ISSUE 5 WELCOME

meet the team So then, December it is. 2 • Red Faction Guerilla Christmas in the air, mad project director dashes to get presents sorted 3 • PolkaDotGals steve greenfield out and find that special (Rasher) something for the other half. 4 • Killzone 2 Meanwhile, we’ll sit here and chief editor dish out more of the great 6 • Fit Conclusion steven dawson gaming reviews and news (djdawsonuk) that you’ve come to expect 8 • House Of The Dead Overkill from the GameOn Mag graphics editor over the last few months. 9 • Sonic Unleashed simon bonds (Si^) November passed switfly, what with it being GameOn’s 10 • Fallout 3 Review graphics artist tenth birthday and all that. robert whetton Good times. There’s a piece 12 • Sacred 2 Review (Bobster) in this issue taking a look at the ten years of GameOn, 14 • Monthly News Roundup journalists from start to present day. chris wakefield 16 • World At War Review (evilgiraffeman) 18 • 09 Review pete o’brien (POBMaestro) THE EDITOR 20 • Synergy Mod Interview neil hetherington 21 • GameOn Theme Nights in December (Wedgeh) 22 • 10 Years Later - GameOn History johan dahlberg (Jozii) 24 • The Column - Gamers, Fit & Social stuart gunn 25 • Top Trailers (Gunn (LA)) mohamed magdy (solidsnake)

linda greenfield (Mrs. Rasher)

Disclaimer: The content featured throughout this magazine may contain links to your forum where there may be unsuitable language for children or those of a sensitive nature. We highly suggest that you are at least of the age 13 to visit the forums or click the links within the magazine. PREVIEW RED FACTION GUERRILA

Red Faction: Guerrilla is a slightly of fun. The game’s GeoMod technology unexpected sequel to the previous games returns and is really enjoyable. in the serious that was announced at Shooting various structures has them the start of the year. Despite generally explode and collapse in a convincingly favourable reviews, the Red Faction realistic way with clouds of dust and series never seemed to garner the debris flying into the air. Enemy vehicles support of the larger franchises. were blown into the air sending their This latest entry sets out to try and drivers flying and general chaos ensued. change that by implementing some changes to the traditional formula. The controls were easy to pick up and play and the graphics really impressed. Instead of the traditional first person Explosions were fiery and over the top, perspective, the game has undergone a creating a very cinematic experience. radical change and is now viewed from The weapon selection was also great a third person over-the-shoulder view. fun, with the traditional assault rifles The game is also a bit of a reinvention and pistols alongside a saw blade having only loose connections to the launcher and sledgehammer. original, like Red Faction 2, where it is set some time after previous events. Red Faction Guerrilla still manages to feel like the gaming equivalent of a B-Movie: It is nice to see some of the themes of the there is just something about it that series remain. The story focuses on Alec feels fun and different from most of the Mason, a minor working on the terraformed clinical mega-budget titles of today. surface of Mars. The Earth Defence Force, from the first title, have now changed and Before my time on the demo was up, I just in turn developed into a shadowy profit had time for a few minutes of free roaming. driven organisation. Ironically, this is the Setting out across the landscape in a moon exact type of company they fought against buggy (!) I was soon chased by a jeep in the original game. The Red Faction itself full of EDF troops, busy shooting at me. reforms amongst the minors and Alec finds Looking into the distance a concrete bridge himself fighting to overthrow the company. appeared allowing access over a chasm. Tearing ahead as fast as I could, I quickly In the demo I played you started out on got out, equipped my trusty sledgehammer the surface of the planet and was largely and heavily weakened the middle section. free to pick from a variety of missions that were delivered to you via a radio Sure enough, the trusty EDF jeep appeared, communication message. I decided to hot in pursuit. I stood calmly as it tore answer a request from a fellow miner to onto the bridge, preparing to run me meet with him and cause some havoc. over. Just at that point, with a satisfying After being careful not to get followed, crunch the bridge collapsed, sending them he appeared in one of the game’s plummeting to their doom. If Red Faction: many vehicles. After, climbing into Guerrilla can continue to deliver moments the turret, we then set about causing like that then it looks like it could be a real enough damage to mining equipment contender. With an online multiplayer mode to cause some financial trouble. too, THQ could well be onto a winner. The level was a conventional on rails shooter section, but it was a great deal Chris Wakefield ARTICLE POLKADOTGALS RAISING AWARENESS OF FIBROMYALGIA

GameOn would like to help promote a 100m hurdler Sara McGreavey and Coventry to carry on with his life as best he can, semi nude calendar, produced by the City footballers Michael Doyle and Elliott both for his family and for the GameOn organisation Polkadotgals, in order to Ward together with some Fibromyalgia community. He has often said that it is raise funds to help with their ongoing suffers. The calendar can be purchased the satisfaction he gets from running the campaign to increase awareness of a little by clicking on the following link: community that helps to keep him going understood illness called Fibromyalgia. when he really feels like just giving up. So to find out the connection CLICK HERE FOR THE CALENDAR between page 3 and Zoo model So, you can see why this cause is so close Danni Wells, championship 100m And why is all this relevant to GameOn? to our hearts. If, by buying the calendar, hurdler Sara McGreavy, a couple of Because this is the illness that struck our you can each make one more person Coventry City football players and beloved leader Rasher over 5 years ago. aware of this illness, then we have made our one and only Rasher, read on... Some of the older members will remember a big step forward to helping Bianca Rasher before he was taken ill. He was a with her campaign, and provide the When air-hostess and model Bianca very active workaholic, who was always much needed support and recognition Embley had an accident 10 years ago rushing around either looking after the for suffers of this terrible condition. where a piece of breathing equipment children or running GameOn. He would fell on her, little did she know that her life often keep going for days on end on just Linda would be changed forever. The accident adrenalin and a few hours sleep here and brought on a debilitating illness called there. For Rasher, it was a mystery virus Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic that caused the onset of Fibromyalgia. It condition characterised by, amongst came as a bit of a shock to all of us when other things, chronic widespread pain, we asked the doctor when he would get chronic fatigue, hypersensitivity to pain better, and we were told that he wouldn’t. and sleep disturbances. Also referred to as ‘the invisible Illness’ suffers of Fibromyalgia Although he very rarely shows it, Rasher is can often show no outward signs of in constant pain, mainly in the muscles in the constant pain that they are in. his arms and legs. Although he is able to walk, trying to walk any distance results in This constant pain, with no let up, often muscle shakes and severe muscle cramping. gives sufferers suicidal tendencies, It would also completely wear him out, and purely just to escape from the pain. Up leave the sort of aching and pain that most to 2 million people in the UK suffer from people would only experience after running Fibromyalgia, although due to general a marathon. It is because of this that he lack of knowledge about the condition, took the decision to use a wheelchair to at and problems getting a clear diagnosis, least allow him to get about. I know a lot this figure could be much higher. There is of you have experienced him disappearing no cure for Fibromyalgia, it is just a case half way through a conversation on MSN, of managing the different symptoms as or even while on the phone. This is because effectively as possible and trying to create of the fatigue side of the illness. When the the best quality of life for the sufferer. fatigue hits, all he can do is sleep. During particularly bad periods this can be for After 10 years of struggling with the illness up to 18 hours a day. There are also some herself, Bianca created the Polkadotgals other unpleasant symptoms of the illness, campaign to support the suffers of this including irritable bowel syndrome, upset chronic condition, and to raise general stomach, sickness, short term memory loss awareness of the condition. She realised and general disorientation, and problems that in order for Fibromyalgia to be regulating temperature (hot flushes, night recognised as a real condition, there needed sweats etc.). Most of the symptoms of this to be a strong campaign within the media illness would be difficult to cope with on to draw attention to the plight of sufferers their own. Try to imagine what it is like and to highlight the scale of the problem. when they all occur together. Not the The Polkadotgals celebrity calendar 2009 mention the side effects from the cocktail of has been shot by renowned London medication that he has to take every day. photographer Luke Varley. The calendar Rasher has never wanted sympathy, He features very tastefully done pictures of believes that all things in life happen for glamour model Danni Wells, championship a reason. He pushes himself and tries PREVIEW KILLZONE 2

Following on from Sony’s felt familiar with that of the ranging from enemies successful Killzone and the first title though some distinct collapsing in a heap to falling PSP follow up Liberation, this changes have been made. over railings to land on the floor direct sequel has a lot of heavy The weapons are futuristic in with a crunch. This is particularly expectations placed upon it. appearance and style though satisfying as the enemy tended The hype from the previous title they have a dogged footing in to react to the shots giving you proved a double-edged sword reality, making them believable a feeling of satisfaction when when it received mixed reviews and convincing. I began the you finally managed to land a from both critics and gamers. demo with a standard assault headshot on a tricky Helghast rifle and a magnum handgun. trooper hiding behind a crate Killzone 2 has also been The guns felt powerful and on a walkway above you. subject to some unfavourable meaty with iron sights being publicity after a controversial utilised for more accurate In a strange realism-breaking early trailer appeared 3 years aiming. The lengthy gun move, exploding barrels were ago, which later turned out to reloading times returned present which detonated be pre-rendered. Since then, though didn’t diminish the with a large explosion that the game has kept a much experience, instead adding to decimated anything nearby. lower profile but recently I the game’s realistic atmosphere. I felt that these hindered the was lucky enough to get a atmosphere as they felt out of hands-on with the game. The weapons also appear to place in a realistic dystopian have a single firing mode - in future. At times the controls felt Firstly, the game looks stunning the demo the Helghast rifle I a tad sluggish and somewhat with the visuals sticking to collected had lost the under slow compared with some the grim, sci-fi style of the slung shotgun and the ISA rifle of the more recent shooter other games. The textures are had lost its grenade launcher titles, though this is likely impressive and highlight the attachment. Let’s hope that this to be altered by release. raw power of the PS3 looking, changes before the final game at times, better than the is released as these alternate With a lengthy development original pre-rendered trailer. firing modes helped to keep cycle of over 3 years, Killzone The level I played began in a the first game fresh with some 2 does run the risk of not grimy war-torn building before clever functions available. meeting the hype, as many felt spilling out onto the streets. The gameplay is in familiar about the original. However, first person territory, as you this could well be the title that The game follows on from the battle your way through Sony has been looking for. It others with the Interplanetary legions of glowing-eyed, gas clearly showcases the technical Strategic Alliance (ISA) taking mask wearing enemies. Melee abilities of the console and the the fight to the Helghast animations also make a return, multiplayer mode could well on their home planet after initiating a short animation in be the online exclusive shooter successfully repelling their first person as you club people the PS3 has been looking for. attack on Vekta. You play as a with the butt of your gun or With a release date of February member of a strike force sent pistol whip them to the ground. listed, there are still times for to weaken the Helghast forces tweaks to be made, but Killzone as the ISA attempt to strike The enemy AI was a little 2 certainly has the potential to a critical blow to their main dubious at times, with them make a big impact: one which forces. The game looks set occasionally retreating to find could help boost a big exclusive to have an interesting story, cover but mostly just acting franchise from Sony’s console. with a fresh protagonist. as cannon fodder. Death The gameplay in the demo animations are cinematic, Chris Wakefield PREVIEW KILLZONE 2 ARTICLE WII FIT EXPERIMENT: THE CONCLUSION

As announced here in the magazine two well-presented personal ”trainer” and the effect whenever you reach 30 minutes of months ago, we started an experiment generally clean menus, you really do get exercising in a day, stamps that you get to to put the exercising game Wii Fit for the the feeling of a serious gym-like place. put in a calendar whenever you do the so Wii console to the test. Since then, I’ve ”Welcome, we’ll take good care of you and called “body test” (that’s when you get to been using the game to work out three make you slim in no time at all.” In reality, know your previously mentioned “Wii Fit times per week, following a work-out this is only a great but unrevealing façade. Age”), and generally positive comments plan made specifically for this purpose. from the on-screen version of the Wii The aim of this little experiment was to Gym-like exercises Balance Board (yes, the little fellow is there find out if such games actually do your But what about the actual exercises in the to guide you and give you hints and tips). body any good, or if the developers game? Many have frowned at the fact that have managed to create the hype some of the exercises are downright useless. In the long run, however, many of these around the game style without it This is especially true for the balance games. things fade. On a later stage, you’ll find joy really being as good as it sounds. They do add a lot of fun and are, in my in such things as reaching milestones (for experience, the best ones to play with the example 10 hours of total training time) or A sceptic start family or a group of friends, but they do little combining exercises as suggested by the I must admit that I was a bit sceptic at first. for your body as a whole. On the positive game (whenever you complete a certain I mean, if you think about it, how can it be side, though, some are very challenging, exercise, the game may suggest a different healthy to play a videogame? We often making Wii Fit an excellent solitaire game exercise to combine it with). But all the associate videogames with health issues. where you attempt to get further each time. previously mentioned “motivational aspects” Add to this that the special thing about soon become tiresome and repetitive. Wii Fit, unlike other games where you But at the same time, some exercises are have to move your body (like Dance Dance taken more seriously than others. Both the Missing features Revolution, for example), is that it actually yoga and muscle exercises are very well When you play the game over an extended claims to do you good. Have fun and get carried out. Here the “personal trainer” – a period of time, making your exercising fit. To me, this has always appeared an odd visualization of an actual human, who will with the game a routine, you’ll come combination regarding videogames, but show you how the exercises are done – to find that some things are missing. perhaps that’s the beauty of the game. enters the picture, and he or she does a I’ve already mentioned that things can great job guiding you through everything. become rather repetitive, and often In any case, hopefully this experiment Once you’re used to the exercises, you’ll you’ll have to do a lot of button pressing has revealed the truth… be building up muscles in no time at all. between exercises. Personally, I feel as though the game has been developed Non-scientific tests But, and this is a serious but, on one for casual play rather than serious work- But before we get to an actual conclusion, significant point the game fails: weight outs, something which of course puts let’s have a deeper look at the game loss. I think it’s reasonable to assume that the whole ”get fit” deal on the edge. itself. It’s clear from the start that Wii Fit many would think a game like Wii Fit is all in fact does take its self-proclaimed task about losing weight. No, sorry to disappoint To give an example of what exactly it seriously, or at least it’s presented as if it you. Since the serious exercises – the ones is that I miss, it would be great with does. With height and weight settings and that actually work – focus on gaining a way to select exercises and just run the calculation of ones Body Mass Index muscle and improving your posture, the them through automatically. This (BMI), the game appears very scientific. potentially weight-losing ones don’t really would remove all the excess time you However, once you spend enough time with work as well. If you really want to lose spend in between exercises and make it, you’ll come to realise that aspects such some pounds, go for a real jog rather than the process much more enjoyable. as your ”Wii Fit Age”, an amusing feature jogging in one place in front of your TV. in the game which uses your actual age Additionally, it annoys me a bit that and your result in a series of balance tests Highly Motivational the Balance Board, the most central to calculate how fit you are, perhaps aren’t However, even though not everything unit of the game, isn’t used at all for that significant or well created. All it takes is as good as it first seems, and even if some of the exercises unlocked as you is some time to learn what the exercises the ”scientific” part of the game is nearly gradually advance. From an exercising are all about, and from there you’ll likely non-existent, Wii Fit does do something point of view, this is actually a good to drop from 50 to 15 in only a day. right: it motivates you. There are plenty thing (finally you can do the exercises of things that will keep you going; little without limitation), but having paid for Similarly, it’s easy to get fooled by the details that make you cheer with joy it, and for the sake of comparing scores, general look of the game. With the whenever you do something good. A few it’s a piece of equipment I’d like to see training equipment in the background, a examples include a short sound and visual used throughout the entire game. ARTICLE WII FIT EXPERIMENT: THE CONCLUSION

The conclusion So what is the verdict on this whole experiment? Does the game really make you get more fit? Surprisingly, at least for me, it actually does. Two months might not be an enormous amount of time, and it certainly isn’t enough to make you a hunk, though I have discovered muscles I didn’t even know I had. I feel that my balance has improved (though probably due to the yoga exercises rather than the balance games) and my posture, that thing my “yoga trainer” keeps talking about, has in fact improved. I feel as though my body is slightly stronger than it was when I first started. Last but not least, I’ve come to realise that Regarding the actual game, it does leave Wii Fit serves one great purpose which a bit to wish for. However, despite my makes all of its flaws as well as qualities numerous complaints, it is a good game. appear insignificant: it raises the subject It has a high visual and sound quality, it of fitness in general. During these past carries things out nicely, and it supports two months, I’ve started eating healthier. and motivates you in many ways. It’s not Health and fitness has become a frequent what you should go for if you’re serious subject in the household, and in general about exercising, but if currently you’re not I’ve become more aware of the state of exercising at all (I assume most of us hardly my body. I’m walking an extra bus stop, ever go to the gym) it definitely can help. taking the stairs instead of the escalator Before Wii Fit, I hadn’t even tried yoga in my and I say no to that extra piece of candy. life. Now I like to practice my yoga poses So does it work? It absolutely does. even without actually using the game, so apparently it has done something to me. Johan Dahlberg PREVIEW HOUSE OF THE DEAD OVERKILL

What I hear you say, another Player modes will consist of zombie game! single player and two player co-op (split screen) modes. I can The House of the Dead series dates back really see the co-op being a big to 1996, with a lot of variation between selling point for this game with the the titles. This time have once developers realising that we “still” again come out on top with a winner. love these games and want more. House of the Dead: Overkill will be released for the Wii only, giving you the You will be able to use a Wii chance to use your Wii remote to shoot Zapper, but it will not be and pistol-whip legions of zombies. included with the game. I love Wii games and their interaction, but Our first look at the of late they seem to be mainly targeted at House of the Dead: a younger audience. Now it’s time to put Overkill, made shooting the kids to bed and rather than throwing with the Wii remote an Ann Summers party, you will be inviting simple and easy to do. your friends round to play this game. Little will they know what horror awaiting The game has taken over them in the streets of a Bayou Bay... two years to develop so far and should be ready Agent G is back: or should that be back for the first quarter of to the beginning? This game revisits 2009 (ETA Feb). the start of the House of the Dead series. It is 1991 and you play as either Steve Greenfield Agent G, fresh from the AMS academy or partner Agent Washington.

The movement of your character is scripted in the same way as the arcade games: you still pick when to move. Unlike the previous House of the Dead games, you are going to be able to also look off-screen. What this means is, you can’t see everything on your screen without making your character look to the left or right. This means that not taking this into account will open you up to a lot of surprise attacks. You have the selection of two weapons, a magnum or a machine gun. Whilst your Magnum is slow to shoot, it’s more powerful per shot and has a very fast reload time. The machine gun doesn’t do as much damage, but you can fire a lot of bullets rapidly at the approaching zombies. The downside is the reload on this takes longer than your pistol.

There are pick ups in the game (items and boxes that you can shoot) which give you an advantage. One of the main ones is the Slow-MoFo power up, which will slow down the game to help you get more accurate shots in. With over 100 animations of zombies coming at you it’s not going to feel the same all the way through. PREVIEW SONIC UNLEASHED

“The Speed of Light, The Power of Night.” you can still have a fair bit of freedom, walking around and talking to people, as GameOn had the privilege of visiting you’re not just limited to one moment of Sega HQ to see the new Sonic forward. You can investigate around a little Unleashed last week, with hands and find secrets throughout the levels. on experience of the game here are our findings and feel so far. I was a bit worried at first that the fast action of Sonic running was going to be too fast, You’re either at this stage thinking “Ohh no, but once you start playing it, its just like not another Sonic game” or “Woohooo” being back in the “driving seat” with the old Sonic platforms and boy does it feel good. Sega have taken a different approach with Sonic unleashed, first of all it’s using the Throughout the game, you get to build new “Hedgehog” engine, which boasts its up experience points by collection yellow seamless transition from 3D to 2D in game. diamonds (which are left behind, once The Hedgehog engine has been in you have destroyed an enemy) and you development for three year and it seems can upgrade Sonic or the Werehog with the development in this has been worth it. them. With the experience points you can give Sonic a boost in speed or even I know there are those of you out there give the Werehog more strength for who will always love and want the 2D fighting enemies (plus other actions). platform back, but with sonic unleashed You can still collect rings, as you would they have managed this, your not going expect in a Sonic game, but they are now to get 2D all the time, the switch is mid used for something other than “I collected game play but it flow so smooth you 100 rings at the end of the level”. For don’t notice it most of the time. If you Sonic you use the rings to boost up his have played ‘Sonic Heroes’, wipe that from speed for a short period of time, and for your mind, because ‘Sonic Unleashed’ can the Werehog you use them to use your not be compared with that game play, special attack (which is called ‘Unleashed’) as the feel to this game is much better. Well at this stage I was going to tell you You do have a companion who follows you what Sonic has to do in this game, that Dr on your missions, who is called “Chip”. This Eggman is up to his normal tricks.... but lets character reminds me of some of my old be real, you don’t want to know about all Saturday nights, out on the town, as he the chaos emeralds, we will save that for has no idea who is he or where he is (and the review for you. What you want to know I am sure that may sound very familiar to is that: Is this game worth paying out for? some of you). Chip advises you through the game as you come across new features, you This game has a massive twist to it, and also have “help boxes” (in the shape of a a hint to the twist is the tagline which question mark) which will also help you in I mentioned earlier. You have been some parts of the game. There are hints on transformed in to a Werehog, so by day things like how to open certain doors and you play as Sonic, and during the night you many other actions, as well as getting you play as the Werehog. The Sonic game play started with the game. Another character is pretty much as you would expect but does pop up quite early on in the game, but showing off the new engine. The Werehog I won’t give too much away, just, try not to part of the game changes how you play tread on either of his tails...... when running. and how you have played in the past Sonic games. The Werehog isn’t about speed, he’s ‘Sonic Unleashed’ was released on Friday more about solving puzzles and fighting. 28th of November. It will come out for This is where the versatility of the game the , the Wii and the PS2. The PS3 is comes in, after having a fast paced game expected to be launched during December. you can now take your time with puzzles and battles. Even if you are playing as Sonic, Steve Greenfield REVIEW FALLOUT 3

When Fallout 3 was first announced sense of association with your protagonist. ended possibilities than Oblivion and its to be in the hands of Bethesda, fans Soon after comes one of the “money predecessors. Choosing your character is of the series were worried. After the shots” of the game, leaving Vault 101 slightly more focused than before with a cancellation of the “Van Buren” version and standing to stare outwards into the levelling system that works very well. of the game, the original Fallout 3 desolate post apocalyptic ruins of society. Picking your initial skills is simple and easy, cancelled due to studio closure, the It is both daunting and breathtaking. as Fallout 3 allows for any combination of series moved on to the highly successful abilities that you want to try out. Points Oblivion developers. The series received The visuals themselves are impressive and can be assigned to different attributes, a complete overhaul, changing it to a detailed, presenting destroyed concrete such as lockpicking, small guns, medicine game to be played either in the first ruins, irradiated pools of water and decaying and so on when you level up. or third person, in a similar manner interiors of blasted buildings with a nihilistic to the Elder Scrolls series. So, has style. Whilst some may feel there is a lack Additionally you are also free to choose this transition been successful? of variation in the graphics, with a lot of a “perk” at the end of each level which grey and brown, they represent a dark and gives a benefit to your character. These The game follows the series faithfully, bleak future well. The occasional flashes perks are incredibly entertaining and being set in the same universe as Fallout of colour are also nice and help to make varied and the ingenuity of each makes and its sequel. From the start it is clear certain locations and events really stand out. replayability an essential element. that the game is different, but it retains They range from having a mysterious the Fallout feel and atmosphere. The game Thankfully sound is an improvement from stranger appear to land the final bullet is set in the wasteland left after a nuclear Oblivion with a greater variety of voice on enemies in combat to being able war decimated the world hundreds of actors and more convincing dialogue. to eat the bodies of your enemies! years ago. Fortunately you are raised in a The authentic period music really adds Vault, a bunker and safe haven that people to the game with a selection of radio The level cap is limited to 20, which offers retreated to when the bombs began to stations available that you can listen to an achievable goal which still requires fall. However, the harmony of the Vault is on your arm mounted “PIP-Boy 3000”. some thought and careful play to benefit disrupted when your father disappears, from. I much prefer the difficulty of this a feat which is supposedly impossible... The background music is also interesting, game, which at times was very tough on setting the scene for a bleak experience the harder settings. Instead of enemies I found the opening of the game to be while helping to create emersion and levelling up with you, you can run into the excellent and the approach taken to never jarring you from the game. Sound nastiest creatures when you least expect it. character development is genuinely unique effects are also well handled and are Whilst there is still a slight handicap, and amusing. The first few quests and levels very effective in adding a sickening preventing you from meeting of the game are very well executed and gravity to the visceral combat. the really tough enemies at the really help to create a sense of immersion, The game itself is a fascinating mixture of beginning, it is far more subtle than introducing the characters and creating a styles creating even more varied and open in Oblivion and it works nicely. REVIEW FALLOUT 3

What is pleasing is that now all play styles Fallout 3 is an enormous game. Locks are twice as fast as normal, becoming stuck work well and require some careful planning picked using a screwdriver and bobby in scenery only to be battered to death to work in different situations. Want to play pin, health can be gained by drinking by an enemy, having an enemies head a stealthy character and sneak past? You water from a toilet and you are forced repeatedly explode after he was dead and can. Want to talk your way out of situations? to heal wounds using medical supplies. amusingly having NPC’s get trapped in the Easy to do with a good speech skill. Want This is a game as much about survival as ground. Also be warned of fast travelling; to blast people into a gory pile of limbs? exploration and it feels fresh and unique. often upon arrival you will be surrounded The story itself is somewhat clichéd but by enemies and if you aren’t prepared Grab some grenades and find some Raiders. it works well in the context, with a few will likely be torn to shreds by gunfire. As ever, you can become either a saint interesting surprises. Computer controlled and help everyone or turn evil and side companions can accompany you and However, despite these minor flaws, with the darker aspects of humanity all act as bodyguards, which are especially Fallout 3 is a staggering achievement. of which is governed by a Karma system. useful later in the game. The game is just The game brings immersion to a new If neither appeals you can earn benefits so huge there is so much to see and do. level especially when you are simply by remaining neutral and remaining roaming the desolate wastes alone, impartial to many of the game’s events. Naturally the game has some faults, but just yourself against the world trying to as a whole they generally don’t diminish survive. The sheer number of options Combat is a key area of the Fallout series the quality. The hacking password available is breathtaking and the huge and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Using mini-game is far too easy when you wasteland provides a huge amount to do. VATS (Vault-Tech Assisted Targeting release you can quit and try it again. Collectible bobbleheads, buildable weapons System) you can pause time and use The main story is far too short, with only and plenty of Easter eggs mean that this is your quota of “action points” to queue a dozen or so quests and once done the likely to keep you busy for hours on end. up attacks on different body parts game is over once and for all. The promised If you are an RPG fan and enjoyed or weapons. Then on the press of a variety of endings is also disappointing the previous Fallout games or the button, the action unfolds using a well with little variation between them beyond Elder Scrolls series then there will executed cinematic camera angle. your character’s karma. The general number be a lot here for you to enjoy. Here is where the game really earns of quests is also limited and somewhat its 18 certificate. Heads explode, disappointing; you cannot join the factions Whatever your view, Fallout 3 offers a limbs fly from bodies spraying blood of the game and help them out which unique and different experience which is and people turn to piles of ash. seems strange given the important roles well worth becoming immersed in. One The violence is so ridiculously over they seem to have in the game world. word of advice, savour every moment the top it becomes a sort of macabre spent alone in the wilderness with a entertainment, especially when you There are also a few bugs left in the single clip of ammunition and a health literally punch someone’s head clean game, which will hopefully be patched pack: there are some special moments off using a pneumatic gauntlet. shortly. I experienced people speaking in gaming, this is one of them.

REVIEWER: CHRIS WAKEFIELD PLAYABILITY: 9 GAME: FALLOUT 3 REPLAYABILITY: 10 PLATFORM: PLAYSTATION 3 SOUND: 9 DEVELOPER: BETHESDA GAME STUDIOS GRAPHICS: 9 PUBLISHER: BETHESDA SOFTWORKS RELEASED: OCTOBER 31, 2008 OVERALL: 9.5 REVIEW SACRED 2 - FALLEN ANGEL

Magic, fantasy, plentiful quests, hack and other three men mostly seem to be for the somewhat mediocre in-game cut scene, slash battles, dungeon looting, massive “Shadow” campaign, which could spark you’re on your way, free to explore the game-worlds, dual wielding weapons, a bit of a debate. No need to game-world on a whim. But I felt it was all storylines, role-playing and kobolds. If worry about ‘moral’ decisions just too much to take in. This ultimately any one of these elements tickled your mid-game though, as your means that, initially at least, it feels gaming tastes, then I would certainly alignment is locked from overwhelming, which could potentially be recommend reading on about Sacred this initial decision. off-putting. There’s no proper tutorial to 2 - Fallen Angel. If not, or a RPG isn’t your talk you through the game’s basics, usual sort of vocation, then this review Your penultimate just the odd tool-tip so you know could still be worth your precious time, character how to walk around. I thought I could as this is quite a splendid gem of a game. creation struggle through, trying to pick it decision is to up as I played. But when it took me Let me be honest: it’s quite hard to review pick one of two hours to realise that right click a game like Sacred 2. The sheer scale of the the game’s on the mouse casts a spell, I realised game means I’m not even sure where to six it was time to read the manual. begin. Ah right, the beginning, that’s always God’s, a good place to start. Sacred 2 is, at its heart from I’m not one to read game manuals at least, a typical top down view action which - I just like the fresh manufactured RPG, more comparable to Neverwinter you gain smell they have when new. Nights or Diablo than Oblivion. Set 2,000 a unique After a little chuckle on the first years prior to the successful original, ability. Last, page, which ironically boasted Sacred 2 - Fallen Angel certainly knows but by no that the “gameplay and game what its doing. Well most of the time. means least, you controls should be need to decide almost intuitive”, I On first glance I was a little concerned. I on what difficulty read on and soon was initially hoping for a super detailed you would like to felt I had enough of character creation process; the type which play through on. an understanding allows the player to change everything “Bronze” is aimed at to plunge into from fingernail colours to feet size. The beginners, or those who what Sacred 2 really has sort of thing which gives you that sort want a relaxing experience. to offer. It was a few hours of warm glow of excitement you feel on I personally found this after this that I had one of Christmas Day. Instead, you are given difficulty far too easy, and those revelations. My initial six pre-made characters to choose from, ultimately a bit boring, purely concerns about the game each offering differing gameplay styles, because the enemies were so were quelled as I began to which does feel a little limiting. However, weak. “Silver” is going to push understand and unravel what these classes range from your typical High you, but it’s always manageable, this game really has to offer. Elf mage to the sword wielding Warrior so I would recommend this for and assassinators known as Inquisitors. longer term pleasure. Once you Quality is always argued Each of these six characters has different have completed the game you as being more important starting positions and backgrounds, can access “Gold” difficulty, quantity. Sacred 2 has a great which keeps things fresh should you a challenge only the most balance of both. There are ever want to start from scratch again. experienced adventurers an alleged 100 quests in the will want to undertake. main story to undertake, but Subsequently, you need to decide if you Interestingly, you can also thanks to the 500 side quests would like to play as good or evil (Light or activate “hardcore mode”, I barely got around to even Shadow) during the game, which provides which disables resurrections, touching the main storyline. This different plotlines for the main story arc. meaning that once your was even after a good dozen hours In the “Light” campaign your ultimate goal character is dead that’s it. You of gameplay. Each quest is fun and is to save the lands of Ancaria from an can also change difficulty mid- rewarding enough that it makes you uncontrollable force known as “T-Energy”. game, but while you will keep want more, so much so in fact that it Should you choose the path of “Shadow”, your character level and status, becomes a vicious addiction of taking then your ultimate aim is to instead help the peculiarly you will have to on quests to complete. Many of the main world on its path of destruction. I did notice start all the quests again. and side quests do seem meaningless though that while three of the six characters and absurd, but they are usually good fun are (underdressed) women, they generally After a rather exciting nevertheless. The AI, while able enough, represent the “Light” campaign, while the introduction movie and a is disappointingly simple and broken at REVIEW SACRED 2 - FALLEN ANGEL

times, though fortunately this Graphically, the world of I generally felt under-whelmed of the hundred quests on offer. factor of the game seldom Ancaria looks fantastic. For a 3D by the auditory experience. In essence, Sacred 2 succeeds affects the gameplay. There top-down view role player the Voice acting and character in providing a continually high are also far too many enemies attention-to-detail and graphics taunts are relatively poor, fun factor in all of these. in the wilderness, with battles are an aesthetic pleasure for the and there is a distinct lack in literally happening every few eye. It’s just simply gorgeous the amount and variation in But Sacred 2 does have a few seconds. You do at least run to look at. Even better is that the music. While the music is failings. It can be hard to get faster than enemies, which you don’t need much power enjoyable and of a high quality into and understand the game, provides you with an ignorant to run them; my 18 month old composition, hearing the same and I have a few gameplay, option, but it would have been PC ran the maximum levels music track every time you sound and AI complaints. nicer if you could just relax a of crisp, varied and most of enter a fight gets a little weary. Despite these flaws, Sacred 2 is a little more when exploring. all detailed graphics with Blind Guardian, a German heavy highly competent game, which ease. The different regions of metal band, performs the main is literally sacred to behold. If questing or running around Ancaria, which range from hilly theme music, which, while The hotly anticipated Diablo 3 the beautiful outside doesn’t countryside to arid deserts, perhaps not quite my taste, was is due for release sometime in do it for you, then there are are all wonderfully diverse, certainly pleasurable enough. 2009, but to say Sacred 2 is a trillion(ish) dungeons and which makes exploring feel The multiplayer aspect of a merely a stop-gap would caves to discover. I found these exciting and rewarding. There Sacred 2 is also worth a quick be greatly unfair. Also due for looting opportunities a mostly is also a night/day cycle which mention. Over a LAN or the release on the dull and repetitive experience, offers some pretty shadow Internet it is possible to play and although they will appeal to effects, with fluid animation the single-player campaign PlayStation some more than others. Some and fun rag-doll physics with five other players, or you 3 in February of the finer details in Sacred thrown in for good measure. can just explore the whole of next year, Sacred 2 I shall leave you to enjoy Anarcia with sixteen others. 2 - Fallen Angel sets discovering, but there are a few While the general feel of The prospect of doing this a great benchmark aspects worth a little mention. the artwork style is simply certainly sounds exciting, but as for modern top-down wonderful, the draw distance a pre-launch review I was sadly view RPG’s. Health and spells regenerate, is a tad short, which means unable to try out this feature. which allows you to take the that at times things can get a Exploring the game world on game at your own pace, while little bit misty. It’s been well your own is thoroughly fun as not having to worry about optimised so that you rarely it is, so I can only see adding replenish potions too much. notice it, but it would have other players to share this Levelling up your character is been nice to have the option experience being a very good like any other RPG, but keeps to to extend it. The only other real thing. You can also get some the rest of the game’s massive problem I encountered was Player Vs Player (PvP) action, scale by having a reported people getting stuck in the should you prefer to take virtual level cap of 250. There are also scenery and animation, which is chunks out of a fellow gamer. literally thousands of weapons a shame when you consider the and armour to amuse yourself quality look of other aspects. I now feel that trying to sum up with, and there are even special Sacred 2 is actually quite easy, “Mounts” for your character to For me it was the general audio contrary to what I said in my ride around on. I did find I had aspect of Sacred 2 which was second paragraph. Sacred 2 is far too much money though, one of the weakest parts of the basically whatever you want it which, while a seemingly game. While there is a plethora to be. Explore the immensely odd complaint, does spoil of environmental sounds like detailed wilderness, villages and part of the challange factor. birds chirping, leaves rustling in caves, do battle with a range the wind and swords clashing, of foes, or just undertake a few

REVIEWER: PETE O’BRIEN PLAYABILITY: 8 GAME: SACRED 2 - FALLEN ANGEL REPLAYABILITY: 9 PLATFORM: PC SOUND: 8 DEVELOPER: ASCARON GRAPHICS: 9 PUBLISHER: DEEP SILVER RELEASED: NOVEMBER 7, 2008 OVERALL: 8.5 ARTICLE NEWS ROUNDUP

In a world of its own – World of Major staff cuts at EA and THQ Metal Gear Online member Warcraft hits 11 million subscribers count reaches one million

Blizzard has announced that the MMORPG EA Games is cutting 500-600 jobs across Launched on the PS3 in June 2008, Metal World of Warcraft truly is massive, with the all areas. THQ has also announced that it Gear Online (MGO) has now reached the subscription count surpassing 11 million - has closed a number of its own internal grand milestone of one million members. that’s nearly the entire population of Greece. studios. EA’s bad news comes after To celebrate, Konami will be giving 10,000 The news comes as the latest add-on to the the company recorded a loss of $310 reward points to players who access MGO series, Wrath of the Lich , was released million between the months of July during November 25th and December on November 13th. At roughly £8.99 a and September, compared to a $195 9th. 30 randomly selected MGO members month for subscription fees, that works out million loss the same time last year. This will also receive an additional 100,000 at about £1.1 billion turn-over a year just for increased loss is reported to be the result reward points. Metal Gear Online, a PS3 subscriptions. With upkeep costs estimated of development and marketing spending. exclusive, is an online spin-off of the at around £28 million a year, that’s a huge THQ, meanwhile, has closed a number critically acclaimed Metal Gear Solid 4. profit margin, and has to make you wonder of its own studios. The exact reasons for Incidentally, the reward points, for those why the subscription fees can’t be reduced. this turmoil which THQ employees face who don’t know, can be spent on new aren’t completely known, but the finger of online gear from the in-game shop. blame is likely to be pointed at the global recession and THQ’s financial woes.

UK games revenue to exceed add Massive Entertainment Hellgate: London Servers to shut music and DVDs in 2008 to their colossal portfolio down on January 31st 2009

According to retail analysts Verdict Research, At a time when many publishers are The servers that run online FPS RPG UK game sales will surpass music and video trimming down on size and staff, Hellgate: London are to be permamently combined for the first time in 2008. It’s been Ubisoft have gone and bought Massive brought offline on January 31st 2009. predicted that the amount we are spending Entertainment. The Swedish developers, This is due to developer Flagship Studios on games will be £4.64billion by the end best known for their good work on Ground closing down in August of this year and of 2008 - an increase of 42%. Combined Control and more recently World of Conflict, losing interlectual property rights to the sales of music and movies meanwhile were put up for sale during the last summer game. In a short press statement, the are estimated at £4.46billion for the when and Blizzard merged. So game’s publishers, Namco, announced that same period. The Entertainment Retailers what do Ubisoft plan to do with the group? in a “gesture of support, Namco Bandai Association sales figures for last year, which, “Ubisoft is growing at an intense pace and Games will provide this server support unlike the Verdict Research figures, don’t our strategy is to ensure the strength of free of charge to all fans and players of include hardware for only games, show our global creative teams,” stated Christine the game up until the shut down date”. that video revenue was top of the pack Burgess-Quemard, Ubisoft’s executive Released just one year ago with high with £2.2bn, with games revenue at £1.7bn, director of worldwide production studios. expectations, Hellgate: Londer was given with music behind that with £1.4bn. Just an average rating by critics and citied for think to yourself this: have you spent more being released in an unfinished state. on games than music CD’s and videos? Atari snap up the Ghostbusters Ubisoft give up on Heroes TIME rate Spore as one of 2008’s best inventions

Atari has announced that it has got From quite literally hero to zero, Ubisoft has In a bit of light and irrelevant news, TIME has the rights to publish Ghostbusters: The officially announced that they are giving rated Spore 20th in their “Top 50 Inventions Video Game. This means that all of the up their plans to make a video game of of 2008”. TIME describe Spore as a game merger victims are now the superhero themed TV show Heroes. where you “take the entire evolution of a accounted for except for Brutal Legend, Exact reasons are currently unknown, but species — from a single-celled animalcule which sadly remains with no publisher. the TV show has seen deteriorating ratings in a drop of water to a space-faring, Atari are also publishing Chronicles Of while the Lost tie-in - also by developed by galaxy-exploring sentient being — and Riddick: Assault On Dark Athena, while Ubisoft - was poorly rated and a commercial turn it into a video game.” Spore by-and- THQ have the pleasure of publishing 50 failure. The rights for a Heroes game are large received good reviews, largely for Cent: Blood On The Sand. You can expect now back with NBC Universal, who must being something “different”, but has faced to see Ghostbusters: The Video Game on now try and sell them on to someone criticism for not living up to the hype and PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 next summer. else, if anyone is actually interested… for the poor latter stages in the gameplay. ARTICLE NEWS ROUNDUP

Electronic Arts put the E and A in Active Xbox 360 surpasses original Trophy hunters set for PS3 Xbox sales worldwide

A recent press release from EA has The Xbox 360 has surpassed the worldwide One of the strengths of the Xbox 360 is revealed the first details of EA SPORTS sales of the original Xbox, shifting over 25 the achievements system, which has had Active - their rival to Wii Fit. Rather than million units. The first Xbox sold 24 million many gamers hooked on trying to get just using the trusted Balance Board, the units, with the GameCube only managing their gaming score impressively high. game comes bundled with a strap to hold 21.5 million units, while the PS2 boasts a Trophies, the PS3 equivalent, have been the Wii Nunchuk to your leg, in addition far more impressive 122 million units. This implemented in a half-baked manner, to a “resistance band” to help build up generation, however, and the Xbox 360 with some games featuring them and upper body strength via training exercises. currently lies ahead of the PS3, which has some not. Therefore you will be pleased Underneath all these warm promises, EA a global unit count of only 17 million. The to know that Sony has now announced SPORTS Active is still basically a mini-game Wii is on 36 million, which will certainly they will now become a compulsory part collection, and any real fitness benefits please Nintendo any fan boys/girls. of releasing a game on the PS3. This can are currently unproven. EA SPORTS Active be only a good thing, unless it becomes is a Wii exclusive due out next Spring. an addiction problem for PS3 gamers.

The New Xbox Experience – first F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin banned Each month, news writer Pete O’Brien Avatar clothes to be free from an Australian release brings many news snippets to the tables of GameOn. If you like these brief snippets of All Xbox Live gamers who have logged in Life “down-under” may seem appealing gaming goodness, then why not visit our the past week will have had to download to many, but for gamers it’s becoming site for up to the minute gaming news. the New Xbox Experience (NXE), and thus increasingly frustrating, as F.E.A.R. 2: Project will have created their own Avatar. Well, I’m Origin becomes the latest game to be You can also subscribe to the GameOn sure it will warm your heart to know that banned in . No exact reasons for RSS feed, to make sure you get all of the the first round of avatar clothing releases the ban are known, but Monolith’s FPS latest news from GameOn as it happens. in the coming weeks will be completely sequel follows Fallout 3, Dark Sector and free. The news comes from Boris Schneider- Silent Hill Homecoming to name but a If you have any views related to the snippets Johne, German Xbox Product Manager, who few which have had significant troubles seen here, then voice them on our forums! also revealed that after the free content in being cleared for release. Fallout 3, “it has not been announced” how much incidentally, was refused classification for Avatar content will cost, meaning you’re “realistic visual representation of drugs”. going to have to fork out Microsoft Points should you ever wish to dress-up your mini-me for the Spring fashion season...

FROM FORUM REGULAR “PLATINUM” COMES THIS EPIC QUOTE “I DON’T KNOW WHAT I HAD IN MY MOUTH LAST NIGHT, BUT IT DOESN’T TASTE GOOD”

(ED: APPARENTLY HE’S TALKING ABOUT CHILI VODKA...) REVIEW CALL OF DUTY - WORLD AT WAR

Call of Duty: World at War had a lot to live up to, following on from its critically and economically successful predecessor. World of War’s development began after had finished work on their previous sequel, Call of Duty 3.

The game this time follows Private Miller and his superior Corporal Roebuck as they fight their way through the South Pacific against the imperial forces of Japan. Yet, in traditional Call of Duty style, you also play as Private Petrenko as he battles his way from the killing grounds of Stalingrad to the streets of Berlin.

The gameplay itself is traditional first person shooter fare, with the standard Call of Duty template laid down and stuck to rigidly. Returning conventions include health respawning when you are protected in cover, limited weapons, set piece moments and each enemy seemingly being supplied by an individual grenade monkey.

I can’t criticise the mechanics of the title here; they are smooth, slick and well produced. Weapons are well selected and each offers a pleasing selection of strengths and weaknesses. Particular highlights are the new flamethrower with pleasing fire effects and a frankly ridiculous German sniper rifle which blows off enemy limbs.

The duck, cover and shoot gameplay is also satisfying making battles tense and difficult, especially during the larger conflicts as the game progresses. The infinite waves of enemies who spawn until you cross an invisible line are less noticeable here than in Call of Duty 4 which REVIEW CALL OF DUTY - WORLD AT WAR

was also a pleasant change. displaying the understandable and cheapen the experience. who merely act as scenery The set pieces are handled xenophobia and hatred that war The game is also incredibly rather than actual help. competently and are well breeds with a vicious tenacity. frustrating with a ridiculous executed, with some particularly number of frankly poor bugs. Bizarrely there is also a new memorable moments in However, despite World at War In the game there were regular “Nazi Zombie” multiplayer the Pacific campaign. doing the above well there serious problems including mode where you team up and was a lot that disappoints and texture issues, poor AI faults, fight off waves of the undead, The bullet physics are also frustrates. Chiefly, the game loading crashes and shocking using points gained to buy a great feature, which I am feels like two steps backward collision detection. I was also defences and weaponry. This surprised more games don’t after the modern day combat pushed outside the playable is reasonably entertaining adopt. It is very satisfying for of the previous instalment. game area by an AI team-mate but soon grows weary, feeling an enemy to fire a few rounds, World War 2 has been revisited who walked into me, and in like a cheap attempt to cash retreat to hide behind a tree, on so many occasions, and one memorable occasion in on the publicity of Valve’s only to be shot through the disappointingly this game the game rendered my save Left 4 Dead title, which frankly flimsy cover with a high calibre does little new or original. The data corrupt and unusable outclasses it with one rotting rifle smoking in your hands. pacific conflict has already despite careful care not to do hand tied behind its back. This is an essential skill to been covered in the Medal of anything the game told me not Call of Duty: World at War is use on the harder difficulties, Honour series and I am pretty to. At times you feel that you a disappointing game, not especially on the later levels sure I assaulted the Reichstag are playing more against the necessarily a poor one. It does when enemies seem to be with the Soviets in a recent Call game than the Axis powers. what it does competently literally coming out of the walls. of Duty. The need to remake and when a patch is released The graphics for the engine elements from their own series The game’s multiplayer modes hopefully most of the hideous are especially pretty and do an is a tad insulting, especially provide some respite from problems will disappear. excellent job of recreating the with the high asking price. this. Thankfully, Call of Duty’s However, the game still feels realities of war. At times the enjoyable multiplayer has like a cliché of most other game is strangely attractive, I also felt an uncomfortable translated well into the new war games. If you are an in a bloody, mud-stained sense of déjà vu from the set setting, though this isn’t hard as FPS fan, enjoy war games sort of way. Sound too is pieces in the game. “Sniping”, it is merely Call of Duty 4 with and have played the fourth generally good, with music “plane turret” and, “tense will new weapons. The excellent title then there is nothing generally adding to the epic I survive moment” à la the levelling system returns and new here worth your £40. scale bar the odd discordant fourth game are all present and new kill streak powers are good, out-of-place guitar chord. correct. I can’t escape the cynical allowing you to unleash a pack If you want to experience the feeling that somewhere these of attack dogs at your enemies. horror and reality of war then The characters themselves are were ticks on a list of criteria go and play Call of Duty 4. well surprisingly well developed, the game had to have. Due to A new co-operative campaign although in fairness, there are this set piece momentum the mode allows you to team up If you want to experience the only two for each campaign, timeline and locations jump all with friends, in line with the horror and reality of World the others being wafer thin. over the place, making it hard latest gaming trend, and fight War 2, specifically, then go and Both Keifer Sutherland and to understand who is where together. Split screen works well play the original Call of Duty. Gary Oldman earn there fees by and when. The inter-mission with a maximum of 2 players, providing solid performances cut-scenes also use genuine with online supporting 4. The If you want to play a capable which help to bring a little bit footage of war yet manage campaign becomes more but uninspired World War 2 of humanity to the relentless to be constructed in such a enjoyable with some human shooter with some serious bugs killing. Oldman’s Sergeant stylistic and blasé manner, players to help you rather and vaguely familiar levels then Reznov is perhaps the standout that they undo any impact than the computer players, get Call of Duty: World at War.

REVIEWER: CHRIS WAKEFIELD PLAYABILITY: 7 GAME: CALL OF DUTY - WAW REPLAYABILITY: 8 PLATFORM: PS3 SOUND: 8 DEVELOPER: TREYARCH GRAPHICS: 9 PUBLISHER: ACTIVISION RELEASED: NOVEMBER 14, 2008 OVERALL: 7.5 REVIEW

Regarded as the best football have a wide range management game in years of rated skills - past, the recently released ranging from and aptly named Football tackling to Manager 2009, or FM09 determination for short, is a game that is to agility. as much about the sport Each stat is and passion as it is about ranked from 1 numbers. However, should the to 20, with the fact I could almost copy and former meaning paste my review of last year’s useless and the Football Manager be of any latter highly skilled. concern to you? You would do By virtue of judging who is well to read on to find out... skilled at what, you just need more to allocate your eleven starting truth sure. For me it does feel like an For those new to the series, positions and decide on your when you’re doing well in the improvement, but for others, FM09 is a game about tactics. The interface, though league, but if you allow it to, like those on older computers, managing a football team. a little daunting at first, is well FM09 can sap hours of your life it is going to seem like an extra Oh, you’ve guessed that much thought out, and there’s useful away without you even noticing. burden. It is a shame the game’s already. In any case, by means tutorials and hints to get you developers - - of a well-designed wizard, you in to the swing of things. The The majority of the graphics could not have released a more kick things off by choosing whole game can be simple if are still just text and numbers, efficient and beautiful engine, which of the dozens of countries you wish, but the real success of which are at least crisp and in but maybe they wanted to save and leagues you would like Football Manager comes from lovely shades of grey and blue. something for next year. A new to have loaded, in addition to its super in-depth gameplay. Nevertheless, the real significant patch, which is promised to what sized database. After that, point of debate is the new 3D address some of these current and a bit of a loading pause, The buzz of exploring the match engine. In what should issues, should be released by you then create one or more transfer market is one of joyous be a historic moment in the the time you reading this. managers and choose which nature, as is snapping up a top Football Manager series, it has team you would like to manage. player. Jostling with the press, been released in an ugly and I will now be audacious and Incidentally, you can also start other managers and board unpolished state. The graphics commit a whole paragraph unemployed, but after 3 months members is an interesting are comparable to Actua Soccer to explaining the other new of no job offers I gave up on experience, and even trying 95 drawn on paint, yet they features. Manager interaction that approach. Soon after, albeit to squeeze the most out of require a modern computer takes another baby step with after some more loading, you your training schedule can be to run. You can revert to the the new press conference are free to embark on your entertaining. All-in-all FM09, like 2D dots engine, but even then feature, where the adorable triumphant management career. its predecessors, is a pleasurable you will need at least an ATI press get to ask you lots You essentially start with a and encompassing managerial Radeon 9800 or Nvidia FX 5900 of probing questions. The squad of players, each of which experience. Naturally that holds Ultra to get it going. To add to particular highlight being the this complaint, I also feel the ability to storm out should you need to point out the increased feel the need. Player ratings are loading times before each now in decimals rather than match, which gets wearisome. whole numbers, and previous player match ratings are now After having said all this shown in little bar graphs, though, I do actually like the both of which I felt just gave new engine. Seeing my cute the game feel a further degree little team run around with of unnecessary complication. actual arms and legs is hardly However, nice new touches like a notable improvement, but assistant manager feedback more over it just feels more takes the immersion level to involving. Whether this is down exciting new heights, with the to seeing the ball actually curl overall jibe being that this is around a goalies stretched the most complete managerial arm into the back of the net game in the series to date. from 35-yards, I am not really REVIEW FOOTBALL MANAGER 2009

One area that hasn’t been full purchase. But if you owned particularly touched on since , or even last year is the sound. Crowd 2007, then it is a lot harder to noises are still there, largely recommend. If you cannot live forgettable as ever, and that’s without the updated team all there is to comment about and player database then go - there is certainly nothing to ahead and treat yourself, but shout about. And yes, I did use the best recommendation I can that same pun in my Football give is to wait until the game Manager 2008 review last comes down in price over the time around, but I thought Christmas period. So why the that touch of irony would relatively high overall score? at least fill this paragraph Because FM09 is still a superb up. Some other completely amount of fun to play, and it is unchanged elements in by far the most realistic way of the game include the lack managing your beloved team of complete Premiership of players to silverware glory. rights, while the jubilation of scoring a 93rd minute winner still never loses its charm.

To provide my concluding judgment then, I would start by saying FM09 is the most complete version to date, but there is little new in the way of groundbreaking features to get excited about. The significant new change - the 3D match engine - does the job but is disapprovingly flawed, which could prove critical to some. To add to this annoyance, you have to initially activate the game via or Uniloc, which proved a nightmare to many on launch day. This has since improved, but is still a new inconvenience.

If you are yet to own a Football Manager franchise then I highly recommend trying out at least the demo. If you enjoy that, then I have no doubt in saying that you will enjoy the

REVIEWER: PETE O’BRIEN PLAYABILITY: 8 GAME: FOOTBALL MANAGER 2009 REPLAYABILITY: 9 PLATFORM: PC SOUND: 5 DEVELOPER: SPORTS INTERACTIVE GRAPHICS: 7 PUBLISHER: SEGA RELEASED: NOVEMBER 14, 2008 OVERALL: 8 FEATURE SYNERGY MOD - CREATOR INTERVIEW

Synergy is a co-operative HL2 with my brother. GO: How has the recent Steam just for fun - a passion. Of mod for the Half Life 2 saga, GO: How difficult was the support influenced Synergy? course, I’m sure we’d all like which allows you and friends development of the mod? ST: I have to say that being to be full-time developers. to play through the story ST: Smooth at times and distributed through Steam together as well as a variety of very rough at others. makes the whole update GO: How does it feel to other maps. Given the recent process much easier. We got a see players having a great co-operative influx of games, GO: How did you go about broad audience, also increasing time with your creation? Synergy pre-dates the craze planning Synergy? our players and community. ST: It feels great. Getting having first been released ST: The old version of In turn, we receive more positive and thanks from three years ago. Since then Synergy (pre-Steam) wasn’t feedback from the community, the community makes the title has gone from planned at all; it was more bug reports and so on. it all worth while. strength to strength, with a or less just experimenting, wide variety of maps available getting a feel for what the GO: What is your as well as a recent update general people wanted. favourite moment from making Half Life: Episode The new version, the one that a game of Synergy? 2 playable with friends. is on Steam now, was planned ST: I like playing ep2_ from the start with single player outland_12 (the Strider battle Alongside team play, Synergy campaign gameplay in mind; at the end of Episode Two) with also provides deathmatch and since the beginning we’ve been my friends and my brother, versus game modes, with a making quite a few changes we all get into the van and Rebels against Combine theme. to our initial plan: originally carry Strider Busters with us. These games are enjoyable we wanted to limit the players’ and offer a new spin on the lives to just one - but that GO: What plans do you have traditional Half Life universe in changed when the players for the future of Synergy? a slightly different context. The thought it was too harsh. ST: Currently we’re planning team play maps themselves on incorporating stats and are also very enjoyable, with a GO: The mod is looking very achievements that help wealth of different levels and professional, how much encourage players to work locations to choose from as work has gone into it? better cooperatively. We’ll well as different objectives. ST: I can’t give an exact amount also be adding new features of time, but it’s pretty extreme. that may boost replayability Synergy is now easier to Synergy in general has been in certain maps, incorporated download than ever. If you worked on since the release of with the achievement rewards. have a copy of Half Life 2 or any Half-Life 2 (late 2004, early 2005; source engine game, all you including some planning). GO: Have you got any words of need to do is load up Steam and advice for amateur mod makers? look under the mod section. GO: How important is ST: Stick with projects you love; user feedback during the if you don’t like what you’re Synergy can be automatically development process doing, no sense doing it. Also, downloaded and it supported and afterwards? take breaks; programming for with regular updates and ST: Feedback from the several hours at a time, ignoring other benefits, meaning there community is extremely bodily functions isn’t good. is no excuse not to give the important, I think, for any game game a go. We got in touch - particularly one that is focused GO: What do the development with the Synergy Team (ST), on cooperative gameplay. team like to do when who were kind enough to We try to include everything not making Synergy? give us this interview. suggested, but sometimes it ST: Other games sometimes; doesn’t always work out. JonnyQuattro likes Call of Duty, GameOn: Where did you 4-Legged Tumor does a lot of draw your inspiration GO: What features do biking. Recently we’ve been for Synergy from? you think are important playing the Left 4 Dead Demo. ST: For me, I was disappointed for an ? to find that Half-Life 2 didn’t ST: Good networking structure, GO: Is Synergy just a part-time have a cooperative mode, easy-to-use or intuitive passion, or would you like to even for just two players. I controls, fun gameplay become a full time developer? wanted to play through and minimal bugs. ST: Synergy is, at this point, FEATURE GAMEON THEME NIGHTS IN DECEMBER 2008

Theme nights are no different to your usual thu 4th tue 23rd nights of gaming. More Left 4 Dead Synergy that we have a specific (Versus Mode) (Free Game - Requires HL2) game dedicated on the night, so that people can join in with the fun sat 6th wed 24th and friendly atmosphere Team Fortress 2 Left 4 Dead that the GameOn servers (Versus Mode) provide. sun 7th fri 26th Call Of Duty 4 Zombie Panic (Free Game - Requires HL2) wed 10th sat 27th Trackmania Nations Forever Jedi Knight Academy (Free Game) sun 14th sun 28th CounterStrike Source DOOM 3 Co-op (Custom Maps) tue 16th mon 29th D.I.P.R.I.P. Call Of Duty 5 (Free Game - Requires HL2) fri 19th tue 30th Left For Dead Trackmania (Free Game) (Versus Mode) mon 22nd wed 31st Team Fortress 2 Left 4 Dead (Versus Mode)

All games will run between the times of 8pm and 10pm.

However, please note that the dates and times may change, and the best way to keep on top is to check the GameOn website. ARTICLE GAMEON’S TENTH BIRTHDAY!

GameOn celebrated its tenth harnessed it for its own needs sessions, a service that was birthday last month, and so to provide an online portal provided free of charge. we decided that for both old where gamers could gather. and new members, to descibe 2001 - GISP Service retired just how GameOn came to be. 1998 - LAN parties At the end of the 0845 boom November saw GameOn run GameOn made the reluctant 1997 - Lag free gaming its first LAN party at the Bass decision of pulling the plug GameOn Networking Ltd was Brewery Museum in Burton on the GISP because it was founded in 1997 by Steven upon Trent. It was attended unable to support the cost and Linda, their motivation by over 30 people who got to without revenue from 0845. was passion for gaming and experience the benefits of lag all that it encompasses. Their free gaming over a local area 2002 - New online initial goal was to provide a network (hence the name LAN infrastructure “lag free” gaming environment party) It was a great success and GameOn researched and for like minded people. motivated the GameOn team designed in-house a modular In the UK in 1997 online gaming to provide more events for its system for deploying websites was severely hampered by growing community, running and managing content, many factors but mainly the several LAN Party events a year obviously the major initial cost of a connection that in various areas of the country. modules where online booking, provided the low latency booking management, needed for real-time gaming 1999 - 2001 - 0845 & GISP forum integration, news and was far beyond the people who The dawn of 56k modems and announcements with a staged wanted to play online games. 0845 saw GameOn serving plan for many more modules. The time it takes for data to its community as a GISP reach a point on the internet (Gaming Internet Service 2003 - 150 player LAN and then return depends on Provider), providing real-time parties & pre-pay the speed of the connection. gaming to many communities In 2003 GameOn ran its first 150 The average connection in including the popular Half- player event in a new location 1997 meant that more than a Life modification Counter- – Uttoxeter racecourse, with few seconds would pass before Strike, Team Fortress Classic, 100% customer satisfaction. A data could make the round trip, Quake III, Unreal Tournament milestone that proves the hard thus making real-time gaming and Half-Life Deathmatch. work and commitment that has difficult and annoying if not The GameOn team provided gone in to running LAN Parties. impossible for most gamers. some of the best servers in GameOn created its own Twelve months was spent the UK with strict rules and bespoke online event researching and absorbing regulations with real-time pre-payment module to the knowledge it would take moderation. The GameOn compliment its online booking to setup a “lag free” gaming network operations centre module, another milestone environment. Over this period was manned 24/7 either in achievement and addition GameOn started to person or via remote. Only the GameOn system. establish a community with its dedicated team could on which it could offer GameOn provide these unique 2004 - Tourneys, its “lag free” service. services to its community. prizes & qualifiers GameOn realised GameOn was also one of the GameOn created an online the communication GISP pioneers allowing its pre-event tournament module power of the members to book time on to organise and co-ordinate Internet and game servers for matches and tournaments before events take private gaming ARTICLE GAMEON’S TENTH BIRTHDAY!

place, this gives a substantial developing a new GameOn site. in a virtual marketplace. attempt at being a one-stop- advantage when planning The key features of this new Everyday GameOn strives shop for Gamers worldwide. and allows for even smoother site were a more controllable to provide the best possible running tournaments at events. back end to make it much services to all of its customers. The Team The list of industry partners easier for people to publish The GameOn team is always The GameOn team is a close- recognising GameOn as an content on to the site together committed to several large knit group of dedicated official UK LAN Party grows and with a much more interactive scale community and industry professionals and hardcore sees the start of tournaments user interface, for example projects that keep GameOn gamers, focused on with substantial prizes, ranging the ability to add comments. very busy. Every year is planned bringing its community and from the latest GFX cards to Analysis and development each step of the way in an effort customers the best possible small form factor PC systems. was also started on a new to maintain focus on the goals service and experience. 2004 saw the first qualifying system for submitting game that have to be achieved for the GameOn’s foundation is built event GameOn ran for an reviews on to the site. continual success and operation on the volunteers from the industry recognised tournament of the GameOn Network. community that make up final – Acon 5 - hosted at an 2008 – 10 year anniversary GameOn and the team want the team. GameOn wouldn’t industry show encompassing After much hard work the new to give its customers and be where it is today without up to 100,000 people. This site was launched this year, communities the very best these special people and gave GameOn customers a along with the new review of everything they can offer, their passion for GameOn shot at some big prize money system. This has brought a steps are being taken to and what it stands for. and recognition of their skill. new lease of life to the site. broaden the products and The team’s dreams and The skills of the GameOn This year also saw the launch services that GameOn can goals keep things focused in LAN Party team were also of the first GameOn magazine. offer not only on the web order to evolve the GameOn called upon to help with This is a downloadable PDF but at GameOn events too. Network and its community. the running of a major magazine. The first issue was 62 competition event, ‘Game pages of games news, reviews, GameOn is currently expanding The Community Stars Live’, which was held at and articles. The magazine has the site to also include some GameOn believes one of many the EXCEL arena in London. proved to be a huge success and news and information of reasons for its continual success has also become a very valuable films and TV series that would is the community of people it 2005 / 2006 – Business tool in helping GameOn to gain appeal to your average gamer. has brought together and that as Usual credibility with some major We have managed to get one of the main attractions of GameOn carried on with its players in the gaming industry. some exclusive interviews a LAN party is the opportunity successful formula of running In November 2008 GameOn with some major TV stars. for people to socialise with the serious larger 150 player celebrated its 10 year friends and at the same time, LANs a couple of times a anniversary by running its The Future play the latest and greatest year, along side the smaller 75th LAN Party at Uttoxeter GameOn is highly motivated multiplayer games in a perfect 50 player events which were racecourse. Over 50 people to strengthen and enhance gaming environment. run every couple of months attended the celebration, itself, developing business GameOn has invested a great as a more social occasion. including 2 people who relations with key industries deal of time and effort providing attended the very first event surrounding its community its community with the things it 2007 – New Direction 10 years ago – ExeCute and and developing community requires. The GameOn message A strategic decision was made Oddie. It proved to be a based products and services board is a community in its own by the GameOn team that in highly successful event. that give the customer the right, a mix of GameOn regulars order for the company to grow, best deal. Continued support and people from all over the more emphasis was needed The Present from the community and hard Internet map drawn by what on the web site itself and on Constant market research and work from the GameOn team the GameOn community offers. its contents. While still carrying close communication with its is required for the GameOn GameOn is passionate about on with the running of LAN community proves to GameOn Network and its community to its community and it shows. parties, a great deal of work was that providing customer service grow, GameOn believes in both going on in the background and satisfaction is crucial, and intends to make the best So thanks to you all – and here’s especially to the next 10 years! ARTICLE THE COLUMN - GAMERS, FIT & SOCIAL

What’s the typical definition actions need to be taken – just days associated with sociability of a gamer? The general as they are – to do something to a greater extent, and most view only a few years back about this issue. It’s not the recently even exercising. If would be that a gamer is issue in itself that I’m against, you haven’t experienced a unsocial, often overweight it’s how these surveys and friendly battle in a racing or unfit and spends most of the scientific “evidence” has game, or a rivalry between his (yes, his) time in front of labelled all of us the very same yourself and an – until now – the screen. To be extreme, things I mentioned earlier. complete stranger in an FPS, he rarely leaves his room, you’re not a true gamer. has no or only few real-life I’d like to consider myself a And those who aren’t (that friends and has a low-paid social guy, with just enough is, those who often have job (or poor school grades). friends. I try to eat healthy, I do prejudices against those who He may even suffer from exercise, and even though are) still use computers to, for low self-esteem. Recognise I certainly sit in front of the example, chat, keep in touch any of those? Well, we may screen a lot more than I with friends, meet others have entered a new era. probably should, I’m certainly online, etc. In other words, not all of those things people the gamers and non-gamers It’s my personal opinion that think of me when I say that share a common platform, and all of the above examples are I like to play videogames. though this has been the case biased conclusions, at least for years, I’d say it has finally to some extent. Sure enough, But, I’d also like to be optimistic grown to a state of acceptance science and survey after survey about it. Being a gamer has in that wasn’t previously there. have proven a significant link recent years become less of a between the hours spent bad thing. Just as it’s now OK to All this said, I have to add that playing videogames and the be black – which we all know I do believe that a majority of health and social life of the wasn’t the case once upon a us are like those the various average gamer, as well as the time – it’s OK to be a gamer, surveys point out. Not exactly performance regarding work yet we still can’t avoid the that extreme, but sure, some or, perhaps more so, school rather truthful suggestion that might have fewer friends than of those very same gamers. most of us do think differently, non-gamers who hang out But, I also believe that these often a bit negative, about outside of the house instead of results have spread to become people of another race. Okay, on the inside of it, and others a label on all gamers, making the comparison between may focus less on school or work “gamer” a rather negative word. black and white and gamers and spend their time playing and non-gamers might be a games. But a part of the problem One of the main areas in society bit extreme, but I’m sure you might be that a false conclusion where this problem exists in see my point. It’s accepted, has been drawn, stating that particular would, as far as I know, but prejudices still exist. all of these “flaws” apply to all be that of parents and families. gamers, while in reality only How many haven’t heard of So why do I say gaming has one or very few may apply to the concerned mother who become a more accepted each individual. In other words, thinks her teenage son doesn’t hobby in recent years? For one I fully believe we must have cut spend enough time with the thing, I believe more people down on something in order rest of the family? To that I can have become gamers. The to have become gamers, but only say that teenagers will be availability of computers and in reality we haven’t shut out teenagers, and that has been the game consoles has increased everything, as some suggests. case since long before any kind drastically, and by now this We’re not living in our own of videogames were invented. happened several years ago. And world, at least not more than the generally a lot of people have average athlete, chess expert or But does this mean we shouldn’t these means of entertainment any other person dedicated to do something about the kids in their homes, and play games a hobby. And, hopefully, that’s who play games instead of on them. If all people were something that “the others” doing their homework? Of part dark-skinned, it would be have come to realise as well. course not. I fully appreciate the harder to look down on those fact that exaggerated gaming who are fully dark-skinned. can be a problem, and that Second, games are in present Johan Dahlberg ARTICLE TOP TEN TRAILERS IN OCTOBER

1. SAS Secure Tomorrow Trailer

2. Gothic 3 - Forsaken Gods Trailer

3. Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War 2 E3 2008 Gameplay Trailer

4. The Incredible Hulk Game Trailer : By Sega (HD)

5. The making of The Incredible Hulk - The beast within Trailer

6. Spectrobes Webisode #10

7. Code of Honor 2 Conspiracy Island Game Trailer

8. Spectrobes Webisode #9

9. WALL-E Game Trailer VideoGame #1

10. Spectrobes Webisode #8 View these trailers and more at the following link: GameOn.co.uk - Top Trailers for October 08 MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM GAMEON! LOOK OUT FOR OUR MINI CHRISTMAS ISSUE IN THE RUN UP TO THE BIG DAY!