OCT 2011 - issue (10) by GoGuide Magazine

LOCAL BAND FEATURES - REVIEWS - GIGS - EVENTS - INTERVIEWS - GAMING - MOVIES + MORE OCT OCT 2011 2011 -- issue issue (10) (10)

MUSIC DEAD SEA SOULS DIXIE FRIED ROSS MITCHELL G I G F LY E R S

GAMING GAME CHARTS M A D C AT Z C Y B O R G R AT 7 G A M I N G M O U S E DARK SOULS

MOVIES

F O OT B A L L M A N AG E R 2 0 1 2

Cover Photo by philip_laing_photography - ‘will kickflip’

MOVIE RELEASES

R E S I S TA N C E 3 G A M E F LY E R S

MOVIE QUIZ REAL STEEL D O L P H I N TA L E

OUT ABOUT &

C O N TA G I O N 30 MINUTES OR LESS

C a r t i n g, B o w l i n g, Pa i n t b a l l , I n door golf, Skateboarding, BMX , Play areas, fun parks... yada yada yada www.goguidemagazine.co.uk

CONTENT Contents

DARK SOULS (pg40)

OCT 2011 - issue (10)

The spiritual successor to Demon Souls arrives.

FOOTBALL MANAGER 2012 (pg42)

FM 2012- check, pizza - check, beer - check, 3 months of spare time - ummm... check?

- - - - - - - MUSIC - - - - - - DEAD SEA SOULS - Feature (pg3)

RESISTANCE 3 (pg44)

The big boys have come out to play.

The Chimera are on full scale invasion mode.

DIXIE FRIED - Feature (pg4) Have i woke up in Tennessee?

GAME FLYERS (pg46)

ROSS MITCHELL - Feature (pg5)

Posters for some great games released this month.

You can do a lot with just a voice and a guitar.

GIG FLYERS (pg5)

All the best shows from local venues and bands playing around the area.

OUT&ABOUT (pg60)

- - - - - - - MOVIES - - - - - - -

Some great indoor and outdoor stuff to get up to .

REAL STEEL - Review (pg22)

CLASSIC MOVIE POSTERS (back page)

Rockem Sockem Robots just came to town.

We take a look back at some classic movie posters.

DOLPHIN TALE - Review (pg23)

Feel good fun for the kids (and some tears no doubt)

CONTAGION - Review (pg24) Did you wash your hands?

30 MINUTES OR LESS - Review (pg25)

A pizza delivery guy is forced to rob a bank or the bomb strapped to him will explode.

MOVIE NEW RELEASES (pg26)

All the new releases in cinemas this month.

We do have a pretty modern approach to GoGuide content and eventually hope to produce articles on subjects outside our usual stuff such as Clubbing, Internet, Lifestyle, Sport and Fitness etc.

MOVIE QUIZ (pg27)

(Answers on inside back page)

MOVIE FLYERS (pg28)

www.goguidemagazine.co.uk www.myspace.com/goguide Facebook Search For: GoGuide

Posters for some of the latest movie releases.

- - - - - - - GAMES - - - - - - MADCATZ CYBORG RAT7 - Review (pg38) A PC mouse that kicks some butt...

GAME CHARTS (pg38)

Top 10 games across PS3, Xbox and PC.

Who are GOGUIDE...??? GOGUIDE is a local online magazine for the West Lothian area. We are trying to be less focused on local ‘news’ and more a, ‘what’s on’ or ‘happening’ guide to the local area. At the moment we are heavily focused on the whats going on in the local music scene, whats on and good @ the movies and what is happening in the world of PC/Console gaming.

With the vast majority of our content sourced from local contributors we are always on the lookout for new people to bring onboard to help us provide input to this content hungry mag so if your keen on writing stuff and getting it published in the mag feel free to drop us a message at content@goguidemagazine.co.uk

Click on the orange page number link to go to that page. Although we hope to provide much correct information as possible beforer going to print some details on these pages may be subject to change after printing - please check online or with locations directly for fully up to date information. Page 2

OCT 2011 - issue (10)

MUSIC

Feature

ead Sea Souls have been around the local music scene for a good while now having formed in Whitburn back in 2006.

Members Gary (Bass Guitar & Vocals), James (Guitar), David (Drummer) and Colin (Guitar & Voca2ls) work pretty d*mn hard to produce a very professional and polished collection of material for you to drool over. Not happy with that though the guys are constantly playing live shows and have built up one of the biggest and most loyal local fan bases of any bands in our area. So much so that they have been regularly selling out headline slots all over the Central Belt and been building their reputation as a very solid support act for the multiple touring bands that they have been invited to play with. April 2010 saw the guys selling their ticket allocation in record time for a support slot with ‘Stornoway’ at King Tuts Wah Wah Hut and DSS have played pretty much everywhere that Central Scotland has to offer in their quest to bring their music to the masses.

This doesn’t however mean they are interested in only playing the big city stages; like 3 sell out shows at King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, the main stage @ Barrowlands Ballroom, HMV Picturehouse and The Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh and even the Cavern Club in Liverpool. Even your local working mens club has had the pleasure of the Dead Sea Souls experience and these guys wanna play so much that I’d guess it wouldn’t take much persuasion for them to turn up one night at your local cricket club, football club or bingo hall and blitz through a red hot set of tunes leaving you with sore tootsies from all the dancing you did. 2009 saw DSS head on the road of the national ‘A & R Showcase’ event where they won the Scottish heats and went on to represent us at the final held at ‘Scala’ in London. Not letting anyone down they did themselves proud and finished in second place. Having joined Glasgow label Big Rock Candy Records in summer 2010, the Dead Sea Souls released their first official EP ‘Cage Fighter ‘ soon after, with an album rumoured to follow early OCT 2011 - issue (10)

in 2011 (maybe we will see that sometime soon?) In DSSs’ newer material they

have found a blend of funky pop and indie rock which is pretty infectious and in today’s climate this sound peppers the outer edges of the national charts on a weekly basis. Never has there been a better time for the guys to get a grip on the wider music scene and DSS can now be seen working alongside some of the biggest promoters in Scotland in DF Concerts, PCL & Regular Music to help them achieve that. Check out all Dead Sea Souls latest info over @ www.facebook.com/deadseasouls PAGE 3

MUSIC

Feature

ixie Fried are a strange one for me… when you listen to them its strange to think they are a local band? but i hear such a different and accomplished sound in what this duo come up with that my brain keeps telling me it must come from somewhere like the whisky backwaters of old Tennessee and not a small drizzle washed town in West Lothian named after the burn that flows through it.

So how does this all come about? This 2 piece; made up of good friends Craig Lamie on vocals & guitar and John Murphy on drums; who have very similar taste in music. Being no spring chickens to the music scene and after playing across most of the larger Scottish venues over a 10 year period with bands like Mulehog (Craig) and alt-country Page 4

outfit, The Scuffers (John) the guys finally settled down together over a mutual love of good old fashioned drinking and jamming. About a year later they decided we were ready to hear what they had created and to their surprise found a welcoming group of eager listeners who connected with what the guys were doing and liked it. They themselves describe the sound they produce as ‘Low down, dirty, sleazy, Mississippi Blues Rock’, and who am I to argue? I’d say if you like the White Stripes, The Black Keys or maybe some of the older influences of the band like Robert Johnson, T-Model Ford or Willie Dixon or even their rockier influences like Hendrix, The Black Crowes or Humble Pie than I’m sure you will not find it too difficult to appreciate the stripped back, deep bluesy rock sound of Dixie Fried. With such an accomplished sound and identity the guys signed to Glasgow Independent record label Big OCT 2011 - issue (10)

Rock Candy Records in 2010 (Home of other local band Dead Sea Souls), and released their self-titled debut album in the summer of 2011 which has received glowing reviews not only in the UK but all the way in the big old US of A. If you want to check the band out go visit their web site over @ www.dixiefried.co.uk

MUSIC

Feature

hen I first heard of Ross Mitchell it was way back in the summer of 2007 when I picked up a free CD from a local record shop. It was a compilation called ‘Saying Goodbye to Shoppingtown’ and featured a load of the local bands who were around at the time. A few of these artists are still on the go like The Fire and I, Coholic and of course one Ross Mitchell with Scott Hannah. The track on the album was called ‘Fallen Idol’ and I thought it was pretty much beautiful. A lovely crafted acoustic track filled with passion and angst, a melody to die for. You couldn’t help but become immediately attached to the song and it is still on my Mp3 player to this day. Fast forward 4 years and Ross

Ross Mitchell

Mitchell of late is a more mature song writer but has lost none of the knack for a touching lyrics and ear massaging melody. Ross is really one to watch for the future as he has really begun to see himself a regular figure in the Scottish music scene. His simple song writing style helps to put across his heart felt stories while still retaining an upbeat side to a lot of his material. Despite being one man and one guitar, playing live Ross shines; he captivates and holds the audience at his beacon call whenever he plays. Influences ranging from, Damian Rice and the late Jeff Buckley through to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, ensures that Ross crafts a wide range of tunes out of his 6 string and his truly soulful voice. Pick up his tracks if you can and pop along to see him at a future date. Check the address below for latest info.

OCT 2011 - issue (10)

www.facebook.com/pages/Rossmitchell-music/179595232903

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MOVIES Review

Real Steel

Starring : Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly

eal Steel isn’t 100% a kids movie... it is more a pleasant, fairly well created drama, sometimes touching, funny and emotional. The robotic elements are well integrated into the story and don’t seem to be the be all and end all of the movie.

In appearing in Real Steel Jackman has actually lived up to a promise he aparently made to his kids that he would do something they could enjoy because he never really features in anything his kids can watch. The movie is set in the not too distant future, 2020, and fighting sports as we know them have moved on. Tired of the boundaries of human contests, ever more bloodthirsty crowds have forced the sport promoters to develop a hi-tech, aggression filled spectacle known as ‘robot boxing’ where giant robots controlled by human ‘trainers’ basically fight to the death. Maverick Charlie Kenton (Jackman), once a human boxer in the world before the change to mechanical fighters, has done his Page 22

best to adapt to the new direction of the sport that he loved. He does have a real problem in that, due mainly to his reckless disposition; his last robot just got destroyed in a makeshift exhibition bullfight at a local fair, and his finances are shot to hell owing dollars every way you look. Charlie’s luck seems to get even worse when he finds out that an ex he hasn’t seen in a decade has passed away and left him with sole custody of the son he’s never met. With his lifestyle not suitable for bringing up a young kid he agrees a $100,000 deal to legally transfer custody of Max (Goyo) over to his ex’s sister Debora and her wealthy husband. Unfortunately, Max’s new parents have a previous European engagement so as part of the deal; he agrees to look after his son for the summer in exchange for a $50,000 upfront payment. It is with this money that he gets a new bot ‘Noisy Boy’ and dreams of regaining his fighting reputation; oh and not to forget pay his bill with his landlady Bailey (Lilly), whose father was Charlie’s trainer when he was a real fighter. With Max on the side-lines he quickly discovers OCT 2011 - issue (10)

the arrangement his dad has with his new parents and uses it to his advantage for a bit. Initially as unimpressed with the plan as Charlie himself the pair begins to bond over their shared passion for robot boxing. Unexpectedly, or maybe its expectidly? He uses his same recklessness to quickly turn ‘Noisy Boy’ into a pile of scrap. Around the same time Max finds an old but unusually capable robot in a scrap yard. It quickly becomes apparent that this ‘bot’ is different, it looks like Charlie may have found his ticket back to the big time. It is at this point that you have probably already worked out the underliying them and story progression of Real Steel as its not

the most unpredictable film in the world. But don’t let that put you off, Its not as if it’s a movie where the payoff is the all important part of the move (Sixth Sense, Fight Club etc.) its more about the enjoyable journey you take to get there that matters. The story of an absent parent who is forced to spend some time with his child, grows to love them, and everything end up ok in the end is a tried and tested formula with very little leeway for surprises and twists. As I said do not however let that be a reason to put you off seeing Real Steel, there must be one, right? but it is honestly a pretty satisfying movie. The characters are strangely believable, warming and welldeveloped, and Goyo is really, really good. Hugh Jackman seems to be having a ball with this role and has put his usual level of energy into preparing for the movie to the extent where he trained with the movies boxing consultant none other than the amazing, ‘Sugar Ray Leonard’ in

order to get the fight scenes just right. The real stars of the movie of course are the bots and they really do merit our attention. Brought to life with a fine blend of CGI and good old animatronics, they are believable in the most part only perhaps with the ‘in ring’ moments hinting at a more modern day cartoon like feel in my opinion. Max’s boxer ‘Atom’ understandably managing to be the most convincing. To be honest, everyone’s really good in this movie, from the main story characters to the fringe ones, even the bots for the most part and even the story, although massively borrowing from a collection of movies along the way, is pretty good Real Steel is still a pretty good fun movie and if you like robots/techy movies then you’re in for a real treat.

GGGG

Starring Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr., Kris Kristofferson

his semi-true story is about a shy, lonely boy who comes out of his shell after finding a wounded dolphin on the beach. If you can affectionately remember the likes of Free Willy or even Flipper, you will happily find a place in your heart for ‘Dolphin Tale’.

As Sawyer (Nathan Gamble) visits the patient at its new home in the Clearwater Aquarium discovers that the dolphons tail fin has been badly damaged, and despite numerous attempts it looks like bad news as the dolphin remains unresponsive to any help or treatment.

Sawyer however, stirs something in him and before you know it the aquarium has a new helper, A subplot revolving around Sawyer’s cousin Kyle (Austin Stowell), who was a champion swimmer before he had his leg amputated after a tour of duty in the armed forces; mirroring Winter’s situation when the aquarium’s vet Dr Haskett is forced to amputate the dolphin’s tail fin. The cast includes Harry Connick, Kris Kristofferson (as his dad), and Ashely Judd (Sawyer’s mom) with Morgan Freeman in a supporting role as the prosthetics designer who helps with Winters new artifitial tail. Although Sawyer is a fictitious creation the OCT 2011 - issue (10)

main star of the movie, Winter, is very much playing a cameo as himself. You can even check up on him through his very own web site at www.seewinter.com to see how he is doing. As the movie reaches its final stages director Charles Martin Smith increases the hard string tugging moments considerably but in a way fitting of the storyline. If you’re watching with kids this is where the tissues will come in handy.

GGG PAGE 23

MOVIES Review

ontagion begins ominously enough with a heavy prod at human morality in its opening scene where Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow), takes a call at an airport from what appears to be her lover, well her husband we find is at home with the kids. She has a cough, is pale, sweaty, nauseous etc. but resignedly puts these symptoms down to merely jet-lag.

We are then treated to a collection of scenes showing a number of similarly ‘jet-lagged’ people who appear to be not just suffering the same symptoms. As we witness these scenes we are reminded ominously again of the population of each of these locations and see these people going about their daily routines, like you or I, although feeling ill, they carry on as normal… then they die… its started… its 5 minutes in and already things look bad… really bad. Even in the opening minutes as a viewer I alPage 24

CONTAGION

Director: Steven Soderbergh Cast: Bryan Cranston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Ehle, John Hawkes, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon ready feel like I have a heavy weight on my shoulders. Director and cinematographer Steven Soderbergh has given the big budget, all-star disaster movie genre a dark and stylish rethink here. Cast includes Matt Damon as Beth’s husband Mitch, Laurence Fishburne as a burdened epidemiologist, Kate Winslet as stressed Dr. Erin Mears, Marion Cotillard as a concerned UN official and Jude Law as Alan Krumwiede, a self-assured web blogger and conspiracy theorist. The disaster genre is a strange beast in that we are all seemingly programmed to react with a nonchalant shrug and a smile as the clichés and irrationalities of whatever terror is befalling civilisation as we know it in whatever movie your watching. Soderbergh does what not a lot of film makers do in eliminating any scorn early on with a few brutal tragedies and if these happen to his big buck stars then so be it. The film moves along with a flowing urgency and with the script being provided by Scott Z Burns is comes across with some nice scenes. When OCT 2011 - issue (10)

Krumwiede pushes scientist Dr Ian Sussman (Elliott Gould) for information, Dr Sussman professes that he is ‘a mere blogger and blogging is just graffiti with punctuation’. As a movie Contagion comes across as an accomplished reflection of a possible scenario, though sometimes it does appear as a collection of mini stories or timelines played out by the sometimes intertwining cast. As we discover that Beth could be the first person to suffer from a horrific new contagious disease the story jumps from star to star and we see their side of this disaster as it unfolds into a global disaster. Soderbergh puts this story across to us with strong self-assurance and, as his own director of photography; he sets the various scenes depicting the unfolding disaster with a perfect eye. It is sad to think that the director is now planning to quit the film business after his next two projected features. If that is really true, it is going to be a real loss.

GGG

MOVIES Review

30 Minutes or Less

Director: Ruben Fleischer Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride

n 2009 Ruben Fleischer took a genre that was stale and breathed new life into it with his movie Zombieland, In his new movie, 30 Minutes or Less, a comedic take on a heist/police thriller Fleischer has went again with Jesse Eisenberg as his lead.

Now, when I saw the trailer for this movie when it first dropped I thought it was pretty similar to a documentary I had watched a couple of years earlier. Back in August 28, 2003, Brian Douglas Wells was an American pizza delivery guy who was killed by a time bomb fastened to his neck, reportedly under force from the maker of the bomb. After he was apprehended by the police for robbing a bank, the bomb exploded while police held him at gunpoint. Now basically everyone involved with this movie, including the cast, have claimed to have had no prior knowledge of the incident, although the screenwriters have admitted to being “vaguely aware” of it. So the story of 30MoL is that Nick (Eisenberg) is a pizza delivery boy

who works for one of those pizza parlours that offer their pizzas in 30 minutes or less or it’s free. One night while on a late night delivery to a scrap yard he is jumped by two men dressed in gorilla and monkey suits, played by Dwayne (Danny McBride) and Travis (Nick Swardson) they sedate him and while unconscious strap a remote controlled and timed to him. When he wakes up Dwayne and Travis tell him he has 12 hours to rob a bank and get them $100,000. They are supposed to use this money to hire a hit man to kill Dwayne’s dad and use the lottery money that their dad hopefully leaves them to start their own tanning salon (which will actually be a secret brothel). In a mad panic Nick enlists the help of his best friend Chet (Aziz Ansari) to help him knock of their local bank all the while remembering that the clock is ticking closer to his imminent departure. Ansari gives the funniest performance in the movie and provides some good funny moments, while Eisenberg seems to be playing the bumbling ‘straight man’. Eisenberg is ok I suppose but I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. The rest of the cast are pretty much one disappointing after another and seem to OCT 2011 - issue (10)

bring a downer on the entire move. Even when you do get a funny moment you think, ‘yeh its gonna start getting good now’, but it invariably falls back down again almost immediately, mainly due to the 2 baddies in the story and the fringe supporting cast. There doesn’t seem to be any real chemistry between them and even when they fall on the old ‘that’s what she said’ gags for me they didn’t even get a smile from me. I have not seen much of Danny McBride but he doesn’t seem to be right at all for this movie his character is pretty disappointing and like I said above he seems to be the biggest instigator of choking the momentum of the movie as it picks up at various points. So despite a curious (if a little plagiarised) hostage/heist idea and a couple of humorous moments from the 2 main actors this movie falls down heavily in the laugh stakes. The plot is fine and doesn’t drag its feet for too long, but the overall casting of certain characters seems to have killed of a large section of this creations buzz.

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MOVIES

NEW RELEASES THIS MONTH IN SELECTED CINEMAS NOW !!!!!

The Lion King 3D (U) / Walt Disney Johnny English Reborn (PG) / Universal Pictures Four Days Inside Guantanamo (15) / Dogwoof Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (15) / Optimum Releasing Tyrannosaur (18) / Optimum

Releasing

The Three Musketeers (12A) / E1 Dolphin Tale (U) / Warner Bros. Real Steel (12A) / Walt Disney Sleeping Beauty (18) / Revolver Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (12A) / The Works Paranormal Activity 3 (15) / Paramount

Footloose (12A) / Paramount Texas Killing Fields (15) / Entertainment Films Contagion (12A) / Warner Bros. Monte Carlo (PG) / 20th Century Fox Restless (PG) / Sony Pictures

We Need To Talk About Kevin (15) / Artificial Eye Blood in the Mobile (12A) / Dogwoof Black Power Mixtape (12A) / Soda Pictures

Adventures Of Tin Tin: Secret Of The Unicorn (PG) / Paramount The Help (12A) / Walt Disney The Ides of March (15) / E1 The Silence (15) / Soda Pictures Anonymous (12A) / Sony Pictures

Some details are subject to change - please check online or with cinema directly for latest information.

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MOVIES

GG Quiz

1 NAME THE MOVIES ?? 4

5 on Answers page ??? OCT 2011 - issue (10)

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GAMING MadCatz Cyborg RAT7 A Fully Adjustable Gaming Mouse for PC gamers.... for top notch console accessories. It was only a matter of time before the Mad Catz guys started dipping

Back in the good old days Mad Catz used to be simply the company you looked at when you needed an additional or replacement console controller and you didn’t want to pay full price for the official branded accessory. The company has raised it game considerably over the years and now its reputation is far more

their toes in the more expensive (and perhaps lucrative) market of the PC peripherals. Here is one of their first offerings which is making serious noises in the business, the Cyborg RAT 7 gaming mouse, which is a physically customizable mouse that game players can adapt in ways never seen before.

GG GAMES CHARTS GG GAMES CHARTS

The Top 10 games for Playstation, Xbox and PC as voted by GoGuide

The Top 10 games for Playstation, Xbox and PC as voted by GoGuide2

no. 13 1 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 3 Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception Rage 4 Battlefield 3 5 FIFA Souls 12 Dark 6 Batman: Arkham City F1 2011 7 Pro Evolution 2012 8 F1 2011 Resistance 3 9 Sonic Generations Deus Ex: Human 10 GoldenEye: Reloaded

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 The12 Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim FIFA Battlefield 3 Gears of War 3 FIFA 12 Forza Motorsport 4 F1 2011 Batman: Arkham City Dead KinectIsland Sports: Season Two Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure Deus Ex: Human Gears of War 3 Rage Revolution

Driver: San Francisco Rugby World Cup 2011 Call of Duty: Black Ops Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

PS3

Revolution Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection Dead Island Driver: San Francisco Gran Turismo 5

X-BOX

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Call of12 Duty: Modern Warfare 3 FIFA Football Manager 2012 The Sims3 3 Battlefield The Sims 3: Pets The Sims 3: The Sims 3 Generations The Sims 3: Generations Rage Ex: Human Deus The Sims 3: Late Night Revolution LA Noire

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine A Game of Thrones: Genesis The Sims: Medieval Football Manager 2011 F1 2011 The Sims 3: Late Night

X-BOX

PS3 FIFA 12

no. 10 Page 38

At a glance the RAT 7 reminds you of a random collection of plastic and metal pieces that ambiguously forms the rough shape of a conventional computer mouse. It’s a drastic departure from most of the other specialist gaming mice out there. It looks like something from the terminator movies, well I mean, like something from another few decades into the future. Like most things of this radicle nature it is only once you start to use the mouse after a few hours that you really get used to it and reap the rewards of the many tweaks you can physically achieve in order to make it fit just right for ‘you’. Rather than try to create a mouse that would be

OCT 2011 - issue (10)

REVIEW

good gaming mouse is virtually an extension of your arm and the Mad Catz Cyborg RAT 7 Albino is one of those devices that has enough meat on the bones to let you adapt and customise it to seoo much of a degree that it really should be classed as an Augmentation (for Deus Ex fan) for those who can get the settings just right.

GAMING

Special online role-playing version RAT 7 MMO REVIEW Edition available soon.

RAT 7 Albino (white version)

We liked being able to tweak the mouse to the exact shape and size that suited each of us who tried it out. This feature makes the Cyborg RAT 7 a particularly safe buy if you’re thinking of a gift for someone who seriously plays PC games. In use the mouse has five programmable buttons, plus a vertical scrollwheel and a horizontal thumb-scroll stick. A mode switch next to the left-click button lets you instantly toggle between three different configurations. A mouse-sensitivity switch below the scrollwheel lets you select from four different DPI settings. By the thumb rest is a Precision Aim button which changes the mouse to a different DPI when you hold it down.

perfect for everyone out of the box, Mad Catz designed the Cyborg RAT 7 so that you can shape it as you desire. A small moment of genius was to include a built in Allen wrench which can be removed to work on the extensive adjustments you can make on the mouse before returning to its home. You can adjust the length of the thumb rest, add and remove weights from an internal compartment, and swap out the stock palm rest and pinkie rest for your preferred versions. The palm rest and pinkie rest each have three different options. The palm rest comes in a low-profile smooth version, a low-profile version with a textured rubber layer for additional grip, and a high-profile smooth piece. The pinkie rest has a textured-rubber version, a smooth plastic version, and an extended “wing” version that lets you rest your little finger on it instead of keeping your pinkie on the side of the mouse or letting it hang on your mouse pad.

The software suite for the mouse is extensive but easy to use and you will probably find yourself spending most of your time tweaking the mouse sensitivity in the Settings menu. You can also record mouse and keyboard combinations. Mad Catz is also releasing a version of the mouse specially designed for online role-playing game fans, which should be out in the next month or so. The RAT 7 MMO Edition will replace the Precision Aim button with a five-way thumb switch that gives you even more programmable inputs, and it will ship with a World of Warcraft driver add-on that lets you configure the mouse in-game via an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. The £58.90 (Pixmania.com) price isn’t cheap, but if you’re serious enough about games to shell out that much for a mouse or if it’s a birthday/ xmas gift for you or someone else it is certainly worth a look.

R.A.T. 7 FULL FEATURE SPECS Perfect your grip : Whether you ‘palm’ the mouse or ‘claw’ it, the R.A.T. can quickly and easily adapt by adjusting in length to suit your hand size and grip style. In addition, the Thumb Panel of the R.A.T. 7 moves forwards, backwards, and pivots outwards, giving you perfect positioning for effortless gaming. 3 interchangeable grips : Pinkie grips and Palm rests all with different features. Custom Weight System : Like it light or heavy? Maybe you change the weight to suit your game? No matter, the R.A.T. has you covered. Five 6-gram weights can be added or subtracted in an instant, giving you the perfect weight for a perfect feel. When not in use, the weights can be safely stored in the supplied Weight Storage Container. Precision Aim Mode : Hit your target the first time every time. Use the ST Programming Software to set your desired Precision Aim speed (mouse sensitivity), then hold down the Precision Aim button to slow down mouse movement to a level that works for you. A deadly weapon that will hit your enemy where it hurts. 5600 DPI : Featuring a new generation ‘twin eye’ laser sensor that reads each axis separately for pinpoint accuracy, the R.A.T. 7 tracks up to a stunning 6 meters per second. Pro gamers who favour low sensitivity with high movement speed preferences will always experience correct tracking and precision. 4 Custom DPI Settings : Use the Rocker Switch to toggle between your custom DPI settings. 5 Programmable Buttons : Combine your Programmable Buttons with 2 regular left and right mouse buttons and give yourself a total of 7 buttons available to punish your competition. Assign your choice of key gaming actions to Programmable Buttons to create your own custom profiles. 3 Cyborg Modes : Toggle between three individual R.A.T. modes at the touch of a button. Change sensitivity or Programmable Button actions in an instant and gain immediate access to a mind-boggling 15 commands! Powerful ST Programming Software : Change your DPI, set Precision Aim cursor sensitivity, create custom profiles for each game, and assign commands to your Programmable Buttons and Modes. Easy, quick and the power you need right on your desktop. Lightweight Metal Chassis : Strong yet nimble, the solid metal frame forms the core of the R.A.T. 7 for enhanced rigidity.

GGGG OCT 2011 - issue (10)

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GAMING Review

ark Souls is the spiritual successor to the PS3 exclusive, Demon Souls whose appeal lay with its renowned difficulty and trial-and-error approach and racked up estimated sales of over 1 million units. Developed by From Software, Dark Souls is a stunningly beautiful experience, in parts visually stunning and lays before you an elusive world that slowly draws you into its shadowy and desperate places.

Perhaps not as tough as its predecessor, working your way through Dark Souls is about getting stuck in and learning, it is about remembering every trap, every adversary’s location, and then finding all the secret areas that don’t immediately shout out at you. The ‘learn Page 40

by death’ approach to gaming that this game employs is not a new one and is a tried and tested method of proceeding through a level. Managing progression through the game is done in the form of various bonfires scattered around the world. This allows you to save your progress and restore your health. It is a nice touch and the compulsion to go find another one was quickly upon me when playing the game for the first time. It made for a more determined attempt to get through to the next section in hope of finding one. After use though all your previously dispatched foes are miraculously brought back to life, a little price to pay for replenishing energy and a save point in my opinion and being killed and only going back to these checkpoints doesn’t feel as much of a punishment as having to restart the level completely like you did in say Demon Souls and some other older titles. Having attempted an area a few OCT 2011 - issue (10)

times you will learn, and eventually you will be able to get through every area with ease. With perseverance and returning to your bonfires you will figure out eventually what to do and when you can run through an area that you once felt impassable, and get past every trap, beat all your enemies, and eventually reach your goal with barely a scratch is when you will truly come to terms with the Dark Souls experience. The reward for all your perseverance and determination with the ‘learn by death’ experience is an almost flawless game engine. The combat system and control layout are a dream to use once mastered. Timing blocks, attacks, and dodges according to the enemy or the circumstances will all come easier and you will quickly learn the correct moves needed to defeat a specific foe without harm. You will inevitably die throughout this learning process, and to be fair you will probably die a lot. But this is part of the overall experience and part of

the games attraction. Enemies killed will award players with souls, these souls are used for everything; purchasing goods, changing stats, upgrading and repairing weapons and armour. Some enemies can award humanity which can be used in numerous ways. You can say kindle a bonfire to be awarded more healing flasks that will save your life. They can also be used to conquer another player’s world to steal their souls and humanity. You can call on other players using humanity so they can help you in an area you find difficult or to beat a boss. Rather than use your hard earned

souls or humility you may decide to save them up but do this at your peril as when you die you lose all souls and humility and return to your save point without them. Although I didn’t try the multiplayer aspects of Dark Souls it is thought to be a great addition to the game. Players can leave messages on the ground for others to try to assist in either paving the way to the next area, to warn you of upcoming hard battles, to maybe send you into traps, or to just say hi. When in multiplayer mode and invading other player’s games you will be rewarded for killing another player. There are OCT 2011 - issue (10)

also Covenants to join, these act a lot like guilds, and joining certain ones will reward players, or killing them. Playing Dark Souls is a journey that harkens back to old gaming days, a game that is amazing for those that want to go on the journey but a turn off for many others. It is a game where you will often feel frustrated, but exhilarated and rewarded far more. From Software has done a great job and has been rewarded with a dedicated cult following.

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GAMING Review

hen reviewing Football Manager 2012 I’m going to presume that most of you reading will have a pretty good knowledge of the Football Manager series. Unlike other games the FM series gets a proper full blown release every year without fail. Not just an upgrade or an expansion pack but a completely new packaged game. So each year we wait patiently for October to come around and we hit the stores with our £30 or so grasped firmly in hand. Fans of this game have a real desire to pick up the latest version of the game solely on the quality of the product rather than needing to have it to compete in a community that demands you have to be playing the same version of a game. Sports Interactive (SI), who makes the game, have apparently added more than 800 new features to this years game including a brand new tutorial system. If you really want a rundown of each of the new additions then simply drop Page 42

FM 2012 into a browser and knock yourself out for a few days as I’m only going to cover a few of the major upgrades. The first change is probably the most visible – the arrangement of information on screen has been drastically refurbished. Fundamentally the higher the resolution the screen you have, the more information will be displayed on each screen. One screen where this truly helps is the player information screen as you now have an overview with attributes, positions, contract, training, form, all displayed at once saving many trawls through sub menus or screens. Even in the really early editions of the game you were presented with an experience that carried you over not just a few hours, or 3-4 nights, or even a couple of weeks. As you no doubt already know FM has the unique ability to really take over massive parts of your life like nothing else out there. As each edition arrives I find myself spending even more time than before trying to get the best team on the field and get them performing to the best of their abilities. In this one I spent a whole day OCT 2011 - issue (10)

on just pre-season preparation. There is just such much to do; convincing staff to join your motley crew, somehow managing to bring in new players, finding the best squad and on top of that getting used to the new tactics interface. The second change which had my fingers twitching on the mouse is the new “Tone” system which is used to interact with your players, and the vastly improved team talks. You basically choose the tone you use, and changing these settings makes it feel like you have a lot more control over the morale of your team and in effect the performance they give. It now appears that you have a bigger opportunity to actually influence the morale and inspire performances from your team through the team talks that you give. Finally, and probably the biggest ‘impact’ improvement in FM 2012, is the infinitely better

3D match engine. Compared to the stick figures that jittered around the field in the original Football Manager game this is like watching Sportscene in HD, on a 50” plasma. Of course the improvements are not particularly in the graphic arena. What is so impressive is that the new engine is so good at giving you a true impression of how your team are actually performing, in their movement, how they use the ball etc. It is all very, very enjoyable and informative to watch and more and more I saw myself staying away from the ‘Speedup’ options and watching real time. If you can devote the time to Football Manager 2012 it is an amazingly deep and rewarding game and as usual at around £30 is truly incredible value for money.

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GAMING

Review

he nation has been overrun by the brutal Chimeran masses, in spite of your actions in Resistance 2 where you battled admirably as Nathan Hale against pockets of invadign forces. Resistance 3 shows nothing but a full on alien invasion and the end of planet earth forever.

Developer Insomniac Games has demonstrated yet again its ability to produce both energetic and challenging action, and Resistance 3 is yet another example of this. You can play the game in co-op mode with another player online or off. In competitive multiplayer you are presented with intense fire fights and a nice collection of interesting rewards, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also entertaining to combine your unique arsenal with abilities to inflict as much pain and damage on your fellow humans. Although it has its faults Resistance 3â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has way more good things about it than, which makes it another great addition to this sci-fi shooter franchise. Resistance 3 is set 4 years after 2 and you take control of Joseph Capelli, who, after killing the hero of Resistance 2, Nathan Hale, has been dishonourably discharged from the military. He has eventually married, started a family,

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and set up home in Haven, one of the many bombed-out hidden housing areas that we come across many a time when playing the game. These might just give us an unusually surreal glimpse of how humanity might just cope in a real life catastrophe with people clinging together for safety, companionship and hope. Joe seems quit a dull, or maybe deep is a better description? so it is good that the various characters that you come across throughout the game add to your overall experience and in turn to your background character. They will mention your battlefield exploits in such a way that it really makes you feel a lot bigger than you are and bolsters your confidence. The locations depicted in the game also add a lot of character to the game as well. From the dirty Oklahoma outpost to the infested mountain village, every setting is abundantly detailed and graphically stunning. The once active resistance of Resistance 2 has all but disappeared and the Chimera has begun terraforming Earth in an attempt to create a world more like their icy planet. The appearance of a threatening worm-hole in the skies above New York City spells danger and it is looking increasingly more like Earth is about to be lost forever. The real action starts when a worm hole Joe is approached by returning character Dr. Malikov, who is looking for someone to act as an escort for him as he travels to New York in one last-gasp effort to close the worm-hole before it is

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too late Along the road you find your enemies are full-on aggressive and there are a lot of them, so you must be ready with a good understanding of the battlefield arena and choose your moves wisely. Jumping from cover and blasting away might be effective in small-scale skirmishes, but enemies that spring into the air, rapidly surround you or shoot right through cover push you to adapt your tactics as you face a variety of adversaries at one time. Ammunition can sometimes be scarce and knowing your arsenal is a good way to survive. We quickly see the return of previous game favourites like the bullseye, auger, and magnum, but also the introduction of newly inviting weapons like a freeze-ray, electric gun and mutation gun. Each weapon also has its own unique secondary fire that can be as simple as a grenade launcher or as deadly as a swirling electric vortex. All gun level up as you use them and thus deal more damage and sometimes granting bonuses, like incendiary ammunition or a better scope. Weapon carrying is not limited so you can carry as many as you like and trust me when I tell you that Resistance 3 will have you putting them all to work sooner or later. As such you will, on regular occasions, find yourself exhausted of your ammunition supply for multiple weapons when in the throes

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of particularly intense fire fights. On these occasions you either have to utilise one of your less deadly firearm or dodge enemy fire and forage the battlefield in hope of stumbling on an ammo cache. Online the competitive multiplayer 60-player matches from Resistance 2 have been slimmed down to just 16, which tend to lead to a much tenser interactive experience. The impressive environmental make up seen in the campaign mode transfers well over to the various online maps and have various routes that allow you to navigate the battlefield and with any luck catch your enemy off guard. In addition to Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, there are a few objective-based modes, including Capture the Flag, Chain Reaction (capture the territory), and Breach (destroy/defend). The game may have its down sides but with such a good campaign mode and the unlimited challenges of the multiplayer mode it does make Resistance 3 one really unique and top notch shooter. Those with PlayStation move can also use the PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter controller (as seen in Novembers issue 11 ) or take on enemies in 3D. No matter what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in for a treat.

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OUTABOUT IN WEST LOTHIAN

Funtastic Fantasy Golf Limited Miniature golf arena but it’s one with a difference it’s BLACK-LIGHT UV which means that not only do the 3D prop’s glow in the dark but also the golf balls and art work on the wall do too. This facility is a fantastic family day out for all ages & abilities with a cafe that sell homemade food made onsite at their cafe ‘Dino Bites’

Mon - Sun: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm 3 St Andrews Way, Livingston, EH54 8HQ 07935 576943

Racing Karts Racing Karts quickly established itself as a force in Indoor Kart Racing due to its attention to safety, cleanliness and customer satisfaction. They like to call themselves ‘The Friendly Circuit’ www.racingkarts.co.uk Times: Booking required - call to arrange Arrol Square, Deans Industrial Estate, Livingston, EH54 8QZ 01506 410123

Livingston Skate Park The Livingston Skatepark opened in 1981, at a time when most commercial skateparks were closing and was one of the most important facilities in Britain during a critical period in the development of skateboarding. It is an example of a free, unsupervised facility which achieved international status. Daylight access all year round FREE 16 Northwood Park, Opposite Almondvale Shopping Centre, Livingston, EH54 6HR

Deer Park Ten Pin Bowling Deer Park Bowling Centre is a 16 Lane Bowling Centre with the capacity to hold 128 bowlers. There is a bar and food served throughout. At ‘Late night Glow Bowling’ the lights are dimmed and the lanes come alive with GLOW IN THE DARK, ULTRA VIOLET lighting effects and music. www.deer-park.co.uk Mon-Thur: 4pm-10pm / Fri: 12pm-midnight / Sat: 10am-midnight / Sun: 10am-10pm Golf Course Road, Livingston, EH54 8AB - 01506 446699 Page 60

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Delta Force Paintball Delta Force Paintball provides world class paintballing in Scotland. In addition to the scenery, incredible game zones provide players with an adrenalin-fuelled day of paintball action all year round. www.paintballgames.co.uk Weekends + 1 Weekday - check online for details Off Burnhouse Road, Dechmont, Livingston, EH49 6PL 0844 477 5050

Go Ape - Beecraigs It’s not in the dictionary, but if it was, Go Ape would be described as a ‘tree top adventure’. A dollop of breathtaking scenery; a smattering of tree-top wires, crossings and wind-in-your-face zip wires; finished off with a liberal dose of people in search of their inner Tarzan. www.goape.co.uk Check Web Site for opening times and bookings The Park Centre, Beecraigs Country Park, Linlithgow EH49 6PL 0845 643 9215

Five Sisters Zoo The Five Sisters Zoo was established in 2005 and is the only wildlife attraction centre in West Lothian. With over 100 different species of animals, birds and reptiles from all around the world your visit will be a fun, enjoyable and educational one - all ages. www.fivesisterszoo.co.uk Open 7 Days a week - 10am - 6pm (5pm Winter half of year) Gavieside, West Calder, EH55 8PT 01506 871 111

Overboard Soft Play Overboard Soft Play is an exciting indoor Soft Play and entertainment venue for kids aged 0-11 yrs. They have it all, from chutes to ball pits to go-karts to ball cannons. With an underwater theme and seperate play zones for different age groups and abilities, your children are sure to have a great time from the minute they arrive until it’s time to go home. www.overboardsoftplay.com Wed - Sun: 10:15 am - 6:00 pm 3 St Andrews Way, Livingston, EH54 8HQ - 01506 873888 OCT 2011 - issue (10)

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MOVIES GG Quiz

ANSWERS

Book of Eli 2

Unstoppable

Remember Me

FIGHT

CLUB

The ShawshankRedemption

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CLASSIC MOVIE POSTERS 101

Plan 9 from Outer Space (originally titled Grave Robbers from Outer Space) is a 1959 science fiction film written and directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr. The film features Gregory Walcott, Mona McKinnon, Tor Johnson and Maila “Vampira” Nurmi. The film bills Bela Lugosi posthumowusly as a star, although silent footage of the actor had been shot by Wood for other, unfinished projects just before Lugosi’s death in 1956. The plot of the film involves extraterrestrial beings who are seeking to stop humans from creating a doomsday weapon that would destroy the universe. In the course of doing so, the aliens implement “Plan 9”, a scheme to resurrect Earth’s dead as what modern audiences would consider zombies (called “ghouls” in the film itself) to get the planet’s attention, causing chaos. For years the film played on television in relative obscurity, until 1980, when authors Michael Medved and Harry Medved dubbed Plan 9 from Outer Space the “worst movie ever made”. Wood was posthumously awarded the Medveds’ Golden Turkey Award as the worst director ever. Page 64

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