Those who have purchased the $25 Gears Season Pass should be happy to hear when they will be able to download the next piece of Gears of War 3 DLC for absolutely nothing. The rest of us however, will have to pay 1200 Microsoft Points when this piece releases December 13th. The DLC announced earlier today by Epic Games is called Gears of War 3: Raam’s Shadow.
Raam’s Shadow will take place before the events of the first Gears of War game, featuring a mix of new characters in a group known as the Zeta Squad. Players will enter the world of Sera post-Emergance Day and be tasked with evacuating Ilima City against a Locust Kryll storm. Zeta squad will consist of Michael Barrick who was in the Gears comics, Lt. Minh Young Kim from Gears 1 and Tai Kaliso from Gears 2. Plus there will be a new female soldier known as Alicia Valera added to the mix.
Besides the story content, players will also unlock six new multiplayer characters, the Chocolate Weapon skin and 250 extra achievement points. Obviously the new skins will be the characters of Zeta Squad and most likely Raam. But who is the last one I wonder? Care to venture a guess?
Remember that $1 deal for Afterfall: Insanity? Well anyone who chips in their buck to the preorder is now going to be supporting a good cause – all of those dollars will go to Amnesty International.
The original deal from Nicolas Games was that if ten million pre orders were reached for Afterfall: Insanity then $1 would be all that was due for the full game:
“Last week we started taking pre-orders for Afterfall: InSanity and have received absolutely amazing feedback on the campaign. We wanted to do something special with this game. By donating the proceeds from the Afterfall: InSanity $1 pre-order campaign to Amnesty International we can contribute to the defense of human rights and thus be part of something extraordinary.” said Tomasz Majka, the CEO of Nicolas Games.
If the ten million preorders are reached then 10% of the preorder proceeds will go to Amnesty International. Gamers need not fear for their dollar either, as if the pre-order target is not reached, that Amnesty donation will come off the full price, leaving the game at $33.90 for gamers who joined the preorder effort.
It’s a good deal folks, $1 for a game/off the full price, $1 for Amnesty International. If you know you’re going to buy then head over to the game’s official siteto support the campaign. Kudos to Nicolas Games – there are already 17,000 preorders. If you need a little convincing then be sure to try out the demo, which will be released on November 15. Check out the video below for the indie developers rundown of the deal, and just think about how much good this could do.
If you’re looking to upgrade your Xbox 360 or jump to Microsofts’s console anytime soon, hold out for another week! Xbox supremo/blogger Major Nelson has just announced some Xbox and Kinect holiday bundles that should catch your eye whether you’re after a family purchase or a more selfish gaming one. I’m not sure what holidays start at the end of October (does Halloween count?) , but we’ll let that slide…
In Australia the following bundles will be available from October 27:
$499 250GB Kinect Holiday Value Bundle – includes Kinect Adventures, Carnival Games: In Action, and a 3 month Xbox Live Gold Subscription
$449 250GB Standalone Xbox Holiday Value Bundle – includes Halo Reach and Fable 3, and a 3 month Xbox Live Gold Subscription
Given that a 250GB console will usually set you back around $400 both bundles are a pretty good buy. Readers in the US will be treated to similar fare, with the same deals coming in at $399 and $299 respectively. Happy Halloween/Christmas/Easter/Xbox 360 day? Who knows!
Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Sports Consoles: Xbox 360 (reviewed), PS3, PC, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS, PSP, PS2 Release: 29 September 2011 Price: Fishpond Australia ($88.55), Amazon US ($57.98), Amazon UK (£39.90)
When I first took my hand at FIFA 12 during EA’s FIFA tournament night, I won’t deny that I was excited.
“This is as close to football as it gets these days,” I told one of my friends – and it’s true. This year, EA has scored a hat trick: FIFA 12 looks beautiful, the gameplay is fantastic, and the experience is multi-layered and eclectic, which provides for countless hours, days, weeks, and months of football simulation.
Since the title first began generating hype back at E3, we’ve all waited with bated breath. How would the new Player Impact Engine fare compared to the physics engines of previous years? Are we really going to use Football Life and Ultimate Team? Is Precision Dribbling really that precise, or is it just it just a fancy name? And how is Tactical Defending going to improve the exhausted defense tactics (which, let’s face it, basically just involved holding down “A” and occasionally tackling until you got the ball)?
Well, let’s kick off with the Player Impact Engine. This engine is responsible for simulating all player collisions that occur in the game, and injects a new level of physics into the mix. Players can now tackle, tug, and slide their way into a very authentic style of playing that truly mirrors (or close to) that of a real life football match. While the new engine certainly does have its glitch moments – including players floating, falling in weird positions, and running into each other and refusing to halt – for the most part it works a treat. Given it’s in its first year of actual game time, the Player Impact Engine is by no means a perfect production, but EA certainly have taken a few (football boot) steps in the right direction. FIFA 12’s engine brings the experience that much closer to the real game, instead of just a simulation.
Another addition that makes FIFA 12 feel more like the beautiful game is the Precision Dribbling. Although at first, it just sounds like the old style of gameplay repackaged into a new fancy name, Precision Dribbling in this game does make a difference. If you have a defender on your back, pressing L1 will cause them to enter Precision Dribbling mode where you can control the ball more fluidly. The dribbling in FIFA 12 also feels remarkably smooth, and gives you more control of the ball than any of the previous titles in the franchise.
Perhaps what came as the biggest change in gameplay to me (and most others that have played the game) is the change in defending. FIFA 12 now uses what EA call Tactical Defending. In other words, you can’t just hold down A and let your player win the ball back from your opponents. Instead, you actually have to control your player’s movements and time your tackles, using the jockey and contain functions in the game; alternatively, you can also jostle your opponents by tugging at their shirt to throw them off kilter. Tactical Defending is definitely difficult to get your head around to begin with, but with a little bit of getting used to it becomes a welcome addition to the game. Also, with the improved AI, defending is just like football in real life: if you foul and the ref doesn’t see it, he’ll let it go.
Career Mode is virtually the same as ever, but it ain’t broken so why would EA fix it? The interface has undergone a bit of a revamp to make the experience more streamlined than FIFA 11 and it certainly is easier to navigate around; however, for the most part player and manager careers are relatively unchanged.
With all these new additions to single-player mode, it’s easy to think that EA have once again overlooked the community aspect of the game. Well, think again. The inclusion of modes like Head to Head Seasons and the evolution of Online Friendlies have bolstered the online component of FIFA 12, giving gamers a reason to buy an Xbox LIVE or PSN membership.
Head to Head Seasons are what they sound like: online leagues with different divisions, where wins, losses and draws determine the amount of points your team has, and ultimately, whether you stay, move up, or move down across the various divisions. Gamers can compete in tournaments for cups, and track their progress vis-à-vis the rest of the online community.
FIFA 12 gives gamers the option to go online and play against friends in Online Friendlies like its predecessor; however, now when you play a friend you begin a new season and after ten matches, whoever earns the most points receives a trophy. EA have injected a bit of light-hearted competition to a mode that was otherwise simplistic, and in doing so there’s an added level of excitement added to the game. You can also play random opponents (because you want to beat someone else after all your friends disowned you for kicking their butts) by picking a team; the game will then automatically find a player who is at a similar level.
By far though, one of the best modes in FIFA 12 is the debut of the EA Sports Football Club. The Football Club is essentially a mode that keeps track of all your achievements and progress in the game, whether you have been playing online or offline. Each game you play will reward you with experience points, which determine what level you are (you can then compare these with other players in the community, if it so pleases you). You can also support a real-life team in Football Club, and have all your experience points and achievements contribute to that team’s position on the global leaderboard. The leaderboards are reset each week to ensure fresh competition, and EA have pledged that in the future, events from the real-life world of football will be incorporated into Football Club.
While hesitant about Football Club when it was first announced at E3 a few months ago, I have to say that this mode is actually one of the most enjoyable and gives gamers an excuse to keep coming back to FIFA 12. After all, if you support a team like Real Madrid in real life and on Football Club, you’ll definitely want to play more to earn experience points and help your club out in the leaderboards.
Of course, EA has also improved the graphics in FIFA 12, and the beautiful game is…well, it’s actually beautiful to look at on the screen, as well as to play. The animation is smooth, the colours are crisp and overall, the game is just vivid and leaps out of the screen. The players look even more like their real-life counterparts than previous titles, which makes the game a delight for anyone who appreciates good visuals.
Commentary in FIFA 12 sees the removal of Andy Gray and the inclusion of Alan Smith alongside Martin Tyler. Smith definitely gels right in with Tyler, and their comments – albeit repetitive – show a great attention to detail regarding the players and the game.
After playing FIFA 12 nonstop since I first put it into my Xbox 360 disc tray, I can reassure you: this is one game you will play all season. While the new AI can occasionally glitch, overall the title is fantastic and enjoyable whether you play it for fifteen minutes or for five hours on end. FIFA 12 catapults the franchise into a new level, and EA are going to have to do well to beat this in FIFA 13.
We have heard reports in the past that the 5th Generation of Pokemon titles (Black & White) would not have the usual third installment this time around, but a new domain registration looks to prove those statements as false. “Pokemongray.com” has now been registered by Melbourne IT Digital Brand Services, who are the same group that set-up Nintendo’s websites for Black and White.
As of now this is just a rumor, but considering the evidence, I would say there is a great chance we could see a “Gray” version put out. The speculation however would come in on what handheld this would be released for, as the 3DS will more than likely be chosen to host this third entry into the generation’s Pokemon line. Now we can just wait and see what pops up at this link sometime in the future.
Thor Genre: Action Directed by: Kenneth Branagh Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston and Natalie Portman Platform:Blu Ray (Reviewed), DVD, Digital Download, Classification: M (Action violence) Running Time: 115 min + Special Features 80 min Release Date: October 6, 2011 Price: Triple Play (Blu-Ray, DVD & Digital Copy) $49.99, Super Set (3D Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD & Digital Copy) $54.99, DVD $39.99
Overview
In case you’ve been living under a rock…that has also been living under a rock, you’ve probably already heard about Marvel Studio’s endeavor over the last few years, trying their best to bring as much of the Marvel Universe to the screen as possible. These worlds are to collide next year with what many expect be the ultimate crossover movie of all time, The Avengers. Many of the protagonists have been given their own separate films to give them deeper cinematic back stories, such as The Hulk, Iron Man (who also got a sequel), Captain America and of coarse Thor who has just arrived on DVD. Like all these films we get glimpses and nods towards the future film and other characters, but Thor still works wonderfully as a stand alone film. Of all these movies, Thor is easily one of the best and arguably one of the greatest super hero films to date.
Story and Characters
When it was announced Thor was going to hit the silver screen it seemed impossible to many. This dude is the almighty God of Thunder, from another planet and fights colossal ice-giants for a living-you wouldn’t think an audience would be able to relate to a character like that. The result is actually the opposite as Thor focuses on themes such as family, betrayal, humility, love and loyalty, and thanks to really powerful script writing and splendid casting, Thor not just looks like an expensive, thrill-filled, action-packed film, but also has a lot of heart and charm that almost anyone can connect and relate to.
Chris Hemsworth plays Thor, who is exiled from his home world Asgard by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), forcing him to live on Earth until he can learn some humility and change his arrogant ways. Meanwhile in Asgard, his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is up to no good, with his eyes set on their father’s throne. During his time on Earth, Thor must retrieve his primary weapon, the Mjolnir Hammer from the government agency S.H.E.I.L.D and also encounters a team of scientists trying to study him, which includes love interest Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), comic relief Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) and wise-guy mentor Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård).
The story is very well paced, beginning in Asgard and introducing the audience to the world in which Thor comes from, getting a lot of the introductions out of the way early. However character development never slows down, with each scene displaying some impressive ranges of emotions displayed through acting. What makes so many of these scenes work however also lies heavily on the script writing. You can tell Odin doesn’t want to exile Thor but he has too and you feel for him. You can tell Thor doesn’t want to fight Loki but he has too and you feel for him too. Through excellent pacing and character development, Marvel Studios achieves a really emotive and engaging experience which makes Thor work so well on multiple levels.
While the most breathtaking action scenes involve Thor in Asgard, the film’s main focus is trying to fit Thor in our own world. Upon landing on Earth, he is introduced to scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) who becomes interested in Thor, and begins to study him and the world he comes from. The two develop a romantic relationship which unfortunately leads to becoming the films biggest flaw as by the end of the movie feels a like an undeveloped sub-plot with little foreshadowing a random kiss thrown in at the end. However this is easily overlooked as the brightest highlights of the Earth scenes are mostly humor-based with Thor trying to adapt to our human world and marks some very memorable and humorous moments.
It’s the action scenes where Thor truly deliverers, and they come in full force and are always something to look forward to. However these moments in between do an outstanding job of making Thor and his background appear to be as believable as possible, and this makes the action scenes just stand out even more, allowing the writers to throw in as many supernatural and colossal elements as they wish to wow their audience. The film has a few nods to other Marvel films and the upcoming Avengers film, but unlike Iron Man 2 it doesn’t feel like a gigantic add for it. These fit in as nice fan service to comic book fans, and do not take anything away from the story itself, and the way it has been done is quite remarkable.
The film’s success heavily lies on the shoulders of Chris Hemsworth, who plays the main protagonist Thor with great charisma so watching him preform is a real treat. In fact the entire casting in Thor as a whole has been put together really well. Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of Odin is particularly outstanding with his loud voice and confidence as he seems to have mastered the art of leadership and makes a truly believable king. Tom Hiddleston plays Loki with excellence, alternating between both sincere and devious vibes throughout the entire film. All actors appear to play their roles with great passion, resulting in a very energetic and emotive film.
Audio and Visual
The Almighty Thor is at his mightiest when it comes to visual effects. This film looks absolutely amazing, especially when it comes to the scenes in Asgard with gigantic sets and CGI monsters for Thor and his companions to battle, very reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings franchise. Some incredibly detailed costumes compliment these as well, particularly Loki’s outfit worn later in the film, and the costume worn by Heimdall Scenes on Earth aren’t as breath taking but do look nice, sporting humble atmosphere of a small community town, which only emphasizes the colossal finale which occurs within. There is an important scene in the film where Thor tells Jane in his world magic and science are considered ‘one in the same’, and in Thor the visuals convey this greatly, as hints of both are displayed throughout and blend together with ease. The soundtrack suits the film as well and never stands too much out of place, fitting in nicely into every scene.
Special Features
Thor consists of approx. 80 minuets of special features (excluding the audio commentary) and really gives the consumer more bang for their buck. The features consist of:
From Asgard to Earth: A look at establishing the ‘look’ of the film and bringing the comic book to life. This lengthy feature focuses mostly on the sets and costumes of the fantasy elements of the film, and compares them to many comic book references. Tom Hiddleston at one point whilst dressed as Loki takes his helmet apart and shows the audience how it is done, and there is an insightful discussion on the choice of colors for the ‘Bifröst’ bridge which is really interesting. The town Thor lands in on Earth also gets some of the spotlight, focusing on the inspirations behind the layout of the town which is really intriguing.
Our Fearless Leader: An insight into how the cast and crew feel about working with director Kenneth Branagh, all of which seem to really appreciate him.
Assembling the Troupe: This feature takes a look at the cast and how they fitted into their roles. With a strong cast like the one this film, Assembling the Troupe is really fun to watch. Focuses on Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Anthony Hopkins as Odin. The producers all seem really happy with this cast, and it’s really easy to see why. A bright highlight of this feature involves Hemsworth and Hiddleston talking about a scene where Branagh asked Hopkins to try and act a scene with a more heart-broken emotion, and how believably he did it. The entire cast and crew seem really amazed by his acting skill.
Hammer Time: The cast and crew talk about designing the Mjolnir Hammer for the film. Surprisingly there’s a lot more detail in it than you might think!
Creating Laufey: Of all the elements of the film, the villainous Frost-Giants are the ones most different from than comic-book counterparts. This feature explains why and makes multiple references to the comics, it seems like a lot of effort went into this! There is a lot of talk about Colm Feore who plays the Frost-Giant King Laufey, and the devilish voice he uses which deserves a special mention.
Music of the Gods: A quick look at the composition of music for the film, it’s the shortest and least interesting of all the features, but it’s great to see it included here.
A Conversation: An interesting conversation between creator Stan Lee as he attends the filming of the movie, making sure everything is to his liking. He seems very excited and overjoyed and it gets you as a viewer excited as well. Really fun to watch!
Along side these features, there is a whole bunch more! There are 8 deleted scenes and 3 extended scenes to watch, all with director commentary and are all pretty entertaining, and even more interesting with commentary. There are also two features relating to The Avengers. Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant is barely related to Thor at all, however Marvel Comic fans will enjoy it, as it provides some back story to The Avengers film, and features some footage from the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk. The Road to the Avengers feature basically just shows footage from Comic-Con revealing The Avengers line up and a lot of footage from past Marvel films which many comic book fans will appreciate.
Verdict
“The Marvel Universe, it’s called a universe for a reason-it’s a big place!” -Kevin Feige, Producer (As told in From Asgard to Earth feature.)
Not only does Thor stand alone as an amazing movie, but it paves a lot of the ground work for the upcoming Avengers film without feeling like a giant advertisement for it. With a very strong cast, great pacing, spectacular special effects, costumes and sets, Thor is defiantly one of Marvel Studios greatest projects to date. To make things even better, Thor on Blu-Ray comes with 80 minuets of special features making it a must-own title for comic book fans worldwide.
Not too long ago, GameMill Entertainment announced Pillow Pets for the Nintendo DS. You know, those soft and happy pillows inspired by animals? Yes, they will be starring in their own videogame. Gamemill have finally announced an official release date for the soft and cuddly game, as Pillow Pets will be hitting shelves on October 25th. Players can customize their pet with hats, glasses and more and then set out on an adventure to find a missing pal in the colorful land of Dreamland.
As you can tell by the basic concept, Pillow Pets is crafted for the younger crowd (or fans of quirky adventure games in general), but everything certainly looks pretty sharp at the moment and this trip to Dreamland looks to be quite a delightful one. You can check out the fresh batch of screens below and pick up your own Pillow Pets when it hits the DS in just under two weeks.
November sees the release of quite a few grand titles. Uncharted 3 will be crowded in that packed November when it releases worldwide. Sony, then, would want to push the marketing train pretty hard when it is so close to release. In fact, it comes out in a couple of weeks. Realising this, Sony Japan has decided to bring in a big Hollywood superstar to promote the game. So, who is it?
Of course, if you had read the title of the article, that question is quite pointless. In saying that, Sony Japan has decided to use Harrison Ford to help promote the game. The reason? He has played a character who is similar to Uncharted’s protagonist, Nathan Drake. I really don’t need to spell it out which Harrison Ford character Drake is similar to.
Mr Ford is also going to be promoting Uncharted: Golden Abyss for the Playstation Vita, which will be released on launch day, which is December 17, a month after Uncharted 3. Check out the 30 second spot below of Harrison Ford playing some Uncharted 3.
Earlier today, Travis had revealed that the Playstation Vita will see a worldwide release on the 22nd of February 2012. However, there weren’t any details on the Australia and New Zealand launch dates. So, when do these two countries see a release for Sony’s next handheld?
Australia and New Zealand should expect to see a release on the 23rd of February 2012. Prices were also revealed by SCE Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, the RRP for the Wi-Fi only version will be AU$349.95 while the 3G+Wi-Fi version will be priced at AU$449.95. For those across the ditch, expect to pay NZ$449.95 and the 3G+Wi-Fi will be priced at NZ$549.95.
However, there is no news of the launch line up or the network provider for Australia or New Zealand. Japan and the United States have already revealed their 3G providers, NTT DoCoMo and AT&T respectively. Countries in Europe have also kept quiet their local providers, including the United Kingdom. Talking with my colleagues earlier, there is a general consensus that the Australian provider may be one of two networks: Telstra or Optus.
Australian and New Zealander consumers may look at the price differential of the two versions and may question it or deter them from a purchase within both countries. What has happened is that, instead of a $50/€50/£50 differential in the US and Europe respectively, it happens to be double at AU$100/NZ$100. Even Japan has a smaller differential between prices when converted into the local currency at, as ¥5,000 equates to $63. For Sony, the 3G version will surely be a hard sell at the price they have issued, considering the inevitable monthly price tag of network coverage.
As I watch Elmo with my young daughter on my Samsung Plasma screen I began to ponder the slow but sure rise of Samsung to the forefront of the entertainment industry. Whether it be the latest SmartTV or Smartphone, their products ooze class, are packed with every feature under the sun and well, they just tend to make things look better. So it should be of no surprise that Samsungs newest addition to the Android family, the Galaxy Nexus continues with this tradition.
Boasting Android 4.0 Google Operating System (aka Ice Cream Sandwich), whose native resolution of 1280 x 720 is in line with the dimensions of the Nexus, meaning everything should run seamlessly well. As well as having the highest resolution seen on a Super AMOLED plus screen the Nexus also comes complete with a 4.65” screen, perfect for media viewing on the go.
In terms of internet connection, the Nexus use LTE or HSPA+ radios which ensure a super fast connection regardless of where you are located. The camera is not too shabby either, being 5MP and having the ability to shoot video at up to 1080p. While it is yet to be seen how well it shall work across varied situations, the Nexus also comes with facial recognition security, meaning gone are the days of having to enter a pin to keep from accidentally making those long distance calls while sleeping on the dial button. Also bult into the Neus is an NFC modules that allows users to share web pages an information by simply tapping two phones together like magic slippers. Unfortunately you will still be forking out for that cab ride home after a drunk night out as there havent been any reports of being magically transported back to Kansas or wherever you are located.
Stay tuned to Capsulecomputers.com for more information about this awesome piece of hardware as it’s released and enjoy the trailer which gives a little glimpse of the phone and its capabilities.
