The First Word Noob Gold:How to Win Everytime Sitting in a Corner: A Guide to Camping Are you the Soldier of the Future? rAge 2010 The Gamer Challenge The Top 10 Win with The Gamer The Tech Corner
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Dead Rising 2 DeathSpank
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EA Sports: MMA Gran Tursimo 5 Call of Duty: Black Ops Fallout New vegas
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Hi and welcome to the very first
That way we can create exactly what our awesome readers want. This issue we take a look at one of the most anticipated PS3 games of all time with Gran Turismo 5, the game which has seemingly been in development since the PS1 was in still in the conceptualization stage, is looking pretty brilliant with some breath taking weather effects.
We have taken this new inspiration and mixed it with booze and an obsession for gaming, to create something that can only be described as "magical", although "awesome" also springs to mind.
We also take a look at the next installment in the Call of Duty franchise with the exciting looking Black Ops, which I am sure will be the next big MP experience, well locally any way. Both these titles are looking to be the big sellers this November and it should be interesting to see how it pans out.
issue of "The Gamer", South Africa's newest and greatest online gaming magazine. This mag was started from a very small idea quite a long time ago and was only recently re-thought and brought to life thanks to a source of new inspiration.
We are a rag tag bunch of writers, designers and gamers with more passion than experience, so here is to hoping we can learn as we go and continue to bring you a quality product. For now "The Gamer" will exist in a purely digital format, a "digizine" if you will. A hard concept to run with in South Africa, especially considering our video content, but hopefully with the on growing Internet upgrades we will see our efforts rewarded and we will be able to continue to bring you bigger and better issues. While The Gamer will not be an exclusively PS3 digizine, it is made of an almost exclusively PS3 based team and so for now the content may be PS3 concentric, but I assure you that we are working on this and in the future we hope to bring you all the latest and greatest in gaming news, information and support across all the platforms and consoles. This digizine is designed to be exactly what the people want and as such we want you to tell us exactly what that is. Let us know your idea's, suggestions or tips at info@thegamersa.co.za
Editor and Designer: Abe Viljoen
Writer:
Dieter Fouche
We also try a few new things with this being the first issue, from cartoons to pimping and hardware modification. Interestingly I wrote all of the above on the first day this project really got rolling. That was several weeks ago, now I type this with only hours to go until launch. Many, many hours have been spent on the mag, so I hope you enjoy it. It has been A LOT of work, but now as I pull the final threads together, I am happy with where it stands. It is by no means perfect, but for issue one I think its pretty great! So sit backand enjoy whether at home, in the office or on the throne with your iPad and bask in the glory that is The Gamer!
Writer:
Ricardo Ludeke
Contributing Writer: Charles du Plessis
- Abe Viljoen
Other Contributors: Karl Liversidge & Clinton Beal
It’s Saturday. The sun is baking outside and the
wind calm, yet you’re inside...for that is where the real action is. It’s gaming Saturday! The curtains are drawn, sound set to deafening frequencies and your digital addiction is about to get a marathon replenishing. You’ve even invited some of your buddies over, cracked open a beer (or non-alcoholic beverage for the adolescents) and you’re slowly starting to get into your gaming groove, when one of said buddies asks if he could give it a try. Being the gracious host that you are, you pass a spare controller with an eagerly optimistic grin on your face, ready to establish yourself as the alpha gamer. The moments that follow this decision are usually filled with anger, frustration and frenzied screaming off the word REMATCH, usually heightened in pitch as the newcomer’s winning spree continues. Yes ladies and gentleman, this is the way of the amateur gamer; a tactic which has seen many a friendship dissolved: the button masher. Be it Tekken, Fight Night or even Ninja Gaiden, the button mashing tactic has been around since the dawn of the gaming age. Usually very prominent with the female gaming community, especially when your significant other decides to sample this thing that brings you so much joy, the button masher tactic has brought many a hardened gamer to their knees, and for good reason. As Sun Tzu said: “The best defence is a good offence”. The button masher is so relentless at his plastic pounding power, that the onslaught of attacks that are
bombarded at your side of the screen are basically impossible to counter by even the most skilled of gamers. And no matter how many times the amateur gamer plays the game, he will continue using the button mashing tactic, usually following his win up with the excuse: “Wow, I can’t believe I’m doing so well”. Don’t be fooled by this. This is the kind gesture they extend your way to make you feel better about being beaten like a red-headed stepchild. This is the time when you either strap on your big boy pants or fake an injury and go sulk in the corner. Although there may be many tactics to counter such an attack, the only feasible one I have come across that seems to be effective, is the age old barfighting tactic: fight dirty. Once you find your opponents weakness, expose it and hammer at that soft spot like a blacksmith possessed by Hephaestus himself. This might allow you to save face and hold your own, but it’s a mass gamble, so don’t blame me if you end up right back where you started...in the losers corner. My only true advice when going up against a button masher is to accept your defeat with as much pride as possible. Either that, or take the role of bad friend and simply don’t allow them to play. Remember, your reputation is at stake here. And when it comes to digitally beating a friend to a pulp, all bets are off. *Pro Tip: Never attempt to play one of these games with your lady friend, you will get humiliated and then have to listen to how she beat you Article by Dieter Fouche
Ah...campers! It’s a thing most hardcore FPS gamers
despise. You’ll usually find them precariously perched on a hidden ledge somewhere, sniper rifle in hand, idly waiting the chance to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. Even worse, they usually make their location known a split second before they neatly place a .50 calibre bullet through the front of your cranium. So should camping be considered gaming taboo or is it in fact the coupde-grace of real FPS snipers? As long as there have been First Person Shooters, there have been campers. That’s just the way it is. They usually make their presence known by loudly screaming OWNED over their headsets, infuriating you even more, as you eagerly try to claw your way out from the bottom of the score board. Although camping is a very “amateur” way of playing FPS’s, as you don’t embrace the true essence of the game, which is blue-blooded action, you will usually find campers at the top of the score board for some reason. It does however take some serious practice to perfect the skill of camping. It is definitely not something reserved for the meek. Apart from constantly having to scan the horizon for tiny pixels in the distance, you always have to be on your guard, watching for someone trying to sneak up behind you for that fatal knife attack.
Spots that usually look out on frequented positions (like mounted guns or flag spots in CTF games) are a good place to start. This will also take a lot of fine tuning until you are able to create a little black book of camping spots for future reference, so don’t give up if your first attempt ended in you continuously getting hit with thumper shells. This skill takes an immense amount of time, but you’ll get there.
Most games now allow the player to customise their gear to best suit their situations. Distinguishing yourself as a deadly stationary force will depend greatly upon the gear you have selected and how you utilise that gear. Picking the Marathon skill in Modern Warfare 2 is truly a bad choice if you’re going to be sitting still in one spot all the time...play around with it...you’ll get there eventually.
Deadly Accuracy
Crazy Confidence
Heightened Senses
Any good camper has eagle-like vision when it comes to spotting an enemy, but good vision is nothing without proper execution, and when it comes to camping, your execution needs to be perfect. Miss that shot and you’ll regret it dearly, as not only did you forgo the chance to silence your opponent, but you have now alerted everyone on the map of your devious little location. The problem with being accurate is that the only way to get your accuracy up is to...practice, practice, PRACTICE! You have to be so tuned in to your gaming eyes, that there are literally ‘mental crosshairs’ in front of you at all times.
A real camper needs to be extremely confident in his skills. Not pulling that trigger when you had the chance might cost you dearly later. If you take a look at how some of the best gamers in the world do it, they hardly ever hesitate. You have to be harder than a lumberjack’s bicep and more mentally tough than a rubix cube designer. Snipers that wait for that perfect shot hardly ever succeed. Plus, it’s just so much more fun if you pull that trigger and countersnipe someone who was all the way on the other side of the map...all the while doing so whilst running. Now that’s how you PWN someone.
The Perfect Position
Epic Gear
And lastly, the most important skill to being a great outdoorsman: focus. You literally need to be looking around NON-STOP, always be listening for footsteps and gunfire...basically always alert. This will decide whether or not you constantly get knifed by your opposition or end up with a 25 kill spree. I cannot stress this enough: when you think you’ve got the perfect spot, look around. There have been too many a time when I have gotten just too comfortable in a position, only to be taken out by an opposing sniper. Move around, scout them before they scout you...just stay on top of them at all times. Make that position like a bunker...and you’re NOT LEAVING TODAY!
Camping is loosely based upon a ‘slogan’ that so many estate agents enjoy loudly exclaiming: IT’S ALL ABOUT...LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! Finding the perfect hiding spot is about 95% of what makes camping a viable strategy.
“Without my rifle, I am nothing. Without me, my rifle is nothing” – Jamie Foxx (Jarhead)
However, if done right, a good camper is more difficult to vacate from their camping spot than a tick on Big Foot’s rump. Becoming a camper has a few set rules that one has to follow, none of which are relatively easy, the 1st being:
There is a lot of truth in this statement. Without your gun, you are a sitting duck. But not understanding your gear, makes you a retarded duck.
Okay ladies and gentleman that is our breakdown of camping. If this is a tactic that some of you might fancy giving a go, I hope this short guide helped you out. So go give it a whirl and remember that if all this advise happens to fail, just sit in a corner with your LMG and pray and spay at anything that moves. Article by Dieter Fouche
For years Tony Hawk’s was the be all and end all
of skateboarding games. It was what we knew and what we loved. The system seemed perfect and much fun was had. So right now I guess you are wondering why we are talking about skate boarding when this preview is clearly about EA Sport's MMA.
As you move from league to league you need to be aware of the changing rules, as EA Sports:MMA see's some innovation in different referee's in different leagues bringing different rules.
The first interesting option is that of a "Fight Night", you get to create an entire fight card and then invite 9 of your friends to take part to see who is the ultimate fighter (Pun not intended).
You will need to know when to dish out brutal in clinch elbows or when you can get away with a vicious soccer kick to the face.
Each fight is also spectated by the other eight fighters on the card with the option to heckle, shout and provide commentary provided to each spectator through their
When it comes to fighting games I always believe that one of the most important elements is that it must all feel natural. The animations need to be smooth and when you hit X to tell your character to punch, I want to see it instantly. Nothing worse than feeling you could have juked your opposition only to get knocked out due to sluggish or glitchy controls.
voice mic. I can see this being a good laugh, pick your side and taunt the others.
Next up is the Career Mode option. Here you get a chance to create your own fighter, first up is the "Fighter Game Face" a system which allows you to see your face on your fighter, not really a new feature in gaming, but a nice one to have. From here you get to further edit your fighter by adding more customisation such as tattoo's and even the sponsor labels on your shorts.
Well in 2007 EA mixed up everything we knew about skate games with the brilliant "Skate", it took everything we knew about the genre and blew it out the water. What we got was something fresh, something exciting and something that felt intuitive. Now we are faced with a similar situation, The UFC franchise is already two titles old and has fast established itself as the mixed martial arts game. Now up steps the new contender, will EA be able to achieve the same feat they did with Skate and pull the market into its corner? We take a look at the up coming game and discover some just how EA plan on doing this. The first thing I noticed when looking at this title is that the menue system looks great, its easy to navigate and seems to have a wealth of options available to the gamer. One of the first options available to you other than the Quick Fight/Fight Now option is "MMA101" an option for those looking to learn about the rules of MMA while also getting to grips with the games controls.
You can set up your walk out as well as your victory poses, before you move on to training with former UFC Champion Bas Rutten as he takes you through the three elements of MMA; Stand-Up, The Clinch and Ground allowing you to train in the different disciplines, having to hit the heavy bag for example if you wish to improve your striking and stand up game. As you progress you will be able to start your professional career in one of two leagues and train in various gyms around the world, including "Extreme Couture" with legendary fighter Randy Couture or the "International Jujitsu Center" with Rickson Gracie. As you progress further leagues will become available the world over, from Great Britain, to Thailand and Brazil.
The good news is that EA Sports: MMA seems to deliver perfectly, the animations are very fluid and it is clear that a great deal of time has been spent on the different elements of MMA. The submission control system is looking great, as they take a new approach, replacing button bashing with more balance and timed controls. A new system called "The Sweet Spot" see's players using the left analogue stick to compete to see who can stay in the zone longest and hence either pull off or counter the submission attempt. From the looks of things EA Sports:MMA is focusing largely on the online aspect of the game and its here that the innovation really starts to shine. As in most online games, you progress through the ranks with XP, in this case starting at a white belt and working your way towards a Strikeforce Championship Belt.
The main element however in EA Sports: MMA online gameplay is the Strikeforce Championship where your ranking will grow until you have a shot at a few different title belts, if you are successful you will then become the defending champion and have to defend against other real world hopefuls. EA sports have integrated the entire online system at easports.com/mma and your last few fights will automatically recorded onto their servers, allowing you to share your fights with your friends, or perhaps learn new tactics and strategies by watching some of the top ranked fighters. The trump card however is something called "Live Broadcast". You register on the site, set up your profile and upload your fighter. Then the fun starts, you can upload some smack talk and rile up your opposition as you wait on the picks. EA will pick several random fighters, who will then fight live for everyone else to see both on consoles and over the web.
The fights will remain digital, but real Sportcastors will provide both commentary, as well as information on your fighting style and tactics. EA are further upping the ante but providing real prizes for the winners and equally awesome claims of fame, finally I can lead the life of a fighter without actually getting my brains pushed out my ear. The whole system is certainly looking interesting, but I cant help wonder if everyone will be interested in watching other random players fight...I guess it will come down to how much fame will actually be involved. We watch real MMA for the spectacle of two men beating each other to a pulp, so here is hoping they can find the right hook to get people interested in a digital fight.
The game in general is looking to have some good new idea's as well as solid attempts on existing systems. Whether or not it will be able to topple the mass marketed brand that is UFC is another issue, especially considering the fighter rosters. While EA Sports:MMA has a number of well known fighters including Bobby Lashley of WWE fame, Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Randy Couture, I cant help but feel they are lacking the weight of the big names. The big names of the UFC may even have enough power to topple any innovation that EA Sports:MMA may bring, we shall have to wait and see. Article by Abe Viljoen
So what I want to take a look at is a summary of all the aspects I fondly remember, namely: ·
Getting your license
·
Those 500 lap modes
·
The Suzuka Circuit
·
Rally driving
·
Customising your car
These were the 5 things in Gran Turismo that kept me busy for hours on end and no matter how time consuming each one of these aspects became, if I failed, I’d merely pick up my controller and try again.
I very distinctly remember the day I received my first
taste of Gran Turismo on my trusty old PS1, but probably so do most of you. For me, I was about 14 at the time. I even remember the age well, because that was round about the time when I grew a fondness for stealing my dads bakkie and taking my friends joyriding while he was at work. It was summer as well, because I still remember going to the beach with all my friends loaded onto the back of the trusty Isuzu and attempting donuts in the parking lot at Sardinia Bay. It was there that my one close buddy told me about this amazing game his dad had brought back from America (lucky for me, my naive pirate ways of youth allowed me to indulge in games from all regions). After listening to this pale skinned boy pour digital pornography into my ear like a geeky Shakespeare, my fate was decided. I was hooked. I proceeded to drive 20kms to fetch the game from his house, without a license, risking some serious criminal charges,
So let’s start with: GETTING YOUR LICENSE: So you all obviously remember how the previous Gran Turismo career mode started. Yup, that’s right, it’s back: The License Tests. Basically, what the License Tests are is a way for players to gain some familiarity with the gameplay dynamics of Gran Turismo before fully emerging themselves into the game. Things such as hard cornering, precise braking and obstacle avoidance was packaged into a time trial style of gameplay, that had gamers continuously pushing themselves to go at each challenge with sheer dedication and perfection.
but when I think back now...it was worth every second...and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Lucky for me, I’m all grown up now, legally allowed to traverse our national roads and can afford my own transportation as well as the funding for my digital addiction. So if you were wondering whether or not this would be another opinion piece from some guy who has never played the series and merely writes as a writer without any passion for racing games, then the answer is a resounding NO! I have lived and breathed Gran Turismo since it first made its appearance on good ol’ grey. With the launch of Gran Turismo 5 now finally starting to break the horizon, it is set to be one immaculate sunrise for the team at Polyphony Digital. Having shipped 55 million copies with the launch of Gran Turismo 4 (still one of the highest selling games), I honestly believe that GT5 will hit that mark if it doesn’t leapfrog it completely.
This time around it’s all been put into the capable hands of Mercedes AMG to present The MercedesBenz AMG Driving School and (thanks to Trophy Support) the system has been elevated to an entirely new level. Players will now be pushing themselves even further not only to get a Class S license and numerous other distinctions, but to win those precious gold trophies. With celebrity drivers lending their personas to the digital tutors, the game delves into another entirely new experience. Here are some truly brilliant drivers you will get coached by, as well as a chance to don their helmets as the legends themselves:
Rally Driving – Sebastian Loeb Nascar Driving – Jeff Gordon (also Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and Joey Logano, among others) Karting Experience – No celebrities, but fun nonetheless! Top Gear Test Track Challenge – The Stig With the different gameplay modes getting a much anticipated revamp, all I can say is: Bring it on and let’s get ready to burn some rubber!
GT5 will in fact allow the gamer to speed around almost 90 different tracks and with the introduction of Dynamic Weather; the difficulty ante has been upped even more, so don’t stress. The Gran Turismo series has and always will be about variety and GT5 is set to have more variety than the crowd at a Bob Dylan concert. The great thing about having a Dynamic Weather system (something I’m seriously excited about finally having in GT) is that no race is ever the same.
The elements are different, tactics flipped on their back and a player’s level of focus is boosted to insane levels. And with different weather in each race, it means that the car reacts differently each time round, so if you think you’re comfortable around the corners of Suzuka and know exactly what speed is right to hit that corner hard or nail that straight, think again. The Dynamic Weather system proves Polyphony Digital are pushing the boundaries of gaming realism and trying to get this thing as close to reality as possible. I say: Go you crazy Asians! GO!
THE 500 LAP MODE: This was one of the races which I seriously LOVED! Just chilling in front of the TV, beers next to you, racing for like almost 4 hours at a time, was always an intense experience for me. The slightest mistake and a player could be thrown from 1st place all the way to the bottom of the log. It demanded extreme focus and perseverance. In GT5 the Le Mans races are back and the fabled Circuit de la Sarthe has made its return, once again pitting racers in a 24hour challenge. The 13.88km course featured, among its 21 corners, the newly added L'Arche Chicane and Le Florandiere Chicane on the Mulsanne Straight. These chicanes were designed to slow the cars from the 400km/h+ speeds that were achieved on the old straight section. I’m honestly ecstatic about getting my hands on this track, as the corners varied a lot, yet still allowed the player to punch into them at incredible speeds, then once done rounding the corner, burst into that straight and push his vehicle for some real speed. As always, expect all the old favourites back as well, with the following making their return: Circuit de la Sarthe 24Hr Pan-Euro Championship Tous Fraance Championnat Gran Turismo All Stars Polyphony Digital Cup
Formula Gran Turismo World Championship World Circuit Tours Saleen S7 Club Gran Tursimo World Championship
THE SUZUKA CIRCUIT: Ah, the dreaded Suzuka Circuit. This track gained it’s infamy in Gran Turismo 4, where it made its first appearance, and then again in GT5: Prologue. It had those prolific jagged corners and that long corner right after the home stretch straight, which usually had players either forgetting about it and flying off the corner or overcompensating and slowing down too much only to let your opponents speed past you. This track demanded perfect driving, as the straight sections were not as long as one would wish for, leaving you with little space to catch up to your opponents. Which made it even worse, was the fact that a few of your license tests had to be done on Suzuka, making this a double edged sword of fun & frustration. Don’t worry though, Suzuka isn’t the only track in the game and once you get the hang of it and imprint the track layout so deep into your mind that a supersized clawhammer couldn’t get it out, you’ll be okay.
RALLY DRIVING: Give me dirt, give me mud, give me rally! The Gran Turismo Rally Driving challenges were one of the key features in the GT series. To this day, the Rally driving experience in Gran Turismo has been flawlessly executed. Featuring some of the top rally cars in the world, players were able to hit the ground like a bat out of hell, their co-pilot navigating the way non-stop. This time around, the developers have decided to change the style of the game, by adding dynamic tracks and in doing so, elevating the series to the winner’s podium for sure. So each time you play a track, it will be randomly generated, so no track is ever the same.
Mix that in with Dynamic Weather and you have some serious driving on your hands. The guys at Polyphony Digital have also brought in Sebestian Loeb, multiple WRC Cup winner, to act as the guide for the rally mode. With his words of wisdom showing you the ropes, this is panning out to be one of the most intuitive features of GT5! Take that and put Premium Damage, Head Tracking, 3D Effects on top of it and you have a buffet of brilliance that not even the most hardcore of fans could digest. This mode is truly turning out to be one which will test even the most skilled of players as well as enthralling all the new comers to the series.
Now this is where most of my time in the GT franchise was spent (and most of my in game money too). Customising your car is differentiated between two basic elements: Novice and Expert. A novice could simply do the normal things necessary. So a novice would look at the stat increase that a specific part or upgrade would give him, weigh it up with the costs associated and make a decision based on necessity. So if that Lamborghini Reventon isn’t giving you the power you’d like, put on a turbocharger, replace the body with a carbon-fibre shell, put super slick tyres on, that kind of thing.
We could go on about all the brilliant newly added features in GT5, but to wrap it all up, here is a summary of some of the Top 10 Key Features that I didn’t mention (or merely didn’t elaborate on enough): Key Features: Dynamic Weather Fully dynamic, randomly generated weather affects that change the way your car reacts to each surface. “Premium” Damage Gran Turismo 5 allows car models to be damaged both significantly and accurately, so expect to see your car crumple into pieces with no restart in sight if you decide to drive it into a wall at 300km/h! Go-Karting A great little addition to the Gran Turismo 5 formula. Players can jump into a go-kart to take a break from
The expert on the other hand, would do the same thing, however, he’d spend HOURS fine tuning each little aspect of the car. The drag coefficient, the torque to kilowatt ratio, how the onboard computer reacts to the brakes, literally fine tuning his machine until it suited his liking perfectly. And it’s back and even better, so all you tuning wannabe’s or petrol heads out there, get ready, because the car customisation will be back in full swing, now also allowing the player to add sponsor decals onto his car which will bring in extra money, fine tune the interior of his car and even decide what side of the car he’d like the driver to be in.
all the serious racing modes, adding another racing discipline to an already swelling roster. Top Gear License With the Top Gear track and Stig challenges already featuring in the launch game, expect to see some interesting DLC from one of the most globally recognised car culture brands in the world. Head Tracking Through head tracking via PlayStation Eye, Gran Turismo 5 lets players look around their car’s interior while racing, as well as peering at their side mirrors. Celebrity Endorsments Rally legend Sebastian Loeb will appear to oversee Gran Turismo 5’s rally discipline, complete with personal challenge events. The Stig, Jeff Gordon and Sebastian Vettel have also been confirmed. It’s a first for the series, and further bolsters the game with sweet authenticity.
3D Effects 3D capabilities are a first for the series and, as the game’s visuals already look painfully detailed, we can only imagine that Gran Turismo 5 will look stunning with 3D mode enabled. PSP Connectivity The ability to transfer cars between your PSP and PS3 garages seems to be a likely option here, as well as using your PSP as a controller, with your screen being the rear-view mirror. Course Creator Another first for the series, Gran Turismo 5’s course editor is a smart move from Polyphony, allowing players to create detailed tracks and share them with the world.
Random Generation While it’s only been confirmed for rally stages, the word on the apex is that Gran Turismo 5 will feature randomly generated course segments between checkpoints that will keep players on their toes when competing for the top spot. I hope our readers have enjoyed this breakdown of merely some of the facets of the upcoming Gran Turismo franchise, a game which has been in the works for years, but is gearing up to have been well worth the wait. Article by Dieter Fouche
1=B. 2=A, 3=A, 4=A, 5=A, 6=A
CUSTOMISING YOUR CAR:
So for the first time in Call of Duty, you’re the most important person on the battlefield. You’ll play primarily as two players, "Mason" and "Hudson". No longer are you just a normal soldier, you are now the most bad ass guy out there – you can give commands and you’re the one everyone is going to listen to. This introduces another first for Call of Duty, you’re going to have a voice, instead of being the lowly private having to follow commands you will get a chance to dish them out for a change. The developers have sought to bring you a truely immersive experience -
There is no doubt that Call of Duty has a strong
hold over the majority of the South African PS3 onlline community. But now one year in, the latest , Modern Warefare 2 is starting to wear rather thin. I guess then its a good thing that the new Call of Duty game is a little over a month away and I must say that Black Ops is looking pretty damn good. So lets take a preview at a few features from the multiplayer aspect as well as the single player campaign. In my opinion the single player campaign is like the slightly less attractive and timid of two twin sisters when it comes online FPS's. Yes, you know you can take her out and have a great time, yet in the back of your mind you know that you could be having more fun with the hotter, sluttier sister(multiplayer). This being said I know some guys buy these games purely for the SP campaign, well luckily for you, Treyarch seems to have told the demure sister to pull out the ol push up bra...
and have spent much time researching the era and gathering information from political science experts to ex black op commando's.On top of all of that Treyarch are claiming to have dramatically improved the game engine since World at War was released, which is sure to help create a new level of immersion. As of yet their is no word on how long we can expect the campaign to be, however judging from the massive list of trophies which was leaked online we can expect quite a long journey. Here's hoping we see some real cliffhanger moments!
While it has been revealed that a large portion of the game will take place in Vietnam during the Cold War period, several other locations have also been confirmed, such as,Cuba, the Arctic, Laos and Russia. The concept for Black Ops, in centered around the secret missions of the Cold War. During that time there were these black operations, these deniable conflicts, where unconventional warfare took place. Underneath the surface of this cold war, there was a "hot war" and it was taking place between the superpowers. This is not Russia of today, but rather the old USSR. Under the fear of mutual annihaltion, these conflicts could never be public. Instead they put together "black" operations to carry out conflicts. The scope of the game however is not limited solely to the Cold War period and as such you will watch your character age as the game progresses and Treyarch say that character development is key - you will experience the characters over an 'expansive' amount of time, allowing you to observe the changes they undergo. It is also stated you are not simply another Private - you command the battlefield.
Now for the real reason to get Black-Ops, the multiplayer. I am literally itching to get my hands on this game. When I saw the initial trailors I cant say I paid much attention, but as time went by the new reveals and features got too good to simply be ignored.Take a look as we reveal everything there is to know... Before we even get to the true online aspects, it is great to see that there will be split-screen action, as South African's we are sometimes denied the ability to play online it is nice to have the offline features as well. Moving on from that, the title will also feature a four player co-op stand alone mode which will be sure to increase the play time on the title.
From the looks of things the basic structure of the online gameplay will remain much the same as MW2, as will much of the basic ground work, such as Host Migration and the customized killstreaks. Killstreaks are slightly different now however (for the better) as kills earned from killstreak rewards will no longer count towards increasing a player's killstreak, but more on the killstreaks a little later. Treyarch are bringing many new idea's to the table, the most noticable new feature being cP or Call of Duty Points. You earn these points, as well as XP as you play and rank up in Black Ops. In BO, you'll be able to purchase guns, attachments, camos, etc after you've reached the required level using these cP.
Another new element is a Combat Traning Mode which allows you to play against "bots" to practice or hone your skills, dont worry about guys using this to boost however as it will feature a seperate ranking system to that of the regular MP. Treyarch seem to be quite focussed on cutting down boosters and have stated that they will be keeping an eye out for dishonurable play. A few other new developements, include that ability to "Dolphin Dive", the ability to use different face paints on your character and that Perk Slot 1 will now effect the look of your character. All of these new features however pail in comparrsion to the new abilities of Theater Mode, where you will be able to record gameplay, edit it, add transitions and then upload it to share with your friends.
All the regular gametypes return in BO such as Team Death Match and Domination as well as the creation of a whole new mode known as "Wager Match" this sounds very exciting and contains 4 FFA playlists in which you can bet your cP against other players with the top 3 scorers being "In the Money" and the rest gaining 0 points. The playlists are as follows: One in the Chamber: Everyone spawns with a pistol with 1 bullet and 3 lives. If you get a kill, you take your enemies bullet and can keep shooting. If you miss, you then have to use a knife. Sticks and Stones: Everyone spawns with a Crossbow, Ballistic Knife and Tomahawk. The catch in this gametype is if you are hit by a Tomahawk, you are bankrupted.
Gun Game: Everyone starts with a pistol and with every kill, your weapon will progress to the next level. The first player who progresses through all the weapons wins the Gun Game. Look out though, if you are knifed, you are knocked down a level. Shapshooter - Everyone will spawn with the same randomly selected weapon. You used that gun for a fixed amount of time and only that time and then everyone will get switched out to the next weapon. With each kill, you will earn a perk and eventually a scoring multiplier. These new Wager Matches sound truely epic, I just hope that the inclusion of gambling with an online currancy doesnt result in some truely epic camping. A major draw in BO is the ability to customise your character. We have been asking for this for ages, so a big thank-you to Treyarch for actually listening. The title is boasting the "Create-a-Class 5.0", although we dont know exactly what it is yet, we do know that the level of customisation in this game is pretty immense.
When creating a new class, you will have to purchase all items using your cP, this includes your weapons as well as their attachments and camo patterns of which there is now 16 different variation. Once you have selected your weapons layout, you can select your equipment. This has now been increased to three items, broken down into the catagories; lethal (such as the Tomahawk), Tactical (such as Nova Gas) and Regular (such as a motion sensor).You are then able to take the customisation to the next level, by changing the whole look of your character, from 21 different face paint options to 41 different reticle shapes for your sights, including a crossbones, a ying/yang shape or a pink skull. You can also tag your weapon with a preset image or a completely custom design, created using one of the over three hundred pre defined shapes, meaning that your combinations are almost limitless. Once you have your very own layout and look you can create a gamer card/title to match, with a photoshop like tool where once again your options are near limitless. In terms of weaponry, its pretty much standard fare, with a few old favourites such as the AK-47 and M16 being available with a few new additions in the Galil and Spectre SMG. One area however that I am very interested in, is the equipment field. There are a few new items that I can see being a LOT of fun, but also as having the potential to become very annoying. Some interesting items to keep an eye out for, include the Camera Spike (allowing you to view an area of the map remotely), the Ballistic Knife, which is basically a rocket propelled blade, take out commando pro and put in flying knives instead... My favourite item however must be the Decoy Grenade,
which will simulate gunfire and radar indicators, I can see myself suckering a few people using that thing. Although it hasnt actually been anounced yet, it has been comfirmed from the trophies list that Zombies will be making a return, as a huge Zombie fan I am really excited about this. Rumour also has it that the Hardened Edition will feature a few of the old Zombies maps, so if you are a fan, then be sure to keep an ear out for any updates. All in all, I think this game is looking really good. Treyarch seems to have changed just enough to inject new interest, while keeping enough of the game familiar to ensure the die hards already have their pre-orders. Article by Abe Viljoen
War. It is usually considered a pointless, yet necessary evil. Hippies protest it, patriotic rednecks support it, however, this struggle for power is a force which is ultimately unavoidable. Like the plot to a Stephen Seagull movie, our existence is forever on a bullet train set to destruction. Since the first caveman picked up a shiny rock that his Neanderthal brethren might have fancied for himself, aggression and jealousy is something that courses inside all of us. We want that which others possess…it’s that simple.
It was only until mankind came to realise that taking things by force was in fact a rather profitable evil that things underwent a metamorphosis. The paradigms of war shifted into a new reality, namely: war branding. War is now glamorised to look like something shiny & exciting. Watching the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan or playing through the AC-130 level in Modern Warfare instils a feeling of conquering and pride, simply because you feel that you are either sharing in the actor’s accomplishment or that you are undertaking your role as a soldier to save the world. That is what almost all of these movies and games have in common: the feeling of being the saviour to humanity. Man’s final hope. The messiah to the oblivion. Now the question you in fact need to ask yourself is
We gamers have faster synaptic responses than most average people because of our immense amount of daily concentration. We have a massive database in our head of different war strategies, different weaponry, close-combat fighting techniques, espionage tactics and high-speed driving manoeuvres. This might sound crazy, but think about it some more, and you’ll realise that what I’ve mentioned here is barely scraping the surface of the things most of us know about war. We are the living, breathing soldiers of the future…expertly trained for any situation.
Martin Gladwell has a theory that if a person spends 10 000 hours doing something, they are considered an expert at that specific task. If you break it down, it’s more or less 3 ½ years. So a person playing guitar for 3 ½ years straight, would have a good enough working notion of the guitar to be able to play it correctly. Take this notion over to the gaming world and we should in fact be virtuosos at our trade. Books such as Ender’s Game merely reiterate this notion even more, with soldiers being chosen because of their mental capacity i.e. their ability to think like a soldier…to do that which others can’t.
If we take a look at how warfare and the tools used to orchestrate this masterpiece have evolved over the years, we will realise the main protagonist that has now started to step up as the ruler of this game is in fact: technology. No longer is it about who has the bigger stick, but rather about whose stick can be utilised without the need of human interference. Jet Pilots have been replaced with UMV (unmanned vehicles) and bombing squadrons are now done via GPS-assisted remote artillery units.
So if the realm of war is shifting over into the world of ‘future soldiers’ who would be a better choice for this role than people with a working knowledge of war. The government would need to spend minimal expenses on training us, would need almost no subliminal messaging campaigns to inspire us; they wouldn’t even need to convince us. They could merely drop off a SCAR-H rifle with an ACOG scope at your house, teach you how to use the heartbeat sensor, and drop you into a war zone.
one that not many of us actually think about, as most ‘government owned intellectuals’ will try and tell you that you’re talking conspiracy hogwash, but go ahead and ask yourself: why would they want us to think of war as a good thing and why would they want us to ‘support’ it. If you actually take a moment to think about it, run the statistics through your head, you might actually realise how enveloped you already are in the war regime.
In a mere matter of minutes most of us would be delegating our fellow soldier to get to a position, give supressing fire, being the soldier that they want us to be. Most people here choose not to believe it, but the scary fact of the matter is that it’s true. You are already one of the world’s most skilled natural resources. RTS players know strategy and taking on the role as a commander better than anyone else. Simulation gamers (those who extensively play HAWX, GT5, etc) have clocked more simulation hours than most fighter pilots & racecar drivers. FPS players…we know one thing and one thing only…the art of war.
With a rifle in our hands we are in our element. We have seen more battlefield and fought more enemies than a soldier has lived for a 1000 years.So is it so crazy to think that in 10 – 20 years’ time, you’ll all be playing a game…not for fun, but as a job…and your job is to fight for man’s existence? I think the future is going to be at our doorstep a lot quicker than most of us can even fathom. Are you ready for war? *Please note the images used in this article are fromt he upcoming Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Article by Dieter Fouche
1) P90 2) SCAR-L 3) G36c 4)TAR-21 5) M249 SAW 6) Micro Uzi 7) Colt M4
While the 3D was certainly something new and interesting, I can help but feel that it was a little lack lustre and I hope to see more from it in the final release. Microsoft went all out with the XBOX 360 stand being one of the biggest and best looking at rAge. From the look of things, Microsoft were definately touting the new Slim360 and Kinect as their two big products. With the later being quite enjoyable once you get used to the slight lag found on the device. While the Kinect proved to be fun, I am not quite convinced just yet.
rAge 2010 was my first encounter with what promised to be a life changing experience. I was greeted bat the door with a bag full of freebies, things could only get better and they did. Walking into the dome I was overwhelmed by all things gaming and made my way over to the place I know best, the Sony stand.
Sony had a good looking, but small stand with various Move games on display, like Start the Party and Sports Champions for us visitors to try out. Being my first time experiencing the move, I have to say it is as impressive as the advertising would have us believe.
It’s super accurate and the games are entertaining for new comers and experienced gamers alike. My experiences with the move now see's me with a new goal, that of getting myself "Move-ing" as soon as possible.
There were quite a few titles which their own stands, such as, PES2011 and WRC. One of the bigger individual stand was for Gran Turismo 5 with a few consoles showing off Prologue and also a single station that boasted GT5 in its finest 3D form.
Games seem to be a little dull and it has a similar feel to the Wii, just without any buttons. It's no surprise that Microsofts biggest software title "Halo Reach" was also the best represented game at rAge with over 20 stations scattered all over the place for visitors to enjoy some Reach action. I have to say the game play was impressive and I enjoyed the few minutes I spent playing, it was also during this time that I noticed just how beautiful the new slim console actually is.
Finished in a sleek black design and reduced in size, I can see many owners buying themselves a slim just for its hot looks, built in Wifi and hard drive. Another group which really brought their A-game to rAge, was Megarom. Featuring the best selection of games out of all the stands, with DJ Hero 2 getting the crowds pumping and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock getting them headbanging. While Enslaved and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood brought a little more sophistication and graphical beauty. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, had one of the longest queue's, with people waiting to play. The visuals look stunning and this is certainly one for the stealth fans to look out for. Enslaved looks like a promising new game, with an interesting story. The title is set in a post-apocalypse time when machines have taken over the world enslaving mankind. Your job is to escape their clutches while hacking and slashing your way through the machines in a very flowing game play style. Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock looked to be much of the same from the franchise, but the new design guitar was something worth mentioning, crafted by Warriors of Rock themselves, the axe design is looking hardcore. Tony Hawk SHRED was another title which looked interesting with a skateboard peripheral allowing you to RIDE as you play. Personally I feel the peripherals are getting a little out of hand, as soon I expect my house will look like a cheap chinese
toy factory, but this title actually looks pretty fun. Numetro also brought a few games to rAge this year with F1 2010 being their biggest feature, allowing visitors to experience the feeling of a F1 car in a playseat and I must say it was not easy. Dead Rising 2 looked good too, but the disappointingly Fallout New Vegas was not present. EA games had a selection of great upcoming games on display. FIFA11, attracted a big crowd, with fans and new comers all amazed with the newest sequels looks and game play. Medal of Honor looked great, featuring the same game play feel as Battlefield Bad Company, but with a warmer look. Need For Speed Hot Pursuit is looking stunning, I loved the original from a few years back and this time around more than just the cars are improved. EA Sports: MMA looked like a fun new fighting games and EA even had live cage fights over the weekend promoting this upcoming title, look out for the preview on that game in this months issue. The NAG PC LAN was as big as ever taking up nearly half the floor space of the Dome, with gamers from all over playing nonstop and getting in more than a large amount of file sharing. While some complain that rAge is getting worse each year, as a first timer, rAge 2010 was an experience I won't forget. hell I have already started counting down the days till next years event. Article by Ricardo Ludeke
Got Beef? Want Revenge? Need to silence "that" guy once and for all? Then we have great news for you! Whether you simply want to challenge a friend or silence the "Best" then The Gamer Challenge is what you have been waiting for.
Where all the glory, misery and bad-assery will be made even more epic, with player profiles, smack talk and all the results. Challenge your rival to a one-on-one in MW2, Fifa, Street Fighter 4 or any other game you desire.
Every Month, you and your friends will get a chance to submit your match-ups, then The Gamer will select three random match ups.
Humiliate your opposition, or just challenge your friend to a friendly game.
If he accepts your challenge and we pick you in one of the three match ups, that’s when things get interesting. With pre and post game interviews and a breakdown of the results, you will put it all on the line! Will you be victorious or will you be crying bitter tears of defeat all over your dualshock controller?
Setting up The Challenge is easy, simply email your match-up to Challenges@thegamersa.co.za Include your PSN name and the PSN name of your rival (and any forum names) as well as your reason for challenging them and the game title in which you wish to compete.
which you must complete your match and depending on the game title possibly a set of rules which you will have to follow.
We will go through all the challenge submissions and select three match-ups. If you are selected then we will contact you with further questions, a time frame within
No matter your title, or platform, all gamers are welcome to participate in The Gamer Challenge. The more challengers the better.
Will you take up the challenge? Will you rise to the occasion? Will you make him cry for his stuffed teddy?
Every month the team here at The Gamer will aim to bring you a new Top10. It could be anything from the Top 10 scariest games of all time to the Top 10 funniest gaming sidekicks. This week however we bring you the Top 10 worst cosplays, browsing around
the net for these pics definately taught me two things. That there are some very weird people out there and that at some point we definately have to do a Top 10 Hottest Cosplays.
This then gives you the opportunity to procure the weapon for yourself and st art to unleash waves of lead on the brain hungry monsters. Although these zombies are pretty stupid as far as zombies go, don’t underestimate them. If you get caught in a crowd, their sheer numbers will come into play and there will be only one thing on the menu: the grey matter lodged between your ears.
When I first gazed upon the trailer for Dead Rising
2, it truly left little to the imagination. Zombies. They go Aaaargh! They want to eat your brains. Been there, done that. Boy was I wrong! This was a zombie game unlike any other, and with my trusty chainsaw in hand, I was ready to massacre the undead like nobody’ s business.
From the start of the game I was hooked. The attention to detail was simply immaculate. The sheer variety of zombies, the way they moved and what they are keeping themselves busy with amazed me over and over . It was evident that the creators had spared no expense when it came to realism. The zombies seem to hit the mark on every gory cliche, in a way that every fan of the genre will appreciate.
The variety of zombies is so immense, that it doesn’t feel like you are merely walking into a pre-rendered crowd of the undead. Each reanimated corpse is exactly where he should be. Each of them has their own unique style of walking, groaning, even gambling. Yes, I said it, gambling.
Another amazing spectacle of the game is the detail in the architecture and level design. The environment is extremely believable and rich. Each store, casino, restaurant and display is bursting with colour and authenticity, which you cannot help but be immersed in, in this extensive casino-shopping mall complex. Restaurants are filled with cutlery , food, posters announcing today’s special…everything you would imagine finding in an American style Casino or Mall.
As you’d expect from the Dead Rising series, everything is a weapon, however in Dead Rising 2 it isn’t merely about the weapons but rather the abominations you can construct. Most items can be combined to make a newer, more bad-ass version (baseball bat with nails? Oh yeah!) Some creations do border on the verge of ridiculous, but then again, this is a game that has the walking dead after all. You are also rewarded for using these weapons, adding an extra incentive to the game, as you try different combinations. Then there’s vehicles which adds yet another “weapon” to your disposal and some of the weapons can even be added to these vehicles.
The game is after all set in a casino and just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to win big! Some zombies do ignore you when you move close, as where others will spot you from afar , then deciding to shuffle their way towards you for their dose of brains. Some zombies will even be trying to play the slots, as where others, cops for instance, will be holding their guns. Don’t worry though, they lack the higher brain function to use them and will merely drop them whenever struck or knocked over.
Get to grips with the “Slicecycle” or perhaps a OarSaw is more your style?
Get ready to unleash some fury on the Zombie Hordes!
As in the first Dead Rising game, the main gameplay is centered on two elements, two elements which also just so happened to be the two that I dislike most in games: timed missions and escourt missions. But instead of frustration or anger, I found myself actually enjoying it, because it added that element of urgency and survival, which is something that in my opinion was lacking from the first inst allment of the series. Everything in this game happens in real time so if you are not there to see or do something at the given time, it simply happens without you.
When it comes to the main story and finding out how deep the rabbit hole goes, the ball is completely in your court. Finishing the main story does not require you to save many survivors or even defeat many p sychos. You can pretty much do as you please. If all you want to do is kill zombies and try on women’s clothing, that’s fine too, however this forces you to sit through one of the worst( of many) endings to this game. Luckily for you, when you finish a play through of the game, you can start again and all your unlocked abilities and items will remain, only the story gets reset.
The casino of the undead is not only littered with zombies, but another evil: Phychos! These are people who are very much alive but been hitting a bit too much of the cuckoo juice. They are essentially the boss battles for the game, and believe me when I say; these guys will have you gnawing at your fingernails. Personalities for these characters are well thought out and interesting and each boss battle is as unique as it is challenging.
One of my favourite elements of the game has to be animation invested into Chuck, the main prot agonist of Dead Rising 2. He reacts almost instantaneously to commands and his motion feels thoroughly realistic. The control scheme is easy to master , learning new techniques and leveling up is a breeze and the schematic used to learn now moves and skills is almost flawless.
The flow of the game does get disrupted quite frequently each time you enter a new area, but when you see the amount of zombies rendered at any given time, it’s easy to understand why. Graphics was another huge selling point for me. Visuals in this game simply superb. Lighting effects are seamless and deep with texture. From the slight motion blur behind your swing as you are about to cut a zombie in half to encasing a zombie in an ice cocoon and turning him into a cooler for you brandy, each pixel is a masterpiece on it’s own. Each Casino area and shopping mall has its own music playing fitting to the scene. I must say I found it very funny slaughtering zombies while this light, elevator style, music was playing in the background. Mix in some rock music and you end up with a sound track that is pretty damn good. Environmental sound should also be mentioned as it left a definitive impression on me, being a pretty important aspect in setting the mood of a Zombie Slasher.
events, but then the fourth one is always “Slicecycles.” This is the same event the game st arts with. You find yourself on a motorcycle with chainsaws built in and your objective is simple; destroy , dismember and annihilate as many undead in the arena as possible. Dead Rising 2 is a must for any fan of the zombie survival genre. If you enjoyed Burn Zombie Burn, then imagine that on enough steroids to kill an elephant, and you might be close to the enjoyment found while playing DR2. If this is any indication of the level of brilliance that we can expect for future titles from Capcom, then I predict a truly exciting road ahead!
Multiplayer is something completely different in its self. You can either , just jump into a friend’s game(with great ease, I might add) or have him join yours. Although your friend won’t receive story progress on his end, he does get to keep all the experience gained while playing along with you. Also, items such as any clothing you may unlock in MP is also unlocked in your own SP campaign. Then there is also a four player mode called Terror is Reality. This is an over the top game show, where the main objective is to outscore the other three players by killing zombies in the designated event. There are almost ten different events, all of which are bundles of fun. Each episode of Terror is Reality is comprised of three random
Article by Charles du Plessis
The new arsenal of firing weapons is a nice addition to the game and allows you to fire at targets from a distance allowing you to get a slight upper hand in battle before even making physical contact. Along your journey you'll get to experience some classic quips as only DeathSpank can pop them out and the game is truely hilarious. Through out your various quests, you will meet many interesting characters. Sometimes however we desire a more human touch and so its great to note, that a second player can join DeathSpank on his quests at anytime. This adds to the potential of the game, but there are some draw backs as both players share the same health bar and the second player can't use any loot.
Created by Ron Gilbert, the creator of The
Secret of Monkey Island series and published by EA, DeathSpank is a unique action packed RPG, Thongs of Virtue follows in the foot steps of the first DeathSpank, but definitely not in its shadow and the title takes you on quest after quest before you realise just how addicted you actually are. Thongs of Virtue is all about you,as you take on the role of DeathSpank the ultimate hero, on his quest to regain control of the six symbols of virtue. These six symbols are thongs, yes you read right, thongs, made by a master craftsman and passed down to the purest of humans to stand against evil and make the world a better place.
But the thongs corrupted those who wore them and they were thrust in corruption and greed as evil took the over. Your mission is to retrieve the thongs and in the process save the world, while still completing other amazing quests along the way. Your quests take you to all the corners of the earth from a journey’s in a pirate ship to World War II battlefields and even a robot factory and every map is very nicely done. As DeathSpank you will see yourself fighting all kinds of devious creatures, from raging robots and nimble ninjas to aliens and strange looking soldiers with a smelly disposition all while collecting loot along the way. You are able to equip certain weapons, like giant missile firing bazooka's, machine guns, long distance laser weaponry and swashbuckling swords to name just a few. It's not only weaponry on display however, with armor that Zoolander would wear with pride, potions and tasty food like nachos or some chicken drumsticks... Mmmm Your kit is fully customizable and you are able to select which armor, weaponry and potions you would like to carry, while the rest of you inventory is stored else where.
The positives in this title are easy to round up, its a great little game which remains comedic throughout, an element which is only further enhanced by the brilliant voice acting, the quests are enjoyable and the co-op adds little extra to the experience. The good meets with the bad in some respects as the title loses a few points, as the co-op system could have been better done while some of the quests can become little repetitive. DeathSpank Thongs of Virtue is available on the ZA PSN and XBL Store now for R125 Article by Ricardo Ludeke
Down to the game play... The controls are easy to master and the battle mechanics are easy and fun enough. Whether you choose to aim and fire or hack and slash at a bunch of enemies either way is just as effective. DeathSpank Thongs of Virtue is a great little game that is fun and addictive to play, visually its a good looking title, with brilliant voice acting while the corny music fits it perfectly. Completing all the quests, side quests and collecting all the loot available, will keep you entertained for hours and even more if some friends join for some fun.
Story: As I said before, the main story to New Vegas is in fact not a sequel. It takes place 4 years after the previous game, but is set in a completely different area, namely: New Vegas. What New Vegas is, is essentially what has remained of Las Vegas its the Apocalypse but filled with bright lights & casinos:. You’ll still experience the vast skyline of flashing lights and iconic landmarks, yet most of them have undergone a massive overhaul to have that stylish Fallout look and feel. The main plot is essentially centred on the idea which almost every Fallout game has started with: War. That war never changes. The idea behind this notion is apparently that humanity has this never-ending appetite for killing each other. This is actually where the entire game begins. All of you Fallout 3 fans would remember the brilliant start that the previous game had. Being born into this wasteland and watching yourself grow up is an experience that almost instantly drew you into the game. This time around, the developers decided to be a bit darker though…
The end of the world – the finale for all that is, and
shall be – is a universal human theme. It has been the centerpiece for countless books, films and yes, you guessed it, video games. So with our knowledge of the slow decay of our world, we have to ask ourselves one thing. One truly disturbing question: why is it so much fun to watch the world die? I’d like to think that as humans, it is our sense of survival. We don’t want to die. It’s not how we are put together. A man will claw & fight and butcher his way out of a hole before he exhales his last breath. So what do you get when you are born into a post-apocalyptic world, where the lines of what is considered human & what is not, are so blurred that you sometimes wonder whether you’re still actually even human at all? Simple…you get Fallout! With less than two weeks to go, the release date for Bethesda Softworks’s latest monolith; Fallout: New Vegas, seems that it couldn’t get here fast enough. Following the massive positive response received from Fallout 3 and all its downloadable content, the team at Obsidian Entertainment along with Bethesda Softworks,
have actually taken the franchise and plasma cannoned the roof off this sucker! The new game is not so much a sequel to the series, but instead a completely different branch to the Fallout tree.
You play the role of a courier that is currently in the process of delivering a very important parcel, when you are ambushed and severely injured. When I say severely injured, I mean basically left for dead. The game starts with you being shot in the head and awaiting your burial in a shallow grave; typical Las Vegas mobster kind of set up. The perpetrators of the crime even have the same fashion sense as that from the 50’s (a theme which has always been clearly evident in all the Fallout games.) As you lie here next to this hole in the ground, blood pooling around you, it would seem that this is the end. Your lights are fading, while the neon lights of New Vegas still burn bright, but this is in fact where the entire story begins. The storyline in the Fallout series has always been of epic proportions, and giving away too many spoilers, would simply(for the better lack of a word) ‘spoil’ it for you. But basically, your journey focuses on the retrieval of ‘The Lost Package’. With a multitude of new factions, new side missions, new characters and countless new companions, the storyline of New Vegas promises to be both in-depth and titillating. But let’s stop there for now and move onto:
The easiest way to break this down so that you don’t spontaneously combust from sheer awesomeness is to categorize things and allow you to digest the true glory that is New Vegas…piece by piece.
Weapons: Ah! Weapons. Guns. Things that go bang and make bad people go away. The weapons found in Fallout have always been a feature which has had me locked into the series like a naive kid watching porn for the first time. Apart from the plethora of weapons loosely scattered across the world, players could scavenge for weapons, parts, ammo, basically anything that can be picked up and utilised. One of my favourite weapons from Fallout 3 had to have been the Rock-It launcher, a launcher which was able to fire trash at enemies. Nothing like popping a super mutant in the noggin with a rusty coffee mug.
This time around, the developers have focused a lot more on energy based weaponry. Sure, you will still get machine guns that fire grenades and shotguns with 4 barrels, but the tech in this game is really where it’s at. All the technology that featured strongly in pre-millennia science fiction novels and how people from the 50’s imagined the future to be like, have now been converted into actual working weapons. Microwave technology, vacuum tubes, psionic grenades, it’s all there. So expect to see more Ray Guns than M16’s.
There is even a weapon named “The Recharger Rifle” (bad name,know) which is a pulse rifle style weapon, that never runs out of ammunition. An idea which they seem to have propogated from Borderlands (with the alien energy weapons never running out) yet Bethesda has taken all the idea's and perfected them. Impact and effectiveness is affected by distance, accuracy, skill, all the things we remember & loved from Fallout 3. The aiming system is still the same, which of course is not a bad thing, seeing as how brilliant the previous game’s aiming system in fact was. Companions are also a great new feature in New Vegas. Although Fallout 3 had companions, most of them were mission based and rather linear when it came to support. They have now allowed the user to control his companions a lot more, creating some truly interesting scenarios surrounding gunplay. Players can adapt to their situations utilising the easily accessible ‘companion spindle’ and
delegate certain tasks to their trusted buddies on the fly. Another added bonus to the weapons in New Vegas is the addition of modding. The developers have now added a system through which players are able to add a scope to a pistol, install rapid fire functionality into a shotgun or install extra ammunition cartridges into a grenade machine gun. This is a feature which was very strong under the modding community of Fallout 3, so if this developers have actually listened to the gaming community and produced something true to their visions for the game, then expect one hell of a mind-blowing experience! To wrap this category up easily, look forward to an entire shift in weapon technology, companion strategies (surrounding weaponry) and fast paced action executed by insanely bad-ass weapons.
Gameplay: The first thing to cover in gameplay has to be the territory. The world that you will be playing through in New Vegas is an immaculate place and the surrounding areas are awe inspiring. From the shiny lights and gigantic landmarks that have made Las Vegas famous, like Ceaser’s Palace and the Vegas Strip, through to the Colorado River and the Hoover Dam, players will be able to explore every inch of the Mojave Desert and all the secrets it holds. The playable areas in New Vegas are comparable in size to the scale you found in Fallout 3, so expect to do a lot of running through vast wastelands and gigantic cities. The developers predict that a minimal playthrough of the game will account for about 29 hours of gameplay, with the standard storyline and its appropriate side missions taking the bar up to about 94 gameplay hours. Throw
playable games, companion quests and extended faction quests on top of that and you have a game which can keep you glued to your TV for almost 200 hours. Along with each one of these areas also come their own side missions and playable games. Going into a casino in New Vegas, will allow the player to try his hand at blackjack or roulette, as where going out into the wasteland might have the player doing a scavenging mission for the Brotherhood of Steel. So to honestly put a cap onto the amount of hours one could spend in New Vegas is near impossible. Best to just get out there and start exploring! The basic gameplay has remained the same as in Fallout 3, with the targeting system still being a FPS with a kind of bullet time directional targeting
system, known as V.A.T.S (Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System), once again making its return. As I said earlier, one of the main changes in New Vegas is the inclusion of the Companion system. This time around players will be able to dictate the decisions their buddies make, by utilizing the Companion Guidance system, a spin dial (much like the weapon selection dial of most FPS games) to select which action they would like their company to perform. This opens up a completely new dynamic to the game, as the actions of companions will also influence the reputation of the player and the direction of the storyline, because the player will not be held accountable for his actions as it was not his doing. Don’t think that this gives you a free pass to kill whoever you want utilising your companion, because he is still connected to you.
What it does mean, is that it will allow you some interesting situations to bend the truth in, when questioned about the event. *hint hint* Another big change in New Vegas is the morality system. In Fallout 3, players would have their allegiance to either good or bad influenced by the choices they made based on the moral integrity of that choice. This time around, players have reputations with the different factions, and each choice they make will influence their reputation with these factions as well as the cities or areas that they inhabit/control. This brings out an entirely new dynamic usually very prominent in RPG games like World of Warcraft and EVE, namely being the trust factor.
If players complete a certain amount of missions for a certain faction or do countless good deeds for them, they will see their reputation raised with that faction, and in turn benefit from numerous rewards. Players might now find that the faction will help them if they are attacked by mutants or will reward them with more money when they complete a mission for them. The great thing about this is that it brings an entirely new facet to the game, which is choice. Players will need to decide where their allegiance lies and what path they want to walk, simply because helping one faction will bring down the reputation with another. Seeing as though reputation with a faction means extra missions and discoverable areas, each faction holds a hierarchical tree that the player will be allowed to play through.
And that about wraps it up for our look into Fallout: New Vegas. The developers are still holding a lot of the new features a secret, especially the new perks and abilities, but one they did let slide is a perk called Wild World. This perk adds a little bit more game time for the player. Essentially what it does is throw out numerous ‘Easter eggs’ for the player to find. Each one of these eggs is only obtainable through the completion of a quest. So basically what this does is add another 4 – 6 hours of gameplay for the guys who might feel that they are enjoying the questing and need some more. Looking at perks such as these, we can sit assured that New Vegas will definitely not be short of content and is looking to top the brilliance that was Fallout 3 with exponential leaps and bounds. So grab your Pipboy 3000 and get ready to be the ruler of the Vegas strip! Article by Dieter Fouche
Pretty much everytime I get a new game or want to download a new demo I am faced with the same problem...Insufficient space on the hard drive. When I first got my 60gb black beauty I wasnt exactly savvy to what could be done with the PS3, then by the time I was, I thought it was already too late.
Open the metal latch, move the drive tray to the right and slide out the drive.
Remove the four screws that hold the hard drvie to the tray. Use a screwdriver that fits snugly because the screws are extremely tight and are easy to strip.
Swap in your new hard drive and replace the screws.
Put the drive back into your PS3 and slide it into place. Next screw the blue screw back in and snap the side panel back into place
Turn on the console and let the system format the new drive. Next you must load up the PS3 back-up Utility and restore the data from your external drive.
I have always thought that upgrading the PS3's harddrive was complicated and problematic, so I was quite surprised when I sat down to investigate it and discovered that its actually really simple. Here is how to do it in just a few easy steps.
The first step and most important is finding yourself a 2.5inch SATA notebook hard drive. Its vital that you get the 2.5 inch sized drive so that it fits into the PS3's slot. You can use either a 5400/7200RPM.
Once you have gotten your new drive, the next step is to back-up your current data. The PS3 has a built in back-up utility that can be used to back up the PS3's data onto an external USB drive.
Turn off and unplug the system. Remove the plastic HD side panel and remove the blue screw.
Note however that the drive must be formatted as FAT32 or the PS3 wont pick it up.After you have completed the back up, you can move onto the actual hard drive swap.
And there you go, your new super PS3 is ready to rock and roll!
is light in weight and gives your controller a whole new look. The armour has no other cause but to simply change the appearance of the controller, it does not affect your gameplay in anyway. It will not damage or scratch your controller either as it has a soft inner lining that prevents this. The triggers are ofcourse the main star here and the armour is just an optional piece. Majority of players leave the armour detached as it makes it a little difficult to press the Start button
Hardwear Controller Armor and Triggers This is a product that has gained alot of interest from Playstation 3 owners all over the world and after receiving mine I can now clearly understand why. When the Sixaxis was first introduced the immediate noticable differences were ofcourse the "PS" button and then the L2/ R2 "triggers". At first there were mixed reactions to the newly designed L2 and R2 buttons but as time passed, with new Playstation 3 titles being pumped into the market, these triggers slowly became a neausence rather than an advantage.
When playing an online game you have to react quick and go for headshot kills if you want to be on top, in my case it never happened cause Iwould either not "tap" the triggers hard enough or have my fingers completely slip off. Playing Resistance Fall of Man for example, trying to quickly scroll through the weapons and then end up trying to kill a bloke with a sniper rifle at close range didnt quite do it for me. I ended up having to "tap" the triggers softly to get the exact weapon I wanted but by then I was dead.was not alone. The more I looked at my controller the more I thought of it as a faulty design.
The attachments allow you to comfortably activate the L2 and R2 triggers without having your fingers slip and slide off.The "slipping" of the triggers has even caused some gamers to be become discouraged from playing online, and I was one of them.
I think thats why they made the PS2 controller adapters, for gamers to play a game with confidence. However the trigger mods are a much cheaper and easier alternative. There are two variations of the trigger mods available, as mentioned before from Gioteck and Messiah Entertainment. Messiah's product includes an additional add-on to your controller, they call it "Controller Armour". Made from real aluminium, it fits over the centre of your controller sitting comfortably between the PS, Start and Select buttons and at the same time leaving area exposed for the USB slot and 1234 LED's.The armour
.In Conclusion the triggers make a substantial difference when playing both on and offline. Giving you a distinct advantage in R2/L2 heavy games. http://more.take2.co.za/moreusa-playstation-3hardwear-controller-armor-b0013ynl6m.html
Playstation 3 Energizer Power & Play Charging System
charge your other hardware like your bluetooth headset or keypad.
The dual controller charger from Energizer has become the most wanted peripheral for PS3 owners worldwide as it offers many advantages over the standard USB cables that Sony supplied to us with our systems.
In regards to the appearance the charger, it matches the PS3 beautifully, with its black piano finish just like that of the original Phat console and comes accross as a genuine Sony product because of the excellent build quality. The unit has good weight behind it and is not a product that will easily slide around. It also uses minimal space so this product can sit in any living area without taking up extra room. Another advantage is that the Energizer charger will prevent cable clutter around your PS3 and allow you to have all your USB peripherals charge in one area. In conclusion this is a definate must have for any PS3 owner!
The product is designed to charge two of your controllers simultanesouly, or alternatively charge one controller while using the other. Each terminal conveniently emits either a red glow (whilst charging) or a green glow (when fully charged), so with this feature, it is easy to establish the current charge status of your controllers without having to unplug them. The charger is powered via a AC power cord which is included in the package so no need to sacrifice one of your PS3's USB ports to power this product up. The unit also offers two additional USB ports which can
Messiah Entertainment Inc and its sister company Gioteck have struck again with a very reliable and effective solution, the trigger mods!The trigger mods are simply a pair of plastic based clip-on pieces which conveniently attach onto your existing L2 and R2 buttons, whether it be your Sixaxis or Dualshock 3, the pair fits both model variations perfectly.
(including the Select and PS button), as you have to press it in quite deep to activate it, this is however the products only downfall
http://more.take2.co.za/moreusa-playstation-3energizer-power-play-charging-systemb001h4nmna.html Articles by Clinton Beal