Ubisoft have released a commented walkthrough from the London based “Abandoned Mill” level in Splinter Cell Blacklist.
And here it is:
Are you going to buy Splinter Cell Blacklist? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Check out our interview with David Footman about Splinter Cell Blacklist
QNAP has launched a new rackmount NAS unit, aimed at budget-conscious SMB’s looking for advanced features in an entry-level device. Read on for details.
QNAP has launched a new rackmount NAS unit, aimed at budget-conscious SMB’s looking for advanced features in an entry-level device. These are four-bay rackmount units running Marvell CPU’s and sport 1GB of DDR3 RAM and dual gigabit network ports. Here is the press announcement from QNAP:
Taipei, Taiwan, March 21, 2013 – QNAP® Systems, Inc. today announced its new budget friendly Turbo NAS lineup TS-421U and TS-420U rackmount models for the workgroups and entry-level SMBs with fast-growing needs of economical network storage. The TS-421U features with Marvell CPU 2.0 GHz, and the TS-420U features with Marvell CPU 1.6 GHz. Both models operate with 1GB DDR3 RAM, and provide sustained high performance for daily routines in file storage, sharing, and data backup.
“The TS-421U and TS-420U satisfy the requirements of SMB and workgroup users who desire high performance networked storage with low acquisition cost but won’t compromise on reliability and features,”said Laurent Cheng, product manager ofQNAP. “They deliver high performance coupled with a broad range of business-ready applications.”
The TS-421U and TS-420U are affordable yet high performance and reliable network storage solutions. Both models support iSCSI target service with Thin Provisioning, dual Gigabit LAN ports with failover and load balancing. The offerings of 2 USB 3.0 port and 2 e-SATA ports improve data transfer speed, and are beneficial to expanding the storage capacity or backing up the NAS data.
The TS-421U and TS-420U deliver high efficiency in daily business operations and privilege control. Both new models support cross-platform file sharing for Windows®, Mac®, and Linux/UNIX users, and provide a centralized storage solution. The Windows AD and LDAP directory service features enable the IT administrator to retrieve user accounts from Windows AD or LDAP-based directory server and efficiently assign access rights on the Turbo NAS, greatly simplifying the account setup for businesses with a large number of users. The Windows ACL (Access Control List) feature allows sophisticated shared folder permission settings, increasing productivity on access right management.
Both new models offer a well-rounded backup solution with comprehensive backup alternatives, including Real-time Remote Replication (RTRR) for real-time or scheduled data backup, backup to cloud storage including Amazon® S3, ElephantDrive® and Symform®, and the support of third-party backup software such as Veeam® Backup & Replication and Acronis® True Image. Windows users and Mac users can use QNAP NetBak Replicator utility and Apple Time Machine respectively to easily back up data to the Turbo NAS.
More features designed for businesses include the FTP server for easier large-size file sharing, the RADIUS server for centralizing and consolidating user authentication, the Syslog server for collecting and storing the logs of other network device on the Turbo NAS, the VPN server for accessing the Turbo NAS and other resources on the same local network from the Internet, the proxy server for web filtering and monitoring to enhance business Internet security, the web server for hosting multiple websites on the Turbo NAS, and so on.
Key Specs of New Models
- TS-421U – 4-drive 1U rackmount unit, Marvell 6282 CPU (2.0 GHz), 1GB DDR3 RAM, 2X Gigabit LAN ports, 2X USB 3.0;
- TS-420U – 4-drive 1U rackmount unit, Marvell 6282 CPU (1.6 GHz), 1GB DDR3 RAM, 2X Gigabit LAN ports, 2X USB 3.0.
Availability
TS-421U and TS-420U are now shipping. Learn more about the new models and other QNAP Turbo NAS lineup at www.qnap.com.
Fans of punishing battles rejoice! God of War once again rears it’s Cerberus head in the form of Ascension, a prequel depicting Kratos’s capture and imprisonment by the Furies. With a deep splattering of multiplayer being offered up for sacrifice as well, could this be the perfect package for the GoW enthusiast?
Story
The sprawling saga of the God of War universe spans several games. All of them involving Kratos beating the living mythology out of any and all comers, be them mere Centaurs or even demi-Gods, all eventually fall to the flailing antics of our protagonist.
Attempting to portray a more human, emotional side to Kratos is the focus of this entry, with all the bloodshed he’s responsible for, surely there’s some remorse or regret there somewhere? Either way, Kratos has got himself into a spot of bother regarding his blood oath to Ares, enter the most extreme debt collectors this side of the River Styx.
As a prequel; involving the aforementioned Furies, you won’t be crossing paths with any of the staple series of Gods such as Zeus or Poseidon. Whilst this shouldn’t be a shame, the fact is, they’re just not quite as interesting or engaging as the others. Not to say that the Furies don’t rub you up the wrong way or anything, it’s just that Zeus has a form of stage presence that’s tricky to follow!
Gameplay
What it might lack in terms of complex plot devices, Ascension more than makes up for it with lashings of God of War trademark, visceral combat. Whilst you might not find the sprawling epic locations of which GoW 3 made it’s name, the combat itself feels a little tighter and more refined. Especially useful when timing is certainly something worth becoming proficient at! Instead of the vast hordes of Hades’ damned chasing you down, enemies tend to spawn in small numbers, often requiring different tactics dependant upon the encounter. Only at one point in the game does this change; wow it’s brutal! The now infamous ‘Trial of Archimedes’, is beyond anything you will encounter up until that point, but then it wouldn’t be God of War if it didn’t have at least one rage inducing, pad smasher section!
To balance the unfortunate lack of alternatives to the Blades of Chaos, Kratos has been given some new toys to play with. Gone are the satisfyingly hulk smash-like Nemean Cestus and the nippy Nemesis Whip, replaced instead with ‘World Weapons’. More akin to disposable items with useful effects than anything permanent or upgradeable, these five weapons have different uses for various situations. Use the club to create some much needed space or fling the spear repeatedly to whittle away at those pesky, evasive creatures. With a limited amount of uses, it can be wise to only use them when needed! New to the arsenal is a long range tether-like grab, incredibly useful against both flying enemies and standard weaklings, on certain enemies you can simply hold them in place whilst harassing something else. Finishing both enemies off by simply throwing said tethered enemy at another for a sarcastic finish always earns a smile!
It’s not like you don’t have anything to play with however! Over the course of the game, the Chaos Blades will become imbued with the element of four different yet iconic God’s. Whilst able to equip just one at a time, these can drastically affect your playstyle. Some are quicker; deal less damage, but in return, can make enemies drop magic orbs letting you unleash hell more frequently, which is nice! Whereas a different element may force your defeated foes to drop health orbs, very handy in a pinch! Your blades themselves will need levelling up as well with the usual 1000’s of red orbs rewarded from chests and general slaying, just to keep pace with the tougher foes. Upon unlocking each individual element, you may upgrade them to unlock special moves, magic attacks and Rage attacks. The amount of unlocks may seem a little underwhelming, but the drastic effect they can and will have on the battlefield just about makes up for it.
The puzzle’s are pretty much a standard affair, unfortunately due to the camera pretty much highlighting the solution in a cut-scene prior to you getting your mits on it yourself. There is some saving grace later on however when you unlock something that can manipulate the health of certain objects leading to some pretty interesting game mechanics. Another power-up creates a Kratos clone, whilst obviously a necessity for some puzzles, the real fun comes in utilising these powers during battle. Slowing enemies whilst your faux Kratos jumps about like a hooligan can be genuinely helpful!
QTE’s, the constant bane of some peoples (myself included) experience. Yet this is the one game franchise I will not only let off, but encourage their usage! The thing that normally winds me up is the obstruction of view from what is inevitably an exciting scene. GoW puts the required button inputs on the periphery of the screen, giving the deserved action it’s rightful place. Some of the more intimidating creatures now have ‘minigames’ instead of out and out QTE’s. Alternatively, you mash away with either triangle or square whilst looking for cues that your opponent will attack you, to dodge, simply move the left thumbstick either right or left. These are not only much more satisfying, but also vastly more immersive. With no on-screen help, the sense of accomplishment when you brutally cleave an elephants head in twain is glorifying yet horrific!
The multiplayer portion of the game feels very solid; it’s a cracking first attempt at a competitive online GoW experience. Many groaned and sighed upon news of an online GoW, but it’s got some real depth; it definitely should not be dismissed quite so easily. Going through the tutorial (an online pass is needed for this) will have you learn the basics of combat. The game will go through everything from, character colour clues to help recognise what your opponent’s state is in when he is vulnerable or invincible etc. to teaching the basic attacks and combos needed for survival out in the big bad world. Clueing you up early with basics such as these are paramount should you plan to take your experience online and survive for more than 5 minutes. Believe me!
With more unlocks than you can shake a spear at, fully kitting out your perfect killing machine is not going to be easy! Several classes such as warriors and battlemages are available as a base; pledging your allegiance to a certain God will grant you differing abilities, inevitably affecting stats, powers and the like. With equippable armour and weapons each having their own strengths and weaknesses, finding a compromise takes some time and is a nice change from the formulaic, ‘this one unlocks last, ergo it’s the best!’
Presentation
As always, it looks stunning, the visual fidelity can even surpass other exclusive titles on the platform. With expected camera pans and sweeps that zoom out for Kratos to become a spec upon these huge landscapes is no mean feat; it never fails to impress. Audio wise, it’s honestly one of the better sounding games I have heard in a long time, effects are punchy; voices are concise. One breath of fresh air is that there is, an albeit limited, choice of codecs for all the audiophiles out there. Even just putting a couple on, solidifies how much effort and attention to detail Santa Monica Studios have put in their game. Hopefully this catches on as it’s always nice to get the best possible sound out of your setup. An unusual, but welcome, inclusion is the ability to play the game in Greek, not only do things sound more authentic, but it drags you deeper into the sordid mythological world that little bit deeper.
Should You Buy?
For all it’s good, nay great points, there are a few irksome notes to point out. Firstly, this isn’t the longest game in the world, it will take approximately 8 hours to complete on normal; that’s with acquiring all the collectibles too. Hopefully the multiplayer will appeal to you, it can certainly make you realise just how bad a GoW player you are and also how much button mashing can be a somewhat effective tactic despite feeling cheap, just thinking back upon some bitter deaths there! There is also a bit of a lull in the middle where it feels like re-treaded ground, the same block puzzles crop up from a generation of consoles ago. More so, the boss battles and story are decidedly not as epic nor as exciting as God of War 3. However, if you like slashing mythical creatures up into disturbingly graphic portions, like I do, then you can’t go wrong here! It’s got replayability and multiplayer in lashings, just be aware that it’s not quite as good as God of War 3.
Reviewed on the PS3.
The office Twitter app for Windows 8 has been updated.
As is the usual case for Windows 8 apps, the details on the update is vague – it just says “other improvements and fixes”.
Twitter for Windows 8 is available now in the Windows Store in 22 languages
Kabam, the leader in the western world for free-to-play core games, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have launched The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age for Web browsers, now available on Facebook and other Web platforms. The free-to-play tactical combat game is inspired by The Hobbit Film Trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson and a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM).
Kabam and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment previously launched The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth, the free-to-play game for mobile devices, currently available on the App Store for iOS and on Google Play™ for Android™. The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth was the no. 10 grossing game on iOS worldwide and within the top 15 grossing games on Google Play™ worldwide in Jan. 2013, according to the App Annie Index.
“The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age and The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth deliver two immersive and dramatically different ways to experience the most iconic fantasy world of all time, across the Web and mobile devices,” said Andrew Sheppard, President of Kabam Game Studios. “Kabam is unique in its ability to deliver compelling, high-fidelity free-to-play games across genres and platforms.”
The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age challenges players to take up arms alongside the greatest heroes of the Third Age, including select characters from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey like Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield, Radagast and more . Gamers are charged to lead an army of Elves, Dwarves or Orcs in fast-paced tactical combat and band together with thousands of other players to join powerful alliances and wage an epic war online. The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth challenges players to build their own empire in Middle-earth, in a deep, immersive strategy game.
“The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age from Kabam and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is a great example of the type of high quality games being built on Facebook,” said Sean Ryan, Director of Games Partnerships, Facebook. “Kabam’s first strategy game Kingdoms of Camelot launched on Facebook in 2009 and became a major franchise, and we’re excited to see Kabam build their latest game on Facebook. As the Facebook games ecosystem grows, we look forward to seeing more highly engaging experiences from Kabam.”
“We’re eager to bring The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age to the millions of Middle-earth fans who engage online,” said Greg Ballard, Senior Vice President, Digital Games, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The Facebook and browser-based portals are key locations where The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film fans can regularly engage with Middle-earth in a shared interactive environment.”
The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age will be available in English, French, German and Spanish. The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age and The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth are developed and operated by Kabam, and co-published by Kabam and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. In addition to Facebook, the game is available on Kabam.com and the Google Chrome Store.
Today sees the launch of Trials Evolution Gold Edition on PC from Ubisoft.
RedLynx’s signature franchise, the Trials series first made its mark in gaming with the 2008 release of Trials 2 SE for the PC. That breakout indie hit led to further success on the Xbox, and ever since, PC gamers have been clamouring for more Trials.
That wait is now over, as the competition begins all over again in Trials Evolution: Gold Edition, the biggest Trials game ever released with 129 tracks and mini games from Trials Evolution and Trials HD.
The game also includes all of the features of its forerunners, from the in-game editor which brought more than 300,000 tracks to the Xbox LIVE version of Trials Evolution, to the global Leader Boards and four-player Multiplayer, in both local and online modes.
Here is the launch trailer:
And here are some screenshots to keep you going:
We are playing it now, so expect our review shortly.
For more information about Trials Evolution: Gold Edition and the Trials franchise visit the brand new Trials portal at http://www.trialsgame.com
Are you going to get it? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
The Gadget Show LIVE returns to the NEC in a few weeks and we have got 10 pairs of tickets to giveaway.
So all you have to do to win a pair of tickets is click on the Contact Us link at the top of the page and tell us what day you want to go (the tickets are only valid on a weekday). Make sure you use a valid email address when submitting your entry otherwise we can’t contact you. You can enter as many times as you like, but only one entry per day will be accepted.
Each winner will receive a pair of tickets to use on any of the weekday show days. Unfortunately you will have to cover your own transport costs and anything else, but each pair of tickets is worth over £40.
Usual contest rules apply, and the winners will be selected at random and will be contacted after the contest ends.
The contest closes Thursday 28th March, so good luck.
The event takes place on 3-7 April at the NEC, Birmingham, and more details are available from www.gadgetshowlive.net/birmingham.
Canon today unveiled the smallest and lightest APS-C DSLR ever made, the EOS 100D.
The EOS 100D offers a range of simple controls and a helpful in-camera feature guide, perfect for those looking to explore the world of DSLR photography for the first time but without the bulk normally associated with a DSLR.
The EOS 100D is the smallest and lightest APS-C DSLR in its class making it compact enough to take everywhere so you can capture adventures in stunning quality. Measuring just 116.8 x 90.7 x 69.4mm and weighing only 407g, the incredibly lightweight and compact body also features a bright Optical Viewfinder – giving users the full, responsive experience of a DSLR in a compact form. The EOS 100D also features a large 7.7cm (3.0”) ClearView II Capacitive Touch screen – making it easy to adjust settings and instantly review shots after capture.
At the EOS 100D’s heart is a new 18 MP APS-C Hybrid CMOS AF II Sensor, which combines with the power of the DIGIC 5 image processor to deliver stunning results in virtually any situation. The new sensor uses phase detection pixels spread across 80 per cent of the sensor’s imaging surface to provide increased AF speed and tracking performance when the camera is in live view or when capturing Full-HD movies. Capable of shooting at speeds of up to 4fps, the EOS 100D makes it easy for beginners to capture a range of high quality images, be it of special moments with family and friends or fast-paced action on holiday.
EOS 100D – key features:
· 18.0 Megapixel Hybrid CMOS AF II sensor
· Compact, portable design
· Simple shooting with Scene Intelligent Auto
· Optical viewfinder and large touch screen
· Full-HD movies with Hybrid CMOS AF II
· Creative Filters and Extra Effect Shot
· Built-in Feature Guide
· EOS System of lenses and accessories
The EOS 100D is available from late April, with an SRP of:
£569.99 / €729.99 – body only
£699.99 / €899.99 – with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
Canon today unveiled the EOS 700D, their most advanced consumer EOS model to date. Boasting 5fps shooting, a wide 9-point all cross type AF system and Vari-angle Clear View II LCD touch screen, it is the ideal camera for those wanting to develop their photography skills further.
The EOS 700D is powered by a Canon-designed and manufactured 18.0MP APS-C Hybrid CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5 image processor, which deliver outstanding levels of resolution – producing images that are consistently rich in detail and colour. Offering up to 5fps shooting, the EOS 700D is ideal for capturing a range of subjects, from fast paced action to stunning skylines, or beautiful portraits of family and friends. Additionally with a native 100-12,800 ISO range, the EOS 700D is capable of catching remarkable levels of detail even when shooting in tricky low light conditions.
The EOS 700D’s advanced AF System consists of 9 high performance, cross-type points spread across the frame, delivering greater focussing speed and accuracy to ensure photographers can always keep desired subjects in focus, even as they move around. With the option to manually select and adjust focus points, or simply use full automatic mode, the EOS 700D provides aspiring photographers with an easy way to explore different kinds of image composition as their confidence grows.
The EOS 700D features a new, simplified 360° rotating mode dial to provide easy and swift access to the camera’s various shooting modes. A 7.7cm (3.0”) Vari-angle Clear View LCD II Touch screen also makes it easy for users to adjust settings as well as frame, shoot and review from a variety of angles. A new external coating, adopted from Canon’s mid-range EOS models, also provides a more robust and durable finish.
EOS 700D – key features:
· 18.0 Megapixel Hybrid CMOS AF sensor
· Creative Full-HD movies and Hybrid CMOS AF
· Vari-angle Clear View LCD II Touch screen
· Scene Intelligent Auto
· ISO 100-12800 sensitivity, extends to ISO 25600
· 5 fps shooting 9-point AF system
· Range of Creative filters
· EOS System of lenses and accessories
The EOS 700D is available from late April, with an SRP of:
£619.99/ €789.99 – body only
£749.99 / €959.99 – with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
Eidos Montréal, a Square Enix studio, have announced the Director’s Cut of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, the definitive version of the critically acclaimed action-RPG title, is coming soon exclusively to Nintendo’s Wii U system.
The Director’s Cut offers a full slate of Wii U GamePad features including touch-screen hacking, interactive map editing, augmented sniping, grenade throwbacks and many other neural hub enhancements. Along with in-depth Miiverse integration, the Director’s Cut also provides access to developer commentaries and in-game guides.
Tongs’s Rescue mission and the entire Missing Link chapter have also been integrated seamlessly into the narrative flow of the Director’s Cut. Other core Deus Ex: Human Revolution augmentations include overhauled boss fights, refined game balance and combat, improved AI, and striking visual improvements which make this edition the best looking and most immersive Deus Ex experience available.
For more information about Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut, log on to http://www.DeusEx.com.
Zen Studios have released Star Wars Pinball, a brand new collection of tables developed with authentic Star Wars moments on iOS.
Star Wars Pinball is $1.99 and comes with the Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back table. Boba Fett and Star Wars: The Clone Wars are available as in app purchases.
Star Wars Pinball on iOS comes with a special “Balance of the Force” feature, allowing players the choice to support the Light Side or the Dark Side. Players scores will go toward the selected side and alter the game UI in real time!
Star Wars Pinball is available on the Apple App Store now.
For more information, visit www.starwarspinball.com or www.zenstudios.com.
Sony has released Playstation 3 firmware version 4.40. The firmware doesn’t come with any specific details, although it does seem to fix the stability problems with connecting online which seem to have been occurring over the last few days.
You can download the firmware via your PS3 using the system update option.
NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe today open a treasure chest of details about the release of ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 2 ‘s Collector Edition, coming to PlayStation 3 in August 2013.
The Collector’s Edition of ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 2 will include a high quality and exclusive 14cm figurine of Luffy, captain of the Straw Crew, created by the sculptor Keiji Iwakura produced by Banpresto, making this edition an essential ONE PIECE fan must-have.
From now, Treasure hunters can pre-order ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 2 Standard and Collector’s Edition on the dedicated website www.OnePiece-Game.com and as a special treat receive exclusive pre-order bonuses to be revealed later on.
Developed by Omega/Tecmo Koei, ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 2, will come packed with piratical new features such as the brand new mode Pirate Log that will allow player to experience a three way fight between Pirates, the Marine and the Straw hat crew in a parallel world. Players will step into the shoes of Luffy, Sanji and Zoro and join the rest of the irrepressible Straw Hat crew for all new adventures based on the popular New World, Skypiea and fight against Eneru for the first time ever on PS3.
