Netatmo announces the availability of its Smart Alarm System with Camera

Andrew Edney
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0
Netatmo announces the availability of its Smart Alarm System with Camera

Netatmo has announced the availability of its Smart Alarm System with Camera.

Featuring the Smart Indoor Camera, the Smart Indoor Siren and Smart Door and Window Sensors, the Netatmo Smart Alarm System with Camera is a complete home security solution.

The Netatmo Smart Indoor Camera alerts the user in real time with precise notifications. It uses facial recognition technology to distinguish between a stranger, a loved one and a harmless movement. When the camera detects an unknown face, the user is sent a real-time alert to their smartphone with a photo and video of the event.

Smart Door and Window Sensors pick up any movement or vibration, indicating that someone is trying to force user’s doors and windows open. The user thus instantly receives a precise notification on their smartphone such as “Movement detected at the kitchen window”.

Smart Door and Window Sensors also allow the user to check the status of their doors and windows by opening the app. Depending on the selected settings, the Sensors can also send an alert if a door or window has been open for an amount of time specified by the user.

The Smart Indoor Siren works with the Camera and the Smart Door and Window Sensors. It automatically triggers its deafening 110 dB alarm when the Smart Indoor Camera detects an intruder, or if specific Door and Window Sensors detect movement at a door or window.

The user receives a precise real-time notification on their smartphone, such as “Unknown person detected”, and video of the event filmed by the Camera.

The user can also trigger or deactivate the Siren in the Netatmo Security app.

The Smart Alarm System with Camera settings can be fully customised

The user can customise the Smart Alarm System with Camera settings in the Netatmo Security app and only receive relevant alerts. For example, the alarm can be set so that it sounds only if the user is not at home, depending on whether various criteria are met, such as if the Indoor Camera detects an unknown face or a movement, or if specific Door and Window Sensors detect movement at a door or window.

A range of pre-recorded sounds such as barking or a regular beep can also be activated from the app to simulate a presence and deter burglars.

To make things simpler, the Smart Alarm System with Video activates and deactivates automatically when the user leaves home or returns home. Thanks to the Smart Indoor Camera’s facial recognition technology, the system detects user’s presence in their home and turns itself off.

Lastly, the user can deactivate all alerts sent by the Door and Window Sensors when members of the family are at home. In this way, the user will not receive any unnecessary notifications if a loved one opens the windows to air the house.

No subscription required

All features of the Smart Alarm System with Camera are available free of charge. No subscription or additional costs are required to use the system or access its data.

Privacy

The videos recorded by the Smart Indoor Camera are saved locally on an internal micro-SD card. They can also be automatically transferred and archived on the user’s Dropbox account or personal FTP server.

Fast, easy setup

The Netatmo Smart Alarm System with Camera is easy to set up. The user downloads the Netatmo Security app to their smartphone to connect the products. He puts the Camera and Siren in the entrance to their home and attaches the Door and Window Sensors to the doors and windows he wants to monitor. The user can install one Siren per Indoor Camera, and up to 12 Door and Window Sensors.

Availability and compatibility

The Smart Door and Window Sensors will be available for purchase from September 6th2019, and the Smart Indoor Siren from September 26th2019, on www.netatmo.com.

The Smart Indoor Camera retails for £199,99, the Smart Indoor Siren for £69,99 and the pack of 3 Smart Door and Window Sensors for £89,99.

The Smart Indoor Siren and the Smart Door and Window Sensors are accessories of the Smart Indoor Camera and are not functional without it.

The Netatmo Security app is completely free and compatible with iPhones and iPads with iOS 10 or above and Android smartphones and tablets from 5.0.

The Netatmo Web app is available on Mac and PC.

Review: Paw Patrol Driving Simulator from Kids@Play

Andrew Edney
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0
Review: Paw Patrol Driving Simulator from Kids@Play

Here is our review of the Paw Patrol Driving Simulator from Kids@Play.

Children will enjoy hours of fun without leaving the house with this innovative Paw Patrol driving simulator. The moving screen offers amazing entertainment, with an adjustable seat and additional lights and sounds for endless racing fun that your children will love.

What’s in the box?

The box contains all the parts to build the simulator, including some stickers and instructions.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

My son is a huge fan of Paw Patrol and so when we had the opportunity to review the Paw Patrol Driving Simulator from Kids@Play we jumped at the chance.

The driving simulator is an officially licensed product and comes with Paw Patrol stickers to fit on the completed simulator.

There are a number of pieces in the box that need fitting together but it is very simple to put together and you should be up and running ready to drive in a few minutes. The only thing you might need to adjust is the seat position, but that’s easy.

The steering wheel is where all the action takes place, and it needs 3 AA batteries which are not included, so make sure you fit the batteries before you fit the steering wheel to the seat (it just easier that way).

When your little one is ready to drive, they just sit in the seat and turn the key to start the engine. There are lots of sounds that come out, including engine noises, horns, phones, sirens and more. The car in the centre of the screen moves upwards (well to be technical the screen moves downwards whilst the car stays in place) and by turning the steering wheel the car moves left and right.

Whilst this sounds fairly simple, it’s a lot of fun and actually reminded me of lots of games I used to play as a kid myself.

If your little one is a fan of Paw Patrol and loves driving games then this is the toy for you, and with Christmas coming up, it’s certainly one you should have on your Christmas list! It will keep them quiet for hours on end.

Paw Patrol are on a roll!

The Paw Patrol Driving Simulator from Kids@Play is available now priced £79.99 and is aimed at ages 2 and up. You can learn more from their website and check out some of their other cool toys and gifts.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Being Remastered for PS4 and Switch

Sean McCarthy
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0
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Being Remastered for PS4 and Switch

SQUARE ENIX has announced that the beloved action-RPG adventure FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES will return with online multiplayer and other brand new features as FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4  and iOS and Android mobile devices on January 23rd, 2020. A preview version of the game will make its first appearance this week, on the show floor at Tokyo Game Show.

The cooperative action RPG FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES has been completely remastered, with brand-new features that make the experience more enchanting than ever. Playing with friends or solo, explore a stunning fantasy world and make new memories with fantastic characters and fun action-RPG gameplay.

New features for the game include:

  • Updated Visuals and Audio – Experience the world of FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES in stunning new ways, with upgraded graphics and audio updates enhancing the magical adventure like never before.
  • New Character Voiceovers – Playable heroes come to life with brand-new voiceovers as they cast spells and battle ferocious monsters.
  • New Online Multiplayer – Play online with up to three friends to overcome the dangerous monsters and dungeons that fill the world*. No players are left behind, as the game supports cross-play functionality.
  • New Dungeons and Bosses – Challenging new dungeons and bosses have been added to the game, allowing for even more fun and exciting gameplay opportunities.
  • New Character Appearances and Items – Stand out with brand-new looks and artifacts to equip and use throughout your magical journey.

For more information, please visit https://sqex.link/tig.

Related Links:
Official Website: https://sqex.link/tig
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasy
Twitter: http://twitter.com/finalfantasy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finalfantasy/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/finalfantasy

Win Pokémon Detective Pikachu on Blu-ray

Andrew Edney
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2
Win Pokémon Detective Pikachu on Blu-ray

The world of Pokémon comes to life in Ryme City when Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ Pokémon Detective Pikachu arrives on DVD, Blu-ray™, 3D Blu- ray™, 4K Ultra HD and 4K Steelbook on 16th September. Get it first on Digital Download now.

To celebrate the release, we are giving three lucky winners the chance to get their hands on a Blu-ray™.

When detective Harry Goodman goes missing, his son Tim (Justice Smith) and Harry’s former Pokémon partner Detective Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) join forces to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together on an epic adventure through Ryme City, they uncover a shocking plot that could destroy the whole Pokémon universe.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu also stars Kathryn Newton (Lady Bird, TV’s Big Little Lies, Blockers) as Lucy, a junior reporter following her first big story. The supporting cast includes Suki Waterhouse (Insurgent, Love, Rosie, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), Omar Chaparro (Overboard, Kung Fu Panda), Chris Geere (TV’s Modern Family, TV’s You’re The Worst, Ill Behavior), multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Rita Ora (TV’s America’s Next Top Model, Fifty Shades Of Grey), Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Inception, Godzilla) andBill Nighy (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest).

How to enter to win

We have three copies of Pokémon Detective Pikachu on Blu-ray to give away.

Win Pokémon Detective Pikachu on Blu-ray

The closing date is 12.00am on 22nd September 2019.

This contest is only open to those in the UK – sorry!

© 2019 Legendary and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. © 2019 Pokémon.

For further information on Pokémon Detective Pikachu, follow @WarnerBrosUK or visit www.warnerbros.co.uk

Watch The Surge 2 ‘You Are What You Kill’ Trailer

Sean McCarthy
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0
Watch The Surge 2 ‘You Are What You Kill’ Trailer

The Surge 2: Pick your load-out in the most violent way possible with the new You Are What You Kill Trailer

The Surge 2 brings the nanomachine nightmare of Jericho City to players everywhere on September 24 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. To survive this brutal world you will need new equipment – and The Surge franchise’s iconic limb-cutting mechanics provide just such an opportunity. In this new video see how every weapon, every piece of enemy armor and equipment can be targeted, torn off, and equipped to your exo-rig. This produces new builds, letting you destroy your enemies in ever-more-satisfying ways.

Combat in The Surge 2 is quick, brutal, and packed with decision making. With new and deadly techniques like directional parries, drones, and brand new weapon types, The Surge 2 upgrades everything. Your style is your own, from picking implants and armor set bonuses to how you use energy, stamina, health or ammunition. Combined with an intricate world to explore and incredible, unique bosses, The Surge 2 is an action-RPG experience like no-other.

Pre-orders are now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and come with the URBN Gear Pack, which includes a new armor set, two new weapons, and other cosmetics and equipment.

The Surge 2 releases September 24.

Watch the Greedfall Launch Trailer

Sean McCarthy
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0
Watch the Greedfall Launch Trailer

GreedFall is just four days away from release! The fantasy RPG, developed by Spiders Studio in partnership with Focus Home Interactive, embarks on its great journey on September 10, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Today, the soaring Launch Trailer is here to sweep you away to adventure and heart-wrenching conflict.

The mysterious and magical island of Teer Fradee looms on the horizon, a beacon of hope for your disease-ridden homeland. Uneasy relationships simmer between the island’s many factions, both settler and native, as you arrive as a diplomat and seeker of a cure.

Freedom and the power to choose both lie at the heart of GreedFall. Shape your story from character creation to conclusion, carving your path through impactful decisions and your choices in talents, skills and attributes. Choose which companions to bring on your journey, carefully considering their talents and loyalties, while crafting equipment for your entire party to look and play the way you want. Befriend, betray, and make the toughest choices as you shape your destiny and the island’s.

Greedfall launches on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on September 10th 2019.

The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut Out Now

Sean McCarthy
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0
The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut Out Now

inXile Entertainment, the studio acquired by Microsoft and founded by Brian Fargo, is proud to announce The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut is now available on Xbox Game Pass, the PlayStation Store, and digital PC stores such as Steam and GOG for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Retail copies for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X will arrive September 6 in Europe and October 4 in North America.

The Director’s Cut is loaded with new features, fixes, and content, making it the truly definitive edition of The Bard’s Tale IV. Along with an Unreal Engine update that has the game looking, playing, and sounding better than ever, The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut directly addresses feedback received from the game’s initial launch with thousands of fixes and tweaks included. Those who already own the PC game will receive the Director’s Cut content and improvements as a free update.

New features of The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut include:
–        A new end-game chapter that adds hours of additional content
–        New enemies, items, and weapons, including dwarven master-crafted weapons
–        Thousands of fixes and improvements across the game
–        Refined and more feature-rich UI
–        More class/gender character creation options
–        Rebalanced combat and encounters
–        Additional difficulty settings
–        Full gamepad support across all platforms

Each version of The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut includes bonus in-game items, with the Deluxe Edition on PC offering a wide range of art, music, and the original (and remastered) The Bard’s Tale Trilogy series of games.

More information:
inXile Twitter
inXile Facebook
inXile YouTube

War Revealed as Playable Character in Darksiders Genesis

Sean McCarthy
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0
War Revealed as Playable Character in Darksiders Genesis

War, the Rider of the Red Horse, is both honorable and savage. The youngest of the Four Horseman, but his age is no indication of his experience on the battleground. He has battled countless enemies with his furious weapon Chaoseater and the protection of his impervious armor. Always by his side is Ruin, War’s phantom steed. Ruin is both mighty and graceful with its blackened coat and fiery hooves and mane. War was wrongly framed by Abaddon for starting the Apocalypse too soon and was imprisoned for over one hundred years by The Charred Council. Well, at least he has beautiful long and white hair. Without split ends.

In Darksiders Genesis you can choose to play either War or his brother Strife, and head into combat side by side in two player cooperative mode. The story takes place before the events of the original game when Lucifer, the enigmatic and deceptive demon king, plots to upset the Balance by granting power to master demons throughout Hell. If you are a melee type of gamer, War is your (gauntlet) left-hand.

Darksiders Genesis is an action/adventure that tears its way through hordes of demons, angels, and everything in-between on its way to Hell and back with guns blazing and swords swinging. Genesis gives players their first look at the world of Darksiders before the events of the original game, as well as introduces the horseman Strife.

Features

  • Blast angels and demons as the gunslinging Horseman Strife, playable for the first time
  • Swap between the powerful swordsman War and Strife instantly in frenetic, single-player gameplay
  • Explore the epic world of Darksiders and wreak havoc with a friend in two-player cooperative mode
  • Experience a brand new story campaign that takes place before the original Darksiders, exploring the origin of the Seven Seals
  • Grow in strength and power as you collect items, abilities, weapon enhancements, creature cores and more

Darksiders Genesis will release on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Google Stadia later this year.

For more information about Darksiders Genesis please visit the official website: www.darksiders.com. Or follow Darksiders on Twitter for the latest news and updates @darksiders

Watch the GEARS 5 Official Launch Trailer – The CHAIN

Sean McCarthy
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0
Watch the GEARS 5 Official Launch Trailer – The CHAIN

In Gears 5, you get to explore vast new worlds, face brutal new enemies, and uncover the dark secret hiding just below the surface of Sera and Kait herself.

The piece is driven by the Fleetwood Mac classic “The Chain”, covered by Evanesence lead vocalist, Amy Lee. This darker, warped version of the classic song twists the original’s meaning to embody the dark threat of Kait’s bloodline calling out to her.

GEARS 5 launches on September 10th, but from the 6th, those who purchased the GEARS 5 Ultimate Edition can play right now thanks to early access as well as subscribers to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: https://www.xbox.com/xbox-game-pass

Assassin’s Creed The Rebel Collection Announced for Switch

Sean McCarthy
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0
Assassin’s Creed The Rebel Collection Announced for Switch

Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed The Rebel Collection will be available exclusively for Nintendo Switch on December 6th, 2019. Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection includes Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag with all single-player DLCs and Assassin’s Creed Rogue. From becoming the most feared pirate in the Caribbean to transforming into the ultimate assassin hunter, players will have the opportunity to discover or rediscover two major opuses from the Assassin’s Creed series fully playable offline and on-the-go with Nintendo Switch.

This exclusive compilation takes full advantage of the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch, including enhanced features such as Handheld Mode, HD Rumble, Touchscreen Interface, Optimized HUD, and Motion Control Aiming.

Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection includes:

  • Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag: Players will sail into the Golden Age of Piracy, where pirates have established their own lawless Republic. Playing as Edward Kenway, the most feared pirate captain in the Caribbean, drawn into the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars, they will take part in world-famous battles, discover hidden treasures, and earn the respect of legendary characters like Blackbeard. The game’s vast open world features countless remote islands where corruption, greed, and cruelty are commonplace.
  • All single-player DLCs: Play as Aveline during a rogue period of self-discovery, unsure of her alliances, but more committed than ever to defending and liberating slaves. In Freedom Cry, former slave Adewale finds freedom as a pirate aboard Edward Kenway’s ship. 15 years later, Adewale becomes a trained Assassin to free the slaves and avenge them. Both these DLCs and more will be available in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

Assassin’s Creed Rogue: Amidst the chaos of the French and Indian War, players will embrace one man’s slow descent into darkness, forever shaping the future of the American colonies. As Shay Patrick Cormac, they will transform from a loyal member of the Assassin Brotherhood into the ultimate assassin hunter. On a perilous journey through America and the icy cold waters of the North Atlantic, players will take the perspective of a Templar for the first time in franchise history.

For more information on Assassin’s Creed, visit: assassinscreed.com.

For the latest on Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection visit the dedicated page: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/assassins-creed-rebel-collection/

To discover more about Ubisoft’s games, visit Ubisoft News: https://news.ubisoft.com

My Day at the Xbox UK ‘Gears Ink’ London Event!

Sean McCarthy
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0
My Day at the Xbox UK ‘Gears Ink’ London Event!

There is no escaping the launch of GEARS 5 which if you purchased the GEARS 5 Ultimate Edition or are a subscriber to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you now have early access to the game from today (06/09/2019) and Xbox had certainly doubled down on the marketing ahead of the game’s launch. Across six cities around the world, Los Angeles, Berlin, Melbourne, Paris, Mexico City and our very own London, Xbox ran a special celebration event for the launch of GEARS 5 early access called ‘Gears Ink’ and yours truly managed to go to London….and it quickly became the most memorable day of 2019 for me!

I have been fortunate and lucky enough to be able to go to press events and game launch events over the years, but the GEARS Ink event was truly something very special. I learned that the Xbox UK team took point on this event, with branding and concepts for the London Event that were then used for all the events across the six cities which is staggering but amazing to see the Xbox UK team getting that level of recognition, especially when XO19 will be held in London in November.

Arriving at the London venue, The Bike Shed in Shoreditch London, the vibe was already being generated just walking up to the place before being greeted at the door by the amazing Xbox UK team. Walking into the place and it immediately blew me away to see how the building had been decorated amazingly with the ‘Gears Ink’ branding and it looked great.

Guests at the event were also able to get first time hands on with the multiplayer modes of GEARS 5 and the brand-new co-op Escape mode which for me, will no doubt be my go-to mode after the campaign alongside Horde Mode. GEARS 5 on Xbox One X’s in full 4K was breathtakingly stunning, the character models and maps just popped out of the TV screen running at 4K and 60fps across all the game modes. Starting off with the MP and being a little rusty with Gears PvP, picked up the brand new Kait Xbox One Controller which is striking all by itself and jumped into a match with other guests. The cover system has been refined and feels so intuitive now getting in and out of cover as you explore the map hunting down the opposing team. Now I am going to use the classic “distracted by how gorgeous it looks” excuse here, because in the first 5 minutes of playing this mode, I was killed three times by Linda Hamilton, which is not something I ever expected to say when it comes to a GEARS game. Finally getting to see the Terminator: Dark Fate characters of Sarah Connor and the Exo-skeleton T-800 in game was simply awesome. After Linda Hamilton took me down…a few times..I was then blindsided by Emile from HALO: Reach so you can say that my first ten minutes with GEARS 5 was definitely something to remember!

Now of course with the event being called ‘Gears Ink’ you may be forgiven for wondering what the Ink meant in the title, well not only were guests able to get exclusive first hands on time with GEARS 5, but a very lucky chosen few were also able to get a unique Gears inspired tattoo from one of three iconic tattoo artists on the day. Now this was probably the first sign of the incredible luck I was going to experience this day, as when I arrived and was asked if I was here for a tattoo and explained that whilst registering for the event, I was told due to overwhelming demand that I would be on the waiting list but upon arriving at the venue the quite frankly, and you will hear a lot of praise from me to the Xbox UK team on site, there was a opportunity to have one done so I immediately jumped at the chance. The tattoo artist I was fortunate to get was Emma Budonis with her assistant MiaLeo from the ‘Through my Third Eye’ studio based in London.

Each of the three artists came up with their own designs and after being met with a hello and incredible hug from Emma, because she is a self-confessed hugger, I was asked the pre-tattoo checks like checking to make sure I had eaten already and if I was ok to go ahead. Then I was able to look at the choices of design to have but one stuck out more than the others and I simply had to have it. I have a couple of tattoos already but from over ten years ago so I was rather excited to have the tattoo done and Emma and MiaLeo were so brilliant, constantly checking to make sure I was ok throughout the session but also just having a good chat about gaming and tattooing etc. It took just over an hour, which was the allotted time each artist has because they were scheduled to do tattoos all day, right up to 10pm when event closed. After completion I was given an aftercare kit to properly keep the tattoo healed and protected over the next 10 or 14 days that it would take to heal, but I was very happy with how it came out.

The surprises did not end there for the day, as I carefully rested my arm to let the new tattoo heal, the event had poster signings with the illustrators behind the Gears Ink logo and Bound by Blood designs, Luke Preece and Bill Elis which I sadly missed as I was having my tattoo done. This signing was then followed by the voice actors behind the characters of JD and Del from GEARS 5, Liam McIntyre and Eugene Bryd also signed posters for fans in the afternoon. I also have to say just how friendly and humble these two guys are, they took photos with fans and chatted away about the game, I was even able to talk with them for a good 20 minutes and they even took a photo of my tattoo to send to the developers over at Coalition back in the US.

The afternoon was dedicated to the fans at home unable to come to the event as the LIVE stream began hosted by Simon Miller, who is also a genuinely nice guy who took ten mins out to have a chat with me and complimented me on my recent joining of the “dome club”, with streams of the opening to the GEARS 5 campaign, showcasing the new Escape mode and a streamer vs streamer challenge with members of the Xbox On team, Benny Central and Leah leading the teams. The streams were also offering giveaways throughout the day. It was also a bonus to see just what it takes to put a professional live stream together and believe me when I say that behind the camera focused on the action, there is a massive team of people ensuring it all goes to plan and they run around like you would not believe!

As the afternoon progressed, I chose to head home in order to enjoy the stream as a fan, but just being at the event was an honest privilege and pleasure. So thankful to every member of the Xbox UK team who ran the event but special shout out to Charleyy Hodson and Samuel Bateman who behind the scenes handled the staggering social media for the event as well as the live streams, them and their team who put this event together deserve the highest of high fives for their dedication and vision for Gears Ink.

The event was so popular that they have actually extended it, so today Friday 06/09/19 you can head down to The Bike Shed, Old Street London, and see the event for yourself and enjoy it which I hope you are able to do if you have the chance.

Oh before I end I mentioned how the tattoo was just the start of the many surprises or my incredible luck that I had yesterday, well….when I got home and put the LIVE stream on, they kicked off the biggest giveaway of the day, the chance to win the brand new and exquisite GEARS 5 Limited Edition Xbox One X console….and halfway through playing the opening tutorial of the game as early access kicked off at 9PM UK time that day, my phone went berserk…..and then I was told….I WON THE CONSOLE!!!

Bad Boys For Life – Official Trailer Available Now

Andrew Edney
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0
Bad Boys For Life – Official Trailer Available Now

Sony Pictures UK have released the official trailer and image for the highly-anticipated action/comedy BAD BOYS FOR LIFE starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

The Bad Boys Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are back together for one last ride in the highly anticipated Bad Boys for Life.

Directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Will Smith, with an all star cast including Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, Paola Nunez, Kate Del Castillo, Nicky Jam, and Joe Pantoliano. BAD BOYS FOR LIFE will open at cinemas across UK and Ireland 17 January 2020.

 

Review: Mr. Potato Head Movin’ Lips from Hasbro

Andrew Edney
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Review: Mr. Potato Head Movin’ Lips from Hasbro

Here is our review of the Mr. Potato Head Movin’ Lips Interactive Talking Toy from Hasbro.

Who knows what Mr. Potato Head will say — or sing — next? This interactive talking toy is fun and entertaining for kids as well as adults. Just attach his mouth and press the buttons — his lips synchronize to wacky songs and some really funny phrases! The talking toy features over 40 phrases and 4 parodies to popular songs, including a parody of the song “Lips Are Movin” by Meghan Trainor.

What’s in the box?

The box contains Mr. Potato Head, all his pieces, two mouths and some instructions.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

Mr. Potato Head stands at 5.5 inches tall. He comes with various parts, including two separate mouths. You can also add parts from other Mr. or Mrs. Potato Heads if you want to mix and match!

He comes with a set of batteries too so he works straight out of the box, but you will want to have a spare set on hand ready to swap over.

Once you are ready to play, you just switch him on, put one of the two mouths on him and either press the song button or the phases button. Whichever one you press his lips will start moving and will be syncronised with whatever sounds are being made, whether it’s singing one of the songs he sings, or saying something funny. There are over 40 phrases and songs so you shouldn’t get bored.

Also, if you remove his mouth he still makes sounds but you can’t understand him, which is a nice touch and is quite funny.

All in all Mr. Potato Head Movin’ Lips is fun to play with, whether you are listening to him talk or sing or just playing with him. Certainly one to put on someone’s Christmas list.

The Mr. Potato Head Movin’ Lips Interactive Talking Toy from Hasbro is available now priced around £19.99 and is aimed at ages 3 and up.

Review: RAD

Sean McCarthy
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0
Review: RAD

I am a huge fan of the talented team over at Double Fine Productions and with the recent news that they have now joined the Xbox Studios family, the future is certainly bright for this amazing developer team under Tim Schafer. Before they bring their magic to all things Xbox, we have another little gem from the studio to sink our teeth into, released during Gamescom 2019, RAD took me by surprise the first time I saw gameplay and made a beeline to get it on my console and boy, did it continue to surprise me right from the start.

RAD is set some time after world fell victim an apocalyptic event and mankind is barely holding on. The first Apocalyptic event took place in the 1980s and as expected, devastated all live on Earth wiping out most of humankind and reaping havoc on the planet itself. Sometime after that a new civilization rose called the Menders, building colossal structures and scientific machines in the hope of saving the world but then they all vanished. Now the Menders are revered by the remaining humans who are hoping to use the technology they left behind to continue their work to save the world from the new monstrous creatures who now roam the nuclear wastelands. Now you, the player, have been selected as ‘The Chosen One’ to go out into the world to seek out and activate Mender technology.

At first there are a few characters to select for players, with more that can be unlocked but they are really just a visual cosmetic choice as they do not differ in either ability or have a back story that makes any real difference in the world or how you play RAD. Initially the game is rather deceptively basic with the player simply armed with a baseball bat of power for attack and the ability to jump. Very little is also explained to you other than you are tasked with heading out into the wastelands. One of the first things that hits you is just how vibrant the visuals and colour scheme is with a pallet that very much uses the theme of the 1980s with neon greens and pinks showing the effects of the nuclear fallout. The music as well has that tremendous 80s vibe and ‘The Voice’ that offers short little commentary on your gameplay adds a really lovely touch as you explore.

 

When I say the gameplay is deceptively basic is because at first it does genuinely feel very simplistic. You are in the world and exploring, revealing more of the map the further you explore with the aim of finding a Mender temple and the statues that provide the power needed to open its door. The maps are all procedural generated so you never visit the same map twice and they can range from quite small to larger sized areas to explore. Maps are also filled with different types of creatures, some small, some large and some that can fly but all of which want to fight you. The creatures also have different attacking patterns and attacks which starting off with only 3 basic attacks from swinging your bat to a charge attack and a jump kick attack, can make combat feel very one sided when you first start off on your adventure.

But this is where RAD fully comes to life and changes the gameplay for every creature you kill, you will absorb ‘rads’ into your body. Building up enough rads will cause your body to mutate. Mutations are random so you can never be too sure what you are going to end up having and they can either provide you with a new attacking option such as a projectile attack from a “boomerang” style arm that can be thrown to having a throwable Skull head which acts like a grenade. You can also gain more defensive mutations such as legs that allow you to leave a trail of toxic waste behind which will damage anything that comes into contact with it whilst some mutations will aid you in exploring such as wings to glide and to jump higher. You can have up to three physical mutations at one time and learning to adapt to these new abilities and learning how to use them to aid you in combat or exploration will be key to your success in RAD. You can also gather ‘Endo’ mutations which can boost your ability to resist an element type or give you more health or attack power. Endo mutations are limitless, working like the ‘Badass tokens’ in Borderlands so you can collect as many Endo mutations as you can find.

Gaining mutations is an absolute must in RAD and your first mutation will happen as pretty quickly by killing the creatures in the first area you arrive in. Maps will also have a Mender underground tunnel system which is filled with creatures but in a far more confined space but is a great way to farm the rads needed to learn a mutation. These tunnels can also be a quick way to move around the map and a source of Endo mutations so they are worth investigating on your travels. The world also has its own currency in the form of classic cassette tapes collected from defeating creatures and can be used at the various shops either at home base or from the random people you can meet out in the wastelands. Special crates, which require a floppy disc key, scan also be found which will contain helpful items to use such as rad boosters to health potions. There is certainly a lot to do and find as you explore in the world but not everything is straightforward because there is one challenging aspect to RAD which I came to love but can also be very frustrating at the same time…death!

Like other rogue-like games, there is a penalty for failure which comes in the form of your death. When you die, your character will be remade at home base, ready to set off once again but you will lose any and all mutations, items and currency you had acquired in your previous run or ‘life’. You will lose your progression in the world so if like me for example, you had a run/life that lasted for 2 hours but then you suddenly died to a level boss, having to start all over again can be disheartening. The game does offer a band-aid however in that after you complete a level and defeat the main boss, you have the chance to return to home base and can bank any currency you have so if you do need to restart over, you can at least use some saved currency to purchase items from the shops to give you a head start on your next run. Successfully progressing and surviving in the world will also unlock new characters and items in shops for you to buy which remain available even if you fail again. By playing and dying over and over can also lead to new shortcuts being accessible in the world but it also forces players to get better by learning from mistakes. Gaining an understanding of mutations and creatures will help you develop a winning strategy that allows you to survive longer and progress further.

That is where RAD becomes a true gem of a game that whilst the punishment for failing is cruel, at the same time it gives you the incentive and desire to give right back in and try again and because each run is different due to not knowing what mutations you will acquire or creatures and the strive to not fail becomes a true challenge because should you fall, back to the start you go. Like a game of Snakes and Ladders with a good dose of 80s Nostalgia, RAD was a surprising fun experience that kicked my butt more times than I care to admit but gave me a real Rocky Balboa need to jump back in and do better.

RAD offers a true challenge that fans of this genre will find entertaining and though it can be unforgiving at times, it will always give you a fresh chance to meet that challenge. Not to mention it managed to fulfil a dream I never knew I had of becoming a mutated Valley Girl with a baseball bat!

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