Gamecca Magazine June 2014

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Solving crimes in Murdered: Soul Suspect

From Beyond

Watch_Dogs

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Bound by Flame

MXGP

and more...

It’s ChemistryCreating a link...

Watch_Dogs Reviewed

Hack Chicago

Free Online Mag

IT IS CHEMISTRY.

From the Editor

A Will to Survive

Unusual investigations in Murdered: Soul Suspect

Previews

Five games to look out for

It’s Chemistry

There is something exciting ahead for Gamecca...

Reviews

Seven games scrutinised

Charged Up

Keep the power flowing with Romoss

Hardware

Stuff you need

Ramjet’s Rantality

Just shut up!

Competition

Watch_Dogs

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75THIS MONTH’S COVER

There is a great change coming...

See our feature on page 26

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Inside

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Destiny

The Evil Within

GRiD Autosport

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

Sims 4

Watch_Dogs

Wolfenstein: The New Order

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

MXGP

Bound by Flame

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle

Stick it to the Man

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g amec c a60 5Copyright © 1337 Media CC 2009 - 2014

GAMECCA is published by 1337 MEDIA

Taking fun seriously!

All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced, copied or transmitted without the express permission of the publishers. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers. All Trademarks and Registered Trademarks are the sole property of the respective owners.

Editor:Walt [email protected]

Writers:Alex ScanlonCharlie FrippLein BaartNthato MorakabiRob EdwardsSuvesh ArumugamWalt Pretorius

Letters:[email protected]

Competition Entries:[email protected]

Newsletter Subscriptions:www.gameccamag.com

Design & Photography:1337 Media cc

Marketing Contact:Katia [email protected]

GAMECCA Vol. 5 Issue 60May 2014

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Coming Up...by Walt Pretorius

It seems like absolute ages have passed since I wrote my first Ed’s Note

for Gamecca. Realistically, five years is a fairly long time, and with setting down these words, I am writing my sixtieth introduction to an issue. That’s quite a feat, even if I say so myself. Gamecca Magazine has been around for just shy of five years (the next issue will be our birthday issue) and has survived many pitfalls and celebrated even more triumphs. And we owe a lot of that to our loyal readers, for which I personally an extremely grateful. Without our readers, we would be just another voice in the wilderness (even though the gaming wilderness is, admittedly, a pretty cool one).

Look at me getting all nostalgic and soppy. The truth is that I am extremely excited about where Gamecca Magazine is, and where it is going. As I said before, next month’s issue will mark our fifth birthday, and it is bringing some exciting changes with it.

You may have noticed, for example, that our cover

was somewhat unusual this month. Head over to Gladget Magazine (www.gladgetmag.com) and you will notice that the cover over there has the “other side” of the image. That’s because (and I am way too excited about this not to mention it now) we will, from July 2014, be merging Gamecca and Gladget magazines into one “super-mag”.

There’s a feature on page 26 that goes into more detail, talking about more of what to expect from the merging. Suffice to say (for here) that Gamecca Magazine will now feature more, varied content, and that we have been planning this step for some time now. We have based our decision to take this exciting step on numerous factors, including reader feedback. I, for one, think you’re gonna love the new mag when it hits digital shelves on the 1st of July.

And don’t worry – there isn’t going to be the massive, earth-shattering change that will turn Gamecca into something you won’t recognise. This is a case of giving you more of what you

want, not reinventing what already exists. Sure, there will be some redesigning, and our website is busy undergoing a major overhaul, but all of what is happening is aimed at bringing you, our valued readers, more.

Also coming up in next month’s issue will be our E3 2014 coverage and, I must say, I am pretty excited to see what the show will bring to light this year. From the rumours and rumblings going around the industry, it seems that E3 will deliver a lot of exciting news. We already know that it’s going to be a massive second half for 2014, with things like the Xbox One finally coming to South Africa in September, not to mention a number of huge game announcements already made, but I have a sneaky suspicion that it’s going to be even bigger than we currently think.

Right, that’s enough from me… you have a magazine to read, and I have more of Watch_Dogs to play. Enjoy the issue, and be sure to check out all the excitement in our fifth birthday edition next month, too. g

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a will to survive

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The dead can do more than speak

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. . .“exploration will form a key component of the experience”...

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With many considering the advent of the graphics card to have brought about the demise of the genre, most noticeably in terms of the point and click style that dominated the early nineties, and the rise of the so-called “action-adventure” hybrid (probably the most useless descriptor in current gaming), the story-driven puzzle games of yesteryear sadly seem to be an artefact of the past. There have been some success stories in recent times though, with the likes of L.A. Noire and Heavy Rain (both of which are more adventure games than anything else) proving that there is still a market for a cerebral gaming experience and that the genre may not be as dead as many older gamers fear. Nevertheless it’s still a tough nut to crack, and with a public used to the fast-paced antics of modern shooters and action RPGs, releasing a title that forces you stop and think for a moment may seem like a risky proposition. It’s a gamble Square Enix and Airtight Games are willing to take however, and with the launch of Murdered: Soul Suspect just over the horizon, gamers pining to get their hands on an adventure that harks back to an era two decades past may be in for quite a treat.

That’s not to say that Murdered: Soul Suspect will be a traditional adventure title though. In fact the game was never meant to be part of the adventure genre at all, as according to Yosuke Shiokawa, creative director at Square Enix; “When I started this project, the game was pitched as Die Hard with John McClane as a ghost, and that was the very beginning of this concept.” The premise evolved quickly however, especially once Airtight Games, the studio best known for Dark Void, was brought on board, drawing additional inspiration from shows and movies that focus on the mysterious, in particular the various works of J.J. Abrams.

In light of this it was only natural that the narrative would take precedence as work on the game progressed. Murdered: Soul Suspect will tell the story of Ronan O’Connor, a detective in the infamous town of Salem, Massachusetts. The back story may seem like typical fare, with Ronan playing the part of the cop with a shady history, hell-bent on closing a case no matter the cost and driven to recklessness by the death of his wife. It’s here though that the Dirty Harry/John McClane similarities end, as the game begins with Ronan’s murder at the hands of the Bell Killer, a serial killer stalking the streets of Salem. Left as a ghost trapped in the Dusk (a state of limbo between life and true death), the game begins with Ronan seeking to uncover the identity of his murderer through the use of the supernatural powers he has gained as an incorporeal spirit. While an intriguing concept by itself, hints dropped by trailers and various people involved with the game point to an overall darker mystery, with Ronan’s death being just another act in the play.

It’s this mystery that will drive the core of Murdered: Soul Suspect’s gameplay, and it is here that the title’s adventure genre roots are laid bare. The game will focus on investigation, requiring players to piece together disparate clues in order to solve whatever particular mystery Ronan is working on and advance the plot. While lacking a physical body to interact with

i T’S NOT OFTEN IN THIS DAY AND AGE

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the world, Ronan’s death has ironically made him more capable as a detective, granting him access to a suite of spectral abilities that will allow him to uncover secrets that would otherwise have remained buried. For a start he can possess people in order to hear their inner thoughts, as well as prompt them to perform a particular action or think about a certain thing, be it a person, item or event. Players will also have the ability to see imprints left in the Dusk by emotionally charged or significant occurrences, allowing them to peer into the past of a location, as well as the expected feats of walking through walls and objects and teleportation, giving access to otherwise unreachable areas. All this will culminate in gamers having to string evidence they have gathered into a logical chain to deduce the answer to a puzzle, and ultimately the mystery of the Bell Killer.

For those that shudder in remembrance of the twisted logic of past adventure games that could leave you completely stumped and thus unable to progress, fear not. Gameplay videos have revealed that Murdered: Soul Suspect will be more forgiving in nature, allowing players to take unlimited shots at an answer; though at the cost of a rating measure that will keep track of how efficiently you were able to solve a particular puzzle. While this brute force approach to deduction might leave some concerned as to how intellectually challenging the game will actually be, Shiokawa has been quick to assure this will not be the case, stating, “This presentation is at the beginning of the game, so it’s kind of a tutorial with relatively basic missions because gamers might not necessarily know what ghosts can do. We teach that carefully, but after these moments it does become more complicated, more challenging and we have more variety as well.”

As with any adventure game, exploration will form a key component of the experience, and it is here that the town of Salem appears to leap to life in all is tantalizing, mystifying horror. Murdered: Soul Suspect will be a mostly linear game with a hub and spoke design that should be similar to titles like Batman: Arkham Asylum, according to Shiokawa. The gameplay trailers practically drip with atmosphere as Ronan wanders eerie passages and corridors that seem to be lined with shadows and ghostly imprints, all the while encountering sprits trapped in the Dusk like himself. Limbo can be a dangerous place however, with deranged demons haunting locations with the goal of stealing the souls of trapped spectres. Players will have the option to kill these spirit-eaters, though it appears that what little combat there is will be exclusively focussed around stealth. It’s clear that the developers have put a good deal of thought into integrating the setting with the gameplay and narrative, as for instance walls that cannot be passed through are explained as being consecrated against evil, a great touch given the notorious history of Salem.

Murdered: Soul Suspect, then, is a game that seems to be shaping up to fill a niche that has been left rather barren. With a setting and style that appears to ooze with suspense, backed by a plot and gameplay that will force players to take in every nuanced moment, this could be one of the biggest sleeper titles of the year. While it’s already fielded its fair share of criticisms with regards to its investigation mechanics and puzzle-solving, gamers would do well to remember that so far only the first hour has been revealed. Murdered: Soul Suspect is a game that could shape up to be great, and anyone looking for a title to keep you on edge and thinking would do well to keep a close eye on it. g

. . .“sETTING AND STYLE that Appears to ooze with

Suspense”...

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. . .“sETTING AND STYLE that Appears to ooze with

Suspense”...

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DestinyBungee returns

The Evil WithinGoing beyond terror

GRiD AutosportCodemasters’ conterder

Borderlands: The Pre-SequelIn-betweener

The Sims 4Another virtual life

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E3 2014 is literally days away, and with it we’re expecting a whole bunch of fantastic announcements. But until then, news is a little thin on the ground.

That said, a number of new games have been announced over the last few weeks, and we already know that there is some fantastic gaming ahead... g

Highlights

www.facebook.com/ASUSza

www.facebook.com/ASUSza

www.twitter.com/ASUS_za

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Or just MMO-Halo?

The next FPS evolution

by Lein Baart

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In a time where broadband internet access is fast becoming the norm rather than the exception, it’s little wonder that seemingly every second genre is

getting an MMO (massively multiplayer online) release. From strategy games through to simulations, if there’s a way to add multiplayer to a genre, you can bet someone is thinking about an MMO adaptation. It might surprise some then that the ever popular first person shooter has yet to see the glut of games that MMORPG’s are experiencing at the moment, despite online multiplayer having been easily available since the 90’s. These past two years have seen several pioneering titles (such as Planetside 2 and Titanfall) that have bridged the gap though, and with the much talked about Destiny set to

release in just a few months, we may be seeing the first real evolution in FPS gaming in years.

Bungie and Activision are resisting the MMO appellation however, opting to term Destiny a “shared-world shooter” instead. Given that the game will include a host of the usual mechanics, such as instances, a persistent world and party-based gameplay, this might seem like marketing doublespeak at first. Looking deeper though will reveal that Bungie are hoping to meld single-player and multiplayer in a way not quite seen before. For example, using a background matchmaking system that will group gamers on-the-fly, Destiny will only allow a limited number of players to game together at a time, which the developers hope will create an experience

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there will be three playable races the differences between them will be purely aesthetic, and instead the real choice will lie in the available classes, namely Warlocks, Hunters and Titans. Destiny will feature an RPG system that will allow players to upgrade special abilities called “supers”, and in this regard will play like a conventional MMORPG, except from an FPS perspective.

Destiny’s other major draw will be its graphical prowess, as trailers and screenshots show a game that should be an astounding visual spectacle. Gamers should also note that both Activision and Bungie have announced that Destiny will have no subscription costs, and micro-transactions will not give any gameplay bonuses to those with cash to blow. g

that focuses on aspects that have traditionally been the provinces of single-player campaigns, such as plot. Instances, or “Public Events” as they are being called, can be flitted in and out of at will though, and while the details of PvP combat haven’t been made known as yet, Bungie have assured they will be present.

Set seven hundred years in the future, Destiny will tell the story of mankind on the brink of extinction following a cataclysmic event known as the Collapse, which saw humanity reduced from Solar System-wide colonisation to a single city guard overnight by a mysterious orb called the Traveller. Players will take up the roles of Guardians who seek to push back the sudden appearance of hostile aliens and regain the glories of the Golden Age. While

Genre: MMOFPS

Given Bungie’s history, expectations are running high for Destiny. From what’s been shown so far, they seem well deserved.

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Returning to the true essence of survival horror

More Than Mere Fright

by Nthato Morakabi

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Detective Sebastian Castellanos would count himself as unlucky, thrust into the dark depths of a world he’d once deemed impossible and

yet…he was not only walking it, he was seeing it with his very own eyes, questioning his own sanity while fighting to survive what must surely be a terrible nightmare. His tale began at the initiation of an investigation; a call to the scene of a gruesome mass murder. Upon the arrival and investigation, a powerful and mysterious force made its presence known, through the brutal slaughter of Sebastian’s fellow officers. Sebastian himself can do nothing more, much to his terror and dismay, than watch the horror and rather than be killed, he is ambushed and

knocked unconscious. Upon waking, he finds that where he is, cannot possibly be true, as horrific and malformed creatures wander about, baying for blood amongst the dead. He must now face the strange creatures populating the area, solve the case of the mysterious hooded figure who is shown displaying unique abilities, while fighting for survival as the chilling adventure into the unimaginable terror brings him face to face with the evil force behind the investigation.

The Evil Within is the embodiment of true survival horror, from the father of the genre and creator of the Resident Evil franchise and other Capcom titles, Shinji Mikami.

The title is set to weave together an intricate story as

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working to stay alive will be sure to keep players moving through the game. Unlike other titles that give unlimited ammunition and supplies at the ready, The Evil Within looks to test the will and wits of players by making each experience a true survival horror.

The creatures that players will face have been designed to be unsettling and terrifying with visceral graphics, blood, gore and bone chilling scenes sure to appease horror fans. Navigating through dark villages, narrow, dimly lit corridors, blood saturated walls with dangling carcasses and rooms filled with bodies and the maniac monster butcher slicing them up, are but a few scenarios players can anticipate in what has to be one of the most sought after horror games coming in 2014. g

well as an immersive yet unsettling world that players will be both intrigued by as well as fearful of. A rich blend of skillfully constructed environments to enhance the atmosphere of the game and the horrifying anxiety and tension built up by the scenarios playing out, is something players will have to endure as they explore the monster riddled areas.

Typical of survival-horror titles, The Evil Within will be played from a third person perspective, and will see players scavenging the areas for supplies, learning when to engage an enemy and when to run, and making use of the environment, all in a bid to survive the grueling horrors awaiting their exploration. Solving the dark enigma surrounding the mysterious forces at play and

Genre: Survival-Horror

From the father of the survival-horror genre, Shinji Mikami, comes a truly terrifying tale sure to bring terror back into the gaming world.


Tango GameworksBethesda SoftworksSter Kinekor

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Take to the line for automotive super speed

Around We Goby Charlie Fripp

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Racing titles are understandably incredibly popular with high-speed loving gamers. Franchises like the Need for Speed and Forza

have been coining it over the last couple of years, and Codemasters’ GRiD franchise has been trying to cash in on it.

It has been flying relatively low under the radar when compared to other racing titles, but still managed to achieve critical acclaim with Race Driver: GRiD and its subsequent sequel, GRiD 2. GRiD Autosport promises the same experience as the other titles, while doing a number of things a bit differently.

The newest title brings back the in-game view that was lacking from the sequel, and with a new handling

model it will attempt to recreate the authentic feel of the cars featured. Its main aim is to hit the delicate balance between an arcade racer such as NFS, while retaining the simulation of Forza.

In terms of plot, gamers will act as a driver for hire, racing for a specific team in a number of disciplines. Players can choose to either specialize in some of them, or sweep the board as the best driver in multiple categories. And there will be lots to choose from, as the title will feature over 100 routes across 22 locations – which is twice the amount from GRiD 2 and features a variety of Modern, Classic and City tracks.

Some of the series available in the game focus on Touring cars, GT, single seaters, Muscle cars, Drift,

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AI will “defend their line, take chances or spin out under pressure” as gamers make their way up the leaderboards.

Taking a leaf from other racing titles, gamers will be able to form racing clubs to race together, receive weekly in-game challenges, track statistics and create new liveries through Codemasters’ Racenet portal.

GRiD Autosport should appeal to racing enthusiasts who love a wide-ranging challenge and don’t mind trying new things. From what we have seen, the graphics look fantastic and if the previous games are anything to go by, the controls should be smooth and easy to use. Petrol-heads should definitely give this one a try if they are up for something new. g

Supercars, Destruction Derby and Prototypes. Players will also have to be very careful with their tire wars in Endurance races, as the tires will deteriorate with time. Not keeping them in check will cause a blow-out, meaning the end of the race.

For those that are worried that the game might lack a bit of authenticity, Codemasters said they have consulted “extensively” with the race driver community; real race drivers and experts from automotive publications to make sure that everything was just right.

There isn’t exactly a ton of information available prior to release, but the development studio did add that the Artificial Intelligence in GRiD Autosport will be top notch. They have revealed that the realistic

Genre: Racing

With more tracks and better AI, it should be fast-paced fun


CodemastersCodemasters Megarom

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The lands just expanded their border

Fly Me to the Moonby Charlie Fripp

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The first Borderlands thundered onto gaming platforms in 2009, taking gamers on a wild ride through the strange lands, creatures and eccentric

people of Pandora. Three years and a number of DLC packs later, the much-awaited sequel arrived to continue the mayhem.

With two titles and many characters to work from, publisher 2K Games announced the inevitable sequel in early April. But Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel won’t be following the traditional follow-up rules as dictated by gaming releases. Everything about Borderlands is slightly off-kilter, so why shouldn’t the next title be?

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is both a prequel and a sequel rolled into one, in the sense that it is sandwiched

in between the original Borderlands and Borderlands 2. It’s a sequel to the original title, but a prequel to number two – you get the point…

In terms of the plot it will focus on Handsome Jack (the main antagonist from number two), and how he rose to power that dominated Borderlands 2’s story. Gamers will get to experience his attempt to escape his exile from the Hyperion moonbase, and capture it for himself, while playing the role of one of four henchmen to Jack.

No Borderlands title has ever had the same playable characters, and this time around gamers can fill the shoes of Athena, Wilhelm, Nisha, and Claptrap. Ironically, the four new heroes were all present in the second game, but just not as playable characters. Wilhelm actually made an

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Borderlands games largely stayed the same, there is no dispute that Pre-Sequel would be any different. There could be a small change in overall gameplay, but two new weapon types will be introduced, including various forms of laser-based weaponry, and cryogenic weaponry which can slow down and freeze enemies.

While players frolic on the Moon, gravity will come into play, which will also cause loot and dead bodies to float around. And while there, why not make use of the new oxygen masks? Different kinds of masks will be available, giving players different stat boosts for each one.

Borderlands has been a huge franchise, and there is no doubt that Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel will be equally as massive and successful as the previous titles. g

appearance as one of the armored villains in a boss battle.Athena is known as “the Gladiator”, and is a rogue

assassin that works for the Atlas Corporation. As any good Greek warrior would have, she possesses a shield that can deflect incoming blows, and can also upgrade it to be used as a weapon. Wilhelm is a Hyperion engineer who is augmented with technology and weaponry, which can turn him into a cybernetic form.

There hasn’t been a lot of information surrounding Nisha “the Lawbringer”, a Lynchwood sheriff; and Claptrap “the Fragtrap”, the last remaining robot of its kind as of Borderlands 2 – but they also make up the group of playable characters.

Since the format and game mechanics for the previous

Genre: First Person Shooter

With lots of material to draw from, this title should be just as good as its predecessors


2K Australia 2K Games Megarom

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Live life the way you want it to be.

Better Life. Better Control

by Nthato Morakabi

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Life simulation has always been a great way to shape the lives of virtual characters as you see fit, and no other series gives you that kind of

control like the Sims franchise. As the franchise grew, and as its many expansion packs offered much more to the title than just new features, it became evident that there could be more to the Sims themselves than what was offered previously. Sims 4 takes the characters of the wonderfully simulated world and looks to revamp them, with the intention of giving players more control over their Sim.

The first feature that will be sure to whet the appetite of Sims fans will be the ability to fully mould the shape and look of their Sim. No longer

will customization be limited to a slider; players will have the ability to grab onto parts of the Sim directly and push-pull those parts into the shape they want it to be. A selection of pre-made faces and body types will also be available for players as a starting base to sculpt into their unique Sim. With tools that will allow players the options of adjusting the eyes, ears, nose, chin, mouth as well as the rest of the body, players can virtually create anyone they can think of; there will even be various facial archetypes to create distinct faces, including shaping of cheekbones to create any sort of look.

A genetics system will also be part of the Sims 4 package, allowing players to have a child that displays

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Styles, affecting how the Sims walk. Walk Styles will bring an added feel to the Sims’ personalities from their level of confidence to humility and even humour.

As with previous Sims titles, players can look forward to vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods with customization options giving players freedom to build their dream home and furnish it with a wide selection of furniture.

Players can look forward to earning new objects, outfits and traits should they complete events. In the midst of discovering collectables, players will also work to unlock various achievements and lead their created Sim to a wonderful virtual life filled with friends, work, parties and other exciting scenarios. g

the attributes and features of its parents. Sims 4 will also let players see and even manipulate the look of their child. There will even be an option to create family members based on a Sim’s genetics.

Looking past the aesthetics of the Sims, players will also have the ability to add personalities to their Sims, and on a whole new level too. Personalities in Sims 4 will have a deeper effect on the Sims and how they interact with others, thanks to the addition of Emotions. These emotions will change how the Sims react to different situations and mixed with the Trait’s attribute, a new relational dimension can be expected within the Sims world.

Part of the new features to the Sims are the Walk

Genre: Simulation

A new approach and better features are sure to gladden the hearts of all Sims fans.


MaxisElectronic ArtsEA South Africa

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Change stimulates growth. Growth demands change. This

is the way of things, the endless cycle in which our world exists. And it pervades everything, from the way we think through to the way we consume.

When 1337 Media first began publishing Gamecca Magazine five years ago, this idea was one of the central concepts of our offerings. Although Apple was yet to release the first iPad and connectivity levels were far

lower than they are today, the idea that people would move away from traditional forms of media was already starting to surface, and the decision to move from a physical, printed arena to a digital distribution model made a lot of sense. Even though there were detractors, we forged ahead, publishing the first issue of Gamecca Magazine in July 2009.

It didn’t take long for the need for a publication that addressed consumer technology, delivered

in the same way, to become apparent. And so, in October of the following year, Gladget Magazine arrived.

And through the entire time, the needs, wants and capabilities of our readers kept developing, changing and growing. Where there was originally a necessity to keep the magazines as small as possible (in terms of data size) people now have improved connectivity, and services that display digitally

from July 2014, Gamecca & Gladget Magazines will merge into that “super” magazine, which will deal with gaming, technology &

associated lifestyle concepts”

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distributed magazines have also evolved into more efficient and widespread platforms. Tablets and smartphones, as capable of displaying our magazines as any computer, have become commonplace, and download capabilities of people the world over have improved, allowing them easier access to larger files more regularly. 100MB today is not what it was five years ago.

And so the necessity to separate the information we provide into two magazines has,

over time, disappeared. We are now able adapt and produce a much larger, much richer “super” magazine, because our readers are now more capable of enjoying it without previously existing constraints.

And so, from July 2014, Gamecca and Gladget Magazines will merge into that “super” magazine, which will deal with gaming, technology and associated lifestyle concepts. The publication will still carry the Gamecca name,

but it will be a product that has adapted to the needs and wants of our readers.

While ease of downloading certainly was a major consideration in this decision to consolidate the two publications, it wasn’t the only one. Another factor is that the lines between various aspects of consumer technology – including gaming – have blurred, with more people spreading their habits and activities wider afield these days. This means that a wider

“Bringing together the elements that make up both magazines will result

in a powerful, enjoyable and useful publication for all that read it.”

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range of interests appeal to people, and we want to bring those interests together.

This simplifies the process of getting the information we produce for our readers, and there is definite strength in simplicity. It is a move that will allow us to produce a publication that has grown as our readers have, and encompasses numerous fields that they have expressed interests in.

So what can you, as a reader,

expect from the new Gamecca magazine?

The answer is both simple and complicated. In the simplest terms, Gamecca will contain information related to video games, consumer technology and lifestyle elements. But the magazine will be much more than the sum of its parts. As a digital magazine, it will (as in the past) offer immediate connectivity by way of live links – even after it has been downloaded. It will always be

available, too, with back issues available for downloading and browsing in perpetuity. And it will be accessible via numerous devices and online services. Whether on your PC, tablet or smartphone, you will be able to access Gamecca Magazine – anywhere, at any time.

To elaborate on the content offerings, Gamecca will contain articles including features and reviews about games, hardware, consumer technology and things that people with an interest

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in those fields love. It will also contain interesting facts, looks back in time, educated opinions and much more. We don’t want to give away too much at this time… but there is only a month to go before you can see our new super-mag for yourself.

In addition, the Gamecca website (www.gameccamag.com) is undergoing an extensive redesign, and will bring you more than just a way to find the magazine easily.

“The decision to merge

Gamecca and Gladget magazines is one that has been on the cards for a while now,” said Gamecca editor, Walt Pretorius. “It’s an exciting move, and one that we feel will help create the kind of publication that our readers really want. Bringing together the elements that make up both magazines will result in a powerful, enjoyable and useful publication for all that read it.”

“Due to the fact that technology is exponential in

its nature, it continuously will affect the market mentality and transforming industry,” said Katia Taliadoros, editor of Gladget Magazine. “The need for adaption is therefore always vital! In our case it is a merge, and an exciting one at that!”

The consolidated magazine will be available on the 1st of July, 2014, when Gamecca celebrates its fifth birthday. Be sure to check it out at: www.gameccamag.com g

“The need for adaption is always vital! In our case it is a merge, and an exciting

one at that!”

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Watch_DogsHack Chicago!

Wolfenstein:The New OrderThe other history...

The Amazing Spider-Man 2Sticky swinger...

MXGPGetting things right

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Game releases are a little flat at the moment. There are a lot of games coming but, as usual, around E3 time things slow down.

Still, we’re heading into the second half of 2014, and that means that the market will steadily pick up towards that end-of-year crazy burst of gaming goodness. Exciting stuff… g

Highlights

There are many open world games out there, putting the player in a third person perspective and sending them down a spiralling trail of

destruction and mayhem. But there are few that make the player feel quite as empowered as Watch_Dogs does. Yet, at the same time, Watch_Dogs leaves the player feeling more vulnerable, too, even if they are taking on the role of super-hacker-vigilante Aiden Pearce.

It would be easy to compare Watch_Dogs to titles like Sleeping Dogs or the later versions of Grand Theft Auto. But to do so would be something of a disservice to this mammoth title from Ubisoft, because it really isn’t just another GTA clone. Rather, it takes many ideas from open-world games that have come before, and then elaborates on them, making them slicker and more real.

In short, it is a lot like the GTA games, but it is darker, more adult and more real… even if the main character is plucked right out of the pages of a techno-spy-thriller.

And it brings the goods, that’s for sure. Just playing through the story quests will see the player log well over twenty hours of gaming. Add in the myriad side-quests and collectibles that the player can go after, not to mention exploring the virtual version of Chicago that the game is set in, and you get a title that will provide more than its money’s worth in entertainment.

At the core of the game is Pearce, a once-criminal hacker who has been set on a vengeful path after his actions lead to a family tragedy. Somebody died, and Pearce wants the one responsible for it. At least, that’s where the story starts off… but as Pearce delves deeper into his own personal mystery, he uncovers a world full of

Mess with everything…

Hack Jobby Walt Pretorius

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way. See, Aiden can get information about anyone he comes across. This is because the Chicago of Watch_Dogs is an entirely connected (and monitored) city. It is a place where no-one has any secrets from the powers that be, and by hacking into the city’s overarching ctOS system, Pearce has the same access. Each person he passively scans with his smartphone has a name, an age, an occupation and a small titbit of information attached to them. This one sells used underwear online, that one is a cosplay fan, and so on. Some of these people can even be hacked, to empty their bank accounts (Pearce’s main source of income) or steal music, or even reveal new collectables, gang hideouts and potential criminal activities.

The hacking doesn’t end there, though… almost everything the player does needs some level of hacking.

malcontents, criminals and really evil people, all beautifully portrayed with great animations and design, as well as superb voice acting. In fact, when comparing the main character to ones like the gangster-hacker Iraq (that’s “eye-rack”, of course) or the quietly malevolent mob boss Lucky Quinn, Pearce comes across as a bit of a cardboard cut-out, far flatter and devoid of personality than the people around him.

The high level of thought and detail that went into the characters also went into the recreation of Chicago. Ubisoft spared no attention to detail; from the country-esque Pawnee to the upmarket opulence of Mad Mile, the virtual Chicago comes to life in numerous ways. The attention to detail (from ornate street lamps to lurid graffiti) is exemplary, while the population of the city seems to have a life of its own. In fact, it does, in a small

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Whether it is intruding into someone’s private life (often preceded by a rather stylish hacking puzzle mini-game) or activating street lights and raising bridges to help out in a car chase, Pearce is connected to the entire city, and the player can use it to great advantage.

It also ties in well to the fact that Watch_Dogs lends itself well to a stealthier approach more than most other open world games. Infiltrating a compound or enemy hideout can be done as effectively with hacking and sneaking as it can with guns blazing. In fact, using the former route turns the exercise into a bit of a puzzle mini-game, as the player strategically seeks out security cameras to observe the area. Hacking can also be done from these areas, and allows for anything from creating distractions to triggering explosives carried by enemies. A wide array of skills can also be bought during the

course of the game, ranging from hacking and driving skills through to crafting and combat abilities. There is even a skill that lets you get more money from hacked bank accounts, but cash is never really a problem if you’re prepared to take the time to get it.

Although stealth is the preferred way to go about things, Watch_Dogs is not averse to gun play. It features a very robust cover system and, while its arsenal is nothing revolutionary, the player can fairly confidently engage enemies. The AI is well balanced in these situations… it will try to outsmart the player, showing a decent level of intelligence, but it can also be outwitted by the player, concentrating attacks on Pearce’s last known position while the player quietly flanks it. That adds to the more realistic tones of the game, and makes gun combat even more fun and strategic. The player can also slow

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thrill many users. Some may find it annoying to get interrupted while they are trying to get through the campaign, but there is a lot of fun to be had with Watch_Dogs’ multiplayer offering. It adds even more to a game that already has a gargantuan setting and tons and tons of things to keep the player busy. You’ll likely be playing Watch_Dogs for a long time, and that’s never a bad thing.

Ultimately, Ubisoft have managed to create a great game with Watch_Dogs. It’s challenging and often frustrating, and while some aspects seem a little under-utilised, it offers an excellent experience, particularly on the new consoles. It does suffer a little from having been hyped up so much previous to its release, but that can be forgiven pretty quickly when you lose yourself in this massive and truly enjoyable title. g

down time for those strategic headshots, and a wounding system means that it isn’t necessary to leave a string of dead bodies after every battle. This could negatively affect the player’s standing in the eyes of the public, after all… but the reputation system doesn’t seem to have as much relevance to the title as it did in games like inFamous.

Sadly, the driving AI is not as good. It is just too elastic for comfort, making every car chase a nerve-wracking, pitched run for freedom. The hacking works well here, allowing Pearce to activate all manner of traps to slow down and stop enemies, but the lack of combat (ie. Being able to shoot a gun while driving) is a bit of an oversight.

Added to all of this (tons of mini-games, missions, collectibles, quests and free-approach action) is a competent, always on multiplayer component that will

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AT A GLANCE:

Score

Genre: Action Adventure

Watch_Dogs is a triumph, even if it does suffer a little from over-hype...


UbisoftUbisoftMegarom

Parental Advisory Accessibility

18+Casual

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When it comes to first-person shooters, all kinds of praise needs to be directed towards the Wolfenstein franchise, which

is the grand-daddy of the genre. But with Wolfenstein: The New Order, it seems that the developers have subconsciously been mired in the past, resulting in a title that bounces between really fresh and slightly anachronistic.

The premise behind this title isn’t one that we haven’t seen before; in this game’s alternate history, the Nazis won World War II and went on to global domination, spreading their messages of racial purity and other hate-fuelled dogma over the whole world. There is nothing, now, but Nazi domination. But they never counted on series stalwart BJ Blazkowicz.

The tale begins in 1946 (the year after the actual

Second World War ended) with a short prequel. Blazkowicz ends up in a coma, interred in a mental hospital for fourteen years. When he awakens to 1960, he finds a world very different from the one he left behind; the Nazis have won, and the entire globe is pressed under its oppressive boot-heel.

It is this tale that shows the most quality in the game. Developers Machinegames managed to not only weave together a decent narrative, but they do so with sensitivity and a great deal of forethought. It is plain to see that Machinegames really considered the possibilities of their situation carefully. The characters, too, are well acted and beautifully created (in fact the whole game is beautiful). Even Blazkowicz has become a sensitive, deep character (rather than the gun-toting meathead he was before).

So in terms of presentation, Wolfenstein: The New

Well, Sort of…

Blast from the Past

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be earned sequentially, adding even more challenge to this chunky shooter.

The weapons are pretty standard fare, but they are sometimes used inventively. Additionally, Wolfenstein: The New Order has a host of varied enemies to throw at the player, which keeps things fairly fresh and very intense. But with an AI that has sketchy moments, taking these enemies out can be difficult at times, and sometimes unpredictable. There is a greater emphasis placed on stealth in the game, which can have very satisfying results.

Overall, the new Wolfenstein title offers a thrilling, extremely action packed experience, backed by good presentation and a solid narrative. As long as you don’t expect any mind-bending innovation, you should have a great time with it. g

Order has tons on offer. Where it feels a little old, though, is in the overall dynamic. Granted, this is a very competent shooter, but some of the ideas that the developers used are not exactly on par with modern proponents of the genre. Having to hit a button for every pickup, for example, is just not done anymore. Neither is an AI that alternates between razor sharp and brick-witted. But these things are found in the new Wolfenstein game – small issues, but issues none-the-less. Another example is the idea of dual-wielding in the game. It’s great on paper, but the implementation of it here leaves a lot to be desired.

Still, Machinegames have worked some very clever ideas into the title. Skill development, for example, is action based. Almost like achievements, skills are earned by performing certain tasks. And sometimes they have to

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AT A GLANCE:

Score

Genre: First-person shooter

Although it feels a bit old-school in places, Wolfenstein: The New Order has some great moments.


MachinegamesBethesdaSter Kinekor


18+Casual

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80

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Taking fun seriously!

www.gameccamag.com

Gaming, Technology & Lifestyle

Spider-Man is one of those iconic super heroes that if you showed a little kid a picture of the masked champion, they would immediately know

who it is – but not so much Peter Parker. He is almost on par with Batman, although the caped crusader does tend to have a bigger, darker following.

The same example can be brought through to the video games as well. The Batman titles have a more sombre tone, with dark colours and often very dry humour. The Spider-Man games on the other hand, are brightly coloured, and Parker always seems to have something to comically quip about. But with that, the Batman games have been some of the best action titles, and Spider-Man horribly drops the ball with The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Developers have to be really careful with sequels, and

while this isn’t the first Spider-Man sequel, it does seem like developer Beenox tried to fix the issues stemming from the first Amazing Spider-Man, but actually broke the game a little bit further. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…

Before delving into the mechanics, the plot tells the story of Parker’s exploits as Spider-Man, and naturally he needs to save the city from an evil conspirator who aims to destroy all in his path. This would have worked well, but the game starts off by explaining how Parker got his power and how his uncle Ben dies. It’s a bit unnecessary, as that has been explored in countless games and even the numerous films.

Swinging through New York City, the scenery is good enough to make an average game blush, but that is about where it stops. The landscapes and city details are fantastic, but dig a bit deeper into the cut scenes or

This one is heading for a tree

Swing & a Flopby Charlie Fripp

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While there isn’t an awful lot of variety it does provide for a distraction – but there is one terrible downside. Every time gamers complete a side mission, the city’s local reporter will give live commentary on what transpired. Every time. And it can’t be skipped…

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is, at its heart, a true Spider-Man game, complete with Parker’s witty (although sometimes annoying) comments, familiar characters and a cameo by Stan Lee. But the web slinging is awful. Players will need to have laser-focused aim to latch onto a building, and it’s erratic at best. Parker’s sarcastic quips about how there needs to be a building in order to swing doesn’t help either…

Overall, the title will appeal to die-hard Spider-Man fans who wouldn’t mind the bugs, spotty control scheme and occasionally lacklustre graphics. g

fighting sequences and it becomes a pixelated mess. Ok, it’s not that bad, but there is definitely a stark contrast between the quality. It is as if Beenox spent all their time and energy on the city rather than actual gameplay mechanics.

Speaking of fighting, the majority of the time players will engage in hand-to-hand combat, and here they will also be able to draw a similarity to Batman. The actions feel almost copied from Arkham City, even down to the little lighting indicators when it is time to dodge. Limited to only a certain number of moves, it does become a bit of a button-masher after a while.

While in free mode, Spider-Man can cruise the city looking for citizens to help or crimes to stop. It acts as extra missions outside of the main story to earn XP so that players can increase their powers, attacks and abilities.

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AT A GLANCE:

Score

Genre: Action

It’s not bad, but it sure isn’t great either...


BeenoxActivision Megarom


10+Casual

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62

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While car racing games have pretty much started to get everything just about right, the motorcycle racing genre still has a

way to go to capture the actual feel of being what is essentially a slab of meat on a rocket. But Milestone have numerous motorcycle games to their credit now, and while the bulk of their experience rests on the more predictable MotoGP tracks, MXGP manages to perform really well in the dirt.

It is good to remember that the only real exposure Milestone had with off-road physics before came in the form of MUD, and that title was less about realistic riding and more about looking cool. This time out, though, they have created a more than competent off-road motorcycle racing simulation in the form of MXGP, and while there is still a way to go, this title undoubtedly

gives us the best physics for this environment to date. That doesn’t mean that they are perfect, but Milestone have been showing a steady progression of improvements through their motorcycle titles, and with this only being their second off-road attempt, there is real promise for the future here.

The basic control premise behind MXGP is one that any biker understands well – counter-balancing. This means that the player can control the rider and the bike separately, shifting the rider atop the bike to change weight distribution and get through some tough corners with ease. It’s a tricky proposition in real life, and in MXGP too. Although the player can set difficulty on this (which means that, at the easiest level, there is very little chance of getting it wrong) playing on the hardest setting can get very challenging. The fact that the game’s five

Mudslinging has never been this much fun

Down and Dirtyby Walt Pretorius

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perform pretty much the same. It is up to the player to make a difference here… the riders are merely there for the fans, and do not provide any form of edge in-game. But that’s OK, because the sense of accomplishment for finishing a race in first place in any of the game’s race classes is greater as a result.

The presentation of MXGP is a mixed bag, with fairly detailed riders, bikes and tracks juxtaposed against crowds and finer details that just don’t seem to fit, thanks to their low level of visual detail. The sound is good, though, with engines that are convincing in their audio. The lack of music may seem a bit weird at first, but it does add a level of realism.

So while the genre has certainly got a way to go, Milestone have yet again taken a good step in the right direction with MXGP. g

instructional videos don’t give much more than the basics doesn’t help matters; players will need to learn through experimentation.

The game offers 14 tracks around the globe, which are recreated with Milestone’s usual faithful attention to detail. And that faithfulness extends beyond the circuits that players will race on; team liveries and bikes are also painstakingly recreated. The player can take on the role of a number of well-known MX racers, or start their own racer in a career mode. Races can also be tweaked in terms of whether the player will do qualifying laps and so forth, or just jump straight into the action.

Sadly, bike tweaking is minimal. Yes, the player can adjust the performance of their chosen machine in terms of things like suspension, brake balance and gear ratios, but it does feel a little light. And all the riders… well, they

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AT A GLANCE:

Score

Genre: Racing

Although the genre still has a way to go, MXGP makes solid strides in the right direction.


MilestoneMilestoneApex Interactive


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80

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At what point does enjoyment get hampered by imperfections in game design? It is a question that comes up more often than you might think

in a game reviewer’s daily life. Take Bound by Flame as an example… here we have a game that has some rather serious missteps and flaws, and yet the overall experience can be extremely enjoyable (if, of course, you can look past its mistakes). So where does the line get drawn?

Quite frankly, it gets drawn by each person playing the game, and game reviewers merely express an opinion based on personal experience. These statements are never fact. And so, I can personally say that I enjoyed Bound by Flame far more than I should have on paper. And, without a doubt, I enjoyed it more than many other players will. I tend to be forgiving

of a game that grabs my attention and, for all its little quirks, Bound by Flame managed to do that. This was largely because the game dynamics work. Combat is fast, responsive and fluid. The skill progression of the player’s character is relatively deep, and choices that are made in this area of the game really do make a difference. The wide array of weapons and customisations also helped to enhance the experience, with a large number of collectible items helping the player craft an equally large number of modifications for weapons and armour. Even the fact that these modifications caused visual changes of the character pleased me. Running around taking on tons of enemies is often a repetitive thing, and while Bound by Flame does descend into repetition from time to time, the whole affair is varied enough that it doesn’t really become irksome.

Good and bad combine in a surprising title…

Strange Bedfellowsby Walt Pretorius

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the narrative are never fully explored. The character is possessed by a demon, sure, but it really seems to have little bearing on events. And the player’s choices never really seem to have an impact on a tale that is, for the most part, really linear.

But (and it’s one of those big, hairy, pimpled buts once again) the game dynamic is almost intoxicating. If you can look past some of the titles weaker points, it will offer more reward than you might initially believe possible. It’s hardly ground-breaking, and it draws and derives many ideas (particularly in its plot) from numerous sources, but the fights are well balanced and require just the right level of inventiveness and wit from the player.

In the end, it’s a mixed bag; it certainly won’t win any awards, but it does offer a better experience than it implies. g

But the truth of the matter is that, on numerous technical levels, Bound by Flame doesn’t really deliver what it should. Frame rates, for example, can be a little jagged – on a PS4, that should really not be happening.

The presentation is also a little flat; the world is oppressing in the way that Dark Souls’ setting is, but it never really commits to that feeling of desolation because the dialogue contains too many quips of a generally off-colour nature to really underpin the idea that the world is pretty much doomed. The voice acting is generally forgettable, and the dialogue is full of false bravado and inappropriate comments that just don’t seem to belong in a fantasy setting. And the graphics, while not bad, seem a little “last generation.”

Perhaps the biggest misstep that Bound by Flame takes is that its potentially excellent story and ideas behind

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AT A GLANCE:

Score

Genre: RPG Adventure

While Bound by Flame has many faults, forgiving gamers will discover some great dynamics hidden within it.


DeveloperPublisherDistributer


16+Casual

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75

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There is always a difficult premise that enters into the world of licensed games; how far does the developer go in terms of fan service, particularly

when that aspect of the game could unbalance other, critical components?

In the case of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle, developers CyberConnect2 thought it apt to go all the way in favour of fan service and toss the fundamentals of fighting games right in the bin. That’s all fine and well, and it makes for a great homage to the long running anime series that fans can really enjoy. But the problem is that Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is not very well known in the West. The result is a game that is flawed in many ways, and extremely exploitable.

If you are a Jojo’s fan – one of the few – you will love the way that the game captures the original work’s

flavour. The graphics might as well have been lifted right out of the show, and the characters are very true to the source material. And therein lies the game’s biggest flaw. See, the powers that the characters have in the anime are, as is normal with anime, pretty awesomely extreme. And these powers have been brought into the game faithfully. But this has resulted in an extreme unbalance. For example, one character has the ability to rewind time and thereby negate any damage taken. That’s pretty nifty if it’s the character you are using, but a super-attack like that from an opponent is beyond frustrating – it’s a deal-breaker.

Another character is a paraplegic, which isn’t really a great option for a fighting game. Sure, he can summon a horse from which to attack, but unless you really dig into the advantages of his varied stances, he is going to seem

Extreme fan-service incoming…

Who? What?by Rob Edwards

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And it doesn’t do much to explain things, either. The tutorials might as well have been omitted, because they don’t give any real insight into the character’s abilities. That can only be found through experimentation, which could be an extremely frustrating process for those not really dedicated to the original.

In the end, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle is a game that will require work, if you have the patience to get past all of its imbalances and inconsistencies… not to mention monstrous loading times. What it really offers is fan service, and it does this extremely well. But unless you are a true fan, it will probably be more frustrating than it is worth. And that’s sad, because the presentation and feel of the game really is worth experiencing. It’s a slick product on the surface, but lacks many elements that make fighting games great. g

like the wrong character to use every time.Yet another character can reach into another dimension,

and yank an undamaged copy of himself into the game. The list continues, and these factors create massive imbalances that some players will learn to exploit really quickly. It’s great fan service, but anyone who takes their fighting games even a little seriously will be very annoyed by these ideas.

Additionally, the fighting mechanics are flawed, too. Hit detection boxes seem a little weird, while the character movement can be extremely sluggish. The game would, quite frankly, be a hot mess if it wasn’t for the dedicated loyalty the developers paid to the original work. But, once again, it’s a little known work in the West, so players who don’t know the back story will find it awkward and inconsistent.

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AT A GLANCE:

Score

Genre: Fighting

If you’re one of the rare Jojo’s fans, great... if not, you may find the game’s fan-service destroying its fundamentals.


CyberConnect2Namco BandaiMegarom


12+Casual

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60

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PSN Plus might cost some money, but they consistently deliver free games to those that subscribe to the service. Some of these games

– like Don’t Starve – are pretty meaty and really rather good. May’s offering of Stick it to the Man is also really good, but it won’t deliver the tremendous play-time of titles like Resogun (for replay value) and Don’t Starve (for immensity). But it does pay great homage to earlier popular genres (like Mercenary Kings did for action platformers) which, in this case, are point and click adventures. OK, well, maybe with a little platforming thrown in.

The premise is quite simple. The player controls a guy called Ray, who works as a hard-hat tester. One day, when ray is on the way back home from work, he is struck on the head by a top secret military cargo

that falls from an aircraft made of paper. Actually, in this world everything is made from paper, but we’ll get to that. When Ray awakens after his ordeal, he finds that a giant pink spaghetti hand has grown out of his head – like those horrible rubber sticky hands we played with as kids. Anyway, this launches an adventure of almost epic proportions as Ray uses the hand to not only reach hard-to-get-to places and stuff like that, but also applies stickers to achieve goals in the paper world. They might be stickers of his face on someone else (to get enemies’ attentions away from him) or a myriad of other things. It leads to a fun, if light, puzzling element within the game.

Ray’s hand also enables him to read the minds of those around him, and he can fulfil desires with stickers as a result.

Tentacle arms for everyone!

Handy!by Alex Scanlon

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is little reason for replay, because once you’ve done it, it’s done.

It’s a fairly challenging game at times, but frequent check-points and a generally non-punishing approach mean that there is little frustration to be had. There is more frustration arising from controls that are sometimes a little off, and the overall short time of the whole game.

Still, it’s a worthwhile experience, and considering that it’s an almost-free game, there really is little reason not to give it a whirl. It’s zany and crazy in all the right kind of ways, and apart from a few quibbles, it delivers an extremely enjoyable and polished experience. It’s not a particularly large download, either, which is great – and from an added-value standpoint for PSN Plus subscribers, it certainly does the job. g

The presentation of Stick it to the Man is very slick; the graphics of this paper world are beautifully detailed and carry a very distinctive style. Even better than that is the voice acting, which delivers the game’s dark humour and sometimes off-colour jokes beautifully. Everything is voiced, which is great, and even though some of the jokes are a little less than funny, the entertainment value of the dialogue is very high.

And that’s a good thing, because Stick it to the Man has a few problems. Many have been sorted out since the game’s original PS3 and Vita release, but some are still there – like hinky physics that make timing jumps and grabs a little tricky at first. And then there’s the matter of length. You’ll get through Stick it to the Man in a matter of hours, even if you dig into every aspect (not that the game is very deep, mind you). And there

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AT A GLANCE:

Score

Genre: Platform adventure

As a ‘‘free’’ PSN Plus game, Stick it to the Man makes for an enjoyable, if short, experience.


ZoinkRipstonePSN


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79

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Fea

ture

CHARGED UPTake the power back with Romoss.

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CHARGED UPTake the power back with Romoss.

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The world of technology is a dog-eat-dog place, particularly in the development and production spaces. Companies

are constantly striving to make an impact on a very demanding and critical market; a market in which consumers are hard to please in many different ways. Constant innovation is important, but never at the expense of alienating the end-user with advances that are made too quickly. There is no-one more annoyed than a consumer that buys a product, only to have it become outdated within a few months.

But there are factors outside of the tech manufacturers’ control, too, that can negatively impact on their products. One of those is power. Every product that makes use of a microchip needs it, in some way or another, and when it isn’t available, the end-user’s experience is not only negatively impacted, but it is non-existent until power is restored.

And that is something that South Africans know all too well. As the country’s power grid continues to struggle under increasing strain, technology users often face a lot of device down-time. Sure, things have got better over the last while, but blackouts are still a reality of life for South Africans. And sometimes, when you need power (and it isn’t there) situations can range from frustrating to serious.

But that’s not the only time that power might become an issue for South Africans. We are a very “outdoor” culture, and many people living in this country will find themselves (by choice or by accident) in places where power is extremely unreliable, or even non-existent. It is a strange dichotomy within this country; the urge to be as first-world as possible, complete with top notch technology, while still struggling with some third-world problems, like an underdeveloped power grid.

The need for reliable alternatives to a steady flow of electricity is quite large in a market like this. Generator sales peaked a few years back as consumers tried to fend off “load-shedding” practices employed by the national power provider, but not everyone can afford a generator, or has the space to install one.

One solution that can help those kinds

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of people retain some productivity (or entertainment) during power-outs are external batteries.

Romoss products offer a solution to that need, while still needing to meet the requirements of a demanding marketplace, as mentioned in the opening paragraph. The need for external batteries does not exclude the desire for devices that are small, faster and more powerful, not to mention as durable as possible. These ideas are central to Romoss’ design approach, and the results are a range of products that appeal to consumer’s demands in these respects.

With three main battery product series (eUSB, Sailing and Solo) Romoss attempt to address every need within the market, and manage to do so quite admirably. The Solo range offers smaller, more cost effective options specifically for recharging mobile phones, tablet computers and other devices that make use of 5V DC charging via USB cables. The Sailing range takes on the same devices, but offers larger capacities and slightly improved energy conversion rates. An example of the difference is as follows: the top-of-the-line Solo product has a 10 000mAh battery that will charge an iPhone four or five times, while the top end Sailing product will charge the same phone six times from its 13 000mAh battery. Both are comparable in size – it’s the balance between cost and performance that the consumer needs to consider.

The third range is the eUSB range, with the eUSB Edge 52 being the flagship. This 14 000mAh device can charge the same devices as the Solo and Sailing products, as well as devices like laptop computers and more, thanks to the employment of eUSB technology.

Romoss’ patented eUSB technology allows devices in this range to automatically detect the required voltage of the product that requires charging, and responds accordingly. This makes the Edge 52, for example, an extremely versatile and powerful charger.

Other technology that Romoss employs in their external batteries includes a self-adaptive idea called IR Charge. This system detects the differences in devices input current needs, and adjusts accordingly.

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What all of this boils down to is another expectation of the market on products: reliability and safety. Romoss employs numerous systems and checks to ensure that their batteries do not damage the devices that they are plugged into, thereby ensuring that the end-user can make confident use of their external batteries.

And then, of course, there is the question of styling and size. The Solo and Sailing products are all around “pocket-sized”, and feature an appealing aesthetic value. The eUSB devices are slightly larger, but still offer good looks and easy portability.

Another demand that is increasing within the market is environmental awareness. With technology companies often ranking high on the lists of concerns that impact the environment, Romoss has taken a firm stance in producing products that are not only tough, reliable and versatile, but also environmentally friendly. This approach permeates the entire process, from manufacturing and packaging through to end-of-life disposal. Romoss products can, for example, be recycled up to 500 times, and their use as polymer lithium as a basis for their batteries creates less power wastage. Even their packaging is optimised for more efficient shipping and ais free of toxic materials.

So what do Romoss products mean for South African consumers? Quite simply, one has to consider the impact of black-outs, not only on productivity, but on general daily life. And while they won’t run an entire household, reliable external batteries will certainly help with many tasks. While devices do have their own rechargeable batteries, getting stuck without a charged phone or notebook when power isn’t available can deliver results that range from frustrating to extremely serious, so a way to recharge them reliably and effectively under any circumstances is never a bad idea.

And thanks to fast charging times, environmental friendliness and easy transportation, Romoss’ range of external batteries make more than a little sense for South Africans, and technology users and lovers the world over. g

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OOne of the most time-consuming (and sometimes frustrating) things to do with a PC is tweak every little setting for the

best performance. This process is even more intense for those that want to squeeze every bit of performance out of their machine, because that adds all kinds of BIOS and overclocking tweaks into the mix.

Asus have developed systems that take the hassle out of the process however, and they can all be found on the rather remarkable Z97-Deluxe motherboard. Using a 5-way Optimization system, this board takes all the hard work out of getting things running smoothly, and it does so on the fly. No matter what task you’re putting your PC system through, this technology will ensure that it performs exactly the way you need it to, whether for gaming, heavy processing, entertainment, or just surfing the web. Adjustments are made to areas like CPU performance, fan control, energy consumption, networking and audio, as well as the flow of digital power through the board. This equated to numerous advantages, as the board intuitively tweaks performance according to requirements.

But while the 5-way Optimization may be the Z97-Deluxe’s biggest selling point, this isn’t the only thing that makes this particular system backbone a real winner. An extremely simple, graphical Bios is just the start. The inclusion of things like SATA Express ports, that can handle 10Gb/s data transfer speeds, significantly add to the speed of the computer – particularly when used with an OS drive. Other added extras include a Wi-Fi GO! System, which adds a lot of networking functionality – not least of which is turning your PC into a Wi-Fi hotspot. That makes media streaming, file sharing between Wi-Fi devices and a whole bunch of other things really easy.

Turbo App is a tuning panel specifically designed with gamers in mind, and can do everything from overclock the CPU to prioritising network traffic and optimising audio settings. A dual LAN port system also allows for less lag and better connectivity, while on-board audio benefits from the Crystal Sound 2 system, all designed to deliver the best possible audio experience.

It goes without saying that a board like the Z97-Deluxe comes at something of a premium price point; all those extras carry a cost, naturally, and if you’re wanting to benefit from the added convenience and performance that this remarkable motherboard offers, you’re going to have to pay for it. But for those that have the drive to build a machine that performs well in pretty much every situation, that expense will likely be well worth it. And, quite frankly, this board is aimed at enthusiasts and power-users… those that want a middle-of-the-road PC performance (pretty much no-one in the world) won’t see the big benefits that this board brings to the table. g

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Summary

This motherboard presents the perfect option for those who want a machine that can handle whatever is thrown at it effortlessly.

ManufacturerDistr ibuter :

Onl ine:

AsusAsuswww.asus.com

Tech Specs:

Z97 chipsetDual intelligent processorsDual LAN portsWi-Fi GO!Max 32GB RAM supported10 USB 3.0 portsSATA 10Gb/s

••••• ••

Pros

•••••

Great performerAutomatic tweakingVery stable

Cons

•••••

Expensive

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More juice for almost everything…Power

AAt the heart of certain Romoss products is eUSB technology, a system that allows the device to intelligently determine the correct

voltage for whatever needs to be recharged. And when you’re in urgent need of power, you may well thank the gods of technology for that idea, because it is part of what makes using the powerful Romoss eUSB Edge 52 so simple and effective.

This large external battery is compatible with a wide array of devices, including things like notebook computers, music players, smartphones, GPS devices, tablets, music players and handheld gaming devices… and pretty much anything else that can be recharged via a USB cable, or using one of the 15 included charging tips (which are used with the two included USB cables). That means that, as long as you keep the battery charged, you need never be stuck without a powered device again.

The battery at the heart of the Edge 52 is a massive 14 000mAh lithium-polymer battery, which carries a massive amount of recharging potential. It will dutifully provide power to up to three products at a time (depending on connectors, of course) and manages to provide a lot of juice when needed.

When it comes to notebook charging, the eUSB cable really shines, as it automatically detects what the device requires in terms of voltage. On a side note, the included cables handle 18V to 20V… there is a lower voltage cable available, but it needs to be bought separately.

The Edge 52 is very portable, fitting easily into most laptop bags and similar carriers. It features a handy LCD display that lets you know just how much power the battery still holds, and is recharged using a simple wall-socket charging system. It also has a power switch and auto-off function, which will help preserve stored charge when not in use. And it has a low battery alarm,

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Power to let you know when it needs a recharge (which takes around three hours for a full dose).

On top of all of that, Romoss have built in numerous protection systems, making the Edge 52 an extremely safe external battery option. These include over current protection, temperature protection, overload protection, overpower protection, overvoltage protection and short circuit protection.

In a nutshell, the Romoss eUSB Edge 52 is a massively useful device that makes a lot of sense in our modern, technologically-driven society. Sure, if you really need to unplug and get away from it all, it won’t serve you, but who really has the time for that? Instead, this reliable and safe device delivers the right kind of power exactly when you need it… and who knows how many problems (if not disasters) that can help avert. Every mobile device owner should have something like this. g

Score

97

Summary

A great, safe external battery solution – because you never know when you may need more power!


Onl ine:

RomossSyntechwww.syntech.co.za

Tech Specs:

14 000mAh batteryeUSBMultiple device charging15 charging tips3 hour charge time

••••• ••

Pros

•••••

Very versatileLots of powerVery safe

Cons

•••••

Fairly big for every day portability

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63

RRazer may be branching out into a few new directions with product offerings that are aimed at mainstream users, rather than their

traditional gamer-oriented focus, but that doesn’t mean that they are leaving gamers behind. With such strong roots in the gaming community, and with a really solid reputation built, Razer are still going to be producing the kinds of peripherals and devices that gamers love to use.

One of the areas in which Razer has performed admirably in the past is in the creation of keyboards, and the Blackwidow Ultimate Gaming Keyboard is no different. It’s not the fanciest keyboard we’ve seen from Razer – it doesn’t feature touch screens and the like – but it’s certainly effective and dependable.

The Blackwidow Ultimate is something of a stripped-down gaming peripheral. It offers everything a gamer would need, but may be a little short on what they

would want. With ten on-the-fly-programmable profiles, it certainly does allow for some variety, particularly for those who play many genres and are pedantic about their key-configurations. But, on the downside, it only offers five macro keys. These are also on-the-fly-programmable and, quite honestly, for most gamers five would be enough. But some – particularly MMO players – may want more, and with other keyboards offering a dozen or more macro options, the Blackwidow ultimate may be a little short on appeal.

The keys themselves, though, are rather nice. Aside from making quite the racket when pressed, they feature an optimised gaming matrix for optimal anti-ghosting, and offer a great feel and response due to their mechanical nature. Optimised for a force of 50g, and with a 2mm actuation distance, they really feel very quick. In addition, they spring back rapidly, too, which can give one the edge… if the appropriate finger speed is also present.

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The Blackwidow presents very little in terms of bells and whistles. It has easy-access multimedia keys, as well as audio jacks and a USB pass-through jack. The keys are also backlit and offer five levels of lighting.

And, of course, there is the Razer aesthetic worked into the product. It’s a good looking keyboard, and the keys are all marked with the unusual font that Razer uses with their keyboards. These indications are clear, and the keys are well spaced, so pressing the wrong key is a little less likely.

With all that said, one cannot help but wonder about whether the Blackwidow Ultimate is worth the added cost of having a Razer logo tastefully applied to its undersized wrist rest. Sure, it makes use of Razer software and is, when all is said and done, a rather decent input device. But it doesn’t do much to set itself apart from hundreds of other rather nice keyboards from numerous other manufacturers.g

Keeping things clean…Sleek

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Score

76

Summary

It’s not the fanciest Razer keyboard around, but the Blackwidow Ultimate gets the job done.


Onl ine:

RazerCorexwww.corex.co.za

Tech Specs:

Full keyboard10 profiles5 macro keysBacklitMechanical keysAudio portsUSB port

••••• ••

Pros

•••••

Not clutteredGreat keysGood looks

Cons

•••••

Too simple?

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LLast month we featured MSI’s Z87M Gaming motherboard, aimed specifically at those that prefer their PCs powered

by Intel processors. This time, we take a look at the AMD alternative, the A88XM Gaming motherboard. It does raise something of an interesting observation, because the only real difference between the two boards stems from the fact that they use different chipsets; the Intel Z87 and AMD A88X chipsets, respectively. One could wax lyrical about the benefits of a consolidated system, which would reduce costs across the board, from manufacturing to packaging. On the other hand, an argument could easily be made for the benefits that consumers get from having more than one choice when it comes to processors, and about how monopolisation of markets can, in the long run, be a really bad thing. However, this is a product review, so let’s ignore all the high-minded stuff and get down to brass tacks.

MSI, as a component manufacturer, has consistently proven that they bring great products to market, and this particular motherboard is no different. It features the bells and whistles expected from a component in their Gaming range and, as the name would imply, many of these are slanted towards actual improvement of gaming performance. Like the Killer E2200 Game Networking system that comes on-board. This system prioritises gaming traffic over other network activity, leading to less lag and potentially better performance. Potentially, because if you suck at games no hardware will save you.

And, as would be expected from any MSI product, it makes use of MSI’s OC Genie 4 software, which allows for relatively safe and definitely quick overclocking by way of an extremely intuitive and friendly application.

It also benefits from Military Class 4 components, as well as on-board audio that is extremely good. This latter aspect is largely thanks to the combination of a Sound Blaster Cinema system (to take care of the surround sound) as well as Audio Boost circuitry and gold plated audio ports.

The A88XM Gaming is well supplied with ports, including eight USB 2.0 and six USB 3.0 ports. And, of course, it is aesthetically pleasing, too, for those that have a windowed PC case. The board is finished with the characteristic dragon design that MSI uses to identify its gaming range; these are picked out in bright red, which stands in perfect contrast against the dark colours that dominate the board.

It all comes down to performance, though, and in this area the A88XM is fantastic. It is reliable and responsive, and would serve as a great backbone for any AMD-based PC system. It offers other extras like multiple GPU support, which makes is a great option for gamers who want to build or upgrade an AMD rig. g

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Only the chipset is different

Score

90

Summary

A dependable option for those who want to build or upgrade an AMD-based gaming rig.


Onl ine:

MSICorexwww.corex.co.za

Tech Specs:

AMD A88X chipset8 USB 2.0 ports6 USB 3.0 ports8 SATA 6Gb/s ports4 RAM slotsOC Genie 4 compatible

••••• ••

Pros

•••••

Great performerStableGood extras

Cons

•••••

Other boards offer more USB 3.0 support

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…that’s an earful. Mouthful…

LLast month we took a good look at Razer’s Kraken Forged Edition headset and, quite frankly, we were a little under-whelmed. While we expected

a great level of audio performance from them, they simply were too light in the bass department.

So it was with a good degree of trepidation that we plugged in Razer’s mainstream attempt, the Kraken E-Panda Hooligan Edition (subtitled Analog Music & Gaming Headphones, because Razer like long names). And it was with great pleasure that we discovered that the performance of the Hooligan edition far outstrips that of the Forged. So much so that you really don’t mind the silly pandas on the side of the ear-cups.

In a break from Razer’s traditional black and green finishes (sometimes punctuated by a bit of metal) the Hooligans take on a far more “blingy” look, with black finishes accented by brushed gold (and pandas). They certainly do look the part of serious personal audio, with generously padded round over-ear cups and a thick, well-padded headband emblazoned with a bold “HOOLIGAN” in gold (in case you forget).

So they might look a little louder than some would like, but when it comes to headphones, performance is what really matters… and in that field the Hooligans are indeed loud. Loud, full-bodied audio is the order of the day with these headphones. Yes, they are

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…that’s an earful. Mouthful…

“only” stereo headphones, but that’s perfect for their intended uses – music and gaming. Say what you like, but stereo is still a decent way to experience in-game audio.

The Hooligans are, naturally, compatible with anything that uses a 3.5mm jack for audio (and has a volume control, because like the Forged Edition, there is no in-line or on-ear control to be found here). The design is also foldable, for easier transportation, but the rotation on the ear-cups is still very limited, which is not a great selling point.

That said, this headset proves to be fairly comfortable, even after long sessions, and the 40mm neodymium drivers really do an impressive job of delivering great sound across the full audio spectrum.

With this product, Razer demonstrates that they have a solid grasp of what the mainstream market is after: good quality, good looks, and an identifiable license to tie it all to. How that will sit with gamers is another question entirely. Sure, there are those out there that will bridge the gap and use the Hooligans for everything, but the more serious gamers may want a more serious “gaming” headset. Still, aside from the pandas, it’s difficult to fault the Hooligans. They could have used a few added features, but in terms of audio performance, they really are excellent. g

by W

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Score

87

Summary

They’re a bit ‘‘blingy’’, but not too overstated – and the audio quality is great.


Onl ine:

RazerCorexwww.corex.xo.za

Tech Specs:

40mm Neodymium drivers3.5mm jackExtension cableStereoFoldableOver-ear cups

••••• ••

Pros

•••••

Good soundVery comfortable

Cons

•••••

No controlsPandas

69

OOne of the areas Razer is moving into is the field of in-ear headphones. One of their initial entrants into the market is the Hammerhead Pro headset

and, man oh man, do they have a great product here. In-ear headsets are generally notable for their lack of

bass, but the Hammerhead Pros deliver superb sound across the whole sound spectrum; crisp and clear, there is nothing disappointing about the audio that this device delivers. And even at blisteringly loud volume levels, the audio is sublime.

They’re quite large for in-ear headphones, but interchangeable ear-pieces take care of comfort. In addition, a microphone built into the cable means they work with mobile phones, and a special connector opens the microphone up for use with things like computers, too.

The Hammerhead Pro headset features great looks, but the really remarkable thing here is just how good the audio quality from these diminutive headphones is. Well done, Razer!. g

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Even though they’re actually tiny…

Huge!

Score

98

Summary

These in-ear headphones from Razer are among the best we have ever seen!


Onl ine:

RazerCorexwww.corex.co.za

Tech Specs:

Passive noise cancellationEnhanced bass9mm Neodymium driversOmnidirectional microphoneInterchangeable ear-pieces

••••• ••

Pros

•••••

Incredible soundVersatileComfortable

Cons

•••••

A lttle big...

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Huge!

DDespite its name, Romoss’ Sailing 3 external battery is not strictly meant for use on boats (although it will work there, too).

This 7 800mAh external battery is a pocket-sized powerhouse that will provide extra power for any device that needs 5V DC to charge; that means that smartphones, tablets, music players and numerous other devices can make use of this easy-to-use power source.

Featuring an LCD power display, the Sailing 3 has options for normal and rapid charging (via two different USB ports) and has a built-in, intelligent sleep mode that helps preserve charge.

With easy charging via USB (either from a computer or a DC USB charging adaptor) the Sailing 3 is super-easy to use. Oh, and it has a handy LED flashlight built in, in case you get stuck in the dark and need to find the right charging cable. All in all, a handy, very portable external power solution! g

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A handy solution to dead batteries…

Score

92

Summary

Very versatile and portable, the easy to use Sailing 3 is a great external battery option.


Onl ine:

RomossSyntechwww.syntech.co.za

Tech Specs:

7 800mAh battery5V DC device compatibleUSB outputRapid charge functionLCD flashlightLED indicatorIntelligent Sleep Mode

••••• ••

Pros

•••••

Pocket sizedVery powerful batteryEasy to use

Cons

•••••

Requires USB charging cable

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MMotherboards are certainly not all created equal, and the PC systems they get employed in are even more varied. Asus

proves that they understand this fact by releasing a wide variety of motherboard models, including ones that are armoured against the most extreme conditions… literally.

The Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 motherboard is not the first one we’ve seen from Asus that looks like it would do well in a war, but it certainly is more impressive than earlier models. But the question of why a motherboard would need this kind of external plating applied to it when it is meant to be safely encased in a PC box cannot help but be asked.

The protection given to this board is only partially physical; that part is taken up by a reinforced back-plate that prevents circuit and general board damage that could possibly be caused by heavy components, like some of the top-of-the-range graphics cards out there. This “TUF Fortifier” also includes a heat sink, for extra cooling at the back of the board – an area that traditionally can generate heat problems.

That also leads to another area in which this board is protected; in terms of heat dissipation, it does a great job. That’s because the entire plate on the “top” of the board is designed to get rid of unwanted high temperatures. The Thermal Armor system also uses dual fans for increased cooling, which feature a reverse function to blow dust away from the heat-sinks. Adjustable flow valves also help in water-cooling systems.

Further thermal control comes from adjustable fan speeds, and fitting a compatible Asus graphics card will allow the board to monitor that, too, and allow the user to adjust all fans from a handy single location.

The third level of protection that the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 features is against every PC enthusiast’s worst enemy: dust. The back I/O ports, as well as critical internal connectors, expansion slots and memory slots are all protected, either with removable shields or filter systems. This limits the harmful build-up of dust over time, making the board a longer lasting component, too.

Quite simply, this board is there to protect the investment you make in your PC. This is aided, and performance is boosted, by top class components and built in systems like electro-static discharge protection.

The board is also well-supplied with ports, including the full range of audio ports, eight USB 3.0 ports and eight USB 2.0 ports, to name but a few.

If you’re after a motherboard that will perform well under all kinds of strain and be resistant to the common types of damage that can negatively affect PC performance, you really cannot go wrong with the rather remarkable Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1. g

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A board that can take a beating…

Score

98

Summary

With high end components and numerous protective systems built in, this board is a truly tough competitor.


Onl ine:

AsusAsuswww.asus.com

Tech Specs:

Max 32GB RAM supportedZ97 Chipset6 SATA 6Gb/s ports8 USB 3.0 ports8 USB 2.0 ports8 channel audioTUF components

•••••••

Pros

•••••

Very durableGreat protection systemsExcellent performer

Cons

•••••

Quality comes at a price

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as Nails!

73

There is an activity that used to be commonly

performed and enjoyed by people the world over. But, as time progresses, less and less people are doing it. It’s called thinking. And it is becoming a fringe hobby, rather than something that people do every day.

I cannot abide the fact that I am forced to live in a world in which intellectualism has become a dirty word. It’s mind-numbingly disturbing when you realise just how many thick people there are out there, and the thickness is spreading like a virus. It’s laziness, really; people would rather be spoon fed everything, than apply a modicum of their dwindling grey matter to a wide variety of subjects. That’s why

internet hoaxes work so damned well, and the intelligent people that start them must be laughing their arses off at the morons who take the bait.

So why am I heading down this particular path of venom and bile (again)? Well, not too long ago, I saw a comment stream for a review, in which one MENSA award candidate was arguing with the reviewer. See, the reviewer stated that he liked a game, and then gave it a high score. Captain Brain-Power had a little shit-attack because he thought that the game was crap. How dare the reviewer say that a bad game was good?

The reviewer patiently tried to point out that this statement was based on his personal

opinion, which is when the brain-trust recipient threw out a statement: reviews are not supposed to be opinion, they are supposed to be fact. Well, knock me down with a feather! So that’s what I have been doing wrong all these years!

Then the Einstein-clone went on to muse about why the game had a high score. The reviewer pointed out that the reasons for the score were outlined in the review text, to which the… I am running out of sarcastic names here… pointed out that he hadn’t read the review. He had just looked at the score and made a purchasing decision on that. And games are expensive.

Yes, games are expensive, so how about doing a little work for

yourself instead of basing an expensive decision on a review score? First off, look up the meaning of review (in a dictionary, retard) and realise that they are, indeed meant to be opinions based on personal experience and taste. Then, read the review. We don’t put all those words down because they look funky on a page – they actually give insight. Scores are the last thing you should be looking at. The only reason why people use them is because lazy morons like you can’t actually seem to think without the least possible information being supplied to you. If you think at all.

So, do us all a favour. Get a clue. Grow a brain. Apply some thought. And stop believing everything you see. g

g amec c a6074

The New Dirty Word

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by Ramjet

The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of 1337 Media or Gamecca Magazine.

Courtesy of Megarom

TO ENTER:Send an email to [email protected] us the name of the main character in Watch_Dogs.Insert “Watch_Dogs” in the mail’s subject lineSubscribe to www.gameccamag.comBecome a fan on Gamecca’s Facebook Page

Competition closes 30 June 2014. Gamecca subscribers only. South African residents only. Prizes may not be exchanged for cash. Competition closed to employees (& employee’s family) of 1337 Media CC and Megarom.

The judges’ decision is final.

competition • competition • competition • competition • competition • competition •

WIN a Watch_Dogs Hamper!

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Gamecca Magazine June 2014

Documents

Transcript of Gamecca Magazine June 2014