One of Disney Infinity’s most lingering criticisms is the fact that there has been no way to play as all of the figures together in a structured environment, instead you can only have Aladdin meet Groot in the Toy Box. Well, with such a repeated criticism, Avalanche have finally answered it with the brand new Toy Box Expansion Games. These games serve a similar role to the Play Sets and allow you to take on their challenge as any of the Disney Infinity roster. Toy Box Takeover is the first of these Expansion Games and has you making your way through a Diablo-styled dungeon crawler in search of foes to vanquish, treasures to loot and more.
Story
Syndrome has managed to swoop in and capture the Toy Box Magic Wand (the item you use to move things around in the Toy Box) from Mickey Mouse and with it plans to unleash all kinds of chaos in his bid to control the world. It is up to the other Toy Box characters to step up to the plate, and traverse Syndrome’s four worlds, defeating his allies in the process in order to return peave and tranquility to the Toy Box.
Admittedly, this is a pretty light story but it serves its purpose well enough. In a game like this, you really don’t want to be bogged down by unnecessary exposition, especially if your kids are the ones playing the game. Not only that but the cut-scenes that bookend the game are actually pretty funny, and well worth the watch.
Gameplay
Ever since Disney Infinity 1.0, each Play Set and Toy Box Game has felt like it was inspired by a different game-series or genre. Well the same is true here, as Toy Box Takeover feels heavily inspired by Diablo and other similar dungeon crawling RPGs. With you, your sidekick and up to three other players (if playing online), you will traverse the game’s five worlds, defeating enemies, discovering hidden passageways and of course; collecting loot.
Toy Box Takeover has one of those 45-degree angled isometric viewpoints which really adds to the Diablo-esq feeling of the game. In addition, since each character plays somewhat differently to one another, they each feel like a separate class, allowing for some really cool interactions and team-ups. The fact that every character is available for use, and that they all feel and play differently in this structured environment really makes Toy Box Takeover an experience that you can’t really have anywhere else in DI.
I will say though that Toy Box Takeover is not very long. Playing at medium difficulty you will likely shred through the game in a couple of hours. There is a bit of an incentive to replayability, with more loot being unlockable if you do so but I personally am not a fan of this type of “replayability,” where you just do the same stuff over again to grind for better loot. Amping up the difficulty is another feature available to you, with Extreme difficulty feeling like a completely different game to Medium, one in which will pose a challenge to even the most seasoned gamer.
Overall
Toy Box Takeover has some problems; it is a bit short and the false sense of replayability is something that irks me, but at the same time the game itself is a lot of fun. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first placed the unlock disc on the Infinity Base, but I was pleasantly surprised. Hopefully as the game gets bigger and bigger, Avalanche can whip up a few more of these that are longer and have a little more depth, but it really is a step in the right direction.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Set five years prior to the events of A New Hope, Star Wars: Rebels follows the exploits of a motley crew of… well… rebels… as they try their hardest to destabilise the empire, one small bit at a time. Well, instead of just following along their adventures on television, now you can create your own with the range of Star Wars Rebels characters for Disney Infinity 3.0.
While they don’t have a Play Set of their own, the crew of the Ghost can be used in the Toy Box (as well as the Takeover and Speedway Expansion games), and can even cross over into the Star Wars Play Sets once their crossover token has been found.
Each member of the Rebels set is a mixed melee/ranged fighter which gives them excellent versatility. Due to this, they are some of the more well rounded and fun characters in the game.
A Mandalorian explosives expert with a hatered for the empire and a love of bright colours, the quick-witted Sabine is the artist of the Ghost crew.
While she is no slouch when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, Sabine excels as a ranged fighter. Armed with dual blaster pistols, and with a pocket full of grenades, Sabine can be used to create all kinds of havoc in the Toy Box. What is easily Sabine’s coolest trait is the fact that her aerial combo almost mirrors those that Dante of Devil May Cry fame would do.
Visually, Sabine has some really cool stuff going on. Her paint grenades are filled with all of the colours of the rainbow, and look really awesome as she hurtles them at her foes.
The Ghost’s muscle, Zeb has a tough exterior but a heart of gold Zeb is the last surviving member of his people, the rest of which were brutally slaughtered at the hands of the empire. As such, Zeb harbours no find feelings for the emperor or his regime.
Zeb is easily one of the most versatile characters in the entire Disney Infinity franchise. He has super strength, super jump, wall crawling, brutally strong combo attacks, a blast rifle and is also a tech wiz, allowing him to access control panels and other tech goodies in the Play Sets.
The “cowboy Jedi,” Kanan was a Padawan who survived the Great Jedi Purge and has spent the time since in hiding. While never finishing his Jedi training, he has become quite adept at keeping himself and those around him out of danger
Kanan and his apprentice Ezra are unique among the force-using characters in the game in that they have access to a blaster. This gives them a long range attack, but sacrifices the force dash that the others posess.
even without his force dash, Kanan is fast on his feet, able to charge into battle at a moments notice. His swings are precise and quick, and the fact that his combo string ends with him shooting people might be the coolest thing ever.
Ezra is a young, reckless street kid who has only recently learned of his status as a force-sensitive. As a member of the Ghost crew, and under the tutelage of Kanan, Ezra is learning what it is like to be a part of a family as well as a Jedi.
Ezra is perhaps my favourite character to play as in DI3.0, and it is because of the story that the character tells. When you first place Ezra on the Infinity Base, he has no force abilities as these have to be unlocked as he levels up. This perfectly reflects his growth in the actual tv series, from someone who is unaware of their connection to the force, through to a full-fledged apprentice. Not only that, but Ezra’s move set is similar to Kanan’s which emphasises the bond between student and master.
If you’re a big Star Wars: Rebels fan like myself and are wondering where Hera is, she is available as an in-game townsperson once you link your game with your Disney account. Doing also will also grant you access to the rebel’s ship; The Ghost as a playable vehicle (and let me tell you, that bad boy is FAST).
The Star Wars: Rebels line of figures are an excellent addition to the Disney Infinity lineup. They both feel like a cohesive unit and a series of individuals, which is incredibly hard to pull off. Whilst each of these characters are playable in the Star Wars Play Sets, the fact that they don’t have a story of their own to tell in the game holds them back from being really great.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Disney Original characters are a huge part of the Disney Infinity experience, but recently they have seemed to be under-utilised in comparison to the licensed characters like the Marvel Super Heroes or those from the Star Wars universe. Thankfully, a wave of Disney Original characters is shipping alongside the release of Disney Infinity 3.0, so you will get to play with some of your favourite brightly coloured mascots from the moment the game launches.
The Tron duo were originally released as digital-only exclusive figures for the PC/iPad edition of Disney Infinity 2.0. At the time, we reviewed them and mentioned that the characters were simply amazing but that their inclusion as digital-only was a bit of a spit in the face to fans. Well now they have made their way out of the Game Grid and are now physical additions to the Disney Infinity lineup.
If you want to know more about these two characters in detail, check out the 2.0 reviewhere, because most of it holds true even now.
The king of the castle has arrived… Again. Did you know that in one way or another a version of Mickey has been released with every Disney a Infinity game so far? Not that that is in any way surprising but it is still a cool bit of trivia none the less.
Unlike his last two appearances, Mickey has this time forgone the red robes and blue hat in favour of a more standard appearance. More of a lover than a fighter, Mickey’s combat prowess is shall we say sub-par. His special move has him summoning versions of his friends in order to help him out (the higher level his special move is, the more friends he will call for).
An interesting note is that Mickey’s ranged attacks are similar to Donald’s where he will toss a pn assortment of items to damage his foes. Mickey’s choice of thrown items are a little more safe than Donald’s such as a brush, a top hat and a newspaper.
Growing up, I never much cared for Minnie Mouse. There wasn’t a reason for it either, I was just nonplussed by her. However, you don’t have to be a fan to recognise that she is not only one of the driving forces behind Disney itself, but is a major influence on similar characters in pop culture.
Since she is so important to the whole Disney lineage, I am surprised that it took the developers so long to put her into the DI franchise. Well no matter how long it took, the queen is here and armed with her trusty handbag (which honestly must be filled with bricks or something) is ready to do some damage. Minnie is a far stronger combatant than her male counterpart and once she gets going, is really something to fear.
Just like everybody else out there, I was stricken down with Frozen Fever in 2013. I saw the movie, I listened to the soundtrack and I had the Disney Infinity figures. Then, just like everybody else, I grew weary of hearing “Let it Go!” everywhere I went and my Fever subsided into a mild cold. With the Frozen sisters being included in the game since the beginning, there has always been one major player who has been missing from the action – Olaf the snowman.
Well fret no more, because Olaf is finally here and he is ready to kick back in the sun! No I’m not even kidding, his special attack has him kicking back on a banana lounge while the blistering rays of the sun destroy his enemies in what is absolutely a comment on global warming (not really). His normal attacks have him using his detached branch arm as a sword and sneezing his carrot nose at enemies for a long-ranged attack. Olaf’s figure manages to capture all the fun of his character which is no lean feat in of itself.
Mulan is one of those characters that is solidly in a lot of people’s “top Disney characters” lists, and it is easy to see why. Her tenacity and determination helps her serve as a role model to not only girls, but people in general all over the world. It is for that reason that many people have been clammoring for a Mulan figure since the first Disney Infinity game, and constantly wondering why she was absent.
Well I for one am glad that they kept her absent from DI1.0 and 2.0, because the new combat mechanics have made it so that characters like Mulan have finally been done justice. Much like her movie counterpart, Mulan is a fighter and not only that but her skills and techniques rival those of the Jedi figures. In place of a lightsaber she has access to her bo staff which she can use to combo and parry enemies, in addition she can super jump and dash like a force user. In fact, the only thing she can’t do that they can is use the force itself.
Doing the character justice also needed one more vital component; Ming Na-Wen to reprise her role. The current Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star has done just that and given a lot of authenticity to the character.
With a game called Disney Infinity, you would hope that Disney original characters are a key part of the mix. Due to that, it is nice to see some of these faces finally getting the recognition they deserve, especially those like Minnie and Olaf who provide a nice contrast to the “humanness” of the rest of the game.
It isn’t all smiles and sunshine however, as this component of the game still feels lacking in many ways. While there are still the Toy Box Expansion Games, the Disney Originals again don’t have a Play Set of their own to frolick in, and many of these characters have appeared in previous DI games, meaning we are retreading old waters before giving some other key characters their time in the spotlight.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Until Dawn began life as a PlayStation Move exclusive title for the PS3, first announced in mid-2012. Fast forward to August 2015 and Until Dawn has finally released, exclusively for Sony’s next-gen console. The game promises a teen-slasher story that will change based on player choices, similar to other PlayStation exclusive hits such as Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls. Featuring a recognisable cast of actors, motion capture use for animation and a classic horror narrative, does Until Dawn manage to join those two games in the Sony exclusive story game hall of fame, or will the game be forgotten by the time the night is over? Read on for our spoiler free review.
Story
The story takes place across one night upon an isolated snowy mountain on the one year anniversary of the Washington sister’s death, which can be said was partially caused by the group of teenagers who are now regathering at the cabin lodge to try and have some fun and put the events of the past behind them. Of course being a horror game the night isn’t going to go smoothly and the teens soon end up spending most of the night trying to survive whatever comes at them until dawn.
Get a load of this good looking bunch.
Taking clear inspiration from classic horror film franchises such as Scream, Saw and Friday the 13th, fans of the genre will recognize and love the story presented here. Cast of stereotypical teenagers with the males only concerned with how they can score, check, creepy cabins in the wood, check, masked psycho running around terrorising said teenagers, check. Until Dawn knows what it is and it aims to achieve the highs of the genre, to which in my opinion it definitely succeeds.
The characters and the setting alone are obvious genre tropes, but that doesn’t mean they are not enjoyable. Sure you have the stereotypes that are meant to elicit certain emotions from you such as the bitchy girl you love to hate, but most of the characters do evolve slightly over the story giving you a chance to see some other facets of their personality.You probably won’t care about each and every character by the end of the game but you will surely care about some of them enough that it will get your heart racing whenever one of them is in a dangerous predicament.
Meet Jessica, your typical cheerleader type.
The game’s air of mystery, particularly surrounding the masked person and the psychiatrist are perhaps Until Dawn’s greatest achievements, with great twists and turns but also enough dropped hints to allow savvy gamers to solve the mysteries before they are revealed. The proceeding arc after these mysteries are solved is a little weaker, however has some interesting lore and character addition behind it all which ties back into the main plot very nicely.
In terms of horror, the game definitely delivers in the frights department, even if most of them are achieved by cheap jump scares (I’ve never been so scared by a pigeon before). They do get a little repetitive but it makes it really hard to relax knowing another scare could be coming at any moment which is a great way of keeping up the tension. Those of you with a PlayStation camera can enjoy being snapped each time a moment catches you off guard in a nice extra feature.
You’ll be making a similar face at some point in this game.
So how does Until Dawn go with letting you alter the story with your own choices and actions? After playing through the game and replaying a number of the games chapters, I would say that your actions definitely have a large impact on the game. Some choices you make can lead to instant differences in the story while others, such as a continued animosity towards another character may build up over time before their effects are unveiled. Your choices here definitely feel utilised and will often play a factor in what characters live or die, what characters are present during certain chapters or if you will even get to play those chapters at all.
The journey is most certainly altered by your choices. Where I’m disappointed by Supermassive games is how your actions tie in to the game’s ending. Considering the game’s multiple trailers showcased so many paths all with their own ending segments, it saddens me to say that the differences between the game’s ending regardless of the journey are minimal at best. It’s disheartening to see a lot of variance during the games chapters only for all of that to basically meet back in the middle to the point where everyone’s ending experience will essentially be the same, especially when similar games such as Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls managed to have so much diversity across their many endings.
Dr. Hill will see you now.
Gameplay
As a more narrative based game the gameplay here is rather limited. You take control over one of the eight teenagers and move them around the environment. Some of the environments are very linear pathways while other locales allow a lot of exploration which often results in finding a new totem or clue. The fixed camera can be a bit problematic here as obstructions can get in the way and the right stick that you would expect to be able to control the camera with, is unfortunately often tied to poorly controlling a near useless flash light. Characters also struggle to move around the edges of the environment as well, another annoyance as objects are often placed along them.
The collectibles you find offer nice additions to the story and even impact the main story itself on a number of occasions as characters. Among these collectibles, which you are guided to by a small gleaming light, the Totems are perhaps the most interesting, giving you a vision into the future that can really change the way you play if you don’t like what you saw in the vision. Not all visions are bad and some offer some useful guidance that can lead to a more positive result in your play through of the story.
That’s so Raven.
In some more action oriented scenes you will have to deal with quick time events which can be rather unforgiving if you’re not paying attention as they’re not on screen long if you opt to take the more riskier paths. Pay attention though and you should be fine.
There are two control schemes available which can be switched up at any time from the menu, traditional and motion based. To be honest both control schemes suffer from a few problems, particularly the motion control scheme. They are both serviceable and won’t really detract from you ability to play the game, but it’s annoying when you try to turn over a totem with the right stick or by awkwardly twisting the control and nothing happens on screen. Holding L1 to perform a fast walk (if you can call it that as it’s only a fraction faster) while trying to move with the left stick is also awkward and I don’t know why this wasn’t mapped to R2 instead.
The forced camera allows for greater scare potential but less freedom.
Thanks to the PS4 controllers inbuilt gyro sensors the game can challenge you to hold that controller as steady as possible or else suffer the consequences. These ‘don’t move’ sections are pretty thrilling and will definitely get your heart racing in what is one of the most immersive and unique experiences of the game. Some players on message boards have called it overly sensitive, but I can’t say I ever felt cheated when I was punished for moving.
Visuals
Although Until Dawn started as a PS3 game there is no sign of that in the games graphical department. Character models look great and are well animated (for the most part). The environments look fantastic especially when paired with the game’s excellent lighting that allows for dynamic shadows and highlights. It all comes together brilliantly to create a truly creepy atmosphere that definitely delivers on the horror film vibe the game strives for.
Graphics are getting scary good.
Unfortunately, the frame rate can not just hold up here and it’s a real shame. When the game is running at it’s baseline 30FPS everything looks fluid, however drops below 30FPS are all too common and really ruin the immersion as animations become choppy and the voices no longer match up with the character’s mouths. It really puts a dampner on the entire experience, enough to lose a point in this review but not enough that I still wouldn’t recommend the game to people.
Audio
Thankfully audio isn’t affected by frame rate drops and the creepy playing of the violin, the constant blizzard in the background and all the sounds you would expect to hear in a horror film are present here in 5.1 surround sound with crystal clear quality. The score really lends itself to the genre and if the game’s creepy environments and tight camera angles didn’t have you on edge already, than the score will push you those extra few inches to the edge of your seat.
Fantastic voice work and acting from the game’s leads.
As for the voices, this is some of the most natural voice work I have ever heard in a game. Big props to the actors used here, these characters sound real and believable, even if there are a few eyebrow raising lines littered throughout the script. If I had anything bad to say about the audio it would be that rarely character voices are too quiet in contrast to the games master volume, but I feel this was just a sneaky way for the developers to get us to turn up the volumes on our sound systems so that the jump scares would hit home harder.
Extras
This section is normally limited to our DVD/Blu-ray reviews but it mentions a warrant in this game review. Until Dawn has some great behind the scenes clips that are gradually unlocked as you play as to not spoil any of the remaining story for you. These go in depth on areas such as the story, inspiration, motion capture, score, scare testing and some of the game’s lore to give a cool behind the scenes look at how the game was brought from concept to a finished product.
Those little pigs won’t be making it to market.
Overall
Until Dawn is a fantastic teen horror game filled with an interesting and fun cast of characters, great mystery elements and important choices that will have large consequences in your play through until the game’s ending. The game is far from flawless, with a few disappointing limitations present in the choice system, a less than optimal control scheme and persistent frame rate issues, however the engaging story tied in with the immersive atmosphere created by the game’s graphics and audio do enough to make up for these imperfections. If you’re looking for a scare, an interesting story or both, Until Dawn should be on your list.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Avalanche Studios have released the second entry in the Just Cause 3 Developer Diary series, to share their thoughts on the destructiveness within the game. In the video, the Avalanche team discuss the dynamic nature of the technology and the unique scenarios they need to ‘amp-up’, to keep a surreal feel of gameplay in Just Cause 3.
Game Director Roland Lesterlin stated, “We’ve been focused purely on the new generation of high-end technology from the very beginning of development. This huge amount of extra horsepower allows us to do things that simply weren’t possible until now”. Check out what the rest of the team has to say, in the embedded video below.
Just Cause 3 will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and high-end Windows PC this December.
After the commercial success of Evoland, French indie developers Shiro Games were able to push their profits into expanding the development of Evoland 2. The newest title in the genre hopping series will be exploring brand new genres with a new story that is independent of the first game. Player will take on the role of Kuro, a mysterious boy who wakes up with no memories. With his new friend Fina, they will embark on a journey about destiny and fate.
Story
Kuro (in Square Enix tradition, the playable characters can be renamed) wakes up in an unfamiliar village without any of his memories. Encouraged by Fina’s father, Kuro goes to the forest where he was found in hopes of rekindling his lost memories. Instead of finding his memories, Kuro and Fina are shot back into time. In the midst of finding their way home, the pair realize there is a greater disaster looming in the future that they must stop.
Unfortunately, the plot is a bit lackluster as the story is rather predictable. Evoland 2’s writing is much better when it comes to the conversations between characters. The lines are witty and amusingly meta at times. The game’s writer strikes a great balance of smart satire and silly humour. I did notice a few minor formatting and grammar errors in the game that seemed to have missed the editor’s eye. Pop culture nerds will have plenty to love, as tons of pop culture and video game references are scattered liberally throughout the game.
Gameplay
At its centre, Evoland 2 is an action RPG in the same vein as Legend of Zelda from the 16-bit era. The player controls Kuro, who has two attacks. Tapping the attack button will execute a slash and holding down the attack button will initially attack, then charge up his partner’s special attack, and then finally unleash the attack when the button is released. Kuro will have three partners that he can switch between at will, with three unique attack patterns. The game has all the trappings of a classical action RPG, complete with grass to chop, slimes to slay, and epic boss fights. As Kuro and company travel back and forth through time, the graphics will change accordingly, but the gameplay mechanics will not.
The large portions of the game are dedicated to cross genre segments. Experienced gamers will recognize bits inspired by Final Fantasy, 8-bit platformers, Metal Gear, 2D fighting games and other major genres or formative titles. Smaller genres were not forgotten about either, with smaller games like Professor Layton and Diner Dash getting a mini-game treatment. Shiro Games doesn’t do an awful job of exploring different genres, but they don’t do a great job either. The gameplay mechanics are very shallow, probably due to their short appearances. The mechanics only replicate the general feel of the genre, but none of the complexity. The simplicity often leads to a bit of tedium, with the only saving grace is knowing that the section will probably end soon and the mechanic never revisited.
The level design is interesting, as the player explores the same maps in three different time zones. Each era is a little different from before, and it is great to see NPCs growing older and dying as Kuro zips back and forth through time. The first half of the game is linear, with players being led around at a set schedule. The second half gives players free reign on the Magiliths, allowing them to move between eras at will. Clicking the Magiliths will move players to the next era, which is a bit clunky. I think a menu would have been a much better choice.
The puzzles and the boss fights are probably the game’s highlight. The puzzles for the most part are well designed and the solutions tend to be quite clever. The Professor Layton inspired puzzles are probably weaker than the level based ones, as the English instructions can sometimes be vague and confusing. Luckily, I only encountered a couple of cases and I could easily spam answers until I found the right one. The boss fights have some unique gameplay mechanics that is like a little miniature puzzle in its own right.
Evoland 2’s controls are pretty good. The game supports either keyboard and mouse or controller layouts, and the controls are very responsive. The default controller layout is instantly familiar to console gamers. I’m not a fan of the keyboard implementation. The default keyboard layout felt unnatural to me, but at least it can be rebound. The worst part is the fact there is no real way to see exactly what keyboard function is bound to what key in the menu. Instead, players are faced with a really clunky option that lets player rebind all eight game functions at once.
Visuals
Evoland 2 has done an excellent job on the visuals. The art style nails the JRPG look perfectly. As time changes in game, the art style moves from 8-bit, 16-bit, to modern 3d graphics. I am a little disappointed that the menu stuck with the same 16-bit look throughout, as it was a bit weird to be playing with 3d graphics but a pixelated 16-bit menu.
On the technical side, Evoland 2 offers some basic adjustments for graphic settings, but lacks any adjustments for resolution. The game can be played in windowed mode using the Alt + Enter shortcut. The game works fine, but the start menu doesn’t properly scale.
Audio
Evoland 2 is backed up with a strong soundtrack. There is a definite retro feel to the music, which works with the game’s theme. The sound effects are period correct, with plenty of bips and boops. I did encounter a slight issue from time to time where a menu would lag and the audio would be severely distorted for a second or two. The weirdest bit about Evoland 2’s audio is how loud the game is. I had to bring the game down to a volume level of one just to match the volume other games run at.
Overall
Evoland 2 is a must have for fans of the first game, the video game nostalgic, and gamers who have stuck to a single genre their entire career. Evoland 2 is the perfect sampler for people looking to explore new genres. The only problem is that playing the game is like watching a cover band, it is a decent replica of the original, but lacks the same oomph. In Evoland 2’s case, that oomph is complexity and depth, resulting in some tedium.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
AMD Radeon™ R9 Nano, World’s Smallest and Most Power-Efficient Enthusiast Graphics Card, Brings 4K Gaming to the Living Room AMD reinvents the small-form-factor PC with its third “Fiji”-based GPU featuring High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and next-generation DirectX® 12 gaming
SYDNEY, Australia — August 28, 2015 — AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) continues to push the boundaries of graphics card design, today announcing its category-creating AMD Radeon™ R9 Nano, the fastest Mini ITX graphics card ever1 to enable 4K gaming in the living room through ultra-quiet, ultra-compact PC designs. First previewed to gamers around the world during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles in June 2015, the AMD Radeon R9 Nano graphics card is based on the graphics chip codenamed “Fiji”, and is the third “Fiji”-based product to launch this summer alongside the AMD Radeon™ R9 Fury and R9 Fury X graphics cards. The AMD Radeon™ R9 Fury graphics family, based on the “Fiji” chip, marks a turning point in PC gaming with the implementation of High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) to deliver extreme energy efficiency and performance for ultra-high resolutions, unparalleled VR experiences, smoother gameplay, with the Radeon R9 Nano revolutionising form-factors for enthusiasts everywhere.
With 30 percent more performance2 and 30 percent lower power3 than the previous generation AMD Radeon™ R9 290X card, the 175W AMD Radeon R9 Nano is the world’s most power efficient Mini ITX enthusiast graphics card. The six-inch long, air-cooled board represents a new class of graphics card, enabling gamers, PC modders, and system integrators to build compact, unique, ultra-small form factors that have never before been possible, opening the door to new, sleek PC designs that are no bigger than a home DVR or videogame console, and look every bit in place beside them.
“With the Radeon™ R9 Nano graphics card, AMD is enabling 4K class gaming in your living room in an exceptionally quiet, ultra-small design built to excel in today’s games and on the latest APIs like DirectX® 12 and Vulkan™. There simply is nothing else like it,” said Matt Skynner, corporate VP and general manager, Product, Computing and Graphics Business Unit at AMD. “Our Radeon™ graphics line-up is ushering in a new era of PC gaming delivering remarkable performance, unmatched GPU designs and groundbreaking technologies. Today is a revolutionary moment for PC gaming, and we are proud to add this distinct product to our well-rounded AMD Radeon R9 graphics lineup.”
The AMD Radeon R9 line of graphics cards offers a spectrum of products ranging in price4. Delivering stunningly powerful graphics for unparalleled 4K gaming experiences in their class, the AMD Radeon R9 Series meets virtually every need and budget for anyone who demands a premium gaming experience.
About AMD
For more than 45 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics, and visualisation technologies ― the building blocks for gaming, immersive platforms, and the datacenter. Hundreds of millions of consumers, leading Fortune 500 businesses, and cutting-edge scientific research facilities around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work, and play. AMD employees around the world are focused on building great products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.
AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, Catalyst, CrossFire, FreeSync, LiquidVR, Radeon and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other product names used in this publication are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies. Microsoft, DirectX and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the US and other jurisdictions. PCIe is a registered trademark of PCI-SIG Corporation.
1Testing conducted by AMD Engineering on optimised AMD reference systems. PC manufacturers may vary configurations yielding different results. 3DMark FireStrike at 3840×2180, Ultra preset, 0xMSAA, 0XAF is used to simulate GPU performance; the Radeon™ R9 Nano on the system using the Intel® Core™ i7-5960X 3.0GHz processor, 16GB (4x4GB) DDR4 2666 MHz memory, Windows 10 64-bit, and AMD Catalyst Driver 15.201 scored 3411 while the Sapphire Radeon™ R9 380 Mini ITX on the same system and AMD Catalyst Driver 15.20 scored 1551, the GTX 970 Mini ITX on the same system and GeForce Driver 355.60 WHQL scored 2593, the GTX 960 Mini ITX on the same system and GeForce Driver scored 1297 GRDT-73
2Testing conducted by AMD Engineering on optimised AMD reference systems. PC manufacturers may vary configurations yielding different results. Far Cry 4 at 3840×2180, Ultra High preset, SMAA, 0XAF is used to simulate GPU performance; the Radeon™ R9 Nano on the system using the Intel® Core™ i7-5960X 3.0GHz processor, 16GB (4x4GB) DDR4 2666 MHz memory, Windows 10 64-bit, and AMD Catalyst Driver 15.201 scored 37.966 fps while the Radeon™ R9 290X on the same system and AMD Catalyst Driver 15.20 scored 27.207 fps GRDT-69
3Based on the product design, the Radeon™ R9 Nano is defined with a typical board power of 175W while the Radeon™ R9 290X is defined with a typical board power of 250W GRDT-76
4As of 8/27/2015
5Discrete AMD Radeon™ and FirePro™ GPUs based on the Graphics Core Next architecture consist of multiple discrete execution engines known as a Compute Unit (“CU”). Each CU contains 64 shaders (“Stream Processors”) working in unison.
EB GAMES ANNOUNCE LATEST ADDITIONS TO GAMES LINE-UP FOR EB EXPO 2015
EB Games Australia is excited to announce the latest additions to the line-up of games to be showcased at EB Expo, Australia’s world-class video games event. EB Expo 2015 will be held October 2 to 4 at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park. Tickets are available at EB Games stores, at OzTix or online at www.ebexpo.com.au.
The latest games line-up adds a host of new playable titles across a mix of genres, including Dark Souls 3, and Need for Speed playable for the first time in Australia. Other titles announced as playable include Star Fox Zero, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, Yo-Kai Watch, Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Adventure Time: Finn and Jake Investigations, Dragon Quest Heroes. Plus, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst and Quantum Break will be available to experience at the event.
EB Games is also pleased to reveal free ‘Frightful Fiesta’ Halloween Skylander figures will be given to the first fans to play Skylanders SuperChargers at the booth. These will be available while stocks last and at a limit of one per ticket holder. Xbox have also confirmed Halo 5: Guardians’ hugely anticipated 24-player multiplayer mode ‘Warzone’ will be playable at the Expo as an Australian first.
“We’re stoked to add more playable titles to the massive list already announced and we’re confident every kind of gamer will be spoilt for options on the show floor,” said Senior Marketing Manager Elisha MacKenzie.
“There’s no better way to get hyped for this year’s most anticipated games than to play them before release all in the one massive location.”
Super Mario Maker and FIFA 16 Ultimate TeamTM will also be playable on the show floor post-release.
This latest announcement comes in addition to other titles previously confirmed playable at EB Expo including Star WarsTM BattlefrontTM, Call of Duty: Black Ops III and Rise of the Tomb Raider.
A detailed schedule of sessions, events and the full line-up of games can be found at the EB Expo website at www.ebexpo.com.au. Tickets on sale now – the Ultimate Gamer and Saturday/Sunday Express tickets have already presold out. Age Restriction Policy
The EB Games EXPO is a MA15+ event and will feature restricted R18+ content. Some exhibitors reserve the right to censor MA15+ content from guests under the age of 15 even when a consenting parent or adult guardian is present. MA15+ games that are censored will be advised as so on the EB Games EXPO website and sign posted at the point of entry to the experience during the event. Guests under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian at all times when entering and residing within the EB Games EXPO precinct. For full entry terms and conditions go to www.ebexpo.com.au About EB Games
EB Games Australia head office is located in Queensland, with retail stores operating in every Australian State and Territory. EB Games Australia is part of GameStop Corp. Currently EB Games have 375 retail stores in Australia. The Company sells new and preowned video game software, hardware and accessories for video game systems from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. In addition, the company sells PC entertainment software, related accessories and other merchandise. General information on EB Games can be obtained at the company’s website: http://www.ebgames.com.au.
DIRTY CARS TRANSFORMED INTO MAD MAX VIDEOGAME MASTERPIECES INAUSTRALIAN FIRST
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Australia showcases unique dusty car artwork pieces to celebrate the launch of the Mad Max videogame in fast paced video.
To celebrate the upcoming launch of the Mad Max videogame available in Australia on 2nd September, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has transformed ordinary cars into works of art replacing paint with something a little more fitting, DUST!
To bring to life the dusty, post apocalyptic Wasteland of Mad Max, two cars were given the extraordinary makeover with artists covering each vehicle in a fine layer of dust and inscribing symbols and artwork inspired by the hotly anticipated game. Viewable here, a film-grade dust applicator was used to apply the dust with a range of techniques used to carefully etch intricate illustrations into the dusty canvas.
Pioneered in the United States, dust art is a growing global phenomenon that has inspired artists from around the world to create roadside Renoir’s, motorised Michalangelo’s and V8 Van Gogh’s.
Sydney street artists, Blackbook Ink, are the first local artists to jump on this trend and were commissioned to bring interpret Mad Max’s unique style and vehicular vision into their craft.
Brode Compton from Blackbook Ink comments, “This was definitely one of the most unusual projects we’ve ever been involved with. It was quite a challenge ensuring we achieved the look we were hoping for but we’re stoked with how they’ve turned out.”
Launching in Australia on Wednesday September 2, Mad Max delivers open world gameplay in a post-apocalyptic setting where Max’s car is the key to his survival. Gamers become Mad Max, a lone warrior who must fight to stay alive in The Wasteland, using vicious on-ground and physics-based vehicular combat against savage factions fighting for supremacy in The Wasteland. Following the theft of his iconic Interceptor, Max must align himself with a gifted, but peculiar, mechanic named Chumbucket to build the ultimate survival vehicle, something Chumbucket calls the “Magnum Opus.”
Mad Max will be available on PlayStation® 4, Xbox One and PC. Find Mad Maxon Facebook, Twitter (#MadMaxGame), and YouTube.
The customized vehicles were shot at the unique motorcycle and prestige car dealership, Gasoline Motor Co. in Alexandria, Sydney.
For all enquiries or any further information / images or to set up an interview please contact:
About Blackbook Ink
Blackbook Ink is a Sydney based mural, design and signage company with over 20 years experience creating graffiti murals, brush murals and illustrations.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment and Slightly Mad Studios Are Proud to Reveal the Latest Addition to their Celebrated Project CARS!
SYDNEY, 28TH AUGUST 2015 – Today, Project CARS continues its programme of continual updates and fresh content delivery with the release of the Old Vs New Car Pack featuring three retro machines and their modern-day counterparts. The Old Vs New Car Pack feature three retro machines and their modern-day counterparts from the factories of BMW, Ford, and Ruf.
Introduced in 1964, the Ford Mustang quickly became one of the company’s most-recognizable models, single handedly starting the muscle car revolution that shaped the American car market for more than a decade.
After the first one million road cars of the original Mustang had been build, Ford gave its best-seller an extensive upgrade, equipping the car with a more powerful 4.7 liter V8 engine and introducing the now-iconic Fastback body style. Now, in 2015, the Mustang GT is the newest addition to Ford’s iconic range. Powered by a massive 5-litre V8 engine and delivering more than 428hp of power and 528 Nm of torque, buyers can choose between a full manual and automatic six-speed gearbox, the latter coming with genuine shifting paddles – a first in the long history of the Mustang.
Based on the Porsche 911 3.2, the 1987 CTR Yellowbird is one of Ruf’s most iconic models, and one that helped build their reputation for building no-compromise sports cars. The 3.4 liter twin-turbocharged flat six engine provided 469hp from two large turbochargers and intercoolers, and had been equipped with a new Bosch Motronic as well as an ignition setup originally designed for Porsche’s 962 Group C race car. Thanks to extensive weight-saving measures such as usage of fibreglass and aluminium, the CTR weighs just 1150 kilograms, resulting in a very impressive performance
BMW’s 2002 Turbo road car made the history books in 1973 by becoming Europe’s first-ever mass-produced road car powered by a turbocharged engine. The 2002Turbo’s two-litre four cylinder engine provided 170hp of power, a figure that made the 2002 one of the most powerful cars on the road during its time. Unfortunately, the 1974 oil crisis forced an end to the 2002 Turbo’s production after just one year as gas prices were soaring across the world. Only 1672 cars were produced during the model’s limited production run, making the 2002 Turbo one of BMW’s most iconic and most sought-after classics. Built to the Super 2000 touring car regulations, the 320TC is BMW’s weapon of choice for competition in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and countless national touring car series around the globe. Weighing 1170 kilograms, the car is powered by a 1.6 litre DI-turbo four-cylinder engine and a full adjustable six-speed sequential gearbox. Driven by veteran touring car aces such as Tom Coronel, Franz Engstler & Stefano D’Aste, the 320TC clinched five world championship wins.
