Australian GamePro Media Kit

CONTENTS 2 Introduction 5 Editorial 8 Specials 9 Marketing 12 Contacts I ntroduction

Video gaming is the biggest entertainment medium on the planet. Not only does it bring in more cash than contemporaries such as Film and Music, but it is also the fastest growing, moving exponentially forward with the growth of technology and the continuing movement of consoles towards complete multimedia centres. With the release of the next-generation of 360, and PlayStation 3 console, the industry will be booming for the next 18 months. In 2006, the Australian market will consume well over $1billion from the game hungry public. This hungry public gets all the information it needs from the country’s premier multi- format publication, Australian GamePro Magazine.

Average distribution 30,000 copies Cover Price $8.95 Average Pagination 100 Pages

02 SO, HOW IS GAMEPRO DIFFERENT? AsThe the launch facts above of Australian clearly indicate, GamePro the current was gamingsupported climate by isan as much aboutaggressive the mainstream, marketing casual and user advertising as it is about campaign the dedicated that hardcorewill enthusiastcontinue to— driveAustralian circulation. GamePro refl ects this. We recently underwent a huge redesign to bring our aesthetic style into line with the next- generation of console and gamer, giving it a broader, more appealing feel thatTARGET remains READERSHIP entirely game orientated while capturing the atmosphere of leadingEditorially, mainstream the publication titles. We havetargets also gamersadded new of sections, all ages ProSetUp and ProUpdate,(predominantly which providemales easy14 to access 30) and points will to run newcomers extensive to the coverage industry asof wellgaming as invaluable in all its information forms – Playstation®2, for veterans. Xbox, Nintendo Game Cube, PC games, Advance, Game Cube, Nokia N- Gage, arcade games, retro games and, of course, online gaming as INTERESTINGwell. FACTS (Derived from the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia’s (IEAA) GameProindependent readers study into the typically Australian ownGames at Industry, least called one Gameplay games 2005 console, — http:// withwww.ieaa.com.au/doc/_3.pdf) many owning two or more. The majority are heavy Internet users and by nature tend to be very active games buyers. ➔ The average age of the Aussie gamer is 24. Australian➔ 76% of Australian GamePro households also addresses have a device the needsfor playing of thegames casual and social➔ 70% gamers of gamers through play at aleast number once a ofweek mainstream entertainment columns.➔ 55% expect to be gaming in ten years ➔ 62% of gamers shop for leisure and 47% play sports ➔ 66% of parents play video games with their children ➔ 38% of gamers are female ➔ 85% of gamers have an online connection ➔ 35% of gamers play games online ➔ 66% of gamers intend to buy a new machine or upgrade their PC in the next year.

03 Australian GamePro is multi-format in every sense of the word. We run detailed features, previews, reviews and interviews across the entire gambit of gaming consoles — , PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, PC, PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA, DS, PSP and Mobile — ensuring that those with a single machine or multiple are well catered for. Throw in cheats, news, competitions, cover-mounts and more and you have everything you could ever want to know about gaming, conveniently packaged in one attractive magazine.

READERSHIP STATS (In issue 15 of Australian GamePro we conducted a survey: here are the results)

➔ The average age of our reader is 22, ranging from 12-50 yrs. ➔ 98% loved the redesign, giving it an average 9 out of 10. ➔ Over 70% intend to buy a next-gen console. ➔ 52% buy peripherals for their PC and consoles. ➔ Our readers spend $500 a year on PC upgrades. ➔ 66% intend to upgrade their home entertainment by mid 2007. ➔ 92% of readers say a GamePro review infl uences their purchases. ➔ 41% of readers purchases are infl uenced by mag advertisements. ➔ 81% of readers share their copy and 70% have kept every issue. ➔ Over 70% have kept every issue they have bought. ➔ 40% intend to upgrade to broadband and 51% currently play online. ➔ 60% buy fi ve games a year and play for more than 10hrs a week. 04 E

EDITORIAL ditorial Australian GamePro is served magazine in the country with some of the country’s most respected journalists on board. Not only do we have strong relationships and product access with all the local video game distributors, but also the PC hardware, home entertainment, mobile and peripheral companies. In addition, IDG Communication’s global presence means we have free access to all the text generated by our sister publication, including the hugely successful US and German GamePros. This ensures that we not only have the fi nest content from Australia, but also the latest and greatest from the USA, Asia and Europe

SECTIONS

ProNews NEWS

PRO X360 + HD-DVD Cheaper Than PS3? QUICKIES Microsoft announced their plans to release the Xbox 360’s HD-DVD drive add-on during their press conference at this year’s Electronic Wii Less Than $300? Entertainment Expo. The exact details are yet to be Scott Steinberg, vice president of announced but there is speculation that Microsoft marketing for , has claimed that Keeping you up-to-date may be planning to undercut ’s PlayStation Nintendo’s Wii will retail for less than 3 console (which itself will retail for AU$999) US$200 (~ AU$260). Though it sounds by releasing the HD-DVD drive at a price that far-fetched, with the Wii having less would make buying it together with the Xbox 360 expensive technology inside the box, a console cheaper than buying a single PS3. price this low is entirely possible. This Prior to this rumour surfacing it was expected won’t just be good for gamers however, that the HD-DVD drive would be quite expensive, but also for game publishers who will possibly costing even as much as the Xbox 360 benefit from the larger user base a itself. A cheaper pricing strategy would certainly cheaper price-tag would create. work in Microsoft’s favour, and would be a shrewd with all the latest gossip, business move, but whether or not it eventuates is yet to be seen. Kojima Denies X360 The release date too remains a mystery, with Bad news for Xbox 360 owning Metal Microsoft only confirming that it will be ready by Gear fans, it seems that series creator the holiday season 2006. has no plans to bring Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots to the X360. Kojima has been quoted as saying that he feels the Metal Gear series Assassin’s Creed Not PS3 Exclusive? is “made for the PlayStation platform.” While his development studio, Kojima The PlayStation 3 exclusivity of one of the highlights of this year’s , Assassins Creed, is in doubt after rumours have Productions, may still develop Xbox 360 facts and PR propaganda. emerged that the game may also be set to appear on other platforms. Ubisoft has declined to either confirm or deny the titles, these will be all-new games and rumours that their innovative stealth action title will only appear on Sony’s PS3, as it has previously been announced. not a new Metal Gear. Four Big Name In the past Ubisoft have always made their most popular franchises for multiple platforms, including Tom Clancy’s Spinter 15 Games For PS3 Launch No Shows and the Rainbow Six games, and their Sony Computer Entertainment of unwillingness to respond to the rumours America head has claimed could be seen as a sign that the company that the PlayStation 3 will launch with s you can see from our comprehensive saw from the Tokyo Game Show trailer. We do know unearthed. The trailer ends with the words “Finish is at least considering bringing Assassin’s 15 titles this November. This compares coverage, this year’s Electronic that several old characters including , Meryl the Fight — 2007”. Creed to Xbox 360 or PC. well with Sony’s competition. The Xbox Entertainment Expo had its share of and will return to the game, and a surprising Grand Theft Auto IV, the biggest game of From the playtest that we had at this 360 had 18 titles on its American launch This includes interviews A blockbuster games on show, but there twist at the end of the trailer suggested that this may them all did get a mention, thanks to Peter Moore, year’s E3, Assassin’s Creed looks like the day, and had only 15 for its Australian were a few notable omissions. Four of the industry’s be Snake’s last mission, still no gameplay footage or Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Interactive next logical evolution of the stealth/action launch while Nintendo has tentatively biggest titles, which we know are currently in release information, however. Entertainment, who had the game’s logo tattooed on genre (it was among our top five games of announced that they hope to have development, were either shown very briefly or not 3 was another game that was shown only his right bicep especially for the show. With his sleeve this year’s E3). We’d hate to see any gamer twenty titles ready for the Wii’s launch shown at all. in a teaser, although its appearance was even briefer. rolled up he announced that the game will be coming miss out on it, so we’re hoping that there’s later in the year. 5 for example, which was shown at From the looks of the trailer, in Halo 3 the Earth has to both Xbox 360 and PS3 on the same day, October at least a little truth to the speculation. last year’s expo was nowhere to be seen. Metal Gear been completely conquered by the Covenant, and 17th 2007. Unfortunately though, we may have to It would certainly appear that the Solid 4 was shown but only in teaser trailer form, and it ends with Master Chief looking over a cliff into wait until next year’s E3 to actually see the game, as current Xbox 360 and PC technology can More Origami Unfolding we were only given a little bit more than what we a massive crater where a glowing object is being not even a screenshot has been released. match it with the PlayStation 3. Following up on our Microsoft Origami news piece from last issue, more info with developers and Hot has come to light. It turns out that DS Dominates Japan, 360 Sinks the promotional video showing the Widows-based mini tablet PC may have Sony and Microsoft Want Wii According to recent Japanese been exaggerated by the company, sales figures Nintendo’s DS with confirmation that it wouldn’t be In what may seem like a surprising move, In an another interview the Executive Vice President of now accounts for more than 70 able to play Xbox games like Halo, as Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Phil Harrison, percent of all hardware sales it had been shown doing. Microsoft Interactive Entertainment, Peter Moore has been the second of Nintendo’s competitors to praise in the country, a staggering has said that the Halo footage was for has been quoted as saying that after the new direction the company is taking. Responding to amount for the little handheld. demonstration purposes only buying an Xbox 360 he thinks gamers comments made by Microsoft’s Peter Moore, Harrison According to the report should get Nintendo’s Wii console, while has stated that anyone who buys a next-generation Nintendo sold as many as Topic, where we peer into ridiculing the PlayStation 3’s high price console should also buy Nintendo’s Wii system. 828,000 DS consoles during the Be a Car Designer tag at the same time. “I think Peter Moore is exactly right,” Harrison said. month of April, accounting for To promote their upcoming MMO car “Tell me why you would buy a $600 “I think Nintendo will be the second system consumers 72.2% of the console market. game (you heard right!), (AU$999) PS3?” said Moore. “People purchase after PlayStation 3…” No other gaming hardware Unlimited, have announced one of are going to buy two (consoles.) They’re As unbelievable as it may be to hear both of could come close with the the coolest competitions the GamePro going to buy an Xbox and they’re going Nintendo’s competitors tell consumers to buy the PSP coming in second with a team has seen. In the “Be a Car to buy a Wii ... for the price of one PS3.” Wii console, there could be another motive behind comparatively small share of Designer” competition one lucky winner Moore went on to state that he Moore and Harrison’s uncharacteristic generosity. One 11.34%. will get to design their dream car and thinks Nintendo’s expected lower price tag, innovative explanation could be that these two opposing executives The rest of the pie is divided have it included in the final retail edition new controller design and the strength of their are using Wii’s radically different approach to gaming as between the other current of as well as intellectual properties such as Mario, Zelda and a way to discourage consumers from buying either an generation consoles, although receive a cool wad of $2,500 big ones. the political underbelly of Extra! Extra! Readwill Allattract About It! All a Thegreat Hottest Gossaudience. And he’s not the only one Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, which are direct competitors Microsoft’s Xbox is struggling noticeably to secure a foothold in Japan’s notoriously hard to crack market. All up 10,701 Full details are available at who thinks so… with similar features and higher price tags. Xbox 360 consoles were sold in Japan during April this year, accounting for just 0.93 per cent of Japanese hardware sales. www.TestDriveUnlimited.com

6 WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU 7 Australian Gaming.

ProSetUp Samsung PS42S5H Plasma Televisons Featuring a full 42-inch screen, a bright, great-looking picture, excellent While LCD screens may be preferable for gaming they can still be prohibitively contrast ratio and some accurate colour expensive in the largest sizes. When it comes to getting the biggest screened television reproduction, the Samsung PS42S5H is for a comparitively cheaper price, Plasma is still a real contender. GamePro takes you among the best plasmas we’ve seen. The through some of the best sets we’ve seen over the past couple of months. one flaw we could find was that it is slow when switching between multiple video PROSETUP input sources, but that aside, this set is an excelllent solution. Here at GamePro we know that the technology you use to play your games can have just as much We help our readers $4999, www.samsung.com.au of an impact on your gaming experience as the games themselves. This month in ProSetup we’ll walk you through some of the latest and greatest in hardware and peripheral equipment. Sanyo PDP-42XS1 While this plasma is an Choosing the right gamepad for your PC is a significantly more difficult decision to make than getting the aesthetically beautiful unit, its same peripheral for a console. With a console there’s always one easy choice, since the standard first-party flawed picture quality prevents PC GamePads pad is invariably the best. For the PC there are no such standards, with several manufacturers vying for your it from being a truly great attention. Let GamePro show you the best way to spend your PC control pad dollars. television. The main problem is the screen’s dot pitch (the distance between each pixel) set up their household which is far too noticeable, even at a distance. Blacks are also often mottled and noisy, meaning that you should really only choose the Sanyo PDP-42XS1 based on its cheap price.

PROS $2999, www.sanyo.com.au Excellent HD image, large Optima Logitech Logitech Xbox 360 Joytech screen, HDMI 42 Inch Plasma input. Dual Action Joypad Cordless Rumblepad 2 USB Controller Neo S PC Gamepad There are a few occasions when for the perfect gaming This pad is a favourite of the GamePro Logitech’s latest iteration of their The Xbox 360 controller must surely The Neo S is the cheapest gamepad CONS we get a screen that just isn’t team, having had many hours of PS2-style controller, only this time be amongst the most comfortable on our list, but that doesn’t mean Limited image that good. The Optima 42 inch game time with the Playstation-styled the Rumblepad has gone completely and functional of the past few console it’s any less capable than the others. controls. display is one such screen. Despite controller. It’s been out for a while and it wireless. This pad retains all of the generations, and the fact that we can Aesthetically it resembles Microsoft’s some nice aesthetics and a large doesn’t include vibration feedback, but ergonomics of the Dual Action, but finally get true console-quality pads on original Xbox controller with a similar Panasonic Viera TH-42PV500 variety of inputs there are a it’s still just as good now as it ever was. eliminates the cords and adds vibration our PC is enough to make this controller shape and identical button layout. It is With superb high-definition image quality, HDMI inputs and a fantastic 42-inch screen the few unfortunate image issues. Although Logitech still list its retail price feedback, with the battery life claimed to very special indeed. Plus, if you have this just as bulky as its Xbox counterpart, but Panasonic Viera TH-42PV500 would make a marvellous addition to any games room or home The screen holds a residual image far too easily, has a massive dot pitch, as being $49.95, you should be able be as high as 100 hours. It’s pricey, but if controller you can use it on both your thankfully it’s not unwieldy. Other pads cinema. The set could have done with more in-depth image controls, but overall this TV is one of a generally noisy image and doesn’t render colours accurately, failing in to pick it up cheaper with some smart you hate cords the Rumblepad 2 should X360 and PC, making it among the best may do it better, but for the price the the best plasma units we have seen and represents fantastic value for money. almost all the most important criteria. shopping around. be top of your list. PC controllers available today. Neo S is good value. experience: this includes $4999, www.panasonic.com.au $5699, www.optima.com.au $49.95 $79.95 $59.95 $34.95 www.logitech.com www.logitech.com www.xbox.com.au www.joytech.net If you think PCs are all about graphics, think again. Sound has developed almost as impressively as its PC 2.1 Speakers visual counterpart over the last few years and an essential part of your audio experience is your speaker cables over composite or S-video wherever possible. The reason for selection. Let us guide your choice… Know Your Cables this is that composite delivers both chrominance (colour) and luminance (greyscale) information along the same pipeline, TDK Tremor xa60 Klipsch ProMedia GMX A-2.1 resulting in less accurate picture reproduction. Although The TDK Tremor xa60 delivers a Klipsch is a company that promises power, So you’ve set up your gaming room with a brand new widescreen TV, and S-video has chrominance and luminance on two separate competitively priced audio setup for detail and emotion from their audio HD TVs, headphones, you’ve got yourself a few consoles or a gaming PC, now what do you cables, the picture isn’t significantly better on a modern your desktop PC. The speakers are light, products, so it’s no surprise that this set of do with them? The answer to that question is hook them up! And for TV. Component video gives the best results because, take up little space, have a slightly retro- PC speakers is some of their best work yet. that you’ll need an essential, if often overlooked component of your true to its name, it separates the signal into its individual looking design and the sound quality is With an attractive design, excellent sound audio-visual experience — cables. components for a less muddled signal transport. good. The bass levels could be higher, quality across the entire audio spectrum If you’re planning on using your PC on your TV, or and the power button is inconveniently and a high volume, the Klipsch ProMedia hen setting up your gaming room there are many want to prepare for the next-generation of consoles, then located at the back of the subwoofer, GMX is one of the best 2.1 speakers money different types of cables to consider. At the moment both your video card and and television will have to have the but flaws aside the Tremor xa60s are still can buy. all available consoles, including the high-definition appropriate DVI or HDMI input/outputs. These digital formats $129.95 a solid choice. $249.95 www.tdk.com.au www.klipsch.com W enabled Xbox 360, output video and audio signals provide (theoretically) lossless transmission of digital images and audio. in the old analogue signal format. In the future we can In comparison the older analogue signals aren’t nearly as accurate. expect consoles to upgrade to digital connections such Another important issue to consider when selecting your connections Surround Sound speakers, Experience. Gaming Up Your Setting to s Guide as DVI and HDMI, but for now you’ll be looking into is that of price and quality. Cables can range from standard rubber insulated Logitech X-230 Bose Companion 3 , getting some good composite, S-video or component copper that you can pick up on the cheap to silver or gold-plated cords that With a sleek and attractive black design Bose has a reputation as a producer of cables to get the best visual quality. will set you back hundreds. Generally, you should expect expensive cables to and a small price tag, the Logitech audio equipment of the highest quality, Although they became old news ages ago, perform better than something you picked up for less than a tenner, but usually the X-230s are a relatively low cost audio and if the price of the Companion 3 the humble composite cable, commonly called degree of difference between the two is smaller than you may think. Cheap cables that alternative. The sound quality from this set is any indication, they can afford the AV connection, is still what most people have been badly manufactured can often seriously hurt your audio and video quality, washing 2.1 set is passable, but not close to the to charge for it. However, although use to connect their games consoles, out or blurring colours and distorting the image in the case of analogue formats or losing pixel standard of the more expensive products this set looks the business, its sound DVD players and other accessories information for digital signals, leaving you with a “speckled” image. A reliable cable brand however, in this category, there is even some reproduction is surprisingly flawed. The to their televisions. However, you regardless of the price, will provide you with a consistently great picture whether you’re gaming, watching $99.95 distortion at higher volumes. Not a bad $449 treble sounds flat, the bass muddy and GamePro should try to use component or using your multimedia PC on your television. choice by any means, but you can get the mid-tones fail to perform like an www.logitech.com www.bose.com.au keyboards and more. In better for some extra $$$. expensive set of speakers should.

16 WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU 17 addition we do an exposé on how to choose and install PC hardware and provide the latest and best hardware price deals. 05 ProMobile NEWS PRO QUICKIES Mobile Gaming at E3 Dante Gets Special Edition ne aspect of this year’s Electronic Entertainment will be completely different to its PlayStation 3 counterpart, have announced the impending Expo that we really must touch on is how far but will feature the same themes and visual design as its far Your trusty phone need not waste away as release of a 3: Special mobile phone gaming has come in such a short bigger brother. Edition on the PlayStation 2. This special O time. It wasn’t so long ago that we were lucky And tragically, social parasite Paris Hilton seems to have edition adds a new playable character, to be able to play a game of Snake on our phone, but traded in making entertainment with her camcorder for Dante’s evil twin brother , who has the games on display at this year’s E3 really showed that making it on her mobile phone with Paris Hilton’s Diamond his own unique “Dark Slayer” fighting the humble mobile phone handset may yet turn into a Quest, which is a puzzle game. Thankfully you don’t have style, new characters, a turbo legitimate gaming platform. to play the entire thing in night-vision mode! option that boosts the game’s speed by The most impressive mobile game of the show, titled 20 percent and more. The game will be Orcs and Elves, was surprisingly co-developed by id merely a talking device there are plenty of out on September 29, 2006. Software, creators of the Doom series. The company’s co- founder conceptualised and helped design the turn-based sword and scorcery role-playing game. Xbox 360 Hacked The game renders the fantasy world in three dimensions It didn’t take too long for hackers to and looks similar to id Software’s Doom when it crack the Xbox 360 security system, originally release in 1993. with a modification emerging that Other fantastic looking announcements allows the system to play burned DVDs, included a VII spin-off game, cool games to choose from as well. leaving the console vulnerable to piracy. called Dirge of Cerberus: Lost Episode So far the hack is unreliable and is just that will feature Vincent Valentine as likely to destroy your Xbox 360 in the lead role as well as a mobile as to grant it new powers. Microsoft version of the forthcoming Final also warns users to not use the hack, Fantasy XIII, which will as modified consoles are “not eligible be subtitled “Agito”. for technical support and the user’s According to Square warranty will be voided.” Enix the mobile version of the Sony Rival Offers Rumble game Sony cited hardware conflicts as the reason they won’t be including vibration feedback in the PS3 controller, but we suspect it was because they recently lost a court case for infringing on a patent owned by Immersion corp. Now Immersion president, Victor Viegas, has offered to help the company include the rumble feature if Sony drops its court appeal against the decision. No word yet on whether or not Sony is considering the offer — they should! N-Gage Still Standing Windows Vista Specs Just as we went to print Microsoft It’s funny, but we though that the Nokia N-Gage died a dishonourable death quite a few years ago. It seems we have announced the official system been proven wrong, as Nokia were at E3 showing off quite a few new games for their little handheld that couldn’t. requirements for Windows Vista and it Just a few of the titles on display included an update of Space Impact, a game that users of some older Nokia seems you’ll need a reasonably good phones may remember as a primitive side scrolling shooter. This time the game is not quite as primitive, and is a computer to be able to run it. According vertical scrolling sci-fi theme shooter. to Microsoft the minimum requirements Also of note were Creatures of the Deep, a fishing game, Pocket Aces: Texas Hold ’Em, a Poker game and System will including a “modern processor” Rush: Evolution, the sequel to the N-Gage’s original futuristic . of at least 800MHz, 512MB of RAM, We doubt any of these will improve Nokia’s chances of cracking the handheld market with the N-Gage, but it’s and a DirectX 9 compatible graphics good to see that they haven’t given up in the face of insurmountable odds. processor. For optimal performance however you’ll require what Microsoft calls a “premium” PC, running a least a 1GHz processor with 1GB of RAM.

10 WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU

Features In-depth looks at the biggest hardware updates and software of the month, often involving exclusive play-tests of games all around the world.

AUSTRALIA WINS!!!!!!!!

n comparison to Nintendo’s charismatic, play-filled alive, but overall Sony’s press conference left us feeling presentation and Microsoft’s tattoo antics, Sony’s a little cheated. In the long-term the PS3 will inevitably E3 conference was a more business-like affair. From manage to look better than the competition: but the I the outset, the company’s ultimate goal was to short-term suggests visuals identical to the X360’s. really drive home the point that the PS3 is the next How to Host Your leap in home console technology. The President of Sony Computer Entertainment PlayStation Live America, Kaz Hirai, took to the stage and without One announcement that we were all waiting for was delay announced the company’s intentions, describing exactly how the PS3 was going to compete with PLAYSTATION 3 PLAYSTATION the console as “an arsenal of media compatibility”, Microsoft’s Xbox Live service in terms of online gaming featuring not just PS3 games, but also Psone and and downloadable content distribution. Own World Cup PS2 compatibility, Audio CD, DVD and Blu-Ray disc As we had anticipated, Kaz Hirai announced that playback as well as Wi-Fi internet capabilities. In the PlayStation 3 Network would use many of the What You Need brief the PlayStation 3 wants to be your complete features already familiar to X360 players, including Screw the krauts, they couldn’t host a party during World War II and entertainment system in a single box. Gamertags and a Live-like Marketplace. Sony have they can’t host one now. If you’re too damned poor to get to the World Come mid-June, the Socceroos will take on Japan, even gone so far as to copy Xbox Live’s “Microsoft YOUR OWN WORLD CUP Brazil and Croatia on the world’s biggest stage Points” idea, with Sony adopting a similar method of Cup, then the next best thing is to host your own using the recently in front of a billion viewers. And in the face of Looking Good? allowing users to purchase downloadable content by global pessimism, we reckon we’ll play a few When Sony showed footage of games like and first buying prepaid cards. released 2006 FIFA World Cup! We did, and this is our story on how we We met Holland in the semis and showed them that other teams as well! It’s going to be a cracker of a Motorstorm at last year’s E3 all that could be heard was The PS3’s version of the marketplace will allow users training in an Amsterdam cafe was not the best way tournament, but if you’re like us and too damned took Australia, to World Cup glory… By: Mitchell Bingemann to prepare for World Cups. Their sluggish performance the sound of thousands of journalist’s chins hitting the to buy new games content including new weapons, impatient to sit around waiting to see how the was contrasted by our commanding control of the floor. The games looked so good that they even sparked levels, vehicles and also new songs for games like action unfolds, or if you want to rewrite any midfield and Kewell’s brace steered us to the final in controversy as to whether or not the footage was taken Singstar with their prepaid credits, and the PS3 network results post-event, then it’s time to host your own t’s not often that Australia makes it to the Japanese gifting Timmy Cahill with two easy goals. Berlin against the whinging, girly-haired Italians. from actual gameplay, or was a pre-rendered CG movie. profiles will also be used in the exact same way as Xbox World Cup! You’ll need a few meagre supplies to World Cup, once every 32 years in fact. The Socceroos aggression proved too much for the After only 12 minutes, the prima donna (read Sony never answered the controversy directly, but Live’s Gamertags, storing user information, score tallies get your World Cup up and running: After their last foray onto the world stage placid whale-hunters and the Aussies won through and prima-ture ejaculating) Italian party fell flat as a Nesta at this year’s E3 they let their games do the talking for and providing an online identity for each PS3 player. • 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP GAME The world cup I in 1974, the hapless Socceroos could only onward with high spirits to the next game against the slip let Kewell in for the easiest goal of the tournament. them — and they didn’t have too much to say. Formula Whether or not Sony’s online strategy will be more isn’t much fun without umm the world cup. scramble one measly point from their three games, so it mighty Brazilians. Our joy barely lasted five minutes though, as a clumsy Hardware shmardware, what One 06, whose video shone at E3 2005, turned out to than just an Xbox Live copy is to be seen, but either Check out our review on page 82. was with mixed expectations that Australian GamePro With Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Robinho lining Popovic challenge gave Pirlo the chance to step up to will make or break a console are games that be a gameplay experience on par, at best, with Project way it looks promising. • SOME FRIENDS Face it, no matter how cool donned the green and gold and took on responsibility up, it felt as if we were going up against a Brazilian the penalty stop for a duel with Scwharzer. However, can marry mass-market appeal with engaging, gamer- Gotham Racing 3. Gameplay from Killzone 2 and There was also some exciting online news for PSP you think she is, playing games with your as the Socceroos’ gaffer. rendition of Ro Ro Ro your boat, instead of the the power of the Schwarz went AWOL as Pirlo’s friendly action. Sony’s software display at its major pre-E3 Motorstorm were conspicuously missing, suggesting owners, with Kaz Hirai revealing that you’ll be able to incontinent Grandma is more trouble than it’s With 32 of the best football teams in the world footballing royalty they rightly are. Ronaldinho and screamer rocketed into the top of the net uncontested conference was boring and hollow, void of imagination and that they too couldn’t match the mind-blowing videos use your PSP to wirelessly connect to your PS3 via Wi- worth — get your soccer buddies over! spanning Munich to Hamburg, this was sure to be a his donkey-face dominated midfield but we countered for the equaliser. flair. Showgoers left the conference feeling ripped-off: expecting that we were shown at E3 2005. Fi and download full versions of original PSone games • YOUR CONSOLE OF CHOICE Any will do, World Cup full of the usual stars, glories, culturally with a powerhouse performance from Vincenzo Grella. At the half time interval I replaced the lacklustre to be blown away with gameplay versions of last year’s awesome In fact, for a console that looks on paper to be twice directly to your . Kaz even demonstrated although for the best visual experience, the insensitive insults and phenomenal upsets. Despite only managing a scoreless draw, it was a well Emerton with Archie “the terrier” Thompson and let videos. We want to be fully immersed in a single player world as powerful as Microsoft’s console, the PS3’s graphical the feature by playing a few laps of the original Ridge X360 is unparalleled. With favourites Brazil to contend with, the earned point and one of the highlights of the Cup. him run wild up front. The substitution paid off after a • TEAM JERSEYS If you got ‘em, flaunt ‘em. Face or duking it out with ease in intense multiplayer action: output at this year’s E3 seemed to be far closer to that Racer in all its retro glory. ever solid Japanese and the traitorous We travelled back to Stuttgart for the vital last quick interchange between Kewell and Thompson, which Sony provided evidence of neither and a whopping of the Xbox 360 than they may like to admit. Still, Not only can the PSP be used to download content painting is optional, as are streakers. Croatians, it was the upsets we group game against the picnic-blanket-wearing released Culina down the flank who found Bresciano • THE WORLD CUP TROPHY Replica or cheap price for the privilege of playing. that’s not to suggest that the PS3 doesn’t look amazing. from the PS3, but it can also be used as an actual were praying for in the difficult Croatians. With three born and bred Aussies in lurking on the edge of the area. Without a moment’s With beautiful looking (and hopefully beautiful-playing) controller with the system. Hirai showed the PSP being substitutes will suffice. group stages. the Croat’s squad, we knew this would be a tough hesitation, Bresciano latched onto the driven cross and • A CASE OF THE FINEST IMPORTED GERMAN games like Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy XIII, Gran used to display the rear vision mirror in Gran Turismo Our first port of call was battle for our boys and decided there was only one blasted the ball through a sea of bodies into the back Turismo HD (formerly called Vision Gran Turismo), Call HD, in case you wanted to hang it from the ceiling... BEER For the authentic and flavoursome taste of to Kaiserslautern to meet the acceptable outcome; to hack down the traitorous of the net to grab the lead, sending the Azurri to their Germany and football culture. of Duty 3, 6 and more in the works, Sony looks or something... This led into even more interesting Japanese. It wasn’t much bastards who defected to Croatia. We managed knees — yee haw! to have most of your old favourites covered. controller announcements… of a game, with the friendly another scoreless draw but succeeded in seeing Seric We held on for the remainder of the game and danced Surprisingly one of the most revealing tech demos and Simunic stretched off with career-ending injuries. in jubilation as the final whistle blew. We had reduced that Sony made this year was not from any of these PSWii-mote? As a bonus, the result was enough to scrape through our opponents to mere passengers on our ride to World big-name titles. Instead the graphical highlight of Almost two hours into Sony’s press conference came to the final 16. Cup glory and lifted the cup in front of the disbelieving Sony’s presentation came in the form of a smiling Tiger possibly the biggest revelation about the PlayStation The following couple games were virtual non-affairs. spectators. It was definitely a World Cup of shocks, but at Woods. Showing off EA Sport’s latest 3 hardware this year, and who better to deliver such The Rules Although we drew the Czechs in the next round, the the time of writing, we believe our FIFA video game led technology, Woods was presented in real-time running important news than the man credited with being the IT IS COMPULSORY TO PLAY AS THE SOCCEROOS If more than one player wishes to take charge of the game ended up being the disappointment of our tour, prediction will endure in the real tournament if we have Just be fore we went to pr on actual PS3 hardware, and was almost impossible to father of the PlayStation, . mighty Roos it will be decided by a penalty shootout in your backyard. If you are eliminated in the first with a lucky win from Viduka after he climbed to head the right direction. Move over Guus, there’s a new sheriff sta int a few more deta 1. rted to make their ils about the PS3 tell apart from the real thing. Mr Kutaragi took to the stage and reaching into his way out into the w launch round or disgrace the Socceroos in any way, shape or form (we are looking at you Viduka), you will be home from a corner. Meeting Tunisia in the quarters was in town… games are expec ider world. First ted to be available of all, 15 The popular athlete grinned, frowned and talked jacket pocket he pulled out the thing that we will be short of Ninte at launch, which forever banned from donning the green and gold. as much of a surprise as being there, but we trounced ndo’s expected 20 stands just titles will . However, many to the crowd with all the emotion and expression of a spending the most quality time with when we finally BEING BRAZIL IS FOR PANSIES You may only choose Brazil if you are of Brazilian heritage. Choosing the Africans 2-0 in revenge for our disappointing hit the PS3 than th ore cross-forma like M e Wii in the follow t icrosoft, intend t ing months, Also human being, truly showing off the PS3’s capacity for do get the PS3 — the system’s official controller. Unlike them under any other pretence will demonstrate your weak grasp of footballing skill and result in Confederations Cup campaign in the previous year. e o harbour indepen , Sony 2. xecutive Izumi Ka dent developers, w PlayStation 3 wanishi saying “w ith Sony near-photorealistic graphics in future games. the prototype they had shown one year previously (the incessant heckling from fellow players. e’d LATE GOSS participa like to s te in content crea ee various individ tion for the PS3” — uals With promising moments like this, coupled with ergonomic nightmare that was “the boomerang”) this FORMATION SLUTS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED Only three changes of your team’s formation will be quite a change in tact! the fact that the PS3 still has those better-on-paper design couldn’t have been more familiar — looking 3. permitted outside actual game time. By Chirs Stead and Maurice Branscombe specifications in hand, we kept a shred of our optimism exactly like a standard PS2 Dual Shock. A QUICK GAME IS A GOOD GAME For the sanity of everyone, game times will be restricted to five minute Don’t Believe the Hype 4. halves in the group and round of 16 stages, ten minutes for the quarters and semis, and 20 minutes for the all important final. WINNERS ARE GRINNERS The eventual cup holder receives gloating rights, first choice of team, praise Sony strutted into E3 2006 as all but the next-gen king set 5. and adoring/submissive fans from the opposite sex*. to claim its rightful throne, but was helped out on trembling *Disclaimer: GamePro will not supply adoring/submissive fans from the opposite sex. legs a clear third place. For the first time in a decade, Sony are in trouble. Lacklustre and unimaginative software, a poor online system and a gimmick-laden controller all contributed 9 June 12 June 13 June 14 June 18 June 20 June 21 June 21 June 22 June 22 June 24 June – 27 June 30 June – 1 July 4 July – 5 July 9 July

to the pain of a $999 asking price. When it came to backing GROUP D GROUP E GROUP A Aus vs. Japan GROUP G GROUP H GROUP F GROUP B GROUP C Australia vs. Croatia ROUND OF 16 QUARTER FINALS SEMI FINALS FINAL up the hype of E3 2005, Sony were found wanting... Germany vs. Costa Rica France vs. Switzerland Spain vs. Ukraine Australia vs. Brazil England vs. Sweden Nederlands vs. Argentina Portugal vs. Mexico Czech Republic vs. Italy 46 MATCHES TO LOOK OUT FOR 47 22 WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU 23

IVE Aloha Test Drive Hawaii

PREVIEWS Oahu: postcard perfect and where we want Previews Test Drive: Unlimited to be! EXCLUS Massively Online Open Racing Anyone? SNEAK , You won’t have to fly 3000 miles to find an island paradise First looks and hands with an open road, just take your Xbox 360 for a spin ONLINE with Test Drive: Unlimited. By Undercover Lover FOR FANS OF Sexy Cars / Kicking Worldwide Ass / Getting Lei -ed X360 Up to eight drivers at a time can get into serious fender banging, but no vehicle damage allowed. 2 PS on impressions of PC DEVELOPER ’m not going to lie. There is nowhere Naturally, you’ll ride in style. There will standard interface. Club activities can be Eden Games we’d rather be than right now than be 125 licenced vehicles from top-flight posted to appear as soon as they enter the PSP on the island of Oahu cruising by the international manufacturers including Live lobby. Unlimited will feature a frequently PUBLISHER Iwaterfront behind the wheel of our Lamborghini, Ducati, Aston Martin, updated News feature as well where Atari Ferrari Testarossas — convertibles of course Mercedes, Saleen, Shelby and Jaguar. And at individuals can issue island-wide challenges, RELEASE DATE — top down… cool breeze blowing… ocean press time, Atari was still in negotiation with and Atari will announce periodic public races, Sept 2006 view… beaches… hell yeah! We might even Japanese automakers. However, all your car too. For person-to-person communication Test Drive rolls out the classics, too, like this sweet Mercedes-Benz Shopping for a brand new car at the local Mercedes dealership is no settle for Hawaii Interstate H2 and a Shelby choices will be decidedly high-end with the you’ll be able to find certain spots on the 300SL Gullwing. big deal — not! Cobra Concept… maybe. But we — and Audi A4 as the least expensive car you can island where you can use head-sets. upcoming games for all about 10,000 other video game motorheads own! Ninety will be selectable at the start of As a complete virtual world, Test Drive HOT out there — would freak to be in that your journey. As in other driving games, you isn’t going to restrict your Unlimited lifestyle position, right? Soon, thanks to Test Drive: can purchase new cars with cash you earn by to automobile interiors. The first thing you’ll This games looks Unlimited, we all can! winning races. do in the game is create an from 20 fantastic and plays TDU for the X360 (and other next-gen TDU isn’t going to overlook motorcycle basic characters. Atari is lining up branded very well. The world is mind-blowing in systems-to-be-identified), PC, PS2 and PSP aficionados either. Six bike manufacturers clothing and driving gear so you can dress scope and thrashing is the latest revival of that storied driving will also be onboard by the time the game your driver in style, too. through it with other franchise by Atari. But at the hands of launches. And, yes, bikes and cars will be able With your race winnings, you’ll purchase humans sounds rad! developer Eden Games in Lyon, France, the to race each other, too. spectacular homes all over the island. These OR NOT only things that connect this game with its In Unlimited’s MOOR world, online drivers cribs are key to your long-term goals as driver past are the first two words in the title. will be able to find dealerships and body and collector because the garages are where the systems. Eden seeks to take Test Drive out onto shops where they can purchase new rides you’ll store your stable of cars. Depending on fresh open roads with a brand new type or customise their existing ones with either which car or motorcycles you want to use, of gameplay, which it’s calling massively actual factory add-ons or name brand parts. you’ll then drive to that house to pick them open online racing (or MOOR). By Atari also plans to post new downloadable up. The larger the house, the more vehicles embracing online, the game will open up a cars and parts to online servers over time. you can park there. unique “Unlimited” free-roaming driving Even more fun, you can trade cars with other The lifestyle purchases extend to music environment alongside other humans. online players and race for pink slips, too. If and art. Test Drive will feature actual “Imagine you’re driving on Oahu with you really need an edge to get ahead, you’ll Hawaiian radio stations airing on car radios, SPECOMETER 1000 miles of actual Hawaiian road that’s also be able to rent hot cars. Earn enough and you’ll be able to download certain songs dinero At this stage Atari haven’t yours to explore any way you like,” says with a rental and you can purchase and playlists that Atari will offer via Xbox Live. released the minimum Eden’s Ahmed Boukhelifa, producer. “Not your own dream machine. To decorate your pad, you can take snapshots requirements for this title only that but thousands of other drivers are Whether you prefer to be a lone road of key race encounters or scenic views you but you can expect them also there, and you can challenge them to wolf or the member of a pack, Test Drive will experience, which you can frame and hang to be pretty high. The graphics look great and races or hook up with them to form clubs.” accommodate you. Any time you encounter on the walls. the world is not only huge, In fact, Eden mapped out every inch of another vehicle you’d like to race, just honk We’ve played TDU and it is living up to but needs to be drawn Oahu’s highway system and recreated all your horn. If they flash their headlights in the hype with stunning graphics, unsurpassed quickly at high-speeds. the luscious tropical scenery and beaches to return — it’s on! map detail and realistic, intuitive controls. But Obviously, broadband or better internet is wise. scale. The goal is to enable online Test Drivers You can both display an overhead view what do the Eden engineers say is the games to visit all the actual map of Oahu, then select the waypoints to gift? “Just being behind the wheel,” says locales on the island. create a route for your race. Once you agree, Boukhelifa. “This is the most difficult feeling Although the g “Offline mode is great, all you need to do is say, “Go!” Up to eight to convey about TDU until you actually play ame will be primar have since s ily positioned for X360 tated that the game and PC, Atari of course,” Boukhelifa cars can race at a time. The Oahu terrain is so it, but driving in this island paradise’s huge with, unbel will also find its way PSP ievably, all the cool to PS2 and PSP says, “but all this extensively detailed that you can even drive network of open roads with your friends is graphics features intact. Whi WHY? will not quite matc le we’re sure the h the nex game’s features have off-road to find shortcuts. still as amazing to us now as it was on the this will mark the t-gen gameplay we MMOs are the in-genre at the moment and it was only a PSP’s first M MO out have seen, excited about. Furthe ing which is somet matter of time before someone had the forethought and 2 & rmo hing to be been designed with If you and your pals form a club, you first day we tried it.” will b re, ‘Aussie as’ develop skill to take the concept beyond the RPG and into more e looking after t er Melbourne online in mind first and can notify each other of races and establish Well we had our first day trying it, and we he ports to the PS2 and House PS can trust mainstream friendly genres. Step up to the plate Eden an Aussie to k PSP. And as we kno now a good car game w w, you Games and blow us away with an MOOR! foremost.” a meeting place via (in our demo) Live’s cannot wait for another! hen they see one!

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DEVELOPER DEVELOPER Nintendo Hunters Daxter Ready At Dawn

ProHandheld HANDHELD PUBLISHER FOR FANS OF Metroid / Finger Gymnastics FOR FANS OF Jak Games / Fur Coats PUBLISHER Nintendo Sony CLASSIFICATION t was one of the first games announced axter has never before been seen CLASSIFICATION M for the DS, and a demo of it even without his slightly more humanoid PG PRO Icame bundled with the system D counterpart Jak, but on the quality of PRICE PRICE $69.95 hardware on launch day. Little did we his self-titled PSP debut, the pint-sized Ottsel $79.95 know that it would take more than a year (half otter, half weasel) may be better off of delays (and the release of Metroid Prime without that deadweight. Pinball) before we’d see the real thing. The first thing to know about this game is Samus fans should be jumping up and down that it is riddled with bugs, although thankfully with glee at the prospect of once again taking not the software kind. Insects of all shapes 9.0 The latest news, 9.0 control of the armour-suited heroine, the latest in and sizes are Daxter’s throughout his the Metroid series really is everything Nintendo platform adventure. Armed with an electric fly Daxter really makes the The numerous wrist and promised, although it isn’t without its problems. swatter and a canister full of toxic bug spray, the open-world genre, Daxter is free to roam There are only a few frustrating moments most out of breaking away finger cramps that you’ll from his sidekick role and DS sustain from playing Graphically this is the most advanced a variety of suits, Daxter is challenged to rid Haven city of the where he pleases, and even has a very cool of trial-and-error gameplay and the frame with this fantastic game, Metroid Prime Hunters game available on the DS, capturing the exact missiles, beams, pest infestation. hover-scooter to help him get about faster. rate does occasionally drop during graphically he finally becomes a star. will be worth it. It’s what same visual style that made the last two Prime bombs, morph-ball There are approximately 15 levels of The graphics are cartoony, but they actually intense sequences, but overall Daxter is Anyone looking for a quality PSP most DS players have games on the Gamecube such amazing visual upgrades and many platform-jumping, bug-exterminating manage to feature a lot of detail and some funny, fun and is easily the prettiest and most platformer on the move been waiting for since need look no further. we were given that first experiences. The resolution is lower of course, other indispensable excitement spread throughout the city, and great looking lighting effects — simply put, playable thus far released on taste on launch day, and the textures slightly pixellated, and overall the and cool gadgets. Daxter is given free reign over how he gets to they look fantastic, and every bit as impressive Sony’s handheld. ‘Nuf said! it’s everything we had game is rendered in less polygons but that If there is one thing each of them. Incorporating some elements of as the Playstation 2 games in the series. Maurice Branscombe hoped for. previews and reviews hardly diminishes its visual impact. we have to complain about, In terms of gameplay, Hunters replicate the and it really is a big thing, it’s that the hop your way through these evermore bizarre, style of the two previous Metroid Prime games control system doesn’t work particularly well. mind-altering designs in rapid succession, DEVELOPER perfectly, featuring a first-person perspective Using the stylus to aim and the D-pad and LocoRoco thus keeping you transfixed from start to Sony and all the exploring, suit-upgrading and L-button to walk and shoot is a cramp-inducing finish. There are some truly innovative ideas morph-ball rolling of its home-console siblings, experience that takes far too long to get used FOR FANS OF / Lemmings /Acid here, such as: tiny half-pipes, hidden rooms, PUBLISHER Sony as well as some Wi-Fi multiplayer thrown in for to. We’d be lying if we said it wasn’t worth conveyor belts and small snaking passages good measure. This time Samus has to contend fighting through however, as Metroid Prime e don’t know what they’re smoking that require you to break into your component CLASSIFICATION with a crew of six other bounty hunters, all Hunters is easily one of the most impressive over there at Sony, but share the LocoRocos to get through, then reform on the G looking for the same mystical artefacts. To help DS games we’ve ever seen. W wealth! As simple as it is psychedelic, other side. PRICE her in her battles you’ll have to find and equip Maurice Branscombe this trippy puzzle/platformer sits alongside little cute dudes. You have no direct control The presentation is designed to heighten $79.95 for Nintendo’s DS Mercury and Lumines as an ultra-addictive over your critter, but instead can tilt the world the outer-body level design and although it PSP treasure. For the record, a LocoRoco is a left or right using the shoulder buttons. In dabbles in bland-ish textures and minimalist smiley little blob creature that is half Pokemon addition to this, you can press both shoulder model variation, it works a treat. And the DEVELOPER and half one of those slippery things filled buttons at once to jump. So your goal is to physics engine is spot on with our truffle- Nintendo New Super Mario Bros. with shampoo that are impossible to hold on navigate from one side of the level through to shuffling hero bending, flexing and, well, 9.0 to… you know the ones... the other without dying and collecting as many generally blobbing as you would expect. PUBLISHER FOR FANS OF The Super Mario Bros. / Two and a Half Dimensions The gameplay is so simple it makes Forest LocoRocos as you can. It sure is a tough game to dislike. Perhaps An awesomely addictive Nintendo mix of puzzle ideals in a Gump look like Sir Isaac Newton — chocolates Simple, right? Well here comes the hit: some sort of multiplayer race mode would’ve platform environment that CLASSIFICATION he release of New Super Mario Bros to compete head-to-head swapped for apples of course. At the beginning the level design is off the charts with kooky increased the game’s depth and the SFX are is almost impossible to PSP PG marks almost fifteen years since the last against his sibling, and there are also some of a level, you start off as a single little old-school sonic-like pipes, crazy beasties, a little too Nintendo for our liking, plus a dislike. Check it out. T time Mario side-scrolled his way into extra mini-games included, although LocoRoco and as you collect fruit, you swell vegetation of the third kind and a host of range of power-ups could’ve heightened the PRICE and GBA and Sony’s a brand new 2D adventure with Super Mario disappointingly they are the exact same ones with other LocoRocos, eventually becoming industrial-like obstacles (such as windmills). experience but hey, lets not get glutinous. $69.95 World on the SNES. So was it worth the wait? that were supplied with Mario 64 at the this big fat thing stuffed with all these tiny Gameplay is so seamlessly fluid you glide and Chris Stead The answer to that question is a resounding yes. system’s launch. From the moment the game begins, you If we were being really picky we’d have to know you are in classic Nintendo territory. concede that the touch screen is underutilised, the action is far more intuitive now. The A.I is DEVELOPER True to form, the Princess is kidnapped only being used to activate stored power-ups, but World Tour Soccer 2 still no match for a human opponent (the game Sony 9.5 within seconds of the game’s opening and as overall New Super Mario Bros feels exactly like supports an entertaining Wi-Fi service), but Mario, you must make your way through the a classic Mario game should — and it’s precisely FOR FANS OF The World Cup / Big Goals / No midfield battles puts up enough of a challenge to make scoring PUBLISHER We haven’t had the pleasure Sony of playing a 2D platformer Mushroom Kingdom in eight worlds of running, this that makes it the best original platformer big goals rewarding. DS this good in so many years, jumping and Koopa-crushing to make it to a available for the DS, and furthermore, the best le! Ole! Oh whatever. We get it ok, There are eleven game modes in total (with One point of concern is the speed of the CLASSIFICATION we almost forgot how much final showdown with . 2D platform game in a decade. soccer is cool in 2006 and all other more downloadable in the future) and they gameplay. Perhaps in an attempt to heighten the G dynamite PSP. fun they can be. A classic in From here on in, New Super Mario Bros is Maurice Branscombe O sports suck. And inevitably, this means spice up the action by asking you to compete quick-play mentality of the PSP and the arcade every respect it will remind PRICE you why you started gaming the perfect balance between old-school cool plenty of soccer games miraculously finding a within real-world guidelines to unrealistic rules. nature of the game modes, the action whizzes by $79.95 at all. Poor touch-screen and current-gen sophistication. While all the release date in and around the month of June. For example, in one mode you cannot score at a breathtaking pace, almost too fast. Would use and length issues keep action takes place in two dimensions, the world With Mario Smash Football, 2006 FIFA World until every player on your team has touched the the game modes have worked with a more it from a perfect ten. is rendered with some beautiful cartoon-like Cup and Sensible Soccer 2 already kicking ball once. In another, only your midfielders are realistic pace? It’s hard to say, but it is a shame 3D graphics. goals, what can World Tour Soccer 2 bring to allowed to score, while a third example pits you that the option to play a normal speed, normal Mario himself has rarely been so dynamic. the virtual paddock? with a ten-second shot clock. And while kicking game is not included, restricting the potential 7.5 The game’s 3D visuals lend him more The core concept of WTS2 is indeed intriguing. goals will definitely help your cause, it is not audience. In the end, despite the fact it offers a animation and character than was ever possible It aims to apply arcade-like controls and gameplay your primary means of winning a game. Instead, different experience to Evo, it still isn’t as fun. WTS2 is a definite with one less dimension. Plus his new power- mechanics to the real game. This is no Sim by any you receive points for well-timed tackles, good Chris Stead improvement on the ups, like a suit that lets him wear a Koopa’s stretch of the imagination and Evo addicts might passes and successful challenge: on the flip, you previous version in the shell and mushrooms that either make Mario as well switch off now, but it is 11-on-11 on a loose points for playing like a chump. series and thus offers a harmless secondary option grow to massive screen-filling size or shrink him proper sized pitch with official rules: you will not It’s reasonably good fun, and both the to the big genre guns. PSP to only a few pixels high makes the otherwise be collecting red shells, going “on-fire” nor staring controls and A.I have been far improved on the familiar gameplay entirely fresh. bewildered at your out-of-proportion character original game which is arguably the WTS2’s Nintendo have even included wireless models here. The arcade element of this game most important success. Where the previous multiplayer, with Luigi making an appearance comes instead from its game modes. game had you labouring to put together plays,

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The latest games reviewed DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS Blood Money is about the hits, but how they are executed is entirely up to you, the gamer. For instance, there is a level based in a Parisian theatre where 47 is required to kill an opera singer and his paedophilic partner in crime, the ambassador to the X360 Blood Money United States. Upon starting the mission it’s clear there are a FOR FANS OF Assassins / Stealth / The Follicley Challenged number of ways to go about your task. Perhaps you’d like to swap a replicate WW2 pistol for the real thing and let the Opera singer’s fellow actor take him out? Maybe it’s more your style to steal PS2 hat do you think of when you hear based in the US. The new graphics engine the actor’s clothes and do the dirty work yourself? Or perhaps the words “bald-headed killer clone”? renders the featured locales in rich detail and it would be more fun to rig the stage lights with explosives and If Mini-me came to your head, then in usual Hitman style the elaborately designed take out the target from afar? These are just a few of the methods available. Each level presents a variety of methods leaving it up on all formats written by W go to the corner junior. There’s only levels offer more routes of penetration and the assassins. You can then to you, your imagination and resources to decide how to eliminate XBOX room for one bald-headed killer clone and consequential unloading of your weapon than splurge your cash reserves your target — no series does it better. that’s everyone’s favourite hired hitman, Agent a two-headed Paris Hilton blow-up doll. on weapon upgrades and, 47. The world’s greatest assassin is back doing Agent 47 is up to his old tricks again and if need be, bribes to get PC what he does best; hired hits, kicking arse and can stalk, slit throats, garrotte, drag hapless the authorities off your back. SPECOMETER in extreme cases. These don’t come spine-cracking brutality and visceral satisfaction. collecting cash in the latest Hitman instalment flesh bags around and make better use of Your overall performance Despite being a very cheap though. The graphics engine has been completely rebuilt from developer IO Interactive. With an all new found objects than a crack-infused MacGyver will affect your monetary reward so attractive game, Hitman The monetary reward and notoriety from the ground up and it shows. There’s graphics engine that improves the visceral thrill ever could. His repertoire of moves has been it’s advisable to be as crafty and imaginative doesn’t require too much system ties in with IO’s new level summary nothing quite like the explosive red mural that of the game and enhancements to 47’s killing expanded to include head-butting, disarming as possible. The biggest cash bonanzas are juice — A P3 800MHz with that keeps track of your stats, and rewards adorns a wall after popping a cap in the back of 32MB Graphics Card and prowess, this is Hitman at its very best. tactics and the ability to use ill-fated enemies handed out to agents who can sneakily go about 256MB of RAM will cut it. you for seamless executions. Aside from the some unsuspecting fool’s skull. This time around the narrative opens with as meaty shields. They’re all intuitive additions their business, making hits look as natural or standard summary menu which details kills, The rebuilt graphics engine tops off the trustyworthy and well- our beloved bar-coded baldie finding himself that add extra depth to 47’s killing skills. accidental as possible. Storming in cowboy-style number of shots fired and witnesses, there is entire Blood Money package. With its intuitive on a long, but dwindling list of targeted ICA Blood Money’s tagline, “Money Talks, with guns blazing is never the smartest or easiest DEVELOPER also the addition of newspapers that chronicle stealth-styled gameplay, incredibly imaginative assassins. Not one to turn down a challenge or Silence Pays,” sums up the essence of the option and is a sure-fire way of getting 47 IO Interactive your dastardly ways. The main news story is level designs and varied objectives, Hitman is in ever let the mission get in the way of his pay, game perfectly, it’s just a shame that 47 didn’t noticed and notorious. PUBLISHER dynamically generated after each level and gives the best shape of its life. If only those cloning 47 systematically goes after his enemies and cotton on earlier. A ruthless killer he is but a Notoriety is another measure that’s been Eidos a run down of your actions and subtle killing scientists could find a cure for baldness… picks up his cash along the way. shrewd accountant he ain’t and that’s probably thrown in. It’s accumulated by acting like mechanics if deployed. The newspaper also Mitchell Bingemann Without giving too much away, the story why it’s taken 47 until the fourth instalment Charles Bronson and indiscriminately shooting CLASSIFICATION features other smaller stories that relate to your MA15+ harkens back to 47’s past, the perennial battle to start charging for his services. Cash rewards targets and pregnant bystanders’ for no killing sprees and act as great story filler for the over the ethics of cloning and the formation are on offer at the completion of each level apparent reason. Sure it can be fun to do, but PRICE interesting narrative. WE SAY 9.0 of a rival agency of super assassins set on with the biggest payouts going to the sneakiest it is definitely not befitting of a skilled assassin $89.95 Visually, the game looks better than ever. eliminating our beloved hitman. It’s pretty and is reprimanded accordingly as civilians Bald is definitely beautiful when it comes to 47 known writers. Hitman: Blood Money is bloody fantastic. It fuses stealth, much a case of the hunter becoming the become weary of your actions as the game and he’s damn aware of it. With chiseled facial action and an intriguing story like no other in the series, and hunted becoming the hunter again. The good progresses. However, if you find your notoriety expressions, fluid movements and excellent will delight wannabe assassins the world over. A definite news is there’s no one more prepared than 47 climbing to worrying peaks, you can make THEY execution animations, Blood Money oozes return to form after the lacklustre Contracts., to handle what unfolds. amends by spending your hard earned cash on In all, there are 13 missions that feature a bribes, local harassment and even plastic surgery SAY few Euorpean stopovers, but are predominantly Agent 47 is back and this time he’s paid in cold, hard KA-CHING cash. How the money is spent will affect his passage If only Agent 47 had taken Economics 101 at uni, through the game and the instead of that garrotting class at community weapons at his disposal, college, he would have enough dough by now resulting in a unique for that cosy little retreat in the Bahamas. But gameplay experience for he didn’t and instead lives the life of a pauper each player. assassin. Until you help him save enough dough, 47 will just have to amuse himself by burning his hard earned cash on bling. But in 47’s case, it’s not about what you wear around your neck but rather what you attach to your gat. Agent 47 has four custom weapons that can be upgraded in between levels. His super Silverballers, the sporadic SMP, the shuddering shotgun and the sneaky sniper make up his upgradeable arsenal and feature more modifications than a post-op drag queen. Blood Money con Each weapon has between ten and 15 mods trols and plays just as rewarding that you can purchase such as scopes, silenced ly as the rest of the series. Play ammo, weight reduction, clip enlargements and ed from the third-p perspec erson scopes. It’s the best and most rewarding way to LAY tive it is q We were a bit worried about the future of Hitman after the previous sequel Contracts uite similar to the P Splinter Cell g spend your hard earned cash and will transform ames except it is y — it focused on being controversial rather than intelligent. However, it is great to E our task to get throu your timid looking weapons into Frankenstein- see Blood Money bring the series back to its strengths as played in Silent Assassin. gh every level killin only your ta g like abominations by the game’s end. rget and not being n but you oticed, GAM can just choo se to kill everyone. 70 WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU 71

UPDATE : Xbox 360 ProUpdate X360 Live Update Blowout Storm passes, Gets COD 2 PRO NEWS Shadow Looms Updates Quake 4 Patch 1.2 Last month launched patch 1.10 for their Anyone who has picked up a copy of Call of The latest patch for id software and world–beating massively multiplayer online RPG. The appropriately Duty 2 for your Xbox 360 over the past couple Raven Game’s Quake 4 has been subtitled Storms of Azeroth added much anticipated weather of months (at the time of writing, around 7,000 released, although it comes with some effects such as snow, rain and dust storms to many areas of the of you!), will be pleased to find out that even drawbacks. Although the update world, among numerous other improvements. more COD 2 goodness is on its way courtesy includes seven new multiplayer maps This is where you’ll fi nd The update went off almost without a hitch, if it wasn’t for of developer Infinity Ward. and a number of beneficial bug fixes the some extended server downtime due to essential maintenance, The release of three different sets of new problem is that none of your old save that is. The problem was quickly remedied and WOW addicts were multiplayer maps has been announced, with game files or multiplayer friend lists will Power. The upgrades include a allowed back into their natural habitat. two sets debuting on Microsoft’s Xbox Live be compatible with Quake 4 version Co-Op Pack which unlocks an The next patch on the horizon, 1.11, looks to have even more Marketplace during autumn. The first set, 1.2, meaning that you’ll have to make a online cooperative multiplayer in store for residents of Azeroth. Subtitled the Shadow of the called the Bonus Mission Pack will be available big decision before making this upgrade. mode and two costume sets, Necropolis, this patch will include a talent review for the Mage for free download and will feature two new including the Masquerade Pack class and an entirely new high-level dungeon called Naxxramas. multiplayer levels located in Vossenack and F.E.A.R. SDK Released which features the costumes of This necropolis floats about the Plaguelands and is the hideout Wallendar, Germany. The SDK (Software Development Kit) famous characters and the of one of the Lich King’s most powerful henchmen the lich The second set, the Skirmish Map for one of last year’s best first-person he new Xbox 360 Live network is Fright Warrior Pack which includes some Kel’Thuzad. Naxxramas will be a 40-man raid dungeon that Pack, will be sold for 400 Microsoft Points shooters, F.E.A.R., has just been out about all the patches, finally starting to come through with scary clothes for Kameo to wear. Another promises to give even experienced players an epic challenge. (approximately AU$6.60) over the Xbox Live released to the public by developer T its promise of downloadable content quite cool (and free) download is the free Marketplace and will include maps based in Monolith Productions. What this means that will enhance both your games and your cars available for . Although Kalach, Russia and Beaumont-Hague, France. for gamers is that with a little coding By Maurice Branscombe By Maurice Xbox Live experience, the only problem is why the cars are free becomes immediately In July, the third set, called the Invasion skill of your own, and some imagination, you’ll end up paying through the nose for obvious, as they are cunningly disguised Pack, will be released and will feature an extra you can create your own game creations the privilege. Available now at the Xbox product placement advertisements for, five maps for 900 Microsoft Points (approx using the F.E.A.R. engine. Live Marketplace are theme packs that will among others, Alienware, Dolby, Plantronics AU$14.85). The maps included in this final Prospective modders should check out customise your Xbox Live dashboard, gamer and Spike TV. release will take place in varied locales such www.sierra.com or the download. pictures that act as your avatar when playing A few other downloads are free, but most as Antoville, St. Louet and Amaye sur Seulles online, game demos and trailers, and most will set you back a little of your hard-earned, in France as well as Alam Halfa, Egypt and COD2 Busts Punks impressively of all, real game content. in the form of “Microsoft Points”, which are Rostov, Russia. In more news, thanks to expansions packs and A few examples include a set of three purchased from Microsoft directly and used the release of the PC game’s 1.2 patch, upgrades for Rare’s Kameo Elements of over the service as currency. cheaters will now find it a lot more difficult to get their unfair advantage. Support for the most widely used anti- cheating software, Punkbuster, has been PSP Firms worked into the latest version of the The Elder Scolls IV: Oblivion Expands game, as well as the amazing bonus of Up For First two new multiplayer maps, Rhine and he Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has been one of the Finally there is the Wizard’s Tower. This update lets you long-time favourite Harbor, from the hottest pieces of software on the market since it enter the previously inaccessible Frostcrag Spire, otherwise original Call of Duty. downloads for your favourite Demo T launched in March, now the game’s developer, known as the Wizard’s Tower located high in the Jeral Bethesda Softworks, is offering a number of additional Mountains of Cyrodiil. Once inside the tower you’ll find Civilisation IV Expands It may surprise some gamers that it took content downloads for both the Xbox 360 and PC versions a botanical garden with over 130 different plants and This month an expansion for Sid Meier’s them this long, but Sony has just released of the game. herbs, you’ll have the ability to summon Atronach Familiars Civilisation IV has been announced, their first ever PSP game demo that can There are three updates available, and each of them that obey your commands, instant teleports to every subtitled Warlords. The expansion will be downloaded via the internet. A sample unlocks a new feature in the game, or even a whole new Mages Guild in Cyrodiil, a fully functional Enchanting and give players many new features including level of the cute, slightly psychedelic and quest. The first of these is the Horse Armour pack, which Spellmaking station and more. Frostcrag Spire also happens six new scenarios to play through, as irrepressibly fun eat-em-up, LocoRoco, true to its name unlocks the ability to fit your steed with to be the highest point in all of Tamriel, giving you a well as adding the feature that gives is being offered on the game’s Japanese some fancy-looking and potentially life-saving armour breathtaking view of the surrounding lands. the pack its name — the ability to website. The file only weighs in at 8MB plating. At only 6.2MB this update is the smallest of the These updates aren’t free however and you will have create “warlord” characters. Firaxis and features an entire level of the game’s three. to spend a bit more than just your hard-earned Tamriel have already release renders of a few games to ensure their life particular brand of wackiness for you to Next in line is the Orrery update, which includes a currency to get them, you’ll have to put down some of these warlords, all historical leaders enjoy straight off your memory stick. To new, fully-featured quest. In it you’ll be helping the Mages real money for these babies. Luckily, the updates aren’t such as Julius Ceasar, Winston Churchill download simply go to: www.jp.. Guild of Cyrodiil repair the Imperial Orrery, a machine with particularly expensive, coming in at approximately US$1.99 and Joseph Stalin, and we can probably com/scej/title/. mystical properties. The update includes journals, dialogue (AU$2.65) each for the PC downloads and about US$2.50 expect even more from the final release. In order to start the demo, players will and rewards as well as access to an entirely new area, the (AU$3.30) for the Xbox 360 ones. PC gamers should go to have to update their firmware to the newly Orrery itself. http://obliviondownloads.com for more information. The Outfit Gets Fitted Out released 2.70 edition. This firmware update The past month has seen THQ release includes a number of additional features apart their first multiplayer map pack for from the ability to play demos, including their hit WWII squad-based actioner support for Macromedia Flash player in the The Outfit. The pack, called Collateral PSP’s internet browser, the ability to play ACC Damage, includes three all-new continues well beyond audio files (the format preferred by Apple’s multiplayer maps titled Luftwaffe Finale, iPod) as well as eliminating some bugs that Bleak Mile and Eagle’s Nest which can sometimes be experienced when using aim to build upon the game’s already memory sticks that have more than two fast-paced, explosive online gameplay. Gigabytes of memory. The 2.70 update can The pack is available for purchase over

Keeping Your Favourite Games Updated. Games Updated. Favourite Your Keeping be downloaded from Sony’s US website: Microsoft’s Xbox Live Marketplace and www.us.playstation.com. sells for 500 Microsoft Points (~ $8.25). beating the bad guy. 94 WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU 95

07 S

GAMEPRO SPECIAL PROJECTS pecials Australian GamePro is a bi-monthly production which gives us the opportunity to work on special projects in the off-months that can focus on specifi c products or game catalogues. This occurs through two sub-brands, our Ultimate Buyers Guides and GamePro Presents. To date we have had great success with Ultimate Buyers Guides for the PSP, Nintendo and Xbox 360 and have worked on two GamePro Presents projects, World of Warcraft and Grand Theft Auto.

One of the main reasons for the success of these products has been our partnerships with retailers such as CML, which provide coupons as an added incentive to buy the magazine and shop at our partner’s store. We are constantly looking for new and exciting ways to strengthen these special projects and encourage our industry friends to come forward with any initiatives that they may have. We are committed to continuing these projects into the foreseeable future and are currently working on a sequel to our PSP Buyers Guide called PSP Reloaded.

You can expect to see other special projects hit store shelves on July 5 (deadline June 14), September 1 (deadline August 15), November 1 (deadline October 12) and January 10, 2007 (deadline December 13). These dates are not concrete and you should contact us to fi nd out more about the topic and how you and your products can be involved.

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We work closely with our distributors to ensure that arketing Australian GamePro always features prominently in newsagents throughout Australia and New Zealand. We market the magazine through IDG’s extensive network as well as through poster campaigns and supplements much as cover-mounts, bagged bonus issues and posters.

WWW.GAMEPRO.COM.AU In addition to the bi-monthly print edition, GamePro will also feature an extensive website which is the essential resource for Australian gamers. The GamePro website at http://www.gamepro.com.au provides the hottest games content including current news and reviews that did not make the print edition.

GamePro will also feature a free multiplatform email newsletter that is sent out twice a week. This will keep GamePro readers up to date in between the print editions of the publication. The newsletter is available in both HTML and text formats and is available for exclusive sponsorship.

GETTING INVOLVED Australian GamePro is always looking for exciting new ways to standout on the newsstand and invites its friends to come forward with mutually benefi cial opportunities. This includes cover-mounts, posters and baggable goodies.

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Double Page 1/2 Page Full Page Spread Horizontal 300 mm D 300 mm D 149 mm D Trim size x 230 mm W x 460 mm W x 230 mm W 262 mm D 262 mm D 130 mm D Type area x 202 mm W x 431 mm W x 202 mm W Bleed size 5 mm on all sides Gutter 16 mm allowance

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DATES AND DEADLINES 2006

Booking Final Ad Issue On Sale Deadline Material February/March 5 December 13 December 9 January

April/May 14 February 22 February 15 March

June/July 10 April 10 May 31 May August/ 4 July 12 July 2 August September October/ 5 September 13 September 4 October November December/ 24 October 1 November 22 November January 11 C

MANAGEMENT CONTACTS ontacts PRESIDENT PC/CHANNEL DIVISION Susan Searle Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 9902 2718

EDITORIAL CONTACTS EDITOR Chris Stead Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 9902 2721

STAFF WRITER Maurice Branscombe Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 9902 2731

SALES CONTACTS GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER Andrew Brain Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 9902 2759

ACCOUNT MANAGERS Linda Bertolissio Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 9902 2739

Stephen Keens Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 9902 2771

CLASSIFIED SALES Nicola Halpin Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 9902 2725

PRODUCTION CONTACTS WORKFLOW MANAGER Cheryl Podda Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 9902 2757 Production fax: (02) 9906 3232 12