Gladget Magazine May 2011 by Gladget Magazine

w w w. g l a d ge t . c o. z a

issue 7 / vol 1 May 2011

A New Fitness Landscape Video Game Consoles : Can they improve your health?

“IT FEELS LIKE BOLD NEW GROUND FOR THE RACING GENRE”

IGN

24.05.11

WWW.DIRT3GAME.COM

13 ©2010TheCodemastersSoftwareCompanyLimited(“Codemasters”).Allrightsreserved.“Codemasters”®,“EGO”®,theCodemasterslogoand“DiRT”®areregisteredtrademarksownedbyCodemasters.“DiRT3”™isatrademarkofCodemasters.Allothercopyrightsortrademarksarethepropertyoftheirrespective ownersandarebeingusedunderlicense.ThisgameisNOTlicensedbyorassociatedwiththeFIAoranyrelatedcompany.DevelopedandpublishedbyCodemasters.Microsoft,Windows,theWindowsVistaStartbutton,Xbox,Xbox360,XboxLIVE,andtheXboxlogosaretrademarksoftheMicrosoftgroupofcompanies, ” and “À” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and ‘Games for Windows’ and the Windows Vista Start button logo are used under license from Microsoft. “2”, “PlayStation”, “PS3”, “

Inside 6 From the Editor

8 The Fitness Game Keeping fit with consoles 14 Photography Primer Zooming around 22 Reviews Lots of toys, tech and gadgets... 56 DVD Seen Some movies to see... or to avoid 66 Money to Burn How much would you pay for a TV? 68 Same Difference LCD or plasma? Make an informed choice! 72 Inner Workings Magnetic induction technology investigated 74 Dead End Is vinyl dead, or does it just sound that way?

THIS MONTH’S COVER Keeping fir is fun with video game cosoles! See the feature on page 8.

cover art by Katia Taliadoros

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Reviews

MSI N580GTX GPU

Razer Lycosa Keyboard

Apacer 8GB Flash Memory SD Card

Verbatim MediaShare 1TB Home Network Storage

Sony HDR-CX160E HandyCam

Verbatim StoreIt Notebook USB

Duracell Mini Charger

Sony Vaio C-Series Notebook

Letters: letters@gladget.co.za

Orb GX1 Headphones

Competition Entries: competitions@gladget.co.za

GLADGET Volume1Issue 5 Feb / March 2011 Editor: Walt Pretorius walt@gladget.co.za Sub Editor: Charlie Fripp Writers: Brian Murdoch Dion Scotten Richard Bingham Alex Scanlon Rob Edwards

Newsletter Subscriptions: www.gladget.co.za

Tomtom Via 120 GPS

Samsung Galaxy S Handset

Technical Support: Brian Murdoch

Atomic Easy XL DSi XL Utility Kit

Marketing Contact: Katia Taliadoros katia@gladget.co.za

Apacer AL670 HD Media Player

Portal 2 (video game)

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (video game)

Design & Photography: 1337 Media

technology. simply. CREATED USING

Mortal Kombat (video game)

Operation Flashpoint: Red River (video game)

Adobe CS5

MASTER SUITE

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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Time Warp From the Editor

by Walt Pretorius

eing in the magazine industry creates a weird kind of time warp. Even a magazine like this, which has a very short turnaround time, thanks to being digitally distributed, is still prepared in the month before the cover date. So I am speaking to you from the past… kind of. April has been an interesting month. From the hacking of the PlayStation Network to the Royal Wedding, to the death of Osama bin Laden, a lot has happened around the world at the start of the second quarter of 2011. A lot has been happening here at the 1337 media offices, too… we’ve been doing a lot of planning and strategizing for both Gladget and Gamecca magazines.

The year is getting hotter while winter approaches – how’s that for juxtaposition – and we plan to do the same. Last month we introduced our new home entertainment section, which was very well received. This month, we’ve expanded on it a little, adding our first classic movie to the mix. It’s an obvious choice of film, but you’ll have to read the section to see what it is. This classic bit will become permanent, as we tell DVD collectors about great, older movies to add to their collections. Another new section this month is something we call Money to Burn. What we’re going to be doing here is looking at really expensive, aspirational gadgets, toys and tech.

We kick it off with a TV that costs more than a mansion. It’s a small start, and we’ll be expanding the section in the future… but it’s a start none the less. We would also like to hear from you, our readers, about what you would like to see in the pages of Gladget. You’re our favourite people, after all, and your opinion counts to us. So please feel free to drop us a note at letters@gladget.co.za, and we’ll see how we can accommodate your ideas. Right, that’s enough from me… we have a bunch of articles, reviews and regulars for you in this issue, and I am pretty sure you want to get on with reading them. So, on with the show… g

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INCREDIBLE DEPTH FOR THE ULTIMATE GAMING EXPERIENCE.

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Experience real-life depth with the new Samsung 3D LED monitor.

Real 120Hz

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2D to 3D image conversion

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*3D glasses are required and are included with purchase.

The Fitness Game New technology makes home fitness easier…

Feature

by Alex Scanlon

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he impression that many people still have of those who regularly play video games is that of an unfit, sallow-skinned couch potato. And, in all fairness, video games aren’t exactly the kind of thing that inspires much physical activity… at least, they didn’t in the past. These days, though, the three major console manufacturers all have motion control systems that require the player to move, rather than to just press buttons on a controller. With these control systems, the idea of the sedentary gamer is all but gone. Sure, there are still many games that require control via a standard controller, but there are a growing number of others that demand movement as a control input. Almost every game on Nintendo’s Wii system requires at least a little movement and Sony are cleverly building in the option for Move control in many of their titles that also use traditional controls, in addition to their Move only games. Microsoft’s Kinect, arguably the most effective of all of the control systems, thanks to its full-body tracking, seems to be lagging behind a little in this regard, but new titles for this option are still appearing regularly. With these new control systems comes the idea of software guided workout and home fitness routines. Naturally, home fitness is not a new idea. Any child of the eighties likely has memories of workout videos produced by numerous well known personalities, like Jane Fonda, and these products are still prominent today. But they don’t have any kind of way of monitoring or advising the user based on the user’s actual input. A workout video tells you how to do something, and then relies on a sort of honour system – a system which is easy to avoid, cheat or manipulate. Fitness software using video game consoles is an entirely different matter. Because the user is monitored in some way or another, the software can comment on their performance. The level of feedback does, however, depend on the system that the user is employing in their fitness routine. On one end of the scale, we have the PlayStation Move. There are numerous fitness titles available for this platform, but monitoring is effectively only done by tracking the player’s one hand – the hand using the PlayStation Move’s main controller. Once again, an honour system comes into play… as silly as it may sound, the user can effectively ‘cheat’, while still getting the justification

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of the software praising their progress. It sounds selfdefeating… and it is. But people are strange creatures, and can easily justify their actions in this kind of case. The Nintendo Wii does a little better. Both of its controllers – the Wii remote and the Nunchuk – can sense motion, and many fitness programs on this platform make optional use of the Wii Balance Board, a flat, scale like object that can measure weight, balance and a number of other things. There’s less chance of cheating here, of course, but creative bending of the rules can still come into play. The most effective monitor of a user’s performance is the Kinect system for Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Using depth sensors and a full body monitoring system, the Kinect keeps a careful, virtual eye on the way the user is moving. It’s much more difficult to trick the system here, implying a more effective work-out. But monitoring is for more than just making sure the user does what they are supposed to. Gauging whether the user is doing the prescribed exercises correctly is equally important, to ensure that they avoid injury. Once again, the Kinect comes up trumps here, because of that full body monitoring system. The workout is, naturally, only as good as the software that provides it. There are numerous flavours of workout game – in fact, a number of sports simulators, which are not designed for physical fitness at home, will still tell the player how many calories they are burning. But in terms of pure fitness programs, there are a wide variety. This is important. Studies have shown that a high level of engagement and interest on the part of the user will improve the workout results. So, with this in mind, picking the right kind of software can make all the difference. From the fairly sedate and fitness themed products (like Wii Fit, Your Shape and EA Sports Active) through to themed workouts based on real world activities (including the wildly popular Zumba Fitness and the upcoming UFC Personal Trainer) there is a workout game that fits virtually any taste. The next question, of course, is do they work? Well, that comes down to that honour system once again. Because the user sessions are tracked and recorded by the software, an on-going ‘study’ of the user’s progress is possible, making it easy to track results from using the software. But, unless the user is regularly doing the exercises, and doing them correctly, the effectiveness of g l a d g e t fe at u r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

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the software will be in question. Sure, a good number of these workout systems will lightly chastise the user for being lax in their workout schedule, but the desire to stick to the program is still the most important part of getting results – just like any workout, whether at home, in the gym, or wherever. In answer to the question, a few studies have been done over the years (and let’s keep in mind that, even though this seems like a new trend, the combination of video games and exercise dates back to the 1980s… it’s just become a massive fad recently). The findings of these studies have been mixed. For example, a study published in the British Medical Journal stated that, while the increase in activity was good, the average child playing a Wii game does not get the daily required amount of physical activity needed for optimal health. That said, they were talking about any Wii game, not specifically workout related software. On the other hand, a study conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine defined EA Sports Active as an ‘effective workout’. In addition, further studies into the phenomenon have shown that the higher level of involvement in these workout programs can yield better results than ‘normal’ workouts, because they hold the user’s interest better. Certain studies, which admittedly are still in their early phases, have shown that the physical activity related to these games can result in better productivity and increased academic achievement in children, and that children are more likely to engage in these kinds of fitness activities than more traditional ones. Whatever the case may be, the simple fact is that these systems have potential for doing a lot of good, if they are employed correctly. They are superior in many ways to other home workout systems – including monitoring and user engagement – and can help users achieve certain fitness goals more effectively than sitting on a couch can. As a caveat: even normal video games can help fitness… a story of a lady who lost a massive amount of weight while playing Halo and riding her exercise bike at the same time was circulating the internet a while ago. Games – even workout software – can make the potential tedium of exercise almost non-existent. And no matter what the reports say, there is one truth in the whole matter. Activity is better than inactivity. And the potential health benefits are an awesome reason to buy a video game system… entertainment and health, all rolled into one! g g l a d g e t fe at u r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

Photography Primer

Bridging the Gap Zoom photography yields impressive results on all fronts.

by Walt Pretorius

g l a d g e t r e g u l a r â&#x20AC;˘ i s s u e 7 â&#x20AC;˘ M ay 2 0 1 1

PRESENTED BY

Adobe CS5

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he ability to take a photograph of something that is far away is fantastic. So often, extremely great images can be captured by using one of the most popular items in a photographer’s arsenal – a zoom lens. In fact, zoom is so popular that pocket-cameras and even cell-phone cameras now boast about it, when they have it. And in the case of the former, zoom is a big selling point, so virtually every one does have it to some degree or another. This raises an interesting point, and one that a prospective pocket camera buyer should keep in mind when making their purchase. I have, at times, heard people boast about their camera’s zoom capabilities before anything else that it is capable of. For some, it is even more important that the device’s megapixel rating. That’s all fine and well, but attention needs to be given to how the zoom function of a camera is put together. And for you to understand that, we need a brief overview on the mechanics of zoom lenses. Zoom lenses work, in layman’s terms, in a similar way to telescopes or binoculars. In other words, they are a collection of lenses that shift to allow the user to see distant objects up close. The lenses, or glass, are important here – each zoom lens is made up of several pieces that shift to create the zoom effect, as well as to ensure focus. A proper zoom lens is a complex piece of equipment. This shifting of glass pieces is what camera manufacturers commonly refer to as ‘optical’ zoom. In the days before digital photography, optical zoom was the only option. The only way that distant objects could be ‘brought closer’ was by arranging lenses in the right way. Thanks to digital cameras, though, a new kind of zoom has become available. It’s called digital zoom, and it is a feature that many cameras offer. Without putting too fine a point on it, digital zoom is little more than a sales tool to make the camera look a bit more impressive than it actually is; it can even be a trap for unwary buyers. Digital zoom is achieved, not by glass changing positions, but by the camera’s software increasing the size of individual pixels in the image. The result is images that are not as clear as they should be, and the more zoom that is applied, the worse the effect.

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Photography Primer

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Many cameras have digital zoom at the end of their optical zoom range – often indicated in the viewfinder. Yet others – on the smaller end of the scale, and including cell-phone cameras – only offer digital zoom. A quick guideline that any prospective camera buyer can apply is this: If the lens doesn’t look like it can move (if it is a ‘flat’ lens, like most cell phones have) then the zoom is more than likely digital. And the results will invariably be poorer. OK, rant aside, zoom photography can afford the photographer the opportunity to take pictures they might not normally be capable of capturing. The most obvious application – and a personal favourite – is wildlife photography. An image of a predator’s face is always impressive, but it would take a huge amount of courage – mixed with an equal amount of stupidity – to get up close and personal with a lion… or any other potentially dangerous animal, for that matter. And it’s not just the dangerous animals that zooming in helps with. Any animal can be difficult to photograph. Even the family mutt can prove a challenge if you get too close – a few licked lenses will have you looking for other options. There are a number of other applications of zoom photography, ranging from capturing objects that the photographer has no way of getting close to through to distant macro applications. But the example of the family pet leads to one extremely rewarding practice… candid portraits. See, when a camera enters into a certain radius of a human being, they either start treating you with horribly posed, goofy grins, or they run for the hills (generally saying something about not being photogenic.) Both these situations are mitigated by a zoom lens. Keeping your distance from people and snapping pictures of them while they are unaware leads to them being at their most natural in the final product. You can get a wonderful close-up with a good zoom lens without the person ever knowing it, and the end result will be the kind of image that people are very impressed by. Zoom photography is not without its complications though, and some of them are exacerbated when a longer zoom is used. The first problem is that zoom lenses are basically a combination of telephoto and wide angle lenses. This means that some distortion can occur when the photograph is taken. Often this distortion won’t be obvious, but it will more than g l a d g e t r e g u l a r • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

Photography Primer

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likely still be present. In the case of obvious straight lines, the distortion can sometimes be glaring. There is very little that can be done about it, though – it is the nature of the lens, and even lenses with minimal zoom will have a degree of distortion in the final product. The other issue is one that can be dealt with, thankfully, because its effect on the photograph can completely wreck a potentially amazing picture. By way of illustration, imagine having a broom stick or pool cue attached to the end of your nose, running parallel to the ground. Even the smallest head movement will result in a far more extreme movement on the far end of the stick. And that is exactly how even the smallest movement of your camera can result in a blurred image. Many DSLR zoom lenses come with some kind of image stabilisation, but even this is never exactly perfect as a solution to the problem. What the user needs to do is assume that virtually any picture will stand a good chance of being affected by camera motion – and the longer the zoom amount, the more pronounced the effect. This assumption needs to be made whether the lens has stabilisation or not – it has no brain, and cannot compensate for everything. Rather, use your own brain and make use of either a tripod or monopod, or some kind of other stabilising method to keep your camera still. And remember that even the slightest movement can be detrimental. If you are, for example, shooting wildlife pictures from a car in a game reserve, even the mildest engine vibration can result in a poor picture. Rather turn the engine off before you hit the shutter button (in which case the frame of the car can serve as effective stabilisation, with a little imagination applied.) The zoom lens is a mark of prestige. We see them in movies, around sports grounds… almost everywhere. They almost serve as a badge saying “I am a serious photographer.” Perhaps that’s why it affords everyone who takes photographs some kind of bragging rights – because it is held in high esteem. Whatever the case may be, zoom photography can result in incredible images, if approached correctly. Stabilisation is most important. And avoiding digital zoom like the plague is also a great idea. g g l a d g e t r e g u l a r • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

And the Award Goes To... Gamecca’s new award system explained

Bronze Award

t may seem like third prize, but the truth is that a Bronze Award from the Gamecca crew is nothing to scoff at. This award is given to games that score between 80 and 89 on our extremely technical and algebraically challenging rating system. Needless to say, Bronze Awards will be the most common ones you see. If a game has a Bronze Award attached to it, you should consider looking into it, particularly if you are a fan of the franchise or the genre it is part of. Now you know... g

Silver Award

f good games get Bronze Awards, great games get silver ones. Games that are rated between 90 and 95 by our panel of experts (well, self-proclaimed experts, actually) then it will get one of these babies. Silver Awards consitute a group of ‘must-play’ games for fans of the genre or franchise they are part of, and should be strongly considered by those that own one of the platforms they appear on. Silver Award games may not be the best of the best, but they are certainly up there, and warrant at least a few more moments of consideration than others. g

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gamecca • review

Gold Award

he best of the best get the coveted Gamecca Magazine Gold Award. Well, we’re hoping it will be coveted. We’re prety sure it will be... Games that score between 96 and... ok, well, in theory a game can never score a perfect 100, but you see what we’re saying. Let’s leave existentialism out of this, shall we? These are the games that should require no second thought, or no questions as to whether they need to be played. These games are essential. These are games you buy new platforms for. g

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Editor’s Choice

he Editor’s Choice Award is not necessarily presented to a title according to score. Sure, a high scoring game might get one, but a low scoring game might get one too. They tend to be rare, though. Editor’s Choice Awards mark games that stand out for one reason or another. They are the Editor’s pick to play... and while he might not be in full possession of his mental faculties, letting him select his favourite titles and stick an award on them helps keep him quiet. Seriously, though, this award marks a title that might not be superior, but still stands out. g

Reviews Highlights 24 MSI N580GTX Power in your pocket 26 Razer Lycosa Keyboard Multimedia on the move 32 Sony HDR CX160E HandyCam Active HD gaming 36 Sony Vaio C-Series Top notch graphics 40 Samsung Galaxy S More than pretty pictures

nd the hands-on reviews continue. We are working hard at expanding the range of products we cover, and will be bringing you software reviews as well, in the

future. Each month we manage to add a few more brands to our review section, and expand the scope of products that we are reviewing. It’s hard work, but we love it. This month, we have a healthy spread, from powerful graphics through to DSi XL bling. Check it out! g

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WIS193K - i-Station Lite MPS028 - i-Station Podium

MPS024 - i-Station Base

WIS019K - i-Station Tower WIS020K - i-Station Combo *iPodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s & iPad not included

Distributed Exclusively by Apex Interactive Tel: (011) 796 5040 www.apexint.co.za Email: sales@apexint.co.za All rights and trademarks and logos are copyright of their respective owners.

MSI N580GTX Graphics Card

A New Benchmark You want power? You go it!

by Alex Scanlon

raphics cards are something we get to look at fairly regularly here at Gladget, which is always fun. But often the cards become something of a blur – for the average user, the differences between many of these cards are almost imperceptible. It is only the enthusiast who notices the often small differences in the cards, and then only if they run some kind of diagnostic program. But the truth remains that a more powerful (and more expensive) graphics card will deliver a better experience, particularly in terms of 3D applications and video gaming. This is one of the components where more certainly equates to more. Enter the MSI N580GTX. This is a card that the makers are so confident in, they actually ship it with a free advanced edition of 3DMark 11, the accepted top benchmarking tool for graphics cards. What this says to the consumer is that this card can prove itself when put through its paces by this thorough benchmarking tool. But it could also be a clever marketing ploy, now,

couldn’t it? We decided to find out for ourselves, stuck the card into a test PC and ran 3DMark on it. The results, quite honestly, were impressive. The inclusion of the free software with the card is not a temptation – rather, it is MSI putting their money where their mouth is. The N580GTX ships with 1536MB or GDDR5 memory, meaning that it’s already fast performance – granted by the chipset – works even better, thanks to the large amount of on-board memory. The processor itself is rather quick and, supported by MSI’s easy-to-use Afterburner overclocking software, users can squeeze amazing amounts of power out of the card. The box claims that the card has up to 85% overclocking capability, but we were a little too hesitant to push it that far. Regardless, the card performed well under pressure, and tweaking a few settings delivered good results – we checked. As with almost all NVidia cards on the market these g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

days, this card comes with SLI technology, 3D Vision technology, PhysX technology and a host of other built in functions that make it an excellent way to view graphics, whether they be HD video, 3D games or anything else. On the downside, it is a rather power-hungry card, requiring a minimum 600w PSU for use. OK, quite honestly, any gamer worth his salt will be packing a bigger power supply than that. We’re just saying. What is disappointing is the ports that the card has. It features two DVI ports, and one mini-HDMI port. Sure, you don’t need more than three ports, but we would have liked to see a few more video output options. Not that the ports are a deal-breaker. This card is well worth the money, and will deliver exceptional performance in virtually any system that meets its requirements. As always, the bundled software offers a lot of added power and versatility, and the excellent construction of the card almost guarantees a long life-span. It might be a little costly, but we firmly believe that every cent invested into this monster is money well spent. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Very powerful • Bundled software

CONS:

• A little pricey • Few port options

Manufacturer: MSI Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R5599

A powerful option for those willing to spend a bit extra on a graphics card… and it comes with the software to prove it!

TECH SPECS: • NVidia 580 chipset • 1.5GB GDDR5 • Afterburner software • SLI ready • 3D Vision ready • PhysX

Score

97 25

Razer Lycosa Keyboard

Stylish Backlights and all…

by Walt Pretorius

keyboard can make all the difference to a number of PC applications. Whether it be inputting of letters and digits for writing purposes, or to help control a game, having a good, responsive and well-built keyboard can make your computing experience much better. Razer are known for their gaming peripherals – most notably their gaming mouse products – and they have a broad variety of input options for those that concentrate on playing games on their PC. At the lower end of the range is the Razer Lycosa, but that statement shouldn’t be taken to mean that it is a low end keyboard. In fact, the Lycosa is an excellent piece of hardware, for gaming and any other PC use. The stylish black keyboard features keys that are finished with a comfortable, non-slip surface, and tastefully backlit with a gentle blue light. This backlighting has three options… the user can either have all the keys illuminated, turn all the illumination off, or have just the WADS keys lit up.

Naturally, this last option is great for gamers, particularly those that play games requiring movement controlled by these keys. Above the number pad, a set of multimedia controls have been included in the form of a touch-sensitive pad. In addition to these handy controls, which govern volume, audio playback and the like, is the control for the keyboard back-lighting. The user can cycle through the three presets from here. At the far end – or top edge, if you prefer – of the keyboard are headphone and speaker jacks, as well as a USB port. These are directed to the keyboard by the generous cable, which plugs into the respective ports at the back of the PC. It’s a great idea, because it can help keep clutter to a minimum. The keyboard also features a detachable wrist rest. However, if you’re thinking of removing it, you’ll need a screw-driver… the rest is literally bolted to the keyboard. That’s a good thing, actually, because clip-on wrist rests can be damaged during transporting. g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

The rather light-weight keyboard is strongly constructed, none the less, and provides the user with a very comfortable use experience. The keys are beautifully responsive, and deliver a quiet yet audible click when depressed. The keyboard is further governed by software that can be downloaded from the Razer website. With this software, the user can set up all number of options for the keyboard. The only downside of the Lycosa is that it is a little pricey. If the user is a keen gamer, getting this keyboard – with its reliable performance and tough construction – is not a bad idea. But everyday users may not want to spend quite so much money on a keyboard that has few functions more than ‘normal’ input devices. Either way, the Lycosa delivers excellent performance all-round, so those that want a reliable and strong keyboard may well consider it. It’s good looking, comfortable to use and sensible. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Versatile backlights • Extra ports • Sturdy

CONS:

• Pricey • Not many added features

TECH SPECS: • • • • •

Backlight Headphone port Microphone port USB port Media controls

Manufacturer: Razer Distributor: Apex Interactive Online: www.apexint.co.za RRP: R899.95

Score

A sturdy and reliable keyboard, although maybe just a bit pricey.

78 27

Apacer 8GB SD Flash Card

Big, yet Small An SD brand to keep a lookout for…

by Walt Pretorius

hat can one say about an SD card? Well, quite a lot, really, if you use them regularly. A good SD card is an important addition to anyone’s arsenal these days, particularly if they use digital devices like cameras, video recorders and the like. Apacer, who are well known for their digital storage and memory modules, produce a thoroughly excellent SD card. Like any other, the Apacer 8GB SD Flash Card works with a multitude of devices. Thus far, it has been reliable (we say thus far because it takes quite some time for SD cards to degrade… more time than we had for this review). The card is a little thicker than other SD cards (we’re talking hair-breadths) so some older devices provide it with a tight fit. Best of all is its price. With a recommended retail of around R170, it certainly is a bargain. Of all the brands on the market, there are only a handful that provide excellent reliability, and we suspect that this card is one of them. g

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• High capacity • Great price

CONS:

• A little thicker than normal

TECH SPECS: • 8GB

Manufacturer: Apacer Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R169

Score

A good, reliable SD card at an excellent price.

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13 M ay 2011 th

www.legopirates. co.uk www.videogames. lego. com

The Pirates of the Caribbean © 2011 Disney. The Videogame software © 2011 TT Games Publishing Ltd. Produced by TT Games under license from the Lego Group and Disney. LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and the Knob configurations and the Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2011 The LEGO Group. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii are trademarks of Nintendo. ©2011 Nintendo. “2”, “PlayStation”, “PSP” and “PS3” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “ ” is a trademark of the same company. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.

BUY NOW:

coming to cinemAs on 20th May 2011

Verbatim MediaShare 1TB Home Network Storage

Expanded Storage A (literally) solid solution for small networks

by Alex Scanlon

t wasn’t that long ago that the idea of a computer network in someone’s home implied that they probably had too much money and more spare time than they knew what to do with. Home computers – in singles, really, or even multiple isolated units – didn’t need to network with each other. And if they did, it was generally via a small hub or cross-over LAN cable, for gaming purposes. These days, though, computers have become a big part of the household. They have permeated our lives to a far greater degree than anyone could ever have expected and, realistically, the idea of a home network is not quite so ‘out there’ anymore. Part of a well organised network is having a centralised place to store shared files, be they documents, images, media files or whatever. Previously home networks would have used one or more machines with shared folders to store files, but modern home computer users want something more… even if it is just a centralised back-up location.

Verbatim, the long trusted name in data-storage, offers a solution for those that want just such a centralised location. It comes in the form of the Verbatim MediaShare and, while its name might imply only media storage, it is an extremely useful part of any home network. In fact, while it is called a ‘home media storage’ device, it will serve any small network, whether it be at home or even part as a small business, very well. The MediaShare comes with a 1TB hard-drive built in, which is a generous amount of storage. Users can, naturally, make use of this storage any way they desire. The hard-drive – as well as all the other components – is stored within a very sturdy metal outer casing. While this does make the device rather heavy, it also ensures its physical security. The MediaShare is armed with a number of ports, for various types of connection. Three USB ports (with one mounted in the front for easy access), an eSATA port and a LAN port all allow connection to the unit. Further, g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

backups of the data to an external hard-drive can be done quite simply by attaching an external hard-drive to the eSATA port. Also, the unit can serve as a network printing hub, if a printer is connected to one of its USB ports. The MediaShare has several ease-of-use functions, like one-button uploading to a USB stick, build in social media functions and remote access. It even allows easy access to connected external storage devices. In terms of performance, the MediaShare is a fantastic device. It operates quickly and quietly, with speed only possibly hampered by network connection speeds. It’s fast enough to stream media to a variety of digital devices as well, provided that they can be connected to the unit. Those looking for expanded, secure data storage on any kind of small network will find that Verbatim’s MediaShare is a good choice. Its good performance, combined with sturdy construction, make it an ideal solution for added space and simple file-sharing in a small network. g

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AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Solid build • Generous storage • Reliable

CONS:

• Heavy • Limited ports

Manufacturer: Verbatim Distributor: Verbatim Online: www.verbatim.com RRP: TBC

Sturdily build and reliable, the Verbatim MediaShare is an excellent expansion to any small network.

TECH SPECS: • • • • •

1 TB storage 3x USB ports LAN port eSATA port 10/100/1000 ethernet • DLNA compatible

Score

82 31

Sony HDR-CX160E Handycam

Moving Pictures

Top notch performance from this handy camera by Walt Pretorius

veryone loves capturing memories, and what better way than with a good video camera? Sure, these days the ever-present cell phone has become a device that can take photos and video too, and most people are perfectly happy to record videos using just that kind of device. But those who are serious about capturing top quality videos will most certainly want to look at a dedicated video recorder. In fact, with the in-roads that cell phones are making into casual photography and videography, it has become important for manufacturers to produce products that don’t just compete, but completely out-do mobile handset capabilities. Enter the Sony HDR-CX160E Handycam. Sony has a long standing reputation as manufacturers of outstanding video capture devices but, in recent years, they have really upped their game. And it shows in this diminutive yet powerful video camera. This Handycam, for starters, shoots in full HD. This, combined with a 29.8mm wide angle lens, means that

you’re going to be watching top quality images that fit your HD TV perfectly. In addition, it features a 42x extended zoom, which is rather generous in a device of this type. Naturally, a long zoom brings its own kind of problems, particularly in terms of camera shake. But the Handycam takes care of that by using a very advanced stabilisation system. This even kicks in when the user is walking, resulting in extremely stable footage, unhindered by slight movements and shakes. Naturally extreme movement will come into play, but that’s to be expected. The Exmor R CMOS sensor makes sure that the video is crystal clear in virtually any lighting conditions, delivering video that is relatively free of artefacts, even in low light. Video is stored on MemoryStick or SD cards, or alternatively on the video recorder’s built in 16GB of memory (a nice added extra that you don’t often see in digital imaging devices.) These can be transferred to a PC via a built in USB cable (no more losing cables) or can be played directly on g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

a TV via AV-R or HDMI cables. The camera has a generous 3-inch LCD screen that can be tilted all the way around, and delivers a clear view of the video to be recorded (or the 3.3 megapixel still images to be taken.) It also provides video playback, but this is generally only snippets (or ‘highlights’) of the recorded footage, which is a little annoying. Sure, they’re trying to keep battery power consumption to a minimum, but the battery delivers a fairly generous 10 hour life, and can easily be recharged via USB or an external charger, so being stingy with it is a little unnecessary. Still, this is a really, really nice video recorder. It’s controls are extremely sensibly placed, and merely flipping open the LCD screen has it ready to record in around 3 seconds. It can also handle an external microphone (although the built in microphones are capable of a degree of stereo audio recording.) The stability and quality of the camera are excellent, and the recording quality is way up there. This is a great device for those who take their video recording seriously. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Various shooting modes. • Great quality • Nicely compact

CONS:

• LCD Playback modes

Manufacturer: Sony Distributor: Sony Online: www.sony.co.za RRP: R4999

Great performance is the order of the day with this Handycam, which is great for those who want a little more from their video recordings.

TECH SPECS: • 16 GB Internal memory • 42x Zoom • Exmor R CMOS • 10 Hour battery life • Optical SteadyShot • Built in USB cable

Score

96 33

Verbatim Store’n’Go 8GB Netbook USB

Tiny

Really tiny… by Walt Pretorius

ust how small are things going to get. It seems that Verbatim thinks they need to be very small. I may be giving away my age here, but I remember when 512MB USB drives were considered cool and “really small for the data they carry”. Well, Verbatim has now managed to cram 8GB of storage onto an item that is really tiny – about the size of a common wireless keyboard dongle. Seriously, the USB plug is the biggest part of the Store’n’Go Netbook USB. And yet it holds 8GB of data. It’s almost mind boggling. Perhaps there is such a thing as too small, though – it would conceivably be very easy to lose track of this tiny storage device. A dog or child could probably swallow it without too much effort. We were tempted to try the experiment, but no one was willing to retrieve it afterwards, so we gave it a skip. Quite seriously, though, we were pleasantly surprised by the reliable performance of this diminutive device and, for those that won’t lose it, we heartily recommend it. g

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Tiny • Generous storage • Reliable

CONS:

• Too small, perhaps?

TECH SPECS: • 8 GB • USB 2.0

Manufacturer: Verbatim Distributor: Verbatim Online: www.verbatim.com RRP: TBC

Score

Super small, yet very reliable and rather generous in storage size.

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A steady supply of AA energy

by Alex Scanlon

he biggest problem with batteries is that they are a pain to replace. We don’t mean putting them into the device that needs them – rather, we mean buying them or, even worse, not having bought any when you really need them. The argument for rechargeable batteries is, as always, strong. Well known battery producer Duracell have some rechargeable options, like the Duracell Active Charge Mini Charger. This device, which plugs directly into a two pin wall socket, charges two AA or AAA batteries at a time. It can be used with any brand of rechargeable battery, apparently. Although it only charges two batteries at a time – we prefer models that do four – the truth is that most devices using AA or AAA batteries make use of two, so it sort of works out. The charging cycle is relatively fast, with batteries going from dead to full of life in around 8 hours, depending on brand. The units come in a few different colours, and look better than the average ‘exposed battery’ chargers, thanks to a stylish cover. In all, a good choice, and as reliable as one would expect from Duracell. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Nice design • Versatile • Fairly quick

CONS:

• Only two batteries at a time

TECH SPECS: • AA Batteries • AAA Batteries • 8 hour charge time

Manufacturer: Duracell Distributor: Duracell Online: www.duracell.com RRP: TBC

Score

Better looking than most, this is a handy two battery charger that handles AA and AAA batteries.

79 35

Duracell Active Charge Mini Charger

Keep the Power Up

Sony Vaio C-Series Notebook

Loud

We’re not talking volume here… by Walt Pretorius

ave you ever seen a colour so intense that it seems to dull everything around it? I am sure you have but, just in case you haven’t, check out Sony’s new Vaio C Series notebooks. They’re seriously eye-popping, available in vibrant shades of green, pink, orange and a more sedate black. Reminiscent of ‘80s Dayglo paint, these notebooks certainly are eye-catching, and a great way to make a statement in a world full of black and grey laptop computers. In fact, despite the initial reaction that you may have to such a brightly coloured machine, they’re undeniably pretty, rivalling the designs brought out by the Apple Corporation in terms of aesthetics and lines. The bright finish extends to the inside of the unit, where a black chicklet style keyboard rounds off the finish. A 15.5 inch widescreen monitor delivers crisp, clear visuals, with an integrated web-cam just above it. The touch pad – in a matching colour – is set slightly to the right below the keyboard, making it easier for right handed users to access. What’s more important than the looks though – to many

users at least – is what sits under that brightly coloured exterior. The review model we took a look at comes with an Intel Core i5-2410M CPU running at 2.30GHz providing it’s processing, combined with an Intel HM65 Express chipset. 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM comes standard, but can be doubled with an upgrade. Storage space is provided by a fair sized 500GB hard drive, and graphics are delivered by way of an AMD Radeon HD 6630M chip, supported by 1GB of DDR3 RAM. On paper, that’s not too shabby, and the Vaio shows it’s specifications off with a pretty solid performance. Port-wise, the unit comes with three USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port, HDMI and RGB video outputs and a LAN port. In addition, the unit has the usual headphone and speaker jacks, an integrated card reader (for SD and MemoryStick cards) built-in wireless connectivity and a DVD SuperMulti optical drive. In short, it has pretty much everything the average user would need. Sure, it lacks some of the bells and whistles of other notebooks, but it doesn’t really need them. With a weight g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

of 2.85kg, it isn’t too heavy either, making it a dream to carry around. On the downside, the internal speakers could have been a little better, but they really are no worse than normal notebook speakers on the market today. The internal speakers are supported by an integrated, monaural microphone, too, making video communication using the built in camera a lot easier. Another of the Vaio’s weaker points is that the battery life isn’t tremendously long. It isn’t laughably short, but at 3.5 hours of continuous use, it seems just a little on the light side. On the whole, it’s a joy to use. The design is comfortable, and it delivers a fair turn of speed, thanks to decent components and a good amount of RAM. It comes with a large amount of pre-installed software, some of which may be a little unnecessary, but there are a lot of useful utilities in there too. If you want to make a statement in your personal computing, this is a decent machine to do it with. g

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AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Awesome looks • Good performance • Sturdy build

CONS:

• Battery life • Speakers

Manufacturer: Sony Distributor: Sony Online: www.sony.co.za RRP: R9999

TECH SPECS: • • • • • •

Intel Core i5 CPU 4GB RAM 500GB HDD 1GB VRAM 4x USB ports 15.5 inch screen

Score

A decently powered notebook with a really striking look, the C-Series offers good performance.

88 37

ORB GX1 Headphones

Hear Me

Talking and listening at the same time is great by Charlie Fripp

laying games on a console or PC can become a bit of a tricky affair when silence needs to be observed in the household – especially when online chat is involved. Luckily ORB has come to the rescue with their all-in-one GX1 headset. See, not only does the headset stream the game sounds, but it also integrates the online chat into the headphones, so there is no need to look like a spastic robot trying to juggle two different sets of earpieces. This particular headset is compatible with the Xbox 360 and PC, while there is a separate version for the PlayStation. Besides for the headphones, included in the box are all the necessary cables to make it work – including a rather lengthy cable that houses separate in-line volume controls for game and chat sounds. The cups aren’t great, as they tend to be a bit small, squashing the user’s ears a bit after prolonged use, but on the up side, they are very loud and the sounds are crystal clear. The chat sounds and built-in microphone could have been a bit better, as users will find themselves juggling between the two volumes to get the balance right. An all-round good headphone set, it’s great for

gamers who live on a budget but don’t expect it to work beyond its prime. It serves as a good entry-level all-in-one headset combo. g

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Loud • Easy to use • Versatile

CONS:

• Cups are uncomfortable • Needs a USB to work

Manufacturer: ORB Distributor: Sensation Lab Online: www.take3.co.za RRP: R689

TECH SPECS: • Game sounds and chat simultaneously • USB powered • Built-in microphone • Generous cable • Xbox & PC compatible

Score

Although it’s a great entry-level headset, it does have its flaws.

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Yet still very capable

by Alex Scanlon

GPS navigation system is just about the smartest thing you can get for your car. After all, maps are a pain, and no-one ever gives really reliable directions anymore. So a trusted name in navigation is a good bet, and Tomtom are building that reputation rather quickly. Some of the higher-end Tomtoms are fairly expensive, though. And getting a cheaper unit might not appeal to people, based on the old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’. But the Tomtom Via 120 is an exception to that thinking. What Tomtom did with this GPS unit is remove most of the non-essential bells and whistles, while retaining a connection to their handy Live services (which update traffic, weather, speed traps and so on.) They even left some of the larger models’ voice recognition in place, allowing the user to speak in order to find destinations. It’s not the best voice recognition system – it’s a little slow – but it does work. Another thing that they did to keep costs down was remove the idea of a cradle. The connector – read ‘suction cup’ – is permanently connected to the unit, which means taking it out of the car (to avoid theft) is a g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

bit of a pain. Still, it’s a good option for those who want reliability, without spending an arm and a leg. g

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Reliable • Easy to use

CONS:

• Some controls are a bit sluggish

TECH SPECS: • • • • •

4.3” screen Bluetooth 2 hour battery life 183 grams Live services

Manufacturer: Tomtom Distributor: Tomtom Online: www.tomtom.co.za RRP: TBC

It lacks some of the excessive bells and whistles, but is still a wonderfully reliable navigation device.

Score

77 39

Tomtom Via 120 GPS

Light Weight

Samsung Galaxy S

Reliable

But all smart phones look like clones these days… by Rob Edwards

et’s be honest – an Android-powered smart phone is pretty similar to another Androidpowered smart phone. Google’s answer to handset OS systems is doing extremely well for the company, and devices using Android are growing in popularity, both with consumers and manufacturers. So the real question, if you’re going to avoid Apple and Blackberry, is which manufacturer to go with. There are many, of course, but Samsung has proven itself reliable when it comes to phones, so their products are likely a good bet. As an example, the Samsung Galaxy S provides the user with a light-weight option that still has a large screen. It’s a relatively thing devise, yet comes with all the bells and whistles, from crystal clear calling through to a surprisingly good camera built in. The phone operation is largely touch-screen based, with only five buttons built into the device. The two touch-sensitive face buttons below the screen respond with a reassuring little vibration when activated, too. With a large number of apps preinstalled, it is a handy device, although it seems aimed more at play than work. It offers a decent battery life and solid performance, making it a good choice for some looking for a reliable Android mobile handset. g

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Quick • Good camera • Reliable

CONS:

• Smartphones are all starting to look the same…

Manufacturer: Samsung Distributor: Samsung Online: www.samsung.co.za RRP: TBC

TECH SPECS: • 4” Screen • MicroSD card slot • HD video recorder • 5 megapixel camera • 1GHz CPU

Score

A decent smartphone, but it battles to stand out in the ever-growing crowd.

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And a few other extras, too…

by Rob Edwards

ooking after your DSi XL is a good idea – it’s a pretty expensive piece of hardware, after all. And even if you’re yearning for a 3DS, you should take care of what you have! Atomic’s Easy XL accessory pack makes this task simple. The pack includes a stiff case, lined with a soft material. In addition, protector films for the two screens are also included, as well as a ‘soft card’ to help with applying and removing them. Further, the kit has three game boxes, two styluses, a set of headphones and a funky screen cleaner that doubles as a decorative pendant. The kit sports a funky black and white design, and is great for keeping your DSi XL well protected. The added bonus of extra styluses and headphones doesn’t hurt, either. Of course, you can keep you 3DS in it until accessories for the new Nintendo handheld flood the market, but be aware of the fact that the screen protectors and game cases are not compatible. Still, for the price, it’s a great deal, no matter which kind of DS you’re going to keep in it. The various parts are well made and sturdy, and the stylus tips are good quality. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Good quality • Funky design • Value for money

CONS:

• Not for the 3DS

Manufacturer: Atomic Distributor: Sensation Lab Online: www.take2.co.za RRP: R249

TECH SPECS: • Stiff case • 2 x screen protectors • 2 x styluses • Headphones • 3 x game cases • Screen cleaner

Score

A good quality accessory kit for Nintendo DSi XL owners.

79 41

Atomic Easy XL Utility Pack

Protection

Apacer AL670 HD Media Player

Entry Level

Decent performance, but lacking in some ways… by Alex Scanlon

edia players are an important part of a home entertainment system these days. Whether you are making digital copies of your own DVDs (to protect the originals) or getting media files through less honest means, the ability to play movie files on a TV is quite important. But the interface between the files and the TV sometimes gets tricky (unless you are lucky enough to have a TV that can play these files directly off of an external hard drive or USB stick.) Enter the media player… There are numerous companies taking on the media player market these days, including Apacer. Apacer is generally best known for their memory modules and digital storage devices, so it’s no small wonder that they would try this market out, too. That said, this brings to light the fact that their entry level media player, the AL670, has absolutely no built in data storage. None. Older media players commonly do not have built-in storage space, but

newer competitors to the AL670 have certainly got some way to store files built in. This anachronistic approach seems somewhat strange. What the AL670 does is sit between your hard-drive – be it external, PC based, or whatever – or other removable media and the TV you want to view said media on. It’s pretty much a media-decoder in a box and, to that end, it handles massive variety of file types. All kinds of media can be used with the device, from music to movies, and it can decode almost every format around. Picture is delivered either via component cables or HDMI, and media sources can be connected to the unit using one of its two USB ports, or a LAN cable. The TV image is delivered in full HD, which is a win, but the chip set used to decode the files is a little on the old side, meaning that enthusiasts may be a little disappointed in the unit’s performance. On the upside, it offers full bit torrent support, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing – at least, copyright owners g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

won’t think it is. The AL670 is attractively designed, and is fairly resistant to scratches and finger prints. It looks good next to virtually any TV, and is a fairly discrete addition to the home entertainment kit. It ships with a full function remote control as well, which helps the user navigate its fairly varied functions with ease. In addition, the odd component-out ports used by the unit necessitate that it ships with these cables as well. In the end, it is a decent entry-level media player, but it won’t offer much competition to bigger models. Sure, the pricing is good, but someone who is serious about their media player will likely opt for a model that features a current generation chip and some kind of internal storage. While the lower pricing may be attractive, the user will need to spend extra money on external storage, if they don’t already have any. In addition, this adds an extra step to the process… the user cannot simply load files onto the AL670 itself. g g l a d g e t h a r d wa r e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

AT A GLANCE: PROS:

• Nice price • Good performance

CONS:

• Older chip • No internal storage

Manufacturer: Apacer Distributor: Pinnacle Africa Online: www.pinnacle.co.za RRP: R899

TECH SPECS: • Multiple file formats • 2x USB ports • Full HD playback • Bit torrent support • HDMI output

Score

It performs well enough, but it’s older chip and lack of internal storage don’t do it many favours.

65 43

Portal 2

Make a Hole!

Portal 2 is nothing short of a masterpiece!

t’s always a great thing when one good game leads to another. It happened with Half-Life and CounterStrike (yes, it was a good game, it was just the community’s attitude that ruined it.) And it sort of happened with Portal, a game that Valve released as part of the Orange Box game compilation that was released four years ago… seeing as how everything in the box was pretty much based on Half-Life 2. Portal struck a massive chord with gamers – probably a bit bigger than Valve expected – and, as a result, a stand-alone sequel has been released. And, from the chatter flying around, we’re pretty sure that this game, Portal 2, is going to be a massive success, too. The basic idea behind Portal 2 is extremely simple. The player is a test subject for Aperture Technologies, a somewhat mysterious, totally over-the-top research foundation. When the player enters the game, they have been in stasis for an indeterminate time, and the testing facility around them has fallen into disrepair. With the help of a small, rather amusing robot, the players make their escape from where they were ‘stored’, and have to begin completing tasks and tests to get out of the

by Walt Pretorius

massive facility. That’s a very rough overview of the game. We don’t want to mention too much more, because there is a story to this one that, while mildly predictable, is still pretty amusing. In fact, humour is a big thing in Portal 2, and voice performances (of pre-recorded messages left by long gone scientists) by people like JK Simmons deliver more than a few chuckles and belly laughs as the game progresses. Jokes aside, though, the action in Portal is seriously unique. True, it follows on from the original Portal’s ideas, but (considering the mass of carbon copy games out there) it’s still pretty fresh overall. Presented in a first person perspective, the game does away with the one thing a player might expect in a title using this view-point: guns. There aren’t any here. Perhaps Valve are trying to prove a point about whether violence is necessary in a game to make it good, or even popular. Whatever the case may be, action fans might be a bit disappointed at the game’s lack of weapons. But that’s no reason to be, actually; what Portal 2 lacks in combat it makes up for with mind bending locational puzzling.

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Actually, the previous bit about guns is not entirely correct… the player does get a gun, of sorts. But, instead of bullets, rockets, mines, grenades, depleted uranium or radioactive poodles, this gun fires holes. Sort of. See, certain surfaces in the game allow the player to create portals in them. In general (from a few minutes into the game onwards) the portal gun allows the player to create two portals at a time; a blue one, and an orange one. Something that goes into the blue portal comes out of the orange portal, and vice versa. In the simplest terms, the player can traverse a bottomless chasm by creating a portal on either side, and simply walking through it. But there is, truthfully, nothing simple about Portal 2. The game leads the player through a series of puzzles, which range from being prescribed tests created by Aperture Technologes, through to being challenges of navigating areas where old structures have collapsed. Graphically, these areas are extremely impressive. From the sterile white test rooms through to the massive cavernous underground areas the player will have to get through, all of them look really, really good. The effects and animations that support them are also superb, making

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Portal 2 a visual feast that can, at times, be breath-taking. Supporting the visual presentation is the aforementioned excellent voice acting, as well as a great collection of sound effects and music. In terms of stimulating the senses, Portal 2 is masterful. But that’s not the only area in which this game shines: it’s pretty good at mental stimulation, too. So, back to the puzzles, then. Seeing as how these are the meat-and-bones of this title, the developers thought of many interesting ways in which to challenge the player. While the portal gun is something they carry with them wherever they go, the various testing chambers and environments provide the player with other elements that can be used to solve areas. These come in many forms. There are lens boxes that angle deadly laser beams onto reactive plates. There are bridges made of light. There are gravity wells that push the player in a certain directions. There is blue gel, which makes the character jump higher, orange gel that makes her run faster (yes, the character is a girl) and white gel that allows portals to be placed in areas where they previously could not have been placed. There are ton of items and substances like these, and they

all help in solving puzzles. But the true brilliance here comes right back to the portals, and the way in which the player utilises them. See, the above items are all subject to the ‘science’ of portals. If one of the gels, for example, is sprayed into one portal, it will come pouring out of the other. Similarly, a light bridge extending into one will emerge and extend from the other. Added to this is the fact that physics play a part as well. If the character falls a long distance into one portal, she will emerge from the other at the same speed she was going when entering the first. This, as an example, means that the player can reach high platforms by taking a long fall first – she falls into the first portal at a high speed, and her momentum coming out of the second carries her high into the air. This is the kind of ‘out-the-box’ thinking that drives the whole game. Players will need to be observant, and strap their thinking caps on tightly… an almost hidden object or

surface can make all the difference in this brain-bending title. Luckily the game isn’t overly keen on pressurising the player, and they can take their time solving the various tests and puzzles. I am not quick to say that a game is a ‘must-play’ title, because these things really are taste-driven. But Portal 2 is, in truth, such a game. It offers immense amounts of fun and challenge for the player, from its awesome puzzles right through to its quirky sense of humour. And not a single shot is fired for the whole thing. And co-operative play makes it even longer lasting (despite the fact that it is already a rather long game.) With Portal 2 available on all HD platforms, including PC, there is simply no good excuse to avoid playing this game. It is a high point of the year so far, and is a title that everyone should experience, without a doubt. Valve’s work on this title is exemplary, and the very nature of the game makes it a unique, entertaining and extremely rewarding experience. g

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Portal 2 is an extremely enjoyable, unique and engaging gaming experience… no guns required. Developer: Valve Publisher: Electronic Arts Distributor: EA South Africa

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

12+ g l a d g e t v i d e o g a m e • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PC Platforms

AT A GLANCE:

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

96 47

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean

Avast!

Johnny the LEGO man…

raveller’s Tales certainly have a very interesting niche market cornered. They have managed to bring four movie IPs to the gaming market, thanks to their unique LEGO spin on things; Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and Batman (which is only arguably a movie IP) have all been given the little plastic block treatment. Now, another major movie property is joining the burgeoning ranks of the LEGO franchise: Pirates of the Caribbean. And, quite simply, it makes perfect sense to do so. These movies – and we’re making the assumption that the upcoming fourth film will be the same – feature the swashbuckling kind of adventure and varied locations that made LEGO games based on the others so appealing. That, along with a large cast of characters, makes a LEGO version of these particular movies something of a no-brainer. As before, Traveller’s Tales have gone with a different publisher for these games. It’s part of their rather smart business model, which allows them to gain access to numerous different IP subject matters. By keeping publishing rights close to the publisher, they

by Walt Pretorius have managed to spread their net rather wide. This time around the publisher is Disney Interactive, and we all know that Disney is the movie studio behind Pirates of the Caribbean. With so many different LEGO games out there, Traveller’s Tales have their hands full with keeping things fresh. There was a stage, a few releases ago, when the games started getting pedantic and repetitive. But the release of LEGO Harry Potter marked a departure from the norm for the series, and breathed some new life into LEGO games in general. The same will probably be said for Pirates of the Caribbean. On the surface, it’s a lot like every other LEGO game out there – the player gets to wander around numerous large environments, trashing stuff, building stuff and collecting LEGO studs as they go along. As the game progresses, the player will be able to unlock new characters (which number around 100) and revisit previously played scenes to unlock new things with different character abilities. In fact, anyone who has played a LEGO game before will be able to get into the swing of things quite easily with

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this one. But, that said, Traveller’s Tales have managed to inject a number of fresh ideas into the game, making it something of a landmark for the LEGO franchise. We’ll get to those in a moment. First, it has to be mentioned that the developers did a sterling job with the presentation of the game. The graphics are great, with detailed backgrounds and complex levels providing the player with a wonderful experience. But the true genius is in the LEGO ‘conversion’ of the characters. Most of them are easily recognisable… and none more so than Jack Sparrow. In fact, this is probably the best treatment Traveller’s Tales have ever given a film character. From the way he moves – running with the same ‘hands-up-legskicking-forward motion’ that Johnny Depp used when playing the character – through to the voice. Sure, the characters don’t speak(they never do in these games) but every now and then the LEGO Jack Sparrow will issue and “oi” or “ey” or grunt that sounds spot-on. Naturally, it helps having seen the films before playing the game, just like with any LEGO title. There are tons of in-jokes, and the developers have taken liberties with the

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plots to make the games a little more enjoyable. That’s pretty usual. The game covers all four of the films, touching on major scenes and events along the way. For example, the player will, during the Legend of the Black Pearl section, experience the pirate attack on Port Royal, Jack assembling his crew in Tortuga, the assault of the Black Pearl on Jack’s stolen ship, Jack and Elizabeth being marooned on the rum-smuggler’s island, and so forth. The sequence of events is correct, and the player will easily be able to place events in the game in relation to the films, despite the changes that the developers have made. One of the new aspects added to the game is the size of the team the player can use. Whether playing as a single player, or multiplayer, pirates will task the player with controlling one of up to eight controllable characters in each mission. Naturally, players can jump between the characters as they wish, using a quick command or a radial character menu. In fact, the player will have to do this. Using just one character will mean that the player cannot effectively complete a mission.

See, the characters all have unique abilities. Will can throw an axe, for example, and Jack can find extra things to do with his compass. Others can fire muskets, repair special objects, dig, jump higher and so on. The game will prompt when these different abilities are needed in a variety of ways, and the player will soon learn who needs to do what. Completing levels now requires a number of more complex tasks, and a bit more puzzling than previous titles. That’s one of the game’s short-falls. Every now and then, the lack of speech makes what the player is supposed to do a little unclear, and results in sometimes frustrating wandering around levels to try and figure out what needs to be done. Another new aspect to the game is the occasional use of ‘first-person’ cannon shooting. It’s a small thing, but it’s a good addition to the game. In fact, Pirates of the Caribbean is a great addition to the franchise overall. Aside from fresh ideas, it also adds a new IP to the series, bringing a whole lot of fresh environments and tasks for the player to perform. And,

as always, it’s friendly enough to be great for the whole family, without compromising on challenge too much. It may be a little too challenging for youngsters from time to time, and even the parents that get asked for help may find themselves scratching their heads. That’s no deal-breaker, though; it’s a fantastically fun game that offers a lot of game time and tons of replay value. As always, there’re different things to collect and more than enough reasons to revisit previously played levels within the game’s four chapters. The vibrant characters and settings, as well as the quirky humour, add to this appeal even more. Most importantly, though, this game shows that Traveller’s Tales are still committed to producing games that at least have some freshness to them, rather than just churning out the same game with new characters over and over again. While they might have hit a bit of a stale patch before, it’s obvious that they have strapped on their thinking caps for the newer titles, adding even more appeal to already fun titles.LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean marks a new high point for this franchise. g

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A great new entry into the LEGO franchise, this title marks a new high point for it. Developer: Traveller’s Tales Publisher: Disney Interactive Distributor: Prima Interactive

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

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Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

X360 Platforms

AT A GLANCE:

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

84 51

Mortal Kombat

The Ancient Kontest In all its rebooted glory…

hen Midway started looking shaky a few years back, a lot of people were wondering what would happen to their game franchises. In particular, fans were watching the Mortal Kombat IP with keen interest, because of all of Midway’s franchises, Mortal Kombat was arguably the most popular. Warner Bros stepped in and snapped up the rights for the franchise. That was, as I said before, a few years ago, and ever since, adherent of the series have been waiting to see what the new publisher would do with it. The answer, in a nutshell, is a reboot. Mortal Kombat, in its latest guise, goes back to the roots of the game that sprang into arcades many, many moons ago. In other words, the game leaves behind many of the ideas introduced in later instalments, and moves back towards where it all began. Aside from a very few exceptions, Mortal Kombat is more like the earlier versions of the title than it has been in ages. What this means, basically, is that the game has once again become a 2D fighting game. There’s no sidestepping or depth to the levels; the characters are once

by Walt Pretorius again tied to a single plane along which they manoeuvre and do battle. This is not a bad thing, even though it may look like a step backwards. Sure, the 3D environments of later titles allowed for a different kind of tactical approach, but the traditional strategy in games like these has always stemmed from the actual fighting, rather than from fancy footwork. And fighting is what the new Mortal Kombat has in droves. All the old favourite characters are back, including the likes of Sonja, Jax, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Raiden and Kitana. The very healthy character roster provides the player not only with variety in terms of characters, but also in terms of fighting styles. And with these styles come the tactics that were mentioned before. Fans will also be pleased to see that the overall brutality of the series has returned. The fights in this game are bloody indeed, and the return of Fatalities adds even more gore to the proposition. And, of course, the Fatalities are amusing in their over-the-top nature. For all the ‘returning to roots’, Mortal Kombat still offers the player an excellent experience, and fans of the series

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excuse to try a number of different fighters. The game does have an anachronistic side to it, though… the graphics look dated. Some of the character models look a little clunky and a handful of animations (like a character collapsing when defeated) are just plain bad. In a world where flashy graphics hold so much sway, Mortal Kombat certainly is not among the top visual contenders… lively backgrounds and brutality aside. But it is one of those titles that proves that graphics aren’t the be-all and end-all of video gaming. It’s a wellconstructed title that leaves little to be desired (aside from the visuals) and fans of the franchise and genre will find a lot to be happy about with this rebooted version of the (relatively speaking) age-old fighter. It may not win over many new fans (thanks to those lamentable looks) but those that get past the visuals are in for a fast-paced, action-packed, super-brutal fighting treat. g

AT A GLANCE: It may feel old-fashioned every now and then, but the new Mortal Kombat uses refined fighting game principles… and packs a punch. Developer: NetherRealm Publisher: Warner Distributor: Nu Metro

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

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Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

will likely enjoy the tight fighting style and wide variety of approaches that the player can take to the individual matches. Tag teaming is still available, and a new power bar – which allows the player to make use of ‘power-ups’ at three different levels – adds to the potential mayhem. Incidentally, level three of the power bar unleashes a manic x-ray attack which does devastating damage to your opponent… all shown by way of x-ray images that show just how bad the damage is. The game is easy enough to learn, with all the moves being a matter of face buttons and directions, with the odd shoulder button or trigger input thrown in for good measure. All the characters have move lists that can be accessed, and new Fatalities can be unlocked using the game’s ’lucky dip’ Krypt system – in which players can spend earned points to unlock mystery items that range from concept art through to new moves. There are various play modes, too, including the expected challenges, as well as a story mode. OK, the story is a re-hashing of the history of Mortal Kombat and is pretty lame in places, but it does afford the player the

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

88 53

Operation Flashpoint: Red River

Oorah!

Invading countries in the name of peace…

he previous release in the Operation Flashpoint series was something of a mixed bag. While many people thoroughly enjoyed the realism that was injected into Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, the game also had more than its fair share of problems. It was, in the end, a game that offered a better multiplayer experience than a single player one, and the complexity of the title – combined with AI problems – made it a very difficult prospect if one was going solo. The latest release is similar in many respects; Red River is still better if you play it with friends. But, that said, many of the issues that cropped up in Dragon Rising are not present in this newer title, making it a far more enjoyable and accessible game. Operation Flashpoint: Red River places the player in the role of a fire-team leader sent to Tajikistan. Although the mission initially is to hunt terrorist factions hidden in the country’s hills, it soon becomes an all-out engagement with the Chinese PLA, which is invading the small territory from the other direction. In some ways, the game is a step backwards from Dragon Rising. The developers saw fit to do away with

by Walt Pretorius

lots vehicle use in the game, which many may decry as a bad move. Also, the game is shorter than its predecessor, an all-too-common phenomenon in video games these days. But an improved AI and a more approachable overall style make up for some of the titles less desirable elements. Although Red River has a single player component, it is securely aimed at the multiplayer market. This becomes evident when playing the single player game… because the player is in full control of a fire team, he will get bogged down in issuing orders. These are given via a fairly complete radial menu, which works well enough – when the AI actually does what it is told. Although the player’s team mates aren’t quite as moronic as those in Dragon Rising, they still manage to hash things up fairly often, leaving the player acting as more of a medic and nursemaid than a bad-ass soldier. Most times this is merely tedious but, when scores of PLA soldiers are charging down the hillide, it becomes virtually impossible. Enter the multiplayer game – there are a few game modes available but, quite honestly, the co-op campaign was the one we enjoyed the most. In this situation, up to

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player gains levels. These modifications are according to class. In addition, the player can earn points to improve their general skills, irrespective of class. It’s a simple yet effective system, and one that doesn’t unbalance the game overly much. While Red River shows much improvement over Dragon Rising, the game is still hampered with a few issues. The first are the graphics which, while clear enough to allow an assault rifle head-shot over a surprisingly long distance, don’t really make the grade when compared to other first person shooters. They’re not bad, per se… they just feel a bit dated. The game also has long loading times, and the lamentable AI will result in situations that range from comical to disastrous. Still, if you enjoy squad based, tactical games, you can do worse than Operation Flashpoint: Red River. Despite the lack of some elements from the previous title, it certainly is an improvement over Dragon Rising, and well worth a shot or two. g

AT A GLANCE: Despite its problems, Red River is an improvement over Dragon Rising, and offers a fun multiplayer tactical FPS experience. Developer: Codemasters Publisher: Codemasters Distributor: Megarom

Parental Advisory Violence Language Sex Drug Use Prejudice

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Accessibility Hard-Core Medium Casual

PS3 Platforms

four humans came make up the fire team, with any empty slots filled by the same AI guys from the single player experience. In fact, the campaign is seamless between single and multiplayer, so progression through the story is not dependant on the mode you’re playing, and character advancement carries over as well. With less AI characters to control, the fire team leader can concentrate more on killing bad guys. In fact, even with just two human players, the game becomes a lot more fun – the AI characters can be used for suppressing fire, while the human players pull fancier moves, like flanking the enemy and generally being effective soldiers. It is the kind of game you want to play with people you know though, because co-operation is key in this title. Doing your own thing won’t just get you killed, but will seriously impact on the overall mission. Whether human players are going to follow the orders of the fire team leader or not is up to them… but they need to work together, at very least. Red River offers a fair collection of weapons, grouped according to the four classes (Rifleman, Grenadier, Scout and Automatic Rifleman) that can be modified as the

PC X360 Kinect

PS3 Move

Wii PSP DS 3DS

Score

78 55

Movie of the Month DVD Seen

A reinvention of a thirty year old classic

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Tron: Legacy Twenty-eight years after the original movie was released, we once again return to the computer world of Tron. Flynn, the hero of the first film, has mysteriously disappeared. His rebellious son gets a mysterious message and heads off to his dad’s old game arcade, where he accidentally enters the world of Tron… but things have changed, and the existence of the vast network is threatened by a new, unexpected evil. When compared to the original classic, it’s easy to see how far we have come in thirty years. This new film is visually spectacular, with an awesome blend of computer graphics and real world sets, costumes and stunts bringing the virtual world of Tron alive. While the main roles in the film are played by young actors Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde, both Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner reprise their original roles in the picture. They are joined by a great cast, including the irrepressible Michael Sheen, James Frain and the foxy Beau Garrett. The cast is wonderfully directed by Joseph Kosinski. Despite the massive changes in movie making techniques, it is obvious that the cast and crew wanted a form of continuity between the two films, which they pulled off rather nicely. All in all, Tron: Legacy is a great sci-fi adventure for the whole family, and continues the tale started three decades ago with style and a certain grace. If you’re a sci-fi fan and you don’t own this DVD yet, you should make a plan to buy it. Seriously. End of line. g DIRECTOR: Joseph Kosinski DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 16LSNV Score

STARRING: Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Jeff Bridges

MOVIE

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DVD Seen

What Just Happened

Adrien Brody and Charlotte Ayanna star in a drama about a petty criminal who seduces a college student. Their two worlds don’t work well together, though as her innocence is worn away, and his tough exterior slowly corrodes. OK, it is a bit more complex than that, but Love the Hard Way is a film that deserves being watched. While the cover and the blurb paint it at something of a stock standard love story, it is anything but. Rather, it’s a fairly hard-hitting drama that holds a surprisingly wide appeal. Love the Hard Way is an unassuming film, something which is carried further by Brody’s (fantastic) unpretentious style of acting. Joined by Charlotte Ayanna and the often enjoyable Jon Seda, he portrays the role of a petty criminal beautifully, while Ayanna’s portrayal of the innocent college girl is often surprising and sometimes even shocking (in a good way). The film doesn’t try to make heavy statements or judgements. It simply presents a story, and allows the viewer to do with it what they want – refreshing, actually. Director Peter Sehr didn’t try to do anything more than tell a story here, and he manages to do so quite nicely. g

DIRECTOR: Peter Sehr DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 16LSNV Score

STARRING: Adrien Brody Charlotte Ayanna Jon Seda

Robert DeNiro is managing to make a go of the whole comedy thing. He’s still something of an unlikely comedy actor, though, which makes him rather effective when the humour is dry. And that’s what you’ll get in What Just Happened. Unlike the nasty slapstick stuff that Hollywood routinely spews out, the comedy in What Just Happened is a little less silly, a bit more cerebral and actually quite witty at times. DeNiro plays a Hollywood producer whose career is in the brink of going down the toilet. He struggles to get through life on a day to day basis, and has to deal with difficult directors, difficult actors (with Bruce Willis playing himself in a rather amusing role), difficult studio heads and a whole lot more. And his efforts to re-unite with his second ex-wife see to be going wrong too. It’s the kind of film that looks at events that might be considered arbitrary, but are still quite amusing. Barry Levinson is at the helm of this one, and the cast features a number of well-known faces. The pacing is fairly good – if a little slow at some times – and the humour is almost hidden. It’s a more cerebral kind of comedy – which is exactly why it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. g

STARRING: Robert DeNiro John Turturro Robin Wright Penn

DIRECTOR: Barry Levinson DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13L Score

Love the Hard Way

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Terror Trap

John Brickner (Steve Austin) has just been released on parole after seven years in prison. He moves to Seattle and finds himself a honest job as a construction worker. Later he starts helping out as a bouncer at his local bar. John is approach by a fight promoter who offers him a job - bare-knuckle fighting to the death - which John turns down. John one day approaches the widow of his victim Veronica Reynolds (Lynda Boyd) where he discovers that her daughter needs a heart transplant. John feels the need to help and sees the fight promoter. John agrees to fight, to earn the money for the transplant. Damage was written by Frank Hannah and directed by Jeff King. Although this movie has great story line I don’t think they quite pulled it off. The movie is slow in the beginning until the fighting starts, then it seemed rush near the end. The pacing is definitely off here, and the performances from the main actors seem a little forced at times. Still, Steve Austin is fairly surprising in the role, and fight movie fans will likely get a kick out of this one. Just don’t expect too much from it. g

DIRECTOR: Jeff King DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

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FPB Rating: 16LV Score

STARRING: Steve Austin Laura Vandervoort Walton Goggins

We don’t see David James Elliot much since his stint on TV’s Jag, but he’s here in this film. Terror Trap uses the age old idea of a couple inadvertently caught in a situation that there seems to be no escape from – in this case a motel where wealthy people pay to watch the guests get murdered on closed circuit TV. And the idea would have been great, if it wasn’t quite so derivative, begging, borrowing and stealing from a number of films that have covered a similar idea before. Terror Trap is full of stereotypes, too: the patient husband, the bitchy wife, the crazy cop and the mysterious, shady businessman. It really doesn’t do anything original, but neither does it descend into cheap tricks like excessive gore and explicit scenes. Even that would have improved the film somewhat. Instead, it treads a middle line. Sure, it has a few scenes that are a bit more on the excessive side, but the film fails to shock. It almost fails to entertain, but the cast manage to deliver fairly good performances, which manage to maintain interest. Dan Garcia’s work with the film, as director, is pedestrian at best, resulting in a movie that is extremely mediocre. g

STARRING: David James Elliot Michael Madsen Jeff Fahey

DIRECTOR: Dan Garcia DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 18VSNL Score

Damage

DVD Seen

Tell Tale

British funny man Steve Coogan and Hilary Duff star in Safety Glass, an off-beat film about a reporter sent to cover the celebrations in the home town of Christa McAuliffe, the first member of the Teacher in Space Project, as she prepares to board the ill-fated Challenger Space Shuttle. Once there, he discovers an old friend, who was a teacher at a local high school, has died. In investigating the incident, he meets his friend’s students – a group of social misfits – and becomes involved in their complicated lives. Safety Glass is the kind of film that you feel bad for laughing at. It is presented as a comedy, but the characters are so pitiable that one cannot help but feel for them, on some level or another. The film’s off-beat nature sometimes results in slightly odd directions for the characters but, on the whole, director Jonathan Glatzer manages to keep some of the films more disparate elements in line quite nicely. It’s well filmed and edited, and the performances from the cast are good. But, despite the fact that it avoids a cheap Challenger disaster cash in, the film is sometimes so off-beat that it alienates the viewer just a little. Still, it’s not a bad film. g

DIRECTOR: Jonathan Glatzer DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 16LS Score

STARRING: Steve Coogan Hilary Duff Olivia Thirlby

Anybody familiar with Edgar Allen Poe’s classic tale of The Tell Tale Heart will immediately spot the plot similarities in Tell Tale. The film centres on a man who is in the process of recovering from a heart transplant, but as with all good thrillers, there is a little bit more to the donor heart than just simply flesh and blood. The film takes the viewer on a journey through the mysterious, coupled with a lot of suspense and drama. And with good reason – the film is from the same producers as classics like Hannibal and American Gangster. Although the complete package of the movie isn’t bad, a couple of aspects could have been changed to give it a bit more of an edge. But, when all is said and done, it’s enjoyable for any lover of sinister, mysterious and action-packed films. With performances by Josh Lucas, Brain Cox and Lena Headey, the film delivers its point in a proud fashion. The plot does meander through predictability from time to time, but the makers managed to mitigate that with a pretty good twist at the end… it’s not one you’ll see coming easily. g

STARRING: Josh Lucas Brian Cox Lena Headey

DIRECTOR: Michael Cuesta DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 16 Score

Safety Glass

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180° South

Psychosis

DIRECTOR: Chris Malloy DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

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FPB Rating: PG Score

STARRING: Yvon Chouinard Doug Tompkins Jeff Johnson

British cinema often offers an edgier alternative to movies coming out of Hollywood. Psychosis tries to do that and, in some ways, succeeds… while falling short of the mark in others. A novelist, played by Charisma Carpenter, moves into a country estate with her husband. There she hopes to be able to finish a book, but instead begins seeing things that are… odd. OK, well, it seems there was a murder of a group of environmentalists there fifteen years before, so there could be a good haunting in the offing. But what she sees appears to have nothing to do with that… it’s just one of the ways that the film feels forced and disjointed. Carpenter delivers a good role, but the film just tries too hard at times to e shocking, horrific or… well, anything, really. It’s not a bad picture – it’s just a little like one of those annoying people who try everything to make you happy. Yes, it feels clingy. Still, it’s sort-of worth a watch through, and director Reg Traviss shows a few sparks of good ideas here and there… he just lacks a little follow-through in places. And the plot is horribly predictable. But still, it works well as a piece of entertainment that demands very little from the viewer. g

STARRING: Charisma Carpenter Ricci Harnett Paul Sculfor

DIRECTOR: Reg Traviss DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 16VSN Score

Documentaries aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and this one probably less so than others. It’s a travelogue of sorts, dealing with the adventures of an admitted professional slacker named Jeff Johnson whose greatest interests are surfing and climbing mountains. He decides to undertake a journey to recreate the epic adventure of Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins, who travelled to Patagonia in 1968 to conquer one of its greatest mountains. It’s a rather entertaining documentary, although it doesn’t quite know where it stands… it begins out by being a recreation of this journey, and quickly turns into an environmental piece, then back to travelogue, then back to environmental, a bit of socio-political, and so on and so forth… it meanders a little too much to be very focussed, but, then again, Jeff Johnson doesn’t seem overly focussed either. There are some breath-taking visuals and some thought provoking stuff in here, though, and it’s a nice, relaxing experience to watch. There are a few laughs and a few times that will raise your eyebrows, or even make you say “I didn’t know that.” Bu it lacks the punch that it could have had… aside from a number of interesting pointers about environmentalism in Chile, the film, like Johnson, goes nowhere slowly. g

DVD Seen

Death Warrior

It’s a Wonderful Afterlife

DIRECTOR: Bill Corcoran DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 16VLNS Score

STARRING: Hector Echevarria Tanya Clark Nick Mancuse

The director of Bend it Like Beckham, Gurinder Chadha, once again investigates the clash of traditional Indian culture with life in London in the comedy It’s a Wonderful Afterlife. When a mother’s overweight daughter is spurned by several prospective grooms, the mom gets her revenge by murdering the offending parties in food related crimes. A young detective (played by Sendhil Ramamurthy, who also plays Dr Suresh in the TV series Heroes) begins investigating the crimes, little knowing that his old family friend is behind it. And then the spirits of those who died at her hand begin haunting the murdering mother… This is a funny film, with a handful of familiar faces filling the roles. It helps knowing a bit about Indian culture – particularly food – when watching it, because it doesn’t explain too much to the viewer. It goes a little far in places (like its unexpected homage to the classic horror Carrie) but, for the most part, provides the viewer with more than a few chuckles. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but some of the jokes and gags are cleverly put together, and the film doesn’t descend into the kind of toilet humour we’re getting so used to from the USA. g

STARRING: Sendhil Ramamurthy Zoe Wannamaker Mark Addy

DIRECTOR: Zev Berman DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13PG Score

Hector Echavarria stars as Reinero, a MMA fighter near the end of his career. He promises his wife Kira (Tanya Clarke)that he going to finish off his last two fights and then retire from the professional scene of MMA fighting, in which he is still undefeated. But then his wife is kidnapped and held for ransom. The ransom is that he has to fight to the death in an underground MMA syndicate. Reinero has to work his way through these increasingly violent death matches to be the ultimate Death Warrior and save his wife Death warrior has a good concept , but when you bring professional athletes into the acting business you are going to get really bad acting; that’s why they are athletes and not actors. Maybe they got knocked around too much in the cage and didn’t realise that you actually need some acting skills to make a halfdecent movie. Besides the bad acting, most of the fighting scenes seemed rushed and a whole lot of them crammed together. You can’t help but feel that Death Warrior is little more than an ill-conceived attempt to cash in on the popularity of mixed martial arts at the moment. In fact, it does little to prove otherwise. g

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Road Train

Four strangers wake up in a dark dungeon, and soon find that they are trapped, and have only four barrels of water as supplies. A clock on the wall counts down the days – 30 in total. And a sadistic voyeur watches what they do via closed circuit camera, waiting to see what they will do when the lack of food kicks in… Hunger is a film that almost achieves the status of psychological thriller. It is an unusual film, because most of it takes place in a very small, very dark place, with a heavy concentration on the four main cast members. Director Steven Hentges did a fairly decent job in capturing the various stages that the four go through as their hunger grips them, but some of the character progressions feel a little rushed. Then again, he is cramming 30 days into 97 minutes… The film does well to capture the claustrophobic conditions and the increasing tension between the characters and, although it does resort to slightly cheap shock tactics every now and then, it’s a fairly decent experience. If you’re easily grossed-out, you should avoid it – the whole idea of the film, and several scenes, can be a bit disturbing. g

DIRECTOR: Steven Hentges DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

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FPB Rating: 18LVS Score

STARRING: Lori Heuring Linden Ashby Joe Egender

This Australian-funded film is one of the better lowbudget titles to have made it onto the market. The premise for the film is rather simple, in the fact it revolves around four friends who gets run of the road by a huge semi-truck. After gathering their wits, they decided to confront the driver, but he’s nowhere to be found. Without giving away too much, it turns out that the truck is possessed in some way, and controls whoever is driving it. The film isn’t bad, but some of the acting could have been a bit better. The writer also took some liberties when it comes to rational thinking in an emergency situation, making the film a bit frustrating at times. The sound direction included some cool songs into the soundtrack, so at least from that perspective it’s a plus. In general, the film will be best suited for a Sunday afternoon, or when there is really nothing else on the television – although it’s not as bad as it could have been. g

STARRING: Xavier Samuel Georgina Haig Sophie Lowe

DIRECTOR: Dean Francis DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 16 Score

Hunger

The Classics DVD Seen

Reliving your childhood with a timely re-release...

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Tron – The Original Classic With the DVD release of Tron: Legacy on DVD and Blu-ray, Disney got smart. They realised that the original film would be pretty hot property – there were a lot of people who didn’t see it when it was released in 1982. And so, on shelf (and generally near the new film) you will be able to find a DVD and Blu-ray release of the original classic. When watching this film, you need to keep in mind that it was made almost thirty years ago. The special effects are hardly special by today’s standards but, back when it was made, they were cutting edge. It was one of the first films to use computer graphics extensively, even if they weren’t particularly fancy. The plot also isn’t fantastic, and the acting is hammed up for most of the film. But – and this is a big but – it’s still extremely cool, and those that did see it when it first came out will love the nostalgia of the experience. And, of course, it fills in valuable information about what’s going on in the second film (playing the video game helps, too.) If you remember the release of the original fondly, getting it isn’t even optional. And if you’re a fan of Tron: Legacy, it is pretty much vital viewing. This is perfect collector’s fare, and is a great addition to any DVD collection that has a sci-fi section. The ground breaking film didn’t age very well, but it is a true classic, none the less. g

DIRECTOR: Steven Lisberger DISTRIBUTOR: Ster Kinekor

FPB Rating: 13PG Score

STARRING: Jeff Bridges Bruce Boxleitner David Warner

CLASSIC OF THE MONTH

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Solid Gold Viewing

Money to Burn

A TV for people with more money than sense…

by Walt Pretorius

ou may not have heard of Stuart Hughes, but his name rings a bell for people with lots of money to spend. Mr Hughes, born in Liverpool in 1971, creates some rather expensive stuff for the rich and famous to own – and show off. Among his creations is the world’s most expensive television set. Now, when we say that, you immediately think about mammoth screens, 3D and features that are nothing short of miraculous but, in all honesty, the performance of the PremiumHD Supreme Rose Edition TV is not necessarily much better than any other top notch 55” screen. You’re certainly paying the smallest portion of the cost for that part of it. What makes this TV the most expensive in the world is its housing. The base and outer housing of the TV are made of around 28 kilograms of 18ct rose gold, inlaid with 72 round cut 1ct flawless diamonds. The rest of the settings in the frame are taken up by cut sunstones and amethysts. The inner layer – the bit around the screen – is made of hand-stitched alligator skin. So what would one pay for this luxury item? Well, considering that there are only three in existence, and that the housing has more bling on it than a rapper with more money than sense, the price tag is pretty high. It costs a cool £ 1.5 million, which works out to roughly

R18 million (excluding the important charges, shipping rates, insurance and army of security guards you would need to protect it in transit.) What’s truly impressive is the fact that the screen is a Metz, and would probably set you back around R80,000 if you bought a similarly sized screen – in a normal TV housing. Metz TVs are known for their excellent quality, so at least you would have a good picture surrounded by all that shiny stuff. Naturally, you would need to put the PremiumHD Supreme Rose Edition TV in the right room… and we’re not talking décor here, either. We’d imaging that even the slightest bit of light will get this thing sparkling like a ten buck disco-ball, which isn’t exactly conducive to curling up with a bowl of popcorn and your favourite Blu-ray. We’re also of the opinion – and all apologies to Mr Hughes here (although we doubt that our opinion would bother him all that much) that it’s absolutely hideous. But, if you’re the type who likes nigh-on vulgar displays of wealth and have a spare 18 million bucks knocking around, why not? It certainly is a highly exclusive item, and you would be the talk of the town if your TV cost more than your house… And it’s probably the only TV in the world that could increase in value over the years, making it a solid gold investment. g g l a d g e t r e g u l a r • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

Plasma and LCD Make the right flat screen choice

Same Difference

by Brian Murdoch

o you’re ready to throw away that chunky old TV and spending that increase or bonus on a new flat screen plasma or LCD TV, maybe even going for HD ready TV or full HD to enjoy those gaming consoles, Bluray players or just plain DSTV HD. You know that you want to look at good and crisp pictures, with a little something that will impress the friends… but do you really know what you are getting? Do you just hope that the sales person who gets around 20 to 25 of your type in his store a day is going to have your personal interests at heart and not just want to get another screen out the door? Then answer this simple question without hesitation (and not relying on what some random person told you) do you want a LCD or plasma TV?

Most people that know this answer and will explain it in the greatest TV techno babble and already have the right one for their purposes… and they are just going to try and make you get the one that suited them. In the past it was an easy choice, with only one factor: is it bigger or smaller than 32”? If you wanted smaller then LCD was a better TV than the plasma TVs in the same size. Above 32” belonged to plasma because they were only available as plasma units, but since then Sony, Panasonic and Samsung (among others) have brought out some very competitive LCDs larger than 32”. It has only changed a little from there, as the plasma TVs at the top levels are still better. In the middle ranges of 32”to 42” some LCD brands might edge out the competition as g l a d g e t r e g u l a r • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

better than the offered plasma sets. Brands aside, there are some hard factors about plasma and LCD that can’t be avoided. The LCD will be generally lighter and use less electricity than the plasma equivalent, but the plasma will have a higher colour range and better black levels with a faster response time. This makes the plasma better for big screen gaming and DVDs. The plasma system is not without its flaws; for example, it does stand a change of burning in colour into the screen. If the screen is left in the same position, like when the game or movie is paused, without a “screen saver”, the pixels stand a chance of burning in and never changing again. Most manufactures that make LCDs look at the market g l a d g e t r e g u l a r • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

and bring out affordable screens at better prices or with great deals because, in that market, they need to be competitive. With the plasma there are few manufactures and they seem to just make the TV at its size and make the buyer cover the costs (and the great profit that is to be made). It’s not quite a monopoly, but they don’t really have to care. In the end the choice is always yours but here are some un-bias facts that make it easier to understand why the one TV is so much more than another, without seeing much difference on the show floor. Use the pros and cons as best suits you and make a more educated choice. g

LCD TV Screens Pros: Generally Lighter Uses less electricity Less heat generated Generally better prices and deals Cons: Viewing Angle is limited Less colour and richness Lower response time / refresh rate (Gaming)

Plasma TV Screens Pros: Higher colour range When going bigger they still are a bit better Better black levels (DVDs and Gaming) Faster response (Gaming) Cons: Screen might burn in Fewer manufactures, higher cost Does not perform well at higher altitudes.

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It’s Electric! How to induce induction interest

Inner Workings

by Charlie Fripp

e have made many in-roads since reading maps, whipping out a compass or asking for directions at the next rest stop, and it’s almost hard to imagine that’s how we got around for a very long time. A subject that has been a bit of a hot topic these days is induction charging, and the great power of magnetics. Many everyday products like cordless toothbrushes use this technique to charge, but when it comes to charging something as simple as a toothbrush, not a lot of people actually give it any thought. Users of certain cordless toothbrushes will notice that the plastic casing of the brush just slots into the plastic charging unit, while there are no visible metal parts touching each other. If that is the case, then your toothbrush uses inductive charging or coupling, a design that has been used for quite some time. The popularity of inductive charging has recently spread across many forms of technology, with charging pads being available for iPhones, iPads, Xbox controllers and

virtually anything that uses a rechargeable battery. But how is it possible that you simply lay something down on a pad or slot it into a cradle and it magically recharges? There are no metal parts touching each other, so there is no direct electrical current flowing. So how does it work? Well, the science behind this fantastic invention lies in magnetics. Using the cordless toothbrush as an example for explanation, the brush and its accompanying charger creates a two-phase transformer, with one part of the transformer in each. When the toothbrush is inserted into its charger, a complete transformer is created, which charges the brush. But obviously it’s a bit more technical than that, and the secret is in coils. The charge unit (which plugs into a wall socket) contains a coil with a metal rod, while the toothbrush houses another coil. Electricity from the wall socket runs through the coil of the charge unit, creating a powerful magnetic field. In terms of transformers, the step is called the primary g l a d g e t r e g u l a r • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

winding. When the brush is placed in the charger unit, the magnetic field creates an electrical current in the coil of the brush, which is connected to the brush’s battery, and which in return charges the unit. In theory, this is exactly what happens with charging mats and similar devices, but not all inductive chargers are compatible with all rechargeable gadgets. Some electronic devices need specific built-in or plug-in receivers, while the coils and the circuitry necessary to deliver electricity in both units need to be compatible. For the units to charge, they need to be in relative close proximity to the charger’s coils, but in the pursuit of advancing technology, researchers at MIT have found a way to extend the charging capabilities to over a couple of meters. In short, a magnetic field spreads out in all directions, so making the charge distance greater means that a lot of energy would be wasted if it was to charge only one device. What the researchers did was create a Resonance g l a d g e t r e g u l a r • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

Induction Recharger. It’s pretty much a fancy name for a big magnetic charger that can recharge multiple units at once in an average-sized room without using pads or moving the devices to a central location. They have termed it non-radiative energy transfer as it involves stationary magnetic fields around each coil, other than magnetic fields that spread out in all directions. Without becoming too technical, the Resonance Induction Recharger would be fixed onto the ceiling of a room, with the Recharger sending electricity through a magnetic field to several other receiving coils (a device they developed that would be attached to a device like a toothbrush), as long as they all resonate at the same frequency. The potential for inductive charging is immense, and the team is already working on spreading it across an entire building. With the technology growing rapidly, it will only be a matter of time before all devices are charged and powered this way. g

Big Black Discs The king before digital…

Dead End

by Alex Scanlon

f you were born before the ‘80s, you may well remember vinyl gramophone records. These large black plates were the way that music was commonly listened to for a great many years, until the compact disc became the more popular medium with consumers. In 1857, Frenchman Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville developed a device called the phonoautograph. This gadget could transpose sound to paper, using a vibrating pen to record sound waves on paper. Twenty years later the famous inventor Thomas Edison invented the phonograph – and while there is no written evidence that he used Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville’s invention as a reference point, the similarities were evident. The difference, though, was that this new invention not only recorded sound, but could play it back as well – a technological marvel of the day, and one that would create

a massive music industry. But back then, special cylinders were used to record sounds. It wasn’t until 1888 that flat recorded discs were invented by Emile Berliner, and they didn’t hit the market outside of toys until 1894. But Berliner’s discs lacked the quality of audio cylinders, until they were refined by Eldridge R Johnson. Berliner and Eldridge’s companies merged to form the Vitor Talking Machine Company, which would later become a dominant force in the gramophone market. Edison attempted to stay in the market by trying to produce improved cylinders but by 1929, he stopped his efforts, and gramophone disks became the dominant force in the music record market until the 1980s. The main reason that CDs came to dominate the market was because they were far less fragile and temperamental than gramophone records: so-called improvements in the g l a d g e t r e g u l a r • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

vinyl record manufacturing process actually adversely affected sound quality. Additionally, careless users could inadvertently scratch the record, resulting in a permanent pop or click in the sound. Dust was also a problem, resulting in pops and clicks if the record was not properly cleaner. The same would result from built up static electricity. Gramophone records could also be damaged easily, resulting in permanent scratches that caused interruption in sound. Foreign matter on the record could cause skipping or repetition – the old ‘stuck record’ idea. Even heat could warp the disc, possibly even rendering the record unplayable. The move to the tougher, smaller and easierto-maintain compact disc was inevitable, particularly given the growing demands on people’s time at the period when they were first introduced. g l a d g e t r e g u l a r • i s s u e 7 • M ay 2 0 1 1

But vinyl isn’t dead. You find it in night clubs were professional DJs expertly use these old-fashioned disks to create new and exciting sounds. And there is a surprisingly large group who still buy new vinyl, which is still produced by the record industry. Many of these vinyl-fans claim better sound from the big black records, although there is some debate as to whether the differences in sound quality are actually audible by the human ear. Fans of CD also cite the lack of pops, clicks and other noise as marking their preferred format as being superior to gramophone records. The truth is that both formats are threatened by music piracy and solid state music options. But until that day, it seems that vinyl will cling to life, and not become a true Dead End Tech. g