SOUTH AFRICA’S LEADING GAMING, COMPUTER & TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE VOL 15 ISSUE 2
FEATURES G.E.L.F. Essential lifestyle gear Epic Mickey 2 Eek, a mouse Darksiders II Feel the chill PC / PLAYSTATION / XBOX / NINTENDO REVIEWS Exclusive: Prototype 2 SSX Kid Icarus: Uprising Journey
This is my tomahawk, this is my gun. This one is for slaying, and this one is for fun. SOUTH AFRICA’S LEADING GAMING, COMPUTER & TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE VOL 15 ISSUE 2
EXCLUSIVE Bonus digital cover!
PC / PLAYSTATION / XBOX / NINTENDO REVIEWS Exclusive: Prototype 2 SSX Kid Icarus: Uprising Journey + MORE
DARKSIDERS II I beheld a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was Death
FEATURES Assassin’s Creed III New game, new assassin, New World. Epic Mickey 2 Eek, a mouse G.E.L.F. Essential lifestyle gear
Editor Michael “RedTide“ James [email protected]
Assistant editor Contents Features Geoff “GeometriX“ Burrows Regulars 28 THE TOP 8 ADGs (ATTENTION- Staff writer DEMANDING GAMES) OF 2012 Dane “Barkskin “ Remendes 8 Ed’s note 2012 is looking like a scorching year for video games. 10 Inbox Contributing editor We pick the top eight that have us salivating with 14 Bytes Lauren “Guardi3n “ Das Neves thoughts of what gaming’s future holds.
Technical writer 32 GAMER’S ESSENTIAL Neo “ShockG“ Sibeko Opinion LIFESTYLE FEATURE International correspondent 14 I, Gamer The lifestyle of a gamer is generally shrouded in Miktar “Miktar” Dracon 16 The Game Stalker gloriously nerdy pursuits that occupy our time when 18 The Indie Investigator we’re not actually playing games. Here be some Contributors 20 Miktar’s Meanderings things for you to want, and want now. Rodain “Nandrew” Joubert 83 Hardwired Walt “Ramjet” Pretorius 98 Game Over Miklós “Mikit0707 “ Szecsei 38 DISNEY EPIC MICKEY 2: Pippa “UnexpectedGirl” Tshabalala THE POWER OF TWO Tarryn “Azimuth “ Van Der Byl Warren Spector isn’t done with Mickey after just one Adam “Madman” Liebman Previews game. We bring you the skinny on its duo-fuelled innards. Art director 52 Sleeping Dogs Chris “SAVAGE“ Savides 54 Dead or Alive 5 56 ShootMania Storm 42 DARKSIDERS II Photography War is old hat – Death is all the rage right now. Chris “SAVAGE“ Savides Darksiders II puts the “action” in action RPG, Dreamstime.com promising more, more and more than its forebear Fotolia.com Reviews ever did. 58 Reviews: Introduction Sales executive Cheryl “Cleona“ Harris / [email protected] 59 Short Reviews: Army Corps 46 ASSASSIN’S CREED III +27 72 322 9875 of Hell / Lumines: It’s out of Italy and into the Americas for Assassin’s Electronic Symphony Creed. Let us hold your hand as we give you a journey Marketing and promotions manager Silent Hill HD Collection of the series’ new frontier. Jacqui “Jax” Jacobs 60 Prototype 2 [email protected] +27 82 778 8439 62 Armored Core V 46 INTEL Z77 64 Street Fighter X Tekken MOTHERBOARD ROUNDUP Offi ce assistant 66 Kid Icarus: Uprising Intel’s new hotness is here! We put fi ve Z77 Paul Ndebele 68 Journey motherboards through rigorous testing to inform you 70 Twisted Metal where your money’s best spent. Contact details 72 SSX P .O. Box 237, Olivedale, 2158, South Africa Tel +27 11 704 2679 74 Yakuza: Dead Souls Fax +27 11 704 4120 75 The Sims 3: Master Suite Stuff Subscription department 76 Blades of Time [email protected] 77 Tekken 3D: Prime Edition 79 The Jak and Daxter Trilogy Internet www.nag.co.za www.zinio.com/nag www.facebook.com/NAGMagazine Hardware www.twitter.com/nagcoza 80 Tech news Printing 82 Dream Machine Impress Web Printers 84 The lazy gamer’s guide: Cyborg 031 263 2755 F.L.Y. 9 Wireless Flight Stick 90 ASUS GeFORCE GTX 680 Distribution 92 AOC e1649Fwu Portable Laptop On the Dot Stuart Dickerson / 011 401 5932 Monitor / Acer Aspire S3 94 GIGABYTE RADEON R787OC-2GD 96 Asrock X79 Fatal1ty Professional 97 Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S Copyright 2012 NAG All rights reserved. No article or picture in this magazine may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form whatsoever without the express written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editors. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners. Don’t Pirate NAG!
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It’s my nightmare and T-SHIRTS Supplier AWX (Cheshire Cat) / Cosmic Comics I’ll scream if I want to! (Batman) Price They say when you start talking about your dreams in print R225 (Cheshire Cat) / R199 it’s time to look at other career choices and perhaps get a (Batman) nice hobby that involves plenty of sunshine and fresh air. Lucky for me then talking about my dreams is not what “They glow in the this is about. dark” is the answer Actually, I do need to talk a little about them for context, to the question of but this isn’t about them – you’ll see. why these are so So the other night I had what most people might call a special. Besides nightmare: Tarryn was in it (not the scary part), and we were looking cool they going under the ground to explore some evil house or a school off er other pluses and minuses. that was infected by some oozy, slimy meaty entity (Dead Plus: let’s say, for Space – not sure). Tarryn disappeared down a hole in the fl oor example, your (into the entity) and I took another route fi ghting shapeless airplane crashes things in the dark. Before things got too intense and weird I into a mountain woke up. Anyway, in this dream and ones like it my view of and you’re thrown the action switches to third person and not fi rst person. So out and land I kind of watch what’s happening to me while I’m doing it. I unconscious only have fi rst person dreams when they are fun, pleasurable in a dark fi eld. or exciting and interesting. The “bad” stuff like slaying acid Emergency services will have vomiting aliens and/or nuking the Dome at Northgate (don’t no trouble fi nding ask) I do in the third person – to keep me detached, I think a you. Minus: getting psychiatrist would guess. So laying there in the dark a thought I’D LIKE TO THANK… mistaken for an dropped out of the collective and I mused, “I wonder if you I don’t know if I’m going to get all of this in before the eradiated worker dream like that because you’re a gamer.” People who don’t play orchestra starts playing but I’ll give it a go. For our cartoony at a nuclear power games have no perspective other than the fi rst person. They Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two feature thanks must go plant. don’t do anything that involves controlling anything from to Gail from Prima Interactive and Warren Spector from a third person perspective. On the other hand, we gamers Junction Point. Then, for Darksiders II: Death Strikes, switch from fi rst to third and from 2D to 3D and top-down to thanks go to Howard from Ster Kinekor and Marvin Donald isometric all the time since we started gaming. The fi rst time (game director) for taking the time to speak to us about his I grasped just how clever and complex games could be was game. For the epic Assassin’s Creed III, we say hey to Rene’ playing an isometric puzzle game called Head Over Heels on from Megarom, Dan Gardener and Hayley Johnstone from the Commodore 64. You had to split up a pair of characters Ubisoft London and of course Matt Turner (lead script to solve the puzzles. This was a long time ago when a concept writer for ACIII) for taking the time to talk to us. Almost like this was on the bleeding edge but it was a new way of done... Last, but not least, Sarah from Claudia’s Travel who looking at games, a diff erent perspective as it were. Since then had to make a million fl ight alterations across four diff erent I’ve played from so many diff erent viewpoints (even inside countries so that we could get to London. Finally, thanks to rocks thanks to Tomb Raider) I’ve lost count, and I think this Rob Guillory for kindly letting us to use his artwork in NAG has changed the way I view my dreams. and also for taking the time to answer a few questions. All I’d like to hear from you lot about your gaming related you people rock! dream perspectives, not so much dreams about games, because we’ve all probably had plenty of those, but how you OUT OF SPACE think playing games aff ects how you dream. I did a little We never had space for the T-shirts in the GELF on page 32 snap poll around the offi ce but the results were inconclusive thanks to our art director’s “artistic vision” or some other so let’s fi nd out what everyone else thinks. That’s it I hope, nonsense. This is the one that got away… unless I’ve just typed 500 odd words of evidence in the case - RedTide to have me committed? Editor
8 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ INBOX /
*Disclaimer: Most of the letters sent to this fi ne publication are printed more or less verbatim (that means “we don’t edit or fi x them” for you slow kids at the back), so ignore any spelling or grammatical INBOX errors. It’s not us… it’s you. LETTER OF THE MONTH MAY 2012
From: Siemeon comparing the rifl e you unlock at level Subject: Our equality is being broken 50 with your starting rifl e is similar to Recently Battlefi eld 3, perhaps one of comparing a peashooter to a cannon. The the greatest multiplayer off erings of level ground is gone and once again the LETTER OF THE MONTH our generation, introduced an option to rich gain better footing, in our fi nal and unlock all weapons/mods/upgrades by once beautiful frontier. And the sad part The “Letter of the Month” prize is sponsored by the good folks at way of buying them. This spells the start is that we can’t do much to stop it. Megarom. The winner receives two of what could be perhaps the biggest games for coming up with the most sh1tstorm in gaming’s history. Video Boy, this whole paying for weapon inspired bit of wisdom of cleverness. games have always been the greatest unlocks in Battlefi eld 3 is a hot topic this Note: You can’t change the games or the equaliser on the face of the earth. They’ve month; I received about 19 letters on platform they come on. put us no matter the race, sex, creed, this topic alone (50/50 for and against). belief or whatever you care to name on I’ll simplify how I see it and then you can HARD TECHNICAL STUFF equal ground with no advantage over agree or disagree as you see fi t at the Land mail: P.O. Box 237, Olivedale, 2158 each other. This took quite the battering usual address. I fully support the idea of Better mail: [email protected] with the Call of Duty approach of having paying for things instead of spending Important: Include your details when mailing us or you’ll never get your prize your rank determine your weapons. But endless hours unlocking them. I have if you win… with these shortcut kits in Battlefi eld 3, money but I don’t have time. I also have all equality has been obliterated by the the money because I spend my time age old evil of money. Now the gamers making it; time I might have otherwise who have dedicated themselves to the spent in the game unlocking things. team of people to make them, so game and poured hundreds of hours into With this new “service” I can go to work, who should get the award? The guy it are being obliterated by someone who make supper, feed the cats, watch that fi gured out better hit detection just had to pour a few extra bucks into some TV, and then play a few hours or the guy who drew all the amazing it. This entire unlocking system within of Battlefi eld 3 without feeling like I’m backgrounds or the manager who the gaming industry is getting worse behind the pack and getting nowhere drinks coff ee and makes it happen? It’s and worse. For example: Gears of War’s fast. I also like the way this has worked not a play with a single actor but rather weapon skins are extremely limited to out because those that do spend their an extravaganza with hundreds of those without Microsoft points, that in whole day and night in front of the game roles. Still, the VGAs are special and on itself isn’t that bad, but putting a price sometimes have superiority complexes TV and everything and gamers watch on stuff that infl uences gameplay is based purely on how much time they’ve them. Who cares about Joe public and much worse . Even though a lot of people sunk into a game and nothing else. So what he/she/it thinks anyway. Ed. claim that Battlefi eld and Call of Duty yeah, bring it on and level that playing are both perfectly balanced in terms of fi eld with cash. Time does equal money From: Ezra weapon strength; everyone knows that after all and this just proves it. ;) Ed. Subject: Hi from India Thank you for producing such an awesome magazine. I‘ve been hooked on it for ages. :) I recently returned from From: Sebastian my holiday in India and have to say that Subject: Awards actor out there wants an Oscar and the March Issue of NAG helped save my Hey amazing magazine makers, thank that even if the fi lm does not sell that sanity on the way there. you for bringing joy to my life every is the proudest moment in their career, month. I am happy that fi nally gamers, but do you think that game developers for the most part, are not stereotyped would rather have more sales or one of as much as before and that we and the awards? I want the biggest honour the games are getting more respect. for a game developer to be an award like It is my opinion that video games are an Oscar because some of them truly in many ways better than movies and deserve that, which would get them they sometimes have amazing music remembered for their accomplishments as well that should be considered for even after their deaths. higher awards than the VGA's or E3's game of the show. I mean there are the I think the Video Game Awards and Oscars and the Grammy's, but there is others like the Independent Games no award for video games that people Festival are very prestigious aff airs in respect and admire, and that many can the gaming industry. The other thing only hope to get. You know that every with games is that it takes a huge
10 May 2012 www.nag.co.za Letters
ON THE FORUMS
What with having a 12 hour fl ight Get your views immortalised forever… Visit our forums: www.nag.co.za/forums to Dubai with an 8 hour overlay following that in the airport on the Q: Which game character do you care the least about, to the point that if way to Chennai. So the NAG pretty they died tomorrow, you wouldn’t be bothered? much lived in my backpack for the rest of the trip and went with me to many interesting and exotic locales. “Alex Vance, because well, ‘Look at I thought the image of Far Cry 3 was quite fi tting, especially when we were me, I’m with the Freeman!’ If Freeman in Goa. Most of the coastline consists were to ever say something, I hope it is, of beaches and tropical peninsulas, ‘Move b!tch, get out the way’ even not so many bloodied knives though. In Mahabalipuram got to chill in the if it is in sign language.” shade of a freaking huge boulder called ZoRPA Krishna's Butter Ball which has thus far refused to roll over even though it is precariously perched on a solid “Pac-man. I have killed him rock embankment. Hi from the past in the shade of the Butter Ball with my so many damn times...” girlfriend and my NAG. ;) nukehead Like. Ed
From: Peter “Kane from the Command & Conquer Subject: Game of last Year? It's got me puzzled how critics could series. No one cares if he dies any more.” have bestowed the honour of game mordread of the year upon Skyrim in 2011 and I feel assured that none of them even completed the game. Comments on the internet lead me to believe that “James (ME3), he was essentially a Skyrim is plagued by endless glitches, marine meat bag with about as much just as Elder Scrolls IV was and still is. I attempted to complete the latter game depth as an empty cup.” on 3 occasions since release in 2006 and OllieTheDog downloaded an available Xbox patch recently, that meant starting the game from scratch. Nothing has changed; the recommendation of deleting saved “I have an inexplicable hatred of Miranda games or holding 'A' to clear the cache Lawson from Mass Eff ect 2 & 3. It’s even is as good as farting against the wind. Soon to celebrate my 65th birthday I worse because I usually take her along hate to leave quests unfi nished, my time because of her squad damage boost ability.” has become most precious and I have KimmyKae wasted 100's of hours in a quest such as the above, which could lead me in fi nally becoming a King in something. far from perfect but then amongst all When I was fi ve I would accompany my What could be good news to all the the imperfect games, it’s probably the mom to work every day, just because millions of gamers that have played best of the batch for what it represents there was a PS1 waiting for me there. I Elder Scrolls IV is that Bethesda Game – and they continue to tweak and fi x would sit there for hours playing Brian Studios seem now fi nally to have it. While you wait for that next patch Lara, FIFA 95 and my most cherished gathered that their past has come to why not give the Mass Eff ect universe game Tekken 4. One might think it sad haunt them and a recent mail received a try (bear with the fi rst one however); that the only use I ever had for sports informs me that their game developers now there’s an amazing game/story/ gel as a child, was to put on the blisters are currently working on more fi xes experience like no other – especially if that formed on my thumbs from the for the game. Hoping that they get you enjoy science fi ction. I’d also like button mashing I did on that game, but their act together this time, one to point out that if you played a game I couldn’t care less. wonders what took them so long, in for hundreds of hours then they are Then a few years later I discovered perfecting a release since 2006. not wasted – if you enjoyed most of the PS2, but sadly I couldn’t aff ord it. As beautiful the game may be I will them. Someone smarter than me said, Instead I would run to the shops every not fork out my pension on purchasing “Life is a journey”… or something like Friday and hire out a ratty looking PS2 Skyrim until assured that the game can that. Ed. and the game of all games, Kingdom be completed, good things must come to Hearts. This will forever be my an end, let's hope that Bethesda gets it From: Anna most cherished game. I have a copy right before my end. Subject: My Short Story somewhere in my cupboard and every I've been reading NAG for quite a while now and then still play it. Sadly Square I think Skyrim gives the player an and decided to send in a letter on my Enix lost the plot shortly after making open-ended adventure and world they experience with gaming in general. the game and hasn’t made a good game can get completely lost in (which is Games have always been a part of my since; I didn’t even manage to fi nish why it probably won). I agree that it’s life, since as far back as I can remember. Kingdom Hearts 2. I still play every
www.nag.co.za May 2012 11 / INBOX /
Final Fantasy game, hoping that the This is the best miracle that was Square will return but bit of fan created I think it is a broken dream. artwork we received Today there isn’t a game I won’t at NAG this month. If you insert, use play on my Xbox 360, well maybe not or create a piece Uncharted but you get what I mean. of gaming artwork I play everything I can get my hands incorporating the on, from FPSs to RPGs. Right now my NAG logo you might favourite game is the Witcher 2. I’ve only also end up here for played about 5 hours (I had to borrow it your three lines of from a friend) but fell in love with it in fame. Just don’t go the fi rst 5 minutes. and stick the NAG I have a dream of one day becoming logo on a picture and send it in because a game developer, and maybe someday that is dumb and help create a game like Kingdom Hearts dumb people don’t that will bring a smile to someone’s win things. face like it did mine. Until then I’ll keep reading NAG and hopefully learn a thing or two from the greats.
Part of what gets me out of bed in the morning (besides the fact that I play Justin Davis & Brent Lunderstedt, “Any kid’s dream is to sleep under NAG bed sheets. Been working on this for a games for a living) is making NAG into while, and incorporated the NAG logo – thought it would be cool.” Update: after they were notifi ed of the win they a magazine that will inspire a reader came clean, admitting they downloaded the map and modifi ed it. Still okay by us. out there like I was inspired when I was growing up reading all those UK gaming magazines (there was no local I buy NAG religiously (in fact gaming For example, take LA Noire, fantastic magazine). So I get what you’re saying is probably my religion). I value all your THE game, fantastic visual, interesting 100%. Ed. articles and your input on games is vital SHORTS gameplay and a great story, barring the to my gaming purchases. In fact I am end. So why did Rockstar just
12 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ BYTES /
I, Gamer Publishers never Way to go Internet, that’s real mature change... Apparently Electronic Arts is the Worst Company In ...but the industry does America. There’s this website that you might have come across called The Consumerist – Shoppers Bite Back. For f you’re reading this and happen to similarities as well as members of the six years now The Consumerist (which prides itself on fall within the average age of our development teams. “slamming bad corporations”) has held an annual, vitriol- Ireaders, there’s a good chance that Now, Brian Fargo is preparing sh*t-storm in which readers are encouraged to vote for the you haven’t played Wasteland – the to lead his current studio, inXile company that most deserves a “Golden Poo” trophy. In the hard-as-nails, open-world post- Entertainment, in the development past, the contest held some merit as it allowed the website’s apocalyptic RPG from Brian Fargo of an offi cial sequel to Wasteland. substantial reader-base to air its displeasure at some of the and a number of important people Despite having recovered the rights worst companies around. Some of those companies include at Interplay. The 1988 game was an from EA some ten years ago, Fargo BP, which won in 2011 because their negligence resulted accomplishment for its time in terms has been unable to fi nd a publisher in one of the worst oil spills the world has ever seen. of both technology and storytelling, interested in supporting the title, Remember that? That’s a good example of a well-deserved as it was one of the fi rst ever games to and as a result this project will be Golden Poo award and title of Worst Company in America, introduce long-lasting consequences entirely funded through Kickstarter despite BP being British. in a persistent world based on player funding (which you may recall from According to the guidelines of The Consumerist’s choice. It’s also considered to be the the April issue of NAG is what Tim tournament, companies are nominated by the website’s forefather of the Fallout series, and Schafer very successfully used to readership. This year’s competition saw 32 nominations; EA the two share a number of gameplay fund his next project), which means was included for the fi rst time and beat the Bank of America in the fi nal by winning almost two-thirds of the votes. Granted, a total of 250,000 votes doesn’t exactly represent a population fi gure of over 311,000,000 so perhaps the title of Worst Company In America is a tad fl amboyant? What it does Dark days narrowly represent, I think, is a sizable portion of butt-hurt. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that EA’s “victory” came at the same time as the height of gamer indignation caused by the ending avoided for Vigil Games of Mass Eff ect 3. To me, it seems gamers managed to hijack another online tool to voice their disgust with EA. In doing so, however, they’ve equated the publisher to oil companies and banks that have literally been responsible for the death of employees and nearly crashing the world economy respectively. EA, on the other hand, is selling a non- essential luxury product, but because they’ve angered some entitled customers who voluntarily purchased what was on off er, they’ve been placed alongside some of the shadiest corporations in existence. The Consumerist doesn’t exactly exonerate itself by posting sweeping statements in an attempt to validate the fi ndings of its contest. According to the website: “EA and its ilk deliberately hold back game content with the sole intent of charging a fee for it at a later date. It’s one thing to support a game with new content that is worth the price. It’s another to put out an inferior — and occasionally broken — product hen THQ decided that it they release something and attempt with the mindset of ‘ah, we’ll fi x it later and make some was time to issue cutbacks to make back some of the cash spent money for doing so.’” Wthroughout the company, on development. This move isn’t a So are we to understand that all EA games get inferior Vigil Games’ Warhammer 40,000: total saviour, however; 79 full-time DLC and that all EA games are invariably broken until we Dark Millennium Online found itself employees at Vigil and 39 at Relic pay for patches? That’s pretty much what The Consumerist on the knife edge between continued Entertainment (which provides some implies, without any examples to back up their claim. support and total closure. The assets for the game) have been let go Perhaps this is how consumer displeasure is voiced these publisher sought out a partner to help following the announcement. days: by utilising online tools to make a statement, when the bring the game to market, but a poor The trimmed-down version of the only statement that should be made should be done so with response to that request means that game, which now drops the “Online” wallets. But people won’t do that, will they? People still want now, DMO has had a seriously large part of its title, will still feature a to play EA’s games, despite all the online chest-thumping. slice of gameplay removed: it’ll no multiplayer component, and THQ Perhaps they’re right: Electronic Arts is just the worst. I hate longer be an MMO. president Brian Farrell says that it’ll them for taking risks in publishing Dead Space and Mirror’s This move is crushing for those who include “robust digital content and Edge; I hate them for charging me R100 less per game in South long to ride shotgun with a squad of engaging community features” to go Africa; I hate them for allowing their developers to utilise fellow Space Marines, but in light of as far as possible to appeal to online time and resources to release free DLC that addresses the the publisher’s recent troubles, and gamers without necessarily attempting displeasure of fans. Man, EA you are just the worst. considering how far into development to compete in the already crowded - Miklós Szecsei the game is, it’s probably best that MMO market.
14 May 2012 www.nag.co.za that it’s going to be a game funded which means that inXile can aff ord by the fans and made for the fans, to bring in Obsidian Entertainment without any publishers involved. It’s and, as importantly, studio COO Chris going to be hardcore and gritty. It’s Avellone, who’s been kicking around being developed for primary release the industry since his work on Fallout on PC; this is not a console-friendly, 2 alongside Fargo. We’re extremely pick-up-and-play action-RPG; it’ll be interested to see how Obsidian will isometric, turn-based, old school in get along without interference from every conceivable way. publishers, as it’s often been cited in At the time of writing, the game the past as the cause of Obsidian’s has received over $2.1 in funding, games’ less-than-stellar performance. What’s next for Starbreeze?
BOMBS AWAY!
Andy Davidson, the creator of the original Worms, has returned to Team 17 just in time to announce that the company is preparing to release a brand new Worms game this year. It’s been 14 years since Davidson has been in the business, o, now that the Syndicate FPS reboot (which we but his return to quite enjoyed, despite its blatant indiff erence the industry will Stowards our cherished memories) is out in the be great news for wild, and people are (hopefully) playing it, what’s next both newcomers for developer Starbreeze Studios, whose past work also to the series and includes the excellent The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape fans of yore. Worms from Butcher Bay (and its sequel), as well as the original Revolution will feature an all-new The Darkness? 2.5D game engine Well, it seems free-to-play is the frequently travelled that keeps the path of choice for the Swedish studio. Their next classic 2D gameplay shooter, called Cold Mercury, will be built on the with high-detail, increasingly popular business model, and that’s all we gorgeous polygonal know for now really. Fret not, dear reader, because this backgrounds and does not mean Starbreeze is exiting the AAA market. playing fi elds. It’s “Starbreeze will not leave the AAA segment,” says every bit old- Starbreeze CEO Mikael Nermark. “We are discussing with fashioned Worms as you could hope several leading game publisher on publisher fi nanced for, and will launch games, but we will broaden our product portfolio of in Q3 this year games in the new business models and segments that through digital have arisen in the games industry. I am convinced that distribution only on Starbreeze will be successful with the new games.” PC, PSN and XBLA.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 15 / BYTES /
The Game Stalker Rumour: Next Xbox has We are… Blu-ray, needs Internet
Casual gamers. ast your minds back to last on last month. They are spurned and cursed by the gaming world as the month’s edition of NAG and According to VG24/7, the next downfall of the hardcore gaming industry. Cyou might recall us running Xbox will also require an “always-on Developers on the other hand seem to be making games more a news article that mentioned Internet connection as an anti- and more accessible to the “casual” gamer. Why you ask? website MCV proclaiming there’d piracy measure”. This would double Well I’m sure the answer is probably money… The plethora be no optical drive in the next as an anti-used game measure of dancing games on the market certainly seems to indicate Xbox. Also, if your mind is capable as well. This rumour, coupled this. of remembering things you read with similar rumours about the But I personally don’t understand the need for people in NAG that long ago, then we’re PlayStation 4 or “Orbis” having the to marginalise casual gamers as the lepers of the gaming suitably impressed; 90% of the time same requirements, leads us to world. No I wouldn’t identify myself as a casual gamer we can’t even remember what we think that both Microsoft and Sony (someone on the NAG forums said that these are the people had for breakfast. are taking their loss of revenue due who play once, maybe twice a week) but what actually New rumours have surfaced to second-hand game sales very constitutes a hardcore gamer? regarding the next Xbox console, seriously. People who play games professionally? Maybe. They but this time they’re courtesy of VG24/7 didn’t stop there with certainly are very good, but they’re often training so hard that website VG24/7. According to this their report; they’re claiming they they really only play one game. latest batch, the next Xbox (which have information suggesting the How about the people who play every game imaginable? is apparently still codenamed next Xbox will feature “four or Well, yes, I guess they could be considered hardcore, but if they “Durango”) will have a Blu-ray six” CPU cores. Apparently, one only play on a specifi c platform does this count? Must you be drive, which is completely the core will be used for the Xbox PC, PS3, and Xbox? Do gamers who play every game on the Wii opposite of what was rumoured operating system and another will qualify as hardcore gamers? last month. Yeah, we’re battling to be reserved for Kinect 2, which “Of course not” I hear you mutter… the Wii isn’t a “real” keep up with all of this as well. It’s will supposedly come standard. gamer console. Well, ok I can’t say that I own a Wii, whereas I worth mentioning, however, that Furthermore, the next Xbox own all the others, but why does this make it less hardcore? in the interim there’s been talk of reportedly sports a GPU based on Is it the silly motion controls? PS3 and Xbox have those now Microsoft releasing a stripped- AMD’s 7000 series of GPUs. as well. On the other hand, although the Wii might not have down version of the Xbox 360 that Finally, VG24/7 claims Microsoft’s the greatest titles, it has Dead Space along with Call of Duty will only serve as a media hub and next console will be available during and a number of games considered hardcore titles. portal to Xbox Live Arcade games. the 2013 holiday period, which is “It’s not the games, it’s the processing power,” you argue. It’s probable that this is the unit also the rumoured release date for Well, the upcoming Wii U is reported to have twice the that MCV was originally reporting the next PlayStation console. graphical and processing power of the Xbox, so will that then qualify as a hardcore console, or will the stigma of the current generation Wii hamper its acceptance? I don’t identify myself with any “camp”. I’m a gamer. I play some Power outage: could the Wii U be less “hardcore” games; I play some “casual” games. Sometimes I have to play (and fi nish) some truly awful games as a part of my job. powerful than its current-gen competitors? And that said there are very few games now being made without a casual gamer mode. t seems there’s a new rumour about Wii U just can't quite keep up.” Mass Eff ect 3 for example, has three storyline options that Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U every Oh dear. Still, even if all this hearsay vary between allowing full control over dialogue and allowing Iother week. It’s diffi cult to separate turns out to be true, Nintendo has you simply to get on with the shooting. The Witcher 2 was an the potential truth from the absolute proved with the Wii that you don’t interesting case as well, in that the developers even stated that excrement, but if the latest turns out to need to have the most horsepower the game was made for hardcore RPG gamers. hold some truth, it could prove quite to win the race. They’re once again I also recently saw an argument for “core” gamers vs. shocking. betting on the power of their unique “casual” gamers on a forum, one referring to someone who Supposedly, the long-believed controller to sell the system, despite plays games as an “infrequent distraction” as opposed to a idea is that the Wii U will at least be whatever hardware it’s packing under “consistent hobby”. on par with the Xbox 360’s and PS3’s the hood. Nevertheless, we’ve been Good argument. But what about those people who play technical specs, if not better, but this hoping for a more powerful piece of Farmville every day for six or seven hours a day? Are they hardcore rumour insists that that’s not the case. tech on which to play our favourite social gamers? Surely this constitutes a “consistent hobby”? Instead, it’ll be less technologically Nintendo franchises, so we’re hoping I’m also fi rmly convinced that those people who don’t powerful than either. An anonymous that this rumour turns out to be identify themselves as gamers simply haven’t found the right source allegedly said this to GI.biz: nothing more than just that: a rumour. game yet. Whether that’s playing solitaire on your phone in “No, it's not up to the same level as the bed, or an all night MW3 multiplayer session, everyone plays PS3 or the 360. The graphics are just something. not as powerful.” And surely if there are enough of us playing, we shouldn’t “Yeah, that's true. It doesn't produce feel the need to be marginalised. graphics as well as the PS3 or the We are Gamers. 360,” another “anonymous developer” We are Legion. agreed. “There aren't as many shaders, We will take over the world. it's not as capable. Sure, some things Expect us. are better, mostly as a result of it being - Pippa Tshabalala a more modern design. But overall the
16 May 2012 www.nag.co.za Brace yourselves Glorious PC Master Race, Dark Souls is coming n early January this year, the Internet decided that it wanted the really, really, Iridiculously diffi cult console RPG Dark Souls to come to PC. Ordinarily, what the Internet wants, the Internet gets – see Double Fine Adventure’s Kickstarter and Mass Eff ect 3’s extended ending for further proof of this fact. An online petition was formed that rapidly exceeded 60,000 “signatures”, which caught Namco Bandai’s attention because money. The ever-vigilant underbelly of the Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition will Internet, NeoGAF, has since spotted that feature new bosses, but other than that a German gaming magazine called “PC will be identical to the console versions. Action” featured a preview of the PC The mere mention of new bosses is version of Dark Souls, which has been probably enough to convince the more given the subtitle “Prepare to Die Edition” ardent (read: masochistic) fans of the – a subtitle that we at NAG completely console game to pick up a second copy attest to because PC gamers, you will die. on PC. According to the German preview, Again and again and again. the game will be out in August this year.
Kingdoms of Amalur gets fl oaty DLC
e quite enjoyed Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. It’s a Wgood thing (or a bad thing, depending on how you feel about game addiction) then that this already huge action RPG is set to get a second DLC expansion following the fi rst pirate-themed off ering. This one’s called Teeth of Naros, and invites us to “explore the city of Idylla, which magically fl oats in the sky above the Teeth of Naros.” Idylla is a fl oating Kollossae (a “devout race of giants”) city, and the Teeth of Naros is “a forgotten land” named after an ancient troll god. “That’s all well and good, but what about my quests and loot and stuff ?” we hear you ask. Well, gentle reader, Idylla off ers more than 20 (so 21, we’re guessing) new side quests, fi ve enormous new dungeons, new enemies, new Twists of Fate, nine new armour sets, six new shields and 18 weapons unique to Teeth of Naros. The DLC should be available by the time you read this, on PC and PS3 for $9.99, or 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 17 / BYTES /
The Indie Investigator Pre-order The Secret Design layers World, get cool stuff
The biggest problem with the Internet right now is uncom has revealed the pre- that there’s just so darn much of it. Right? Right. And order incentives for its upcoming when you’re trying to peddle something awesome to the Fmodern-day myths ‘n’ legends masses (like, say, your latest game project) it can be a MMO The Secret World. First up, rather colossal pain to get people playing long enough to anybody who pre-orders the game appreciate it properly. will automatically get access to all of There’s a little psychological factoid about the 43-second the game’s beta weekends, starting attention span. In short, that’s about as much time as the from the 11th of May. Funcom seems average person is willing to dedicate towards a new and adamant that these beta weekends uncertain activity before they start switching off – unless, will run most weekends (with of course, there happens to be a suitably rewarding bit of successive one adding new content feedback and/or sufficiently large explosion involved. for players to experience), pretty How brain wizards discover this sort of specific stuff much right through to the game’s with all their neuroscalpels and lab coats and whatnot launch date on June 19th. is uncertain, but common experience does dictate that In addition, those willing to hand if you can’t sell your game’s core to a prospective player over the dough before launch day within the first five minutes or so, you’re going to lose will get a head start of up to four them forever. This is a modern era of communication, days on the action, an in-game item networking and yo-ho-ho levels of digital piracy – why that boosts XP gain, an in-game spend more time on something that may become fun T-shirt (which are infi nitely cooler when so many cool offerings are already scintillating on than real-life T-shirts, obviously) the horizon? featuring a unique monster design, This does present a problem to people who enjoy a combat-capable pet (either the designing “time investment” games such as RPGs. Ferocious Wolf, Egyptian Cat or In fact, it tends to be a rather hot topic of discussion Loyal Hound) and the chance to in RPG communities specifically – the genre’s lack reserve their character’s name early. of representation in competitions, the difficulty of The Secret World has been looking meaningful tester feedback and so on. It’s not like smaller more and more intriguing since devs have the clout and hype of this year’s hot blockbusters its initial announcement so long – titles that people readily exercise more patience with, ago, and we can’t wait to see how particularly if they pay several hundred rand for it (ignore its alluring features turn out. For this if the aforementioned yo-ho-ho applies, I suppose). more info, head over here: http:// So, give up and die now, right? Well, no. The important www.thesecretworld.com/news/ thing to bear in mind is that no matter how deep or pre_order_now_access_exclusive_ expansive your game eventually becomes, it’s a skill and an beta_weekends art to make enough of its awesomeness transparent from the word go. Does your game contain sprawling empires, deep lore and a fascinating overarching story? Great: pick the best bits of that to drop into the fi rst fi ve minutes. Is your game set up mechanically so that there are many fascinating tricks, edge cases and complex interactions in its ruleset that will amaze veteran players? Congratulations on your advanced design, but is the simpler stuff fun Jumping the gun enough to get people playing to that level? No matter how far you think ahead with your project, ere’s an interesting bit of trivia it should always be appreciable on as many levels as for anyone who’s anxiously possible to ensure long-term rewards and success. A game Hawaiting the arrival of Gearbox which players can only “warm up to” after a great deal of Software’s upcoming Aliens-themed slogging is bound to fail, no matter how fantastic it may FPS, Aliens: Colonial Marines. It seems be in the long run. Somewhat less fatally – but still not that, when SEGA’s announcement of quite the best case – is a game which gives everything it the game rolled around way back in has in the first two minutes, then quickly crumbles as the 2006, Gearbox hadn’t even begun long-term system reveals itself to be one-dimensional and development of the game. unrewarding (unless you’re sneaky and callous enough to “Everyone was just so excited that hook players with a Skinnerian psyche trick, of course). the deal got done,” said Gearbox’s When you design your stuff anywhere beyond the head honcho Randy Pitchford initial prototyping level, always think about it in layers of while speaking to Joystiq about the complexity. Divide your attention between those layers upcoming survival horror-style FPS. as well as possible. It’s a simple but effective rule that “20th Century Fox, Gearbox and produces great and accessible games. SEGA all had to agree to do this and - Rodain Joubert
18 May 2012 www.nag.co.za SUDA51 CONFIRMES HIS NEXT TITLE
As if Lollipop Chainsaw wasn’t enough, lead designer Goichi Suda is already Notch has a new busying himself with his next project – c Killer is Dead. The game! It’s called 0x10 equally oddly-named game will apparently nd we have absolutely no idea how to say it, unless see players take on the role of an executioner that’s since been revealed by Mojang after we’ve whose job is to hunt gone to print – in which case we’re one of the cool A down and kill “S-level kids who totally knows how to say the name. criminals” – whatever The guy who brought you Minecraft is about to bring those are. While this you a space game set in the year 281 474 976 712 644 AD. isn’t a direct sequel The game’s background is based on an alternate history in to Grasshopper which the space race never ended. This resulted in rich folk Manufacture’s PS2 and corporations getting involved in space travel, which and GameCube title eventually led to the creation of a “deep sleep cell” that Killer7, we understand that it’ll have a few malfunctioned (due to driver incompatibilities – obviously), similarities and could putting space travellers asleep for a very long time. Those even be thought of as super-sleepy people begin to wake up billions of years later a spiritual successor. only to fi nd the universe riddled with black holes and on the Insofar as the actual brink of extinction. gameplay goes, The game will feature things like looting abandoned we’ve got very little ships, landing on planets, engineering your space ship, information other programming “fully working computer system[s]”, mining, than “it’ll involve trading and duct tape. We’re kind of excited about the duct swords”. The game will be published by tape part, but Mojang fans online seem more interested in Lollipop publisher the “fully functioning emulated 16 bit CPU that can be used Kadokawa Games, to control your entire ship”. which is good news The game is still very early on in development, but Notch as it means there’s a and the rest of the team at Mojang are approaching the stable relationship game in the same way they did Minecraft. This means we between the two can expect public alpha and beta versions throughout the companies that might development cycle; the feedback from which will be used well be the bearer of a to streamline the fi nal game. number of interesting new titles in the The cost of the game has yet to be decided, but Notch future. points out that there is a signifi cant multiplayer “multiverse” Killer is Dead is planned which would likely incur a monthly fee. If you want scheduled for release to simply play the game as a single player then there will be next year for PS3 and a once-off purchase fee and no monthly subscription. Xbox 360. with Aliens: Colonial Marines commit themselves to it. The fact that even started. Another thing is that that deal even existed – everyone there was an [Aliens] RPG game in on the business side was so excited development by Obsidian which that the deal happened that they just was canceled. And I think when that wanted to tell the world. So before happened we hadn't even really we even started on the game they shown this game or talked about it announced the deal.” yet, so that created some confusion Naturally, in the time since then, of, ‘Wait, what was canceled?’” gamers have gotten incredibly antsy It’s always good to see developers about the title, assuming an impending being so candid about the cancellation announcement back development of their games, give us when the title had gone quiet for a a bit of insight into the details that long spell. “I think there have been would’ve otherwise gone unnoticed. a couple of things that have kind of Then again, it’s Gearbox. They’re created that feeling. One thing is that always quite open with their fans about it was announced before we were such things.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 19 / BYTES /
Miktar’s Meanderings The space dinosaur agenda Orcs Must (or: If you want to make enemies, try changing something.) After 250,000 votes, the Consumerist poll for “Worst Die! (again) Company in America” came to a close. The winner: Electronic Arts. Make no mistake, it was a dumb poll. That EA could elightful (and delightfully named) “win” against the likes of British Petroleum, and companies orc-murdering simulator Orcs that crashed economies and covered up rape, shows the DMust Die! is set to get a feature bizarre priorities of the voters. packed sequel in the future. It brings “We’re sure that British Petroleum, AIG, Philip Morris, and cooperative play to the third-person, Halliburton are all relieved they weren’t nominated this year.” said tower-defense style gibbing of John Reseburg, senior director of corporate communications at greenskins, adding a second, unique EA. “We’re going to continue making award-winning games and playable character: the Sorceress. services played by more than 300 million people worldwide.” “In 2011, we implored players to kill Stay the course, then. Sure, EA loves to try and bamboozle the orcs,” says Patrick Hudson, CEO of consumers at every corner just to put a few more million dollars on developer Robot Entertainment. “As their bottom line: that’s what corporations do. If you don’t like it, many as possible. Yet, only 3.4 billion stop giving them money, stop paying for the day-one DLC. It’s very orcs have been slaughtered to date. The likely EA only won the Golden Poo because of “passionate” Mass only way we will get to a respectable Eff ect 3 fans wanting an outlet for their frustration, no matter how orc death toll is by adding another killing misplaced. “Gamers gamed the game,” said one onlooker. machine and cooperative play. Bring a Almost exactly the same time the Consumerist unveiled its friend and destroy the orcs!” winner, as if by providence, an article headline appeared on The Sorceress is reportedly a much Gamesindustry.biz: EA defends itself against thousands of anti-gay more crafty and nuanced character letters. The short of it: EA claims to be “inundated” with “several than the original War Mage, whose thousand” letters and emails protesting their inclusion of same- straightforward orc-smashing tactics sex or LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) content in its largely involved clicking until green video games. things went pop. She’s able to use stuff “Every one of EA’s games includes ESRB content descriptors like mind control, while fans of the War so it’s hard to believe anyone is surprised by the content.” said Jeff Mage will be treated to more of his Brown, vice president of corporate communications. “This isn’t brutally satisfying abilities. In addition, about protecting children, it’s about political harassment.” new enemies, a new campaign (playable Most of the letters threaten boycotts against EA’s games if solo for people who hate people, the publisher refuses to remove same-sex content. Some letters with the lone player able to choose claimed that EA was “pressured” by Gay Agenda groups to include either character), new defenses, and a homosexual content, to “force gay themes upon children.” revamped upgrade system packed with It reminds me of something I read recently which made me new stuff await when Orcs Must Die! 2 chuckle: “Homophobia: The fear that another man will treat you arrives exclusively on PC later this year. like you treat women”. Take that as you will. These kinds of protests represent a fringe element, a knee-jerk reaction common when society undergoes a progressive change. When culture attempts to shift from established orthodoxy or conventionalism, opinions galvanize and people start to feel threatened, or afraid. You can easily fi nd examples of how fear Get ready to rock of the unknown, the new, and the misunderstood, have left dark marks on humanity’s past. egarom and the October issue), With regards to EA and this hullabaloo over gay themes in Ubisoft South we’ll have had plenty Mass Eff ect and Star Wars: The Old Republic, they sure do paint MAfrica have of time to gauge just themselves as champions of social liberalism. And yet, they also fi nally confi rmed the how useful Rocksmith hired outspoken and rather active homophobe Orson Scott local release date for is as a guitar tutor. If Card to write the comic series for Dragon Age. Corporations are Rocksmith – October you can’t wait for our made up of people, and people don’t always agree. Often, to the 2012. While we’ll still be a month review or just want to soak up detriment of people as a whole. behind the European release, it’s as much info as possible on Less than 100 years ago, women did not have the right to vote in good news for all of us who are this new generation of guitar- the United States (and in quite a few other countries). It took until excited about this game that based rhythm games, 1979 before the United Nations explicitly adopted a stance against it’ll eventually arrive on our be sure to follow Geoff all forms of discrimination against women. That’s only 33 years shores. In the meantime, as he blogs about his ago. Think about it. we’ve become the lucky experiences on NAG Humanity can do better than blind patriarchy and recipients of an early Online. At the time of heteronormativity. The greatest enabler of bigotry and intolerance import review copy of writing, the fi rst part is ignorance. As a gay man, I’ve experienced fi rst-hand the results the game, so you know is online and can of people’s ignorance quite keenly, and often still do. that by time we release be found at bit.ly/ - Miktar Dracon our offi cial review (in HS2BCk.
20 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ BYTES /
DISTRIBUTORS
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BT Games 0861 4 GAMES BIG MONEY CLOUDS Compuseed 011 781 8880/2/3 SMALL MINDS
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NAG Megarom 011 361 4800 service Good Old Games, each week instead of two. Also, ago, has churned out because they’re essentially there’s an improved downloader. a decent number of Microsoft 0860 225 567 W peddlers of delightful nostalgia, Obviously, this change in focus average-performing Musica 0860 687 422 providing us a single portal through does mean that they’re now in online and mobile which to access our favourite titles direct competition with other digital games, but recently Nu Metro Interactive 011 340 9300 found success with from yesteryear without having to distribution services, like Valve’s Draw Something, a Phoenix Software 011 803 5437 jump through countless painful monolithic Steam. The kicker with Pictionary-inspired Prima Interactive 011 799 7800 hoops to get at them now that GOG.com, is that they will still off er game for mobile. they’re no longer readily available in all their titles, even the newer ones, Quick on the draw, Rectron 011 203 1000 the wild. Now, with Good Old Games completely DRM free and devoid Zynga approached Samsung 0860 726 7864 slowly adding more recently released of region-specifi c pricing. Being OMGPOP just days titles to their ever-expanding library, completely without the burden of after the game went Silverscreen Trading 011 794 9749 it no longer seems pertinent to keep DRM is a beautiful prospect, but it viral (it received over Sonic Informed 011 3145800 35 million downloads
If your company isn’t listed here, phone the “Old” in their name. Good Old does mean that many of the more in just six weeks) Games is gone, and in its stead we’re mainstream titles from the big, DRM- Ster Kinekor Entertainment 011 445 7700 and before anyone left with GOG.com – still the same obsessed publishers will be out of could bat an eyelid, Top CD 0861 086 732 site we know and love, but with an the revamped service’s reach, at least had purchased infl ux of newer titles to go along with initially. The titles that will be made the company in gaming’s greatest past hits. available on the service, however, its entirety for a They’ve got themselves a new will surely appeal to anyone who staggering $210 frontpage to go along with their new hates the idea of the built-in DRM of million. image, and GOG.com has vowed such services as Steam and Origin. That’s big money, and with all that gold glittering in SUPPORT LINES CEO Dan Porter’s Got a legal boxed game and need some eyes and clouding technical help? Before you call please his judgement, do the following. Update your system Out of the shadows he made a rather software, drivers and have a look online rude Tweet about for a game patch. Just these simple tasks en and paper role-playing gamers mega-corporations exist together in a former employee eliminate 93% of all problems – it’s a made rejoice: a new Shadowrun is on Shadowrun to create a rich and varied who apparently up statistic but probably close enough. Pits way, and, no no no... it won’t world to explore. wasn’t on board with the buyout. Porter Publishers: Activision / Blizzard 2K Games be a fi rst-person shooter. The game’s Shadowrun Returns, as it’s claimed that the man Rockstar / Ubisoft Codemasters creator Jordan Weisman (who’s also tentatively named, will feature all of the was the only one NC-Soft / Namco-Bandai been behind games like MechWarrior, great gameplay from the tabletop role- E-mail: [email protected] who stood against Number: 0861 987 363 Battle Tech, Crimson Skies and even playing game and the SNES and Mega the move, and that HeroClix) has reclaimed the rights to Drive releases based on the franchise, “selfi sh people make Publishers: Microsoft Xbox his franchise and pulled in a ton of but will focus more on the classic RPG bad games”. He Number: 0800 991 550 money through Kickstarter to develop stuff like storytelling and rich character then went on to say “what’s so interesting Publisher: Electronic Arts a 2D, tactical, turn-based CRPG set in development. Players will also be e-mail: [email protected] the futuristic city of Seattle. able to design their own stories and about success is the Telephone: 0860 EAHELP/324357 For the uninitiated, Shadowrun campaigns with the editor that will ship number of failures who try to ride on takes place in a cyperpunk future with the game when it releases for PC, your back. Shay that mashes together dark and gritty Mac and even tablets at a date to be Pierce is just one science-fi ction with high fantasy. Elven determined. Expect a hardcore, single of many...” Ouch, biker gangs, minigun-wielding orcs, player-focused game that will do fans meanie. He’s since mage knight hackers and dwarven-run of the series proud. apologised.
22 May 2012 www.nag.co.za Rumour: PlayStation 4 is apparently called “Orbis”
ebsite Kotaku has managed to get their hands on a host of details pertaining to Sony’s WPlayStation 3 successor. According to the report, the PlayStation 4 will actually be called the “Orbis” – it’s believed that this is the not the codename but the fi nal name. It’s also meant to tie together with the PlayStation Vita, as putting the two names together gives you “Orbis Vita[e]” which is Latin for “the circle of life”. Supposed names and brand connections aside, the Orbis is rumoured to be capable of rendering games at a resolution of 4096x2160, which is odd considering TVs aren’t exactly capable of producing that as yet. The rumoured hardware that’s powering the Orbis includes an AMD X64 CPU and AMD Southern Islands GPU. Now for some bad news: according to Kotaku’s report, the Orbis will require an Internet connection in order to play WAIT FOR games. It’s not clear whether a permanent connection is THE DROP required or whether brief connectivity is necessary in order to activate games (similar to what’s necessary with most Square Enix have PC games). It’s obvious what the reason is for all of this: announced the combating used-games sales. European and US Apparently, purchasing a second-hand Orbis game or release dates of borrowing one from a friend will only give you access to the next title in the long-running demo content for that particular game. This is because the and surprisingly game would have already been tied to the original user’s PSN successful Disney account. In order to access the whole game, an additional collab series of online purchase would need to be made. RPGs. Kingdom If that’s not bad enough, there are also rumours that Hearts 3D: Dream suggest the Orbis will not feature backwards compatibility for Drop Distance will PlayStation 3 games. As we mentioned on NAG Online, this be the seventh game particular rumour could be quite likely seeing as how Sony in the series and has proven that they can re-release PlayStation 2 games as is to be released exclusively on “High-Defi nition” remakes and people will buy them. 3DS. The game is Apparently, the Orbis will be out during the holiday season scheduled to receive in 2013. a Euro release in August 2012, so expect to see the game available locally during that month. Angry Birds invade Dream Drop Distance draws everything, ever is name from the concept of “Drops” which will cause he addictive, unstoppable juggernaut starring the active player those lovable, pissed-off avians continues its character to switch Tworldwide domination of everything you’ve between Sora and ever known. It’s now getting a weekly cartoon series Riku when the Drop of its own this year, with 52 episodes planned that’ll be Gauge depletes. coming to “all possible platforms” – Players can replenish the gauge by as revealed by Rovio’s head of attacking enemies, animation, Nick Dorra. Dorra or choose to actively noted that the cartoon series switch characters will provide fans with a new at save points. The way to enjoy the Angry game will be one Birds phenomenon, of the few new while also attracting titles to make use newcomers to the of the Circle Pad franchise. We’re Pro attachment for camera control, and surprised there are will make use of AR any newcomers functionality that left, given its allows players to popularity. play with any Dream Eaters that they catch. / BYTES /
Return to the GHOST Pre-orders www.lookandlisten.co.za RECON Sword Coast COMMANDER his is truly the month for retro remakes. Overhaul COMING TO Games, together with parent company Beamdog, FACEBOOK PC AND MOBILE Tannounced that they’ve begun development of an HD remake of Baldur’s Gate and its expansion pack, and Diablo III May Sure, we generally will begin development of a remake of the sequel and its Prototype 2 July don’t deal with expansion packs in the near future. Spec Ops: The Line July 12th content that involves This is the third title from the developers, after the Facebook and HD remake and Wii port of MDK2, and will be entitled mobile devices – but Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition. BGEE will keep the story, this particular bit of characters and general gameplay largely unchanged Xbox 360 news caught our eye (along with the antiquated AD&D 2nd Edition ruleset, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: May 25th for one reason: the involvement of John complete with “THAC0”) from the original, but the Future Soldier Romero, which developers will base the game mechanics off of BG2’s Assassin's Creed III October makes it huge news, updated and tweaked systems. Entirely new art, additional Tomb Raider November 13th because DOOM. voice recordings and improved multiplayer support will John Romero’s all make it into BGEE, as well as a few new features and social games studio, characters that Overhaul hasn’t yet detailed. Loot Drop, has BGEE will be released sometime this year for PC, Mac PS3 signed a deal with and iPad, and then the developers will get stuck into the Max Payne 3 May 18th Ubisoft to create production of BGEE2 (or BG2EE, we can’t quite decide a tie-in Facebook Darksiders II June 29th game for upcoming what to speculatively call it yet). After that, well, we don’t Ghost Recon: Future want to get anyone’s hopes up, but Overhaul’s Trent Borderlands 2 September 21st Soldier, which is set Oster has publically confi rmed that he wants to develop to launch on May Baldur’s Gate 3. 22nd (so it could Wii already be out by the time you read Men in Black 3 May 18th this), as well as Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2012 June free-to-play Ghost Recon Online, Hop on that The Amazing Spider-Man June 29th which releases later this year. The Facebook game will allow bandwagon 3DS players to unlock Funky Barn 3D June 8th items in both of the games it’s set efore the awful Magna Cum Laude and Box Offi ce Monster 4X4 June 8th to be tied to, and Bust, Leisure Suit Larry was a series of point-and-click Puzzler Crosswords 3D June 8th makes the bold adventure games that were actually fun. They were rude, promise that its B release means that crude, slap-stick aff airs that touched many gamers’ hearts, there’ll fi nally be a and now creator Al Lowe wants to bring them back through “gamer’s game on the popular crowd funding mechanism Kickstarter. While this Facebook.” Ghost would ordinarily excite us, there’s something a little strange Harley-fl avoured Recon Commander going on with this project. will allow you to For starters, Al Lowe already announced last year in DLC for Arkham City? customise your own September that he was remaking the Leisure Suit Larry series, Ghosts, deploying and even released a screenshot showing the new look. They arley Quinn already featured prominently in them in a number should have started development months ago, or at least they Batman: Arkham CIty, but perhaps you still can’t of missions to earn upgrades and new should’ve been wrapping up pre-production by this stage, so Hhelp feeling that Harley didn’t get enough time gear. A nice touch why go out and ask for a staggering $500,000 (Double Fine on-screen. We’re going to assume that’s because you’re is the promise of a fi lthy pervert, obviously. Jokes aside, you’ll be happy to Productions only asked for $400K) from loyal fans if the deal asynchronous hear that, if a bunch of PlayStation 3 Trophies allegedly was already sealed? No doubt due to the success cooperative play, of other Kickstarter projects. However, instead discovered by PS3Trophies.org are anything to go by, although we don’t of new, bold, challenging projects from the Harley could be getting her very own batch of Arkham know much about likes of Brian Fargo and Tim Schafer, Al Lowe is City DLC. that at the time content to simply remake his old classics for a The ten Trophies link to content that is given no other of writing. The modern audience. We’d much rather see the description than “Harley Quinn DLC,” with no details initial release will reportedly be limited long-ago cancelled LSL 8: Lust in Space. on pricing or release date, although they do allude to to Facebook – but At the time of writing, the project Robin starring as a playable character in it. The same it’ll eventually come Trophy seems to point to an event called “Harley Quinn’s is almost half funded and will close to mobile platforms Revenge,” so we’d not be surprised if that ends up being on the 2nd of May, which means that as well, which this you should have a couple of days to get in the DLC’s fi nal title. We’ll happily take more Arkham City game seems well your pledge if this is something you’d like to any way we can get it. suited for. Also... support: kck.st/Haj4Fy. John Romero!
24 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ BYTES /
What’s Caption of the month IS MONOLITH BRINGING THE that Every month we’ll choose a HOBBIT TO THE noise?! screenshot from a random game and INTERACTIVE write a bad caption for it. Your job is REALM? There’s a whole backstory for Scarlett involving prototype game development, to come up with a better one. The Director Peter evil henchmen, unlikely heroes and winner will get a copy of Dragon’s Jackson is delivering many of everyone’s favourite video game the fi rst part of his characters. It’s an epic yarn that we Dogma for PS3 from Ster-Kinekor fi lm adaptation of J. started working on one day at the Wimpy Entertainment. Send your captions to R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit later this up the road. It was going to be a comic [email protected] with the subject line strip leading up to rAge – an elaborate year (December, to marketing plan of sorts that would be fun “May caption”. be exact). For those and exciting and actually worth reading. who somehow don’t What happened to it you all scream? know, The Hobbit is Not sure really… we had a few drawings the prequel to the and a page of text written but then rAge The Lord of the Rings actually happened and that stole all our trilogy. Divided into time away. She’s still of some use today two parts (with part as we hide her in each issue. Perhaps one called The Hobbit: one day we’ll get back to that comic but An Unexpected for now see if you can fi nd her hiding Journey, while the somewhere in this month’s NAG. second is titled The Hobbit: There and Send your sighting to [email protected] with Back Again and is the subject line “May Scarlett” and don’t due in December get it wrong or deleted it will be. of 2013), it’s fair to assume that they’ll be accompanied by video game-fl avoured companions, given the usual trends with this April winner sort of thing. Well, if rumours are to be believed, 3 INTERVIEW WITH DEBORAH FIKE 3 that is the case. Deborah Fike is currently the Social Media Manager for Luma Arcade, which means she gets to play on Facebook and Twitter for a living. In the past, she’s been a producer for the Disney Interactive Media Group, a game writer for InstantAction, and product manager for GarageGames. Luma Arcade is an international game development company with offi ces in Johannesburg, San Francisco and Portland. They’re currently putting the fi nishing touches on the Unity 3D-powered Bladeslinger for Android devices. NAG’s lame attempt at humour Superannuation has
NAG: What should profi cient programmers or artists do if they want to break into the game development industry? Deborah Fike: If you have the skills, then it’s a matter of knowing the right people that will land you that fi rst crucial job. Start networking now. The Internet makes it easy to connect with people without needing to live in a big city. Read blogs and Private Jenkins lights a fart on tequila Tuesday. email people already in the industry for advice. Attend any local development get-togethers that you can. It will be hard at fi rst, but once you make those fi rst supposedly dug up few connections, you’ll be surprised how easily you’ll expand your network.
NAG: What sort of education should a prospective student – let’s say a high- school student – look at if they wanted to get started in a game development career? DF: First, decide on what type of job you want. That should lead you to fi nd the right education. Prospective programmers should look for colleges that have strong, practical computer science degrees. 3D modellers should look a video game tie-in for schools that use Max and Maya heavily in their projects. Of course, you can always look into game design and development schools, but they will likely be pricier than local or national universities. One last tip: It’s not the degree that matters nearly as much as your dedication. No matter what you’re doing, build games in your spare time. Students that just earn a degree are not attractive to employers. A student with a solid portfolio, even with no degree, can go places.
NAG: If I have a brilliant idea for a game but no skills required to actually build it, what should I do? Is there room in the industry for a non-technical “game called The Hobbit: Part designer”? DF: Set aside a little bit of time and start learning how games are made. Even if you don’t get very good at it, you should learn enough to understand what’s going on. It’s best if you pick up a prototyping tool and at least try creating a little game on your own. Otherwise, you’ll end up looking naive at best. I have friends who started out as non-technical game designers, but all of them eventually learned to script. As a game designer, you have to be willing to adapt quickly to meet your team’s needs. Most designers I know have to work One, allegedly in the with studio tools, so they’re quick learners. Don’t be one of those “aspiring game designers” who just has a brilliant idea. Everyone has an idea. You have to learn to implement to succeed.
NAG: I want to work for Firaxis/Epic/Visceral/Game Developer X – how do I make that happen? DF: You may have to work for another company before you land at your “dream job.” That’s true of any fi eld. Find out what Game Developer X is looking for, and if you don’t have what it takes today to get there, start building the skills you need works over at Monolith “Students that just now. And while you’re at it, network. Very few companies will hire from the “resume pile,” so start making those connections that will help you land the job earn a degree are not once you have your skill set beefed up.
NAG: What sort of tools should small game development studios (or even attractive to employers. single developers) use to help them build games quicker and smarter? DF: Every studio needs its own set of specifi c programming, art, game engine, A student with a solid and project management tools. For the most part, you should let the people Productions, under performing the job function pick their own tools (e.g. let the artists decide what portfolio, even with no art tools they use) because they will be more profi cient at them out of the gate. Your team should also evaluate whether you want to use a pre-packaged game engine like Unity or roll your own, which might also dictate what tools you’ll degree, can go places.” need. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong choosing the tools that will get you to that fi rst game prototype. You don’t have a game until you can give it to players and start seeing if it’s actually fun. :) the banner of Warner www.nag.co.za April 2012 33 Darren Smart, page 33 Bros. Games Seattle. The second part is THIS MONTH’S apparently also in the BOUNTY works at the studio. WB Games Seattle is iSound – Ice Crystal actually comprised Clear Compact Speakers of three developers: valued at R549, Snowblind Studios, Sponsored by iSound Surreal Software and and Kalahari.com Monolith Productions. It’s basically just Monolith, really, given that Warner Bros. got rid of 60 employees across the Last month’s winner three studios back in “Whoever blinks fi rst has to drink out the toilet” Tristan Kleynhans November of last year.
26 May 2012 www.nag.co.za On the Rain-Slick Release list Precipice of Darkness. Dates subject to change without notice Again. May week 1 Magic: The Gathering: N/A (trading card Avacyn Restored game) Risen 2 360 / PC / PS3 Sniper Elite V2 360 / PS3
May week 2 Starhawk PS3 The Ratchet & Clank Trilogy PS3 Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception: PS3 or a long time there, things Arcade Adventures: On the Rain- Game of the Year Edition seemed quite grim for the Penny Slick Precipice of Darkness (that title Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2012 360 / PS3 / Wii Arcade Adventures. We’re sure we still haunts us), bringing their pixel F Mortal Kombat PS Vita can all agree that the fi rst two games stylings and proven ability when it in Penny Arcade’s episodic series of comes to pastiching RPGs to PA’s Dungeon Lords 2012 PC RPG adventures weren’t about to adventure. Importantly, they also Spellforce Universe PC forever change gaming’s face, but create highly playable RPGs, rather Spellforce 2: Faith in Destiny PC their humour and self-awareness than being all-spoof with shoddy were nevertheless well received. Still, gameplay. Developed with input according to PA’s Tycho and Gabe, as from the chaps at PA, episode 3 is well as former developers Hothead due later this year on Steam, the Xbox Games, it seemed unlikely that the Indie Channel, iTunes App Store and May week 3 series would ever receive continuing Google Play, with episode 4 set to Diablo III PC instalments. We say “former,” because land in 2013 on the same platforms. that’s all changed now. They’ll once again chronicle the Max Payne 3 360 / PS3 Zeboyd Games, creators of much- adventures of Tycho Ephemerous Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon PC loved JRPG spoof Cthulhu Saves the Brahe and Jonathan Gabriel as they City World, have picked up development battle “unspeakable evils” in the land of episodes three and four of Penny of New Arcadia.
May week 4 “I would argue that used games are Men in Black 3 360 / PS3 / Wii cannibalizing the industry. If developers and Dirt Showdown 360 / PS3 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future 360 / PS3 publishers don’t see revenue from that, it’s Soldier not a matter of hey ‘we’re trying to increase Mario Tennis Open 3DS the price of games to consumers, and we Sorcery PS3 want more,’ we’re just trying to survive as an Resistance: Burning Skies PS Vita industry. If used games continue the way that Silent Hill: Book of Memories PS Vita Street Fighter X Tekken PC they are, there’s not going to be an industry.” Dragon's Dogma 360 / PS3 -Dennis Dyack, CEO of Silicon Knights Binary Domain PC
www.nag.co.za May 2012 27 FEATURE The top 8 ADGs (attention-demanding games) of 2012 The top 8 ADGs (attention-demanding games) of 2012
Have you taken a look at the gaming calendar for 2012? It’s a thing of beauty, already packed with titles that deserve no less than every drop of drool and giddy giggle your face can muster. Some are merely mildly interesting. Others show loads of promise but still encourage caution. A few are intriguing enough for you to raise your brow at, but aren’t quite worthy of a proper commitment until you’ve seen more. Then there are those that inspire instant devotion. Whether they’re part of a beloved franchise, or captivating new ventures from the minds of proven developers, these games make you lose sleep to thoughts of what future pleasures they’ll likely bring. They demand immediate, impulsive pre-orders without a moment’s hesitation, and warrant empty wallets at the hands of needlessly awesome collector’s editions. Here are our top eight picks (in no particular order) of games such as those, as well as a few extras that deserve a special mention.
DISHONORED DIABLO III Dishonored is what Honestly, do we really you get when you need to explain this lock Harvey Smith one? It’s Blizzard. It’s (co-designer of the Diablo. We practically original Deus Ex) and bought this the day it Raphaël Colantonio was announced. Still, 8(founder of Arkane Studios – 6we’re uncharacteristically cautious developers of Dishonored and about it, mostly because of the creators of Arx Fatalis and Dark XCOM: ENEMY always-on Internet requirement Messiah of Might & Magic) in UNKNOWN and single-player lag issues (which a room and demand that they The real X-Com shouldn’t even be a thing that exists). fashion a game together. It’s remake has us We’re giving our concerns the all whale oil and rat possession thanking the middle fi nger and playing it anyway. and stuff , and it looks incredibly 7 gaming gods for inviting. Supernatural abilities, its unexpected cool gadgets, an emphasis on existence. We were hesitant at stealth and a generous portion fi rst, but after seeing it in action of player choice have us eagerly and talking in-depth with some of anticipating the arrival of this the developers, we’ve no doubt immersive simulation. that this is undoubtedly X-Com with a modern-day makeover. Action-packed turn-based combat, base building, research trees and other beloved series staples await us. We couldn’t be more excited.
28 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
FEATURE The top 8 ADGs (attention-demanding games) of 2012
QUANTUM BORDERLANDS 2 CONUNDRUM Somehow, Gearbox This cute, playful has shoved even more fi rst-person puzzler is guns into it. We do not especially enticing for understand how such 5 one crucial reason: 2things are possible, but it makes us it’s designed by Kim massively happy that the universe is Swift, lead designer of the original allowing it. We’re back on Pandora, Portal, who left Valve halfway with four new characters and a through development of Portal whole heap of new skills to aid in 2. Explore your eccentric uncle’s the killing of nastiness. laboratory, switching between four dimensions at will to solve STARCRAFT II: hopefully ingenious puzzles. HEART OF We’re expecting a healthy dose of THE SWARM humour as well. We’re still playing StarCraft II’s 3 competitive multiplayer component. We sometimes feel that it inexplicably hates us, and yet we keep coming back for more. This expansion touts a new single-player campaign centred on Sarah Louise Kerrigan, as well as the ever-important addition of new units and tactics to multiplayer. We’re more eager for this than a pack of Ultralisks about to wreak havoc on a group of unwitting Marines.
GUILD WARS 2 Easily the biggest MMORPG event of this year, Guild BIOSHOCK INFINITE Wars 2 aims to Based on what we’ve seen, pile on a thousand taking BioShock to the 4 skies was the best thing reasons to engage in subscription-free online Ken Levine and his team adventuring. It’s hauling a sack of 1of game development wizards deliciously inventive features on could’ve ever done for this franchise. its back, too. Choose from fi ve It looks every bit a true gaming races and eight professions, and spectacle, eff ortlessly weaving a set out to make your mark on this deep, meaningful experience in the persistent game world fi lled with midst of high-fl ying, variety-riddled dynamic events. action. We plan to spend hours just racing up and down the fl oating city of Columbia’s Skylines.
Special mentions: Far Cry 3 / Max Payne 3 / Worms: Revolution / Halo 4 / Assassin's Creed III / Prey 2 Tomb Raider / Torchlight II / Counter-Strike: Global Off ensive / Dota 2 / The Secret World
30 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
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CHEW artwork courtesy Rob Guillory. FEATURE Gamer’s Essential Lifestyle Feature
PRODUCTS SUPPLIED BY INTERVIEW Cosmic Comics We Buy Comics Rob Guillory, 011 476 9640 artist, CHEW AWX Gaming . Anime . Culture . Community 011 789 8215 NAG: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us Rob. Firstly, congrats on the multiple awards you've won, Look & Listen especially the Eisner. Did you ever think that when For the Fans you and John were working on the early issues of 011 467 3717 CHEW that it would get this much recognition? Rob Guillory: Defi nitely not. We both sort of fi gured that we’d gain some sort of cult following of weirdos. It just turned out that the group of weirdos was lot bigger than we expected...
NAG: Your style adds such a unique fl avour to the visual look of CHEW, was it something you worked on just for CHEW or have you noticed it develop through previous projects? RG: This is just my natural drawing style. When I draw, this is just how it comes out, like a handwriting. It’s something I’ve developed over the last 10 or 15 years, and CHEW was the culmination of all that hard work. Funny enough, Gamer’s Essential my art style was actually a bit of a hindrance to fi nding comic work in my early career. I draw a bit diff erently than most popular comic book styles, so editors were really doubtful that readers would buy a book that looks like CHEW. Thankfully, they Lifestyle Feature were wrong. NAG: We’re sure our readers would agree that your art style and the CHEW universe would make for a A fabulous selection of lifestyle goodies to fun video game, is that something you’re looking to for the future, or are things strictly focused on the complement your personality this season* comic for now? How about other media? RG: I’d love to see CHEW as a video game or even a board game. We’ll see what comes up in the future. For now, our main focus is on the comic, though there is a CHEW TV show in development at Comics Showtime. NAG: Are you a gamer or does drawing all that beautiful CHEW art take up most of your time? RG: I rarely ever play these days, though I used to be 12 a pretty big gamer. Between CHEW and family, it’s CHEW Vol 1 Who is pretty tough to fi nd the time to break out the Xbox. Writer: John Layman Jake Ellis? Artist: Rob Guillory NAG: Favourite game? Publisher: Image Comics Writer: Nathan Edmondson RG: On the rare occasion that I get to waste some time, I play either Red Dead Redemption or Street Supplier: Cosmic Comics Artists: Tonči Zonjuć Fighter X Tekken (which I just bought a few days ago). Price: R131 per volume Publisher: Image Comics Supplier: AWX NAG: Ever had any crazy fans or stalkers? CHEW is the Eisner award- Price: R195 RG: I did have a crazy conspiracy nut guy that used winning brainchild of John to bug me at cons, but for the most part, our fans Layman (writer) and Rob Guillory International thief Jon Moore has are pretty awesome and surprisingly normal. (artist). It centres on FDA agent an edge over everyone who’s out Tony Chu, who has been blessed to catch him: a man named Jake NAG: What can we expect in the future for CHEW? (or cursed) with the ability to Ellis has taken residence inside his Any secrets you can reveal? RG: Well, we’re just starting out sixth story arc, see the history of anything he head and acts as an omniscient “Space Cakes”, which stars a totally diff erent eats, and yes, that includes guide. Ellis tells Moore when to protagonist, Toni Chu, since our usual lead, her people. Tony is required to run, when to stop, who’s coming twin brother Tony, will be out of action for a few solve a number of cases using around the corner and how to issues. This will be leading to the halfway point his “cibopathic” abilities which break a man’s wrists. But both of the entire series’ 60-issue run, which will bring leads him down some very dark men want to fi nd out who Jake about some major changes for the book as a and action fi lled adventures, and Ellis is and how the two came to whole. That’s about as much as I want to give more often than not, into some be united. The artwork is thick away, for fear of ruining the fun. gag-inducing situations. CHEW and low-detail, but the use of vivid NAG: And fi nally, the fate of the world depends is one of the most original and colours and surprisingly effi cient on you: You need to choose between chewing on captivating comics to come portrayal of facial emotions means Enrique Iglesias' former mole for an entire day, or along in a long time. Take a bite, you won’t be left feeling confused. eat your pinkie fi nger. What do you do?! you won’t regret it. Volumes one A great read for anyone looking for RG: I’d go with the mole. I hear it tastes like super- through four are available now. something diff erent. models.
*Sorry, we spent too much time reading our sister’s Cosmo and got a little carried away. www.nag.co.za May 2012 33 3 4
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Comics
34Avengers vs. Rotten: 56Justice League Hunter’s X-Men Volume 2: (The New 52) Fortune Revival of the Fittest Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Writer: Geoff Johns Writer: Andrew Cosby / Caleb Artists: John Romita, Jr. / Scott Artist: Jim Lee Monroe Hanna Writer: Mark Rahner / Robert Horton Publisher: DC Comics Artists: Matt Cossin / Mike Cossin / Publisher: Marvel Comics Artist: Dan Dougherty Supplier: Cosmic Comics Chris Peter Supplier: Cosmic Comics Publisher: Moonstone Books Price: R45 per issue Publisher: Boom! Studios Price: R499 (full series) Supplier: AWX Supplier: AWX Price: R220 As part of DC’s “new 52,” the Price: R170 Phoenix is back in what seems to Justice League has been refreshed be yet another Marvel universe, Given that this is volume 2, we were with rebooted origins, but familiar When smarmy hipsters and half one in which the Avengers (who dropped in the middle of Rotten’s Super Friends (LOL) tomfoolery. a billion dollars meet, you get are either magical or simply ongoing storyline. It follows two Batman, Superman, Wonder Hunter’s Fortune. It’s not a terrible human) and the X-Men (mutants, US government agents: William Woman, Flash, Green Lantern story, but the characters are so duh), clash in an epic series of Wade, a reluctant Civil War veteran (Hal Jordan edition) Aquaman vapid and unlikeable that you’ll battles that spans this special and former Pinkerton agent, and and Cyborg are the League’s initial be forced to turn to the dialogue series. Its highly commercial his academically driven partner members, but more superheroes and artwork for saviour. While said art style might not appeal to J.J. Flynn, each doing their part to have been gradually introduced dialogue is witty enough to keep everyone, but the series makes uncover the mystery surrounding to this reboot over time. Geoff your attention and the artwork’s for an interesting “what if” read recent outbreaks of the reanimated John’s writing is as solid as ever, manga inspiration isn’t completely that combines just about every dead. What this means is zombies, and various guest artists bring the overbearing (it comes close), it’s cool character from both series and lots of them (with the kicker Justice League to life with their the long diatribes and rushed story in a post-Decimation world. being that there are numerous own unique styles. Importantly, that will prevent readers from species of them). It’s a decent this is still the Justice League, and longing for more once you’ve read, with clean artwork off set by the storylines are as entertaining taken the time to get through this. moments of gruesome brutality. as always.
34 May 2012 www.nag.co.za FEATURE Gamer’s Essential Lifestyle Feature
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78Supercrooks Batman 91Thief of 0Dead Space: (The New 52) Thieves #1 Salvage Writer: Mark Millar Artist: Leinil Yu Writer: Scott Snyder Writer: Robert Kirkman / Nick Writer: Antony Johnston Publisher: Icon Comics Artists: Greg Capullo / Jonathan Spencer Artist: Christopher Shy Supplier: Cosmic Comics Glapion Artists: Shawn Martinbrough / Felix Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: R35 per issue Publisher: DC Comics Serrano Supplier: AWX Supplier: Cosmic Comics Publisher: Image Comics Price: R225 Mark Millar’s up to his usual antics Price: R49 per issue Supplier: Cosmic Comics of taking traditional comic book Price: R39 We love Dead Space. A lot. stereotypes and fl ipping them The New 52 is a massive Salvage is part of EA’s multimedia on their head. In Supercrooks, a undertaking that reboots 52 The Walking Dead is trudging focus for some of their gang of American super criminals of DC’s top franchises. Not along nicely, and creator Robert franchises, acting as a bridge has been going through the usual all stories will start from the Kirkman was on the hunt for a new between the original Dead routine: coming up with daring beginning, but new story arcs project that was more grounded Space (the video game) and the heists, and getting pinched by and characters will make an in reality. Thief of Thieves is brand animated movie Dead Space: one of the many superheroes appearance to give readers new and follows super-thief Aftermath. As such, it’s more for keeping America semi-safe. Trying the chance to pick up from Redmond. Heavily-inked but clean serious fans of the series, fl eshing something diff erent, they opt to “a” beginning, at least. This is artwork, reminiscent of GTA’s out Visceral Games’ horrifying change things up a bit – by taking especially true with Batman, style of art, mixes with colloquial, universe. Written by one of the their criminal shenanigans outside which brings on a new everyday kind of chatting that’s game’s writers, its rapid pacing of the US. This is undoubtedly opposition – the Court of Owls light-hearted and believable. It’s is disjointed and somehow going to become a hit comic – but keeps Bruce Wayne as Bats an eff ective combination that unnerving, and the gritty blend book series, brilliantly written with and includes all three Robins. makes for easy reading, and we’re of viciously painted realism in the a generous splash of humour, Gritty but accessible artwork, defi nitely excited to see what art is further unsettling. backed by cool, stylish art. deep writing and almost every comes of this series. recognisable character await new and old readers alike.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 35 Figurines
1 he’s looking at my butt, isn’t he?
1 StarCraft II series 2 action fi gures Types: Sarah Kerrigan / Tychus Findlay Supplier: AWX Price: R380
These two fi gures almost didn’t make it into this feature but luckily we managed to get them just in time. Both are excellent examples of the right way to do licensed fi gures: they feel solid; they look authentic and their points of articulation give you just enough pose adjustment options without sacrifi cing the overall look and feel of the pieces. A must-buy for any StarCraft II fan.
Movies Tron: Legacy Resident Evil: Scott Pilgrim vs. Captain America:
Director: Joseph Kosinski Afterlife the World The First Avenger Starring: Garrett Hedlund / Olivia Wilde / Jeff Bridges Director: Paul W. S. Anderson Director: Edgar Wright Director: Joe Johnston Supplier: Look & Listen Starring: Milla Jovovich / Ali Starring: Michael Cera / Mary Starring: Chris Evans / Hugo Price: R100 (DVD) / R250 (Blu-ray) Larter / Kim Coates Elizabeth Winstead / Kieran Culkin Weaving / Hayley Atwell Supplier: Look & Listen Supplier: Look & Listen Supplier: Look & Listen Our return to the world of Tron Price: R41 (DVD) / R154 (Blu-ray) Price: R56 (DVD) / R162 (Blu-ray) Price: R78 (DVD) / R115 (Blu-ray) follows Kevin Flynn’s son Sam as he unintentionally enters the Somehow, this series of movies It’s the best video game movie Marvel continues their Grid (the digital world his father based on the video game you’ve probably never seen, based domination in the world of created) twenty years after Kevin’s franchise of the same name is on the Scott Pilgrim comic book fun, action-fi lled superhero disappearance. It’s all programs and still going strong. Milla Jovovich series. This romantic comedy movies with the fi nal superhero ISOs and Light Cycles in this visually is still in it, there are still zombies is loud, weird and packed to needed for their march towards stunning fi lm, and even though it’s and it’s still very “meh”. But bursting with references to our The Avengers, which opens in not a particularly good movie, it’s they’re all decent popcorn entertainment medium of choice. cinemas soon. Steve Rogers, a still well worth watching – both for movies, strangely entertaining A lot of people don’t appreciate sickly, skinny dude from Brooklyn, the nostalgia it provides and the and packed with action – and this fi lm, and that’s understandable: becomes the First Avenger incredible world it shows off . more importantly, they (loosely) its pacing is incredibly strange and after being rejected for military tie-in to our favourite form of its humour, action and premise duty during World War II and entertainment. Afterlife is no are undoubtedly ludicrous. But to thus opts to be treated with diff erent – aside from the fact gamers, this movie should be the the super-soldier serum that that, if you’ve got a 3D TV, you’ll Holy Grail. leads to the creation of Captain be able to watch “meh” in 3D. America. Nazis, explosions and an awesome shield are all in there, and that’s pretty cool.
36 May 2012 www.nag.co.za FEATURE Gamer’s Essential Lifestyle Feature
2 Jak 3: Dark Jak 34Alien Catherine: statue Facehugger & Alien Catherine 1/7 Supplier: AWX Chestburster fi gure Price: R385 Supplier: AWX Supplier: AWX Show your love for this loveable Price: R485 (Facehugger) / R390 Price: R970 character with this slightly less (Chestburster) loveable version. Dark Jak is every What better way to celebrate bit as morose as you could imagine These plush toys have apparently the recently released game of in this resin-cast, painted statuette. been out of circulation for eight the same name than with this Great pose, decent paintwork and years, but are now making a serious “demure” Catherine fi gure? Well, a good heft will guard your gaming comeback largely thanks to Ridley you could buy the game and cabinet against the forces of light. Scott’s new movie Prometheus play it, we suppose, but rather (that may or may not be about wait until next month to read our aliens at all). Inexplicable alien review before you jump in. The 4 xenobiology aside, the Facehugger pose might not do much for you, has stiff legs and can be posed just but between the detailed eyes, like in the movies. The Chestburster silky vinyl fi nish and bouncy hair, does nothing but lay around you’re bound to fi nd something 2 looking creepy – all essential kit to special here. go along with your black plague microbe plush.
No you moron, not a banana. I said, “any marine wearing a bandana.”
3
Series Spartacus: Blood Game of Thrones The Walking Dead Chuck
and Sand / Creator: David Benioff / D.B. Creator: Frank Darabont / Robert Creators: Josh Schwartz / Chris Spartacus: Gods of Weiss Kirkman Fedak Starring: Sean Bean / Peter Starring: Andrew Lincoln / Jon Starring: Zachary Levi / Yvonne the Arena Dinklage / Emilia Clarke Bernthal / Sarah Wayne Callies Strahovski / Adam Baldwin Supplier: Look & Listen Supplier: Look & Listen Supplier: Look & Listen Creator: Steven S. DeKnight Price: R261 Price: R157 Price: R261 Starring: Andy Whitfi eld / John Hannah / Lucy Lawless Based on George R .R. Martin’s Yet another entry based on a It’s the familiar tale of an unlikely Supplier: Look & Listen excellent series of fantasy novels, comic book series, this one is an hero, with a nerdy twist. Chuck Price: R581 A Song of Ice and Fire, Game adaptation of the zombie-fi lled, works as a computer technician of Thrones brings the engaging post-apocalyptic world envisioned at a consumer electronics store. It’s like Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, novels to those of us who by Robert Kirkman. Its focus is less It’s a dead-end job, but Chuck’s but several thousand times more couldn’t be bothered with words on the zombies and more on the lack of ambition makes him mostly violent and fi lled with copious and the reading of them. It’s a survivors struggling to eke out a okay with that. When he has the nudity. And swearing. Lots and hugely compelling tale of political meagre existence in the aftermath “Intersect” (basically the entire CIA lots of swearing. Seriously, this subterfuge and incestuous of Z-Day. Its character-driven and NSA database) embedded in one is not for Sunday night backstabbing, with brilliant acting nature might make its pace a bit his brain, however, he becomes viewing with the kids. It follows and high production values too tentative for some, but we an accidental superspy, having Spartacus, forced to become making this a show that both fans can’t get enough of it. to hide this fact from friends and a gladiator in the city of Capua of the novels and people who’ve family while aiding his new CIA in order to reunite with his never even heard of them before and NSA handlers. Comedy and true love, who was enslaved should watch. frequent video game references following Spartacus’ capture. It’s are interspersed with great action surprisingly good for a show so sequences. heavily focused on brutality and heavy handed shock tactics.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 37 FEATURE Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
Release Date 2012 Platforms 360 / PC / PS3 / Wii Genre Action-adventure / platform Developer Junction Point Studios Website www.junctionpoint.com Publisher Disney Interactive Studios
When Junction Point Studios was established in 2005 by game design luminary Warren Spector, people signed on thinking they’d be making the next Deus Ex, Ultima Underworld or System Shock. Instead, they got to make a Mickey Mouse game.
pic Mickey didn’t end up as “dark” as people had hoped. While the E initial concept art leaked to the Internet showed an edgy dystopian view of Disney locations and characters, the end result was more in line with what’s amiably considered a “kids game”. Even so, Epic Mickey became the best-selling single-platform game for Disney, with the majority (54%) of surveyed players between the ages of 15 to 54. HANDS ON We were invited to Austin, Texas by Disney to attend an early fi rst-look reveal of the sequel. “As a lifelong Disney fan, working with Mickey Mouse in the original Epic Mickey was a truly humbling experience,” said Warren Spector, creative director and vice president of Junction Point. “Millions of fans fell in love with Mickey as a video game hero and I know they'll experience similar emotions when they get to interact with and actually play as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two." The sequel brings Mickey Mouse back to Wasteland, the alternate world constructed out of 80 years of “lost” Disney cartoon characters and forgotten theme park attractions. Much like the fi rst game, Epic Mickey 2 is a homage and tribute to eight decades of Disney creations, wrapping it up in an action-platform experience where each location is fi lled with references to familiar and not-so-familiar characters.
BLOT BROTHERS This time, Mickey will need his “brother” Oswald the Lucky Rabbit’s help, the pair teaming up to tackle puzzles, enemies and an unknown foe together. Oswald was the predecessor to Mickey Mouse, co- created by Walt Disney but lost in 1928 due to a contract dispute. Disney regained control of Oswald in 2006.
38 May 2012 www.nag.co.za 1 Mickey uses the magical paint brush he found in the fi rst game, which lets him shoot either “paint” or “thinner” at the environment and characters around him. Paint will restore erased segments of the level or make enemies less hostile, while thinner will remove chunks from the environment and damage enemies. Oswald takes a diff erent approach, wielding a powerful and charmingly cartoonish one-big-red-button remote control, allowing him to command electricity. He can stun enemies around him for a short while, power up devices or infl uence one of the new enemy types, the Blotworx: a chimera of cartoon and animatronic parts. Spector hopes that now Oswald has been reintroduced to the world through the fi rst game’s storyline, the sequel will win the rabbit more fans. “We couldn't ask people to care about this guy they’ve never heard of or no one has ever seen since 1928 in a Disney fi lm,” said Spector. “It was unrealistic to expect people to care in the fi rst game, but now we know they care. We hear about it from players all the time. They really, really got into Oswald, which is hugely gratifying.”
EPIC MICKEY 2: 2 BUILDING A BETTER MOUSE POWER OF ILLUSION The fi rst game’s audience was limited due to it being a Nintendo Wii Announced at the same exclusive. The sequel will be multi-platform for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 time we were attending the and even the PC. While the 360 version won’t have Kinect support, the PS3 Epic Mickey 2 event, was a version will have full PlayStation Move support. surprise nobody saw coming. “All of the assets in the next-gen versions are unique; the shaders, all DreamRift, the studio behind the visuals eff ects are unique. We didn’t use the same assets for any two Monster Tail (DS) is producing a follow-up to the 1990 Sega versions.” says Spector. “I challenged the team on the fi rst game to make Genesis cult classic Castle of a game that had even our competitors saying, holy cow; I didn’t know Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, you could do that on the Wii. It’s actually awfully hard to make a next-gen seen here in the screens 3 game look better than the Wii game. The Junction Point team is just so labelled 1, 2 and 3 respectively. gosh darn talented. I mean, I don’t know how they did it.” Spector admits that the camera controls from the fi rst game weren’t as great as they could have been – something they hope to fi x with the sequel. STYLISH MICKEY “We’ve had a team working on the camera from literally the day we fi nished Epic Mickey 2: Power of Illusion the fi rst game,” he says. “They’ll be working on it until the day we ship the for the Nintendo 3DS will second game. There have been over 1,000 specifi c changes made to the use the stylus for “painting” camera. Our goal is that you will not have to touch the manual camera objects into existence, such as a cannon that shoots enemies. Mess up how you draw it, and it may pose a danger to Mickey as well. Every character Mickey saves takes up residence in a fortress that Mickey uses as a home base, Scrooge McDuck makes an appearance, and the witch from Snow White reprises her role as the main villain.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 39 FEATURE Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
HUNGRYHUNG HOBOS Before ttheh presentation for Epic Mickey 2, we werewerw e tretreated to a rare and almost forgotten DisneyDisney ccartoon titled Hungry Hobos. It was originallyoriginallor released in 1928 but all copies had beenen mismmissing since before the Second World War in 191939. Nearly 80% of fi lms made before 19401940 aarere lost due to the war. HungHungryr Hobos was rediscovered in early 2011, foundfou in the Huntley FIlm Archives in Herefordshire,Hereford UK. An employee stumbled across a fi lm rereele on a shelf and out of curiosity looked up the namena online, discovering it was actually a lost classic.class It was put up for auction in December 2011.2011. An anonymous bidder bought the short fi lm for $$31,250.31,2 WarrWarrene Spector confi rmed the anonymous bidderbidder wwas actually Disney, currently in the process ofof restoringrestor the fi lm for inclusion in its famous Walt Disney Archives.A Our vivviewing of the lost black and white Oswald cartooncartooon is the fi rst time it’s been seen in decades. OswaldOswwald aand his friend Peg Leg Pete are travelling hoboshobobos (m(migratory workers / homeless vagabonds) ono a train.train Hungry, they literally dismantle a chicken bby pulling off its head to get at her eggs. TheyThey cocooko an egg via a rather contrived sequence controlscontrontrols even once to plplayay thrthroughough tthehe maimmainn story path of this game.” of eventeventss involving Oswald’s butt and the train EpicEpic MickMickeyeyy had no voice acting; something Spector says was inspired tracks.tracks. FuFunny and violent, it was a rare glimpse into by certain NintNintendontendoen games. “I made a choice.” he admits. “In retrospect, I an aagege wwhen animated cartoons were young and wish I made a diff erenteren one.” As such, all dialogue in Epic Mickey 2 will be not yet heavilyh censored for content and concepts. fully voiced. Disney Character Voice will be providing offi cial voice actors Epic Mickey contained a few unlocks such as for all the main Disney cast, with the esteemed Frank Welker providing animated Disney cartoons. When asked if Hungry the voice for Oswald. Welker is known for his voice work as the various Hobos would be viewable in Epic Mickey 2, Warren Spector replied with “no comment”. characters in Scooby-Doo, Inspector Gadget, Garfi eld, The Looney Tunes Show, Tiny Toon Adventures and more. Since Oswald was a silent fi lm character, this will be the fi rst time he’s had a speaking role.
COOPERATIVE CARTOONING “Since Oswald was a Epic Mickey 2 is all about “the power of two”, bringing with it two-player cooperative play. It’s split-screen only so no online play. Players can silent fi lm character, this help each other; for example, Oswald can use his ears like a helicopter propeller, gliding down slowly while carrying Mickey in a way that reminds us a little too much of Sonic and Tails. will be the fi rst time he’s “It’s drop-in, drop-out co-op, you can sit down at any time with a friend who is playing as Mickey, and you can take control of Oswald.” says had a speaking role.” Spector. “If you're playing as a single player, Oswald will be there every second of the game. He’s not just a multiplayer character; he’s a helper, whether you’re playing alone or with a friend or family member.” We spent some time with an early three-level build of the game. The art direction was colourful and captivating, the camera controls indeed very much improved, and overall the game looks exactly how one would expect a sequel to look: more confi dent in everything it does.
IT’S A MUSICAL? During the introduction video, the Mad Scientist villain from the fi rst game returns to Mean Street to claim he’s reformed, but will need help from Oswald to fend off a new threat to the Wasteland. The Mad Scientist conveys his plight via an overwrought musical number complete with Disney-styled song sung in the key of deep Russian accent. “I’m such a geek about musicals; I love the co-op and next-gen stuff ,” says Spector. “But for me, when a character breaks into song, which they do on a regular basis in this game, it’s magic.” Composer James Dooley (Pushing Daisies) returns to provide the music for Epic Mickey 2, with noted lyricists Mike Himelstein providing the words for the songs. Just like in the fi rst game, players will hear music and instrumentation change based on their personal choices, ultimately letting them “conduct” their own unique soundtrack. “In the fi rst Epic Mickey title, fans embraced Mickey as a true video game hero and welcomed Oswald back into the Disney family with open arms,” said John Pleasants, co-president, Disney Interactive Media Group. “Now, as the vision for the Epic Mickey franchise advances, fans and gamers across all platforms will experience completely new ways to embrace the immeasurable vault of Disney characters and attractions.” -Miktar
40 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
Death has a pet crow called Dust who follows him throughout the game. Dust plays an important role in providing subtle hints as you progress; he might perch on top of a door, indicating that your objective lies within.
42 May 2012 www.nag.co.zanag.co.za FEATURE Darksiders II DEATHI beheld a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was
ake a look at the info box for this preview; Meet your Makers T notice anything? How about that During the hands-on event for Darksiders II, I we’ve categorised Darksiders II as an got to spend two hours playing an Xbox 360 build “action role playing game”? With the original of the game. The section demoed was about six Darksiders from January 2010, you would have hours into the story and took place in the fi nal been hard-pressed convincing somebody that dungeon of The Makers’ Realm. The Makers the game had RPG elements. In Darksiders II are the oldest race of beings in the Darksiders it’s almost the opposite: there is no denying universe and are responsible for creating that the series has taken on board additional everything, from weapons to entire worlds. gameplay mechanics that comfortably ensconce Ulthane, who helped War in Darksiders I, was one the title somewhere between a full-on action of The Makers. During this particular portion of brawler and a role-playing game. Darksiders II, Death is aided by another Maker It’s not every day that a studio develops a called Karn, who is able to pick up and throw new character who immediately appeals to Death across wider gaps and assist him during gamers; it’s even more infrequent for that studio combat. The particular area of The Makers’ to decide to side-line said character in favour Realm that I was in was called The Foundry: a of somebody new. When the fi rst Darksiders massive workshop full of giant chains, machinery arrived, many people took to protagonist War. and lava pits. He was gritty but had steadfast honour and a The objective here was to locate three Heart belief in justice that was neatly complemented Stones so as to awaken a huge stone golem called by a “take-no-crap” kind of attitude. In short: The Guardian. The preamble to this point in the he’s one of the more memorable characters of game was not relayed to us, so exactly what the this generation. With that in mind, Darksiders Makers needed this Guardian for was uncertain. II comes across as a little ballsy; a fairly new Suffi ce it to say, a dark corrupting entity had IP dismissing its lead character after only one infected portions of The Foundry and had game seems like hardly enough time to build a possessed the beings inside, turning them into relationship between player and character. Be Corrupted Construct Warriors who made up the that as it may, War is out and Death is in, and bulk of the enemy forces I sliced my way through. after spending a good few hours in the boots of the Pale Rider, I’m pleased to say that he’s And Hell shaping up to be just as memorable, if not more. followed with him Returning fans of the series will be struck by how Previously on Darksiders much faster Death is when compared to War. First, some background to the Darksiders Whereas War was all about heavy attacks, hulking universe. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse armour and brute force, Death is extremely light are the remnants of a race of the most powerful on his feet, utilising superior agility and incredible beings that ever existed: the Nephilim. A result speed to his advantage in combat. The diff erences of the unholy coupling of Angels and Demons, in the two characters’ approaches to everything and spawned by the Demon Queen Lilith, the from terrain traversal, combos and execution Nephilim were judged to be a threat to the moves, couldn’t be more pronounced. Universe by the Charred Council, who ordered Death has a whole suite of new moves
HANDS ON their destruction. The Four Horsemen were available to him that make getting around the spared in exchange for aiding in the genocide world a much quicker and more stylish aff air. Release date of their own race. This “genocide pact”, as Vigil New abilities include things like wall-running 29 June 2012 refers to it, haunts Death the most out of the which, when combined with other new abilities Platforms Four Horsemen. In fact, Death carries a talisman like mantling, means traversing levels can PC / PS3 / 360 / Wii U bonded to his chest that contains the souls of his sometimes become a puzzle in its own right. Genre slaughtered race. Death can climb pillars, scale narrow gaps by Action role playing game The events of Darksiders II run parallel to performing wall bounces between the two Developer Vigil Games those of the fi rst game, so while War is trying to surfaces, and sprint across narrow beams. He’s Website clear his name, as Death you’re trying to prove basically the free-running, parkour expert of www.darksiders.com that War is the victim in a greater conspiracy. So the Four Horsemen. Does all of this new-found Publisher begins a quest that will lead Death into the realms speed and agility handle well? To be honest, THQ that exist between Heaven and Hell. it takes some getting used to, but once you
www.nag.co.za May 2012 43 have the hang of it, Death’s speed and grace is fantastic to watch and makes ordinary area traversal that much more entertaining. The basics of combat remain largely unchanged in Darksiders II, with Death having a primary and secondary weapon mapped to the X and Y face buttons respectively. Death’s primary weapons are his dual scythes, but throughout the game you’ll pick up new scythes with diff ering damage stats and special abilities. The secondary weapon slot is split into two further categories: heavy secondary weapons and light secondary weapons, but you can only have one secondary weapon mapped at a time. The former includes weapons like axes, polearms, hammers and maces, whereas the latter includes weapons like tonfas, claws, bucklers and gauntlets. By the time I’d fi nished my two hour hands-on, I’d accumulated piles of diff erent scythes and secondary weapons, so you’ll be able to customise your load-out to your heart’s content. Combat is incredibly fast in Darksiders II, and at times I found it a little diffi cult to keep track of what was happening onscreen. That being said, this was an early build I was playing and the game’s director, Marvin Donald, told me that the team is still polishing for fi nal release. Death has more than thirty diff erent unlockable skills across two separate skill trees – you will not be able to unlock all of them so choose wisely. Unlocking skills follows typical RPG mechanics: kill enemies for XP; collect enough XP to level up and then spend your skill point in either the Harbinger Skill Tree or the Necromancer Skill Tree. Harbinger Skills are warrior focused, whereas Necromancer skills are spell-caster focused. You’re free to focus on one skill set or develop a hybrid of both. Some of the Harbinger skills include moves like Teleport Slash, which teleports Death across the battlefi eld to deliver a scythe attack against an enemy. Branching skills from that particular skill will add modifi ers to that attack, so you might put your next skill point into Death Blossom, which causes enemies slain by a Teleport Slash to explode, injuring nearby foes. Necromancer skills allow you to summon ghouls, crows and more to attack your enemies. Again, the skill tree is branching which means you could choose to spend points to modify your summoned ghoul with Fiery Souls, which adds fi re damage to your ghoul’s attacks. On top of the unlockable skills, Death has his own version of War’s Chaos Form known as Reaper Form. This ability only becomes available once you’ve invested a total of six skill points across the two skill trees, and for every six points you spend, the Reaper form gains a level of power.
Death and all his friends continually make use of Despair to stay out of the equipment lists – if it belonged in a contemporary Throughout the hands-on, I came across way of the enemy’s incoming attacks, just meant RPG, it was there. numerous supporting characters, familiar pieces that the likeness to Team ICO’s classic was all the A menu system, however, hardly makes a game of equipment and useful NPCs. One handy friend more apparent – defi nitely not a bad thing. an RPG – gameplay mechanics are all important was a large, ride-on construct known as a Maker Additional familiar faces include the demon and Darksiders II brings the RPG elements in Custodian. This giant automaton allowed Death merchant Vulgrim (who now accepts pages from droves. Damage numbers spout from enemies’ to perch on his back, which gave me direct control the Book of the Dead as a currency), Strife’s pistol bodies as you attack them; side quests will of the brute in combat and traversal. It also meant and the Void Walker – the Horsemen’s answer to distract you from your main goal; NPCs will rolling through lava pits became an option as the an Aperture Science Portal Gun. trade with you; you’ll be bashing open barrels Custodians are impervious to heat. and crates while hoping to hear the tinkle of gold A Horseman without his horse is rather sad, Come for the action, coins accompanying your rampant vandalism. but luckily there was a boss fi ght at the end of stay for the RPG Most importantly: there is a ton of loot to fi nd, the section where I was fi nally given access to The extent to just how much more of an RPG this trade and collect. Despair – Death’s horse. This particular boss series has become only really became apparent The game features randomly generated items fi ght immediately reminded me of Shadow of the once I brought up the in-game menu. I was that fall into the categories of weapons, armour Colossus as it took place in a massive open area greeted with the typical RPG systems: skill trees, (further split into Shoulder, Armour, Gloves against a towering enemy. The fact that I had to character levels and stats, inventory screens, and Boots), talismans and potions. As is to be
44 May 2012 www.nag.co.za FEATURE Darksiders II
expected, there is a tiered system when it comes to the power of each item. Common items are frequent and not very powerful, but you might luck in and pick up a set item, rare item or a Possessed Weapon. I never found a Possessed Weapon during my hands-on, but we were told that these ultimate weapons level-up just like Death does, and that you’ll be able to “feed” other pieces of equipment to them in order to grant them varying abilities. Then there’s the promise of an open-world to explore. While The Foundry was defi nitely a linear environment, the culminating boss fi ght that rounded off the hands-on area was set on a wide open plain fl anked by trees and high mountains. The hint of an open-world was defi nitely there, but remains to be seen. Still, director Marvin Donald told me that the size of the playable area is at least three times larger than that of Darksiders I, so there will, undoubtedly, be quite a bit to explore. - Mikit0707
If you want to read more about Darksiders II, be sure to check out our interview with game director Marvin Donald over on NAG Online: bit.ly/IKz2Ul
www.nag.co.za May 2012 45 New game, new assassin, New World.
Join the Revolution Release date through thousands of pages of historical The Assassin’s Creed franchise has 31 October 2012 documents. During the presentation, slowly developed a preoccupation with Platforms Francois admits that “one of our secret historically accurate representations of 360 / PC goals in Assassin’s is that we hope the past. Considering we’re about to PS3 / Wii U that players, once they go through an Genre head into the fi fth big-budget game, it’s Assassin’s experience, will not only have Action no surprise that we’re about to get an the urge to go and check out the stuff on Developer Assassin’s Creed steeped in American Ubisoft Montreal Wiki, but maybe even go visit the cities.” history. This is, perhaps, somewhat Website disconcerting for the average South www. They call him Connor African whose knowledge of Redcoats assassinscreed. (thankfully) and Bunker Hills might be a little rusty – I ubi.com When the world was fi rst introduced know mine is. Publisher to the star of Assassin’s Creed III, The important thing to remember is Ubisoft his name caused more of a stir that Assassin’s Creed III is still about the than anything else. Not surprising; on-going war between the Assassins Ratohnhaké:ton is defi nitely out of the and Templars. What’s more, the team ordinary. Interestingly, throughout behind the game believes that the basic the presentations and interviews we themes of the Assassin’s Creed series attended, our new assassin was never run parallel to those of the American referred to by his traditional Mohawk Revolution: power or oppression; name. Instead, the half British half control or freedom. “The American American Indian is just known as Revolution is one of the periods of Connor. history where we have the most Just like Ezio, it’s a traumatic event documentation,” says Tommy Francois that kick-starts Connor’s eventual (IP development director) during the involvement in the Assassin-Templar game’s debut presentation in London. war. Instead of the murder of his father “We’re actually capable of knowing and brothers, Connor witnesses his where Washington was and a lot of the village being destroyed. In his pursuit key characters from that era. So it was to ensure his people’s place in the because we pride ourselves in being new society that is burgeoning around authentic, [that] we had to make sure them, Connor eventually becomes that any of the targets that you’re going embroiled with the events of the to assassinate are in the right year and American Revolution. the right location.” Ubisoft has gone to great lengths to In previous Assassin’s Creed titles, represent Connor’s Mohawk heritage less detailed historical documentation as accurately as possible. While he’s allowed for a certain level of creative a fi ctional character, the period of license. Now that a mere 230 years history that he inhabits most certainly separate us from Ubisoft’s chosen is not. Therefore, he needed to fi t the period, Assassin’s Creed III is headed historical framework within which down a more authentic path. Assassin’s Creed III is presented. In a This will be Ubisoft’s biggest game target gameplay video that Ubisoft to date; there are more than eight originally created in December 2010, diff erent studios across the world that are Connor could be seen scalping his involved with the project. Additionally, assassinated targets. This action was fi ve full-time researchers have sifted later scrapped from the game because
46 May 2012 www.nag.co.za FEATURE Assassin’s Creed III
www.nag.co.za May 2012 47 ABOVE Previous Assassin’s Creed titles featured a free-climbing style based on parkour. The climbing in Assassin’s Creed III is now based on professional rock- climbing techniques.
“The tomahawk made a sickening sound as it penetrated the last soldier’s skull; combat in Assassin’s Creed III is a much more brutal aff air.”
historically the Mohawk people never visually presented from game to game is scalped their enemies. This might seem perhaps one of the unsung pleasures of inconsequential, but it’s a testament the series. For all intents and purposes, to just how serious Ubisoft is about when you take control of Connor, accurate representation. you as the player become Desmond Have you heard Miles. Visually, the new Animus for AnvilNext and the phrase “do Assassin’s Creed III does a good job of the Animus 3.0 not fi re until you enhancing this illusion and that’s largely Driving Assassin’s Creed III is Ubisoft’s see the whites thanks to its new, integrated 3D feel; of their eyes”? new AnvilNext engine. In terms of visual think in-game augmented reality. It’ll That expression quality it’s noticeably more powerful, but was coined at the also make use of some of AnvilNext’s the level of fi delity insofar as animation Battle of Bunker more impressive visual tricks, such as is concerned puts previous Assassin’s Hill on 17 June shattering the entire scene whenever Creed games to shame. With the 1775. Throughout Connor moves out-of-bounds. ability to produce twice the amount of the game you’ll “bones” in character faces, the AnvilNext hear similar Supporting cast engine is capable of portraying subtle historic quotes It’s already been revealed that fi gures facial expressions that aid in emotional and speeches like George Washington, Ben Franklin thanks to the delivery of dialogue during cut-scenes. and Charles Lee will be making an detailed records AnvilNext can happily render up to of the American appearance, but we were also told that 2000 NPCs at once, which makes for Revolution. about 80% of the game’s characters some spectacular missions set during will be historical people. For Ubisoft battles between British and Colonial however, the characters that populate forces. Additionally, the increased NPC the game are just half of Connor’s amounts mean that the cities of Boston supporting cast; the environments make and New York bustle with life. That life is up the other half. more intelligent as well, with NPCs able Boston, New York and the Frontier to interact with each other and engage are all being treated like characters with Connor thanks to the “completely in Assassin’s Creed III. During the revamped crowd AI”. presentation we were shown a A central element to the Assassin’s gameplay sequence with Connor Creed games is the Animus: the device arriving in Boston. People fi lled the that allows Desmond Miles to access streets, all of them performing tasks like ancestral memories that lie locked selling newspapers, loading wagons away in his DNA. The way the Animus is or selling wares. Children ran amongst
48 May 2012 www.nag.co.za FEATURE Assassin’s Creed III
the crowds and a dog trotted next to its a staple of the franchise have seen big owner, panting in the heat. A woman advancements thanks to AnvilNext. stumbled, dropping a basket of apples The biggest cause for this overhaul is which rolled around in the dirt. Suddenly the environments. Connor’s climbing a passer-by snatched up an apple and movements from tree-to-tree or from disappeared down the road while the Layouts of tree-to-rock have to be seamless – it’s woman shouted for assistance. At this Colonial cities much harder than animating an assassin moment in the presentation we were told during the mid- jumping from building to building, that this was an example of “emerging 18th century because the geometry of what Connor gameplay”: you could choose to pursue posed a problem is climbing can change from one organic for Ubisoft the thief, or walk by, minding your own surface to the next. designers: the business. streets between Free-running has seen adjustments as The Frontier is being treated with equal buildings were well, with Connor now able to slide under care so as to prevent it becoming a dull, wider than usual, obstacles and leap onto moving surfaces lifeless space. During the presentation, making it unlikely like wagons. In the Boston gameplay Francois mentioned that 30% of the for an assassin to sequence, Connor is chased by a group game’s missions will take place in this be able to jump of British soldiers. Eventually he is able massive area. Ubisoft wants you to be from building- to leap through an open, second-story able to explore every tree, river and cliff to-building. The window of a house (startling a woman solution: trees side, and while the Frontier gameplay inside who shrieks in panic) and escape lining the streets. sequence shown was confi ned to a out the back window by jumping into fairly small area, scrambling up a rock a tree, climbing to higher branches face to higher ground revealed a vista and then leaping from tree-top to the stretching into the distance. Indeed, the neighbouring building’s roof. very name “frontier” denotes an area ripe Watching Connor move through for exploration – an area removed from the trees of the Frontier (as he stalks a man’s involvement. Perhaps the sense of British regiment below him) is equally being alone is what makes the Frontier mesmerising. Light sprinkles of snow such a contrast to the bustling cities fell from the boughs as his weight usually found in Assassin’s Creed titles? buckled the thinner branches. He paused, perching in that iconic assassin A fluidity of movement pose as the group of seven soldiers Ubisoft has rebuilt every animation for marched underneath him. Suddenly Assassin’s Creed III. The fl uid, free- Connor had impaled one of them with running mechanics that have become the new Rope Dart weapon (an ancient
LEFT Ubisoft has purposefully put a lot of tiny details into Connor’s appearance. Note the blade of his tomahawk: it’s meant to resemble the Assassins symbol.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 49 “Owing to the period of history, guns have become more prevalent. As such, a cover system has been introduced to Assassin’s Creed III...”
Chinese weapon featuring a sharp point target: the general commanding the attached to a length of rope); he stepped British force. Climbing the cliff -side to backwards off the tree branch and the the left of the enemy’s entrenchment, weight of his fall lifted the lifeless body Connor reached the top and immediately of the soldier attached to the other end moved into a stealth mode as he crept of the rope. Two more soldiers were through bushes – thick fl ora now acts cut down before they knew what was as contextual cover and Connor will happening. Connor grabbed a fourth automatically crouch and move slowly. soldier and used him as a human shield Spying his target, Connor rushed from as the remaining three took aim with their his hiding place, killing a British soldier muskets. All three fi red at once and as in his path with one fl uid motion before the smoke cleared, Connor dropped the mantling off the body to maintain his lifeless soldier whose body had stopped momentum, pushing him into a second the bullets. The remaining three had no soldier who fell just as quickly. Finally, time to reload before Connor was on Connor leapt off a small outcrop to top of them, dispatching them with the embed his tomahawk in the general’s new dual-weapon combat system. The body. This fl uid, momentum-driven tomahawk made a sickening sound as it kill string is another new combat and penetrated the last soldier’s skull; combat animation feature to Assassin’s Creed III. in Assassin’s Creed III is a much more I would be lying if I told you that I brutal aff air. didn’t feel slightly disappointed when Owing to the period of history, guns Ubisoft revealed that Assassin’s Creed have become more prevalent. As such, III would be set during the American a cover system has been introduced Revolution. When those blurry fi rst to Assassin’s Creed III, but don’t worry: images of our new assassin hit the there were no chest-high walls or Assassin’s Creed Internet with the Betsy Ross fl ag fl ying crates to be seen during the gameplay III will feature behind him, I was not convinced. Ubisoft, demonstrations. Cover does, however, a changing however, is thoroughly convinced, and mean new ways to dispatch enemies with weather system the developer’s excitement was genuine cover-to-target assassination moves. that impacts throughout the game’s press debut event. The fi nal snippet of gameplay that gameplay. A Ubisoft hasn’t got a shadow of a doubt thick blanket we were treated to showed Connor at that this is the Assassin’s Creed III that of snow will the Battle of Bunker Hill. As hundreds inhibits Connor’s everyone wants, and after witnessing the of soldiers fi red volleys from muskets, movements, while game in action, I’m now inclined to agree Connor moved from cover to cover rain makes gunfi re with them. so as to fl ank the enemy’s position. His impossible. - Mikit0707
50 May 2012 www.nag.co.za FEATURE Assassin’s Creed III Interview Matt Turner, lead script writer, Assassin’s Creed III
the interactions. It looked like there was a scripted scene with a bear at one point. MT: Yeah that was one encounter with a bear, but we have many diff erent animals that are going to be the crowds, and they’re going to react to snow and they’ll have their whole living, breathing world. It should feel to the player that the animals are living in the Frontier in spite of you, so they’re doing stuff if you’re not even there. We really wanted to make it feel like it’s a living, breathing forest. That was a big thing for us when making this Frontier map, which is one-and-a-half times the size of Rome from Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. But when we started building it, it was about building it for a NAG: Tell us more about the new cuts-cene with two Mohawk consultants from the tribe 3D playable space from the ground-up, to have development procedures that AC III uses. currently, and they’ve been making sure that all kinds of stuff involved for the player to go and MT: We’re doing full performance capture, all of the ways that we present him [Connor], explore and fi nd, and part of that was the animals which basically means you have the motion from what he wears and how he talks and all themselves and they really contribute to that. capture, the facial capture and the voice that stuff , is as authentic as possible. We’re really capture all happening at the same time. So the trying hard to move away from that prevalent NAG: How will the changing weather system goal with that is to try and get as high-fi delity and common stereotype that you’ll see for work? Will weather change dynamically so out of the actors’ performances as possible. Native Americans. A lot of media and fi lms and that in the middle of a sequence it might start We’re getting to that level where we’re starting previous games present kind of like a mishmash raining or snowing? to be able to have that subtlety and nuance that of 500 diff erent tribes, whereas the truth of MT: No, it’s not dynamic in that it won’t start actors can give; so we can actually go out and the matter is that each tribe is very unique randomly in the middle of a mission. It’ll be fi nd some even better actors and be confi dent and they have these really, incredibly rich and winter at certain points and that sort of thing. that the performance they’re going to give will interesting cultures and creation stories. It’s come through in the capture. The beautiful really interesting stuff and we’re trying to be as NAG: We’ve got a forum attached to our part of that is that the breath [of the actor] is in true to the Mohawks as we possibly can. magazine’s website and one of the concerns line with the movements they’re making. So that kept getting posted was that, thanks to it’s allowing us to hit a new level that Assassin’s NAG: The whole game will take place over the American Revolution setting, the franchise Creed hasn’t been anywhere near before, and 30 years from 1753-1783, but it was also is going to head in a “rah-rah America!” we’re really excited about it. mentioned that Connor only becomes an direction. Was that ever an issue during assassin in 1770. development? Did that ever even come up? NAG: We noticed during the gameplay videos MT: Yeah, you’ll get to play him and experience MT: We were defi nitely aware that that might that the movement from gameplay to cut- Connor throughout his life. It’s a big window be a concern when we made that decision, scene is very fl uid – there’s no break at all. of time set before and after and during the but it’s important to realise that historically MT: Yeah, that’s something we’re pushing American Revolution, so we’ll see Connor America doesn’t even exist until 1773, on. It’s somewhat of a challenge in games to evolve through all of that. which is when our game ends. So actually be able to bridge that gap even more; to get the time during when our game stands, it’s away from that disconnecting cut-scene. For NAG: Tell us about Connor’s appearance; just colonial England really. I think the core Assassin’s Creed III our whole goal was to you’ve got elements of Native American and fantasy of what Connor is involved in and take the entire franchise to the next level, and almost British military coming through in what he’s doing, you know, basically he’s a that includes things like that: that cut-scene his outfi t. pioneer and you’re fi ghting for freedom, but transition being as seamless as possible to keep MT: First of all we have a very traditional assassin not necessarily just Colonial freedom. Connor the player immersed. I’m happy you noticed look with the hood and the white – it’s very is a very just character; he’s setting out to that because it’s something we’ve defi nitely important to have that visual fi delity of who make sure that the injustices that happened been working on. you are as an assassin. With his garb, there are to him won’t happen to other people. So defi nitely elements of Native American but more he’s not operating out of pure revenge; he NAG: Could you give us a little more of it is just Colonial in general because he needs wants to set things straight in a sense. He background on Connor; it was mentioned he’s to look at home with the rest of the people he’s experiences a pretty traumatic event when half Mohawk Indian. with in the colonies. So we tried to have a fusion he’s younger and that kind of triggers him to MT: He’s half Mohawk and half British. It was of all of that. Interestingly enough, when you go and stop certain things. important for us to have a character who was see him among people in the cities he actually So yeah, I get that initial reaction of “oh it’s outside of the confl ict. We didn’t want to have looks more at home, I think, than any of the all rah-rah America”, but the fantasy of where him taking sides in terms of British or Colonial; other assassins have before. Even in the woods, you are and what’s happening in that time he had to have his own motivations that were because of the white in winter especially, it looks and how volatile and interesting it is and the clear of the whole Colonial fi ght. That was the like he’s supposed to be there. people that are there, it’s really, really cool. inspiration for going that direction. We started Once you start diving into the history and researching diff erent Native American tribes NAG: Let’s talk about the Frontier. The animals learning about these people, I think players and the Mohawk one was the one that fi t best are going to be the crowds in place of the are going to be really into it because it’s a with us. So we’ve been working really closely people you’d fi nd in the colonies. Tell us about really interesting and dynamic time.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 51 / PREVIEWS /
Two heads; one boot. DETAILS Release date 2012 Platforms 360 / PC / PS3 Genre Action Developer United Front Games Square Enix London Studios Website www.sleepingdogs.net Publisher Square Enix Sleeping Dogs True Crime might pay after all...
f Sleeping Dogs looks familiar, that’s because it’s True Crime: Hong Kong. We Itook a brief look at the series reboot back in 2010 (August issue), before it was delayed until 2011 then unceremoniously cancelled. Activision felt the game “wasn’t good United Front Games enough” to compete against other open- consists of former world games, even though initial impressions members of EA were overwhelmingly positive. Square Enix Black Box, Rockstar on the other hand, felt it was something Vancouver, Radical worthwhile and bought the publishing rights Entertainment and for the “virtually complete” project, but not Volition Inc. the True Crime name. So now United Front’s open-world kung-fu combat driving shooter lives again as Sleeping Dogs, channelling the spirit of Stranglehold in a Grand Theft Auto “Wei can parkour over and through market style game. stalls cluttering neon-lit back alleys, While the name scramble up and over walls, and pull off may have changed, almost nothing many of the moves that give Hong Kong about the game kung-fu action cinema its unique fl avour.” has been altered. The story is still that of Hong Kong police offi cer Wei Shen, Gunplay uses tried-and-true cover-based off many of the moves that give Hong Kong gone undercover to take down the Triad mechanics: you can blind-fi re from behind kung-fu action cinema its unique fl avour. organization Sun On Yee. While the basic walls, slide over or around cover to advance There are three diff erent “experience” building blocks follow the genre formula quickly, and quick-kill enemies who pass by systems that infl uence what kind of of driving, shooting and on-foot combat, unsuspectingly. equipment you can buy and which missions individually they appear more mechanically The driving segments are inspired by Need you gain access to. “Triad XP” is gained competent than the genre is used to. for Speed, since several of the developers by killing rather than arresting, letting you worked on previous Need for Speed titles. In unlock dangerous underground guns and a tip of the hat to Pursuit Force, if you’re riding violent combat moves frowned upon by on a motorcycle you can jump on to another society. “Face XP” is respect, a factor in which moving vehicle. Vehicles themselves can act prominent Hong Kong fi gures will consider as projectile weapons if you decide to bail, you important enough to chat with. “Police using player-triggered slow-motion to shoot XP” gained from the straight-and-narrow, the car or bike petrol tank on your way out. granting you access to police equipment and The hand-to-hand combat system, central above-board abilities. to the game and heavily infl uenced by As you gain Face XP you’ll be able to The fi rst True Crime Batman: Arkham Asylum’s “Freefl ow” combat, undertake storyline missions that move the (Streets of LA) was released in 2003, incorporates smooth cinematic counters, plot forward, but only when you want to. As one of the fi rst combination attacks and environmental you explore, there will be side-missions such open world games takedowns. Wei can parkour over and as street races for earning extra cash to spend launched after Grand through market stalls cluttering neon-lit back at the various in-game stores. Theft Auto III. alleys, scramble up and over walls, and pull - Miktar
52 May 2012 www.nag.co.za WELCOME TO NEW YORK ZERO!
facebook.com/prototypefa • prototypegame.com AVAILABLE 24.04.2012*
© 2012 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision and Prototype are registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. ‘2’ , ‘PlayStation’, ‘PS3’, ‘PSP’ and ‘ ’ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. ‘ ’ is a trademark of the same company. KINECT, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved. * Release date for Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3 only. PC Release July 2012 / PREVIEWS /
DETAILS Release date Q4 2012 Platforms 360 / PS3 Genre Fightin Developer Team Ninja Website teamninja-studio. com/doa5/ Publisher Tecmo Koei Dead or Alive 5 This time it’s all about the “inner beauty”...
he product of a singular vision, those unfamiliar with the Dead or Alive series T are (rightfully) of the opinion that it exists mainly as a vehicle for mammary physics. The more sensible onlookers know it for what it is: a fi ghting game series with unique charms and ideas. Dead or Alive 5 will be the fi rst entry created without the input of series creator Tomonobu Itagaki. It’s been almost seven years since Dead or Alive 4 which launched in 2005 as an Xbox 360 launch title. This is also the fi rst time the series appears on PlayStation 3. “Our female characters have been such a huge symbol of the series, what we want to do is redefi ne that.” says Team Ninja lead Yosuke Hayashi. “We want to make a woman who really moves a man’s heart.” And those beautiful women will punch “What we want to do is make a woman and kick each other until something who really moves a man’s heart.” explodes. There are - Yosuke Hayashi, Team Ninja dudes too, like a ninja (of the Gaiden variety), a Bruce Lee clone, and a spandex- attack that, when successful, triggers wearing African-American DJ. The cast has an over-the-shoulder camera and slow- been redesigned from the ground up with motion. During this, you can pivot your more realistic proportions in mind. Gone is view and aim at the background, which the “doll” aesthetic that has given the series lights up as you select a target. When you its stiff mannequin look. Characters will now tap an attack button again, you send your sweat, show their exhaustion visually, and their opponent fl ying where you were looking. clothing will get scuff ed during brawls. Walls break and glass shatters, but now “What we want to call this is our concept you can also trigger dramatic changes to of ‘fi ghting entertainment.’” says Hayashi. “We the battlefi eld such as causing the entire don’t really want to use this ‘fi ghting game’ half-built skyscraper you’re fi ghting on to term anymore, because through this ‘fi ghting collapse to the street below. entertainment’ what we really want to do Interactive stages have always been is blend the fi ght and really kind of make it a series staple, but DoA5 takes it to new interactive with the stage and what is really heights, turning it into a strategic choice. The Dead or Alive was going on.” bombastic action is viewed through a new created by Tomonobu The “entertainment” part comes via the cinematic camera which zooms, pans and Itagaki in 1996, new Power Blows: a single-button charged tries to make everything look as dynamic as inspired by the Fatal possible. A standard “classic” side-view camera Fury and Mortal Tecmo was founded can be selected. Kombat series. in 1967 and sold Much is being kept under wraps such as the offi ce cleaning cast list, how destructible environments are, equipment. In 1969 it started fi ghting system changes, and so on. It’s been selling amusement confi rmed that Akira Yuki from Virtua Fighter will equipment (arcade appear as a playable guest character. machines). - Miktar
54 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ PREVIEWS /
DETAILS Release date 2012 Platforms PC Genre First-person shooter Developer Nadeo Website www.shootmania. com Publisher Ubisoft
Over 16 million players are registered with Nadeo, thanks to their TrackMania series. ShootMania Storm D.I.Y. F.P.S.
PS. Go-to genre for franchise reboots, energy-bolt “rocket launcher” that fi res glamorised representations of war and four plasma bursts before requiring some Foccasionally, because it’s the right choice downtime for reloading. It’s a bold choice; for the game in question. The “fi rst-person Nadeo wants to avoid the “which gun is the shooter” genre has come a long way since best” mentality. There are no explosions the 1990s. No longer a rudimentary murder or blood, which Nadeo says hinders simulator (die Nazi scum!), now you even e-sports. To help spectator readability and get fi rst-person shooters without any kind of comprehension, players carry their health on shooting whatsoever. their backs in the form of a shield, adorned ShootMania Storm has plenty of shooting by a user-selectable sigil that empties as they – a mania of shooting. But more importantly, get hurt. The player character models look it aims to bridge a specifi c chasm that’s like hip fl uorescent-rimmed 1990s cyber- developed over the last decade. While fi rst- warriors. person shooters have managed to keep their To bring a tactical mix to the single- graphical fi delity lead on the PC platform, weapon game design, maps can have “Rail they’ve fallen Blocks”. While woefully behind in There are no explosions or standing on a Rail terms of features Block, you’re given and functions when blood, which Nadeo says a one-hit-kill highly compared to their hinders e-sports. accurate railgun, but console-bound move off the block counterparts. They lack customisability that and you lose the weapon. You can design doesn’t require a degree in programming, your own types of blocks using the built-in level-editing that doesn’t require a bachelor’s ManiaScript, while jump pads, lifts and other in architectural design. such constructs come bundled so you don’t Taking much from their build-whatever- have to make them from scratch. ManiaScript you-want TrackMania racing franchise, Nadeo is powerful. You can even make walls you Founded in 2000, is bringing their unique brand of level creation can draw on for interactive displays; teams Nadeo is a French to a multiplayer fi rst-person shooter. You can scribble battle plans on them, or you can video game developer. can snap together a new arena with unique make turret control displays. Their fi rst game was composition and layout quickly and easily, ShootMania will be released in three parts, sailing simulator Virtual using the game’s “Planets” currency, much the fi rst being the jungle-themed Storm, Skipper 2, which has like the “Coppers” from TrackMania. It’s clear followed by the snow-themed ShootMania fi ve sequels. the fundamental design of ShootMania is Cryo, and an unnamed third sometime after. heavily infl uenced by grand-daddy Quake III Arena shooters haven’t seen serious play Arena. Arenas are abstract, neon-edged and since Quake III and Unreal Tournament 2004. groomed for e-sports. ShootMania’s intuitive editor and refi ned Part of the e-sports consideration carries gameplay might do the trick. over to the weapons. There’s only one, an - Miktar
56 May 2012 www.nag.co.za / ADVERTORIAL / HP Z1 Workstation
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n an age where smartphones, tablets, and architecture, photography, high-defi nition writer, not to mention a variety of storage types ultrabooks get the lion’s share of attention, video, manufacturing, fi nance, healthcare, including 7.2K and 10K SATA, SSD options, and power-users are often neglected. After all, scientifi c imaging, and oil and gas exploration. optional RAID confi gurations. Easily add a hard- imagine a world without movies like Avatar, HP Z workstations are being used to design drive, upgrade memory or access the graphics Kung Fu Panda, Slumdog Millionaire, and the everything from running shoes and race card by snapping it open and enjoy the control IPirates of the Caribbean franchise. cars to animated characters and deep-sea of easily swapping out parts on your own! Enter the HP Workstation Business. submersibles. They are also used to manage Starting from R18,999, the Z1 features No compromises were made on the Z1: research labs, mission-critical IT environments, a 27-inch LED-backlit display that has an It combines the capabilities of a workstation and billions of rands of tradable securities. impressive 178 degree viewing angle. It features with the elegance of an all-in-one to meet the The Z1 is the only all-in-one workstation with professional NVIDIA Quadro graphics for blazing demanding visualisation and computing needs quad-core Intel Xeon processors. Your work can fast renders and performance so you can focus of power users. further be enhanced with the HD webcam, SRS on giving your creativity free reign. HP workstations are designed to meet Premium Sound processing and whisper-quiet So what are you waiting for? Come and the needs of some of the most computer- acoustics. The Z1 Workstation gives you all the fl ex the Z1 Workstation’s muscle and see intensive industries, including animation, customisability options you need. You have a what you are capable of doing in front of a fi lm/video editing, graphic design, CAD, choice of optical drives, like the slot-load Blu-ray computing powerhouse.
More information available at www.hp.co.za/workstation / REVIEWS / REVIEWSINTRO We asked for a crew of cunning assassins, but instead we just got ass. Meet your reviewers.
What is your most treasured gaming lifestyle item (comic, fi gurine, plush, etc.?)
RedTide Miktar Azimuth Mikit0707 GeometriX Barkskin A limited edition cast I wouldn’t say I have My extensive Tough one – I’ve I have a coff ee mug My 6:1 scale doll Millennium Falcon I any “treasured” items, collection of Gears of got lots. Probably with my face on house. It has a video bought in Los Angeles since it’s all just stuff , War fi gurines. They’ve my signed Assassin’s it. Underneath it games room on the one year. I also have but I do like the Mega kept me happily single Creed Encyclopaedia says “this is an ugly second fl oor so it a black plague plush Man art book I have, for years. or my fi gurines of mug.” Apparently does count for this that I keep in the and my various Bowser Wander on Agro and this counts because question. My parents hope that humanity toys/plush/posters. the bird colossus Michael is desperate gave it to me when I will suff er a good from Shadow of the for replies and that’s was much younger, and thorough culling Colossus. all I can think of. before they fi gured again soon. ;) out I was a boy.
MINIREVIEWS
Kinda like regular reviews, only bite-sized and with less of those pesky words.
ARMY CORPS OF HELL LUMINES: ELECTRONIC SYMPHONY SILENT HILL HD COLLECTION It’s kind of like a demonic version of Pikmin, Tetris-style musical puzzler Lumines took Silent Hill 2 has not aged well. This HD where plants and cuteness have been westerners by storm when fi rst introduced skinning of the 2001 title serves only to replaced by goblins and violence. Army to our PSPs back in 2005. Since then, it’s seen show us just how poorly it controlled and Corps of Hell casts you as the fallen “King of a number of iterations and re-releases on how bad it looked, and then makes it look Hell” on a quest to reclaim your throne. To numerous platforms. With the launch of the even worse somehow. Yes, the creepy do so, you lead your newfound goblin army PlayStation Vita, it’s only fi tting that Lumines feelings and scares in this game are still against a variety of demonic foes. brings its sound- and light-based antics to present, not much can take that away, Your army follows you wherever you the new handheld in the form of Electronic but this port stinks of laziness: stuttering go, holding formation until you give the Symphony. audio, an awful conversion of that iconic command to attack. Three diff erent types For newcomers, it works like such: you’re fog eff ect and frequent streaming lag will of goblin will happily do your bidding: presented with a number of stages, each with a plague the game from beginning to end. basic soldiers are the grunts, throwing unique song, background and colour scheme. The most eff ort put into it has been the themselves at tougher enemies from Two-toned cubes spawn at the top of the screen re-recording of all voice-overs, but the new short range; spearmen charge from long and the blocks must be rotated and moved voice talent misses the mark and feels like range; and magi cast various elemental as they descend to make groups of same- an attempt to turn SH2 into a Hollywood spells to damage foes. Hold down the right coloured blocks match when they meet at the slasher. shoulder button, and a steady stream of bottom. Do so, and the matched blocks are SH3, on the other hand, has done quite goblins will rush forth to attack whatever removed and added to your score multiplier. well. Much more attention has been paid enemy you’re targeting. Killing enemies With a number of solo game modes (as well as to the game’s textures and lighting, and rewards you with rare loot, which is a two-player duel mode), you’ve got a number having a stronger technical base from collected by your minions and then used of ways to play this brilliantly addictive puzzle which to work has defi nitely helped the as components in the crafting game, and it features a range of process. of new armour and weapons network connectivity features like And... that’s about it. This for your goblin army. It’s online leader boards to show how “collection” comprises just two simple, uncomplicated fun, but 70 your scores rank against those of 80 games. There’s no sign of Silent 60 its mechanics lack variety. your friends. Hill 1 or 4.
58 May 2012 www.nag.co.za REVIEW SCORES GUIDELINE Here at NAG, our reviewers are gamers fi rst, and, while we strive to be as objective as possible with our reviews, each reviewer has their own preferences, opinion and style that will come through in their reviews. It’s not an exact science – anyone Ramjet SAVAGE ShockG telling you otherwise is fi bbing. We love My Assassin’s Creed My 28 inch limited to The tip of my left little T-shirts... I hardly 1,000 units Indiana fi nger (lost in the playing games and, sometimes, certain ever wear them, in an Jones and the Temple cooling fan incident genres and series will stand out for an eff ort to keep them of Doom premium of 2003). I keep it in pristine. format fi gure from liquid nitrogen so that individual reviewer; it’s not uncommon for Sideshow, complete one day science can those preferences to refl ect in their review with real clothing and reattach it. Sankara stones. score. Having said that, we’ve put together this little guide to help you understand how we rate our games – more or less.
This game is broken, both technically and in 1-39 terms of gameplay. Even if you get it to run, playing it is a painful experience that you wouldn’t wish upon your worst enemy.
It barely functions, but there’s little real 40-49 game here. Maybe if you got it for free you’d spend a few hours with it, but it’s not something you’d WEBSCORES recommend to friends.
How do we measure up? We scour the ‘Net Acceptable, but nothing special. It’s generic 50-59 in every conceivable way, but it’s solid to fi nd out what the rest of the world thinks. enough and might be worth spending some time hunting for achievements.
ARMORED THE SIMS 3: TWISTED Now we’re getting somewhere. This game CORE V MASTER SUITE METAL 60-69 is good; it has something interesting NAG: 75 STUFF NAG: 82 about it, and fans of the genre or series should enjoy it, but Metacritic: 66 NAG: 70 Metacritic: 76 something signifi cant holds it back from greatness and might Gamerankings: 66 Metacritic: N/A Gamerankings: 77 prevent newcomers from latching on. Gamerankings: N/A BLADES YAKUZA: This game is solid. Anyone who enjoys this OF TIME STREET DEAD SOULS 70-79 type of genre will have a great time and NAG: 58 FIGHTER X NAG: 48 could fi nish it without too much aggravation. It shows care and Metacritic: 56 TEKKEN Metacritic: 64 polish, but falls short in a number of areas. Gamerankings: 59 NAG: 75 Gamerankings: 65 Metacritic: 84 Excellence has been achieved; a game that JOURNEY Gamerankings: 82 NAG: 86 80-898 you’d happily play through multiple times Metacritic: 92 TEKKEN 3D: anda recommend to friends. It adds interesting, if imperfect, Gamerankings: 91 PRIME EDITIONN advancementsa to the genre or series, or ticks all the expected NAG: 68 boxesb with fl air and polish. It’s technically superior to many KID ICARUS: Metacritic: 64 othero games but perhaps misses an opportunity or two, or UPRISING Gamerankings: 65 doesn’td innovate enough. NAG: 91 Metacritic: 83 THE JAK As close to perfection as possible. Gamerankings: 84 AND DAXTER 90-1009 This game is highly innovative; it has TRILOGY incrediblei visuals; it plays like a dream and you can’t get SSX NAG: 80 enoughe of it. You have to look for faults just to avoid giving it NAG: 85 Metacritic: 81 a perfect score. You’ll go back and play this in ten years and Metacritic: 82 Gamerankings: 81 Gamerankings: 82 sheds a tear of joy when you do.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 59 / REVIEWS /
Prototype 2 Little bit louder now
ourteen in-game months after the end of the original it that this isn’t actually the case. Finally, there’s the Red Zone: DETAILS Prototype, we return to New York City (now known as the most dangerous of the three, completely overwhelmed Platforms New York Zero, or NYZ) as Sergeant James Heller. Alex by the virus and fi lled with all manner of nasty beasties and F 360 / PC / PS3 Mercer has switched from protagonist to antagonist, with men with big guns. It’s also Mercer’s personal playground. Genre Heller taking on the role of our new playable character. Heller The open world that you’re presented with plays its part Open-world blames Mercer for the death of his wife and young daughter. adequately, although I’ve defi nitely seen much more eff ective action With vengeance as his motivator, Heller recklessly hunts down and convincing displays of open-world design in other games. Age restriction his newfound nemesis, but rapidly discovers that Mercer isn’t It’s certainly a livelier world than what we saw in the original 18 exactly going to take his vengeful attempts lying down. Mercer Prototype, but that’s not saying much. Multiplayer instead infects Heller with his strain of the Blacklight virus (the Various contacts throughout the zones provide you with Local virus that’s the cause of this entire mess), imbuing Heller with missions that either further the story or reward you with all None the same supernatural attributes and abilities that our former manner of useful and devastating powers. Weapon mutations Online protagonist so comfortably revels in. And that’s how Prototype turn Heller’s arms into an array of deadly melee weapons, None 2 begins, as Heller tries to make sense of a senseless situation each with unique specialties and eff ects. You start off without Developer and fi ghts to suppress the virus that’s tearing New York apart. much destructive potential, but by using Heller’s ability to Radical Possibly the most annoying thing about Prototype 2 is consume enemies (which allows you to assume their identity Entertainment its story. It’s perfectly functional, but with a narrative based as well, which is useful for escaping alerts and for infi ltrating Website in such powerful loss, I guess I expected a bit more from it. restricted areas in very basic stealth segments) and absorb their prototypegame. There’s not much to care about here, and what could’ve been DNA, you’ll unlock upgrades for everything from your rocket com a worthwhile, possibly even vaguely poignant story eventually launcher profi ciency to all-new weapon mutations. You’ll also Publisher devolves into nothing more than a vicious display of ham- gradually evolve Heller’s base statistics (i.e. level up) as you gain Activision fi sted machismo. The few attempts that the game makes at Evolution Points for completing missions, consuming enemies Distributor actually leveraging its subject matter with tender moments and more. Once you’ve evolved to a new level, you can allocate Megarom come across as forced after seeing such blatant disregard for points into increasing your max health, or improving your it at every preceding turn. Progression through the storyline is regeneration rate, or raising your maximum sprint speed and spread across three zones, each atmospherically diff erent to jump height. Then there are Mutations: numerous sets of refl ect the level of Blacklight infection within. The Yellow Zone ability augmenting upgrades that are unlocked by completing – the game’s starting area – is littered with refugee camps, and side missions, or by searching for various collectables. They’re a black ops military force known as Blackwatch (who specialise divided into diff erent categories – the Locomotion Mutations in dealing with viral outbreaks and biological weaponry) works develop your travel powers (jumping, gliding and dashing with Gentek Corporation (creators of the virus) to experiment through the air), for example. By the time you reach the game’s on the surviving populace, who are battling to endure within fi nal missions, your once pitiful powers will have become this zone and overcome occasional outbreaks of infected. The outrageously potent, and seeing your powers gradually Green Zone is where life supposedly carries on as per usual improve with each new upgrade selection is one of the most for the civilians within – but Blackwatch oppression sees to satisfying facets of the game.
60 May 2012 www.nag.co.za Prototype 2
What’s more satisfying, however, is the unrelenting action and constant mayhem that you’re able to engage in at any given moment. It’ll be instantly familiar fare for anyone who’s played the original Prototype, as Heller shares many of Mercer’s abilities from the fi rst game – with the exception of a couple of skills exclusive to Heller. Aside from the technical improvements that have been made with the sequel, if you were to put Prototype 2 and its predecessor side by side, it’d be tough to tell them apart. As such, if you didn’t enjoy the original, you’re not going to enjoy this. Enemies progressively get tougher as the game rolls onwards, to match your constantly evolving tools of destruction – but you’re always more than suffi ciently equipped to deal with any obstacles. You’re able to pick up weapons dropped by downed Blackwatch soldiers if you fancy a bit of ranged combat. Eventually you’ll be able to commandeer vehicles and helicopters (midair hijacking FTW) that are useful in taking out tougher foes. Or you can simply destroy the vehicles in a single, brutal blow. There’s a lot of fun to be had with Prototype 2. While the game’s not really diffi cult, the action is always intense and immensely enjoyable. There’s really not much to it, but what it lacks in depth, it makes up for in unrelenting chaos. It’s fi erce, it’s gory and it’s fl uid. Unfortunately, the lack of any real substance does lead to repetition, and loads of it. The optional side missions often feel cut and paste, reusing the same objectives and mission types over and over in fresh locations. Enemies too, are limited in their variety, with only a handful of diff erent foes to take on throughout the game. Eventually slicing through the same enemy types countless times inevitably leads to feelings of monotony. It’s a pity, because with action this solid, I’d have loved to see more enemies to dispatch in harshly imaginative ways. - Barkskin
It’s diffi cult for me to see the fl aws in Prototype 2. I know they’re there, but I’m so blinded by all the 82 wanton destruction, idle amusement and carefree fun that my brain refuses to acknowledge them and take them seriously. If you’re able to do the same, then you’ll enjoy it. If you’re looking for something more substantial, however, I’d recommend looking elsewhere.
PLUS Helicopter hijacking / Tank bashing / Ass kicking
MINUS The story is mostly meaningless / Gets repetitive in a number of ways / REVIEWS /
Armored Core V Giant robot combat – what’s not to like?
he Armored Core series has long been the stalwart 1 of the mech combat genre, and fans will no doubt T be pleased to see its return. For the uninitiated, a “mech” is a giant walking combat vehicle, outfi tted with an arsenal of devastating weaponry that it uses to decimate opposing forces and level entire city blocks. Set in a post- apocalyptic world, Armored Core V allows players to pilot one of these steel behemoths of destruction through a lengthy campaign. You fi ght on behalf of a generic rebel resistance movement whose goal is the toppling of an oppressive regime imaginatively named the “Corporation”. Storyline has never been the strongest selling point of the Armored Core series, and the latest iteration is no exception: the plot is contrived and lacklustre, and takes a backseat to the action. The story mode comprises ten principal missions, all of which are fairly lengthy and challenging, but which are generous enough with their checkpoints so as never to become frustrating. In between the story missions, you’ll be able to tackle “order missions”, optional jobs that usually involve a quick skirmish and which off er a lucrative payout for their successful completion. The missions themselves generally see you taking on a variety of enemies, including aircraft and ground artillery, as well as opposing mechs (known as ACs), which provide the bulk of the game’s challenge. Your enemies are fast and ruthless, and they’ll make full use of the environments in which you duel them, hopping between buildings or darting down alleyways to evade you, or targeting you from behind cover with their sniping lasers. In order to successfully overcome the challenges that lie before you, you’ll need to tweak your mech, swapping out its various parts and customising its weapon loadout using
the funds that you’ve accumulated from completing side DETAILS missions. This is where Armored Core V’s biggest strengths, Platforms and also its principal weaknesses lie. Kitting out your mech 360 / PS3 is done in the assembly room, which is where you’ll be faced Genre with a dazzling array of statistics, specifi cations and options Action for customisation. You can customise virtually every aspect Age restriction of your mech, choosing its weapons, armour and even 12 switching out its various body parts. Some of the changes Multiplayer are easy to understand – for example, a base with treaded Local tracks is going to be slower than a pair of bipedal legs, but None it will also allow your mech to carry a heavier load. Some of Online the other options, like the generators, cores and fi re control 10 players systems are harder to appreciate at fi rst, but the value of Developer investing in such upgrades gradually becomes apparent as From Software one spends more time with the game. Website The lack of a comprehensive tutorial means that the www. customisation options can become a very signifi cant armoredcore-v. stumbling block for players new to the Armored Core series, com particularly since choosing the wrong mix of parts will Publisher make the already challenging missions almost impossible Namco Bandai to complete. Those willing to invest suffi cient time to make Distributor sense of the various assembly options will fi nd that the Megarom game off ers an incredible depth of customisation, and the multitude of diff erent options ensures that virtually no two mechs will be alike. This is particularly signifi cant given the game’s strong online focus. After joining or creating a team, you’ll be greeted with a world map which outlines missions that are available to you. 1 Pictured: a giant robot. You’ll be able to tackle the game’s story and order missions with a team-mate, which alleviates the challenge but also halves your payout for completing their objectives. You’ll also be able to tackle the game’s Conquest mode, where you’ll
62 May 2012 www.nag.co.za Armored Core V
“Armored Core V undoubtedly represents a step forward for the series. It lives up to the legacy of its predecessors by off ering an overwhelming degree of depth and customisation...”
pursue world domination by invading enemy-controlled zones with a squad of four team-mates. You’ll earn team points as you progress, which will allow you to invade additional zones and further your team’s dominance. In between bouts of frenetic online combat, you’ll be able to trade parts with your companions as you plan your next move on the global map. Visually, Armored Core V is a mixed bag. The mechs themselves are superbly detailed, and you’ll appreciate every close-up of either your own or an opposing AC – they truly are a sight to behold. The environments, on the other hand, are disappointing in their lack of imagination. Thanks to a drab colour palette, the cities you’ll traverse feel washed out, and each locale looks and feels exactly like the last. Uninspired voice acting is mitigated by the fi ttingly dramatic sound track and a range of guttural and convincing sound eff ects, but the game’s presentation remains one of its weaker points. Armored Core V undoubtedly represents a step forward for the series. It lives up to the legacy of its predecessors by off ering an overwhelming degree of depth and customisation, and although this makes for a steep learning curve, it also allows players to truly feel like they have some ownership over their mechs. The expansive campaign risks becoming tedious and taxing in its single-player guise, and this might represent a signifi cant barrier of entry for newcomers to the series. However, Armored Core V truly shines in its multiplayer modes, which breathe new life into the campaign missions as well as providing fast-paced and strategic combat opportunities in the massive Conquest mode. Despite the game’s unpolished presentation and lacklustre storyline, Armored Core V manages to provide a deep and enjoyable experience, which fans of the franchise will certainly enjoy. - Madman
Armored Core V is certainly the best entry in its series, and perhaps its genre. Incredibly 75 deep customisation options and an expansive campaign are complemented by challenging and strategic combat. Fans of the franchise won’t be disappointed, though newcomers might be deterred by the game’s complexity.
PLUS Engaging combat / Superb depth / Compelling online off ering
MINUS Steep learning curve /Lacklustre plot
www.nag.co.za May 2012 63 / REVIEWS /
Street Fighter X Tekken 1 The greatest fi ghting game mash up in theory
treet Fighter IV, unlike any other game after the original Street Fighter II, revolutionised 2D fi ghters, proving that Snot only did they have life in them still, but could still be improved upon tremendously making them as appealing as the 3D fi ghters if not more so. As Tekken grew more complicated with each successive title (but oddly enough less interesting), Street Fighter IV off ered the perfect balance for seasoned players and newbies alike. A solid game which has since seen many titles built around its success. Each of them featuring a variation of the game mechanics but ultimately being an unmistakable Street Fighter IV derived game. It was inevitable then, that a “vs.” game would come to be, pitting the two premier fi ghting games on current generation machines against each other. Tekken at the forefront of 3D fi ghting games and Street Fighter as presented in SFIV. Much like Capcom vs. SNK on previous generation consoles, the idea of pitting your favourite fi ghting game characters against each other is more appealing in theory than it is in practice. The previous games from both Capcom and SNK were not bad and in fact were quite enjoyable, but they were not better than the individual games they were comprised of. That is, The King of Fighters and Street Fighter respectively were better than the mash-up. Having said that, those two franchises made more sense together than Street Fighter X Tekken, if only because all the characters in these games moved in a 2D space and their move sets were relatively left intact with no signifi cant changes in how you would play them in each game save for a few combos and time-based attacks. This however is not the are essentially skinned Street Fighter characters. Moving them DETAILS case with SFXT, especially with the Tekken characters which into a 2D space has not worked well in gameplay, even though Platforms they remain visually appealing. 360 / PC / PS3 Many of the moves Tekken characters have are based on PS Vita positioning which is lost when fi ghting in one less dimension. Genre While the move rosters for recent Tekken games are far too Fighting long and for the most part redundant, in this game they’ve been Age restriction reduced to a mere fraction which creates the opposite problem. 12 There’s simply no reason to play the Tekken characters at all as Multiplayer they just don’t off er anything you haven’t seen before in one Local or more Street Fighter games. Despite all this, the game is fun 2 players if you don’t take it seriously. Spend some time in the training Online mode and master some combos and it’s a little more rewarding. 2 players Ultimately, Tekken X Street Fighter is likely to be a better Developer game, if only because Street Fighter characters and gameplay Capcom mechanics do translate well into 3D as we’ve seen before in Website the Street Fighter EX series. The 3rd dimension may allow www. the Tekken characters to retain their individuality as much as streetfi ghter.com possible while expanding on what the Street Fighter stars have Publisher at their disposal. Capcom - ShockG Distributor Ster Kinekor Entertainment In a world without Marvel vs. Capcom and Mortal Kombat vs. DC, this would have been 75 a great title, but as it is, it won’t satisfy cross over title fans or purists of any franchise. Street Fighter X Tekken feels unpolished; even though it is sometimes fun.
PLUS 1 Every team pair of characters (like Juri and Bison or Guile and Abel) has a unique ending cutscene, most of them Jin vs. Ryu / Looks fantastic charmingly silly, usually related to the personality of the fi ghters that fi nd the Pandora. MINUS Gem System / Wasted opportunity
64 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ REVIEWS /
Kid Icarus:
Uprising EDITOR’S CHOICE Sorry to keep you waiting! MULTIPLAYER Uprising has a fully- featured multiplayer setup for both online and offl ine play, including bot support. The two game types are free- for-all and “Light vs. Dark”, a team- deathmatch mode where each time you kill someone on the opposing team their team health meter is reduced. When empty, the last player to die becomes their team’s angel, a powerful character. The match ends equel to the 1986 cult classic Kid Icarus, there is very when your team’s little similarity between the two in terms of how they angel is defeated. play. Where the original was a side-scrolling platformer, Because players S bring their own Uprising is a strange blend of genres and ideas. weapons and Most chapters start with a fl ying Sky Battle section powers to the reminiscent of the Panzer Dragoon series. It’s on rails, but match, Light vs. you need to move lead protagonist Pit out of the way of Dark is balanced incoming fi re, while simultaneously aiming your shots at by having stronger enemies. It’s during these sections that Kid Icarus is at its weapons empty out graphical best. The environments you zip through, under and your team’s meter over are wonderfully realised: beautifully textured, detailed faster when you die. and locked at a smooth frame rate even with 3D on. The meat of a chapter is the Land Battle, where the game becomes a kind of third-person shooter. You aim your view talking about itself. The voice acting is high quality, but the DETAILS and cursor using the stylus in ways not unlike that of mouse- cheesy nature of the dialogue won’t work for everyone. If Platforms aiming on the PC, and depending on how you nudge or hold you can get into the spirit of it, it’s very much like a good 3DS the analogue stick the type of attack you do changes. These cartoon series. The witty tit for tat between Pit and villain Genre in turn vary depending on what kind of weapon you’re using. Hades, is a particular delight. Third-person Finding a weapon that suits your play style is important. Diffi culty is set before each chapter via an “intensity” shooter There is a rich crafting system for making your own weapons slider, higher settings yield better loot but at the cost of a Age restriction by combining existing weapons, transferring their properties larger “bet” of hearts (currency). Die, and the bet is lost and 12 such as auto-dodging or poison attacks to the new one. the intensity is lowered. Each chapter tries to exceed the Multiplayer Near constant dialogue occurs between characters previous in an ever-upward spiral of I-can’t-believe-that- Local while you play – sometimes serious, sometimes funny, just-happened. Quite lengthy at around 10 hours, Uprising 6 players and often very self-referential. Uprising luxuriates in being feels like a trilogy, streamlined and deep, packed into a Online video game, making constant references to the previous single title. 6 players Kid Icarus, other games, and breaking the “fourth wall” by - Miktar Developer Project Sora Website This might as well be the fi rst true Nintendo kidicarus. 3DS title. The sheer amount of content and nintendo.com/ polish is incredible; everything is measured 91 uprising/ and considered, highlighting the talents of its Publisher designer Masahiro Sakurai (Super Smash Bros. Brawl). It’s a Nintendo game not to be missed. Distributor PLUS Core Gaming Systems Amazing visuals and orchestral score / Customisable diffi culty / Overfl owing with content / Very replayable
MINUS Controls can be tricky for some
66 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ REVIEWS /
Journey MUST PLAY I’ve been through the desert with a friend with no name...
n my fi rst journey I met many others. Running across the sun-streaked desert, I’d come across a fellow Otraveller and we’d wander together for a while. We 1 The more symbols you fi nd, hidden could only chirp at each other, make little or big single-note throughout the game, the longer your “scarf” becomes, which increases how far noises. The very basics of communication, but enough, and you can jump/fl y. capable of transcending language/culture. After a time they’d leave me behind, or I’d lose them somewhere, having gotten 2 By holding down the “chirp” button for a caught up in exploring. I reached the summit, the ever- while, you charge up a powerful yell, which present goal since the start of the journey, alone. will recharge a fellow traveler’s scarf. I will never have a journey like my second one. No two will ever be alike, of course, but my second journey will always be special. I met a traveller at the very start of the journey, and we travelled together all the way to the summit. They always waited for me, and I always waited for them. When I got lost or wandered off to explore, they sat and meditated. When they didn’t respond to my chirps, I would meditate next to them until they returned. When we completed our wordless pilgrimage together, I could see their PlayStation Network name for the fi rst time, appearing after the credits. I sent them a friend request, and amusingly, received one from 1 them at the same time. We know nothing about each other, other than the two hours we experienced together. And yet, I already know more about them than I do my neighbours, and some of my friends. Reviewing video games is easy. Especially when they’re just video games. Most videos games are made to entertain, or challenge. They’re products. You can do quantitative analysis on products. They either do what the manufacturer intended, or not. A reviewer only has to grade accordingly. But what happens when a video game is more than just a game? It’s still a product: to be sold, bought and consumed/experienced. But
what if that product’s purpose lacks a satisfactory defi nition? DETAILS Journey contains no dialogue, no explicit narrative except Platforms some tapestries that mime out the context for which you fi nd PS3 yourself in: a red-clothed fi gure in the middle of a vast desert Genre surrounded by ruins. The “plot” takes a few cues from the Adventure cyclical nature of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, but with Age restriction a defi nite “less is more” attitude. Like a concept album, the 7 game expects you to sit down and play a complete session. Multiplayer The value of your experience comes from full investment, Local hence the “shortness” of a single play through. None Judged solely as a game, Journey is a short platform game Online through a sequence of beautifully rendered environments, 2 players with ambient anonymous cooperative multiplayer. Looked at Developer more holistically, Journey can be a revealing look at how we Thatgamecompany yearn to form connections. Website - Miktar thatgamecompany. com/games/ journey/ It’s either an okay platform game with pretty Publisher graphics and nice music, or it’s a unique and Sony Computer unforgettable event that will redefi ne what you’ve 86 Entertainment come to expect from video games. It depends Distributor entirely on you, and what you bring to the experience. PlayStation Network PLUS 2 Hauntingly beautiful soundtrack / Amazing landscapes and vistas / Singularly unique experience / Highly replayable
MINUS Limited to a single platform / Requires an internet connection for best experience.
68 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
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Twisted Metal No one expects to die on Christmas
avid Jaff e and his crew at Eat Sleep Play have been trying for some time to get Twisted Metal on the DPS3. I guess the third time really is the charm: two 1 Your vehicle’s appearance will change scrapped games later and we’re fi nally here with this based on your currently selected weapon, such as the chain gun in this “reboot” of the franchise, because apparently nobody can screenshot. be bothered to come up with sequel titles any more. Playing like some sort of demonic combination of demolition derby and Carmageddon in (mostly) arena- style maps, Twisted Metal is all about vehicular combat. Players choose their vehicles, each rated for armour, speed and special weapon power, and drive around cities, purpose-built arenas and other locations with the intent to kill each other. Weapons and other pickups are scattered around each map, so knowing where to fi nd them and, more importantly, actually picking them up (rockets in the behind tend to mess with your trajectory) are important skills to master. Another skill worth mastering is fi guring out the controls. Simply put, they’re a mess. In addition to regular driving 1 controls and four weapon buttons, vehicles can jump, turbo reverse, super turbo boost (on top of the regular turbo boost), and brake/turn (a single move with a dedicated button); it’s a bit much. The result of this excessive level of control almost makes up for it – vehicles are highly manoeuvrable and mastering the controls does make you a powerful foe – but it feels like the controls could’ve been designed to be simpler without sacrifi cing too much control. And the presence of two alternative control schemes leads us to believe that the developers weren’t quite happy with how things turned out either.
Control issues aside, Twisted Metal is a polished product DETAILS with stylish visuals, detailed environments and a great Platforms heavy metal soundtrack to keep your blood pumping. PS3 There’s a single player campaign that spans three chapters Genre and does a good job of providing some background into Vehicle combat the game’s characters, but should generally be treated as Age restriction a primer for the game’s multiplayer modes. Split-screen, 18 LAN and online support (quick match or a server list) make Multiplayer for a rounded package, but we’d appreciate a few more Local maps – the eight on off er provide a good bit of variety (and 4 players each tends to have something special and unique), but it Online won’t be long before you’re eager for more – in particular, 16 players those designed from the ground up as race tracks. While Developer they’re at it, some more attention could be paid to the races Eat Sleep Play themselves; most of the game modes involve killing your Website opponents (a purpose around which the entire game is www. designed), leaving the races feeling sloppy and too chaotic. twistedmetal. They’re also bloody diffi cult. com - GeometriX Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment Unapologetic mayhem and destruction with a Distributor surprising hint of tactical thinking. Twisted Metal Ster Kinekor is perfect for the couch with some friends or for 82 Entertainment those who like to sink an unhealthy amount of time into online play.
PLUS Detailed vehicles and environments / Combat is fun, chaotic and tactical / Solid multiplayer off ering
MINUS Over-complicated controls / Race mode feels incomplete
70 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ REVIEWS /
SSX MUST PLAY Winter is coming
trapping yourself to a wooden board and zipping down a snow-covered mountain might not be everyone’s Scup of tea in real life, but it sure does make for a fun video game. SSX takes a break from the serious stuff – the sports simulations, even the skateboarding games that force you to learn ridiculous button combos and split-second timing – to give you a pure arcade experience that’s as entertaining as it is challenging. As is the case with many extreme sports games these days, SSX has a “story”, but it’s mercifully not bound in adolescence or anything too silly. You are SSX – an extreme sports crew that aims to conquer the world’s seven deadly descents, and you want to do so faster and with more fl air than your rival team lead by some guy called Griff . That’s it, and frankly, that’s more than enough motivation. You don’t even have to pay attention to, or even compete in, the game’s career mode, as the free play section is open from the beginning. There are three event types in SSX: Race It, Trick It, and Survive It. The fi rst two are simple – either get to the bottom of the run fi rst or rack up the highest score while doing so. The last event type is easily the most challenging of the lot and requires that you take care when working your way down a mountain without careening off the side or into a ravine. This is made especially diffi cult with the game’s twitchy physics engine that makes for an exhilarating descent 90% of the time, but a frustrating experience for the remaining 10% (if you knew how many times I wrote the F word in my review notes, you’d have me committed). Each of the seven descents adds its own fl avour and unique challenges, providing you with huge variety between locations in addition to the variety within each DETAILS descent – there’s no such thing as a “right” or even “clear” Platforms path a lot of the time. Some locations require that your 1 360 / PS3 chosen character pads up with armour that helps you get Genre back on your feet quickly after a tumble; others require Sports that you bring a pair of ice picks to let you carve on the Age restriction rock-hard surfaces; others have massive gaps that you’ll 3 have to glide over with your wing suits. With all this other Multiplayer stuff going on, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the actual Local snowboarding isn’t up to snuff , but you’d be wrong. None The biggest let-down with SSX is its lack of traditional Online multiplayer. Instead of the regular off ering, SSX only lets you None compete in asynchronous events in which you post your Developer best times or highest scores and race against ghost players. EA Canada There are a few more bits added on like discovering where Website your friends have hidden “geotags” and trying to fi nd them www.ea.com/ssx for a large points reward, but otherwise, this mode feels too Publisher sterile and plays like a last-minute addition. It’s not terrible, EA Sports but it’s not ideal either. Distributor - GeometriX Electronic Arts South Africa
It’s the farthest thing you can get from a snowboarding simulation. If that sounds good to 85 you, then you’ll have a great time with this wild and exciting arcade experience.
PLUS Arcade-like action / Plenty to do / Descents feel adventurous and varied 1 Get enough air and you might have a chance to grab onto the helicopter that shadows you down each run. MINUS Poor multiplayer component / Frustrating diffi culty spikes
72 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ REVIEWS /
Yakuza: Dead Souls PONY Problem child
A typical example of how not to do a zombie game.
“Yakuza: Dead Souls manages to take this well-loved idea and turn it into a painful, laborious exercise”
t would have been great to be a fl y on the wall during The player has three options when shooting; randomly DETAILS the initial meetings that decided the next chapter in the spraying bullets in the direction they are facing (good for Platforms long-running Yakuza franchise. The question must have killing walls), a more precise, strafe based shooting mode I PS3 been asked: “how do we advance this deep, story driven, (good for killing walls accurately) and a zoomed in, over- Genre character-rich RPG crime-drama series in the most sensible the-shoulder view (good for slow moving walls). The game’s Action adventure way?” The best answer… stick zombies in it. Puff , puff , pass… auto-aiming is painfully rubbish, leaving the fi rst two modes Age restriction Yes, the new Yakuza game leaves behind the more serious, barely eff ective, and the third mode’s aiming is so painfully 18 “real-world” feel and makes for the zombie-apocalypse hills. slow that it is almost impossible to dispose with the hordes Multiplayer The once-vibrant fi ctional city of Kamurocho has been of fast moving zombies. Local overrun by shambling dead, intent on killing anything with a Add to this that the camera has a mean streak a mile None pulse and the bad sense not to emigrate. While the decision wide, and you have a game that becomes, at times, Online to move the franchise in this direction is, in a word, odd, almost unplayable. The player will get themselves stuck None one can forgive a bit of weirdness. This is largely due to the in horrid situations, with enemies pummelling them Developer prospect of massive amounts of zombie-carnage, which endlessly while the camera displays a rather nice view of SEGA always makes for great gaming. a corner. And the controls are twitchy enough to make Website But Yakuza: Dead Souls manages to take this well-loved readjusting them diffi cult. www.sega.com/ idea and turn it into a painful, laborious exercise that only - Ramjet games/yakuza- the most ardent fans of the franchise will pummel and dead-souls/ curse their way through. The satisfying brawling that made Publisher the fi rst four games (particularly the fourth) so enjoyable This is a good example of an interesting idea SEGA has been stripped away, replaced by a third person shooting done badly. SEGA surely had high hopes for Distributor mechanic that is extremely broken. The role-playing this one (prizes and accolades) but it turned 48 Ster Kinekor elements, like exploring Kamurocho, are there initially, but into a problem child. The story is good, but Entertainment as the game progresses through its four chapters and the that just isn’t enough here. zombie-infection spreads, even this disappears, replaced by endless zombie killing. PLUS That would not have been so bad, had SEGA managed Good voice acting / Interesting ideas to build a decent shooting system into the game. But what you have here – upgradable weapons aside – is a clunky MINUS attempt to spice up the franchise, with disastrous results. Broken mechanic / Repetitive / That damned camera!
74 May 2012 www.nag.co.za / REVIEWS /
The Sims 3: Master Suite Stuff The boudoir collection ou can almost set your watch by Sims 3 releases, DETAILS particularly when it comes to stuff packs. These Platforms packs, unlike full expansions, aren’t game Y PC changers – rather, they add more items for you to use in Genre building up your Sims’ homes. Simulation The Sims 3: Master Suite Stuff pack is no diff erent, Age restriction although its focus on all things bedroom does set it 13 a little apart from the rest. It’s just a sexier version of Multiplayer a Stuff pack, really, playing into the fact that a great Local number of Sims players seem drawn to the bedroom None antics of their little computer people. Online The Master Suite Stuff pack adds furniture for the None bedroom and bathroom (well, plumbing, I suppose Developer in the latter case) as well as new night-time outfi ts. Sims Studio These are generally a little racier than other stuff pack Website inclusions in the past, although The Sims 3 is still za.thesims3.com securely PG13. Publisher If you are a fan of the franchise – read as rabid Electronic Arts consumer of all things Sims, because that’s what the Distributor fans actually are – then getting this stuff pack really Electronic Arts is a no-brainer. Having more stuff for Sims is always South Africa appealing. But if you would rather spend your hard-earned cash on a game changer, then this isn’t what you are looking for. Pretty much the usual Stuff pack case… - Ramjet
“That better not be you making those bubbles!”
It’s a themed Stuff pack, like so many before it. 70 Enough said.
PLUS More stuff
MINUS No game changes / REVIEWS /
Blades of Time As if time travel wasn’t already confusing enough…
lades of Time tells the tale of a young and scantily-clad fortune-seeker by the name of Ayumi, though it does Bso in a manner so convoluted as to border on being unintelligible. Although the details of the plot are diffi cult to discern, it soon becomes apparent that Ayumi has to traverse a multitude of diff erent landscapes, all of which harbour legions of enemies that would rather see our heroine dead. Given such overwhelming odds, it’s quite fortunate that Ayumi has the magical ability to manipulate time, and it is this facet that provides the foundation for the game’s entire play dynamic. At its most basic, Blades of Time is a fairly rudimentary hack-‘n’-slash action title. There are only two attack buttons, and aside from performing the odd fi nishing move on an already weakened opponent, you’re limited to just running around and performing basic combos. Early on you’ll also gain access to a rifl e, which allows you to eliminate foes from afar, but slow and unresponsive shooting controls quickly put a damper on the prospect of exciting gunplay. The game’s saving grace comes in the form of Ayumi’s time manipulation: at the press of a button, you’re able to rewind time itself, and the events of the preceding moments play out before your eyes in reverse. After you’re done rewinding, you’ll regain control of the protagonist, but a “shadow” version of Ayumi will carry out whatever actions you originally performed. This allows you to level the odds against multiple enemies, or to team up with “yourself” to simultaneously strike at larger foes.
The unique time reversal mechanic makes for some DETAILS interesting boss fi ghts, which will require you to target Platforms multiple weak points simultaneously, or to use one of your 360 / PS3 clones to distract a titanic foe, allowing you to sneak up Genre on your enemy from behind and land a killing blow. The Action concept also allows for some intriguing puzzles that require Age restriction some clever thinking to complete. 16 It’s a shame that this innovative and exciting mechanic Multiplayer is hampered by pervasively unresponsive controls which, Local in combination with Ayumi’s limited health reserves, make None for an overall frustrating experience. The tangled mess that Online constitutes the game’s plot doesn’t help matters, and neither 2 players do the stuttering visuals. Even the game’s multiplayer mode Developer fails to impress, as it strips players of the time reversal ability Gaijin that is the single-player game’s saving grace. Ultimately, Entertainment Blades of Time is a missed opportunity above all else. Its Website defi ning mechanic is undeniably novel and refreshing, and www. makes for a multitude of “oh snap!” gaming moments, but bladesoftime. the game’s shortcomings simply cannot be overlooked. It’s a com shame, but Blades of Time is a frustrating mess rather than Publisher the unmitigated success that it could’ve been. Konami Digital - Madman Entertainment Distributor Ster Kinekor Blades of Time introduces a unique and Entertainment engaging concept to a tired genre, but is 58 unfortunately stifl ed by its shoddy plot, poor controls and visual fl aws.
PLUS Unique time manipulation mechanic / Intriguing puzzles
MINUS Convoluted storyline / Unresponsive controls / Frustrating
76 May 2012 www.nag.co.za / REVIEWS /
Tekken 3D: Prime Edition Prince of Iron Fist Tournament
andheld consoles have turned out to be a surprisingly successful platform for fi ghting games. It seems that Hevery major franchise is having a go (bar SoulCalibur, but we’re sure that won’t be long) and doing so with their own approach to the conversion. Tekken 3D: Prime feels like a port of Tekken 6 (complete with all 41 characters – most impressive) with lower-spec fi ghting models, a trimmed-down combo list and absolutely no story mode, just a random survival mode and a random quick battle mode. The result is a little disappointing from a Tekken fan’s perspective, as it does nothing to further the franchise, but the combat mechanisms and controls feel just as good on this wee platform as they do elsewhere. Tekken is at home on the 3DS with its 3D environments, but the 3D eff ect isn’t so glaring (even at full whack) that it distracts from the most important bits – the combat. With that said, it doesn’t do much to actually enhance the visuals, so it’s probably best left off . Instead of a story mode to explain who the hell anyone is, we get the full-length Tekken: Blood Vengeance fi lm. It’s... well, it’s fi ne, and not much more: the 3D eff ect is barely noticeable and the fi lm does its job to fi ll in the story blanks. We call this Unfortunately, the game’s replay value is crippled by the fi ghting style lack of single player modes, and the multiplayer component “The zombie”. uses an awkward matchmaking system that will no doubt chase away a lot of players. We found it generally diffi cult to fi nd a game online. - GeometriX
DETAILS Platforms 3DS Genre Fighting Age restriction 16 Multiplayer Local 2 players Online While it feels every bit like a proper Tekken game 2 players when you’re in combat, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition Developer 68 falls short of its console-based cousins and its Arika / Namco handheld competitors with its lacking single Bandai Games player experience and ultimately low replay value. Website www.tekken. PLUS com Looks good / Controls feel solid / Extensive character roster Publisher Namco Bandai Games MINUS Distributor Weak single player off ering / Lack of replay value Megarom Sponsored by / READER REVIEW /
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D lright, confession time: I had never played a Legend of Zelda game and because of this I had Ano childhood! This being my fi rst LoZ game and because I have heard the amount of praise for the series (this game in particular) I had my hopes set high and I am happy to say they were met. First off , let’s go into what a good HD remake should have, DETAILS and that is better graphics than the original. OoT 3D not only Platforms has better graphics than the original but completely remakes 3DS them to look just as good and even better than games of Genre this generation. An example of this is Link’s hair, in the N64 Adventure version it looked like “two scones”; in the 3DS version it looks Age restriction like actual hair. This also goes for all the environments, town 12 and dungeons all look fantastic without a graphical hiccup. Multiplayer As for the game play it has been adjusted to suit the 3DS Local quite well. Moving the inventory system to the touch screen None makes switching items a lot easier and more effi cient (to my Online knowledge, the inventory was the only complaint from the None original). Also the gameplay has not changed much from Developer the original. Link can still lock on to enemies and to beat Nintendo EAD them you need to time your sword attacks and shield blocks Website correctly (How I know this: the Internet). www.zelda.com/ Ocarina of Time isn’t praised mainly for its combat ocarina3d Publisher Nintendo Distributor Core Gaming Systems
system but rather for the real meat of the game: the dungeons! After completing my fi rst dungeon I fi nally SEND US YOUR REVIEW realised why this series is praised the way it is. Not only is each dungeon well designed, but the amount of satisfaction If you’d like to take part • James Noir's Hollywood you get after you complete a puzzle is something I have in our Nintendo Reader Crimes 3D never before felt in any other game. Even with the 3D Reviews competition, write • Ghost Recon Shadow on it only helps show off the grand scale of some of the a review of 300-350 words Wars READER on any of the 3DS games • Thor : The Video Game dungeons. Not only are the levels well designed, but they PROFILE listed below. Include a have great musical compositions with memorable tracks summary of your review (up The best review will appear that will please fans (since they didn’t change them) and My Name is Jack to 40 words), a few short in the next issue of NAG amazing boss fi ghts. Van der Merwe. pros and cons, and a score and the entrant will receive Even when the player has beaten the game and fi nished all I am studying out of 100. Check it twice from Nintendo South Africa the side quests, he/she still has stuff to do such as the Master at Crawford and then send it through to three Nintendo 3DS games Quest, which mirrors the entire world, giving players a reason College La nintendoreaderreviews@ of your choice (limited to to play again if they love a challenge and a boss challenge Lucia. I have nag.co.za as a Word fi rst-party titles), a Circle mode so you can verse all your favourite bosses again achieved my document (.doc or .docx) Pad Pro and Mario Kart 7 or RTF. You need to do this wheel accessories. Three - Jack Van der Merwe black belt in by 12:00 on Wednesday the runners-up will also be karate at age 14 9th of May. chosen, and each will (that’s right, be receive a 3DS game of their jealous) and my • Resident Evil : Revelations choice (limited to fi rst-party READER SCORE SA colours at 15 • Super Mario 3D Land titles). Please note that This is by far one of the best HD remakes I have (Be even more • Mario Kart 7 this competition is open ever seen. This title is a perfect start for people jealous LOL). • Kid Icarus : Uprising to South African residents 96 new to the series and also has enough new • Tekken 3D Prime Edition only. This competition content to keep the old fans happy. • Super Street Fighter IV 3D does not constitute a job • Dead or Alive Dimensions off er or entitle the winner • Zelda : Ocarina of time to any benefi ts or rights PLUS • Metal Gear Solid Snake of employment with NAG. Amazing remade graphics / Great Levels / Memorable tracks Eater 3D Prizes cannot be exchanged • Splinter Cell 3D for cash. MINUS Can feel dated at times
78 May 2012 www.nag.co.za / REVIEWS / / REVIEWS /
The Jak and Daxter Trilogy Naughty Dog’s classic series, face-lifted
onsidering the abundance of high- DETAILS defi nition remakes of classic PS2 Platforms Ctitles to hit the shelves in recent PS3 months, it’s no surprise that Naughty Dog’s Genre acclaimed Jak and Daxter series has received Action a current-generation makeover in the form of Age restriction The Jak and Daxter Trilogy. For newcomers 12 to the series, it revolves around the titular Multiplayer duo – brash, goateed youngster Jak, and his Local diminutive furry sidekick Daxter. The fi rst None game in the collection, The Precursor Legacy, Online is a typical but well-crafted platformer which None opens with Jak and Daxter setting off on a Developer quest to transform Daxter back into human Naughty Dog form following the mishap that turned him Website into the otter-weasel hybrid that so many www. PS2 owners came to love. Jak II marks naughtydog. a signifi cant change in direction for the com/games/ series – it has a stronger emphasis on action jak_and_daxter/ sequences, a far steeper diffi culty curve, Publisher and a correspondingly darker plot. Jak 3, the SCEE fi nal game in the collection, throws a liberal Distributor sprinkling of vehicular combat into the mix, Ster Kinekor whilst also off ering a large, non-linear game Entertainment world. Despite some now-dated visuals (even when up-scaled to HD) the series remains gripping, charming, and very well polished. There’s no shortage of nostalgic value for those who played the originals, and for those who didn’t, it’s an opportunity to experience some of the games that helped to shape the platform genre as we know it today. - Madman
A three-in-one compilation of some of the PS2’s fi nest platform titles, with remastered visuals. 80 The Jak and Daxter Trilogy off ers many hours of entertainment, as well as a fascinating cross section of the platform genre’s evolution.
PLUS Great value / Nostalgic merit / Compelling plot / New trophies
MINUS Old-school controls / Precursor Legacy appears very dated
www.nag.co.za May 2012 79 / HARDWARE / TECHNEWS KNOWYOURTECHNOLOGY
SFU Special Funtion Unit in the context of modern GPUs applies to the parts of the GPU that deal with mathematical functions that fall outside of the regular arithmetic operations. These include (but are not limited to) functions such as square root, division, reciprocal, fused-multiply-addition, # denormal handling and infi nity. These are of high importance in the GPGPU ecosystem and to some degree in commercial programs used on desktop systems. Since SFUs take up a relatively large amount of transistor space 10,000 for the number of times the features are used, they are typically much less numerous than regular stream processors in GPUs. BY THE NUMBERS Razer recently posted a question on TMU its offi cial Facebook page asking if Texture memory units fetch and perform texture operations on pixels such fans wanted another mouse built for as rotating and resizing. Texturing can be measured in the number of left-handed gamers. Min-Liang Tan, textured pixels a second which is usually equal to or higher than the raw Co-Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Razer, said “if there are 10,000 Likes pixel fi ll-rate. In general, the higher the number of texture units, the better in a month from now on this post, we the texturing throughput. WILL make a LH Razer Naga.” Within a week the number had been reached (at CACHE the time of writing his post is sitting on In essence any type of SRAM or DRAM can be called cache. Cache mainly 11,559 likes), and Razer released a press release confi rming that development refers to the function of a particular segment or part of a memory pool. would begin on a left-handed version of In modern GPUs and CPUs, however, cache is divided into three or fewer the Naga MMO gaming mouse. levels with each subsequently higher level operating slower in frequency or having higher latency, compensating for that in increased size. In general L1 (level one) caches are the fastest with sub-5ns latencies. L1 caches are DID rarely larger than 512Kb. YO U 1366x768 pixels overtook Memory bandwidth K 1024x768 as the most popular Much like any other bandwidth on a computer sub-system, this is N screen resolution worldwide, for O calculated by multiplying the frequency by the number of bits in computers, according to the latest statistics the memory sub-system or channel. So a 256-bit, 1GHz memory by StatCounter (http://statcounter.com), W bus would yield a memory bandwidth fi gure of 32B/s. Memory an independent web analytics company that ? bandwidth however is a theoretical fi gure, that does not take into provides free website traffi c analysis. Since account latencies and wait states, but is merely a measurement of StatCounter began its tracking of screen the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted between resolution in March 2009, as a free service to two points. In practice there are no devices that reach the developers and other users, theoretical memory bandwidth fi gures. 1024x768 has been the dominant screen size globally on the web (excluding mobile).
“What we’re seeing is that people are turning on the Xbox to play games and then keeping it on afterwards to get other types of entertainment.” Yusuf Mehdi, Xbox marketing and strategy chief
In an interview with the LA Times Mehdi said that households now spend an average of 84 hours a month on the Xbox LIVE online service playing games, watching videos and listening to music. That’s up 30% from a year ago. Just over half that time is spent on videos and music. By comparison, the average household spends about 150 hours a month watching television.
80 May 2012 www.nag.co.za PREVIEWS Torchlight II The last of us I am alive
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down e on go with a tropicals so theme obvious, it feels the The urge to g. Just because the gam here is really strong, but it’ a little like cheatin . Nope. It of stuff all. the cover is set on an island doesn’t mean lost DVD messagesure and needs that eto kindreally, be about anything pirates at and buried trea can be anything we lik
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JULY 2011 SOUTH AFRICA R4 If your DVD is missing we ar e really sorry. The truth is the DVD had to be redone this month after the burn This has nothing to do with your particular DVD being missing – er was formatted. that’s just bad luck, which is why we’re sorry.
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DREAMMACHINE May’s Dream Machine comes with better performance courtesy of the NVIDIA GTX 680 graphics card and lower prices for both AMD and Intel machines. As wonderful as the GTX 680 is, it is not without its issues, especially for those who want even more performance from overclocking. So do not be alarmed when it inevitably gets replaced by an extreme edition featuring double the power phases and a 1.1GHz + reference clock. We may even see it as soon as the June issue of NAG.
PSU GRAPHICS NEW OS DRIVE ANTEC HCP 1200 ASUS GeFORCE GTX 680 Plextor M3 256GB SSD R2,399 / www.evetech.co.za R5,500 / za.asus.com R2,999 / www.plextor-digital.com
STORAGE DRIVE CHASSIS DISPLAY Seagate Barracuda 3TB Cooler Master COSMOS II ASUS VG278H 3D Monitor R1,399 / www.seagate.com R3,399 / www.coolermaster.com R8,999 / za.asus.com
KEYBOARD MOUSE MOUSE MAT Logitech G19 Roccat Kone [+] Roccat Alumic R1,599 / www.logitech.com R899 / www.sonicinformed.com R319 / www.roccat.org
SOUND SPEAKERS HEADPHONES Asus Xonar Essence STX Logitech Z-5500 Digital CMStorm SIRUS R1,399 / za.asus.com R3,699 / www.logitech.com R1,199/ www.sonicinformed.com
82 May 2012 www.nag.co.za Hardwired Keyboard engineers
I tend to avoid online debates on forums and the like. Not because I don’t enjoy a good informative debate, but simply because they are rarely informative. Add to which, to have a Intel debate implies in some way that the parties involved have some Intel Core i7 3960X kind of evidence from which they make their claims and base R10,499/ www.intel.com their arguments on. As consumers we rarely, if ever, have all ASUS Rampage IV Extreme the information, but from what we do know and the tools we R4,999 / za.asus.com have at our disposal (including the wonderful thing called the Internet), we should be able to debate sensibly. 8GB quad channel DDR3 2,400 MHz memory R3,999 / www.gskill.com Like most things however, what we ought to do and what actually happens are very diff erent. So of late I have found myself dragged into boxing matches where we are not debating technology, but rather dealing with misconceptions that individuals have for whatever reason on a great number of subjects. Since I only have 500 or so words to say what it is I want to bring across, I’ll only tackle “Just because a new CPU or GPU is made using a smaller pitch, doesn’t mean it will Intel Dream Machine price: automatically be cooler or dissipate less heat or overclock R53,306 better. It just doesn’t work that way.”
one issue, and that is the one of process nodes. Lithography is a complicated process. The fundamentals are simple enough, and indeed are in the word itself, which means etching. However, since we are talking about silicon, copper and other materials that we use in our ICs (Internal Components), it’s become a little more involved. In fact, it’s at a point where any meaningful node we use today has to be verifi ed not only in theory by physicists and other equally keen minds, but has to go through rigorous testing and implementation phases by equally adept engineers. The idea that we, behind our keyboards, can extrapolate the bulk of the qualitative features of a node by merely pushing sliders up on our graphics cards and CPUs is outrageous at best. We can make summations about the AMD products we have in front us, but when we delve further into the technology behind it, we would do well to use caution and not AMD Phenom II X6 1100T / AMD FX 8150 R2,299 / www.amd.com make assertions based on our vast “personal experience” with sliders and blinking cursors. GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD7 Here’s a fundamental law of physics that applies to all our R2,999 / www.gigabyte.com ICs, regardless of what they are used for: as the node or pitch Corsair Dominator GT DDR3 decreases, the more sensitive that IC will be to voltage, heat and 2000 MHz 8GB dual channel current. There are many other facets to this but you can be sure R1,999 / www.corsair.com about the above for all nodes. Just because a new CPU or GPU is made using a smaller pitch, doesn’t mean it will automatically be cooler or dissipate less heat or overclock better. It just doesn’t work that way. The complexity of a CPU or GPU and, above all, market pressures, dictate more the product that ends up in front of you than any science behind it that we may have access to. So for those who were looking for their Ivy Bridge CPUs to reach Sandy Bridge speeds on air cooling purely because these are manufactured on a smaller node are in for a wonderful surprise. Rather than assume these new parts will clock better and argue AMD Dream Machine price: from that position, it’s better to ask how the new process would, if at all, improve clock speeds in comparison to current CPUs on the 32nm process. R41,106 - Neo Sibeko
www.nag.co.za May 2012 83 / HARDWARE / The lazy gamer’s guide
Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 Wireless Flight Stick
Website www.cometcomputing.co.za RRP R1,199
Most gamers who take a powerful liking to virtual fl ight will happily recommend a joystick to anyone looking to dabble in a bit of airborne shenanigans. There’s no denying its usefulness as a control mechanism in such simulators. It might also have something to do with authenticity, given that actual planes tend to be navigated through the skies with the aid of joysticks. We don’t know; we’re gamers, not pilots. What we do know is gaming peripherals, and Cyborg’s F.L.Y. 9 is a good one.
Boasting a robotic-looking, angular design that’s nicely consistent with Cyborg’s other off erings across the gaming spectrum (like the weird, but wonderful and much-loved Cyborg R.A.T. series of gaming mice), the F.L.Y. 9 is designed for wireless use with Xbox 360 - and as such, can be synced with your Xbox as quickly and easily as any 360 controller. Once that’s done, it’ll work with any game that supports it (which includes the likes of Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. and Ace Combat 6).
While its unique aesthetics certainly ensure that it looks the part of sturdy, rugged peripheral, we can’t help but think that the F.L.Y. 9 feels a bit cheap, particularly the base of the device. We’re also worried about the number of supported titles: from what we can tell, there aren’t many of them. Still, it does its job well, and it’ll certainly give Xbox gamers more precise control over whatever fl ight games they fancy that support this stick.
84 May 2012 www.nag.co.za The lazy gamer’s guide
4 2 TECHNICAL • Wireless sync with Xbox 360
• Powered by two AA batteries
• Adjustable 3 handle length / handle rake angle / head angle
5 • Throttle and twist rudder controls
• Built-in headphone socket
CURRENTLY • Also available SUPPORTED for PS3 TITLES
• IL-2 Sturmovik: PROS Birds of Prey • Easily customisable • Heroes Over • Looks mean Europe • It works
• Tom Clancy: CONS H.A.W.X. • Feels plasticky • Not a huge list • Ace Combat 6 of supported 1 titles • Blazing Angel 1&2 ALTERNATIVES • Saitek Aviator • Genius MetalStrike 3D
1 Two modes Tucked away on the left side of spectacularly. Also makes a neat four face buttons – they’re the way when it’s not needed. the base, you’ll fi nd the mode clicking sound when pressed. all scattered across the F.L.Y. This can be used to adjust toggle. This allows you to switch 9’s imposing form. There’s a three of the device’s features between two diff erent control 3 Full throttle mini-stick in the middle of the to better fi t the size and shape layouts to match the diff ering When you push this forward, bit at the top of the stick, which of your hand. The head (the bit control set of various games. your plane fl ies faster. Pull it functions as an analogue stick or at the top) angle, the handle back, and it slows down. d-pad, depending on the mode length, and the handle’s rake 2 Send one up the tailpipe selected. The handle also twists angle (tilts the handle towards This here is the trigger. 4 The gang’s all here for precise rudder control. or further away from you) are Ideally, when it’s pressed, You’ll spot all the regular 360 customisable whenever needed. bursts of death-bringers exit controller functions on here. 5 Tinkering ‘n’ tuning We like the adjustability, and the from your craft’s weaponry, There’s the Xbox Guide button, Hidden in the right-hand side of stick ships with an attachable hopefully causing the enemies a d-pad, start and back buttons, the base is the adjustment tool, lap mount as well, if you plan you’re targeting to go boom bumpers, triggers and the always ready for use but out of on using it that way.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 85 GENERATION
INTEL Z77 MOTHERBOARD ROUND-UP
ntel’s Z77 chipset is here. It brings function, or at last we can have to help your discreet graphics will get better. If anything this with it as usual new technologies, fewer 3rd party controllers. The card with workloads. What this technology should scare GPU ICPUs and features. While it benefi t of native USB 3.0 support does is boost frame rates without manufacturers as multi-GPU maintains backwards compatibility as well means that we may start altering image quality. From our rendering technologies such as with our beloved Sandy Bridge seeing many more devices on the own testing, depending on the SLI and CrossFire may eff ectively 2nd generation Core CPUs, it is market and adoption is sure to game, we have seen gains vary be rendered dead. However we ideally tuned for 3rd generation increase rapidly from here on in. from 30% to a staggering 300%. will have to wait and see how it all Ivy Bridge CPUs. Amongst the Sadly however, all these features Games like Street Fighter IV on pans out. Right now though we long list of changes that Intel are only available when using the the PC and others based on the gathered fi ve Z77 motherboards has implemented in the chipset, newer 3rd generation Ivy Bridge engine see frame rates well above from three vendors and pit them most important to us is the native based Core CPUs. For those using 500. Not an entirely useful frame against each other to fi nd out support for USB 3.0 and the PCIe the current 32nm crop of CPUs, rate, but for those on very tight which one was best. We initially 3.0 standard. While the Z77 chipset not much will change regarding budgets who can’t aff ord graphics had six boards and four vendors still houses as many PCIe lanes these two features as they are cards costing above R1,000 this but due to some BIOS issues we as Z68 and P67 respectively, the controlled CPU side. technology just may make your had to leave out one motherboard. 3.0 standard doubles theoretical The good news however is games playable at much higher In any case, this is a rating not bandwidth so 3 and even 4-way that Z77 boards are licensed settings than before. based on price as pricing was not graphics solutions are possible to use a technology that Intel It’s currently not perfect, available at the time of writing, without any trade-off s in showed off at IDF last year and there are some rendering neither were any of these boards performance. from LUCID, dubbed MVP. This anomalies, but the drivers we used locally for retail, but it is purely Where USB 3.0 is concerned technology in its simplest form were early, and we are confi dent from a feature and performance we can fi nally be rid of 3rd party allows the built-in HD3000 with each successive driver update point of view. What follows were controllers that need drivers to graphics in Sandy Bridge CPUs from both Intel and LUCID, things our fi ndings.
86 May 2012 www.nag.co.za FEATURE Intel Z77 motherboard round-up
ASUS Maximus V Gene Website za.asus.com RRP R2,999
on’t write off this board It’s virtually identical to the one because of its microATX on the Rampage IV Extreme, Dsize, it is one incredible but it’s improved further with piece of electronics for sure. It’s more options than we can go lifted virtually everything possible into here in such a short space. from the peerless Rampage IV It’s unequivocally without Extreme on the X79 platform and competition. The team at ASUS, implemented it for the Z77 chipset. with Peter “Shamino” Tan on the It supports two full PCIe 3.0 slots team have once again outclassed with switchable modes, an LN2 and out-engineered every other mode for extreme overclocking, vendor out there by far. The POST LED, clear CMOS, power Maximus V Gene is easily the best and reset buttons and a “Go of the lot and the board by which Button” for those overly aggressive all others are to be measured. If tuning sessions that make it you’re a serious overclocker above impossible to POST. However everything else, look no further the most impressive aspect of than this board as you’ll be hard this board is in presenting by far pressed to fi nd an equal here. 10 the most polished BIOS ever.
ASUS P8Z77-VDeluxe Website za.asus.com RRP R3,999
his motherboard is most 3.0. Should you require more, likely what you will be the board off ers a header for Tlooking for when building an additional two ports. SATA a new gaming or high-end connectivity is taken care of by Z77 based motherboard. In the native PCH on the Intel chipset typical ASUS fashion it’s kitted in and a 3rd party controller for a various shades of blue, making it maximum of eight drives. somewhat similar to the previous The board is pretty much Z68 and P67 boards. As a deluxe standard aff air where ASUS is board however it does come with concerned; it has a surprisingly a few extras such as three full size detailed BIOS with an impressive PCIe slots, but only one is 16x array of overclocking options electrically while the others are which make this a very attractive limited to 8x. Keep in mind that platform. Add Wi-Fi connectivity this will still allow 3-way graphics to the package and you have a confi gurations, as the primary slot fairly impressive motherboard. will have its link speed dropped to For those looking for a relatively 8x as well in such a confi guration. high-end board but whose budget ASUS has outfi tted the board won’t stretch to the ROG range of with no less than 10 USB slots products you need look no further 8 at the rear, six of which are USB than this motherboard.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 87 GIGABYTE G1.Sniper M3 Website www.rectron.co.za RRP R1,869
his motherboard started out performance and the only board as very uninspiring. It has no to off er sub 1 minute 25 second Tpower or reset, POST LED, score in SuperPi 8M with no or clear CMOS button. It only has tuning. Despite not having a four SATA headers and visually it’s POST LED, it never failed to POST rather bland. With the beta D11 even with ridiculous settings. It BIOS it was even worse, as it had moved from being at the bottom missing memory clocking options, of the pile, to right up there with and all kinds of problems that were the best of the lot. With the best very much unlike what GIGABYTE audio solution of all motherboards have produced in the past. It here by far and having more seemed that the troubled X79 display outputs than any other BIOS issues had carried over to board, it redeemed itself and the Z77 platform. However, during instantly turned into one of our testing we received an updated favourite motherboards. While BIOS and it fi xed almost every the BIOS update doesn’t add all issue we had with the board. the functionality that is missing In fact with this small like the on-board buttons, this update, this became the fastest motherboard is one very effi cient motherboard in the entire performer and defi nitely worth 8 roundup, off ering blistering consideration.
GIGABYTE Z77X-UD5H Website www.rectron.co.za RRP R2,459
he UD5H is supposed to out of the question. A missed be GIGABYTE’s most high- opportunity as far as we are Tend motherboard, at least concerned as this is the only until the UD7 version shows up motherboard here that does not if it ever does. With that said, have two full 16x slots save for one expects several features the Sniper M3. The rear USB 3.0 such as a POST LED, power, ports are few as well sporting reset buttons, dual UEFI BIOS, only four ports which is odd dual LAN and a superior audio considering at one point that solution. As far as the above is GIGABYTE motherboards had concerned the UD5H delivers, more USB ports than others on it even goes the extra mile the market. to provide an mSATA slot for Other than those few issues hybrid SSD/HDD performance. this board is pretty much However one thing we lament standard stuff . It isn’t too diff erent about this board is the PCIe from the ASUS P88Z77-V Deluxe confi guration, as only one slot and they should retail at about is 16x electrically while the the same price point. While this remaining two are 8x and 4x is certainly not indicative of what respectively. We aren’t sure GIGABYTE can do at their best, why GIGABYTE decided on it is a fairly competent board this confi guration on a high- and one that should provide end board, but it does mean plenty of performance at a fairly 7 that 3-way SLI or CrossFire is reasonable price.
88 May 2012 www.nag.co.za FEATURE Intel Z77 motherboard round-up
MSI Z77A-GD65 Website www.corex.co.za RRP R2,599
e won’t mince our three 16x electrical slots, OC words: MSI’s UEFI BIOS Genie button, power, reset and Won the P67 platform POST LED. Given that this isn’t the left a lot to be desired. Not only Big Bang board or the GD80, it’s was it overly complicated, it was probably the most feature packed visually unattractive, cumbersome board here. USB 3.0 ports at the and anything but intuitive. So we rear are a little thin with only two had very low expectations for the ports, but given everything else Z77A-GD65. However we were that MSI provides we are more pleasantly surprised because than willing to overlook this. not only did MSI overhaul their The only issue we had with UEFI interface, it is the slickest the board was the weak load-line interface of the lot only second calibration for the CPU. Level 0 is to what ASUS provides on the supposed to off er the most stable Maximus V Gene. It’s well laid out, voltage but even then, the VDroop options are appropriately named is quite noticeable and is the only and it makes for one very easy disappointment in an otherwise motherboard to overclock. bullet-proof motherboard. We Physically the board is very well aren’t sure if a BIOS update can fi x featured especially for the GD65, this, but other than this issue, this which is not the high-end SKU. board is masterful. A really great It has voltage measuring points, off ering from MSI and one we 9 3-way SLI/CrossFire support with wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. Benchmarks 3DMark03 3DMark05 3DMark06 3DMark Vantage 3DMark 11 Cinebench 11.5 8M SuperPi 64 latency AIDA Maximus V Gene
GIGABYTE 131,996 44,569 35,042 34,146 8,213 9.87 1:25.207 37.2 G1.Sniper M3
ASUS P8Z77-V 131,669 44,676 34,899 34,268 8,225 9.84 1:24.677 36.6 Deluxe
130,996 44,622 34,724 34,191 8,188 9.85 1:25.187 37 Z77X-UD5H
131,626 44,452 34,635 34,136 8,189 9.81 1:25.449 40.4 MSI Z77A-GD65
131,825 44,368 34,698 34,096 8,215 9.83 1:25.209 37.3
www.nag.co.za May 2012 89 / HARDWARE / Review
SPECS Core 1GHz GK104 (28nm) Processors 1,536 Render outputs 32 Memory BENCHMARKS 2,048MB GDDR5 6GHz (192GB/sec) BASELINE: ASUS GEFORCE GTX 680 API Hard Reset DX9 DirectX 11.1 1,080p 4xAA OpenGL 4.x OpenCL 1.X 99.6 CUDA/PhysX Just Cause 2 DX10 1,080p 99.6
155.72 PLUS 3DMark11 155.72 • NVIDIA surround Extreme out the box • Fast 3,343 • Quiet 3DMark 3,343 Vantage MINUS • Built in 39,722 Unigine overclocking is Heaven Xtreme 39,722 annoying • Limited 1,871.607 overclocking 1,871.607 headroom
BOTTOM LINE A great graphics card; easily the fastest GPU on the ASUS GeFORCE GTX 680 market.
Supplier ASUS Website za.asus.com ERP R5,500 DREAM MACHINE
t’s fi nally here. NVIDIA’s successor bus. The claimed TDP fi gures are close much like that GPU succeeded the to FERMI has arrived and it is as well, with the GTX 680 consuming GF104 core as used in the GTX 460. Inothing like we suspected it would 195W according to NVIDIA, a mere 25W With all things equal, the GTX 680 is be. In fact it turns out NVIDIA’s snide more than the GTX 560 Ti. Compute apparently better than what NVIDIA had remarks regarding AMD’s TAHITI cores as compared to the GF114 core expected, or rather AMD’s HD 7970 was GPU were somewhat justifi ed. have increased signifi cantly totalling not as fast as they had anticipated, which Regardless of whether you’re a fan 1,536 processors, four times what the has allowed NVIDIA to charge high-end or not, what NVIDIA has managed GTX 560 Ti had at its disposal. With prices for what is arguably a mid-range with Kepler is impressive. Named that however, the hot clock or shader product. after the 17th century mathematician domain clock has been dropped in All that, however, is unimportant, since and astrologer, NVIDIA’s latest favour of a universal clock for the entire what we all want to know is if it deserves architecture is interesting in a way GPU. As such, shader performance to occupy the highest SKU previously that no other GPU from NVIDIA has hasn’t gone up by 400% but is closer to reserved for NVIDIA’s best eff orts only. been in a while. It’s essentially FERMI 300%. Fortunately it does. Unlike the 9800 revisited. It’s a dense GPU housing The memory controller has been GTX which was sometimes slower than in excess of 3.5 billion gates, but improved as well in comparison to the the 8800 GTX, the GTX 680 is always because of the 28nm HKMG process GF114 (or GF110 core for that matter) faster than the GTX 580 it replaces. In from TSMC, it measures in at 294 because the GTX 680 ships with a 6GHz fact it is properly fast, and can claim square millimetres, signifi cantly memory clock, which allows it to match the title of the world’s fastest gaming smaller than the outgoing GF110 core the 192GB/s memory bandwidth of the GPU to date. On average it’s about fi ve that powers the GTX580, even though GTX 580. Unimpressive when compared to fi fteen percent faster than the HD it houses half a billion transistors against AMD’s 264GB/s memory 7970, but retails for less. It runs cooler more. We had expected a massive bandwidth on the HD 7970, but still than the GTX 580; it’s quieter; it draws 500 square mm core, but NVIDIA an achievement for such a narrow bus less power and is in every conceivable seems to be saving that for the true especially for NVIDIA. way better than its predecessor and the successor to the GTX 580, but more As we alluded to earlier, everything competition’s off ering. on that later. about the GTX 680 screams mid-range There’s a lot more that one could say Kepler is seemingly an enlarged part. After-all, the GPU has far more about the GTX 680, but we’ll leave that GF114 (the core that powered the GTX in common with the GF114 core than for the DirectCU II version. Until then, 560). In fact, it shares many similarities it does the GF110. Add to which the welcome the newest and fastest with the GF114 part such as 32 ROPs internal naming of the GPU as GK104, gaming GPU money can buy. 9 and 256-bit wide GDDR5 memory suggests it’s a successor to the GF114, - Neo Sibeko
90 May 2012 www.nag.co.za Your favourite magazine is now available for digital download on Zinio across platforms such as iPad, Android, Windows 7, Web OS, Air and RIM.
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SPECS CPU Acer Aspire S3 Intel Core i7- 2637M Supplier Acer Africa Website www.acer.co.za RRP R9,999 GPU Intel HD Graphics etbooks were once a must- 3000 have gadget for users searching RAM Nfor supreme portability. Now, 4GB with mega-popular tablets viciously Storage intent on world domination in the 240GB SSD portable market, netbooks have Display unfortunately fallen out of favour 13.3-inch HD Acer with the inhabitants of this planet. CineCrystal LED Enter the ultrabook: essentially an Battery extremely high-end netbook, packed 3-cell Li-ion with power that cannot be matched by the tablets on off er today, and off ering the familiar functionality and form of a PLUS traditional notebook. • Powerful The Acer Aspire S3 is one such • Light and off ering. An ultra-thin, ultra-light, portable ultra-portable powerhouse, the S3 is tuned down to the bare minimum, but heavy load, you’ll get around an hour • Battery life brilliantly designed. It’s fast, too; its it’s nonetheless impressive and means and a half of use, while idling and light SSD allowing for cold boots in just that gamers can still rely on it to off er use will get you around fi ve hours MINUS under 30 seconds and resumes from the chance to play a few of the less before the battery fi zzles. Using the • Nothing really sleep mode in just over a second, demanding games out there while on S3’s chiclet keyboard and touchpad making it a great choice for anyone the move. It defi nitely has no troubles is comfortable, and the display BOTTOM LINE who doesn’t want to have to wait an handling general applications, playing doesn’t suff er from any issues that Excellent little age for it to start up in a hurry. Curious HD video or any other such tasks we experienced. All in all, the S3 is an ultrabook that’ll to see if it could handle it, we ran either. impressive option if you’re looking for easily satisfy your the Resident Evil 5 benchmark and The three-cell battery off ers a a portable off ering that’s more need for power got an average frame rate of 30.8. decent amount of use when there’s no traditional than a tablet. 9 and portability. Granted, this was with all settings nearby power socket. Under constant - Dane Remendes
AOC e1649Fwu
Supplier Platinum Micro Website us.aoc.com RRP R899 SPECS Display esigned for notebook users 16-inch LED who desire dual-monitor setups (1366x768 native Dwithout sacrifi cing too much in resolution) the portability department, the AOC Contrast ratio e1649Fwu is a good choice for anyone 500:1 in the market for such things. To this Response time end, it’s powered via USB, and setup 16ms is perfectly simple: connect it to your Power desired notebook, wait for the drivers Powered via USB to install on fi rst use, accept the license agreement that pops up, and you’re good to go, able to customise display PLUS settings as you would any other monitor • Simple setup connected to your notebook. • Adequate display It’s really light – as you’d expect – • Practical design and can be used in either landscape or portrait orientation, with an adjustable MINUS stand making provision for either, • Some visual lag which can be tucked away while in • Limited viewing transit. The display itself is vibrant angle enough, producing decent image quality. Its viewing angle is quite It’s obviously a niche product – but digital photo frame that lives with your BOTTOM LINE limited, however, making for a less than it fi lls its role quite well. I suppose it’s notebook. I wouldn’t recommend it as It’s great if you’re pleasant experience for anyone not got a number of practical applications a must-have accessory to anyone not looking for viewing it head on. There’s also slightly besides the obvious: for business looking for its specifi c functionality, something like it, noticeable visual lag, but for a display presentations on the move (although however, but for those who are, but it’s not a must- that off ers such high levels of convenient the dodgy viewing angle might impede I’d say go for it. 8 have for everyone. portability, it can be forgiven for that. this), for example, or maybe for use as a - Dane Remendes
92 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ HARDWARE / Review
GIGABYTE RADEON
R787OC-2GD HARDWARE Supplier Rectron Website www.gigabyte.com ERP TBA
MD did a fantastic job with their overclock, this GPU was outpacing the BENCHMARKS fi rst GCN GPU, the Tahiti core HD 7950 in every benchmark regardless SPECS BASELINE: ASUS GEFORCE GTX 680 Core Athat powers the Radeon HD79XX of the resolution. Hard Reset DX9 range of GPUs, and is easily the most Odd considering that the bandwidth 1.1GHz Pitcairn 1,080p 4xAA impressive piece of silicon to come advantage for the HD 7950 is in the region (28nm) from AMD in years. However that GPU of 90GB/s. Clearly the bottleneck is Processors 81.6 represents the best of AMD and as somewhere else other than the memory 1280 Just Cause 2 99.6 such, is quite expensive to manufacture, bandwidth. We suspect that the equal Render outputs DX10 1,080p making it unsuitable for the mid- range number of render outputs could be the 32 Memory 126.62 parts. limiting factor while the additional 32 Crysis 2 This is where AMD’s Pitcairn GPU texture units are not able to make up 3,072MB GDDR5 1,080p DX11 155.72 comes in. It’s not a handicapped Tahiti for this on the Tahiti Pro. Then again, 4.8GHz (153GB/ core, but a GPU built from the ground the clock speed of this particular HD sec) 59.118 up around AMD’s GCN architecture for 7870 card is much higher than that of a API 3DMark11 N/A this price point. Interestingly enough, standard HD 7950, so a direct comparison DirectX 11.1 Extreme the high GPU clock that this card ships between the two in effi ciency will have to OpenGL 4.x with may have allowed the 7870 to wait for a later date. As it stands however, OpenCL 1.X 2,208 3DMark 3,343 cannibalize the market that would it’s hard to recommend the HD 7950 over Vantage otherwise be occupied by the HD 7950. the HD 7870, this one in particular. Unlike NVIDIA, AMD allows most of their Overclocking with new GPUs seems PLUS 31,277 GPUs to make use of 4-way CrossFire to be limited by the 28nm process and, • 1.1GHz GPU Unigine Heaven Xtreme 39,722 and Eyefi nity, which means the only much like the HD 7970, our sample clock advantage the HD 7950 can have over reached a clock speed of 1,270MHz • Great HD 7870 to warrant the price diff erence before it started producing artifacts. For performance 1,583.689 is performance. those who want to push even further, • Runs cool 1,871.607 A challenge the Pitcairn GPU is up you’ll be disappointed by the 1.4GHz and • Quiet for, especially pre-overclocked models 1.3V vGPU limit, as the card is capable of like the GIGABYTE model we tested. at least 50 to 100MHz more before OCP MINUS and, given just how close it is to the HD Not only does it come in at a healthy kicks in to crash the party. Our particular • None 79750, it’s an easy card to recommend. 100MHz overclock, through our own sample, much like all other HD 7000 We would have preferred GIGABYTE to tuning we were able to further raise cards we have tested, did not have a cold BOTTOM LINE increase the memory overclock a little the clock speed to 1,175MHz with no temperature limit as such and continued Fantastic mid- to a standard 5GHz, but there’d be no voltage adjustments. The results that to operate well until -140°C, great news range card that benefi t at all as we increased it to 5.8GHz you see here represent the kind of for the enthusiasts and competitive off ers HD 7950 and didn’t measure any change in the performance you should expect in a overclockers. like performance benchmark results. similarly confi gured system. To that For normal everyday use, we can’t help at a fraction of If you’re looking to upgrade from end, this card performed admirably, but be thoroughly impressed with what the price. an HD 6950 or 6870, you can’t go delivering performance that was within AMD and, subsequently, GIGABYTE has wrong with the GIGABYTE spitting distance of the HD 7950, which delivered with the HD 7870. It’s a little R787OC-2GD. 9 costs signifi cantly more. With our own more than we expected it would be - Neo Sibeko
94 May 2012 www.nag.co.za
/ HARDWARE / Review
BENCHMARKS BASELINE: ASUS Rampage IV Extreme
3DMark Vantage CPU
46,833 Cinebench 11.5 46,760
13.43 AIDA 64 copy 13.43
20,063MB/s 20,396MB/s 3DMark03
126,998 127,025
Asrock X79
Fatal1ty Professional HARDWARE
Supplier Compitum Website www.compitum.co.za ERP R3,100
he X79 chipset has made for one of the hardest platforms to “Make no mistake about it, if you’re a gamer looking Tdesign high-end motherboards for the most features out of a motherboard, this around. Simultaneously it has turned out to be one of the hardest systems isn’t the board for you. ” to justify investing in. In simple terms, there isn’t a single situation in gaming, and even when using modern video and audio encoders, where the X79 3800 series CPUs are that it will remain so even under heavy the CPU’s limits. With these profi les faster than the 3700 counterparts. loads, such as the notorious 3DMark SPECS you can pretty much be sure of what The appeal of this platform is purely Vantage CPU Test 2 and Prime95. It’s in Chipset the CPU will and won’t do within fi ve for power users, number crunchers these small things where the Fatali1ty Intel X79 minutes at most. and enthusiasts looking to compete board outshines its brethren. It’s as if Memory With X79 CPUs in particular, the IMC in a select few benchmarks. So, for this is Asrock’s second attempt at X79 4x DDR3 2600+ performance is very indicative of the that reason and that reason alone, and, unlike some other vendors who CPU support CPU silicon quality, so even if you’re Asrock wants the choice board in have given up on the X79 platform, Intel LGA 2011 not using exotic cooling, the fact that any serious overclockers’ inventory Asrock has it down to near perfection. Slots memory overclocking is relatively to include the Fatal1ty Professional. It may not be a match for the Rampage 4xPCIe 3.0 16x, good on the Fatal1ty board will allow It’s cheaper than the Extreme9 IV Extreme, but at a signifi cantly lower 2xPCI, 1xPCie 1x, you to make fairly accurate assertions and sacrifi ces the superior audio price, it shouldn’t have to be. 4-way SLI, about the kinds of frequencies you amongst other things, but in turn you At this level the diff erences between 4-way CrossFireX can expect from the CPU. Make no get a true enthusiasts motherboard. boards is not necessarily how far they mistake about it, if you’re a gamer Tailor-made for the overclocker will allow you to overclock, but the looking for the most features out of a who is uncompromising and wants ease with which these overclocks are PLUS motherboard, this isn’t the board for to squeeze out the last bit of achieved. One of the strong points • Easy overclocking you. Indeed it has the Fatal1ty name on performance from their CPU. of the reference board (Rampage IV • Great BIOS it, but the truth is it is more deserving of Unlike the Extreme9, memory Extreme) is that it has several profi les having a prolifi c overclocker’s name on speeds above 2,133MHz work in quad- for memory and CPU overclocking MINUS it rather than a gamer whose popularity channel mode, load-line calibration under extreme cooling. The Fatal1ty • Availability is ever diminishing into irrelevance. is more accurate, and the BIOS is board has these profi les as well. Not for There really isn’t much to not like packed with settings only relevant to memory sadly, but for CPU overclocks BOTTOM LINE about the X79 Fatal1ty Professional. It’s this crowd. The load level control in all the way to 5.2GHz. Loading any one One of the best a fantastic board and one well worth particular made a strong impression, of these profi les makes it very easy X79 motherboards owning if you’re serious about where if you set Level 1 and key in 1.45V to bin CPUs instead of wasting ten money can buy. performance. 8 for the Vcore value, you can be sure to 20 litres of nitrogen trying to fi nd - Neo Sibeko
96 May 2012 www.nag.co.za Review / HARDWARE /
Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S
Supplier Sony Mobile Communications Website www.sonymobile.com RRP R6,000
ince Sony bought out Ericsson’s remaining shares in the previously SPECS Sjoint venture, this will be the last of the CPU SE branded phones you’ll see before the ARMv7 single-core “just plain Sony” brand of mobile devices @ 1.4GHz heads our way. GPU Sporting a speedy single-core processor Qualcomm and the aging but competent Adreno 205 Andreno 205 GPU that drives the phone’s vibrant display, RAM the arc S skips along at a decent pace 512MB throughout the interface, Web browsing Built-in storage and multimedia usage. It’s not perfect, 1GB however, shedding a few frames during HD Storage expansion video playback and lagging here and there microSD while browsing visually intensive websites. supported, 8GB As refl ected in this phone’s modest AnTuTu included. benchmark score of 3584, it falls behind Connectivity current leading Android mobile phones like Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/ the Galaxy S2, HTC Evo 3D and LG Optimus g/n; Bluetooth 2.1; 2X. It is, however, the fastest SE-branded 3G HSDPA Xperia, so anyone familiar with the series will Display be happy with its performance. 4.2” LED-backlit The rest of the arc S’s feature-set is on LCD @ 480x854 par with its performance – good, but not with capacitive spectacular. The stills camera captures high- multi-touch quality images but they tend towards over- Operating system saturation, and the phone’s video recorder, Android 2.3.4 while managing to capture 720p video Battery: 1,500mAh without much lag, suff ers from a slow auto- Dimensions focusing lens that can take up to fi ve seconds 125x63x8.7mm to fi gure out what you’re trying to fi lm. Weight The arc S is SE’s sign-off phone, and 117g delivers solid performance that should please anyone who’s on the hunt for a mid-range device that fi ts into a slim, lightweight package. 7 - Geoff Burrows
PLUS • Good interface performance • Comfortable to hold
MINUS • Slightly laggy multimedia playback • Pricey
BOTTOM LINE A competent smartphone with great mid-range performance.
www.nag.co.za May 2012 97 / GAME OVER /
GG Absolutely fabulous
So, you might have heard that EA was the recent recipient of The Consumerist’s (un)glamorous Worst Company in America Golden Poo award. While the Mass Eff ect 3 haters and that one guy who just never got over the Bullfrog acquisition baa-baa-baa about how EA totally had it coming because of online passes or The Sims or Bobby Kotick1 or whatever, baa-baa-baaaaaaaa, the more sensible of us out there are probably wondering how the hell EA beat out Wal-Mart, an evil megacorporation so evil, there’s a whole Wikipedia article about how evil they are2. Well, you might also have heard that EA has been the recent recipient of thousands of letters from a bunch of ultra- conservative organisations over the planned addition of gay and lesbian characters to Star Wars: The Old Republic, demanding “Well, you might also have heard that EA has 1 It’s easier to that EA renounce its wicked homosexual agenda. Hmmmmmm. spell than “John “The overwhelming number of players on Star Wars games been the recent recipient of thousands of Riccitiello”. is children who do not need to be forced as a captured audience letters from a bunch of ultra-conservative 2 Seriously, people to participate in homosexual content,” reads a letter sent to EA organisations over the planned addition of actually voted for HQ, apparently written in such a morally panicky moral panic gay and lesbian characters to Star Wars: The EA over a company whose founder that petty, inconsequential things like basic fact-checking and Old Republic, demanding that EA renounce its personal autonomy were resigned to instant irrelevance. famously said that, wicked homosexual agenda” “I pay low wages. I “We ask that you please adhere to your long term policy can take advantage of omitting and steering clear of this type of advocacy of that. We’re going representation in your games. Please do not include LGBT loss of the state’s biggest fundamentalist Christian pre-teen to be successful, content in Star Wars video games that will impact so many Star Wars and premium MMOG fan market must be a very but the basis is a very low-wage, children.” worrisome burden indeed for the company. low-benefi t model This “long term policy” obviously didn’t include the Dragon NAAAAAAAHT. of employment”, Age or Mass Eff ect series, for some reason that may or may I mean, honestly, I think my favourite bit is where these stupid who were found in not be that the writer hasn’t heard about those games. I’m just bigots think their opinions matter to anybody except themselves. “extensive violation” of child labour laws, spitballing here. Well, them and probably some of their kids who are too terrifi ed and who opened a The note also exhorted the reader, ominously I’m sure, to to tell mom and dad they’re gay. These people have got this whole superstore next to “remember Sodom”. Apparently the people over at the Florida “for the children” thing on backwards. That and reality. the 2,500-year old Family Council are big fans of vintage German thrash metal. Or Me, I think I’d back a letter-writing campaign to dump the Teotihuacan Pyramid of the Moon? That’s it, something. Florida Family Council in the Sarlacc Pit [why not get that I’m leaving the planet. Inevitably, the writer is also threatening to boycott the game funded on www.kickstarter.com. ;) Ed]. if EA goes ahead with its homosexual holocaust. The potential - Tarryn van der Byl
Extra Life By Scott Johnson – ©2012 All rights reserved – Myextralife.com
98 May 2012 www.nag.co.za