Live Magazine - April Issue - Game Wars!

LIVE APRIL/MAY 2016 ISSUE

video game

wars peace

Welcome Peace and Love … as Ringo would say.

The Beatles drummer often tells fans “peace and love” and while that’s a lovely sentiment, this world is anything but. After all it was John Lennon who wrote War Is Over” and was assassinated by a fan in 1980.

This month’s Live Magazine talks about those silly wars. Mine is better then yours. Xbox is better then Playstation! Nintendo is better then everything … these arguments just waste time. It’s about gaming.

It’s about us all who just love the enjoyment and fun that playing a video game brings. Whether it’s on your own or with friends, gaming should be about fun. Life’s too short to argue and fight. Who cares what you play on. If it’s a 3 year old PC, a SNES or Xbox One or PS4, it really doesn’t matter. The thing that matters is you’re part of the brotherhood and sisterhood of gaming. That special Published by

INSIDE 8 26 68 144 Feature: Video Game Wars

Game Reviews

Geek Out

Cosplay

THE LIVE TEAM group of people that love nothing more then sitting down with your controller of choice and firing up a game to lose yourself in.

Publisher: Rob Jenkins (GTHQ) Art Director: Giselle Capozza (GTHQ)

We’ve also got our cosplay section dedicated to those special artists who love making and dressing up in cosplay. Plus retro, comics, board games and all that cool stuff we’re into. Please enjoy.

Game Review & Preview Editors: Nick Getley & Kylie Tuttle (Sticky Trigger)

One more thing. Live will be going bi-monthly from this month. Why? Because we want it to be even better.

We want to have more time to create a brilliant magazine that you love. We want it to be one of the best game and pop culture digital magazines you can read. Our catalogue will still be monthly, but look out for our next Live in June - it’s going to be amazing!

Cosplay Editor: Anny Sims

Peace and Love…

The Live Crew

Retro Editor: Paul Monopoli Comics: Scott Sowter

Sticky Trigger Writers: Kylie Tuttle Nick Getley Alex Holmes Aaron Milligan Ben Rachow Bridget Sweeney Sean Fox Sasha Karen Jason English Johnny Scene

APRIL

GAME

RELEASES! DATE

TITLE

FORMATS

01/04/2016

Terraria

Wii U

05/04/2016

Assassins Creed Chronicles

PSV

05/04/2016

Quantum Break

XB1

08/04/2016

Dirt Rally

PS4, XB1

09/04/2016

Mario and Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

3DS

12/04/2016

Dark Souls 3

PC, PS4, XB1

12/04/2016

Dark Souls 3 with Red Knight Pop Vinyl

PC, PS4, XB1

20/04/2016

Ratchet and Clank

PS4

23/04/2016

Star Fox Zero

Wii U

Dates are correct at time of publishing. Ask staff for details.

MAY

GAME

RELEASES! DATE

TITLE

FORMATS

03/05/2016

Battleborn

PC, PS4, XB1

03/05/2016

Battleborn Gametraders Badges Bundle

PC, PS4, XB1

10/05/2016

Uncharted 4 A Thiefs End

PS4

13/05/2016

Doom with Preorder Offer

PC, PS4, XB1

13/05/2016

Doom Stress Ball Bundle with Preorder Offer

PC, PS4, XB1

17/05/2016

Valkyria Chronicles Remastered

PS4

20/05/2016

Homefront The Revolution

PC, PS4, XB1

21/05/2016

Fire Emblem Fates Birthright

3DS

21/05/2016

Fire Emblem Fates Conquest

3DS

21/05/2016

Fire Emblem Fates Special Edition

3DS

24/05/2016

Overwatch Origins Edition

PC, PS4, XB1

24/05/2016

Total War Warhammer

PC

26/05/2016

Mirrors Edge Catalyst

PS4, XB1

PRE-ORDER

GET IT AT GAM CTC

Available on 3DS. TBC 2016.

R NOW!

COM I IN 20 NG 16!

METRADERS!

FEATURE

VIDEO GAME

wars? “who wins an argument about which video game system is the best? ...nobody.”

BY RETRO EDITOR PAUL MONOPOLI

People have been arguing over which piece of hardware is the best since the dawn of technology. From the 80s, where the schoolyard battleground featured 8-bit computers and consoles, to the modern iOS vs Android wars.

This month I thought it would be interesting to focus on some of those heated discussions, what they were about and whether is was worth having them.

Video games have changed a lot in the past 30+ years, but the reasons for arguing over which is the better machine have pretty much remained the same. It doesn’t matter if you’re pitting your Commodore 64 against your friends Amstrad CPC, or arguing about how superior your Super Nintendo is to your friend’s Sega Megadrive. Though the systems have changed, the arguments can always be broken down into several key components.

Graphics are extremely important to a video game system. Like television and movies, video games are a visual form of entertainment.

Unlike television and movies, video games vary in the way they deliver these pictures. The colour palette on a Commodore 64 features dull, pastel colours that look rather washed out. On the other hand, the Amstrad CPC features a bright colour palette, with many variations on primary colours. On the flip side, the Amstrad CPC does not feature hardware scrolling, and as such many games will jerk or flicker if the game code is not optimised. On the other hand, the Commodore 64 does feature hardware scrolling, so it requires less effort for a coder to create a game that moves nicely.

The processor in the Sega Megadrive is more than double the speed of that found in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

As a result of this, many early Super Nintendo titles were prone to slowdown when too much was happening on the screen. Super R-Type is one prime example of this. While the Super Nintendo faced criticism over its processor, it featured double the RAM used in the Megadrive, 64k of audio RAM compared to 8k on the Megadrive, and a graphical chip that could handle larger sprites, higher resolutions and a greater colour palette.

The games released for a system are what end up making or breaking it. Why bother having the greatest system in the world if there are no decent games for it?

Each system had its ‘killer app’, with Nintendo sticking to the tried and true formula of the Mario series and Sega entering the race with Sonic the Hedgehog. During the 16-bit era these exclusives further helped to divide fans. Did you want the speed of the all new Sonic the Hedgehog or the familiar platforming fun that Super Mario World provided?

Different systems featured different ports of the same game.

These ports would vary depending on the strength of the system, the skill of the developer and the timeframe given. Many video games suffered due to the small amount of time coders were allowed to work on it, with many programmers often looking back on some of their titles with disappointment. Double Dragon on the Commodore 64 is a barely playable mess, but the Amstrad CPC

version coded by Richard Aplin is a joy to play, and it feels like a decent port of the arcade classic.

On the flip side, The Last Ninja 2 on the Amstrad CPC plays like a slug and is in black and white. On the Commodore 64 the game is in full colour, and is a worthy sequel to the original.

A controller can make or break your gaming experience. I will admit that I cannot stand the Nintendo 64 controller. That analogue thumbstick is horrible to use, and it wears down very quickly.

The Gamecube analogue stick improved on this and is a joy to use. I have never been a fan of any Playstation controller due to the problem I have with the directional pad. I don’t like having a D-pad that looks like 4 buttons.

I have a similar problem with the Bandai Wonderswan, which features only buttons and no true Dpad. With this said, I know plenty of people who love the Nintendo 64 and Playstation controllers.

In the end who wins an argument about which video game system is the best? In most cases the answer is nobody. Everybody have their favourite games, their preferred brand and their idea of what makes a successful video game system. Changing another person’s opinion is not an easy thing do, and why should someone even try to? Variety is the spice of life, and there’s nothing wrong with a Nintendo fan enjoying titles released on rival system, just as it’s OK for a Sega fan to enjoy Mario games.

I think the band War said it best when they asked “Why can’t we be friends?”

7

FEATURE

2. Good controllers adds to the gaming experience.

things w about e argue w comes hen it t game s o video y but sh stems... ouldn’ t

1. 3rd party support means lots of game choice.

C

onsole discussions about which is better are generally pointless.

They seem to fit into the same camp as other “religious” discussions such as PC or Mac, Nikon and Canon and iOs vs Android. At the end of it all, it really is a personal choice. And, as part of the gaming brotherhood and sisterhood we really should just make our own decisions and not feel the need to argue and defend our choices. After all, we’re all gamers aren’t we and we share something that the rest of the human race doesn’t - a love of imagined worlds, of challenges that test our reflexes and dexterity and our enjoyment of a good story we can be part of.

3. Multimedia - maybe you want an all in one system, maybe you don’t.

But for your choice we’ve listed 7 things to consider when buying a game system that suits you. Yes there are probably many others, such as a larger user base is an attraction for developers, after all more owners means a larger market to sell to. But that’s not always the case. Look at the Wii, it was a great system and sold over 100 million consoles but didn’t get a massive amount of 3rd party support.

So what are our 7 categories?

Let’s take a look: Good 3rd party support. Look at the PS2 and PS3. The system was readily accepted by gamers, got a ton of great 3rd party games and sold millions. The PS2 sold over 157 million and is, according to our friends at VG Chartz the

best selling console of all time.

The PS3 comes in at 6th and the original Playstation sits at 4th.

Why? Sony made a strong system that had great hardware and great software.

Great Titles like Ico, Silent Hill, Gran Truism and Finally Fantasy were brilliant on the PS2 and ensured happy fans and big sales for 3rd party developers. Big sales means more budget for new games and success on a platform usually resulted in follow up titles.

Controller. The Xbox 360 had a brilliant controller, as did the Playstation, which is why the 360 sits in VG Chartz top ten at number 7. It sold over 85 million units and even with the red ring of death negative, gamers loved it and made it a classic must have system. The original Xbox’s controller wasn’t so popular so Microsoft ensured the 360 had a brilliant design and we loved it. Many consider it to be one of the most ergonomic controllers ever with its’ improved button layout and usability.

Multimedia - The PS2 played DVDs too. So when dads bought it (and mums) they could justify the cost by explaining to their other half that “It’s a DVD player too!” Brilliant. Today we take it for granted that our consoles will play Blu-rays but that wasn’t always the case… remember the Xbox 360 and the HD DVD player? Sold for around $200 U.S, Bill Gates announced during the 2006 CES talk that the external HD DVD player would be released but alas Blu-ray one

4. User OS - clunky systems are frustrating.

5. Playing with friends = great competitive fun.

6. Exclusives! Finding out that game is on another system.

6. Personal Choice - at the end of the day choose what you really want.

the format war of the 2000s and HD died… Today a good system must come with a Blu-ray player built in, internet support and online gaming. Plus a host of other options that ensure it can be your all-in-one game and entertainment system. I know there’s some people that will argue that all we need is a pure gaming system and while I agree, there are times you really want it all in one simple box so that you don’t need multiple systems hooked up to the main TV. What I’d suggest is having a seperate game room and TV with all your retro and current systems separate so your other half doesn’t yell at you about the bloody mess!

User OS - when we interact with our console is it more painful then haemorrhoids or is the experience smooth and seamless?

Clunky interfaces can put people off big time. A poll on Gamespot has readers voting on the current gen systems and so far the Xbox One has the numbers but other sites have people loving the PS4… again it’s a personal choice. A good OS let’s you navigate through settings and loading up games easily. Unfortunately some past systems were a bit clunky and ugly. The old days of the Amiga 500 were simple. Slot in your floppy and the game booted. Simple… Same with Nintendo cartridges. You pushed it into the slot and away you went chasing monsters or jumping platforms.

What are your friends using? In the past this has been a big reason people may choose one over the other. After all, playing co-op

with friends or battling them online is a blast. But with recent announcements by Microsoft on cross play and Sony saying they will support this, it means no matter what system you get from at least these two giants, you can play your friends online … in the future.

Exclusives. Yes this is a biggie if you are a fan of certain games.

Like Rise of the Tomb Raider set to be exclusive on the Xbox One. Unchartered 4 on PS4 and Little Big Planet 3. Halo on Xbox is a big draw… the simple answer is buy both systems if you can afford it. Easy fixed! Same with retro titles that are classics. Talk to our retro editor Paul, and you’ll find a host of gold in those old systems.

Some of the gaming on platforms like the Amstrad computer, the SNES, N64 and Sega were absolute classics. There’s a certain nostalgic joy to be had when it’s just you and an old favourite game on a cold, wet Saturday afternoon. No pressure, nowhere to be, just you, the game and some snacks… heaven!

Personal choice. What’s that you say? Personal choice???

Yep, sometimes you just go with what you really want. Like we said at the outset of this article - it’s not a religious debate, you’re allowed to make a choice based on what you really want. Gaming is fun, should be enjoyed and should never be the cause of disagreements that end up in anger. Just go have fun and play games.

OPINION

RETRO EDITOR, PAUL MONOPOLI, TELLS US WHY HE THINKS THE PS4 IS OUTSELLING XB1.

38.8

MILLION SOURCE VGCHARTZ

The original Playstation was unleashed on the world at a time when Nintendo were dominating the market. Regardless of who you supported at the time, history shows that Sega lost the 16-bit war, though they were still clamouring for marketshare. After the failure of the Sega CD and 32X I don’t think many people held high hopes for the Saturn, especially with its troubled development history.

From what I can see there were a few reasons why Nintendo fell from grace around this time. The Virtual Boy had slightly tarnished their reputation and there was also an element of supporting the underdog. The media were closely following the story of the Nintendo Playstation and their alleged poor treatment of Sony.

I believe that many gamers felt sympathy for Sony and that Nintendo were getting too big for their boots. There was also the prospect of this exciting new hardware that was developed.

Both Sony and Nintendo were promising big things with their new consoles, but there were 2 things that caused problems for

Nintendo. First was the decision to stick to cartridges while Sony were using CDs, which contained more storage space and were cheaper than using ROMs, which caused many fans and reporters to dismiss the Ultra 64 before it was even released on the market. The second was the simple fact that in 1995 the Ultra 64 was a year or two away, when the Playstation was here and now.

If we fast forward to the Playstation 2, I can remember a big selling point was DVD playback.

DVDs were really starting to take off when the console was released, but DVD players were still quite expensive. Though technically the XBOX and Gamecube were superior consoles, the strength of the original Playstation, the DVD playback, and the strong advertising all played a part in the success of this “mark 2” console. Many commentators have claimed that though the Dreamcast was the first console released in that generation, many people were happy to wait for the PS2.

The Playstation 2 was a more important console that the first.

Gamers are a fickle bunch, and while the first wave of success gave Sony a lot of new fans, the success of the second console cemented them. The Playstation 3 and 4 were natural successors to both the success of the original consoles and the fanbase that followed it. With that said, if the PS3 and PS4 were genuinely bad consoles then the gaming public would have definitely let them know!

20.3

MILLION SOURCE VGCHARTZ

Microsoft have always been unable to gain the same marketshare as Sony, though this may have to do with the fact that today’s videogame market is dominated

by Japanese developers. Sony are a Japanese company, plus they have been developing video games since the era of the Super Nintendo. It is natural to assume that they have a relationship with other Japanese developers. Microsoft, being an American company that specialised in operating systems don’t have the same background, and this may be a detriment to their success. That, however, is pure speculation on my part.

WRITTEN BY PAUL MONOPOLI RETRO EDITOR

console ov

saleS Just how well did consoles sell?

Take a look at the chart from VG Chartz - you can see the PS2 is the all time biggest selling console at 157plus million followed

by Nintendo DS and Game Boy. If you’re a PC gamer you be interested to know that Intel estimates there are 711 million PC gamers world wide at the time of their press release in 2014.

The biggest selling games also tell an interesting story. For example Minecraft is listed as the biggest selling game on PC at 23 million followed by World of Warcraft at 14 million. On the console side Wii Sports comes in at over 82 million followed by Super Mario Bros on NES at 40 million and Mario Kart Wii at around 35 mil-

lion. You can check out the whole list in our attached graphics on the next page and head over to the good folks at VG Chartz here:

www.vgchartz.com/gamedb

ver the years

console sales

stats from www.vgchartz.com

opinion

The Rise and Change of

Console Gaming

For years I have been surrounded by video games, long before my Cosplay days. I love PC gaming, but I have always been a console girl at heart.

My first experience at playing video games was a family friend’s Sega Mega Drive and I got to play Sonic the Hedgehog. I was then introduced to the awesome split screen co-op. My sister and I could play Sonic and Tails – AT THE SAME TIME! We were both crazy young then so this was some type of amazing magic to us.

It wasn’t long after that that the Playstation 1 was released. Another family friend had been lucky enough to own one, and he introduced my sister and I to Tomb Raider. The graphics looked amazing to us, and being able to rotate a camera around a character was a new novelty. It was clear that technology was moving forwards in leaps and bounds and all I can say is that I’m glad to have jumped on this ride.

I had many friends that were gamers and we all loved all consoles.

My heart will always lay with Sega and Playstation, but I’ve played (and love – and even own some!)

Nintendos (who doesn’t love Donkey Kong??), Xbox and the later created Nintendo Wii. Like every friend does, we would banter with who owned the superior console, but in reality we all loved playing all of the consoles at each others homes.

Looking back now and at how far console gaming has come still fascinates me. The split screen is still something I love, but looking back at the graphics of years ago compared to now, it was not only a skill of game playing, it was a skill of sight and reaction. On a relatively small TV, those 2 – 4 split screens suddenly become miniscule in size. Co-op on one screen was another test of skill especially when your characters could in fact injure each other! It taught awareness and teamwork like nothing else!

The old side scrolling format of those older games also, for me, holds its difficulty even now against much more modern games. Anyone who has played Battletoads and done the level with the little hovering vehicles where you have to dart past all sorts of obstacles on a rapidly increasing scroll speed will know exactly what I mean here. Try that

co-op where you BOTH have to stay in the screen and line yourselves up to perfect precision.

Re-starts were a common occurrence.

Gaming these days is so vastly different. The ability to rotate the camera and have different viewing options in some ways makes the playability a little more forgiving, and caters to those whose reaction times or sight may have declined over the years.

Games now tend to not have a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy that was so apparent in the older console gaming. The old consoles forced us to play carefully and tactfully for fear of losing that last precious life and having to start the entire game over again. The amount of times my sister and I or us and some friends would play the likes of Streets of Rage, get to the last boss battle on the last level, only to lose that last life and be right back to square one. It was frustrating but it was a challenge and it inspired us to keep trying.

There are games on our newer consoles that have difficulty levels to rival the console pioneers, and some games are just outright difficult (looking at you here Dark

Souls!), but on the whole, gaming is much more forgiving and open to a larger audience.

Console gaming has changed with the times to cater to audiences both new and old. The world is so much faster paced now, and our lives are filled with many other things. Patience is something that is either learned or lost. The need for games to be a little more user friendly, consume a little less time whilst being engaging, be a little less frustrating, and to be saveable became necessity. Some may disagree with me, but I believe this is one of the reasons gaming has changed the way it has.

There is no denying that the graphical improvement of modern console games is well worth any negative things people might think about the playability. From a Cosplayer perspective, it is a huge help to me – I can take photos of different angles and all sorts of crazy details that my beloved pixelated side scroller games would not allow.

That being said – and I’m sure many will agree with me – I still have a huge soft spot for the earlier console games. I miss the difficulty and the enjoyment of playing on one screen with friends.

There was no need for internet connections and servers. Whilst those are great and allow people to play with people anywhere and everywhere, there are still many of us that don’t have the luxury of reliable internet, and we don’t even live in the middle of nowhere. I for one, can’t join the online gaming world. All the cities

around me (which are big cities) have access to great internet, but for some insane reason, the towns in between have been left behind. We are not in dingo woop woop but our internet is archaic.

I hope for this reason game developers realise that there is still a big audience for offline games.

That some of us still love the nostalgia of split screen. It is true that there are still current gen games with this feature, but they are becoming fewer and farther between.

There are times I have (and will continue to do so) pull out my old consoles and play those old games. The thing that fascinates me the most is that when I was little, I thought to myself that I could

beat any level when I was older.

I’d be smarter, have better reflexes, and have more savvy. How wrong I was. These same levels beat me to this day. They are my Achilles Heel and it’s amazing.

These games have retained their level of difficulty and that is no easy feat.

Another thing that is becoming a common occurrence is HD remasters or remakes of older games. Now I will be the first to admit that I love it when these get released. I know they often get a bad rap because of the desire for new IP, but it is great that we can re-live some of our favourites with new and improved graphics.

I personally would love to see a HD Remaster of all of the Crash

“...i hope that some developers and publishers take a step back and return to the

original console routes. to release a complete

and polished game that does not need any patches or dlc.”

Bandicoot games. Plus about a million other games!

I also believe that with the way console gaming has changed, HD remasters have become a fast way to make money. Consoles have removed the backwards compatibility over time (much to the annoyance of consumers), forcing people to constantly upgrade consoles so we can play both new and old games.

The desire for games to be produced quickly, the desire for new IP, it all puts pressure on publishers and developers. Short cuts get taken, patches released, DLC, Expansion Packs and Season Passes added. Special Editions get released and HD remakes can be released in between new IPs to keep consumers happy and money rolling in. I have noth-

ing against any of this and I love owning multiple consoles, however it would be great for publishers, developers and even consumers, to remember why they began gaming in the first place. Whilst the need for money and demand must always be met, I hope that some developers and publishers take a step back and return to the original console roots. To release a complete and polished game that does not need any patches or DLC. One that the care, time and most importantly – passion – has been meticulously profound in its making. As a society, we sometimes need to take a step back, not rush to finish that level before we need to go somewhere, or rush to finish the game before others or to avoid spoilers. Gaming has changed over the years to allow us to rush through things, to avoid the road less travelled, and to be little more than a temporary, convenient respite. This is a good thing, but it does us no harm to really sit back and get fully invested into a game – even better when shared with your mates.

The days of buying a game on release day are becoming rarer.

As consumers we know that over time, another edition will likely be released of a game that includes all the DLC and expansion packs and often for a discounted price.

It’s an interesting dynamic, but I personally miss the days when you bought a game, had the excitement of reading that amazing game manual (these are a rare occurrence in games now for reasons that are understandable) and not have to worry about the Internet or glitches or adding extra content.

One thing that has remained is the dreaded lack of memory for our games to be saved. The shuffling of games and thinking hard about what you can delete have stayed. It’s true that we have much more hard drive space on our consoles and external hard drives, but games are bigger.

Most games now need to download massive amounts of data on to your console so your 500GB or 1TB suddenly feels no larger than the likes of those little 8MB PSOne memory cards.

Hopefully the ability to just put a game in a console and play it will not die off entirely. I have faith that there are still plenty of us out there who would agree. All gaming has its place, but is returning to the basic morals of the console pioneers something that we should really strive to stray so far from? ☺ And to the gamers who are children starting out now – perhaps find an opportunity to play these old consoles. See, watch, feel and learn what the console pioneers asked of us gamers. Learn the patience that was forced and have moments where competition or multiplayer don’t matter.

Don’t ever feel that you have to get used to all the patches and extra content that you may have to pay for or download. There was a time when you could just put a game in a console and play…let’s not let those times cease to exist…

WRITTEN BY tiffany dean

VR the future of gaming?

FEATURE

“your mind makes it real...”

Morpheus (from the movie - the matrix) VR is coming and it’s affordable and it will change entertainment forever… we think.

Live got a press release from our friends at Sony and it talks about the launch of the Playstation VR (PS VR) that will be launched in October this year. Oculus Rift is also shipping this year, with initial orders gone out but if you’re wanting one you may need to wait until July this year. Pricing isn’t cheap but good tech never is. The Oculus is priced at $920 Aus and for our U.S friends look at finding $649.

The PS VR will be cheaper at $549.95 and in both cases you’ll need appropriate hardware. Sony Playstation 4 for their system and a powerful PC for Oculus… sorry not for Mac at this stage. Sony looks to have some quality titles in development with 3rd party software in the wings. The release states: Michael Ephraim, Managing Director Sony Computer Entertainment Australia and New Zealand says: “Innovation is in our DNA at PlayStation and PS VR is the sin-

gle biggest step change in technology I’ve seen in over 20 years at PlayStation. There’s a huge amount of excitement around VR in Australia and I am really pleased that we are in a position to share this news with our fans.”

Currently more than 230 developers and publishers*2 are working on PS VR software titles, from smaller independent teams to larger studios at the industry’s top publishers such as 2K Games and Ubisoft®. Software titles in development for PS VR from these developers and publishers as well as from SCE Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS) are now totalling to more than 160 titles*3, and over 50 of those titles including Eagle Flight (Ubisoft), EVE: Valkyrie (CCP Games), Headmaster (Frame Interactive), Rez Infinite (Enhance Games), Wayward Sky (Uber Entertainment), RIGS: Mechanized Combat League, Tumble VR, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood and PlayStation®VR WORLDS (SCE WWS) are expected to launch by the end of this year. Additionally, DICE and Lucasfilm are working on an all-new Star Wars™ Battlefront™ (Electronic Arts Inc.) gam-

ing experience only for PS VR. Furthermore, THE PLAYROOM VR*4 by SCE WWS will be available as a free download from PlayStation®Store to all PS VR owners, simultaneously with the launch of the system.

So… what’s it like? We sat down and had an experience of the first version of the Oculus and it was quite amazing. Sitting down, the operator put the headset on me and said I’d be on a virtual roller coaster. Hmmm, no big deal I thought. Then the coaster started moving on the tracks and it felt weirdly real. I kept telling myself, it’s just pixels moving around a screen close to my eyes yet as I turn, I see what I expect to see - the ground getting further away as we slowly move up along the tracks. The scenery below scales smaller and as I turn I see landscapes in the distance that seem kind of real. A touch pixelated, but somehow the movement of my head and the graphics moving smoothly suspends my disbelief. Then the coaster reaches the top and we start to really pick up speed. Boy, it really seems real, somehow I’m imagining G-forces

as we scream down the track. I close my eyes for a second to get my bearings. This is really immersive. I feel I’m there!

A minute or two later and the ride ends and I think I almost fell off the chair trying to move with the coaster. In fact there is some funny clips on Youtube where people are really into their VR experience and yes, some even fall off their chair!

The games look amazing from an immersion point of view. Suspension of disbelief will be cranked up a bunch of levels when you put on the headset. You really will feel you are there.

OCULUS RIFT

While games will be huge, think of the other uses for VR, I should be clearer - VR done right. Education comes to mind.

“Hey kids put on your headsets, we’re off to ancient Greece!” says the teacher.

What about learning in new ways.

Being able to experience flying in a more immersive way, or learning surgery? Or maybe you just want to really experience that movie. 3D movies are still being released but everyone I talk to with a 3D TV seems to buy it, try it, and hardly use it again. I hope the VR won’t follow the same fate, and if the initial software and user feedback is anything to go by, it won’t. This time it could just be a huge leap in how we experience our digital entertainment and in fact, our digital lives…

TOUCH BY OCULUS

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE: https://www.playstation.com/en-au/explore/playstation-vr/tech-specs/

https://www.oculus.com/en-us/

gameS REVIEWS & PREVIEWS

previewS:

HITMAN

reviewS:

the division ETRIAN ODYSSEY 2 UNTOLD:

THE Fafnir KNIGHT

plants vs zombies:

garden warfare 2

S

HITM

HANDS ON Preview

MAN CTC

HITMAN

HANDS ON PREVIEW

It’s a bit of an obscure choice when a publisher takes the dive in making drastic changes to the format of a game franchise that’s done particularly well among its fan-base. Even more so when the franchise gets a reboot with a new title, and then cut into smaller pieces for prolonged consumption by its fans.

The new Hitman title is exactly that: a new game in the series that aims to reboot the franchise into an episodic format, with new content to be released as it is developed. In this review, we take a look at the first episode (titled Paris) and what it has to offer.

Hitman begins with the protagonist arriving at a secret facility deep within the snowy mountains of a classified location. It is here that we’re introduced to Diana Burnwood, who reprises her role as the iconic “handler” of the series. The role of a handler is to provide their assigned agents with contracts, and critical intelligence on their designated targets.

The game is set 20 years prior to the events of Hitman: Absolution. At this point in the story, our

nameless bald-headed protagonist is merely an initiate of the International Contract Agency (or simply, The Agency) and is set to undergo a series of rigorous tests to determine if he is assassin material.

der to kill your designated target.

These will pop up as you progress through the various stages of the mission, and as you trigger the various audible hints from the conversations taking place around you.

After you’ve defied the expectations of the Agency higher-ups, you’re sent out into the wide world to do some killing, and the first contract is a glamorous power couple who’ve stolen a top-secret NOC list from MI6 to sell on the black market to the biggest names in global terrorism.

You will find a plethora of items scattered around the level, including hand tools such as screwdrivers, combustible items like propane canisters, and consumables like rat poisons. Let’s not forget that you can disguise yourself as various characters too, after you knock out the NPC, strip them down to their underwear and toss the body in the nearest box or dumpster.

Graceful.

In Hitman: Paris (at least, that’s what we’re calling it), the gameplay is spread out over a grand total of four missions related to the story. The first three of which are training scenarios held within the aforementioned secret training facility, and the final mission is a real contract with two targets that Agent 47 must eliminate.

This is excluding the player created contracts.

In each mission, you have a multitude of different methods in which you can employ in or-

Combine these two mechanics that make up the core gameplay, and you’re set to complete the various contract challenge presets. These challenges can range from mixing the aforementioned rat poison in alcoholic beverages, to releasing chandelier frames over unsuspecting bystanders, or even killing a target wearing a vampire costume (yes, there’s a vampire costume).

Each action you take during your

missions is worth a certain number of points, and is evaluated at the end of each mission with a total score. This score is then compared with other players in the world with a global leaderboard. From what I was able to work out, it appears that 250,000 is the maximum score achievable in the main mission as nearly everyone in the top ten currently has achieved it.

On a slightly related note, Hitman maintains an “always online” presence which is slightly annoying, as it causes a bit of a delay in loading up the game. Additionally, it appears that save games are maintained individually between online and offline modes which is another annoyance, as you’re forced to play online or offline – there is not carrying them between to the two.

Back to the gameplay side of things, while this episode only includes four story-based missions, the game does feature the contract creator mode that made its mark in Hitman: Absolution. Players can go online to check out the hottest rated player-made contracts and test their skills against the online community in a race for the quickest completion time.

I did check out one or two of these contracts, but after a while they just felt a bit repetitious – go to this location, kill this guy or gal in a particularly methodical manner wearing a very specific outfit – and once completed, do it all over again with a different target, method and outfit.

The visual aesthetic of Hitman is nothing short of pretty. Character models are bursting with detail, the lighting is on point and brings out the colour in every area incredibly well, and there are plenty of pretty shader effects including god rays that just make you stand back and take it in. Environments such as cellars and basements are as dark as you’d expect, adding to that overall immersion when you’re crawling around like a stealthy assassin.

Visual immersion is nothing without the atmosphere created by the accompanying sound design, which again is on point.

As this game was reviewed, it was played through a set of Edifier R2000DB’s via an optical output, and it sounded absolutely incredible. In one of the story missions in Paris, there is an area of the level where you walk in and you can hear the clusters of conversation taking place,

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TRAILER!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h24dF8_LcFM

only to be drowned out as you walk into the next room where catwalk techno music is blasting through professional speakers, not hearing a word of what’s being said around you. Basically, the sound design in this game seems to have received a serious amount of love to create that meticulous level of authentic ambiance.

Hitman in its current form feels more like a slightly beefed up technical demo than the first part of an episodic game series.

Sure, it has content, it’s pretty, and sounds absolutely incredible – but how many times can the same limited content be played before you’re reliving your childhood, full of demo discs on PlayStation?

In all seriousness however, this first episode of Hitman is the foundation of what is to come, and I’m looking forward to checking out the rest of what is on offer in this series as it’s released. But right now, it might be an idea to give this a miss until more episodes are released.

PROS: IMMERSIVE SOUND ATMOSPHERE

7.9/ 10

CONS: EXPECTED MORE STORY MISSIONS ALWAYS ONLINE DRM

WRITTEN BY matt raspe

WWW.STICKYTRIGGER.COM

THE DIV

IVISION review

REVIEW

THE DIVISION

Ubisoft’s ‘The Division’ might be one of the year’s most anticipated games. An online-only RPG/ shooter hybrid, The Division looks to merge a cover-based shooter with open-world RPGs. The game has only just released, though it’s already breaking records for Ubisoft. Not only that, but Ubisoft are swinging for the fences with a strong post-launch content plan recently announced – so is The Division for you?

The Division takes place in New York city, after a devastating smallpox attack has all but wiped out the population. After the attack, people turn against each other, gangs and looters rise, and the military completely fails to maintain control. Luckily, in times like this, there exists a special unit trained to restore order when a direct line of command ceases to exist. The Strategic Homeland Division (also known as The Division) is made up of all sorts of people from all sorts of backgrounds. They could be your neighbour, your teacher, your doctor – anyone, and they have been going about their everyday lives until now. They’ve been activated.

Division Agents will need to band together in order to uncover the

secrets behind the smallpox attack and discover a vaccine.

They’ll also have to contend with the various gangs and looters, rescue hostages, and recover items from highly contaminated areas. They’ll also need to establish a foothold in the city, a safe haven where New Yorkers can seek medical treatment and the military can begin to turn the tide against the gangs. There is so much at stake, and so little time to save New York.

Upon beginning The Division, players create their character and complete the basic tutorial.

Unfortunately, there is a distinct lack of character customisation in The Division, and it does have a negative impact on the game’s immersion. There are only a handful of faces, hairstyles and other features to choose from, and considering that this is a third person shooter (as in, you’ll be seeing your character’s face a lot), it feels like a missed opportunity from Ubisoft Massive and Ubisoft to not have a more in-depth character creator.

The tutorial is relatively short, and opts to cover the basics of shooting, movement and cover gameplay. There is a staggering amount of missions in The Division, though, and each time

a new type of mission occurs, players will be presented with a brief introduction on the mission’s mechanics. Had this been done any other way, The Division might feel daunting for new players, but Ubisoft Massive have done well to ensure that the game feels accessible and easy to learn.

Your first mission is to meet up with another Division Agent, Faye Lau, who will serve as your mission handler. Faye arranges to meet you and fly you out of Jersey via a helicopter to Manhattan, though unfortunately, things do not go according to plan. An IED obliterates the helicopter, and severely injures Faye in the process. The player blacks out, but awakens when a second helicopter crew arrives and transports them to Camp Hudson, Manhattan. With Faye out of the fight, it’s up to you to establish a base of operations, and take New York back.

After the game’s opening, how players proceed throughout the game is largely up to them. They can experience the game’s story through story missions, or they can take on a number of side missions and activities, including bounty missions, encounters,

raids, and more. They can even venture into the Dark Zone, an area where the virus originated.

It’s highly contaminated, and populated by some of the most dangerous criminals and gangs in New York. Martial Law is under effect in the Dark Zone, and Agents are able to work together, or stab each other in the back.

Venturing through the Dark Zone induces paranoia and tension – you will never be at ease.

The Division’s story isn’t as present as stories found in other shooters. Instead of a linear and more direct approach to delivering a narrative, The Division chooses to tell its story through its characters and collectibles, as well as the game world itself.

Some might criticise the lack of a traditional narrative, but the details are there for dedicated players who seek out all the mobile phones, crashed drones, case files, surveillance footage and other collectibles.

Early in the game I completed a series of missions involving a gang known as The Cleaners.

The Cleaners believe the government failed to contain the initial smallpox outbreak, and that it’s up to them to purge the city of the disease – by rounding up the infected and incinerating them.

Their leader, Joe Ferro, believes himself to be a hero when he’s a madman, and has turned former sanitation workers into a legion of stormtroopers armed with flamethrowers. If you just complete the story missions in-

volving The Cleaners, you’ll be able to gather that Ferro and The Cleaners are dangerous and need to be dealt with, but not much more. Collect some intel though, and you’ll discover the Joe was very much once an upstanding and concerned New Yorker, having called local radio stations to discuss the military’s alleged mishandling of the outbreak.

Though The Division is a shooter-RPG, you character does not talk. While some people prefer silent protagonists, I would have enjoyed multiple choice dialogue. Heck, I would have even preferred my character to simply speak without dialogue options available. A lot of modern RPGs understand the importance of giving player’s decisions to make, though The Division has opted for a more linear approach, which is odd. We’re not your typical grunts, we’re Agents, and we work outside of typical command. We shouldn’t be simply taking orders blindly from quest vendors.

Ultimately, part of me would have liked the story to be more present in the actual missions. Collecting intel is all well and good, though if like me, you feel well and truly burnt out by Ubisoft’s love of collectibles, you’ll miss out on a lot of details, or you’ll discover them after completing a faction’s missions.

Gameplay-wise, The Division feels like other third-person cov-

er-based shooters, like the Army of Two and Gears of War games.

Players can run, climb and vault the environment and shoot, and melee strike, as well as dodge roll, enter cover, and blind fire (shooting from behind cover).

Oddly though, The Division does not feature crouching, which is widely regarded as a staple of the genre. Crouching allows a tactical advantage: it allows for players to become a smaller target, as well as lessen recoil, allowing for an increase in accuracy. It’s disappointing that it’s not present in The Division.

Despite the lack of crouching, The Division’s controls work. The shooting is tight and responsive, and the guns are balanced, but varied from each other. Shotguns are great for close range, as are SMGs, and there are also assault rifles, marksman rifles and sniper rifles for players wanting to attack from a distance. Light machine guns are also available, which are more capable of suppressing enemies behind cover, and turning the tide of battle. You also have your trusty sidearm, which can be a pistol or sawnoff shotgun. Your sidearm never runs out of ammo and can often be the one thing that saves you from bitter defeat.

In addition to the cover-based gameplay and guns themselves, there are also usable items, grenades and skills players can take advantage of. Items can heal the player or award them a buff (a temporary advantage) such as increased damage against elite enemies, skill cooldowns, as well as the chance to cause area of effect damage or the chance to ignite enemies on fire. Grenades specialise in dealing area of effect damage, and come in a number of varieties including shock grenades, EMP grenades, tear gas grenades, fragmentation grenades and more.

The future is looking bright for The Division, but as it stands the game leaves me desiring a more engaging story. It looks gorgeous, and features some excellent sound design. I won’t say the game is for everyone, as it is an online-only multiplayerdriven experience – similar to Destiny. As an RPG it feels light on story and immersion, though as a shooter is an absolute blast to play (especially with friends).

We’ve been starved for a decent cover-based shooter for some time now, and Ubisoft Massive has laid the foundation for what might become a must-play experience.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TRAILER!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uElsBflqgYw

PROS: LOOKS GORGEOUS FUN CO-OPERATIVE GAMEPLAY SOME TRULY EXCITING MOMENTS DARK ZONE IS AN INTENSE EXPERIENCE

CONS: ALMOST NO STORY NO PLAYER CHOICE SILENT PROTAGONIST SOME BUGS AND OTHER ISSUES

7.6/ 10

WRITTEN BY NICK GETLEY

WWW.STICKYTRIGGER.COM

ETRIAN ODY

THE Fa

YSSEY 2 UNTOLD:

afnir KNIGHT review

REVIEW

ETRIAN ODYSSEY 2 UNTOLD:

THE Fafnir KNIGHT

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight takes the acclaimed dungeon crawler Nintendo DS title Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard, and brings it up to date on the Nintendo 3DS. There’s not just dungeons to crawl through; there’s recipes to make, new graphics to observe, a new story to experience, and team mates to love. For Etrian Odyssey fans, there’s nothing to worry about.

Newcomers, however, have to hike up their adventuring pants and tackle unfamiliar territory.

Gameplay comes first and foremost in the Etrian Odyssey series, and Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold is no exception. Gameplay is split between dungeon crawling through various floors and mapping them out; you have to be part time adventurer, part time cartographer and draw the map yourself.

Navigating dungeons is easy enough, with pressing forward or back on the d-pad to move, and to turn with left and right. Each floor holds little secrets to discover, like pools of water or fruits to restore health and technique points, used for special moves.

One-time events can crop up too, which can spur on humor-

ous dialogue from your party. A coloured circle in the top right corner goes from blue to green to yellow to red to indicate when a random battle is coming up. Battling takes place like a traditional turn-based RPG, combined with line. During battle, your party and the enemy can be split between the front and back lines.

Some weapons can only hit enemies in the front, there’s elemental attacks to consider, abilities tick over turns; if you’ve played a turn-based RPG before, this’ll be nothing new.

The map on the left was considered incorrect by the in-game tutorial, but the map on the right was considered to be correct.

Early on, you have to learn how the game wants you to draw your maps without much prompting, not how you want to draw them yourself. Various tools must be used in the way the game permits, sometimes withholding content until you comply with the specific way it wants. For something like drawing a map, this is a bit perplexing. Certain floors, when completed, can be fasttravelled to by tapping the stair icon, but it’s not all that clear how this unlocks. The game almost presumes you played Etrian Od-

yssey in the past, caring only to explain the newer features, but not going into much depth with the recurring mechanics, such as the map drawing.

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold features story mode, as opposed to the original game. The story mode features yourself as a Fafnir Knight and survivalist and friend Flavio as you escort Arianna, the princess of Caledonia, through Ginnungagap to perform a ritual. Along the way war magus Chloe and protector Bertrand are bumped into, and this merry band of five traverse through Ginnungagap and the Labyrinth. There’s nothing too complex here, and the game can be played in classic mode to circumnavigate this, but one of the strongest elements of Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold comes through the story; the writing. Besides the Fafnir Knight who’s nothing more than a silent protagonist, every line of dialogue adds a little bit more to each character’s personality.

Voiced character dialoue is a bit of a mixed bag. During conversation, characters will say something. They may say a sentence or three, but this happens rarely.

PROS: DIALOGUE IS AMAZING GRAPHICS LOOK WONDERFUL

CONS: CHARACTER’S VOICE CLIPS ARE DISTRACTING CUTSCENES ARE UNDERUSED DIFFICULT TO PICK UP FOR A FIRST TIME PLAYER

More often than not, characters will say something, and the dialogue text will say something else entirely. What’s said usually contains the same connotation as the text, but it’s distracting to be reading one thing, and to have the character voice something else. It’s a shame too, as voiced dialogue was a heavily marketed feature of Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold. However, if the game is left to idle, characters randomly chime in depending on where you are, such as in the Labyrinth, in the main town, or at a menu. Like the writing, it just splashes a dash of character into the mix.

Everything looks quite a treat, especially with 3D turned on.

In fact, I was scrambling for the charger because my battery was drained due to extended use of 3D. Graphically, everything’s received an overhaul compared to Etrian Odyssey II, released all the way back in 2008. 2D images, used to represent character portrait and screens outside of

the dungeon have an incredible depth-of-field effect applied to them that really make them pop, and the 3D models used while exploring and battling look nice too.

Cutscenes are also added to explore the story, but they’re rarely used. It would have been nice to have seen more cutscenes, as opposed to character portraits changing expression. It would have been nice though if a consistent art style was chosen between 2D and 3D. It’s not just the graphics and the voices that have been upgraded from the previous title, but some gameplay mechanics have been changed too. The most notable is the introduction of the café. After discovering recipes and utilising various items from killing monsters, food can be cooked and prepared to give bonus effects while exploring, such as recovering HP or protection from various ailments. While it boils down to a dressed up shop that you have to give up items as well as money, it’s fun trying to dis-

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TRAILER!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykpB8xGbd3A

7.5/ 10 cover what items are needed; each recipe hints towards the items, and the only way to find out what the hints are referring to is to read the description of items. For example, if a recipe calls for salting red meat, you’d have to put Rock Salt and Venison together. It’s something that didn’t require a layer of depth, but it works.

For an Etrian Odyssey fan, Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight is a sight to behold, figuratively and literally. For someone new to the Etrian Odyssey franchise, there’s a little faffing around before things start to click. In the end, what’s left is a visually impressive dungeon crawler with characters that you learn to care about, filled with gameplay that pulls you in.

WRITTEN BY SASHA KAREN WWW.STICKYTRIGGER.COM

the legend

twilight p

d of zelda:

princess review

REVIEW

the legend of zelda:

twilight princess

It’s been thirty years since the first Legend of Zelda game came out, and nearly ten years since The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was released on the Wii and GameCube. What better way to celebrate the Zelda franchise with a remake then?

Brought to us by Nintendo and in collaboration with Australian developers Tantalus, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a remake, plain and simple.

There’s less changes compared to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, but it mostly still holds up today.

In a franchise of cliché after cliché, Twilight Princess dared to be different, and after various Zelda titles released after 2006, it still holds its title as the black sheep. Or wolf, in this case. Link lives off in Ordon Village with a cast of characters, when one day, everything falls to pieces. Bulbins come crashing in, stealing away the village’s children, Link gets clobbered over the head with a club, gets dragged off, and gets turned into a wolf. He finds himself with Midna, a little imp-like lady, and the two go on a grand adventure. While some original direction was taken with trying to find the lost children, it

eventually falls back on clichés; interactions with Princess Zelda and the evil Ganondorf. The plot plays out exactly as it did back in the day.

Most of the gameplay has been lifted straight from the GameCube version, the only available controllers are the GamePad, or the Wii U Pro Controller. In the Wii version, the entire world of Hyrule and Link himself were flipped, as the iconic swordsman is portrayed to be left handed, so for motion controls to conform with the majority, Link had to be right-handed, and waggling the Wii Remote caused Link to swing his sword. There’s none of that here, with a simple button used to swing the sword in Link’s left hand.

The changes to be found are little quality of life adjustments, much like those found in The Wind Waker HD. One of the more obvious changes is that item management can be accessed from the GamePad screen, so items can be swapped out from the inventory without pausing.

While neat, I still found myself looking down, or taking the time to pause, and then change my items, so it’s only a minor con-

venience at best. There’s also the introduction of Hero Mode to Twilight Princess HD, which was previously seen in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, A Link Between Worlds, and The Wind Waker HD. When making a file, players can opt in, which results in enemies dealing double damage, heart items don’t appear, and the game is flipped, much like the Wii version of Twilight Princess, right handed Link and all. There’s also little things, like swimming and horse riding having improved controls, more Rupees can be held, less tears of light per province to collect, and the introduction of the Ghost Lantern to make Poe hunting quicker. There’s also 50 Miiverse stamps to collect, which can be added to posts to Miiverse. 26 of these are letters of the Hylian alphabet, so it’s a cool little addition for the big Zelda fans. amiibo of characters from the Legend of Zelda also have quite a bit of usage. The most interesting amiibo is the Wolf Link amiibo. When tapped from the collection screen, Link gets taken to Cave of Shadows, which is a 40 level dungeon full of enemies that must be done with Wolf Link.

It takes the level of Link’s hearts

PROS: STORY RELATIVELY GOOD, HOLDS UP TODAY AMIIBO FUNCTIONALITY IS NEAT QUALITY OF LIFE CHANGES ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED

CONS: GRAPHICS DON’T ALWAYS HOLD UP

from the save file used, so it’s not recommended to try it out straight away. A completely useless but equally neat feature is that a little while after gameplay, the Wolf Link amiibo can be registered to a save file.

On the title screen, tapping the amiibo loads the save file. This is something that can equally be done with at least five presses of A, but there’s just something cool about it that I always tap in.

Besides the Wolf Link amiibo, both Link and Toon Link can replenish Link’s quiver of arrows, Zelda and Sheik can restore Link’s hearts, and the second most interesting amiibo of the lot is the Ganondorf amiibo. When tapped, Link’s hearts turn blue

8.4 /10

and takes double damage. With hero mode, this turns to four times, so there’s definitely some challenge to be had.

to work with. In movement, everything looks great, but it’s only when you stand still things start becoming noticeable.

The graphics should be the best thing, as this is a HD remake.

Twilight Princess came out in a world after the initial criticism The Wind Waker originally faced, for being a cartoony departure with its cel-shaded graphics. After that, Twilight Princess came out in a stylised realism, with a combination of vibrant and faded colours, lots of browns, and more bloom than you could shake a Deku stick at. The art style doesn’t hold up too well today; Twilight Princess HD looks a bit dated. That being said, Tantalus did their best with what they had

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a remake of a 2006, for better or for worse.

With a story that takes a new look into the Zelda story but then falling to becoming a Zelda story, little quality of life updates that’re nice, neat amiibo functionality, and graphics that look great in motion, there’s a solid game to play, even though we knew it was solid ten years ago. In all, there’s many hours to be had exploring Hyrule, even if it’s new ground, or a path well-travelled.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TRAILER!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxRCQqVeoME

WRITTEN BY SASHA KAREN

WWW.STICKYTRIGGER.COM

PLANTS VS GARDEN W

S ZOMBIES WARFARE 2 review

REVIEW

PLANTS VS ZOMBIES

GARDEN WARFARE 2 The Plants vs Zombies games remain some of the most popular ever released on mobile platforms, and while they were fiendishly addictive on mobiles, identical gameplay may not have flourished on consoles. The franchise certainly held potential to make the leap into mainstream gaming, and that’s exactly what Popcap Games chose to do with 2014’s Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare.

Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare was a fantastic title, and served as a brilliant introduction to shooters for both kids and adults alike. It sold over 3 million units, though loyal FPS shooter gamers didn’t give it the chance it deserved. Fast forward to now, and EA Games have released ‘Plants vs Zombies: ‘. It has more characters, more levels, more game modes, and more story elements – can the franchise turn a new leaf?

Garden Warfare 2 opens with a fly-by camera shot that pans across the city. Dr Zomboss and his legion of the undead have taken over a large area of the city, with zombies roaming the once beautiful city streets. A lone sunflower blooms from cracks in the pavement, with the player

then gaining control of the sunflower. Crazy Dave contacts the player, informing them that he’s on his way to extract the flower.

This brief introduction also serves as a tutorial for the player, and tasks them with learning the basics of gameplay found in Garden Warfare 2. Once they complete the tutorial, the player is introduced to their home base, where they can interact with the game world, undertake various missions or daily quests, customise their character, spend coins on sticker packs, and dive into multiplayer.

Players can also wander outside the confines of their base and partake in the new Backyard Battleground mode, which is similar to king of the hill modes from other games. Outside of the base lies a park with a flag pole.

Raising your team’s flag begins a battle for control of the park, spawning multiple friendly and enemy computer characters, and tossing them into the fray. Reinforcement crates will spawn, and if the player manages to crack them open, they get a hero character as support.

I quite like Backyard Battleground, as it allows players to explore competitive gameplay at

their own pace. You can even invite friends to play with you, and they can even be on the opposing team. I streamed Backyard Battleground during the Garden Warfare 2 beta, and had 3 friends join the zombie army, while I defended the flag for the plants. It was an absolute blast!

It’s a far cry from the menu-driven Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare, and the game feels all the better for it. Instead of being thrown into the surprisingly frantic traditional modes like Team Vanquish, players are now able to experience single player missions, Backyard Battleground, and more. My little sister is relatively new to video games, and absolutely loves how accessible Garden Warfare 2 is. She can explore the game world at her own pace, laugh at the humour and absurdity, and develop her skills in a number of modes.

More games need to be this accessible.

In addition to Backyard Battleground, players can also take on missions for their chosen faction, and can swap factions at any given time. Completing a mission will earn the player rewards, such as coins for sticker packs.

There is a wonderfully odd hu-

mour in Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2, and players get to best experience it with these story missions. Comedy in games is a tricky feat to pull off, though I found myself chuckling away at Davebot-3000 and Dr. Patient’s jokes quite often.

to build, and having to protect it from waves of enemies. Players can spawn zombies or grow plants, who will aid them in the fight. They can also plant or raise Hero characters, who will fight alongside the player in place or real players.

Of course, traditional online modes make a comeback in Garden Warfare 2 as well. Welcome Mat sees standard characters with no upgrades compete in a variety of game modes, Team Vanquish sees two teams compete against each other to see who can reach a set KO count first, Gnome Bomb sees teams escorting a bomb to a designated demolition site, Vanquish Confirmed plays like Team Vanquish, except that players have to collect orbs from vanquished enemies for the KOs to count, Suburbination sees players fighting for control over various checkpoints (think Domination from Call of Duty), and Mixed Mode, which mixes all of the game modes (except Welcome Mat) in one place.

Visually, PVZ:GW2 looks extremely impressive, and the soundtrack is fantastic. While Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare also looked great, there is more detail in the characters and environments, and much more use of colour and dynamic lighting. Compared to other modern games, PVZ:GW2 is vibrant and stimulating.

Somehow, there is still even more for players to experience in Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2. Should the online multiplayer, Backyard Battleground and single player faction missions not prove enough for the player, they can check out Garden Ops, and its Zombie variant, Graveyard Ops. Both modes involve choosing a base

Garden Warfare 2’s only real downfall is that it doesn’t really cater to local multiplayer all that much. Sure you can play Garden Ops split screen with a friend, but you can’t actually take the fight online in split screen. A missed opportunity considering older games have found a way to achieve this.

Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 takes everything great about the first game, and expands upon it. It’s an excellent introduction to shooters, and full of colourful characters that players are bound to enjoy. It’s accessible, and offers tons of content for its asking price. If you’re on the fence about this one, don’t be – hop in the garden and have some fun!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TRAILER!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNOZ53xYcYc

8.3 /10

PROS: VISUALLY IMPRESSIVE ACCESSIBLE - ANYONE CAN PLAY LOTS OF HUMOUR TONS OF GAMEPLAY FUN CUSTOMISATION OPTIONS

CONS: LIMITED LOCAL MULTIPLAYER

WRITTEN BY NICK GETLEY

WWW.STICKYTRIGGER.COM

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1992-1993 retro

PAUL, THE RETRO GAMING PIRATE!

retro

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your say

favourite gam “My favourite game of all time would have to be Borderlands 2. It serves as a really refreshing take on the FPS genre and a great way for people to break into it by being light, colourful, full of humor and diverse gunplay. The various weapons and random drops all make for exciting, fast-paced action that requires thought, as well as the use of skill-trees providing several unique takes on each character.

Not to mention the wide open spaces and varied environments, improving on the desert landscapes of Borderlands 1. The DLC is also a step-up, though some of it is hit and miss, pieces like Tiny Tina’s Attack on Dungeon Keep or Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage provide more of the hilarious but also emotional at times story that the main campaign provided.”

- Grace Hester

Super Mario Bros 3 is the closest you’ll ever get to a perfect game.

It’s a 2D platformer made during the golden age of gaming. The easy to learn, hard to master approach used in the game allows anyone to play the game. Add a simple 2 button control scheme plus a two player mode & you got yourself a fun ol’ time.

The games has stood the test of time with releases on NES, SNES, Gameboy Advance, Wii & Virtual console. The best version is of course the SNES version in the All-Stars cartridge because of the save function the NES version was sorely missing & it comes with the other NES classic Mario games as a bonus.

One of the greatest things in the game are the power ups. There are some that exist only for specific stages, some still used today & all of them gave you unique abilities.

It’s a must play game, a strong point in gaming history & Nintendo has been trying to recapture it’s glory in every game from New Super Mario Bros all the way to Super Mario 3D World. If you haven’t played this game, you can’t call yourself a gamer. 10/10”

Considering when the game was made, it’s actually surprisingly long with 6-8 hours of play... or 30 minutes if you know the secrets well enough. There’s 8 bosses, a fair few mini bosses & 8 worlds to blast through.

- Jean-Paul Bartolomei

me of all time?

“The problem with gaming is it’s always been generational. The one game that had a huge impact on me was the first Metal Gear Solid. It was a completely Revolutionary experience as it was the first game that blurred the lines between cinema and videogames. The voice acting was top notch, I never broke a persons neck in a game before so it was all very adult. The whole game was a buffet of pop culture. From Snake being a Snake Plissken/ James Bond Hybrid to Revolvers Lee van Cleef to Vulcan Raven doubling for Schwarzenegger. It came all thick and fast. It was one of the most amazing experiences ever and still my favourite of the whole series.”

- Simon Che Rodriguez “My favorite game of all time?

Chohmakaimura. That’s Super Ghouls & Ghosts. Why do I love it? Its frustrating, its aggravating, it drives to the point of curling up in the fetal position and mumbling crazily, its punishing, brutal. And unlike even Dark Souls beating it brings the ultimate in achievement. I hope that Capcom rerelease it so that todays gamers will enjoy this classic.”

- Michael Pesak

“Well I’m 30 years old and I have seen and played an overwhelming amount of games across many platforms for the last 25 years but the one that I still think about is Alex The Kid, it came built into my Sega Mega Drive it was a fun and entertaining game at the time but soon Sonic and Mario and all the other cool games surpassed it in sales and graphics but I feel it will make a return soon most likely on mobile or similar devices and I will pay whatever they ask.”

- Todd Mcarthur

“My favourite game of ALL TIME, has to be Ori and the blind forest.

This game is so meaningful and touching, it shows that there is hope in every thing and that we shouldn’t give up because something we love moves along. The game has almost perfect visuals, it is like looking at a beautiful mountain view, the sun is bright, the forests are dark and the lighting is just absolutely perfect. The vibe and mood you receive from it match the areas perfectly, it shows how good a game could get if you are determined to work on this. The OSTs in the game is just too perfect, too good to be true, it has amazing music, when listening to it, it really described or shouts out, whatever you prefer, that this is a forest, that this place is magical. Throughout the storyline, we see countless acts of friendship, faith, humbleness and wisdom. This can be perfect for any age because of the messages it provides with such good and amazing morals. I would recommend this game to anybody, in fact, I already have. If you asked me for any problem or complaint about this game, there would be none.”

- Micah Fede

your say

favourite gam “This is tough. Theres so many that have been spectacular for me. But as for the oldest game I can remember that is still a gem, has to be Donkey Kong country 2.

Donkey Kong country, the original, was a masterpiece. The music, the game play, the pixelated artwork of the levels and character animations. DKC2 took that and made it better You start the game with a view of the overworld, Crocodile Isle. And that overworld tune just said “welcome to the island of bad guys”.

This is where all the evil in donkey kongs world comes from. And they got a taste for pirate fashion.

Who doesn’t like pirate fashion.

This was during the era where games were tough but fun at the same time. These days, a game is either to hard to beat and it ticks you off, or too easy and short and leaves you disappointed. DKC was a long game, tough to beat but fun, something not so common these days.

The music was awesome. This was before the time where games had full orchestras making beautiful pieces. This was when music was made with computers and very few instruments. But it

worked. Having trouble getting through those spiny thorn filled tree tops? Its got some calming, almost put you to sleep music.

And the gameplay was great for its time. This was the one game on the super nintendo that could beat mario as a sidescrolling platformer. Guess the ape won that old feud after all. A huge variety of enemies and bosses that only get tougher would almost trample you. You could just jump on most enemies. Others you might need to throw an explosive barrel at, or just avoid altogether. (Those damned bees). Or, you had your animal friends. Ramba the Rhino is still a prominent character in the series. Who could forget plowing through an entire level, laying waste to every enemy that

dare walk aimlessly towards you riding your big horned steed.

Finally there was some replaying to do. You beat Kaptain K Rool once. But go through the game again and find all those big Kremlin coins and you would unlock the lost world, a tougher bunch of levels where K. Rool is ready for round 2. And those coins are tough to find. This was one of the best games of the Nintendo/ Rare era and is a reminder that we’ll not be getting many games on this level of amazing for a long time.

DKC2 is available on the WiiU store now for all those feeling nostalgic.”

- Peter Stein

me of all time?

“My favorite game of all time is Donkey Kong Country 2. First of all the graphics for its time was amazing and the level designs and difficulty is much more challenging compared to its prequel.

To top it all off the soundtrack is in my opinion the best gaming soundtrack of all time! I have replayed this game so many times thats how much fun it is!”

- Matty Bozzi

“My favorite game of all time is Drakengard... which one of the series is hard to choose, All the games in the Drakengard universe consist of beautifully designed landscapes, intricate character webs and the most beautiful soundtracks. The games also have such a wonderful dialog throughout while you senselessly murder thousands of people, or release torrents of fire from above. But I mainly love these games for their beautiful environments, characters and musical scores. Good job square enix <3” - Erin-Rose Devlin

“I am young and have not played as many games as I would like to but I need to choose Half-Life 2 and both episodes.

“Digimon World - Fans of the Digimon animated series will appreciate this game, as you go around the digital world fighting to save it.

This one is obvious choice because it has been the only games that I have been able to sit down and feel like I am in the game and I have had multiple occasions were I will just play it again from start to finish in one session.

But don’t let a game based off a series let it fool you in difficulty, with only armed with basic knowledge it is up to you to find the best way to train/raise your digimon.

When digivolving is dependent on so many variables; stats, happiness, rearing, day/night, area and previous digivolutions.

The reasons I love this game is because it has really fair combat for a. shooter and one or two puzzle mixed in. The way that it looks with everything on the highest settings is crazy for a game made in 2004-6.

This is the reason I hope Half-Life 3 will come along and be just as amazing as the first to beautiful games.”

- Logan Xavier Skilling “Kurushi Final.

It was a different type of game than what was out around the time, It was challenging and made you think and plan ahead if you wanted to get the best score.”

- Kevin Murray

As for the fighting system, you fight by when you interact with wild digimon or events. The system at first seems clunky because spamming call doesn’t increase your digimons response, but when you learn more command/ attacks then it gets better. The game has so many side quests, achievements, collectables and hidden things to keep you company after you’ve completed the main quests, you’ll be forgetting where the time went. Honestly I can keep explaining why this is such a great game, but would prefer if you play it.

P.S: you may need a walkthrough because not knowing how to advance the game does occure and it maybe because you don’t have certain digimon.”

- Jeff Borroni

your say

favourite gam “My favourite game of all time is Dishonored. It’s a first person stealth / action game where you take on the role of Corvor, the Royal Protector of the Dunwall Royal Family. He is accused of the murder, imprisoned and forced to escape in order to clear his name and uncover the real culprits.

The main draw to this game is that it’s a game about choice. Will you be a force of vengeance who kills all who cross your path or a ghost, seen by none, heard by none. It’s entirely up to you. This as well as a unique artistic style, fantastic world building (seriously, read every little note. They really make you want to see more of the world they’ve created) and a consequence system that shapes how the world evolves throughout the story, in my mind this is a gem for any gaming enthusiast. With an upcoming sequel on the way, now is the right time to check it out!”

- Tristan Oates

“My favourite game of all time:

is the survivors. On your travels you meet a young girl who brings The Last of Us: the story and action to a nail biting conclusion at every turn alAs games go, this is what I al- most every minute. ways imagined when I started gaming as far back as Pong/Atari As soon as there seems to be a and Commodore 64. The very es- break from the relentless set piecsence of this game is about epic es or graphic extravaganza there story telling, amazing graphics is a story that most Hollywood Aand the almost complete enter- Listers would win an Oscar for.... tainment experience. in short, this is an entertainment experience that is not just one of The story of a man, tortured by the best games ever made, but his past, searching for a redemp- one the most finely crafted and tion that may be impossible in phenomenally written pieces ever a world ravaged by a disease presented on any medium. Don’t that has consumed humanity. miss it.”

The apocalypse representatives - Andrew Threlfall are fungus infected humans that are zombie like, yet the real threat

me of all time?

“Short review? Got it! lol

My favourite game of all time would be the “Ace Attorney” series on the Nintendo (3)DS. It is a visual novel series set in an alternate Japan where you play as Phoenix Wright, a Defense Attorney. The game takes on a POV of Phoenix, and it follows his quirky lawyer adventures to find truth in all his cases which in turn reveals a bigger story as a whole.

The game itself is amazing in a sense that the story is written quite well; captivating and memorable. The characters are mesmerising and uniquely lavish, the soundtrack is beautifully composed and gameplay itself uses both touch screen, button pads and the microphone.

The one thing a fan of the Ace Attorney series will never forget; once the game moved from the GBA to the Nintendo DS system, being able to shout “OBJECTION!” during court gameplay using the microphone brings out the full thrill of being a make-belief lawyer. Ace Attorney is hilariously well done and entertaining, and totally recommended for all old and new players of the series, and is a definitely a must play!

9/10 :)” - Nurul Adilah

“Oh man, it’d have to be Crash Bandicoot 3. It was much more forgiving than the earlier games, but still introduced heaps of mechanics to keep it fresh and fun (c’mon, you get to a ride freakin’ dinosaur and time travel!). I always thought I completed it “102%” as a kid, but turns out there were two hidden levels; ahh, playing those levels for the first time took me back to when I first started playing!”

- Leanne Dyer

“Super Mario Bros. 3! This game pushed the NES to its very limits.

From the theatre style opening title screen to the Dark World finale this game was a polished product jam packed with lots of gameplay, innovative game features and eye-popping (for the time) visuals. With the original Mario Bros. mini game added as an additional feature and a plethora of ‘suits’ this game was not left wonting.”

- Brendan Upton

“My all time favourite game is easily Goldeneye 64. It was challenging, but extremely addictive.

I managed to finish every level on every difficulty and because of that, there are levels that are branded to my brain. It’s the only movie game that comes to mind where the game makes you want to watch the film. Also a game where the multiplayer is just as epic as the campaign. Absolutely love the game, always the answer when this question comes up in convo” - Matt Sutton

your say

favourite gam “Hands down favorite game: Secret of Mana.

This game was perfect.

The combat was amazing.

The soundtrack in my opinion is still the best soundtrack for a video game. There was so much to like an epic story with so much to offer. It stood out and was easily the best RPG of that generation One of the few games of that gen to break out from the two player system, it was one of a handful of games ( back then you could not fit to many games in hand ;P ) that used the SNES multitap for some 3 player action.

If you have not played this game I highly suggest you go buy it, there is nothing like it and nothing has held a candle to it since.”

- Michael Peterson “My favourite game of all time is Forza 6 it’s awesome can’t wait til Forza 7 already.”

- John Allan

“Ronin Blade aka Soul of the Samurai, a hidden gem for the playstation 1 that not many know of.

It is a hack and slash action game, although the combat is quite unique. You either play as a samurai or ninja and when you play both you unlock another boss battle. The story is quite interesting as well.”

- Alex Carlos Silva “My favourite game is with out question Final Fantasy 7, it was the first full in-depth RPG and it really gripped me with its character development and immerse world that still has not been matched since, it revolutionised my world and opened me up to a whole lot of emotions which I haven’t met since, in my opinion there is no better game.”

- Brenn Cuff

“My Favourite Game of All Time is Silent Hill 3.

The reason way I love this game is for its survival Horror. Survival Horror isn’t really seen into today games with a third person camera look. The character designs are flawless and story is grabbing and spooky in some point. Finally it has show funny Easter eggs that you encounter once you finish the game.”

- Mitchell McGann

“Pokémon Red was the introductory to my early childhood video game years and the start of my video game journey. Pokémon introduced me to my favourite video game character of all time, Charizard. The games storyline was one nobody could ever forget. Once you began your journey as a Pokémon Trainer, you became a Pokémon master for life.”

- Tahlia ‘Digs’ Burrows

me of all time? understanding of your item before progressing, providing great level design. From character interactions to world design for it’s pixelated glory, Shovel Knight is a great homage to the games of old such as the original Megaman In short Shovel Knight is an ad- game franchise for the NES and venture side-scrolling platformer SNES to name one. with creative characters reminisAn accessible game available cent of each level you visit. on a varied amount of platforms The exploration upon these lev- as well as providing free upels as well as the progression are dates and DLC for extra characingenious in using the shovelling ters (one as of now for a Plague mechanics to dig up dirt, bounce Knight expansion), Shovel Knight ontop of enemies to even trying is a must pick if you ever want to to decifer where the luxurious have an understanding of how hidden items are in the main level video games used to be. sections.

So steel thy shovel, and game In finding these sections as well on.” is genius as it provides you with a small section to get a feel and - Fabian Castillo “It’s hard to pick just one game as a favorite right now with so many fantastic titles out there right now, but a game that stands out at the moment is Shovel Knight by indie developer Yatch Club Games.

“BioShock Infinite, there’s just so much about the game that hits the nail on the head. Sound is amazing, music is beautiful, and characters in a story that is unforgettable. It’s a must play as far my opinion is concerned.”

- Matt Taylor

“It has to be ICO a very addictive game excellent graphics twists at every point puzzles to work out simple game but inventive.”

- John Lavill “Favorite of all time.. mario party 2.. many hours of fun with my siblings.. from fighting over who got to play as yoshi to rubbing it in everyones face when you won.

The maps where amazing, music was nice to listen to, challenging game that makes or breaks families and creates memories either way.”

- Mel Vandenboog

your say

favourite gam “Pokemon Gold.

Growing up in the 90’s really opened up a plethora of choices when it came to games. In this instance just coming in at my top pick, is Pokemon Gold.

Pokemon Gold really (at the time) had a lot going for it. Updated graphics, a memorable soundtrack, richer colours & textures as well a handful of new Pokemon to catch, raise and battle. Unbeknownst to the seven year old that was me when I received this game as a gift, was the journey that followed after defeating the Elite 4. Discovering that I could return to Kanto, the place that gave me so many fond memories (in Red, Blue and Yellow) was nothing short of outstanding. Having the ability to travel between Kanto and Johto was something that just stood out to me, and still does to this day.

10/10. Would play again.”

- Alexander Crew “My favourite is Dragon Age: Inquisition and the reason for this is a bald elf who broke my heart and has ruined my life. 10/10 would romance again and again and again.”

- Shannon O’Driscoll

“Timeshift, why you ask? Because you can blow people up, reverse time and do it all over again. Need I say more?”

- Cameron Miller

“Donkey kong country 1+2 on Super Nintendo. The gameplay was perfect, the colours made the game stand out and the music was incredible. I love the music and makes the games just that much better. I’ve still got both copies today.”

- Andrew Donnelly “Favourite game of all time World Of Warcraft, it’s a game that just gets better and better, hanging out for the new release due in September.”

- Kim Campbell

want to have ‘

head over to gametraders f eye out for the next ‘your s “Although I haven’t played it in a while (I may have to rectify that soon) my favourite game of all time would have to be Ultima 7 part B. If you have never heard of the Ultima games, they are a series of games set on a fantasy world known as Sosaria later known as Britannia (except for the one set on Earth). Ultima 7 B picks up where Ultima 7 A ends, after you stop a cult from summoning an evil god you then are tasked with hunting down the cult’s leadership to a lost and mysterious continent. During your time you learn about an ancient culture and their war between Order and Chaos, and the need for Balance, how the current civilization came to be there and why they hate the King you serve as well as a predictions of the end of the world and many other mysteries. One of the best things about this game is that there are no “store-keep” NPCs. Each NPC except enemies (and also some of them) are proper characters. They all have jobs (or

me of all time?

‘your say’ featured in live magazine?

facebook page: www.facebook.com./gametradersaustralia and keep an say’ topic/status update. things they do though the day) they all go to eat and sleep and they all have unique things to say to you. They all have a place in the story making side quests seem less like a side quest. The graphics, I think, still look good, with it’s 16 bit sprite based isometric style and the music in this game is solid.

The game-play itself is hack n slash RPG that seems like Diablo on the surface, but you actually need to “train” to level up and spells need reagents to work, and with its game-play focus more on exploration, solving puzzles and mysteries and story telling it is a quite different at its core.

I was very disappointed when my computer stopped playing it, but now days with programs like exult it can be played on any newer computer and with enhanced features. I think I’ll be doing just that now.”

- Aaron Yanner

oz comic con

lucy lawless: A new year brings a fresh new round of Cons to visit. First off the bat in Adelaide at least is Oz Comic Con featuring special guest Lucy Lawless. All the Oz Comic Con events have a huge range of special guests - check them out here: www.ozcomiccon.com/2016

From playing the schizophrenic Countess Marburg on WGN’s Salem, Lucy moved to rejoin her husband, Rob Tapert and longtime friends, Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi on the 2015 reboot of the EvilDead franchise, ASH VS. EVILDEAD for STARZ. Cast as Ruby, Ms Lawless leapt at the chance play the nemesis of Campbell’s iconic Ash Williams character. “Our relationship is one of mutual respect and merciless razzing”, says Lawless.

Interspersed with stage performances, Lucy has appeared in internationally acclaimed series such as THE CODE (Australia), Jane Campion’s miniseries Top of the Lake and as the girlfriend of Nick Offerman’s “Ron Swanson,” on the critically acclaimed comedy Parks and Recreation. Before joining the hit NBC comedy, Lucy spent three years working in her homeland New Zealand on the STARZ series Spartacus. Lawless’ portrayal of the complex and often wicked “Lucretia” delighted critics and fans alike. The show

broke all records for STARZ and turned the network into a top destination for original programming.

Lawless, a New Zealander, rose to international fame through her ground breaking performance as the title character in Xena: Warrior Princess, the cult hit series also executive produced by Spartacus producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi. She solidified her “fan-boy cred” when she joined the critically acclaimed SyFy Channel series Battlestar Galactica as “D’Anna/ Number Three.” In addition to these roles, Lucy has continued to demonstrate her versatility with a wide range of television work.... both comedy and drama...in such notable projects as Flight of the Conchords, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The L Word, CSI: Miami, Burn Notice, and The X-Files.

In film, she played “Aspen” in Adam Sandler’s Bedtime Stories, “Mother Superior” in the cult favorite Bitch Slap, a dominatrix in EuroTrip, and had cameos in Raimi’s Spider Man, and Tapert’s Boogeyman.

Lawless is a member of the board of the Starship Foundation, the fund raising body for the Starship Children’s Hospital in her hometown Auckland. She was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2004.

special guest at perth & adelaide oz comic con (saturday only)

oz comic con

perth: april 2 - 3 adelaide: april 9 - 10 melbourne: june 11 - 12 sydney: september 10 - 11 brisbane: september 17 - 18

BOARD/CARD GAMES

TOP SELLING BOARD GAMES! This month we asked one of our largest Gametraders stores, who are board game experts, what they feel are the top selling board games.

Not surprisingly there’s some classics in his list and of course some time relevant games like Star Wars X-Wing Wave 8 in there. Let’s take a look at what’s hot for board gamers!

Star Wars X-Wing Wave 8 Catan The Settlers Zombicide Black Plague D&D Players Handbook Blood Rage Epic Spell Wars D&D Starter Set Dixit Mysterium Pandemic Legacy For Star Wars Fans - there’s an excellent review on: Xwingminiaturesgame.com xwingminiaturesgame.com/preview/breaking-wave-8-in-more-detail/

Classics like Catan The Settlers and of course D&D are always popular and great for an evening of drinks and pretzels with friends.

Popular Mechanics website did a good round up of the “best new

board games” and it’s worth a look to see what their top games are. On the list are games like…

Codenames - great for those who love spy related gaming and enjoy team board gaming. Highly recommended by us.

Pandemic Legacy is on our list too and is one of the best all time co-op games. It’s not a quick game but a project. Sure, each game you sit and play takes an hour or so but there is 12 to 24 games in the saga to complete. In the game players take the role of disease control specialists trying to stop outbreaks and it really is challenging and fresh each time you play.

Go check out their list and summaries of each game here: popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/g18/15-best-new-board-games-of-the-year/

Remember, Gametraders stores either have most of these games or can order them asap for a night of gaming for you and your friends. Don’t forget the pizza, pretzels and if you’re over 18 the beer and wine. Kids - go for the soft drinks! Have fun!

get ‘em at gametraders

Photographer: SFX Images | www.facebook.com/SFXImages

s! check with your local store for availability.

BOARD games : interview

gen42 games

BOARD GAME PRODUCER We got to talk to John from Gen42 Games about their collection of super playable board games!

Firstly John, tell us about Gen42 Games and how and why you got started.

Gen42 Games is my own publishing company launched back in 2002 with the idea to self publish ‘Hive’ my first table top game.

I say table top game because it’s not really a board game, as it has no board. The idea was to launch Hive under the Gen42 banner and test the market. The initial idea for Hive came to me whilst watching a film that featured two old men who met daily in a park to play Chess. The inspiration was to design a game that would play quickly, be ultra portable but keeping the essence of what makes Chess so appealing. Hive has been a massive success for us and has become the flagship game for our company.

How many games have you produced?

Other than Hive I have design and published 4 other games under the Gen42 banner, Army Of Frogs, Logan Stones, Junkyard

Race and my new game for 2016 a Backgammon style dragon themed game, called: Tatsu.

Hive has also had three expansions added to the game: Mosquito, Ladybug and Pillbug, along with a travel version, Hive Pocket and a classic black and white version, Hive Carbon.

Do you publish your own games as against going through a major publisher and why?

The main reason I publish my own games, instead of through major publishers (though I have had offers from them) is because I like to keep control of the creative direction and marketing of my own games. Also if I was to try and make a living out of designing games and selling to publishers. I would need to be have many more games published that I currently do. Royalty payments for board games is not that much and very hard to make a living that way.

the amount of board game designers who I know that have made a living out of publishing their own games. With every business there are many challenges and the major challenge, is over coming the false delusion that the road ahed is going to be easy. It’s hard work, it takes a lot of commitment and energy, and most of your time is spent on the business side of the fence. The green lush game design side of the fence is rarely visited. You will spend 95% of your time doing and promoting your business if you stand any chance of making it a success. I am fortunate that I come from a business background and so I knew what to expect going in, but I would advice anyone without any business acumen to avoid or at least think twice about going the self publishing route.

Do you have any advice on readers who might be looking to produce their own board games?

If I would give one piece of advice to budding games designers, I would say “design games that you really love”. It may never make you a living and you may never even get published, but if you find enjoyment in the process then it’s all worth it.

What are the challenges you’ve faced and how did you work round them?

Finally where can our readers go to find out more about you?

Going the self publishing route is not without its challenges however. I can count on one hand

You can find more info about the games themselves on our website: Gen42.com

grab a copy of hive at gametraders today!

WWW.GEN42.COM

retro

The Gamer diaries: Carmelo was a friend who I had known since I was very young.

We attended playgroup together, then kindergarten, then junior and primary schools. He lived around the block from me and our birthdays were 5 days apart in the same year! According to our parents, we hated each other in playgroup and used to fight a lot.

By the time we were in school we were the best of friends. As I have an Italian background Carmelo’s mother treated me like her other son, as he was an only child.

We grew up playing with Masters of the Universe figures together, which evolved to gaming on his Atari 2600, but around this time he got his hands on a PC. I was intrigued as PC computers had been around for years, but it was around this time they started to gain momentum as gaming machines. Eventually this would see the death of the home micro market, and the big computer companies could see this coming.

Amstrad had its own PC line, with Commodore releasing the Colt range of PC compatibles. At this time PC gaming felt like a whole new world, one I would eventually become immersed in, but I’m getting way ahead of myself here…

I was introduced to “Commander Keen”, a very recently released platforming game. Genius child Billy Blaze, under the guise of

Commander Keen, travels to an alien planet to liberate it from his rival Mortimer McMire. That’s last part is a bit of a spoiler, as you don’t find out who the protagonist is until the third game of the series. At this time we didn’t have the third game, as part one was available to be distributed for free as ‘shareware’, with parts two and three requiring payment. It was a fun platfomer and the use of a pogo stick predated “Ducktales” on the NES and Gameboy.

Having limited blaster shots was challenging and the levels were big, with plenty of secrets to discover.

Carmelo was also in possession of the first adult game I would ever see, “Leisure Suit Larry”.

At the age of around 13 a child becomes interested in that sort of thing, let’s be honest. “Leisure Suit Larry” (LSL) was a humorous take on losing one’s virginity. Even though we had difficulty completing it, it was fun watching Larry die in the many various ways. Even flushing the toilet in Lefty’s Bar had consequences! I had played adventure games on the Amstrad before, but this was the first game I had seen in this style. Carmelo also had “King’s Quest”, though we enjoyed the humour of LSL a lot more.

Back at school people were beginning to trade Gameboy games.

It was similar to the way in which people traded Ninja Turtles cards only a couple of years earlier. I never traded any games, though I did buy one from a school mate.

I had played “Choplifter” in the arcade and really enjoyed it, so when he offered me “Choplifter 2” I was interested. I think I may have paid $20, a reasonable sum for a 13 year old in 1992. I tested the game first and loved it. Similar to the first game, you have to rescue people and take them back to base, all while avoiding or shooting enemy artillery. It was a challenging game with great controls.

James had recently heard that a mutual friend had managed to score a copy of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” on the Amstrad CPC. By this stage the Simpsons were dominating popular culture and TMNT was dying out. I always stood by the things I enjoyed and never bowed to peer pressure when it came to passing fads. If I liked something I stuck with it.

James and I acquired our pirate copies of “Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles” (anything TMNT related in the UK used to have “Hero” in the title as “Ninja” was somewhat of a taboo word) and it was different to what we had seen before.

I had previously played the game on the NES, Amiga and C64.

It was OK on the NES as there were 2 buttons, one to jump and

1992 - 1993

1992 - 1993

one to fire. When you used the fire button in conjunction with up or down on the D-pad you would swing your weapon in that direction. On the home computers if you pushed up and fire to swing your weapon upwards you ended up jumping most of the time, as up was also the jump command on a single button joystick. On the Amstrad CPC the ability to swing your weapons up and down was removed, which was a smart move on the part of the programmer. The game was frustrating enough without having to endure an incorrect jump at the wrong time. The levels & enemies were slightly modified so you could hit them without the need to swing your weapon up or down. This did make the game easier, but that was a blessing as it wasn’t very forgiving on other systems. In the end I found a cheat code which made the game even easier!

In the South Australian suburb of Para Vista, on the corner of Milne Rd and Nelson Rd are a collection of shops. On the very corner you can see a Red Rock Noodle Bar up on a small hill. Shops used to rotate in this space a lot, and previously there had been a fish and chip shop where the doctor surgery is now. I used to go in there to play arcade games with a couple of school friends. The 2 games I remember were “Hippodrome” and “Cabal”. In 1992 one of the bigger spaces in this group of shops was vacant. This empty space ended up being an arcade called ‘Megazone’ and it was on the way home from school after I got off the bus. Whenever I had a few spare coins I would tell Mum

to expect me late home as I would stop and play arcade games.

A friend of mine, Mark, decided to start getting off at my bus stop after I mentioned this at school. It was a much farther walk for him to get home, but he didn’t care. We would play “Golden Axe” (which I loved), “Altered Beast” (which I was always indifferent about) and many more. I discovered “Legend of Hero Tonma”, which is a difficult little platformer. You shoot magic spells which can be upgraded. You have to find keys to progress through the level and you can get treasure chests with coins a-plenty. C+VG magazine reported that this game was only ever ported to the PC Engine. I already wanted one as the quality of the games being ported on it were just amazing. “Legend of Hero Tonma” cemented my desire to eventually own NEC’s little gaming wonder.

Mark and I befriended the owner’s son, so our trips to ‘Megazone’ saw us spending less money than you would have thought a pair of young teens would spend in an arcade. The owner’s son once gave us over 100 credits on TMNT, which we promptly completed with 4 Turtles. I first played “Double Dragon 2” here, and I was struck by the slightly unusual controls. You would push the left button to attack left and the right button to attack right. It sounds simple, right? After the first “Double Dragon” which had kick and punch buttons it was hard to get used to. I remember being one of many who struggled with that.

Earlier that year my grandparents had gone to Singapore for a holiday, where Gameboy games were much cheaper than in Australia. They bought some back for me, and in the Christmas of 1992 I was given “Terminator 2”, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2”, “The Simpsons - Escape from Camp Deadly” and my first ever multi cart. “The Simpsons” and “Terminator 2” were US releases in standard Gameboy boxes.

“TMNT 2” was in a smaller Japanese box, while the multi cart was in a non standard box. At this stage there was no Internet, so no way of finding out what this thing actually was or how it came to be.

The cartridge contained some interesting games, including “Ninja Gaiden” and an interesting puzzler called “Flipull”.

On the Amstrad GX400 a puzzle game called “Plotting” was released, and I remember reading about it in Amstrad Action. “Flipull” is the same game with a different name. You play a blob who has a block that he has to throw at other blocks to remove them, change them, then it gives you a new block. That was a confusing description, but it’s a confusing game. It’s quite addictive, but is far from being a standard ‘pick up and play’ puzzles. “Flipull” requires the player to invest some time into discovering the mechanics of the gameplay. If you’re prepared to put in the time you will find a pleasant little time waster.

As 1992 rolled into 1993 I also managed to get a copy of “Super Mario Land”. While it appears to be a re-imagining of the original

1992 - 199

“Super Mario Bros”, this was a different game in a very different setting. Gone are Princess Peach, the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser Koopa. In their place are Princess Daisy, Sarasaland and the evil Tatanga. It was a surprising side step from the traditional Mario story, and though its canon is questionable Princess Daisy has since established herself in the main Nintendo universe.

The world of consoles were starting to dominate my gaming interests. I purchased my last copy of Amstrad Action in January 1993, which ended up being the October 1992 issue. It was apparent that the Amstrad was dying as less and less games were being reviewed each month. The covertape on that issue featured an average game called “On The Run” which I was quite non-plussed about. I still loved my Amstrad, but in an era of emerging new technologies it was starting to look a bit old. With that said, the Amstrad remained in my room and I continued to play the classics, “Head Over Heels”, “Jack The Nipper”, etc… It was almost like going through the motions though, as I was becoming more and more focused on getting my hands on a Super Nintendo.

Around the same time I purchased my last issue of Amstrad Action, I was also given a copy of a new Amstrad magazine. I kid you not, in 1992 as the Amstrad was dying a new magazine was launched. It was called CPC Attack and I immediately recognised the mascot ‘Amy’ from Computer and Video Games magazine, where she was called ‘Sadie’. I’m

not sure why the two magazines shared the same mascot or why her name was changed… Maybe they thought nobody would notice. Surprisingly, inside this magazine was a feature on consoles. I was rather taken aback, as in my mind this had no place in an Amstrad magazine, but there it was. If anything it only further whetted my appetite for a Super Nintendo.

I had started discussions with my parents on ways I could earn money to obtain a SNES. “Street Fighter 2” had been released on the system and there was a “Street Fighter 2” bundle pack.

This was the one I had to have!

Yes, I was a big fan of “Super Mario World”, having played it on the Super Play Choice that was a Timezone Modbury, but “Street Fighter 2” was THE game to own.

I figured I could always buy “Super Mario World” at a later time.

At this stage James had already purchased a Super Nintendo, so we had moved on from Amstrad gaming. By now it seemed archaic and we wanted to immerse ourselves in the new technology. James owned “Super Mario World” but didn’t have a lot of interest in playing it. “Street Fighter 2” had consumed our lives with its characters, storylines and various endings, as it did for many other kids in the early 90s.

Anyway, that’s all the space I have this month. If you’re interested in my occasional gaming posts feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @dizrythmia I can also be found writing articles and giving interviews on: www.retrospekt.com.au

WRITTEN BY paul monopoli

retro As the prices of vintage games and systems escalate beyond all reason, many third party manufacturers have been hard at work creating solutions for today’s retro gamer. Plug in solutions that use ROM files on USB drives and SD cards are allowing gamers to play their old favourites on the original hardware. As well as allowing us to avoid the evil that is ‘The Ebay rip off merchant’, these devices also allow gamers to experience home-brew titles, translations of Japan only releases or modified versions of existing games. However, what many Everdrive loving Super Nintendo owners may not be aware of is that these devices have been around for years!

If you read The Gamer Diaries you will be familiar with my childhood friend, James. James owned a Super Wildcard, the first one that I ever saw. The Super Wildcard contains a floppy drive and a Super Nintendo cartridge port. The device sits on top of your Super Nintendo and allows you to copy games from cartridge on to a floppy disc. You could then just load the game off that floppy disc to play it any time you wanted.

James would hire games, back them up on to discs, then return them knowing that he had a copy of the game to play any time he wanted. When I bought my first Internet account we discovered Super Nintendo ROMs. I would download games (on dialup) and copy them to floppy disc, then James would test them out on his Super Nintendo. We played many games that never saw the light of day in Australia, including some amazing anime titles.

PAUL, THE RETRO GAMING PIRATE! While there a few different Super Nintendo back up devices on the market in the 90s, the king of them all was the Super Wildcard DX2. This allowed you to play Super Nintendo games up to 64Mbit, and it allowed you to connect a Zip drive via a parallel port that was on the back. This drive could be used instead of the on board floppy disc drive. Zip drives, created by iOmega in 1994, use special discs that can hold 100MB of data. They are more robust and a lot less prone to errors than floppy discs. I purchased my Super Wildcard DX2 about 10 years ago, but luckily I had a Zip drive lying around. The problem was that I didn’t have a computer with a parallel port. Who uses parallel ports these days?

Luckily iOmega released a model of the Zip drive that could be connected via USB. I found one on Ebay, made my purchase and my Mac laptop recognised it immediately. I downloaded some Super Nintendo ROMs onto a disc, put that disc in to the Zip drive that was connected to my Super Wildcard DX2 and ran it. The game worked perfectly! I tried running a few fan translations of unreleased

J-RPGs, as well as the recent home-brew version of Donkey Kong. The Super Wildcard DX2 does not contain special chips such as the DSP, Super FX or SA-1, so you will still need to buy a copy of Super Mario Kart!

The Super Wild Card DX2 also includes a direct PC link, though modern computers don’t have COM ports, so I haven’t tested this function. The setup is a lot clunkier than using a simple Everdrive, but the device has a very retro feel to it.

In my travels I happened upon another backup unit. Found at a Gametraders store, this device is called the Multi Game Hunter.

What separates this unit from the rest is that it allows you to back up and play games on both the Super Nintendo and the Megadrive. The included images show the device with a disc drive and 2 cartridge ports, one for each system. There is no special Zip drive or PC interface, so you’re stuck with standard floppy discs. Still, it remains an interesting curio, and it is convenient having one device that works on both systems.

So, is it worth buying one of these retro backup devices today? To be honest, no. Many modern USB and SD solutions allow you to play games that use enhanced chipsets, something these devices are lacking. For the impatient gamer there is also the issue of then using slow disc drives to load games. If you want to explore games on the original hard-

ware then go for an Everdrive, or similar device.

For more of my retro rants feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @Dizrythmia or visit: www.retrospekt.com.au to see all the other wonderful retro gaming related stuff I do!

WRITTEN BY paul monopoli

comics

ready to rumble!

One of histories greatest debates, Marvel Vs DC. It’s up there and as divisive as the Kennedy assassination, the moon landing and the existence of Sasquatch. Fans have raged debated on this idea since comic culture really took off. However it really is a dumb argument really… They are both fantastic! The idea that somehow you need to pick a side is simply absurd. It’s perfectly fine to prefer the titles one company puts out over the other, that’s totally normal. But to somehow develop a strange hatred of the other company is simply bizarre. I personally much prefer Marvel comics, but I love Batman, Superman and Green Arrow. I love that DC produce those comics I love and revel in the fact that there are just more comics for me to read. It’s like the PlayStation Vs Xbox debate, it all stems from the fact that you can’t have both so for some illogical reason hate the one you don’t have. Here’s the big secret to life though, you can have both!

As individual companies both began their lives as very different companies. DC was National Allied Publications started in 1934.

Marvel was Timely Comics which sprang to life in 1939. DC started out with gritty crime stories and adventure comics. Marvel had its western and science fiction titles. Spectacular adventures on

offer to the public! 1938 saw the birth of Superman and 1939 saw the birth of Batman. Marvel had their first heroes with The Human Torch and The Sub-Mariner with their first massive hero Captain America hitting the pages in 1941.

These early heroes would go on to set the tones for both companies. DC with it’s dark brooding Batman and god-like Superman.

Marvel with it’s fantastical, bright, over the top science fiction driven stories.

Today they stand as the two great juggernauts of the comic book industries, with the only other really massive title in the world at the moment being The Walking Dead from Image Comics. But there is no denying that Marvel and DC are the undisputed heavy weight champions. Things have certainly changed since comics were just in print. Now they are ruling our popular culture, mainly in the cinema. Pretty much every single blockbuster film released at the moment is a comic book film. This year alone we get Deadpool, Batman V Superman, Captain America Civil War, X-Men Apocalypse, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, Suicide Squad, Gambit and Doctor Strange… (deep breath).

That’s just insane! So many awesome geekfest films in one year and people are already fighting

over them. Enjoy them all you crazy kids!

Marvel have been in domination of the comic book movie scene for the last few years with the only real rival to the Marvel Cinematic Universe being the Nolan Batman Trilogy. But now DC is throwing their hat into the ring and getting ready to launch their massive universe of films, which they started with Man of Steel in 2013. This Year Batman V Superman is set to really shake things up with advance ticket sales already pointing to projections of over a billion dollars in complete grossing. It will be a big leap forward for the DC movie universe given that the Marvel series has a total gross so far of over nine billion dollars making it the highest grossing film franchise of all time.

It’s a good time to be a geek!

One major detractor for the whole Marvel V DC affair is probably the fact that the two companies don’t really have an rivalry with each other. The companies themselves have no hatred, it’s all from the fans. To prove this, in 1996 both companies joined forces and created a company together. Amalgam Comics was born. A strange world where heroes from the Marvel world and DC world could collide in issue together, it even

marvel

vs. dc

led to some odd mash up heroes.

We saw Logan Wayne AKA Dark Claw. A cross between Wolverine and Batman. We also saw SuperSoldier the cross between Superman and Captain America. Amalgam Comics was a big deal in the mid 90’s! And you would think that should have really been the nail in the coffin of geek on geek fighting… But no… If you get the chance I really recommend trying to find some of the Amalgam comics, they are well worth the read, really fun comic cross-overs!

While I have no doubt that the odd comic book rivalry will continue for years to come as raged up fan boys fight it out. It’s like the old Star Wars V Star Trek fight, they are both so very different it makes no sense to even compare them, they are both awesome for very different reasons, and that is fundamentally the same with Marvel

Vs DC. DC is a dark, brooding world set in fictional cities. Marvel is a bright, fun world set in our real world. Both are great for their different reasons and both should be loved and embraced for all they have done for us geeks!

WRITTEN BY scott f. sowter

hot DVDS

anime

TO LOOK OUT FOR at gametraders!

FREE! - ETERNAL SUMMER (SEASON 2 + OVA) The cherry blossoms are blooming, the sun is shining, and it’s the perfect time to hit the pool!

Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, and Rei are anxious to get into the water and warm up their winter muscles ASAP, but things aren’t all flip-turns and finish lines. Haru’s passion for swimming is drying up, which dashes Rin’s hope for a true rivalry. With their futures after high school looming over them, Makoto and Haru are having a hard time focusing. And a gruff new Samezuka student, Sosuke, appears just in time to jeopardize Iwatobi’s chance at nationals. The boys of summer are back! Haru, Makoto, Nagisa, Rei, and Rin are reunited for a second season in Free! Eternal Summer.

After the last swimming meet, the bonds of friendship have only gotten stronger, and with each passing day these boys continue to grow. This season brings new rivals and new challenges. So get ready, the competition is about to get fierce!

This month we take a look at some of the most popular releases hitting stores this month! If you’re an anime fan these DVD’s are a must!

TOKYO ESP COMPLETE SERIES Rinka Urushiba lives with her father while being in near poverty stricken conditions that she needs to work part-time. Her life changes when she has the ability to use strange powers that are labelled to be as extrasensory perception or ESP.Rinka is a high school student in Tokyo trying to make ends meet while supporting herself and her father. Her ordinary life takes a turn for the extraordinary when she witnesses a penguin and a school of fish flying through the air. After catching up to one of the fish, she passes out and wakes up to find herself suddenly granted supernatural powers. With her newfound ability to walk through solid objects, Rinka is about to learn just how transparent the world can be.

LORD MARKSMAN AND VANADIS COMPLETE SERIES After being taken captive by a female general from an enemy country, Count Tigrevurmud Vorn leaves his own lands completely open to attack. Unable to sit by and watch the destruction, Tigre must do what he can to convince his beautiful captor to join him in a fight to save his homeland.

Using his skills as an archer and her otherworldly prowess as a War Maiden, the pair must work together if they hope to stand a chance against two warring nations and a rogue faction led by power hungry nobleman.

Outgunned, outnumbered and branded as a traitor, the valiant Tigre will need to win the favor of the remaining War Maidens if he plans to come out on top.

DRAMATICAL MURDER COMPLETE SERIES Nothing on Midorijima has been the same since the powerful Toue Konzern forced the original population into the Old Residential District and converted the rest of the island into the exclusive resort Platinum Jail. Despite that, Aoba Seragaki has tried to build a normal life for himself, working part-time in a junk shop and hanging out with his friends and his A.I. “pet” AllMate, Ren. But when Aoba is drawn into the shady underworld that surrounds the popular virtual game Rhyme, the universe that he thought he knew falls apart. If deja vu describes the sensation of experiencing something that you think you may have done before, what is it called when other people seem to recognise you for doing things that you don’t remember doing?

All Aoba knows is that there are gaps in his memory, people are disappearing, and a secret buried in his own mind may be the only keys to revelation!

LOVE LIVE! SCHOOL IDOL PROJECT SEASON 2 Having avoided the closure of Otonokizaka High, the members of μ’s return to their everyday lives. But when news of a second Love Live! reaches the girls, they are more determined than ever to make it into the finals and win it all! Can they reach their goal of winning Love Live!?

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AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY HYPERDOME Yu-Gi-Oh - Saturday 10am Pokémon - Saturday 2pm

S STORE EVENTS

URNAMENTS! QUEENSLAND CHERMSIDE Yu-Gi-Oh - Sunday 3pm Cardfight!! Vanguard - Wednesday 6:30pm Pokémon - Saturday 3pm Magic the Gathering - Tuesday & Friday 6:30pm

MACKAY Yu-Gi-Oh - Sunday 4pm Magic the Gathering - Friday 6pm MTG Monday Night Modern - Monday 6pm Pokémon - Monday 4pm Board Game Night - Monday 6pm

MORAYFIELD Magic the Gathering Modern - Wednesday 7pm Magic the Gathering Commander - Thursday 7pm Magic the Gathering Standard - Friday 7pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Thursday 7pm & Sunday 2pm Pokémon - Saturday 12pm Magic the Gathering Learn to Play - Saturday 2pm LARP Tournaments - Saturday 6pm

NEW SOUTH WALES BLACKTOWN Advanced Yu-Gi-Oh - Sunday 10:30am Magic the Gathering - Thursday 6:30pm & Sunday 10:30am

MACARTHUR SQUARE (CAMPBELLTOWN) Yu-Gi-Oh - Wednesday 5:30pm

PARRAMATTA Yu-Gi-Oh - Wednesday 6pm Magic the Gathering - Friday 6pm Cardfight!! Vanguard - Wednesday 6pm

GAMETRADERS LIVE PENRITH Cardfight!! Vanguard - Saturday 5pm Magic the Gathering - Friday 7pm Pokémon - Saturday 12pm X-Wing - Wednesday 7pm Dragon Ball Z - Thursday 6pm Force of Will - Friday 7:30pm Buddyfight - Saturday 12pm My Little Pony - Saturday 5pm Demo board games from Wednesday through to Saturday.

GAMETRADERS LIVE HORNSBY Magic the Gathering (Standard) - Monday 4pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Tuesday 4pm & Sunday 12pm Pokémon - Tuesday 4pm & Sunday 2pm Magic the Gathering (Draft) - Wednesday 4pm & 7pm Hearthstone Fireside Gathering + Tournament - Wednesday 6pm Board Games - Thursday 7pm Magic the Gathering (FNM) - Standard Fridays 4pm & 6pm (Standard, Modern, Draft) Super Smash Bros - Saturday 1pm Magic the Gathering (Commander) - Sunday 2pm For more special events and tournaments please visit: www.facebook.com/GametradersHornsby

SOUTH AUSTRALIA INGLE FARM No current tournaments.

MARION Pokémon - Saturday 2pm Cardfight!! Vanguard - Tuesday 6pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Wednesday 6pm Magic the Gathering - Friday 6pm

SEAFORD FREE Monday Night Magic - (Standard/Constructed) 6pm (5:30pm registration) My Little Pony - Tuesday 5pm (4:30pm registration) Video Game Tournaments - Tuesday 6pm (5:30pm registration) Dungeons and Dragons - Wednesday 6pm (5:30pm registration) Board Game Nights - Wednesday from 5-8pm Dragon Ball Z TCG Tournament - Thursday 5:30pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Thursday 6pm (5:30pm registration) Cardfight!! Vanguard - Friday 4:30pm Friday Night Magic - Draft 6pm (5:30pm registration) Pokémon - Sunday 1pm (12:30 registration)

MT. BARKER X-Wing Night - Thursday 6pm Yu-Gi-Oh - Saturday 4pm Magic the Gathering - Sunday 1pm

SALISBURY Magic the Gathering - Thursday 5:30pm & Saturday 11am Yu-Gi-Oh (Advanced Format) - Saturday 12.30pm

GAMETRADERS STORE EVENTS

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Gametraders has a HUGE range of anime & DVD’s available - can’t see what you’re after in-store?

We can order it in for you!

COSPLA smzeldarules

star wars

JUSZ

chatty anny

cosplay interview

cosplay interview

song ja park cosplay interview

cosplay cosplay editorial:

tips to get a more pleasing look to your images photography tips

AY

COSPLAY

smzeldarules www.FACEBOOK.COM/smzeldarulesartandcosplay

This month we caught up with “smzeldarules,” a cosplayer from Buffalo NY in the U.S. Welcome to Live Magazine!

Let’s start with how you got into cosplay and why.

Hello! :) I was really into Japanese animation and games when I was young. When I started using the computer at ten years old, I stumbled upon some Japanese drawing boards called oekakies.

There I met the two girls who got me into cosplay – Shiya Wind and x3rikku! They were always my number one idols in everything; Not just cosplay but also art (since we all drew together!), fashion and lifestyle! I looked up to them so much and since we’ve known each other for so long it was amazing when I finally met both of them in person. They were the ones who got me into a lot of things that were huge inspirations when I was young like Pokemon, Powerpuff Girls, Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts!

Now you’ve been cosplaying since 2006, you’re a gamer, a graphic designer … how do you fit it all in?

Yep! 2006 was when I was so inspired by Des (x3rikku) and Shiya that I decided to finally start cosplaying. As for gaming, I

started watching my brother play Earthbound and Zelda Ocarina of Time when I was really young, and then decided to start playing them myself soon after. The name “S.M. Zelda Rules” actually was thought of by my dad when I started using the Internet, and it was my handle on the oekaki boards, DeviantArt, and eventually led to my cosplay as well. I wanted to keep it all consistent.

S and M are my initials (I have no middle name), and my dad knew I liked Zelda so much so he put Zelda Rules in! SMZR for short :) I got inspired by my brother to pursue graphic design; He got me into a lot of nerdy things and helped me grow into the graphic designer I am today.

How I fit it all in, well… I actually didn’t cosplay much or go to many cons while I was in college from late 2009 until spring 2013, since I had to work a lot to pay out of my own pocket for my tuition/ car payments. I didn’t really get back into it until spring 2014 when I was more financially stable to start the hobby again. You always want to put those kinds of life things FIRST! Simply put, cosplay is the only artistic outlet besides graphic design that I 100% enjoy. And since

graphic design is my profession, cosplay became my number one hobby because of how creative and fun it is. Gaming always fits in somewhere; especially Sundays when I’m relaxing at home!

You’ve got some great cosplay planned, what’s the most challenging costume you’re working on.

So far this year (2016) I’ve made Tabby from .hack//Roots (one of my dream cosplays!), Esther from Ni no Kuni, and Small Lady Chibi Usa (pink dress) from Sailor Moon. With some help from other friends, so far this year I put together Tsubaki from Your Lie in April, Knives Chau from Scott Pilgrim, and Human Luna from Sailor Moon.

My plans for the rest of the year include: Swaine from Ni No Kuni for my boyfriend, Rikku from Final Fantasy X-2, Nanami from Suikoden 2, Rosaline from To the Moon, Ruby from RWBY, Emil (transformed version) from NieR, Akane & Kougami (my boyfriend) from Psycho-Pass, and fem!Atreyu from The Neverending Story with my boyfriend as Artax (hehehe). There could be more or less, depending on what happens this year! I think what scares me the most is Ruby from

Photographer: Tommyish Cosplay & Photography | www.facebook.com/Tommyishh

Photographer: Some Kid | www.facebook.com/ohheyitssk

RWBY’s scythe…I really want to make it collapsible, so am going to need help from prop friends!

What about cons? What’s your favourite and do you have plans for 2016?

My BIG cons for 2016 are PAX East (Saturday – definite), ColossalCon (all weekend – definite), and Anime USA (all weekend – in planning!). There’s a bunch of small and medium-sized cons in the Western NY and Ontario Canada areas that I plan to go to as well. My boyfriend’s and my favorite con last year was definitely ColossalCon; we really look forward to that this year too. We love PAX East as well because video games!! Anime USA in October is a new one for us. A lot of our friends live in the DC area so it should be really fun!

You’re a gamer too - what are you currently playing?

Yes! I am a HUGE fan of old school JRPGs. Chrono Trigger will forever be my favorite game and there’s no topping it. I love newer JRPGs as well, and also enjoy some platformers with great storylines! Point-and-click adventure games, and interactive drama story based games will always hold a dear place in my heart too. Right now I’m playing Xenogears for the first time! My boyfriend and I also like to stream our Steam and other PC games on my Twitch channel at smzeldarules!

As a designer do you do other art apart from cosplay like

painting or photography?

I used to be into traditional painting a lot when I was in school, and I do want to experiment with photography one day.

Right now graphic design and cosplay are the biggest parts of my life! Once I pay off my new car, I would love to buy a new Macbook (since mine is a bit old) and also get a DSLR to start delving into photography :) Who inspires you?

My family and friends who are all amazing and talented in their own ways!

Some fun questions Who would you love to sit and have coffee with - past or present?

I would love to sit and have coffee with my favorite singer Ayumi Hamasaki! I’ve loved her music since I was about 14 or so. Her style has changed a lot since then but I will always love her nostalgic tracks.

I even based one of my two high school AP Studio Art portfolios on her 2000 album, “Duty.”

If you were stuck on an island, what food, music and DVD would you take with you?

I would eat Japanese or Indian curry rice all day, listen to my favorite trance DJs (like Andrew Bayer, Above & Beyond, and Kyau & Albert), and my favorite movie Tommy Boy. Life of solitude complete!

What food do you love after a long day at a con?

Anything that’s not American really! I feel like usually my friends and I choose Japanese or Korean restaurants after cons.

Finally can you share 5 tips for those just starting out in cosplay?

1 – Have fun! Seriously this is what cosplay is about. Don’t let anyone’s judgment or words keep you from cosplaying a character you love.

2 – Make friends! This hobby made me find such amazing people I would have never met otherwise. Even if you make close friends that live far away, it makes hanging out with them at a con or elsewhere so much more awesome!

3 – Prepare early! I know a lot of people just aren’t wired for getting costumes and con preparations done on time. I think the thing I’m praised the most for is getting things done early so I don’t have to worry about them later. But try your best to be prepared as much as you can. This just doesn’t include costumes – think about food, hotel room needs, money, etc! Make checklists when crunch time comes around – they really help!

4 – Put real life priorities first!

Cosplay shouldn’t take over your entire life. It easily can grab ahold of everything when you first get super into it, but try your best not to let that happen. Stay fiscally

Photographer: Amaleigh Photography | www.facebook.com/AmaleighPhotography

Photographer: Mo-ria | www.facebook.com/moriacosplay

responsible, be good in school/ work/health and put things on hold if you need to. That’s what I did during college and although I missed a lot in the community during that time, I don’t regret a thing.

5 – Stay positive! There’s nothing I dislike more than when people get discouraged over costumes not getting finished on time for groups, upset about internet drama, and just act petty and/or immature. Listen, all you need to do is put on a costume and have fun. If people are mean, ignore them. If they’re your “friends,” don’t be their friend. If someone thinks you’re not talented/popular enough to be their friend, they’re too immature to be yours. Keep

on keeping on, and if you EVER need any advice, especially with things like that, don’t hesitate to send me a message on my facebook page. I’d love to listen and give advice as best as I can!

twitch: twitch.tv/smzeldarules youtube:

And where can our readers go to find out more about you?

www.cosplay.com/member/51052

facebook:

facebook.com/smzeldarulesartandcosplay

twitter: twitter.com/smzeldarules Instagram: instagram.com/smzeldarules cospix: cospix.net/smzeldarules worldcosplay:

worldcosplay.net/member/smzeldarules

tumblr: smzeldarules.tumblr.com

youtube.com/user/smzeldarulescosplay

acparadise:

www.acparadise.com/loves/smzeldarules

cosplay(dot)com:

You can also just search “smzeldarules” on all of these and I’m sure I’ll show up :) I’m also on the Cosplay Amino app!

Thanks Sarah!

Thank YOU guys! I’m so honored to be a part of your lovely magazine. I absolutely adore the branding, layout and graphics.

Keep being awesome! ~ smzeldarules ~

Photographer: Herbiecide | www.facebook.com/herbiecidez

Photographer: Pial Visions Photography | www.facebook.com/PialVisions

Photographer: Vick Krishna Films | www.facebook.com/Vickkrishnafilms

Photographer: Herbiecide | www.facebook.com/herbiecidez

Photographer: Pial Visions Photography | www.facebook.com/PialVisions

COSPLAY

jusz cosplay www.FACEBOOK.COM/juszcosplay

Hey Justine, you’ve been on the other side of our mic with interviews but today we wanted to catch up with you. You’re a guest at Oz Comic Con this year, tell us about that.

and that opened up a whole new world for me.

I’m so thrilled and excited to have been invited to Oz Comic-Con as a guest. It was a really wonderful surprise to be contacted by a convention that I love attending and be asked to take that step up and be an actual guest. It’s also pretty nerve-wracking, but I’m more excited than anything else.

I’ll be presenting one workshop and hosting the new ‘Cosplay Active’ cosplay competition, and I’m sure more cool things will be added as we get closer to the event.

Oh goodness. I’m not sure famous is exactly the right word for it, but I was in an all girl pop group called G-Force for a few years back in Vancouver. By the time we parted ways we’d started to build a bit of a following and had not only performed at clubs in Vancouver, Toronto and Las Vegas, but also for Jay Leno at the Tonight Show in LA. It was really interesting, because we were totally self-funded and self-managed so we had a lot of control over our music and image. It was a lot like cosplay – tons of un-glamorous hard work, lots of shiny fabrics and my never-ending battle with false eyelashes.

So how did you get started in cosplay?

Like everyone else, as a fan. I love costumes and dressing up and when I found out that the Armageddon comic convention was coming to Adelaide in 2011 I knew I would have to dress up to attend. I bought or rented everything for that costume and had an absolutely unforgettable time.

My parents gave me a sewing machine for Christmas later that year, I think my mom was hoping I’d make curtains or something,

Now apart from cosplay, you’ve been a touch famous in Canada, tell us about that.

Back to cosplay, why do you think it’s grown so much in the past few years?

I think the internet has a lot to do with it - that’s how I found out about cosplay. The internet opens up so many windows into different worlds and the internet, especially social media, allows us to show off our work as well as find and connect with others who

have similar interests. I’ve learned techniques I wouldn’t have ever considered via YouTube and other people’s tutorials, and there’s also the expansion of materials and references that have helped people get started so much easier. Thermoplastics, specialised patterns and fabrics and access to quality wigs all make cosplay easier to get into and bring it further into the ‘mainstream’.

Who inspires your cosplay?

There are so many! Major Sam Cosplay and Floksy Locksy Cosplay both inspire me with their incredible and beautiful work. Eve Beauregard is the sweetest person and I love both her gorgeous work and her awesome online presence. And, of course, Yaya Han is the epitome of what I’d like to be as a cosplayer. She’s gracious and lovely, her work is eyemeltingly beautiful and she’s a very savvy business woman.

On to costumes and props - do you make your own and if so, what’s been your most challenging cosplay?

I do make most of my own costumes and props, with a few exceptions. I like to think I know when something would be best made by someone else and I try

Photographer: Steamkittens | www.facebook.com/steamkittens

Photographer: Steamkittens | www.facebook.com/steamkittens

Photographer: Charlie Nicholson | www.facebook.com/gotsuperpowers

to always credit accordingly. I really enjoy making costumes, especially sewing. It’s so satisfying to put two pieces of fabric through the machine and have it come out as a garment. My most challenging would have to be a tie between Armoured Belle and Diana from League of Legends – I don’t make armour easily and both costumes had considerable challenges when it came to their construction.

What about props, what has been a difficult prop to make?

My Divas Championship belt was pretty challenging. It was early on in my cosplay days and I ended up remaking the belt part at least once because it was a yoga mat at its core and was far too thick.

Each ‘metal’ plate was made out of a mousepad with the details hand drawn in fabric paint and covered in more fabric paint and crystal stickers. Actually getting the plates to stick to the belt was the hardest part and so frustrating. It’s a bit hard to describe at Bunnings when you’re trying to find the right adhesive!

Cosplay and photographers go together like bread and butter, tell us about some of your experiences. What is involved in a typical shoot…

Usually, a photographer will contact me because they have a specific cosplay they would like to shoot and we’ll arrange the time and place. I really like when we’re able to talk a bit about their concept for the shoot and I love when we swap reference photos – it re-

ally helps me get a feel for their vision and contribute my ideas.

media, what’s been your experience?

Once we get to the location we’ll sort out what we’re shooting where and get right into it. So much of photo shoots is holding crazy poses forever and it’s really a heck of a workout. If you’re lucky to have assistants on a shoot there can be more hair flipping, cape tossing and droid wrangling than you would have thought. Plus, you’re sometimes contending with other light sources, passers-by and occasionally even drunk people. Every shoot is a new experience and I’m still learning new things every single time.

I’ve been very lucky, I don’t get a lot of negativity on any of my social media - I’ve got a great bunch of people who follow my page and other profiles. I do get some unnecessarily over-sexual comments, but I tend to hide or delete those and I’ll occasionally call people out if I feel like they can be educated about their behaviour. “So-and-so did it better” comments are silly and pointless, but it comes with the territory and sometimes I even discover some great cosplayers through those!

Do you have any tips for new cosplayers doing their first shoot?

You’ve done really well with your cosplay, what are the key things you’ve done that has got you to be a special guest at Oz Comic Con?

Be prepared. Always come to a shoot ready to go and have poses that you’ve practised. You don’t want to run out of ideas too early and the more you can contribute the better! It can be helpful to bring along a handler so they can give moral support, help you feel comfortable and even flick capes and adjust hair. And ALWAYS speak up if you’re asked to do something that makes you uncomfortable. A good photographer will find a different way to achieve the shot if you’re scared of heights or direct you verbally if you prefer not to be touched (and a photographer should always ask to touch you if they want to move an arm or stray hair).

Thank you very much. I’m still feeling like I don’t know what the magical key is to being an invited guest, but I’ve always tried to let the me behind the costumes also shine through. I’m still a giant nerd, I get overexcited about con guests and movie trailers and I dress up as wrestlers, and I guess that’s resonated with people. I cosplay for me and I really love what I do, which makes me happy and hopefully helps make those around me happy too.

Sometimes cosplayers get negative comments via social

Well, since Black Widow appears to already be taken, it would have

Ok, some fun questions now…

You’re asked to be in a movie what character would you love to be?

to be Zatanna. Zatanna is still one of my all-time favourite characters and if Mark Millar (writer of Kingsman, Kick-Ass) says I’m his pick… well, come on Warner Bros, call me!

You’re stuck on an island what one book and one food is a must have?

One book would have to be anything from JD Robb’s In Death series. I’m crazy about those and reread them over and over. Food would most definitely be pepperoni pizza.

What’s your favourite movie?

Singin’ in the Rain. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it since I was a kid.

If you could sit and have coffee with anyone in history who would that be?

Audrey Hepburn. I could go on about how amazing she was for ages. Not enough people know she was so much more than a wonderful actress - when she was a teenager during WWII, she ran messages for the Dutch Resistance. Very inspiring and so talented.

And finally where can our readers go to find out more about you?

Facebook: www.facebook.com/juszcosplay Instagram: www.instagram.com/juszcosplay Twitter: www.twitter.com/justinegf Photographer: Nathan Tan | www.facebook.com/gotsuperpowers

Photographer: Rob Jenkins Photo | www.facebook.com/robjenkinsphotography

COSPLAY

SONG JA PARK

www.FACEBOOK.COM/LoveSongJaPark Hi & welcome to Live Magazine!

First Question - tell us about how you got into Cosplay?

My best friend introduced me to Manga in Jr. High School. We read and watched anime after school lol.

One of our local comic stores was doing a ‘anime fest’ and we decided it would be really neat if we attempted to cosplay as our favorite manga/anime characters.

Our cosplays were of poor quality lol but we had fun. I enjoyed it so much, I kept at it for another 12+ years.

You run a business called Cake Shop Couture - tell us a bit about that… and is there a demand for what you sell.

My business is mostly custom made dresses inspired by Japanese street fashion and I also do quite a few Star Wars, Marvel Comics and Doctor Who inspired dresses. I also make jewelry and

accessories. My business keeps me busy but I love what I do!

Ok, on to cosplay- what was your favourite cosplay so far?

I’d have to say Haruko from FLCL. Not only did I have fun making her costume, I also love her crazy/silly personality that I can pose according to.

What’s been your most challenging cosplay and why?

Currently I am working on Motoko from Ghost in the Shell: First Connection. This has became such a challenge!

From all the different shades and patterns of grey in the body suit to working with EVA foam for the armor for the very first time. It’s been a great learning process!

With the many cons around what’s your favourite and what cons are you visiting in 2016?

Photographer: NBMA Photography | www.facebook.com/NBMAPhotography

My favorite local convention is Saboten Con in Phoenix, Arizona. My convention plans for this year are Wondercon, Sabaku Con, Phoenix Comic Con, and Saboten Con. Have you done many photo shoots and can you share 3 tips for those about to do a first shoot?

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done quite a few photo shoots, I enjoy them very much!

Try not to be nervous, have fun with the shoot. Look up poses that your character does so that you can have a assortment of different photos.

Lastly, exaggerate your body. It may feel funny but it translates very well in photos.

Ok now some fun questions: What is the best food to eat before and after a con?

Coffee is food right? lol I usually eat a banana morning of con. After con, I usually pig out on Korean BBQ.

Who do you look to for inspiration?

I have so many talented friends that also cosplay that inspire me to try new things and techniques.

Ever had something go really wrong at an event?

Of course. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bound to happen to everyone that cosplays at least once. You end up forgetting something at home, something on your cosplay decides to come unstitched or unglued.

You sew a lot, what machine do you use and why?

I use a Babylock machine and a Brother Serger machine.

Finally weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to see more of your work, where can we go?

Almost all of my work can be seen on my Facebook page: Facebook.com/LoveSongJaPark.

I also update my Instagram quite a bit with cosplay progress photos!

Photographer: Adam Patrick Murray | www.facebook.com/adampatrickmurray

Photographer: JW Cosplay Photography

| www.facebook.com/ jwcosplayphotography

Photographer: JW Cosplay Photography

| www.facebook.com/ jwcosplayphotography

Photographer: Adam Patrick Murray | www.facebook.com/adampatrickmurray

Photographer: JW Cosplay Photography

| www.facebook.com/ jwcosplayphotography

Photographer: JW Cosplay Photography

| www.facebook.com/ jwcosplayphotography

STAR WARS

cosplay EDITORIAL

Before 2016, I had never seen a single piece of Star Wars media, I know, it’s shocking – one of the most well-known franchises in the world and I’d avoided every single piece of content for over 20 years right up until Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released late last year. On New Year’s Day, a few friends dragged me to the cinema to see it, and when I came out I was sold.

I spent the next few weeks consuming every single piece of canon and extended universe Star Wars media I could find. Now heading into April, I’ve watched eight seasons and seven movies, played two games, began following three comic series and consumed countless pieces of online media from videos to comics to memes, and it was obvious this was all going to lead me here – falling in love with some of our Aussie Star Wars cosplayers.

First up I have to feature some of my favourites from my own hometown; Ebil cosplay’s Kylo Ren is a stunning rendition of everyone’s favourite villain at the moment, carefully adapted where it could be for Australia’s heated summer.

The helmet itself is just a mask, artfully hidden by the fantastic skills of Artificial Photography & Videography and taking a look at these photos makes me kind of want to hide from this Dark side user’s wrath.

Kylo Ren - Ebil cosplay www.facebook.com/ebilcosplay Artificial Photography & Videography - www.facebook.com/ArtificialDogma

S:

by chatty anny: www.FACEBOOK.COM/FerretCosplay

AN AUSTRALIAN COSPLAY FEATURETTE

cosplay EDITORIAL

STAR WARS Scouring the interwebs, I couldn’t go past our previous writer Hayley Elise’s Princess Leia Organa.

From the feisty princess who stood up to Darth Vader to the slave who took back her freedom by choking her captor to death, Hayley’s Leia is everything we love in our incensed princess.

Leia Organa (Slave, White dress) - Hayley Elise www.facebook.com/HayleyEliseCosplay WhatABigCamera - www.facebook.com/WhatABigCamera

S:

by chatty anny: www.FACEBOOK.COM/FerretCosplay

AN AUSTRALIAN COSPLAY FEATURETTE

cosplay EDITORIAL

STAR WARS

There’s nothing better than a collaboration by talented people, and Steamkittens’ photos of JusZ Cosplay proves that. Made in only a few weeks for The Force Awakens’ premiere, JusZ’s Rey was the first cosplay I saw that convinced me I needed to go see this movie. Completed with a fantastic Kylo and BB-8, this shoot shows you just what you can do with the power of the Force – and even Carrie Fisher approved on Twitter!

S:

by chatty anny: www.FACEBOOK.COM/FerretCosplay

AN AUSTRALIAN COSPLAY FEATURETTE

Rey – JusZ Cosplay www.facebook.com/JusZcosplay Steamkittens - www.facebook.com/steamkittens

cosplay EDITORIAL

STAR WARS

Okay, I’ll admit it – I loved the prequels, with their terrible dialogue and weird editing; so seeing this photo of Ian’s Anakin at Mustafar made me tear up a little..

Anakin Skywalker – Ian Bartlett - Artificial Photography & Videography www.facebook.com/ArtificialDogma

S:

by chatty anny: www.FACEBOOK.COM/FerretCosplay

AN AUSTRALIAN COSPLAY FEATURETTE

It wouldn’t be prequel appreciation without mourning the loss of a villain with such potential as Darth Maul; and Brontology Cosplay’s genderbent Maul makes me long for what could have been.

Darth Maul – Brontology Cosplay www.facebook.com/brontologycosplay Photographer: Thomas Hadland

cosplay EDITORIAL

STAR WARS I’ll always have a soft spot for heroes who see the best in villains (but still don’t hold back beating them up!) and Rey and Luke really epitomize that. Andrew Scott’s Kylo and Christie Lee’s Rey watching their skies at different times makes me shiver with anticipation for what the future of their stories bring in movies, while Izzys Cosplay’s Luke makes me fear for what he’s about to do – despite having seen it all myself!

Rey & Kylo Ren: Andrew Scott & Christie Lee Andy Wana Photography

www.facebook.com/AndyWanaPhotography

S:

by chatty anny: www.FACEBOOK.COM/FerretCosplay

AN AUSTRALIAN COSPLAY FEATURETTE

Luke Skywalker - Izzys Cosplay www.facebook.com/IzzysCosplay James Niland - www.facebook.com/james.niland

cosplay EDITORIAL

STAR WARS Darth Talon - Soylent Cosplay www.facebook.com/soylentcosplay Charmaine Morgan Photography - www.facebook.com/charmaine.morgan88

When The Force Awakens was released, it was heartbreaking to some fans that their favourites in the extended universe (used to refer to anything that isn’t included in the official Star Wars canon anymore) were basically erased from existence. Seeing photos of Soylent Cosplay’s Darth Talon and Sarah Ashley Cosplay’s Mara Jade, I mourn alongside them. Star Wars has long been criticised for it’s lack of female characters, so to have such fantastic characters lost into the void is always a disappointment – but at least we have these cosplayers to make up for it!

S:

by chatty anny: www.FACEBOOK.COM/FerretCosplay

AN AUSTRALIAN COSPLAY FEATURETTE

Mara Jade - Sarah Ashley Cosplay www.facebook.com/Sarah.Ashley.Cosplay Cosplay Australia - www.facebook.com/CosplayAU (above) Lorenzo So Photography - www.facebook.com/lorenzosophoto

PHOTOGRAPHY tips

Tips to get a more pleasing look to your images Tip One - Good bokeh.

Bokeh? What the heck is bokeh?

Well if you’ve been into photography for a while you’ll know that bokeh is that soft blur you get behind the main subject. Check the image from Shutterstock by Piyato - those soft bubbles behind the cosplayer are an example of bokeh. Bokeh is described as “the visual quality of the outof-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens.” That’ from the dictionary. It’s a Japanese word that really came into use in the past 20 years or so. Particularly with digital, and so many more people now into photography.

The way to get good bokeh is to use what we call a “fast lens” - that’s a lens with a large aperture- like a 2.8 or larger. On some systems you can get 1.2 or ever larger apertures.

Ideally you might use a lens with an 85mm or so focal length. On a crop sensor that would be around 56mm

and on a mirrorless that would be around the 40mm mark. Then frame your subject like the example and the focus on her eyes (or his eyes or whatever your subject might be - it could be a glass of water) and then the background will go soft and blurry. Now the quality of the blur or bokeh will depend on the quality of your lens.

Nikon USA has an excellent article / tutorial on bokeh here - jump on over but then come back for tip 2… www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/article/h0ndz86v/bokeh-for-beginners.html

Tip Two - The right framing.

Often the beginner or casual snapper, makes this mistake.

They take a photo of someone and put them in the middle and far away. Now that might be fine if you’re wanting to show the relationship between the subject and say a building or mountain. But if you simply want a nice photo of a friend, try getting in closer. As we say here at Live Magazine - make

the main thing the main thing.

Frame your subject so they fill the frame. Sure, you can experiment and try different angles and framing options. But if you want a photo of a cosplayer’s costume and the amazing detail, then get close, focus and show it off! Again I’ve found a nice explanation with lots of examples from Nikon here: www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/h7dfrceh/5-easy-composition-guidelines.html

In the photo here of Suzanne from Armored Soul Cosplay, I’ve framed her and her weapon so that they both are the focus of attention. She is positioned on the left third of the frame that is pleasing to the eye and I’ve cropped it so that she and her weapon are really the main thing you see.

When you start our you hear about things like the rule of thirds and yep it’s a good guideline. But like all rules, once you know the rules, you can try creative ways to break the rules.

PHOTOGRAPHY tips

Tip Three - Light and shadow.

While I didn’t use Nikon to help me write this article - it all comes from my experience. I have found some excellent resources from the Nikon website that helps explain and teach better then I could. I’ve got a link for light and shadow below but remember this

from the previous point - make the main thing the main thing. What I mean here is sometimes when you see a scene or a shot you simply must photograph, what you’ve seen is something that connects with you. So don’t go messing it up by adding too much or too little light. If you see a person in shadow and you just love how dramatic it looks, don’t flip

up your flash straight away. Think about what caught your eye and work on capturing that first. Then experiment with light or flash etc. in the photo of Nat (right) in her Dredd cosplay you’ll see light really highlighting the gold part of her uniform and the silver of the gun. Nat is an amazing cosplayer and also an amazing artist in how

she creates costumes and props - head over to her Facebook page for more inspiration www.facebook.com/natstonproductions

Other times it might be the shadows that attract you like the photo of Aislynn from Axe Massacre Cosplay - here she is sitting in a church and the light just fell beautifully- I had to grab a shot and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

a favourite of mine. You can see more of Aislynn at her page here: www.facebook.com/AxeMassacreCosplay

The key to growing as a photographer is to shoot regularly - like weekly. Plan projects and try things out. Experiment and realise that you will need to make a lot of mistakes in your journey - you learn from mistakes. If you fluke

a shot - hey nice. But you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t learn from them so much as making a dozen mistakes and then getting it right. And when you get it right and you can repeat it over and over, you become proficient at that technique.

HOW RATINGS WO The Australian Classification CTC

CTC - Check the classification.

The content has been assessed and approved for advertising unclassified films and computer games.

Any advertising of unclassified films and games must display the CTC message on posters, trailers, on the internet, and any other types of advertising.

G - General.

The content is very mild in impact.

The G classification is suitable for everyone. G products may contain classifiable elements such as language and themes that are very mild in impact.

However, some G-classified films or computer games may contain content that is not of interest to children.

PG - Parental Guidance.

The content is mild in impact.

The impact of PG (Parental Guidance) classified films and computer games should be no higher than mild, but they may contain content that children find confusing or upsetting and may require the guidance of parents and guardians. They may, for example, contain classifiable elements such as language and themes that are mild in impact.

It is not recommended for viewing or playing by persons under 15 without guidance from parents or guardians.

M - Mature.

The content is moderate in impact.

Films and computer games classified M (Mature) contain content of a moderate impact and are recommended for teenagers aged 15 years and over.

Children under 15 may legally access this material because it is an advisory category.

However, M classified films and computer games may include classifiable elements such as violence and nudity of moderate impact that are not recommended for children under 15 years. Parents and guardians may need to find out more about the film or computer gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specific content, before deciding whether the material is suitable for their child.

ORK: Board

There are two separate Boards that are independent from the government and from each other. There is the full time Classification Board that decides the classifications of films, video games and certain publications and the Classification Review Board that meets only to review a decision of the Classification Board when there is a valid application for review.

The Board bases its’ classifications on six elements: Themes, Violence, Sex, Language, Drug Use & Nudity Below are a list of classifications you’ll find on games and movies:

MA 15+ - Mature Accompanied 15+.

The content is strong in impact.

MA 15+ classified material contains strong content and is legally restricted to persons 15 years and over. It may contain classifiable elements such as sex scenes and drug use that are strong in impact.

A person may be asked to show proof of their age before hiring or purchasing an MA 15+ film or computer game. Cinema staff may also request that the person show proof of their age before allowing them to watch an MA 15+ film. Children under the age of 15 may not legally watch, buy or hire MA 15+ classified material unless they are in the company of a parent or adult guardian. Children under 15 who go to the cinema to see an MA 15+ film must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian for the duration of the film. The parent or adult guardian must also purchase the movie ticket for the child. The guardian must be an adult exercising parental control over the person under 15 years of age. The guardian needs to be 18 years or older.

Parents and guardians may need to find out more about the film or computer game’s specific content, before deciding whether the material is suitable for their child.

R 18+ - Restricted to 18+.

The content is high in impact.

R 18+ material is restricted to adults. Such material may contain classifiable elements such as sex scenes and drug use that are high in impact. Some material classified R18+ may be offensive to sections of the adult community. A person may be asked for proof of their age before purchasing, hiring or viewing R18+ films and computer games at a retail store or cinema.

There is also an X 18+ for adult films and these titles are only available for sale in the ACT and the Northern Territory.

Sometimes games are refused classification. This can cause gamers to be frustrated, citing that the R18+ classification should take care of adult content. But still some games don’t get classified until the publishers/developers have addressed the concerns of the Classification Board.

Want to know more? Visit the Australian Classification website www.classification.gov.au

CTC

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