Gladget Magazine April 2014

Higher Learning

Tips and tricks for changing mobile handsets

The Switch

R evie w s inc luding Cruc ial, As us , L ogit ech, S t eelS eries and more. . .

Improving Africa’s access to eductaion

Free

Second Skin

Getting close to wearable technology

PS4: four months in...

Play Nation

I S S U E 4 2 / Vo l . 4 April 2014

www.gladgetmag.com

Online Mag

I S S U E 5 8 / Vo l . 5 April 2014

w w w. g a m e c c a m ag . c o m

inFamous: Second Son South Park:The Stick of Truth Dark Souls 2 and more...

Play Nation PS4: Four months in...

The Saga...

The Final Fantasy MMO heads to Next Gen consoles...

The Journey The Hobbit gets a LEGO treatment

Free Online Mag

Taking fun seriously!

www.gameccamag.com

Inside 6 From the Editor

8 Dress Smart

Wearable technology is the next big thing...

14 SXSW

Fun and multimedia in Austin, Texas

18 Clean Up After Yourself

Don’t leave info on your old phone

20 An Illiterate World

Education for all in Kenya

24 Looking Back: 1977

Rebellion, Jimmy Carter and the home computer

26 Play Nation

Four months in, the PS4 is looking fine!

32 Reviews

Tech and toys to get your hands on

This Month’s Cover Wearable tech gets under our skin.

See our feature on page 8.

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56 Did You Know?

Interesting factoids from the tech world...

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Reviews

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Asus Matrix Platinum Graphics Cards

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Sony HDR-PJ790 Handycam

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GLADGET Volume 4 Issue 42 April 2014

Raidmax Vortex PC Case

Editor: Katia Taliadoros katia@1337-media.com

SteelSeries H Wireless Gaming Headset

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Logitech Z150 Multimedia Speakers

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Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 4D Stereo Headset

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Seasonic X-Series 750W Power Supply

Writers: Alex Scanlon Andy Taliadoros Charlie Fripp Iwan Pienaar Lein Baart Rob Edwards Suvesh Arumugam Walt Pretorius Letters: letters@gladgetmag.com Competition Entries: competitions@gladgetmag.com

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Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB DDR3 SODIMM

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inFamous: Second Son [PS4]

Design & Photography: 1337 Media

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Dark Souls 2 [PS3]

Marketing Contact: Katia Taliadoros katia@1337-media.com

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South Park: The Stick of Truth [X360]

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technology. simply.

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Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes [PS4]

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LEGO: The Movie Videogame [PS4]

All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.

GLADGET is published by 1337 MEDIA

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Copyright Š 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2014

5

FalseSense

by Katia Taliadoros

D

From the Editor

oes all the technology around us lull us into a false sense of security?

I am not talking about what would happen if all the lights went out, but rather about the truth that the technology we have come to rely on can be used to track our movements and habits. This data is extremely valuable to all kinds of people; from marketers who can study our purchasing and lifestyle habits, allowing them to more carefully target their efforts, right through to bad seeds who want the data for nefarious purposes, personal data can be used against us.

With wearable technology becoming a prominent player in the market, gathering all kinds of data about us will become much easier. But does that mean we should ignore the time-saving and ease provided by such devices? As always, every device requires an amount of discretion and care when in use. The argument against wearable technology makes no sense when the person making it always has a mobile phone with them. Our personal security is something

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that each of us needs to take responsibility for; we cannot blame the technology for the possible breaches of privacy and security when that technology provides us with ways to secure our data and personal information.

The blame for security problems can only be laid at our feet when they happen.

Taking a little extra time (which is what these devices are supposed to help us save) to make sure that everything is safe and secure is really the best bet, because life without them would suddenly seem so much more complicated. But the risks are very real, so this is not a responsibility that should be avoided or procrastinated upon. It might seem like a lot of effort to secure your privacy, but imagine the potentially shattering consequences if these tasks (which are relatively minor in the greater scheme of things) are not done. We now live in a connected world, and we have to adapt our habits accordingly. And quite honestly, these kinds of activities are not that different from other methods we used to ensure our

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security in the past – they’re just in a different arena.

New technology shouldn’t be all about gloomy prospects and losing valuable information to those who would use it for nasty ends. We should celebrate what human ingenuity offers us, and making sure that we are secure is a small price to pay to enable us to enjoy our new toys.

This month we take a look at wearable technology, and discover that the idea has been around a lot longer than we think. Iwan provides some advice and things to remember when changing mobile phones, which will help to ensure that vital privacy and security.

Nthato looks at how inventive thinking and a unique approach will help children in Kenya, and across all of Africa, get better access to education. And Suvesh tells us about his trip to SXSW, the festival in Austin, Texas that deals with all manner of media, including the internet and gaming.

The world of tech is truly exciting, as this issue shows.

How we choose to work, play and live in it is up to each individual. g

Feature

Wearable technology is 8

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The brisk morning air surges into your lungs with each deep breath; your feet fall on the earth with a steady confident rhythm. You can feel your muscles contracting and relaxing as your footfalls create an intoxicating organic music. You are swept away in the delicious exertion, feeling tension strip away as your body performs at its peak. And you are secure in the knowledge that you do not need to stop every few moments to monitor your performance‌ your shirt is doing it for you.

Dress SMart...

a trend that cannot be ignored. gladget42

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Through embedded physiological sensors, clothing can monitor the effects of exertion, including things like EKG, heart rate, heart rate variability, breathing rate, breathing volume, actigraphy and more. These measurements are recorded by a discrete computer, and shared to a Bluetooth enabled smart device, or even uploaded onto the internet. It sounds like the perfect science-fiction fantasy for those who love their workouts, but this technology is already being employed.

Numerous different brands and models of smart shirts are

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available on the market, and they prove to be invaluable aides to those that take their health seriously. Some models can even monitor sleep patterns and movements, providing a detailed analysis of the health of the user. And they really are just one small facet of a phenomenon that is fast becoming the latest, most exciting trend in consumer technology: wearable tech.

It wasn’t that long ago that ideas like specialised visors and communication devices worn on clothing were the realms of popular TV sci-fi series. But, like so many other technologies that have even surpassed the gladget42

sci-fi of a few decades ago, wearable technology is not a thing that belongs in the realms of fiction. It is here, and it is creating a lot of excitement.

From the above-mentioned fitness oriented devices through to communication systems, wearable technology has been setting the tech world ablaze for the last few months, with many major players getting involved in this powerful movement.

The idea certainly isn’t new, and goes back further than one might imagine. At the time when it was first invented, the wrist-watch could technically be seen as wearable technology.

It certainly was a marvel of its age. And more recently, that developed into the digital watch and, for the cooler nerds, the calculator watch that became popular during the ‘80s. It didn’t really matter that you needed a pen to operate it – the calculator watch was the coolest wearable technology around… in a time when the term wearable technology wasn’t even around.

There are many fields in wearable technology; things like e-textiles and sousveillance (which refers to worn surveillance devices, often concealed in clothing or jewellery) have been around for

some time. But the major push at the moment is in the direction of wearable computers. While this might evoke images of massively powerful devices incorporated into our evening-wear, the two sub trends within this are aiming towards communication. And, to be honest, the communication devices we use today are far more powerful than devices referred to as computers in years gone by, so it’s a fair description.

CES and this year’s Mobile World Congress had a number of devices on display that make communication so much simpler.

We have seen some of these hit the market already, prior to these gladget42

two shows. Most notable was the Galaxy Gear, a smart watch that interfaces with a compatible Samsung Galaxy smart device to allow the user to access several functions without taking their phone out of their pocket. These include things like message alerts and even taking calls. The user can even take photographs with the Samsung smart watch.

And there are numerous others jumping on the bandwagon. A number of manufacturers have announced their own smart watches, which will hit the market soon. But despite the sudden flurry of activity in the area, these devices aren’t

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all that new in concept.

Aside from the aforementioned calculator watch, there have been other devices that could be categorised as smart watches. The Seiko RC series was released in the mid-80s, and featured devices that could interface with computers for things like scheduling, memos and calculators. One of the models (the RC-20 Wrist Computer) was even touch sensitive, a factor which is a major player in today’s market.

In 2000, IBM released a wrist watch that ran Linux 2.2, and was later upgraded to run Linux 2.4, and featured things like an

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accelerometer and fingerprint sensor.

So it’s not a new concept at all. But, as Acer’s S.T. Liew said in a recent interview, “I think every consumer company should be looking at wearable.

Wearable isn’t new … it just hasn’t exploded in the way that it should”.

One concept that is rather new is that of Google Glass, one of the flagship products in the new trend. These modified glasses will offer the user a functional heads-up display, effectively placing numerous apps and information sources in their field of vision. It may take a little

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getting used to, but the idea is one that may just spark a lot of interest. Even the idea of taking a photograph of whatever you are looking at has wide appeal.

Taking the concept even further are devices like the Occulus Rift. This is, for want of a better term, a virtual reality helmet that brings the user right into their chosen application. It seems like sci-fi once again, but the company behind this piece of wearable technology was recently acquired by Facebook in a multi-billion dollar deal, which just lends credence to the imminent reality of a technology long thought the domain of

fiction.

The future holds even more interesting ideas, including chips embedded beneath the user’s skin. While many groups are vehemently opposed to this kind of idea, these short range chips would allow for numerous secure activities – from unlocking your front door to making a payment at a till point.

One of the greatest fears surrounding the abovementioned chips is that the user would be trackable. There are several arguments that counter this worry. For example, the chips would use a very short range of transmission to remain

secure. Secondly, they aren’t that much more advanced than chips already installed in the credit cards you use. And then, of course, there is the fact that your cell phone can already log all kinds of tracking data about you.

These concerns do carry a degree of legitimacy, however.

Wearable devices can easily track your movements, thanks to things like GPS and internet connectivity. Even the data collected by the smart shirt we spoke of earlier could be tracked, with valuable data accessible via online sources.

In addition, long term health

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studies are difficult to perform in a world that moves so quickly.

The effects of mobile handsets are still being investigated – strapping them to your body may (or may not) have affects that we will not be aware of for years to come.

Be that as it may, the new resurgence of wearable technology is a trend that cannot be ignored, whether you choose to use these devices or not. It is likely that before long they will be commonplace, and will serve as another sign that our world is shifting constantly towards new ideas that make life easier for those that live in it. g

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by Suvesh Arumugam

SXSW Security

Investigating new directions...

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he South By Southwest (SXSW) conference has been running since the mid1980’s and is one of the biggest attractions for anyone in the media industry. The conference focuses on the 3 biggest aspects of digital media – film, music and interactive (including social media, web design and gaming). The conference is essentially a major driver for the online media that the world will experience for the rest of the year, from the music and bands that will launch at SXSW, the movies that will sink or swim and whether they will end up being streamed to our homes, and the games and online experiences we will have with brands, social influencers and everything internet.

The conference has been a platform and showcase for many of the world’s biggest performers, stars and viral trends. Everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Grumpy Cat have used SXSW to get more exposure. Previous conferences have also featured insights into online giants like Wikipedia and Facebook, while launching major apps and software like Foursquare and movies like The Hurt Locker.

SXSW has now become a hotbed for innovation and eager movie studios, record labels and software developers to scour the conference for the next big thing, while hopefuls and start-ups compete for a

little limelight to show what they can do. The interactive component is the biggest digital and interactive conference of its kind in the world.

I was very (very) lucky to attend the conference this year, and it’s one of those experiences that you realise, once you’re there, is so much more than what you expect. The entire town gets hijacked by the conference (which generates over $200 million a year), and you literally meet people from all over the world in hotels and restaurants, and might even be lucky enough to share a cab with Spike Lee or have lunch across from Shaquille O’Neal. Major online brands like Mashable, Hootsuite, Hulu as well as Subway and Doritos, took over spaces within the city to devote to their fans and to provide awesomely unforgettable experiences to conference goers, like exclusive parties (with surprise guests like Snoop Dogg).

The film conference was one of the best so far, with keynote addresses by Mike Myers, Kevin Bacon (who wittily had fun with the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” viral idea) and Mindy Kaling (star and producer of “The Mindy Project”). The conference also saw several big budget movies launched, like the upcoming Godzilla reboot and the crowd funded cult movie “Veronica Mars”.

Controversial pop diva Lady Gaga and

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veteran rocker Neil Young headlined the music portion of the conference.

Other superstars were on hand to do a variety of press gimmicks and appearances – singer Kelis was seen slinging hot BBQ for fans from a food truck to promote her latest album. If you were lucky enough to be in the right bar, you might even see the next big thing, like indie rock Aussie band The Griswolds, who just signed with New York based Wind Up records (you may remember them for launching SA rock band Seether into superstardom).

The interactive conference, though generally much more low key, had it’s own share of rock stars, with satellite interviews with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, as well as WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange – speaking about the ever increasing controversy regarding internet privacy.

The main part of the interactive conference focussed on the direction of the internet and how marketers and companies could take advantage of the social media conversations being held between companies, small business and customers. With recent changes implemented

by Facebook especially regarding newsfeed content aggregation, many community managers are seeing a huge decline in engagement on their pages – some as many as 80% less views and impressions. Many of the workshops and

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someone is likely to fly the flag of your favourite brand high and how many friends or family members they’ll convert for the brand.

More and more companies are also focussed on generating those data sets themselves, rather than relying on receiving reports from the likes of Google Analytics and Facebook Insights. Aside from the number of clickthroughs, conversions, impressions and page visits a brand gets, many are now turning to a process called social listening which generates massive datasets for analysis. The movement is still new, so much so that many of the agencies offering the service do so manually, employing interns to manually sift through thousands of social media conversations to extract how customers feel about brands, products, and the topics and conversations they’re having around them. This tells them how customers want to be marketed to, what aspects need to be highlighted in promotions and what points of pain (the part of the product cycle they don’t enjoy) they dislike the most.

A very small, but significant, part of SXSW is dedicated to gaming. Originally called Screen Burn when they introduced it in 2006, the SXSW Gaming Expo has become a destination of gamers and game developers, and this year marked the inaugural SXSW Gaming Awards.

Security

presentations, mostly from agencies and social media consultants who work with major brands like WalMart, Google, etc., spoke about changes in the way brands use social media, and an overall move towards a different, more personal and authentic form of digital marketing, that marketing outlier and marketing guru Seth Godin has spoken about for several years.

A portion of the conference was also focussed on big data and how this featured in planting “sticky” ideas (to quote Malcolm Gladwell) in customer’s minds. If you’re not familiar with the term Big Data, don’t panic, because it’s fairly vague.

A general idea would be the large sets of data and databases that companies accumulate to segment and profile potential and existing customers, to get an idea of how to better communicate and market to them, as well as how to tailor their products to the market.

Actually, that’s a very nice way to describe what is becoming a more aggressive, but pervasive, aspect of the digital experience. It’s more than just getting your phone number in a spread sheet for cold calls, it’s also about what sites you visit (and which display ads pop up when you surf those sites), to profiling your social media activity to see which products you like, whether you’re more or less likely to follow or like a brand age, and whether

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The awards were presented by YouTube and game vloggers iJustine and SMOSH, who provided some awesome comic relief.

The awards were marred by the death of the expo-organiser Matthew Crump, who passed away from a heart attack, and most of the winners dedicated their awards to him on the night. The overwhelming winner was Naughty Dog’s “The Last Of Us” – winning Excellence in Narrative, Sound Effects, Musical Score and eventually winning overall Game of the Year. The awards were also highlighted by an exclusive Cirque Du Soleil performance.

While most of the day, for me, was bound up in workshops, expos and panel discussions, the evenings were filled with excellent music (every single bar or nook was converted into a stage) and authentic Texan and Mexican food. I devoted myself to a strict diet of fish tacos, Butterfingers and Barq’s Root Beer.

This was an invaluable look into the mind of the online and traditional media industry and where film, music and gaming are headed, and this is mostly focussed on the internet and the social media applications for how everything ties together. Everyone from the biggest brands to the smallest start-ups are concerned with harnessing big data to their advantage, and segmenting the internet to find out where new opportunities are created and exist online.

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S

o after two years, the time has finally come to upgrade your smartphone. But for many people, the prospect of moving photographs, contacts, apps, and settings to the shiny new toy is far from a happy one.

More importantly, your old smartphone is chock full of personal information, from text messages to bank details. Scarily, not many properly wipe their phone of data before selling it, giving it away, or simply chucking it out with the trash. Before you make that mistake, here are a few pointers on staying secure during an upgrade.

Always back it up

These days, it’s easy to keep your settings and apps when you move to a new phone on the same platform. As long as you’ve signed in and used your Google or Apple account – which you pretty much have to if you want to use the main features – there’s already a safe record of everything you’ve purchased, ready to be downloaded again as needed. But to make sure your photos, texts, and contacts stay with you when you move, back them up.

In iOS, go to the iCloud section of the Settings menu and enable syncing for all the data you’d like to back up; for photos make sure your iCloud Photostream is enabled under Photos & Camera. In Android, go to the Privacy part of the Settings menu and tick the option to Back up my data. You can also use the Google+ app’s Auto Backup features to keep your photos safe; just go to the app’s settings to enable it. Of course, the traditional way to back up a phone still works: just connect it to your PC or laptop and follow the instructions.

Once your data is backed up, you need to erase everything from the phone so you can dispose of it safely. The first step is obvious: remove the SIM card. This may or may not contain text messages and contacts, but you don’t want to hand it over to a stranger in any case. Also, remove any SD cards the phone is using for extra storage; if you need to include an SD card with your sale, go into the phone’s settings and find the option to format the card.

With that done, it’s time to wipe the phone itself. Both Android and iOS have simple factory reset options in their Settings menus (under Privacy and General, respectively), and for 99% of users that will be more than enough to render your data unrecoverable.

But while this might be enough to discourage identity thieves it is far from a guarantee if someone is specifically after your files,

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Sweat the small stuff

While we’re on the subject, remember to remove your SIM card prior to selling, donating, or throwing away your phone. While most of the data that you store is kept on your internal storage or microSD card, it’s still possible for contacts or call logs to be kept on your SIM card.

Similarly, if your phone has a microSD card, chances are you don’t really want or need to give it away. To truly ensure that the data on your microSD card is secure, keep it to yourself.

Erase and format your SD card. If you absolutely have to include your microSD card with your phone, then you’ll at least want to erase and format it. You can usually do this via the Settings app. You can also do it by connecting it to a PC, but if you format it with the wrong file system for your phone, it might not recognise the card. Again, the best way to secure your data is to keep your card.

Added reassurance

Secure wipe

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accounts, or photos. Even if you find, identify, and delete all sensitive files on your device, that doesn’t mean a savvy thief can’t recover them fairly easily using data-recovery software.

Some of those programs are as easy to use as any basic software and app, and many are free.

To ensure that your files aren’t easily retrievable, you’ll have to resort to more drastic measures. Most will take some time, but the effort is worthwhile and will provide greater peace of mind.

The easiest way to securely erase a smart phone or tablet is to encrypt the device first, then do a factory reset. First, though, remember to back up any files you want to keep and remove the microSD and SIM cards.

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Even if you’re not looking to change phones yet, it could pay to download and install mobile security software on your device. The good ones will easily sync, share, and restore your contacts list, and includes the ability to remotely wipe a phone if it gets into the wrong hands.

However, if you are going to change devices remember that you should never recycle, trade in, sell, or donate your device without wiping it clean. It’s important to realise that your smartphone (or tablet) is actually a minicomputer capable of containing all types of sensitive personal and financial information that malicious users can sell or use for nefarious purposes, g

Keeping safe for the rest of 2014

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by Iwan Pienaar

Clean Up After Yourself 19

An Illite World Africa

Kytabu – the solution to the problem

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by Nthato Morakabi

erate

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Africa

he ability to read or write is something that many of us have been taught from a young age, to the point where it has become second nature to us and we therefore never really process the act itself. We are able to pick up a book and understand the letters and how their arrangement forms words, which in turn forms sentences, and so on. We are able to understand what the writer wants to convey. We are also able to do the complete opposite in that we are able to put down these letters forming words and covey our message to others. Now, imagine if you did not have the knowledge or skill to do something like that, where even reading this very article required assistance from one who could read.

Unfortunately, there are many countries in this very situation, where the literacy level of the population is low, which in turn affects the country and its ability to produce skilled labour.

It comes as no surprise then that entrepreneurs, businesses and educational facilities look to increase the literacy rate of their country. Such was the case for the Republic of Kenya, a sovereign state in the

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African Great Lakes region of East Africa. This ever growing country, it has been stated by the African Development Bank, has a projected economic growth that reached 4.5% in 2013 and could achieve 5.2% in 2014. However, it has become evident that this growth can only be sustained if skilled labour is being produced among the people. The biggest issue contributing to a lack of skilled labour is the fact that those who would need to be trained up for this endeavour would also be required to have a literacy level beyond the basics.

A Census Bureau report in July 2013 listed all the African countries according to their literacy level; that is, the ability to read and write at a specified age – a rather broad definition of the word literacy.

Kenya came out at 4th on the list with a 85.10% literacy rate.

As great as that is, evidence from UNICEF also reveals that the literacy rate in Kenya among people between 15 24 years of age is over 70%, much higher than the 53% of the older population… however this literacy is elementary, not secondary or advanced.

In an effort to address this

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particular issue, a Kenyan technology entrepreneur founded and launched an innovative textbook subscription service known as Kytabu. The idea for this innovation is to provide educational material via mobile devices such as tablets, in an affordable and easily accessible manner, thereby providing learning material to almost anyone. The target market is mainstream public education systems as they face the biggest challenge when it comes to accessing learning material, which in turn affects the literacy levels of students.

The name of this idea stems from two words: “Ky” which comes from the word “key” and “Tabu” which is Swahili for “problem”, and therefore the combined words work to form the meaning “the solution to the problem” which, in this case, is the problem of access to textbooks.

Bookshops providing the same learning material are unfortunately too far for many students to access, the textbooks themselves are expensive and there is also the issue of availability of the necessary material. Kytabu, however, works in a similar

manner to iTunes, providing third party digital content to users, from textbooks to audio books and animated material, all based on the public educational curriculum.

Users then have access to the necessary material, all available via the Kytabu application and at affordable rates. In fact, the Kytabu application service has preinstalled textbooks based on the students’ class, saved on a microSD card which can be upgraded once for the year.

Should a book require an update, Kytabu will utilize a mobile network to update the content remotely at no cost to students.

A service such as this does not come cheaply and the running costs for it are to be expected to increase.

Currently the service is starting up and looks to cater for 7300 students by the end of September. The company has been fortunate enough to be sponsored by two American investors, has garnered $350 000 start-up capital from fundraising and is hoping to get another $350 000 from larger capital investor groups.

They have also partnered with Microsoft4Afrika to use their

Azure cloud storage system.

Although the application has competitors, such as World Reader and Intel, they are above these services due to the fact that these competitors are device-dependent and need the Internet or a traditional payment system to access the learning material. Kytabu will utilize the ever expanding payment method known as Mobile Money to lease and sell textbooks. Mobile Money is the latest non-coin-based payment method that allows users to pay for a wide range of services and both digital and hard goods via a mobile device rather than through cash, cheque or credit cards.

Research by iHub has revealed that there is a mobile penetration rate of 71.4% in Kenya and that this number represents the number of active SIM cards, increasing exponentially since the introduction of a new mobile phone operator in the country.

Some analysts expect the total number of mobile subscriptions to reach 39.5 million by 2016, which would be an 83.1% penetration rate. The reason that such a high rate exists is due to the massive adoption and use of Mobile Money. Of

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28 million mobile subscribers in the country, 18.98 million of them are subscribed to Mobile Money, transferring more than Kshs. 176 Billion which is the equivalent of $2 Billion.

Through these statistics, it is possible to see how viable Kytabu is in Kenya and how effective it will be as a means to reaching and educating students.

With Africa as a developing continent as a whole and with education as such an important aspect, not just for Kenya but for everyone, ideas such as eLearning and utilization of present technology is imperative for the furthering and growth of each country.

Now through the Kytabu service, local Kenyan students can now be in competition with students from other parts of the world with similar employment opportunities.

With such a wealth of information available, and as more children and students fill schools, issues such as literacy can be combated through the utilisation of available technology and continuous innovation that is sure to push developing countries, and Africa as a whole, to a whole new level. g

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By

Lei

nB

aar

t

1977 Bringing the Computer Home

Looking Back

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t was the year of rebellion, as the counterculture movement that had begun in the 60’s exploded into the punk rock phenomenon that swept up the western world in a torrent of anti-establishment anger, with bands like the Sex Pistols, the Ramones and the Clash leading the charge. It was the year that saw the first Star Wars film released, and the death of the King of Rock ‘n Roll. It was a time of profound political change as well, with Jimmy Carter being elected president of the United States, the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War (which would see Israel firmly establish their presence in the middle east), and the tragic death of Steve Biko in police custody.

1977 was a year that saw an uproar of surprise from the scientific community, with hopes fostered that the first signs of extra-terrestrial intelligence had actually been detected, encapsulated in the form of the Wow! Signal. Named for the comments by Jerry R. Ehman on the printout, the Wow! Signal was detected by the Big Ear radio telescope as part of the SETI project, and bears all the hallmarks of what we would expect from not only an extra-terrestrial source, but also that of a

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signal that originated from outside our solar system.

The signal has never been detected again, despite numerous attempts, and while it could possibly have originated from Earth, its origins remain unknown to this day.

This was also a year that would see the ushering in of a new age of warfare, specifically with the Lockheed Have Blue, the first stealth aircraft to actually fly.

While only serving as the proof of concept for the far more famous F-117 Nighthawk, the Have Blue was a huge advance in aeronautics, being specifically designed to be near-invisible to the radar detection systems the Soviets employed. Bearing the now iconic flat angular surfaces of its successor, which deflected radar signals away from the receiver, only two test flights were ever conducted. Despite both flights crashing due to mechanical failure, the Have Blue was deemed a success by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), and the Have Blue was soon put into production as the Nighthawk.

1977 though, above all else, was the year of the home computer. While the desktop wouldn’t truly be

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revolutionised until the release of the IBM-PC in 1981, this year saw the announcement and release of three separate systems, all of which would play an incalculable role on the development of computing. The first in line was the Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor), the forerunner to the legendary Commodore 64. While not revolutionary in terms of its individual hardware components, the PET has the distinction of being the first all-in-one home computer. Backed by a 1MHz 6502 MOS microprocessor and monochrome graphics, the PET proved so popular that Commodore was forced to cancel the 4kB RAM version in favour of the 8kB 8-bit RAM model, just to meet demand. Despite several problems, most especially with its graphics display and the “killer POKE� (a software command that could destroy the monitor in later versions), the PET laid the ground work for the release of the 64, according to some the single best selling computer of all time.

The next system to hit the market was the TRS-80 Model 1, which by the end of the decade would become the most popular home computer on the market.

Running on 1.77 MHz Zilog Z80 CPU, with the basic

model utilising just 4kB of 8-bit RAM, the TRS-80 was notable for its full, albeit tiny, QWERTY keyboard and cheap price. In spite of problems in the original design, such a cassette storage device that was notoriously unreliable, a poor quality monitor (which was essentially a repurposed black and white TV) and the fact that the machine generated so much radio interference that an AM radio placed next to it could be used to play sounds, the Model 1 did incredibly well, with the widest selection of software available across all the various computers of the time.

Last but not least was the release of the Apple 2, the product that put Apple squarely on the map.

Utilising the same 1MHz processor as the PET, the Apple 2 became immediately distinguishable due to its advanced colour graphics (for the time), a trend which has continued to this day. Unlike modern times though, Steve Wozniak designed the Apple 2 to allow a plethora of third-party devices that could be used to either improve or provide completely new functions to the machines, including the ability to run independent operating systems. g

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Play Natio Several months in, and PS4 is doing great‌

by Walt Pretorius

Feature

X

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Feature

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ater this year – September, to be exact – the South African video gaming market will shift once again. Microsoft has announced that the Xbox One will release in 26 new territories at that time, with South Africa being one of those countries.

Needless to say, fans of the Xbox platform are excited and relieved to finally have a more-or-less date for the new Microsoft console’s release.

At the time, though, the PlayStation Four will have almost a year’s lead on the Xbox One in South Africa.

And South Africa has traditionally been a very strong space for the Sony console. After its release on the 13th of December last year, South Africans have been clamouring for the PS4. Securing enough stock to meet the demand was almost impossible for local distributors Ster Kinekor, as global stock shortages

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forced Sony to concentrate on bigger markets. But a recent announcement by Ster Kinekor stated that a steady supply of PS4 units would be entering the country for the foreseeable future and that, despite a price hike, the PS4 would be readily available for those that still need to get their hands on the latest Sony console.

We spoke to Mario dos Santos, the CEO of Ster Kinekor Entertainment, to get his take on the current situation, what the rest of the year promises, and the entrance of a new competitor into the South African market in September of this year.

GM: It’s been a few months since the launch of the PlayStation 4 in South Africa… how are things going?

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MdS: It’s been an overwhelming success, actually… which comes with its own problems as well. Getting the right level of inventory, what’s needed, has been tough.

The focus has been on servicing the major markets; it’s a very competitive landscape, so Sony has been focussing their attention on those markets. So it’s been pretty tough to secure units for our market. But we’ve done well relative to territories that we benchmark ourselves against, like Greece and Turkey. Pretty much everything that has touched retail has sold through, but now we are going into more of a free supply period for the foreseeable future.

in excess of 30 000 brought into the South African market. And they’ve been flying. We know from a fanatic perspective that the first thirty or forty thousand would be quite an easy sell, so we don’t want to take too much credit. After this it will become a little more challenging.

GM: Can you share any details on how many units have been brought into South Africa?

MdS: I can’t give exact figures, but there have been

GM: Does that count for peripherals as well?

MdS: There is a short supply of DualShock 4’s, but from our side we managed to secure sufficient numbers.

GM: So, you mentioned that we will now have a steady supply of units… will that continue for the foreseeable future?

MdS: Yes, we will be in a free-supply situation, certainly for the next few months.

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We couldn’t just order the volumes that we wanted, but we certainly feel that we have enough to meet the demand. We’re in a good space in that regard.

Feature

GM: At the same time that the supply improvement was announced, there was also a price hike announced…

MdS: Unfortunately, yes. We saw the exchange rate move a large degree in the last six months. There’s not much that can be done about that, because it is a fully imported product. There is very little that you can do from a local perspective to keep the price down.

GM: Shifting topics slightly, we now have a confirmed month for the release of the Xbox One here in South Africa… what thoughts do

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you have on that?

MdS: We’re looking forward to it. It’s somebody else making a noise about gaming. We saw that the PS4 gave a spike to the market, so the additional share of voice helps. Up until now it’s been us that have had to do the shouting. So it’s a positive thing and from a Ster Kinekor perspective we do other publishers; we also distribute their content on the Xbox One format, so it’ only going to help us. We’re excited about it… the sooner the better.

GM: What do you think the rest of the year will hold?

MdS: From discussions that we’ve had with publishers we’re seeing a lot of focus on the PS4. They’re seeing, from a development perspective, that timelines are far

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shorter than the previous format, so they’re positive that there will be a fair bit of content in that pace. To be fair, there are some big franchises coming, and hopefully some of the new IPs will do well too. Hopefully things like Watch_Dogs will bring new people into the gaming space. Wolfenstein should be fabulous. So, yeah, there’s certainly going to be enough content to get people into the next generation of gaming this year.

GM: What has the local response to PS+ been like since the launch of the PS4?

MdS: There has been an unprecedented increase, thanks to the required online gaming perspective. But the positive feedback has been good. It’s always been a difficult message to communicate, in terms of what you get from the service. We’ve tried different things

through PR and messages in the press, but it’s the kind of thing that needs to tangibly show the consumer its benefits. But if you follow some of the forums of the guys on it, the response has been overwhelming. It’s been particularly positive.

GM: Last prediction request; we’ve seen PS4 perform favourably against the Xbox One in markets where both are available. Do you think we’ll see a similar situation here?

MdS: It’s difficult to say. From our side we’re certainly hoping so. The Xbox 360 had almost a year lead on the PS3 in South Africa, which took some time for us to work through and eventually get the lead back. But we’re confident that we’ll do well, based on the install base of the previous generation. g

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Reviews Highlights 34 Asus Matrix Platinum Graphics Cards Radeon vs NVidia 38 Sony HDR-PJ790 Handycam A truly handy cam!

42 SteelSeries H Wireless Gaming Headset Wireless audio at its best!

48 Seasonic X-Series 750W Power Supply Dependable PC power

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he tech field is always interesting, even in the slow months. This issue is the result of one of those months, but it still offers some great ideas for tech-fans.

We put some graphics cards to the test, played with an awesome cam-corded, listen to great sound without wires and much more! g

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gladget42

FEATURED

PRODUCT

R9 280X

R9 270X R9 260X

ASUS Radeon R9 280X, R9 270X and R7 260X DirectCU II series graphics cards

TIME TO LEVEL UP

It’s always exciting when new graphics cards launch — and all the more so when those cards herald from a renowned innovator like ASUS. With the new R9 280X, R9 270X and R7 260X models, the ASUS technical wizards have truly excelled themselves.

Overclock and Tweak with Ease Enjoy Faster, Quieter and Cooler Play R9 280X, R9 270X and R7 260X are How do ASUS engineers push Radeon R9 and R7 GPUs so much further? By fitting the R9 280X, R9 270X and R7 260X graphics cards with DirectCU II cooling technology — something no other manufacturer can do because DirectCU II is an ASUS exclusive.

Highly-conductive copper cooling pipes are put in direct contact with the GPU so heat is dissipated with extreme efficiency.

Compared with reference designs, ASUS R9 280X, R9 270X and R7 260X with DirectCU II allow the new Radeon GPUs to run up to 20% cooler and three times quieter. For you as a gamer, this means ultra-stable play with very low noise.

R9 280X goes one step further, with an exclusive 10mm heat-pipe that transports 40% more heat away from its R9 GPU. What’s more, the surface area of ASUS engineers also put lots of work into ensuring R9 280X, R9 270X and R7 260X will serve you long into the future, dust-proofing the cooling fans to significantly reduced the build-up of debris — so your ASUS graphics card performs at its best for much longer.

As well, R9 280X is fitted with an exclusive ASUS CoolTech technology — a cool name for an exceedingly cool fan. This innovative cooler’s hybrid blade and bearing design, with inner radial blower and outer flower-shaped blades, delivers multi-directional airflow to accelerate heat

www.asus.com/za

Capacitors, chokes and MOSFETS

Finally, fans of ASUS graphics cards will be well aware of GPU Tweak — our fantastic tool that lets you control GPU and video-memory clock speeds and voltages, cooling-fan speeds and power consumption. It’s all controlled with a easy-to-use interface, so you no longer need to be an expert to overclock. You can even use the GPU Tweak Streaming feature to share on-screen action and messages live over the internet to let others can watch as you play!

It’s time for graphics cards that deliver more. It’s time for ASUS R9 280X, R9 270X and R7 260X. Accessible and intuitive graphics tuning for everyone 3DMark 11 (Performance) ASUS Radeon

Reference Radeon

P8439 P8091 P3483

P3308

ASUS R9 280X DC2 Memory: 3GB GDDR5 GPU boost clock: 1070MHz

www.facebook.com/ASUSza www.facebook.com/ASUSza

equipped with exclusive with ASUS DIGI+ voltage regulation and Super Alloy Power technology. Solid-state capacitors, concrete-core chokes and hardened MOSFETs and DIGI+ VRM’s multi-phase power and digital voltage regulation ensure graphics card stability and clean power, even during the most intense gaming sessions. This great technology even reduces power noise by as much as 30%

P6821 P6370

ASUS R9 270X DC2 Memory: 2GB GDDR5 GPU boost clock: 1120MHz

ASUS R7 260X DC2 Memory: 2GB GDDR5 GPU boost clock: 1188MHz

Graphics

Review

Asus Matrix Platinum Graphics Cards

It’s Radeon vs NVidia in the Matrix Platinum range…

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A

by Andy Taliadoros

A

sus are well known for creating components that are great for all kinds of performance, but their products – particularly their graphics cards – really shine under overclocking conditions.

Aside from generally excellent performance under normal loads, Asus graphics cards are a go-to solution for many that want to push their machines to the max.

For those that really want to squeeze every bit of performance out of their PC, and even want to tinker with extreme cooling methods, Asus has produced their Matrix Platinum range of graphics cards, in both NVidia and Radeon flavours. In this review we look at one of each.

Just a quick note – we don’t normally put two products into one review, but the truth is that these cards are so very similar that producing a separate review for each would almost be like reprinting the same thing twice. Almost.

But there are a few differences that allowed us to put the two cards head-to-head, with interesting results.

Both versions are visually identical. Apart from an SLI interface that can be found on the GTX 780 Ti, one would be hard-pressed to identify the different chipsets at a glance.

The NVidia version is powered by a GTX 780 Ti chipset, while the Radeon model has a R9 290X at its core – both chipsets that compare favourably against each other. The first major difference between the two, though, comes in the form of video memory: the GTX 780 Ti offers 3GB of RAM which runs at 7000 MHz, while the R9 290X sports 4GB of RAM, which runs at 5400 MHz. In other words, one has less RAM with a faster clock speed, while the other has more RAM which is a little slower.

What kind of difference does that make?

Well, it seems that the faster RAM wins out, despite the fact that there is less of it.

In our own tests, as well as in manufacturer documentation and other tests we found floating around the Internet, the GeForce version outperformed the Radeon card to varying degrees, sometimes by as much as almost a thousand points in systems like 3DMark11 Extreme.

But those figures are not always a clear indicator of what a graphics card can do – the proof is when the card is put under the strain of gaming, which is one area in which any graphics card will be pushed to perform. After putting both cards through their paces in a number of

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Summary

Tech Specs: • • • • • • •

The NVidia version shows slightly better performance on paper, and manages to run cooler and quieter.

Ma n u fa ctu r e r Di s tr i b u te r : Online:

A s us P innacle Af rica w ww.pinnacle .co.za

Pros • • • • •

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Quiet Great performance Safe Mode

GeForce GTX 780 Ti chipset 3GB VRAM DirectCU II technology 2 DVI outputs DisplayPort HDMI GPU Tweak

(GTX 780 Ti)

Review

Asus ROG Tytan CG8890

games, those all-important frame-rate counts indicated that, for the most part, the GTX 780 Ti produced a few more frames a second than the R9 290X. The difference, however, almost falls into the realms of negligible… the higher frame rates were not significant enough to make a difference perceptible to the naked eye. So the better performance delivered by the GTX 780 Ti really is something that looks impressive on paper, but doesn’t translate into a massive difference in the real world.

Without kicking into overclocking, both cards run relatively quietly, and don’t generate too much heat. That said, in terms of in-box performance, the GeForce wins again. It runs quieter and quite a lot cooler than the Radeon model. That’s not to say that the Radeon is going to melt under strain – both cards feature great on-board cooling, in the form of dual hybrid fans, generous multi-directional air-flow and the DirectCU II cooling system (which features large heat sinks and 10mm heat pipes that are in direct contact with the GPU).

Both also feature an aluminium back plate, as well as DIGI+ VRM technology, which makes use of black metallic capacitors and 14-phase super alloys. They also both feature a new Asus technology especially for those that run machines with extreme cooling systems.

Integrated memory defrosters can be turned on to minimise the cold bugs, which can sometimes occur in sub-zero temperatures. That’s a great solution for extreme overclockers.

Overclocking is the Radeon version’s domain.

It simply offers overclockers more things to tweak and fiddle with, which would appeal to some of the more hard-core enthusiasts. When used with compatible motherboards, both can be directly wired to appropriate solder-points on the motherboard, making overvolting much easier at a hardware level. They also feature a jumper switch that alternates between standard cooling and liquid-nitrogen cooling. Simply put, when in liquid-nitrogen mode, a number of

Cons • • • • •

Pricey

Score

96 gladget42

(R9 290X)

built-in restrictions on power and voltage are overridden, providing the user with a ton of extra manoeuvring room.

Both cards work with Asus’ GPU Tweak software suites, which enable easy overclocking to virtually everyone. In addition, both cards have an integrated safe-mode that kicks in if the strain is too much, effectively preventing catastrophic damage to the devices. A safe mode button on the card will, with one press, reset the cards to their factory settings, which adds a level of hardware safety to both. And both feature a side mounted indicator that changes colour according to load, providing users who have a windowed PC case an at-aglance indicator of the card’s performance and strain.

So which card is better? Well, there is no simple answer for that… it really depends on what the end user is going after. For “normal” activities, like gaming and low-level overclocking, the performance of the GTX 780 Ti is better on paper, although it’s tough to spot it with the naked eye. The GTX 780 Ti runs cooler and quieter, too, which may be a big consideration for some. But if the user is going to be doing some heavy, high-level overclocking (including the use of chemical cooling agents) then the Radeon is arguably the better bet. Both cards allow the same kind of tinkering, but the Radeon seems to enjoy being messed with more.

Both cards offer the kind of reliability and performance one would expect from Asus’ components, and both do a great job of delivering top-notch graphics performance.

Perhaps the deciding factor, then, would fall towards the user’s preferences for chipset manufacturers, although – quite honestly – the cards are so similar that it becomes something of a moot point.

One thing that is for sure, though, is that no matter which Matrix Platinum flavour you decide on, you’re guaranteed of great performance and reliability. g

Summary

Tech Specs: • • • • • • •

The NVidia version shows slightly better performance on paper, and manages to run cooler and quieter.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

A sus Pinna c le A fric a www.pinna c le.c o.za

Pros • • • • • gladget42

Awesome overclocking Great performance Safe Mode

R9 290X chipset 4GB VRAM DirectCU II technology 2 DVI outputs DisplayPort HDMI GPU Tweak

Cons • • • • •

Pricey

Score

95 37

M M

Review

Sony HDR-PJ790 Handycam

obile handsets have changed a lot of things in technology. And one of those things (even though it isn’t really something that handsets do anymore) is everything getting smaller. One area that we have seen a massive impact of in this trend is image capturing. Cameras and cam-corders have been getting smaller and smaller with each iteration.

That’s one thing that makes Sony’s HDRPJ790 Handycam stand out from the crowd. It’s not small. Okay, it’s not enormous either, but it certainly is a comfortable handful, and its size and weight convey a sense of reliability. Not that this message is inaccurate; like almost every Handycam that came before, the HDR-PJ790 delivers great performance. It’s to be expected from a Sony product like this, and it doesn’t disappoint.

What sets the HDR-PJ790 apart from its competitors is not ideas like reliability and great image quality. Rather, it is the smart implementation of added extras, and a move towards user-convenience that makes this camera shine.

Most notable among these is the integrated projector that is housed in the outer side of the HDR-PJ790’s flip-out, rotatable 3 inch screen.

It’s not exactly a cinema-quality protection system, but it produces a clear (albeit small) image on pretty much any handy surface.

It’s particularly useful for previewing footage recorded on the HDR-PJ790 (without everyone cramming around the screen) but it can also project images from other sources.

In addition, the HDR-PJ790 has a rather generous 98GB on-board flash memory, as well as an easily accessible SD slot. Either can be used to capture the full HD video recorded by the unit, as well as the surprisingly good (and large) 24.1 megapixel stills it can take.

The HDR-PJ790 has a host of other features, too, which add value for users who want to make the most out of their videography. For example, the HDR-PJ790 records audio in 5.1 surround, thanks to a great integrated microphone.

Additionally, a number of manual controls are available, including things like manual focus. It also features a 10x optical zoom, and all kinds of enhancement tools like image stabilisation.

It’s becoming increasingly rare to see people make use of things like Handycams, what with the proliferation of video capable smart phones and similar devices. But a device like the HDRPJ790 makes using a dedicated video recorder a smart way to go. It is simply more capable of grabbing great footage than any smart device, and it beats out some competing cam-corders while it’s at it.

If you are after great video – not just good video – and want a host of enhancements and features to go along with that, the HDR-PJ790 is a really good option, thanks to its great image and audio quality and superb special features. g

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in

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by Walt Pretorius

etimes the m o be S st r

s ti

d ll a dedicated

i ev

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Summary

Tech Specs:

Those wanting a dedicated video recorder can do much worse than the HDR-PJ790. Its excellent features and great quality make it a wonderful way to capture video.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gladget42

Projector On-board memory Great quality capture

Full HD 5.1 surround sound 24.1 megapixel stills Integrated projector 3 inch LCD screen 98GB on-board memory 10x optical zoom

Sony Sony www.sony .c om

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Quite large

Score

92 39

Raidmax Vortex PC Case

C Review

C

Saver

hoosing the right case to build your PC into is a very important step when putting together a great machine. The case needs to be able to hold everything comfortably, while still having enough space on the inside to ensure good air flow.

But lots of room in a case also means a bigger box, and sometimes finding a balance between saving space and keeping a case roomy can be quite tricky.

The Raidmax Vortex strikes a decent balance between the two. It is a comparatively small case, but is well structured internally, allowing for even longer graphics cards to be housed within it. And good structure means potentially good airflow, provided the user builds their interior neatly.

Fans are also obviously important for air moving through the case, and the Vortex allows for two front mounted, one top mounted and one rear mounted fan,

40

all 120mm in size. The side panel has a window, but no place to fit a fan. This isn’t ideal, as a side mounted fan can deliver much needed cooling to the GPU and CPU. Still, the straight-in, straight-out design that the Vortex uses for air flow isn’t the worst idea around.

Higher end machines may get a little toasty if built into it, though. If the user makes sensible choices, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

The PSU slot is bottom mounted, with generous venting to allow direct PSU heat extraction, which helps. The bottom mounted PSU also adds stability to the case, by shifting the heaviest component to the base of the box.

The interior of the Vortex is well finished, and can be purchased in a screwless variety for those who want to save on a little labour.

On the outside, the case looks great. It is quite

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by Walt Pretorius

A

slightly

sm a

ller cas

or f e

d-range i P m

angular, and the front panel features aesthetic detail and pleasing lines. At the top-front of the case the user will find a single USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 port.

Once again, not quite ideal, but the inclusion of a USB 3.0 port is good. There are also audio jacks and the expected switches.

The Vortex can also house three 5.25 inch optical drives, as well as three 3.5 inch and three 2.5 inch HDDs (or SSDs, in the case of the latter measurement).

On the whole, the Vortex is a decent box, but it won’t be the best fit for a higher end machine. Fewer external ports limit it a bit, and the lack of a side panel fan can make keeping a monster machine cool a little tricky. But the Vortex isn’t intended for monsters – rather, it is a decent, compact home for mid-range PC components. g

Cs

Summary

Tech Specs:

It might not be perfect for a monster PC, but the Vortex will serve as a good home for mid-range machines.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gladget42

Compact Looks good

1 USB 3.0 port 1 USB 2.0 port 4 120mm fan mounts Bottom mounted PSU 3 Optical bays 3 3.5 inch drive bays 3 2.5 inch drive bays

Ra idma x Sy ntec h www.sy ntec h.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

No side fan mount

Score

75 41

Review

Raising

SteelSeries H Wireless Gaming Headset

Bar

W

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W

e get to see a lot of headsets and, quite honestly, most of them are really good products. After all, the function of a headset is to produce decent sound (and in some cases enable clear chat) and most manufacturers get this right more often than not. Occasionally one comes along that is sub-par, but they are becoming more and more rare. The bar has been raised across the board, and it keeps getting raised by the other side of the coin; truly exceptional products that don’t just deliver great audio, but do it in an intelligent and innovative manner. Those products are also more rare than the run-of-the-mill, but this month we had the opportunity to test one of them: the SteelSeries H Wireless Gaming Headset.

Wireless headsets come with a wealth of potential problems; battery life, audio lag, transmitter size and so forth. But SteelSeries managed to really get things right with the H Wireless. Using a small transmitter that delivers lag free performance, the H Wireless doesn’t take up too much desk space, and certainly has no cable-clutter to deal with.

That said, the transmitter box offers a number of options for inputs, ranging from USB to optical. That means that pretty much every kind of gaming platform can be used with this headset, for audio at least. The PS4 cannot make use of its chat function, unfortunately, because the jack that connects the headset to the game controller is the smaller kind, used by the Xbox 360. But if chat isn’t important, then the H Wireless serves PS4 users perfectly well.

Battery life is taken care of by two rechargeable batteries (resembling mobile phone batteries). While one is powering the headset, the other can be recharged in the transmitter, which features a special port for that purpose. Switching batteries is a bit of a chore, as the user needs to remove the left ear-cup cover to access the battery compartment, and the process can be a little fiddly. But it doesn’t take long after a bit of practice, and the LCD screen on the front of the transmitter displays the power levels of the battery in use, as well as the charge status of the backup. That makes planning a quick swap pretty easy.

The transmitter also features a large knob that adjusts audio and serves as control input for setting the H Wireless’ numerous audio modes and functions. There is also a volume control built into the headset’s right ear-cup, making audio control extremely easy.

There are numerous aspects of the H Wireless that are great; ease-of-use, versatility, comfort, and, of course, audio quality are all top notch. SteelSeries hits all the right notes with this excellent audio device. g gladget42

SteelSe ries

ge ts w ire

les

sa

ud i o

ht… ri g Summary

SteelSeries have produced a real winner in the form of the H Wireless, which serves as a great multi-platform wireless gaming headset.

Tech Specs:

S t e e lSe r i e s M e ga r om ww w .m e ga r om .c o .za

Great audio Clever design ideas Comfortable • • • •

Pros

M a n u fa c t u r e r D is t r i bu t e r O n lin e

Not the best for PS4

7.1 virtual surround sound OLED screen Neodymium drivers USB input Optical input Mobile compatible Rechargeable batteries

• • • •

Cons

• • • • • • •

Score

97 gladget42

43

Logitech Z150 Multimedia Speakers

No ear damage here‌

Review

Does it

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I I

t’s easy to become caught up in the need for bigger, meaner, louder speakers. After all, no matter what your audio preference, loud sound has power. Be it for music, movies or gaming, thundering audio manages to strike a great chord with almost everyone.

But loudness should never compromise quality (which a few guys driving around my neighbourhood have yet to realise). And you can’t always have a massive speaker stack around… space confines and vengeful neighbours are just some of the factors that could contribute to one having to choose smaller, less powerful speakers.

Enter the Logitech Z150 Multimedia Speakers. These rather small speakers would be easy to judge by their dimensions but, considering what they are, they produce pretty good sound. I doubt true audiophiles will be falling over their feet to get them, but average, every-day folk will find a decent response across the whole acoustic spectrum when using them. Sure, your cousin’s massive subwoofer that takes up half of his car will produce more resounding bass (as well as accelerating continental drift) but the Z150s are surprisingly good at bringing bass notes to the fore – particularly when considering that they are powered by 50mm drivers.

Generally speaking, 50mm drivers are fine when they’re in a headset and your ears aren’t being bombarded by other sounds, but in speakers they aren’t necessarily the best bet.

Still, they perform rather well here.

Where they do lack is in volume… no one will ever pray for your immediate demise because your music is too loud if you’re using the Z150’s. And that’s a little disappointing, because they seem to want to do more. Not that they’re whisper quiet… they deliver a fair amount of volume. But they’re not going to be the life of the party; if bigger speaker systems are the guy with no pants and a lamp shade on his head dancing on a table; these are the guy having a quiet drink outside. The sound is good, just not extremely loud.

The Z150’s use something of an anachronistic, yet effective system. They are socket-powered, rather than using USB, and interface with the PC (or any device with a compatible port) via a 3.5mm jack. All controls are situated on the right speaker, which interfaces with its slave left speaker via a cable. The right speaker has a volume knob that doubles as an on/off switch, as well as headphone and auxiliary outputs.

In short, if you’re looking for a smaller set of speakers that won’t damage the foundations of every building in your neighbourhood, the Z150’s are a reliable bet. They’re not loud, but their audio is crisp, clear and free of distortion… which is more than you can say for your cousin’s subwoofer system. g

by Walt Pretorius

Summary

Tech Specs:

They’re small and not very loud, but the Z150’s still produce crisp, clear sound.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gladget42

Good sound quality Small

50mm drivers Stereo 6W peak 3.5mm jack On-speaker controls

Log itec h Pinna c le A fric a www.pinna c le.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Not very loud

Score

79 45

Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 4D Stereo Headset

Bass

T Review

T

he gap between 40mm drivers and 50mm drivers has closed up quite a bit, and relatively quickly at that. It wasn’t that long ago that there was a marked difference in the audio quality produced by the two, with the smaller drivers being on the back foot when it came to a full range of audio. Nowadays, that gap has closed… but it still exists. While there are some very impressive 40mm drivers out there, 50mm still produce a much wider, crisper range of sound.

And that’s what you’ll be getting from Mad Catz’s F.R.E.Q 4D stereo headset; great, clear, well-rounded audio. There are several internal systems and components that lead to this, but at the core of it all are the precision balanced 50mm drivers that the F.R.E.Q 4D uses. And the sound quality is extremely good.

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The bass effects are made even more impressive by the system that the F.R.E.Q 4D takes its name from: 4D sound. Using special ViviTouch actuator modules, complete with an on-ear control to turn them on or off, the F.R.E.Q 4D produces excellent bass when you want it. And that’s something that a number of headsets lack – the high notes are crisp enough, but the bass notes simply aren’t there. If you are a bass junkie, the F.R.E.Q 4D takes care of you.

Built from tough yet lightweight materials, the F.R.E.Q 4D stays comfortable for long periods of time. It is generously padded and, although the over-ear cups look a little odd in terms of shape, they manage to provide decent levels of comfort, in addition to great sound.

Like many other Mad Catz products, the F.R.E.Q 4D has rather striking, angular looks, but it doesn’t place aesthetics over functionality. To this end several

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Tee th

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by Alex Scanlon

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controls have been built into the ear cups, allowing the user to adjust volumes and turn special features on and off. The controls are pretty easy to get to, and even have an equalizer toggle to help enhance sound even further.

In addition to a standard stereo cable, the F.R.E.Q 4D comes with a smart phone compatible cable, too.

This adds some versatility to the device, but it is a little clunky for general smart phone usage.

And then, of course, there is the fact that the F.R.E.Q 4D is a stereo headset. This will serve most perfectly well, but there will be some out there who want a full surround experience. Still, as a stereo headset, the F.R.E.Q 4D will serve the end user very well. It might not be the cheapest around, but Mad Catz quality comes at a price. And this particular headset is crammed with that quality. g

Summary

Tech Specs: • • • • • • •

It features striking looks and a fantastic audio range – the F.R.E.Q 4D is a well-rounded stereo headset.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

M a d Ca tz Comet Computing www.c ometc omputing .c o.za

Pros • • • • •

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Awesome bass tones Comfortable Versatile

Stereo Smart device compatible 4D sound technology 50mm drivers Boom mic On-ear controls

Cons • • • • •

Stereo Pricey

Score

85 47

& Sli

P P

Review

Seasonic X-Series 750W Power Supply

Cs are noisy; there isn’t really much of a way around that. But there are ways to reduce the noise a PC makes, and one of them comes from a rather unusual source. See, when most people think about building a quieter PC, they remember that the majority of noise comes from fans. And so they will try and find the fans that make the least noise, or devices that use low-noise fans. But one component that results in a lot of noise is often overlooked; the power supply unit requires a lot of cooling, generally, and therefore has a great, big noisy fan built into it. Unless, of course, you get yourself a Seasonic X-Series PSU. The Seasonic X-Series 750W PSU makes use of a technology you can find in all X-Series products, which is in the form of a specialised and intelligent cooling system. The Hybrid Silent Fan Control system balances performance and silence with three different modes: Cooling, Silent and Fanless. This makes the PSU not only silent during times of low load, but also adds to one of Seasonic’s claims to fame – the fact that they produce ecologically friendly power supplies.

Silence is also helped by the use of Sanyo Denki fans, which use a unique design to maximise air flow while cutting down on noise.

And does all of this work? Certainly! This is a remarkably quiet power supply.

In addition to that, the X-Series PSU makes use of several technologies that improve performance and provide a steady flow of reliable power. Coupled with this are high performance components, like conductive polymer aluminium solid capacitors and high temperature-resistant capacitors are used in the PSU’s manufacture, making it extremely reliable and extending its lifespan significantly.

Adding to the smooth, clean flow of power are the gold plated high current terminals used in the cables and modular power ports. Yes, this is a modular power supply, which always trumps a standard PSU because it’s easier to control cables and minimise air-flow-disrupting clutter.

The PSU is generally a sadly under-considered component when it comes to putting together a PC. Most people will happily go with the cheapest they can find, but the truth is that taking the plunge and getting a higher grade unit, like this one, is a very smart thing to do. It delivers 750W of power cleanly, smoothly and with a minimum of noise, all of which are great for those who want a machine that has to perform, but still needs to be reasonable in terms of noise and power consumption. Like other members of the X-Series, this 750W option is a great way to supply power to your PC. g

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ilent

by Alex Scanlon

s be

Just the way power should

… lied upp Summary

Tech Specs:

A reliable and quiet option for those wanting a 750W power supply.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

gladget42

Very quiet for a PSU Modular

750W Hybrid silent fan control Sanyo Denki fan 80 Plus Gold certifies Gold plated terminals Modular

Sea sonic Sy ntec h www.sy ntec h.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Fairly pricey

Score

85 49

by Rob Edwards

Extra Punch Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB DDR3 SODIMM

Improved RAM never hurts…

S Review

S

ost people who make use of notebook PC’s do so out of the box – they unpack it, power it up and away they go. That even counts for those who use the super-powerful gaming notebooks out there. But there are those users who like tinkering with things – even the “hallowed ground” of their notebook’s components.

Whether you’re going to install it or have a “qualified” person do it, adding more RAM to your notebook is a great idea, because they almost always come with too little of it.

If you’re after great RAM to expand your notebook’s power, Crucial manufacture some superb options.

Their Ballistix range offers extremely quick and reliable performance. Even the ‘lower end’ Sport range (which we tested) is a great piece of performance RAM (with the Tactical and Elite series being even better).

If you’re after some high performance notebook RAM, you need look no further than Ballistix by Crucial. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

If you’re looking for great notebook RAM, Crucial’s Ballistix range of SODIMMs is a great bet.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline:

Very reliable Fast

SODIMM 204 pin Unbuffered DDR 3 – 1600 8GB

Cruc ia l Sy ntec h www.sy ntec h.c o.za

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Messing with your notebook may voice warranties...

Score

88

Did You

Know?

1…that Ray-Ban will design Google Glass models?

Google Glass, although not available in South Africa, has proven to be rather popular elsewhere in the world. The technology is search engine giant Google’s entry into wearable technology, which projects a HUD onto the eye glasses through apps.

But now luxury eyewear manufacturers Ray-Ban and Oakley have also come onboard, and recently partnered with Google to design a number of models with Glass in mind. The two manufacturers will be involved in almost every step from design, development, tooling and engineering of Glass products. And who says technology can’t be stylish.

2

…that Oculus VR was sold for $2-billion?

In a move that irked many of its Kickstarter backers, Oculus VR was sold to social media powerhouse Facebook for an astonishing $2-billion.

Oculus VR is the company behind the Oculus Rift virtual reality glasses that have been taking the tech world by storm. And by the sounds of things, Facebook has major plans for the device. “After games, we’re going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences. Imagine enjoying a court side seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with a doctor face-to-face -- just by putting on goggles in your home,” the company said.

3…that you will be able to dim the

PS4 light bar?

Regular

One of the most frequent complaints and questions asked to Sony, is regarding the light bar at the business end of the PS4 controller. Many gamers feel that the sharp blue light is too bright, but luckily Sony confirmed that it will soon be dimmable. Sony’s President of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida confirmed in an interview with Spike TV that after an incoming update for the controller, users will be able to set the light’s strength. No date for the update has been given.

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Shades, virtual reality, light bars, assassins, smart phones and Android...

by Charlie Fripp

4…that there will be two versions

of Assassin’s Creed this year?

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, the latest title from Ubisoft in the highly-successful Assassin’s Creed franchise, was met with critical acclaim when it launched late last year, and a follow-up was almost guaranteed. So after a number of leaked screenshots, developer Ubisoft has officially announced that PS4 and Xbox One will exclusively see the launch of Assassin’s Creed Unity later this year – set during the French Revolution. A separate PS3 and Xbox360 version is also in the works, code named Comet, but no further details were announced.

5…that Nokia launched the first

Android phone in Kenya?

Finnish electronics manufacturer Nokia launched their first Android-based smartphone into the Kenyan market, with the Nokia X hitting the shelves late last month. To date, Nokia has predominantly released smartphones running on Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system. The Dual-SIM smartphone features a 4-inch 2048 x 1536 pixel screen, tactile feedback, and a 3 MP camera. In terms of processor, it runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 with 512MB RAM, and is powered by a 1500 mAh battery.

6…that an Android-power PC is

being built in South Africa?

The Android operating system is one of the most versatile systems to run electronics on, due to its open-source nature. A South African entrepreneur has been putting the OS to good use, and developed a desktop computer that runs on it. Codenamed 20W, the unit only uses 20 watts of electricity, and will be powered by Android 4.x. Franck Martinaux, Technical Director and Chief Technology Officer of creator Capsule Technologies, hopes that the unit will solve a growing crisis of affordable electronic devices in Africa. “This computer has been developed to answer the specific needs of Africa.

20 watts is the maximum power consumption in peak usage of this computer, and such low power requirement is opening the door to solar energy,” he explained.. g

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inFamous: Second Son

Power Hungry Taking the fight to the streets of Seattle

by Walt Pretorius

W

from his sudden development of Conduit powers, Delsin travels to Seattle to try and set things right.

The game hits a lot of great notes in its premise; a draconian organisation has labelled Conduits as “bioterrorists” and is rounding them up, and it is up to Delsin to fight for the freedom of not only the Akomish, but also that of his newly-discovered supernatural-power-wielding brethren. And, as has always been the case in inFamous games, he can choose to tread the path of good or evil.

This is where Second Son makes its first misstep. The morality system doesn’t seem to have a massive impact on the overall experience, at least not in the ways it could have.

Sure, Delsin develops different powers on the different paths (prompting the opportunity for at least one more playthrough) and the population of Seattle react differently to him according to his choices, either cheering him as a hero

Review

hen the PlayStation 4 was first announced, the third instalment of inFamous was to be one of the platform’s premier launch titles.

Excited fans of the franchise aside, the game would be the kind of release that would not only provide the player with a great experience, but would also showcase the new Sony console’s impressive power. And inFamous: Second Son has managed to live up to many of those expectations, providing the player with an impressive and immersive game set in a massive playground. But while developers Sucker Punch were concentrating on aiming for technical brilliance, it seems that their focus on other important aspects of the title waned just a little.

Second Son introduces the player to Delsin Rowe, a young Native American with a rebellious streak. After his tribe (the Akomish) end up in a bit of trouble stemming

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or maligning him as a villain. But aside from a few changes in cut scenes and a different ending, the morality system of the game doesn’t seem to have a massive impact. In addition, the choices are generally rather black and white, while previous inFamous games actually had the player wringing their hands over tough decisions. It seems as though this system is a little tacked on, even though it does form an important part of the experience.

Delsin will ultimately develop four powers, with Smoke and Neon being the ones that were revealed before the game’s release. The four different power sets (and we won’t spoil the list here) each allow for various attacks and special abilities, which are purchased using a rather neat and easy to navigate skill tree system. Using resources gathered up in the city, the player can easily max out all powers, if they are thorough.

Among these powers are traversal methods, which make moving around Seattle quite easy. Initially, Delsin needs to rely on parkour-style climbing skills, but before long the player will be running super-fast (even up walls), dashing all over the place and soaring above the beautifully virtual version of Seattle.

And it really is impressive. The city is lively and vibrant, with distinctive districts to explore and a large population to save or terrorise. The real stars of the show here are the lighting and special effects. Puddles show believable reflections. Explosions emit thick, choking smoke. Slanting sun rays cast long shadows and play across glass and concrete surfaces. In this way, Second Son becomes a visual feast, presenting the player with visuals that are, quite often, jaw-dropping.

Injected into this detailed, complex and impressive

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major players in the title, are simply not given enough attention by the narrative. In addition, the plot is rather predictable and lacks a lot of depth… a seriously blown opportunity at elevating Second Son to even higher heights.

While the main missions drive the story along, there is a lot for players to do around Seattle. The main missions tend to be protracted affairs, but only completing them will mean that the player cannot improve Delsin’s arsenal of powers.

To do this, and to free the city of the influence of the antagonistic Department of United Protection, the player will need to undertake what Second Son offers as “side quests”; destroying DUP equipment and interfering with their operations. Each district will have audio logs to collect, drones to hunt, undercover operatives to put a stop to and graffiti to create. Doing so removes the DUP influence, and gives Delsin access to blast cores, which can be spent to

Review

setting are characters that are beautifully animated and modelled. There is a ton of detail introduced with each character, allowing the good standard of voice acting to be supported by characters that are believable and convincing. Small details – like skin deformation accompanying facial expressions – add to the visual magic that makes up Second Son’s presentation, and the voice acting by the likes of Troy Baker (who provides Delsin’s dialogue) combines with this to create a cast of memorable characters.

Sadly the script writing doesn’t really support this.

While Delsin has interesting relationships with characters like his brother, the characters feel sort-of flat for the most part. They are fairly stereotypical and predictable.

And other characters are simply not explored enough – characters like Fetch and Eugene, who could have been

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improve his abilities.

Although Second Son does have a few weaker points, it is still a great game. It features a fluid play-style that allows players to tackle problems in numerous ways. The four powers, for example, allow for varied approaches to even main missions, and there are very few times when the player will feel like they are being directed in specific directions.

The setting allows for a ton of exploration and goofing off, with lots to see or do.

Perhaps the biggest difference here is the fact that, unlike the previous two inFamous titles, Second Son feels more real. The move towards this realism may be a little jarring for fans initially, but it won’t be long before the immersive game dynamics and stunning presentation suck them entirely into Delsin Rowe’s crazy world. Turning peaceful city streets into super-powered battlegrounds is easy and fun, and the

level of mayhem caused is entirely up to the player. Even switching between power sets is simple, allowing for a fluid and organic feel that enhances the experience, allowing the player to make the experience their own – even if it feels like some of their decisions don’t carry enough weight.

Most of all, Second Son stands as a testament to the PlayStation 4’s awesome power. If a game like this can be created so early in the console’s lifespan, the mind boggles at what may be possible in future. It is a powerful experience, even if its message isn’t all that impactful, and it serves as a great piece of interactive entertainment.

Although it would have been great if some of the rougher edges had been knocked off, inFamous: Second Son is still a great way to experience what the PS4 is capable of, and it provides the player with a thrilling, sometimes even tense, video gaming experience. g

AT A GLANCE: Action adventure

Although it misses a few beats, Second Son is a thoroughly enjoyable game, and a great way to experience what the PS4 is capable of.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Sucker Punch SCEE Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

16+ gladget42

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Reviewed on:

PS4 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

89 57

Dark Souls 2

Welcome to your Death The price of wisdom

by Lein Baart

J

it took the gaming community by massive surprise. The spiritual successor to the moderately successful Demon Souls, From Software’s masterpiece seemed to be everything modern gaming was not, a brutal unapologetic throwback that never once held your hand through its countless hours of agonised joy. Not once were you ever spoon-fed, not once did it give you cheap thrills of victory. It was a game that rewarded perseverance through challenge, and because of this it achieved a cult status seldom seen in these times. It was for this reason though, as the release date for Dark Souls 2 drew closer and the whispers of capitulation grew louder, many began to fear that From Software would cave to the expectations of the industry, and the difficulty that had become the hallmark of the series would be lost in favour of accessibility. Rest assured, Dark Souls 2 is every inch

Review

aggedly you draw breath, as the final moans of the vanquished fade away along with their corpses. How many times have you trod these halls, these arteries of a forsaken monument to a past barely remembered? It doesn’t matter. Drangleic is a world of the present drowned by the memories of the forgotten, and no matter how many times you’ve succumbed to the claws and swords and snarls of those around you, things never seem to change. They say that death is a transition, a transformation of being.

You’ve discovered otherwise. It’s a place of echoes and knowledge gained through a perilous price. Drangleic is a world filled with death, and there is so much more you still need to learn. Grimly you grip your sword with rotting hands, ready to march towards your next lesson.

When Dark Souls first launched in 2011 on the PS3

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a worthy successor.

Ostensibly set in the same world as its predecessor, Dark Souls 2 once again sees players take up the role of an undead desperately trying to cling to his sanity.

Stumbling from a limbo world with the taunting cackles of three hags following you, gamers are once again thrown into a land filled with death and shattered hopes.

The setting this time though is Drangleic, a decaying kingdom that at once feels both eerily familiar and wholly alien to the corroded realm of Lordran. It’s a feeling that extends throughout the entire game actually. Subtle but distinct changes abound in Dark Souls 2, and many of them are apparent in the setting alone. While the plot is revealed in the same manner, through pieced together conversations and carefully hidden landmarks, Drangleic is a kingdom in its final throes of death, where rot and

decline are juxtaposed against the glories of ages past.

Marjula, the first town you find and the closest thing to home a walking corpse can have, is a clear example of this; a sun-bathed hamlet on the cliffs that nevertheless manages to feel haunted and abandoned. The varied and vast locations you visit after this will do nothing to shake this feeling off, and the dark mood that Dark Souls 2 sets is both rich and enrapturing.

There are core changes to the gameplay as well. Dark Souls 2 is far more open in the beginning stages than the original, a fact that can leave you near paralysed with uncertainty. Almost no direction is given as to what the correct path is, and as in almost everything about the game, trial-and-error will prove to be your greatest teacher. This indecision isn’t helped by the fact that players can travel between lit bonfires right from the

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until you learn the nuances of every opponent, and in this trial by fire, expect to be burned more times than you can count. The highlights will always belong to the boss battles however, and in this Dark Souls 2 doesn’t disappoint. There are a huge number of them to be fought, and while a few tend towards the generic, these epic encounters will leave you yelling with exultation as you watch your foe finally fall to the ground. Make no mistake, you will die many, many times in the trying, but each death will leave you a little wiser to the battle than before, and the euphoria gained when victory is finally achieved is nearly incomprehensible.

While past players will be no stranger to this, From Software have seen fit to try your soul even further than before, most noticeably through the fact that every death will leave you with fewer total health points than

Review

start, meaning that almost every discovered area can be revisited at whim, and you will find yourself frequently travelling to Marjula and back, as this is the only location at which you can level up.

The meat of the game though will always lie in its combat, and it’s here that Dark Souls 2 sees next to no deviation from the format. Fans of the franchise are likely to de disappointed by the tutorial area, which truly aims to introduce the game to newcomers, with no gargantuan, horror-inducing demon in sight. This frail veneer of clemency is soon pitilessly ripped away however, and within the hour dying and respawning will become a bleakly familiar companion. Even basic enemies are a lethal threat, and before long the sight of an unlit bonfire will have you weeping with joy. This is a game that will punish you, over and over again,

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before, until you return to human form through the use of a human effigy. To compound this, the game provides only one estus flask to begin with, though more may be acquired later, and enemies will stop respawning after you have killed them a certain number of times, meaning that dungeon runs become easier but soul farming is far more perilous.

Online interaction has also seen a change. Many of the basic mechanics are still present, with ghosts of other gamer’s playthroughs still flickering in and out of sight, providing both companionship and warning of imminent threat, and scrawled messages still litter the floors. Summoning has been altered however, and being hollow no longer provides protection against invasions from players. Likewise, you can only summon and be summoned for a limited amount of time now, which varies

according to the material used to write your signature, and voice chat is now possible for the first time.

Covenants still play a central role in PvP, and you will find the possibilities much expanded upon depending on which covenant you choose.

Dark Souls 2 is not a game for the weak-willed or easily angered. It’s an experience that few other games can provide, a relentless challenge that never once lets up. With its simple but superbly implemented controls and brilliant level design though, the level of difficulty is always based upon the skills you’ve accumulated and the knowledge you’ve paid for in blood, and never once should you feel that your death was cheaply gained.

Persevere through the innumerable moments of suffering you will face, and the reward gained will be utterly unlike anything you’ve experienced before. g

AT A GLANCE: Action RPG

Reviewed on:

A brilliant addition to the franchise, Darks Souls 2 is everything fans should expect from the series

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

From Software Bandai Namco Games Megarom

Parental Advisory

16+ gladget42

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

91 61

South Park: The Stick of Truth

Stick of Vulgarity But would fans want it any other way?

by Charlie Fripp

W

by Obsidian Entertainment, in collaboration with South Park Digital Studios and THQ. Players assume the role of a new kid in the South Park neighbourhood, and are tasked with helping Cartman and his band of role-playing misfits to reclaim the Stick of Truth from a group of ‘elves’ (which are other kids role playing, of course).

It’s the first time in the franchise’s history that gamers encounter South Park in a free-roaming, roleplaying setting. After being recruited by Cartman, and given rudimentary weapons to start out with, the plot starts to take shape. Oh, and as a side note: no matter what name players enter for their custom-created character, Cartman will always refer to them as a variation of “Douchebag”.

But given South Park’s reputation, does The Stick of

Review

ay back in 1995, two incredibly evil minds formulated the diabolical plan to create one of the most offensive television shows around. What started out as two short films quickly gained notoriety and teenagers around the globe started to take notice. And so the phenomenon that is South Park was born.

247 episodes over 17 seasons later, South Park has a cult-like following – so much so that the show has been extended numerous times, and is scheduled to be aired on Comedy Central until at least 2016.

While South Park: The Stick of Truth isn’t Cartman, Kenny, Stan and Kyle’s first video game, it was probably the most anticipated. Players take on a completely different role in this game developed

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Truth live up to expectations? The short answer is yes.

And then some.

Although turn-based combat isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, in this case it works pretty well. The developers have opted to make it as close to your standard turnbased role-playing game as possible, which should be well-received by players. Taking turns in attacking and defending, players have a choice of three different kinds of attacks: standard and heavy attacks, and a farting attack – which is considered magic.

While the focus of the title is on the South Park characters, the Stick of Truth and the sleepy town, the highlight of the title is definitely the combat system.

Players also won’t have to take on multiple enemies alone, as they can choose one other character to accompany them on their journey and in combat.

However, there’s more to this title than combat, as characters have freedom to wander the streets of South Park for as long as they want. While there isn’t much to do in just exploring, players will eventually bump into characters who will provide them with quests. It’s these quests that drive the entire narrative of The Stick of Truth.

Another plus point for the title is the fact that the visuals have been authentically recreated from the television series, with Stone and Parker doing the voices for the characters as well. It is clear that a lot of effort has gone into producing the game, and fans of the franchise should love it… but it’s not without its faults.

As the plot unfolds, players will soon realize that the Stick of Truth actually only forms a small portion

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intercourse because they can, and it’s somewhat expected.

And the crudeness isn’t even that bad – it’s actually pretty mild – but fart jokes and kids swearing are only funny up to a point. Then they become annoying. It seems like creators Matt Parker and Trey Stone where trying to offend as many people, religious groups and affiliations as possible, as nobody walks away unscathed in Stick of Truth.

One thing that gamers will probably never complain about is a game’s playtime. Usually titles offer up far less than expected, but for Stick of Truth, it could have been just slightly shorter. Within the first hours, the game shifts from the titular stick, to something much bigger. It’s neatly wrapped in the narrative and held together by strange circumstances, but some

Review

of the story, and that there are other elements to it that contribute towards the general plot line. There are also a number of QTEs, and with some careful manoeuvring the player will, for example, help to abort a baby from a male patient in a hospital.

Although not in Europe. That scene, and a few others, was banned in Europe and (because we get our games from Europe) by default South Africa as well. But that is the sense of humour that South Park was going for – over and over again.

Speaking of which, the crude jokes and offensive religious references are indeed humorous, but the effect wears off after a couple of hours. South Park has been known for trying to offend as many people as possible, but after a while the intention seems to shift from that, to showing cartoon sexual

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battles and plot pieces seem unnecessary.

And then there is the inclusion of zombies - Nazi zombies. Complete with chants and shouts in German, with swastika armbands. Their inclusion isn’t really upsetting, but one would think that 75 years later, we should be over that and move on. But then again, this is South Park.

Fans of the franchise will absolutely love The Stick of Truth, but it might (and probably will) get a bit too much for gamers who haven’t seen Cartman, Kenny, Stan or Kyle in years.

It’s great that players can wander around town and visit some of the series’ most iconic buildings, but the game struggles to find a good balance between combat, the plot and the overall length. Some quests were redundant or filled with unnecessary grind work,

which makes the player feel cheated, while some of the better quests are over in a very short amount of time.

From a purely combat point-of-view, the title is fantastic. The wide variety of weapons and special powers that can be used leaves the game open to be played in any way the gamer wants. And with four companions to choose from, the commentary will often take awfully funny turns.

For someone who hasn’t seen South Park in a while, it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane – if you don’t mind farts being thrown in your face and sitting through a level of 8-bit Canada.

Oh, and if words like “anal beads” or “dildos” make you giggle, then South Park: The Stick of Truth is definitely for you. g

AT A GLANCE: Genre:

RPG

Reviewed on:

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Obsidian Entertainment Ubisoft Megarom

Parental Advisory

18+ gladget42

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

X360 Platforms

It’s a South Park RPG – need we say more?

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

85 65

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

A Taste…

Ground Zeroes makes some big promises for the future of Metal Gear Solid

by Walt Pretorius

O

as a prequel, it is brutally short. Expect to spend around two hours completing the game. At a dash, you could do it in one. And that is the major complaint that is arising all over about Ground Zeroes; it is simply too short.

Yet, within its woefully quick play time, players will come across things that are, quite frankly, rather impressive. For example, the level design of the game, which takes place in an off-shore American detention camp, is wonderfully crisp. A lot of attention to detail and careful consideration went into making each level not only challenging, but sensible and engrossing. Players will find that the idea of handily placed hiding spots all over the level is a thing of the past, if trends set by Ground Zeroes are going to continue – rather, players will need to take a more considered, pedantic approach as they stealth their way through the games various missions.

Review

ne thing that has always been a hallmark of the Metal Gear Solid series (aside from the rabid adherence to it that fans display) is convoluted plot lines. But that may just be a thing of the past, as Hideo Kojima’s latest adventures for Big Boss take on a simpler, grittier narrative. It is still experimental ground for Kojima, though, and there are a few missteps that crop up from time to time. That said, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes offers a slightly new take on the franchise, and offers players a great introduction for what is to come.

Introduction is pretty much the right word… Ground Zeroes is not the full game that MGS fans are waiting for. Rather, it serves as a prequel for the upcoming Phantom Pain, introducing players to a few new ideas that haven’t really been seen in the series before. And,

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Or not. For the first time in the franchise’s history, players are not cruelly punished when entering into combat. Thanks to wound healing and other concepts not seen before in a Metal Gear Solid game, Ground Zeroes allows a wider scope of approach – in fact, the player could, if they wanted, run-and-gun the whole thing.

But stealth is still the key element in the game, and this is reinforced by a savage AI and a scoring system that will, ultimately, punish a trigger-happy player. New systems do not discourage stealthy game-play… they are intended to widen the scope of possibilities and situations.

On top of that, the game offers the player a visual feast. This is by far the most impressive MGS title we have ever seen, and playing it on the PS4 really shows off the power of the system and the skill of the

developers. Great graphics, combined with sensible level design and potentially game-changing new concepts, make Ground Zeroes a title that is highly entertaining and engrossing.

With great presentation and an engrossing dynamic, Ground Zeroes can be rewarding (if you can get past its length). It’s exploration of grittier narrative elements can be somewhat jarring at times, and it’s ending is a little weak, but it still serves as a solid new addition to the Metal Gear franchise. It also offers platformspecific side missions and rewards stealthy players with numerous unlocks.

If Ground Zeroes is setting precedents for Phantom Pain, we certainly have a lot to look forward to in the next MGS release. The PS4 version, in particular, is an impressive effort from Kojima and his crew. g

AT A GLANCE: Action

Reviewed on:

It’s really short, but Ground Zeroes is still a worthwhile experience, packed with potential and promises for the future of this long-running franchise.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Kojima Productions Konami Ster Kinekor

Parental Advisory

18+ gladget42

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS4 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

80 67

LEGO: The Movie Videogame

Bricked Up! It’s all LEGO this time around…

by Walt Pretorius

L

LEGO faces in the title. There is even a nod to the Lord of the Rings, which got its own LEGO game treatment not too long ago, although the character that quite obviously is based on Gandalf bears another name.

He also speaks with the voice of Morgan Freeman.

Other well-known voices include the likes of Liam Neeson, Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks and Will Ferrell, adding a true Hollywood feel to a franchise that has always gone out of its way to lampoon and celebrate some rather big Hollywood properties.

Central to the tale told in this long and often amusingly jarring game is the character of Emmett, a construction worker who happily plies his trade – which basically comes down to squashing creativity and sticking to the rules in his home town of Bricksburg. But soon he comes to realise that creativity is key, and conformity is a bad way to live.

Review

EGO games are being released pretty thick and fast these days… it seems that there is a new LEGO game every few weeks. With LEGO: The Hobbit coming up soon, the gap between that title and LEGO: Marvel Superheroes has been filled by another LEGO title based on a movie… and this time the fit is as perfect as two of the multi-coloured blocks the franchise derives its inspiration from.

LEGO: The Movie Videogame is based on a film that arguably draws a lot of inspiration from the LEGO games that came before. In this title, which is obviously based on LEGO: The Movie, players control a number of characters not only from the LEGO universe, but also from properties that share common ties (in the form of Warner Bros). So expect to see the likes of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and a host of other famous

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That’s sort of the message in this game, although the plot does jump around a little, making leaps that are covered by the film. Emmett’s quest is to become a master-builder (although in game terms that is less impressive than it sounds). It would have been awesome if there was some kind of way for players to influence the building of master objects, but (ironically) they are shoe-horned into conforming to what this game all about creativity wants them to do.

Not that this is a bad thing. Fans of the previous LEGO games will find a large free-roaming world to explore, and tons to collect, destroy and build. There is also a massive cast of characters to unlock, some of which have special abilities that add replayability to already completed levels.

The biggest change to this game is that, for the first

time ever, the entire world is made of LEGO bricks. Every little thing. And that’s pretty cool, because for the first time it feels less like an homage to a movie, and more like an actual LEGO-based adventure.

Aside from that, and for the idea of master-building (which, once again, is underwhelming in that it really just replicated the other kind of building that we see in LEGO games on a slightly larger scale) there isn’t too much new here. But that’s OK… at the very least players will know what they are in for, and the popularity of previous titles means that the old formulas still work well.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable game that will delight old and young alike, crammed with humour and action. But, above all, it’s a LEGO game, and the way you reacted to previous titles in the franchise will most likely determine how you feel about this one. g

AT A GLANCE: Adventure

Reviewed on:

Despite some new ideas, it really is another LEGO video game – and that may or may not be a good thing, depending on your view of the franchise.

Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Developer Publisher Distributer

Parental Advisory

7+ gladget42

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS4 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 X0 PS3 PS4 Wii U PSV 3DS AND iOS

Score

79 69

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November 2013