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Mike Bassett: Interim Manager Needs your help

Chris Hare

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Nov 20, 2014

Mike Bassett: Interim Manager Needs your help

Mike Bassett is back, and Steve Barron the director need you to make the new film a reality. It won’t happen without you, so get involved now!, with less than 23 hours to go for the Kickstarter it needs all our help.

Pre-buy the movie for just £15, or any of the other rewards, to make the new film a reality! Without you, there won’t be a sequel. So get involved now, even £1 will get us closer to our target!

See the teaser trailer for the project below. Remember, the film won’t happen without your help. We will not actually take any money until, and unless, the project is fully funded, so don’t hold back!

Played by Ricky Tomlinson (The Royle Family, Brookside), Mike Bassett entered every football fan’s consciousness in 2001 as Martin Bashir documented his exploits as England manager. His hilarious mixture of passion and ineptitude has made Bassett a byword for all that is right and wrong about English football.

When nobody else could or would take the England manager job over a decade ago, Bassett somehow led them to the semi-finals of the World Cup where they were finally beaten by Brazil (but equalled their best performance since winning the ’66 World Cup). Since then however, Mike Bassett has fallen down the ladder to the lowest of the lower divisions…

Can you help and make this film happen ……….

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor–New Character Skin and more

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Nov 20, 2014

0

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor–New Character Skin and more

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) has today announced the FREE Power of Defiance bundle including the new Lithariel character skin, Challenge Mode and Epic Rune for acclaimed action game, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. The Power of Defiance bundle will be available via a free content update today for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Steam.

With the new character skin, players become Lithariel, the Warrior Commander of the Tribesmen of Nurn, and lead the charge against the Dark Lord Sauron and his troops. They can test their survival skills in the new Test of Defiance Challenge Mode.

The free Power of Defiance bundle includes the following upgrades:
·         Play as Lithariel, daughter of Lady Marwen, Queen of Nurn
·         Test of Defiance Challenge Mode – Players face the ultimate test to their warrior prowess as they defeat Sauron’s Warchiefs without cheating death or relying on the power of the Wraith.
·         Epic Rune – Defiant to the End: Players gain an additional Last Chance to return to the fray in combat.

New Girl: The Complete Third Season out on DVD this week

Andrew Edney

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Nov 20, 2014

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New Girl: The Complete Third Season out on DVD this week and we have a special delete scene to share with you.

The third series of this smash hit sitcom continues to follow five quirky friends, their somewhat interconnected romantic exploits and their often hilariously misguided attempts to find their respective places in the world… Schmidt happens.

This season the gang are poised for some big changes, Nick (Jake Johnson – 21 Jump Street) and Jess’ (Zooey Deschanel – Elf) ‘will-they-won’t-they’ relationship is in full swing, Schmidt (Max Greenfield – Veronica Mars) is dating two different women, Winston (Lamorne Morris) gets a grown-up job and the elusive ‘Coach’ (Damon Wayans Jr – Let’s Be Cops) makes a comeback!

The third season also includes a show-stopping special episode featuring pop icon Prince and sees the return of newly single Cece (Hannah Simone – Oldboy) and Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween) and Rob Reiner (The Wolf of Wall Street) as Jessica’s eccentric parents.

Here is a special deleted scene:

What happens in the loft, stays in the loft as New Girl: The Complete Third Season comes to DVD on 17^th November.

Creative announces the Sound Blaster X7

News
Tech

Andrew Edney

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Nov 19, 2014

0

Creative Technology Ltd have announced the release of the Sound Blaster X7, their most powerful and technologically advanced audio solution to date. Created to provide only the best audio experience for gamers, the Sound Blaster X7 incorporates Creative’s renowned audio processing technologies with the finest audiophile-grade components and specifications, coupled with a whole slew of advanced features to cover all aspects of usage on different platforms.

Designed to connect with a whole range of gaming and entertainment systems, the Sound Blaster X7 functions as an ultra-high-end external Sound Blaster with an impressive 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution 127dB digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and 100W-capable audio amplifier. The result: the clearest, most powerful high-resolution audio experience for games, music and movies.

The Sound Blaster X7 for Captivating and Adrenaline-Pumping Games
Users of the Sound Blaster X7 will gain full access to Creative’s extensive suite of advanced audio enhancement technologies through the built-in SB-Axx1 multi-core DSP that deliver an all-new standard of audio realism for games. This functionality is especially pertinent to capture and reproduce the incredibly detailed audio created alongside the immensely compelling graphics and expansive environments found in today’s popular gaming titles, such as Battlefield 4, Titanfall and Skyrim.

With the Sound Blaster X7’s massive connectivity options, users who game on PCs, laptops, game consoles, tablets, smartphones and even TVs can now enjoy the full benefits of these enhancement technologies. Upgrading to the external Sound Blaster X7 is a breeze – just plug and play!

The Sound Blaster X7 for Mellifluous and Beyond Pristine Music
Today, average users – and even audiophiles – store most of their music on their PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets. The Sound Blaster X7 connects to these devices while boasting the finest components and top-notch specifications that allow users to enjoy ultra-high-resolution music the way it was recorded in the studio.

These components and amplification capabilities allow the Sound Blaster X7 to deliver amazing audio quality even by audiophile standards on passive bookshelf and tower speakers.

Audiophile-grade components, features, and specifications:

· Burr-Brown (PCM1794) 127dB digital-to-analog converter (DAC) supports high-resolution audio playback of HD audio tracks up to 24-bit/192kHz when connected to PC/Mac, including 24-bit/88.2kHz and 24-bit/176.4kHz

· Texas Instruments (TPA6120A2) 600Ω headphone amplifier is capable of driving audiophile-grade headphones, with full and detailed clarity

· High power, high efficiency Texas Instruments Class D amplifier (TPA3116D2) delivers up to 100W power (2 x 50W @ 4Ω)* to passive bookshelf and tower speakers

· Burr-Brown (PCM4220) 123dB analog-to-digital converter (ADC) delivers high quality, low noise analog line-in audio playback and audio recording of up to 24-bit/192kHz

· Nichicon “Fine Gold” capacitors offers rich sound in the bass register and clearer highs

· USB 2.0 Host connectivity allows direct streaming of high quality, lossless audio from Android and iOS devices

· Asynchronous Mode USB Audio greatly reduces jitter and allows accurate high-resolution audio data transfer from the computer

· Swappable op-amps for customisable tonality

· ASIO support allows for reduced latency for a higher resolution audio experience

· Gold-plated audio connectors create precise contact for low signal loss

*100W speaker output requires upgrade to high power adapter (24V 6A).
Supplied power adapter provides up to 2 X 38W @ 4Ω.

The Sound Blaster X7 for Immersive and Explosive Movies
With the advent of high-speed broadband, users have easy access to HD and Ultra HD movies through download sites and streaming solutions such as Netflix. These sites and services have upped the ante of users’ expectations in terms of the visual quality of their entertainment, but they are often let down by subpar audio from inferior sound systems.

The Sound Blaster X7 will bring TV and movie audio to a whole new level of detail and realism. Users can connect the Sound Blaster X7 to their existing sound systems and enjoy the full suite of Sound Blaster processing for real-time audio enhancement. For instance, SBX Crystalizer™ is able to emphasise subtle audio details that were previously unheard, while SBX Bass enhances low frequency audio for an impactful experience, for example, with explosions in fast-paced action movies and shows. SBX Smart Volume on the other hand, intelligently minimises abrupt volume level changes during playback and between commercials.

Users will also be able to enjoy a cinematic audio experience via the Sound Blaster X7’s built-in Dolby Digital decoding technology that delivers powerful 5.1 discrete channels of high-quality surround sound for supported content via their speaker systems.

Ultra High Fidelity Digital Audio Superhighway
The Sound Blaster X7 provides a digital audio superhighway starting right from the original uncompressed audio from the PC/Mac, through a high-speed USB 2.0 digital audio path, to a high-resolution 24-bit/192kHz 127dB DAC, immediately coupled directly to a powerful 100W built-in amplifier. Connect to any high-end passive speaker system that users have yearned for, and savor the deeply stirring music as it comes alive with stunning details!

Extensive Connectivity Options
The Sound Blaster X7 boasts a full range of convenient audio input and output connectivity options that allow it to serve as the ultimate audio upgrade for most sound systems.

Listen from all audio sources:

· Digital High-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity to PC/Mac as an ultra-high-end external Sound Blaster

· Digital USB Host connectivity to select iOS/Android models for direct high quality, lossless audio streaming^

· Optical S/PDIF-Input connectivity to televisions and gaming consoles

· Features wireless Bluetooth 4.1 Low Energy connectivity and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for one-touch Bluetooth pairing. Also supports HD audio codecs such as aptX® Low Latency and AAC for a wireless connection as good as a wired connection, and Creative Multipoint™ for up to two simultaneous Bluetooth connections

· Features an RCA Line-In (Right and Left) option for analog connectivity to other various audio sources

· Features a 3.5mm Mic-In

^ Compatible with:
– iOS devices using Lightning connector (iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, iPad Air, iPad Mini)
– Android devices (Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, Note 2, Note 3; Google Nexus 5, Nexus 7; Sony Xperia Z Ultra; Xiaomi Redmi, Redmi Note, Mi 3; LG G2)

Play to any speaker system and headphones:

· Gold-plated 2-Way binding post terminal connectors for passive bookshelf and tower speakers (bare wires/banana plug connectivity). Comes with a switch for impedance selection

· 5.1 analog connectivity for surround sound

· Optical S/PDIF-Output connectivity

· 1/4″ (6.3mm) headphone out

· 1/8″ (3.5mm) headphone out

Other Great Features

· For additional real-time audio enhancement for music, movies and games, the built-in multi-core SB-Axx1 audio processor allows users to activate Sound Blaster’s intelligent processing capabilities via the SBX Pro Studio™ suite of technologies – all at a touch of a button. It can also be switched off when listening to lossless audio

· With the built-in beamforming CrystalVoice™ microphone array, the Sound Blaster X7 becomes an intelligent speakerphone for crystal clear voice calls when connected to PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets. Users can even record their conversations when connected to a PC/Mac

· CrystalVoice FX allows users to morph their voice into different characters (male, female, orc, alien, elderly, robot, scrappy kid, and more) in games, chats, phone and video calls, and recordings

· Total audio control over Sound Blaster X7 on any platform – PC, Mac, iOS or Android. The Sound Blaster X7 Control Panel for PC/Mac users, while the Sound Blaster Central mobile application for iOS and Android devices gives users full access to customise their audio settings, like a remote control right in the palm of their hand

Pricing and Availability
The Creative Sound Blaster X7, priced at GBP £329.99, will be available in December 2014 via the online store at uk.store.creative.com.

Destiny announces Tumbler Sparrow

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Nov 19, 2014

0

Guardians who purchase and redeem Destiny Expansion Pass or Destiny Expansion I: The Dark Below by 15th January, 2015 will receive the EV-30 Tumbler Sparrow, enabling its riders to drive fast, take flight, and perform a set of mid-air tricks.

Watch the EV-30 Tumbler Sparrow in action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7renQhqEyo

Guardians who have already purchased or will purchase and redeem Destiny Expansion Pass will receive the EV-30 Tumbler Sparrow from the in-game Postmaster at the time of redemption.

Guardians who have already purchased or will purchase and redeem Destiny Expansion I: The Dark Below will receive the EV-30 Tumbler Sparrow from the in-game Postmaster starting on 9th December, 2014.

Review: Dragon Age: Inquisition

Sam Thompson

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Nov 19, 2014

0

If there’s one thing Bioware are known for, it’s depth. Whether it be the usual intense amount of character customisation, the myriad of gameplay content or the relationships between characters in your party, it’s rare to be disappointed. After taking the series in a new direction with the divisive Dragon Age 2, can they please everybody this time around with Inquisition?

Upon starting a new game, you’ll be prompted to either import decisions you may have made on the ‘Dragon Age Keep’ website, or start up a new land with all major decisions from the previous games arbitrarily made for you. After this, its decision time already as you’ll be made to make a fairly important choice regarding your class. With two rogues, two warriors and a mage to choose from, making a decision is difficult, as certain weapon types, armours and skills are restricted by class. Warriors can only wield either a short-handed weapon and shield or a two handed implement of death. Rouges, no matter which variant you opt for, can only equip either daggers (with the possibility of dual wielding them) or a bow; whilst the mages opt for staffs and staves.

If you’re ever a little disheartened by your characters aesthetic customisation in RPG’s of late, be belated no more as Inquisition features more sliders than you could ever wish for! You can create any kind of monstrosity you desire, fairly easily as it turns out, but it’s worth making them look at least vaguely acceptable due to the fact you’ll be staring at them for the best part of 80 hours.

Once you’ve spent an inordinately large amount of time making your (anti)hero look just right, it’s about time to feel overwhelmed and bewildered in the vast sweeping spaces of Inquisition’s open world areas. Starting off ruddy mysteriously, you’re quickly accosted, accused and deemed untrustworthy several times over by various different people, all within five minutes. Fortunately, the people of the realm respect gratuitous violence more than a few sweeping statements; letting you gain a little reputation and respect via helping slaughter a few enemies.

After completing a few main missions, the game opens up in such an immediate way, it’s genuinely daunting. Once you travel to the Hinterlands, you’re given free range of the area, letting you explore as far as you dare push the limits of your slowly accruing levels. It’s around this point you may wish for a little guidance or a few explanations regarding some base mechanics. A couple of useful pointers from me, being that you can fast travel to both the compass and tent-like icons on the map, once you’ve discovered them of course. Another, more fundamental mechanic being that there is no health regeneration outside of combat without using potions, save for a select few skills that rely upon killing enemies. Whilst the party’s health (and your potions) can be restocked at the aforementioned camps, it’s worth keeping an eye on your health at all times. You can revive your teammates if you’re out of medicinal supplies, but they’ll only come back with critical health; with often the best option being to run away like a ‘true hero’ and quickly get to a camp before getting overwhelmed.

Combat itself can be fairly straightforward or rather strategic depending on your use of the tactical view. In normal combat, you can hold R2 to continuously attack with your basic strike, whilst mixing it up with special, stamina/mana attacks you’ve acquired through levelling up. Whilst you can, to an extent, utilise positioning aspects to flank, gain height advantages and generally ‘outwit’ the enemy simply by manoeuvring your character during battle, in some cases (especially on higher difficulties) you’ll want a little more control. A stab at the touch pad zooms out the camera to an overhead view and pauses combat, letting you get your bearings of the situation. Not only can it be easier to see exactly what’s going on, but specific instructions can be given to each and every party member including moving them to specific points, targeting preferred enemies and supporting other members should you see fit. Also adding another layer of control to your squad is a behavioural system nestled in the menus where you can decide whether they should conserve potions etc.

When you’re not either sneaking up on a bandit or getting walloped by a bear, you’ll likely be talking to some NPC or another, especially with there being so much potential dialogue on offer. Aside from the countless quests available, party members and key figures to chat with, lore and background codex entries are dotted about with reckless abandon in every area, rewarding you with slight amounts of XP upon picking them up. The blessed dialogue wheel thankfully returns, along with potentially helpful icons which represent what sort of tone you’ll be taking the conversation towards.

The sheer amount of content cannot be overstated enough; we’re talking Skyrim-esque levels here. The initially confusing ‘War Room’ will eventually allow you to unlock several enormous areas, each packed with quests, collectibles and secrets that’s guaranteed to put a smile on any true RPG fan’s face. In fact I was well over twenty five hours in before receiving the most lavishly satisfying homestead I’ve ever had the privilege to get lost in. Nine potential companions await your decision this time around, including some you may recognise from previous games. The majority of which can also be lost to reasons like betrayal and arguments, so play nice if you want to keep your happy family! An entire crafting system awaits your attention, requiring you to collect schematics and harvest until you’re sick of picking Elfroot. Another nice feature being that for the first time in the series, you can now ride mounts too, varying from the classic ‘horse’ design to horned stallions befitting of such a world. The list of content honestly goes on and on; you’ll constantly be finding new things to see and do, well after you’re tens of hours into the game.

As much as it pains me to say it, there are however some downsides to address. Firstly, equipping both yourself and your party is just plain fiddly. Not only can’t you compare currently equipped gear to the loot you find out in the wild, but when you do, you have to suffer through far too many unnecessary button presses. Combined with the fact you can’t use the D-Pad on any menu, save for cycling teammates, makes one of the most satisfying aspects to an RPG, simply a chore. For example, if you examine a piece of armour, compare it to your equipped character and then decide it might be better off on someone else, whilst switching characters, the cursor will often change to an entirely different piece of armour, further adding confusion.

Another sore point can be the potentially frustrating traversal on some of the maps. Routes between points aren’t often clear, instead giving you the incentive to go for it ‘as the crow flies’. Often leading you towards a non-too steep mountain, there are often areas that look like goat paths that should be climbable, but aren’t. Whereas other times, you’ll be able to put that mountaineering course to good effect as you scale almost sheer cliff faces.

Gameplay aside, the presentation can vary wildly between truly impressive and a little meagre. The use of the Frostbite 3 engine brings environments to life with vivid colours and visually arresting expanses. Whereas at the other end of the spectrum, the character models and facial details seem lacking and look distinctly as though they belong on the PS3. The sound quality is consistently impressive however, with abundant touches such as caves altering the shaping of sounds and again, that’s not to mention the frankly ridiculous levels of spoken dialogue in the game.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is by far and away, one of the most comprehensive RPG’s of late, stacked with content, customisation and enough lore to fill a library; making it one for fans of the series to savour. For those not so well versed in either the genre or the backstory, prepare to encounter a steep learning curve. Sticking with it is highly recommended however, as aside from a few annoyances, there’s no better place to spend more than a few weekends, than in the company of Thedas and all its inhabitants.

Welcome to Titanfall Deluxe Edition

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Nov 19, 2014

0

Respawn Entertainment today has revealed the Deluxe Edition for their first-person shooter Titanfall. Delivering the complete Titanfall experience, the Titanfall Deluxe Edition includes the award-winning game featuring agile pilots and massive titans battling it out in fast-paced future warfare. In addition to the base game, players will also receive all three Titanfall DLC packs including Expedition, Frontier’s Edge and IMC Rising, adding nine maps designed to allow fans to continue the fight on the edge of the frontier.

Released in March, Titanfall has quickly become the best-selling new IP for the Xbox One. Since then Respawn have added a wealth of post-release content including the introduction of new game modes including co-op play, titan customisation, the Black Market, ranked play and more. All this great content combined in one package means there has never been a better time to feel the rush of Titanfall and the thrill of dropping your first titan on the battlefield.

Upon its release, Titanfall seized the attention of gamers around the world with its exhilarating first-person action gameplay centered on the dynamic between elite assault pilots and agile, heavily-armored, 24-foot titans. Praised by Game Informer as “a brave new vision of the future of multiplayer games“, the action in Titanfall is rapid and varied – featuring parkour-style wall running, massive double jumps and the ability to control titans. The freedom to shift back and forth between pilot and titan allows players to change tactics on the fly, attacking or escaping depending on the situation and extending the action vertically to new heights.

The Titanfall Deluxe Edition is available now digitally on Origin for PC and starting next week digitally for the Xbox One

Review: Far Cry 4

phillvine

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Nov 19, 2014

2

There’s really only one place to start with Far Cry. The villain. Last time we got the classic ‘Definition of Insanity’ line. This time we get a strangely polite, well dressed and slightly camp villain by the name of Pagan Min – amazingly voiced by Troy Baker. Take a look at him and his lovely shoes in this trailer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOvfq_4XSko

There’s a brief introduction to stealth, how wildlife can be used and then a shoot out before you see the world map in all its open world glory. As with previous instalments your first job will be to climb towers and hijack the radio transmitter at the top to remove a section of the fog and add objectives and points of interest to the area. You’ll then have strongholds to capture for a place to rest your head, purchase upgrades from and fast travel to.

For me the strongholds epitomize the gameplay of Far Cry. Stealth is encouraged, and if you find an area challenging is often your best choice. But if you are detected it isn’t a fail. You just carry on with ‘plan B’ and get the job done using whatever you want. Or maybe you just start with plan B. It doesn’t matter and Far Cry won’t punish you for your choices.

There are massive underground caverns and places of interest to explore. Collectable chests, posters and masks. Races, hunting missions, assassinations, revenge missions and hostage encounters populate the map with genuine variety. There’s no way I’m even going to try and list everything to do but there’s easily enough to do outside of the campaign for even the most hardcore completionist. More importantly there is variation. And I don’t mean just a set of races for each vehicle, I mean proper variation. Rather than just having 100 of each objective Far Cry 4 offers you enough to do that you rarely do the same thing twice in a row – unless you want to of course.

The size and scale of Kyrat is just ridiculous and traversing that map is more fun than ever. There are loads of vehicles to find from trucks to boats to microlights. I would say that changing the ridiculous controls is a good idea though. You can now shoot while driving and the control system uses the left thumbstick to accelerate, break/reverse and steer. Try a three point turn with this system and things become farcical almost instantly. Change to classic ‘L2’/’R2’ and take the accuracy hit when shooting. You can also use ‘autodrive’ which will keep your car moving along the current road so you can concentrate on combat.

Random encounters also keep your time in Kyrat from becoming boring. It’s rare that you will make your way to an objective without something unexpected happening. There are rebels to free, skirmishes to fight and strongholds to defend. Successful completion provides you with Karma XP that eventual levels your Karma level and provides rewards. The first few provide 25% discounts on certain items at shops so they’re not to be missed. It really helps make Kyrat feel like a fully fledged open world and not just a huge map with loads of objectives. They’re fun and they don’t take long so stopping off and completing them on your travels doesn’t become a chore.

In keeping with the scale of the world map is Kyrat’s armoury. After a bit of hunting you can carry one sidearm and three of any other gun. There’s still the inevitable battle over what exactly you should take with you on your journey but it’s because of too much choice rather than a total lack of choice. Pistols, grenades, assault rifles, snipers, shotguns and, of course, the recurve bow all make an appearance. Working to unlock isn’t necessarily a case of just playing the main missions either as some require you to complete other tasks before you can buy them. Many of them also have upgradable parts that can make all the difference but what really matter are the signature guns. Sitting in a section of their own signature guns are uniquely modified in some way or sometimes even unique guns. For example the standard AK47 you can buy cannot be modified. But you can buy a signature AK that comes with a red dot sight, suppressor, extended mags and a damage boost. They cleverly give you something to look forward to but still allow you to use the standard version of the guns early game.

The gun play is inevitably a joy. Missed bullets hitting the ground behind targets adds a layer of realism to fire fights. Heavy weapons feel appropriately chunky while getting a headshot with a suppressed pistol makes you feel like 007 just for a second. Fighting Kyrat’s wildlife however isn’t so fun. If you’ve just been shot and are taking damage the last thing you need is to be ambushed by wolves or an eagle. Time after time I found myself backing away from a group of animals reloading, killing one and having to reload again all the time being hit in the face by other animals with very little I could do. My advice is simple, take a shotgun for wildlife. Eagles will just do damage to you instantly – and disable you as you stand there taking damage with an eagle stuck to your face. I hate the eagles so much. They’re a frustrating and pointless addition that just left me annoyed.

Far Cry 4 is an amazing open world adventure that gives you a massive amount of content, amazing mechanics and plenty of polish. It looks and sounds amazing on every level, all the time. It looks smooth and ‘airbrushed’ and the textures on character’s faces are disturbingly high quality at times. Voice acting and weapons sounds are some of the best I’ve ever heard and make Far Cry 4 feel like a top quality product.

Even the co-op isn’t bad and can make for some hilarious Far Cry style moments. But it isn’t enough for me to consider Far Cry a co-op game and playing without friends isn’t as fun. The campaign is a little bit underused but does have the addition of choice. I enjoyed the moral ambiguity of decisions but in an open world game it’s annoying that you can’t complete everything in a single playthrough. Honestly there’s just that much freedom and that many things to do it just doesn’t matter.

Kyrat is colossal and provides you with hour after hour of varied gameplay. Far Cry 4 is a great entry to the franchise that bolsters the successes of Far Cry 3 and also adds a good selection of new features. Far Cry keeps moving forwards without losing sight of what makes it great. Far Cry 4 is easily one of the best games I’ve played in 2014.

Review: LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

phillvine

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Nov 19, 2014

0

I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for LEGO games. I’m never quite sure if it stems from my childhood experiences or a need to just play a game that’s shamelessly good fun. Although the LEGO I had was nowhere near as cool as the modern stuff. Either way I don’t think I’ve played a LEGO game that I didn’t enjoy at least on some level.

It’s been particularly great for fans of comic books and superheroes of late too. We’ve seen just about every marvel character take their blocky primary coloured form as LEGO characters in Marvel Superheroes and now the franchise moves back to Batman, for the 3rd time. The DC universe has a huge wealth of characters and stories to draw from and LEGO always seems to find the balance between original comic characters and modern approaches so that nobody is alienated. I was a little disappointed at the occasional portrayal of Robin as the sort of snivelling cretin that those ignorant of the Batman franchise tend to imagine him but he does provide the familiar LEGO brand of comic relief.

Soon I was jumping, fighting and solving puzzles in the usual way. Switching costumes on the fly works quickly efficiently and doesn’t leave you sitting around waiting like Marvel Superheroes did. Puzzles are the usual affair and on your first playthrough levels are littered with items, objects and areas that you can’t access. It’s business as usual then for LEGO. Play the game through collecting studs to purchase characters and find those secret bricks to unlock powerful game changing modifiers and secrets. Then once you’ve got the abilities you need, play levels again to find all the secrets. If you’ve played LEGO before you know what you’re getting into here. I particularly enjoyed Adam West as ‘LEGO guy in peril’ that needs rescuing on certain levels.

Once the game opens up after the first couple of hours it becomes obvious just how much there is to do. Those who’ve played a LEGO game before will know what to expect, those who haven’t may be in for a shock – although I can’t imagine anyone hasn’t played even one LEGO game by now. Beyond Gotham does not disappoint on the amount of content.

Jumping, attacking and building are unsurprisingly still the cornerstones of LEGO and nothing has changed for Batman’s third outing. The controls are the same tried and tested formula that’s been around since the early days. Even the puzzles, platforming and enemy encounters are not likely to surprise anyone who’s played a LEGO game before. The old when in doubt smash everything tactic is just as relevant as before and will often see you through an area, even if it’s initially unclear how.

Graphically Beyond Gotham is everything we’ve come to expect from the franchise. The smooth shiny plastic characters look brilliantly LEGO-ey as usual. Again it’s exactly what fans will expect. The areas and environmental features that aren’t LEGO are by far the worst looking elements as usual but the characters that take centre stage pull the game through.

Voice acting is solid and attempts to mimic the 90’s era of films and TV. In my opinion it’s difficult to say what Batman should sound like, especially as I’m a fan of the comics. But rest assured that this isn’t the strange, extremely camp, 60’s Batman – although that does get a few jokes and nods. Troy Baker leads the great line-up of voice actors as Batman and all the conversations and interactions throughout the game are funny and natural sounding.

The problem with Beyond Gotham is purely that it is a LEGO game following a formula that hasn’t changed all that significantly since LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game all the way back in 2005. True the worlds are much, much larger. Characters now speak and have allowed for the cutesy tongue-in-cheek humour that we all love. And you can guarantee that you will not want for more collectables in a LEGO title. But at it’s heart the game is using ideals from a game released almost a decade ago.

And the solution for LEGO was franchise tie-ins. Which worked well. But there will come a time when the tie-in isn’t enough. That time is quickly approaching. For the first time I found myself bored by the same puzzles, although in Beyond Gotham they are particularly easy. The combat was never much more than a bit of fun to break up the pacing between platforming but it’s starting to get old now. The novelty of LEGO DC characters is great for a comic book geek like myself but I doubt that others will find much to do in LEGO that they haven’t done before. Even for DC fans the character roster, impressive though it is at 150, is getting to the point where it’s not enough to carry the game.

With overly simple puzzles and badly aging mechanics LEGO is starting to lose it a little. For the first time I was bored at times. I enjoyed finding the collectables and unlocking new characters still gave me that moment of nostalgia. But once that’s worn off the cracks are all that remains. We’ve finally got to the point where we need change – and honestly we’re probably long past that point. More complicated combat or difficult puzzles seem like an option but there’s the risk of alienating younger gamers. I’m not sure what the answer is but franchise tie-ins are no longer enough. The LEGO game itself, beyond the latest franchise skin, needs some changes if the LEGO games are going to live on much longer.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris Gone Gold

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Nov 19, 2014

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Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris Gone Gold

Back in 2010 when the original, Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light was released it offered gamers a co-op adventure that took Lara far beyond the boundaries of a traditional Tomb Raider game. The title was our first downloadable game, first co-operative experience, and first arcade offering. This brand new way to play as the iconic adventurer was a success, with Guardian of Light becoming a hit with both critics and fans.

Since the release of the highly successful Tomb Raider reboot in 2013 we’ve been able to spend time working on one of the games we get most frequently asked for, a sequel to Lara Croft and Guardian of Light.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris rekindles the sense of fun fueled co-op adventure. Pushing boundaries even further, the title offers one to four-player co-op, new weapons, upgrades, and power ups, and a larger world ripe with exploration, puzzles, traversal, and arcade inspired combat. It represents our opportunity to develop a game that places multiplayer fun with your friends at the heart of a AAA next generation digital game.

The team at Crystal worked passionately to put the very best game we could in your hands and we are very proud to share our work with you.

You’ll be able to play Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris December 9th on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

Parrot Announces Bebop Drone Pricing And Availability

Jim McCarthy

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Nov 19, 2014

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Parrot announced the availability and pricing for the Bebop drone in the US. Read on for details.

Parrot announced the availability and pricing for the Bebop drone in the US. The Bebop is the newest take on drones from Parrot, and sports a full 1080p HD camera with 3-axis digital stabilization. Smaller than the AR Drone 2.0, it should be easier to repair and has upgraded networking and camera electronics on-board. Parrot also is releasing a revised Free Flight app, FreeFlight 3.0. MSRP Stateside is $499 for the drone, $899 for the drone and Skycontroller combination. You will be able to purchase the Bebop from Best Buy and Apple stores in the US in December 2014.

OK, first of all, enjoy the launch video:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUpmPUcnuBY%5D

Now, here is the press release:

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Parrot, expert and pioneer in consumer drones, unveils the final version of Bebop Drone, a third-generation quadricopter designed for leisure.

Equipped with a Full HD 14 megapixel camera stabilized on a 3-axis framework, the Parrot Bebop Drone takes video and pictures of the world in a 180° field with remarkable image quality.

A powerful aerial achievement, it combines numerous sensors that give the Bebop Drone impressive stability and easy-to-use piloting via Wi-Fi with a smartphone or a tablet.

Parrot Bebop Drone is also compatible with a Wi-Fi extender, the Parrot Skycontroller, which can be used to pilot Bebop and provides an extended flight range.

Whether you are interested in the sole pleasure of flying, capturing amazing images of landscapes or filming sport performances, the Parrot Bebop Drone offers a unique perspective of the world…

The flying action camera!

Parrot Bebop Drone is equipped with a 14 megapixels “fisheye-lens” front-facing camera that records video in Full HD (1080p x 1920p).

Exclusively developed for the Bebop, it streams live an immersive view of the flight on the screen of the piloting smartphone or tablet.

The pilot can control the angle of the camera simply with their thumb, through the piloting app, to transition the angle of the view on an 180° angle. Then, it can film or take pictures vertically.

For remarkable, stable images without distortion, the Parrot Bebop Drone integrates ingenious mechanical and digital systems:

Four shock absorbers that cushion engine vibrations
Algorithms for an exclusive 3-axis image stabilization. The angle of the view remains fixed, without distortion, regardless of the inclination of the drone and movement caused by turbulence
Images are digitally treated thanks to the Parrot P7 Dual core processor, its graphics processing unit (GPU) and a proprietary Image Signal Processor
In addition, the pilot or “videographer ” can access several image settings from the application to achieve sharper results: format (16:9, 4:3, fisheye), white balance, saturation, etc.

Landscapes are captured on the 8GB flash memory of the Parrot Bebop Drone. Videos and photos can then be transferred onto the piloting device or a computer.

Ultra stable, robust, for high sensation flights

Light (390g without its hull, 410g with its hull) and easy to pilot, the Parrot Bebop Drone is a high-performance drone, regardless of indoor or outdoor flights.

The Parrot Bebop Drone is equipped with two biband Wi-Fi antennas and can operate in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies in MIMO (Multiple Inputs Multiple Outputs) format. Depending on network interference, the pilot can select the frequency of his choice and benefit from a perfectly stable Bebop Drone/smartphone connection for 250m.

FreeFlight 3.0: The ultra-intuitive application

The Parrot Bebop Drone comes with a free piloting application, FreeFlight 3.0, for iOS, Android and Windows Phone smartphones and tablets.

The ergonomics of the application have been developed to offer ease-of-use and allows the pilot to focus on the pleasure of flying.

On the welcome screen, the pilot accesses the ground functionalities: Piloting, photos/videos, flight plan, Cloud ‘Pilot Academy’.

Touch the ‘take off’ button and the Parrot Bebop Drone starts its engines, takes off, stabilizes and awaits the pilot’s instructions.

The left thumb activates a virtual joystick that enables control of the drone’s altitude as well as its rotation. Tilting the smartphone/tablet indicates the direction: forward, backward, left, right.

The right thumb controls the angle of tilt of the front camera while flying.

If needed, pressing the ‘Return Home’ button makes the Bebop Drone automatically come back to its take-off position, guided by GPS.

When the ‘landing’ button is touched, the Parrot Bebop Drone automatically lands smoothly.

In addition to high speed flights and precise maneuvers, expert pilots and beginners can master acrobatic tricks in a flash! By pressing the app interface, the Bebop Drone will perform a loop.

Data gathered during a flight (duration, position, etc.) can be viewed in 3D on the Pilot Academy map and shared with the community of pilots.

Fly Further and Higher with Bebop Drone Skycontroller

The Bebop Drone Skycontroller, an RC-like remote control equipped with a Wi-Fi amplifier, provides an even more powerful Wi-Fi connection.

The piloting smartphone or tablet is fixed on the control dock and streams what the Bebop Drone is seeing on its screen.

Thanks to its amplified Wi-Fi radio and its four antennas, the Parrot Skycontroller extends the Wi-Fi range up to 2km.

The pilot takes the helm of the drone via two hand controllers equipped with joysticks. Two ministicks are positioned on each side of the handles to control the angle of the camera and browse within the menus.

Running on Android, the Skycontroller embeds FreeFlight 3.0 piloting application, making it possible to pilot the Parrot Bebop Drone by sight even without a tablet or smartphone, a feature designed for RC enthusiasts.

Immersive flight

For extreme visual experiences, the Parrot Skycontroller is compatible with numerous first person view (FPV) glasses. Once connected via HDMI, they offer an immersive view of the flight.

When using FPV glasses equipped with a gyroscope, the pilot controls the Bebop Drone with the joysticks while the angle of the camera follows the movements of his or her head.

In addition to the view from the camera, telemetry information is shown, such as artificial horizon, battery level, speed, altimeter and distance..

A list of compatible glasses is available on www.parrot.com .

“The Bebop Drone masters several challenges: performs amazingly while flying andfilms in 1080p in a stabilized manner; all of this with a size reduction of 25 percent compared to the AR.Drone,” said Henri Seydoux, CEO of Parrot. “To achieve these results, our engineers worked for more than three years. The Bebop Drone embeds high-performance processors, a graphics co-processor with professional-grade camera capabilities. With Skycontroller, we enter a new dimension, one of immersive and high precision piloting.”

Expert pilots and beginners should take the helm of leisure drones in a responsible manner and with respect for the local rules and regulations.

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Parrot Bebop Drone

Colors: Blue, Red or Yellow

MSRP: $499USD (with two batteries included)

Available December 2014 from Apple and Best Buy (online and in stores)

Pack Parrot Bebop Drone Extended Range with Skycontroller

MSRP: $899USD

Available December 2014 from Apple and Best Buy online

Parrot Bebop Drone technical data

CPU Dual core A9
Linux
Open source SDK
Wi-Fi:
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Wi-Fi MIMO 2.4 et 5GHz
- 26dBm
GNSS: GPS+GLONASS
Inertial unit: Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer, Altimeter, Ultrasound, Vertical camera
Battery: Lithium Polymer 1200mAh
Flight time per battery: about 11 minutes (2 batteries included)
Compatibility: iOS, Android and Windows Phone smartphones/tablets
Weight: 390 g without hull – 410 g with hull
Dimensions: 33x38x3.6 cm with hull
28x32x3, 6cm without hull
8 Gb flash memory
Photos:
- 4096 x 3072
- Format jpeg, RAW, DNG
Video:
- 1920 x 1080 (30fps)
- Format H.264 (MPEG 4)

Parrot Skycontroller technical data

Processor ARM dual-core, 8 Gb memory
Android 4.2
Wi-Fi:
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n up to 36dBm
- Antennas directive range up to 2km (Range in theory, depending on national regulations)
- Wi-Fi MIMO 2.4 and 5GHz
- Second chipset Wi-Fi to connect to a tablet
GPS
USB, HDMI connectors
Sun-visor and strap included
Weight: 1550g
Dimensions: 37 x 23 x 19cm

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Check out these product pictures:

I am very interested in this updated Parrot drone…I own and reviewed the AR Drone 2.0. I’ll keep you posted on further developments.

Musterbrand announces World of Tanks range

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

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Nov 18, 2014

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Musterbrand have just announced a World of Tanks range.

The new range includes jackets, a bag, a belt and even a hat!

Order your World of Tanks apparel until end of November and benefit from an Early Bird Discount.

Check out the World of Tanks range here.

Never Alone out now

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Nov 18, 2014

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Today E-Line Media and Cook Inlet Tribal Council today announced the launch of Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna), the game is the first commercial video game based on a U.S. indigenous culture and created by game development veterans in close collaboration with nearly 40 Alaska Native elders, storytellers and community members. Coinciding with the celebration of Native American Heritage Month, Never Alone delivers a culturally-rich, authentic and fun gameplay experience for a global audience. The game is available now for digital download on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC for $14.99 (US), £11.99 (UK) and €14.99 (Europe). “Never Alone is a first-of-its-kind video game that reflects the traditions and values of the Alaska Native people while providing great entertainment for players from core gamers and fans of independent games to all members of the family,” noted Alan Gershenfeld, president and co-founder of E-Line Media. “We believe there is a growing interest in the market for unique game experiences that explore, celebrate and extend global cultures in fresh and vibrant ways. Never Alone marks the beginning of an exciting long-term initiative for us that aims to help pioneer a new genre of “World Games”. In Never Alone (also known as “Kisima Ingitchuna” in the Alaska Native Iñupiaq language), players take on the roles of a young Iñupiaq girl and an arctic fox in an atmospheric puzzle platformer that combines traditional stories, settings, and characters that have been handed down over generations by Alaska Native people whose roots and heritage date back millennia. Featuring imagery and themes drawn directly from Iñupiaq and other Alaska Native cultures, Never Alone contains striking visuals that emphasize the sensibilities and perspective of these indigenous Arctic people, and allows players to work cooperatively to succeed in challenging and harsh environments.

The Never Alone team is comprised of Iñupiaq elders, artists, storytellers and other community members as well as game industry veterans who have served in key roles on such popular titles as Interstate ’76, MechWarrior II, the Tomb Raider and SOCOM series, Quake Live and many more console and PC titles over the years.

Never Alone appears under the E-Line brand “Upper One Games”, which was created in concert with Cook Inlet Tribal Council to pursue the shared vision of developing and publishing ‘world games.’ “The mainstream popularity of video games has proven to be an incredibly powerful medium for not only connecting with our own community and youth, but also for celebrating and sharing our culture with the world,” said Gloria O’Neill, president and CEO of Cook Inlet Tribal Council. “We view Never Alone as an invitation to go on a journey that combines engaging, entertaining gameplay with our rich Alaska Native mythology and culture at its heart.” Key Features of Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) include:

1- and 2-player modes, both involving cooperative play (in single-player mode, the player can switch between the roles of Nuna and Fox at any time);
8 engaging chapters that take players across treacherous ice floes, Arctic tundra, underwater ice caves, boreal forests, cliff-built coastal villages, and more;
Game story, settings, characters and gameplay inspired by traditional Iñupiaq folklore, including the story of Kunuuksaayuka that has been handed down for generations among the Iñupiaq people;
Encounters with traditional Alaska Native folklore characters such as Manslayer, Sky People, and the Little People;
In-game narration by a master Iñupiaq storyteller in the spoken Iñupiaq language — a first for a commercial video game;
Exclusive unlockable video insights into the Iñupiaq way of life, told by Alaska Native elders and youth.

Get ready for the ‘New Generation’ WWE2K15 Launch Trailer

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Nov 18, 2014

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Get ready for the ‘New Generation’ WWE2K15 Launch Trailer

With the next generation of WWE Games is here! Experience intense rivalries in 2K Showcase, go from NXT to WWE World Heavyweight Champion in the all-new MyCareer mode, and take creations to another level with the innovative Superstar Studio! WWE 2K15.

Out today in the US for Playstation 4 and Xbox One, releasing Friday 21st November here in the UK.