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MANIA M A L AY S I A N G A M I N G M AG A Z I N E

T S R I F E U S S I SPECIAL FEATURES

Malaysian Edition RM8.00 APRIL 2012 I vol. 1 No.1

NEW GENERATION OF X-BOX KINECT

Best Online RPG Gemes

EXCLUSIVE VIEW INTRODUCING KINECT FOR

MOVIEMANIA

XBOX 360

THE LORAX THE AVENGERS DARK NIGHT

THE WITCHER 2 : Assassins of Kings MANIA NEWS A P RI L 2012 NEW S

FIRST LOOK

PROTOTYPE2 RELEASE APRIL 2012

EXTRA MANIA

VOTE NOW

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Investor Relations Contact Dell Inc. Round Rock, TX (512) 728-7800 investor_relations@dell.com

New X51 Unleash your inner hero with Alienware™ X51. This powerful, versatile desktop delivers an immersive HD gaming experience so you can meet any challenge.

Unleash your inner hero with Alienware™ X51. This powerful, versatile desktop delivers an immersive HD gaming experience so you can meet any challenge. www.dell.com.my

PLAY MANIA M A L AY S I A N G A M I N G M AG A Z I N E

EDITOR NOTE...

APRIL 2012 PUBLISHING Publisher Group Editor Nawiruddin Ibrahim EDITORIAL ed.maniagamer@media.net Editor Nawiruddin Ibrahim Assiosate Syazwan Omar Technical Writter Nawiruddin Ibrahim Writter Syazwan Omar Graphic Designer Nawiruddin Ibrahim Photography Syazwan Omar ADVERTISING SALES ed.maniagamer@media.net Manager Syazwan Omar ADMINISTRATION Office Manager Syazwan Omar

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My experience is diverse. I was as an editor/writer for a daily newspaper for 2 years. I was also employed as a copy editor for a nationally known weekly automotive newspaper for five years.

I also was editor-in-chief for a local lifestyle magazine for nearly two years. Most recently, I was a technical editor for a other magazine.

I hope all of youhave enjoyed reading Play Mania Malaysia as much asi have helming it. Thank you for the support over the years and for the last time. Happy Reading !!

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CONTENTS APRIL 2012 Let’s Play Games

PLAY MANIA M A L AY S I A N G A M I N G M AG A Z I N E

Malaysian Edition RM8.00 APRIL 2012 I vol. 1 No.1

FIRST ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURES

NEW GENERATION OF X-BOX KINECT

Best Online RPG Gemes

EXCLUSIVE VIEW INTRODUCING KINECT FOR

MOVIEMANIA

XBOX 360

THE LORAX THE AVENGERS DARK NIGHT

THE WITCHER 2 : Assassins of Kings MANIA NEWS APRIL 2012 NEW S

EXTRA MANIA

FIRST LOOK

PROTOTYPE2

NOW VOTE

RELEASE APRIL 2012

www.goldenmania.com

www.playmania.com

MANIA Newsmania

08

Preview

13

Special features

15

Performance mania

18

Movie Mania

14

HIGHLIGHTS

PROTOTYPE2 10

CALE

NDER

06

16

MON

2

3

9

17

24

07

THUR

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FRI

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Releas

e Date

SAT 1

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25

WED

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TUE

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CALENDAR 2012 GAMES RELEASE

s

16

THE WITCHER2

third-person role-playing video game developed

by Polish studio CD Projekt RED for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360. It is a sequel to the 2007 video game The Witcher, and was released internationally on May 17, 2011. Like its predecessor, the game is based on

the book series of the same name

by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.

XBox 360 Kinect COVER STORY

www.techdeck.com

CREATE YOUR

TECK DECK

4

2

OW N

Finger Board

twitter.com/techdeckboards

www.facebook.com/pages/teck-deck

NEWS MANIA Wii U To Be Release 2012 A new feature for both the 3DS and the Wii U will be Nintendo Network support.

It’s basically their version of Xbox Live Marketplace. It will be a way for them to consolidate their digital distribution of games and content to both systems.

Nintendo’s never been great with anything Internet related ever since the Gamecube.

Hopefully third times the charm.

Max Payne 3

The only people who like game delays are the programmers franticly trying to finish the game they are working on. The happy coders this time is the Rockstar Games team working on the highly anticipated Max Payne 3. Unfortunately for us, they won’t be making their planned March 2012 release window

Microsoft Points Speaking of Microsoft Points, there’s a rumor floating around that the company will start phasing out the use of the funny money by the end of this year. Instead of points, people will be able to use this thing called money, apparently it’s pretty popular. Joking aside, Microsoft has been pricing their more pricey items in their online store with the dollar sign, like full downloadable console releases. It’s about time! I always feel ripped off when I buy something using Points on my Xbox.

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APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

XBox 360 It’s been a week full of rumors it seems.

Reports have surfaced that the next Xbox will be released sometime around October or November of next year. Apparently the chips are already being made and are based on the Radeon HD 6670 chipset (pictured below), extensibly bumping up the Xbox’s current graphical power sixfold. The chip for the system, codename “Odan”, has apparently already began production late last year. Other sources also indicate the use of Blu-ray media, and Kinect 2. Nothing wrong with using higher capacity storage media, and updating Kinect functionality.

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Game Release Dates April 3

Devil May Cry: HD Collection (X360,PS3) I Am Alive (PSN) Kinect Star Wars (X360) Tropico 4: Modern Times (PC) April 4 Diabolical Pitch (XBLA) April 6 Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) April 12 Tribes: Ascend (Win) April 13 Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir (3DS)

7 APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

April 17

Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention (PSVita) The House of the Dead 4 (PSN) Nexuiz (Win) The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (X360) April 18 Trials Evolution (XBLA) April 24 Prototype 2 (X360, PS3)

PREVIEW MANIA xcom

PC

Genre : Shooter Developer : Firaxis Games Publiser : 2K Games Release Date : Mar 06, 2012

The classic 1994 isometric strategy game is remade as a fairly predictable first-person shoo...hang on, this sounds familiar. 2K’s resurrection of the X-COM franchise (now missing its hyphen, which itself has proven controversial) at least retains some strategic components, and the game has a fascinating ‘weird’ feel to it which seems to be genuinely trying to make the aliens alien. The revelation that a faithful remake of the original strategy game.

Shogun 2: Total War (Fall of the Samurai)

PC

Genre : Strategy Developer :The Creative Assembly Publiser :Sega Release Date : Mar 23, 2012

Shogun 2’s expansion moves the action forwards several centuries to the end of the samurai era, with European and American influence in Japan growing and firearms and cannon transforming the military tactics of the setting. Tom Cruise is not expected to appear.

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APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

APRIL 2012

I Am Alive

PS3

XBOX 360

Genre : Action Developer : Ubisoft Publiser : Ubisoft Shanghai Release Date : Mar 7, 2012 (US)

In this post-apocalyptical tale, there are no supernatural threats, just an everyman who faces the permanent insecurity of a now decaying and hazardous world and humaity’s darkest inclinations. Will you hang on to your humanity and help strangers or are you ready.

Game of Thrones

PS3

XBOX 360

Genre : RPG Developer : Atlus Publiser : Focus Home Interactive Release Date : April 2012

A Game of Thrones (AGOT), the roleplaying game, brings you into a grown-up adventure parallel to the original piece. You will take part into a whole new story full of plots. We didn’t planned on a time shift to put our story back or forward in the original timeline. On the contrary, we adapted our story to the original events so that the player could meet the main characters of the saga in these new chapters.

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APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

COVER STORY

X-box 360 kinect

Introducing Kinect for Xbox 360 All You Need is You Kinect for Xbox 360 is changing the game. Well, it’s changing how you play games. And how you watch TV, and movies. And listen to music. Because with Kinect, there are no controllers. Or remotes.

There’s just you. And if you ask us, that’s all you need.

Full Body

Gaming

Controller-free gaming means full body play. Kinect responds to how you move. So if you have to kick, then kick. If you have to jump, then jump.

You already know how to play. All you have to do now is to get off the couch.

Voice-controlled Entertainment Voice-controlled Entertainment Combine Kinect with Xbox LIVE, and you can kick back and enjoy you favorite shows on ESPN, HBO GO, Netflix and Hulu Plus in a whole new way. With Kinect, you can play, pause and rewind the action - all with the sound of your voice.

Games Are More Amazing Games Are More Amazing When you are the controller. Literally. Pet a tiger, battle against the dark side, or race supercars from your living room. It’s all part of the fun with Kinect.

10 APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

t You u o b A l l A It’s

Once you wave your hand to activa the sensor, your Kinect will be able recognize you and access your Ava Then you’ll be able to jump in and o of different games, and show off an share your moves.

COVER STORY

X-box 360 kinect

Something For Everyone Whether you’re a gamer or not, anyone can play and have a blast. And with advanced parental controls and movies for the family, Kinect promises a gaming experience that’s safe, secure and fun for everyone.

www.xbox.com

Use Your Voice Kinect uses advanced entertainment technology to respond to the sound of your voice. Just say “Xbox” to reveal a series of voice commands. So you’ll be able to control HD movies with the sound of your voice no remote required.

ate e to atar. out nd

11 APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

© 2012 Microsoft

COVER STORY

X-box 360 kinect

Xbox 360 + Kinect

The Life of the Living Room

The Xbox 360 is great for playing games. But if you’re one of those people who likes watching movies, listening to music, watching live TV, playing games with people all over the world, and doing it all with the sound of your voice, then the Xbox 360 with Kinect was built for you.

Console

It’s Better With Kinect

Not all Xbox 360s are the same. Check out the differences and find the console that’s best for your gaming style.

Playing video games using your body as the controller. Searching for a movie using only your voice. That’s just the beginning of what’s possible with Kinect for Xbox 360.

Xbox 360 Accessories

Take Your Xbox 360 Online

Wireless headsets. Extra controllers.

Chatpads. Cables. Hard Drives. Batteries.

Get everything you need to upgrade the way you play.

If you like playing games online with friends, streaming movies from Netflix or watching college football on ESPN, you’re going to want Xbox LIVE.

Join the Kinect fan base on Facebook and you can share your Kinect stories and get access to exclusive content, videos and photos.

12 APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

SPECIAL FEATURES

BEST ONLINE

RPG GAMES

1. Rift Forge

“Have fun playing some of the best online rpg games ever created and remember to check back often because we are always adding new and even better free online RPG games�.

Genre: Strategy Developer : since 2009 Riftforge is an ambitious fantasy online role-playing game. It challenges MMO genre conventions with deep, tactical combat, adding a significant element of player skill. Thousands of players will be able to cooperate and compete on an unprecedented scale, thanks to a new web technology platform.

3. Legends of Elveron

2. Ministry of War

Theme: Warfare Genre: Strategy Developer : Elveron.com

Genre: Strategy Developer : Snail Games

The yellow flames danced their merry tune, every

so often reminding those near it of its presence with faint pops and hisses. The flames did nothing to repel the evils lurking about, but it gave the heroes a moments comfort. Freya and Falagar perched themselves around the fire, while Blue was out on watch. They took no chances this night.

Ministry of War Ministry of War is a free browser based MMORTS with amazing graphics and extremely deep game play. Start evolving civilizations from the savage age into the Empire Age. Each era brings new challenges, battles, quests, troop categories, and character building structures. You can engage in real time combat against other individual players, Guilds, or entire Civilizations, as well as World NPCs and Lair Bosses, in a struggle to dominate the world.

4. Apokalyx

5. Elements

Genre: Strategy Developer : Bobo

Genre: Strategy Developer : Snip

Fight as a gladiator in this turn based arena rpg game.

Gameplay is set in a futuristic world after the world ends. Prove yourself as a real arena fighter, gladiator choosing between 3 races, but following the own path of enlightment: Mutants, Stark Ones and Wildcats and learn to develop supernatural abilities. Great things that matters to you are winning with glory, for money and personal freedom.

Hundreds of myth creatures spells and magic new artifacts to play with. Each elemental has an arsenal of skills that can be used against other elementals to sate your thirst for power, vast array of magic cards to summon magical creatures to fight by your side each skill corresponds to a card.

13 APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

PROTOTYPE 2

FI R ST LOOK The city of New York, New York Zero, that is, is now a wasteland, with giant beasts walking the streets and a military “As with the previous presence trying to exert its influence. The game, players can leap game features an open world divided into from buildings, run three zones: green, yellow, and red, each up walls, use vehicles offering enemies to battle and obstacles to overcome. Use Heller’s mutant powers to as springboards, and cause chaos and destruction wherever you more as the entire city decide to travel. Heller’s infected body has becomes their personpowerful tendrils that can grab cars, tanks, al battleground” and even beasts before shredding them into pieces. As Heller becomes more proficient The “RadNet Edition” is designed in combat, he will be able to learn new to reward players who buy new perks to improve his movement, attack copies of the game, offering a powers, and ability to disguise himself. The one-time-use code that allows for latter technique allows Heller to alter his access to special challenges, unique appearance to that of a soldier, scientist, or mutations, leaderboards, avatars, other human after he absorbs the person’s and dynamic themes. memories.

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APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

READ ME PUBLISHER Activision, Inc. DEVELOPER Radical Enter tainm e n t GENRE Action STY LE Thir d-Per son 3D Ac ti o n Release APRIL 2012

PERFOMANCE MANIA AddMANIA Altec Lansing inAir 5000 AirPlay

ON TEST

REVIEWS

What’s New !

80 Altec Lansing knows a thing or two about audio – they designed the sound systems at Abbey Road and Woodstock for a start and they also produced the first iPod dock. They now reckon it’s time that their dock is back on top of the heap – meet the inAir 5000.

70

Warpia StreamHD Thanks to a simple installation process, solid picture quality, and little lag, the Warpia StreamHD stands out as a top method for streaming media and games from your computer to your HDTV.

The B&W Zeppelin has had its own way pretty much since its release snatching awards for both sound and design and as it has added AirPlay to its long list of can dos then the Altec Lansing inAir 5000 has quite an act to follow.

www.warpia.com

78

87 The simply gorgeous new hand held console from Sony. Boasting high end gaming in the palm of your hands and pushing the boundaries of what to expect from a portable system. Vita is Sony’s new baby and the first handheld since the Game Gear (which I only kept for a month back in 1991) to pull me in and make me adopt one on the day of release.

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APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

The Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ Gaming Keyboard by Razer Razer™, the world’s leading high-end precision gaming brand, is proud to send your Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ gaming experience into hyperspace with the release of a licensed Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ product line, expected to launch in conjunction with the hotly anticipated title. In collaboration with BioWare and LucasArts, this collection of gaming weaponry will equip you to win, whether you’re carrying out the work of the Dark Sith lords or righteously defending the people of the Galactic Republic.

NOW PLAYING

The Witcher 2 based on a novel of Andrzej Sapkowski

Avai lable Now

EXPANSIVE MATURE IMMERSIVE NON-LINEAR STORY Evaluation Game Play

5

Music

4

Sound

5

Overall

4

Complex, expansive adventure in which every decision may have grave consequences. An intense, emotionally charged, nonlinear story for mature players, offering over 40 hours of gameplay, 4 different beginnings and 16 different endings. Make choices that really matter.

Your decisions impact relations with other characters and entire communities, and may also influence the political situation in the Northern Kingdoms.

Every assassination attempt intensifies the chaos, and might truly does make right these days. Cruelty and violence have become daily fare... Do you dare stand alone among the mighty forces that are fighting for power over the Northern Kingdoms? Do you truly dare?

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Andrzej Sapkowski

A time of untold chaos has come.

Mighty forces clash behind the scenes in a struggle for power and influence.

Northern Kingdoms mobilize their armies and prepare for war. But armies on the march are not enough to stop a bloody conspiracy. Someone is hunting crowned heads.

“BLOOD DISDAIN LOVE FEAR HOPE” Release Out Now Publisher Microsoft Windows Developer CD Projekt RED 16

APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

After helping to stop the rebellion undertaken by the Order of the Flaming Rose and saving King Foltest’s life, Geralt became one of the central figures of political turmoil in the Kingdom of Temeria. Geralt continues to protect the King in the monarch’s mission to bring peace to his state. The only remaining task is to pacify the rebellious castle of Baroness La Valette, who announced separation from the Kingdom. It’s been a month since the attempted assassination of the king, when his army arrives at the gates of Baroness La Valette’s fortress in preparation for the final battle.

Predict New and improved version 2.2 en.thewitcher.com

96

EXTRA MANIA

Our Picks for the Golden Mania Control VOTE NOW

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Best Action Game 2012 9.5

lutio o s b a N HITMA

n

Not set in a specific Hitman timeline.

Confirmed plot details include series protagonist Agent 47 assassinating his former International Contract Agency handler Diana Burnwood early in the game and the antagonist identified as Blake Dexter, a new character to the series. The character will be voiced by Keith Carradine

Editorial Nominees

9.0

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Historical action-adventure open world stealth video game developed and published by Ubisoft.

It was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2011, and for Microsoft Windows in December 2011.It is the fourth major installment in the Assassin’s Creed series and the last chapter in the ‘Ezio Trilogy’. The game is a direct sequel to Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, with the three protagonists from the previous games Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Altaïr ibn La-Ahad, and Desmond Miles returning as the main protagonists.

Readers’ Choice Voting 17 APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

Publisher: Ubisoft Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

MOVIE MANIA x a r o L e Th Genre : Action and Adventure/Family Director : Chris Renaud The Lorax, an adaptation of the classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-yearold as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams.

rs e g n e The Av Genre : Action Director :Joss Whedon Nick Fury and the international agency S.H.I.E.L.D. bring together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki & his various membered army.

ht

nig K k r a D Genre : Action Director :Christopher Nolan Eight years after Batman took the fall for Two Face’s crimes, a new terrorist leader, Bane overwhelms Gotham’s finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that brands him an enemy.

18 APRIL 2012 PLAY MANIA

Watchguard.com

The new iPad

With the stunning Retina display. 5MP iSight camera. And ultrafast 4G LTE. Starting at $499.00

Shop the Apple Online Store (1-800-MY-APPLE), visit an Apple Retail Store, or find a reseller.