Page 5044 – Capsule Computers

EB Expo 2012 Playstation Booth: Vita Game Showcase

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October 7, 2012

With a massive booth, SCE Australia brought out a stellar line up of games to the EB Expo over the weekend. Sony’s Playstation Vita had a more even representation of first and third party publishing. While there were games that have already seen a release on the Vita, several upcoming titles such as Street Fighter X Tekken, Need For Speed Most Wanted, Silent Hill: Book of Memories and Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz were also present in Sony’s booth. In this article, I divulge into some of these titles that will hit the Vita in the next six months. Other upcoming titles, such as Assassin’s Creed Liberation, have already been covered, so they won’t be on this list. What was disappointing was the no-show of New Little King’s Story. A niche title, yes, but Persona 4 Arena did make an appearance, so there was no reason for the Konami Vita title to be left out.

When Street Fighter X Tekken was announced for the Vita, it was natural for the world to gasp. Now that the console versions have passed release, the focus is on the Vita version as it nears release. The Vita version includes the most characters on card as it contains an additional 17 characters on top of the initial character list. The Vita version is what you would expect. It is identical to the console version, right down from gameplay and graphics. Expect cross play functionality with the Playstation 3. I did try out a few of the additional characters, including the Americanised version of Megaman and inFamous protagonist Cole McGrath. Play this game with the d-pad, as it is one of the best d-pads out there for fighting games.

Silent Hill is notorious for setting an eerie atmosphere and its survival horror gameplay. That doesn’t seem to be the case for Silent Hill: Book of Memories. I got my hands on the game and walked away feeling somewhat disappointed. The game is more focused on action and exploration. You create your own character before entering a dungeon separated by walkways and rooms. You are permitted to hold two weapons at a time and they will either wear out (melee weapons) or run out of ammo (ranged weapons). The level was quite repetitive, involving exploring one room, find items, defeat enemies and repeat. There was some variation, like finding a room with a ghost and following it or finding puzzle pieces to unlock another part of the dungeon. Overall, it was missing what Silent Hill is: a purely survival horror game. Book of Memories played out like an dungeon RPG rather than survival horror.

· Need For Speed is all about fast cars. Most Wanted brings that and high speed pursuits to the Vita. I did check out the PS3 version of the game for comparison and I can say that, from what I had played, it is very identical to its console counterparts. There will be a free roaming area where players can choose any vehicle they pass. The open world is littered with cops ready to hunt you down as soon as you speed past them. As for the gameplay itself, each car feels realistic and not like the previous Most Wanted’s style of arcade driving. Credits can be earned after completing events, as well as car parts to improve any car. It is unknown if the PS3 and Vita versions will connect with each other, but I hope this is the case.

· Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz is going to be an excellent edition for any Vita owner. I got my hands on a few levels using the Vita’s motion control scheme to move AiAi through the course. For those who want some practice, these beginner levels are the best place to start. An indicator on the screen will show you if the Vita is centralised or tilted in a certain direction. The motion controls are actually fun to use, but they are not forced upon. The left analogue stick is available before entering the series of courses. Of course, the courses are quite wacky and also very colourful and fun to navigate through. Mini games will also be available. This is a Vita game worth looking out for.

EB Expo 2012 Playstation Booth: PS3 Games Showcase

Joshua Spudic

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October 7, 2012

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With a massive booth, SCE Australia brought out a stellar line up of games to the EB Expo over the weekend. Both the Playstation 3 and the Playstation Vita had a strong showing from Sony’s first party studios and third party partners. Sony’s Playstation 3 line up mainly consisted of their upcoming first party offerings, such as Playstation All Stars Battle Royale, Ratchet and Clank QForce, Little Big Planet Karting and much more. Of course, a few third party games had also made an appearance, some already covered by others, like Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. In this article, I divulge into some of these titles, both first party and third party, that will hit the PS3 in the next six months.

While I did get my first taste of Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale at the Playstation Playground last week, the characters on offer was quite limited. That same demo was there to show off cross play to the masses, as well as the progress of the Vita version. However, there was a second station available. This station had all 20 launch characters available for selection. In my battle, I chose Dante of Devil May Cry fame in a fight with three other players on a level inspired by the Uncharted series. The action was intense as Dante uses close to mid range attacks. In terms of the actual gameplay, the core mechanics are set in stone, so not much changed in terms of core gameplay. The level looks crisp and sharp, as well as the character models. While many would dismiss it as a clone, it feels different enough to warrant a look at. I had enjoyed both experiences of All-Stars over the two weeks and it should impress when it comes out in November.

Ratchet and Clank QForce made its playable debut in Australia. The first thing I noticed is the change to the more traditional action platforming of the series seen in the PS2 trilogy, but with some additional gameplay elements I have not seen in a Ratchet and Clank game. In this particular level, the dynamic duo must defend a base from some intruders using turrets, barriers and mines. Each element costs a certain amount of bolts. Weapons are obtained by unlocking machines rather than purchasing them. Another interesting addition is Ratchet’s rocket boots. Holding the R2 button sees Ratchet speeding through the level. Going back to the series roots after All 4 One is definitely a positive sign. I was disappointed not to see the Vita version, though.

Little Big Planet Karting also made an appearance. I was able to try out one race with the new Move steering wheel peripheral. The game itself blends in classic karting gameplay with elements from the Little Big Planet series, especially the creative side of things. In terms of actual gameplay, the core is pure, classic karting. During the race, players can collect the bubbles from the series to score points, as well as using different weapons to give you the advantage in the race. The Move wheel does look and feel quite big. But it is easy to handle. The Move itself was quite responsive and accurate to my movements.

When Vikings Attack might not be a game you would be aware of, considering it is a PSN title. However, it is a game worth looking at. This PSN game, coming to both the PS3 and Vita, has you control a group of people and throwing various objects at groups of Vikings in various locations. Objects that can be thrown have weight limitations, which mean smaller groups can not carry a car, for example. Hitting multiple enemies gives you bonus points. Stealing thrown items is also possible with a quick dash, providing the group is big enough to hold the item. Both versions of the game are identical, which would mean one copy for both PS3 and Vita, similar to Soundshapes. Cross play will also be possible, but there was no demo showing this.

Epic Mickey 2 is going to be an interesting game. The demo was set in various locales such as Mickey’s house. I took the reigns of Mickey Mouse and went on a short adventure. Mickey will be equipped with the paint bush again and it is his job to use that brush to navigate through the world around him. This time, he brings Oswald the Rabbit, a foe, as his ally. The 3D platformer does look good with the cartoon style. The Move controller is quite responsive. Moving the motion controller around moves the camera as well as control where the stream of paint (or thinner) will hit. Elements from the first game, like painting platforms for progress, are back. It was a great demo and something worth watching out for.

If you have played Rugby League Live, then it would be no surprise that Rugby League Live 2 is basically more of the same with more competitions. While the authenticity of the game is quite impressive for the sport of rugby league, the controls felt a little stiff and the Al was still a bit clunky. Even selecting players while on the defence is still a little off. The amount of competitions from the two biggest rugby league countries is quite impressive, but there are only three international teams available. This is a little disappointing, considering there is a World Cup in the sport. It looks quite decent and the commentary isn’t as choppy as before.

Make your iDevice Sweeter with Sugar Kid

Jessica Barabas-Bui

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October 7, 2012

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Are you a sugar fan? Well here’s an app that is certain to get your attention – Sugar Kid! The evil Mr. Lemon wants to get his throne back from Sugar Kid, by planning to make the poor sugar cube melt. Mr. Lemon, in all of his evil mastermind-iness has trapped Sugar Kid in a water machine in order to melt him down to liquid sugar.

Save Sugar Kid by drawing walls to him protect him against Mr. Lemon’s attacks, and avoid death by soda!

Sugar Kid has over 90 levels with three game modes (levels, survival and deadly missions). Full of humour and great graphics (plus a little bit of gore mixed in), Sugar Kid will definitely be a super sweet app.

Sugar Kid is available NOW for iPhone, iTouch and iPad for a special launch offer of HALF PRICE. So get in quick and grab Sugar Kid for the low price of $0.99 – Get it HERE

EB Games Expo 2012 Just Cos Cosplay Competition

Benjamin Webb

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October 7, 2012

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The EB Games Expo this year had two cosplay competitions in attendance, one for the more casual crowd and the big main one that was held at the end of the show. In this article we’ll be taking a look at the Just Cos cosplay competition which was the more casual contest held in the Homegrown Pavilion on a stage behind the Madman booth.

What was cool about this competition was that even though it was supposed to be the more low-key contest, it actually had a great number of Cosplays available, as well as having some -really- intricate entries. Some favourites of mine were the GLADoS and the Madoka Magica cosplays.

Whilst I have some personal feelings towards children being in any kind of contest based purely on aesthetics, it seems that allowing entrants under a certain age was allowable at this contest. I don’t think that any kids were coerced into doing the contest, but not many of them looked like they were enjoying it all that much.

Bias aside, the contest was great fun and it seemed like most of the entrants were having fun. Except that Ichigo with a mask, he looked like he was hugely embarassed. Props to you for getting up on stage and giving it a go man; I’ve been wanting to do it for ages but haven’t found the time to grab a costume.

Check out our gallery below for the images taken at this contest. Also the face on the right side is Slykura from Madman. Hi there.

Gamecom Plantronics EB Games Expo Booth Impressions 2012

Benjamin Webb

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October 7, 2012

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Gamecom Plantronics EB Games Expo Booth Impressions 2012

This year at the EB Games Expo held in Sydney the superior (personal bias here, my Gamecom 7.1ch headphones are beastly) headphone company, Plantronics, were present and showcasing a wide variety of their products. What was really cool was that they had a bunch of their existing product line on display and also attached to a plethora of popular video games to showcase their clearly superior sound quality.

Also present at the booth was what looked like a Jeep of some kind that had been done up and emblazoned with the Gamecom branded logo, which made it look incredibly relevant to the booth. Although the real item on display was their upcoming pair of headphones.

These impressive headphones are called the Gamecom Commander that are designed for tournament play by (who I was told are) specialists that also produce audio technology for the military. I just had to try these babies out. As soon as I put them on my head, I noticed that the room – or rather the show floor – had become silent. I could then hear this sound happening beside me. I literally thought that it was an actual sound being produced from the side, so I lifted the right earphone off my head just so that I could verify.

It turns out that the sound was actually produced by the headphones. This was amazing, I mean I’ve always upheld that Plantronics have a superior quality of audio in comparison to most other companies out there, but after hearing the Gamecom Commander in action – I’m pretty much ready to retire my current pair and pick one of those. Just let me reiterate my point here, just in case you haven’t quite gotten what it is that I’m trying to say here.

The Gamecom Commander offers a superior audio quality across a natural sounding 7.1 channel surround sound setup. Just remember that this was so superior that I thought that I was hearing something actually happening around me. Nothing has made me believe that yet, not even my current pair of headphones that I still hold above all else, except the Commander of course.

Overall it looks like the GameCom brand is going to continue strong. Plantronics continue to offer a superior experience to gamers and I definitely want the Commander to be accessible to as many gamers as possible. Check out the official site for more info.

Sennheiser Booth EB Expo 2012 Impressions

Benjamin Webb

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October 7, 2012

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At this years EB Games Expo held in Sydney this weekend us here at Capsule Computers took our time to check out the Sennheiser promotional booth at the show. This booth was pretty cool, featured some rather cool booth babes and had some video games and headphones set up for the public to enjoy.

Whilst I was at the booth, there was a pretty cool tournament starting up featuring a racing game. If I recall correctly, participants were competing for a fairly decent pair of Sennheiser headphones. Competitions are the backbone of gaming and it is incredibly nice to see a company like Sennheiser organising a competition such as this.

Be sure to check out your local Hi Fi stores for Sennheiser products.

NHL 13 Review

Travis Bruno

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October 7, 2012

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NHL 13
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: EA Sports
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (Reviewed)
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Price: $59.99 – Available Here

Overview:
It’s a troubling time to be a hockey fan in the USA at the moment, as there may not even be a season at all thanks to a lockout between the NHL and the players. However there is one company that is looking to make sure that fans will still be able to get a chance to play some hockey this year, EA. With the release of NHL 13 EA Sports is looking to capitalize on some brand new enhancements to the game over last year’s iteration. However is the game improved enough to warrant a purchase or should hockey fans bide their time with the AHL? Let’s find out.

Visuals:
Many of you will be glad to know that this is indeed one of the best looking NHL games to date thanks to a number of improvements that EA has made across the board. Players are mostly represented accurately, though their expressions still leave something to be desired at times.

As far as the team’s gear and stadiums go, they are still as impressive as before and the game’s replay angles have been increased since past games, creating a more televised look to each replay. The ice itself is nice and shiny and thanks to the new physics in the game, player skating has never looked better.

Audio:
EA has made some effort into making NHL 13 a bit more realistic as far as the music in the stadium is concerned as they have retained a number of standard tracks that hockey fans will recognize. Besides that the game features a rather standard sampling of rock songs for music in the menu screens.

As far as rink atmosphere is concerned the sound effects on the ice are realistically represented and will make the player feel like they are actually listening to a game of hockey be played. As far as the announcers are concerned, they are the same as past years and sound just the same as years before, with relatively high calling accuracy, though it is noticeable when player name’s or scores are worked into canned calls.

Gameplay:
One of the biggest changes that NHL 13 features over its predecessors is EA’s new “True Performance Skating” mechanic which has introduced a new set of physics into the game that makes the game more realistic than it has ever been in the past. Many gamers may know that in past NHL titles, nearly every player played the exact same way as long as their stats were similar. However with these new physics the characters actually act as one would expect them to.

Meaning that unlike past games where any skater could move fast along the ice no matter what size they were with no repercussions, these new physics have made added such repercussions into the game, making it not only more believable but also making for a more strategic game. The reason for this is that players who are less agile may not be able to make easy turns, or fast players may have difficulty stopping and reversing their movement.

No longer will defensemen be able to easily keep up with the fastest members of your offensive line. Of course these same defensemen now are more difficult to knock down or rush past as well, thanks to the fact that the new physics factor in their sizable builds. This means that players will need to work on managing their team and positioning their players through accurate passing to beat the other team. It is worth noting though that passing is still a bit of an issue in the game however thanks to the fact that the puck physics have gone unrefined, but once the player gets used to them it will be easy to manage your offense.

It is also worth noting that the game’s defensive options have also improved as goalies have been given free limb control which makes various saves more believable and also easier to pull off thanks to the fact that canned save animations aren’t the standard. It is worth noting that there are still issues however with goalies as there are a number of times that they will simply allow a puck to bounce all over their body and into the net or react strangely to a bouncing puck, but these issues seem to occur less than in NHL 12.

There are various game modes, both new and old, that players can access to step foot onto the ice, though most of these modes seem to have gone unchanged. Outside of simple exhibition matches, players can still access the standard Be a Pro or Be a GM modes, though Be a GM has been given a few improvements over last year’s and is now called GM Connected. Most of these improvements involve the opposing team’s AI trading sensibilities, making one-sided trades more difficult to pull off, though this also makes even simple trades difficult at times. Outside of that however, players will be able to take control over every aspect of their team and work on building them into a dynasty.

Outside of those standard modes we also have the Hockey Ultimate Team mode and the brand new NHL Moments Live. The HUT mode works similar to Madden’s MUT set-up, where players can collect various cards which can be anything to a player card to a card that buffs players on your team. These packs can be bought with coins earned from playing the game and also from completing NHL Moments and allow gamers to create a team of their very own using various players from around the league.

As far as the NHL Moments go, it allows players to re-live, or even change, famous moments from the 2011-12 NHL season as a player. It is worth noting that these moments are also introduced using actual footage from the game which is rather impressive. These modes are very enjoyable for fans of hockey in general and more moments are meant to be made available for free once the 2012-13 NHL season begins, though given the fact that the first two weeks of the season are cancelled thanks to the ongoing lockout, these moments may be unavailable for some time.

As far as online goes, players can skate against others through simple versus matches, shootouts, Battles for the Cup and of course, the new GM Connected mode. However it seems that the netcode actually is worse than in past years with even the simplest of online matches plagued with lag. This wouldn’t be too much of an issue if the lag was minor, but in some cases it can nearly make the game unplayable during a laggy match, forcing the players to simply call it a game and end it. This is quite a shame as when a match does play well, it actually works excellently as players compete to see whose skills are the best.

As far as the GM Connected mode goes, players can join a league of up to 750 people interacting with one another at one time, allowing for some rather insane levels of interaction with other players. However this online mode is often bogged down with long load times and difficult to navigate so while it is indeed possible to take your GM or Pro online and play with others, it is far from fluid.

Overall:
NHL 13’s various improvements make it probably one of the funnest NHL games in years. Building upon past improvements to the series, the new physics provided by the true performance skating system make the game more realistic than ever before. To top that off, the company has kept the game fresh by adding in some new and enjoyable gameplay modes. While it may have some online issues at the moment, NHL 13 offers practically everything a hockey fan would be looking for. Minus an end to this season’s lockout of course.

Epic Mickey 2 Hands-On Preview – EB Expo 2012

Luke Halliday

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October 7, 2012

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Epic Mickey was originally released on the Nintendo Wii to relative praise from critics but not exactly a blockbuster success. With that knowledge in their cap, Disney Interactive went back to the canvas and painted a second picture of epic proportions, that being Epic Mickey 2.

I managed to get my hands on the new title in the Epic Mickey franchise today at the EB Games Expo over at Disney’s humble little booth and I must say in the short period I was able to play the game, I was quite impressed by it.

Epic Mickey 2 begins by getting right into the thick of things, the main focus of this game is painting and thinning out the world around you. It’s a fanciful idea and it honestly works gloriously. The mechanics have not changed a whole lot since the first Epic Mickey game, but with this sequel branching out onto multiple platforms, there is of course different control schemes and the obligatory motion controls being tacked on.

I had a brief go with the Move controller and found it to be very similar to the Wii experience of the first game, so I switched the the standard PS3 controller which felt largely different to the motion control gameplay. One analogue stick controls Mickey and the other aims your paint brush. The paintbrush itself is somewhat reminiscent of the F.L.U.D.D from Super Mario Sunshine in that it sprays out instead of conventionally painting. It makes sense so that you can paint and thin objects from afar.

So essentially here is how things work in Epic Mickey 2, you have what is your standard platformer but with an incredibly inventive mechanic in the painting/thinning brush. The brush gives life and takes it away in the Epic Mickey world, it is an all powerful magical device that is used to solve puzzles, assist in platforming etc.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this game though is one I only got to touch the tip of the iceberg with – the good or bad system. Now it appears that Epic Mickey 2 will allow players to decide whether they want to paint the world into glorious life or to thin it out to nothingness. It’s interesting and a rather deep concept for what is ultimately a game aimed towards a younger audience. I only wish that I could have seen this aspect in greater detail in my preview play.

From top to bottom, Epic Mickey 2 appears to be a significant improvement over the first game, with a lot of new things to excite players. Will it be a hit? That’s hard to say, it really is, but it is definitely a great game.

Halo 4: Foward Unto Dawn Episode 1 Mini Review

David Partin

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October 7, 2012

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Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 1
Studio: 343 Industries
Publisher: 343 Industries
Format: Webisode (Youtube)
Release Date: October 5, 2012 (Machinima Prime)
Price: Free

Overview

In 2525, as mankind has begun to colonize space, a group of cadets are training to fight against human insurrectionists. One of these cadets, Thomas Laskey, has doubts about his abilities as a soldier and his convictions for this war. Whilst he struggles with himself, the planet is invaded by an unknown alien race. Reeling under the assault, Laskey and his squad mates are rescued by John-117, one of the UNSC’s legendary SPARTAN-II super-soldiers. John must inspire Laskey to fulfill his potential as a soldier and a leader to fight against an enemy deadlier than any that humanity has faced before, the covenant.

Story

The first episode takes the squad into training. As they begin to exit the cryochamber you see Thomas Laskey fall onto the ground. As he struggles to get up and put on his armor, you begin to tell the issues he will soon face. As the squad is taking cover at a nearby bunker the squad begins to loose it under the pressure. While they begin argue about the order the commander has given, Laskey decides to disobey his orders and go on his own way. As he is running he gets shot and causes his squad to loose the training mission.

When they get back to the academy you begin to see some insight into each of the characters. You see that Laskey is trying to live up to his families expectations and how he is dealing with his health issues he is experiencing due to being in cryo. The same thing is done for the other main characters but nothing is done for the secondary characters. This is a sad thing because they have so much the can build upon with all the characters as a whole.

Visuals

The episode is shot perfectly. The video is clean and crisp which allow for it to be played in 360p and still look like it is in HD. They didn’t go cheap on the camera used to film it either as it looks like the quality you get when you go and see a movie in a theater.

The special effects are equally as good. The explosions that are taking place during the training are epic and the environmental 3-d effects that you see used really look real which makes you get a better sense of the places you see and will be seeing later on in the web series.

Audio

The audio is perfect with no muffles in between. The audio effects are equally impressive with the sounds of the incoming Warthog or the sounds the cryo chamber makes when it is opened.

The hired the perfect cast to voice each of the characters as I love to hear the wonderful Anna Popplewell voice Chyler Silva using her natural English accent which is just an example of how great the cast is.

Overall

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 1 is a must see for all people who enjoy a good web series. If there was only one thing I would change, it would be to add more background on screen time and background information on the secondary characters. For all the people who were skeptical about bringing the Halo franchise into a live action, you do not need to worry anymore. Axios!

Cosplay Evolved at EB Expo 2012

News

Claire Phillips

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October 7, 2012

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Every major convention worth it’s salt makes way for a bit of cosplay. The EB Expo 2012 was no different, holding a cosplay competition on the last day of the event. After a preliminary round early in the day, seven competitors were invited back to the EB Arena to take part in the Grand Final of the Cosplay Evolved competition. The arena was packed out for the event, which was part of the closing ceremony for the entire show, so after an extra heavy dose of dub step gaming themes, things got underway…

Every participant was preceded by a video short introducing themselves as their cosplay character, and then proceeded to strut their stuff for the audience and the panel of judges.

First up –Clayton Carmine from Gears of War 3. This was one of the most impressive costumes around the Expo and looked great on the big stage. A decent video introduction was followed by a skit that quickly shot through Gears of War 3, throwing in some props and some humour. The second entrant changed the tone of things as a Walking Dead Zombie; the usual zombie shuffle spiced up with a quick rendition of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

Deadpool was keen to play up the fourth wall breaking with a brave comedy skit, but despite a few giggles didn’t quite manage to pull it off – props to that competitor for having the nerve to try and make a huge audience laugh. An Uncharted skit featuring Drake and Elena also brought a bit of the bizarre, bringing in a strange crossover in the form of the Joker from the Dark Knight – of course sporting the famous nurses outfit, complete with a dangerously short skirt!

A fierce representation of Dragon Age II’s Flemeth showed off a highly detailed costume, with an impressive bit of hairstyling and a bodice littered with studs. A young Ocarina of Time Zelda provided a bit of sweetness and light, posing her way through the end sequence of the game.

The best was certainly saved till last, with a witty and confident skit from Megaman’s Plantman (technically a Plantlady). Everything fell into place for this participant, a vibrant costume, a funny skit, and a great bit of charm and personality.

After a brief interlude to conclude the results, the judging panel returned and the top three were announced. Walking away $250 in third position was Flemeth, followed by Clayton Carmine in second place, picking up a cool $500 in EB vouchers. The biggest prize of them all went to the clear favourite, with Plantman walking away with a massive $3000 worth of EB vouchers – surely enough to keep even the most avid gamer supplied for quite some time.

Congratulations to all the participants and of course to the winner – enjoy blitzing your local EB games store…