Parabellum - a free MMO FPS

Parabellum combines the best elements of FPS (First Person Shooter) and MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) games to create an extremely unique and fully customizable gaming experience. Parabellum introduces the first interactive non-linear multiplayer campaigns in addition to an advanced character & weapon development system and realistic and engaging game-play.

‘Parabellum will set the standard of what to expect from Free2Play games,‘ said David Demers, Associate Producer of Parabellum. ‘Bringing quality Triple-A titles to the Free-to-Play market raises the bar for all and sets GamersFirst apart from the rest.‘

Set in a world in a not too distant future, the privatization of global military forces has created highly profitable opportunities for ex-soldiers, mercenaries and adventurers. Gamers must choose their alignments carefully to survive. You must join forces with one of the two foremost covert reconnaissance organizations in the world. The CTF; an organization avowed to keeping anarchy at bay, or the Syndicate; a legion of bloodthirsty rebels bent on destruction and chaos. Each of them are solicited by the C.I.N. a Global Mercenary Network that provides contract missions to each of these factions who vie against one another with the fate of the World as the ultimate prize.

‘GamersFirst is a pioneer and market leader of the free-to-play model in Europe and North America.‘ Says Frank Trigub, Director/Founding Partner, Acony Games. ‘We are happy to have such an ideal partner in GamersFirst for Parabellum.’

Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution

This new, third instalment on the Nintendo Wii should be the perfect party game. Unfortunately, the game suffers the same problem as the boxing in Wii Sports – simply put, I didn’t find the game accurate enough to translate the variety of moves I was trying to pull off – or indeed that featured in the move list of the manual!

The 20 caricatured fighters in the game offer parodies from a variety of arenas including sport, music and movies. The over the top moves are fun but you could well argue that we’re a bit past all of this pastiche, cheap characterisation.

Character creation does feature in the game, which is one of the highlights. It’s a stronger element as you can craft the type of character you wish.

Ultimately, Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution comes across as a tired old game that has extraordinarily broken controls. The Nintendo Wii tactile system of nunchuck and Wiimote has been used to amazing effect for games like Resident Evil 4. So how this game has got it quite so wrong is beyond me.

Available: Now
Price: $45
Score: 4/10

The House of the Dead: Overkill

Survival horror as it’s never been seen before! A pulp-style take on the classic Sega light-gun shooter series. Back when the famous Agent G was still fresh out of the academy, he teamed up with hard-boiled bad-ass Agent Washington to investigate stories of mysterious disappearances in small-town Louisiana. Little did they know what blood-soaked mutant horror would await them in the streets and swamps of Bayou City.

The game has a wonderful grindhouse style that’s quite unlike anything else and doesn’t take itself too seriously – which is completely to credit! Whilst simple, it does provide some great fun. But, it’s the language that has allowed the game to become World Record setting!

Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking, today announced that recently released The House of the Dead: OVERKILL (SEGA, 2009) has broken into the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition for most swearing in a video game with a whopping 189 uses of the f-word.

Setting a record in this brand new category, the title recognizes The House of the Dead: OVERKILL as the most profane video game in history. During three hours of relatively limited dialogue, the campaign features 189 uses of the f-word, which equates to just over one per minute and three percent of all words spoken in the game.

Video Games Records Manager for Guinness World Records, Gaz Deaves, said: ‘This record category pre-existed for movies, music and television, but The House of the Dead: OVERKILL is the first video game to be awarded the title in the Gamer’s Edition. It’s a mark of the times.

The new record will be shortlisted for inclusion in next year’s Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition. The 2009 Gamer’s Edition, which includes high scores and interesting facts from the world of video gaming, also dedicates a separate section to video game controversy; among the many nations listed in the chapter, Greece stands as the first country to ban all video games for an all-encompassing ban on electronic video gaming lasting two months during 2002. Mexico banned Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 in the state of Chihuahua because the state’s governor was offended by the game’s portrayal of the region and its people. The longest ban in gaming history is awarded New York City, whose mayor imposed a ban on pinball machines, which stood for 34 years from 1942.

Jonathan Burroughs, writer of The House of the Dead: OVERKILL, stated: ‘It is a dubious honour to receive such an accolade working in an industry where so often the fruits of your labours are derided and dismissed for being puerile or irresponsible, but in the case of The House of the Dead: OVERKILL a little puerility was the order of business. Parodying the profane excess of grindhouse cinema was Headstrong Games’ objective and I am flattered that this record acknowledges that we not only rose to that challenge, but entirely exceeded it.‘

The House of the Dead: Overkill is available now for around $50. Watch out for the review coming soon!

The Action Camera

These two tough, little, no-nonsense digital movie cams can attach to a helmet, mast, handlebars, your foot, arm or whatever to record your latest adrenalin rush. Finally, you’ll have something worthwhile to add to YouTube or MySpace that’s actually interesting and exciting. Keep your hands free to pull the rip cord, swing from a branch, leap bungeed from a bridge, ride your bike, your horse or the back of a turtle (you never know), and let the Action Cams capture it all.

The ATC2K boasts an in-built SD card slot which can boost the existing 32MB of on-board memory up to 2GB. Or go for the new, wider lens 3K version and boost it to a whopping 4GB. The picture quality on both cameras is pretty decent too with a 640×480 VGA CMOS sensor, and you can play your footage back on your PC or TV.

The ATC2K is water, dirt, rain, snow and shock proof and the 3K version is all this plus it is waterproof down to 3m. Both provide cinematic proof that you lived life to the full. Go and get muddy and crazy, and amass some evidence for use in your old age that proves you kicked butt in your well spent youth.

ATC2K
* A hands-free digital POV (point of view) movie camera with sound.
* Attach it to your helmet, mast, handlebars, foot or whatever you so choose to get great action footage.
* It’s water, dirt, rain, snow and shock proof.
* 32MB of on-board memory.
* An in-built SD card slot so memory can be boosted up to 2GB.
* A 640×480 VGA CMOS sensor for jolly decent picture quality.
* Plug the Action Camera into your PC or TV via USB or RCA cables (cables included).
* An easy to use LCD display.
* A handlebar grip.
* A helmet grip.
* Two touch-fastening straps.
* A siliconrubber head strap and silicon grease.
* Requires 2x AA batteries (not included).
* Suitable for PCs running Windows XP or Windows 2000.
* Size: 12 x 6 x 4cm.

Prices from around $100.

MadWorld

Varrigan City is where the game takes place. It’s a city that has been seized by terrorists and turned into their own sporting arena; where “kill or be killed” is the only rule. Welcome to Death Watch…. As players battle enemies they must master the use of various weapons and items found within their environment, such as a chainsaws and street signs, and compete in minigames designed to push the players over the edge.

A new calendar website has now begun the countdown to the launch of the game and will include exclusive videos, screenshots, a competition and more in the coming days.

The game features irreverent humour and over-the-top violence. A variety of set-piece finishing moves that involve being extremely creative with the interactive environments (a bus lined with spikes or flaming pits) will often score higher points than simply bashing your opponents into a pulp.

Madworld delivers a visceral gaming experience that is sure to be an instant classic on the Wii. The game is set for release on 20/03/09.

Watchmen

Set in a very different version of the 1980s to our own, relations between America and the Soviet Union are reaching fever pitch. This culminates in a very real potential of nuclear attack. Nixon takes a historic third term in the White House, whilst costumed heroes remain a part of society – albeit an outlawed one thanks to the Keene Act – which makes their very existence illegal.

In this extremely charged climate, the Doomsday Clock creeps ever closer to demonstrating the threat of nuclear war. In this backdrop, a masked crime fighter investigates the death of a former hero which leads to the discovery of a huge conspiracy that has far-reaching consequences for the whole of mankind.

Many years after the original Minutemen (costumed heroes) – Captain Metropolis, Mothman, Nite Owl, The Silhouette, Silk Spectre, Dollar Bill, Hooded Justice and The Comedian – a new breed of heroes takes up the mantle in the form of the Watchmen. The Comedian being the only hero remaining, he is joined by Nite Owl II, Silk Spectre II, Ozymandias, Dr Manhattan and Rorschach.

The film begins with an amazing action sequence, as The Comedian is systematically attacked by an unknown assailant and eventually thrown out of his apartment, resulting in his death. This leads to the violent vigilante Rorschach following a trail that leads him to a truth showing that one hero is anything but.

Dr Manhattan has been wonderfully realised in the film as the only character with true powers – although his powers are almost unlimited as a near god. His complex relationship with the other characters (including his lover Silk Spectre) and humanity as a whole leads to a conclusion of the film that is slightly changed – though the overriding sentiment is the same.

For me, Rorschach is clearly the highlight of the film. Played by Jackie Earl Haley, his subtle actions and stilted dialogue show the pained soul that is behind the mask. The fight sequence where he is rescued from the prison is truly breathtaking, with slow motion used to great effect (much like Snyder did in 300).

The overall tone of the film is quite dark, with some stylised violence throughout interspersed with some comedy moments (such as the flame thrower going off at the end of the love scene). Bear in mind, this is not a film for children. A violent rape scene and sequences involving torture are not pleasant and the film deserves the 18 certificate it received in the UK.

Watchmen is clearly a labour of love for Zack Snyder and if you’re a fan you’ll be able to see that immediately. Some of the scenes are literally frame for frame, whilst others have exactly the same dialogue. Most of the depth remains in the story and the action sequences will appeal to the modern cinema visitor.

The uniquely flawed ‘heroes’ in the film are unlike any others you may have seen and for that reason alone it’s worth watching whether you’re a fan or not. However, do be ready for the whole 162 minutes – this is not a short or easy going film.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. free 2004 build

The version of the game – ‘xrCore’ build 1935, dated October 18th 2004 – is available from several links online, but visit here for a reliable download.

Several levels that were cut from the final game, including Dead City, Swamp and Generators, are available to play in the build. It’s described as “playable”, although GSC says emphatically that it doesn’t guarantee stability or fitness, and won’t provide technical support for it.

The build offers a window into one of the more famous recent examples of development hell. The ridiculously ambitious post-apocalyptic first-person adventure was announced in 2001 and originally
pencilled in for a 2003 released date.

Last year, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky was released, which puts the player in the centre of the action one year prior to the original game.

A group of stalkers has for the first time reached the very heart of the Zone – Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and brings about a cataclysm on the brink of a catastrophe. An immense blow-out of anomalous energy changes the Zone. There are no more reliable and relatively safe roads. The entire levels vanish in the outbursts of anomalies. Stalkers and even expeditions die or end up sealed on the lost territories. New areas, which remained unknown since the time of the Zone emergence, appear on the Zone map. The Zone continues to shake with blowouts. The Zone is unstable. The anomalous activity is at its maximum.

Changes of the Zone map known to stalkers shake the fragile balance of forces in the Zone. Among the groupings, there flare up hostilities for the new territories, artefact fields and spheres of influence. There are no more old enemies or friends – now everyone is for himself. The Factions War has started between the groupings.

Halo Wars

Capturing the Halo world shouldn’t have been too difficult a task given that there are three games already to market, however, it’s still a compliment to the developers that the game comes across as an authentic Halo experience despite you having control far above the battlefield.

Gameplay
Naturally, resource management comes into play, and you’ll have various elements to interact with in order to develop, boost and ultimately control a map-winning force. Units that you’d expect to see are taken directly from the franchise such as Warthogs, Banshees, Spartans and Elites. This is sure to please any fan.

Controls
Of all games, you could argue that the consoles are least suited to providing a simplistic interface for the RTS genre. However, Halo Wars does very well in making things simple to control and intuitive, without having to boil the game down for the lowest common denominator – the casual gamer.

Overall
Halo Wars delivers a good, if not great RTS game that offers something different for the franchise. Some may be disappointed at the lack of intricacy but on the whole the gameplay comes fun and fast. Upgradable weapons and decent cut scenes are the icing on the cake and fans and newbies alike will get enjoyment from this title.

8/10
Available: Now
Price: $60

Lovely cute giant microbes

Of course, microbes tend to be extremely small – in fact completely invisible to the naked eye. The people at Plush have decided to bring these incredibly interesting micro-organisms to our view in the form of soft touch versions.

Naturally, all Giant Microbes are cute, interesting coloured and furry to appeal to mini-scientists of all ages (and geeks of an older age!). They make great gifts for anyone who happens to be under the weather and I’ve just ordered two of my favourites – the Red Blood Cell and Stomach Ache!

Onechanbara Bikini Samurai Squad

Story
Onechanbara Bikini Samurai Squad is driven by a nonsensical story that centres on Aya and Saki – the ‘Samurai Squad’ of the title who have Baneful Blood. This blood allowed them to be excellent assassins and general all round bad-asses, before settling down for a more quiet life. However, Saki sees a zombie outbreak on TV which starts the quest of the game. So far, so very anime. Nonetheless, the story provides the backdrop to the action, so let’s move on to that.

Action
It’s surprising that the game has been marked down on numerous sites for not having that much to it. Granted, perhaps the elements feel a little disparate but each character has a range of attacks for taking on the undead. This includes a kick, a slash (which when pressed in the right rhythm becomes a combo), a sword clean (otherwise your sword gets stuck in zombie gore), a ranged attack or a grab and different weapons.

In mid-combat, a lot of the time you’ll be able to tag in another character. This makes for an extra added element – especially if one of the characters has a high blood meter. They can then go into rampage mode (not that this is actually documented particularly well in the manual). The action in the game tends to be frenetic, quick, bloody and at times hilarious – especially when there’s just a pair of legs left!

Graphics
Onechanbara Bikini Samurai Squad isn’t the greatest looking game out there. The character models are ok, the cut sequences are quite nice but suffer from screen tearing (how does this happen in a game like this?!) and some of the levels are quite bland. However, it somehow suits the look and feel of the game.

Sound
The regular breathing of the girls in the game is very reminiscent of just about every anime you’ve seen, whilst the sword sounds and other effects are well conceived. The soundtrack is quite good too, being very Japanese.

Girls, Gore and Swords
Sex sells, so you have to wonder if that’s the target that the developers were aiming at, as well as throwing in zombies, sword slicing and the ability to dress up your character as you see fit. It is actually extremely reminiscent of DOA: Extreme Beach Volleyball.

The reason being, in that there was a game with not that much depth to the main concept but other things going on besides and that’s exactly how Onechanbara feels. There’s almost an element of the game feeling unfinished but then you get dragged off on another element, such as winning a new costume or ‘legs’ (you can change the appearance of any of the three characters in the game).

Overall
As I alluded to in the introduction, it’s hard to review Onechanbara Bikini Samurai Squad as I would another game – not least because it was released as a budget title. It knows it can’t compete with the likes of Resident Evil 5 – but trust me, it isn’t aiming to. What we have then is a fun game, one which is instantly accessible and is definitely very old school.

If you don’t mind fighting through swathes of zombie hordes and taking on old style bosses in a retro manner, then I’d say you should look this game up. Don’t buy it expecting the ‘next big thing’ or too much depth and you simply won’t go wrong. It’s not a game that will last you forever, but you’ll definitely have fun upgrading the characters, altering their costumes and slicing up hundreds of zombies.

7/10
Available: Now
Price: $37

Limited Edition Red Xbox360.

Fans will enjoy the same premium Xbox 360 Elite experience at an even greater value with a copy of Resident Evil 5, matching Limited Edition red Wireless Controller, black Xbox 360 Headset, a 120 GB Hard Drive and exclusive premium Resident Evil 5 theme (download via Xbox LIVE). Supplies are very limited, so Resident Evil fans will want to pre-order theirs today.

With the release of Resident Evil 5 and the special edition red console, the game has found a new home on Xbox 360. The new two-player cooperative experience in Resident Evil 5 is a perfect fit for Xbox LIVE. With 17 million members and growing, Xbox LIVE connects Resident Evil fans and their new red Xbox 360 consoles to their friends on the couch or across the globe. To further provide a taste of the full entertainment experience available on Xbox LIVE, fans will also receive a bonus card to download the hit Xbox LIVE Arcade title from Capcom, Super Street Fighter ll Turbo HD Remix.

As an addition to this information, I’d like to say that I managed to complete the demo levels for Resident Evil 5 about six times. Is it going to be good then? Oh yes, I would imagine that it’ll be a very good game indeed. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a limited edition red console then that’ll make the game just that little bit sweeter.

Street Fighter IV

Gameplay
The characters this time around are represented in 3D and fight on 3D backgrounds. However, they are locked in to a 2D plane, meaning you don’t have the option to sidestep into 3D. Essentially it was a way in which to keep the gameplay the same but move the graphics into the 21st century.

The characters of course make the game, so you will be pleased to hear that Ken, Ryu, Chun Li, and Zangief etc all make an appearance. Alongside the cast of Street Fighter 2 Turbo you’ll be able to select some new fighters, including Crimson Viper (fights with power gloves), a lucha libre wrestler known as El Fuerte, Rufus – a large kung fu master, MMA exponent Abel others.

Most of the characters seem quite well balanced, with a range of standard, special, super special and EX attacks (these last ones are more powerful versions of special attacks, for example Ryu’s hadoken is unleashed as a fire variant). There’s also an ultra combo system that builds on an aggro style meter, charging up to the max when you’ve taken a lot of damage. In one fell swoop, you can turn the match around.

On the whole, fighters seem to be quite well balanced (barring the comedy variants such as Dan). Seth though remains a big disappointment. This new boss character looks quite derivative and is similar to the boss from SF3. Worst of all though is his fighting style. He goes from reasonable to beat to massively overpowered in the second round.

Controls are slick, which is as you’d expect for a game that hasn’t been tampered with too much and doesn’t move from the tried and tested formula. So, you have sick buttons (light, hard and medium kicks and punches) with which to attack your opponent. Alongside this you have a counter system initiated by using both medium attacks together, which implements another layer of strategy to the game.

Playing through Xbox Live means that at any point you could face ‘A New Challenger’ – what could be more fun than that? A global ranking system means you get to see how good you really are, as well as facing players from all over the world.

Graphics
Street Fighter IV is a real visual treat. Characters have been reimagined in a chunkier, visually arresting style and it’s something that I personally think you’ll love or hate. Characters look almost like action figures that have sprung to life. Animations are completely superb and when you do nail a combo that is of the ‘Ultra’ variety the game moves into 3D to show the full damage you inflict upon your opponent. It really is quite a sight to behold.

Sound
Not too much to say about this one here – it’s not like you need the atmosphere of Dead Space created for SFIV! The voice over work isn’t particularly great, but the sound effects in general are nice and meaty. The wailing guitar might make you think that you’re back in the early nineties but hey, this is Street Fighter II but with a modern twist!

Overall
My first impression was that I could just pick up and play it. Don’t get me wrong, you can do that. You might find however that you’re just not as good at it as you remember – which is probably down to years of other games such as Soul Calibur and Tekken. Nonetheless, Street Fighter IV is a fantastic game and one that deserves a place on the shelf of any gamer.

Granted, the gameplay does hark back to another era when things were more simple. However, subtle tweaks, added characters and great little elements such as the anime intros are divine. If you’re a fan of fighting games then they generally don’t come much better, or fair than this.

Without the simple combos of the Tekken series or the huge complexity of the Virtua Fighter games, Street Fighter IV remains at heart a game that provides a character for all and gameplay mechanics to put a grin firmly on your face. Capcom, you’ve done a great job.

9/10
Available: Now
Price: $50

There’s no secret around the fact that the PS3 is destined to have a firmware update coming fairly soon. What is perhaps more of a mystery is exactly what this update will bring, the benefits, and sometimes of course, the disadvantages. Over at Game Trailers, a forum user has given details from his ‘friend who works in R&D at Sony‘ that includes a range of features that the forthcoming 2.7 firmware update will bring. Here’s the list:

Friends List:
- Voice Messaging is now available as an alternative to text after selecting a user on the friends list. Voice message recordings are capped at 30 seconds.
- Home Integration: Saved PlayStation Home avatar photos can be selected as photo ID for Gamer Card/Friends List.
- Trophy number and Gamer Level are listed under Friend names for quick reference.

Gamer Card & Trophies:
- Gamer Card layout has been changed to more closely resemble the PlayStation Store aesthetic.
- Past Trophy information can be viewed in detail by selecting “Recent Trophy History” option.
- Newly acquired trophies auto-sync in the background
- Server infrastructure for Trophies has been optimized. Resulting in faster retrieval time for Gamer Card and Trophy information.

In-Game XMB:
- Loading time for In-Game XMB has been drastically reduced, resulting in a more seamless in-game experience.
- “Theme settings” options while in-game is now available, allowing custom themes to be applied to the In-Game XMB.
- Internet Browser can now be accessed while in-game.
- Voice messaging and voice chat options can be used while in-game.
- Options that cannot be used in the XMB during game sessions are grayed out (but still selectable) to eliminate user accessibility confusion.

The biggest benefits? I think people will naturally flock to the voice messaging (something the Xbox 360 has had for a long time now), the “Recent Trophy History” sounds quite interesting and the “Theme settings” could be good. The improved game integration will be a boon to all. Overall, I think if this leak is true, then PS3 owners are in for a treat of new options when the firmware update, 2.7, arrives.

Fear Alma – again. F.E.A.R., the seminal classic shooter, revitalised a tired FPS genre with a great mix of horror, gunplay and Matrix style slow-motion action sequences that proved a huge amount of fun. F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin returns to the same formula, and doesn’t really differ too much. However, more of the same means more fun.

Story

The sequel to the original game kicks off just before the original game ends, i.e. prior to the massive explosion triggered by the release of Alma (a girl raised to be a biological weapon used to produce ‘replica’ soldiers) and her crazy powers. The player takes the role of Sgt. Michael Becket, a member of a special task force sent in to rescue Genevieve Aristide – President of the corporation responsible for the replica soldiers and Alma herself. Luckily, quite early in, Becket receives the same power as the ‘Pointman’ from the original game, meaning that he too can slow down time (or rather his super reactions kick in) to take out enemy forces.

Graphics

There’s no doubt that F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin looks great. The environments, whilst at times looking quite similar, are very well rendered with a great level of detail. Textures are good and enemies are particularly well animated (check out how they try to vault walls and react when you shoot them). Perhaps the real visual treats come in the form of Alma and the other ghost encounters. Frequently disorienting, you’ll be amazed at the variety of effects used.

Sound

A true highlight of the game, there’s nothing quite like the ghostly sounds of Alma, the announcements by soldiers giving you a heads up on the plan or hearing the dreaded “I see a flashlight!”. All of the incidental stuff really does add to the game and it serves to really show what a quality package the whole game is.

Mood

I’m still undecided on how I feel about the mood of the game. There are some particularly tense moments provided by the horror atmosphere. However, it can be quite jarring to go from this to an action-packed encounter when you’re piloting a mech. It isn’t Dead Space, but at times it seems like it wants to be. When it does get it right, it’s fantastic, but at other times it does appear to be a little schizophrenic.

Gameplay

Ah, the most important element to any game – and F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin does not disappoint. The gunplay is very, very satisfying indeed. Only perhaps Black served up much destruction when using automatic weapons. Moving to the guns, there’s a lot to play with in F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, from lasers to shotguns and everything in between.

The other aspect to the game that is more supportive of the horror storyline are the continuing encounters with Alma. They’ll frequently pop up in the game and you’ll have to either interact with a sequence or face a button mash to stop yourself from being ‘merged’. These quick time action sequences are nothing new but sit quite well with the game as a whole.

My favourite addition to the gameplay definitely comes in the action areas where you get to pilot a powered armour suit. The amount of destruction you can wreak is simply superb. There are a lot of destructible environments in the game and you’ll love the unlimited chaingun ammo and rechargeable missiles.

The single player part of the game is quite well plotted with a varied range of enemies to tackle (including Alma herself). The multiplayer modes are somewhat limited but nonetheless reasonably fun. I’m convinced it’ll find some fans out there.

Overall

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is an impressive achievement by Monolith – though given their previous pedigree of games I didn’t expect anything less. The story will keep you interested, the horror sections will make the hairs on the back of your neck stands up and the action sequences will make your blood pump. What more could you ask for from a game? It provides a heady, intoxicating mix with a lot of brilliant set pieces.

Those who are looking for lots of free-form, open gameplay should look elsewhere, but those seeking a superb action title with a nice line in horror and some truly awesome set pieces should go out and buy immediately. A worthy sequel to the original game? Hell yes. Monolith… You’ve done it. I F.E.A.R. Alma – again.

Available on: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
$50
8/10

It might say on the box that it plays MP3s, but it sure does a lot more than that. The Samsung YP-P3 is as you can see an attractive player and is arriving in the UK later this month. There’s a wonderfully high resolution display that has haptic (touch screen) to acknowledge your finger presses. It’s worth mentioning that the 3 inch screen is WQVGA – which produces an extremely clear image.

Also of benefit is the ability to use various EmoDio widgets on the YP-P3 – a throwback from the Tocco interface – and these widgets are (apart from being handy) quite interesting little things. Don’t expect google maps but do expect a few little games and similar.

Media support is very extensive, with coverage for MP3, WMA, OGG and many, many more. Video playback (yes, it does video and pictures) is inclusive of the usual formats you’d expect for something of this size, though I didn’t find anything to support DIVX. Other features include an FM radio, built in microphone and an internal speaker.

There are a few different versions of the player that will be available, from 4 to 32GB – meaning that there should be one for just about every budget. If like me you prefer your products non-Apple, then you can do worse than this Samsung player, though I’d still argue that Creative offer probably the best MP3 players on the market.

There’s no doubt that iLife is one of the best apps available on the Mac platform, yet it’s probably one of the few pieces of software that you don’t really hear them shouting about. Frankly, if I’d designed it I would be screaming for a port to PC, so sure would I be that it would sell in the thousands of copies.

iLife has been a hidden jewel in Apple’s crown, quietly revolutionising photograph management, movie making, music making and website creation. The most recent version, Apple iLife 09, provides some extremely welcome updates to the four main apps, which I’ve included some further information on below. If you have a Mac, I’d certainly recommend checking the newest version out.

iPhoto 09
The newest version of this software includes face detection, face recognition, geotagging and a wide range of editing options. Naturally, the new options allow for a wide range of organisation including who is in the photographs and where they were taken. There’s also sharing options with Facebook and Flickr with a single click.

iMovie 09
There’s a new drag and drop editing option available in this movie editing software, making it an easy way to edit films even if you’ve never even changed so much as a single frame. Also new is the precision editor that allows for fine tune editing. Other options include animated travel maps, video stabilisation and dynamic theme options.

GarageBand 09
If you’ve ever thought of picking up an instrument, then GarageBand 09 might just become your best friend. Basic lessons are offered for guitar and piano to educate you from the first steps all the way through to the major and minor scales. There are also artist lessons, guitar features and a Jam session you can set up.

iWeb 09
This new software is designed to take the pain out of web design by making everything intuitive, simple and exactly as you want. It’ll guide you through all of the relevant steps from design, customisation and adding widgets all the way through to management and publishing of your new web space.

Overall, Apple iLife 09 is a great package and is available now for £69.

To celebrate the launch of F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is hosting its Whatisfear live event on Thursday 12th February 2009 at a secret haunted location in the UK. F.E.A.R fans will be put through their paces in a unique gaming tournament where they will battle it out across several levels of the game whilst being brought face-to-face with their biggest fears.

Eight carefully selected F.E.A.R community fans will be flown in from across Europe to a secret haunted location where they will go head-to-head in an intense battle of gaming skills, strength and spine chilling F.E.A.R.

The eight lucky contestants have been picked from 100s of online applicants and as part of the application process were asked to cite their greatest personal fears. In effect, our eight participants have signed up to face their biggest fears head on at the event and it’s you, the general public, who will decide exactly what they are up against by voting online!

A unique environment has been carefully prepared for you, the community, to watch the event live and to determine the terrifying experiences each player must undergo whilst playing the game.

Eventually we will be left with one contestant, our winner, who will have to face their ultimate F.E.A.R. to claim their prize. Their F.E.A.R. is in your hands. Push them to their limits and watch every second of their reaction, LIVE online at www.whatisfearlive.com.

Be there – Thursday 12th February – 19:00 (GMT) – www.whatisfearlive.com

F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin, developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment launches across Europe on February 13th 2009.

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin is a blend of advanced visceral combat mixed with seamless game pacing set inside a sinister and paranormal universe that begins shortly before the ending of F.E.A.R. A Special Forces squad is on a routine mission when the city of Auburn is rocked by a supernatural explosion. Alma, a girl with immense power and a thirst for revenge, has unleashed her wrath upon the city and thrown it into chaos. Tension builds as the squad must combat enemy forces and the supernatural as they struggle to find a way to stop Alma and uncover the mysterious forces arrayed against them before it’s too late.

It seems that every year more and more comic books and graphic novels are making the passage from the page to the big screen. Hollywood has cottoned on that not only are these art forms quite often full of great stories but they come complete with an already made fan base who will flock to the silver screen to see their heroes brought to life.

It is with this passion in mind that I’ve pulled together a list of forthcoming (and in one case now out) movies that originated in a comic book or graphic novel.

Punisher: War Zone

Date: Now

The only film in this entire listing that is now available for viewing (it was only released here in the UK on Friday); it’s safe to say that unless you’re a die-hard fan then you are probably going to be okay about missing this. It isn’t to say that Ray Stevenson does a bad job at being Frank Castle or that jigsaw doesn’t look cool, but the action is fairly derivative and to be honest I preferred Thomas Jane’s outing as the man with the black t-shirt featuring the white skull motif.

Website – Trailer – Rotten Tomatoes Review

Watchmen

Date: 6 March 2009

Arguably one of the most eagerly awaited titles for all geeks this year, Watchmen brings to the big screen a graphic novel featuring an epic story, flawed characters, moral dilemmas and superheroes without powers. The story is set in the 1980’s and the ‘Doomsday Clock’ is set to 5 minutes to midnight, so tensions are running high between the US and the USSR. Rorschach (a masked vigilante) investigates the murder of hero, only to discover the plot gets much thicker.

Alan Moore’s graphic novel of the same name should provide excellent material – but my top tip for this one is to read it in its original form before going to see the film. Whilst Moore won’t have anything to do with the movie adaptation, I’m fairly certain that everything we’ve seen so far is showing that this is going to be quite faithful in look and feel – but perhaps most importantly will offer a lot even for those who don’t know of the graphic novel.

website – Trailer

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Date: 1 May 2009

Wolverine proved very quickly to be one of the most popular characters following the screen adaptation of the X-men comic book, so it should be no surprise that his movie comes out first. Hugh Jackman reprises his role as the eponymous character, meanwhile we see a host of other characters appear from the Marvel/X-Men universe including Deadpool, Sabretooth (Liev Schriber), Silver Fox, Gambit, The Blob and more. Should you be excited? Oh yes, the action looks great and I’m expecting big things after the frankly poor X-Men: The Last Stand

Website – Trailer

Thor

Date: 16 July 2010

I’m a bit baffled why Kenneth Branagh is going to be directing Thor, but there we are. The plot is apparently going to feature Dr Donald Blake – a disabled physician who has an alter ego inside of him – none other than The Mighty Thor! For me, this one could go either way. I’m hoping that it isn’t too far out there, but as it is quite a while away I didn’t find too much info out on it. More info as it comes but I’ve heard a range of names mentioned for the role of Thor, including wrestler Triple H!

Sin City 2

Date: 2010

Unfortunately still listed in preproduction (so whether it will make 2010 is debateable) but the best received graphic novel to hit the big screen barring 300 was Sin City. Should the sequel live up to the original then this should definitely be a film on your list. This title is also known as ‘A Dame To Kill For’ and covers the story of the same name along with an unshelved Nancy Story and some short stories. It will return with the same look and feel and no doubt excellent action set pieces. Definitely one to see.

The First Avenger: Captain America

Date: 2011

After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America’s ideals. There’s talk of this being a period piece, which could be quite interesting. The title indicates that this may well be the first of several Avenger films – though whether you like your superheroes on their own or all together may decide on how you’ll view such a film. I’m not a big fan of Cap but I am going to withhold judgement until we’ve seen a little more.

Iron Man 2

Date: 2010

Marvel Studios completely self-financed Iron Man, and I’m fairly sure that they are quite happy that they did so, given that it was such as resounding success. In the sequel, Robert Downey Jr returns to play Tony Stark in what appears to be a role he was born to play. Still not sure on the plot of this one, but there has been talk of Whiplash/Backlash as well as Crimson Dynamo. Don Cheadle is in whilst Terrance Howard is out for the role of War Machine/Jim Rhodes.

Other Films Of Note Coming Soon:

Super Max (2010) – Green Arrow
Green Lantern (2010)
Ant-Man (2010)
Dead of Night (2009) – Dylan Dog
Spider-Man 4

The Sony Reader

I was concerned initially that my weaker right eye would be my undoing when using one of these, but the paper-like screen technology really is very good indeed. On top of that, this newer model is slimmer and has been redesigned since the last version – making it look very good indeed.

More compact than many paperbacks, it weighs about 9 ounces (without cover), is 1/3″ thin, and holds up to 160 eBooks. You can easily hold it in one hand, and with its rechargeable battery, you can turn up to 7,500 continuous pages on a single charge.

The Reader Digital Book is a new way to read some of your literature, whether you’re into classics or modern stuff. The 6 inch display uses ‘E Ink’ technology, a fancy way of saying that Sony has replicated paper and ink in their display, or as near as you can get. I’d say that I’d like to compliment their work as it is a very natural looking display. You can also set it up for high contrast and resolution should you prefer, or magnify the copy if you are sight impaired.

With a compact and lightweight design you can take the Reader Digital Book almost anywhere. And with plenty of internal memory, and a slot for optional removable memory cards, you can take hundreds of titles, user-selected Web content, or other supported documents for reading on the go. It will hold approximately 160 averaged sized eBooks in internal memory and hundreds more with optional removable memory cards.

The Reader Digital Book allows you to search, browse, discover, and buy thousands of new releases, classics and popular eBook titles from the Integrated eBook Store and other participating websites. You can even go to other sites that have unsecured eBooks in file formats that the Reader supports. This translates into an incredible amount of content suitable for the Reader. Simply transfer your own documents too for viewing on the move.

So, is it going to be a real reading revolution that this gadget provides? Well, it is extremely neat. However, with so many ultra portable machines now coming out, you do have to wonder how a gadget will do that only does one single thing – albeit doing that single thing very well.

The Sony VAIO P series

Here’s the official press release:

About the size of a business envelope and roughly as thin as a cell phone, the VAIO Lifestyle PC weighs just 1.4 pounds and is small enough to slip into a jacket pocket or handbag while integrating full-PC features.

The model incorporates a high-resolution, 1600 x 768, LED backlit 8-inch ultra-wide display (diagonal), making it easy to view everything from entire spreadsheets to full web pages— no side-to-side scrolling necessary. It also incorporates Sony’s XBRITE-ECO™ LCD technology, producing images in brilliant detail for razor-sharp viewing on-the-go.

Stylish enough to take anywhere, the unit is available in an array of eye-catching colors, including garnet red, emerald green, onyx black, crystal white and classic black. Matching carrying cases and Bluetooth® color-coordinated mice are available to complete the look.

“The VAIO P Series Lifestyle PC is your portal to the world, delivering entertainment and computing in a head-turning device that’s small enough to put in your pocket,” said Mike Abary, senior vice president of VAIO product marketing at Sony Electronics. “Designed for the fashionista in all of us, it’s the ideal companion.”

Engineered to provide the feel of a larger notebook, the VAIO Lifestyle PC provides a convenient typing experience by extending the keyboard to the perimeters of the chassis maximizing the typing area. The spacing between keys has also been engineered to help reduce typing mistakes making it perfect for long fingernails.

The notebook incorporates built-in wireless WAN 3G Mobile Broadband, 802.11n wi-fi and Bluetooth technologies. Users can toggle among various wireless options for the most efficient connection – wi-fi for working at a coffee shop; Bluetooth for peripherals; and Mobile Broadband service on the Verizon Wireless nationwide network when traveling outside the reach of hotspots (subscription required).

The unit features up to four hours of battery life with the included standard capacity battery and eight hours with the large capacity battery (sold separate). It also incorporates real-time GPS functionality, making it easy to find restaurants, hotels or special sites of interest. Destinations can be found by simply typing in an address or keyword and then following the turn-by-turn directions. The Lifestyle PC even includes estimated drive times to let you know how far you are from a destination. No Internet connection is required in the United States or Canada.

The unit also has an instant-mode option that launches directly into Sony’s Xross Media Bar™ interface, so you can rapidly boot up and access music, video, photos and the Web. A built-in webcam lets you video chat with family, friends and colleagues. A third-party service is required.

The PC comes with the Windows Vista® operating system, supporting office applications and all the software programs routinely found in full-size notebooks. A windows arrangement utility has been added to easily organize all open documents or websites with one touch, positioning them neatly along side each other on a single screen.

The VAIO P Series Lifestyle PC retails for about $900.

F.E.A.R.2: Project Origin

Beginning shortly before the ending of F.E.A.R., a Special Forces squad is on a routine mission when the city of Auburn is rocked by a supernatural explosion. Alma, a girl with immense power and a thirst for revenge, has unleashed her wrath upon the city and thrown it into chaos. Tension builds as the squad must combat enemy forces and the supernatural as they struggle to find a way to stop Alma and uncover the mysterious forces arrayed against them before it’s too late.

So, how does the demo actually play out? Well, the slow-motion abilities of the player remain from the first game, meaning that you can tag enemies, shoot and watch them slowly flail through the air in true rag-doll fashion. Good? You bet.

What about the mechs that have been in some of the videos though? It’s safe to say that the studio responsible for Shogo: Mobile Armour Division have not disappointed. Whilst I’m not clear on whether there are different styles of mecha to play with, the power armour system makes you feel very powerful indeed and the infinite ammo chain guns and rockets are a delight to use. Oh, did I mention the brilliant destructible environments? You’ll love them.

The horror element that Alma and the strange enemies encountered from the first title remains prevalent in the sequel. There’s some influence taken from great horror movies as you’ll see poltergeist activity, ghosts and other strange sights as you explore the environments. Creepy? Definitely, though of course as there’s a lot of action the game is more balanced than the full on frightfest of Dead Space.

Overall, the graphics are good, the sound commendable and frankly it’s a title that I’m extremely excited about. Here are some of the things to look out for when it hits stores on 13/02/09:

* Experience enhanced destruction and frightening combat an inch from your face
* Utilise new weapons to combat against never before seen supernatural threats
* Slow down time using your character’s enhanced reflexes
* Battle intelligent enemies that employ advanced combat tactics and realistic behaviours
* Strategic environmental combat opportunities available to both you and your enemies in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments
* New faction system that pits enemies against you… and each other
* Utilise the new world interaction system to create instant cover or remove obstacles
* Play with and against friends in multiplayer competition

Cursed Mountain for the Wii

In Cursed Mountain, players take on the role of Eric Simmons, an expert mountaineer who climbs Chomolonzo, a sacred mountain in the Himalayas, to unravel the mystery surrounding the sudden disappearance of his brother. Reminding the players of how far they’ve come – and how far they’ve yet to go – the entire mountain can be seen at all times. As they climb, the mountain itself becomes an enemy – prone to the travails of altitude sickness and oxygen deprivation, players may not be able to tell the difference between real enemies and hallucinations.

Taking full advantage of Wii’s motion-sensitive controls, as well as the rumble features and embedded speaker in the Wii Remote™, Cursed Mountain looks to create an immersive horror experience set against the backdrop of the haunting atmosphere of the Himalayas.

Cursed Mountain will be available exclusively for Wii in 2009.

The Vectrix VX1

Alongside the flagship VX-1, the new models round out the company’s family of electric vehicles, which will help make 100 percent electric vehicles available to a broader consumer base.

The world debut of the vehicles is set for 10:30 a.m. Jan. 16 during the Media Sneak Preview in the Scooter Pavilion, where Vectrix will showcase the line-up throughout the show Jan. 16-18.

VX-2 is a smaller and more compact electric equivalent of a 50cc internal combustion engine (ICE) bike with a weight of 429 pounds, a wheelbase of 54.5 inches and seat height of 29.9 inches. It features a 40-50 mile range, 30-mph speed capability, a 48V/20A battery charger that plugs into a standard 110V/220V outlet and safe, near- silent operation.

“It’s the perfect choice to replace cars for short urban trips,” said Mike Boyle, Vectrix CEO. “The shortest car trips are the most damaging in terms of global warming, air pollution and our dependence on foreign oil.” Available in green, blue, red, yellow and white, VX-2 is expected to arrive at
dealers in June 2009 with an MSRP of $5,195.

Another new addition to Vectrix’s family of Personal Electric Vehicles, VX-1E uses the same platform and drive train as the original VX-1, yet features a lower price point and a more urban commuter driver profile with slightly less acceleration and top speed. VX-1E is expected to arrive at dealers in April, and the MSRP is $8,495.

As part of the company’s drive to make electric vehicles available to a wider range of consumers, Vectrix also plans a new line of accessories for its VX-1 and VX-1E— including a lower, narrower seat to accommodate riders with smaller frames.

“One of the most important new accessories in the 2009 catalogue is an optional seat that is significantly lower and shaped to give riders with a smaller frame the ability to place both feet on the ground at each stop,” Boyle said.

Other new options include a sport windshield about 7 inches lower than standard for riders who like the feel of wind in their face, and a winter windshield nearly 9 inches wider than standard that offers additional protection from wind and insects. Lastly, a new center stand offers more convenient parking and raises the rear tire off the ground for easy tire maintenance.

Vectrix’s original Personal Electric Vehicle, the VX-1, was first introduced in 2007 as an eco-friendly, zero emission and powerful alternative for commuting and recreational needs. The 2009 VX-1 will have refreshing new graphics in four colors: white/burgundy red, white/metallic silver, white/sapphire blue and white/acid green.

The VX-1 weighs in at 515 pounds, has a 60-inch wheelbase and 30-inch seat height. It is highway legal, with a top speed of 62 mph, acceleration from 0-50 mph in 6.8 seconds, and an average range of 30-55 miles on a single charge.

All vehicles in the Vectrix family are 100 percent electric – no gas, no oil and no emissions—and feature minimal maintenance and simple operation. In 2008, Vectrix saw 321 percent growth in its distribution network, and now has the largest dealer network of any electric vehicle in the country. “The success of the Vectrix dealer network shows consumers are ready for new commuting alternatives,” Boyle said. “Vectrix appeals to men and women of all ages, and our new accessories make the VX-1 available to everyone looking for good clean fun.”

Dead Space

Dead Space was one of the bigger games to be released last year, and arguably the biggest game out of EA. It is a new title (and possibly franchise to-be) set in a future where man has managed to reach space and it is firmly in the survival horror camp – with a strong emphasis on horror.

Storyline
The main plot involves Isaac Clarke (the character you play throughout), Kendra Daniels and Zach Hammond travelling out to the USG Ishimura to find out the reason behind a distress call being received. In an attempt to dock, an accident takes place that sees the three characters (and a small band of quickly killed off security crew) trapped on board with unknown life forms.

*spoiler alert*
Before going on to write about the gameplay, one of the reasons that the game came in for criticism was the storyline. Some reviews claimed that it was more than a little derivative, whereas I actually found it quite interesting and certainly gripping. You may see the betrayal of Isaac coming, but apart from that the idea that main retro-engineers alien technology provides a gripping backdrop for the action that takes place.
*spoiler alert over*

Gameplay
The emphasis on the game is most definitely the atmosphere and it works extremely well for it. There’s nothing quite like guiding Isaac down a corridor and seeing a monster leap out of one air vent before disappearing into another. Isaac handles reasonably well, though you may find at times that the monsters are upon you before you know it. Follow the instructions given (i.e. dismembering the necromorphs) and you’ll be shooting like a pro in no time.

In terms of difficulty level, you may find that you struggle with some sections. My advice is to always have a med-pack in your inventory, but also don’t go wild with the gunplay. You never know when you’ll next be stuck against something that’s a little more challenging than a slasher necromorph.

The weapons on display reflect the fact that Isaac is an engineer, not a soldier. This means that you’ll find you have access to a welding like weapon at first, rather than your usual machine guns and sniper rifles. It brings a new angle to the usual sci-fi setting and should be something you enjoy.

Enemies
It is worth considering the enemies you’ll meet in Dead Space, as they tend to be quite unlike those from just about any other game. The organic alien forms that you meet are grotesque parodies of the human form and range from the extremely quick and mobile all the way through to the completely immobile spawners, who may well cause you more problems than you’d think. Each weapon seems to be suited a particular enemy, but some are far rarer in terms of ammo than others.

Atmosphere
A game that is in the survival horror genre lives and dies on atmosphere. Whilst Resident Evil has moved away from this recently in favour of more action-oriented gameplay, Dead Space is quite happy providing some of the most tense atmosphere in any game I’ve played, just about ever.

The setting is dark, the enemies can pop out of literally anywhere and when the warning lights activate and you’re sealed in for a quarantine session I guarantee your hair will be standing on end. The USG Ishimura is a strange and unsettling place, all the more so for the many system failures it seems to suffer on your way out of the near-derelict ship.

Sound is also a high point of the game. There are incidental sounds that will make you wonder where the enemy is, alongside very soft whispered words that will thrill and chill you as you play. Monsters howl and your guns actually sound powerful even though most enemies will need a few limbs torn before they go down.

Overall
Dead Space has a unique look (there’s no HUD and all info is provided in-game so don’t use your inventory when under attack), feel and provides something genuinely different. At times when I was playing, the atmosphere actually grew uncomfortable as I sat in the dark just wondering what the hell I was going to face next.

If you want to play something that could well give you nightmares but provides a really engrossing experience then look no further. Dead Space is more than worthy of a look and we can only hope that EA continues working creatively in this genre.

An abducted soul, a lifetime of sins, a journey to the depths of despair. Electronic Arts announced today that EA Redwood Shores, the studio behind hit horror game Dead Space™, is making Dante’s Inferno™ – a third-person action adventure adaptation of the medieval epic poem The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.

The dark fiction gave birth to the Tuscan Italian dialect and is widely considered to have defined the western world’s contemporary conception of hell and purgatory. The poem tells the tale of Dante who journeys through the twisted, menacing nine circles of hell in pursuit of his beloved Beatrice.

Written in the 14th Century, The Divine Comedy was published and read aloud in Italian (unlike the Bible), thereby making the poem accessible to the mass public. The poem delivers a striking and allegorical vision of the Christian afterlife and the punishments of hell. In part one, known as Dante’s Inferno, Dante traverses all nine circles of hell; limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, wrath, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery.

“The time is right for the world of interactive entertainment to adapt this literary masterpiece, and to re-introduce Dante to an audience that, until now, may have been unfamiliar with the remarkable details of this great work of art,” said Jonathan Knight, executive producer for Dante’s Inferno. “It’s the perfect opportunity to fuse great gameplay with great story.”

For more information on Dante’s Inferno, please visit www.dantesinferno.com and sign up for the newsletter and bookmark for news, features and upcoming events.