue liquids will definitely compliment the reservoir’s blue LED. The GF890’s radiator does not come with additional cooling fans and that isn’t really a problem because if you’re going to adopt a liquid cooled setup, you’re probably going to want to pick your own radiator cooling fans. There are holes on both sides of the radiator so you can install up to six 120mm fans (three on each side) for a push-pull configuration. The radiator does have a rather high fin density, so if you decide to pick this kit up, we recommend fans that have high CFM and pressure fans for the ultimate overkill in liquid cooling.

Although the GF890 can be used with just about any case that is roomy enough (or have grommets on the back) to accommodate liquid cooling kits, Armaggeddon recommends the use of the GF890 Ziinfinifreeze with the Armaggeddon Ziitron T8 and Infinitron T9 uber towers (as there have been mounts on these cases that have been made for mounting the GF890’s rad).

This cool kit’s CPU waterblock supports LGA 775, 1366, 1155, 1156 and 2011 Intel sockets, or if you’re an AMD kind of guy, AM2, AM3, 939, 754, 940, A/462, 604/603 and 701 sockets.

GreatGadgets

20 - Issue 03, 2012

ASUS Vulcan A ROG (Republic of Gamers) headset? Yup. And a pretty remarkable specimen at that.

The first Republic of Gamers’ headset is equipped with 40mm drivers and the overall sound quality of this stereo headset is good, and best described as balanced. Bass levels are firm, not overwhelming and highs and mids are neither too sharp nor faint, so yeah, balanced.

For a headset that folds, the Vulcan is an extremely comfortable to don - even for long gaming sessions – thanks to it’s plush, memory foam leatherette circumaural ear cups and headband. Its large ear cups provide a near-perfect seal around your ears and if that’s not enough for you, this headset also features ANS (Active Noise-Cancelling).

The Vulcan is the first gaming headset to be equipped with ANS and this is an awesome feature that is very, very effective at blocking out white noise as well as ambient noise that may come from your CPU fans. A single AAA battery needs to be installed (on right ear cup) to enable ANS, but you do not need to have a battery to use the headset without ANS. Besides ANS, there are many aspects about the Vulcan that illustrate how much thought actually goes

into making this headset. It has all the small details a gamer would consider desirable; comfort, sturdy build quality, a cable that detaches, detachable mic, its ability to fold and even a handy hard case.

As you can already tell, we are extremely pleased with this headset and quite honestly, we were not expecting the Asus Vulcan to be as persuasive as it is.

Although we’ve never really considered using ANS for gaming, we found it hard going without it now that we’ve experienced the Vulcan. Well done Asus, well done.

Logitech G600 I

f the Logitech G600 looks familiar, it’s because the mobile phone-like number pad takes its cue from the Razer Naga. In MMO games, players have numerous abilities and spells to use in combat. While adding depth to the gameplay, that creates a unique input problem: how do players activate their spells quickly when there are so many? The Naga proved to be a hit because it solved that problem.

The G600’s tries to incrementally improve over the Naga’s form-factor. For one, the upper and bottom two rows on the keypad each create a sort of concave groove. This works well, and makes it easier for your thumb to find the right key. Unfortunately, the buttons themselves feel a bit spongy. A large shift “g-shift” button designed to be pressed with your ring finger

EPIC EXPANSION TO THE STRATEGY CLASSIC

IN STORES NOW

© 1991-2012 Take-Two Interactive Software and its subsidiaries. Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Gods and Kings, Sid Meier’s Civilization V, Civ, Civilization, 2K Games, Firaxis Games, Take-Two Interactive Software and their respective logos are all trademarks of Take-Two interactive Software, Inc. All rights reserved.

doubles the number of possible inputs. Opinions around the office varied as to whether it was easy to press.

G600’s other features range from useful (a click-able, tilt-able scroll wheel) to frivolous (colorchanging lights that are obscured under your thumb).

Oddly, given that this is a company that normally delivers great build quality, the finishing feel a little cheap. Instead of the metal scroll wheels we’re accustomed to on the brand’s gaming mice, there’s a little black plastic one that wouldn’t be out of place on the OEM mouse that came with your PC. The G600 does the number pad really well – but with other shortcomings players will have to decide what’s most important to them.

Issue 03, 2012 - 21

GreatGadgets

Keeping your cool isn’t rocket science

G

etting hot air out of your chassis – and cool air in – is extremely important, especially if you have a high performance gaming rig or considering overclocking. Efficient cooling helps with achieve better clock speeds as well prolong the life of your components. Unfortunately optimum cooling isn’t as simple as slapping as many fans possible into your chassis. Having the right fan for the right application is the key and size aside, there are basically two types of fans that you’re going to need; fans that generate high airflow and fans that generate high static pressure.

Airflow fans These fans should be used as exhaust fans or when there is a need to direct air across an open area that is not obstructed. Airflow fans are most commonly seen in the top and back of most chassis to facilitate the heat dissipation.

obstructing the path of airflow, directly infront of the fan. A pressure fan designed to effectively push air through objects that restrict airflow, so pressure fans are used to cool radiators and even hard drive bays.

Corsair has recently released their line up of cooling fans, and beside being excellent fans, they have made it extremely easy for anyone to identify and choose the fan of their liking.

AF120, AF140 “AF” stands for Air Flow and the numbers after the alphabets indicate the sizes of the respective fans in diameter in milimeters. There are two versions of the AF series, Quiet Edition and Performance Edition.

SP120, SP140 “SP” stands for Static Pressure and the numbers indicate the fan size. There are also Quiet and Performance editions for the SP fans.

Pressure fans These fans are best used when there is something

Gibbson Says:

Adam Says:

Editor-in-Chief

Writer

A noisy PC is one of my biggest peeves and I have to say that these are the most quiet fans I’ve ever used. Two thumbs up! The hard rubber in the corners of the fan also helped reduced vibration and I don’t have to tell you that I’ve already replaced the fans in my rig with the Quiet Ed. AFs and SPs right? Literally, everything.

I’ve replaced the chassis’ original rear exhaust fan with an AF120 and I can finally do a push-pull config on the radiator of my (using the SP120s and AF120s) without having to worry about additional noise. Now that I think of it, I might just use the 12W – 7W resistors that come with the fans to see how silent my machine can be. I have a problem, I know.

For me, noise is no problem because I NEED SPEED! I don’t splurge on my PC as much as Gibbson does and that is why overclocking my CPU helps a lot. The Performance Edition works for me, but the best part is that my chassis interior looks so much more colour-coordinated with much thanks to the interchangeable rings! (I’m not a fan of LED lights or over-the-top colour combinations because I don’t want my chassis to look like an ah beng). I believe the interior of any chassis should have as little colour as possible and although I’m using the blue rings for my fans now, I’m keeping the red and white ones just in case Gibbson decides to let me have his Asus ROG motherboard or CM Storm Stryker chassis.

GreatGadgets

22 - Issue 03, 2012

iPhone 5: Are you sure you want one? “ H aven’t you heard? The iPhone 5 is coming! It’s a good thing I resisted the 4S! I’m so getting the iPhone 5 when it launches!” said Johanna, our Regional Media Manager.

There have been a ton of rumours and speculations of what the iPhone 5 might encompass. Some sound very pracitcal and feasable, like the dual cameras for 3D pictures and videos, a super-slim profile, new iOS, NFC (Near Field Communication), higher resolution, and even a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Some, on the other hand, seemingly impossible (at least for this now) like a completely transparent and see-through body/screen, water proofing, holographic projector or even a laser keyboard that is projected onto any surface.

“Don’t submit to the iPhone 5 unless; 1. It surpasses almost everything (within reason) you’ve read or heard of, and 2. It’s aethestics are irresistible.” This was the advice given by our editor and he has a point.

Looking back, the iPhone 4 was probably the only iPhone actually worth upgrading to. It offered a complete package, of good looks, build quality and power. Ok, it had that antenna problem that affected lefties mostly, but apart from that, the iPhone 4 was in every way superior to its predecessor. We can’t say the same about the 4S, and we aren’t even that confident about the iPhone 5.

The biggest problem iPhone lovers can anticipate is the iPhone 5’s dock connector – it will probably be smaller. That sucks, especially if you own docks, or even extra cables. You can still use Bluetooth to stream audio off some docks, but now that you can’t charge it at the same time? Boo! Of course, a simple solution would be to buy some sort of third-party converter to make things ‘ok’ again, but be prepared to run into problems.

Then there is the question of just how much better

the iPhone 5 is. Dual cameras will probably lose their appeal – just like how no one is facinated by Siri anymore – and we’re pretty sure you can upgrade the iOS on your iPhone 4 in a heartbeat. The iPhone 4 (and 4S) already houses Retina display, so how much more detail does one really need on a screen this small?

If you’re excited about the concept of holographic displays and laser keyboards (that turn any surface you’re working on into a virtual keyboard or viewing screen) pinch yourself hard and wake up because it’s not going to happen. We’re not saying that such tech is out of reach, but to implement it on a device that fits in your palm is just plain unrealistic. The tech going in – to allow your fantasies to come true – is going to be costly and don’t even get us started on battery life. What about slide-out QWERTYs? Strike that off your list too because we know, and you know, that everybody has gotten accustomed to typing using on-screen keyboards already. Bottom line, holographic laser phones with physical keyboards, not going to happen.

Transparent, see-through screens? Might as well strike that off as well – there aren’t even see through TV screens.

We then move down our speculations to the slimmer profiles, water proofing and maybe even Gorilla Glass. Water-proofing sounds pretty sweet, but if Apple throws in a new CPU (A6?) and perhaps increase the amount of RAM, geeks like us will start throwing money at the Cupertino giants faster than the speed of sound.

At the end of the day, it’s the quantifiable upgrades vesus the thickness of your wallet and if you aren’t completely swayed by the iPhone 5 (or any other phone for that matter), chances are, your current phone is just fine.

Andino PowerPlus Xtreme Lite

O

nce you’re convinced that the new iPhone isn’t for you, check out the PowerPlus Xtreme Lite. Have you seen external power banks before? Sure you have. You probably own one already.

It is absolutely crucial for power users to have a power bank or some sort of back up charger, just like how any gunslinger would never leave the house without ammo. Carrying the extra weight isn’t really an issue; it’s how long this foreign appendage needs to stay attached to your phone that is truly annoying.

So a power bank that charges your mobile device twice as fast as your standard back up charger is

AVAILABLE NOW! Death comes for us all.

© 2012 THQ Inc. Developed by Vigil Games. Darksiders, Vigil Games, THQ and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners.

definitely welcomed with open arms.

With a capacity of 4800mAh, it’ll juice your iPad up considerably and your iPhone 4S at least twice. Its rugged design and built in LED torch light makes it a must-have for those dreadful ICT field camps, and attachments to charge products from Apple, Samsung, Motorola/HTC (micro USB, Blackberry/ Sony Ericsson (mini USB) as well as Nokia are also included.

If you remember who Captain Planet is, you’ll know how cheesy we are when we say, “The power is yours!”

Issue 03, 2012 - 23

FAIRYLAND 2

GoodGame

E

veryone has a secret fantasy because more often than not, reality does not permit us to live in a world which we create and desire. We want to live a fairytale, so we turn to games and go beyond the limits of our imagination. Imagination is what keeps our world of fantasy alive.

An online wonderland with various fairytales, adventures, unique pet system and hidden fantasy behind quests, FairyLand II targets both children and young adults alike. Incorporating fantasy scene, fairytale quests, FairyLand II is a specially-designed Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMPORG) for the coming trends of casual play and social network. With real time climate and seasons changing, FairyLand II lets your world of fantasy come to life in Full 3D World with a variety of fantasia theme parks and dreamed scenes around fairytales.

With games quests based on well-known famous fairytales worldwide, the lovely and relatable characters like Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Thumbelina and Momotaro, it is easy for the younger children to immense themselves in the world of FairyLand II. Having a pet is what most children wish for and while most parents forbid them to keep a pet, FairyLand II allows children to have a pets collection of their very own. With over 480 different wonder pets, all pets can be collected, bred and even trained. These pets are reliable fighting partners and they make wonderful

companions throughout the game play.

For players who enjoy socializing online, FairyLand II gets interactive with team work game play mode, multi-tools interactive with community, social mini games, activities, free trading and market. FairyLand II allows you to expand your social network from friends, families and guilds with rich emoticon, community and instant Avatar interactive.

With various professions to choose from and endless character customization, let your imagination run wild and free as you create your Avatars, own three Characters at one time or even produce your very own items to dress your Avatars. With a vast variety of choices, your Avatars get to switch from fashionable to ready for war in just one click.

“FairyLand II is different from any other MMORPG games because it is engaging, interactive, unique and its now in Full 3D World. Players will be able to make their fantasy world come to life while engaging in it and socialize with one another at the same time.

With the famous fairytales and adorable storyline, FairyLand is a fairytale fantasy that doesn’t end; it will only get better.” Mr Roland Ong, IAHGames Group CEO.

More details regarding FairyLand 2 can be found on IAHGames or at FairyLand 2’s Facebook page. http://www.fairyland2.my/ https://www.facebook.com/ fairyland2.my