Watch the first teaser trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Chris Hare

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Apr 7, 2016

Here is the first teaser trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has arrived with Rogue One slated for release on 16th December, and by the look of things this is a very different take at the rejuvenated sci-fi saga. Directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Monsters), Rogue One is the first of several planned spin-off movies, and is said to take place just before the events of the original film.

In it, a group led by Felicity Jones sets out to steal plans for the Death Star the same plans, it seems, that Princess Leia stored in the memory banks of R2-D2 back in 1977.

Halo 5 releases Ghosts of Meridian trailer

Chris Hare

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Apr 7, 2016

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Halo 5 releases Ghosts of Meridian trailer

The latest free content release for Halo 5: Guardians launches today. Ghosts of Meridian brings two new maps for Warzone and Arena – Skirmish at Darkstar and Tyrant respectively – new weapons and vehicles, new visual customisations, and more. Highlights include Tartarus’ Gavel, a Legendary gravity hammer that unleashes kinetic explosions with each swing, as well as Hannibal customisations for the Mantis and Scorpion.

Ghosts of Meridian will include a variety of game improvements based on fan feedback, including multiplayer updates and fixes, sandbox, weapon, and vehicle adjustments, improvements to REQ Station UI performance and a lengthy list of Forge additions.

Warzone Firefight Beta Coming 14^th -18^th April

The biggest Halo cooperative experience in franchise history, Warzone Firefight, is coming later this summer, but today we’re excited to announce plans for a Warzone Firefight Beta – running from 6pm on Thursday 14^th April until 6pm on Monday 18^th April. The beta will feature the Warzone map, Escape from A.R.C., with several additional maps coming with the full release later this summer. Up to eight players will fight together and utilise the Halo 5: Guardians REQ System to complete five rounds of increasingly difficult, dynamic objectives set against a timer to emerge victorious.

In celebration of the new features and content, a new promotional REQ pack will unleash the most powerful REQs in the system. Available for one week only (Thursday, 14^th April to Thursday 21^st April), the Mythic Warzone REQ Pack will contain ten Mythic single-use power weapon REQs and one Ultra Rare or Legendary weapon or vehicle certification, if available. For use in all Warzone modes this pack will ensure players enter battle with the most powerful gear available.

Optimus Bristol Comic Con this weekend

Andrew Edney

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Apr 7, 2016

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This weekend is the Optimus Bristol Comic Con – are you going?

The event includes q&a’s, signings, photo shoots and even Troy Baker playing live!

If you haven’t registered yet there is still time, so head over to the Optimus website now.

Huawei announces the P9, P9 Plus and the B3 Talkband

Chris Hare

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Apr 6, 2016

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Huawei announces the P9, P9 Plus and the B3 Talkband

Today at an exclusive launch event at London’s Battersea Evolution, Huawei unveiled the Huawei P9 and P9 Plus. Created in collaboration with Leica, the dual-lens P9 sets a new standard in smartphone photography.

The Huawei P9 is the first smartphone co-engineered with the global iconic brand, Leica Camera AG. The P9’s dual-lens camera takes smartphone photography to the next level, allowing people to capture both vivid colours and striking black and white images.

Huawei’s new B3 Talkband wearable wristband also made its global debut.

A groundbreaking moment for event guests included a first look at an exclusive trailer of the new Huawei P9 TV commercial starring Henry Cavill and Scarlett Johansson, Global Product Ambassadors for the Huawei P9 series. Showcasing the connection between two global stars in Shanghai and Hollywood, the trailer symbolizes the partnership between Huawei and Leica and the intersection of color and black and white.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyn8gRt8i2I

Henry Cavill was joined at the P9 launch by iconic photographers Mary McCartney and David Guttenfelder from National Geographic as well as BBC Global News CEO Jim Egan, Condé Nast Chairman and Chief Executive Jonathan Newhouse, Vogue China Publisher Anita Chang and Huawei UK Board Members Sir Andrew Cahn and Dame Helen Alexander.

“Huawei is excited to give P9 users the best smartphone photography experience by leveraging the unrivalled capabilities of Leica, the leader in the world of imaging for more than 100 years,” said Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group. “Consumers around the world use their smartphones to take billions of pictures each year, making photography critical to user experience. P9 users can now capture images with unmatched clarity, richness and authenticity, with a masterfully designed and powerful smartphone that looks and feels incredible.”

Reinventing Smartphone Photography

Integrating the design values and engineering excellence of Huawei and Leica in a smartphone photography system co-engineered by the two companies, the P9 brings together best-in-class hardware and software, from optical lenses, to sensors, to image processing algorithms, empowering users to capture the highest-quality images.

Key to the P9’s superlative imaging capabilities is a dual-camera design that fully unleashes the power of Leica’s optical lenses, renowned for precision and attention to detail, and subject to the industry’s most stringent quality screening requirements. The RGB camera on the P9 specializes in capturing color, while the monochrome camera is outstanding at acquiring picture detail. The two rear cameras of the P9 work in tandem to enable users to create images of superior detail, depth and color. The P9 truly excels in low-light conditions, as the dual-camera design guarantees more light and detail can be captured.

Each picture taken by the P9 carries the unique emotional resonance and timelessness that are the hallmarks of Leica, as users may choose between three film modes: Standard, Vivid Colors and Smooth Colors, depending on their personal preferences. With meticulous calibration of the P9’s camera parameters, each film mode faithfully renders the authentic color and style of Leica. By selecting the monochrome mode, P9 users can use their devices as a true monochrome camera to capture powerful and evocative black and white images of superior quality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4TXO49n0P8

Deploying Huawei’s Hybrid Focus technology, the P9 captures images with superior speed, accuracy and stability. The P9 supports camera focusing based on three methodologies – laser, depth calculation and contrast – and automatically selects the one that yields the best result in any given environment.

The wide-aperture photography feature on the P9 allows users to experiment with innovative visual effects to create unique images and content. The P9 makes it easy to adjust the camera aperture to create bokeh and other depth-of-field effects, while keeping the main object in sharp focus.

“Leica and Huawei share an uncompromising commitment to imaging excellence, and our partnership will put outstanding photography into the hands of more consumers around the world,” said Oliver Kaltner, CEO, Leica Camera AG. “We are deepening our collaboration to give users a more optimal smartphone photography experience.”

Taking Industrial Design to a Higher Level

The P9 is a masterpiece of state-of the-art industrial design, with the same minimalist design DNA as earlier products in Huawei’s acclaimed flagship P-series of premium smartphones. Each P9 device is a perfect construct of superior-grade 2.5D glass and an aerospace-class aluminum, with diamond-cut edges rounded out by carefully balanced curvatures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BvX_GA3D6U

The 64GB version of the P9 comes in a stunning and unique Haze Gold finish, setting new industry standards in industrial design, with the use of techniques including brushed hairlines and metal polishing at micron-level precision to create a translucent metal surface. Additionally, the Ceramic White version of the P9 is smoother than the painted bodywork of premium cars, reflecting and refracting light to present different shades of awe-inspiring colors as ambient conditions change.

Power and Performance

The P9 is equipped with the power, connectivity and speed that today’s high-end smartphone user expects from Huawei. With a 5.2-inch 1080p display, the P9 is powered by the new Kirin 955 2.5GHz 64-bit ARM-based processor for leading-class mobile performance.

The 3,000mAh high-density battery offers P9 users outstanding mobility and battery life.

Huawei is also unveiling the P9 Plus, featuring a 5.5-inch Press Touch display and a larger 3,400mAh battery. The P9 Plus also offers dual-IC Rapid Charge, giving users six hours of talk time after a 10-minute charge.

Leveraging Huawei’s industry-leading capabilities in telecommunications, the P9 and P9 Plus offer unrivaled new features including a virtual-triple-antenna architecture, designed for users who need robust and seamless connectivity to cellular and Wi-Fi networks to fully harness the power of the mobile Internet no matter where they are in the world.

The P9 and P9 Plus also protect users’ privacy and information security with Huawei’s world-leading biometric fingerprint recognition technology. The enhanced fingerprint sensor allows users to personalize and safeguard their devices by significantly lowering the possibility of fraudulent or accidental device access, while also ensuring users can quickly and securely access their smartphone.

Pricing and availability

The Huawei P9 will be available in Mystic Silver and Titanium Grey. It comes with an RRP of £449 (3GB + 32GB) and will be free on contract, subject tariff.

The Huawei P9 will be available to buy in the UK in early May from Carphone Warehouse, EE, O2, Three and Vodafone.

The P9 will also be available SIM free from vMall in mid April.

Please see below details on the colours each channel will be offering.

CPW – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey
EE – Titanium Grey
O2 – Titanium Grey
Three – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey
Vodafone – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey
vMall – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey

The Huawei P9 Plus in Quartz Grey will be exclusively available to buy from Vodafone from mid May. It has an RRP of £549 (4GB + 74GB) and will be available from £9 on Vodafone contract tariffs.

Review: Excave 3: Tower of Destiny

Diogo Miguel

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Apr 6, 2016

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Excave 3: Tower of Destiny finally saw its debut on the Nintendo 3DS and with it come some changes to the series, but will these make for a better experience?

Continue

Review: Dirt Rally

Sam Thompson

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Apr 5, 2016

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Some of my favourite racing games of all time were the old Colin McRae Rally titles of yesteryear. With Codemasters recent ‘Americanised’ changes to the revamped franchise, the hardcore rally fans have had little to sink their tyres into. Admittedly the Dirt series has had some great, and well deserved, reception over the years, but it’s finally time to revisit what made Codemasters a very real threat to any racing game on the market.

Originally released in early access via Steam in 2015, Dirt Rally slides its way to consoles after some fan feedback, inevitable tweaking and multiple extra additions. Such as the focus is, you’ll be largely alone on your blistering travels across the worldly stages. The co-driver and their meticulous instructions being the only help you’ll get during each event. Being a much more authentic interpretation of motorsport predictably comes with a certain degree of difficulty to the player too. The handling and physics models have been completely revamped from the ground up to ensure a level of realism that the game prides itself upon, even to the point where it states so after the games’ initial splash screens.

The result, aside from the lack of a ‘rewind’ feature, is that you’ll initially, and for quite some time, struggle. You’ll detest the first hairpin you encounter, resent the next chicane and be justly terrified of any long straight. The early stages are just as punishing as the last due to the games relatively steep learning curve. Tweaking the in-game assists, such as the level of traction control and stability, can go some distance in aiding you. However to truly appreciate the nuances of the handling system, you’ll have to delve into the ever intimidating car setup menus. Brake biases, suspension settings and all the tinkering you can imagine can be performed here. If you wish your 60’s Cooper to be a little more ‘flicky’ through the bends, then this is where (somewhat ironically) you’ll spend a chunk of your time, in an attempt to save time.

It’s not all clinical menu fiddling however, Dirt Rally houses an almost RPG nature within its team building side during the games’ career. On top of purchasing cars, paying potentially hefty repair bills and even upgrading aspects of your car, you can hire and fire specialists that ultimately compliment your racing style. Due to the time it takes between acquiring new vehicles, it won’t be uncommon to form a certain bond of attachment with your current car, and team, as you all learn the subtle ins and outs.

The credit currency system adds an extra risk/reward structure that further increases the tension during the multi-stage events. A few small bumps and bangs near the start of the stage might not seem too important at the time, but due to the cumulative damage, it soon starts adding up. The seemingly insignificant visual details in the game can teach you harsh lessons too. A small crack in the windscreen can end up staying with you for tens of minutes across multiple different legs, and not seeing that rocky outcrop at the final few turns of a stage because of it, can be a stark realisation to your earlier consequences.

Needless to say, this isn’t exactly an arcade experience; if you’re after some leeway in the difficulty, sadly that’s down to just practice. It does however pay off when it all comes together. Once you get to grips with the handling and learn when to start pushing and pacing yourself, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of accomplishment. Knowing it’s all down to your own skill, as opposed to the threats of bullying AI rivals, just makes shaving off those precious seconds all the sweeter.

Whilst the excellent campaign mode will likely be your main time sink, there’s also the official FIA World Rallycross events to tempt you in too. Acting as the online portion of the game, it lets you take part in daily, weekly and monthly challenges against the community for some extra income (if you’re good enough that is…) Or, if you fancy a change of pace, there are also the multiplayer rallycross events for that bumper to bumper action. If somehow you’re still stuck for content, why not attempt the fabled hillclimb stages and join or create an online league whilst you’re at it?

It might not have the same initial visual wow as DriveClub, but it certainly holds its own. The cars and their damage modelling are undeniably the highlights, but the tracks are well detailed and possess more than enough draw distance to let you look ahead during a ‘calm’ moment. Most importantly however, is the framerate, it runs at a joyfully steady 60fps, which is more than you can say for a lot of recent games. It’s not only the visual smoothness that stands out either, engine noises are both prominent and thrilling, whilst different surfaces reacting to the contact of the tyres sounds realistic too. The audio balance is also great, crunching smashes and ambient weather effects never seem to drown out the (somehow) calming voice of your co-driver.

In short, Dirt Rally is difficult. It’s a simulator, not an arcade-style game, and it’s all the better for it. You likely won’t complete your first few races without a few crashes, and you almost certainly won’t even win your first rally stage, no matter what manner of assists you have on. The initial struggle is worth it however if you persevere and learn how to handle the cars properly. Constant risk/reward features in games are rarely as well implemented, tense and gratifying as they are here. There is simply no better authentic rally game than this right now.

Quantum Break out now on Xbox One and Windows 10

Chris Hare

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Apr 5, 2016

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Quantum Break out now on Xbox One and Windows 10

Microsoft Studios and Remedy Entertainment’s action-packed thriller – Quantum Break – is now available on Xbox One and Windows 10. The Xbox One version can be purchased at the Xbox Store and Microsoft Store as well as most major UK retailers. The Windows 10 version can be purchased and downloaded through the Windows store.

To celebrate the release of the game, Remedy Entertainment will be hosting a Quantum Break livestream on Twitch beginning today at 4 p.m. BST which will feature key members of the team, including Creative Director Sam Lake, from their studio in Espoo, Finland.

Quantum Break is a unique experience; one part hard-hitting video game, one part thrilling live-action show, featuring a stellar cast including Shawn Ashmore (“X-Men”) as the hero Jack Joyce, Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones”) as his nemesis Paul Serene and Dominic Monaghan (“Lord of the Rings”) as Jack’s genius brother, William. Quantum Break is full of the vivid storytelling, rich characters and dramatic twists Remedy Entertainment is renowned for. Your choices in-game will affect the outcome of this fast-paced fusion between game and show, giving the player a completely unique entertainment experience.

Every copy of Quantum Break for Xbox One comes with a full-game download for Alan Wake for Xbox 360, plus its two add-on packs The Signal and The Writer – playable on Xbox One via Backward Compatibility.

Alan Wake and its add-on packs will also be included in the Xbox One Special Edition Quantum Break Bundle, which features a 500 GB Cirrus White console with a matching wireless controller, and is available for £319.99 for a limited time.

New screen shots of Seasons after Fall coming to PC this year

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Apr 5, 2016

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New screen shots of Seasons after Fall coming to PC this year

Seasons After Fall, the game at the magical and enchanting atmosphere that showcases the exploration of a world governed by nature and the magic unfolds a little more in a new set of screenshots. After Fall Seasons invites us once again in his fantasy world through a series of images revealing one of its most iconic environments: Wood Ancestor.

Play as a wild fox and enter the forest Seasons After Fall, with its huge old trees that filter the light and colour its décor hand painted with strange and enchanting colours. The roots and ivy digging earth environment shape so that even our four-legged friend could get lost. After this maze wrought by nature, you will encounter the Guardian of Winter, a totem spirit in the form of a gigantic bear.

Control your power and manipulate at will the four seasons to solve different puzzles and progress in history: Winter freeze rivers, Autumn open mushrooms, Spring will blossom buds, and untie the Summer lianas allowing you to reach areas previously inaccessible … you find how to alter the scenery around you to progress in your adventure.

Real initiatory journey, let you pick a poetic and contemplative adventure, inhabited by the bewitching melodies of a string quartet, and dive into the enchanted world of Seasons After Fall. Seasons After Fall is released this year on PC.

New details on Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard for the Wii U

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Apr 5, 2016

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New details on Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard for the Wii U

Nintendo reveals new details today about the next two games in its fan favourite Star Fox series: action shooter Star Fox Zero and companion strategy title Star Fox Guard, both launching in Europe on 22^nd April exclusively for Wii U.

In the action-packed universe of Star Fox Zero, the TV displays a cinematic view from behind the Arwing while the Wii U GamePad puts players straight into the gunner’s seat, complete with immersive audio and intuitive motion controls for pinpoint aiming. A range of training missions help new recruits to master the game’s unique two-screen gameplay, and as their skills improve, players can return to these training missions to rack up better scores, then take what they’ve learned into the main game to discover new areas and beat their previous best performances.

As players progress through the game they’ll be able to return to earlier missions to find hidden collectibles and alternative routes that offer brand new challenges. For instance, the standard route through the bioweapon-filled planet Fortuna ends with a climactic battle against the imposing Monarch Dodora, but after clearing a certain story mission, confident pilots can return to Fortuna and choose to branch off in pursuit of Star Wolf instead. With multiple paths through the game bringing new challenges and surprises, there’s one to suit every skill level and play style.

Pilots up for an even fiercer challenge can tap in their Falco amiibo to unlock the Black Arwing, which has more powerful weapons but weaker defences, making it a potent but fragile weapon. Tapping the Fox amiibo unlocks a retro Arwing styled after the original Super NES Star Fox game, complete with retro music, to be used in the first Corneria stage.

Launching alongside Star Fox Zero is the companion game, which puts players in the ultimate security guard job – defending mining sites against waves of robot invaders. The TV screen displays a bank of 12 surveillance camera feeds, each monitoring a different part of the mining site, and it’s up to players to switch between cameras to spot enemies and blast them before they reach the central tower It’ll take supreme awareness and multi-tasking skills to fend off the relentless robot approach, so it helps to have friends on-hand to call out camera numbers that show approaching enemies. Help is also on hand via the Fox and Falco amiibo, which can each be tapped once per day to call in team Star Fox for a powerful air strike that destroys attacking robots.

Successfully clearing missions bestows rare metals, which count towards unlocking additional missions and cameras with special abilities, like slowing enemies down or freezing them in place, adding another layer of strategy to the action. My Squad mode also lets keen tacticians create and upload their own enemy attack patterns to challenge others around the world, or take on other players’ best efforts. Meanwhile, the Star Strategists feature is updated every day to offer a popular challenge from across the globe.

Star Fox Zero can get a taste of Star Fox Guard’s strategic action with an exclusive downloadable demo, only accessible though the main menu of Star Fox Zero. Save data can be carried over to the full version, so tacticians can pick up where they left off.

From 22nd April, Wii U owners can pick up Star Fox Zero, Star Fox Guard in a limited First Print edition including both games on separate Game Discs, and an exclusive SteelBook case. This package is the only way to get a physical copy of Star Fox Guard, so collectors won’t want to miss out. Star Fox Guard will also be available as a download code at retail. Meanwhile, those who purchase one title from Nintendo eShop can get a discount of £3.00 / €5.00 off the other, bringing the total price of both games to £49.98 / €59.98. Anyone who wants to get into training can pick up the Nintendo 64 game Star Fox 64, available now in Nintendo eShop for £4.49 / €4.99 (regular price £8.99 / €9.99) until 23:59 (local time) on 21st April.

Review : Just Mobile Lounge Dock for Apple Watch

Andrew Edney

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Apr 5, 2016

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Review : Just Mobile Lounge Dock for Apple Watch

If you have an Apple Watch you might want to consider a charging dock, and Just Mobile have you covered. Here is our review of the Lounge Dock for Apple Watch.

Lounge Dock is the multi-purpose dock for Apple Watch. Simply slip your magnetic charger into its moulded recess and strap your Watch to the soft-touch cuff, and you have an eye-catching charging stand that will take pride of place on any desktop or bedside table.

With its slim side-mounted arm, Lounge Dock makes your Watch appear to float in mid-air. But thanks to the heavy- weight aluminum base and adjustable viewing angle, it’ s incredibly easy to interact with your Watch while it charges – whether you’ re hard at work at your desk or taking it easy in bed.

Iconic design
Adjustable display angle
Precision machined aluminum base and arm
Compatible with Apple Watch magnetic charger

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

If you have either an Apple Watch you will probably want a charging solution that is more than just plugging the cable into the side of your laptop and leaving it to charge.

This is where Just Mobile step in and have a number of solutions to help. This particular one is called the Lounge Dock.

The Lounge Dock doesn’t come with a charging cable, so you will need your original cable as well as the dock itself.

It comes in two pieces – a stand plate and the arm that you put the watch on. Putting it together was very simple, and fitting the cable into the arm was very easy too.

Placing the watch on the arm was a little more fiddly than I anticipated, it took me a few attempts to get the watch sitting correctly and not slipping down. This isn’t a fault with the Lounge Dock, but more to do with the type and size of strap on the Apple Watch. Once I figured out the right place to put the strap for my particular watch it worked great.

If you have a need for a charging dock, then take a look at the Lounge Dock from Just Mobile, you won’t be disappointed. They also have a HoverDock too.

You can learn more from the Just Mobile website