Gladget Magazine March 2013 by Gladget Magazine

I S S U E 2 9 / Vo l . 3 March 2013

www.gladgetmag.com

In Power

Do Seasonic create the ultimate PSU?

R evie w s inc luding Sam s ung, Canon, H P, R az er, L ogit ech and more. . .

Sneakers

Samsung’s Note II ‘Phablet’ on review

Take Note

Will mobile app ads be a new avenue for cybercriminals?

Social Media just gets stronger and stronger

Inspiration Phoroshop CS6 is more than just a tool...

Free Online Mag

www.gameccamag.com Taking fun seriously!

I S S U E 4 5 / Vo l . 4 M a rc h 2 0 1 3

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

Crysis 3 Aliens: Colonial Marines Dead Space 3 Skulls of the Shogun and more...

Ultimate Hunter More Nanosuit action in Crysis 3

Space Zombies Dismembering Dead Space 3

Lara Begins

Back to the start for the First Lady of Gaming

Free Online Mag

Inside 6 From the Editor

8 Did You Know?

Some more oddities from the tech world...

10 Tshabablabber

Do fitness apps make sense?

12 Making Magic

Photoshop is every photographer’s friend...

20 It’s a Mad World

Ads in apps: are they safe?

22 Heard it on the Grapevine

Social Media just keeps growing

26 Productivity VS Gaming

Is there even a contest here?

28 Lookng Back: 1951

All the big machines

This Month’s Cover Nick and Fiona Emmett use talent and Photoshop to make magic. See our feature on page 12...

30 Reviews

Lots of cool tech items to look out for.

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Reviews

Canon EOS 6D DSLR Camera

Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver

Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Rage Headset

Samsung NP550P5C Series 5 Notebook Editor: Katia Taliadoros katia@1337-media.com

Samsung Galaxy Note II

Razer Orochi Elite Notebook Gaming Mouse

Logitech K310 Washable Keyboard

Adata Premier Pro SP600 64GB SSD

Thermaltake Evo_Blue 2.0 650W PSU

50 52 54 56

Razer Blackshark Expert 2.0 Gaming headset Razer Ferox Mobile Gaming and Music Speakers

Adobe Photoshop CS6

Crysis 3 (X360)

Competition Entries: competitions@gladgetmag.com Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gladgetmag.com Design & Photography: 1337 Media

Seasonic 80 Plus 1000W Platinum PSU SanDisk Sansa Clip Zip 4GB MP3 Player

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

HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2515 Printer

GLADGET Volume 3 Issue 29 March 2013

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

technology. simply.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3)

Dead Space 3 (X360)

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

GAMECCA is published by 1337 MEDIA

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Anticipation... by Katia Taliadoros

From the Editor

espite the fact that announcements have been made at the January 2013 CES (Consumer Electronics Show), anticipation is in the air as we are patiently waiting to witness first-hand the new arrivals of the wide range of innovative products that will surely tempt us for 2013. The Las Vegas Convention Center held over 3,000 exhibitors, with categories that range through Audio, Embedded Technology, Lifestyle Electronics, Wireless Devises and 3D. Some of the major announcements included Samsung’s multi-view TVs and Flexible OLED Display Youm, a concept based on OLED (organic light-emitting diode). What this means is that the layer of film which emits light in response to an electric current is organic. So basically, thinner, lighter, brighter, consuming less power and is much, much more flexible than your average LED. Just don’t drink a glass of water near it or you may need to replace it with something more rigid! In the mobile scene, the Galaxy SII plus smartphone, with a couple of enticing upgrades, made its way into this year’s tradeshow. Sony also unveiled their new flagship, the Sony Xperia Z smartphone, which

includes a quad-core 1.5GHz processor and a camera with a 13-Megapixel sensor; and Blackberry shows off the Blackberry 10 touch screen phone. Qualcomm, the American company that designs, manufactures and markets wireless telecommunication, unveiled the Snapdragon 600 & 800 processors, bringing 4K recording capabilities to mobile phones. And amongst the wide range of TVs, Panasonic’s Smart Viera HDTVs lineup includes 16 plasmas and 16 LEDs. Additionally in all the excitement, Razor claimed eight awards at the show with the Razer Edge tablet PC which certainly made an impression, especially amongst the gamers. Over 20 000 products were announced at this year’s tradeshow and the industry is eagerly waiting for the next tech-tornado to arrive. I, for one, cannot wait. Until then, let’s focus on what we do have. Pippa talks to us about productivity vs gaming, while Lein takes a good look at technology in 1951. There is a new mobile app called ‘Vine’ by Twitter that enables it’s users to create and post a short 6 seconds video clip to tell their tales. Iwan researches how adverts in apps need to be seen as

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threats and Charlie shares some of the oddities the tech world has to offer in our ‘Did You Know?’ regular section. As far as the hardware reviews are concerned, I won’t start mentioning them as I don’t want to sound like a content page in my Ed’s Note… but take a look anyway, you may like what you see. And lastly, our cover feature focuses on Photoshop CS6; being the leading digital editing application for all media disciplines, Photoshop is embraced by millions of graphic artists, print designers, and visual communication specialists in most industries. We touch on the improved hardware and software benefits of Adobe Photoshop CS6, while introducing a powerful photographic duo. As part time photographers Nick and Fiona Emmett have excelled in their creative approach to photography, while utilising the magical rewards and advantages of this incredible program. This month’s cover is a representation of their skills and talents, as the gorgeous Fiona models for a unique surreal fantasy shot. If you wish to stimulate your creative appreciation for photographic art, you can visit: www.fionafoto.com. It is worth the visit. That’s all from me, enjoy! g

DID YOU

KNOW? 1

…the highest Gamerscore is almost a million? Almost all Xbox gamers around the world are familiar with the console’s Gamerscore achievement system. By completing achievements, the achievement’s value is added to your Gamerscore – virtual bragging rights. While most gamers aren’t caught up in the frenzy, gamer Stallion83 is on an epic crusade. At the moment, he holds the (continual) world record for the highest Gamerscore at 845,693. His ultimate goal? To be the first person to reach 1-million in total. He has already been awarded a certificate by the Guinness World Records, and has been included in their annual Gamer Edition coffee table book.

…the average Xbox Gamerscore is lower than you think. While gamer Stallion83 is single-handedly pushing up the world’s average for Xbox Gamerscore, the actual number might be lower than one would expect. As every gamer starts off with zero Gamerscore, it can take a while to build up something meaningful, but with over 910 Xbox games released up to the middle of 2012, it might not be so hard. But with that said, of the 49-million Xbox gamers that are registered on the Xbox Live program, the average Gamerscore is only 11,286. That might seem like a lot less than one would expect, considering every game has a maximum allotted Gamerscore of 1000.

Regular

…that the PlayStation controller won an Emmy? It might seem like a strange occurrence, but the Emmy awards, which is usually associated with the best in television programs, actually presented a PlayStation controller with an award. Back in 2007, the DualShock controller was given an Emmy Award for “Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers” by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. There was a bit of a mix-up though, as Sony originally thought the award was for the Sixaxis for its revolutionary design, but later corrected themselves after realising their mistake.

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More fun facts from the world of tech, with some holiday gaming flavour... by Charlie Fripp

…that the first photo took eight hours to take? Photography has come a very long way, and has seen many technological advancements through the years. While we have fancy digital cameras today, the first permanent photo etching was an image produced in 1822 by the French inventor Nicéphore Niépce. After several tries to perfect his technique, he made the first permanent photograph from nature in 1826 by using a camera obscura. But there was a major problem with his imaging process: it took him eight hours to take a single image, and if the subjects were living, they had to remain perfectly still for the duration. Niépce died in 1833, but Louis Daguerre continued with his work and eventually took the first ever photo of a person in 1838 with the daguerreotype technique – which also took several minutes to take.

…that Benjamin Franklin invented the swimming flippers? Benjamin Franklin is best known as one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, and to a lesser extent as the crazy person who stood outside in thunderstorm so that lightning could strike a metal key suspended from a kite he was flying. While many people know that he was an inventor, few know that he is responsible for the invention of swimming flipper. He was an avid swimmer, and in 1717 he invented a rudimentary pair that attached to the swimmers hands. Franklin also invented the glass harmonica, flexible urinary catheter, odometer and bifocals, among others.

…that IBM holds the most patents in the world? Everything in the world is made by developing a plan and then patenting it so that it can’t be legally reproduced by anybody else – it’s almost like claiming copyright on a design, idea or concept. The company which holds the most patents in the world is technological powerhouse IBM with 6,478. The company has about 8,000 inventors in 46 different U.S. states and 35 countries. Inventors who live outside of the US, contributed to nearly 30% of IBM’s 2012 U.S. patent output – and it shows. The company has been in the number one spot for 20 years in a row, and its closest competitor is Samsung with 5,081 patents. Sony is fourth on the list with 3,032 patents, while Microsoft has 2,613 patents in 6th position.. g gladget29

The Curse of Gamification D

Tshabablabber

on’t let the title fool you. I’m not going to go on a rant about the evils of gamification and the influence it’s having on society. Ok, maybe a little bit, but this is more a discussion on the way gamification motivates us in different ways. In this case, fitness. Before I get started let me just lay down the facts. I’m not overweight. But I am a great deal less fit than I used to be. Gone are the days where you would see me running up and down a field chasing a soccer ball in my varsity lunch break, or even attending a yoga class. With a full time job, about four freelance ones, a twoyear old toddler and a husband, I’m lucky if I even get fifteen minutes to exercise, let alone an hour to go to gym. Being the technophile that I am however, I try not to let this demotivate me. I was at one point in my life very fit, and so in an attempt to regain this I’m trying to work in bits and pieces where I can. So I enlisted the help of the App Store. And the Play Store. And together they are working to help me redefine my definition of exercise. Or

Author’s photograph by Adrian Louw

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something like that. I’m not going to go into great detail here about the million and one health and fitness apps that are out there, but I am going to talk a bit about one in particular and how it attempts to gamify the process of exercising and losing weight. And while it might seem odd, on many levels it makes complete sense. For many people exercising is not fun. Yes, yes I know there’s that whole adrenaline rush thing, but to be honest it take a while to get to the point where you love pushing your body to its limit – when you start out you need a whole lot of motivation to get up and do stuff rather than just sit on the couch. Noom attempts to help you out. The Noom Weight Loss Coach is a free Android app that not only customises your weight loss and fitness experience depending on your daily schedule and fitness levels, but it also gamifies the process. How you ask? Well, Noom generates daily tasks for you that are designed to help you manage your weight loss programme by setting quizzes that inform you about healthier eating habits,

Pippa Tshabalala

tracks how many steps you’re taking every day with a built in pedometer, and logging your meals not by counting calories but rather by looking at food content and portion size. The difference with this of course is that it also awards you points for every task you complete. AND YOU LEVEL UP! Which I find awesome. Except that I could level up and never actually lose weight. Yes I might not level up as quickly, but nevertheless, I’ve had Noom installed for just over a month, I complete my daily tasks like logging my food, attempting to exercise (to varying levels of success), reading the articles and completing the challenges, and I’m on Level 8. I’ve lost about 2 kilograms in total. I also wonder how many people cheat… Surely the temptation to cheat and level up quicker is ever present? So far this is something I haven’t done, but the thought has crossed my mind as to how many people just answer yes for the sake of getting those few extra +10 Noom. Lastly - is there a level cap? People really don’t think these things through. g

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tal Wizards Making magic with photoshop

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hen one talks about photo-editing, there is one program that immediately springs to mind. In fact, it has become so synonymous with photo-editing that the very name of the program literally refers to the act of altering a photograph on a computer. We have all seen incredibly images, and have asked: â&#x20AC;&#x153;is that Photoshopped?â&#x20AC;? Photoshop has, for many years, been the flagship when it comes to editing, adjusting and creating bitmap images. It is not only considered an industry standard, but also an industry leader. So much so that it has eclipsed many other prominent software applications that do similar things. Since its first commercial release in 1990, Photoshop has gone from strength to strength. But part of this progress, of reaching the levels that it has over the last 23 years, has been the fact that Photoshop has remained as accessible as it is powerful. In this way it has helped not only professionals, but has also been a source of inspiration for enthusiasts and laymen. The accessibility of the product and wide range of features and functions has turned Photoshop into a program that allows for a massive range of functions, and has allowed photographers, in particular, to enhance their work. Two such photographers are Nick and Fiona Emmett. This husband and wife photographic duo produce images largely to fuel their love of photography, and use Photoshop to perform a wide variety of functions, from minor tweaks right through to major image compilations and editing. Nick and Fiona met at the Johannesburg School of Art, Ballet, Drama and Music (now called the National School of the Arts) where they studied photography together. Starting with black and white, film based photography, gladget29

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they studied not only the technical and artistic aspects of using a camera, but also were trained in darkroom techniques and methods. The advent of digital photography has not only helped them become more prolific in their work (which ranges in subject matter from glamour to fine art nude and everything in between), but has also become a source of inspiration for them. “Amazing technology is in the palm of almost every human’s hands these days,” say the Emmetts. “Cell phones can take amazing images. There are small cameras that take even better images and HD movies; then there are semi and pro cameras that are almost perfect. They open up a world of insane quality at extreme levels.” Using a digital format means that the darkroom techniques have been replaced; the medium is now digital, and developing images is completely different to old, chemical based methods. It is this area, for the Photographer, where Photoshop has risen to prominence. Providing a wide array of tools, Photoshop is the definitive digital darkroom, and more. “Photoshop CS6 runs at amazing speeds and is absolutely limitless,” the Emmetts state. “If you’re not using Adobe Photoshop then you haven’t freed your mind and imagination yet.” With a preference for natural light and armed with their preferred Canon equipment, Nick and Fiona spend much of their free time finding locations and producing often extraordinary photographs. They list their influences as their “lives, kids, love , movies , music and each other “. Along with that, the highly creative couple don’t restrict their process. “Sometimes it’s spontaneous and we go with the flow,” They say. “Other

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times we will think and talk about what we want to shoot. Our favourite is just grabbing some gear, hitting the road and looking for places and amazing locations to shoot.” Naturally, producing the kind of pictures that they do, their work goes beyond the shoots. Using knowledge gleaned from numerous sources, their Photoshop skills have allowed them to produce a wide range of images that aren’t just about pretty pictures. Trained artists, Nick and Fiona create photographs that are emotionally charged and often quite powerful. But their Photoshop skills are the result of effort and dedication. “It is all about practise, patience and learning from tutorials online,” they revealed. “Everything you ever wanted to know is available at the click of a button… there’s no excuse for poor work.” Although their work is largely done for the love of photography, the Internet has allowed the Emmetts to gather a following of fans. And their passion shows in the images that they produce, along with their talents and the skills that they have developed. They have not allowed any excuse to get in their way, either. “Stop worrying about what everyone else says about your pics… one man’s art is another’s trash,” they advise. “Believe you can do it and just do it. Stop saying “I’m going to do it“ and just go do it; life’s too short to keep saying “if only” or “I wish”.” With Photoshop, it can be done. That’s what the Emmetts say, and thanks to versatility, power and a massive community supporting this photo-editing benchmark-setter, anyone with an eye for a good image, a creative approach and the patience to achieve incredible results, great images are within reach. g gladget29

by Iwan Pienaar

It’s a Mad W Irritation turns to security threats

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s internet users we’ve experienced enough banner advertising, pop-up windows, and keyword sponsorships to last us a lifetime. Thankfully, our mobile devices have offered a sanctuary from those ads. Well, that was until recently. You’ve probably seen the term madware (short for mobile adware) being bandied about. If not, don’t worry. You’ll get used to it quickly enough in the coming months. In essence, madware refers to the messages and ads you get on the apps you’ve downloaded and installed on your mobile device. Such is its growth that some estimate that more than 31 percent of apps include advertising of some sort. Certainly, developers have every right to earn money from their apps especially when most of us only download the free ones. In many cases, this isn’t cause for concern. Ad networks are a legitimate method for developers to

make a living. But as with anything, there’s a side-effect to these networks being integrated with mobile apps. They’re damn annoying. As we know, ad networks are quite diverse. Even the ads that are sent to our mobile devices are varied. Some might be a simple graphic between levels in a game where you can click on the image and get taken to an app store where you can purchase or download the app that’s being advertised. Some ads even appear during those pesky wait screens in games or on apps. Annoying, yes... malicious, not really. The next level of annoyance comes when some of those ad networks install a range of extra icons on your home screen. These are likely to be either a shortcut to a search engine (normally quite a dodgy one that doesn’t quite understand the Queen’s English), or provide a link to the home page of the developer punting other mobile

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World apps. Ad networks might also put icons or alarms in your notification area at the top of your screen. These are quite indistinguishable from real alerts causing you to click on bad links when all you wanted to do was check your email. Thankfully, these are merely annoyances. The truly worrying thing about madware is when the ads start collecting information on you and your surfing habits to send even more ads to your device. Take for example a basic gaming app. It might be a stand-alone single player game that doesn’t connect to the internet. But take a look at the list of permissions it’s requesting before installing. This is because the ad network installed within the app is asking for the permissions. It might require your location – so that it can push ads for your region or country; it may require device information, in order to send offers that are relevant to

your handset or service provider. This all seems fairly reasonable, but naturally it doesn’t stop there. Ad networks might be used as a vehicle to gather personal data, or to retrieve contact databases from devices. We’ve seen it before with cybercriminals using apps to disguise their data-harvesting deeds. So don’t be surprised if you install a free app, and subsequently discover that your screen is full of new icons, the notification bar is going hell for leather telling you all sorts of things you don’t need to know – and your phone bill becomes astronomical because you’ve been unwittingly sending SMS messages to premium numbers on the other side of the world. So always remember to pay close attention when you’re installing a mobile app and see what permissions the app is requesting before you just click on accept. You might be signing up for more than you want.

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Heard it on th Grapevine

by Suvesh Arumugam

Saying it in 6 seconds...

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efore March 2006, social media was still a growing industry. In fact, the major players at the time, MySpace and Facebook, were still considered fledgling start-ups and no-one dared imagine that anything would replace the newly installed paperless communication of email. So if you were friends with Tom, or had just figured out how to post clever statuses using “[insert name] is …” that was pretty much for your own amusement. Of course, people were starting to see the possibilities, though more on MySpace than on Facebook at the time. Perhaps because of the strong music focus of co-owner Justin Timberlake, bands in particular were starting to realise this was a great way to gain new fans, though many were still obsessed with collecting friends (I guess that part hasn’t changed much). I remember an episode of Oprah devoted to MySpace, where

she interviewed some bands and fashion enterprises owning on MySpace, and then ended off with some make up artist who (at the time) had the most friends on MySpace, which was about 1 million friends. I should know because I friended her (though she didn’t friend me back). Enter Jack Dorsey, a New York University undergraduate, who introduced the idea of text messages being sent to groups of people. Although originally conceived as an internal productivity tool for Odeo employees, it quickly began to grow in popularity. There were several major tipping points in Twitter’s history, and we’ll get to those, but let’s set a little context so it all makes sense. Firstly, the rivalry between MySpace and Facebook worked well towards a new, simpler social media platform. While MySpace had at one

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stage eclipsed Google as the most visited website on the internet, Facebook’s easy to use interface and continued revisions like introducing groups, customised permissions and also limiting people’s ability to make ghastly profile schemes made it a more pleasant experience. Facebook was also growing ever friendlier to corporates, and that was probably more key to its success than anything else. By the time Tom Anderson and co realised how much ground they were losing to Team Zuckerberg, no amount of revisions and relaunches could save them. Secondly, smartphones were gaining popularity, and slowly becoming the norm for most business people, and ordinary folk too. This meant that in order for social media to succeed, it needed to be mobile. So Twitter stepped in at just the right time. I remember what friends were saying about Twitter at the time, things

like “I’ve got a MySpace/Facebook account, people will find me there”, “What can I say in 140 characters, I can post a longer status on Facebook” and my personal favourite “There are no pictures or anything about me, why would people want to follow me?”. Of course, we know the answer now. Twitter was a move towards more authentic content, the words from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, and a much more real sense that anyone could talk to anyone else. Neil Gaiman, author of the Sandman graphic novel series and co-writer of movies like Stardust and Coraline, was one of the first celebrities to really get Twitter, and now has a strong following of over 18 million fans. I promised you a tipping point, and this was it for me (other sources may disagree). The 2009 Iranian Election, or at least the opposition to it, was eventually nicknamed the Twitter Revolution. Despite the incumbent governments

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efforts to skew results and events with propaganda, protesters managed to break through to international news media (and each other) via Twitter. A lot of people, including me, started to take notice that this was a powerful social tool. And since then, corporate brands, celebrities, politicians and even pets have something to say. And make no mistake, people are tweeting. When pop star Michael Jackson died, Twitter’s servers crashed due to the hundreds of thousands of tweets per hour. And our recent celebrity “mishap” involving sprinter Oscar Pistorius is no exception. Brands take it pretty seriously too. Press articles and releases were issued in frenzy when Burger King’s official Twitter account was hacked recently, and suddenly started streaming pictures of McDonald’s menu items. But as the hacker later tweeted, a company like Burger King should know better than to

set their password to “whopper123”. So what comes next? My answer is Vine. Think of it as Instagram with video instead of photos. Why do I say this? Because the time is once again right. With smartphones becoming the norm throughout the mobile industry, the convergence of multimedia and phones is already here. Latest rumours put Microsoft in partnership with Chinese manufacturers Huawei to flood African mobile markets with Windows smartphones. A primary selling point will be social media and mobile commerce (which Twitter is already making inroads to with a rumoured partnership with American Express to initiate purchases with #hashtags). So the technology is definitely here, and getting better. And while other social media rely on you to make acceptable video content to post, Vine makes it easy to create all kinds of interesting

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content. The second part of Vine’s opportune timing is the social factor. Like years ago, people are starting to get bored with text based interactions, sometimes wondering if the person tweeting them is actually who they say they are. The recent “mis”-adventures of US football player Manti T’eo put this into focus. After a long online relationship, the person he thought was his girlfriend (who he also believed to have passed away) turned out to be a family friend who had unexpressed feelings for the athlete. Aside from the initial ridicule, this had many wondering just how much can you trust from statuses and pictures. Vine is different. You get a 6 second window, not unlike the short text tweet format. However, the brilliant part is how you create the video. By pressing the screen, you can stop or start the recording, effectively editing your clip on

the fly. Despite only having a total of six seconds, it’s pretty amazing what you can get done in that time. What’s also pretty neat is, as a new platform, it’s great to get in on the ground floor and see what people are doing with it. People on Twitter feel old fashioned as Vine celeb comedians like Dane Cook and Jimmy Fallon, and even Sir Paul McCartney, have taken to posting on Vine. With easy links to Facebook and Twitter for good measure, it’s clearly ready to take off in a big way. It should be noted though, that in Vine’s initial launch, the video format at first seemed to attract mostly pornographic posts, as this is not prohibited by Twitter or Vine’s terms. When a very explicit video ended up in the Editor’s picks however, they realised things had to change, and some restrictions have been put in place (as well as a healthy age restriction of 17 and older. g

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Productivity VS Gaming

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Round 1. Fight!

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by Pippa Tshabalala

’m an app sorter on my phone. I can’t have millions of apps on my desktop (or um mobile… top…) without feeling like my life is getting out of control. And so I have folders. One of which is appropriately labelled Productivity. So which apps in this conveniently named folder do I actually use to be productive? Or do they just sit there, mocking me, as I fiddle with Facebook on my phone. Alternatively, are you the kind of person who really only has a smart phone so you can take cool hipster pictures or play games? Are you completely unproductive on your phone? I decided to trawl through my neatly organised folders and take a look at some of the best apps I’ve often downloaded on a whim. Actually this month I’m just going to go through two folders. Productivity and Games. I’ll start with games because I’ve discovered some wonderful gems recently, which I’ve ended up playing quite relentlessly, often even as my eyes are closing. Rise of the Blobs is a Tetrisesque game insofar as it has blocks (or blobs in this case) being thrown from the top of a pillar and you must match them up with the correct colour and then explode them. Interestingly this is far more difficult than it sounds as the blobs start to move very quickly and it becomes increasingly difficult to match them up and explode them quickly and correctly. It’s a great new little game however, incredible addictive, very cute visually and definitely worth the download. An iOS exclusive game that I was recently lucky enough to review was Wave Trip. Made by one of my favourite mobile developers Lucky Frame, Wave Trip is a musical game where your actual gameplay affects the sound of the music. Fly your abstract spaceship over the abstract landscape and collect abstract thingamabobs that make some pretty awesome tunes if you can time it all correctly. Just as much fun as their other games Pugs Luv Beats and Bad Hotel. Beautiful graphics, awesome

concept, addictive gameplay. Lastly is a game that I really only downloaded recently on a whim. Partly because it had a cool name, and partly because the concept intrigued me. Letris is, as you’ve probably guessed, Tetris crossed with Scrabble. Kind of. And although I suspect it could have actually been done a bit better, with a quicker thinking dynamic way of making words, it’s still pretty addictive as you must make words with letters that are connected appropriately. Even though it’s not top of my list, I feel the need to mention it because it has potential to get even better with development. It already has three different game modes and I’m hoping more will be added with updates. Moving to the opposite end of the spectrum, I am also rather obsessed with apps that “help me be productive”. Uh-huh. Yeah ok. What this basically means is they’re apps that don’t fall into the gaming category, and which I consider to be useful in my day to day life. The first of these is the official TED app. I really enjoy TED talks and so being able to have a searchable database of talks given by some of the most interesting and cutting edge minds in multiple fields of study right at my fingertips is something that really appeals to me. More than 1400 TED talks and audio, all continuously updated every week, are available and the app works beautifully on both smartphones and tablets, so you’re not confined to watching it on a smaller screen. This next one might sound random, but my scanner at home has been a bit buggy lately and sometimes doesn’t work. This is annoying to say the least when you have to send a document to someone and can’t scan it in. Enter Camscanner. Before I found this app, I can’t tell you the number of times I thought to myself, “Maybe I should just take a picture of it”. This is essentially what Camscanner does – you take a picture of your document, but it also pumps up the contrast, saves multi-page documents and gladget29

crops everything appropriately. Pretty much everything you can do with a scanner, you can do with this app. While I think I probably still need to get my scanner fixed at some point, this certainly isn’t a bad alternative if you need something scanned and sent quickly. Lastly is an app that I have a love hate relationship with. It’s not a productivity app per se, but a messaging app. I did however think it was unique enough to deserve a mention. Avocado is an oddly named app (although explained in the info) that is designed specifically for couples messaging. Yes, you read correctly. Of course our minds immediately jump to “dirty messages”, and I have no doubt that many people use it for that, however this is not its only purpose, which expands to include anniversary reminders, grocery lists and the like. Although thankfully it was an innocuous message, I have in the past sent a message meant for my husband to a male friend of mine, so when I saw this I thought I’d give it a try. With Avocado there is no chance of accidentally sending a message to the wrong person, as you can only register one other person via their email address and once they accept, the connection is exclusively established unless one of you breaks it. It’s another app that I think is a great idea, however also needs a little work as the messages don’t go through particularly promptly, nor does the message feed update regularly, which means you can log on and not be certain as to whether or not your partner has received your message. Overall I think it earns points on originality, but also needs an update or two to bring it up to speed. The outcome of Round 1? Much as I love them and would like to say that these productivity apps make my life better because I use them consistently, I’m going to have to go with gaming. And I might just try and get in another round of Wave Trip before I go to bed. g

1951 The Beginning Of An Era

By Lein Baart

Looking Back

951 began with tensions running high across the world. The Korean War, begun in June of the preceding year, raged on as the first quarter of the year saw Seoul change hands twice, while globally fear of communism ran rampant throughout the Western world. Nuclear testing was on the rise, with four bombs being tested by the United States alone, as the Cold War began to fly into full swing. This was however an exciting year for the world of technology, particularly for computer science, as this was arguably the year that computers came to mainstream public attention. Considering the time and expense it took to build just one of these machines, the fact that a total of five computers were powered on that year was a testament to the incredible potential these contraptions posed even at this early stage of computer technology. The first of these was the Ferranti Mark 1, which was delivered to the University of Manchester in February. It

was the world’s first recognised commercial computer, though Ferranti only ever sold two units before the upgraded version was designed. By modern standards the technology is so ancient as to be nearly alien, yet for the time was unbelievably advanced, able to complete a multiplication in 2.16 milliseconds (the time it takes for a modern monitor to change colour). This was also the world’s first computer to play music through a variable pitch “hoot” command, as well as the first computer to host a chess game, though the Mark 1 was only ever able to solve mate-in-two problems. Just a month after the Mark 1 was delivered, Remington Rand delivered the UNIVAC 1 to the United States Census Board, though it wasn’t installed until December 1952. The first American commercial computer, the Remington Rand eventually sold 46 machines for an average price of over $1 250 000, netting a fair profit for the then fledgling company. Weighing in at 13 tons, with 5200 vacuum tubes and

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taking up more than 35.5m2, the UNIVAC 1 was able to complete a multiplication in 2.15 milliseconds, and could store 7200 characters per second on a UNISERVO tape drive, the first commercially sold drive in the world. The next commercial computer to be put in to operation was the LEO 1, which holds the honour of being the first computer to run a business application. Created specifically for J. Lyons and Co. (a British catering and food manufacturing company), the LEO 1 was incredibly quick, able to execute instructions in about 1.5 milliseconds and simultaneously handle multiple data streams. Initially used for valuation calculations, the LEO 1 soon expanded to other tasks such as payroll, and proved so successful that Ford UK outsourced its payroll calculations to Lyons. 1951 saw another mammoth machine begin its life, namely the EDVAC. Weighing nearly eight tons, the EDVAC was put to use in the Ballistics Research Laboratory in Maryland, USA. Used for research

into ballistics and vulnerability/lethality analysis, the computer was built with high speed serial/delay line memory (which stores data as a mechanical wave that travels through a propagation medium such as mercury), a magnetic tape reader/recorder and control unit with an oscilloscope. The EDVAC operated for ten years, with additional upgrades, and required thirty people to operate per shift. This year also saw a critical leap forward in the development of electronics, namely through the invention of the junction transistor. While the pointcontact transistor had been invented 1947 by a team of physicists at Bell Labs, the junction transistor, invented by William Shockley, was easily mass produced, making it the device of choice in electronics, specifically integrated circuits. Indeed, it has been hailed as one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, without which almost all modern electronic devices would not be possible. g

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Reviews Highlights 20 Canon EOS 6D DSLR Camera Power in your pocket 26 Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Rage Headset Multimedia on the move 36 Samsung Galaxy Note II Active HD gaming 40 Razer Blackshark Expert 2.0 Gaming headset Top notch graphics

ith the third month of 2013 now here, and the bulk of companies wrapping up their 2012 business, we’re more likely to see more hardware streaming in between now and the end of the year. After the hype of CES in January, the market has been pretty quiet, as it usually is this early in the year. But with companies like Samsung preparing to do showcases of upcoming tech (in Samsung’s case, later this month in Cape Town) we can be assured that the flood gates are about to open. And that, as far as we are concerned, is never a bad thing… g

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S U R V I V O R

I S

B O R N

A V A I L A B L E M A R C H 5 th

A TURNING POINT Experience Lara Croft’s intense origin story from a young woman to a hardened survivor.

ALL-NEW RAIDING EXPERIENCE Explore a mysterious island filled with environmental puzzles, visceral combat, and ancient tombs to discover.

FIGHT TO LIVE Salvage resources, gain experience, and upgrade Lara’s weapons to survive the island’s hostile inhabitants.

Tomb Raider © Square Enix Ltd. 2012. Square Enix and the Square Enix logo are registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. Lara Croft, Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamics, and the Crystal Dynamics logo are trademarks of Square Enix Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

A camera that defines modern photography

Canon EOS 6D DSLR Camera

W W

Review

ith pocket cameras becoming more and more powerful these days, there are those out there who question the need for a large DSLR. But the fact is that no matter how versatile and powerful a pocket camera gets, a DSLR will always offer more. And the area in which it offers the most is in the amount of control that it places in the photographer’s hands. A DSLR camera is, in the trained photographer’s hands, the perfect tool and, to ensure that they get the job done right, they need the right equipment. Canon knows this and has, over many decades, built up an incredibly strong reputation among those who want their photography to be more than just happy snapshots. So much so, in fact, that the market has become dominated by Canon and their rivals Nikon, with other camera manufacturers struggling to keep up somewhat.

This status is reinforced by products like the EOS 6D, a DSLR camera body that not only delivers excellent amounts of imaging power, but also puts a host of features at the photographer’s fingertips. Aside from the obvious advantages – like the ability to customise shooting options through the use of a wide range of interchangeable lenses – the 6D offers the photographer a lot. This starts with a phenomenal 20.2 megapixel image, supported by an ISO rating of up to 25 600 for still images, and a shooting speed of up to 4.5 frames per second. Read that as “this camera is fast.” On the other end of the spectrum, it handles low-light conditions beautifully. And everything in-between is nothing short of sublime. It doesn’t end there, though. While the assumption is that photographers using the 6D will want to excellent level of control it provides, there are also options for automatic shooting, like a full auto mode and scene

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del

by Walt Pretorius

modes. The camera is crammed with features – more than we have the space to list – including an electronic level indicator (to display the orientation of the camera) multiple exposure, HDR shooting, on-camera RAW processing, full HD video recording, GPS capabilities and much more. On the more technical side, things like a full frame CMOS, 11 point autofocus and 63 zone dual-layer metering all add to an exceptional camera. The 6D is comforting in its size and heft, although it is neither overly bulky or heavy. In fact, it is very comfortable to use, and the entire experience does nothing less than engender extreme confidence in taking great photographs. If you take your photography seriously, the 6D is something you should very strongly consider as the backbone of your efforts. It really is an impressive camera, and delivers fantastic quality images. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

If you take your photography seriously, this one should be extremely high on your wish list... if you don’t own it already. M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

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Feature rich DSLR versatility User friendly

20.2 megapixel Up to 25 600 ISO 4.5 frames per second Full HD video 11 point autofocus 63 zone dual-layer metering

Ca non Ca non www.c a non.c o.za R22 999

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

None

Score

97 33

Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver

Usable with almost anything…

Everyman

T T

Review

by Rob Edwards

hese days, with so many devices able to play back music, having a way to stream music from said devices to a set of big speakers is a great idea. The problem generally is, though, that all the devices have different kinds of ports and connectors. That means that getting hold of a docking system might be tricky. Belkin have an answer for that, in the form of the Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver. This device takes advantage of something that most of these gadgets have in common: Bluetooth. In fact, it can be used with any device making use of A2DP Bluetooth which, basically, is anything remotely new. The simple device plugs into any hi-fi or sound system by way of 3.5mm or RCA connectors, and streams audio beautifully to your chosen noise maker. It’s a very sensible solution, and one that means you will be able to access music on any Bluetooth enabled device. g

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Summary

Tech Specs: • • • • • •

A great idea from Belkin, this device allows music streaming from any Bluetooth enabled device.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

B elkin Tudortec h www.tudortec h.c o.za R499

Pros • • • • •

Versatile Affordable Cool Design

A2DP Bluetooth 3.5mm jack connection RCA connection

Cons • • • • •

None

Score

‘AN ABSOLUTELY MIND-BLOWING EXPERIENCE’ THE GUARDIAN

‘ASTONISHING, AUDACIOUS, UNMISSABLE’ OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE

FROM THE MAKERS OF

THE HIGHEST RATED FIRST PERSON SHOOTER OF ALL TIME* MARCH 26TH

BIOSHOCKINFINITE.COM

*Based on metacritic average rankings across available platforms. © 2002-2013, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Developed by Irrational Games. BioShock, BioShock Infinite, BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution, Irrational Games, 2K Games and their respective logos are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. KINECT, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. “2”, “PlayStation”, “PS3” , “Ã” and “À” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

The Pedigre Creative Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Rage Headset

A long line of great sound

M Review

any, many moons ago, when I had my first computer and Noah was saying how it looked like it might stop raining, Sound Blaster was an institution. See, back then, the idea of on-board sound was… well, it wasn’t an idea. In fact, sound from your PC (other than that horrifically tinny PC speaker) was a total luxury. If you wanted sound, you bought a Sound Blaster card, as made by Creative Labs. Things are quite different these days, but Creative are still around. They still make dedicated sound cards, and they also create chipsets to help on-board sound be better. And, still under the Sound Blaster label, they make things like this: the Sound Blaster Tactical 3D Rage headset. The Rage (we’ll call it that for short) show’s its pedigree – and that is one of a lot of experience. 50mm full spectrum drivers are housed is large over-the-ear

cups, delivering excellent sound quality. Built into the left ear-cup is a power switch (they’re rechargeable, did we mention that?) a mic mute and a volume control. Simple, but effective. The positionable mic boom, which sports a noise cancelling microphone) can be detached from the left ear cup, too. The set can be recharged via an included USB cable, delivering around 16 hours of battery life – which is not too bad at all. In fact, that’s around double what other headsets offer in terms of charge. The headset connects to the PC via a dongle that handles the wireless signal, and presumably some of the sound processing too. But there’s the thing… this is a PC only headset, which those that want a more versatile device won’t be particularly happy with. The headset looks the part, with a chunky, heavy look that is belied by a decent degree of comfort. In addition,

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by Walt Pretorius

the looks can be customised; the ear cups light up on the outside, and can be customised with around 16 million colours. In fact, all kinds of sound setups can be customised and stored, according to the user’s wishes. That’s pretty handy, especially considering that a number of things, including surround levels, can be set for the individual profiles. Oh, yes, in case you missed it from the name, this is a surround sound headset. With a good sound performance and versatility in the form of software based profiles, the Rage does a great job as a PC headset. While it is fairly comfortable, the headset can be a bit uncomfortable after protracted use. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, considering that you should be taking regular breaks while gaming. And if you’re not going to use them for anything but PC based applications, they’re a good bet. g

Summary

Tech Specs: • • • • • •

They’re a solid performer from Creative, provided you need a PC only solution.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

Crea tiv e Corex www.c orex.c o.za R999

Pros • • • • •

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Good sound Lots of customisation options

50mm drivers Customisable profiles Customisable lights Rechargeable Wireless

Cons • • • • •

PC only

Score

80 37

All Your Let’s get them into neat rows.

Samsung NP550P5C Series 5 Notebook

here are so many choices of notebooks out there that the mind almost boggles at all the opportunities. But, for those who like to keep their electronics themed by way of brand, Samsung affords the opportunity to have a phone, tablet and notebook all with the same label. Sounds a bit familiar, doesn’t it. But Samsung’s quality shows, and the introduction of products like the NP550P5C, which is part of their Series 5 notebook range makes it easy to stick to one brand with confidence. Right off the bat – on paper, at least – the device inspires that confidence. Armed with an i7 3630QM CPU, which is supported by 6GB of RAM, the promise of speed and smooth performance is there. But it’s more than just the CPU and RAM that make this device as silky smooth in operation as it is. A 1TB HDD is in place for storage, and visuals are provided via a 15.6 inch screen. They come via an Nvidia GT630M GPU, which is in turn helped along by 1GB of VRAM. And sound? Well, better than expected for a notebook, thanks to a JBL speaker system built in to the device. On the outside, the obvious additions are two USB2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI output, audio ports and a BluRay drive. Naturally, a LAN port and VGA output are also present.

Review

T 38

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by Walt Pretorius

Ducks… The look and feel of the notebook is great; it sports a brushed metal finish plastic lid, with a metal “work area”. The chicklet style keyboard – which is a full keyboard, mind you – stands in contrast to the light grey metal surrounding it. A generous touch pad is slightly offset to the left. The proof is always in the pudding, though, and even the best specs could be disappointing if the overall performance is lacking. That, happily, is not the case with this particular device. It performs beautifully, and offers a very decent battery life, thanks to included Nvidia Optimus technology. One thing that should be noted here is that this is not an Ultrabook. If that’s what you’re after, this particular notebook won’t really suit your purposes. It is bigger and bulkier than an Ultrabook, and certainly weighs more. But if you’re not looking for one of those, then this particular notebook is well worth more than just a second look. It is stylish and effective, which is what one would want in a device like this. Samsung are really coming to the fore with a stable of products that is excellent in quality and performance. That’s a really good thing for those who want to stick to one brand for their various devices, leveraging the easier communication between devices and so on. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

A great notebook option from Samsung, particularly for those who don’t mind a bit more bulk in exchange for more power. M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

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Good sound Great image Smooth operation

Intel i7 CPU 6GB RAM 1GB VRAM 1TB HDD BluRay drive 15.6 inch screen

Sa msung Sa msung www.sa msung .c o.za R13 999

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

A little heavy

Score

86 39

Phabulous!

Review

Samsung Galaxy Note II

Owning the middle ground between phone and tabletâ&#x20AC;Ś

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by Walt Pretorius

amsung have been making quite a name for themselves in the field of mobile communications for some time now, with the launch of the Galaxy S3 doing particularly well for the company. This smart phone is almost everywhere you look; it presents a level of ingenuity, comprehension and usability that many of Samsung’s rivals would do well to emulate. But there is another Samsung communication device that is starting to show its face, too. It might not be as common-place as the S3, but the Galaxy Note II certainly is the kind of device that makes an impression. Such an impression, in fact, that a new slang phrase has been coined for devices of this class (which are quite rare still, making Samsung something of a trend setter in this field). People refer to them as “phablets”. That’s a squashing together of phone and tablet and it describes what the Note II is quite succinctly. This device fills a new middle-ground between mobile handset and tablet computer. The Note II is very feature rich, and displays some extremely intuitive ideas. It is a bit larger than the S3, both in terms of size and specifications. And with the S3 being quite big already (again, in both categories) the Note II certainly makes an impression. Its 5.5 inch screen means that it is physically large, but has the benefit of added onscreen real-estate for work purposes. And that really is where the Note II shines. When using it as a phone, it looks clumsy and over-sized, but when things get down to making notes, viewing files, typing up emails and anything like that, the larger screen, complete with multi-window abilities, makes a lot of sense. Unlike the S3, this device is operated with a stylus, which slots neatly into the base of the unit. The stylus adds a more serious feel to the Note II, and adds some extra functionality. There have been a few issues with some of the stylus implementation but, for the most part, it works well and reliably. Under the hood, the Note II packs a 1.6GHz quad core CPU, supported by 2GB of RAM. That’s a lot of speed potential, and the device certainly lives up to it. In addition, the user is provided with ample storage (which is expandable) and a host of other excellent functions, including GPS, accelerometers and more. With a great track records and a very good relationship with the Android OS, Samsung have once again created a mobile communication device that certainly is head and shoulders above the competition. The only real consideration is if you are willing to live with a device that is so large – a necessary evil, in this case.

Summary

Tech Specs:

If you’re looking for the convenience of a phone with the functionality of a tablet, look no further...

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

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Great functionality Fast Excellent battery life

1.6GHz quad core CPU 8.0mp camera Android OS S Pen 3100mAh battery 5.5 inch screen

Sa msung Sa msung www.sa msung .c o.za R7 999

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Big

Score

90 41

T T

Review

Razer Orochi Elite Notebook Gaming Mouse

he PC gaming market is healthier than some people would have you believe. Even with the proliferation of consoles and other devices capable of delivering a gaming experience, PC gaming is alive and well – so much so that very powerful laptop computers, capable of running the latest games beautifully, are being produced by numerous manufacturers. Why, then, should there not be a mobile mouse that is equally adept at delivering great gaming performance? There is no reason, actually, which is probably one of the reasons why Razer designed the Orochi. If you run down the mobile mouse check list, the Orochi fits the bill perfectly. It is small, wireless and very easy to transport. But this particular mouse goes beyond just the practicality of a device designed for use with a portable computer. First off, in terms of looks, it fits the Razer profile beautifully; a well-designed, ergonomic mouse finished in a rough black plastic. It features the distinctive Razer glowing bits and aggressive lines, making it look a little like a baby brother to the Ouroboros. Looks aren’t everything, though. In terms of practicality, the Orochi also offers a few good ideas. It has an improved battery life (although these things are always difficult to confirm in shorter term tests) and also ships with a detachable cord. That’s great, because there are many gamers out there that prefer the smoother performance of a corded mouse. It uses a Bluetooth 3.0 connection, though, so some of the niggles that plague mouse units using radio signal don’t necessarily plague the Orochi. In addition, the ambidextrous design means it’s lefty-friendly, and it sports seven programmable buttons for all those extra functions you may want to map to your mouse. OK, looks and practicality… check. What about performance. Well, it’s not the most sensitive mouse you’re going to find in Razer’s stable. But the 6400 DPI 4G laser sensor still is nothing to turn your nose up at. It proves responsive and effective as both a gaming and application mouse. The only real issue here arises from its purpose. It’s pretty small, and can get a bit uncomfortable after protracted periods of use – depending on your grip-style, of course. Also, the two buttons on the device’s “off-side” (where your little finger sits) are pretty difficult to get to, thanks to this small size. But off-side buttons can be a problem on any mouse, in all honesty. On the whole, the Orochi fills a gap and does what it is supposed to do with style. In terms of being a mobile mouse, it is excellent. There are a number of better gaming options, but none are quite as easy to carry around with you. g

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Mini

Perfectly portable gaming power...

Summary

Tech Specs:

Although it is very small, the Razer Orochi is packed with power in all the right places.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

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Small Effective Looks great

Ambidextrous 7 programmable buttons 6400 DPI Detachable cord 68 grams 2 x AA batteries

Ra zer Corex www.c orex.c o.za R669

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Can get uncomfortable Not rechargeable

Score

81 43

Logitech K310 Washable Keyboard

For th

in y

ou…

Squeaky C

A Review

clever company identifies gaps in the market, and fills them. And thanks to the apparent increase in people that have some form of OCD, Logitech have managed to do just that with this product. OCD or not, let’s be honest. There is nothing quite as off-putting as a grimy keyboard. The sad reality is that, no matter what you do, keyboards tend to get dirty, and cleaning them is a bit of a chore. Logitech realised this, and consequently created a keyboard that can be cleaned with much less effort. The K310 Washable Keyboard is their solution to the problem, and it allows the user to actually get a good scrubbing in. OK, maybe not a wire-brush and steel wool scrubbing, but it’s still better than the norm. The K310 can be immersed in water of up to 50

degrees Centigrade in temperature, at a depth of up to 30cm. And it can do so for around 5 minutes. OK, that may not seem like a lot, but in the world of getting your keyboard squeaky clean, it’s pretty big. It also comes with a brush that clips into the keyboard, and a clear set of visual instructions (on the bottom) that remind you not to use a hair drier, not to get the USB plug wet and not to use heavy cleaning equipment. To that end the USB plug has a cover to prevent accidents… the rest is up to you. And you’ll want to wash it… while the dark grey body of the keyboard won’t show too much dirt, the stark white keys will. It’s almost as though they want you to wash it. Thankfully the key markings are laser etched and UV coated, so they will survive the process. Further, the keyboard is designed for quick drying, complete with drainage holes.

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As far as being a keyboard, it does the job. The keys are well spaced and clearly marked, although not as quiet as Logitech would have you believe. Additionally, it is a functional keyboard; in other words, it has all the keys you would need, as well as a number pad and the obligatory 12 function keys. Beyond that, it offers no frills – no media controls, no hot keys or anything like that. Not a train smash, really, but certainly not a fully functional device either. In the end, the choice of this keyboard quite literally is one of hygiene. If you’re after something that you can keep clean, then it is a safe bet. It is responsive and effective, despite being somewhat vanilla. The wellspaced keys are a bonus, and the contrast between the keys and the base board make typing rather enjoyable on the K310. But it is maybe a little gimmicky. g

by Walt Pretorius

Clean

Summary

Tech Specs: • • • • • •

It’s not much more than a functional keyboard, but keeping it clean is a snap.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

Log itec h Pinna c le A fric a www.pinna c le.c o.za R599

Pros • • • • •

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Great keys Easy to clean Durable

Full sized keyboard Thin profile 1.8m USB cable Washable 5 million keystrokes

Cons • • • • •

No frills

Score

79 45

Smaller ?

b ay

ll a m

by Rob Edwards

Adata Premier Pro SP600 64GB SSD

T Review

he SSD race is getting really frantic as numerous companies try to get a solid corner of this new storage market. As more entrants bring products to shelves, storage capacities increase and prices (theoretically) drop. At the moment, the storage capacities are still lower than the average HDD, and prices are still much higher. That’s a saving grace for this particular model from Adata. The SP600 is a solid little SSD, with a aluminium housing that ensures its toughness. It’s pretty quick, too, with fast performance living up to the SSD ideal. But at 64GB, this particular model may be a little on the small side for many users. Naturally there are various sized of this SSD range, so the user will need to find the one that suits their needs (and their pocket.) This particular one might, quite honestly, not live up to the former criteria though. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

The Adata range of SSDs are a good option, but this model may be a bit on the small side for most users.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

Quick Reliable

2.5 inch SSD 64GB capacity Conversion bracket included Up to 550mb/s

A da ta Pinna c le A fric a www.pinna c le.c o.za R1 099

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

A bit on the small side

Score

by Walt Pretorius

Review

Thermaltake Evo_Blue 2.0 650W PSU

he choice of the right power supply is crucial. The truth of the matter is that larger capacity power supplies are considerably more expensive. But if you get one that doesn’t deliver enough power, you will run into some serious system issues as your PC struggles to get enough energy to do what you want it to do. We have often seen people buy, for example, a massive new graphics card only to have it suck the insufficient power supply dry, and consequently leaving a disappointed user in its wake. The truth is that a power supply isn’t something you’re going to buy and forget about. Like any other PC component, this is something that will also need periodical upgrades, at very least… and careful thought as to what kind of power supply is required. While you cannot really have too much power, an oversized power supply will prove both more expensive and less economical. You don’t immediately have to turn to a 1000W monster if your system doesn’t demand it. And for those that want a good amount of power without needing to cause black-outs, there are products like the Thermaltake Evo_Blue 2.0 650W power supply. This one, though, comes with the added benefit of a little extra punch when required. Basically, there is a button built into the back of the power supply, just below where the power cable plugs into it. Hit the button, and you get around 100W of extra power. In the most basic terms, it’s an ‘overclockable’ PSU, which is pretty unique in concept. But why would you need that? Well, using extra power may be necessary when putting the system under the added strain of gaming and so forth. So why not just get a bigger power supply? Bigger PSUs generate more heat and consume more power. The ability to reduce both heat and power consumption is sensible (although how much of a saving 100W will provide may be debatable.) Aside from the funky turbo button, the Evo_ Blue 2.0 is also a modular system, which means that the user only uses the cables they require. The primary power cables are built in, though, and the ports for additional power cables are quite limited. Perhaps this is a way to ensure that the user doesn’t over-burden the power supply. It still offered two PCI power ports and four molex ports, which should be more than enough. This particular model may not be the most powerful PSU around, but it does make a lot of sense in the right set up. It runs quiet and cool, too, which is always a benefit with a component class that is generally a noisy heat generator. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

With an added 100W of power on demand, this PSU is a smart idea for those who want control over heat and power consumption. M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

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Extra power when needed Modular

• • • • • •

Modular design 650W Overclocking

Therma lta ke Corex www.c orex.c o.za R1 599

Pros • • • • •

At the press of a button...

ower Up

Cons • • • • •

May not deliver enough for some setups.

Score

80 49

Review

HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2515 Printer

ommon wisdom holds that the more working parts something has, the more can go wrong with it. Similar attitudes hold that you should always use the right tool for the job. And both of these ideas come into play when considering HP’s Deskjet Ink Advantage 2515 printer. In today’s world, people seem to think that the more complex an item is, the better. Convergence has seen our cell phones turn into everything you need for communication and media right in your pocket, our TVs transform into internet capable communication devices, and our printers into solutions that handle every kind of document need. But that isn’t always necessary; you may not need to fax documents, or you may have no need of a copier. If you need the bare basics – that would be scanning and printing – the 2515 is pretty much the perfect device, for a number of reasons. First off, it’s part of their Ink Advantage range, which means that it uses less ink, and replacement cartridges are cheaper. In our experience, this system is a good way to go – the inks do not compromise on quality, yet manage to be very affordable. Another great reason is that the 2515 is rather compact – as compact as a printer that incorporates a scanner can be. It’s a lot less bulky than most printers out there, and tries to be compact even when paper is loaded and the printer is spitting out pages. The rear mounted paper tray feels a little flimsy, but it does the job. The print receiver tray on the front also feels a little lightweight, which is apparently endemic to this range of printers, but as long as you don’t give it any hard knocks, it should do just fine. The 2515 really does cut back to basics: no fancy display, no wireless connectivity, no big bells and whistles. It makes use of a dual cartridge system – one for black and one for the three required colours – which is not ideal, but still beats a single cartridge system. In terms of easy set-up and basic functionality, it is great. If you’re looking for a printer that is easy to set up, reliable and efficient, here it is. Naturally, your requirements do come into the picture. If you’re doing small scale printing, mostly in black, and need scanning and copying facilities, once again, here it is. It’s not going to be the best bulk printer, and some ease-of-use features that other printers in this range have – like printing photos right off of your SD card – are absent. It might not suit lots of documents or tons of photos being printed, but if you need a truly functional device, it’s a safe bet. g

You only get

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Sparta

by Walt Pretorius

what you need...

Summary

Tech Specs:

If you’re printing needs aren’t fancy, this economical option is a good bet.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget29

Easy to use Easy set up Good economy

Print Scan Copy 2 Cartridge system

HP HP www.hp.c o.za R899

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Bare minimum

Score

78 51

Review

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Razer Blackshark Expert 2.0 Gaming headset

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Nin

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by Walt Pretorius

L L

ooks can be very important in a piece of hardware. Even components that sit inside a PC case often have designs that are at least in part put together with an aesthetic appeal. Most companies get this. They understand that users do not just pick any product, but tend to take visual aspects into account – for expression of personality, because they look cool, appear unique, or whatever. Sometimes these features can even trump technical aspects, like in the case of Razer’s Blackshark headset. Designed to resemble the headphones used by chopper pilots, this headset has a decidedly retro feel and is, quite frankly, very cool to look at. Moving away from sleeker lines and enclosed components, this one is all about metal frames and exposed wires. And it makes quite the impression. Finished in black, with green and metallic accents, the Blackshark really is a pleasure to behold. Even the boom for the microphone is unique, using a jointed metal arm system to get the perfect position, rather than a bendable one. The supports for the ear cups are also ‘naked’ metal, and the adjustable headband features metal arms that can be secured in position when the perfect fit is found, by way of thumb screws. The ear cups are finished with a shiny black plastic casing, and sit very comfortably over the ears, thanks to a generous padded cushion on each (filled with memory foam, no less). And the speakers themselves are covered in Razer’s traditional bright green. All of this is accented by bright green wiring running to each ear cup and the microphone. What we have here, in terms of performance, is a stereo headset. Each ear cup holds a 40mm driver that delivers crisp audio, with enhanced bass for that extra punch. The headphones have only one 3.5mm jack directly attached to them, but a splitter cable is provided for plugging in to microphone and headphone jacks. The mic boom can also be removed very easily, with a metal cap provided to cover the sensitive bits exposed when the user does so. The only things that are missing here are surround audio (which isn’t necessarily a big thing to go without) and an in-line volume control. The addition of an in-line controller would have been excellent for this headset, which delivers comfort, performance and style in spades. In truth, this really is the only shortcoming we found here… adjusting volume levels is purely device based. It’s not the end of the world, but it can (at times) be a bit invasive to adjust volume on the device, rather than with an in-line controller. Still, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water; the Blackshark is an excellent and impressive looking headset, when all is said and done. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

Look like a chopper pilot with this stylish and high performing stereo headset from Razer

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget29

Looks awesome Great sound Very comfortable

Stereo 40mm drivers Removable mic boom Enhanced bass Splitter cable Memory foam ear cushions

Ra zer Corex www.c orex.c o.za R1 459

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

No in-line control

Score

88 53

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Arou

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In e ve ry

Razer Ferox Mobile Gaming and Music Speakers Review

azer are best known for their PC peripherals, all of which have a very strong gaming focus. Mouse devices, keyboards and headsets for PC gaming really are Razer’s stock-in-trade, but there are a few other items that this manufacturer produces. There are a number of items for Xbox 360, for example. And then there is the smattering of devices like the Ferox. Razer call the Ferox “mobile gaming and music speakers” and, really, that’s what they are. But the potential of these dynamite little sound makers goes far beyond that description. The Ferox use an omnidirectional system when producing sound. That means that they pump out audio in 360 degrees, rather than just in the direction they are facing. It’s a nice effect and is surprisingly good for gaming as well as music. The sound is clear and surprisingly loud, thanks to the design behind the Ferox. This includes a specially designed interior, which helps amplify the sound, as well as built-in bass resonance chambers that add a bit of oomph to the low notes. Sound is provided by way of a single 30mm driver built into each of the two units. One might wonder about the sound quality of drivers below 40mm, but the Ferox are surprising good in this respect. The expandable sound chambers, which rise up almost ominously out of the devices when turned on, certainly help in this respect. The Ferox are armed with rechargeable batteries that deliver up to 12 hours of sound between recharge sessions. Charging is done through the same cable as audio – the cable is fitted with both a 3.5mm jack (for audio) and a USB jack (for charging). Battery charge is indicated by a glowing LED ring around the base of each speaker (let’s face it, it just wouldn’t be Razer if it didn’t having glowing bits.) For portability, the Ferox come with a stylish case that holds each speaker in a separate compartment, as well as providing a space for the audio and charging cable. They’re east to carry around, and the padded case helps keep them safe. There is something of a rub with these speakers, although maybe not an utter tragedy – depending on your view-point. They don’t have independent volume controls. Personally, I prefer to set my source volume to a certain level and then control overall volume via the device I am using. That can’t happen here. For the most part, music devices have easy-to-accessvolume controls, but in the case of gaming, tweaking of changing volume might interrupt the experience a little. That said, they certainly are a good set of speakers where it counts – the sound they produce is great, with very little distortion even at higher volume levels. g

t a l l n, a

by Walt Pretorius

und

Summary

Tech Specs:

These are sturdy little speakers with big performance... despite the lack of independent controls.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget29

Good sound Easy to carry Look slick!

30mm drivers Stereo Omnidirectional audio Rechargeable Expandable bass resonance chamber

Ra zer TB C TB C TB C

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

No independent controls

Score

78 55

Review

Tim se rio us ab ou t

Seasonic 80 Plus 1000W Platinum PSU

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Super Powe

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by Walt Pretorius

P P

ower supplies aren’t things that many people get excited about. PC enthusiasts do, because they realise the importance of these things, but the average Joe out there may not see what is, essentially, a big metal box and think “wow, that’s cool.” But the truth is that a good power supply is actually something that is very cool, because not only does it provide your PC system with the right amounts of stable power, but it also makes your PC more efficient in many ways – even saving power. The Seasonic 80 Plus 1000W Platinum power supply will do that, thanks to the fact that it is a modular power supply. This means that only the required power cables are plugged in to the power supply. The result is less clutter in the box, which means better air-flow. That, in turn, means that the fans don’t necessarily work as hard to keep the box cool, if they are adjustable, which requires just a little less power. But that is only one of the features of this PSU that makes it stand out as a reliable and effective way to get juice to all the bits inside your PC case. One of the other features is that this particular device manages to set an industry first in fan usage… PSUs get hot, and the fan built in to them is often a source of a large amount of the noise that a PC makes, purely because it needs to work so hard. This device, though, makes use of a fan that runs more quietly, thanks to great design. Also, the PSU uses a hybrid fan control. This means that the device can be set in one of three fan modes; fanless, silent and cooling mode. This allows the user to balance cooling efficiency with noise, and makes the Seasonic unique in its class. A 1000W power supply provides ample power for virtually any PC system, and the Seasonic does so beautifully. High grade components and careful voltage control all make sure that the PSU sends the power to where it is needed. It also is less likely to fail (and that is not a pretty picture, believe me) due to poor components or inefficient cooling. The overall design of the Seasonic 80 Plus 1000W Platinum PSU means that it is easy to use, and extremely effective. It is a top-notch power supply, when all is said and done… no wonder it comes in a velvet bag. So, if you don’t already take your PC’s power supply unit seriously, it is time you start. And if you want to ensure smooth, ample, balanced distribution of power, combined with a remarkably quiet operation, this is one that you certainly want to consider. g

Summary

Tech Specs:

With a modular design, excellent quality components and a brilliant cooling system, this PSU is one that should be near the top of your PC component list. M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget29

Runs very quietly Modular

1000W Modular Variable fan settings Active power correction Tight voltage regulation

Sea sonic Sy ntec h SA www.sy ntec hsa .c o.za R3 622

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Pricey

Score

89 57

by Rob Edwards

SanDisk Sansa Clip Zip 4GB MP3 Player

On the go with SanDisk

T Review

anDisk know about memory – that we all know. But they have also been producing a series of rather capable MP3 players for some time now, under the Sansa sub-brand. The Sansa Clip Zip is one of these devices, and provides the user with 4GB of storage space for music files. With up to fifteen hours of battery life and great sound quality, this simple music playing device makes for a great, unobtrusive option for those that want their music with them at all times. It also offers an FM radio option, as well as a stop watch for those who would need one. Memory can also be expanded thanks to a microSD slot. These days, most people are using their phones for their portable music but, if you’re in the market for an effective, fun and very small MP3 player, the Clip Zip is a good option. g

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Summary

Tech Specs:

A very portable music option from memory masters SanDisk

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

Easy to use Nice functions Small

4GB MicroSD slot FM Radio 15 hour battery life

Sa nDisk Tudortec h www.tudortec h.c o.za R590

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Capacity a bit low?

Score

by Walt Pretorius

Review

Adobe Photoshop CS6

eviewing a product that has as solid a track record as Adobe’s category defining Photoshop is a daunting task. Here is a product that is so embedded and so influential that its name has become synonymous with what it does. Just like the word Google means internet searching, the word Photoshop means photo-editing. The latest Photoshop is part of Adobe’s CS6 suite of products, which includes a number of other programmes. Things like InDesign, Illustrator and Flash have all had overhauls and revamps, but for the purposes of this review we’re talking the product that everyone knows. Photoshop has been around for a very long time and, as the product has evolved, it has undergone less of a sweeping change kind of scenario, and more of an extensive history of tweaks and adjustments, becoming what we have today. In fact, only those who have a very deep knowledge of Photoshop will notice most of the differences. For the others, it will likely be a process of finding new things while they dig about, and saying “wow, that’s cool,” before moving on. And there, in just that, is one of the beauties of Photoshop. Although it is a deeply technical and awesomely powerful in terms of editing and creating bitmap images, it is still extremely user friendly. Anyone can use Photoshop CS6. Working magic with it will take a bit of know-how. It would be possible to list the improvements one by one, but we’re not going to do that. Rather, we’re going to consider the overall experience of using Photoshop CS6. The look and feel has changed somewhat from the previous iteration, as expected. It feels a little more Spartan now, without losing functionality. The user has a fair degree of control over their workspace, and a number of functions of the program have been neatened and trimmed up. But most of the improvements lie under the hood, as can be said for virtually all CS6 products. The program is more stable and runs more smoothly. It’s more responsive, too, while not compromising on thoroughness in processing. That Photoshop CS6 is pretty much the premier photo-editing software available today is undeniable. There will be a lot of people viciously defending cheaper, or free, software against the Photoshop onslaught, but the truth is that none are truly as complete or powerful. But therein lies Adobe’s biggest problem with this particular programme; it is very expensive. That makes it often-pirated, too, which has created a vicious cycle of pricing versus piracy that isn’t likely to stop soon. Still, if you need it – and you can afford it – the new Photoshop CS6 is a no-brainer. You cannot substitute it easily, and its power and versatility is almost priceless. g

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the Mark Photoshop is synonymous with photo-editing

Summary

Tech Specs:

If you can afford it, there really is little that can beat Photoshop as a photoediting system.

M a nufa c turer Distributer: O nline: RRP:

gladget29

Accessible Extremely powerful Lots of improvements

Requirements: Pentium 4 / AMD 64 CPU 1GB RAM 1GB HDD 1024 x 768 display 256MB VRAM

A dobe A dobe www.a dobe.c om TB C

Pros • • • • •

• • • • • •

Cons • • • • •

Very expensive

Score

95 61

Crysis 3

Concrete. Jungle. All the right moves

by Walt Pretorius

hen Crytek and the Far Cry franchise parted ways, just after the first Far Cry release, the developer needed something new to show off their development and engine building skills. The new venture was Crysis, a franchise that placed the player in the boots of a super-soldier. The player characterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skills were enhanced by a revolutionary Nanosuit, battle armour that not only enhanced the characterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abilities, but allowed him to become super-armoured or cloaked. The idea was pretty fresh at the time, and allowed players to experiment with differing approaches â&#x20AC;&#x201C; something that was also rather new in those days. Players could go in guns blazing, or could use stealth and assassination techniques, as they desired. The end result was a game that was incredibly well received. New play ideas meshed with great graphics

and a decent story line, which resulted in the new IP becoming a much loved franchise. And, as is always the case with those, Crysis 2 came out amid much fanfare and anticipation. What this game did was up the mark from the original, pushing graphics on all platforms to their limits. Crysis 2 looked amazing, bringing the player to a vibrant and detailed urban environment in which they could deal death to their alien enemies. Crysis 2 added a few new ideas, but where it really shone was in terms of presentation. And now the third instalment of the franchise is here and, once again, it brings beautiful visuals to the table. The environment is now both urban and jungle, with New York City having been taken over by dense vegetation. This setting allows Crytek to show off their prowess very well; individual blades of grass wave in the wind while awesome

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lighting and particle effects abound. Well modelled, detailed enemies stalk this place, both human and alien, and thanks to the engine and AI they’re as deadly as they should be. And the Nanosuit has some new abilities that make hunting the bad guys more fun than before. The story revolves around Prophet, the original Nanosuit soldier, who has now sacrificed almost all of his humanity in an effort to save mankind from the invading Ceph. However, during his cryogenic absence, Cell Corporation has harnessed the power of the Ceph, and has literally enslaved humanity through debt. New York, the one massive city, has been covered in a dome and a jungle has been allowed to overtake its streets, buildings and alleyways. Resistance fighters living under the Liberty Dome are trying to fight Cell. But the massive evil corporation is messing with powers that it doesn’t truly

understand… It’s not the greatest plot-line ever, but it certainly beats the previous two Crysis games in terms of story. The looks are also better than the first two, although only marginally better than Crysis 2, and one really can only fully appreciate how pretty this game is in the PC version. The Xbox version is no slouch in terms of prettiness, though, and puts the outgoing hardware through its paces. We did notice one or two little bugs that sprang up here and there, which we assume has a lot to do with the system being pushed rather hard. In addition to revved up looks, the game also gives the player some new toys. Most notably is the bow that the player can now use. This weapon has very limited ammo, but it also has interchangeable arrows (explosive, electric and air-burst) and allows the player to take down enemies

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mine fields, and using their weapons against them. The Nanosuit also comes with a whole bunch of upgrade options, which the player can purchase using points gained from suit upgrade packs scattered throughout the world. Four of the numerous upgrades can be employed at a time, and the game allows the player to save three sets of four upgrades with a hotkey system. Everything in the game is designed for fluid play. The controls are responsive, upgrades and modifications are quickly done, and switching between various modes is simple and effective. With all this, and everything else that Crysis 3 has on offer, it should provide an excellent firstperson shooter experience. Most people will get just that, but there will be some – myself included – that feel like a certain something is missing. In technical terms, not much can be found

Review

at a distance, without compromising the suit’s cloaking abilities like firearms do. It’s also a one hit kill weapon, and all but the most powerful foes can be dealt with extremely easily. This almost forces the player to engage in a more stealthy approach, although the other, powerful weapons are still available. All guns allow some kind of on-thefly customisation, be it different sights, clips or barrel attachments. And, of course, using the Nanosuit’s maximum armour mode while charging in guns blazing still works a treat, too. In addition to the bow, another stealth-promoting tool has been added. The player can now hack various systems in the game, by way of a very short and simple timing-based mini-game. Doors are all fine and well, but the real fun comes in hacking enemy gun turrets and

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lacking in this title, and Crytek have managed to create a game that works extremely well in that regard. It’s just that – and this will seem strange to some, and make perfect sense to others – the game feels like it has no soul. Despite great voice acting, excellent animations and a plot that is not terrible, Crysis 3 feels like more of the same, and the massive levels and smarter enemies do little to engage the player on an emotional level. It really feels like going through the motions, like the game exists because it should, and not because its creation was driven by passion. Perhaps it is the almost inhuman nature of Prophet that doesn’t engage the player well enough. Maybe it is the fact that the game favours stealth above any other approach. Or it could be that the setting is so overwhelming that it is countering the player getting

engrossed in the action. Whatever the case may be, it didn’t seem to have the spirit of the previous games. It is as though this story gets told because the saga needs a closer. Then again, it might just be me. While Crysis 3 didn’t draw me in as I would have liked it to, there will doubtlessly be others that love the slightly short single player campaign. The multiplayer offers a lot, too, with some great game modes to keep players going once they have completed the title. Fans will love it. Newcomers may find the story alittle difficult to relate to, but the action is still there. Whether you will find the game engaging or not is likely up to personal preferences and tastes, of course. It’s worth a try at very least. While I didn’t get grabbed by this title, I am sure there will be others who like it just fine. g

AT A GLANCE: First person shooter

It does everything right, but Crysis 3 lacks a certain something to create a real bond between the player and the experience. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Games Games Games Games Games Local

Network

Online 12

Crytek Electronic Arts EA South Africa

Parental Advisory

16+ gladget29

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

Reviewed on:

X360 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii U Wii PSV 3DS DS

Score

79 65

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Studio Ghibli Goes Gaming But should they rather stick to film?

by Pippa Tshabalala

a little predictable – the orphaned boy Oliver is almost immediately proclaimed as the new world’s saviour, the Pure-Hearted One, and discovers hidden reserves of magic within himself. The beautiful world, distinctive creature design and likeable characters however, mean that Ni No Kuni imparts the sense of childlike wonder that we have come to associate with Studio Ghibli movies. The visual style is very reminiscent of films like Spirited Away, and is combined with Level-5’s classic JRPG gameplay system. The characterisation is unfortunately lacking the usual Studio Ghibli touch, and with the exception of Oliver the characters don’t develop much as the game progresses although they’re likeable enough on the surface. You can also expect to see the best of the visuals within the first couple of levels. Not that they wane in beauty, but we begin to see repetition when it comes to combat

Review

do not like JRPGs. I do however love Studio Ghibli, so regardless of my feeling towards this genre, I have been looking forward to playing this game for some time, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well Ni No Kuni has combined the gameplay that is so typical of JRPGs with the storytelling and animation for which Studio Ghibli is renowned. After losing his mother in a tragic accident, thirteen year old Oliver weeps onto a stuffed toy his mother gave him as a boy, revealing that it is actually the unfortunately named Mr Drippy, Lord High Lord of the Fairies. Drippy explains to Oliver that if they can defeat the evil Shadar, they may be able to bring his mother back. Armed with the Wizard’s Companion, a spellbook, they embark on an adventure in a new world. The story sadly slips towards the clichéd and becomes

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cutscenes for example, something I found increasingly irritating as the game progressed. Whenever you begin and end a fight, inevitably the same animation plays out, with absolutely no variation whatsoever. Also annoying is the slow decline of voiced conversations, which start out fully voiced and degenerate into silent rows of text. Gameplay wise, this game was a pleasant surprise in many ways. The reason that I dislike many JRPG’s is primarily because of their combat system, as I don’t find the turn-based combat system very dynamic. Ni No Kuni takes the traditional turn-based combat and combines it with an ability to move around and dodge dynamically, also allowing you to switch between your character and your familiar in combat, making this JRPG more exciting in the combat arena. If you like wandering around a map exploring, then Ni

No Kuni definitely caters to you as you pick up small side quests, and spend time levelling up your character. Another nice touch is the consistent need to travel between your own world and the new world to complete quests, reminding us continuously that the two are inextricably linked. Ni No Kuni is a beautiful, artfully rendered game that will bring to the fore everything you love about Japanese animation, combining the unique style and grace of Studio Ghibli, with some solid gameplay action. While at times clichéd, the story is still engaging and you won’t lose interest early on. The combat, whilst infinitely more dynamic than many JRPGs, can become a bit of a chore and the lack of consistent voiced dialogue also becomes irritating after a time. If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli, you will love their venture into the gaming arena, even with its faults. g

AT A GLANCE: JRPG

Reviewed on:

Fans of Studio Ghibli or JRPG’s will likely love this game. Others will probably find it beautiful but frustrating. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Final Fantasy Local

Network

Online

Level-5/Studio Ghibli Namco Bandai Megarom

Parental Advisory

12+ gladget29

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii U Wii PSV 3DS DS

Score

85 67

Dead Space 3

There and Back Again … shooting space zombies along the way

by Walt Pretorius

ne of the odd things you pick up when you review a lot of games is that it is possible to love a flawed game. It becomes something of a love/hate relationship, when you are constantly ignoring or forgiving the things that annoy you with the title because you’re simply having so much fun playing it. And if fun was the only thing that games were rated on, Dead Space 3 would have been the recipient of a much higher score. As it stands, though, there are certain elements of the title that could have been better. They’re not ruinous mistakes, but these quirks are present none the less. The game kicks off with Isaac Clarke, engineer extraordinaire, generally unlucky guy and living alien beacon blueprint, heading off to help out the girlfriend that dumped him months before. Sure, he has had a

bad time of it and doesn’t have too many friends, but this plot kick off feels a bit too simple. In fact, the whole plot is a little too ‘easy’ on the main characters, who manage to piece together an ancient riddle that has been lying dormant for 200 years in pretty much no time at all. While this rather shallow plot-line unfolds, Isaac will be running back and forth a lot. Initially, he’ll be doing it on derelict space ships. Later, he’s on an icy wasteland of a planet, doing the same thing. It does get a little tedious, all that fetching and carrying. But that’s the bulk of the game’s action. The thing you need will never be in the place that you need it. While this can get pretty brutal after a while, there are numerous elements that mitigate this weaker factor of the title. The last real issue with this game is something that

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crept into the franchise in Dead Space 2. The first game was scary enough to require several trouser changes during the single player campaign. But Dead Space 2 lost that. The frights and scares were nothing new, and Dead Space 3 suffers from the same. Sure, you’ll jump occasionally, but Isaac has become adept enough at dismembering alien zombies at this point that the player will never really get tense. Because of this, Dead Space 3 isn’t really a horror game. Instead it’s an action thriller in which the bad guys happen to be undead space types. All of this may have had a very negative impact on a lesser game. But the truth is that Dead Space 3 is massive amounts of fun despite (and sometimes even because of) these oddities. The first thing that makes a big positive impression is that Visceral have created such a complete, rich

universe for the game to take place in. Sure, we are at the third instalment already, but each game has managed to show us something new while not compromising the setting. Everything, from the weird electronics through to the characters’ clothing, feels like it belongs to a greater whole. Even the ice planet of Tau Volantis, filled with 200 year old derelict buildings, feels like it fits perfectly. And then there’s the game play itself. Just like the previous two games, Dead Space 3 uses a third person perspective, and charges the player with dismembering foes, rather than going for head shots. The idea still works three games down the line, even if the scare value that the once-horrific Necromorphs deliver is greatly diminished. In addition to that, a new crafting system allows the player to gather parts and resources,

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Sure, things seem even less scary when there is someone out there to hold your hand, but the various systems and dynamics built into the co-op experience really makes this the best way to experience Dead Space 3. The single player game is great, the co-op is better. There are even sections during the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s course that are co-op only, reinforcing the idea that the fullest experience is achieved by playing with a friend. Once you have played through the game once, you can take on Game + mode, which reruns the story. It is a quicker experience the second time round, but tweaks and more powerful weapons and components available in Game + make the second play-through more fun than the first. As the game progresses, more of those quirks do appear every now and then. The boss fights seem

Review

allowing them to custom make numerous types of weapons, each with different applications and effects. They can also create consumable items, like health and stasis recharge packs, which even allows for a degree of customisation in the way that the game is approached. Do you carry more health packs, or rather boost armour ratings. Resources are, after all, limited. In addition, the player can upgrade Isaacâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rig. This not only adds health and armour, but also improves two more important elements of combat and traversal in the game â&#x20AC;&#x201C; stasis and kinesis. Both are still present, and possibly even more important this time around. One of the biggest additions to the game is the character of Carver, who comes aboard as a playable co-op option. Playing the game in co-op is fantastic.

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inconsistent, really, with some in the middle of the game being a lot tougher than the final fight. But there is a way around those tough fights, when you have no hope of getting to a weapon bench and making a batter gun. Outside of the campaign there is a weapon workshop. Crafting a new gun there saves it to your inventory, meaning it will be available the next time you try take on those tough stages. Weapon blueprints can also be saved and made available to folks online, which is a nice touch. Is Dead Space 3 better than the previous game? Well, yes and no, in the same way that Dead Space 2 was only better than the original in some ways. The story feels rushed and a little too simplistic, but the overall game dynamic and missions the player undertakes are improved and more varied. The scares are gone, but

the weapon crafting system means that you can find creative ways of wasting space zombies. There is a lot of fetching and carrying, but the game has more areas to explore and more cool things to discover. Dead Space 3 doesn’t just offer lots of Necromorphs to shoot; the game also looks and feels great, with decent voice acting that sometimes suffers under a few of the more ludicrous plot points. But the looks really steal the show; Visceral have yet again done a great job bringing this sci-fi gothic universe to life. If you have played the previous titles, you need this third game, even if just to see how the tale of Isaac and the Markers concludes. But even if you haven’t played the previous Dead Space titles, Dead Space 3 is an enjoyable, complex and deep action thriller – despite its quirks. g

AT A GLANCE: Third person action

Reviewed on:

The first Dead Space might have been a horror game, but this instalment is a very enjoyable action adventure, even with its quirks. Similar to: MaxPlayers Developer: Publisher: Distributer:

Games Games Games Games Games Local

Network

Online

Visceral Electronic Arts EA South Africa

Parental Advisory

18+ gladget29

Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

Genre:

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii U Wii PSV 3DS DS

Score

82 71

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