The next game in the Trails series, developed by Nihon Falcom, is Trails of Naytua (Nayuta No Keisei in Japan). It is set to be released in Japan on July 26 for the Playstation Portable. Since the release date is a mere two months away, Nihon Falcom has released a longer trailer for the game. The trailer shows off some of the gameplay features, including dungeon exploration and the battle system. Also in the video is Nihon Falcom’s president Toshihiro Kondo discussing the various features of the game. The game’s supposed vocal main theme is also played in the background. The tune is quite good and it has the potential to become quite catchy.
Nihon Falcom has a busy summer with both the release of Naytua No Keisei and an enhanced port of Legend of Heroes: Zero No Keisei, known as Legend of Heroes: Zero No Keisei Evolution for the Playstation Vita, which will be released in August and will feature voice acting in all sections of the game and mini games.
Sony Computer Entertainment America will be quite busy with their E3 media conference as the official E3 website has been updated with a statement claiming that they will reveal 20 new gaming experiences. The statement reads:
“Come join PlayStation as we give the largest show in entertainment a triple shot of excitement. Be one of the first to witness the launch of more than 20 new gaming experiences. Meet up with developers one-on-one. Then check out the new lineup firsthand and keep on playing as long as you can.”
Of course, this will not include a new console, as Sony has throughout the year declined that the next console, codenamed “Orbis”, will make an appearance at the trade show. What it will include should be already introduced are a few games that have been announced, such as God of War: Ascension and The Last Stand. Playstation All Stars Battle Royale will also make an appearance with new additions to the roster. The Playstation Vita should also get a decent amount of first and third party games to add some variety to the handheld.
Mass Effect 3 Razer Imperator Manufacturer: Razer Device: Mouse Price: AU$109.95 Purchase:Razerstore
As one of 2012’s biggest game releases, Mass Effect 3 has been the focus of attention for many gamers over the past several months. And why wouldn’t it be? The hugely in depth storyline (ending not withstanding), kick ass gameplay mechanics, the addictive nature of multiplayer, AND the opportunity to knock out an annoying paparazzi reporter?
Not surprisingly, due to this popularity ME3 has seen no shortage of additional peripheral products released into the gaming and collectors markets. Anyone who has graced the inside of their local game shop will have no doubt witnessed the strange abundance of N7 branded collectibles, toys, clothing, posters and hardware. Naturally, as one of the biggest and most reputable peripheral brands on the market, Razer has also added their own arsenal of Mass Effect 3 branded products to the many retailers and shopfronts around the world.
This is certainly not the first time Razer has thrown its name in behind a popular gaming title. This is particularly true of many games from Bioware and EA, such as Dragon Age, Battlefield 3, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and of course, Mass Effect. And like many of the other games that have been released previously, no branded Razer arsenal would be complete without the release of a new mouse variant.
The Mass Effect Imperator Mouse is the 3rd variant in Razer’s Imperator series (preceded by the basic Razer Imperator and the Battlefield 3 Imperator). Undoubtedly designed for the action oriented gamer, this particular peripheral boasts several customisable features to match the preferences of even the most sensitive handed of gamers. In testing the performance of the mouse out for myself, I thought it would be imperative to see how the mouse handled on the variety of genres. With that in mind SWTOR, Age of Empires and naturally, Mass Effect 3 itself were all viable testing grounds to explore the capabilities of this mouse, and I must say, the verdicts are favourable.
The additional side buttons allow for additional functions in MMOs and FPS games. For instance, setting a quick run function in SWTOR allowed me to assign crew tasks and micromanage my inventory on the run, whilst still being able to direct avatar movement. This is a feature which comes in handy, especially for players like me who will attest to accidently running off cliffs on numerous occasions due to my own lack of control co-ordination. While the basic default settings of the mouse suited my play styles just fine, the side keys also feature an adjustable slider on the underside of the mouse so the player can feel free to slide the side keys to any one of five comfortable positions. Adding this feature feels like the product is doing more than simply meeting a demand. Rather, the mouse attempts to make gaming functional and inclusive for the player.
In playing Mass Effect 3 online, one of the other key mouse features I found was the centre buttons that allow for sensitivity adjustments on the go. The ability able to decrease aim sensitivity whilst peering down the scope of a sniper rifle resulted in a marked improvement in my accuracy and headshot counts. Being able to adjust aim sensitivity eventually became second nature to me when switching between the tighter controls required of the sniper rifle and the looser aim of an assault rifle. And there’s nothing more deadly on a ME3 multiplayer field than a Berserk Krogan that has the capacity to look and turn quickly, and yet aim with deadly accuracy.
For the hardware buffs out there, it is worth noting that the mouse is outfitted with a dual laser sensor system. For those scratching your heads as to what this means, it basically translates to the mouse being able to quickly and easily adjust for use on any surface, making it an ideal portable device for gaming without the need for a mouse pad.
The one limitation that seems to be common amongst Razer products is the requirement to log on to Razer’s Synapse service to make the fine-tuned adjustments. While the factory default settings are honestly fine by me, for the sensitive PC gamer, this is an additional step that must be taken.
From an aesthetic standpoint, the mouse itself looks damn cool, and should be considered a must have for the devoted Mass Effect fan. The physical shape of the mouse is designed to fit to the contours of the player’s hand. Even for extended periods of time, my hand was rested very comfortably during hours of gameplay. A luxury that a friend I was playing with was notably lacking. The scroll wheel also boasts a rubber coating to improve grip and control of the centre wheel functions. The mouse is also sleek and lightweight, which makes movement easy. (A popular feature that is shared amongst many Razer products.) When used in conjunction with the similarly ME3 branded Razer Vespula mouse pad, the combination was not only aesthetically pleasing, but very comfortable for playing through until the late hours.
The armor weave design on the primary mouse buttons mirrors that of Shepard’s N7 armor, even down to the detail of adding the official N7 logo to the base of the mouse. The solid red backlight on the mouse wheel is also a cool touch. Again, another feature which mirrors the visual design of Shepard’s armor. In using the mouse for myself, I couldn’t help but visualise the Commander keeping one of these within a compartment of his/her armor to pull out and game at his/her own convenience. It’s as if to say: “My name is Commander Shepard, and this is my favourite device on the Citadel.”
In addition to the afore mentioned physical and functional features of the mouse, avid players of ME3 will also be pleased to note that registered purchases of the Mass Effect 3 Razer Imperator also come with exclusive DLC codes. Specifically, these include multiplayer reinforcement packs AND the Collector Assault Rifle to be used in either PC or Xbox 360 editions of the game.
If there was one word that I would use to describe this particular product, it would be accommodating. The ergonomic design of the mouse allows for comfortable hand fit and play regardless of physical size, sensitivity preference, or predispositions to button mapping. The customisation options available for controls and sensitivity also add to this notion. In addition, the mouse lends itself well to pretty much any genre of gaming that can spring to mind. Regardless of whether your preference is for shooters, action, strategy, role playing, sports or even online play, the Imperator comes highly recommended from me.
The Lord of the Rings is considered as one of the finest examples of fantasy literature since its publication between 1954 and 1955. Despite the mixed reception at the time, the Peter Jackson trilogy pushed the epic into the spotlight in the 21st century, with various other forms of media swept up in its story of good and evil. Video games are no exception, with the latest rumour being that there will be a Lego game based on the famous trilogy.
A listing on the shopping website ShopTo has pointed to a possible release of such a game this year. It has been taken down, but a cache version is available to view. While the page is for an Xbox 360 version, it should make an appearance on other consoles, handhelds and mobile devices, with a release date of October 26. It should be noted that a line of Lego based on the Lord of the Rings will be released later this year as well as Peter Jackson’s vision of The Hobbit, the prequel of the Lord of the Rings.
Are you excited about Middle Earth in Lego form? Will The Hobbit feature in the game? Give us your thoughts below.
On the 14th of May at 8:50pm Tokyo time, Sony Computer Entertainment will be holding a session based on the music of Gravity Rush (Gravity Daze in Japan), the anticipated new IP coming out on the Playstation Vita. Director Keiichiro Toyama and sound lead Kouhei Tanaka will be the hosts of the session, with a live orchestrated performance of selected music tracks by Tanaka. The session will be broadcasted live on Japanese video website Nico Nico Douga, which you can find here.
Gravity Rush follows Kat, a young woman with amnesia and the ability to manipulate gravity. She must protect the town of Hekseville after the appearance of a gravity storm and monsters, who threaten the town. Gravity Rush will be available in North American and European markets this June. It has already been released in Japan.
If you enter a Gamestop and notice a lack of Playstation Portable games, it is because of Gamestop’s announcement that one in four stores will not stock PSP games. That is 25% of all stores in the region. In a statement made by Gamestop (and published on Kotaku), a Gamestop representative noted the following:
“The consolidation is occurring to maximize the merchandising space in the smallest 25% of stores. It will also provide a greater assortment in those stores that will continue to carry the category.”
This comes as no surprise given the release of the Playstation Vita in February and the slow sales of the seven year old handheld. The Playstation Portable did have some fantastic games, including a huge library of JRPG’s, excellent first party games and, of course, Monster Hunter.
Did you have a Playstation Portable? If so, what games did you have? Give us your experiences below.
For anyone living in Beijing China, LinJie V (Five) comic show was on today, so it was another perfect excuse for the Capsule Computers Crew to attend and cover the event and check out the awesome CosPlay that was on show. LinJie comic show has always been and is the only event that is held outdoors and is the only Comic Show that is FREE to the public, YES that’s right FREE entry in, how great is that! The event is held each year in the People’s University of China’s Basketball field is, which I must say is quite large and very impressive. As always everything went down without a hitch. With special media pass we were able to get in and take a look at the event floor approx 2 hours before the massive crowds / fans and cos players were allowed it. And THANK THE ANIME GODS for that! Once the clock stuck 9am, the flood gates opened and it was on for young and old!
Today’s event drew an impressive amount of Cos-Play characters from classic Anime shows, Manga and video games. Event DEATH made an appearance! Check out the pictures taken below (link below to our full gallery images hosted on Facebook) a lot of effort and time was certainly spent into some of these outfits which I must say were very interesting and amazingly well designed. Cos-Play here at inJie V was as good as Jiong Jiong & M.Y. Comic 3 that happened earlier this year in Beijing. The great thing about attending these events is you also get to know the regulars and see what new costumes they have designed, which is always very exciting if you’re a cos-play fan.
Click on the link below to be taken to our Facebook gallery page for LinJie V Comic Show
As the Mass Effect 3 release date approached, Razer announced a literal heap of devices they would be releasing in partnership with BioWare. N7 branded mice, controllers, even bags, were all going to be shipped out to the world at large. The Razer Chimaera wireless headset was among this plethora of peripherals, and the device bears the high standardof quality set by Razer, now with a Mass Effect flourish.
The moment you receive the box for the headset, you’ll be floored. It is by no means small, and the package is designed to show off the Chimaera, while at the same time art from Mass Effect 3 surrounds it. Earth is burning, and the headphones within will help you put out the fires. As you eagerly unravel the packaging, you’ll be treated to the various staples of Razer customer service. Instruction manuals, Razer stickers, and a “Welcome to the Cult of Razer” message await you. Also inside is the all-in-one charger/wireless tower for the Chimaera.
The stand itself is a bit clunky, but it is small enough that you should easily find some space around your television cabinet or desk. The bonus for having to make the space is, of course, that there are no annoying cables tying you down. It was nice to be able to shift position without worrying about pulling the headset out of the Xbox or getting a wire out of my play space.
The problems begin and end with the next phase of the unboxing, however. There are a lot of cables that come with the headset, each having a various purpose depending on how you want to experience your games. Whether it’s by plugging the headset directly into your controller, playing it through a TV-charger connection, or having the charger plugged directly into your Xbox. While the variety is appreciated, the minimalist style in which the instruction manuals literally illustrate the set up of the device is ultimately confusing. Especially because in some cases, like if you want to use the headset for a PC, the instructions are shown, but not all of the cables required are actually included with the Chimaera. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel misled at that point.
But what came next surprised me more than my disgruntlement. When you finally get everything working and you put on the headphones, you’ll forget any frustration that may have been caused by the installation of the device. Before it even starts playing sound, the Chimaera rests comfortably on your head and around your ears. Where some headsets can feel uncomfortable after a while, the Chimaera is the leather couch of audio devices. You could wear the thing in your sleep and hardly feel it. Granted, if you rolled onto your side then you probably would have some issues, but the point is you can put the headset on for hours at no discomfort – a plus for those weekend marathon gaming sessions.
Then the audio kicks in. I can honestly say the sound quality is beyond anything I expected.
The first game to get the Chimaera treatment from me was Mass Effect 3, and boy did the headset make me feel like I was right there. The sound design in Mass Effect 3 was much improved over previous games, and the Chimaera really brings that out. Every shot of the Mattock rifle felt like someone was shooting a gun two feet away from me, every rising orchestral tune swept me away moreso than it had before, and, most strikingly, the quality of ambience shot up. It’s not that it wasn’t there on my first playthrough, it’s just that I could now hear it in all its glory.
I then gave FIFA 12 a go, and the same applied there. Sounds I didn’t even know were in the game were clear as day all of a sudden – the solid “poof” when someone hit the ball and the crowd chants that are layered on top of the basic “Wooaaahhh” in the background, to list a few examples. So it was all the more satisfying when winding down a 1-0 game because every pass completion that kept the ball away from my opponent resulted in a “yeah!” from the spectators. The Chimaera added that little extra spice to the virtual football experience, making something new out of something I’ve been way too familiar with over the past eight months.
The last game on the whirlwind tour my eardrums were going on was The Witcher 2, and there the difference was especially obvious. There’s so much hustle and bustle in any of the locations within the game, and whether it’s the animals in the forests, vendors in the city, or the clash of swords the Chimaera amplifies it all. The world of Temeria went from looking real to feeling real. And while that may be a subtle difference for some, it genuinely helped to get me immersed in the little things of the game. I found myself exploring far more than I usually do, really just taking it all in.
Above I mentioned that you could play with the Chimaera on for hours, but it will also make you want to play for hours. For better or worse, the device effectively blocks out the world around you and places your two feet firmly into whichever virtual world you are exploring at the moment. So whether you’re smack-talking on Call of Duty‘s multiplayer or saving the galaxy from the Reapers in Mass Effect, the Chimaera will make you feel like you are right there in the room yelling at a fourteen-year0-old from Sweden or telling the Illusive Man that he needs to stop being a douche.
The microphone on the Chimaera is also great, though filtered through the internet, there’s probably not much difference on the end of whoever you’re playing on Xbox Live. What’s handy, though, is that muting the mic is as simple as lifting it back into its original vertical position. There’s nothing much simpler than that.
While the Mass Effect 3 Razer Chimaera isn’t the most straightforward of products to set up, particularly if you were hoping to use it for your PC, once it’s been installed you’d be hard pressed to find a headset that can match its sound quality and comfort. If you love total immersion (and let’s face it, if you’re getting a Mass Effect themed piece of peripheral you probably do), then the Razer Chimaera will be one of the best things that has happened to you since the end of Mass Effect.
Oh, and it also comes with a code for some Mass Effect 3 multiplayer goodies, just in case the stylish N7 on your earbud wasn’t enough.
Around this time last year we had just started to discover that Nintendo had a new console ready to show off at E3 2011. The console that was ultimately shown however left more than a few gamers with a bad taste in their mouths. Now heading into E3 2012, it is the perfect opportunity for Nintendo to correct that.
As many would recall the console appears to be little more than a beefed up Wii with an iPad for a controller. Okay, that’s a little too harsh, but the fact remains that it didn’t look like much of a significant upgrade from the Wii besides the inclusion of the new controller. That’s not all though, the name of the machine itself is literally the Wii U. This in itself is more a problem than it is a blessing.
Nintendo flat out need to redesign the console itself and create an entirely new name for the console. The reason why this is a necessity is the fact that the console will be confused for a simple remodel of the Wii. The general consumer does not read websites such as this religiously and does not follow the latest news on the industry, unless Nintendo makes it clear that this product is something entirely new, the Wii U will not make a significant impact out of the gate.
So how does Nintendo show the common consumer that this is something new and worth their money? Redesign and rename the version that they have currently shown us. Give it a new and exciting look, and give it a name that won’t be instantly associated with a very console that launched 6 years ago. The common consumer is not interested in buying a new model of a product that they have most likely had for years and long gotten bored of. Nintendo need to give them something new. They need to give them something that they ‘haven’t’ already got.
With E3 2012 now under a month away, all eyes will be on Nintendo and their upcoming console. Will they show us a new model and a new title? This particular journalist can only hope so. Sound off in the comments below with your thoughts.
The Bluecoats: North vs South Developer:Anuman Interactive Publisher:Microids Platforms:PC (reviewed), iOS, Mac Release Date:10 May, 2012 Price:$9.99 (PC) $3.99 (iOS available here)
Overview
The Bluecoats: North vs South might ring bells on a couple of levels. On the more obscure, French level, Bluecoats was an incredibly popular comic strip. Secondly, it was one of the first turn based strategy games, released in 1989 on the Commodore 64, NES and several other platforms.
It takes the American Civil War as its backdrop, dropping players onto a map of the United States where they must takeover territories and conquer forts to win the day. This version – released on iOS and PC and Mac with an Android release in the pipeline – has obviously been tweaked from its 23 year old original form. The graphics have been improved and gameplay changes made to offer a more accessible experience.
Gameplay
Dumped on a map of the not so United States, players must capture individual territories and wipe out enemy forces. Different states have various strategic advantages and disadvantages, including forts, railways and ports. Holding two forts linked by rail will generate gold for your revolutionary coffers and a port will drop off reinforcements every now and again. Alongside these map features are several randomised game changers that can be turned on or off as you see fit, allowing for a bit of variety to the game’s singular mode. Both sides can be hindered by attacks from Indians or Mexicans on border states, or units can be held up by a passing storm. These little mechanics add a drop of chaos to a game that is otherwise mostly about who can buy the most troops from the shop fastest.
States held by the enemy can be taken without a hitch if there is no opposition on the square, but any fort or enemy unit will kick off one of the three mini games found within Bluecoats. Attacking or being attacked by a unit will bring up a fast paced battlefield, where you can order cavalry, cannon and infantry to attack. There are a small number of terrain features to take note of here and also the ability to surrender – both highly useful things to be aware of if you’re in a tight spot. The right unit pairings are fairly easy to come across and when you’ve got that nailed confrontations are usually pretty straightforward.
Taking or defending a fort kicks off a third person shooter section where your one trooper must fend off thirteen enemy soldiers. Although a bit tricky at first, once you get used to the rhythm of the enemies popping in and out of cover it is fairly easy to win. A nonsensical limit to the amount of time you can crouch feels like an incredibly forced way to add tension to what is otherwise a static fight, but it’s certainly a more efficient way to defend your territory than the sometimes unpredictable battlefield mini game. I eventually stopped defending my forts with a unit and just let attacks go straight to the shooter mini game.
The third and final mini game, in stark contrast to the other two, hardly ever appears. Either defending or attacking a train, this one remains fresher by virtue of its relative rarity. The three mini games form much of the games playtime, and as soon as you get the slightest of upper hands being so well practiced at them makes much of the challenge disappear.
Luckily you can change the start date of the game, giving either the Confederates or the Yankess more power and territory to match up with the historical events of the war. Sadly that’s pretty much all the influence the conflict has on the game, and other than the visuals you would be hard pressed to realise that there’s any sort of comic strip influence here.
There are no other modes to the game, so other than tweaking the difficulty and experimenting with the random elements and limited strategy, there isn’t much to do if you’re after something for long gaming sessions. The lack of any multiplayer at all is also incredibly strange – the game would benefit enormously from it. That said the enemy AI is very good – it’ll certainly take a few tries to get the best of it. Winning however is a bit of a let down, much of the tension having gone by the time you’re wiping out the last of the enemy units, and the complete lack of stats or rewards at the end doesn’t help matters – Bluecoats is certainly a very simplistic experience.
This is also something of a strength for the game however, which undoubtedly makes it more suited to portable platforms, especially the larger screen of the iPad. The game is overpriced for the PC platform for sure, but as an armchair distraction or commute filler Bluecoats would fare much better. The gameplay does provoke some strategic thinking and the mini games fare well enough over one off play sessions.
Audio & Visual
Graphically Bluecoats has been given a nice bright lick of paint, with cartoon strip style characters offering a little bit of charm. The music adds to the cheerful tone of the game, and is all Civil War marches and trumpet calls. Sure it’s appropriate to the theme, but your highly likely to switch to your own music after a short time – things get repetitive fast! The sound effects haven’t had the same attention as the animation either, so there’s not much to be lost by hitting the mute button. As a package Bluecoats is bright, cheery and ultimately inoffensive – it’s just a shame it doesn’t have a bit more character to it to take away from the fairly limited gameplay.
Overall
A cheerful distraction that will appeal to fans of strategy, Bluecoats is simply limited by its age. It’s crying out for a multiplayer mode and a bit more content – but for small sessions it does a solid job of making you think on your feet. The iOS version makes far more sense to buy than the PC, and iPad owners will probably get the best out of it. The mini games certainly make for an unusually mixed strategy experience, just make sure not to get too good at the shooting and turn the difficulty up!
